The faces and stories and names of the 13 service members who gave everything have been in my mind, my heart, and my prayers.

I don’t have the right words to say but it’s not about me, anyway. It has served as a heavy reminder that freedom isn’t free and my respect and gratitude are forever with the families of these service members and others that serve to protect the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Also, for my friends in the path of Ida, I hope you are safe and well. Prayers that the damage incurred is less extensive that predicted.

It’s a heavy way to enter a new week; to deeply feel and acknowledge the state of things, but then to have the privilege to get to turn inward and focus on my own family and the world within my four walls. Trite, I know, but I’m acutely aware of how fortunate I am to do so.

And with that, let me now attempt the awkward transition into sharing travel and food and the little joys in life that I’m so grateful for. Thank you for giving me the grace to do so.

In my last post I shared that we had finally made it home! We relished in the comfort of our own beds for two nights before packing back up and driving to Tennessee. We had some gap days available at Sweet Home Bearolina and had a laundry list of projects and upgrades to implement.

David’s parents drove up to help us for a few days and I am SO thankful they did. David was only there before 24 hours before he had to drive home for work, and there is no way I could have knocked out everything we did without their help. I’ll share pictures soon. I’m waiting for the deep clean to be complete this week, then I’ll be back to snap some to update our website.

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Some project included: installing the Peloton, the treadmill, rearranging furniture, fixing light fixtures, setting up internet, adding new deck furniture, upgrading to a quality ping pong table, adding shuffleboard, cleaning up the wiring in the theater room and so on and so forth.

I’m so proud of the work we did and am so excited to host our guests that are trusting us to provide a special spot for their memory making! The real icing on the cake though? We saw a bear!! Four actually, a mama and her three cubs. I have been wanting to see a bear throughout all our travels and I about lost my mind with excitement!

We drove home to North Carolina on Friday and that evening we were all quite tuckered out. After a month of eating out though, I still preferred to swing by the store to make a meal at home. Burrito bowls for the win!

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It was nice arriving home on a Friday because it gave us all weekend to get our feet back under us. Saturday morning I relished in the joy of returning to my own kitchen by making a meal plan and going grocery shopping.

When I got home from shopping, the girls had surprised me by making breakfast. When David messages me saying “give me a heads up when you pull in the neighborhood,” I figured a surprise was in the works, but silly me thought they had teamed up to clean the house. No such luck.

But their fancy breakfast (they even made David put on a bowtie!) was adorable nonetheless 😍

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We kicked things into gear after brunch; David and I got in a workout, then we played around with the living room furniture, ultimately deciding with the new TV set up that we needed to buy new couches. Our sectional has treated us well for the past decade, but the time has come.

We went shopping and three stores later, put in an order for two La-Z-Boy couches and two chairs. They won’t be here until November, but it’s nice to have that box checked. I’m envisioning a set up similar to the one below from Concrete Cottage, with two couches facing each other.

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Saturday evening the girls decided to make cookies (and did so completely on their own, which is new for us) while I made a giant Cobb salad with salmon to balance things out for dinner and David made me an excellent martini.

Have I mentioned how good it feels to be preparing food again? I’ve missed it!

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Sunday was project day around the house. We knocked out SO much. We went through every clothes closet and drawer in the house, to highlight what we have and need, and donate the items we don’t use much anymore.

We got Hailey new cleats and shin guards, as soccer starts back this week. I cleaned out the whole playroom/homeschool room and organized our bookshelves. We got in a workout. I grilled steaks for dinner (the Butcher Box sirloins are SO good y’all). Then the girls and David went to go jump in the lake and swim around while I cleaned up. After they showered, we ended with some read aloud on the couch; we’re almost finished with the Vanderbeekers of 141st St (cute book!). Gosh it feels good to be back.

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This week we’ll ease back into our homeschool routine as well as go to the dentist and get haircuts for the kids. I’ll get to meet the parents of our new co-op for the first time in preparation of that starting next week. August was such an incredible whirlwind of memory making, and now that has me ready for the routine and structure of the “fall” season (despite temperatures still being in the 90’s).

Thanks for checking in on this Monday morning. Wishing you a good week, one filled with peace and contentment. 💜