There’s a sign that hangs in our laundry room that says, today I will be thankful for all the little socks and the grass stained jeans and the endless piles of laundry. For there will come a day when the laundry basket is empty and these days will be profoundly missed. Some days I look at that sign and laugh. And then I wonder to myself, how sway? Not when I’m staring down the barrel of at least five loads of laundry to be done or it seems like a fight to get anyone to come fold. But on other days, when the things slow down just enough for me to pay attention, I can see it. And I choose to be thankful right now for the things giving me life and saving my life this season.

I’m particularly thankful in this moment for the borrowed phrase from Emily Freeman, an invitation to pay attention to what’s giving me life in this season. There are so many things saving my autumn life right now…

• fall bike rides with the family
• family movie nights
• curling up next to my window in the office with a new book
• a new black owned coffee shop that Samantha and discovered on a brunch date last Friday
• binge watching America’s Team…

Most days raising kids feels like we’re in the trenches, that’s why it’s so important to have fun when you can. This past week the girls were all home for fall break and we felt it. The pantry emptied quickly (I still don’t understand where all the food goes), the house stayed a mess, it was constantly loud. Whenever people ask me how are things going, I tell them, life is full. That was definitely last week for us, and that was during a break.

Before the girls headed back to school we did our monthly planning meeting where everyone maps out their goals and schedule for the next 4-5 weeks. Even the littles (our 7 and 10 year olds) set an intention for something they want to do or be over the next month. London is focusing on making the basketball team. Sloane is focusing on getting to the next level in her reading platform. It’s easier with the teenagers, but their schedules are becoming more complicated. Sometimes just doing the exercise makes me tired thinking about all the activities. Usually though, it reminds me that the way we choose to spend our time has to be intentional. There’s only so much we can do, so we actually get to have conversations about where we’re choosing to spend our time and why.

Here’s another thing saving my fall life right now: journaling. As I write this, I’ve finished making breakfast for the girls (still my favorite thing to do in the mornings). I’m sitting in my office as the girls finish packing their bookbags and are about to hop in the van. My wife is doing a meditation exercise with them at the door where they say one thing they’re grateful for.

These are our slow down moments. Without them, it can be easy to think that these are just times we have to muscle through. Instead, we get to acknowledge that these are the moments that make up our lives and every single one of them counts. Even the messy ones, sometimes especially the messy ones.

What’s saving your fall life right now?

SDW3