October, this year...

October, this year, was grandparent visits and beautiful fall colors.  It was fishing, Bible reading, and drive thru flu shots.  It was birthday celebrations (Mommy's), receiving lots of doodle kisses and affection from our sweet fluffy girl, and curling up with good books on the porch.  It was baking all the apple and pumpkin things, serving our community, and hours upon hours of L&L playing outside in our neighborhood (riding bikes, having Nerf Wars, and just being kids).     

October was lots of quiet snuggles at home, and also appreciating the weekly activities on our schedule that provided a sense of normalcy, structure and routine (soccer games, Facetime piano lessons, and outdoor worship services).  It was enjoying the safety that outdoor activities provided in the midst of COVID, and soaking in all of these moments before colder weather comes:

Coach Mark with Leah's soccer team, the Baconators.

Our friend is the best team dad ever! He bought a bacon costume and is now the "mascot"! 

     

When your younger siblings' soccer team has a theme, you "happily" don all the bacon.

I wonder (and know) how much screen time he was bribed with to wear this?!

Snuggles with Bean.

Baking Mommy's birthday cake.

Bean and Poppy with our pajama-clad girl.

Painting fire hydrants as a service project for church. 

Biking on a gorgeous fall day.

Leah's colorful maple foliage.

The fish are still biting in October.

This girl loves fishing with Gawa.

Someone is noticeably taller than Mimi now...

...but still hasn't quite caught up to Gawa!

Annual Ad Fontes Bible Reading (2020 edition, with masks.)

October was rising COVID numbers, continued controversy over mask wearing, monitoring public health metrics, and attempting to understand how opinions about this pandemic have become so divisive.  It was contentious school board meetings, anxiety and tears about the best option for our children's education during this unprecedented time, and peace once we made the decision to lock into remote learning for the duration of the school year.  It was grief when Leah lost her wonderful team of teachers to be placed into the newly formed virtual classroom at her school, and then relief knowing that she's safe at home and has a new, devoted, great teacher.  It was acknowledgement of how blessed we are that our family situation allows for us to make this option work, and a constant, intentional reframing to a lens of gratitude.

Art Class at home:

Using objects in nature to design this wonderful puppy creation.

PE this month:

When you show up to run with your BFF at the park and you are wearing matching shirts!

Our family helper raking leaves.

October was election fatigue, carefully explaining politics and the need to respect differing opinions to our kids, while simultaneously trying to make sense of how issues that seem so fundamentally basic and clear to us are viewed so differently by many people in our "village".  It was remembering our many blessings every single day, praying, and having faith that God has wonderful plans for our nation and His children.  It was learning and relearning that 2020 is the ultimate "gotcha" for a planner, that causes one to pivot constantly, and doesn't allow for any coasting.  It's creatively rethinking annual traditions, reminding ourselves of the opportunities that this year has given to us that we never would have if life had stayed "normal", and navigating the continued roller coaster of COVID-19.   It was exhaustion at the inability to plan for the future, and the many unknowns of the days/weeks/months ahead.  

And still, life goes on, and a new month has begun.  Each day, we will seek and find the moments that bring us joy.  We will focus on all that is uplifting and hopeful and kind.  We will hug and love our babies, and we know that God is in control and is using these experiences for good.  He is using this unprecedented year to show us how and where we need to grow, and we will continue to trust in Him.  We have high hopes for November, and pray for all that the future holds.