It’s been an interesting week. We had a health scare with my aunt and she spent a few nights in the hospital, but she is now home and feeling better. A part of the well broke at the Grand House and flooded their backyard, so my grandparents were without running water for a day while my dad and the plumber fixed it. And then I tested positive for COVID this weekend after starting to feel ill Friday night (so long, 2.5 year streak). But aside from those setbacks, all seems to be well. Illness is forcing me to move slowly and rest, whether I want to or not. Routine and normalcy are settling back into our lives.

I’ve been gathering photos of little things I find beautiful in the day-to-day, like a child collecting shells at the seaside. I consider it an exercise in gratitude. So this post will be quite photo-full as I share with you the ways I’ve been resting and the ways I’ve found beauty and gratitude in the midst of it all.

Despite blistering temperatures, our garden is persevering. The carpenter bees love our blue potato bush and I watch them nosedive into the blossoms every time Michael and I water.

Michael is sprouting his second tooth and is exploring the world around him more and more (and turning my hair grey in the process). But he’s so dang cute, I don’t even mind. He’s excited to have his best friend grandpa back in his daily life.

Earlier this week before I got sick, we were able to attend the last local farmers market of the season and stock up on some of our favorites. Highlights included a delicious and vibrant beet hummus with homemade pita chips and a bottle of pomegranate mead.

We also had a lovely date night for the first time in a long time. My parents watched Michael while Jake and I went to our favorite restaurant. I love the depiction of the Annunciation in their outdoor seating area.

Given the way our summer has gone, I’ve had to surrender my former hopes for our house timeline and reset my expectations. We are all exhausted, fighting illness and grief, and moving slowly with very little time and few resources. I thought we would be moving furniture and finished with essential projects by the end of August. Now, we’re aiming for the end of autumn.

But there’s a blessing in this: autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the coziness it brings, and the spices and soups, and the hand-knits worn against the morning chill. We’ll be able to start our life in Caedmon’s Cottage doing some of our favorite things: baking, preserving, knitting, and preparing for winter.

In the meantime, we have a tentative date for electricity (more on that in a later post!) and we’ve been working on completing the front steps. Jake has every Friday off work through September, giving him a full day to work on the essential house projects.

We’ve still got a long list of all the things standing between us and moving in, but we have learned so much patience and flexibility throughout this entire process. And there’s a great sense of satisfaction when we complete a job.

And finally, I’ve found immense comfort in this icon of Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.

It’s from Mull Monastery in Scotland, and it hangs by my nightstand. I see it before I go to bed, and when I rise from sleep. It reminds me of the Lord’s encircling presence as I go throughout my day.

So this week, I encourage you to take a photo of something that helps you remember to rest, or something you find beautiful, or that reminds you to be grateful. Share it with someone you love. It might be an unexpected blessing — for you and for them.