It’s 2026.
I am a few months shy of my final year in my thirties and embracing life upside down. My oldest is in the second half of her first year of high school and college, while my youngest is in upper elementary; hard to believe the baby of the family is almost ten! I have herbs I cannot pronounce the names of in my cupboard for our health. Mason jars, tinctures and strainers have become kitchen staples. Medicinal herbs have been growing in the garden and dried for later use.
My kiddos are homeschooled. Chickens peck in the backyard and fresh eggs are scrambled for breakfast. I have seen the power of God work wonders through prayer. Our wardrobes are mostly refashioned with natural fibers. Mushroom extracts are morning routines, along with homemade herbal capsules. My bookshelves are filled with topics like gut and brain health, growing medical herbs and spiritual warfare.
A yogurt maker quietly cultures L.Reuteri yogurt on the counter, next to fast growing broccoli sprouts and fermenting sauerkraut. Cellular health has been an ongoing discussion in response to food. Reciting prayers and truth statements is a staple and the cultural norm for our family. Social media has been off my radar for nearly two years, besides brief check-ins to view videos sent by friends and family.
The board game storage has exploded as we spend time gathering around the table to share new games with friends and family. Homemade oat milk complements freshly brewed chai tea with its rich scent filling the house as it steeps.
What is this life!?
The older I get the more I recognize my inability to stay the course and keep on track. The lack of movement or force of it is not at my disposal. I cannot keep the autumn leaves from changing or falling to the ground, much less keep my children from sprouting to heights my body cannot not reach.
Seasons change without notice or signs. They simply roll up their sleeves and bring moving boxes, packing and unpacking at a rhythm all their own.
The first time my eyes caught glimpses into this reality was through parenting: a new mom navigating the ever changing stages of a baby: Sleep. Nurse. Diaper change. Midnight waking. Roll over. Crawl. Pincher grasping new foods.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The only thing consistent is change. The best way to live is with open hands and God’s guidance with each step, knowing when it is time to push through, slow down or stop.
This season of the Inspire Shop will be encapsulated with creating a space to be rooted in biblical teaching, while bringing the mind, body and spirit into alignment through clean eating, herbal remedies and art.
If you want to join in the adventure, I won’t be on social media but you can pop into the blog periodically and I’ll be sharing recaps on the newsletter and perhaps a few in person events sprinkled throughout the year to grow your faith and health.
Praying for you, friend.'
Cheers to a new year. Cheers to growth.