Life Lately: Learning to Settle into a New Season

Life feels different these days.

With my youngest off at college an hour and a half away, my middle child also at school the same distance (not the same college), and my oldest balancing full-time work while taking college courses online, the house has grown quieter than I’m used to.

It’s an adjustment—one I knew was coming, yet still feels surprising now that it’s here. I find myself embracing the stillness, enjoying mornings that aren’t rushed and evenings where the house feels peacefully in order. The rooms stay clean, the laundry piles are smaller, and the kitchen counters are suddenly uncluttered. There’s a part of me that really appreciates this calm.

But if I’m honest, the quiet also sneaks up on me sometimes. I catch myself missing the sound of the kids laughing and playing with the dogs, and especially the sweet, delicious mess my daughter would leave behind when she baked one of her amazing creations. Now, the mixer sits untouched more often, and the flour doesn’t dust the countertops. It’s tidy—but maybe a little too tidy.

And it’s not just the kids who’ve moved into new seasons—our family just said goodbye to another chapter, too. We sold our Suburban, the one we’ve had since 2012. That beast carried us through so much of life: countless sporting events/band concerts, the long daily drives to and from school an hour away while we were building our now-home (during a season when gas was painfully expensive—I still don’t know how we managed some weeks!), family vacations, and even rides with our fur babies who are no longer with us. That Suburban carried my family safely year after year, and while it was just a vehicle, letting it go felt like saying goodbye to a whole stretch of memories.

This season is teaching me to hold both gratitude and longing at the same time. I’m grateful my kids are growing, thriving, and chasing their dreams. Yet, I miss the chaos of having everyone under one roof. I’m thankful for reliable cars and safe travels, but I also feel the bittersweet ache of letting go of something that carried so much of our story.

Lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in small things that make this transition feel brighter—recipes I’d love to try in the quieter kitchen, cozy home ideas to make the space feel more “lived in,” and encouraging words that remind me this season, too, is good.

I’m learning that life shifts don’t always have to feel like losses. Sometimes, they’re invitations—an invitation to slow down, to rediscover what brings me joy, and to savor the new rhythm of a quieter house.

And while I know I’ll always treasure the memories of the noisy, messy days (and even the busy, gas-guzzling Suburban days blaring TobyMac’s song ‘Speak Life’ day after day on the way to school), I’m also finding that peace and beauty live here, too.