SOCIAL MEDIA

October 8, 2019

Season of Change

I have always wanted to spend a chunk of time in the Adirondacks just as the leaves are changing. To really appreciate and photograph the beauty of this season and devote some uninterrupted time to writing. Most years during foliage season, we plan a weekend trip around the busy school schedules that coincide with the arrival of fall and cross our fingers, hoping for some pretty fall color - but, often times, not getting the timing quite right. It seems Mother Nature has her own timetable and we can only predict so much. 


But, this year, as I was looking at the calendar, I realized our youngest son (we're down to just one kid that's not in college yet) had a 4 day weekend that coincided with the late September/early October timeline that is often the prettiest time of year in "our" part of the mountains. And so I thought, what if I stayed the week at the cabin, sandwiched between the long weekend and the next?
I've stayed a night alone up here quite often but usually I'll ask a girlfriend or family to join me. There is almost always a kid or two around. Would my family even survive back home in NJ without me? No doubt! How would I feel if it were just me with all that quiet? Now, THAT was the real question. My husband encouraged me to stay. After all, he often spends days up here alone getting work done around the cabin. He could easily hold down the fort at home for a few days before he came back up on the weekend.
I've mainly been a mom for over 21(!) years, since a few days after my 24th birthday. I am grateful to have been home with them - I've (almost) always very fulfilled in my roles as a wife and mother. And thankful for this little blog of mine that has brought so many opportunities into my life. So I could feel like I was also growing along side of them as they grew. And grow they did! They aren't done quite yet and, although I know parenting is the work of a lifetime, they don't need me quite as much as they once did. As all moms know, if we've done a decent job, we are supposed to move from their main view into their periphery.
And so, I can't help but notice as I am surrounded by such glorious color, the season of Autumn is literally showing me, preparing me really, for how beautiful it is to let go and move onto a new season in life. I'm not quite there yet - but I can see it in the not so distant future. It's beautiful and a bit frightening too. Bittersweet. Just like the fleeting moment that is Fall.
I'll be back with our Fall decor in our living room tomorrow.  Although posts like this are a little outside my comfort zone, I think it's important to share a little bit about the seasons of life along with the changing seasons in my home decor because we all go through them and I believe they inspire so much of what we all do.

9 comments :

  1. Beautiful photos to go with beautiful thoughts...Yes, I completely understand how you are feeling even though my kids are a little younger. These fleeting days of fall are the perfect analogy for this time of our lives. How nice that you spent a few days up there alone. I actually thought about doing the same because of our schedules this year. I am so sad to be missing the fall foliage in Vermont. I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through your photos...because who knows how the NJ foliage will be this year! Thanks for sharing your lovely words and images!
    Shelley

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    1. Good morning, Shelley~

      Thank you so much. I hoped at least one person would be going through this same season but it’s hard to put my heart out there on the internet, you know? But at the same time, I felt compelled to share. Your support has been so helpful through the years. Thank you.

      It actually rained most of the time I was up there alone, so I hunkered down and got some work done. There are so many distractions here at home and it was refreshing to have a chunk of quiet time. I had a call with an editor and I didn’t have to text 4 people first to let them know to leave me alone for an hour. LOL.

      I highly recommend you head up to Vermont for a few days alone at some point - in any season. Even just for one day ahead of your family or after they leave. It’s good for at the whole family.

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  2. Such a beautiful place to spend some time and such a beautiful post. I so remember when "no one needed a mommy anymore". I was a single mom at the time and trying to figure out what to do with ME. That seemed like a scary time, but it has turned out to be just as fabulous as the mommy years. Each season has it's wonderful colors. God Bless

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    1. Thanks so much for such a lovely comment, Marty! It’s reassuring to hear from someone who knows from experience that there are beautiful colors on the other side of motherhood too. xoxo

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos and your thoughts. I'm rapidly approaching the "letting go" season of life and am feeling a bit lost. It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I know my kids will be fine. They are awesome young people. I just wonder what I'm going to do with ME now. Bless you!

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  4. This is such a lovely post, Courtney! It is so beautiful there! It's so nice you could take time to restore, reflect, and refresh...we all need that! The seasons of life do move quickly. My husband and I are facing a new season, too...retirement...and moving from our long time home. We are marking 47 years of marriage this November and are looking at this season as our next adventure!

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  5. Beautiful Courtney. Just gorgeous pictures. Oh to have the place to escape that is so gorgeous of an area especially at this time of the year. The picture of the trees reflecting in the water is so pretty. Happy New Week. So happy to see you blogging again. Missed your beautiful posts. Cannot wait to see the living room.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  6. Beautiful pictures, Courtney and a truly insightful post. I'm at a,similar stage of life with my family...add in that I just retired from a 34 year career and currently "reinventing myself". I'm right there with you!! So happy you are enjoying your time in the Adirondacks. We love that area as well as I live on eastern long island and we enjoy time in upstate NY. Thank you for sharing this. I've been following you for years and I love your blog.

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  7. Thank you for sharing your heart! It is a journey in life to watch our little ones become adults and leave home. I wouldn't have it any other way. My kids now bring home our 10 little grandkids, (our oldest, 10 and youngest 6 months). The photos you shared are amazing. Love the reflection on the pristine lake. Perfect!

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