31 Days to Savor

SAVOR:

• To enjoy the taste or smell of (something) for as long as possible.
• To enjoy (something) for a long time.
• To delight in.

I’m participating for the first time in this little community of bloggers who aim to write every day for 31 days about various topics of interest.  {Scroll to end to see later posts.}

This October finds me busy, pulled in a few different directions, distracted, tired, and a bit overwhelmed.  We recently moved to a new part of town and are still in the process of unpacking and settling in.  I spend most days loving on, taking care of, and keeping up with my three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son, while expecting baby #3 in November.  I’ve deliberated about whether or not adding another commitment to my plate would be beneficial.

October is my very favorite month in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.  I love fall, the first hints of color on the trees, the smell that fills the air, the cool, crisp air and chilly nights.  The apple orchards and pumpkins on every doorstep.  I love tugging my favorite bulky sweaters close, and bundling scarves around my neck.  Coffee seems to taste better, and soups with crusty bread warm the soul.  And then, of course, the anticipation of the Christmas season to come, and all its wonder + loveliness.

But this October, it seems I will be especially challenged to stay present in the moment, to enjoy and soak up every minute of this glorious month, and this final season as a family of four before we welcome our new baby girl in November.  I feel the desperate need to slow and to SAVOR.  “Savor” is the word that kept coming up every time I’ve been rushing around and crying out to the Lord that my soul feels harried.  “Savor this,” I have heard Him whisper.  “Don’t miss this.”

“The hallowed here,” as Ann Voskamp has called it.  This never-to-be-repeated season is glorious, ordinary, precious.  So, here’s to 31 days of savoring.

To savor the beautiful moments, the sweet memories.  To learn to savor even the ugly, the painful, the things that prick tears.  To savor ordinary grace, which is really the most extraordinary of all.  To savor good books, good food, good friends.  To savor work + rest, to savor the sabbath.  To savor my two beautiful children + the last stages of pregnancy.  To savor the Gospel.  To savor Jesus, His Word and His presence, which is the sweetest of all.

I hope you will join me, read along with me as I journey through the twists and turns of this month, and maybe even share your own triumphs in savoring this one wild life we’ve been given.

May our souls breathe deep such daily grace

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{Title of blog post and links will be added here after each day’s post is published.}

{ Day 2: Feasting on God }
{ Day 3: Rainy Friday }
{ Day 4: Everything is Good }
{ Day 5: Savoring the Sovereignty of God }
{ Day 6: Savoring, When You Have a “Case of the Mondays” }
{ Day 7: The Gift of Time }
{ Day 8: Fall at the Farm }
{ Day 9: Learning to Savor Instead of Straining to Understand }
{ Day 10: Happy Friday! }
{ Day 11 }
{ Day 12: He Withholds No Good Thing }
{ Day 13: Tastes of Fall: Black Bean Soup }
{ Day 14: The Measure of Success }
{ Day 15: One Month From Today }
{ Day 16: Rhythms }
{ Day 17: Happy Friday! }
{ Day 18: Playing in the Leaves }
{ Day 19: When You’re Falling Apart a Little Bit }
{ Day 20: Tastes of Fall: Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash + Quinoa }
{ Day 21: Brown Paper Packages }
{ Day 22 }
{ Day 23: Leaves are Falling }
{ Day 24: There is Good News }
{ Day 25: Savoring the Gospel When You Fail }
{ Day 26: My Soul’s Delight }
{ Day 27: How to Turn a Bent Soul }
{ Day 28: Finish the Day }
{ Day 29 }
{ Day 30: Savoring These Two }
{ Day 31: Savoring the End }