A November Recap: It’s not supposed to be like this.

...But we will worship anyway.

For years I’ve said that November 1st is my favorite day of the year. 

It’s not just the holidays; it’s the expectancy. I love the idea that everything in front of us is going to usher in joy and newness. From November 1st to January 1st, it feels like the Saturday of the year—celebration abounding, and then… a fresh start to top it all off.

But what happens when November 1st rolls around and you’re in the thick of grief? What happens when Halloween is over, and you’re still waiting for multiple miracles to come? What do you do when you’re desperate for a fresh start, but your circumstances are still screaming—“It’s not supposed to be like this”? 

It’s been such a hard year for our family, and I wish that November felt like the end of a hard chapter, but the truth is: Life is rarely that tidy, and grief is a bear. 

So I started November 1st, not with shouts of joy, but a tearful cold plunge. I moved into the month desperate to love my family, care for my soul, and keep taking steps forward in leadership at work. 

I let myself feel the weight of what is still broken and worshipped anyway. 

I’m still taking a social media break, but set out to document the month anyhow: Rest, walks, house renovation planning, sacred family moments, and everything in between. 

If the beginning of December finds you overjoyed, I rejoice with you! Thank you, God, for seasons of wholeness and lightness. 

But just in case you’re in a season similar to mine, let’s worship anyway. 

Let’s count the fruit of what God is doing. Let’s get our hopes up, not in His hand—but in His heart and character. Let’s celebrate despite our circumstances, even if we do so with tear-stained faces. Amen? 

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