Dear Family & Friends

It is time to update all of you on what has been going on this year, if you don’t know already. As always, let me give you a picture of where I’m at.

Nick and I are sitting on a low, blue velvet couch, maybe more loveseat. The blue couch is sitting on a square, gray-blue patterned area rug. A square, low, white table is set a little off kilter to center on the rug and it holds a viney plant, remains of breakfast, and our respective drinks: chai for him and a honey lavender latte for me. Stretching out in front of us are more tables, and to my left the counter with the male baristas busy having conversations and working the machines. To my right a group of four people show each other pictures and the wall has three posters supporting the brand—LOST+FOUND. More plants adorn various shelves.

An older lady walked past us on her way to the powder room and remarked that we both look so cute sitting together on the loooove seat.

We are both on our phones—I’m writing and he’s trying to find Warby Parker stores nearby.

The beginning of the year found me hardly believing I was married and wifing and being generally terrible at it, which looking back, is okay because I was new at this and I still am(stop smirking, all you sixers; you were new once, too)but that’s okay, too.

It really does feel like three years ago, though. So many things have happened and I’ve been turned inside out and wrong side out and right side in again.

In February we went to Florida for a weekend. If you’ve been reading on my blog, you already know this. It was luscious. I felt GREAT in comparison to the muck I’d been feeling before. Seasonal affective disorder is not fun. Constant cloud cover is not fun. Depression is not fun.

In March, assorted family came out to visit me. They came in pieces, some here and some there. I think I enjoyed it.

In May, I surprised my mother by appearing in the doorway of the old nursery. A happy mother’s day surprise. Nick stayed home because he couldn’t take off of work.

The rest of the year until August blurs. I had some bad depression and I’m shocked I didn’t realize it. Some things you really don’t see until it’s done. There were weeks where I made myself go to work and then I would collapse into bed and I literally wouldn’t get out of bed for three or four days. One weekend I couldn’t clean my house and I finally called a friend and she was a dear and came and cleaned. Faithy, you were a God send. I get sort of nauseous thinking about that time.

In the beginning of August we moved from town to country and things began to clear for me. With plenty of windows to let in natural light, more area space between me and the dog, and less of a drive to work, I began to feel mentally and physically better. I also began to have a daily routine with my Bible and Jesus. I seriously don’t know why it took this long, but I’m thankful I started. I started in James and read a few verses and journaled about them.

Two of my friends and I met(mostly)every Wednesday to sing and stretch. This was good for me. I connected with people beyond work in a meaningful way.

In September I started a 30 day plan to break up with my phone using a plan created by Catherine Price. I cannot endorse this enough. I had a breakthrough to the compulsion my phone held on me. Knowing Jesus was with me in every step was comforting and helpful.

In October I lost a baby. I am so glad it happened while we were visiting MS for a week. My sister was my emotional support during that time and a sister was just what I needed. Nick worked with his brother-in-law. Catfish farming and custom farming. A week later, we packed up a few belongings and moved to MS for the forseeable winter. Here it is the end of November and we are still here.

I love MS. I love the days and the days I spend on my own, in our rental house. But I also love all the days I spend with my sister and my friends here. I am usually only home alone for two days out of the week at most. Here, I am grieving and healing and most surprising of all, I am stretching. I don’t know why healthy growth surprises me. I am curious about what you think about spiritual barriers. I’ve noticed that this area of Mississippi seems to be a “thin place”. I have a clearer spiritual life here. Of course, so many things could be in play here. I have no job, for one thing, and I am extroverting here more often than I do up north. I am with my sister. Who knows?

I am planning to observe Advent in December. I am going to fast from my phone. I am leaving WhatsApp and deleting any app that is not immediately useful. I think the five things I am leaving alone are the Messaging app, the Phone app, the Journaling app, the Map app, and the Clock app. I am only going to use those if I have to. Anything else will be left alone.

We are going to Dumas for Thanksgiving. Nick has a cousin there. I am excited to see more family.

For Christmas, we are driving to Goshen and spending three days or so with my folks and then heading in to Pennsylvania for the yearly Peachey dinner(my dad’s family). Nick hasn’t ever been, and I think this will be the last time for such a chance.

As always, plenty of things have happened and plenty of things have been written and painted to document the year. Next year I’m going to do something crazy. I love challenges. Yay.

Last thing. I am officially switching from Wix to Substack. This is the last post on Wix. Change, apparently, is inevitable.  My url is lindaadams981.substack.com and my name is L. Adams. I hope to see you on there.

Be kind to yourself and to others.

I love all of you.

Linda Adams,

November, 2024