Seasons of Change: How Weddings, Trees, Books, and Rooms Remind Us to Grow
{Share 4 Somethings - October 2025}
Weddings, trees, books, rooms—they all told me the same story this month: things change, and that’s the point. Growth doesn’t mean erasing what used to be. It simply means building on the past’s foundation as new things unfold.
It’s like this quote I’ve been memorizing:
“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”
― John O’Donohue
Each month I share 4 somethings that I have:
- Loved
- Learned
- Went well
- Let go of
And then I link up with Jenn.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Something I loved
- THE BRIDE THAT TIME BUILT
Last weekend, we attended what I’m calling the final wedding—the last of our neighbor’s four kids to get married. Brooke wasn’t even born when we moved into the neighborhood in 2001. I remember staying with her older siblings the night she was born, while her parents dashed to the hospital. I remember my daughter Jenna giving Brooke ballet lessons in our basement. Brooke later was the flower girl in my daughter Morgan’s wedding.
Me and Brooke, 2011
Fast-forward several years:
Now Brooke is dancing with her new husband at her own wedding.
Time doesn’t just march on—it runs. I’m grateful for memories from the past as well as new memories we continue to make.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
ÂSomething I learned
Our book club of several years hosted a family cookout a few Sundays ago called “Branches & Burgers.” The book we had been reading was The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (which I highly recommend, by the way), so we were very intentional about following a theme.
We asked everyone to send a photo of their favorite tree and bring a tree-related item for show-and-tell. We later walked around outside for a tree identification contest (I lost, even though it was my own backyard). The kids participated as much as the adults.
It was a wonderfully surprising day. No matter how well you know a person (or your backyard) already, there is always more to learn.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Something that went well
- THE VOICES THAT LIFT US
The same book club took a field trip to hear Jen Hatmaker speak, alongside her boyfriend Tyler Merritt and friend Mary Kathryn Backstrom. The event, hosted by our local independent bookstore, was so nourishing—full of laughter, truth-telling, and community-building.
It makes our next book choice an easy pick:
Jen Hatmaker’s newest memoir, Awake.
We’ll start it next week.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Something I let go of
- THE ROOM THAT REMEMBERS
After years of good intentions, we finally put in the work to redo our youngest daughter’s old bedroom. Once filled with her cow collection and childhood photos—including a professional photo with her pet duck—we’ve been using it as a playroom, but it felt chaotic to me.
But fresh paint, new carpet, and a few new bookshelves have transformed the room into a more joyful and inviting space for the next generation to spend time in.
Letting go of the past doesn’t mean forgetting it—it just means moving over a bit to make room for what’s still growing.
What’s changing in your life this month?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
I’m linking at these blog parties
I loved the makeover of your youngest daughter’s room, Lisa, and I can’t get over how big your grand-boy is getting. Wow! Time does fly, doesn’t it? Beautiful post today, my friend. Blessings!
Thanks, Martha. Time definitely is speeding on by. It’s always most obvious when we look at children. 🙂
These are all fabulous reflections of the month! I love the throwback wedding photo as well as this month’s wedding photo. What a fabulous way to mark the passage of time. The new playroom looks amazing!
Thanks, Joanne. October was a good month, and I can’t believe it’s already November. We say this about every month and season though, right? lol.
I love all your pics and reflections, Lisa. Time really flies by. The new playroom looks so inviting. 🙂 Love, hugs, and blessings to you!
Thanks, Trudy. I hope the playroom gets lots of fun playtime – that’s what makes it all worthwhile. Hope you’re doing well!
You know this post hold many potential words of year possibilities for 2026: awake, flow, unfold, build, fresh…. make me wonder if I/we were to reread several of our latest blog posts what words would resonate with our hearts for next years candidates? mmmm. just a thought.
Oh, I love how you found all these words in the post! I hadn’t even thought of doing that, Jean. Hmm…that’s an interesting exercise to do.
I’m already on the third iteration of a word I want to use. ha. But that’s okay; I like to narrow it down.
A great post Lisa. I agree time absolutely flies, here in Australia it’s already the morning of November 1!
Sadly an old friend passed away over this last week, so sadness mixed with sweet memories came flooding in with that change.
However, I love what I can see of your backyard, what an amazing space!
blessings, Jennifer
I’m sorry you lost a friend last week, Jennifer. It’s never easy to lose those we love, even as we remain thankful for the memories. Yes, joy and sorrow can coexist. Life is full of the bittersweet.
Thank you Lisa.
I love that you are so close with your neighbors, what a blessing! I tried to read Awake but it was not for me. I hope your book club enjoys it. https://encounterswiththedavisfamily.blogspot.com/2025/11/share-four-somethings-october-2025.html
Our book club met today to begin discussing Awake (it takes us several months to finish a book). As is typical for us, though, we didn’t discuss much about the book. ha. But we still had a great discussion.
Oh, that’s different! We discuss a new book each month, but we have a full month to read it. How does it work? Do you divide the book into sections?
Yes, depending on the length of chapters, we may read 1 or 2 chapters per week. Or if it’s a series of vignettes, we’ll read a set number of pages per week. For Awake, we’re reading 30 pages per week because there’s lots of white space between stories. 🙂 The down side is we might be in the same book for 3 months or so. But that’s also a plus because we’re not rushed.
Lisa, 2-3 months on the same book would drive me crazy, LOL! For my nonfiction reads, I usually take 2-3 weeks to read a book, and a fiction book 2-3 days. Commentaries take me longer, and some nonfiction books NEED to be savored longer than 2 weeks 😉
Beautiful reflections!!
Thanks, Susan!
Lisa, I really enjoyed all of your reflections! The room makeover turned out beautifully. It’s amazing how fresh paint and new flooring or carpet can change a room so dramatically. I’m glad to see that everything is going well for you. As for me, I am just learning to really enjoy this life.
Thanks, Steph. We’ve really enjoyed having new flooring and fresh paint – although I’m still a little paranoid about getting that first scrape on the wall. ha. I know it’s coming. 🙂 Hope your week is off to a good start!
I enjoyed your 4 Something’s Lisa. Your room turned out great and looks so warm and inviting.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend. I’m so happy you’re here.
Thanks, Paula. I hope kids will get a lot of use out of our updated playroom!