Lara Casey's Blog

I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; It’s just not their task
I am no longer waiting for the perfect children; my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; It already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me; I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized; I know that I dance in a holy circle.
I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness. I believe, I Believe.

– Mary Anne Perrone

Collecting gifts from the sea with my mom in FebruaryThe Long Pause

I’ve written monthly goal updates here since my 20s—sharing what I was cultivating, what I was learning, and what was next. But at the start of this new year, after turning 45 in December and experiencing the last 2+ years of life change, these familiar rhythms seemed out of sync.

I felt stopped in my tracks, my body unable to find my way doing the things I’d long known. There seemed no other way forward: it was time to pause.

And so, I did.

New rhythms are emerging, and life has begun anew here in mid-March, just as my great-grandmother’s jonquils are breaking through the thawing earth.

2024: A Year of Trying

Last year capped off a season of searching—of trying to understand where God was leading me in this second half of life, trying to discern what was next, trying on different roles and possibilities.

I wrestled with big questions:
Do I step back into something new after two years away from entrepreneurship?
I have gifts to give the world, and people keep asking for my advice—shouldn’t I do something with this?
We’ve been through a profound health transformation—should I share it?

So, I explored.

— I stepped into wellness and hosted a retreat for founder friends.
— I spoke at a Flourishing at Work event at Harvard.
— I did a significant amount of consulting for women navigating business exits, company growth, and letting go of dreams. This was a gift, and continues to be life-giving to serve others in these seasons.
— I wrote a guide for discernment and started writing a book.
— I studied hard and earned my National Academy of Sports Medicine certification—again, after 20+ years—just for the joy of it.
— I considered buying a friend’s business, opening a wellness spa with Ari, and developing a wellness micro-resort with dear friends.
— I even took on a part-time executive role at an organization I’ve long loved.

Momentum gathered. Doors opened. And then, in concert, God said, pause.

In the pause, I received clarity on a prayer I had been carrying since 2022:

Live a quiet life.
Let Me transform you and give you the clarity you’ve been asking for.

This answer to prayer was startling and grounding all at once. It turns out, the pause wasn’t a delay; it was direction.

For our children’s hearts.
For our marriage.
For true health and wellness.
For our family’s focus on what matters: God and His Kingdom.
For the life that is truly life.

After months of prayer and wrestling, I resigned from my executive role at the start of this new year. I stepped away from the online world and deeply into the world right in front of me. I read. I got quiet. I cooked. I hosted friends for meals, and our house was filled with kids and neighbors. I grieved. I worshipped. I made jam. I deleted email off my phone and stopped browsing the internet and social media. I took prayer walks with friends. I let myself sit in silence and solitude as I drove to pick up kids or run errands. We adopted a new rescue kitten named Butterscotch. As a couple, we dug into our two goals for the year (and all of our lives): grow in Christian community and grow our marriage strength, all for the good of our children’s faith.

In this pause, I let myself revisit hard memories and finally feel the grief of them: visiting my dad’s grave for the first time, going back home to Florida after having said goodbye to Jessie in hospice there the year before, opening journals, and pouring through photos with new-found love for my younger self.

But, this pause has been less about what I’ve done and intentional actions taken and more about what I’ve released—and received. I’m learning to receive God’s love instead of chasing it.

And a new story began to unfold. I saw the arc of my life and the blessings and struggles of the first half shaping the realities and callings of the second. God’s transforming power struck me deeply, like the opening note of a symphony still being composed. Then came the crescendo of joy: I have been redeemed! Praise the Lord! I can’t get enough of His goodness, grace, and how He has completely changed my life.

God made the next step clear:

Nurture my children and our family during this gift of time we have together under one roof. Whatever else happens alongside that will be an outpouring of that core.

We have five years until Grace turns 18. Five years of being a family of five, waking up under the same roof, living daily life together. Five years that I don’t want to miss.

A Season of Slowing

In these first months of 2025, I read several books, including (affiliate links) Die with Zero, The Great Menopause Myth, Gospel Fluency, Hunt, Gather, Parent, The Psychology of Money, and re-read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. It hit differently in this new half of life. Grace took to it, too, and then Ari. The whole family seemed to soak in every word with gusto. New ideas and refreshing freedom came from seeing Jesus’ unhurried way.

I took intentional steps in my health, finishing a big round of testing and making changes for my APOE4 status. My testing uncovered answers (concerning answers, but answers nonetheless) to long-time conundrums: mycotoxins and mold, chronic Lyme disease, EBV, and systemic toxicity have been brewing together and wreaking havoc on my immune system. The main concern in my labs for many years has been chronically low white blood cells. I am thankful to know now what has been causing an upset in my bone marrow. This part is all fresh; these results came this week, and I’m wrapping my head around the treatment protocols over the next 12-18 months.

Ari and I began this second half with a seasoned couples therapist; it has been life-changing. If I could have a shower of fireworks come out of this paragraph, I would. This has been hard work, and we are so thankful for it. Together, we’ve seen how the past has shaped many of our communication habits, and we’ve peeled back the layers to let God work on us.

We’ve seen a new vision for our future that’s not the expected path. We’ve defined what matters to us in the next 5 years, 10 years, and beyond. We’ve shifted our views on how to use our money (and when), why we work (and sabbath), and what will (and won’t) shape our days. We’ve made intentional choices to teach our children in the way they should go. Dinnertime, for example, has turned into devotional time, and it has been surprisingly lively with exploration and conversation.

I called this the year of no projects as 2025 began, but perhaps what’s more accurate is the year of nourishment—healing from last year, healing from system overload, healing from projects (even good ones) that took our energy and the gift of time, healing from constantly looking for what’s next instead of being present in what’s now.

Where I Am Now

So here I am, continually gathering new thoughts about this second half of life—a half I am exceedingly grateful for. My focus is to love God and His Kingdom and to let Him lead me forward, step by step.

Yes, we have projects we are considering, and there is work to be done. But, our pursuits have been re-ordered with a new heart for God and His purpose for us. We want to do this second half of our lives differently than everything we thought we were working toward in the first half. Funny how life changes. Praise the Lord, it does.

My word for 2025 is Nourish.

Nourish my family. Nourish my faith. Nourish my body to help it heal, Lord willing. Nourish the small, quiet moments that matter most.

If you find yourself in a season of transition or unhurrying your life, know that you’re not alone. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is step away from the noise and let God speak. I’m listening.

A Simple Compass for 2025

As I’ve processed this second half, I set a simple compass comprised of six goals. Alongside these goals, I’m embracing tools that help me stay present, plan with purpose, and capture the small, meaningful moments: my PowerSheets and Season by Season Weekly Planner, ESV scripture journals, my favorite pens (My mom used all through my childhood – I would tiptoe into her office as a girl to find them. Forever my favorite.), all the accessories and stickers, and my this A4 dot grid journal. You can use code LARA for a discount on Cultivate items.

Here are my six guiding goals for the year—simple, intentional, and rooted in faith.

1. See God at the Center of Everything

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

One of the top regrets of the dying is not having the courage to live “a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” I want to live exactly how God wills, with courage and care. I want to come to the end of this life grateful for what I gave my attention to: Him. We want to draw nearer to God in every part of our lives, weaving God’s truth into the fabric of our family culture.

2. A Year of Journaling

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

We grow what we focus on. I want to focus on a lovely life with the Lord—journaling my gratitude, worship, and His Word. Writing has always helped me come to the present moment as I process the story of the past. I’m capturing thoughts on four main categories that interest me: nourishing our children, grief, time, and God through it all. My journal is my commonplace book to capture scripture I’m memorizing, words from books that opened my eyes to what is good, and memories I want to tuck in my heart as fertilizer for our faith.

3. A Worship-Filled Year

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” – Psalm 150:6

I’m deepening my awareness of worship as a way of life, not an occasional experience. I want to fill our every day with worship, using praise as my first response in both joyful and testing moments.

4. Enjoy Our Marriage

“To restate: love, joy, and peace are at the heart of all Jesus is trying to grow in the soil of your life. And all three are incompatible with hurry.” ― John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

Together, we’re seeing a new vision for our marriage and lives as we round the bend towards 50. The vision is slow, relational, and rooted in listening to what’s below the surface. We’re taking small retreats together – one per season, making time for daily after-dinner walks and continuing counseling to cultivate understanding.

5. The Year of Daily Wins for Functional Health

“Take hold of the life that is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Wellness, for me, is having the energy to fully live the life God has called me to. This year, I’m focused on daily habits and steps that bring healing and build a strong foundation: sunlight, strength training, after-dinner walks, regulating my nervous system, red light therapy, detox protocols for my health challenges, and sleep. I am growing more of our own food in the garden, visiting the farmer’s market, and working on functional strength for longevity. My big goal and prayer is to see my immune system heal, increase my WBC count, and clear these chronic toxins and immune storms. Lord, let it be.

6. The Nourishing Year for Our Children (and us!)

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

This season with all three of my children under one roof is precious and fleeting. I am listening differently, slowing down, and savoring the moments that will soon be memories. I also want to teach them in practical ways—gardening, cooking, and passing on the rhythms of faith that will shape their lives. As a long-held dream, I hope to write another children’s book, planting seeds of truth and encouragement in young hearts.

A Year to Nourish

I know that God may redirect my steps. I’m holding this year with open hands, trusting Him with every detail. My 2025 Vision Board brings so much of this to life visually for me.

Your turn. I’d love to hear—how is God leading you in this season? Let’s talk in the comments.

Read Part 1 of this 2-part series here.

P.S. One life-giving project I’m considering.

The post A Quiet Life: My 2025 Update appeared first on Lara Casey.

Hello, dear friends. Happy New Year! Let’s take a look back at 2024 before we move ahead, shall we? One blog post can never accurately capture a year of one’s life, with all its pain and joy, but this process helps me see the way forward. Reflection reaps rewards.

My Vision Board for 2024

My word for 2024 was new, which shined through at every turn. There were new projects we considered, new milestones with our health, new adventures taken, new vows said to each other, new wisdom gained from unexpected challenges, and new seeds planted — both literal and figurative. I also spent the entire year healing from a big surgery last November.

You can read all of my monthly goal updates here:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October and November – a double post
December

Affliate links are used in this post. Enjoy!

2024 started the year with a trip to NYC with my friend, Shunta. After losing my best friend, Jessie, in December, I felt God’s tug to do all those things I’ve always wanted to do with my friends.

We saw my long-time CMU friend, Leslie, in Purlie Victorious on Broadway. It was incredible, to say the least. A dream come true to spend this time in the city with Shunta and see my dear friend do what he was made to do!

This trip kicked off a year of mostly unexpected travel. In the early part of the year, I went to Charleston for Soul Camp, a women’s retreat. I met some wonderful women and saw long-time friends.

The kids and I made memories in D.C. and enjoyed the Museum of the Bible’s production of Prince Caspian. It was stellar! We also enjoyed an unexpected hotel stay that wowed us, and I spent time with my friend, Maaden.

After reading My Side of the Mountain five or six times through with the kids (clearly a family favorite!), I dreamed of taking the kids to Lillington, NC, home of Hawk Manor Falconry. It was one of the coolest things we’ve ever done. Highly recommend. Chip was so knowledgeable and kind. The kids loved it!

Ari and I went to Miami, our first trip ever away from our kids on an airplane. We spent four days at the Carillon Wellness Resort and can’t wait to return. We learned the Argentine tango, biked many miles up and down Miami Beach, and enjoyed the expansive Carillon spa. My favorite was the crystal steam room! Most importantly, we had time together to dream and pray about the future and thank God for right now. This trip came on the heels of my finishing New Marriage, Same Couple, and we used the Vision questions from the book during our time together. It was wonderful!

Our family flew to Fort Lauderdale a couple weeks later for my niece’s bat mitzva and then I got an out-of-the blue (God) invitation to speak at Harvard’s Flourishing at Work Summit in Boston. This was humbling and fun to put a blazer on after a couple years away from the entrepreneurship world. I was so grateful Kaylee came with me!

Ari and Josh went to Father Son camp—a huge hit! They came back full of stories and camp songs.

We kicked off summer with the NC mountains and the beach, all in one week, with friends. We love you, Fishers!

Primland Resort in Virginia delighted Ari and me for a summer marriage retreat. We had an unfortunate first night with a carbon monoxide detector that wouldn’t stop beeping from a low battery, but our tiredness was eclipsed by the kindest staff and epic views. The best part of the trip, though, was our conversation. We went through the open-ended questions from The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work.

Late summer brought our favorite family trip to Colorado to hike with my mom and brother. We did things I never thought I’d be able to do again. We did epic hikes with the whole family, and enjoyed the wildflowers, moose, and diving in an alpine lake!

I took friends on a life-changing wellness retreat a few weeks later, and started something new. This was a turning point in my life and the lives of my friends. It was healing and wildly fun. I LOVE these women.

The fall was full with a return trip to Primland (this time with the kids), Dallas for my part-time job, Nassau for our honeymoon trip that got stolen (!), Charleston for work, and finally, a third trip to Charleston with Ari for our birthdays. The last trip was Ari and my favorite. We talked, strolled, dreamed, enjoyed Ethos and worshipping Bright City, and simply enjoyed being together after a wild year, and a particularly challenging last part of the year with our mold remediation.

Photo by my amazing friend, Liz Cox.

Our trip to Charleston also checked off a bucket list item for me: seeing the Angel Oak tree. I shared the story of this tree at every Making Things Happen Conference for a decade, and it was awe-inspiring to finally see it. We sat on a park bench facing the tree and had a significant conversation about the legacy of faith we want to grow for our children. It all started with a tiny acorn and faith can grow from a tiny seed plated with love.

Those were just the travelling days! Back to life at home in 2024, by category:

Health and Wellness: This was the year I healed from a major surgery. This was my most significant effort this year, and took much prayer and intentionality. I may share more specifics one day, but I can tell you what was supposed to be a two-hour procedure and turned into four hours of extensive surgery, during which I had to be revived twice. It was traumatic and led to six weeks of bedrest, my mom moving in with us to help me for that time, and an infection that wiped my gut out with antibiotics. I spent the first half of the year focused on rebuilding my strength and my gut, starting from zero. I focused on healthy daily rhythms—doing small things each day that I new would add up over time. I consistently used my one-year PowerSheets and Season by Season Weekly Planner to help. Using a weekly planner was new for me, and I loved the format. It’s where I took church notes, made my to-do lists, noted goals from our marriage retreats, and kept my healthy daily habits in view. I’m using the same planners again this year (use code LARA for a discount). When I was back on my feet, I made a new weekly rhythm of going to the farmer’s market every Saturday morning with Josh and Grace while Sarah was at therapy and Ari was at the gym. Also this year, Ari began his IFM training and we started a broadcast channel to share our health journey. Ari joined Instagram. We baked. (get this in your hands!)

Spiritual and Personal Growth: I’ve continued in our 3-year Bible reading plan and took many prayer walks with my friend Irma this year. I also welcomed waves of grief as this was the year I buried my best friend. Jessie’s funeral was small and just what she would have wanted: me, another friend, and Jessie’s family. We buried her on a beautiful green North Carolina hill. It’s still hard to believe she’s gone, but that thought always leads me to faith. I missed Dad a ton this year, too. The second anniversary of his homegoing was, as usual, devastating and needed all at once. I anticipate these grief milestones, and yet I can never predict the weight of how they will change me as they come. Another significant faith update, and a surprise to us this year, was returning to our home church. After many years in our house church, then moving to a larger congregation for a few months, we kept feeling something was missing. We missed our people, and have been grateful to be back home.

Home and Spaces: We sowed twelve varieties of tomato seeds, lots of herbs for cooking, four varieties of corn, giant sunflowers, and an entire bed of Erin’s zinnias. The garden was wonderful! As planned, I hired a wonderful professional organizer to help me clear out our home this year. I learned so much from Perri and achieved a 2024 goal to get rid of 20-30% of our belongings. In other home news, we shared our garage gym makeover and found black mold in our kitchen—this ushered in the Isaacson Wild Season of 2024.

Work and Learning: It was quite a year for work and learning! I moved my email list to Substack, and am praying about how best to use it this year. I wrote a little guidebook on How to Let Go of a Dream. I’m grateful it helped so many of you step into new seasons. I read good books: 365 Thank You’s, Good Inside (read this twice), Made for People, The Energy Bus, Fast Like a Girl, Let it Go, The Martha Manual, Be Thou My Vision, Good Energy, and several more. I fell in love with cooking, and sharpened my knife skills. Co-teaching a Shakespeare class at our kids’ homeschool school became a highlight of my fall. A huge blessing this year was doing business consulting for a few friends and helping them transition businesses—either to retire or sell. It was a JOY to use what I’ve learned to help these friends step into new seasons. After speaking at Harvard, I began a part-time role and signed up for something after 20+ years. I passed my exam on Christmas eve—I’m now a certified personal trainer (again!) with NASM. I’m so grateful for this.

Marriage: This is perhaps the category of life that was most invested in this year, and with blessed returns. We deeply invested time and effort into our marriage. We made time for marriage counseling, took several marriage retreat trips, had Saturday day date, and after a surprise proposal from Ari, renewed our vows, and asked each other these six questions every week from Beating 50 Percent:

— What brought you joy this week?
— What was something that was hard this week?
— What’s one specific thing I can do for you this week?
— How can I pray for you this week?
— Is there anything that’s been left unspoken or unsaid? (Convictions, confessions, unresolved hurt?)
— What’s a dream, desire or thought that’s been on the forefront of your mind this week?

Finances: We transfer all of our investments to Kingdom-honoring redemptive funds thanks to our financial advisor’s guidance. We invested in a piece of regenerative land in Saxpahaw with friends. We opened savings accounts for the kids and began teaching Grace about financial health and investing. Most significantly, we paid for our funerals and decided where we will be buried. This was admittedly an eerie process to fill out the paperwork and make these decisions, but we know it’s the best gift we could give to our children so they don’t have to worry about it when we go Home.

Family: Sarah started her new school. After years and years of praying for the right education for her long-term growth and trying literally everything (public, homeschool, private, forest school – some of which were wonderful), God finally showed us his beautiful plan for her. It’s a small school for exceptional kiddos, and aside from the learning methods and support for her needs, they have chickens, a garden, morning hikes, and… two therapy cats! She is the happiest camper, and so are we. After all these years of my nervous system being ramped up, trying to help her to feel safe each day, we’ve all taken a big deep breath. PDA and Autism can be complicated in a traditional school environment. Now, Sarah is in a place that celebrates her and builds her up as a leader. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Also of note with our family this year: our family photo albums finally are complete thanks to Chatbooks‘ Yearbook feature. It was so easy and I did it all from my phone. In the fall, we celebrated having a (wonderful, loving, creative, delightful) teenager, and had a truly blessed homeschool year with Josh and Grace.

Community and Friends: We spent meaningful time with friends each week after church and on trips—Sunday lunch at Whole Foods with the Fisher’s became a weekly tradition. There were cul-de-sac soccer matches, playdates, concerts, prayer walks, BBQ’s, and lots of neighborhood pool time. I was grateful to see many long-time friends this year on my travels, and loved our visit my friend Maghon’s shop. Ari and I closed the year with our 15th annual dinner with local Cultivate ladies. This yearly tradition is a gift. We have two annual questions we ask each other (gents included!), and we love hearing everyone’s answers:
– What good things happened this year?
– What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
What a beautiful marker of time and the Lord’s faithfulness this has been over many years.

2024 was a year of healing, new adventures, and most of all, depended closeness with each other. There were significant challenges, and so many things not captured in this post. But, as always, I look back and raise my Ebenezer: thus far the Lord has helped me!

Happiest first week of 2025, friends. Up next… my 2025 goals.

The post 2025 Goal Setting: 2024 Year in Review appeared first on Lara Casey.

Open your hearts ere I am gone,
And hear my old, old story;
For I am the month that first looked down
On the beautiful Babe of glory.
You never must call me lone and drear
Because no birds are singing;
Open your hearts, and you shall hear
The song of the angels ringing.

— “What December Says,” by Mary B. C. Slade

Hello, final month of 2024; I’m so glad you’re here. You usher in my favorite season of reflection, peace, necessary endings, and new beginnings.

Grace’s favorite hobby in December is wrapping gifts—you would never know it was just a humble spatula in the one on the far right!

My word for 2024 was new; it has been a year of a lot of new thus far. New dreams, new grief, new health, new challenges, new healing, new core memories, new tasks, and new paths ahead. I’m ready to settle into our living room for a few quiet moments to reflect on the last few months and listen in to what God wants for our next seasons.

After my double post in November, here’s a short update for December. More to come when I share my 2024 year-in-review and 2025 goals soon!

November highlights:
— We went to Nassau. After our trip was stolen, this was a bittersweet experience.
— I went to Charleston to serve in my new part-time role. I also got to go to my favorite gym.
— Grace turned 13!
— Ari and I started a broadcast channel to share our health journey.
— We baked. (get this in your hands!)
— We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my mom and dear friends. A few bright zinnias—the last of the season in our garden—made it to our Thanksgiving table.

Ahead in December:
— I didn’t write this on my Tending List because it’s too much to grasp. How has it been a year? How is she gone?? I still don’t want to accept it. I’m days away from the one-year anniversary of Jessie’s homegoing, and I feel the grief welling up to hold me still and accept it just a little more. I’ll honor her this Saturday and with all the love she deserves. I miss her so. Lord, come quickly.
— Our annual Christmas dinner with some of the Cultivate and Southern Weddings ladies is always a highlight of our year. This sweet and meaningful tradition started with our first dinner in 2013, I believe. Emily, you’ll have to tell me if I have that date correct!

— Also, this month: I turn 45. This age milestone feels significant, and I plan to use its weight with intention and wonder.
— Our advent reading has been refreshing the last few days. Our stack:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy of Daily Worship – Our main reading each night — I love this book.
Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions with Handel’s Messiah
A Vintage Christmas 
Come, Let Us Adore Him 
Then Sings My Soul: Holiday Special Edition 

— We broke out ALL the Christmas books with the kids; see my favorites list here. We have such a special collection—many that Jessie gave us over the years.
— I look forward to digging into my 2025 PowerSheets. It’s going to be a little tricky to get quiet time with all the kids home, but I plan to break out a few stickers and fun things for them to get creative with, too!

My December PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month as we close the year? I’d love to hear.

The post December Goals appeared first on Lara Casey.

This recipe is SO good, friends!

Affiliate links are used in this post.

Are you on the hunt for a delicious treat that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto? Okay, maybe you just want to increase your protein every day and love chocolate. All of the above? Look no further! These Chocolate Prime Protein Muffins are rich and decadent and packed with protein to fuel your day. These muffins are our favorite snack to enjoy anytime, perfect for breakfast, a snack, or daily dessert.

Why You’ll Love These Muffins

— Gluten-Free Goodness: Made without any wheat flour, our muffins use coconut flour (you could also use almond!), which is low in carbs and high in great taste.
— Dairy-Free Delight: With no dairy ingredients, these muffins cater to those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, making them a versatile option for anyone.
— Keto-Friendly: With minimal carbs, high fiber, and no added sugars, these muffins fit perfectly into your ketogenic diet, satisfying your sweet tooth.
— High-Protein Fuel: Packed with grass-fed, dairy-free Prime Protein, these muffins are perfect for post-workout recovery or as a filling snack to energize you throughout the day.

Ingredients You’ll Need

— 6 whole eggs
— 1.5 cups room temperature water
— 1.5 tablespoons Zen Basil Seeds in 1.5 cups hot water (our superfood secret ingredient!)
— 1.5 cups coconut flour
— 6 scoops chocolate Prime Protein – gluten, dairy, and junk-free! Get yours 30% OFF TODAY ONLY with this link
— 1/2 teaspoon salt – we love Real Salt
— 1 teaspoon baking powder – we use Otto’s grain-free
— 1 teaspoon turmeric – a powerful anti-inflammatory spice
— 1 teaspoon cinnamon
— 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
— 1 tablespoon stevia, monk fruit, the sweetener of your choice
— 1 cup chopped unsalted almonds for a yummy crunch
— Optional: dairy-free chocolate chips for extra indulgence

Instructions

— Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) and grease your muffin tin with coconut or avocado oil (the best choices for seed-oil-free, dairy-free, high-temp cooking!).
— Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the 1.5 cups of room-temperature water and your 6 eggs. Whisk!
— Heat Water: Boil 1.5 cups water and pour over your tablespoon and a half of Zen Basil Seeds. Let them “bloom” for one minute – this is fun to watch! Add the Zen Basil Seeds and hot water to your large bowl and whisk till smooth.
— Add Dry Ingredients: Add your spices, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, coconut flour, chopped almonds, and 6 scoops of Prime Protein together with the wet ingredients. Stir until smooth.
— Bake: Distribute the batter evenly into your muffin tins (we LOVE our Caraway Muffin Pans – non-toxic, and muffins come out like a dream with no liners needed!) and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
— Cool and Enjoy: Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy them warm or store them in an airtight container for later!

Nutrition Info

How amazing is this nutrition info!? 13.8 grams of high-quality protein, high fiber, low carb, and packed with nutrients.

Perfect for Any Occasion

These Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Keto Chocolate Prime Protein Muffins are not just a treat for yourself; they make a fantastic addition to brunches, parties, or as a surprise gift for friends.

Enjoy!

Embrace the joy of healthy baking with this easy muffin recipe. Whether you’re meal prepping or looking for a quick snack, these muffins are sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Our kids LOVE them, too!

Happy baking!

The post Delightfully Healthy: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Keto Chocolate Prime Protein Muffin Recipe appeared first on Lara Casey.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Throughout my entire life and career, this verse has guided my path and pushed me out of my comfort zone into things I never thought I’d do. From helping couples plan meaningful beginnings to married life to coaching women across the world to live out what matters, I’ve heard these words from Moses echoing through my soul. Listen in to my favorite podcast episode for more.

This life is a gift, friends.

We’ve each been given gifts to use to grow good things that last longer than us.

And, yet, there’s something, maybe a lot of things, that try to thwart our efforts and hold us back from using those gifts, right? Or even knowing what they are in the first place.

Fear, comparison, overwhelm, limiting beliefs, and the many lies that swirl in our minds vie for our attention and hold us back from the life that is truly life.

This happens to our kids, too.

A recent view from the homeschool room. I love this time with them each week!

Our pre-teens and teens, especially, struggle with anxiety, feeling like they are too much or not enough. The root of ‘anxiety’ means to divide—to separate. Our kids’ hearts are being chased after and divided from community, connection, the joy of childhood, creativity, using their gifts, genuine love, and so much more.

As you know, I hung up my entrepreneurial hat in 2022 to focus on my family, and frankly, because God said so. It was not easy in the least. Heartbreaking, in fact. I share more here. But, there were things that needed my energy and time in a new chapter. We have a special needs kiddo, we homeschool, my dad had recently gone to be with the Lord, my best friend died suddenly of cancer, and my health needed tending to in this season. Our marriage needed a spotlight, too. It has been quite a journey. I’ve learned so much about myself and the Lord in these last two years.

And I’ve come to know that He likes surprises.

Surprise flowers from the Faith Driven Students team on PowerSheets Launch Day, which will always hold a special place in my heart! This was such a generous gesture.

Well, they aren’t a surprise to Him. Looking back, I see His perfectly orchestrated (sometimes crazy – read my last post about the wild season of this job so far, including planes catching fire and black mold!) plan in all its masterful intricacy. I had no idea that an opportunity to serve the next generation, while still focusing on my family and what He has for me in this season, would be part of my path.

It’s a joy and honor to share that I’ve been blessed with a role alongside the incredible team at Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor as Chief Education Officer of our new initiative, Faith Driven Students. I’m thankful to do this part-time while my kids are in lessons (about ten hours a week in this season) and extra thankful to learn so much to equip my kids along the way!

Friends, now you can see why I accepted an invitation to do this work – for the same reason I started Southern Weddings Magazine and Cultivate What Matters: God won’t let Psalm 90:12 out of my heart and soul. I want to use my gifts for the time I’ve been given on this earth to grow good things that last longer than me. I want my kids and the next generation—the world, e v e r y o n e on earth—to experience their unique lifelong adventure of faith! I want us all to know the gift of doing life alongside a Savior who can turn hard things into beautiful things, redeem all that’s lost, bring springs up out of the desert, create new life where all seems lifeless, turn challenges into opportunities, and guide an anxious generation to an abundant life. I want my kids and yours to know the way Home.

As a long-time entrepreneur, I love seeing people live out what matters most using their gifts—and I’m passionate about helping the next generation do the same.

Our mission is to equip a million teens to know their call to create and live out the joyful adventure of faith by:

—Discovering their identity in the family of Christ. We’ve partnered with Partick Lencioni and Working Genius to create a life-changing tool.
—Seeing how they belong in the Kingdom through imagination-opening stories. Get ready. We’re putting the finishing touches on our video course.
—Living out their unique call to create through teaching and intentional tools. You know I’m excited for this.

With Justin and the FDS team at our first summit in Chapel Hill—with a few surprise Cultivate goodies for each of them from me!

We get to “grow fruit on other people’s trees!” – Bob Buford

We’re creating something big, and I want you to join us:

— Let’s chat together about faith, entrepreneurship, encouraging the next generation, and more. I’m opening the door to podcast conversations for the first time in a long time. I have limited availability, so send us a note here before my calendar fills up.
— Join our newsletter to get all the details as we launch our beta course, future courses, and products.
— Listen to today’s podcast with Justin Forman and me where we take you behind the scenes. You don’t want to miss this episode.
— Follow @FaithDrivenStudents on Instagram.
— Join the team and come work with me! I’m hiring a VP of Students and cannot wait to meet you. Apply today for this leadership role alongside the amazing Students team and me.
— Watch the trailer below with Lecrae Moore, Coby Cotton, Patrick Lencioni, Jessica Nam Kim, and more…

Enormous thanks to the entire Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Halftime teams, especially Justin Forman and Henry Kaestner, for inviting me into this work. I’m grateful to work alongside you! Bonus thanks to Mike Sharrow, who was part of this role coming to life. I’m ever grateful for you and my C12 Business Forums group.

Behind the scenes at a recent video shoot in Dallas with the team.

Listen in for more on Faith Driven Students. There’s so much more to this story and more to come.

Thank you, friends, for encouraging me along the way in this journey. I’m thankful for you!

Let’s GO!!!

P.S. There were some cowbells in our first meeting, just in case you’re wondering.

The post The Joyful Adventure of Faith appeared first on Lara Casey.

Our twilight month November is,
The evening of the year.
The brilliant summer noontide left
A pallor soft and clear.
– Ruby Archer

I love thinking of this month as the “evening of the year.” Isn’t that wonderful? It ushers in a coziness, a quietness, and a pull towards intentionality in these final days of 2024. A quiet winding down is needed in our world.

The last two months—my first time ever missing a post here in all my years of blogging!—have been the most unexpected we’ve experienced. As we close the year, I’m settling into a different pace and perspective with all that’s happened lately. Let’s recap the Isaacson’s Wild Season of 2024, shall we?

When I last wrote to you, we were doing a small kitchen renovation, replacing our 20-year-old stove (the door had finally fallen off!) and adding a real vent fan with an actual hole in the wall to remove the cooking fumes. We took some drywall out during the demo and found black mold. It was everywhere, all over the insulation and walls. Needless to say, this came as a shock, and we had to gut the entire kitchen and replace it as we treated the mold. A two-week project turned into six weeks and the most stressful season moving in and out of our house, mostly living out of our garage gym on a hot plate and not getting much sleep.

That led to a long bout of sickness for me and eventually for the kids. We were breathing fumes and chemicals daily, trying to do homeschool in the garage or wherever the sounds of nail guns were muffled. Praise the Lord for our Airdoctors. I would not have felt safe in our house without them. They worked overtime!

Affiliate links are used in this post – you can find all my favorites linked here!

Ari making the family breakfast on the hot plate, bless him.

After weeks of displacement and chaos, two days after the second full dumpster left our house, we renewed our vows with friends and family. More on that highlight from October in a moment!

I left the celebration early to care for Josh and stayed up all night with him for several nights. His ten days of fever turned into pneumonia, which is apparently worse than ever this year among children, and a month of chronic coughing and sleepless nights. We did chest x-rays and daily nebulizer treatments and missed weeks of school in the process.

Then, finally looking forward to some relaxation after the craziest season of our lives (there was far more than I can list here), I wrote our travel agent to confirm our long-awaited honeymoon with the family. A bounced email led me on a Google search to find her mugshot, incarcerated for taking people’s vacation money and not actually booking their trips. We were one of those people. More on this story and how it’s now part of an FBI case (!) in my highlights here.

Woosh. Certainly, more devastating things happened in the world and our state during these weeks, but this was a difficult season for our family. I’ve been two months behind on replying to texts, emails, and life in general, and my nervous system took a hit. Romans 5:3-5 has been on repeat: ‘Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’

While all of this has produced suffering, we’ve experienced a double measure of hope as God has refined our whole family in the process. We’re so ready for this quiet and cozy “evening of the year.”

God has a sense of humor. The same week we found the mold was Josh’s week to bring home the class science pet – a bin full of worms! Ari was over it

September and October highlights:
— Spending an evening with close friends and family renewing our vows at the Honeysuckle Tea House was a gift. With the help of my friend Rhi via Facetime and the Honeysuckle team (and my brother – a story for another day!), I took on doing all of the flowers. This is not advised whilst weathering mold remediation and tending to sick kiddos, dear readers, but the results were all my dreams come true. This entire experience with friends we love so much was balm to our weary souls. Emily shared a reading from C.S. Lewis, other couples renewed their vows with us (we surprised them!), my friend Svetlana and her team wowed us, Gina made my soul feel peace and captured every moment with joy, and my mom and brother cooked all the food (all organic, local, gluten-free goodness!).

Mom cooking all the food for 100 of our friends.

Kaylee wrote my vows on my vows booklet for me at the very last minute and got all the kids down the aisle, many dear Southern Weddings and CWM friends were there, and friends traveled from afar far to be with us. Most importantly, Ari and I said our vows to each other, which I’ll share in a future post once I have all the photos to share with you. I loved every minute. Thank you, friends, for celebrating us from near and far! A sneak peek from Gina…

—The highlight of my week each week has been co-teaching a Shakespeare class at our kids’ homeschool school. It has been a JOY to laugh and play with these incredible middle and high school students. We are having a blast practicing our play, A Comedy of Errors.
— I took the kids to vote. It makes me tear up every time—voting is a joy and an honor to get to do.
— Given that I’ve sent two newsletters this entire year, I moved my list from a paid service to Substack. Join me here.
— Shay and Graham gave Ari and me a copy of this book that completed my liturgy collection. It’s wonderful.
— Homeschool time with these kids makes my heart go pitter-patter.

— And now for a rather big update that will get more airtime soon: I started a new job in mid-August, friends. A big announcement, I know! It’s a part-time executive role (about ten hours a week when the kids are in school) with a wonderful ministry, and it has been quite an adventure. When you set out to do good things for God, the enemy will work hard to thwart your efforts! I’ve never experienced such clear spiritual warfare. I can share the details on November 12th, but let me tell you a story for now. During my first week of work, I was set to fly to Jacksonville for a shoot with Tim Tebow. My plane started to taxi down the runway, and there was smoke. My plane caught fire, friends! What in the world!? I never made it to the shoot. Two weeks later, we found the black mold in our house just hours before I was set to lead our first team summit in Chapel Hill. I got sick in the remediation process and had nowhere to work with the nail guns and trying to feed and care for my kiddos without a kitchen. I flew to Dallas for a leadership meeting on the heels of the worst virus I’ve ever experienced and somehow gave a presentation. It has been zero smooth sailing since day one and many bumps along the road, but I’m taking this battle as a nod from God that we are up to something good. Stay tuned!

Ahead in November:
— We are still headed to the Bahamas. Days off are hard to come by and we purchased non-refundable plane tickets, so we rebooked our trip. Paying for it twice is not fun, but we need this time together as a family to hear from the Lord (on a water slide or two) after a wild season.
— I’m celebrating God’s faithfulness with the one-year mark since a major surgery last November.
— Grace turns 13!!!! I had to restrain myself from using more !’s! I love her so much. We’re having a small Eloise-themed celebration at home.
— I’m traveling to Charleston for a week for a work retreat. Very excited to visit Ethos again.
— Operation Put Our Health Back Together is on this month. I’m on a sauna streak and focused on detox and more movement. I’m also considering a turkey trot — a brisk walk for this hEDS gal instead of running.
— After an unexpected year, I’m ready to break out all my stickers, pens, and a hot cup of tea to do my 2025 PowerSheets (use code LARA for a discount) in a little solo retreat morning I’m planning. I had hoped to do this alongside friends in the next Flourishng Founders retreat, but life was a little full, as you can see. I’m planning an early 2025 FF retreat to start the year well. Details to come.
— We’re staying home for Thanksgiving with my mom. I’m already craving cranberry sauce.
— I have my eye on several things for the holiday sale season, including stocking up on our favorite Prime Protein and AirDoctor filters.
— I’ve pre-ordered my Christmas tree from the same small organic farm as last year. We’ll decorate her once the Turkey has been enjoyed! And I am already playing Christmas music. Are you?

Thank you for sticking with me through this double post, friends! I’m grateful for you always.

My November PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear.

The post November Goals – a double post! appeared first on Lara Casey.

Golden in the garden,
Golden in the glen,
Golden, golden, golden
September’s here again!
Golden in the tree tops,
Golden in the sky—
Golden, golden, golden
September’s going by!
– Annette Wynne

It was an abundant August. Homeschool was in full swing, and we horsed around Primland once more (this time with kiddos!). We also hiked over Labor Day weekend in the North Carolina mountains with friends, had a visit from my mom, and savored the last of our garden blooms as we gifted them to neighbors in honor of my dad.

The second anniversary of his homegoing was, as usual, devastating and needed all at once. I anticipate these grief milestones, and yet I can never predict the weight of how they will change me as they come. A friend encouraged me that these are times we intentionally bring to remembrance those we miss, and in these times, we get to hold our loved one close once more. What a painful and beautiful paradox grief brings into our lives: to want that unbearable pain and closeness. It’s not sustainable to exist in that liminal space for more than a day or so, though—it inevitably leads me back to the reality of faith.

As I shared here, I walked around my neighborhood, pouring tears like a river, evidence of my humanness. I easily forget that Dad is with Jesus, and my faith will become sight one day, too! He is not dead, just not here. Ari baptized him at the age of 77. I have such proof of God‘s realness! He can do, and has done, the impossible.

This is faith.
To miss someone SO terribly and want them back – and to choose to trust that this story isn’t over. The best is yet to come. To believe in what you can’t yet see.

Death, oh, death, where is your sting?!

Puffy eyes; grateful heart. Flowers from a friend on the anniversary of his Homegoing.

I believe.
I trust.
I praise the Lord for His very real miracles.
And I miss you, Dad. More than ever.

August highlights:
— Ari, our friend Svetlana, and I completed an epically challenging hike together. We were drenched from head-to-toe in sweat by the end of those four hours and had a few bruises and scrapes to show for it. It made me grateful to God for the lack of pain in my joints with every step—truly miraculous.
— We praised the Lord for my little guy turning 9 with friends. Ari and I made a fun memory and baked the Celebration Cake from one of my favorite bakers (affiliate link). It was SO good.
— Our return visit to Primland Resort in Virginia – it was delightful. I love the hiking trails, views, people, and peace in the Virginia Mountains.
— Ari finished his first weekend-long course with IFM Yep, he’s going for it!
— We picked up my vow renewal dress and went to visit my friend Maghon’s shop.

Ahead in September:
— Moved over from August, and at the top of my list: vow renewal planning. I have my dress, Ari has his suit, and now we need to get this party planned. I need help, friends. Calling all florists and party people—your girl needs some guidance!
— We’re in the midst of a kitchen renovation. Our 20-year-old stove is finally getting replaced (the door was falling off!), and we are making space for a new season with growing kiddos.
— I begin co-teaching a Shakespeare class at our kids’ homeschool school this month. I’m so looking forward to this sweet time.

— And finally, I need some sleep. It was an emotionally challenging month, and I decided to step outside the box… or inside the PostIt Note… this month with my Tending List. Speaking of PowerSheets, I’m eagerly looking forward to the new launch. Mark your calendars for September 17th.

My September PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear.

The post September Goals appeared first on Lara Casey.

Live in the sunshine.
Swim in the sea.
Drink in the wild air.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

August brings a few more days to drink in the wild air of summer while whispers of fall begin. We’re taking one last family trip to the Virginia mountains to finish this season well, enjoying the farmer’s market and a brand-new bucket of sidewalk chalk.

What a month this is, friends. It’s a big one for me on many fronts; namely, it brings another new marker of time. (Thoughts from last year’s mark here and here.) July marks two years since Cultivate was acquired, and August brings the second anniversary of walking my Dad home. Grief resets our clocks, our perspectives, our hearts. I’m grateful for how these anniversaries shape me and grow my faith. Nothing has taught me more than what I’ve experienced in these last two years. “Grief and loss are with us continually, shaping our walk through life, and in some real way, determining how fully we engage our lives.” – Frances Weller

I love these women!

July highlights:
— Homeschool has begun. See my “Homeschool” highlight for more.
— We had an epic trip to Colorado with my mom and brother—what a gift!
— I took friends on a life-changing wellness retreat (and I started something new that’s been on my heart for months!). God writes the BEST stories. This was a turning point in my life and the lives of my friends.
— Ari posted on Instagram. 27k of you loved his first post – wow!
— I got a surprise in the mail that made me cry.

— I put my Levels back on after digging into Good Energy—an excellent resource on metabolic health, essential health testing, and good food. Ari and I both loved this book.
— Halftime has blessed me in this new season. Read more here.

Ahead in August:
— Vow renewal planning! I have a dress, Ari has his suit, and now we need to get this party planned.
— We’re headed back to Primland Resort in Virginia, and I’m grateful the kids will experience it with us this time.
— I’m planning the next wellness retreat! So many of you asked about this, and I have over 600 people on the waitlist—DM me at Flourishing Founders to join the list.
— Honoring Dad with our annual free flower stand in the neighborhood.
— I somehow put “cooking” twice on my Tending List—I love to cook, especially with all the farmer’s market goodness we’re enjoying lately.

My August PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear!

The post August Goals appeared first on Lara Casey.

When the scarlet cardinal tells
Her dream to the dragon fly,
And the lazy breeze makes a nest in the trees,
And murmurs a lullaby,
It is July.
– “July” by Susan Hartley Swett

As I’ve gotten older, it has become harder to pick a favorite month. I’ve learned to savor so many delights in each season! I can’t bear to prune my bolting oregano; the honeybees are in flowering herb heaven. Lately I’ve been picking herbs for my breakfast each morning. I get my workout done, the kids all settled, the laundry started, and I head out into the garden in my bare feet. Going out to hunt for my daily polyphenols with the honeybees—and see what grew overnight, which is a lot in these hot months—is a gift for my nervous system and makes me praise Him! I have a couple of eggs with whatever looks good – bunches of basil, climbing spinach, rainbow chard, and, yes, a few oregano flowers. I blend my Equip Prime Protein shake (chocolate with a scoop of the chocolate collagen, too!) and toss a few chocolate mint leaves in the mix. I love June; I love July; I love all the months for their distinct delights.

A favorite of the kids this season is picking blueberries at a friend’s farm. I don’t enjoy the process of making jam, but I do it because I LOVE the memories each jar unlocks, especially as we open our last jar somewhere in the chill of February. The “pop!” of the lids in winter instantly reminds me that summer is coming again soon enough.

My mom’s recipe is simple: sweet berries, a squeeze of lemon and orange juice, and a few slices of citrus peel—and that’s it! The key is to make small batches and stir constantly so the fruit doesn’t burn as it cooks down and sweetens.

June highlights:

— The zinnias are here. Life feels complete, somehow, with their colorful presence.
— I completed homeschool planning; praise Him. This is always my deep work task for the year. Sarah will continue with her new school, and Josh and Grace will dig into 4th and 7th grade. Did I mention I’m co-teaching a Shakespeare class this year at their homeschool school?
— My PowerSheets goals were extra focused in June—perhaps my simplest Tending List in years. After May, I need a month to listen to the Lord, learn (I read several great books and completed courses of various kinds!), and renew my mind in scripture as we reach the mid-year mark. It was fruitful.

— I promised I’d report back on our marriage retreat to Primland Resort in Virginia, and I’m so grateful to share it was life-changing. Primland is beautiful. We had an unfortunate first night with a carbon monoxide detector that wouldn’t stop beeping from a low battery, but our tiredness was eclipsed by the kindest staff and epic views. The best part of the trip, though, was our conversation. We went through the open-ended questions from The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work (affiliate link).

We’ve gone through these questions before and they are always a powerful springboard for us! It took us a whole four days to get through all of them, many of which brought up difficult subjects we needed to work through, but that’s precisely the point of investing in these times away together: time to work through it without the regular tasks and pressures of parenting. For us, special needs parenting takes the majority of our energy each day, and it has made these times away extra valuable for our marriage and the health of our family. We talked, cried (mostly me!), laughed, worked out a lot, hiked, took time for our individual dreams and goals, set goals as a couple, a family, and individual goals, and we broke through some walls. Ari literally broke that CO2 monitor off the wall, but we moreso broked through proverbial walls.

Other Primland highlights: the lobby decor is epic, the food and service were a delight, the “moonshine storytelling” was something I would have put in a Southern Weddings shoot, and Rahim at the BBQ barn was one of our favorite people to meet. There were lots of animal sightings, too! A black bear, mountain bunnies and songbirds, and several deer on the golf course were fun to see.

Things we wouldn’t do again: the spa. The treatments were wonderful, but the spa itself is in need of renovation. The steam room was moldy, and they burned incense in the lobby—not the healthiest for the lungs. Skip the spa and enjoy the trails and views instead!

Also in June:
— I started a book writing training program to help me learn a system that helps break through writing barriers. I’m very grateful for this, as I’ve often struggled with the process. I’ll complete the coursework through July and start a 90-day book writing print in August. I have started to collect notes with their method, and I have forty-six pages like this! It’s been so freeing to focus on the process instead of the results at this point. Little by little…

— Ari joined Instagram. Y’all heard it first. Get ready.

Ahead in July: We’re headed to Colorado next week to visit my brother, and I’m taking a few friends to Carillon for a wellness retreat at the end of the month. I’m also set to complete my NASM certification, and I’ll be working through the writing course. Most of all, though, it’s time to make some summer memories with our kiddos!

My July PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear!

The post July Goals appeared first on Lara Casey.

Why was June made?—Can you guess?
June was made for happiness!
Even the trees
Know this, and the breeze
That loves to play
Outside all day.

– “Why was June made?” by Annette Wynne

May 2024, you were filled with dreaming, decisions, gardening, and grief. May began with graduation celebrations, the end of the homeschool year, and all the emotions that tend to come with settling into summer rhythms. The middle of May ushered in an experience I’d anticipated for several months: my best friend’s funeral. Along with that experience, which was devastating and beautiful all at once, came words. Lots of words. I felt God’s call to write, and so early one morning, I did, in Jessie’s honor. Listen to this (the third video in that series) for more of that story.

The last weeks of May were marked with father/son camp for the gents, a tour of Montrose Gardens, and a “mountains to sea” adventure for the whole family. We enjoyed time in the Blue Ridge Mountains with friends and a trip to Corolla, NC, with those same friends the very next week. It was a time of dreaming together about what’s next in this new phase of life.

It’s surprising and interesting to be in this second-half journey. A friend told us that it’s a time when you can take the most risks in your life to try new things and pave new paths without them feeling like the risks of earlier years. You’ve established your career at this point and can reenvision and reinvent in many ways. We’re experiencing that as we test the waters with large projects and new learning. We know these are the days of our lives, and it’s time to do the things we’ve always wanted to do.

One of those things is to finally have a real wedding! We eloped to Las Vegas at the height of the Iraq War and said, “Someday, we’ll have a real wedding.” Three kids and 18 years later, we’re finally doing it—and grateful to celebrate alongside long-time friends. One of the only reasons people gather at these later stages of life is for funerals; we’re gathering to celebrate God’s faithfulness while we’re living. Now, I just need to find a dress.

It’s already a week into June as I’m getting this post out because of travel and a wild sickness that knocked me out for a couple weeks. I don’t know what it was (I tested for all the things); I haven’t been that sick in a decade. I think the funeral put my nervous and immune systems into sudden stress as the grief welled up, so I’m calling it grief-itis. Praise the Lord for His mercy as He changes us for the better in these experiences. Grief is all-consuming and awful in the moment, and God uses it all. It’s the cocoon that pulls us into transformation. The last few weeks have grown me and taught me.

Ahead in June: Homeschool planning for next year, and Ari and I are grateful to have another marriage retreat coming up. This time we’re headed to Primland Resort in Virginia. We’ll report back!

My PowerSheets goals are extra focused this month—perhaps my simplest Tending List in years. The kids obviously did some decorating for me. After May, I need a month to listen to the Lord, learn (I’ve downloaded several books and courses of various kinds!), and renew my mind in scripture as we reach the mid-year mark.

My June PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear!

The post June Goals appeared first on Lara Casey.