We had friends over this morning. She and I have known each other for well over a decade. We went to each others’ wedding, our kids were all born within a few weeks of each other, and we usually try to get a visit in at least once a month. It doesn’t always happen. Life gets in the way sometimes, but we try.

For the last year and a half, we have gone to her, as we had no home to call our own. This time, they came to us. The last time they were here was before the foundation was laid. Things have changed a lot in 10 months. Today, they were officially the first stay-awhile visitors in our home.

6 kids in a 20×24 space can make a LOT of noise. Mostly happy noise, yes, but noise nonetheless. After they left, I needed to shut down a little and do a bit of noise detox. My kiddos were mostly happily reading and drawing, so I pulled out my (new) sketchbook, sat in my corner, and tuned out for a bit.

I’m not comfortable with drawing. Angles and persective and shadowing and all the things are largely foreign to me. It is frustrating to see something in your head and be unable to reproduce it on paper. But, I’ve been around long enough to know that no one is good at something the first time(s) they try. This is what learning is for. And I have 160 pages in my sketchbook. I have space to grow.

Isn’t that what this whole process has been about? Finding or making or gaining space to grow? I’ve done a lot of things this year I “don’t know how” to do. Sometimes the best way to learn is just to do.