August & Everything After...

In August, I’ll turn 35, Aaron and I will celebrate ten years of marriage, and we’ll spend our last month with Henry as our only child before the baby comes in September.

Last year at this time, I was training to run my first half marathon (and first race ever) on August 1st, and first full marathon on October 10th. Bittersweet released last August, and we launched a new website, and in September of last year, I started the book tour—44 events in 22 cities in 12 weeks.

Everything about this fall will be different, and I find I’m really welcoming that difference. Last year during our time at the lake, I did a lot of conference calls, plowed through millions of release details, ran and ran and ran, both literally and figuratively.

Between the training schedule and the release details, it was a sometimes stressful summer, and I remember a few times especially being a really poor hostess because I had to drop everything for this call or worry about this set of release details or get to bed at this time because I had a long run in the morning.

Last summer and fall, I was disciplined, focused, structured—those things aren’t easy for me, and I’m proud of that season. Both demands of running and the demands of traveling & speaking on a tight schedule are rigorous, and I’m proud of last summer and fall—the work I did, the ways I pushed myself.

But this season feels completely, entirely different. This season at the lake, this August, this approaching fall—they’re about family, about slowness, about a marriage and a baby and a home we’re creating.  A year ago my life was about what was out there—miles to cover, events to speak at, flights to catch. And now life seems to be about what’s right here—the lake, a soon-to-be-five year old and his Spiderman two-wheeler, a decade of memories that Aaron and I have been building together like laying bricks.

I’m sure there will be another season of structure, travel, discipline, heavy output. I love those seasons. I’m excited to finish Bread and Wine this winter, and I always love connecting with readers at events.

My best friend Annette and I have been talking about running a half marathon together—what better way to bounce back after babies? Just today we started looking at the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon in May. We met at Westmont in Santa Barbara, so it seems like the perfect place to celebrate new babies and dear friendship and thirty-five year-old bodies that are still (we hope!) full of life. And next June I'll speak at my first international event, outside of London--very exciting.

But all that’s for another season. This one is taken. And I feel really, really thankful for that.

Comments

[Christine]

What beautiful things, Shauna. So excited for you in this new season; can't wait to read all about it.

[Jenny Hollis]

Shauna, I'm reading Bittersweet right now, and I LOVE it. I only recently found your blog, and I am so exited to keep up with you! Can't wait for your next book! ;)

[Hilary Grace]

As an admirer of your candid and free writing style, I adore seeing how your life fits in to the mix ;-). In other thoughts, Is Bread and Wine your next book?

[bethany]

Can't believe only one month until new baby Niequist arrives. My prayers are with you as the date approaches. Also, I'm eagerly awaiting Bread & Wine - I can't wait to read it! And on a final note, my cousin just had her third miscarriage, and by the Grace of God I had left Bittersweet in my car, only to bring it with on a recent visit home. Had I not accidentally brought it with instead of leaving it on my shelf, I wouldn't have been able to give it to her. She messaged me today to tell me it's the one thing that's really helped her through this rough period. I cried and thanked God for a big full circle moment. I know that it doesn't make the pain of these kinds of experiences lessen, but it was a reminder to me that God uses our life stories to help heal one another, and I am so thankful for that.

[becks]

You are pregnant!! I am so excited for you!!! I am a 26 year old doing, loving ministry, figuring out life and matters of the heart, you have no idea how many bittersweet copies i've gotten for my friends! congratulations again!!

[laci]

i turned 35 last week. i knew i liked you. :)