by Karon -

My August Project Wasn’t a Project at All

My August project wasn’t a project at all.

August turned out to be a month of movement. I stayed in three different states and drove through five others, covering around 2,040 miles. I knew it would be a month of transitions, packing and unpacking, and lots of time behind the wheel, so I decided to plan most of my free days around family.

I spent time with my mom creating art for the local county fair. I helped her create two pieces: one was a painting of flowers in a cowboy boot, which seemed appropriate for a fair. The other was a paper collage of a bird, since my mom loves the birds that come to her feeders outside her window. We had fun working on the projects together, and I was so proud when she came home with two ribbons, including a Best of Show! We also enjoyed a couple of special meals together.

I took each of my three Texas grandsons on an individual date. They each got to choose an activity and a restaurant for lunch. I ended up with pizza for lunch on two of the three days, but it was so worth it. I loved having that one-on-one time with each of them and getting to see what they wanted to do.

Over those three days, I visited two different museums, one playground, and the duck pond three times. One chose the Veterans Museum because he loves everything military, even though we’d been there before. The littlest one chose the playground in my old neighborhood because it was always his favorite thing to do when he would visit. And the oldest opted for the Sam Houston Museum since neither of us had been before.

We almost always visit the duck pond on outings. It’s the same duck pond where I took my kids when they were little, so it’s fun to take my grandkids there now. It has a huge cypress tree that I always take pictures of the boys standing beside. It’s become a bit of a tradition, even though they don’t always want to cooperate. We also enjoyed some lovely family meals and plenty of time together at home.

All those miles on the road were worth it when I reached my final destination and got to spend more time with my daughter and her family. Because of the distance, I don’t get to spend as much time with these two grandsons, so I thoroughly enjoyed having several days to simply be Grandma—or “Christmas Tree,” as they call me. It’s my grandma name, given to me on a whim by the older one, and somehow it stuck. I love it! We ended the month with a birthday celebration for my youngest grandson.

Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t plan a project for August. Instead, I let the month unfold into something I hadn’t planned for: a month filled with precious time with my family.

Bluebonnets blooming in Fredericksburg Texas
by Karon -

The Rhythm I Found in Fredericksburg: My March Project

Each month this year, I’ve been choosing a project centered around intentional living and personal growth. In January, I focused on really seeing. In February, it was acts of kindness.

March, though, didn’t begin with a clear plan. Somewhere between moving multiple times, settling into Fredericksburg, and spending my days with my mom, a different kind of project quietly took shape — one I didn’t plan, but simply lived.

This month became about letting go of structure and allowing a natural rhythm to emerge.

I thought my month in Fredericksburg would be slow-paced and relaxing, but it did not start out that way. The house I had leased for the month had one tiny problem — a mouse — which I discovered after I had unloaded most of my things.

The woman I rented it from had another place I could stay temporarily while I looked for something else. But there were no other rentals available in my price range on such short notice. Instead, she arranged for me to move between a couple of Airbnb rentals, which meant packing up and relocating four different times during the month.

My only other option would have been to give up my time in Fredericksburg with my mom and go somewhere else. I decided to be flexible, move around, and stay.

So far, it’s been well worth it.

My mom and I have shared some really lovely moments. My niece came for a visit, and we spent time together talking, eating good food, and catching up. Then my sister Kathy visited. We took mom to Hallmark — her favorite store — and helped her pick out cards for the next few months. After lunch, we sat with her and organized them.

The next day, Kathy and I rearranged mom’s room to make it more functional for her. We also had some priceless time together catching up, and shared the best cheese enchiladas I’ve had in a long time.

Each day, I sit with my mom during one or more meals and visit with her and her tablemates. And each day, I’ve been slowly cleaning out and reorganizing her drawers, her closet, and her things, trying to make her small space feel a little more peaceful and ordered. There’s something about it that has felt unexpectedly therapeutic.

This has been the rhythm I’ve found in Fredericksburg.

Other things have been more sporadic — the gym, a few CrossFit workouts, hiking at Enchanted Rock, and exploring some of the tourist spots I’ve never seen before. But the rhythm hasn’t been in those things. It’s been in the everyday moments — sitting, talking, organizing, and simply being with my mom.

I am in my seventh month of being a nomad, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable going with the flow and being spontaneous. I am learning to settle into a place and find my rhythm there, whether that looks like walks on the beach or time spent with my mom.

More than anything, I’m deeply appreciating time with family, and this month has given me so much of that.

As this month comes to an end, I find myself reflecting.

I did some of the things I had hoped to do — a few hikes, some exploring, small moments of getting out and experiencing this place. But that isn’t what lingers.

What lingers are the quiet rhythms that shaped my days — the conversations, the routines, the simple act of being there with my mom.

This month didn’t unfold the way I expected. But somewhere along the way, it settled into exactly what it needed to be — a rhythm rooted in connection, in presence, and in time with my mom.

And I’m so grateful I stayed.