The Wonder Report: July 1, 2022

Holding Space

Happy Friday!

First, my apologies for being absent from your inbox last week with no advance warning. I’ll explain more later, but normally I like to tell you when I won’t be showing up. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to do that.

Second, how is it July?

Third, both of the above are important for what I’m writing about this week: how I barely made it through June and how it left me with the overwhelming sense that I need to change things up a bit.

I thought about taking a good 800 words to explain what’s going on with me, but then I realized it’s much simpler than that. It’s been a challenging year filled with lots of change (Mom’s death, our move to a new city, our youngest son’s graduation, then sending him off to bootcamp, wrapping up my 10-year freelance career, starting a new job, and preparing to start grad school in the fall), and I need a break. I thought I could keep up the pace of this newsletter with all that’s going on. I wanted desperately to write about Kate DiCamillo’s books and to share my 0 to 60 adventures. (Though I hope you’ll continue to do both without me … I will be reading and exploring even though I’m not writing about it.) I wanted to share great articles about art and faith, and I looked forward to encouraging others writers, too. And I will again soon.

But for now, after working two full-time jobs for the past month, I need a minute to catch my breath. And I want to read books and look at great art and get outside for the joy of it, not just in the haste of having something to write about. So I’m taking July off and maybe part of August.

After some time away, I plan to come back to this space ready to serve you and have great conversations and chase wonder together … instead of just limping along because I feel I have to. I want you to feel that way too.

When I start anew, things will probably look a little different. And they should. While I’ve been sending out a newsletter for years, The Wonder Report was born just before the pandemic and came into its own when the world was a much different place, when I was a much different person. I don’t think it’s an idea that’s run its course, but I do think it needs to evolve as I do. And now that God has ushered me into a brand new season, The Wonder Report will follow suit.

Thank you so much for subscribing. I always want my presence in your inbox to be a gift and a blessing. And when I’m rested and able to offer that again, I’ll slip back in.

With hope,
Charity