After much back and forth David and I signed our yearly lease yesterday. This honestly felt like a quiet kind of win. Nothing dramatic, nothing that comes with celebration or attention, but still something that matters in a real and practical way. The sad part is we will be stuck in this 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath for another year with David and Jr who also signed the least and 3 dogs.
Charlie and I wanted a house but not knowing what Charlie is going to do about work or Gerald and his house it was easier to sign another lease. Thank the LORD for the balcony and back and front porch because this gives me my own space which I need more than you know.
In a time when so many families are dealing with rising costs and constant uncertainty, our rent only going up about thirty dollars felt like relief. It means stability. It means staying where we are instead of having to uproot everything again. It means another year of familiar walls, familiar routines, and the comfort of not starting over.
That small moment of relief didnāt necessarily carry into this morning, though. Today came in full and already in motion, like it had been running ahead of us while we were still waking up. Was I ready for a busy morning no, but its what the LORD has brought us so I will take it.
Charlie and Bradley are heading out for an airport-related application today, which immediately set the tone for a busy and structured afternoon once David gets home. Anytime thereās travel, appointments, or time-sensitive plans involved, the whole house shifts into a more alert rhythm. Thereās timing to manage, things to remember, and people to keep track of. Itās not just a simple outingāit becomes a coordination point for everything else happening around it.
At the same time, there was an unexpected overnight guest situation that added an extra layer to the morning. It involved a child I hadnāt previously met, and it crossed a boundary in our home that needed to be acknowledged and addressed.
Even though Charlie is grown this is my home and there are rules that must be followed. Situations like that can shift the entire energy of a space, especially when they arenāt planned or discussed ahead of time. It changes how the household functions in real time, and it requires immediate adjustment from everyone involved.
So the morning became a mix of cleanup, regrouping, and trying to reset the space while still keeping everything moving forward. I made coffee for Charlie and myself, even though his room was already full of kids sleeping and needing to be sorted out and sent back home. It wasnāt a calm or quiet moment, but it was still a small anchor in the middle of everything happening at once. Coffee, in moments like this, isnāt really about comfortāitās about keeping steady enough to handle whatās in front of you.
Alongside all of that, there was also a needed conversation with Charlie about boundaries. Not an easy one, and not one that fits neatly into a morning that is already overloaded, but an important one nonetheless. When unexpected situations cross into your home, especially involving children and space thatās meant to feel secure and structured, it becomes necessary to reset expectations and make sure everyone is clear moving forward. These conversations arenāt about control, theyāre about protecting the balance of the household and making sure everyone understands what is and isnāt okay.
This morning has been one of those days where nothing slows down, even when I wish it would. Itās the kind of morning where life doesnāt wait for me to be ready. It just keeps moving, and I move with it whether I feel prepared or not.
Still, even in the middle of the noise and the tension and the constant adjustments, thereās a sense of forward motion. We signed the lease. Weāre still standing in our home. Weāre still navigating the chaos, the conversations, and the responsibilities as they come.
And today, thatās what life looks likeāmessy, active, and very real. As Charlie and I need to thank not only the LORD but David for the roof he has put over our heads keeping us and our pets safe in a space we can get to the things we need in a timely manner.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
