Finding My Way Back to the Kitchen
The kitchen has been a little quiet lately.
When I started My Franklin Kitchen, I imagined spending my days experimenting with recipes, cooking for my family, and documenting the little things that make a house feel like home. And for a while, that's exactly what I was doing.
But life has a funny way of changing plans.
At the end of the summer, we found out that we're expecting our fourth baby! After three wonderful boys, we're welcoming a little girl this spring, and we couldn't be more excited.
What I wasn't quite prepared for was how completely the first trimester would take me out of the kitchen.
Between the nausea and exhaustion, even thinking about cooking some days was far more than I could manage. For someone who genuinely loves food and finds so much joy in preparing it, that was quite a change.
And it got me thinking about something I've experienced so many times over the years.
Sometimes, we're in such a good groove.
We plan meals, keep the refrigerator stocked, cook homemade dinners, stay on top of the laundry, and feel like we've found a rhythm that works for our family.
And then something happens.
We get sick. Life gets busy. The kids need more of us. Our routines fall apart, and suddenly the things that once felt effortless seem overwhelming.
It's so easy to look around and feel frustrated with ourselves for falling behind. As though all the progress we made somehow disappeared.
But I'm learning that there's no reason to be so hard on ourselves. Life moves in seasons, and so do we.
Sometimes we're doing it all, and sometimes we're simply doing what we can.
And that's perfectly okay.
Thankfully, I'm slowly starting to feel more like myself again.
With the arrival of cooler weather here in Franklin, and entering the second trimester, I've found myself drawn back to the kitchen.
There have been pots of homemade soup simmering on the stove, easy slow cooker dinners, and the familiar pleasure of gathering everyone around the table.
I'm not trying to jump back into elaborate meal plans or perfectly organized routines. I'm simply starting with what sounds good, what feels manageable, and what brings me joy.
And maybe that's the nicest part of finding your way back.
You don't have to pick up exactly where you left off, or make up for lost time. You can just begin again, one small thing at a time.
So, here's to finding our way back to the things we love, whenever we're ready.
There are new recipes to share, plenty of cozy fall cooking ahead, and a very exciting new addition to our family coming this spring.
I'm so glad to be back in the kitchen.
With love,
Alexis
Some cozy fall recipes: One Bowl Banana Bread
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