My Season of Yes (And Why It Had to End)

I wrote about this on Instagram, but I had a season of yes. For about two years, I was saying yes to everything - hangouts, projects, leadership opportunities, events. If someone asked, I was there. If there was a chance to be involved, to contribute, to show up - yes, yes, yes.

And honestly? It felt incredible for a while. I was energized by the connections, inspired by the projects, motivated by the impact we were making together. But during those fast-paced seasons, I could barely keep up with documenting the flow - there was always another meeting, another event, another yes waiting.

And that bothered me more than I realized.

At the end of last year, I started getting this whisper: “Come home.” Not physically, but spiritually, emotionally, rhythmically. Come home to the pace that actually sustains you.

I didn’t know what that meant at first, so I kept going. Even when Mike had to go into the office for commercial investment banking five days a week. Even when Neiko’s class schedule became more demanding. Even when my heart was whispering that maybe I needed to slow down and just be.

But then Noah was diagnosed with extreme gluten intolerance, and suddenly slowness wasn’t a choice - it was a necessity. Careful meal planning, intentional grocery shopping, being present with his needs in a way that required my full attention.

My season of yes was officially up, and I was walking into my slow days. And the strangest thing? I was relieved.

I’ve been talking to friends about how important it is for me to document this journey. For so many decisions in my life, God has allowed me to lean on the writings and words of others. And here’s what I keep coming back to - especially with homeschooling: it’s so rare to see middle and high school homeschoolers on the internet. They occupy so little space.

It’s really hard to do something you’re not seeing done or that isn’t written down somewhere.

So I want to document the journey - for my boys’ future selves, for a parent who just wants to see what someone else is doing, and because I feel like it’s an assignment I’ve been given. But I don’t want this to be consuming, or else the peace and the slowness won’t be there. It needs to be something I do once a week. The journey will be authentic - I’m not trying to create an aesthetic or an unachievable journey. It’s about the rhythm, the season, the flow of learning and living that sustains us.

Sometimes the whisper comes as a diagnosis. Sometimes as exhaustion. However it arrives, I’m learning to listen and trust that there’s wisdom in the slowing down.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. This is my time for slowly documenting!

Shalom,

Shelby

PS I have to thank Shonda for understanding the assignment and seeing me - these images capture the essence of artistic brilliance, intellectual courage, and authentic self-expression. These photographs beautifully showcase women who have shaped our cultural landscape through their creativity, scholarship, and fearless commitment to their craft.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​