The Version of You That Left Isn't Always the Version That Comes Home

Hey friend,

We’ve been in a weird state the last couple of weeks. Between family issues and school starting again and an influx of work, we’ve felt overwhelmed. At the same time, we’ve also felt overwhelmed with love and support from friends and family who have reached out during a not-so-great time. It’s comforting to know that, in times of turmoil and on days that feel like they might never end, there are people in your corner you can turn to to laugh and cry and share a bottle of wine with.

We had family over last night to celebrate a birthday, and I was reminded once again of the importance of community, especially in times of need. A lot of our friends moved away at the end of last year. We went from hosting dinner parties every week to it just being us this year, and while that has been totally fine, I must admit, last night was really fun. We were pretty rusty when it came to hosting, because by the end of the night after everyone left, we were exhausted and completely depleted. I looked at PJ and said I couldn’t believe we used to do this all the time. It’s a lot! He nodded in agreement.

Still, would I do it again tomorrow? Of course. Just give me a good night's sleep, a quiet morning, and another bottle of wine to share with the people who make life's heavier seasons feel just a little bit lighter.

If you’re up for it, please give this issue a little heart, because it would make our day and it also helps other people discover Okay McKay. Thanks, y’all!

Our whole house smells like fall, and it’s all thanks to this fragrance oil that makes it smell so warm and cozy as soon as you walk through our front door. It envelops you in a big blanket of comfort, even if it’s still in the 90s outside. Whatever. We need all the creature comforts we can get right now, and fall is our favorite time of the year!

PERSONAL

A month back, we saw the movie The Odyssey while we were at the beach, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head ever since. From the acting to the set design to the visuals to the score, it’s my favorite film of the year. But something else has stuck with me since seeing it, something I can’t stop thinking about, and it pertains to the overall theme of the story: coming home.

I started thinking about how it applies to my life. Home, and everything it encompasses, is the most important thing to PJ and I. What it looks like, what it feels like, what it smells like, who lives here, who passes through, it’s history and its future. There is intentionality behind everything we do when it comes to home, especially this home, because, as it so happens, this one is extra special to us.

And that’s when this thought hit me like a ton of bricks: