It seems strange to talk about starting over mid-year in July. But honestly? It’s kind of the perfect time.

Right now, we’re in the thick of everything. Our homestead is transitioning—the food we preserved last year is dwindling, and the garden is just starting to give back. There’s new growth, new energy, and a new season coming. And if you’re anything like me, you’re knee-deep in bug spray, sand, sunscreen, and a kitchen that somehow never stays clean.

We’re in the middle of harvest and beaches and canning, but the whisper of fall is already in the air. Homeschool planning is starting to creep into the corners of my mind. I’m scribbling notes about curriculum while I’m snapping beans. This—this in-between time—is a cycle of endings and beginnings. It’s that familiar feeling of starting over mid-year.

And it reminds me:

starting over mid-year

Every fresh start, even in July, can be filled with His grace and power. Even if the start looks like piles of laundry, weedy gardens, and kids drawing on the walls with crayon.

The Invitation of Newness in Christ

There’s something comforting about that verse. In Christ, we don’t just hit reset—we become something entirely new. Not perfectly organized or instantly refreshed, but new in the sense that we’re being renewed every day. Spiritually. Mentally. Emotionally.

Even the smallest restart—like wiping off the counter or opening your homeschool planner—is part of that process. Grace sneaks into the mundane. And somehow, God meets us there—even in our starting over mid-year.

Embracing Grace in the Everyday Restarts

Let me paint you a picture: My kitchen is always a mess. Always. My garden? It’s a battleground between the plants and the weeds. And my homeschool plan? Let’s just say it never stays on track. But these things—the weeds, the ants, the chaos—aren’t failures.

They’re invitations.

Invitations to pause, to reflect, and to lean into God’s presence. When I tend the weeds, I’m reminded I have things worth growing. When I wipe the counters for the fiftieth time, I remember the meals that fed my family. When I see doodles on the wall, I see creativity in action.

His new creation power brings energy and hope. It doesn’t erase the mess. It just gives it meaning. And it reminds me that starting over mid-year isn’t a setback—it’s just another part of the cycle.

starting over mid-year

Trusting God in the Process

Here’s the thing—starting over takes work. You’ve got to weed. You’ve got to clean up the crumbs so the ants don’t take over. You’ve got to restock the homeschool shelf, knowing full well your plan won’t go exactly as planned.

But you don’t do it alone.

I read this line in a fantasy novel recently. A character said, “I trust God to keep us safe, but that don’t mean I expect Him to fill the sandbags.”

That hit me. Because it’s true. Trusting God doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing our part, knowing He’s doing His. His work in us is gentle but steady. And if we listen, He’ll guide us.

It’s easy to trust God when life is smooth. But when your garden is a jungle, your homeschool is behind, the bills are piling, and the kids are cranky—it’s harder.

But even then—especially then—God is already at work. And He’s with us even in the starting over mid-year moments.

Encouragement to Keep Moving Forward

Each tiny act of obedience matters. Every weed pulled, every meal prepped, every prayer whispered while sweeping Cheerios off the floor—it all counts.

God is in the middle of it. He’s not waiting for your house to be spotless or your homeschool plan to be Pinterest-worthy. He’s with you in the thick of it. He’s present in every starting over mid-year reset.

So as the summer winds down and a new season rises, take a deep breath. He’s doing something new in you.

You just have to fill the sandbags.

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank You for fresh starts. Thank You for making me new—again and again. Help me to see Your hand in the messy middle, in the unfinished laundry, and the hopeful lesson plans.

Give me the courage to start over, to trust You in the process, and to find joy in the everyday restarts. Remind me that my work—both seen and unseen—is part of Your ongoing creation.

Amen.

Hi, I’m Bri — the heart behind Hesitant Root. I wasn’t raised on a farm or homeschooled in the woods. I grew up with a city mindset and a fast-paced lifestyle. But after marrying my very country husband, things slowly began to shift. Over time, I traded drive-thrus for homemade meals and school drop-offs for homeschooling rhythms. Now, years later and with four kids in tow, I’m a newish homesteader, a homeschooling mama, and a firm believer in starting where you are. Here at Hesitant Root, I share our journey of growing food, learning at home, managing a small space, and trying to live simply, self-reliantly, and faithfully—even when it’s messy and loud. If you’re navigating motherhood, home education, or a slow shift toward a simpler life, I hope you’ll feel at home here. This space is for the hesitant, the hopeful, and everyone learning as they grow.
Bri Picard

Hi, I’m Bri — the heart behind Hesitant Root.

I wasn’t raised on a farm or homeschooled in the woods. I grew up with a city mindset and a fast-paced lifestyle. But after marrying my very country husband, things slowly began to shift. Over time, I traded drive-thrus for homemade meals and school drop-offs for homeschooling rhythms.

Now, years later and with four kids in tow, I’m a newish homesteader, a homeschooling mama, and a firm believer in starting where you are.

Here at Hesitant Root, I share our journey of growing food, learning at home, managing a small space, and trying to live simply, self-reliantly, and faithfully—even when it’s messy and loud.

If you’re navigating motherhood, home education, or a slow shift toward a simpler life, I hope you’ll feel at home here. This space is for the hesitant, the hopeful, and everyone learning as they grow.

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