This Sunday Chapter is arriving a day late thanks to the holiday weekend, but honestly, that feels fitting for this week’s topic.
Sometimes things don’t happen exactly when we planned. Sometimes we fall behind schedule. Sometimes we have to adjust.
And sometimes, just like sourdough bread, the timing has a mind of its own.
About seven or eight years ago, I began my gluten-free journey. And like most things in life, it hasn’t been perfect.
Even now, I occasionally discover that something I’ve been eating contains gluten when I had no idea it did. I’ve learned to read labels, ask questions, and make adjustments along the way. I’ve also gotten used to going without a lot of things.
Bread.
Buns.
The complimentary rolls that everyone else gets to enjoy when we go out to dinner.
For years, I simply accepted that those things weren’t part of my plate anymore.
Then about a year ago, I jumped on the sourdough bandwagon that seemed to be taking over TikTok.
Of course, gluten-free sourdough is a little different story.
It’s been a journey of trial and error, figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and trying recipe variations along the way. Some loaves have turned out beautifully. Some have been… well, let’s just say they never made it to the cutting board.
And I’ve learned something else along the way.
Just like the vegetables grown in a home garden don’t always look like the perfectly shaped, picture-perfect vegetables in the grocery store, gluten-free sourdough bread doesn’t look or behave exactly like traditional sourdough.
It’s different.
But different doesn’t mean bad.
Lately, I’ve had much more success with my bread. I’ve figured out a rhythm that works for me, and while I still occasionally have a loaf that doesn’t cooperate, I’ve learned not to let one failure stop me from trying again.
These days, I’ll make a couple of loaves at a time, freeze what I can’t eat within a few days, and pull it out whenever I need it.
There is something pretty satisfying about opening the freezer and knowing there’s homemade bread waiting for me.
And maybe that’s why sourdough feels especially fitting for this week.
My schedule has changed quite a bit lately. My days are starting earlier, ending later, and somewhere in between, I’m trying to figure out how everything fits together.
I’m learning how to adjust.
How to make time for the things that need to get done while still making room for the things I enjoy.
Some days I feel like I have it all together.
Most days, I’m just happy to have survived.
But maybe that’s okay.
Because finding a rhythm in life is a lot like figuring out a sourdough recipe. You start with the basics, make adjustments as you go, and learn that sometimes things need a little more time before they come together.
Sometimes the recipe needs tweaking.
Sometimes the timing is off.
Sometimes you have to start over.
And sometimes, after enough trial and error, you finally find what works for you.
I think that’s where I am right now.
Still adjusting to a new rhythm. Still figuring out how everything fits. Still learning what needs my attention and what can wait until tomorrow.
We don’t have to do everything perfectly to make progress.
We don’t have to have every answer before we begin.
Sometimes we learn by trying. Sometimes we waste a loaf of bread. Sometimes we have a week where nothing goes according to plan.
But we keep adjusting.
We keep trying.
And eventually, little by little, things begin to come together.
So, here’s to busy days, changing schedules, imperfect loaves, and giving ourselves a little grace while we figure it all out.
We’re still learning, still growing…
and occasionally, still rising.
Until next Sunday,
Kristen
