October’s word is Soothe. Just a little gentleness in the places that have become tired.
Something warm to sip.
Something comforting to read.
Something simple to make with your hands.
And something true to remember when the day gets noisy.
That’s what we’re doing this month: making a little room for softness.
Something to Sip
Orange Spice Tea
There’s something about orange and spice that makes an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.
For one mug, try:
1 cup hot water
1 black tea bag
A strip or two of fresh orange peel
1 small cinnamon stick
1–2 whole cloves
A little honey, if you like
Let everything steep together for about 5 minutes, then remove the spices and orange peel.
You can also add a squeeze of fresh orange if you want a brighter flavor.
Pour it into your favorite mug, find a quiet corner, and let yourself actually taste it.
No scrolling required.
Something to Read
I’ve tucked a few cozy reads into this month’s BookFunnel recommendations.
Searching for a Christmas romance?
Make room for a little Christmas magic.
Curl up with a delightful collection of Christmas romance stories filled with love, cozy moments, second chances, and holiday magic.
Discover your next festive read from a collection of talented authors—perfect for chilly evenings, twinkling lights, and a little escape into happily-ever-afters.
Sometimes soothing means reading something that gives your mind somewhere gentle to go for a while.
Something to Make
A Warm Milk & Oat Hand Soak
For the hands that have been doing everything.
The dishes.
The cooking.
The typing.
The holding.
The wiping.
The making.
They deserve five quiet minutes, too.
For a simple hand soak, you’ll need:
Warm water
About ½ cup milk
1–2 tablespoons plain oats
A small bowl
Your favorite hand cream or a little nourishing oil
Tie the oats into a small piece of muslin or a clean thin cloth and place it in the warm water. Add the milk and give everything a gentle stir.
Let your hands soak for 5–10 minutes.
While you sit there, resist the urge to make this productive.
Just soak.
When you're finished, gently pat your hands dry and follow with your favorite moisturizer or a little oil.
It’s such a small thing.
But sometimes soothing doesn't need to be impressive.
Sometimes it just needs to be warm.
Something to Remember
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
— Psalm 55:22
I love that this verse doesn't tell us to carry our cares better.
It tells us to cast them.
To give them somewhere else to go.
Maybe there’s something you’ve been carrying lately that you were never meant to hold all by yourself.
Take a few quiet minutes with these questions:
What am I carrying today that I could give to God?
Where am I trying to hold everything together myself?
What would it look like to let God sustain me today?
You don't have to solve anything before you pray.
You don't have to find the right words.
You can simply bring what you have.
And let God hold what you can't.
A Little Soothe for the Week
This week, look for one place where you can choose gentleness instead of pushing through.
Make the tea.
Soak your hands.
Read a few pages.
Sit outside for five minutes.
Turn off the noise a little earlier.
Pray before you try to fix.
None of these things will make every hard thing disappear.
But they might remind your body and your soul that you don't have to rush through every moment.
There is room for softness here.
And you are allowed to take it.
Until next time,
Carrie
P.S. If you make the orange spice tea, I want to know: are you an extra-cinnamon person, or do you like your spice a little more subtle? :-)