Goodness Weekly 4.7.25
“Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is lower our standards.”
– Courtney Ellis (author of Uncluttered)
WHAT’S GOOD
This Saturday, Sprouts School Director, Linda Charlton, served as the keynote speaker for UTSA’s 10th Annual Early Childhood Institute: The Power of Play. She shared her passion and wisdom on the importance of nature and risky play in early childhood education. We’re grateful for her leadership and the care she brings to our preschool community each day. Congratulations, Ms. Linda—we’re so proud of you.
REWIRING EXPECTATIONS
Taylor Bates, Deputy Director, Sunset Ridge Collective
This past weekend, my family and I drove several hours north to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday with extended family and friends. I’d had the milestone on my calendar for months—and yet, somehow, it still managed to sneak up on me.
Life is very full right now. With two young kids and a full-time job, some weeks I can only manage to focus on one day at a time.
The night before our road trip, I found myself frantically consulting ChatGPT (yes, really) about how to survive three hours in the car each way with a 2- and 4-year-old—without relying on screens. The answer? Lots of snacks, novelty, books, and sensory toys. And still: chaos. We stopped three times on the way up for bathroom breaks and arrived an hour and a half late to lunch.
But when we arrived, we were joyfully embraced. Family swooped in to love on our kids. Food that had already been packed away was quietly unpacked again. And the look of delight on my grandmother’s 90-year-old face made it all worth it.
This season of my life is teaching me to rewire my expectations—of myself and often of the people closest to me. I was so anxious on the drive up because of every delay, and I know I made the ride harder for my fellow passengers. But the thing I was so worried about—being late—ended up barely mattering. The experience was still full of joy.
I know it’s cliché to say “it’s about the journey, not the destination,” but it’s still so hard to live that out when anxiety takes the wheel. Maybe for now, the shift I need is even simpler: It’s okay to be late.
It won’t always be true. But in this season—with toddlers and variables beyond my control—it is. And on the drive home, even though it was still a bit chaotic, I felt something soften in me. I was riding the wave of connection and joy. And that made all the difference.
What expectations are you holding tightly right now—and is there one you might gently release?
THIS WEEK
Second Saturday
8 AM - 1 PM, One Another Coffee
9 AM, Donation-based Yoga with Nyx Wellness
9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
10:15 AM, Storytime with Miss Anastasia
10:30 AM - 1 PM, Scott’s Pizza
10:45 AM, Pedal Pals Demo
COMING UP…
April 20th, Easter Celebration
10 AM, Brunch in Fellowship Hall (RSVP to attend or bring a dish)
11 AM. Worship in Sanctuary
12:30 PM, Cascaron Egg Hunt in Charis Park
EverySaturday, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Every Sunday, Worship at 9 AM and 11 AM
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, Community First Food Pantry, and Betty’s Co.
Inhale: Help me loosen my grip
Exhale: when my expectations keep me from being present.
