Currently | October 2021


I am going to attempt to type this up while the kids are listening to their science textbook on audio.  Right now the narrator is talking about narwhals.  Aren't narwhals interesting animals?  I'm already getting distracted.

It's a good day for a "currently" post.

Currently...

Listening to...Well, at this very moment I am listening to a very cheerful narrator talk about baleen whales, but I have also been listening to Martin Luther by Eric Metaxes on audio this week.  I highly recommend that book on audio - I had a hard time staying focused when I attempted to pick up the hardback last year, but it's hard to hit pause on the audiobook!  I've also been thinking about how difficult it must be to write a biography of a person that lived 500 years ago.  You'd want to make sure your information was right, but I imagine there would be a lot of digging through legends and misinformation.

Watching...I've been watching a lot of Gilmore Girls this month, and I am remembering anew how much disappointment comes with the later seasons of Gilmore Girls.  They ruined Rorys's character for me at the end of Season 4, I despise Logan, and why can't the characters just be happy for goodness sake?  It's been years now since I watched the reboot movie on Netflix, so I may have to track that one down again, because I can't remember what happened to Lorelei in the end.  I remember what happened to Rory, but the weird ending was not a surprise since I gave up on her finding love a long time ago.

That was a lot of thoughts about Gilmore Girls, but I have been watching other things too.  I recently rediscovered American Gospel TV, and there are a lot of great videos on there for free!  I've been considering a subscription, because I'm a documentary nerd, and everything I've seen from them has been edifying.  

It's definitely time better spent than all the Gilmore Girl nonsense, but I've been enjoying both overall.

Wearing...All the things in this post, but especially warm flannels, and I've officially broken out my sweater collection this week.  It's cold lately!  We finally got our wood-burning stove working properly as well, and we've been enjoying cheerful fires this week.  Now just to dig out my fuzzy socks.

Reading...I have been in a major reading rut this month, unfortunately.  I am attempting to read Lianne Moriarty's new book, but it's just not grabbing me at all.  I'm going to attempt to give it a proper go this weekend, but I'm not optimistic.  I think the other problem is that we have been ridiculously busy this month.  This is the first week where I don't have more than two days spent out of the house during the week (two days is still too much for me right now). And then this weekend we have plans to visit a pumpkin patch, go to the kids' last soccer game, have lunch with Derek's dad, and possibly go on a hike.  Now that I'm thinking about it, planning for any reading time this weekend is probably optimistic in itself. I think things will start to slow down in November.

My morning books (ie. books I read after devotions, before starting my day) have been going much better, and I'm making good progress on In The Year Of Our Lord.  I should be able to finish that one this month.

Drinking...More chai tea and coffee.  Not a lot new there.  I will say, however, that Derek and I have both decided that the International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer is particularly good.  It does not taste like a pumpkin candle, but has the appropriate amount of cinnamon and spice in it.

Prepping...For lots of thankfulness activities with the kids in November.  I've been feeling like I need to put more effort into celebrating Thanksgiving.  Not only is a uniquely American holiday, but it's a Christian holiday that has not been corrupted as much as even many of the others.  It's difficult and unnatural to be "thankful" without recognizing Who we are giving thanks to, and there's not much else to the holiday except being thankful.  I actually bought a Thanksgiving tree, and plan on decorating it with "leaves", pieces of paper expressing all the blessings God has given us.  We have friends who do this with their kids each year, and I have been wanting to start a similar tradition leading up to Thanksgiving - this is the year it is going to happen.  I've also been searching for gratitude worksheets, Bible studies, etc, and I'll probably have more on that in the next couple weeks.

Planning...For Reformation Day next week!  I got this great new Reformation Day guide that I am going to work through with the kids this year, and it has all kinds of treats and activities that will keep the celebration fresh.  I'm planning on heading to the store this weekend for a few ingredients and supplies to make it a fun week.

Borrowing...Derek's big flannel shirt coat.  I told you, it's cold out there!

Buying...Christmas wrapping paper!  I mentioned earlier this week how I am concerned that wrapping paper may be one of those things that becomes scarce because of supply chain issues. Our Hobby Lobby has no wrapping paper right now, which is unheard of this late in October.  Thankfully on Tuesday I found a couple mega rolls of double-sided wrapping paper at Sam's, so we should be set!

Eating...Derek and I went to this really cool ice cream shop last night while the kids were in Awana, and we tried rolled ice cream.  It was just too impressive not to share.  Please enjoy this 30 second video, and try to watch to the end if you can, because that's when it gets interesting!



Looking forward to...Is it awful if I say I am looking forward to the end of my 31 Days Of Old-School Blogging challenge?  On the one hand, I've been enjoying taking more time to write and share posts on the blog this month, and I think this is the first year ever that I've made it this far into the month of October without missing a day.  I actually feel quite accomplished, and I know it'll be so satisfying to finally make it 31 days after 3 or 4 years of trying!  But on the other hand, I have let a lot of things fall through the cracks this month - reading is a good example, and finishing my photo album project is another. There are cardboard boxes of photos scattered on shelves and counters, waiting for me to get my act together. I also wanted to get my Christmas newsletter written (I figure taking a year off social media calls for sending out an actual newsletter), but I have no writing time left to spare until this month is over.  I love October writing challenges because it kind of gives me a burst of writing energy and creativity at a point in the year when I usually need it - but I'm ready to catch up on everything that I've put on the back burner.


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AnneMarie said...

Oh wow, a wood-burning stove sounds so cozy! It's so neat that you guys have one of those. And that's very cool that you tried rolled ice cream! My husband and I almost got that one time, but as we stood in the shop and watched people get it, we realized we just wanted big creamy scoops of ice cream so we went elsewhere.

Jennifer said...

That rolled ice cream!?! Way too impressive. I'm now googling where I can find that around here! Good thing you had a cozy (borrowed) flannel shirt for enjoying a frozen dessert - ha. Just kidding!! Thanks for the wrapping paper heads-up. Had not considered that yet. Happy Monday -

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