4 hours ago
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
My husband looked at me last week and told me he thought I should seriously consider taking another week of summer before starting our homeschool year. He said he’s never seen me this stressed out going into a school year, and he thought I should take just one more week to do nothing, except whatever would feel inspiring or restful.
Of course I had objections…but then we will have to go another week into May! What if we struggle to get into a homeschool routine before our fall trip to visit friends in a couple weeks? What if we get behind?!
But there was a part of me that knows he knows me best out of anyone. So if he sees that I am a little unhinged right now, he’s probably right. I’d be wise to take his advice.
Instead of breaking out the schedule and books this morning, I slept in, finished reading a book I’ve had in progress for a while, and sat down to write something. You can thank my husband for the existence of this post.
On The Page {Anything I’ve Read}
I’ve been struggling to finish several books this summer, so first on my relaxation to-do list this week is reading those! I just completed this book about personal style, this book on Chernobyl, and I have plans to wrap up this book in the next day or two. For blogs, I’m enjoying old-school posts, and also one with encouragement for homeschooling high school and one warning homeschoolers about vouchers - all linked below.
They Won’t Ban Homeschooling - They’ll Control It Instead
A 2025 Pioneer Woman Writes In Her Diary About July
August’s Letters From The Hearth
I have also been working on having reading time with each of my kids individually, which is no small feat when there are five of them! The consistency is never as good as I want, but it’s a habit I will work on establishing. We’re reading The Hobbit, Little Women, The Swamp Robber, Winnie The Pooh, and The Complete Brambly Hedge.
In My Armchair {Projects I’m Working On}
So many of my personal projects have fallen by the wayside, as we have been running from one activity to another and somehow keeping the house decent and the kids fed in between. However, I did make these adorable beaded fish with my kids this month. They are double-sided, and so much more satisfying to hold than they look.
In The Kitchen {Things We’ve Made}
This has been the summer of me trying to keep my kitchen stocked with fresh fruit - some of which has gone bad because we tried to save it too long, but most of which has been gobbled up almost immediately.
I haven’t done a ton of baking, but my kids have. My daughter has started making chocolate chip cookies (hers are somehow better than mine, though we are using the same recipe). My son has perfected baked oatmeal, and has been preparing breakfast for his siblings every day this week. It’s such a blessing to eat something warm from the oven that I didn’t have to make myself!
I did, however, make pumpkin muffins with fresh-milled grains, and the bags are stored and waiting to be pulled out of the freezer on a busy morning. We also had a “shark week”, and shark cupcakes were in order.
On My Person {Things I’ve Worn}
My heart is starting to turn toward fall fashion, but it’s far too hot outside still. It’s good for me to look through my photos of outfits I enjoyed this summer, since I’ll probably be wearing them for a little while yet!
Despite the temperature, I can’t help eyeing my fall fashion inspiration board. I just finished reading Wear It Well, which talks about picking three words to describe and hone your style - I am analyzing the outfits I’ve pinned and mulling over what my three words should be.
In The Accounts {Money We’ve Saved}
After a July weekend trip, our car started having electrical problems. We took it to the dealership for diagnostic tests, thinking they would have more precise equipment to find the issue. A day later, they gave us a list of fixes that would cost more than we paid for the car! After a little bit of panic, we kept our heads, and took it back to our own mechanic. He replaced one wire, and we replaced the battery, and that seemed to fix the problem. So we “saved” several thousand dollars by not taking the dealership recommendations!
Other than that, I have been saving money by just…not buying things. Instead of doing fall clothes shopping, as I’m always tempted to do in the late summer, I pinned outfits I intend to recreate with my own clothes. I also took my girls window shopping so we could see what the styles are this year, but I didn’t buy anything and thought instead about how I could get the same vibe with clothes I already own.
Out My Window {Beauty I’ve Noticed}
Late summer is such a beautiful time in the mountains. I’m sitting on the porch typing this, and birds are singing all around and hummingbirds keep whizzing past my chair. The sun is shining on the grass, making it turn gold, and puffy clouds float past in a bright blue sky.
I’m especially noticing and appreciating how healthy and full our pine trees look. I’ve noticed alot of beetle kill popping up in surrounding neighborhoods, and I’m so anxious about the health of our trees. We will be keeping a close eye for signs of those nasty pine beetles, but right now our trees look glorious and I’m praying they stay that way.
Out And About {Places We Went}
Yellowstone - We did a camping trip near Yellowstone National Park over the 4th of July! It was a wonderful place to spend the 4th and make memories as a family. There is something special about waking up in a tent.
My grandparent’s cabin - We try to visit my grandparents each summer at their cabin, and it’s always so restful. We just play cards and enjoy their company.
Lots of swimming - The pools have finally closed, but we squeezed in so many swimming days this summer, I feel we really made the most of it!
State Fair - My boys qualified for the shooting competition at the State Fair, and my girls had projects that also qualified. We didn’t go to the actual fair, but we traveled for the competition.
On My Mind {Thoughts To Share}
I sat here for a few minutes trying to decide what to say here. This year has been a difficult one for us, in ways I don’t feel comfortable sharing, and has underscored for us how important the body of Christ is. Nothing we’ve been going through has been worthy of a meal train or more serious help, but we have found encouragement from other believers, in our extended family and our church family. The past few months have also affirmed to us how we ourselves are important in encouraging our local body of believers and building them up. This verse has been a theme this year:
“…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:2-3
Paul is expressing his hope for the church at Laodicea, but these verses have become a refrain for our relationships, both within our house and in our local church family. We want to be “knit together in love” with one another, as our hearts are encouraged in pursuing the wisdom and knowledge of Christ, together. That should be the theme of our attitudes and words toward others - love and encouragement to pursue the knowledge of Christ. So I’ve been mulling over how to do that better in the midst of a stressful season.
In My Heart {Things I’m Treasuring}
-Laughter coming from the playhouse, where my little girls claim they are taking a nap.
-A Joe Diffy song (think old-school country) playing on our record player while my big kids work on crafts.
-The way my flowers perk up after a little watering.
-Thunder in the distance, the promise of rain.
-Lighting a cinnamon candle my husband bought for me on a whim.
-Warm laundry straight out of the dryer.
-Trees swaying in the wind.
-The feeling of turning the last page of a satisfying book.
-My oldest quietly settling next to me on a porch chair, cup of tea and Bible in hand.
This year our first real snow - with three inches and snow left in patches on the ground after several days - happened in October. We've had several more snows so far, and spots of snow that don’t melt in the shade for over a month now.
That might be shocking if you live in warmer parts of the country, but October is actually pretty late for a first snow where I live. We have gotten a "first snow" in September before! Our snow season usually lasts somewhere from October to May, and things don't start to green up in the mountains until at least May.
After living here my whole life, you could say I'm used to long winters, and I have come to enjoy them. In recent years I have heard alot of people bemoaning the long winter season in my state, and I find it a little surprising especially when it comes from people who have grown up here as I have. It's good to adapt to where you live, to look at the weather and climate where you are right now and find the good things about it, instead of pining for one favorite season or other destinations. Learning to become content with the climate where you currently live is important for your general happiness, and necessary to keep a sense of gratitude in your heart. God made these seasons - there are special things about all of them, if we take a minute to look for them.
All that said, I thought I'd give a few of my tips for learning how to love the winter season.
1. Dress for the weather.
As someone somewhere once said, there is no bad weather, just bad clothes. Cold weather is going to seem worse than it is if you aren't dressed properly for it. That might mean investing in some good snow or sub-zero clothes for when you have to spend time outside, but it also might mean a trip to the department store for some interesting sweaters that make you excited to wear them. In my book, fall/winter clothes are some of the most fun when it comes to fashion! There is only so much you can do with shorts and shirts in the summer, but there are endless layering combinations and textures to explore in the fall and winter, not to mention all the gorgeous coat options, which you would never get to explore unless you lived somewhere cold.
"When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet."
Proverbs 31:21
2. Practice looking for the beauty that a true winter brings.
There are many parts of the country and world where they never have snow, and some people wish they would get a little snow, especially around Christmas time! Take a winter walk and look at the beautiful way the frost decorates the bare branches, or the way the ice looks on a river as it grows thicker. The colors of winter are so muted and calming when you look at them through the lens of a photographic or artistic eye - try to look at a landscape and identify all the different shades you can (deep blue, dove grey, ice blue, muted brown, lilac, blush pink).
3. Take up a winter hobby.
There are all kinds of cold-weather activities that likewise are not available in the same way in warmer climates - sledding, skiing, ice-skating, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, sleighing, snow forts and fights and snowmen. Why not appreciate the snow (instead of complaining about it), and branch out by trying one of these wintery activities?
“'For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.'"
Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV
4. Lean into winter food.
You can't convince me that a hot beef stew tastes as good anywhere else but in the deep of a cold winter season. There are so many wonderful soups and stews, breads and pies, that taste especially wonderful because they are contrasted with the sharp cold and howling winds of winter. Lean into it and add some cozy winter recipes to the rotation.
5. Make your house cozier.
Winter is so much more charming if you have a cozy home to enjoy it in. I wrote a whole post analyzing coziness here, but I think there are a few elements that will bring up the coziness of any space - warm lighting scattered through the room (lamps, candles, fireplace, etc), more textured pillows and blankets (that faux fur throw you spotted at the store? Buy it), and something that smells spicy or warm (scented candles, essential oils, hot cider mulling, bread in the oven).
“He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.”
Psalms 147:15-18 NKJV
6. Consider the textile arts.
With all those hours where you might rather be inside, winter seems the perfect time to learn how to make something tangible. Why not pick up a new skill, like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or sewing? You can make some of those blankets or pillows with interesting textures yourself to add that coziness I just mentioned to your home. And is there a cozier picture for wintertime than sitting in a cozy room, wearing a cute sweater and socks, with something good-smelling coming from the kitchen, while knitting or embroidering a project, with your family gathered around? I think not.
7. Build relationships with friends and family.
Yes, you can and should build up your family and friendships all year long! But winter seems an especially nice time to practice hospitality, to those outside your home and within your home. Why not change up your habits a bit over the winter and make a weekly game night, or add in a new read-aloud routine with your kids all snuggled under blankets, or start singing some Christmas songs or hymns together on a regular basis? Why not invite over someone new to share your cozy home and wintery food together during those months that feel drab to some? Winter is a great time to be together.
"From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may do whatever He commands them
On the face of the whole earth.
13 He causes it to come,
Whether for correction,
Or for His land,
Or for mercy."Job 37:9-13
What is your favorite part of the winter season? Do you have any tips for learning to enjoy the winter?
Last year I wrote a post the day before Thanksgiving about our favorite Thanksgiving books, and unfortunately it came a little late for most people to be able to use it. I've learned my lesson, and I'm taking some time to share four more Thanksgiving books you should prepare to check out from the library - but before you read this list, go check out my original list of Thanksgiving books, because that one is much longer and has all our most favorite books for the holiday!
One note about the books I pick: I have a huge pet peeve about Thanksgiving books making no mention of who we are giving thanks to. The pilgrims did not have a Thanksgiving feast to thank the Native Americans - they invited their Native Americans friends, but they were giving thanks to God. With the exceptions of just a few books on my list that are directed at more historical events (ex. Balloons Over Broadway) or celebration ideas (ex. How To Celebrate Thanksgiving from my other post) or stories about the meal itself (ex. An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving), all of these books point the theme of "thanksgiving" where it belongs - toward the Giver of all good things.
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story Of The Puppeteer Of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet - This is a book that is in high demand at our library for some reason, but we finally got it and truly enjoyed learning about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and how a man named Tony invented the idea of ballon flats for the parade!
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh - This is a longer chapter book that tells the story of how the pilgrims came to the New World and established the first Thanksgiving feast. I love how historically accurate this one was!
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott (illustrated by James Bernardin) - This is a sweet story about three girls who must be left alone on Thanksgiving, and attempt to make the meal for the family themselves, with mixed results! (Note: I could not find this version to link it, but if you can track it down, I loved the illustrations by Bernardin in this version.)
Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra - This book is about the woman who petitioned a series of presidents to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, and finally succeeded with Abraham Lincoln. I like this book about her best, as the family prays together and thanks the Lord for providing even in the midst of hard times.
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Get those books requested now, because if your library system is anything like mine, you may or may not get them in time to read before Thanksgiving is here!
I have been getting the Home And Haven seasonal bundles this year, just to add a little fun to our homeschool, and one of the winter bundles included a "Thanksgiving" category. One of the worksheets had gratitude conversation starters, and I thought I would borrow a few of the questions and share my answers here, just for some pre-Thanksgiving fun!
What experience in the last year are you most grateful for?
I think the experience I'm most grateful for this year is our trip to the Ark Encounter. It is such an odd distance away, where it would be easier to fly, but flying would make the trip so much more expensive. But it is also far enough away that it feels on the verge of too far to drive. I don't think we would have made it there at all unless our good friends had been game to go with us, and thankfully they were. Traveling together is probably one of the truest tests of a friendship, isn't it? Traveling with these particular friends was a delightful experience and not difficult at all, and I am experienced enough in my life to realize how rare it is to find a friendship like that! I'm really grateful for a meaningful trip and friendship at it's best.
What is your favorite part about your home?
I think my favorite part about our home is our woodstove. I loved our wood stove so much at our last house, that I just had to have one here too. It's adds so much coziness to these colder days, and it makes me not mind the brown ugliness of November. At first I did NOT love the woodstove though, because every time we tried to light a fire in it, smoke would pour into our house. We finally got a specialist out to look at it, and he told us that the builder had installed the top part of the chimney incorrectly. Apparently the pipe of a chimney or stove has to be taller than the tallest point in your house, or the smoke will not go up and out. Something to do with air pressure and suction. Another reminder that building a house correctly is even more scientific than I sometimes realize.
What book are you grateful for?
Aside from the Bible, which is certainly a given, I'm grateful for Christmas At The Vinyl Cafe. My penpal, Felicia, sent me a copy for Christmas last year, and it was so delightful that I fully intend to read it again this year. It's a collection of humorous short stories surrounding the holidays, and it's one of those books that makes me laugh and cry. Sometimes you need something that makes you forget political divisions, that makes you appreciate the common human experience of modern holidays - good, bad, and ugly and glorious. It's a good book.
Who did something nice for you today?
This has been a particularly nice mail week - my sister-in-law sent us a really thoughtful package with cotton plants, which is cool for the kids to see because we do not have cotton plants here! It's interesting for them to see a crop specimen from another part of the country.
I also received an unexpected mystery package in the mail with a copy of Jotham's Journey, which is an advent book I was trying to get from the library to read with the kids this year. I found out it was from my Aunt! She read my mind, and I'm so excited to own a copy and to start it with the kids!
What is a smell you are grateful for?
I'm getting over a cold this week, and I weirdly lost my sense of smell, which almost never happens to me. I miss good smells! Right now I wish I could smell all the wreaths I've been seeing at the stores. Is there anything more Christmasy than the smell of a pine tree? I'm grateful they smell like that.
What memory always makes you smile?
I was thinking yesterday about a childhood tradition we had - every year we kids would go on a shopping day with my dad to find gifts for my mom. We'd start early and be gone all day. We'd always eat at Arby's for lunch, and we would always stop at Best Buy for a new Christmas CD to listen to while we were driving. After we had found all her gifts, we'd end the day with meeting my mom for a movie at the theater. We'd wrap all her presents together too, and my dad would label the gift tags with characters from Christmas movies. I so looked forward to that shopping day every year - it was special to go shopping with just dad.
I also decided to throw in a little Thanksgiving this or that, just for fun - I got the prompts from this article. I looked through a few this or that graphics on image search too, but I found alot of the questions ridiculous. Thanksgiving parade or dog show? I didn't even know dog shows on Thanksgiving were a thing. Turkey or tofurkey? Really? Who in their right mind would choose the latter if they weren't vegetarian/vegan? Honestly.
Anyway, here we go!
Host or attend? I usually love the idea of hosting Thanksgiving, but this year especially I am overwhelmed by the idea of it. It's been a really weird November, and I'm just mentally drained. So attending wins this year.
Turkey or ham? I think I'm going to have to go with turkey. Hams are more of an Easter thing for me.
Travel or stay home? I don't believe I've ever actually traveled for Thanksgiving, not more than a couple hours anyway. I have to pick stay home, because it's really been my only experience of the holiday!
Stuffing or potatoes? Potatoes! Confession: I've never actually liked stuffing. I don't know why I don't.
Large gathering or just a couple of loved ones? Large gatherings are always fun!
Dress up or comfy clothes? I actually like dressing up for Thanksgiving. I don't get that many chances to wear nice clothes, so I take my opportunities where I can get them. However, about an hour after dinner and halfway into my second piece of pie, stretchy pants are nice.
Pumpkin or apple pie? Pumpkin pie all the way, because it's so iconic for Thanksgiving. Apple pies are appropriate any time of year, but you only get pumpkin around the holidays.
In case I don't post again this week - Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I hope you can see the goodness of God to you more clearly than ever this year, and spend some time thanking the Giver of all good gifts.
This year I’ve really been leaning into the Thanksgiving holiday with the kids - mainly with our Thanksgiving tree, gratitude journals, and lots of picture books! We have read so many Thanksgiving picture books so far this year, probably three times as many as I’m including in this post. The ones here are my favorites for the Thanksgiving season. I know it’s a little late to get these from the library now, so maybe just bookmark these for next year!
Just For Thanksgiving Fun
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing - This is a play off of the classic Christmas poem, and I thought it was so cute, especially with the sweet illutrations.
How To Celebrate Thanksgiving by P. K. Hallinan - This is a picture book, in rhyme, that celebrates all the fun of Thanksgiving Day (including eating so much you feel like you might burst). Cute illustrations, fun poem.
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin - This is the first time I've read this one, and the quirky story of Grandma's special cranberry bread recipe and how it's nearly stoled made me laugh.
Thanksgiving In The Woods by Phyllis Allsdurf - This book is based off of a family who celebrates Thaksgiving each year by having dinner in the woods - this is one of those times where the illustrations really make the whole book. This book is so pretty.
A Turkey For Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting - A fun story about Mr. Moose tracking down Turkey for Thanksgiving. My kids where laughing at this one!
Franklin's Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois - My kids love watching Franklin, and this book had the typical mild dilemma that the show often features - Franklin invites too many people to Thanksgiving. It was cute!
Over The River And Through The Wood by Matt Tavares - I'm sure you recognize the first lines to this poem - somehow I never realized it was about Thanksgiving!
Historic Thanksgiving Tie-Ins
Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings by Mike Berenstain - This obviously isn't serious history, but on the way over to Grandma's House For Thanksgiving Dinner, Papa Bear tells about the Pilgrim bears that came seeking religious freedom.
Squanto And The Miracle Of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxes - This is a Thanksgiving classic for us, telling the story of Squanto's life and how God used him to help the pilgrims survive.
This Is The Feast by Diane Z. Shore - Another one where the illustrations really shine, telling a little history about the first Thanksgiving.
Meaningful Thanksgiving Books
Sharing The Bread: An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zeitlow Miller - This book features a poem with a fun beat to it, all about working together to make Thanksgiving dinner.
A Thanksgiving Turkey by Julian Scheer - This book was slow going at first, but the ending just got me. One of those times when I feel silly tearing up a little as I read to the kids. I think I resonated from this one especially coming from a hunting family.
Thank You For Thanksgiving by Dandi Daley Mackall - It's the classic problem - everyone is going around saying what they are thankful for, and someone else says what you were going to say! I really liked how this one pointed back to being thankful for our Savior too.
Thanksgiving Graces by Mark Kimball Moulton - As Grandma invites more and more people to dinner, the narrator wonders if there will be enough - Grandma talks briefly about the parable of the fishes and reminds her grandson that they can stretch the food to include others. A sweet story about hospitality at Thanksgiving.
Thankful by Eileen Spinelli - A sweet "gratitude list" type of book, but I especially liked this one.
Give Thanks To The Lord by Karma Wilson - Another beautiful Thanksgiving book, this one taking inspiration from Psalm 92.
One Chapter Book
Rush Revere And The Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh - This is our favorite Thanksgiving historical fiction book - all about the journey of the pilgrims from Holland to the New World, including good history about the first Thanksgiving. It's so imaginative and fun with the time-traveling horse, Liberty! We like it on audio, but the actual book has some wonderful art pieces and fun illustrations too.
That's all I have for now, though I may add a few more titles if we read any other noteworthy ones this week!
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Update: I did add four other books to this list of our favorite books for the Thanksgiving holiday - you can read those here!
For the first time this year, I set up a "Thanksgiving tree" to do with the kids. I was inspired by some friends of our from church who do a Thanksgiving tree every year with their kids by writing things they are grateful for on leaf cut-outs each day.
I am working through a Gratitude morning time study with the kids, and so we've made it a habit to write in these printable gratitude journals, and then we pick a few of the things we are grateful for to write on the leaf cutouts and hang on our tree. I got the tree and leaf cutouts from Hobby Lobby. The tree also will double as Christmas decor over the next month as well!
The kids have so looked forward to hanging their gratitude leaves on the tree each day, and it's been a fun way to refocus on thanking God for all His goodness to us as we approach Thanksgiving! We will definitely be doing a Thanksgiving tree again next year.
I hope you all are having a lovely start to Thanksgiving week!
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.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving last week. We went to my parents' house and Derek's mom came with us. We ate a lot of food and too much pie, played the A Christmas Story game (you know, like the movie?), and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. And now we have apparently charged full-speed ahead in the countdown for Christmas. I'm still trying to get my bearings. No matter how hard I try to plan ahead, Christmas always manages to catch me a little by surprise each year.
Speaking of surprises, I'm working on a freebie for all of you who are regular readers of my blog (hopefully will be up tomorrow), so I'm going to keep this "currently" short and sweet.
Wrapping...nothing. All the presents arrived in the mail this week, so now I just need to buckle down and get them wrapped! I actually don't enjoy wrapping presents very much. I wish I did, but there are just so many to wrap, it gets overwhelming. I'm going to be recruiting Derek to help me tonight while we watch a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Lighting...Christmas candles. Weirdly, my favorite ones this year are not from Yankee Candle, as per the norm, but instead I'm really enjoying some that I found at TJ Maxx. They have some great scents, and the candles are cheaper than Yankee, so that's a plus! Anything pine scented is my favorite this time of year.
Baking...also nothing, but I am hoping to start on ginger cookies this week. I've learned over the years to keep my Christmas baking to a minimum. I'm always tempted to try a bunch of new recipes, but when I do that I tend to just get overwhelmed. I may bring one new recipe into the rotation though, if things ever slow down enough. I'm thinking some sort of candy recipe.
Sending...a present to my lifelong penpal, Felicia. Keep an eye out, friend! I'm also waiting for photos to arrive in the mail so I can start sending Christmas cards in earnest. I decided this year to just use the boxes of Christmas cards I have collected over the years with a photo tucked inside, instead of our usual photo Christmas card. It's actually been less complicated and stressful this way, not to mention less expensive since I'm using cards I already have!
Enjoying...quiet days at home, especially if it's snowing like it is today. So far the first week of December has been chaotic and a little stressful, but today we have the whole day stretched out ahead of us. We might read some Christmas picture books or bake something or do a Christmas craft. It feels like the world is my oyster when I have a quiet day at home to work with.
(Wyatt took these photos for me a couple weeks ago - not too shabby, right? He's getting better at using the big camera!)
Linking up here!
Well, another one bites the dust.
Yesterday I was browsing through my Bloglovin' feed, and I saw that another one of the bloggers that I follow has decided to call it quits. I won't link to her post here, because it was a fairly new-to-me blog, and her site will be set to private in the next few days anyway. Every time I see a blogger decide to step back from blogging, it makes me a little introspective. It's a good thing to periodically reflect on my blog thus far and evaluate my priorities, I just wish the trigger wasn't always a negative one.
(It's still July, so that means I can still use sparkler pictures in this post, right?)
Regardless, I was thinking over this blogger's reasons for quitting, and thinking over my own reasons for continuing to blog over the years. My reasons for blogging now are really the same as when I started it in the first place. I like to write. I like to create something pretty, either with words or photographs, and I like to share when I do. I like to have this creative outlet for myself, this place to think things through, or stretch myself, or reflect some bit of my life that I don't want to forget. I like to make friends with people who may be very different from me, but also kind of the same.
The blog has gone through stages, morphed a bit to fit whatever phase I was going through in my life, but it always comes back to these reasons. I'm just very thankful that it remains a safe place for me to do those things, that it remains functional for my purposes. I don't think every blogger can say that.
That Time I Tried To Grow My Blog
There was a period of time when I was actively trying to grow this blog and earn a little money from it - partly because the extra income was helpful at that time, partly because everyone was doing it. And didn't I need to monetize and professionalize this blog to be taken seriously as a blogger? When I realized that trying to make this into a job was making the whole thing a chore for me, I reevaluated then too and came back to my original purposes.
You know, the funny thing is, during that period of time, I wasn't quite sure what I was doing wrong. Why wasn't my blog growing the way so many others were? Why did it feel like I had to fight so hard for each new follower? It honestly was a discouraging thing to me.
But now that I am successfully past that stage and fully over the desire to grow for growth's sake, I'm actually really glad that my blog didn't grow. Ultimately it was God's grace to me to keep this space small.
Graces Of Staying Small
Grace #1: I've had limited nastiness to deal with.
I don't worry about a lot of the things bigger blogs have to deal with as a matter of course. I haven't had the stress of nasty comments because I have only encountered a handful of trolls in my eleven (!) years of blogging.
My husband sometimes asks me not to write about a controversial topic that is weighing on me, because he knows that I am not built to handle alot of conflict. While I have strong opinions that I am willing to share, and I never write anything that I am not willing to stick by, often handling the discussions, even when they are good discussions, is emotionally taxing on me. I am blessed that I haven't had to deal with much meanness, and that even when we disagree, almost every discussion I've had with people on this blog has remained respectful.
I can't claim anything I did as a strategy for a positive blog environment, I fully credit it to the Lord keeping my blog mostly in a bubble, keeping it small, and only bringing the people who needed to read it.
Grace #2: I am a terrible receiver of glory.
A couple of months ago I read something in a book that immediately made me realize anew that it was the grace of God that my blog didn't grow. This is what I read:
"Being glorious is for God. Giving glory is a human task....We bring glory, we give glory, we reflect glory. But we are terrible receivers of it. We cannot hold glory because it was never meant for us. We are given glory to give it to our Maker. This is our task. This is our purpose. If a pipe has no outlet for the water, it is pointless and it will burst. When a person receives glory and has no place to give it, they will burst. When they have only a little glory that they don’t know what to do with, they go sadly stagnant...I only have a little, and I am doing nothing with it. Or, I have much, but it has destroyed me. These are not good options." -Rachel Jankovic, You Who?
This passage resonated with me so much, because I know in my heart that if I received too much glory, I wouldn't give it all over to God. I'd hoard some of it for myself, and in the end, I think it would ruin me, and it would ruin this blog. I know myself well enough to say this one thing: I don't need any help being prideful, and I don't need something else to be prideful about. The Lord knows that too, and I think He saved me from some rather serious humbling by keeping me from the opportunity to be puffed up by my blog in the first place.
Grace #3: I am still writing to friends.
I remember in my first year of blogging, I told my mom that I hoped I never got more than a certain number of followers, because then it would be hard for me to respond and keep up with everyone else's blogs. And while more people read this blog now than my original (very small) desired number, somehow the spirit of that thought has held steady. I haven't had a conversation with every person who reads this blog regularly, because some people never comment. But I personally know (in an online, virtual sense) a good percentage of the people who are reading this right now, and I love that I can say that.
I am thankful for everyone who reads my rather unpolished, small-blogger thoughts, thankful for those who have stuck around through the years. And if you're reading this, I am thankful for you. I'm glad this blog is still small and cozy and perfect for me. It is a beautiful thing to still feel as if I am writing to friends.
As long as I can say that, and as long as I still need to get my thoughts out into written words (which will probably be forever, let's be honest), I don't plan on going anywhere.
So there's another periodic blog evaluation in the books!
I guess you're all still stuck with me. *wink*
Any thoughts about writing, or blog size, or unexpected graces? I'd love to hear what you think!
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