Things I've Learned This Winter

Things I've learned this winter with Emily P Freeman

1. Turning 40 wasn't any different than turning 39 or the birthday's before, but getting to spend it with my family made it so much sweeter.

2. Art and beauty comes in all forms.

Beauty doesn't have to be found in far away places. We can find it right where we are.

3. Watching my oldest run has been a highlight of our winter. 

And then, after the season, we found out that he was the fastest 7th grader in the 400 meter race in the whole state. 

It was so exciting.

4. I keep looking to the skies.

There is beauty there.

5. I love watching these two tackle new things. They have never snowboarded or been on skis (well water, but not for long) it was rocky going at first but they ended wet and cold and saying that it was so much fun.

6. Caramel always....unless it comes to apples.

Now I still love a caramel apple but years ago I had a candy apple for the first time and oh my, I wondered what I had been missing all these years.

7. Snow days are the best.

We came from a mini vacation, where we had one day of snow, to home where we were iced in and then snowed in. it was a welcome break and recovery (even from a short vacation) 

8. For my 40th birthday my sister gave me a box filled with letters from people who have been part of my life through the years. (i cried of course) and have since read every single one of them. This photo came from my cousin, who passed away on February 18th. this is what I know: we shared photos of the odd temperatures where we lived, we laughed about food stuff, we talked about how awesome our grandparents are (and how much we love them and know they love us) and we looked to the sky. He was a force and a joy. I am thankful that he was family and that I know I will see him again.

9. Ending the month/season serving puts things in perspective and makes going into the next one so much better. it was joy to serve with our church and help to make jam with a mission partner that our church has. 

Books Read in January

I usually share what I am currently reading at the end of every month but I'm going to try posting what I actually read.

I managed to get through 8 books in January. My goal/reading challenge was to read a book each month with that months name in it. The Ten Thousand Doors of January was this months and it was so very good.  

There is also all of the others that I read.

 

What I Plan to Read in 2021

I am apparently the worst at these plans but i am also hopeful that this one, I will actually complete. Reading 52 book in a year doesn't seem to be the problem. Just the naming and claiming what I am going to try to get around to does. You can see last years ones here. I only read 4 on that list. I did managed to read 9 non-fiction in 2020.

For 2021, my plan is to read one book each month that has the months name in it. January's was found in our neighborhoods little library and it is what set this idea into motion. I found in pretty close to the end of 2020 (maybe around the 26th or 27th) and it was so hard not to pick it up and dive right in. 

So this is Januarys:

And I'm pretty sure this is what I'm going to read for February

I have this one, for sure for December

All of the months between are up for grabs. If you have any suggestions, i am all ears.

This can be a book that has the month in the title, the authors name or maybe even the characters name. Throw then at me, so that I can get to planning my year. 

Books Read in 2020

For the past few years my goal is to read 52 books in the year. You can see how many and which books i have read in previous years here. but this is 2020. I read 62 books 

Olive Kitteridge-Elizabeth Strout

Ramona's World-Beverly Clearly

The Most Fun We Ever Had-Clare Lombardo

The Noel Stranger-Richard Paul Evans

Child of Grace-Dr Chris Brown

Risen Motherhood-Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler

Mr Popper's Penguins-Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater

A Season of Grace-Lauraine Snelling

Beholding and Becoming-Ruth Chou Simons

The Last Romantics-Tara Conklin

The Tattooist of Auschwitz-Heather Morris

The Dearly Beloved-Cara Wall

The 100 Year Old Man Who climbed out the window and disappeared- Jonas Jonansson 

The Vsnderbeekers of 141st Street-Karina Yan Glaser

The Bookshop on the Corner- Jenny Colgan

Ask Again, Yes-Mary Beth Keane

Evvie Drake Starts Over-Linda Holmes

The Bear and the Nightingale-Katherine Ardennes

The Prince Warriors-Pricilla Shirer

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness-Andrew Peterson 

The Stationary Shop-Marjan Kamali

100 Days to Brave-Annie F Downs

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden-Karina Yan Glaser

Flourish-Margaret Fienberg

Finding Home-Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell

Adorning the Dark-Andrew Peterson

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe-Heather Webber

The Gender Game-Bella Forrest

Cold Tangerines-Shauna Niequist

Keturah-Lisa Tawn Bergren

Lady Clementine-Marie Benedict

Strange the Dreamer-Laini Taylor

Smoke Screen-Terri Blackstock

Anne of Green Gables-L.M. Montgomery

The Ballad of Song Birds and Snakes-Suzanne Collins

The Hate U Give-Angie Thomas

Becoming Mrs Lewis - Patti Callahan

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue - Karina Yan Glaser

Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid

A Place for Us - Fatima Farheen Mirza

Always and Forever Lara Jean - Jenny Han

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forrest - Melanie Dickerson

The Beautiful Pretender - Melanie Dickerson

The Nobel Servant - Melanie Dickerson

The Healers Apprentice - Melanie Dickerson

The Crossover - Kawame Alexander

London Art Chase-Natalie Grant 

The Fairest Beauty-Melanie Dickerson 

The Merchants Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

Secrets - Robin Jones Gunn

The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate

Windows of the Soul - Ken Gire

When Women Were Birds - Terry Tempest Williams

I'd Give Anything - Maria de los Santos

Raymie Nightengale - Kate DiCamillo  

Dear Edward-Ann Napolitano

The one and only Bob-Katherine Applegate 

The Dutch house-Ann Patchett

Connect the Stars-Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

Being Known-Robin Jones Gunn

Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood-Robin Jones Gunn

Gracelaced-Ruth Chou Simons

Ease

My one word for 2020 was Ease.
Who would have know what we would be up against when that word came to me.

January and February we watched a lot of archery and it was so much fun to watch little girl get better and better every time she competed.  We mingled, connected, had fun.

then we all know were March took us. half way through the month, days of quarantine with what seemed like no end in sight.
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.

.

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And then 65 days we finally saw some signs of an end, but maybe not. 

Even though I had come to realize that things change, all.the.time. You'd think that after 2 months of constant change, I'd have adapted. NOPE! In all honesty, it probably took me till November to actually settle into and feel ok with ever changing circumstances.

I still can't say that I am 100% at ease. The unrest of our country and the educating of our kids, the tug and pull of all the feelings about seeing people or not, has made this word even more important for 2020. It has made me really think about easing into things, being easy with life, the ease of our pace, being at ease with me.

When I think about the word ease, I don't think easy or simple. I think of it as the opposite of unsettled. I want to settle into am ease, maybe a peace, a relaxing of thing. If 2020 taught me anything, I think it taught me to be ok with sighs of relief, with the realization that He is ultimately in control.

While this has been a wildly unsettling year, there was been many moments of ease that would have never happened if not for the craziness of 2020.

Things I Learned This Fall

I usually do better about jotting things down throughout the season for Emily P Freemans Things I've Learned practice.

This season has been different. I didn't even think about how we are at the end of one season and time to reflect back on this one that has passed. Here are a few things from this time:

One last trip to the Lake is bitter sweet

My parents bought this place when my oldest was a toddler. there has been 10 years of memories made here. We are sad to see it go but know that there will still be memories made on their next adventure, wherever that may take them

Starting something 3/4ths of the way into a year still works

I have seen these before and honestly wish that i had stated this at the beginning of 2020. What in unusual time to look back on in 5 years. I started it late but what matters is that i decided to start. get you one and get started.

Holding a baby is still my favorite and kinda makes me want another

 (but that ship has sailed) This is my co-workers little guy who we have prayed for, after coming early and spending months in the NICU. He is just precious and i just know that God has great things for his life.

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brews are my new most favorite Starbucks drink

I usually get the Pumpkin spice latte during this time but started seeing people sharing about the cold brew, which i had never tried. oh my goodness it was the best. this was one of maybe 6 that i had during this season. I even attempted to make one at home that came out pretty good.

October will hold a special place in my heart for more reasons that, "I LOVE FALL"

My little sister is has been cancer free for 2 years and this October, i decided to wear pink every day of the month for her. She is  one incredible lady.  

She continues to amaze me

my 10 year old was asked to recite the Lords Prayer in one of our church services. She was way more nervous than the last time she walked onto that stage but she still did it and i am so proud of her.

She also had a dress up day at school during red ribbon week and she went to bed the night before saying that she was going to dress up as her teacher from 2nd and 3rd grade. She knew exactly what she was going to wear too.  Yall, when a teacher inspires and deeply loves your kid, there are sometimes no words but a thank you. We have been so very blessed by the love and care that this teacher poured and pours into the kids she teaches.

Traveling with him is the best 

at the beginning of fall break we stole away for 2 nights to walk a lot of stairs (jk, hiking, but it was a lot of stairs on these hikes) it was so fun and just what we needed.

Books I read this Fall:

September: 

Becoming Mrs Lewis - Patti Callahan

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue - Karina Yan Glaser

Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid

October:

A Place for Us - Fatima Farheen Mirza

Always and Forever Lara Jean - Jenny Han

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forrest - Melanie Dickerson

The Beautiful Pretender - Melanie Dickerson

The Nobel Servant - Melanie Dickerson

The Healers Apprentice - Melanie Dickerson

The Crossover - Kawame Alexander

November:

The Merchants Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

Secrets - Robin Jones Gunn

The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate

Windows of the Soul - Ken Gire

When Women Were Birds - Terry Tempest Williams

I'd Give Anything - Maria de los Santos

Raymie Nightengale - Kate DiCamillo  

 

Books I'm reading this Month (October)

 

The first and one that i am most excited about is Robin Jones Gunn Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood I have read all of Robin's books and I had to have this one in my hands as soon as it was out. It could be read quickly but i am taking my time with it

A friend let by borrow Atomic Habits by James Clear and i have been trying to read a chapter a day. Trying doesn't

Books I am reading this Month (September)

 I missed August but you can see all the books that i have read this year here, or you can see all that i read in August here. (scroll to the bottom).

my son had to read this for summer reading and I just love what I have read so far. it is a fast read and I need to pick it up again and see how it ends, even though I know a little about it from conversations with my son.

every so often I take the question to the people of Facebook, "what are you reading now or what books have you read recently that you would recommend." I received a lot of really great suggestions but out of all of them this on was the first one that I started with

I have read everything by Robin Jones Gunn. I just love her so much. i pre-ordered this back BC (a friend said that is before corona, for those that may not have know) it took months to get there. i am so glad to have it in my hands and reading it.

Things I've learned this Summer

i love reflecting back to each season. it is a practice i have been trying to do, with the urging of Emily P Freemans posts. click here to follow along.....

1. trying to see my daughters questioning, ALWAYS questioning, as a way she is learning, and that it isn't always her being defiant.

2. that we can speak graciously to people even thought they don't speak that way to us

3. the sky continues to call to me and be my favorite

i look forward to seeing it in the morning and in the evening #frommysidedoor4

4. that so much changes and i am not the lover of quick change

5. i'm learning all the time, and i am almost 40. i can't expect my kids to just know something. how many time does it take me to "get it"

#givinggrace #acceptingflaws #nooneisperfect

6. It is amazing, to be present with friends and look back to where you've come from, what you remember, who you were and maybe who you still are

7. Starting a small business was never the plan. While it's isn't easy, it is fun and so very helpful and I am realizing I can do this.

There is alot that Nuskin has to offer, but i have tried to narrow down my favorite and highlight things on my site. I would love it if you checked it out.

Toothpaste

Firming Cream

Books i have read this Summer:

June:

The Gender Game-Bella Forrest

Cold Tangerines-Shauna Niequist

Keturah-Lisa Tawn Bergren

July:

Lady Clementine-Marie Benedict

Strange the Dreamer-Laini Taylor

Smoke Screen-Terri Blackstock

August:

Anne of Green Gables-L.M. Montgomery

The Ballad of Song Birds and Snakes-Suzanne Collins

The Hate U Give-Angie Thomas

Books I'm Reading this Month (July)

There are some other book that i am finishing up from last month but here are two that i am currently reading.