My classes ended last week (two A's!!) but this week has been busy. My boyfriend passed his CDL training course and all he needs is a copy of his new license to start the 13 week over the road training! He has most of his stuff at his grandma's but my upstairs apartment in my parents house will now contain us two, a cat, 4 fish, and 4 snails. T's and P's for a smooth transition that has gone unbelievably well so far.
My treasures:
-I saw the season's first goldfinch and now I smile whenever I hear it singing.
-I made some homemade chocolate chip cookies this past week and was quite proud of how smoothly it went.
-I had a lovely conversation with a new friend about faith and deconstruction/reconstruction.
-Never underestimate the power of a quiet morning to be a balm to the soul.
-This last one is huge. I have agoraphobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder and my mom and my boyfriend were out of town on the same day, and I did NOT, I repeat NOT freak out!!! I am so proud of myself!!! My boyfriend is back in town and my mom will be back tomorrow. :) :) :) :) :)
Have the coolest and best available weekend everyone!
It was a great week! I am just now getting to the newsletter. Both kids had church camp stuff and yesterday my daughter and I had a great day just the two of us. The morning was her infusion (she has ulcerative colitis) and then we got lunch and spent the rest of the day shopping. But sadly this morning my son woke up stuffy, had a cough and small sore throat, with him being in church camp all week I decided it best to test and of course he has covid. This will be his 3rd time....yup THIRD!!! Send prayers and healing our way please!
Aloha from Hawaii where ac is not standard issue and we’re fine until the trade winds disappear in aug/sept.
After many weeks of moving nonsense and non-stop family time I am busting out of here for a 48 hour trip to San Diego to see The Chicks. I am playing it cool in front of my husband who will listen to our 7yo lament the fact she starts school in 10 days but inside I am belting the lyrics to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and dancing all the way to the airport.
🏜 This week has been particularly treasure-full because we have been staying in Page, Arizona with my beloved SIL. There are lots of fun layers to this week (my SIL is 6 months pregnant, there are 3 dogs that I can love on, my in-laws are here too), and overall it's been really relaxing. Pretty much everyone is working (mostly WFH), but my boss told me to take wednesday through friday off! I was honestly really nervous about it. As the only extrovert around 5 introverts, I was expecting that I would annoy everyone and not know what to do with myself (we are legit in the middle of nowhere), but I brought some books and made myself a whole list of things to do (I am basically a 5 year old 😂), and it's been surprisingly sooo lovely. 🥰
Also, I watched the new Persuasion and simultaneously hated it (so many anachronisms), but also didn't hate how it made me laugh out loud? I know it's absolutely unfaithful to the source material (boooo), but weirdly Dakota Johnson was charming. I love Jane Austen and am reading through Persuasion for the first time this week! Has anyone else dared to watch it yet?
Okay, hoping for some pure joy in your day today. See you in the comments! :)
The BatB bookshop owner always felt like a stand-in for the English teachers that little weird nerd girls who relate Too Heavily to Belle would come to rely upon to get through high school
Jumping into the comments a little late today, but it's been a great week!
📚 I finished The Cartographers last night, it wasn't for me but I'm glad I gave it a shot. I finally picked up Ali Hazelwood's Love Hypothesis and loved it! I'm also enjoying Tobacco Wives which features a seamstress and is sent in NC, so no surprise there, lol
🍱 I took the day off to read and participate in the MMD readers retreat which starts tonight, so I've bought myself all sorts delicious snacky things that I'm very excited about. Including some frozen brownies, y'all don't sleep on freezing leftover brownies especially when they're underbaked and gooey. It's like fudge but better.
It's Friday, which is my Saturday because I work Sunday through Thursday. I'm incapable of sleeping in (hello middle age), so I've been up for awhile, enjoying the cooler morning air and the quiet house. Looking forward to my nap this afternoon!
I was talking with my bestie the other day about parenting types - she and I are both more interested in reading on the couch with our kids, not playing dollies or Legos with them. She has a friend visiting who has spent more time interacting with her kids than with her, which makes her feel jealous and also inadequate. We talked about how being the "fun mom" is considered the cultural ideal, even though not all of us are cut out to be fun moms. I'm not the fun mom, but I think I am the listening mom. The challenge is not assigning a value to the characterization. Just something I've been thinking about this week!
I’ve fully immersed myself in the Tour de France and the World Athletics (track and field) Championships. This mostly means that I’m scrolling quickly past Jan. 6 updates and climate disaster updates and chasing the high of inspirational athletic performances and humans who manage not to be jerks.
🇺🇸 A US silver medalist shot putter didn’t have his warm ups to wear for his medal ceremony. US hurdler and all around great human Grant Holloway lent him his (much smaller) jacket to wear.
🇯🇲 Gold medalist in the 100meter race, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made sure to place the 200m gold medalist (and teammate) in the spotlight after her win. When she fixes her hair in the video, I cried.
🇫🇷 The two top cyclists in the Tour de France broke away and were leading the race. The second place rider fell and was scrambling to get back on his bike. The lead rider (and main rival) waited for him.
I have no idea how I’m going to rejoin regular Twitter/Instagram after all this positive content. In the meantime, I’m just luxuriating in the best feed I could possibly have at the moment.
Last week I shared I was going to KC to spend time with friends from high school, and that one of them's son had died by suicide in November. We had a good time and I think she's doing as well as can be expected. I felt really melancholy as I drove away, I feel lonely where I live and feel like I have lots of surface level friends/friendly relationships but not beyond that. We live on a farm 20 miles from town and 3 hours from my friends in KC.
We are going to move to town within the next few years and that should help, but our house is part of the farm, not separate property, so we can't/won't sell it to buy a house in town. I will have to save up the down payment, etc. Not having enough money for what I want is a giant 💩 but we have enough for what we need, so I'm grateful for that. Our son will graduate in May from college in Connecticut so we'll have to save money for that as well.
Besides visiting my friends, I have been a hermit at home which isn't great for me but I went to yoga 2 days this week and feel so much better physically and mentally. Plus a Stupid Walk! Who knew physical exercise leads to feeling better?🤡
I'm obsessed with sorbet now (had it every night for supper in Spain) and ordered a countertop ice cream maker which should be here tomorrow! First up: cantaloupe sorbet!
Morning, everyone. Hope you’re surviving the heat. I just told my husband that we are going to plan activities this weekend as though it will be -10 degrees outside, since I have the same level of interest in being outside in those situations. Here’s some stuff from the week:
📚 Bought books for my husband’s sister for her birthday, but we don’t see her til next weekend, so I’m reading them first. 😂 First up was “The Tobacco Wives”. It was 3/5 stars for me. It wasn’t bad, just nothing over the top special. It would be an easy summer read for anyone who likes historical fiction/coming-of-age stories. Next up is “Sea of Tranquility.” I’ll let you know how it goes.
🪺 Erin, your tweets today were EXCELLENT. I laughed out loud about theology as fan theories.
🏃🏻♀️ If you need a giggle, I saw a Twitter thread this morning that has senator Josh Hawley running away from Jan. 6 protesters (whom just that morning he was egging on) set to music. I’m not on Twitter, so I can’t send a link, but check out Mallory Nees.
🎙 Sharon McMahon’s “Momentum” series on her Sharon Says So podcast is EXCELLENT. Definitely worth a listen.
I’m off to workout, friends, but I hope that you’re able to have a relaxing and/or productive weekend, depending on what you’re hoping for. Much love from Michigan!
Good morning everyone!! I am getting over a cold, so I have been dragging this week, but I seem to be coming out of it. A few updates...
- we have a closing date for the house but not a move date, so I have no idea what my packing timeline should be. I look around my house and the only thing I can think is "look at all this stuff that's not packed". very fun and chill!
- my brother is getting married next weekend! however, his sweet bride is holding on really tightly to their plan to have the ceremony *outdoors at 5 PM in Austin, Texas in July*. But it's okay, because "there is a tree for shade". Jesus be near.
- my friend who has cancer got a good report from the latest scan - tumors have shrunk! grateful for a bit of good news.
Good morning :) I shared at the end of May that I did not renew my teaching contract and was looking for a new job... well, this week I found it! I will be teaching future educators, and I'm excited! I will also be working with my best friend. Thanks to all who shared your own stories of transitioning jobs earlier this year.
It is HOT today!
My classes ended last week (two A's!!) but this week has been busy. My boyfriend passed his CDL training course and all he needs is a copy of his new license to start the 13 week over the road training! He has most of his stuff at his grandma's but my upstairs apartment in my parents house will now contain us two, a cat, 4 fish, and 4 snails. T's and P's for a smooth transition that has gone unbelievably well so far.
My treasures:
-I saw the season's first goldfinch and now I smile whenever I hear it singing.
-I made some homemade chocolate chip cookies this past week and was quite proud of how smoothly it went.
-I had a lovely conversation with a new friend about faith and deconstruction/reconstruction.
-Never underestimate the power of a quiet morning to be a balm to the soul.
-This last one is huge. I have agoraphobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder and my mom and my boyfriend were out of town on the same day, and I did NOT, I repeat NOT freak out!!! I am so proud of myself!!! My boyfriend is back in town and my mom will be back tomorrow. :) :) :) :) :)
Have the coolest and best available weekend everyone!
It was a great week! I am just now getting to the newsletter. Both kids had church camp stuff and yesterday my daughter and I had a great day just the two of us. The morning was her infusion (she has ulcerative colitis) and then we got lunch and spent the rest of the day shopping. But sadly this morning my son woke up stuffy, had a cough and small sore throat, with him being in church camp all week I decided it best to test and of course he has covid. This will be his 3rd time....yup THIRD!!! Send prayers and healing our way please!
My daughter used to call me Naked Mole Rat, as a term of endearment. “I love you, Naked Mole Rat.” “Goodnight Naked Mole Rat, sleep good.”
There you have it.
Aloha from Hawaii where ac is not standard issue and we’re fine until the trade winds disappear in aug/sept.
After many weeks of moving nonsense and non-stop family time I am busting out of here for a 48 hour trip to San Diego to see The Chicks. I am playing it cool in front of my husband who will listen to our 7yo lament the fact she starts school in 10 days but inside I am belting the lyrics to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and dancing all the way to the airport.
Good morning from the West Coast Lil' Swipes!
🏜 This week has been particularly treasure-full because we have been staying in Page, Arizona with my beloved SIL. There are lots of fun layers to this week (my SIL is 6 months pregnant, there are 3 dogs that I can love on, my in-laws are here too), and overall it's been really relaxing. Pretty much everyone is working (mostly WFH), but my boss told me to take wednesday through friday off! I was honestly really nervous about it. As the only extrovert around 5 introverts, I was expecting that I would annoy everyone and not know what to do with myself (we are legit in the middle of nowhere), but I brought some books and made myself a whole list of things to do (I am basically a 5 year old 😂), and it's been surprisingly sooo lovely. 🥰
Also, I watched the new Persuasion and simultaneously hated it (so many anachronisms), but also didn't hate how it made me laugh out loud? I know it's absolutely unfaithful to the source material (boooo), but weirdly Dakota Johnson was charming. I love Jane Austen and am reading through Persuasion for the first time this week! Has anyone else dared to watch it yet?
Okay, hoping for some pure joy in your day today. See you in the comments! :)
The BatB bookshop owner always felt like a stand-in for the English teachers that little weird nerd girls who relate Too Heavily to Belle would come to rely upon to get through high school
Jumping into the comments a little late today, but it's been a great week!
📚 I finished The Cartographers last night, it wasn't for me but I'm glad I gave it a shot. I finally picked up Ali Hazelwood's Love Hypothesis and loved it! I'm also enjoying Tobacco Wives which features a seamstress and is sent in NC, so no surprise there, lol
🍱 I took the day off to read and participate in the MMD readers retreat which starts tonight, so I've bought myself all sorts delicious snacky things that I'm very excited about. Including some frozen brownies, y'all don't sleep on freezing leftover brownies especially when they're underbaked and gooey. It's like fudge but better.
That's it for me, have a lovely weekend everyone!
Hey friends!
It's Friday, which is my Saturday because I work Sunday through Thursday. I'm incapable of sleeping in (hello middle age), so I've been up for awhile, enjoying the cooler morning air and the quiet house. Looking forward to my nap this afternoon!
I was talking with my bestie the other day about parenting types - she and I are both more interested in reading on the couch with our kids, not playing dollies or Legos with them. She has a friend visiting who has spent more time interacting with her kids than with her, which makes her feel jealous and also inadequate. We talked about how being the "fun mom" is considered the cultural ideal, even though not all of us are cut out to be fun moms. I'm not the fun mom, but I think I am the listening mom. The challenge is not assigning a value to the characterization. Just something I've been thinking about this week!
I’ve fully immersed myself in the Tour de France and the World Athletics (track and field) Championships. This mostly means that I’m scrolling quickly past Jan. 6 updates and climate disaster updates and chasing the high of inspirational athletic performances and humans who manage not to be jerks.
🇺🇸 A US silver medalist shot putter didn’t have his warm ups to wear for his medal ceremony. US hurdler and all around great human Grant Holloway lent him his (much smaller) jacket to wear.
https://twitter.com/prepcaltrack/status/1548873231444062208?s=21&t=aorbTruFgRp1Rw5RvbpumQ
🇯🇲 Gold medalist in the 100meter race, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made sure to place the 200m gold medalist (and teammate) in the spotlight after her win. When she fixes her hair in the video, I cried.
https://twitter.com/televisionjam1/status/1550323474031427585?s=21&t=aorbTruFgRp1Rw5RvbpumQ
🇫🇷 The two top cyclists in the Tour de France broke away and were leading the race. The second place rider fell and was scrambling to get back on his bike. The lead rider (and main rival) waited for him.
https://twitter.com/annamacb/status/1550196143300268034?s=21&t=aorbTruFgRp1Rw5RvbpumQ
I have no idea how I’m going to rejoin regular Twitter/Instagram after all this positive content. In the meantime, I’m just luxuriating in the best feed I could possibly have at the moment.
Last week I shared I was going to KC to spend time with friends from high school, and that one of them's son had died by suicide in November. We had a good time and I think she's doing as well as can be expected. I felt really melancholy as I drove away, I feel lonely where I live and feel like I have lots of surface level friends/friendly relationships but not beyond that. We live on a farm 20 miles from town and 3 hours from my friends in KC.
We are going to move to town within the next few years and that should help, but our house is part of the farm, not separate property, so we can't/won't sell it to buy a house in town. I will have to save up the down payment, etc. Not having enough money for what I want is a giant 💩 but we have enough for what we need, so I'm grateful for that. Our son will graduate in May from college in Connecticut so we'll have to save money for that as well.
Besides visiting my friends, I have been a hermit at home which isn't great for me but I went to yoga 2 days this week and feel so much better physically and mentally. Plus a Stupid Walk! Who knew physical exercise leads to feeling better?🤡
I'm obsessed with sorbet now (had it every night for supper in Spain) and ordered a countertop ice cream maker which should be here tomorrow! First up: cantaloupe sorbet!
Morning, everyone. Hope you’re surviving the heat. I just told my husband that we are going to plan activities this weekend as though it will be -10 degrees outside, since I have the same level of interest in being outside in those situations. Here’s some stuff from the week:
📚 Bought books for my husband’s sister for her birthday, but we don’t see her til next weekend, so I’m reading them first. 😂 First up was “The Tobacco Wives”. It was 3/5 stars for me. It wasn’t bad, just nothing over the top special. It would be an easy summer read for anyone who likes historical fiction/coming-of-age stories. Next up is “Sea of Tranquility.” I’ll let you know how it goes.
🪺 Erin, your tweets today were EXCELLENT. I laughed out loud about theology as fan theories.
🏃🏻♀️ If you need a giggle, I saw a Twitter thread this morning that has senator Josh Hawley running away from Jan. 6 protesters (whom just that morning he was egging on) set to music. I’m not on Twitter, so I can’t send a link, but check out Mallory Nees.
🎙 Sharon McMahon’s “Momentum” series on her Sharon Says So podcast is EXCELLENT. Definitely worth a listen.
I’m off to workout, friends, but I hope that you’re able to have a relaxing and/or productive weekend, depending on what you’re hoping for. Much love from Michigan!
The subject line in my inbox read: “communion and naked m…” 👀 😂
are there any clothed mole rats?
Good morning everyone!! I am getting over a cold, so I have been dragging this week, but I seem to be coming out of it. A few updates...
- we have a closing date for the house but not a move date, so I have no idea what my packing timeline should be. I look around my house and the only thing I can think is "look at all this stuff that's not packed". very fun and chill!
- my brother is getting married next weekend! however, his sweet bride is holding on really tightly to their plan to have the ceremony *outdoors at 5 PM in Austin, Texas in July*. But it's okay, because "there is a tree for shade". Jesus be near.
- my friend who has cancer got a good report from the latest scan - tumors have shrunk! grateful for a bit of good news.
Good morning :) I shared at the end of May that I did not renew my teaching contract and was looking for a new job... well, this week I found it! I will be teaching future educators, and I'm excited! I will also be working with my best friend. Thanks to all who shared your own stories of transitioning jobs earlier this year.
Amen, Jaclyn Siegel!