I have made the strawberry watermelon salad twice! It was the star of our Easter dinner, and raved over at our small group bible study dinner! Thank you!
The line about the official church prayer list being focused on health and wellness sent me.
This video from SNL is fantastic and made me realize that it's kind of a silver lining to evangelical sub-culture to get all the weddings out of the way early: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWclMLWpTEs
New Barbie trailer! Every piece of marketing about this movie raises more questions than it answers, but I know Greta and Margot are gonna live up to the hype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxBzestuK7s
Things appear to be on track for my grandma to go home this weekend. We're hoping Medicare will cover enough to make home dialysis a feasible option.
Happy Easter to all - I'm planning on spending the weekend inside listening to some recent additions to my vinyl collection and maybe watching Jesus Christ Superstar.
coming in so late today! Was suppose to see friends whom we haven't seen in 3 years, once again was foiled by covid! This is the 4th or 5th time we have tried to plan something and then one member or either family will get covid! So So frustrating. So now I am just sad and don't feel like doing any of the things....but i have children so theres that! Ha!!!
I don't got much else! I hope all are well and will see you all in the comments next week!
I did something big and deleted my Instagram account. Not just deactivated...straight up deleted. I reactivated it after a hard few weeks and said screw it to waiting until Easter...and then I remembered how draining it is for me mentally and emotionally and spiritually to be on that page. No amount of cleaning out my feed or posting cute videos or trying to be a ray of sunshine to my circle helped at all. Trust me, I’ve spent a year trying.
My mental health went down the drain less than 48 hours later after redownloading it, and I realized that even though it’s drastic, there is a solution. It’s better that one Instagram account be cast off into hell than to have my whole entire soul slowly wither away into hell, right? Despite missing out on personalized reels and the funny memes, I know there are so many better things ahead. And that’s why I’m so grateful for this group!
Other than that, it’s been a good but difficult season for me and I haven’t really shared much for that reason, BUT I did want to share this because while getting rid of something that’s toxic for me in my life isn’t going to solve everything, it’ll still help a lot. Love you all! ❤️
That’s when I deleted my Facebook account as well! I only lasted days on Twitter and TikTok, but it just got to a point where I couldn’t justify hanging onto Instagram anymore either. It’s gonna take a LOT of getting used to, but I know in a few weeks, I will feel way better.
Hello from the Lurker Cave. 🫣 This year is very much “same old, same old” with each week repeating the one before, so as much as I enjoy hanging out with you guys, there’s just not anything to share most of the time. I’m enjoying following all of your experiences and living vicariously. The only Easter plans we have are to binge The Chosen season three and try to remember that this is actually Easter weekend. The days I have truly run together. Maybe I’ll make the ham and black-eyed peas that we didn’t eat on New Year’s Day? What a year!
This week was actually a very productive and successful week for me. I had two breakthroughs in stroke therapy! Up until now I hadn’t been able to straighten my fingers on the right hand or grip more than a small amount with my index finger and thumb. But yesterday I was able to wrap all fingers around a large peg and place it in a hole on a tabletop pegboard. And I could do it over and over until I had 10 pegs on the board. Then I was able to reverse the process and clear each peg from the board with little difficulty. When I tried this task two weeks ago, I could only place one peg before my hand curled itself into a ball from spasticity. So in only two weeks time, I’ve improved that fine motor ability. Truly a breakthrough!
The other big news is that I’m able to drive again. ☺️ My mom has been handling all of it since December (and terrifying me in the process!) but now I’ll be able to get myself places without coordinating schedules or forcing Mom to get out for all these appointments. I didn’t expect to be driving again until much later in the year, but my OT suggested I give it a try. I guess I just needed to hear someone say that it was OK. It’s still a huge challenge to drive with only one hand, and not the usual hand, but I found a small driver’s assist knob for the steering wheel that makes things much easier. The world of assistive tech is remarkable!
You guys were so great last month in celebrating my birthday with me, and I just want to say thank you again for making it joyful. I’m in the process of hanging every card on a memo board, and I’ve got some new art prints to frame and add to the wall. I’m referring to it as my “wall of joy.” It’s the first thing I see when I wake and the last thing I see when I go to sleep, and it truly is exactly what I needed this year to remind me that there is so much good around me despite what the world looks like these days. You guys have made that possible and I’m so grateful. 🥰
I love the wall of joy! And I always try to remember to never take driving for granted because it provides so much autonomy and freedom that’s so needed in a world full of chaos.
For everyone who told me to get the cat last week. I would like you all to know that I am picking up June today from the shelter. She is about 2 years old and is a domestic long hair petite girlie. I hope she loves me haha. I met her on Wednesday and I love her so there we go. Follow me on insta @meagsnow if you want cat photo spam
Is it a hot take to say that Easter egg hunts are out of control? My children have become egg hoarding sneaks, and I’ve had to confiscate their baskets twice.
My treasure this week was that I’m a teacher and we just finished our marking period, which means that we are about to start our last marking period, and I only have about 15 more lessons to plan!
Although plastic Easter eggs are a scourge, I do love Easter and am excited for Easter baskets and Easter dresses and all that. I decided to do a little Easter tea party with my daughters instead of a lunch, so I’m excited about that too!
I hate egg hunts. Always have, always will. I'm a regular Easter Scrooge. I mean, about the hoopla. I love Jesus, and yay for his resurrection! TO BE CLEAR 🤪
9:30 has been my bedtime for the past 2 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's amazing.
There are a lot of wacky and just horrible things happening, but I am trying so hard to rest on the Rock.
We went and looked at another house last weekend and it straight up smelled like a dog and desperately needed new paint and carpet, but we saw a lot of potential so we put in an offer and the seller basically laughed at us because it wasn't asking price :( :( :(
I'm so thankful it's Easter weekend! I love to cook for special family meals! For Easter dinner I'm making pork tenderloin, Jan's mac & cheese, broccoli salad, pineapple and cheese casserole, rolls, and green beans. What are y'all having??? What is something you HAVE to have for Easter dinner?
I’ve been meditating on the idea that “Good Friday worked to save the world,” and—as I watch the top-of-the-hour news—its connection with our chaotic world.
Wish I could write a song about Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and how it gives assurance that “And though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” (“Fairest Lord Jesus.”) I like Psalm 2,
“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
This week has been mostly great. My birthday was Monday and I got beautiful weather for it! It was such a lovely day with time spent outside, playing tennis, lunch with friends, dinner with the family. I got taken out to lunch 2 other days by other friends too so that was fun.
Yesterday though I had a massive headache that just wouldn’t go away. I don’t know if it was allergies or stress/tension in my neck that brought it on. I’ve been feeling stressed about my student ministry coordinator position. I don’t even know if stressed is the right word, but I’m just not feeling passionate about it at all, wanting to not think about it anymore, but also not knowing how to let it go and can I even do that? Anyway, I’ve been thinking about it for a while but we had a couple of weeks off from youth because of Spring Break so getting back into things after a break is always tough so maybe I was just feeling that extra this week.
👑Have I talked about how much I am obsessed with Daisy Jones and the Six, along with my daughter? We have the album on repeat when we’re not playing Taylor Swift.
👑And speaking of Taylor, we will be seeing her a month from today! I have no idea what to wear. We’re going to Nashville and I want to wear something fun and appropriate for a 45 year old but also comfortable lol.
Happy Easter weekend everyone! May we all feel the joy and the hope of the resurrection even through the pain and turmoil of all that is happening in our personal lives, as well as the world around us.
Yeah! I’m just wearing a tee shirt with jeans, but the shirt is from a local small business, it has gemstones lined up in different colors to represent each album, and then on the bottom in cursive, it says “I polish up real nice!” I live in Florida/the concert is in Florida, we’re dressing for comfort here. 🥵
I liked that list of Christian women scientists, but let me add another name - Dr. Emily Smith, at Duke, who started writing the very helpful "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist" Facebook page -now-substack during the pandemic. She's got a book (The Science of the Good Samaritan) coming out soon, too!
Dr. Smith was doing the Lord's work and then some in the early pandemic - give the lady a medal! As a bonus she and I are originally from the same county in NM (counting it as my one small claim to fame).
It's me, I'm the mysterious woman who is in bed by 9:30.
It has been A. Week. On Monday there was an accident outside my neighborhood that turned my 10-minute drive into an hour-long commute. On Tuesday our kitchen faucet started leaking so badly we had to replace it. And we are deep in the throes of summer reading planning at the library. My supervisor has been temporarily reassigned to a different branch, so we're sort of on our own, and my head is spinning with everything we have to plan and do.
However, my treasure this week is that I went to my very first Maundy Thursday service at our new church yesterday, and it was so lovely.
Also, what should I make for Easter dessert? I don't like coconut, and that seems to be the vibe, so I'm feeling stuck. What are my other options?
I am making a pound cake-- because I have been fasting sweets during lent, I am so excited for this cake! Smitten Kitchen also posted a lemon pavlova type recipe that also looks delicious!
I have made the strawberry watermelon salad twice! It was the star of our Easter dinner, and raved over at our small group bible study dinner! Thank you!
The line about the official church prayer list being focused on health and wellness sent me.
This video from SNL is fantastic and made me realize that it's kind of a silver lining to evangelical sub-culture to get all the weddings out of the way early: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWclMLWpTEs
New Barbie trailer! Every piece of marketing about this movie raises more questions than it answers, but I know Greta and Margot are gonna live up to the hype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxBzestuK7s
Things appear to be on track for my grandma to go home this weekend. We're hoping Medicare will cover enough to make home dialysis a feasible option.
Happy Easter to all - I'm planning on spending the weekend inside listening to some recent additions to my vinyl collection and maybe watching Jesus Christ Superstar.
Okay, yes, I have so many questions about the Barbie movie after that trailer, but also I'm very excited?
coming in so late today! Was suppose to see friends whom we haven't seen in 3 years, once again was foiled by covid! This is the 4th or 5th time we have tried to plan something and then one member or either family will get covid! So So frustrating. So now I am just sad and don't feel like doing any of the things....but i have children so theres that! Ha!!!
I don't got much else! I hope all are well and will see you all in the comments next week!
I did something big and deleted my Instagram account. Not just deactivated...straight up deleted. I reactivated it after a hard few weeks and said screw it to waiting until Easter...and then I remembered how draining it is for me mentally and emotionally and spiritually to be on that page. No amount of cleaning out my feed or posting cute videos or trying to be a ray of sunshine to my circle helped at all. Trust me, I’ve spent a year trying.
My mental health went down the drain less than 48 hours later after redownloading it, and I realized that even though it’s drastic, there is a solution. It’s better that one Instagram account be cast off into hell than to have my whole entire soul slowly wither away into hell, right? Despite missing out on personalized reels and the funny memes, I know there are so many better things ahead. And that’s why I’m so grateful for this group!
Other than that, it’s been a good but difficult season for me and I haven’t really shared much for that reason, BUT I did want to share this because while getting rid of something that’s toxic for me in my life isn’t going to solve everything, it’ll still help a lot. Love you all! ❤️
Oh so glad for you that this is working for you! I felt like this when I deleted my facebook in 2021. Likea huge weight has lifted!
That’s when I deleted my Facebook account as well! I only lasted days on Twitter and TikTok, but it just got to a point where I couldn’t justify hanging onto Instagram anymore either. It’s gonna take a LOT of getting used to, but I know in a few weeks, I will feel way better.
Hello from the Lurker Cave. 🫣 This year is very much “same old, same old” with each week repeating the one before, so as much as I enjoy hanging out with you guys, there’s just not anything to share most of the time. I’m enjoying following all of your experiences and living vicariously. The only Easter plans we have are to binge The Chosen season three and try to remember that this is actually Easter weekend. The days I have truly run together. Maybe I’ll make the ham and black-eyed peas that we didn’t eat on New Year’s Day? What a year!
This week was actually a very productive and successful week for me. I had two breakthroughs in stroke therapy! Up until now I hadn’t been able to straighten my fingers on the right hand or grip more than a small amount with my index finger and thumb. But yesterday I was able to wrap all fingers around a large peg and place it in a hole on a tabletop pegboard. And I could do it over and over until I had 10 pegs on the board. Then I was able to reverse the process and clear each peg from the board with little difficulty. When I tried this task two weeks ago, I could only place one peg before my hand curled itself into a ball from spasticity. So in only two weeks time, I’ve improved that fine motor ability. Truly a breakthrough!
The other big news is that I’m able to drive again. ☺️ My mom has been handling all of it since December (and terrifying me in the process!) but now I’ll be able to get myself places without coordinating schedules or forcing Mom to get out for all these appointments. I didn’t expect to be driving again until much later in the year, but my OT suggested I give it a try. I guess I just needed to hear someone say that it was OK. It’s still a huge challenge to drive with only one hand, and not the usual hand, but I found a small driver’s assist knob for the steering wheel that makes things much easier. The world of assistive tech is remarkable!
You guys were so great last month in celebrating my birthday with me, and I just want to say thank you again for making it joyful. I’m in the process of hanging every card on a memo board, and I’ve got some new art prints to frame and add to the wall. I’m referring to it as my “wall of joy.” It’s the first thing I see when I wake and the last thing I see when I go to sleep, and it truly is exactly what I needed this year to remind me that there is so much good around me despite what the world looks like these days. You guys have made that possible and I’m so grateful. 🥰
This is all such great news, Jules!
I love the wall of joy! And I always try to remember to never take driving for granted because it provides so much autonomy and freedom that’s so needed in a world full of chaos.
I celebrate those pegboard achievements with you! Well done! And driving too! Yay!
For everyone who told me to get the cat last week. I would like you all to know that I am picking up June today from the shelter. She is about 2 years old and is a domestic long hair petite girlie. I hope she loves me haha. I met her on Wednesday and I love her so there we go. Follow me on insta @meagsnow if you want cat photo spam
This is so exciting! I've always wanted a cat! I know she will love you <3
Is it a hot take to say that Easter egg hunts are out of control? My children have become egg hoarding sneaks, and I’ve had to confiscate their baskets twice.
My treasure this week was that I’m a teacher and we just finished our marking period, which means that we are about to start our last marking period, and I only have about 15 more lessons to plan!
Although plastic Easter eggs are a scourge, I do love Easter and am excited for Easter baskets and Easter dresses and all that. I decided to do a little Easter tea party with my daughters instead of a lunch, so I’m excited about that too!
I hate egg hunts. Always have, always will. I'm a regular Easter Scrooge. I mean, about the hoopla. I love Jesus, and yay for his resurrection! TO BE CLEAR 🤪
They are out of control! Why so many? My kids don’t need them at scouts, school, and church!
9:30 has been my bedtime for the past 2 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's amazing.
There are a lot of wacky and just horrible things happening, but I am trying so hard to rest on the Rock.
We went and looked at another house last weekend and it straight up smelled like a dog and desperately needed new paint and carpet, but we saw a lot of potential so we put in an offer and the seller basically laughed at us because it wasn't asking price :( :( :(
I'm so thankful it's Easter weekend! I love to cook for special family meals! For Easter dinner I'm making pork tenderloin, Jan's mac & cheese, broccoli salad, pineapple and cheese casserole, rolls, and green beans. What are y'all having??? What is something you HAVE to have for Easter dinner?
Treasures:
New Chick-fil-A Rap: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqRUAN8vXjh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I need someone to narrate my cooking like this lady: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cnz6O5Jp1u4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Can't wait to catch up in the comments!!! I'm praying we all have a peaceful Easter <3
One, I need to know more about this pineapple and cheese casserole...
Two, my must haves are strawberry pretzel “salad” and strawberry mousse trifle.
It’s so good, here’s the recipe: https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/pineapple-casserole-recipe
The only thing I do different is use pineapple tidbits instead of the chunks. Please try it, it’s my family’s favorite 💗
I’ve been meditating on the idea that “Good Friday worked to save the world,” and—as I watch the top-of-the-hour news—its connection with our chaotic world.
Wish I could write a song about Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and how it gives assurance that “And though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” (“Fairest Lord Jesus.”) I like Psalm 2,
“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
Psalm 2:10-12 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.2.10-12.KJV
May Jesus come again and bring all chaos back in order! And in the meantime May we be servants of justice and love for the people closest to us!☝️
I erred in my quote, “And though the wrong seems oft so strong, …” It is from the hymn, “This Is My Father’s World.”
This week has been mostly great. My birthday was Monday and I got beautiful weather for it! It was such a lovely day with time spent outside, playing tennis, lunch with friends, dinner with the family. I got taken out to lunch 2 other days by other friends too so that was fun.
Yesterday though I had a massive headache that just wouldn’t go away. I don’t know if it was allergies or stress/tension in my neck that brought it on. I’ve been feeling stressed about my student ministry coordinator position. I don’t even know if stressed is the right word, but I’m just not feeling passionate about it at all, wanting to not think about it anymore, but also not knowing how to let it go and can I even do that? Anyway, I’ve been thinking about it for a while but we had a couple of weeks off from youth because of Spring Break so getting back into things after a break is always tough so maybe I was just feeling that extra this week.
👑Have I talked about how much I am obsessed with Daisy Jones and the Six, along with my daughter? We have the album on repeat when we’re not playing Taylor Swift.
👑And speaking of Taylor, we will be seeing her a month from today! I have no idea what to wear. We’re going to Nashville and I want to wear something fun and appropriate for a 45 year old but also comfortable lol.
Happy Easter weekend everyone! May we all feel the joy and the hope of the resurrection even through the pain and turmoil of all that is happening in our personal lives, as well as the world around us.
I saw Taylor this past Sunday 🫶
I loved seeing your stories/posts!
Ahhhhhh that is so exciting! I’m seeing Taylor next weekend!
So fun! Do you have your outfit picked out?
Yeah! I’m just wearing a tee shirt with jeans, but the shirt is from a local small business, it has gemstones lined up in different colors to represent each album, and then on the bottom in cursive, it says “I polish up real nice!” I live in Florida/the concert is in Florida, we’re dressing for comfort here. 🥵
I love that!
I liked that list of Christian women scientists, but let me add another name - Dr. Emily Smith, at Duke, who started writing the very helpful "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist" Facebook page -now-substack during the pandemic. She's got a book (The Science of the Good Samaritan) coming out soon, too!
https://emilysmith.substack.com/
Dr. Smith was doing the Lord's work and then some in the early pandemic - give the lady a medal! As a bonus she and I are originally from the same county in NM (counting it as my one small claim to fame).
I second Emily!
Thank you ellen!
It's me, I'm the mysterious woman who is in bed by 9:30.
It has been A. Week. On Monday there was an accident outside my neighborhood that turned my 10-minute drive into an hour-long commute. On Tuesday our kitchen faucet started leaking so badly we had to replace it. And we are deep in the throes of summer reading planning at the library. My supervisor has been temporarily reassigned to a different branch, so we're sort of on our own, and my head is spinning with everything we have to plan and do.
However, my treasure this week is that I went to my very first Maundy Thursday service at our new church yesterday, and it was so lovely.
Also, what should I make for Easter dessert? I don't like coconut, and that seems to be the vibe, so I'm feeling stuck. What are my other options?
I’m doing key lime pie bars! Would also 10/10 recommend lemon bars
Ooh, I've done lemon bars before but I've never tried key lime!
I am making a strawberry cake and since chocolate is my love language: homemade peanut butter eggs. No coconut at my Easter table!! Blech!! 😂
Right?? Okay yes, I think I'm going to try to make peanut butter eggs today, we'll see how it goes!
Easier than you think! Good luck!
Dessert options: strawberry mousse; Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream/cool whip; Angel food cake trifle.
Ohh, strawberry mousse sounds delicious!
How about ice cream cake?
Oh, I love ice cream cake!
Nothing to say other than coconut is disgusting. Carry on.
🙌
I am making a pound cake-- because I have been fasting sweets during lent, I am so excited for this cake! Smitten Kitchen also posted a lemon pavlova type recipe that also looks delicious!
Smitten Kitchen is the best! Congrats on making it through your sweets fast, that's a really hard one
Gooey butter cake is our go to for a lot of our family get togethers. It was something my mom made and now my dad makes it regularly.
I haven't made gooey butter cake in forever and I don't know why because it's so good!
Second to gooey butter cake. It’s so good.
Also here to make a case for carrot cake. I know it’s a little on the nose for Easter, but you cannot go wrong with good cake and cream cheese icing.
So sorry to hear about your bad week! Hoping you get all of the 9:30 bedtime and rest for the weekend.
I made a carrot cake/coffee cake hybrid for breakfast this week, and it is delicious! Definitely made me want to try a real carrot cake soon