Good morning! This is my first post on The Swipe Up and I wondered if you all had any ideas on how to process this time. Ideas for social media boundaries, easy recipes, good/relatively unbiased news sources, or just where I can find an IG with cute animals. My uncle also just had a TIA stroke on Wednesday so prayers on his behalf would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Love to you all.
Greetings. Just wanted to say hi during roll call. That is bringing back memories of summer camp and raising the flag each morning. I lost count of time this week between work, news and weird bump on my dog. We're doing a biopsy on Wednesday to get some answers. Life update I'm submitting my first grad school application tonight as i just got my last reference letter. Have a great week everyone.
I'm relatively new to The Swipe Up and I've never commented on here before but I needed a little community at the moment. This whole week has been a blur (I admit to doom scrolling and news overload) and then my uncle had a minor stroke. This might sound like a stupid thing to say right now, given all that's happened and people needing to sit with the grief and anger (and I am one of them) but if anyone could share what has been helping them get through this time it would be greatly appreciated. I have been listening to The Popcast and knitting and I've noticed that it always helps. Thanks in advance.
I am also very new here! I live in Canada so we're not impacted in the same way, but I spent some time doing hand sewing on a kind of useless project and focusing on process (sewing little hexagons) and not product (I don't even know what I'm going to do with them!).
Hi. I am so grateful to be here with you all. This is my first comment here, although I have been reading awhile. I just want to say how grateful I am for goodness, wherever it is found. My oldest son is a USNavy aviator and is currently deployed...I was there when he took the oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I’m proud and grateful for his service, and people like him, who read news and think critically and are willing to serve, give me hope for the future. Also, fun fact: his wife just had a baby! So I am especially grateful for all the people of goodwill gathered here—I want my grandson to grow up in a world full of people who are willing to learn and love. God bless you all!
Took my first Stupid Walk™️ this week and discovered tons of mushrooms, finished a painting, learned to make air fryer donuts from can biscuits (B Holes? Biscuitles? Bisticles?), discovered Netflix’s History of Swearing (not for sensitive ears, obviously), and of course used actual footage of a real-life attempted coup on the US Capitol in homeschool to illustrate our government lesson. As ya do. Been learning so much from @sharonsaysso on IG, since I snoozed in every class that wasn’t my special interest in school. But due to recent events, government is now a special interest.
I read your emails every week. Always a delight! Thank you.
Just quick comment. I really read through your link on critical thinking. What a good good reminder. I just want to think clearly in the midst of this horrible week.
One think keeps coming to mind is the research showed 93% of BLM protests were peaceful. I took time to research the source of this research and it looks very credible. Amazing to have such good research.
What we can’t say is that right wing protests were more or less peaceful. Just trying to apply my classes in quantitative research. I would like to say they were more violent but the data is not available.
Watching the events of the last few days from where we sit in Australia was scary. It felt like I was watching a movie scene and it wasn’t a movie I wanted to watch, but I wouldn’t switch off. I won’t switch off from the terror that took place.
It’s tempting to say “we’re not like that” but honestly, as you guys quake from this terrorism, Australia is gearing up to celebrate Australia Day - the day we celebrate the time the settlers came and killed, kicked out and destroyed the indigenous people of our land. We’re built on and benefit from racism.
Anyway.
I’m praying peace for your nation and for yours hearts too. Does anyone need some Starbucks? I can set up a lil gift card if you need it.
I was wondering what it must have been like to watch from a different country. Thank you for your prayers. And yes @ Amanda’s comment - humans are such a mess.
I've written a lot of messages that I haven't sent (and have no intention of ever sending) this week and it's been an interesting exercise in processing. I'm not done yet so I'm just going to share two dumb little things that are getting me through the week!
Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood. It's Urban Fantasy (did you know that was a thing? I did not.) and I'm so so so in. Trying to read more genre's this year and I'm starting with a 900 page banger.
All of the Lord of the Rings soundtracks on one playlist on shuffle. It's incredibly soothing background music and every once in awhile Concerning Hobbits comes on and you take a deep breath and think about how awesome it would be in you lived in New Zealand and could kiss boys on dates.
Thank you for being my favorite place on the internet!
My housemate had a playlist with LOTR songs on it, and sometimes when she was playing it the songs would catch me off guard and I would start crying. Concerning Bonita just makes me feel so many feelings. (which is good sometimes! Even if I try not to. 😊)
I'm not ready to process Wednesday. I'm taking time to get curious about my feelings about it and why I'm responding the way I am which includes only feel-good television and Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Sonic Cherry Limeades. I prayed simply this morning for the Holy Spirit to comfort us, support us, and hold us. That's what I need right now.
Turds:
* A dear family friend passed away from COVID this week and it's the first person I've known in real life. She cared for my nephews when they were babies, she was just the dearest of church ladies.
* I started my grad class again this week and I thought the weariness of the end of last semester would be cured by Christmas break but it wasn't. I'm still struggling to find motivation, engagement, and willingness.
* I realized over the break that my passport expires soon so I need to renew that before I can begin my visa application since I need to include a current passport with the application. This delays applying and potentially getting approval which delays finally moving to Ireland. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of looking for a purpose in the season. I've gotten really good at waiting but one of the epiphanies I've had this year is that you can be good at something you don't like. I don't like waiting even if I'm good at it.
Treasures:
* My SIL's parents are recovering well from their own COVID. So happy that they are doing well and don't seem to have too many long term side effects. They are in recovery which means that our family can gather again and I can hug my niece and nephews.
* My sister turned 37 last week and I realized she is amazing. We are SO different, I can't even begin to describe how different. She has been my rock in this pandemic. We scheduled a harbor cruise to look at boats lit up for Christmas, in one of the beach cities here in So. Cal for her birthday. Some kind of terrible breakdown in communication happened and the boat left without us even though a couple of dozen of us were still waiting on the dock. My sister was so good-natured about it. We got ice cream and BBQ for dinner and she was just happy to be with everyone. She was a teacher to me that day, which doesn't happen very often to this older sister. She taught us how to take the good with the bad, to look at the silver lining, and be grateful for physical in-person time spent together.
* I discovered Tik Tok over the break....it's bad you guys. Several nights I looked up and it had been two hours. I am on Nun Tik Tok, Dog Tik Tok, Laundry Tik Tok, Broadway Tik Tok, and Irish Tik Tok. I blame Jillian.
* Dermot Kennedy and his mix of folk and hip hop have gotten me through the last few days.
Hello all. Good gravy this week has been...well, lots of things, none of them great. I have talked here about my struggle with anxiety and how I don’t watch the news, relying on my husband to keep me in the loop. Well, Wednesday I was live steaming the certification while I ate my late lunch because #civicslesson and I happened to have it on when things went bad. Once I am aware that something has happened, there’s a sweet spot in which more information is helpful but if I get just a smidge too much information I swing back to incredibly anxious. Because it was a slow work day, I crossed the line. I did at least realize it pretty quickly but I was real high strung for the rest of the day. I’m back to no media and my dear husband (who I very much trust here) is keeping me informed for now.
In happier news, my husband, son, and I are headed to my family’s cabin, just the three of us, for the weekend and I’m pretty excited for a change of scenery.
I LOVE the Galentine’s idea and can’t wait to find a fun little something for one of you amazing ladies.
I better post this before I lose my signal. Hugs to all and take care of yourselves.
Enjoy the cabin! (Also, as much as I truly sympathized with the iced coffee situation, I have to admit I giggled too. Sounds like something I would have done!)
That fine line between just enough news info and too much is so precarious! It’s awesome you have your husband to breakdown the news in a way that matches you individual anxieties! Enjoy your cabin adventures!
Also, for anyone who happens to read this in the next couple of hours, Ts and Ps for your girl. I blacked out for a second and thought it was a good idea to drink 30 oz. of iced coffee. On a four hour drive. And when I tell you the choice of “facilities” on this drive is sketchy during the best of (non-corona) times, that’s being generous. And it’s getting dark, otherwise I’m not above finding an out of the way place and peeing the the grass (hashtag farm girl).
Thanks, Katie! My ennneagram 6 brain can manufacture all manner of worst case scenarios without having the media confirm the worst about humanity. 🙄 Weekend should be fun. Cold, but might get in a hike or two and definitely some games and yummy food!
Phew what a week. I'm tired, in that wrung out rag sort of way. The cause is probably, well, everything... and we started school back here this week which probably accounts for an extra dose of tired, on top of everything else. I know there is a whole globe feeling the same, so thanks for being the tired sisters on the path with me. Holding each other up. Speaking of holding each other up... this may sound very sad and desperate but I don't quite mean it as bad as it sounds, but... after 7 months of trying to get back home to France and every new attempt failing, I confess that my hope is weak. I just feel like I need people to hold that hope for me. To have faith for me when mine is running thin. I just want to protect my tender fragile little heart from another crushing blow. So that is my request for you all this coming week. Will you help hold my weak and scrawny little strings of hope for me this week? Our visa appointment for France is next Friday (which is truly amazing that we even have an appointment at this point). I will let you know how it goes.
-This week in my confinement in England journey, I started learning our new neighborhood on those permitted once per day Stupid Walks™ which are becoming a necessity right now to help ease the knot in my stomach. But really its been a treasure for me this week to run, sweat, feel frigid cold air on my face and feel the burn in my lungs. When you can't be actively doing things and accomplishing tasks or errands that feels really good.
-My daughter and I are trying to notice all the different detail on these English houses we pass, and I just love seeing the world through her eyes. She never fails to notice something I never do. This is a sweet treasure to see new things because of her.
-Speaking of daughter, she is learning fractions and it is what my hands have wrought!! I feel so powerful like I could take over the world now. Truly you homeschool Moms teaching your kids to read or write essays... I believe with this voodoo magic you could mind power anyone to do anything.
-I might be late to this train, but guys, Ted Lasso. It really IS that good. I have cried during the last two episodes. I probably feel extra connected with it, myself being an American in London after all, but do not sleep on it. I want to be Ted Lasso when I grow up.
-And last one is my Mom. She is getting older (nice way to say that she is now very technology diffident) She is also very very hard of hearing now. I was FaceTiming with her on her iPad and she couldn't hear me at all. Like I was screaming. Then after some fiddling she said "oh its working now" I asked her what she did to fix it. She said "Oh, it was those buttons on the bottom, I had to press those for some reason" and I said "Momma, you turned up the volume" We had a good long laugh about that. She still loves to laugh and not afraid to laugh at her latest faux-pas.
Hi, hi hello. This is my first time commenting, too, because I usually get here at lunchtime on the West Coast and y'all are done and dusted with all your conversations. But I always read all of 'em, and my therapist told me (ugh, talk about a TREASURE) to join in and stuff. So here I am, showing up imperfectly, with so many thoughts about the atrocities this week that I'm tongue-tied. But grateful for Erin and y'all's brains and hearts that show up in GIFs and words and emojis and whatever. Here's to speaking up, even when your words aren't sufficient.
I'm on the West Coast too, Katie and I use the newsletter as an incentive to get my daily list done so I'm usually pretty late to the game. I am also grateful for the others in this community putting words and GIFS and tweets to my scattered brain.
Last night I snuck down to my basement after dinner while my kids ran wild and my husband let them, and I cried by the dryer and ate hidden chocolate and basically just felt all my dumb festering feelings. It helped a little. But the things that are giving me hope and a sense of renewal today are 1) quitting a moms group that I just don’t have the mental energy for anymore 2) this newsletter & all the comments. From being a functional button to Tinkle razors, you all remind me that people are not mostly garbage. Thank you.
Treasures:
-my kids are still playing with their Christmas toys. MIRACLE.
-those dang Bachelor recaps are a balm to my news-weary soul.
-Stupid Yoga. I live in a place that’s not super great for walking, so I’ve been doing Stupid Yoga before bed and I’m mad about how beneficial it’s been because I would rather just have my 23 yr old metabolism back.
The kids playing with the toys is great. When mine were young, I'd hide a bunch of the gifts and then give them out throughout the year. It helped keep the gifts as new and cool as long as possible. And usually seasonally you weed things out they aren't really caring about anymore.
Also, that cardigan is perfect. Totally eyeing the yellow one and I don't even wear that much yellow! But when its constantly grey in MN in January, color is nice!
Thanks so much Erin. I think this has been your most important issue yet. Also thanks for the 17 Again Rec-I’ve never seen it. it is going on my must watch list.
What a long year this week has been. Wednesday was supposed to be spent celebrating my husband’s 40th birthday and dealing with my 3 yr olds first day of preschool (albeit virtual). Of course all of that took a backseat to what was happening in our nation’s Capitol.
I’m so grateful for the many prophetic voices speaking out against the domestic terrorists during this time. Also to the journalists who kept filming and documenting at great cost to their own safety.
My free time this week has been mostly following stuff on Twitter and Instagram. It’s been so fun to start following some of you guys on Instagram. I love seeing little peeks into your lives.
Friends, I am so weary. And then I feel bad about feeling weary because more of this stuff is coming at me second or third hand, yet it still feels like too much. I typically listen to The Daily on my way to work in the mornings, but this week my Morning Anxiety Tornado kicked in fully, so I had to skip the news. I am hoping to be in a space to catch up this weekend, as Michael Barbaro is really the one I want to tell me about this week's events.
Professionally, we are finally going back to school after being remote since the year began. I don't love teaching remotely, but our hybrid plan seems worse. My sister-in-law is having a baby this week (yay!), but now I don't know when I'll get to see the baby since I can no longer avoid people and their germs. Maybe the summer? That realization undid me last night. It was a tearful evening.
But there are always treasures, too, aren't there? I took a Stupid Walk on my lunch break every day this week while listening to The Bible in a Year podcast. I've always wanted to read the whole bible, but honestly, I typically poop out after the first week of readings. Something about the podcast format is really working for me, so maybe this will be the year I don't get lost in the book of Numbers, never to be seen again.
I was playing I Spy with a group of English language learners today. We had a picture with a ton of different little icons/emojis, and someone would say, "I spy a hot dog" and we'd race to see who could circle it first. One student said, "I see a moon" and other student circled a banana, and for some reason it was just the funniest thing, and we were all cracking up, especially the student who circled the banana. I said, "I spy something you can ride", and that same student circled a chicken. So apparently his sense of humor is developing along with his English.
Finally, lil Swipes, if you are the praying kind, please pray for my sister-in-law, Jill, and my sister Sarah. Both are having babies soon, and it's just a hard time to be doing that. I am so thankful for all of you.
Praying for the new bebes (in my best Moira Rose voice)
Teachers. You are all angels. Not scary 8 winged 20 eyed ones. But amazing gauzy miracles right now. I applaud each and every one of you for delivering in models that aren't easy. For patience and for grace. Every parent thanks you. And I pray every parent wants you safe.
Good morning! This is my first post on The Swipe Up and I wondered if you all had any ideas on how to process this time. Ideas for social media boundaries, easy recipes, good/relatively unbiased news sources, or just where I can find an IG with cute animals. My uncle also just had a TIA stroke on Wednesday so prayers on his behalf would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Love to you all.
Greetings. Just wanted to say hi during roll call. That is bringing back memories of summer camp and raising the flag each morning. I lost count of time this week between work, news and weird bump on my dog. We're doing a biopsy on Wednesday to get some answers. Life update I'm submitting my first grad school application tonight as i just got my last reference letter. Have a great week everyone.
I'm relatively new to The Swipe Up and I've never commented on here before but I needed a little community at the moment. This whole week has been a blur (I admit to doom scrolling and news overload) and then my uncle had a minor stroke. This might sound like a stupid thing to say right now, given all that's happened and people needing to sit with the grief and anger (and I am one of them) but if anyone could share what has been helping them get through this time it would be greatly appreciated. I have been listening to The Popcast and knitting and I've noticed that it always helps. Thanks in advance.
I am also very new here! I live in Canada so we're not impacted in the same way, but I spent some time doing hand sewing on a kind of useless project and focusing on process (sewing little hexagons) and not product (I don't even know what I'm going to do with them!).
Hi. I am so grateful to be here with you all. This is my first comment here, although I have been reading awhile. I just want to say how grateful I am for goodness, wherever it is found. My oldest son is a USNavy aviator and is currently deployed...I was there when he took the oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I’m proud and grateful for his service, and people like him, who read news and think critically and are willing to serve, give me hope for the future. Also, fun fact: his wife just had a baby! So I am especially grateful for all the people of goodwill gathered here—I want my grandson to grow up in a world full of people who are willing to learn and love. God bless you all!
Yayyyy for grand baby! Welcome, Richella
Thank you so much, Lauren! So nice to meet you!
Took my first Stupid Walk™️ this week and discovered tons of mushrooms, finished a painting, learned to make air fryer donuts from can biscuits (B Holes? Biscuitles? Bisticles?), discovered Netflix’s History of Swearing (not for sensitive ears, obviously), and of course used actual footage of a real-life attempted coup on the US Capitol in homeschool to illustrate our government lesson. As ya do. Been learning so much from @sharonsaysso on IG, since I snoozed in every class that wasn’t my special interest in school. But due to recent events, government is now a special interest.
The painting, in case anyone is into that sort of thing: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ1IWVhBpUK/?igshid=1ewlovy1i15tc
Love to you all ❤️
I read your emails every week. Always a delight! Thank you.
Just quick comment. I really read through your link on critical thinking. What a good good reminder. I just want to think clearly in the midst of this horrible week.
One think keeps coming to mind is the research showed 93% of BLM protests were peaceful. I took time to research the source of this research and it looks very credible. Amazing to have such good research.
What we can’t say is that right wing protests were more or less peaceful. Just trying to apply my classes in quantitative research. I would like to say they were more violent but the data is not available.
Please help me think critically!
I’m so glad your newsletter exists!
Watching the events of the last few days from where we sit in Australia was scary. It felt like I was watching a movie scene and it wasn’t a movie I wanted to watch, but I wouldn’t switch off. I won’t switch off from the terror that took place.
It’s tempting to say “we’re not like that” but honestly, as you guys quake from this terrorism, Australia is gearing up to celebrate Australia Day - the day we celebrate the time the settlers came and killed, kicked out and destroyed the indigenous people of our land. We’re built on and benefit from racism.
Anyway.
I’m praying peace for your nation and for yours hearts too. Does anyone need some Starbucks? I can set up a lil gift card if you need it.
I was wondering what it must have been like to watch from a different country. Thank you for your prayers. And yes @ Amanda’s comment - humans are such a mess.
Humans are mess aren't we?
I've written a lot of messages that I haven't sent (and have no intention of ever sending) this week and it's been an interesting exercise in processing. I'm not done yet so I'm just going to share two dumb little things that are getting me through the week!
Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood. It's Urban Fantasy (did you know that was a thing? I did not.) and I'm so so so in. Trying to read more genre's this year and I'm starting with a 900 page banger.
All of the Lord of the Rings soundtracks on one playlist on shuffle. It's incredibly soothing background music and every once in awhile Concerning Hobbits comes on and you take a deep breath and think about how awesome it would be in you lived in New Zealand and could kiss boys on dates.
Thank you for being my favorite place on the internet!
My housemate had a playlist with LOTR songs on it, and sometimes when she was playing it the songs would catch me off guard and I would start crying. Concerning Bonita just makes me feel so many feelings. (which is good sometimes! Even if I try not to. 😊)
Yessss! I’ve been feeling so many feelings this week, crying because of beautiful music is weirdly the best.
Ahhhh that sounds incredibly lovely!
I'm not ready to process Wednesday. I'm taking time to get curious about my feelings about it and why I'm responding the way I am which includes only feel-good television and Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Sonic Cherry Limeades. I prayed simply this morning for the Holy Spirit to comfort us, support us, and hold us. That's what I need right now.
Turds:
* A dear family friend passed away from COVID this week and it's the first person I've known in real life. She cared for my nephews when they were babies, she was just the dearest of church ladies.
* I started my grad class again this week and I thought the weariness of the end of last semester would be cured by Christmas break but it wasn't. I'm still struggling to find motivation, engagement, and willingness.
* I realized over the break that my passport expires soon so I need to renew that before I can begin my visa application since I need to include a current passport with the application. This delays applying and potentially getting approval which delays finally moving to Ireland. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of looking for a purpose in the season. I've gotten really good at waiting but one of the epiphanies I've had this year is that you can be good at something you don't like. I don't like waiting even if I'm good at it.
Treasures:
* My SIL's parents are recovering well from their own COVID. So happy that they are doing well and don't seem to have too many long term side effects. They are in recovery which means that our family can gather again and I can hug my niece and nephews.
* My sister turned 37 last week and I realized she is amazing. We are SO different, I can't even begin to describe how different. She has been my rock in this pandemic. We scheduled a harbor cruise to look at boats lit up for Christmas, in one of the beach cities here in So. Cal for her birthday. Some kind of terrible breakdown in communication happened and the boat left without us even though a couple of dozen of us were still waiting on the dock. My sister was so good-natured about it. We got ice cream and BBQ for dinner and she was just happy to be with everyone. She was a teacher to me that day, which doesn't happen very often to this older sister. She taught us how to take the good with the bad, to look at the silver lining, and be grateful for physical in-person time spent together.
* I discovered Tik Tok over the break....it's bad you guys. Several nights I looked up and it had been two hours. I am on Nun Tik Tok, Dog Tik Tok, Laundry Tik Tok, Broadway Tik Tok, and Irish Tik Tok. I blame Jillian.
* Dermot Kennedy and his mix of folk and hip hop have gotten me through the last few days.
https://youtu.be/oK9wqtAwnoE
Those dark chocolate peanut butter cups have gotten me through a lot of trials!!!
I’m fascinated about sibling relationships that become so concrete in adulthood despite differences!!! Love it!
Hello all. Good gravy this week has been...well, lots of things, none of them great. I have talked here about my struggle with anxiety and how I don’t watch the news, relying on my husband to keep me in the loop. Well, Wednesday I was live steaming the certification while I ate my late lunch because #civicslesson and I happened to have it on when things went bad. Once I am aware that something has happened, there’s a sweet spot in which more information is helpful but if I get just a smidge too much information I swing back to incredibly anxious. Because it was a slow work day, I crossed the line. I did at least realize it pretty quickly but I was real high strung for the rest of the day. I’m back to no media and my dear husband (who I very much trust here) is keeping me informed for now.
In happier news, my husband, son, and I are headed to my family’s cabin, just the three of us, for the weekend and I’m pretty excited for a change of scenery.
I LOVE the Galentine’s idea and can’t wait to find a fun little something for one of you amazing ladies.
I better post this before I lose my signal. Hugs to all and take care of yourselves.
Enjoy the cabin! (Also, as much as I truly sympathized with the iced coffee situation, I have to admit I giggled too. Sounds like something I would have done!)
That fine line between just enough news info and too much is so precarious! It’s awesome you have your husband to breakdown the news in a way that matches you individual anxieties! Enjoy your cabin adventures!
Also, for anyone who happens to read this in the next couple of hours, Ts and Ps for your girl. I blacked out for a second and thought it was a good idea to drink 30 oz. of iced coffee. On a four hour drive. And when I tell you the choice of “facilities” on this drive is sketchy during the best of (non-corona) times, that’s being generous. And it’s getting dark, otherwise I’m not above finding an out of the way place and peeing the the grass (hashtag farm girl).
I understand the news anxiety. Hoping you have a restful time at the cabin! It sounds delightful.
Thanks, Katie! My ennneagram 6 brain can manufacture all manner of worst case scenarios without having the media confirm the worst about humanity. 🙄 Weekend should be fun. Cold, but might get in a hike or two and definitely some games and yummy food!
Phew what a week. I'm tired, in that wrung out rag sort of way. The cause is probably, well, everything... and we started school back here this week which probably accounts for an extra dose of tired, on top of everything else. I know there is a whole globe feeling the same, so thanks for being the tired sisters on the path with me. Holding each other up. Speaking of holding each other up... this may sound very sad and desperate but I don't quite mean it as bad as it sounds, but... after 7 months of trying to get back home to France and every new attempt failing, I confess that my hope is weak. I just feel like I need people to hold that hope for me. To have faith for me when mine is running thin. I just want to protect my tender fragile little heart from another crushing blow. So that is my request for you all this coming week. Will you help hold my weak and scrawny little strings of hope for me this week? Our visa appointment for France is next Friday (which is truly amazing that we even have an appointment at this point). I will let you know how it goes.
-This week in my confinement in England journey, I started learning our new neighborhood on those permitted once per day Stupid Walks™ which are becoming a necessity right now to help ease the knot in my stomach. But really its been a treasure for me this week to run, sweat, feel frigid cold air on my face and feel the burn in my lungs. When you can't be actively doing things and accomplishing tasks or errands that feels really good.
-My daughter and I are trying to notice all the different detail on these English houses we pass, and I just love seeing the world through her eyes. She never fails to notice something I never do. This is a sweet treasure to see new things because of her.
-Speaking of daughter, she is learning fractions and it is what my hands have wrought!! I feel so powerful like I could take over the world now. Truly you homeschool Moms teaching your kids to read or write essays... I believe with this voodoo magic you could mind power anyone to do anything.
-I might be late to this train, but guys, Ted Lasso. It really IS that good. I have cried during the last two episodes. I probably feel extra connected with it, myself being an American in London after all, but do not sleep on it. I want to be Ted Lasso when I grow up.
-And last one is my Mom. She is getting older (nice way to say that she is now very technology diffident) She is also very very hard of hearing now. I was FaceTiming with her on her iPad and she couldn't hear me at all. Like I was screaming. Then after some fiddling she said "oh its working now" I asked her what she did to fix it. She said "Oh, it was those buttons on the bottom, I had to press those for some reason" and I said "Momma, you turned up the volume" We had a good long laugh about that. She still loves to laugh and not afraid to laugh at her latest faux-pas.
You. Can. Do it. Praying right now that you can be home soon.
Holding the hope for you!!!
Praying for you visa appointment! 💗💗💗 this must be an incredibly hard time.
Hi, hi hello. This is my first time commenting, too, because I usually get here at lunchtime on the West Coast and y'all are done and dusted with all your conversations. But I always read all of 'em, and my therapist told me (ugh, talk about a TREASURE) to join in and stuff. So here I am, showing up imperfectly, with so many thoughts about the atrocities this week that I'm tongue-tied. But grateful for Erin and y'all's brains and hearts that show up in GIFs and words and emojis and whatever. Here's to speaking up, even when your words aren't sufficient.
Hi Katie!!! Welcome to the comments. 🌸💕
👋
I'm on the West Coast too, Katie and I use the newsletter as an incentive to get my daily list done so I'm usually pretty late to the game. I am also grateful for the others in this community putting words and GIFS and tweets to my scattered brain.
Yayyy Katie! 💗
Welcome!!
Welcome!
I'm on the West Coast too and have felt the same way! I'm happy to see you!
Hi there! (waves brightly)
Welcome Katie!!!!
Last night I snuck down to my basement after dinner while my kids ran wild and my husband let them, and I cried by the dryer and ate hidden chocolate and basically just felt all my dumb festering feelings. It helped a little. But the things that are giving me hope and a sense of renewal today are 1) quitting a moms group that I just don’t have the mental energy for anymore 2) this newsletter & all the comments. From being a functional button to Tinkle razors, you all remind me that people are not mostly garbage. Thank you.
Treasures:
-my kids are still playing with their Christmas toys. MIRACLE.
-those dang Bachelor recaps are a balm to my news-weary soul.
-Stupid Yoga. I live in a place that’s not super great for walking, so I’ve been doing Stupid Yoga before bed and I’m mad about how beneficial it’s been because I would rather just have my 23 yr old metabolism back.
-these cardigans from target. My MIL got me 4 in different colors and they’re my new SAHM uniform. https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-essential-open-front-cardigan-a-new-day-8482-yellow-xs/-/A-79393316
Also I think I missed the IG handle share the first time around but I’m @kdpeet if anyone wants to connect!
Stupid Yoga really does work too, darn it. Three cheers to MILs who find the best cardigans and buy you FOUR! Nice!
I actually requested as many as she could find. Bless her for not even batting an eye at it 🤣
Just sent a request on IG. I’m laurabeth421.
Yes to stupid yoga. It can feel so hard to get on my may but it is worth it every time.
Just sent a request to you on IG
The kids playing with the toys is great. When mine were young, I'd hide a bunch of the gifts and then give them out throughout the year. It helped keep the gifts as new and cool as long as possible. And usually seasonally you weed things out they aren't really caring about anymore.
Great idea!
Also, that cardigan is perfect. Totally eyeing the yellow one and I don't even wear that much yellow! But when its constantly grey in MN in January, color is nice!
It has been an instant mood lifter for gray Indiana days!
I'd love to connect! I'm @MrsSlovo
Thanks so much Erin. I think this has been your most important issue yet. Also thanks for the 17 Again Rec-I’ve never seen it. it is going on my must watch list.
What a long year this week has been. Wednesday was supposed to be spent celebrating my husband’s 40th birthday and dealing with my 3 yr olds first day of preschool (albeit virtual). Of course all of that took a backseat to what was happening in our nation’s Capitol.
I’m so grateful for the many prophetic voices speaking out against the domestic terrorists during this time. Also to the journalists who kept filming and documenting at great cost to their own safety.
My free time this week has been mostly following stuff on Twitter and Instagram. It’s been so fun to start following some of you guys on Instagram. I love seeing little peeks into your lives.
The eggs! OMAGAH the eggs with a tiny newsletter. I have purchased those eggs before; can't remember the brand, but it was at a Kroger in Nashville!
Friends, I am so weary. And then I feel bad about feeling weary because more of this stuff is coming at me second or third hand, yet it still feels like too much. I typically listen to The Daily on my way to work in the mornings, but this week my Morning Anxiety Tornado kicked in fully, so I had to skip the news. I am hoping to be in a space to catch up this weekend, as Michael Barbaro is really the one I want to tell me about this week's events.
Professionally, we are finally going back to school after being remote since the year began. I don't love teaching remotely, but our hybrid plan seems worse. My sister-in-law is having a baby this week (yay!), but now I don't know when I'll get to see the baby since I can no longer avoid people and their germs. Maybe the summer? That realization undid me last night. It was a tearful evening.
But there are always treasures, too, aren't there? I took a Stupid Walk on my lunch break every day this week while listening to The Bible in a Year podcast. I've always wanted to read the whole bible, but honestly, I typically poop out after the first week of readings. Something about the podcast format is really working for me, so maybe this will be the year I don't get lost in the book of Numbers, never to be seen again.
I was playing I Spy with a group of English language learners today. We had a picture with a ton of different little icons/emojis, and someone would say, "I spy a hot dog" and we'd race to see who could circle it first. One student said, "I see a moon" and other student circled a banana, and for some reason it was just the funniest thing, and we were all cracking up, especially the student who circled the banana. I said, "I spy something you can ride", and that same student circled a chicken. So apparently his sense of humor is developing along with his English.
Finally, lil Swipes, if you are the praying kind, please pray for my sister-in-law, Jill, and my sister Sarah. Both are having babies soon, and it's just a hard time to be doing that. I am so thankful for all of you.
Praying for those babies! (And for you. It has to be hard not knowing when you can see them for sure)
Praying for the new bebes (in my best Moira Rose voice)
Teachers. You are all angels. Not scary 8 winged 20 eyed ones. But amazing gauzy miracles right now. I applaud each and every one of you for delivering in models that aren't easy. For patience and for grace. Every parent thanks you. And I pray every parent wants you safe.