January

 

*Worth recommending to others

Physical therapy for my neck was added to my schedule with mixed results.

Kristil and I met daily for a virtual yoga practice.

They've been dubbed Double Trouble 

Their house had frozen water lines for an entire week. Lauren opted to stay in order to maintain routine for her son and puppy. They visited frequently for water jug refills and showers. Kate decided our guest rooms looked pretty inviting and spent several days with us.

We missed one day for weather and had two delayed starts in the same week. Negative temperatures took the win that week. I didn't mind the extra rest.

While soaking one evening, Lauren called asking if she could shower. I not only left the candles burning but added more and insisted she take her time. Only a mother understands the necessity of a few minutes in silence.

Post snow play hot cocoa. We didn't last long in sub zero wind chills but running in the sunshine was good for our souls.

We lost power in the night and within a few hours had lost eleven degrees in the house. Once sunlight filtered through the windows I noticed how sweet my snuggle buddy looked under the covers. At one point, the smoke detectors were chirping. Diesel howled along with them. It was quite an orchestra only I appreciated. 

I gave up my daily soft drink and at times had really strong feelings. It had been insanely cold for days and for some reason, the 0 degrees that was nine degrees warmer than the prior day really ticked me off. 

He not only has zero awareness of personal space but he also cannot imagine someone not needing kisses.

Lauren is exhausted. Also, we own more than one chair.

Erin and Evan hosted lunch one Sunday for all of us and I loved touring the updates they've made around the house. The framed vows are beautiful in every way.

This one swiped some of Erin's "Galentine Day" accessories. He is a mess. 

Crack head energy at 5am.

New Year 2024

• Take my hand
• A study in Charlotte
• Wench
• The last of August 
• Come as you are
• The Case for Jamie
• A question of Holmes
• A beautiful terrible thing
• Signal fires
• All my knotted up life
• Someone else's shoes
• Between the Mountain and the Sky
• The Paris Apartment
• Time Lottery
• Becoming Free Indeed
• Of Boys and Men
• The extraordinary deaths of Mrs. Kip*
• Woman on Fire
• Hang the Moon
• On Mystic Lake
• The lost and found bookshop
• Homecoming
• You could make this place beautiful
• The highly sensitive person
• I'm just a kid with an IEP
• The silent patient
• My body and other failing empires
• The in-between
• How do I Un-remember this?
• Lessons in Chemistry*
• You shouldn't have come here
• All the Lonely People*
• Remarkably Bright Creatures*
• Breath as Prayer
• The island of missing trees
• Learning to walk in the dark
• The Blue Castle
• Battlefield of the Mind
• The ruthless elimination of hurry
• Tom Lake
• It only gets worse
• Between sisters
• Home Front
• Distant Shores
• Spare
• Small things like these
• Foster
• We are the Light
• The Wishing Game
• Taft
• The Boys from Biloxi
• The winemaker's wife
• Miracles and other reasonable things
• Nothing is missing
• Everybody come alive
• The prodigal God
• Commonwealth 

These are the titles of the fifty-seven books I read in 2023. This does not include the Bible studies or the start of another round through the Bible. Some of these I read for other people because I'm a firm believer in reading before recommending. Someone casually suggested a "Christian marriage book" years ago to support another friend. That book was good for fire starter only and likely evidence in abuse cases. Anyway, because I know a lot of people from a variety of backgrounds, if someone shares something I know little about, I track down information or helpful books to pass along. After all, I'm reading something anyway, I may as well be learning along the way. However, as extensive as this list appears, it was a significant reduction from 2022. Fifty-two weeks ago, I was shocked to discover I'd read ninety two books and vowed to reduce that count in 2023. Recognizing that many novels indicated a lot of life avoided was the driving force for monthly check-ins on my reading list.

 (*)Indicates my favorite titles from this year.

2023 wasn't our year, as a whole. Greg lost his job, my job situation is anything but pleasant, my health took several hits, Lauren's marriage crumbled and Makenna welcomed Noah back into her life after finalizing their divorce. This has been complicated for a lot of family members. Ty had several difficult teachers and ended up at home for two quarters while we regrouped. We were left grappling for understanding as to how so much can crumble in such a short time. 

By early summer, I put the "Tell Me Something Good" jar away. I was actually ticked off when I saw it sitting on the counter. It felt like a taunt, "can you still find something good? How about now?" I don't think it will return but something similar to jot down cute moments, silly comments or anything that makes us smile would be good to look back through fifty-two weeks from now.

There were highlights of course, time spent with Austin, Erin casually winning the title of Miss Louisville and competing on stage for Miss Kentucky. She achieved what she set out to do. Her cervical cancer story was spread and she earned scholarships to aid in finishing her master's degree. Kate's early graduation was well celebrated and of course, Erin and Evan's wedding was delightful. Lauren added a happy little handful of a puppy to the family and whereas he is a mess, he does make us all laugh when we see him. Makenna's achievements with her students are profound and Ty has adjusted well to his new school. Life isn't easy, but it isn't all bad either.

I saw a friend who was in town from Houston once I recovered from a mild illness. They rented the cutest little shotgun house in town and hosted a small open house for friends to get together. I'm grateful I was able to step into a quiet evening with friends during the strange week between Christmas and New Year's, where I often had no idea what day it was or when I needed to eat. No schedule means odd habits and lots of rest. I'm grateful for the lot of it. 

Ty requested one of the larger beds be moved into his upstairs room. Since we had two guest rooms, it was fairly easy to grant his request. Bringing the twin bed into one of the guest rooms, freed some space for me to have easy access to my yoga mat. Kristil has agreed to work through a thirty day yoga challenge with me virtually this month and now I have space created to maintain that commitment. Diesel, who was already claiming half of Ty's twin bed is pleased with the change as well. He now helps himself to half of the queen bed but Ty can finally stretch his growing legs. 

Lauren left to support a grieving friend this evening so we scored a dinner date with our favorite grandson. He "helped" me with my yoga commitment. I have to assume it was a lot like yoga with baby goats. At one point, he was laying across my back while I practiced cat-cow stretches. But his giggles are amazing and I don't take the yoga too seriously anyway. I just like the way I feel afterward. 

Week Fifty-Two

 

My parents recorded themselves reading The Night Before Christmas years ago for Kate and Ty. I've obviously held onto the Hallmark book for years. This weekend I surprised Austin with it. He, of course, had to know how it worked but was delighted as well.

Greg and I said words that aren't blog friendly as we assembled this. 

Lauren has wanted a dalmatian since she was three and cried when she bought him on Saturday. Austin was so surprised and quite happy with his mommy's wild purchase.

The reindeer food had a hilarious ending. I mentioned including the magic flying dust. Before anyone could react, Austin shoved a whole spoonful into his mouth. It was all purpose flour. He froze with a wide, open mouth while I laughed until tears ran down my face. Plot twist, he didn't fly.

He was delighted to have snagged my glasses as we took a quiet moment on the porch together. Christmas overwhelms his Mimi. Sometimes he needs a break too.

Another day, another hot cocoa bomb. 

Reading his keychain. 

His needs are so simple. He was disappointed we couldn't shop for another family this year. It wasn't in the budget but he eagerly accepted Little Debbie snack cakes and two inexpensive gifts as his Christmas. He didn't want the mess of Christmas decorations and passed on joining the girls at Lauren's Christmas morning. He is his mother's child.

He loves this thing. He made popcorn five times the first twenty-four hours.

I bought one of these for each of my children.

Reading her keychain......

For as magical as Christmas can appear in photographs and sometimes even in our memories, it's simply not my favorite. This year in particular, while a friend held her newborn in the NICU throughout the week of Christmas and all those memories from twenty years ago came flooding back, I tapped out. Despite not baking, shopping or decorating, it still felt like too much. It was too much. The traditional Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas morning breakfast and Christmas Day dinner and each was met with people rushing in and out rather than connecting. By 9 am on Christmas Day, we were alone and I declared it the final time I do it. I simply can't keep trying to make the memories for others at the expense of my own peace. At this point, I just want to insure my parents have a Christmas option because it matters to them. Maybe next year the girls can host their grandparents while I'm on a beach somewhere.

"Santa" gave us $100 and insisted we get out of the house to do something fun so we took Ty to the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green for a day. He wants to return when he is old enough for the driving experience. His dad wants in on that too. 

I've often joked about sitting around eating bon bons but had actually never had them. My sister gifted me some a few weeks ago and I finally opened them with a cup of tea this week and sampled them in the quiet of my bed with a good book. Let's just say this will no longer be a joke. They were that good.

I showed up for my massage on Thursday and was met with the sweet news someone had paid for it in advance. Someone else slipped cash into Erin's wedding card box for us. The year has been tough and those generous gestures mean a lot to me.