weekending

Happy Tuesday, friends, and happy September! I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's blog post. How was your weekend? Mine was really good! Here are some good things from my time off from work.

• taking off on Friday for a long drive out to Mississippi
• a new Mexican restaurant
• sleeping in on Saturday morning
• getting things done at home around my house
• spending the whole day with Chris on Saturday and laughing ourselves silly over everything, including bad ice cream
• working on the tech team again after a two year hiatus
• seeing people I love at church
• after church lunch with Mom and Bill
• a long Sunday afternoon nap
• a night at home with Marilyn at her house
• a long weekend and an extra day at home
• getting my home ready for the B-E-R months that I so love

I did bullet points today since I didn't have many pictures from the weekend; I tried to be completely present all day Saturday, so I stayed off my phone the entire day. This was actually really nice, and I will definitely be doing more of that as time goes on. Here are the few pictures I did manage to get.

Chris and I walked around Lowe's on Saturday, and I cracked up when I saw this freezer display!

A new shaved ice place in town that was terrible...this is where we just about lost it over the soured tasting vanilla soft serve that was in the dish we shared.

We went to Three Dog Bakery to pick up some homemade dog treats for his older dog, Rosie. Speaking of him, Jonah met him this weekend on Saturday, and then they saw each other again on Sunday at the racetrack out at Holly Springs, Mississippi. It turns out that they don't accept anything other than cash to get in there now, and Jonah and his friend didn't know; Chris just so happened to have the exact amount of cash they needed, so he was able to meet them and get them into the gate. Jonah told me later on that Chris gained some major respect from him that night, because not only would he not let them pay him back, he invited them to hang out with him down in the lanes where they were testing his bike Nancy that he built. This made me smile really big, that they hung out that night, and I was nowhere in sight. Chris doesn't have kids, but he is great with all kinds of people, especially this young age that Jonah is at; I met a co-worker of his a couple weeks ago when we were helping him pack. I like this about him.

Church! Meet my little buddy, Brayden. I've loved this kid since before he was even born; I love his entire family, but we're fast friends. He comes to see me and hugs me every time he's at church.

Church 'fit.

When I got to Mar's house, I ate my dinner of a Subway sandwich, then we caught up on all the things and watched Darius Rucker videos. We switched to Harry Styles after that! This is a rare picture of me freezing at her house. On Monday, I decorated my home for fall, and spent a good bit of the day with Chris again. It was a fun weekend! What did you do that you loved? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Share 4 Somethings (August 2025)

 

Happy Saturday, friends! Can you believe we're at the end of August? This year has flown by with lightning speed! I'm glad you're here to link up with me today for Share 4 Somethings, when we talk about some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of this month. I'll jump right in! 

This month I loved all things back to school and work!

First day of school flowers from my friend Carla...

...new Dragon attire...

...getting to know new friends at work, like sweet Becca who knows my son Drew...

...going to Whiskey Jill's with Marilyn...

...Wednesday nights out at Rotolo's with Kendra...

...meeting and getting to know Chris...

...and all the concerts with Marilyn! These were the things I loved this month. It's been a super fun August for me between all of this and work. 

This month I learned that I can adjust and adapt easily. This was the month that I started working full time again; I've learned to make better use of my time and to be a little stingy with how I spend my weekends. That makes me sound like a terrible person, but I have one day every week to sleep in, and it's Saturday! I'm taking a note from Marilyn on this.

Something that went well this month has been work! I love my co-workers; I love the students; I love my morning carline duty; I love my dismissal responsibility; I love everything about my job. My days are so fast because I don't stay in one spot; it's broken into 45 minute segments. I'm all over the building, and I love that about my job. Another thing that went well was getting dressed each day; I only had two repeats on outfits this month, but I need more tops now that it's a little cool in the mornings. I've done some online shopping this week! Stay tuned. 

Something I let go of this month is the expectation I have of how I thought things would be, not only in life, but in work. I keep trying to be more domestic while I'm at home, but I keep failing. I don't cook, I clean once a week, I'm doing laundry about the same amount. It's funny how I loved being a stay at home wife and mom that loved doing all those things; now I hate them. My thinking is vastly different now that I'm single. 

Thanks for being here today, friends, and sorry this didn't post earlier. I put in the wrong start time on the link. I can't wait to read your posts! Love to all and happy Saturday! 

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Friday Favorites, 8.29.2025.

 

Happy Friday, friends! How was your week? I hope that you can say it was a great one! Mine was really, really good. I feel like I hit my stride this week at work, and all of a sudden, everything feels routine. I've gotten into a great one as far as my mornings and nights go, along with my lunches that I pack everyday; it feels so good to be able to say that! My week flew by, friends; I feel like this is going to be my new normal. Onto my favorite things from this week!

Darius Rucker was a major favorite of mine from this week! Marilyn and I went to his concert last weekend; it was phenomenal! We both said that we will never not see him again when he comes back into town. 

He was adorable to watch, and his moves were pretty good, if I do say so myself. 

Chloe is still my favorite cuddle bug. I love it when she sits next to me on the couch. This was me enjoying being at home Monday night; I cooked myself dinner and watched tv that night. I was so tired when I got home that day! 

This was the dinner. It was delicious!

I follow Case Kenny on socials; he's written a book about not settling, and I can't wait until it comes out. This image above that he shared this week was my favorite thing that I saw online all week! 

I read one of my favorite passages of Scripture this week! This was Lamentations 3.

On a school/work note, this affirmation station is my favorite thing in this classroom! How great is this, that the students can look at themselves in this mirror and know that they are all the things listed and so much more? 

Tuesday night was a favorite this week! I had a date with Chris; we met at Memphis Pizza Cafe and had this amazing pizza for dinner. 

This ice cream as a treat was a favorite this week! 

Writing in my journal has become a favorite part of my morning routine when I have a free 30 minutes each day. There is something so therapeutic about this lovely habit! I didn't realize how much I'd missed doing this until I picked it back up again.

Wednesday night at choir was my favorite! We had our Christmas music preview night, the choir suite was all decked out for the holidays, and there were Christmas games!  This was the most fun night.

After choir, I left there and met my friend Kendra at Rotolo's for appetizers and wine. We didn't get a picture together this time, but look how cute this place is! There was live music and half priced bottles of wine; we enjoyed catching up and I'd be okay if we did this every week. It was a fun night! 

I loved the cooler weather we had this week; it was a favorite for sure! I enjoyed wearing some jeans and pants, and even a jean jacket. I'm here for fall, friends! 

Last, but not least, a favorite was celebrating my sweet Mom for her birthday yesterday. I met them for an early dinner after work. Isn't she beautiful? 

What was a favorite of yours from this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all! 

Jenn 

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm here with Joyce again today for the weekly hodgepodge...this is a post that I dearly love; thank you, Joyce, for your inspiring and thought provoking questions each and every week! I'll jump right in. 

1. When someone finds out what you do or where you're from, what's a question they always ask? When I'm traveling and they learn where I'm from, they ask me to talk again. I never do, but usually just smile and walk away, because that always feels a little insulting. When people learn I'm from near Memphis, they want to know if I like Elvis or if I've ever been to Graceland. The answer to both of those questions is no. Marilyn, I hope we can still be friends. 

2. Did you participate in Greek life when you were in college, or have children who did? If so, what was your experience like? Taking another tack...have you ever been to Greece? If not, is that a destination on your bucket list? I don't talk about my college experience here much since I never finished, but I did briefly attend a small college called Lambuth; now it's another campus of the University of Memphis, in Jackson, Tennessee. I did rush (pledge?) A O Pi. I loved my time spent with my sorority sisters; I'm still friends with a couple of them today, but we haven't seen each other in years. These girls were also my suitemates while I was at Lambuth. 

I wish I had pictures to share, but I don't. 

As for the second part of this question, I've never been to Greece, but would love to visit someday. I especially love the look of the town of Santorini, but I'm sure it's way too touristy for my taste. It's fun to dream, though! 

3. Do you like Greek food? If so, what's your favorite dish? I love Greek food! My favorite is anything that I can put Tzatziki on; I also love a good Greek salad and Moussaka. I've had Baklava as well, and I love it as a dessert. Side note, my stepmom had friends who were Greek, and that's where I had the homemade Baklava and Moussaka; we would get invited over to their house during the summer, and the food was always amazing. 

4. What incredibly common thing have you never done? I have to confess that I consulted AI on my browser to ask what some common activities were among people. Daydreaming popped up, and I am picking that one to expound on. I do feel like I know a lot of people who daydream, and that's something I've never done, even as a young girl. I've always been a realistic person, and I am still that way today. This can be both good and bad! 

5. What is a telltale sign that you're upset? I get quiet. I don't make phone calls, I don't talk a lot, I just want to be left alone. I have to work my way through things, you know? I crave the quiet sometimes, too, even on the days when I'm not upset. I feel like this as I eat lunch everyday. I'm not very social, because the women who eat with us in our room talk about their work schedules/meetings/students. I don't have anything to contribute to the conversation lately, so I just sit there quietly and scroll or text on my phone.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. I have a current favorite song! It's Tin Roof by Blessing Offor, and featuring Chris Tomlin. You should give this a listen! 

I can't read to read your answers to these prompts! Thanks for being here to read my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

a year later and some words of encouragement

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! It's time for another surprise Tuesday blog post. I had some time this weekend to write, so I thought I'd work on some extra blog posts for this week. I was scrolling on Facebook this weekend and came across some memories that sparked the idea for this blog post. I thought I'd speak from my heart and share some encouragement for anyone walking through something difficult. I pray these words bring you comfort and that they're uplifting. Some of these will be words that I wrote over the weekend, and others will be things I shared on social media during a very dark time in my life. 

I still read the Bible with The Bible Recap community every morning before work; and on this day one year ago, this was what I said. I can't remember where I'd read in God's word that day, but this was what stood out to me during that time. I love looking back to see this time in my life; I can honestly say that God carried me through that time. I don't even remember most of the days and how I passed the time, but I know that He is the one who strengthened me to walk through an unwanted divorce. I know that if you're facing something hard today, He will carry you through as well, if you lean on Him and rely on His word, His strength, and His timing. I have found that He never lets me down! Even in His time, His will is always perfect. 

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no needs in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The LORD my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! Habakkuk 3:17-19

The LORD (is):
My Lord
My strength
Makes me able like a deer
Enables me to walk on mountain heights

I remember reading this passage last year, and then again this year. At the time when this was written, the Israelites were facing being taken captive by the Babylonians; or maybe it was already during that time of captivity, but either way, God was going to take care of them. He did! He strengthened them, He strengthened me, and He'll strengthen you. 

God's mercy is infinite! It's never too late to be forgiven for sin, no matter what. The gospel of Luke points to this as well when Jesus was being crucified; in Luke 23:32-43, Jesus was crying out to the Father for forgiveness of the very ones killing Him, and at the last minute, Jesus told one of the criminals He hung between that he would be with Him that day in Heaven. It's never too late! Because He has forgiven us as sinners, we are to forgive others; not once, not twice, but infinitely.


I shared in a blog post on Friday about the fact that I'm able to be friends with my ex-husband's girlfriend; I think some of you were surprised by that, but this is how I'm able to do that. As God has forgiven us for our sins, so we are to forgive others. It's not easy, it's not for anyone else, but we do this so that we can walk in freedom. 

The LORD who made the earth, the LORD who forms it to establish it, the LORD is his name, say this: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:2-3

The Lord wants us to talk to Him everyday, just like we would talk to our best friend. Who better to pour your heart out to than Him? There is no one better, I assure you.

I love Jeremiah 33 and what it says about God: once we belong to Him, He writes His words on our hearts. And it doesn't say this in the text, but I know for a fact that because His words are in my heart, He recalls them to me often! He will do that for you too, if you know Him and His word. He helps us to remember, and to remember all that He has done is biblical. Jeremiah 31:33 says He will be our God and we will be His people. The original text was not meant for us today, but as His kids, it does include us right now. Verse 35 of the same chapter says these things about God:

He gives the sun for light by day.
He gives the fixed order of the moon and stars for light by night.
He stirs up the sea and makes its waves roar.
The LORD of Armies is His name.

Do you know Him? Reach out if you want to talk more about how to have a relationship with Him! You can always reach me by email at allboys@gmail.com.

The LORD:

is among us

is a warrior who saves

rejoices over us (who are His kids, because though we are all His creation, we are not all His kids) with gladness

is quiet in His love

delights in us with singing.

My God shot from the Scripture reading this morning was from Isaiah 32:17, which says this: The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. I loved what @taraleighcobble reminded us of in a couple verses above that: this is the result of the Holy Spirit pouring out that righteousness on us. This is nothing we could ever strive for on our own! It's all the Lord, friends. Also, this is what I'll start answering with when people ask me how I'm still standing, in light of my last year. I'm continuing to ask the Lord to take away any bitterness in my heart, because I can't walk in that. I am choosing to walk in the joy, love, and faithfulness of my Savior. He is the only One who will never let me down.

I'm saving my favorite for last.

Then he said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD's presence." At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was a voice, a soft whisper...(1 Kings 19:11-12)

For context read 1 Kings 19, specifically verses 9-18. God is vast and huge, yes, but His presence doesn't always feel that way; at other times His presence is felt as a soft whisper. He is near at all times, for those of us who love Him and know Him. All we have to do is call out to Him. Do you know Him? He is always so good to me, especially to have me right where I needed to be in His word today. Won't He do it?

I can attest to feeling God move in my life in both big ways and in the small, still moments of the everyday mundane. Both are equally as wonderful and encouraging, because I know that He is always working on my behalf. I know He'll work on yours, too! 

We're certainly never promised an easy life here on earth, but He will always equip us with whatever we need to get through the impossible moments. Ask me how I know! I know He will do this for you; it seems so simple to say that He is trustworthy, but He really is. It's scary to remember that He's trustworthy, but He is. It's hard to let go of life as we know it and surrender it to Him, but it's always worth it do just that. He is always good, on the good days and especially on the bad days, and He loves us. Do you know Him? I haven't asked that in a while, but please reach out if you want to talk more about this. My email address is allboys@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all. 

Jenn