What's Up Wednesday

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for today's blog post. I'll jump right in!

What we're eating this week:

I feel confident that at some point I will eat at a Mexican restaurant. 

When I ordered groceries over the weekend, I also meal planned for the week. So, on our dinner list this week is chicken with boursin cheese smeared inside it, and wrapped up with a slice of bacon on the outside of it, served with broccoli. I'm making two quiches, since it's been about a month since we've had that, and one night for the boys I'm making beer cheddar Joe's and then taco salad for Todd and myself. On the other nights, we'll eat leftovers or something easy from our freezer that can be made in the air fryer. 

What I'm reminiscing about:

A fun Saturday night out with friends this past weekend! Guess which movie we saw?

This night thirteen years ago, when my boys were little and Christa wasn't yet married.

That time Graham and Jonah went to St. Louis with Todd for an overnight work trip. How ironic that these are the two sons that now work in the family business? We own Medical Repair Services, and we repair doctor's office/hospital/dental office equipment.

That time when Graham was learning to drive, and his dad owned the truck that Graham later bought from him and still drives today. It looks a lot different today than it did in this picture below, as you can see in the second picture under this.

When the boys were little, and we used to do fun things with my dad every week!

And last but not least, this amazing beach trip I took at the end of June. 

It was such an unexpected and wonderful week! I'm grateful that my friend Dedee invited me. I miss her when I don't see her regularly! 

What I'm loving:

This devotional that I've added to my quiet time routine.

... and reminders like this one below.

Since Tony Bennett died on Friday, I've been loving listening to his music and playlists. It reminds me of fall, and I'm counting down the days until it returns.

What I've (we've) been up to:

On Sunday night when Todd worked, he sent me these pictures. There was a Memphis firefighter who was killed in the line of duty last week, and to honor him, there was a sea of red Sunday afternoon/early evening. Isn't this beautiful? I love the tradition of honoring those who serve and protect us. Additionally, Todd has participated in a sea of blue, when a police officer loses his life. I just think this is wonderful and something about it brings me to tears. I asked him for pictures and videos, and he sent me both. 

This was me running lyrics in the A/V room at church this past Sunday. I love doing that! I also have something exciting in the works that I'm not sharing here just yet, but know that I may have some change coming to my life soon. Stay tuned!

What I'm dreading: 

I am dreading the heat of August. 

Literally, this one above was me on Saturday when I wore the dress on my outing with Mom. I said that in the booth as we left, that she had to give me a minute to unpeel my legs from the pleather bench seat.

 What I'm working on:

We have finished the writing and editing of our Bible study that we'll start in August, so now we're just working on all the details we need to finalize before we start mid-August. I'm excited! I missed going to Bible study from January to May, and am anxious about starting up again. I've participated in Bible studies either on my own, in a small group, or with a large group for the last twenty years of my life. Going feels natural, therefore, not going feels unnatural. We're also working on some details for the semester that will start in January of 2024. I am excited for this to come to fruition and for some big changes that may be coming for the year of 2024. I hope to be able to share them soon as we make decisions and get the plan laid out and on the calendar.

This is who I'm helping to work on these things. These are my writing team friends! I love these ladies so much. Left to right is Barbee, Amy, Lynn and me.

I am working on getting my cabinets and surfaces decluttered and organized once again. I've been going nice and slow, and have done the living room area, the downstairs bathroom cabinet, one kitchen cabinet (a big one), I'm working on my closet in bits and pieces, and under our bathroom counters. All of this fell to the wayside when I worked full-time, so it feels good to get things done again. I share this picture below, because this task also includes me decluttering my book piles once again. 

I am always working on Bible study things.

And lastly, I am working on getting more pictures like this! This one right below is Jonah with Laura, and the next one is Drew with his friend Caitlyn.

What I'm excited about:

I'm excited that it'll be fall soon! 🤣 I am also excited about celebrating Mom for her birthday in August, and seeing my friend Teresa who moved away. 

What I'm watching/reading:

I am watching each episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty as it releases every Friday. I love that show! I am also watching movies that are older and I am sort of on a Tom Hanks kick right now. I'm reading lots of great books, and I'll share all about them on Monday July 31st. You should come back to read that post! 

What I'm listening to: 

At the moment I am listening to the song Jireh by Maverick City Music on Spotify. But I've listened to some great music all summer long, mainly musical playlists of summer 80's hits. That is definitely my favorite music right now! 

What I'm wearing:

Pink, like this shirt I wore over the weekend.

Dresses like this one when I met Mom on Saturday.

Neutrals like this faded olive green and cardigans in the moments when I can't get warm, like when Dad and I were together last Friday.

And my favorite new sandals, these cute neutral/gold ones that I got last week. They're the Remonte brand. I am also still wearing my summer white polish that I got the last time I had a pedicure back at the beginning of June. 

Speaking of nails, I am still wearing (and loving) my light coral nails. When I go back to get them done in August, I'm going to an off white color that I love by OPI, My Vampire is Buff. And after August, and for the rest of the fall, I will wear dark colors only. 

What I'm doing this weekend:

I get to see one of my best friends, Andrea! I cannot wait to see her on Friday. Those are the only plans I know of right at this moment. 

What I'm looking forward to next month:

Have I mentioned that I will be glad when the weather cools back down? I am also looking forward to school starting back for students, because everywhere I go right now, the traffic is terrible. It's like this every summer when school is out. I am also looking forward to seeing the friend I mentioned who moved away, and being able to celebrate Mom on her birthday. 

What's something you're looking forward to in August? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog, friends, Love to all!