weekending

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a good weekend! I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's post. Did you do anything fun this weekend? Mine was the perfect combination of being with friends and staying cozy inside my home. The weather wasn't great this weekend, but I won't complain about it due to the horrific tragedies that Georgia and North Carolina experienced. It's heartbreaking! Have you seen the footage of the flooding that took place? 

I am praying for those poor people whose towns were destroyed, and for the families who lost loved ones. 

Because of the rain, the plans I had made for my Friday were some that I was able to put off. So, I stayed home and baked bread!

This is one of the two loaves I made; I was relieved when they turned out so beautifully! The last time I baked bread, I think stress played a part in how they turned out; they were both flat, hard discs of bread that I ended up tossing. I caught up on things around the house that day since I was home, and later on, Marilyn came over for dinner! It was a really sweet night; we ate quiche that I made for us, and we just sat and caught up on all the things and laughed, which was good for both of us. I'm so grateful for her friendship! If I've said it once, I've said it at least a million times. We're both going through similar circumstances, and though neither of us would wish this on anyone, we're both so glad that we have each other to lean on during hard times. Her friendship is one small thing that the outside community doesn't understand about this little blogging world; though it feels vast and huge, it also feels small and intimate. I'm so thankful for this space online to write and meet such sweet new friends. 

I had an extremely lazy Saturday as well, because I felt tired. Welcome to my brain fog that I fight all the time; between menopause and my trainwreck of a life, I often feel lethargic and lazy. This could also be a teensy bit of depression, which is why I'm seeing a new counselor on Tuesday. TMI? Who am I here, if not completely myself? 

The most productive thing I did that day was wash my hair. I did end up getting dressed that afternoon so that I could meet my friend Michelle for dinner. I picked her up and we went to a local favorite Mexican restaurant in Memphis, one where they make their own tortilla chips and where the guacamole is to die for: Las Delicias. It was a lovely evening! We stayed and chatted for a couple of hours before I dropped her off, but y'all. Look what she sent me home with!

My very own pumpkin that she grew with her own two hands! Isn't she beautiful?! 

I spent a very restless night in bed Saturday; I have to remember to start taking Melatonin before I go to bed for the next few nights. This week is a significant week in my life, and I foresee restless nights each night leading up to Friday. I'm anticipating a rough week so that I can be pleasantly surprised if it turns out better than I thought. I was up before the sun on Sunday morning, and dressed and ready for church by 6:30. I have been enjoying the worship immensely recently! My friend and our worship pastor sang an old song that had my tears flowing once again. It's one that talks about Heaven and seeing loved ones there, but also getting to see Jesus face to face. I was so close to weeping once again! I was so happy to have Drew and Jonah beside me in church yesterday morning. 

For the rest of the day, I got cozy and settled in for a nap. I watched tv some, I did a few chores around the house, and I finally decided to make some soup for my dinner. 

Marilyn brought over some smoked chicken when she came over on Friday, and I decided to make taco soup with it. It was delicious! I love that it's soup weather again, but realistically, I also had this right next to me. 

This post is brought to you by hot flashes and menopause. 

And that was about it for my weekend, friends! The weather made it kind of dreary, so I will be glad for some sunshine this week. Don't forget that Wednesday is the October edition of Currently! We'll be talking about what we're currently loving, looking forward to, wearing, reading, and cooking. I hope you join us! What did you do this weekend? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 🖤

Share 4 Somethings (September 2024)

 

Happy Saturday, friends! Today we're talking about the things we loved or disliked, accomplished, improved upon/needs improvement, and noticed this month. I'll jump in! 

Loved/Disliked

I loved spending time with my siblings Trish and Paul while we worked on cleaning out Dad's house...

...and I loved that Drew and Jonah were there to help us, but I also disliked this monumental task. It's hard to empty a house and say goodbye to it since you've it's the only "home" you've ever known.

I loved getting this pretty new journal for the fall and starting the process of filling the pages! Do you like to journal? It's something I've done since I was a young girl, but lately it's become something even more important to me as I've been writing about my life since June. It goes everywhere with me! 

I loved that my sister Lisa flew in from Denver just for a me a couple weeks ago and that we had two nights of sleepovers. 

I loved this day! I experienced what felt like another day of poetic justice on this day, and I'll never forget wearing this dress on the day it happened. I feel good in this dress and always get compliments on it when I wear it, which is why I picked it for this particular day. I do think it's important to dress the way that you want to come across; I wanted to feel bold and confident this day, and I did! 

I loved getting this book in the mail on the day it released; it's really good, but I'm having a heck of a time reading and concentrating. 

I loved getting to see Graham's house and helping him hang things this week! His home is adorable and he and the pups are settling in really nicely. 

I loved seeing my Noah last weekend and spending the weekend with him last week in Dallas. 

Accomplished

I accomplished my first solo home project last week and got rid of a hutch to bring in this different one from my dad's house. I still love it every time I walk into the dining room, and it feels great knowing that I decluttered the things that had been stored inside the old one. I tossed all of the things that had chips/cracks in them, so I got rid of several coffee mugs/cups, and plates that I had. 

Improved upon/Needs improvement

In some ways this month, I've improved upon my outlook and attitude. I'm trying more to see the good in everything, and when I'm feeling sorry for myself, I ask God to help me with my thoughts and to help me pull myself together. In other ways, though, my attitude still needs lots of improvement. I know it's normal to have all the emotions I'm having because of my life situation, but I hate feeling sad or angry. Given the choice between the two, I'll choose angry any day over feeling sad and weepy. He doesn't deserve the tears I've cried! And honestly, it's not tears over him, but over the dreams of what I thought my life would look like at this stage of life. 

Noticed

I've noticed that the there is a slight hint of change in the color of the leaves in my neighborhood. And also, more leaves are on the ground now than last week! I love this time of year, and I'm thankful that no matter what I'm going through, some things will never change. 

I'm excited to read your posts today! Thanks for reading my blog and for linking up with me today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 🖤

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Friday Favorites, 9.27.2024.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for today's blog post. How has your week been? Mine was good for the most part, which I'm taking as a win! I have some favorite moments from this week, and I bet you do too! Here are mine:

I mentioned yesterday that one thing I was thankful for this week was that I got to have an unexpected lunch with my mom, Bill, and Jonah, and that Jonah came to pick me up from work. That was a favorite of mine this week, Jonah picking me up and being driven around by him. I love when my sons drive me around! I also loved that Noah chauffeured me around this week as well, while I was in Dallas. 

While some of the outfits I wore this week were my favorite, my hair was not. It's been so big and frizzy all week long, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. It starts out normal and as the day goes on, it grows outward. I'm going to look for something new to use on it tomorrow. Do you have naturally curly hair? Do you have a product you love that you use? If you fit that bill, feel free to shoot your recs to me in the comments!

Seeing my dad's truck in my driveway is my favorite. My dad left it to my brother, and he left the tractor to me, but because Jonah wanted the truck to stay in the family, we traded, and now truck lives here with Jonah and me. He plans on working on it and sprucing it up a little so that he can drive it occasionally; he's sentimental about it because Dad taught all the boys how to drive in this!

On a completely unrelated note, this kitchen is my favorite and I want mine to look just like it, including the dog. 

This song was a favorite that we sang in church last Sunday. There's a line in the song that says, "Even when you don't see it, He's working; Even when you don't feel it, He's working. He never stops, He never stops working." I was worshiping as we sang this last week, but when it came to that stanza, I just hung my head and wept. I don't always feel or sense God near, or that He's working on my behalf, but I know that He is. I know that I can trust Him, because He is trustworthy. I know that He is with me, and I know that even though the person I loved most abandoned me, and let me down, God never will do that to me. He loves me, He will never leave me, and His love unconditional. I don't know what it was about singing this song last week that hit me, but it's been a while since I was moved to tears like that during worship. 

And because I don't want to end on a sad note, I'll share that these memories are one of my favorites from the week.

Seeing Noah and spending time with friends is always a favorite thing, especially when it involves a sleepover! What was something that was a favorite for you this week? I'd love to hear from you! Also, tomorrow is the last Saturday of September, which means it's time for Share Four Somethings; the prompts are things we loved or disliked, accomplished, improved upon/needs improvement, and noticed this month. I hope you make plans to join me tomorrow! 

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

Thankful Thursday

 

Happy Thursday, friends! It's been a minute since I've shared a gratitude list type of blog post, so I thought I'd talk about some things I'm thankful for this week. I hope you're encouraged to start your own list somewhere; being grateful in all circumstances really shifts your perspective on life and it's hard to complain when you try to see the good amidst all the junk around us. 

This week I am thankful for:

• hugs to sustain me through the week

I've had even more change in my life that took place this week: Graham officially moved out, and we've started the process of sharing the five dogs. He took his baby Oakley and our old man Crash to live with him. They're a good pair of dogs and are used to sleeping together each night, which is why he went with that combo. It's good for dogs to have friends, you know? Needless to say, if not for all the hugs I've had lately from my sons, I would be a blithering mess. 

• cooler days
• friends calling and stopping by work to check on me
• sleepovers with my besties
• being able to have overnight guests in my home again
• my mom and amazing dad (I'm not even calling him "stepdad" anymore; he's now my only dad)
• an unexpected lunch with them and Jonah yesterday
• fajita bowls from a new favorite Mexican place
• leftovers for my dinner this weekend
• kind encouragement from blog readers like you
• boldness to speak up about my current life
• the gift of prayer and the power of it
• my church family
• my siblings who are the best ever
• plans for the weekend
• people who take the time to text and call me
• my job that I love so much

What are some things you're thankful for this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 🖤

Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Joyce today with her Wednesday hodgepodge link party. 

1. It's officially fall, y'all...in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway. What are three of your favorite things about this particular season? 

• the weather
• the decor that I pull out each year that seriously rivals Christmas
• the shorter, cozier days 

2. Your favorite fall fabric—denim, flannel, tweed, corduroy, tartan, polar fleece, leather? Do you own something made with your favorite fabric? I think that out of all of these choices, my favorite fabrics to wear on cooler mornings and nights are flannel and polar fleece. 

Here are some examples that I found of those fabrics. 

3. According to Everyday Health, here are ten healthy fall foods: apples, pears, cranberries, winter squash, pumpkin, leeks, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, parsnips and broccoli. How many of these do you eat on a regular basis? Which is your favorite? Which one gets a big no thanks from you? I don't really eat any of these on a regular basis, per se, but I do love sweet potatoes the most and will eat any of the others mentioned. I don't dislike any of these super foods, but pears are not my favorite. They're always too mushy for my taste and remind me of an apple that is past it's best date. 

4. Tell us about the last time (or a recent time) you experienced a wave of nostalgia? Everyday of my life would be an acceptable answer! I have to stay off the memories app on Facebook and Timehop, because my life is so drastically different than this time last year. It makes me cry all the time! Don't get me wrong; part of me loves this new independent life that I'm living, but the other part of me desperately misses the old life I had as one half of a couple. I miss the person he was, but I do not like the person he is now; he's someone who is unrecognizable to me. I started to post a picture here, but he honestly doesn't deserve the space he once took up on my blog. I'll share one of just me instead.

5. September 22nd was National Daughter's day. Like mother, like daughter...does this idiom ring true for you? You may answer in terms of your own role as a daughter, or if you have daughters, then your role as a mother of daughters. This idiom definitely rings true for me! People tell me all the time how I am just like my mom; I am and I consider that a great compliment. I also get told often how much we favor. I'll let you be the judge. 

6. Insert your own thought. 

My Jonah doesn't get a lot of picture space here on the old blog, but I cannot imagine my life without him. He is the only person I live with now, and months ago he told me because of all that I had gone through this summer, that leaving me anytime soon was nowhere on his radar. He is my son, of course, but he is my friend, my roommate, my helper, and someone who makes me laugh. I greatly admire and respect him and the fact that he talks to me about everything and anything. He speaks his mind very freely, and he has had the worst summer of his entire life: his twin brother moved to Texas, his best friend moved to Chattanooga, his pappaw died, his dad moved out of our home, and he broke up with his girlfriend. It's been wave after wave of sadness, devastation, and heartbreak, but those dimples you see in his cheeks are still there each and everyday. His friends have been his lifeline, and he has been one of mine. All of my sons have, honestly, but Jonah is often the unsung hero in my eyes. He never lets me take his picture, but he's one of the most kind human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Just look at him and his brothers holding my Dad's hands before he died. 

And now I need to go cry a little over my dad. I miss him. 

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

Jenn 🖤 

out with the old and in with the older

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I made a change in my home this weekend, and I wanted to share it here, since it feels significant because of the fact that I made the decision completely on my own. When I moved into this house twenty one years ago, most of the furniture came from my family. My mom had given me her dining room table and hutch when I got married, and I am so grateful to her for doing that! Truth be told, I was ready to change it up after all the years I've had it. Here's what it looked like before...

I decided to try to sell it on Facebook marketplace. Someone came to pick it up on Sunday, and I couldn't be happier! I cleaned everything out and found new homes for things, weeding out what needed to be recycled because of chipped sides (coffee mugs mostly), and waited for Jonah to come home to help me with bringing in what I was going to be put back in its place. 

This is the hutch that sat in my dad's house. I love it so much! I love that we're all about keeping things in the family, you know? This was something he purchased from an antique store, and I think it's beautiful. On the bottom shelf are all the Christmas dishes that I use, and the other shelves hold the pottery that I've had for twenty-eight years, glasses that are never used, and some decorative plates that also came from Dad's. Yesterday I added my grandmother's China as well, and I have a few pieces propped up on the back for display. 

I love how it turned out! Even more than that, I love having another piece of my dad's belongings here with me. I love how cleaned out and organized it looks with things prettily displayed, and I loved that this was a big change that I made on my own for the first time. I didn't run it by anyone, I just did it by myself. Well, also thanks to Jonah and his friends who got this thing inside and put together again. It brings me great joy to change things up in my home to make it more of what I love and what works for my current (new) life. 

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends! I'm linking up with Joanne for this post. Love to all!

Jenn 🖤