April things

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! As I sat down to write this post, I was blown away by the ending of yet another month of 2025. I know that we all say this often, but can you believe how quickly time flies by? It seems like just yesterday it was December of 2024, and I both looked forward and dreaded the coming year. I looked forward to it because I was ready to be divorced and to fully separate my life from my ex. I was dreading it because I wasn't sure what that time period would look like; I'd thought I would be moving and I was dreading have to be on my own financially. 

But you know what? I'm killing this whole single woman gig. I don't want to brag, but I don't need a man to help me with things. I'm enjoying learning new things and I'm proud of myself for not having to ask for help too often. Just yesterday I went to Auto Zone to purchase my first ever pair of windshield wipers; the person who checked me out taught me how to put them on myself for future reference. See what I mean? What I need help with, I can easily ask the Google or the YouTube. 

Also? Stay tuned for more exciting updates. 

Here are my favorite moments from a very full and busy month:

The day the lights went out at work will forever be a favorite memory of working at my church. We sat in the lobby and played games all morning; at 11:30, our boss Sam sent us all home. Six of us went to lunch at a favorite local restaurant, and I had the very best nachos for lunch that day. 

Time with Mom on a random Friday will forever be something I love the most. I love doing everyday life with the people I love. 

Seeing Mare a lot this month was something else I loved and appreciated. Last Thursday was a rough day for me; I was talking to a friend at work when I saw her walking into my church, and I literally ran to her and hugged her. I almost cried! It's a long story, but it was a bad day, and I'd never needed to see anyone more than I needed to see her at that moment. She hung out with me until I left work that day, then rode to Sam's with me; after all of that she came to my house until she had to leave for a thing she needed to be at that evening. Get you a friend just like Marilyn! You'll be so grateful that you listened to my advice. 

I loved the scenic walks that I took this month.

I got this ice cream as a celebratory "happy divorce" gift; I ate one small spoonful at a time until it was completely gone. I just finished this last week!

Hot pink lipstick was something I enjoyed this month.

Spending time with friends is a major theme in my life...I will never in a million years take this gift for granted!

Drew (and my bonus son Alex) being here for Drew's birthday and spending that night with me was the best thing from this month. 

 

My home away from home is my favorite place to be. I sent this picture to my friend a few weeks ago, to show him the sheer size of my church compared to his tiny one of fifty people. 🤣

My best friends are life-giving! This is my sweet Abbey; I loved spending time with her as we ran an errand for her on a Sunday afternoon. 

My Missy and I went out to dinner one night, just the two of us, and it was such a great night of catching up with each other. We're like ships passing in the night these days, and rarely see each other outside of church. 

This walking trail was a fun one!

I loved reading the book of Ruth! I'm currently in 2 Samuel.

Puppy cuddles have been therapeutic this month!

I've loved eating lunch with friends at work on Thursdays. 

Babies at work are the best!

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The gala that I attended with with Marilyn was fun! I loved dressing up for this event.

Peaceful nights in the country at my parents house are good for my heart!

Time with my boys is the very best; I loved being able to FaceTime with Noah while we ate lunch together on Sunday. 

Luna time is the best time!

I've never talked about how I named my car Dory when I got her in 2020; I decided it was time for her to be known as that, so I put this bumper sticker on her.

Celebrating the birthday of my best friend's husband was fun. I will always be grateful for the fact that my friends include me in their everyday lives. I love that Jeff did this with my phone when I left it on the table Sunday night. He cracks me up! 

I loved seeing my beautiful great nieces celebrate Easter! A big highlight was booking a flight to Denver for a week in July; I can't wait to see these little dolls and do all the fun things with them. 

Having a fun Saturday was a big highlight for me in April. I would love more Saturdays like this in my future!

I loved having family over to my house for lunch on Sunday after church! I'd like to do this kind of thing more, moving forward with life. We've always had celebrations like this at my mom's, but I'd like to start doing them at my house more. I enjoy the whole process of having people over, the shopping, the food prep/cooking, the company, all of it!

Please peep the dogs waiting on me at the front door. 

I texted this to my friend Friday afternoon before I went to church that night. I loved singing in choir in that service! I was also excited about the next day that I'd planned. 

Did you have any highlights from the month so far that you want to tell me about? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends! Love to all. 

Jenn ❤️🩷

P.s. Don't forget about April's Share 4 Somethings will take place this Saturday April 26th; if you're new here, all year long on the last Saturday of each month, we share some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of. The topics stay the same for each month. May's Currently link party will take place on Wednesday May 7th; in May we'll be talking about what we're currently loving, looking forward to, leaving behind, letting go of, and looking at. Again, for anyone new here who wants to participate, the topics for Currently change each month; I provide the next month's prompts at the bottom of that post, and this always takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. I hope you make plans now to join me for both of these each month! Meanwhile, I'll try to be better at giving you reminders. 

Linking up with:

Hello Monday

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend! Mine felt pretty epic, and I'll share more details as this post goes on. My week feels the same, since I'm leaving town on Friday. I can't wait to leave town for the weekend! This is the trip I'm going on with Marilyn, Tanya, Joanne, Amy, and Maria. I can't wait to see them and catch up over the course of the long weekend. Here's what I was up to this weekend.

I came across this picture about friendship last week and then shared that and the picture above this on Friday. Friendship is such a gift, and one perk of my job is that I've gotten to know new people. Last fall I got to know a new friend; we'd started talking when her daughter would want hot chocolate every time she saw me. I'll never forget the day when I mentioned something about walking the path of unwanted divorce; my friend's eyes grew huge as she told me that she, too, was walking that same road. Never underestimate the power of your story or the pain you go through! I know it was the Lord that led me to share that with her that day, and the second I did, a friendship was born. We're not meant to walk through life alone; when we share our hardships with people, it's a beautiful thing! 

On a lighter note...

This was how I started my Friday. I took Marilyn to the airport, then I went to get a pedicure. 

I loved seeing this picture of Drew at work last week; he helped serve breakfast at Arlington Elementary School with his two bosses. I love seeing my sons doing what they love and loving what they do for a living! 

I came home and did a few things around the house that afternoon until I left for the Good Friday service at church Friday night. I loved being a part of this and singing in choir! We were asked to wear all black, which was appropriate given the occasion. 

I was up early making bread Saturday morning!

I walked over to the neighbor's house to take care of their dogs and always appreciate the early morning hour. I love their dogs! I always enjoy getting to see them and take care of them when we do this for them. 

I got dressed for my day adventure! 

I met my friend in Sikeston, Missouri, which is two and a half hours away for both of us. We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant, then we went over into Illinois to visit this giant cross statue at the top of a mountain. It was beautiful! I went from Tennessee to Arkansas to Missouri to Illinois and back all in a day's time. I left home at nine that morning and was home again by seven thirty. It was a full (fun) day! 

Yesterday was such a great day! We went to church and then everyone came back here after church for lunch. I loved seeing 3/4 out of my sons, and we FaceTimed Noah while we were eating. I loved seeing his face! I can't wait to see him in May; it's time for me to hug him again. 

Later that afternoon I went to my best friend's son's house to celebrate her husband's birthday. I love that they invited me over for this, and that they include me in family celebrations. This means the world to me! 

I loved getting to visit with them and seeing their sweet little daughter, Luna. It was a great 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! 

Jenn 🩷❤️