Do Life with DELIGHT (WOTY 2024)

Happy 2024!

Let’s leap into the New Year! Day 1 of 366.

 I have so many things/themes I want to touch on with this post! Recap last year’s WOTY aka Word Of The Year, proclaim this year’s WOTY, announce my fruit of the year, spell out my slogan/resolution of the year, reaffirm my signature color, say that I’m still searching for my signature scent, and that I’ve added even more: a Bible verse of the year! Help. My headstone could accurately read: 

Here lies

• Sharnjean•

She loved a good theme.

#humor

Anyway, speaking of HUMOR, it was my favourite WOTY yet! It brought lightness and laughter into my life, and was a respite from other heavier words I had previously chosen. 2023 wasn’t all giggles, but it had more than it would have had, had I not kept this wise word forefront. 

In keeping with this lighthearted vein, I’m delving into DELIGHT in 2024! Like this following quote pic by Angela Gwinner that I designed for my Lock Screen, I want to look for little details of delight all day long.

 

This delightful quote also inspired me! I chose it for my phone Home Screen. 

Everyday life is worth paying attention to; the whimsy is there if we just stop to notice the magic that is always happening. 

Moving along to Mr. AVOCADO! He is stepping in to take the place of the Fruit of the Year as Miss Grapefruit is stepping out. 

My Slogan/Resolution is 

Nest More in 2024!

Which simply means that I want to enjoy more planned times of conscious rest & relaxation instead of guiltily perching on the edge of the nest, aka my cozy chair, when I should be up flying around. 

I’m still most settled on my Signature Colour. 

(British spellings are always the best)

Live Long, EMERALD!

The search continues for my Signature Scent. 

Try a pheromone perfume is on my 24 for 2024 list though. So only the nose knows if this will be the year I find it. 

I usually choose a Bible Verse every year on my birthday, but this time I was inspired to choose it now based on my WOTY after seeing a friend posting her verse for 2024. With so many “delightful” verses to choose from, it was a bit difficult to decide. But I am not regretting my choice of Psalm 94:19.

Happy 2024 to each and every one of you! 

Here’s to a delightful, emerald avocado year! 

Also, I would be delighted to know if you chose a WOTY! Please post in the comments below and type your name in if it doesn’t let you comment with your Google account. 

This Year (2024)

Tiffany posted this challenge on our family chat the other day, and of course I was enthused to fill it out! Please send me yours once you decide what your 2024 aims are! Let me know if you want the original pic sent to you personally. I’ll post it on my status as well. I used the PicCollage app to add my answers. 

Denied December

December is the time for getting things, not giving things up, right? But ever since one of my friends mentioned “Denied December” in conversation, I’ve been pondering about consciously denying myself this month. Self-denial sounds unpleasant, but in practice it’s actually like giving yourself (and others) little presents! How fitting for this Christmas Season! Deny yourself 5 minutes of squandered scrolling to instead unload the dishwasher, and Poof! You’ve given yourself 15 additional minutes of family time after supper because you were able to load the dirty dishes as you were cooking. If I can convince myself to give up going back to bed because it’s still dark when hubs leaves for work early, I’ve gifted myself 20 minutes to relax with coffee and Jesus under my heated blanket in my chair “nest” before the school routine starts! I’m trying to learn that self denial is in the little things. I don’t have to forgo all the yummy holiday treats in an extreme attempt to change myself, but I can savor 2 peppermint Hershey Kisses instead of 12! I can squeeze in 18 counter pushups here and there throughout my day instead of feeling like I should be getting up at the crack of dawn to run 8 miles. Small good decisions day after day do make a difference! I can purpose do my best to be effective before 2:45 pm, so the bulk of my day’s work won’t still be weighing me down and hindering after-school peppermint bark production with Danielle. Instead of wallowing in overwhelm, I can make myself sit down and brain dump everything I need to do and think I need to do. Then I can attempt to cut out the extras and give the gift of a Less-Hassle Holiday to myself and my family. Or, like Mary, I might need to deny myself the luxury of even being able to have a plan! She didn’t have an online reservation email to easily pull up and recheck the details of the Airbnb “Stable Experience” Joseph had booked months in advance. Instead, she had to submit to ongoing discomfort while getting closer to utter unknown with each plodding step of her little donkey. Even though I’m sure she was a normal woman who was tempted to complain and to feel like her life was so unfair, I think Mary consciously chose to accept her situation as it was. I believe she made the choice to deny the desire for an easy path, a “normal” family; subconsciously giving Joseph the gift of feeling like a good husband who truly was doing his best to make his wife happy, and as comfortable as possible. This Christmas, I want to be like Mary and have a Denied December; giving those in my little world the best gift that I can give - my self, denied. 

Home-Tripping

The mesmerizing whisper of the windshield wipers clearing the endless raindrops away as we inch our way home. Home; the call of Chubby Chick, my own little house and overstacked desk, the work he was happy to walk away from but really is ready to be doing again. My thoughts drift as much as the semis swaying beside us, contemplating life, which somehow seems more real, more vivid when you’ve been pulled out of your normal ruts. More sweet memories and moments committed to the past. Nebraska will forever and always be dear to us. Life feels fragile; a wreck narrowly avoided as a little Fiat fiats about a little too friskily. The best conversations come to pass as the miles go by, side by side but no need for eye contact. The fact that no one can escape makes it ideal. My thick book beckons whenever my navigation skills are not called upon. Or my magazines or drawing supplies. Always, more activities than I can possibly complete lie at my crowded feet. Sonic sandwich wrappers waft about the truck. Piles of stuff erupting here and there like mini Mt. Vesuvius(s). I do a trash dump at the gas stations every now and then, but otherwise I choose to surrender cleanliness in favor of comfortable chaos. Roadtripping always calls for snackitty snacks. Mini unwrapped Reese’s with salty pretzels…mmmmm. We all love them. A trailer is following us since Lepanto, AR, so I don’t even bother to offer to pilot this big rig anymore. Princess Passenger is my sole role. Vital Farm Eggs on my lap, cradled with care. Thanks, Audge! Darkness is falling; we are weary. But the lights of home are pulling us along, mile by open road mile. The pull of my very own pillow; my favorite people so close to me hour after hour. My heart is happy.  

Working at Waffle House

(This story was mostly written on the day it took place which was 10.25.23. I’m finally getting it edited and posted while I’m waiting for a deer in the tree stand.)

For a long time now, I’ve wanted to work at Waffle House. Not “work” as in wait tables and pour coffee, but “work” as in “take my office work” to Waffle House.  I figured that the change of scenery would inspire a boost in productivity, plus I had a $25 Waffle House gift card! So today was the day to do this I decided! Armed with my laptop, charging cord, unopened mail, letter opener, and appetite, I arrived at last at our Atmore Waffle House, which is a bit of drive as it’s located near Interstate 65. A corner booth was open, so I snagged that and proceeded to order my standing favorite breakfast at this establishment. Pecan Waffle with a side of Bacon and Endless Black Coffee. A very grumbly older woman took my order whilst complaining about her co-workers. “No worries,” I thought. “I can cheer her up and I’ll leave her a generous tip!” She plunked my food down and muttered away. It was just as good if not better than I remembered. You do need to salt the waffle after adding the syrup though. Trust me. You won’t regret it. I asked who I assumed was the manager if they had WiFi. “No? Oh OK, thanks.” Hmmmm… do they even like people to work at their Waffle House? I started to watch how long other patrons were staying and whether or not there were open tables. Meanwhile, my plan to cheer up my whiny waitress was miserably failing because she never came back to my table. A couple other happier humans refilled my cup with coffee as they passed by. I finished my food and continued to peck away at the document that I was making decent headway on. A table over, sat a beautiful elderly black woman, who looked so familiar to me! I couldn’t help myself and stepped over to ask her if she used to work at Atmore Hospital! Sure enough, it was Ms. Rosa and she remembered me too from the days of volunteering there with Kristi years ago! Seeing her was a huge perk of working at Waffle House! Back at my “desk,” I worked a little more before deciding it was time to depart. I went to pay with my gift card, but alas, it declined. And then declined again even though I knew it should still have the full $25 balance! Flustered, I said to forget it, and paid with a different card. Next was a quick stop to use the loo before heading on my way. I noticed that it didn’t look as if the commode had flushed properly, but thought it was no biggie. I did a flush that confirmed things were not flushing according to manufacturer’s expectations. Now what?! Surely one more good solid holding down of the handle will solve the issue! But it DID NOT!! Rather, it caused an instant and extreme overflowing situation!!! Everyone woman’s worst bathroom nightmare! Even though I had not caused the initial plugging, I knew the right thing to do was to TELL SOMEONE. But every Waffle House worker was busy, and I felt so kerflummoxed that I just walked out the door, feeling like I would never again be able to set foot inside this particular Waffle House. Why had I wanted to work at Waffle House?! My own little home office is so cozy and inviting with a private restroom that boasts a wonderfully fast-flushing toilet just down the hall. Oh well, what is life if not an adventure?? And since I called the number on the back of the gift card and was told that I do indeed have $25 yet to spend, I know that one day soon or not so soon, I will once again attempt to work at Waffle House. I just might pop into Popeyes once I’m done though, instead of risking the Waffle House water closet. 

Cotton Candy Queen

Cotton fields… Unharvested. 

White as a bride admired by all, waiting like a Queen for her cotton-picker King. 

Cotton fields… Harvested.

Barren and brown except for the giant cotton bale marshmallows dipped in vibrant yellow and blue candy-colored wraps. 

An Ode to the Comfort of Coffee

☕️ 

Hot Coffee on a chilly Autumn morn… the steam kissing my cheeks, the caffeine nudging my brain to wake up and seize the day. 

Coffee… 

Warm in my hands and Warm in my heart.

♥️

An Ode to October’s Bright Blue Weather

Today a challenge was issued on one of the group chats I belong to. The challenge was to write descriptively about the lovely Fall weather we all have been experiencing across the nation! This was my speedily typed contribution. 

Obtainable October

     

    As I sit here this evening, listening to the drizzly rain continuing to drizzle, I feel content. September was simple and sweet. I used lots of paper plates, said "No" to sewing for myself, (not that I say "Yes" very often to sewing, but still! It felt simple to decide that my Fall/Winter wardrobe is good enough as it is! No pressure to perform!) and carved out pockets of time for reading Ruth Reichl and Run by Ann Patchett. I sipped lots of shaken oatmilk brown sugar cinnamon espressos, worked on bettering my boba recipe, and chose to focus on the good things and the good times. The Totally Booked Book Club added magic to the end of the month by celebrating the Second Annual White Dinner in a cow pasture under the September Supermoon. 

    Now we are one-thirds our way through Obtainable October. At various times during these past eleven days, it has wanted to feel like Overwhelming October. But then I intentionally take a mental step back to stop, realign my priorities, and shift my thought process out of its downward spiral. I have not always had the tools do this. But now on this night while God is watering the world, I do, and I do not take this for granted. I went through so much discontent and overwhelm and hard work and lowering of the bar to get to this place where life can truly feel Obtainable. If you aren't there tonight, rest assured that you can get there too. Life is made up of Seasons. It is not always Summer. There are Times of Tears and Places of Pain. But God is Everywhere; He rested and wants our lives to feel restful too. Obtainable October is for everyone!

Comfort Me With {caramel} Apples

It’s supposed to be Fall after all. But Summer hasn’t collapsed yet. It is hot and humid and happy to stay that way. While I’m waiting, I’m comforting myself with apples. Apples dipped in creamy caramel. Caramel cooked so lazily that you don’t even have to open the can of sweetened condensed milk before you cook it. I used my Instant Pot and followed these simple instructions. You should too. Then be like me and eat an apple a day to keep Summer away, each tart bite of crispy Pink Lady dunked in sweet, molten lava the color of the golden leaves that we are waiting ever so patiently to see. You can also spread this tawny sauce on toast, or dribble it deliberately over salted popcorn. Maybe, just maybe if we comfort ourselves with enough apples and copious amounts of caramel, Fall will come. 

*Meet Me for Lunch* at Xian

"Let's meet for lunch!"

Fellow foodie and friend, Shirley Unruh and I have said these words to each other for months now! Yesterday we finally made it happen at Xian Noodle Place. 

(pic from their fb page)

Shirley arrived before I did, (believe or not lol) and was animatedly conversing with the patrons in the booth next to ours. They were diehard foodies too also dining at Xian for the first time. The restaurant was spacious and clean with quiet background music playing; not many people dining. More arrived while we were there. We chose steamed pork dumplings and pot stickers for starters. Both equally delicious. For our main, I chose Braised Beef with Noodles and Shirley selected Soy Sauce Chicken with Noodles. Both bowls were savory and satisfying, but not nearly as gratifying as pho. Even though this wasn't trying to be pho, it was hard not to compare. But the star of the lunch to me was my Grapefruit Fresh Tea with Popping Peach Boba! It put the capital D in Delightful!! Both of us rated it higher than Shirley's Peach Oolong Milk Tea. 

Although I don't feel like I'll be clouted with a craving to slurp up their noodles again, I totally know I want to go back to Xian for another tea!

Outside my Window on the Thirteenth of September

 

Outside my window....the barren branches of my porch pot tomato plant that was devoured (twice) by squishy fat green tomato worms taunts me with failure.

I am thinking....that I should aspire to step 12,000 steps per day!

I am thankful...that I was able to go to work at "My Real Job" aka Secretary for Faircloth Land Services today. Although spending the last two days mostly working on Comforter Committee Sewing duties was also a blessing!

In the kitchen...sits the copper cookie tin from WeCare that I use for my slop bucket. I love it as much as one can love a slop bucket.

I am wearing...an Old Navy terra cotta colored t-shirt dress.

I am creating...another batch of Brown Sugar Cinnamon Simple Syrup.

I am going...to give myself and others more grace than usual because it's Simple September. Simply love, simply give.

I am reading.... Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl. 

I am hoping...to keep on track with my Cleaning Schedule this week. I now identify as a person who cleans her house weekly!

I am looking forward to...finalizing Tax Season 2022.

I am learning...that if you want others to respect something, you first have to respect it yourself.

Around the house....real life is being lived. A Lego set half-built on the table, miscellaneous stuff from Danl's truck spread out on the couch being sorted, piles of papers on my desk.

One of my favorite things.... is hearing about Danielle's school day on the drive home. 

Life in Five Senses

Here’s a book club book review for you! 

Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin was my pick for August. It was an interesting and delightful book to read! I had the hardcover copy which was a birthday gift from Rhonda, so I invited her as my guest for the evening. The print copy contains a good many fascinating photos which really makes the content come alive. Gretchen goes through each of the five senses in a memoir-like way as she finds ways to engage more thoroughly in the world around her. In the “Sight” chapter, she writes about attending Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience. Serendipitously, this pop-up museum was in Pensacola right over the date of book club! Most of us were able to attend this enthralling event before coming back to my house for a Sight & Sound Supper where the rest joined. I welcomed everyone inside by asking, “How is your nose?” which is a greeting that Gretchen mentions in her book while the 

Infinite Fractal and Falling Shepard Tone played on my Bluetooth speaker in the background. Then we discussed the infamous dress and discovered we were about half and half on team Blue & Black versus team White & Gold! Wow. On to Laurel or Yanny? Some heard both, most heard Laurel. Meanwhile, Heidi provided us with thee most pleasurable boba tea drinks! I for one, found the slurping most satisfying. A row of ketchups which is a splendid example of the flavor umami, even included a homemade version provided by Gloria! We dipped fries and chickens tenders and ate salad with toppings that completed all the colors of the color wheel. Blind taste tests on popular soda flavors were going down as well; poor Mr. Mt. Dew got confidently falsely confirmed as Coke! It’s harder than you think to get them right! Stacia even flubbed on her dear Dr. Pepper! We shared Sensory Memories, sampled jelly beans with our noses plugged, sniffed favorite scents, and ended up with ice cream. Four kinds, all marketed as “homemade or homestyle” iconic, wide world over loved and lauded - Vanilla. With scratch & sniff stickers and Pop-Rocks for party favors, the sensory night came too quickly to a close; senses stimulated in the best way! It all began with a book! 

Simple September

I love an artful alliteration, so I’ve been pondering if this September should be Reset September or Simple September or Say No September or even Surprise Me September?? September is a delightful month which has always been “The Other New Year” to me. I adore the fresh start feel of Back to School, falling into Fall which is mostly a state of mind in the South, and the renewing of resolutions to be DILIGENT and do all the things I know and want to do. (I’ve even decided to choose a WOTY for the 2023-2024 school year! #diligent. Thanks for the idea, Karma!) Anyway, September hath arrived along with some gratifyingly rainy weather. As I’ve been ruminating while watching the raindrops spatter, what settles the most alluringly on my heart is SIMPLE SEPTEMBER. I long for empty day blocks on my calendar, No Sweat Suppers with scant dishes to do, and time to sit on my front porch (the beauty of the back porch has dissolved due to chickens and a large black dog; life is real over here!) sipping a mock Starbucks Shaken Oatmilk Espresso sweetened with homemade brown sugar cinnamon syrup while reading a book (but NOT a self-help book!) The summer was sweet; I really did feel like a tourist in my own home town! But now I’m tired, and want to stay home. This means I will have to say no, which will surprise myself and others, but will result in life feeling like it has been reset. Welcome, Simple September! 

Full Circle

(Back in 2021 for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of WHCS, I wrote these memories. With school starting again this past Tuesday, they were fresh on my mind; hence my decision to post them on my blog!)

Bring some school memories,” they said. “Sure!” I said. “I’ll just wing it! How long do you want me to talk?!” 

Because when I think about school, memories flood my mind! But so many memories begin to generate, that my mind feels muddled and I’m not sure I’ll be able to wing it in a way that will make any sense to anyone! Memories of being a student! Of being a teacher! And now of being a school mom! So I begin to write in order to order my mind. 

Going back to my beginning at Walnut Hill Christian School as a sorta scared little first grader with spindly braids in Miss Joyce Johnson’s classroom, I fondly remember the structured orderliness. And my own little bunny trash can made of a Quaker Oat can wrapped in calico with a cotton ball tail. After first and second grade, I moved into Miss Susan Smith’s room, never dreaming at that point in time that I would one day be privileged to teach alongside her with her as my mentor. We learned how to speak some Spanish and how to sing La Cucarracha while we built more life blocks on the firm foundation that Miss Johnson and Miss Eraina Koehn had given us. The circle continued, and I moved northward a classroom into Miss Karen Reimer’s room for 4th grade. She enthusiastically read us stories by old fashioned lamplight and let us take turns having Libby the Lobster at our desks. Then I was blessed to have Mrs. Emily Peaster as my teacher for grades 5 & 6. “Character, Character, and more Character!” was a lesson we learned daily! But we also got to spend time in the “booth” in the back of the room, expanding our imaginations with a myriad of puppets and LEGO. We loved when she would pull out her tall black hat and read us, Miss Nelson is Missing. Looking back, Mrs. Peaster was the teacher who lit the flame of my desire to be a teacher! And who was behind the inspiration to always have some sort of Reading Nook in the back of all my classrooms, reminiscent of the old “booth” days! For 7th grade, I went back across the hall into the windowless classroom to be taught by Miss Laurie Toews. She was more than patient with my preteen troubles and even took all of us girls camping on the teachers’ yard! Mr. Cameron Boeckner was my upper grade teacher. My 8th, 9th, and 10th grade years were good years filled with learning more life lessons, having small scale members meetings during revivals, peanut gallery discussions, playing intense volleyball tournaments, honing our budding writing skills with essay after essay, water coloring while listening to classic stories like “The Monkey’s Paw,” skipping classes to chalk the program backdrop for “Mrs. Seymour’s Christmas” that Rhonda had sketched, and painstakingly cutting out all the letters (this was the pre-cricut era) to wrap our classroom in a Christmas carol. A couple years after graduating, I went back to WHCS as an aide. I loved decorating the library and interacting with the students; flashing endless stacks of flash cards, and helping them check out my favorite library books like The Golden Name Day and King of the Wind. Life continued, and I said yes to getting married instead of going to teach in a mission school. Then I was asked to finish a school term at Walnut Hill Christian School which proved to be challenging and inspiring! After signing a contract for the next year, I boarded a plane with my former classmate Vanessa Holdeman, for teachers prep class in Kidron, Ohio! That proved to be an enlightenment! Even though I was so excited and felt ready to teach, there was so much I still needed to learn! And learn I did! Along with my children, I watched our pet garter snake eat trees frogs until it died, sang “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of our beta fish Flo-Flo, and heard things parents probably wished I hadn’t. I struggled watching my kids struggle and wished for better ways to make learning an even playing field. The circle of life went on and I hung up my teaching hat for approximately four years, coming back to finish a term that love had ended. It felt so good to be back, that I ended up teaching two more years! Stargazing parties, Andrew Pudawah writing sessions, PowerPoint presentations with popcorn, the beginning of Barton classes, learning to love and light the windowless classroom, and after school teacher hashes once again made my soul sing! Along with writing, planning, and practicing programs; performing the Joseph’s coat musical, and attempting to give the auditorium a coffee shop feel complete with little tables and chess games for our epic Krispy Kreme donut fundraising evening, I learned that my kids will always feel like my kids. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow I was blessed to be able to teach all the best students of the best parents, have the best co-teachers, and work with the best school board members! I’m sorry for all the rest of you! And I’m sorry for all of you who have never had the privilege of teaching! I’ve always said that teaching is the only job that never felt like a job! Anyway, life goes on and now I’m on the other side! I’m the schoolmom who isn’t sending her child to school loaded with toast and eggs! (Just chocolate milk IS sometimes the best you can do!) Today, I give my thanks to God because it feels like life has come full circle. I was at Walnut Hill Christian School for all of my student days, for all of my teaching days, and now I am more than happy to send my daughter to this school for all of her school days. 

Don’t Rain on Someone Else’s Parade

My thoughts are kinda jumbled tonight, but I’ve been thinking umbrellas per making one like the adorable little book page one above for the Li’bry today. Umbrellas make me think about rain, which made me think about the personal policy I’ve recently adopted which is “Don’t rain on someone else’s parade.” Just because I’ve adopted it, doesn’t mean I’m good at it. I’ve adopted it in an attempt to become good at it! I don’t think of myself as a party-pooper, but it seems like lately I’ve found myself making negative comments about projects I’m not passionate about, or elaborating on reasons why things might fail when honestly I’m just too lazy or content to make any changes. This habit isn’t refreshing, for me or for those around me. The Bible says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice!” for a reason. Accepting ourselves for who we are while realizing that we don’t have to do everything or be enthusiastic about all the things that others are doing is wisdom. Choosing to celebrate, applaud, and encourage the good things happening around us instead of raining on other’s parades is like putting a rainbow in everyone’s sky! 

Do the Dishes

I find this to be so true!

Do you? 

(Could add Clean out the fridge. With Kristin giving me help and moral support, doing this necessary task really helped me feel more grounded today.)

Let July be July, Let August be August

 

When July turns to August, I always think of this Morgan Harper Nichols quote. I think I first remember reading it the summer of 2020 during the Covid Era. Which feels like long, long ago. 

Anyway, I really love the quote, as it sums up this time of summer so well. Rhonda, Karma, and I met at Rhonda's pool for our monthly Clarity Planner Planning Sesh this morning to review July and to anticipate August. July was just a good month, filled with glimmers. August is gonna be so good too; I can feel it in my bones. 

It's time for a 6 Things Making Me Smile Listicle!

1. TANG 

This refreshing citrus drink mix takes me back to my childhood! Daniel and Danielle love it too. I like to mix it up in the vintage orange printed glass juice pitcher just like my mom had. (I don’t have any of the little glasses though, so help a girl out if you see them while thrifting!)

2. CUT FLOWERS! 

Danielle and I planted seed packets of cosmos and zinnias from Tractor Supply earlier this year, and now we are reaping the bounty!  We’ve been able to make vibrant summery bouquets to share and to enjoy ourselves!

3. FRESH PEACHES

Alisha brought us back some delectably delicious peaches from Clanton on her way home from Guntersville. Nothing like eating them fresh, fuzzy skin still attached; or sliced and sugared adorning a big bowl of vanilla ice cream. 

4. SUNSHINE

After enduring weeks of what seemed like endless rain, the sun has blessed us with its presence day after sunny day! It gives me sunshine in my soul to see my hubs able to keep the machinery running too.

5. This BUBBLE KIT!

So much old-fashioned fun to be had with this bubble kit! Danielle and I first saw one similar at the Palafox Market. I straightaway added it to cart! It has been a worthy purchase and has gotten lots of use! Even from this 37 year old kid!

6. FAMILY & FRIENDS

From Summer Family Fling in North AL, Corey & Hailey's wedding in Macon, time with Grandma and Aunt Sue at Oakwood, Kelly & Michelle & Co. at our place for a gator supper, to continued days with Alisha and Isla and soon Pierre, we've had so many tiptop times with family and friends! Times so good that even in the midst of them it strikes you that you're in the middle of making a memory that's gonna be cherished.

Hunt, Gather, Parent!

It’s Write Wednesday again! 

Last week slipped up on me while we were wiling the time away in the water at  

Splash RV Resort & Waterpark and I totally forgot to pen a post! Today the top thing on my mind is the book I’m currently reading in the most! (I’m always reading 6 books or so at a time) This book is titled Hunt, Gather, Parent. At first, I thought it mostly seemed like another version of Bringing Up Bebe but as I read on, it’s taking my mind to so many other places than just good old-fashioned parenting. HGP is like a vulnerable memoir, a good ole self-help, and a wise parenting manual all in one! I’m not sure why I’m inspired to write this book review when I’m only 2/3 through the book, but here it is! Part of me wishes in another life to be like author Michaeleen and her daughter Rosy and travel the world while researching and writing! But I’ll settle for second best and read and learn from this enlightening book. It’s making me ponder my own idyllic childhood, vow to be a better member of “the village,” and wish for workable ways for Danielle to grow up grounded and grateful. 

Tally Ho! On I go to Hunt, Gather, & Parent! 

The Space Between the Lines

The space between the lines 

Is as important as the words 

To ignore our need for rest 

Would be utterly absurd! 

We need space to be alive 

To watch the clouds before a storm. 

Always being on the go 

Was never meant to be our norm. 

Knowing how to give a “no” 

Is a skill that must be learned. 

“No” means “yes” to something else 

It saves us from feeling burned. 

Let’s take time to breathe and read 

To ourselves be true and kind 

Not forgetting the importance 

Of the space between the lines. 

Sharon Faircloth

7-12-23