🎵Joy to the Wordle, the Fun Has Come! 🎶

If you aren’t already on the Wordle Wagon, I highly recommend jumping aboard! Created by 

Josh Wardle this fun yet simple word game seems to be uniting the world through words with the shared experience of trying to compete with ourselves and each other to guess the Word of the Day in the fewest tries! It’s so much more refreshing than controversial things like politics and vaccines and strains of Covid-19! Since everyone gets the same puzzle, the camaraderie and scarcity of only one puzzle per 24 hours adds to the allure! Click here to play and brighten your day! 

Happy Wordling! 

🟩🟨⬜️⬜️🟩

A quote from Josh Wardle ⬆️

🥐 

Truly! I can so relate! 🙈 🧠 

Ta-Da instead of To-Do in 2022!

 Every January since 2018 I have been scheming and dreaming up a list of things to accomplish during the coming year. This idea is instigated by my favorite author, Gretchen Rubin. And even though I’ve never accomplished everything on my list, it has been mostly fun to have such a list hanging out in my phone notes and over my head. I think it has inspired some action that otherwise wouldn’t have transpired. 

That being said, I just wasn’t feeling it for this year! An “unexpected” year didn’t scream for a tidy to-do list at all! Rather it wants to passionately “TA-DA!” instead of feeling obligated to “TO-DO.” So, every month as I go along, I’ll be on the lookout for two things that I’ve been inspired to complete that are worthy of being that month’s ta-das! It can’t be a boring normal daily thing like “unload the dishwasher” that will get mundanely done again either. So far for January 2022, I have added 

• Complete Art Wall in the Hall.

One day several weeks ago, Danielle and I were inspired to paint the 5 thrifted frames I’ve had for years for this particular project. Then last week, I added the strings and tiny clothespins, hung them in a collage on the hall wall, and Ta-Da! Now we have a designated space for 5 of my little artist’s most current creations. This item has hung out undone on every yearly list since 2019 I do believe. 

So we shall see what gets added yet for January and how the rest of the months go down! 2 items per month through November will equal 22 Ta-Das for 2022. December doesn’t need anything extra I’ve learned.

Are y’all gonna ta-da with me?? My Dad has been ta-daing as long as I can remember! I learned early on from him how fun it is to add things you’ve already done to your list, purely for the fun of crossing them out! 

How to Love Cold Weather

I love cold weather. 

The frosty chill, the cloudy puffs of breath, the hygge happiness it brings! Yeah, yeah, I know! I live Florida and it’s nothing like “real” winter, even though I wish it was! Maybe someday I’ll get my bucket list wish to spend the winter somewhere snowy and get my fill! I’m told I wouldn’t love it then, but I’d like to find out for myself. But I will say, when it does finally get cold in Florida, it’s usually a “chill you to your soul” kinda cold because it’s layered with a heavy dose of humidity. 

I didn’t alway love cold weather. 

But somewhere along the way, I discovered that it’s much easier to get warm than to cool off. And with only a few simple additions, learning to love cold weather is the easiest thing ever! 

1. WEAR A QUALITY COAT. 

Don’t expect not to shiver if you go out with a flimsy sweater and flip-flops! Getting a North Face jacket with a goose down layer was a life changer for me. 

2. LAYER WITH LEGGINGS. 

If it’s below 60 degrees, cover those drumsticks! And that neck! A soft scarf can’t be beat! 

3. START YOUR VEHICLE AHEAD OF LEAVING. 

There’s just no reason not to have your seat toasty, your steering wheel melty, and warm air blasting away when you hop in for final departure. 

4. LIGHT A FIRE - REAL OR FAKE. 

Flickering flames just bring the cozy factor way up in winter! Our living room, master bedroom, and master bath are all currently benefiting from fireplace heaters with artificial flames. Which brings me to #5!

5. HAVE A SPACE HEATER IN EVERY BATHROOM. 

Ain’t nobody got time for icicles in the bathroom. 

6. BRING ON THE HEATED BLANKETS. 

Last winter, we had only one, so to resolve fights I ordered another one from Target this past Black Friday. They are so lovely for a couch snuggle and to tuck under the bedcovers so the sheets are warm and toasty when you crawl in! Heated mattress pads are nice too, but I’m loving the simplicity of just using my electric blanket. 

7. LIGHT CANDLES AT SUNDOWN. 

Seeing a candle burning gives your brain the perception of warmth even though they don’t add a quantitative amount of heat to the room. I’m into tapers this winter, at a rate of 1/2 a taper per evening x 2. 

8. DRINK HOT DRINKS. 

If I’m home, I brew a cuppa around 3:30 every afternoon. My current favorite is the Canadian “Harney & Sons” Hot Cinnamon Spice tea that Alisha gifted me for Christmas. 

So there you have it! 

Now, go forth and enjoy the rest of your winter! And remember, you can’t appreciate being warm if it’s not cold first! 

Officially 2022 & Menus

Yesterday felt like the official beginning of the new year for me! It was Monday, Danielle went back to school, and that clean slate feeling finally arrived! When you think about it, the actual day of January 1 is a horrible day for new beginnings! Talk about getting off on the wrong foot! You’ve just eaten piles of greasy fried carbs, gotten loads of stuff (precious presents, but still!), and stayed up til midnight to welcome the new year in! Just a scenario of disaster and grouchiness instead of a recipe for being a new healthy, happy person! So I’m all about picking your own New Year’s Day! I’m not really into making rip-roaring resolutions this year, but I do want to ease back into some good habits that had sort of fallen by the wayside. Like planning weekly menus for one! And having groceries on hand to prepare said menus! But since this is the Year of the Unexpected, I’m only gonna plan 5 menus per week instead of 7. That way we can see what we are in the mood to cook over the weekend! I like to run to town on Saturday anyway to take advantage of the $5 off of $25 coupon that both Dollar General and Family Dollar offer on Saturdays!

MENUS

Make Whatever You Want Monday • Venison Chili, Cheese & Crackers, Apple Muffins

Taco Tuesday • Navajo Tacos with the leftover chili, White Cheese Dip

Pie Wednesday • Chicken ‘n Dumplins (not pie but Danl likes this better than chicken pot pie)

Throw it on the Grill Thursday • Pot Roast with Taters and Carrots, Bread Machine Bread (not grilling weather this week!)

Fish Friday • Fried Ham, Potato Salad, Green Beans

(I know ham isn’t fish lol but I’m Shelf/Fridge/Freezer cooking this week! And we didn’t have any seafood on hand!)

So there you have it! Danl made the chili last night and his is always much superior to mine! We had some friends over and had such a good relaxing evening. This winter weather is just the best for hygge evenings at home. 

An UNEXPECTED 2022!

This year’s WOTY fills me with wonder! •UNEXPECTED•

Just typing it makes me a bit apprehensive, yet excited! As I journey along trying to become a bonafide grownup, someone who is organized and plans ahead and is prepared for real life, I’m finding that I’m becoming more inflexible! Grumpier than I used to be when things don’t go according to Plan A. (When you don’t even have a plan, you don’t get as disgruntled or even realize when it gets disrupted!) So I’m striving for the balanced life, the dotted line between the ditches of chaos and calm. Real life is always messy, unplanned, and unexpected. But that’s where the beauty is if we can learn to embrace it! I want to expect the unexpected, to do unexpected things like being on time or even early, (EARLY was in my list of runners up in my personal WOTY contest.) or be the one who cleans up after an event instead of just sitting and gabbing, or who thinks of going the unexpected extra mile instead of just being oblivious to the needs around me. I want to learn to see a change in plans for my day as an adventure instead of an aggravation. I want to lower my expectations of my spouse and others and maybe even myself. I want to feel ready for unexpected guests in my home at any time, which for me I’ve decided is living in that sweet spot of having things not perfect but not nasty. Perfection is overrated anyway, but last week’s dishes are not. I’d also like to do little unexpected things each day! To give hugs and kisses and compliments at random moments! To be willing to be vulnerable and to ask hard, unexpected questions in love. To be raw and real and humble when it would be easier to just give the expected, “I’m fine!” answer. So here’s to getting aboard the UNEXPECTED train! I’m gonna hang on and enjoy the ride! Who’s coming with me?! Grab an empty seat and tell me what you chose for your 2022 WOTY! 

The Charity Chapter - Christmas Edition

 

Though I hum along to "O Holy Night" and wish the cashier "Merry Christmas" and have not patience with my kindergartener in Walmart, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

‭‭ And though I shop small and find the perfect Mudpie gift at the local boutique, and source out the exact item that was linked on the family spreadsheet for an even better price, and help my child memorize all the program songs; and though I have all the presents wrapped early with coordinating paper and ribbon, so that I could feel smug, and have not time to read the Christmas story in My Bible Friends, I am nothing.

‭‭ And though I bestow fresh cinnamon rolls upon all my neighbors, and though I diffuse festive blends of essential oils all season long, and have matching family pajamas, and have not unity on what is important, it profiteth me nothing. 

The true Christmas Spirit suffereth quietly while standing in long lines, and thinketh kind thoughts about husbands who accept plans without first asking making an already crammed month even fuller, it envieth not others’ new dresses for each festive event, the true Spirit of Christmas vaunteth not a Pinterest-worthy decorated house, is not puffed up with every kind of Christmas candy, 

Doth not stay up sewing until unseemly hours out of obligation to “what people might think if I wear an old dress,” seeketh not to stress out, is not easily provoked about Christmas parties, thinketh no evil towards the scale; 

Rejoiceth not in seeing every local lights display, but rejoiceth in the Light of the World; 

Beareth all butchered Christmas carols, believeth that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, hopeth that family gatherings will be tranquil realizing that we are all messed up humans, endureth weather that wasn’t expected.  

The Christmas Spirit never faileth: but whether there be Amazon or FedEx, they shall fail; whether there be parades, they shall cease; whether there be peppernuts, they shall vanish away. 

For we know in part what Christmas is all about, and we profess to do our best. But when the time for us to experience Christmas in Heaven is come, then that which was important for Christmas on Earth shall be done away. 

When I was a child, I spake merrily as child who hadn’t gone through hard things, I understood as a child whose most difficult puzzle was figuring out who had my name in the classroom name draw, I thought as a child who wanted the holidays to never end: but when I became a woman, I put away some of these childish thinkings. 

For now we see life as it really is, with parts that are dark as midnight; broken hearts, empty arms, and vacant chairs at the family table. Now I know in part these heartaches on Earth, but when we all celebrate Christmas in Heaven, then shall we empathize fully as we are known. 

And now abideth the happiest of holidays, peace on earth, goodwill to all men; these three important things, but the greatest of these is Love, His love come down from Heav’n, the True Spirit of Christmas.

Grace in the Wilderness

 I was pouring over Jeremiah 31 this morning while pondering life and its perplexities. "The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness;"  What? How? How can there be GRACE in the wilderness of all places?! Right now I have friends who are grieving, feeling like the sword has slashed through their lives taking a loved one way too soon. There are so many other situations too, that leave us feeling bewildered, asking why, and wandering bereft in the wilderness. And yet God would have us to find grace there?? Reading on I read, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."  And further, "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built," So God knows we will have times of being broken if He is promising to "build us" again... Verse 9 proclaims, "They shall come with weeping and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble:" God does have a plan, even though it sometimes makes absolutely no sense to us. He knows we will weep, and will struggle to accept the wilderness we find ourselves in. Life on Earth will never be normal; our Garden of Eden is over.  "...and their soul shall be as a watered garden;" God CAN give us rivers of grace to fill up those parched places and heal our broken hearts if we choose to turn to Him. And when life is finally "back to normal" and we are at home in Heaven with our Father, "they shall not sorrow any more at all." 

(The thought of the Garden of Eden being life on earth's "normal" is credited to Allen Miller.)