books, studies & things i'm loving

Some things I am loving right now:

Stitch Fix: Every couple of months I save up some of my personal spending money and schedule a fix. (We do the envelope system and our personal spending money is ours to spend however we like. Ben usually saves up for electronic gadgets or beverages of sorts. I usually spend mine on lunches/coffee with friends and clothes.) I have learned how to use this personal shopping to get some staples in my closet that I wouldn't otherwise know how to shop for on my own. It can be a bit pricey but I've learned how to navigate that some too. If you've been interested in trying Stitch Fix, I would love for you to use my referral code so I can get a $25 credit. Also, message me and I'll share with you some of the things I've learned along the way.

Referral Code: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/6554872?sod=w&som=c&str=15457 

Panera Rapid Pick Up: Ordering online or on the Panera app is AMAZING! All you do is order online or on the app, pay, and it's ready in 10 minutes. Run in, grab it and go! Our office is right beside Panera. There for awhile I was overusing it a bit. But now I've learned some moderation. Skip the lines. Skip the wait for them to make it. Boom! I need to also try this with Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks.

Kroger Click List: My life has forever changed! I despise grocery shopping. So yesterday, I grocery shopped in my pajamas. I clicked through everything I wanted online and told them what time I would be there. I parked in special parking, called the number, they brought my groceries, loaded them and I paid on an iPad. PRAISE HANDS! The first couple of times are free and then it's $4.95. Totally worth it - I impulse buy more than that. The other great thing is that I see what my total is as I'm ordering, so I can stop when I reach my budget. If I still need more, I can go through my list and remove things I may not need. Lately I've been consistently $50 over my grocery budget every week. This could be very helpful for my wallet and my time!

It's been awhile since I shared some books and bible studies. I've been a slow reader this year, but have been intentional about listening to books when I travel on my own. I miss listening to books a lot with not driving nearly as much to work. I have introduced the kids to listening to books on road trips and the LOVE it. Our DVD players have petered out and they're moving past the Disney movie collection. Ted is not much of a reader, but if he will listen to books, I'm all about it. The library loans free audio books so it helps immensely.

The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Ted and I listened to this over Thanksgiving and Christmas on a few road trips. Ted enjoyed it because he's watched a lot of Fixer Upper and it was read by Chip and Joanna. It was the first book he's ever listened to and he loved it. He made sure that I didn't do any listening without him. Good book. I like people's stories so this was great.

The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee
I read this is the fall with some friends. I was slightly skeptical at first but found it insightful about myself. You take a little quiz to find your "happiness style" (doer, experiencer, giver, relater, or thinker). Then the book shares ways you can dig into your style and the things to look out for that might be hang ups. I enjoy learning about myself and how other people work so this just added another dimension.

The Emotionally Healthy Woman by Geri Scazerro

I listened to this a year or so ago and then just finished reading it with some friends. I appreciated the ability to read and process with others. I really like this book and some of the things it brings to light in how to be emotionally healthy. My two biggies are over functioning and faulty thinking. I will definitely revisit this book.

The Worst Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Sophie and I read this together at Christmas and we laughed the whole way through it.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I read this book last week. I got totally lost in it, ignored my family and read it in three days. I know I'm totally behind the times on this one and everyone else has read it already. But totally do yourself a favor and read this book.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

I listened to this book. (Note: Do not listen to this with your kids in the car!) I thought it was insightful and interesting. Whether you think he can speak for all "hillbillies" or not, it's a good read.

A Better Way to Think by H. Norman Wright

I finished this one today. My mind has been a real battle ground lately so this was helpful and insightful. One of the speakers at our women's retreat recommended this book and I ordered it right then and there. (I love Amazon Prime.) It's an easy quick read. I will revisit this book as well.

Seamless by Angie Smith

I did this Bible study with some of our girl leaders. We all LOVED it. Highly recommend this as a large picture view of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Total winner all the way around.

IF: Equip - Anno Domini

This was a study on the first 500 years of the church. Loved it! I'm learning more and more how knowing the history of who you are, where you come from and what you believe is really important.  IF: Equip studies are online but much more easily navigated on the app. Each day has a little video that goes with it that I've really enjoyed.

IF: Equip - Rooted in the Word

I also did this with some leaders. Wow! Intense and a lot of work but totally worth it.

She Reds Truth: Advent 2016

This study was about Jesus fulfilling the roles of prophet, priest and king. I really liked this study leading up to Christmas. The studies are available for free online but I find them easier to navigate on my phone app.

She Reads Truth: Lent 2017

This was study on Isaiah. I slugged through this one. Not my fave.

IF: Equip - Enjoying Jesus

I'm currently in the middle of this study. It's about different spiritual disciplines. Really loving this one too!

april

April was a good and very, very, very busy month. I feel gobs better now that it is over.

Some of the highlights included:

• We kept the Kozel kids one weekend. That was fun, but apparently our house and neighborhood are garbage so we spent a large chunk of time at their house while their parents were gone. Whatever, man.
• I went on Ted's 5th grade field trip to the Pittsburgh Science Center. Aside from the bus ride, it was actually very enjoyable. I had a group of five 5th grade boys that I enjoyed very much. Ted actually asked me to come, which I decided to take full advantage of understanding he may not do that much longer.
• We had a 6 day Spring Break around Easter. It really snuck up on me and I freaked out a little. So the kids went to New Martinsville for Thursday-Saturday. Ben and I worked, went out to dinner, went to a Good Friday Service, stayed up late and slept in. We did an entire day worth of yard work. I really love when we are home without the kids and just do life. We went an entire day without having to make anyone food or referee any fights. It was great!
• The weather was beautiful for Spring Break which included two days playing with the Kozels. The kids got new bikes for Easter so we spent some time on the (muddy) rail trail and playing outside.
• Mountaineer Area hosted it's first ever 5K. A lot of work this year, but way less work in years to come. On a cold, rainy Saturday PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP! I was shocked. It was great. We learned a lot. We raised a lot of money for buses and scholarships to camp this summer. We did something I've been wanting to do for years. I'm proud of our committee for really leading the charge. Next year will be a piece of cake!
• Baseball season started. Ted is on a team of a lot of 6th graders. He's usually right around the middle of a team skill-wise. But this year is towards the bottom. He's learning a lot. He has a neat team and a great coach. We love baseball season although the rain has been a real bummer with a lot of cancelled games.
• Ben and I celebrated 17 YEARS OF MARRIAGE. What the heck? Seems like a lifetime and the blink of an eye at the same time. How can that be? Seventeen years. 884 weeks.  6,205 days (plus a few for leap years). We celebrated with baseball opening day, some sushi, and watching a Penguins game with the Kozels.  The goal is to hit a Pirates game sometime in May.
• Ben had clubble with MHS & UHS on a hot night. And the follow week paint wars (paint in water bottles) on a cold night. Oops! Either way, fun was had by all.
• We had senior night/new leader night with our three seniors and a new batch of leaders.
• Sophie got her orange belt in TaeKwonDo. She loves it. I'm glad she does. It's just a little pricey for my liking with lots of "extras." Not sure how long we can do that.
• I took a roadtrip with a friend to Charleston one day. Sometimes our friends are just going through tough stuff and really just need someone to ride along with them.

Some pictures for the month:

When we had the Kozels, I thought it would be fun to go to the WVU baseball game. Especially since all the kids got in for free. It was fun for the girls for about 10 minutes. I remember this from last year. Noted for future reference.

Lily pretty much said it all.

Sophie got her orange belt. This was when she got home the night she got her new belt. Ben had taken her to class and I happened to be putting things away when she got home. She was so excited!! (There's a video here in case it's just white space. Click for it to play.)

Ted ran the 5K with some of the WyldLife leaders and kids. He seriously got in line and ran. His legs were struggling for about two days after wards. He thought he was dying!

My friend Kaitlyn crossing the finish line with 3 of her 4 children. Her husband has the 4th behind her. I love them and this picture!

Sophie ran/walked with Abby. They were so sweet together. Also very proud of Sophie for finishing. A friend definitely helped.

After the 5K we came came home and slept for 3 hours. This is what I woke up to. I wish all of our events were in the morning instead of the evenings.

I took Ted and 5 of his buddies to the WyldLife move up club. How in the world do I have a kid going to 6th grade next year? This was a very surreal moment.

We hit up a different part of the rail trail with the Kozels on our last day of spring break. After adventures with tire pumps, lunch and forgotten shoes. It was a fun day!

These two. Seriously. They will push each other and their babies around all day in this stroller. This picture makes me laugh so hard every time I see it. Lily is such a trooper.

I thought it would be fun to play umpire for them. Bad idea. They need to be left to their own devices instead of having parents around.

We had the healthiest winter EVER! Until Ted got poison ivy, strep throat and pink eye all within 7 days. But that's nothing, really. This poison ivy was from that nice waterfall picture above. My parents found this great new stuff they used for my dad's leg when he was getting radiation treatments. Easiest case of poison ivy we've ever had (and Ted's tends to hang around until he gets steroids.) He had to put it on his legs for awhile so it made for good trumpet practice.

The kids got to hang with Reed while they were in NM.

And got to see Trey play a baseball game.

I put in an entire day of digging up my gardens. Still need to add new soil to one. And then start the gardens around the side of the house.

This is my only Easter picture. Oops! After church, the kids filled their own eggs with candy and then we hid them around the yard. (Don't feel bad for them. They got baskets from our parents and bikes from us.) I think it's funny that they still love to hide eggs in the yard.

After a nice Easter dinner of hamburgers, we played roulette with these jelly beans - spoiled milk, rotten egg, booger, barf, stinky socks, dead fish, toothpaste, canned dog food, moldy cheese and lawn clippings. I have no idea how they make these, but it's impressive and incredibly GROSS!

The Science Center

Sophie and her volcano at school. (Funny story: She wore this to school and I didn't realize until after she got home when I touched it that she had actually worn a nightgown to school!)

Ted did a wax museum project at school. He researched, did a report on and dressed up as some war guy from some war. (You can see how much attention I actually gave to this.)

Ben was trying to make him smile! Ted did not appreciate this at all.

The making of the wax museum outfit the night before. I am a TERRIBLE project parent. Terrible.

At the end of April, my work to do list looked like this. It was the first time in months that my to do list didn't want to make me cry. (To be fair, I have about 10 lists on my phone. This is just my most urgent list and this happened to be on a Friday which was glorious!)

 

April was beautiful, warm and rainy. We opened the windows in the house, watched the trees and flowers bloom and caught a glimpse of spring. I started working on the back deck in the afternoons. This time of year is good for my soul.