hello Monday

 

Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah to talk about mine. 

Before I start, I'm writing posts everyday this month! Here are the ones I wrote over the weekend, in case you missed out. Here's Saturday's post (things that are making my life more enjoyable), and this is Sunday's (some fall things I'm looking forward to). Now onto the weekend!

These were my Friday night plans. I'm talking more about this particular night next Saturday, so stay tuned! I loved this night; it ended with a house full of people, and Marilyn. It was just what this tired woman needed after a busy week!

I met up with Mom and Trish on Saturday! We had lunch, went to John Mark's, then ended at Ulta. Look at this gorgeous butterfly he made to honor Dolly! I got my nails done after I left them.

I love them! This is Lincoln Park After Midnight by OPI. 

I came home soon after my nail appointment and laid down for a bit before changing clothes and leaving again. I met Mallory, Meredith, and Marilyn at Rotolo's. It was perfect patio weather! This was a fun night. We went to Marilyn's apartment after all of these shenanigans, but I didn't last long. I was tired from a full day!

Sunday morning dawned bright and early for me! My friend Rachel from work invited me to go with her to Tiptonville (a town two hours away) for a fall arts and crafts festival. I said yes, because yesterday would have been my 30th wedding anniversary, and I wanted to be out of my house for the whole day. I was!

This was fun! It was also a little painful, because this was where I went with Chris for a weekend getaway in April of this year. I have a picture of the two of us standing right there by that water that you see pictured. I felt some pain over this, because it still hurts to think about the fun times we had; it was painful, but it was also sweet to think about. 

I'm grateful for a full weekend! What did you do that you loved? I'd love to hear from you! I'll see you back here tomorrow. Love to all!


Jen

some fall things I'm looking forward to

Happy Sunday, friends! I thought I'd talk about a few things that I'm excited for in this wonderful season that I love. I'll jump right in!

• sweaters and hoodies
• conversations around the new fire pit I just bought
• cozy meals shared with my sons and the bonus ones
• traveling
• watching fall themed movies
• decorating my home with things I love
• writing
• continuing on in the school year
• enjoying all the patio weather I can get while the weather is good
• hanging out more with my co-workers

Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to this fall? I'd love to hear about it, if so! Thanks for reading here today, friends. Love to all. 

Jen 

things that are making my life enjoyable

 

Happy Saturday! Welcome to October, the month where I write for 31 days in a row. I will continue this while I'm on vacation next week, with posts that I've written previously and will schedule to post while I'm gone. I hope you enjoy! I mentioned in yesterday's post that some of these will be fun, some serious, and others will be what I've written in my journal lately. 

Today's is going to be more lighthearted, but here are a few things that are making my life enjoyable at the moment.

My bedroom is making my life enjoyable right now! I love it so much. I keep the door closed all day, because no dogs are allowed there anymore. I have a candle warmer going all day, so when I walk in at night to change and get cozy, it's like a wave of peace just washes over me. I love my bedding, my curtains, the smell; it just makes my heart so very happy to be there and to not be sharing it with anyone else. 

This makes me want to go hang out up there. 

Having a Saturday morning routine is making my life more enjoyable! This is when Chris and I used to go get breakfast, so this has been good for me, to be doing something new. I wake up, strip my bed and start the sheets as soon as I get downstairs. Sometimes I take a shower right away, because this allows me to be ready faster if I leave afterward. I drink my coffee, I watch tv a little, then I clean the downstairs, my bedroom and bathroom. By then the sheets have dried and they're back on my bed with it made. 

The books I'm reading are making my life more enjoyable at the moment! I love reading on my lunch break everyday, and I'm trying to get back into the habit of reading at home. My favorite author has come out with a newer series of books: Suitcase Sisters by Robin Jones Gunn. They're so good! There's nothing I love more than a series I can fall in love with.

Writing is making my life enjoyable, so thanks for being here to read my words everyday. It's good for me to be able to do this, and it really is like free therapy. I don't just write here; I write a lot in my journal everyday. Pages and pages sometimes. It goes everywhere with me these days! 

I think I'll wrap this up with that last one; I really do appreciate how much you've all been here to encourage and support me the last couple of years, and especially since Chris died. You'll never know how far your encouraging words go with me, but they're often there at just the right time and on a day when I need it the most. I'll see you back here tomorrow for another short post. Stay tuned! 

Love to all.

Jen

Friday Favorites! October 2, 2026

 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your week was good; mine went by really fast. I have some favorites from the week that I thought I'd share today! 

I haven't decorated for Halloween outside in years, but this was the year I decided to do that again. I love my new lighted witch pumpkins! I bought them on Amazon last week; one is on the deck, the other is on the front porch. I also have this new white pumpkin you see in my flower bed. You should see some of the decorations in my neighborhood! Some go way above and beyond, so I decided to add mine. This really is my favorite time of year! 

Writing Scripture out has been my favorite thing for many years, but I stopped several years ago. I'm thinking of picking it back up again, and I'll start with one of these! 

My little M went into the guidance counselor's office yesterday during her PE time; my friend Heidi (the 3-5 guidance counselor) has the most adorable, cozy, and relaxing office. I could have spent hours in here, honestly; she even had music playing to add to the atmosphere. What a sweet job she has to be able to do nothing but pour into students everyday! I love this friend so much, and she also happens to be one of my favorite people at Crosswind. She has a little poster with feelings and emotions on it, and when M came in, she asked her what emotion she was feeling at that moment; M pointed to the proud feeling, and my heart swelled in size. I got so emotional over the fact that she felt proud of herself! Her mom loved that, too, and we both shared a moment as I put her in the car that afternoon. I love my job!

I let M pick out a new screensaver for my phone this week; she chose the pink toned one. I love it so much! I'm going to switch it to the pumpkins, though. I love changing my phone wallpaper; do you do this? I get the images from Pinterest, screenshot it, then set it to my phone. 

The Sing devotional is still my favorite. Check out the lyrics to this newly written hymn! It got me this week. My friend Cathy who shared this with me just hugged me for so long in the hallway on Wednesday after we listened to this on our own. I love how we talk about it together each morning! I am so thankful for my work people; I already loved them, but the death I've experienced has bonded us for life.

This dinner was a favorite of the week: a Mississippi mud roast. To the crock pot I added two packs of Italian dressing seasoning, two beers, two cups of water, and the meat. I let it cook on high for one hour, then I turned it to low and added a large jar of the banana pepper rings and the juice and let it cook all day. It was delicious and falling apart by the time I got home. I laughed at the guys here with me...they complained of this making them hungry all day. I think it made the dogs extra hungry too! 

This meal was killer! An arugula/spinach mix salad with oil and vinegar dressing, the best golden herb Kinders' brand fries, and salmon fresh off the grill. 

I loved this image I found on Instagram! I am going to try to do this in October. You know I love a good prompt! I think that additionally I'm going to try to write a blog post each day of this month. Some of it will be fun, some will be serious, some will be excerpts from my journal.

Getting boo'ed at work yesterday was a favorite! I got a candle, some candy, my favorite snack, and a Diet Coke. It was a great way to start a Thursday! 

I'm in love with my front porch, and the pink/orange combo...all of my home, actually. Most of all, I love the peace I have when I'm here. It feels like exhaling after a long day. 

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

Jen

happies from the week

 

Happy Thursday, and happy October, friends! I thought I'd talk about a few things that have made me happy this week. I'll jump right in!

The crisp mornings have been amazing! They make me smile. 

Talking on the phone Monday morning out on my deck made me happy this week. It was so refeshing!

Old comforting shows make me happy.

Reading at lunch makes me happy! But so does talking with co-workers when they come into the lounge.

These ridiculous dogs make me both shake my head and laugh. All the time. 

My sweet little M at school makes me happy! I love it when she tells me she loves me. 

Hearing her mom say that they pray for me everyday also makes me happy! I need all of that I can get.

Greeting students each morning makes me smile so big.

Fresh water makes me happy! 

That first cup of coffee also brings me joy. 

Writing here makes me happy, and it's therapeutic. 

Making lists and using my down time at work makes me happy! 

Having last minute, impromptu plans makes me happy. 

What is something that's a happy from your week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jen 

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Joyce for today's hodgepodge post. I'll jump right in!

1. When you think of autumn, what sounds come to mind? I love this question! The crackling of a fire comes to mind. I love nothing more than sitting around a firepit in the cool season of the year; even when it's more than cool, it's still so much fun to drag blankets outside and sit by a fire. We don't have a regular firepit this season; ours was pretty warped, and when Drew moved in with Mallory, he brought his gas powered one here. It's not the same! I want a firepit back. 

2. Is a trip to the mountains something you enjoy? What's your favorite mountain? Wholeheartedly, YES! I cannot wait to get up into the Colorado Rockies in a couple of weeks. I can't wait! I think they're my favorite to date. 

I love it in Colorado.

3. What's something that once felt like a mountain, but now is just a molehill? I once felt like it was a mountain trying to navigate life on my own, one in which I don't have a husband. Now? It's way less of a mountain and more of a molehill. I'm grateful for this! My life exudes peace; I don't have to ever worry about someone else's bad mood, bad attitude, or bad day. I don't ever have to experience a marital fight or disagreement; I don't have to care about what someone else wants for dinner. It almost feels selfish to say and think these things, but I'm too happy to care what that makes me sound like. 

This night was an ultimate example of that peace. 

4. Let's play this or that, fall foods edition. Yes, you have to choose. 

• pumpkin spice latte or chai latte
• apple cider or hot chocolate
• stew or chili
• sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole
• butternut squash soup or creamy mushroom soup
• cranberry sauce or gravy
  

  
  

Take me back to this time last year, when I had Maine to look forward to, please! 

5. Sum up your September in a sentence or two. I don't know if I can do this in just a sentence or two, but here goes. September has been a month of learning how to hold grief and gratitude in the same hands. I've missed someone I loved, while also discovering that there are little pockets of joy waiting for me—in my sons, my friends, my family, my faith, the Lord, my writing, my cozy evenings, and the ordinary moments that make up a life. I'm not the woman I was before this season, but I'm beginning to see that I don't have to be. I'm simply learning how to keep going, keep loving, and keep becoming who I am meant to be. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. I love this Chat GPT trend! Ask it to make an image out of your life and turn it into a movie poster. She nailed it, y'all! 

I shared this on socials last night, and I used the song Keep On by Emily Ann Roberts as the background music. This is a great song! It's about persevering when life hurts and you're hurting enough to want to give up...but also that as long as you're still here, your story isn't finished. The central them is to keep moving forward. Here's a video to it, if you want to listen!

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

Jen