currently: March 4, 2006

 

Happy Wednesday and bonus blog post day, friends! I'm linking up with my friend Amy for this monthly blog post. Thanks for hosting us, Amy!

Here's what is currently saving my life, what I'm currently loving, cleaning/purging, planning, and taking a break from.

Saving my life: 

The calendar being turned to March is one thing that's saving my life right now. 

And words like these images above are as well. One is something I found on Instagram, the other is lyrics to a song that I stumbled upon yesterday. 

Currently loving:

I'm currently loving this kindness display in the halls at school!

Currently cleaning/purging: it's always my closet. I'm keeping it cleaned out as best I can! I'm also always just cleaning in general; I like to keep things clean from dust/dander, hair, and clutter.

I recently gave my home a little refresh by repurposing some of the decorative items I have. I do this a lot! It's a great way to change things up, and it's free.

Currently taking a break from: I am trying so hard to take a break from my past. I'm working on finalizing the last piece of my old life; once that is done, I am free and clear forever! 

I'm excited to read your answers to the prompts today! If you're interested, there is another post from today right under this one. the Wednesday hodgepodge. I'd love for you to check it out! Thanks for reading here today, friends. Love to all!

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm here with Joyce again today for the weekly hodgepodge...this is a post that I dearly love; thank you, Joyce, for your inspiring and thought provoking questions each and every week! I'll jump right in!

1. As the saying goes, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb'. Did your March come in roaring or like some other animal? Every month carries with it certain feelings, which is why some people love and anticipate December and others dread it. How do you feel about the month of March? The month came in like my son Graham's dog, Oakley...gentle, quiet, humble, and happy. I'm ready for spring and all the promise of hope and new life that the season brings! I think of Dad every year at this time, because it was his favorite month and season. Well...I can't say that it was his favorite month, but it is his birthday month, so I feel his absence a little more than I do in other months. 

For me in my own little family, this is the month that birthday season begins. Jonah and Noah will turn 23 on the tenth, Graham will turn 27 on the eleventh, and Drew will be 26 on April third. 

I will always think of times like this every time spring rolls around. What I wouldn't give to go back to this day for an hour! On spring break Fridays, we always went to Dad's for birthday celebrations and Easter egg hunting. We always had picnics down on the pier that overlooked his lake; there were always grilled hot dogs, chips and French onion dip, and brownies. Those were the days! 

2. Where in your life are you a lion? Where are you a lamb? I am a lion when it comes to my sons, and to how people treat me. The old Mama Bear thing is no joke! As far as myself goes, I will never again be a pushover. I fight back now, regarding everything! This is a direct result of the new life I've adapted to in the last year and a half. 

I am a lamb when it comes to students at my work; their teachers are impatient with them a lot, but my heart genuinely goes out to these kids. Many of them are autistic, or at the least, have severe ADHD and are medicated. Some of them need medication, but their parents won't let them have it; it's very sad and is a huge disservice to them. 

I love my job and am so grateful to have such an impactful one.

3. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pound Cake Day. Do you like pound cake? If so, do you have a favorite flavor? Let's play a little game of 'this or that'. Whose pound cake am I eating? My answer to this is dependent upon that answer. If it's my mom's pound cake, I'll take hers any day of the week over any other dessert. Not all pound cakes are created equal, but Mom's is the very best! My favorite flavor is lemon, again, only if it's hers. Mom, if you're reading this, please take this as your hint from me to you. I love you, Mommy! 

• pound cake or cheese cake
• pound cake or layer cake
• pound cake or angel food cake
• pound cake or brownie
• pound cake or pie

4. What makes you feel childlike wonder right now? When I think of this, the first thing that came to mind was having the ability to be excited for life in general. I'm the type of person that  romanticizes life and I get excited over everything. I think we should all be in love with our lives, honestly. It helps with moods and perspectives...or at least it does this for me.

I loved this image that I found online!

5. What's one thing you need to add to your wardrobe right now to get ready for spring? I was thinking about this yesterday as I was doodling at work during some testing. I need a few essentials, honestly. I need some new sandals, I'd like some different colors of my favorite sneakers (I'm thinking Kelly green, and black with white trim), I need to replace a few dresses, and I might try to find some more short sets. 

These summer outfits were my favorite last year! I have several of the short one piece outfits (black, gray, red, green), and three of the short sets...that one came in cream, black, and chocolate brown. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I stumbled across a new song this week, one called God is Good by Phil Wickham, featuring the musical group Cain. It's so good! I loved these lyrics that I read yesterday while I listened. 

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends! I can't wait to read your answers to these prompts. I'll see you back here tomorrow. Love to all!

Jenn ❤️

inspired writing--simply Tuesday

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! It's Tuesday, so it means I'm going a little deeper with writing today. I hope you enjoy this week's version of my inspired writing Tuesday! 

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Do you ever wake up and wonder what kind of day it's going to be? That's me most mornings.

Not in a bad way—just in that honest, in-between place where the week has already started doing its thing, but you're still trying to catch up to it. My coffee wasn't even half gone before the things rolling around in my brain started tapping me on the shoulder.

You know the sort of things I'm talking about—what will the day hold, what unexpected thing might throw me off today, whatever I'm fretting about creeping in stealing my thoughts, what dinner will be that night.

But here's what I'm learning: Tuesdays have a way of surprising you. 

Maybe today turns into one of those days when everything falls neatly into place. 

Or maybe it becomes one where nothing goes as planned...but something better shows up instead. 

Or maybe—and this might be the real magic—it becomes an ordinary day that quietly fills you more than you expected.

I'm trying to leave room for that today.

Room for a sweet moment with a student who needs an extra dose of encouragement.

Room for a conversation with one of my sons to encourage him.

Room for an extra text with nothing in the agenda, other than just to say "I love you".

Room for a laugh I didn't see coming.

Room for the kind of tiny miracle God likes to tuck into regular days, just to remind me He's close.

So I'm walking into this Tuesday a little open-handed.

A little curious.

A little hopeful.

Because maybe this will be the day that lifts the whole week.

Or teaches me something I didn't know I needed.

Or gives me a story to tell later—the kind that makes me smile every time I think about it.

Either way, I'm here for whatever this Tuesday becomes.

And honestly? I have a great feeling about today.

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Tell me what your Tuesdays are like. Back in the day, I used to write blog posts on this day titled, Simply Tuesday; they were always about ordinary days that had little bits of blessings tucked into them. That's kind of what this reminds me of today: moments to look for the blessings that are all around us. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

weekending

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend! I can't wait to hear from you at the end of today's post. I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's blog post. I'll jump right in! 

By the time I got off work on Friday, I was so ready to start the weekend! It wasn't a bad day, but the day just felt long. I didn't love what I took for lunch, so I convinced my friend to order lunch for us; we got Chicken Salad Chick, and it was delicious! I headed to Chris's as soon as I left work. I made one stop along the way, and made it to him by  5:30. I have missed this drive! It dawned on me as I was driving that I've seen this road in all the seasons...late season, fall, winter, and next up is spring. I thought that was really cool that we've been together that long. I met him at his house, then he drove us to to a really great barbecue place that we've missed.

This is The Rib Shack, and I think everyone in town was there that night. I love that small town life, because people mentioned it being good to see us again. We usually get a couple of different things, and then we share. On Friday night I got smoked chicken, and he got the brisket. Both were amazing! We took the leftovers back home. 

We love to go to Trade Days, a big event where he lives near Ripley, on the first weekend of each month. The previous month was canceled because of ice and no power; this month was packed! It was eighty degrees by the time we got there after breakfast and a coffee stop that morning. The last time we did this we were able to rent a golf cart; this time there were none available, so we walked. It got hot quickly, so after one loop, we left. I helped him get a few things ready for his week at home, then I left...but he actually followed me home. I loved this! We enjoyed a full day of doing things together, most of which were of the mundane variety. He made a fabulous dinner for us, and we watched F1 together...well, he watched and I fell asleep midway. 

I loved turning the calendar from February to March! I'm so ready for spring. 

It's officially "I don't know what to wear" season in Memphis. I literally didn't know what to wear when I got dressed for church Sunday morning, but I settled on this. I was so hot by the time I got back home, because it was near eighty degrees! 

I was on the praise team Sunday, so I was there bright and early. All the adults sang from the loft and the kids/students were all on the stage. It was a multi generation worship day, so we had kids in preschool, elementary, middle, and high school singing with us. These are always my favorite days! Chris and I went to lunch and then to Kroger before coming back to my house. We both got stuff to make for our lunches this week, so we did that together, and I made him coffee to last him all week for his iced coffee that he drinks every morning. I love doing things like that with him; it almost feels like we're a married couple except for the saying goodbye part. I miss him the second he leaves, and I usually cry. Honestly, so does he. We hate the saying goodbye part. 

Meanwhile, I love that he loves to take pictures with me.

These are terrible pictures of me, but he sure does make me laugh and smile really big. I'll get to see him at least two times this week, which will be nice. We may shoot for a third time, depending on what we have going on. 

So what did you do that you loved this weekend? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

Share 4 Somethings, February 2026

 

Happy Saturday, friends! I'm so glad you're here today; thanks for linking up with me again this month! Today we're here to talk about something we loved, something that sustained us, something we're carrying forward from this month to the next, and something we're making space for. I'll jump right in!

Something I loved: giving my home a little February refresh.

I loved eating ice cream out of this adorable mug!

I loved having a library stack around...even though I didn't really read any of these. Mwah mwah.

Something that sustained me: the promise of spring sustained me this month. I noticed that the sun started setting later, and there were some warm days that made me hopeful of what is just right around the corner. February felt long to me, for some reason. Maybe it was all the time I spent at home being iced in? 

Something I'm carrying forward from this month to next: the hope and reality of becoming a first time home owner at the age of forty-nine. Since my divorce was final, I had to prove that I could pay the mortgage on time each month, and I had to build up my proof of consistent income. Since I'm staying in my house, I'm refinancing it and getting it out of his name and into my own. It's never too late to start over, right? I'm so close to this becoming a reality! 

Something I'm making space for: time at home. I'm trying to welcome the habit of cooking at home more and sharing dinner with people I love, whether my sons, my friends, or Chris. I don't like eating out so much, honestly, and it feels good to be home more. I love the nights when I don't have anything going on! I've felt tired a lot this week, so maybe that's why I'm writing this. 

I can't wait to read your answers to these prompts! Thanks again for being here today and for showing up to read my blog everyday. Love to all! 

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Click here to enter

Friday Favorites, 2.27.2026.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you've had a great week! My week has been...well, it's been a week. I won't focus on the negative, but let's just say that I'm really glad it's Friday. I have some favorites that I thought I'd share today!

I can't remember if I ever showed you this, but this little frame with me and Chris at Christmas time is my favorite! I got both of us one of these, and I put this picture in the frame; this was one of his Christmas gifts. 

The sunrise Tuesday morning was a favorite! My whole house turned pink while it made it's debut in the early morning sky; the picture doesn't do it justice, but it was breathtaking.

Church is my favorite home away from home. I was sitting there Sunday after praise team rehearsal, waiting on Chris to bring me breakfast. He's the best!

Serving with Graham last night at a children's hospital was my favorite! I always love doing this with him. 

Doodling in my work planner is my favorite! I always use the last pages of the month for a gratitude list that I add to daily.

My Flair felt tip marker pens are still a favorite. It's about time for a new batch! 

This was a favorite image from socials this week. It's a true story!

Having fun with Chris is always a favorite. 

Being comfy and cozy all week was a favorite at work! I am so glad I get to work at a place I love every single day. Some days are easy, some are tough, and this week held a lot of hard days. There's a little bit of change in the air, I'm sensing, and I don't know what will happen with the next school year. No matter what, my love for the students is unwavering, and I'll be glad to keep on working with them. I think we're all getting spring fever or something, because it's been weird at work all week. Hopefully the littles haven't picked up on it yet. I've come home exhausted every night!

Just a quick reminder and some blog business...

Just a quick reminder that on the last Saturday of the month, we will meet here to talk about something we loved, something that sustained us, something we're carrying forward from this month to the next, and something we're making space for.

What was a favorite of yours this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn