Friday Favorites, Halloween edition 2025

 

Happy Friday, and Happy Halloween, ghoul-friends! What. A. Week! It was Red Ribbon week at our school, so each day involved dressing up and then being around students who were wildly excited about it amidst state testing. It's been nothing short of crazy, with all of this and people dropping like flies from sickness. One morning this week (Tuesday?), I was walking in at 8:20 and our plant manager Scott was running down the hall; right behind him was Nurse Meg, and my immediate thought was, "Oh, boy." That's how it's been all week. 

Whew!

I was in Colorado one year ago today! I was glad to be away for a first Halloween without a husband in the house. Marilyn told me recently about something she heard about Halloween being the loneliest of holidays, because it's so family oriented. It made sense to me because I remember feeling that way last year; never had I been so glad to not be at home on that day. These little angels were my first stop, then we had Mexican food for dinner that night. 

This was such a fun trip with my favorite ghouls! I loved this day that we spent dressed alike in Salem, Massachusetts. 

Okay, now for my favorites from the week...

This week was all about dressing comfortably! I think it was a favorite for every staff member who participated in Red Ribbon week.

Doodling is my favorite, especially during boring testing. 

Sights like these at school will always be a favorite! I love that the teachers I work with are fun; these witch fingers "help" the students read. And speaking of witches, one was spotted during third grade intervention this week! 

These baby Goldens are my favorites. 

Our town hall is one of my favorite buildings! I love the architecture and the landscape leading up to the stairs. I had a library board meeting there this week. Speaking of this night, it was also a favorite getting to see Chris for an early dinner right before this. I love when we can make it work for a quick get together during our busy weeks!

One on one time with students is always a favorite! I love getting to know them; one of them I take to the sensory room each morning for ten minutes; another one I spend fifteen minutes with each day to help her get ahead with school work. This girl above was close to me as she worked on a fourth grade math problem yesterday involving math properties. It's been a hot minute since I've thought about distributive, communicative, and associative properties. 🤣 Math is not my favorite, in case you didn't know.

Home is my favorite place to sit and unwind; I've been enjoying watching Sweet Magnolias all week when I'm watching TV. 

Choir practice and Rotolo's Wednesday nights are my favorite! We spent a good amount of time practicing Christmas music this week, and we have a looonnnnngggg rehearsal for the same on Sunday afternoon. It's a busy weekend for me! 

Please note how adorable my favorite first grader looked on Wacky Tacky day this week! I have serious combat boots envy. 

I ordered a new pair of my favorite sneakers! Here's a link, if you're interested. 

Coming home sick on Thursday was not a favorite; I'm writing this on Thursday night, so I'm seriously hoping it was just lunch that didn't sit right with me, and that I'm back at work today. I had to leave two hours early! 

This was me when I ventured back downstairs for dinner around six last night; I came home and went straight to bed. 

Chris likes for me to send him pictures of me every morning; every once in a while he'll send one back to me, and it's my favorite. 

What was something that was a favorite of yours this week? I can't wait to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 🎃

P.s. The November edition of Currently is taking place this week on Wednesday, November 5th. We'll be talking about what we're currently loving, looking forward to, smelling, preparing for, and thankful for. I hope you make plans now to join us!

Thankful Thursday

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I am excited to bring back Thankful Thursdays, even if it comes to you late. I am out of the habit of blogging on Thursdays, so it may take a minute to get used to this again. I'll jump right in! Here's what I'm thankful for this week:

• the never ending love and mercies of God, because no matter how busy life gets and routines change, I know He is right there waiting for me to spend time with Him

• The Bible Recap community—my time is shorter now in the mornings, so I like to listen to the Bible being read to me while I get ready

• music—I listen to it all day long when I'm not at work!

• my family, all of them from my sons to my mom and dad to my siblings. I try to talk to all of them regularly! I've got to make a plan to go see my Noah soon. It's been way too long!

• my friends, even the ones I don't talk to that often because of life. I know they're all right there, I just have to make the time to reach out and make plans.

• my friends that are also now my co-workers. I've gotten so close to them all, and I love the bond that we share and have formed during our lunch breaks! I can't remember life without them and don't want to, honestly.

• my job that I love so much. I love the people I work with, and I adore the students! They're always such a bright spot in my day.

• plans after work—I like to be busy after work most nights, but I also love the one night a week I give myself to stay home. That night is tonight and I am here for it, friends! I have grand plans of washing my hair and watching a movie while I work on a blog post for tomorrow.

• Last but not least is Chris—I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this sweet man that's in my life. I love how different he is from other people I've had in my life; he is such a kind man who comes to me like I came to him: a little bit battered and leery. We're figuring things out, though, and we're continuing to move slow. I look forward to the times I get to see him on weekends; he makes me laugh a lot and he makes me feel seen/adored/cherished. All of that is new to me and I love how we enjoy being together. (I love that he's old fashioned and formally asked me to make things official with him last weekend while we sat across from each other at dinner. I also love that he is as affectionate as I am and can't be around me without holding my hand or pulling me close to his side.)

I shared this with him yesterday, because isn't that what we all want? I think that for many years I took my marriage for granted; I just assumed he'd always be there. I think we all do that, after a certain amount of time goes by. One thing I've learned from dating in these middle years is that I can never take anything for granted again. 

Time is different for me now; I don't have my entire life ahead of me, but maybe...just maybe...I have my very best years ahead of me. Maybe this will be the very best phase of my life, the one I never dreamed would be possible a few years ago. Whatever happens, however it turns out, and whoever it's with...I am thankful for the journey I've been on to learn some things about myself. I say this with excitement for my future, even if I don't know what is to come. I was telling this to the Lord yesterday as I was getting dressed: even if I never remarry or if I end up single for the rest of my days, I know that He will care for me far better than any human being. He's my Father, and He's my Husband; He will never leave me or disappoint me. I have this assurance and this hope in Him! He is trustworthy, and I know He is directing my steps.

What's something you're thankful for this week? Thanks for being here to read my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

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. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? I used to think I wasn't a big risk taker. After this new phase of my life started, I would say that's not true anymore. I feel like sometimes that everyday is a risk. Whether with a relationship or with anything else in life, I think that risks come our way everyday. Or at least they come my way. I'm in a relationship; that seems like a big risk to me, because of my past. It's worth it, but it's a big risk to open my heart back up again. 

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? My favorite candy is a Twix candy bar, but I don't have much of a sweet tooth. I'll take savory and anything bread related anyday.

3. Somewhere you've been lately that had you feeling like "a kid in a candy store"? Maine. Maine had me feeling like a kid in a candy store. It was such an amazing trip, and I felt like I was in Heaven all week long.  

I want to live there, friends! 

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? I think the most effective way to make a positive change in the world is to love the people around us. I am not claiming to have arrived at this place, but I try my very hardest. My job is a great place for me to do this each day. I'm so grateful that I have the job I do! 

5. Do you like surprises? I love surprises. I will always try to not ruin them. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. I love this song! I had forgotten about it and came across it again the other day. It's called Bones, but it's the wedding version. 

I'm in a sappy phase of life, friends. What can I say? 

I can't wait to read your answers to these prompts, friends! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

talking about it Tuesday

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I haven't done a blog post like this in a long time, so I thought I'd talk about a few random topics here today. I'm including this picture above because I'm bringing back my Thankful Thursday posts soon; it's been way too long, and I need to start doing this again for my own wellbeing, both mentally and spiritually. Life is strange!

This image made me laugh last week. It's true! I've sent this to several people, and I say it in a snarky way when I don't know what else to say. Do you do this? Or do you let loose whatever it is you may be holding back from someone? I actually do a good mixture of the two these days. 

Same girl, same lighthouse, twenty-nine years apart, almost to the day. A lot of life has been lived in those twenty-nine years! Some of it was good, some of it was hard, all of it was worth it all to have what I have today: four amazing sons that I love with all of my heart. 

I love a beach, friends. For years I said that I didn't enjoy going to the beach, but I don't know if I was just saying that or if it was actually true. Maybe I said it because I never went to the beach? I'm not sure, but now? I love it so much that I almost always get a little emotional when I see the vast ocean. My heart was on the verge of exploding when Trish took this picture of me in Maine a couple of weeks ago. There is something about that salty air that I could breathe in for days. I love the sight of it, the sound it makes, the wind, the sand or the pebble beaches, I love it in the hot weather and I love it in the cold weather. My love has no limits for this vast part of creation that God made. Maybe that's why I love it so much: it reminds me of His vastness and my smallness. It's humbling! 

You all know the friendship level that Marilyn and I have; I feel the need to mention it today, because she gets me through my days a lot. I call her in the mornings before I go to work, and I talk to her a lot later at night as well. We've had to adjust our routine of meeting so often when I went to work full time, but we're making it work! We met for dinner at our Salad Station last night; apparently we had so much to catch up on that we didn't even take pictures of either our food or of us. You know a lot of talking went down when that happens! 🤣

Have you been embracing all things fall yet? I don't think I ever did a bucket list...realistically I know I probably won't keep it if I do make one, so I'm not losing sleep over this. I love this image with so many great fall movies, though! I've been watching the Hallmark variety lately; I'll move onto Christmas after Halloween. This stresses me out a bit, knowing I'm really far behind already with the new ones, but such is life these days. 

Well, that's all I've got time for today. Did any of these speak to you today? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

Hello Monday!

 

Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's blog post. 

I'm backing up to Friday; this is a friend of mine's niece. I only put it together a few weeks ago that this girl is who she is; I remember when she was born and adored her older sister. I knew their family before this one was even a thought, and I've swam in her pool many times! Isn't she a cutie? We wore pink on Friday, and she was all decked out. She's loved that we have this connection, and we're besties now. Well, me and all the girls are besties, truth be told. I adore them all!

I came home right after work to put on warmer clothes, then I headed to Chris' house. I love the drive there! My favorite way to go is down a scenic highway; it's twisty and hilly, and my favorite type of road. I talked to Marilyn the majority of the hour and ten minute drive. 🤣 

We love this coffee place in a nearby town and always make a stop there when we're together. Their iced coffee is to die for! 

I finally got around to seeing some of the rest of his property while I was there; it's so pretty out there! He has seven acres, and while some of it is wooded, there are some clearings that we can walk to and let his dogs run around at the same time. They love it out there and are living their best lives in the country. 

I did some house things on Saturday; my ex-husband had planned to come over on Sunday to move the rest of his things out of my home. In preparation of that, I packed up what was left over from my closet, bedroom, and bathroom. I put it all into a couple of boxes and labeled things in the effort to make it organized. This was a day that I had been dreading for lots of reasons, but I'm glad that it's behind me and that the reminders of him are finally gone. This is a hard part of the divorce process; we've been divorced since the end of March, and he's been out of the house for almost a year and a half, but it's drug on because of all the things I would see to remind me of him. I wasn't sad on the big day of this, but relieved to have it behind me. 

As a result of all of this, a huge bonus is that the corners of my bedroom that needed to be worked on are now clean! This was the pile of my personal things that I had to donate after it was all over and done with. I really need to work on picture albums and purge some of what I have. What do you do with your pictures? I'd love to hear any thoughts you might have. My sons don't want a bunch of pictures, and honestly, neither do I. I want to keep some, but I need to just toss some. I've already tossed what I have duplicates of. 

When I was finished with all of that, I called Marilyn and made plans to spend Saturday evening with her. We had hoped to have a fire in the fire pit, but it started raining as we walked outside to do that. Kendra joined us when she got off work, and taught us how to open a bottle of wine with a cork. We laughed when she said that Mar had her favorite kind of opener, because it's the kind that looks like a little person whose arms go up when the wine is opening, as if to say, "Yay! It's time to drink wine!" It was a fun night. I took my dinner with me, and they each ate dinner on their own before we met. We talked, we laughed, we gave advice, we listened to Taylor Swift's new album...it was a fun time. Once again...I'm so grateful for the gift of friendship! 

And as far as Sunday went, here's how that day went. My sons came over to help him, because they're amazing. I made a big breakfast for anyone who wanted it, and they all appreciate that I fed them. Marilyn snuck over for a half hour before she went to church that morning to help me put some of his things in a box and to get it all moved to one area. She did this in the effort to make things go by more quickly, because she knew we were all dreading this day.

In addition to my sons being here, his girlfriend was here and Chris was here to be with me. I put him to work, though, because he needed something to do. He hung my new TV for me (starting with the mount first), then he put together some new outdoor furniture I bought. After that we went upstairs to my room while I cleaned up and vacuumed up there, and then he made a repair to my bathroom cabinet. I appreciated that he did all of this for me, even if he did text me when he first arrived telling me that he was outside but stuck in his truck. He was nervous to be here, and although it wasn't reciprocated, he was kind to my ex-husband. 

Overall, things went so much better than I'd hoped. I'm so glad for this, and like I've already said, I'm relieved that it's behind me. I love having a cleaned house, and I really love knowing that a lot of the clutter is gone. While they finished in the garage, Chris and I sat down inside to watch Netflix for a while. They left pretty soon after we sat down, then we left to go grab our favorite pizza from Memphis Pizza Cafe before he headed back to Mississippi. I always hate saying goodbye to him! Our weeks go by quickly, but we don't get a lot of time together; I really enjoy the weekend time we get. 

For the rest of the evening, I relaxed on the couch and watched Hallmark movies while I worked on blog stuff for the week. 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