Tuesday, January 28, 2025

January Intentions

 


Happy Tuesday! I want to start making a list of my monthly intentions; I love the idea of taking a month and being intentional with my time. I like the monthly idea instead of seasonally or yearly, because it gives me a little more accountability. 

1. Embrace the weather. ✅ 

2. Dress in cozy clothes. ✅ 

3. Watch shows and movies I love. ✅

4. Cook more. ✅

5. Make soup! ✅

6. Cozy up the living spaces. ✅

7. Declutter/purge/donate! ✅

8. Clean out the pantry. 

9. Clean out the cabinets.

10. Read more. ✅

11. Visit the library a lot! ✅

12. Wash my car. ✅

13. Moisturize my skin really well everyday. ✅

14. Have the dip powder taken off my nails. ✅

15. Get a regular polish mani. ✅

16. Buy a gel nail kit. ✅

17. Entertain at my house at least once, for two or more friends. 

18. Make a spreadsheet for my monthly bills.

19. Rise above the situation! ✅

20. Talk about last names with my attorney. 

21. Clean out my lingerie chest. 

22. Clean out my nightstand.

23. Flip my mattress and vacuum it.

24. Start using the pink comforter at the foot of my bed. ✅


I'm proud of how many of these I've checked off! The month isn't done yet, and neither am I. Do you have thoughts to add to my February intentions? Do you do any of these things regularly? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!


linking up with:




Jenn ❤️🩷

Monday, January 27, 2025

weekending



Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? Mine was really good! Here are some of the highlights. 




I started my Friday off with enjoying being at home; I caught up on laundry, I cleaned the counters, vacuumed, and spent lots of time praying. A few people I know and love are really going through it right now, and I love this verse that reminds me that I (we!) can pray boldly. I remembered something about this time when I pray and read my Bible each morning, how a friend of mine calls it PT, which stands for priority time. I'm going to start calling it that as well. 


After my PT I got dressed and met my sweet friend who took me to lunch. We met at this cute little historic restaurant on the town square, The Silver Caboose. They're known for their hot meals of the day, so I had chicken with veggies. It was delicious!



After lunch I picked up a few things for us from Walmart, then I went to Sam's to pickup my order for the bookstore. I finally made it back home and read for about two hours, then left again to meet Marilyn and her best friend Heidi, who was in town for the weekend. It was so good to meet her! I feel like I already know her, because we've talked about our best friends a lot. I know she feels the same about my Missy. When we saw each other, we hugged for the longest time, because we both love Marilyn so much. It felt like we were already friends! I wish I'd gotten one with all of us. 




I started my Saturday with watching a Hallmark movie; this one was good! If I could think of the name, I'd tell you. 🤣




I painted my nails with this color called Plugged in Plum...



I had my PT...




Then I got dressed to meet up with Trish and Mom. We all matched! They had hearts on their shirts, mine was in my earrings; but I love that we were all wearing pink. 




Mom needed to run a couple of errands, we ate lunch, then went to John Mark's so Trish could see the store decked out for Galentine's day. Trish loved the Mardi Gras masks! 🤣




Please note the saying on his picture in the bathroom. (I sent this to Marilyn to show her where I was.)




I got an early Galentine's day present!



And Marilyn sent me this when I asked her for it, because apparently, dragons fly over both our houses now pretty regularly. 🤪 I'd swear one with flames flew over mine Saturday afternoon! I just about lost my mind. 




I dropped them off, came home to bring something inside, then left again to go pick up Graham's dogs for a couple of nights. He went to Nashville for the day and wouldn't be home until late, so I was happy to help him out by keeping them. This was also right after that dragon flew over my house, and I needed to go for a long drive. I prayed, I cried, and then I called my sister. Sisters make everything better! 





That night I served coffee at my church for their Sweet Heart Ball, which is a prom type event for special needs students in our local high school. This was a fun event to work at, and I needed to have something to do, so I was grateful to be there with friends. 




Seven fifteen came early Sunday! That's when I arrived at church; after that I went to Lowe's for a big project I'm going to start on this week. 




I filled in some holes in this window trim with wood filler; then my stepdad had trim paint that he gave me to paint with. I love how clean and crisp it looks!




Look at this beautiful gift that I was given at church on Sunday; my friend Wendy's husband sketched this picture of a church I shared a picture of on social media a few weeks ago and framed it for me. I've been complimenting his talent, because he posts the drawings to social media; I was so blown away by this beautiful and thoughtful gift. It took him eight and a half hours to do this, then he had to find a custom frame for it, since it's an odd size. I cried over this! And then I hugged him and his sweet wife for their kindness and generosity. I will say again that I have the most wonderful friends; I am so grateful for each and every one of them! I feel so very fortunate and blessed, and I don't say this lightly. 



I stayed home for the rest of Sunday, and it felt wonderful. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time here. I did things to catch up from the weekend and being gone the whole time, then I had leftovers for dinner and watched a show and one of my favorite movies on Netflix (Happiness for Beginners). I worked on blog stuff for this week, and I found this cute new wallpaper for my phone for Galentine's. I'm calling it that because I love my girlfriends so much! I'll celebrate them on that day and spend time praying for them and their families. 


In case you missed it, I shared a Saturday post, the Share 4 Somethings monthly link-up. I'll leave the party open for another couple of weeks before closing it, so it's not too late to join in if you want! Here's a link to the post. 


What did you do that you loved this weekend? I'd love to hear from you! I'll see you back here tomorrow, friends. Love to all!


Linking up with: 







Jenn 🩷❤️

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Share 4 Somethings [#1 of 2025]

 


Happy Saturday, friends! Today we'll be talking about some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of. 


Loved


This month I loved:




some beautiful sunsets on the drive home from Mom's and Bill's...




writing in this new journal...




visiting this beautiful shopping center with Mom one Saturday...




driving around looking at beautiful old churches turned into buildings...




reading all the books...




snow!




stopping to take a picture of this beautiful church [made even more so by the contrast of the dark blue sky with the snow on the ground] on my way home one night...




changing up the chalkboard sign at work...




having coffee with one of my closest friends last week...



and spending quality time with my sons, even if just by phone call.


Learned


This month I learned (or was just reminded) how much I love the mundane tasks of my job. Sometimes my mind processes things slowly, and I need something easy and mindless to help me think through things, or to even pray through things. On these days, I love that I have something like that to do at work! An example of this would be restocking the drink cooler in the kitchen part of the bookstore at church. If I don't have anything I'm thinking through, sometimes I'll listen to a podcast while I do this, with an earbud in one ear. Ask me how many times I've been scared by people coming in behind me and me not hearing because of this. It's been too many to count! 🤣


Things that went well


I had several things go well this month! I was able to read a lot, which I always love. I was able to start organizing/purging/donating some, which is helpful for an impending move. I was able to make a list of January intentions that I was mostly able to accomplish. I was also able to work some extra hours, which I always love. I love having things to do at night and that's something else that went well: I had lots of plans at night this month. I'm so thankful for this! 


Things I let go of 


Something I let go of this month is anger and unforgiveness. This is a continuing process, though, and I'll probably have to let it go again next month. I truly have zero bitterness and anger toward x in my heart! I'm able to talk about him without getting upset, I'm even able to pray for him! That's what he needs the most: prayer. He's either lost or he's far from the Lord; my pastor said he either needs redemption or revival, so I'm able to pray for him for one of those things. It wouldn't change the situation at all, but I pray that he comes back to Jesus, because he's the father of my sons, and I want that for them. 


I've grown by leaps and bounds in the last month, and you have no idea how much better that makes me feel in my mind and in my heart. I've put in the work to get to where I am today, and I'm proud of myself, the good kind of proud, not the conceited type of proud. I'm stronger than I've ever been before! I also cuss a little, which I'm trying not to do, but sometimes I can't help myself when I talk about things (like I did yesterday with a good friend). I'm kind of kidding. Kind of. Ask my friend Shawn. 🤣



To quote a line from one of my favorite shows [Friday Night Lights], I feel like this picture above is proof of the saying: "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." I have a bright future, a heart full of love for Jesus and others, and there's nothing I can't do! #nottodaysatan


I'm so glad you linked up with me today! Don't forget: the remaining dates for this link party in 2025 are February 22, March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 29, and December 27. I hope you make plans to join in with us each month! Thanks for reading my blog today and for linking up; I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll see you back here Monday! Love to all. 


Jenn ❤️🩷 



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Friday, January 24, 2025

Friday Favorites 1.24.2025.

 


Happy Friday, friends! How has your week been? Mine has been really busy...great, but really busy, way more than usual. I am ready for a relaxing morning or two at home! Here are my favorite from this week:


online saying:




moments with family:




Spending quality time with any one of my sons is my favorite! Last night Graham and I helped serve dinner at a local children's hospital; him driving me in his Mustang is another favorite...even if he did scare me a little at one point.






Seeing Mom is also a favorite! This was us last Friday when she ran errands with me. 


things at home:




The hot pink bow that Mom gave me is my favorite! It's Chloe's, too. 😉




This Valentine's YouTube screensaver is my favorite. 





These moments at home are a favorite as well! I love coffee in a festive mug. 


around town





I love churches and church signs!


moments from the week:





I had such a fun time going to my friends house Monday night for the championship football game! I'm so glad I made myself and get out to be social. 




I'm thankful for extra hours of work this week to make more money! I always need that. 




Seeing one of my best friends (Abbey) and her three adorable kiddos on Wednesday was a favorite. 

Don't forget about tomorrow's Share 4 Somethings link party! Here are the details: the prompts will be the same each month—we'll be sharing some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of. The dates will be January 25, February 22, March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 29, and December 27. 



What was a favorite of yours from this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. I'll see you back here tomorrow for S4S! Love to all. 


Jenn 🩷❤️


linking up with:



Friday Favorites, 8.7.2026.

  Happy Friday, friends; this one hits different for me since I worked all week! I hope all of you had a great one; I want to hear about it ...