Share Four Somethings November/December 2023

Happy New Year's Eve! Can you believe we will wake up tomorrow to a whole new year? I can't. I don't know where this year went, but in a lot of ways I am glad for it to
be over. Anyway, I am happy to be able to look back over the month and link up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

 Something Loved

I have loved traveling over the past few months. I went to Tennessee, taking my mom with me, and got to meet my great-niece. We also traveled to VA to see our friends who are like family for Thanksgiving, which was wonderful! You can see some pictures and details here.

Something Learned 

So much about my health. I am still working on getting my body back in whack, and my functional medicine doctor said it would take at least 6-months. (Cindy says probably longer if she doesn't stop the stress eating!)

Something Read

I did not have any five star reads in November, but I have had a few in December. You can click on the cover to see my reviews.

Something I Ate Personal Updates

You may or may not have noticed that I did not post in November. These past few months have been HARD. Elijah's surprise surgery in October was supposed to have a very quick recovery, long story short, it did not. He had his final follow-up visit in December, 10 weeks after the surgery. He is still not 100% healed, but is doing great. I ended up getting sick with bronchitis and fought it for 5 weeks. In the midst of these things a family member had a cancer diagnosis, has had surgery, and begins radiation in January (prayers appreciated, this is all I can say about this on a public forum). Also, in November, coming back from Indiana to get my mom, to take her with me on my trip to TN, my car broke down an hour from home. IT IS STILL in the shop. It has been weeks of rental cars (until Kayla come home from college), and sharing cars. My car is supposed to be fixed by the end of this week (January 5th), which will be 8 full weeks of it being in the shop. They have told us several times it would be done, but we are pretty confident this time it will be. There has been quite a bit of travel over the past few weeks, transition to a new job, working Monday and Tuesday from 8-5, and with my health the way it is, that has been beyond exhausting. So much so that I have debated quitting multiple times (which is hard because I am not a quitter). I also had my previous employer reach out to me and wanted to me to start a small preschool, so I could teach her son and a few other kids. We have been back and forth on that for two months, and it is on hold for now. I like the idea, but there is so much with that, and yeah, just so much. I am hoping that things get easier. We are still trying to get our sewing business to grow. We are adding two new students next week, which is exciting. I was asked recently if it was a full-time business, and the answer is yes/no. Yes, because I work on it EVERY SINGLE day, and no, because we do not have enough business for it to be full-time. We have not recouped the start up costs this year, which for a new business, is not surprising. We will see how 2024 does for us. We celebrated Christmas at home and it was a wonderfully, relaxing day. Kayla's boyfriend came mid-day, we had a fabulous meal, played a bunch of games, and just had a nice time. Anyway, we are still in a season of high stress, but we have Kayla home for another week and a half, so the holidays don't quite feel like they are over yet 😉 I hope you and yours are doing well. Happy New Year!

"To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:20

 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

 

What is something you have loved, learned, read, or ate this month?? To see what other bloggers are sharing this month head over to Jennifer's blog.

Favorite Picture from November

Yes, I know, we are well into December. But, December isn't over yet, so I can still post November's picture, LOL! November was another rough month, with my car going into the shop (and is still there!!), but there was good in the month as well.

No going back

 When I get down, things get stressful, or I get overwhelmed, I get quiet. I hate that I missed the Share Four Somethings for November, because it is something I enjoy doing. But, every time I thought to do it, I just couldn't I will still post my favorite picture from November, and move on from here. I am still on the struggle bus, still very stressed, but hoping to catch up on a few things in the next few days. I hope you all are doing well.

Favorite Picture from October

I was determined to get October's picture out before the end of the year 😂. If you read my recent update post, you know October was a hard month for us, but there are still great moments I can highlight.

Share Four Somethings-October 2023

October has been a weird, hard, crazy month. Long story short, Elijah ended up having surgery at the beginning of the month, and is still recovering. He was off work most of the month, and went back this past week for 3 half days. He has 3 more follow up appointments lined up.

Favorite Pictures from September

Yes, I am late on posting this, especially since we are about half way through October 🤦. However, I want to see this through for the year and it's not too late to post 😉.

Favorite Picture from August

Yes, I am waaay late on posting this, especially since we are about half way through October 🤦. I barely remember yesterday, much less August, but I want to see this through for the year, and see what I can come up with for August (and then September, LOL!).

Share Four Somethings-September 2023

 I feel like I should start with a confessional, forgive me, Father, for I have sinned...I am not Catholic, nor do I have sins I need to confess here. I had INTENTIONS of posting here more frequently, even started posts, but alas, I failed again. Anyway, I am happy to be able to look back over the month and link up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Just Hold On

When you wake up overtired and fatigued. 

Share Four Somethings-August 2023

This month has gone by quickly and I can't believe Friday is September. This has been a weird summer. We moved Kayla back to school on Saturday, and now I am trying to get back into a new routine, again. Anyway, I am happy to be able to look back over the month and link up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Favorite Picture From July

Yes, I am waaay late (again) on posting this, especially since August is practically over, but I didn't want to miss posting from July.

Health Updates

For those who have known me awhile, you know I struggle with my health. I have food allergies that seem to multiply by the day, allergy issues, sleep issues, high blood pressure, a weak immune system and the list goes on. I don't have an autoimmune disease or anything like that.

Share Four Somethings-July 2023

Well, it looks like I might get this post out in the month of July, yay! This month has gone quickly and I can't believe Tuesday is August. This has been a weird summer and it's also weird that I am not preparing for the school year. Anyway, I am happy to be able to look back over the month and link up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Favorite Picture From June

Yes, I am waaay late (again) on posting this, especially since July is half over, but I didn't want to miss posting from June.

Share Four Somethings-June 2023

This post is late. You all, June picked me up, spit me out, and kept me so busy I didn't know if I was coming or going! I can't comprehend that it is already July, the year is half over, and so is the summer! Anyway, I am happy to be able to look back over the month and link up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

How the business came about

You might have noticed on Facebook that Kayla and I started a home based small business called Stitch in Time.

Favorite Picture from May

Yes, I am waaay late on posting this, especially since June is half over, but I didn't want to miss posting from May. I first saw this idea on Jennifer's blog and thought it was a great idea. The idea is to pick one photo from the month, a photo to highlight the month. Jennifer is using the photo to recap the month and at the end of the year see a recap of the year.

Share Four Somethings-May 2023

May felt like it went faster than it ever has before. We were halfway through the month before I realized we were in May. I am, once again, not sure what we did this month. It was just a blur of busyness that has left us pretty exhausted. I do enjoy looking back over the month and linking up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Favorite Picture April 2023

I don't think anyone else (but me) cares that I keep trying to get posts out, but time is not on my side 😂. We are in a somewhat busy season and every time we try to get into a routine, something changes. I first saw this idea on Jennifer's blog and thought it was a great idea. The idea is to pick one photo from the month, a photo to highlight the month. Jennifer is using the photo to recap the month and at the end of the year see a recap of the year.

Share Four Somethings April 2023

Where did April go? I am, once again, not sure what we did this month. It was just a blur of busyness that has left us pretty exhausted. I do enjoy looking back over the month and linking up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Purging and Rest

While at a glance these two topics, purging and rest, might not seem like they go together, but hopefully by the end of this post you will see how they do.

Favorite picture of March 2023

I first saw this idea on Jennifer's blog and thought it was a great idea. The idea is to pick one photo from the month, a photo to highlight the month. Jennifer is using the photo to recap the month and at the end of the year see a recap of the year.

Share Four Somethings March 2023

I can't believe we are at the end of March! I don't even know what we did this month 🤦‍♀️ Hopefully, I can look back at the calendar and pictures to jog my memory 😂
I enjoy looking back over the month and  will be linking up with Jennifer to share my Four Somethings. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

End of another era: BRACES

Elijah and I did a super quick trip to North Carolina last weekend. We got there Saturday afternoon, Sunday we rested (and I napped!), on Monday he had two appointments.

The one where I meet an author

On Saturday, Matt and I had an opportunity to go to the Spring Vendor Event in Strongsville, Ohio, and we took it! Why? Because I knew author Allison Pearl was going to be there. I wanted to meet her and buy her books. I was not disappointed! 

Tourist for a day-Cleveland Library

I thought I had sufficiently prepared for our outing on Saturday. It turns out, I didn't 😂 The result is that we did not spend as much time as I wanted to and we didn't even see half of it. Obviously, if you read the title of this blog post you know I am talking about the Cleveland Library. I have never been in a library so large in my entire life! That is saying something considering I have been in libraries all over the world, and the Singapore Library is a good size.

Favorite Picture from February

I first saw this idea on Jennifer's blog and thought it was a great idea. The idea is to pick one photo from the month, a photo to highlight the month. Jennifer is using the photo to recap the month and at the end of the year see a recap of the year.

Share Four Somethings-February 2023

Ah, February. The shortest month. The month of love. Well, it felt like the longest month ever, and funnily enough, I am surprised it is not over! Usually, at the end of the month, I am like "how did we get here." This month I am like FLEE, be gone!

We are missing it

I hope the title of this post was enough to make you wonder what we are missing. I will get there in a few minutes. This one has been percolating for a few days so
hopefully my thoughts come out in a cohesive fashion.

I see the devil

While that might be an odd title for a blog post, it's what I am going with anyway. Thursday Matt had to take a road trip with another guy from work.

Favorite Picture from January

I saw this idea on Jennifer's blog and thought it was a great idea. The idea is to pick one photo from the month, a photo to highlight the month. Jennifer is using the photo to recap the month and at the end of the year see a recap of the year.

I am not sure if I will do this every month (because I may not remember, and because right now I am not in the mood to commit to anything 😂).

Share Four Somethings January 2023

Here we are at the end of another month. I don't know why it continues to surprise me how fast time seems to move. The busier we are the faster time seems to go and it was a busy month. It's a new year and we have a new host for our Share Four Somethings. I am excited to continue to share what's going on with my family in this way and will be linking up with Jennifer. I will be sharing things I've loved, learned, read, and ate!

Hard Things

This week I had to do a hard thing. Okay, we have to do hard things all the time. But, this was one I definitely did not want to do.

Thrive

On Christmas Eve, I was seeking and praying over what my word for 2023 would be. I felt aimless (ironic since my word for 2022 was focus) and had no clue what my word would be. I was praying for God to reveal it to me. I looked back over my words for the last 4 years and still had no clue.

2022 Endings and Beginnings

I want to wrap up 2022 in a neat little bow before talking about my goals and word of the year for 2023. How is it 2023? I am still trying to wrap my head around it. 2022 was a very weird year for us so I am struggling a bit with how to write out my thoughts and have them make sense.