- How darling are these itty-bitty butterpats? My mom and dad just returned from a trip to Ireland and they brought these little dears back for me. As a lover of tiny, random things, I adore them. You need to check out this charming pottery store my mom bought them in; if we ever go to Ireland I am making a stop there for sure. I also love that my mama knows me so well. Out of all their delicate patterns, she chose the clematis pattern, which is my favorite of the bunch!
- Do you and your love go on dates? Do you make them a regular thing woven into the fabric of your week? Andrew and I usually go on one date a week, something we do to help keep our marriage strong and our minds sane outside of the marathon that is raising small humans. It’s our special time to savor but we really have to be really intentional about it. Sometimes we go for dinner, sometimes to the museum, sometimes to a movie. When it starts getting nice outside we’ll take bike rides and walks in the park, something I am especially looking forward to! This past week we saw Lion in the theatre and it was incredibly emotional. I was honestly a little hesitant to see it because of my adoption, but I am so glad we did. What a powerful story, oh my goodness. Even though our adoption stories are very different, I was able to make many connections in the second part of the film. It brought me a warm kind of comfort to know that others who have been adopted feel or have felt. I have always been the inquisitive type, craving answers to tie up loose ends. The main character Sharoo evokes this same kind of nature and it was refreshing to see on screen. Adoption is so delicate for all involved, and to see the weight he carries, something I did in my past and sometimes do today, was deeply emotional for me.
- When was the last time you listened to a TED talk? I remember when they were BIG and now you rarely hear about them. I heard a short clip of novelist Chimamanda Adichie’s talk in a past sermon about how a beautiful, brave woman found her authentic cultural voice as an African female writer. She warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding – that our lives and our cultures are composed of many overlapping stories that deserve respect. If you have a chance, this sermon tied to this talk was a powerful one about action rooted in hope and how we can walk in the way of Jesus. It blew me away.
- Andrew is obsessed with this song, and although I didn’t care for it very much at first, I now love it too. It kind of reminds me of the days I used to liked to The Cars on repeat in my old white Saturn on the way to school. 80’s vibes, you guys. 80’s vibes.
- I found this article on famous writers’ sleep habits vs. literary productivity to be pretty interesting. I know that for myself, I am so much more creative when well rested. When I carve out time to sink into solitude, I always come out on the other side bursting with ideas and things to try. Who knew the Toni Morrison woke at 5 a.m. to write and F. Scott Fitzgerald 11 a.m. and very similar modes of productivity? Are you are morning person? An evening person? When are you most creative? I am most creative in the mornings for sure, usually after a cup of coffee and a moment of quiet to settle my thoughts. After about 6 p.m. my brain turns to mushy peas. I think it’s valuable to know when we are at our most productive.
- You probably already knew, or could guess if you had to, that I am a list maker. I love the satisfaction and organization of making lists and then working through them as I complete various tasks. Type A is my middle name, and this morning Andrew told me about a new app one of his co-worker uses called Streaks. It is an app that helps you for new habits while staying on top of things, both daily and weekly. I swear if I don’t write it down it flies out the window! You can add things to your Streak like: meditate for 10 minutes, take Vitamin D, 30 minutes to respond to emails, 1/2 hour movement outside, 1 green smoothie, etc. The options are endless and it’s completely flexible to suit your lifestyle. If you are someone who values the creating and tending to a good list, you will really enjoy it. I am also like that it keeps track of your streaks and helps you move toward making better habits!
- This podcast about poetry and silence is a good one. Krista Tippet interviews Marilyn Nelson – a professor emerita of English at the University of Connecticut and a chancellor of The Academy of American Poets – about communal pondering in a noisy world. We listened to it on a long car ride on the way home from Iowa this past weekend and it made me think of you guys. I think you will find inspiring like we did, and perhaps it may even push you to go crack open a few dusty poetry books that have been resting on your bookshelves.
Laura - thanks for this Amanada! So many points resonated with me right now.
My parents are currently in Ireland (for 6 months) so I have sent them the Nicholas Mosse link.
This year, we’ve planned monthly dates and seasonal weekend getaways – life gets so busy and I want to take the time for just us. Maybe Lion will be our March date 🙂
Love Ted Talks and On Being – I listen to podcasts daily on my commute to work – I love it!
Thank you for sharing x
Lauren - I just returned from Ireland on Sunday and my friend and I were totally obsessed with the tiny butter holders there! So much easier than getting out the whole stick at each meal. How funny that your parents also saw the value in these tiny beauties!
admin - Lauren, so lovely! I’ve always wanted to go and can’t wait to venture there someday. I adore little touches like this…they make mealtime so special, don’t they? x Amanda
Katherine - Beautiful, inspiring sermon. Thanks for sharing!
admin - Katherine, so glad you took the time to give it a listen…I loved this one so much. x Amanda