January 2021

ASSIGNMENT #1: Read The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, pages 1-26.

When I was in high school, my Honors Government teacher was rumored to be an alcoholic and often came to class hung over, if he showed up at all.  (We had a lot of substitute teachers that year.)  Needless to say, I didn’t exactly receive a quality education in this area, so I’m coming to this book with just the barest bones of knowledge.  And it’s fascinating!  These first pages include the overview and introduction and I’ve already taken pages of notes.  Just a few more pages to finish up before I start the deep dive into each article.  

ASSIGNMENT #2: Finish the frame stitching on the “Winter” cross-stitch. (100 Little Thing #36)

I’m embarrassed that this little pattern took me so long to finish.  (I found this old post mentioning it all the way back in 2015!)  Glad to have it complete and I’m so ready to move on to something new.  

ASSIGNMENT #3: Finish the Bible Reading Plan. (100 Little Thing #61)

I started this plan on August 1, 2018 and I am finally done!  Highly recommend, whether you complete it in a year or not.

ASSIGNMENT #4: Discover a new musical artist and listen to some songs.

I like to keep this assignment really random and fun, so I browsed a list of 1940s musicians and stumbled on The Andrews Sisters!  Goodness knows we need a little something light and happy in our lives right now.  A few facts about the Andrews Sisters:

• LaVerne (the oldest), Maxene and Patty Andrews were three sisters who formed a singing act as teenagers and performed around the Midwest. 
• Their fame peaked during World War II and were nicknamed “America’s Wartime Sweethearts.”
• Sadly, despite their success, apparently the sisters were constantly fighting and had a strained relationship.  Patty Andrews said in 1985, “The Andrews Sisters really had only one big fight.  It started in 1937 and it’s still going.”

ASSIGNMENT #5: Go through my closet, pull out unneeded pieces, and create seven casual outfits. Bonus points for listing some of the extras on Poshmark/ebay.

I’m giving myself partial credit for this one.  I did go through my closet and pulled out a handful of unworn pieces to sell….and that’s where I stopped.  Hoping to finish the second half of the assignment soon.

This post contains affiliate links.

#1. ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware
★★★★☆

This was my fourth Ruth Ware novel and while it took me a few chapters to get into it, I really enjoyed it.  The story takes place in a chalet in the French Alps where a group of tech company employees come for a corporate retreat.  Tensions are already high when a terrible avalanche cuts the group off from civilization and one by one, the group starts dwindling in number.  This book definitely had an Agatha Christie feel and even though I had a pretty strong idea of whodunit (and was right in the end), I still felt it was a solid thriller.  Three and a half stars, rounded up.         

#2. THEOLOGY OF HOME: FINDING THE ETERNAL IN THE EVERYDAY by Carrie Gress, Noelle Mering & Megan Schrieber
★★★★☆

We can open our lives and homes to people placed in our path from other walks of life and world views.  With a greatly diminished number of people actually practicing the faith, it becomes more likely that our homes are a rare opportunity for someone in our acquaintance to be invited into the intimacy of Catholic family life.  To do this well we must first and foremost be constantly drawing from our Lord so that he might be reflected through us.  We bear a great responsibility to represent him well. (p.146)

Unless we are Lord or Lady Crawley, we will likely spend a lot of our time laboring at a job, in the home, or at school.  Whatever it is that we’re doing, dull or glamorous, in doing it for love of Christ, it becomes an extension of our prayer life and a vehicle for sanctification.  If we cannot find Christ in our work where we are now, we will have a hard time finding him anywhere else. (p.161)

I’ve had this book on my wishlist for awhile, so I was thrilled to receive a copy for Christmas!  (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)  It’s so much more than home décor inspiration – the bulk of the book consists of theological essays on the elements of home and the domestic Church.  I found many things to ponder, especially in the area of hospitality.

#3. THE PARASITIC MIND: HOW INFECTIOUS IDEAS ARE KILLING COMMON SENSE by Gad Saad
★★★★☆ 

I learned about this book after watching an interview on Youtube. I was intrigued by his wit and his completely countercultural understanding of the world today. He’s in the same vein as Jordan Peterson in that he comes to reason from a non-religious, but logical perspective. I don’t agree completely with everything he says, but it certainly was refreshing to hear counter-arguments for some of the more nonsensical things we’ve had pushed down our throats lately. It gave me a lot to think about.  3.5 stars, rounded up.

#4. THE SERMONS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES: FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS★★★★☆ 

Thus, it is a very good prayer simply to present one’s needs to Our Lord, place them before the eyes of His goodness, and leave it to Him to act as He sees fit, convinced that He will answer us according to our needs. (p.110)

This was my religious book for Advent and Christmas.  In all, there are nine sermons from Saint Francis de Sales included and they were so good and relatable.  Hard to believe they were written in the early 17th century!  I really appreciated the analogies he used to describe some of the harder theological concepts.  

#5. THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield
★★★☆☆

We all have our sorrows, and although the exact delineaments, weight and dimensions of grief are different for everyone, the color of grief is common to us all.  “I know,” he said, because he was human, and therefore, in a way, he did. (p.389)

The Thirteenth Tale was described to me as a type of gothic suspense novel that contained a story within a story and had a bookish/library element.  I was intrigued!  I flew through the first half, but the story lost some steam for me after that.  The end was a complete surprise and I never saw it coming.  All in all, a solid three star read.  (P.S. There is a bit of vague scandalous behavior in parts, but nothing explicit or vulgar.)

#6. THE BEAN TREES by Barbara Kingsolver
★★★☆☆

This is the story of a girl named Taylor who sets out on an adventure to get away from her poor, rural Kentucky hometown.  She ends up in Tuscon, Arizona and meets a handful of loveable, really unique characters.  This book hit on some hard issues (the back of the book says that she “meets the human condition head-on”) and gave me things to think about.  I like books that do that.  (This was also my 1988 pick for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.)

#7. BEHOLD THE DREAMERS by Imbolo Mbue
★★★☆☆

I didn’t intentionally mean to read two books about immigrants back to back, but here we are!  I actually was browsing through “Booktube” (Youtube channels about books) and stumbled on a Buzzword Reading Challenge.  January’s prompt was “dream” and this book was the only one I owned with that word in the title.  It’s been on my shelf for awhile, so I was excited to finally read it.  The book is about a young Cameroonian family trying to make it in New York City at the beginning of the recession.  A thought-provoking read.  

#8. THE MINIATURIST by Jessie Burton
★★☆☆☆

This book was…weird.  On one hand, it was really compelling and I had a hard time putting it down.  The writing was great and the descriptions of Amsterdam in the 1600s were captivating.  BUT.  I just couldn’t understand how all the moving pieces, all the themes, and especially all of the magical realism connected together.  Too many of the most important parts were unexplained.  Just an okay read for me.  (P.S.  Definitely a PG13+ read in some parts.  I had to skim some of the more racy sexual scenes.)    

#9. SAINT JOHN PAUL THE GREAT: HIS FIVE LOVES by Jason Evert
★★★★☆

Young people didn’t make the trips to see him because he was simply a good man, but because he was capable of revealing to them their own capacity for goodness. He saw something in the youth that perhaps they didn’t even see in themselves. As one attendee of World Youth Day remarked, “He showed us to ourselves.” John Paul did this by directing them to the person of Jesus Christ. In his words, “Without the Gospel, man remains a dramatic question with no adequate answer.” The youth wanted answers, and John Paul never vacillated in offering them. He knew young people well enough to understand that they don’t want a watered-down version of the faith. They want to be presented with the fullness of the faith. They want to be presented with the fullness of a message, and then be given the freedom to accept or reject it. He knew this, and reminded teens in Madison Square Garden that they are “approaching that stage in your life when you must take personal responsibility for your own destiny.” (p.94)

After picking up and putting down this book for months, I finally finished!  An inspiring read – I have a special love for JPII.

#10. ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
★★★★☆

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL.  BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. (p.134)

This little book is definitely a well-known classic and I finally got a copy!  Boy oh boy, was this a timely read.  This analysis/summary post was interesting and helpful to explain the history and flesh out the ideas.  You could make the argument that we are seeing some of the same things today.   (This was also my 1945 pick for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.)

My last task on this year’s 100 Little Things list is “Use Amazon as little as possible.”  This wasn’t necessarily a “holier than thou” statement about big business, but more of a shorthand way to remind me to look toward other retail places first.  Today I wanted to share six places I look for books before heading to the “Big A” – let me know your favorite little spots too!

1 // Better World Books

When I’m in the market for books, Better World Books is the first place I turn.  Their used book selection is incredible and the prices are generally pretty great.  I can often get hardcovers for less than $4!  They have sales frequently and also have a rewards program for even more savings.  Standard shipping is always free.  In the off chance that my order got lost in the mail, they’ve quickly refunded my money.  I’m a big, big fan of BWB.

Use my link to get $5 off your order of $30 or more!

2 // Ebay

If I can’t find the book I’m looking for at BWB or the price isn’t great, I head over to Ebay.  This is a little hit or miss, but it never hurts to look!  Since larger retailers often use ebay too, I especially like to search out the books that look like a regular person is selling them.  (Typically, a retailer will just use a stock photo, where a “regular person” takes their own photo.)  It means a lot when someone buys my used books and I like to share the love that way too.

3 // Book Outlet

Book Outlet is an awesome source of lower-cost new books.  These are returns or overstock from publishers, discounted only because they usually have a small dot or marking on the edge.  They also have sticker books, puzzles and other bookstore-type things for the kids.  I love browsing their selection and it updates frequently.  Shipping is free on orders over $35.

Use my link for a $10 coupon to use on your first purchase of $25 or more!

4 // Bookshop

A new for me option for book buying is through Bookshop.  I became an affiliate last year and was excited to see some of my blogging friends do the same.  When the price is right, I like to shop through their links  A win/win situation: money is sent to small, independent bookshops and bloggers can get a little kickback too.

Check out some of my favorite books in a variety of topics in my shop!

5 // Directly From the Publishers

Another source I just started using was to shop directly through the publisher.  Often, I’ll hear about a kind-of obscure book that isn’t readily available.  And when I can find it, it costs a fortune!  An example of this is a book I found on Pinterest that I thought would be perfect for my homemaking course called Home Economics.  Checking across websites, I could only find it around $30, which is pretty steep for such a little book.  On a whim, I checked directly on the publisher’s website and found it at a more reasonable price.  I also like to do this with Catholic publishing companies – they sometimes have really great sales and they ship fast.

6 // Usborne

When I’m in the market for books for the kids or school, I often check out Usborne.  Their books are colorful, educational and fun.  Some of the beginner chapter books have been really helpful in getting my elementary kids sucked into independent reading.  And bonus: you can financially help a consultant, who is often a mom.

Two of my favorite consultants are Rosie and Sarah!

** Honorable mentions are thrift stores and my local independent bookstore, although in-person shopping has been greatly reduced these days! **

One of my goals for 2021 is to really embrace the homemaker spirit and focus on my vocation at home.  Home should be much more than just where we collapse at the end of the day and I want to work intentionally to create a warm, welcoming place for my family and anyone who visits us.  And you know me…I head straight to the books for guidance and inspiration!  I’m sure I’ll be adding throughout the year, but here’s my “syllabus” so far (affiliate links ahead):

+ Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday by Carrie Gress, Noelle Mering & Megan Schrieber
+ Theology of Home II: The Spiritual Art of Homemaking
+ Home Economics: Vintage Advice and Practical Science for the 21st-Century Household
+ The Life Giving Home and The Life Giving Home Experience by Sally Clarkson
+ Mrs. Dunwoody’s Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken
+ Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family

My focus for January was pretty typical for the beginning of a new year: to return to consistent rhythms and routines.  I dove into my books and love all of them so far!  Some highlights:

Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family

For the first time, we did a home blessing on the feast of the Epiphany.  From the book: “…the father took the blessed chalk and wrote over every room that led from the house into the open: AD 19 C M B 55.  This stands for “Anno Domini 1955 – Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar” and means that the three Holy Kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, in this year of Our Lord, 1955 (or whatever the year may be), are protecting this house against all evil spirits.” (p.67)  I’ve also heard that “C M D” could also stand for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” which means “Christ bless this house.”

Mrs. Dunwoody’s Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping

I especially liked the following tips from Mrs. Dunwoody’s Notes for Planning a Superior Day.  Lots of wisdom here!

1. Make a plan for your day.  She recommends making a general schedule, with an emphasis on 2-3 major things to accomplish.
2. Concentrate.  This tip focused on the concept of uninterrupted time, whether that be five minutes or an hour.  You can accomplish quite a bit if you focus on one thing at a time vs. trying to multi-task all the things.  I think putting away the phone (as it can have the temptation to be a huge distraction) could also be added here.
3. Learn to rest and catch your breath.  “…do not underestimate, or feel guilty about your need for a rest.  It is not a poor use of your time to rest; on the contrary, being refreshed increases your productivity.”  I have found that my 20 minute afternoon break for coffee and reading rejuvenates me enough to power through the rest of the day.
4. Don’t procrastinate.  She recommends doing the most unpleasant chore first.
5. Sift and sort.  This tip was about sorting your tasks into priorities – what is the most important and what can wait for later?  I’m using the Confident Mom’s Household Planner to sort the household chores for me.  One less decision to make each day!
6. Strive for excellence, not perfection.  Loved this line: “Perhaps this is one of the most important things I can teach you, my precious children, for the women in my family seem not to realize that there is a great difference in striving for excellence and striving for perfection.  The first is attainable, gratifying, and healthy.  The second is impossible, frustrating, and neurotic (not to mention obnoxious).  It is also a terrible waste of time.”
7. Never lose sight of the “big picture.”  Another great quote: “..if you can try to maintain a perspective, and remember that people (especially children) are always more important than things, you will do well in life.  After all, today is all we ever have to work with.  Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow.  Take it minute by minute, wisely, and you will succeed.  As you’ve often heard me say, ‘Trust in God and do the next thing.’”

The Lifegiving Home

A quote that really hit me in the gut: “If my awareness of space is concentrated on a screen, my home will reflect the absence of my attention, my creativity, and ultimately, my love.  How can I pray without ceasing and bring that prayer into every aspect of making home if I cannot focus on anything for more than five seconds at a time?” (p.38)

For January, Clarkson gave a handful of tips for planning for fun.  One that really inspired me was the idea to create “cozy play spaces.”  I deep cleaned my linen closet, cleared out the items on the floor and piled in some blankets and Sophie’s pillow lounger.  It was a big hit!  We eventually added some twinkly lights and she has spent so much time reading and drawing, enjoying a little peace from little brothers.  (Although those brothers have enjoyed the hiding spot too, ha!)

Linking up with Rosie’s “Just Because”!

Rosie is starting a new “Just Because” linkup and I love the idea.  I’ve always been a cheerleader for “old fashioned” blogging, even when it seemed like everyone left for social media.  So happy to see that it’s making a comeback!  Anyway, I was brainstorming a post idea to include in the linkup and what’s more “old fashioned blogging” than sharing what I made for dinner last night?  This recipe is one of our winter favorites and perfect for my family of eight.  I like to make a crusty loaf of bread to serve on the side.

• 2 pounds stew beef trimmed and cut into 1″ cubes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium-sized onions chopped into large pieces
• 2 ribs celery chopped
• 4 carrots peeled and chopped
• 20 mini red potatoes cut in half
• 1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
• 3 cups beef broth divided
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup frozen peas
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ cups flour

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Lightly brown the meat in batches, then transfer the browned beef to a plate and set aside.
• Dump the tomatoes, including the juice, into the slow cooker. Add the onions, celery, carrots and potatoes. Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the vegetables and then add the beef and any accumulated drippings. Add the bay leaves. Pour 2½ cups of the beef broth over the top and give the mixture a stir. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
• 20 minutes before serving, add the peas (no need to defrost), salt and pepper to the stew.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and remaining ½ cup of beef broth, making a smooth paste. Stir into the stew and cook until thickened, about 15-20 minutes. Remove bay leaves before serving.

1 // INVISIBLE PEOPLE

I recently discovered a Youtube channel where a man interviews different people facing homelessness. Their stories are heartbreaking and fascinating and my heart quickly broke in pieces for them. After watching a few episodes, I was inspired to search for solutions in my own town and found a short-term family shelter that I never knew existed! I quickly made a small donation (Remember my 20/20 goal from last year? Little donations still matter!) and will continue to check in for volunteer opportunities.

2 // PANTRY ORGANIZATION

With so many people in and out of the pantry around here, it quickly becomes quite messy…and it drives me crazy! I recently took everything out and reorganized the shelves, which was a great start.  I also bought a set of cereal containers (affiliate link) to help.  They hold an entire box of cereal, so I never have to worry about extra bits.  Next on the organization plan is to get a metal rack for canned goods.

3 // THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE

While I have not personally had a miscarriage, there are many, many women in my life who have. I often think of those babies as my special little saints in heaven and ask them to pray for us and watch over their mamas.  A Mom’s Peace is an apostolate in my area focused on miscarried and stillborn babies and when I recently checked out their website for information on donations, I discovered their Garden of Remembrance.  So beautiful. 

4 // A HOMEMAKER IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION “GLORIES” IN HER WORK

I loved this essay from a homemaker in 1932 that was reprinted here.  I especially loved this part: “Please do not gather from this that I am a low-brow drudge who knows nothing else. I play McDowell and Tschaikowsky because I love them, and I enjoy Sinclair Lewis and Edna Ferber and Thackeray and Wells. Washing just happens to be one of my sidelines.”

5 // USBORNE EMBROIDERY KITS

For Christmas, we gifted our daughter a bunch of crafty things, including a beginner’s embroidery kit from Usborne.  It was a big hit!  You may already have an Usborne consultant, but the two I know are Rosie and Sarah.

After 16 months, I have finally finished the 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge!

When I started this challenge back in September 2019, I watched a few YouTube videos and read a few articles…but I felt like I needed to go about this challenge in a different way.  My goal was never minimalism and it was never about seeing how fast I could accumulate bags and bags of junk to drop off at the thrift.  Rather, the goal was to become intentional and take an active role when it comes to rehoming our unneeded things.  

I continued to share my progress of this challenge here on my blog because I hoped it would start a conversation about stuff and the effects of it in our lives.  I don’t think that I’m unique in the way I’ve accumulated things as an adult.  The effects of social media, the inexpensive and constant cycle of new things to buy…I’ve fallen into that materialism trap many times throughout the years.  But what’s that old Oprah quote?  When you know better, you do better.  And that’s what I set out to do with this challenge.  Here are a few things I learned along the way:

1 // When they say that decluttering can be an emotional process, they are right.
We have been married for 15 years and the tiny baby clothes and decor items from the beginning of our marriage were surprisingly hard to give away.  I had to remind myself again and again that it’s just stuff.  The memories last forever, the photos are priceless and that’s what matters the most.  It also helped to know that someone could enjoy them right now versus keeping them tucked away in a bin or the garage.

2 // Kids don’t need a lot of toys.
When my oldest kids were little, we often went to Target to browse and way too often left with a little something for the boys.  Thankfully, by baby number four, we got our act together and quit that habit!  As my kids have grown, I’ve learned that too many options aren’t always a good thing.  We still have way too many toys in the house, but our wooden blocks, train tracks, Legos and little action figures…those are the workhorses that are played with almost every day.

3 // It’s easy to tidy up at the end of the day when there is less stuff to put away.
A great side effect for both me and the kids!  I’d also say the same could be said for having less clothing.  Sure, I’m doing laundry every other day, but they are manageable loads and it never seems to spiral out of control.  

4 // Some of our environmental problems might be solved if we just stopped buying so.much.stuff.
This idea has come to me over and over again.  All of a sudden, I’m hyper-aware at the way we’re inundated with subtle ploys to make us buy: the memes praising the thoughtless spending at Target, the influencers that suddenly “love” and “have to share!” tons of different products, the glorification of fancy coffee drinks, that handy two-day (sometimes one-day!) shipping, the fashion trend that’s in one day and out the next….We all say we want to leave the planet better than we found it, but what are we willing to give up? I don’t have any real answers, but I do know that I’m convicted to really think about my spending habits and choose my purchases more wisely.

5 // When I do purchase things going forward, I want to choose better.  
One lesson I learned right away was that I had so many things, but they didn’t feel like the “right” things.  I felt like I had accumulated a mishmash collection of hand-me-downs and inexpensive finds that I bought because they were on sale.  Being on a spending hiatus (due to our debt reduction process) and doing this challenge simultaneously really helped me narrow down my style and what I really should be spending my money on.  I started thinking in terms of “I could really use a basket in this area” or “A pair of candlesticks would look beautiful here” or “I don’t have a chunky black cardigan to go over my dresses”… An intentionality to my spending has emerged, a well thought-through purpose and practicality.  Life-changing.  

6 // Decluttering is an on-going process.
Somewhere around the middle point of the challenge, I felt like I had looked in every closet and dresser and drawer.  I started again (just to see…) and lo and behold, there were more things that could go!  Kids grow up, toys and clothes are no longer needed, holidays come and you realize you never display this décor or that…it may vary in intensity, but it’s always a process.

7 // If you take good care of things you own, there can be money to be made when you’re done with them. 
I’m sure I could have finished this challenge in half the time if I had just filled a box and dropped it off at the local thrift store, but I really wanted to see if I could reduce our waste in a more proactive way.  My purchases, for better or worse, are my responsibility and I wanted to put most things in the hands of people who needed them.  And while I did give many, many items away on Trash Nothing, by putting in a little extra time photographing and listing, I was able to make $1,578.20!  That’s huge!  That money has gone toward debt and is now beefing up our savings account.  It’s helped us purchase items we really needed and allowed us to pay for a day trip adventure in cash.  

8 // I’m more tapped into my community and am happy to help meet the needs of others when I can.
Throughout this process, I posted a lot on sites like Trash Nothing and my local Buy Nothing group.  Through these avenues, I’ve made connections with so many people from my community and have been honored to hear their stories.  We have met a handful of young pregnant moms trying to prepare without breaking the bank.  We met a woman collecting clothes for a family recovering from a house fire that took most of their belongings.  We passed on décor to a woman starting over and looking to spruce up her new space.  We gave outgrown pajamas to a grandmother who was helping out with her granddaughter’s care and virtual schooling due to the virus.  I never would have run into these lovely people without this project and I know I’m better for it.  

This challenge has filled me with gratitude and I am much more content than I was 16 months ago.  I highly recommend the journey.  

Videos/TED talks/books that inspired me along the way:

This challenge took me 16 long months, but I am finally DONE!! What an adventure.  More posts to come with reflections and tips.

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THE PAST TWO MONTHS

• 15 books.
• One chair slipcover.
• 4 treat bag kits.
• 30 pieces of clothing. This included a few pieces from my closet as well as a bunch that the kids have outgrown. I sold most online and gave the rest to Goodwill.
• One pair of fake eyelashes. Gave to my sister. She’s way cooler than I am!
• One Christmas-y decorative dish. As I went through my Christmas bin, I separated a few things that I no longer need. This dish sold on Poshmark.
• A training potty. A big day for our family – six kids and they’re all now potty-trained!
• Three dress-up costumes. Sold on ebay.
• One chandelier. We switched out our dining room chandelier and donated the old one to the Restore.
• 3 broken toys.
• 2 dog toys.  We passed these on to my brother’s new puppy.
• 6 empty egg cartons.  My son brought them to the farm to be reused.
• One new set of accent door knobs.  The previous owners left this set behind and we’re going in a little different direction.  Sold on ebay!
• One pair of boot cuffs.
• One math answer book.
• One Lego set. I accidentally purchased a duplicate Lego set for one of the boys and decided to just sell it versus dealing with a return.  (The return fees practically negated the purchase price.)  Surprisingly, I sold it right away on Poshmark!
• 2 toddler ride-on toys.  This one was bittersweet, but we don’t have any little ones to ride these anymore.  We gave them to a sweet lady through Trash Nothing who is going to save them for her nephew’s baby boy.
• One exercise bike.  We’ve had this stationary bike for a few years now and Mark and I quickly learned that neither of us like to use it.  We sold it on Craigslist (for almost the amount we paid!) and used the money to buy a rowing machine instead.  Hopefully it will see much more use!
• One coffee mug.
• 11 coloring books and notebooks.  I went through all of our coloring books/notebooks and tossed a ton of the used ones into the recycling bin.
• One pair of soccer shin guards.  None of the little kids have any interest in organized soccer, so time to let these go.
• 4 throw pillow covers.
• 3 kitchen gadgets.
• One makeup bag.
• One Willowtree figurine.  Another piece that I’ve had for a long time and no longer display.  Time for someone new to enjoy it.  Sold on ebay.

Items decluttered these two months: 97
Money made: $320.07

Total items decluttered: 1,000
Total money made: $1,578.20

This post contains affiliate links.

Over the years, I’ve come to really love winter.  I’ve been going full speed ahead since September, powering through the fall with school and birthdays and extracurriculars and Christmas.  When January finally comes around, I feel like I can finally collapse into my reading chair and relax.  This is the time to reenergize, to get some extra sleep and to catch up on things I put off when there just wasn’t time. 

Winter evokes a lot of feelings for me: coziness, warmth and a general sense of slowing down.  I was recently browsing through etsy with those goals in mind and found so many awesome products from small artisans that I thought I’d share them here.

HOME

+ Daylight is so short these days, so I use candles more often during the winter months.  I have purchased beeswax tapers from Beeswax Candle Company (the same shop I get our Advent candles) and really need to buy some more.  (Also on my wishlist is this candle holder from Stuck in the Mud Pottery.)  This “warm and cozy” candle from Sweet Water Decor sounds interesting too.  
+ Some of my favorite quilts to cuddle up in are the ones my grandmother made.  Not only are they unique and beautiful, but I love knowing that she carried them in her hands.  There are so many vintage quilts online – I love this beautiful blue and white version and this hexagon one is incredible!  (Can you even imagine the time that went into sewing it?)  This pinwheel one is fun and bright too.
+ An easy way to change things up in the winter months is to include a few velvet pillows on the couch!  I found lots of great colors from Pillow Time Girls.
+ This is the time of year for a constant supply of warm beverages!  Since I probably shouldn’t be chugging coffee all day, I return to tea drinking.   This hand-thrown mug is completely my style and this spoon is perfect for me too.

COZY CLOSETS

+ Have you ever heard of cold weather gear made from alpaca fibers?  Me neither!  I’d definitely love to try the socks from Foggy Bottom Alpacas.
+ There’s nothing like a warm, broken-in chunky sweater.  I love all of the vintage pieces that Lisa curates at Betty’s Heart Co. and this wool sweater looks especially cozy.  This camel-colored one is cute too!
+ Look at these vintage knit gloves!  So feminine.
+ Borden Acres is my go-to shop for goat’s milk soap and I’m anxious to try her body lotion next.

HOBBIES AND HANDIWORK

+ I’m just about done with my current cross-stitch project and am looking for something new.  Lilli Violette Cross Stitch Design has a ton of great pieces – I especially love this Anne of Green Gables one.
+ How fun is this keychain painting kit from Jill Makes?  This would be a nice Easter basket gift too.
+ Nature study has come to a complete halt around here, but this printable journal could help us get out of the funk.
+ One of these days, I’m going to learn how to knit, but for now, I’ll just look at all the beautiful skeins!  Three shops I found with beautiful options are Treehouse Knits LLC (she has a yarn of the month club!), Black Sheep Dye Works, and Holly Press Fibers.

This post contains affiliate links.

Our fifth annual Epiphany dinner!  We changed things up this year and ordered from our favorite local pizza place instead of having the usual pot roast or chili.  Needless to say, it was a BIG hit.  (And so delicious, even though I could only eat the smallest piece due to my darn dairy sensitivity.)  We have no idea what 2021 will bring, but our family goals definitely still seem achievable:

• Increase our hearts of service.  I mentioned this quote attributed to Mother Teresa: “Wash the dishes not because it is dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.”
• Work as a team, especially as we begin working on our new farm.

After dinner, everyone ripped open their gifts wrapped in gold paper and seemed pleased with my choices.  Our Epiphany books for 2021:

MARK – Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad by John Eldredge
ASHLEY – The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally Clarkson
M (age 14) – Echo Island by Jared C. Wilson
D (age 12) – If We Survive by Andrew Klavan
J (age 10) – Snared: Lair of the Beast by Adam Jay Epstein
S (age 8) – Amelia Bedelia & Friends: Beat the Clock by Herman Parish
T (age 6) – Mikey and the Dragon by Jocko Willink
P (age 4) – Thomas on the Moon

This post contains affiliate links.

Nothing like a year of complete upheaval to turn eyes back to God!

The question I asked this year was “Jesus, who are You?” I wanted to know who He really was, not who I thought He should be or even who others sometimes flippantly said He was. I’ve seen the danger in reducing Christ to only Someone who supports any behavior, good and bad. I’ve seen the danger in putting words in His mouth. So in 2020, I wanted to meet Him not only in His humanity, but also in His divinity. I wanted to dig into deep theology instead of staying in the shallow waters of much modern thought. I wanted to avoid making the Godman more like me and instead make me more like Him.  I wanted to know Him.

For twelve long months, I wrestled with hard truths and really understood why He says “the road that leads to life” is narrow. (Matthew 7:14) I won’t sugarcoat it – it was hard, difficult work – but I know I’m better for it. To be a Catholic Christian is to be held to a high standard and it’s not easy! You won’t be liked and are often misunderstood. You will be mocked and ridiculed and sometimes feel so, so alone. I’ve stumbled often this year, but in knowing Christ more deeply, I know this is where I need to be, regardless of how difficult. My faith is stronger and my heart is bigger. I’m convinced that if you take the first steps toward Him, God always meets you there.

Throughout the year, I worked my way through the Bible and the Catechism of Saint Pius X, both of which I still haven’t finished but have still learned so much. I also tried to prioritize some religious reading. If I can read upwards of 80+ books each year, surely there’s enough time to dig into faith, right? Here are seven of my favorites from 2020:

1 // Searching For and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe

If there could be one important goal to strive for in these crazy times, it would be peace. Fear is a neutral emotion, but the resulting anxiety and despair definitely does not come from God. Fighting those tendencies and striving for peace of heart was hard work, but both my mental and spiritual health are better for it. I keep this simple quote on my bathroom mirror as a daily reminder: “Keep your soul at peace.”

2 // The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul

This huge book was very influential for my spiritual life this year. I related to some of Saint Faustina’s temperament, her hesitation to bring attention to herself while also desiring to give God nothing more than her best. The themes of suffering and trust were incredibly timely with the roller coaster ride of 2020.

3 // The Latin Mass Explained by Msgr. George Moorman

God works in mysterious ways. Throughout my adult life, I’ve never had any real interest in the TLM, but a curiosity and a yearning for more led us in that direction this year. (I could write an entire post on how every assumption I had was turned on its head!) This book was helpful when we were brand new and feeling completely out of our league. The sections on the Eucharist are especially beautiful.

4 // Forgiveness Makes You Free: A Dramatic Story of Healing and Reconciliation from the Heart of Rwanda by Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga

Fr. Ubald’s book was recommended to me when it seemed like the world was full of angry voices. I bought and read it right away and still cannot believe the amount of evil that occurred in Rwanda during those 100 days. The ability to forgive and heal from such atrocities is so deeply powerful and inspiring. I wish everyone would read this one.

5 // Eucharistic Miracles: And Eucharistic Phenomenon in the Lives of the Saints by Joan Carroll Cruz

I heard a sad statistic that almost 70% of Catholics do not believe that Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. I can understand the temptation to take Church teaching for granted without really digesting what it means, so in my quest to truly know Jesus, I spent a lot of time pondering John 6 and the incredible privilege we get to receive at Mass. (Being unable to attend Mass during the spring lockdown really drove this home too!) I’ve had this book on my shelf for years and picked it up on a whim. Gotta love when you read something at just the time you need it! I see the Eucharist in a whole new way.

6 // Consecration to Saint Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC

Saint Joseph doesn’t get a lot of air time, does he? He’s never quoted in Scripture and is out of the picture in just a few chapters. But he’s an important man, chosen to love and protect Christ in His humanity, and I wanted to know about this piece a little more. I enjoyed this newish book from Fr. Calloway and learned so much. My parish priest always describes Saint Joseph as having “silent strength” – what a goal to try to emulate in my own life.

7 // The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Luisa Piccarreta

If you really want to learn about Christ, you have to meet Him on the Cross. This book follows Jesus during the last day of His life on Earth, hour by hour. Part story, part reflection and all so incredibly heartbreaking. I wept on more than one occasion.

The real things haven’t changed.  It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.
– Laura Ingalls Wilder

A LIST OF LESSONS LEARNED IN 2020

Inspired by Amber’s list, a handful of lessons from last year:

1. Living in terror/constant anxiety/fear is a choice.
2. If you live in a manner that makes you ready for death (at any time in any form), there is even less need to fear or despair.
3. Abandonment to God’s will is not as excruciatingly hard as I imagined it to be.
4. God is merciful, but He is also just.
5. Being unable to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist was profound suffering.  I now pray often for the underground church around the world and hope to never take the Sacraments for granted again.
6. Getting out in the sunshine is good for the body and the soul.
7. Hard physical work is good work.
8. Watching things grow from a little seed is incredible and awe-inspiring.
9. Man is not an island.  We need each other.
10. My husband and children are my greatest blessing.

NEW GOAL: HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEWS

I gave up publicly posting/interacting with social media back in 2019 and haven’t looked back.  It was never a good use of my time and I hated that I always had my phone in my hand.  Unfortunately, with so many unknowns and changes in 2020, I returned to bad habits, but in a new way: I turned into a news reading fiend!  And you can’t read just one source because there’s always a bias, so I’d read articles from all over the map, digging out what possibly were the facts and trying to sift out the rest.  And then I’d listen to a variety of commentators on Youtube explain their opinions on the news.  Yeesh.  It’s too much and I’m now convinced that man was just not created to ingest that amount of information.  So for 2021, I’m trying something new.  Keeping up to date with what is happening in the world is important, but it doesn’t need to be a constant part of my day.  I think I’ll check a few sites in the morning (before we start school) and then keep my phone tucked away in my bedroom until late in the afternoon.  Two days in and so far, so good.      

WINTER WEATHER FAVORITES

Winters are generally pretty mild in Virginia, so it took me a long time to invest in quality winter gear. I’ve occasionally gotten lucky with secondhand pieces (and continue to check in every so often on ThredUp, Ebay and Poshmark, just in case!) but less so as the kids get older.  I always wait for sales and choose simple colors (like blue or black) that anyone in the family would be comfortable wearing.  A few of our favorites are L.L.Bean snow pants and boots, Love Woolies wool mittens (a small business) and – new to us this year – Carhartt jackets. 

THREE GOOD THINGS

bright red sunsets peeking through bare trees, another order from my favorite soapmaker (affiliate link), and a mind bubbling with creative ideas (SO welcome after a year of dryness)