I did something I haven’t done in a while (I think since I was a kid?). I watercolored with this Watercolor workbook from Brighter Day Press that my friend, Whitney, had given to me. It was much harder than I expected, but so much fun to challenge myself outside of my comfort zone!
This box showed up at our house last week and the kids were so excited to open it, but I was even more excited. Can you guess what was in it? Check out the answer here in this fun video!
This is my favorite foundation and I have been using it for years! I use it as both a concealer and a foundation!
I started crocheting again last week and surprised myself with how much fun I had with it! I’m almost done with this scarf for Kierstyn that I started earlier this week! I’ll share a photo of the finished scarf with you next week! By the way, if you want to learn how to crochet, definitely check this out.
The mysterious box!!
I went on a mission to find eggs before the winter storm and was happy to find Aldi fully stocked.
In the meantime, Kroger had so many bare shelves that I had to make a funny video about it!
It’s that time of year where we spend hours in the stands watching Silas play basketball, and I love it so much!!
The snow started to fall on Saturday morning and eventually became about two inches thick before turning to ice and sleet.
David was so excited to wake up to snow on Saturday! He ran to the window and looked at it for a long time!
The roads were too slippery to continue driving after Saturday morning, so we have been snowed in/frozen for the past three days. Almost everything is shut off and so many people here have no power right now. We prepared ourselves to go out for at least a few days, but so far that hasn’t been the case.
We did a lot of LEGOs, puzzles, games, books, cooking and watching some shows. It’s been nice to all stay home together…they just canceled school through Thursday and temperatures are expected to stay pretty cold, so we may have to stay home for quite a few more days. We’ll see!
Best Instagram post of the week
This message Sharing a funny (and embarrassing story!) was my most viewed Instagram video of the week! I hope it makes you laugh!
Books I finished this week
Small adjustments, happy life – This is a great book if you need inspiration and motivation to simplify and streamline your life so you can focus on what matters most and have smoother, happier days. I especially liked the part about prioritizing happy hours: time every day to do things that are life-giving to you. It was very good for me to think about what I do during the day that makes me happy and how I can make more time for that!
What I listen to
I finished listening to the audiobook recommended by a follower – Under the Magnolias. It was really different than I expected and deeply moving at times. I wasn’t sure where the story was going and it felt like it was meandering in places, but I loved how the author wrapped it up so beautifully in the end. It’s a raw and real look at mental illness and the way it affects people, but also how loving people who are considered misfits by so many can have such a powerful impact.
My current morning book stack
The books I read slowly in the morning + my Bible study: She is reading Truth Acts Study, A verse a day for the anxious soul, New morning graces, And she stood up, And Words with God prayer journal.
What I’m looking at
I keep watching When the heart is called upon during a part of my afternoon work time that I can easily do something else while at work. I finished seasons one, two and three last week (I wasn’t feeling well for a few days so spent more time in bed than usual!) and just started season 4!
Jesse and I also watched Skyscraper Live. Yep, if you need a little adrenaline rush, watch that!! We didn’t see it live, which I’m so grateful for, because I think that might have been too stressful for me!!
Question and answer of the week
I answered some questions on Instagram this past week and wanted to share two of them here:
Question: I’m exhausted in every way, I think I’m having a burnout… what would you do? -Mother of 3
Answer: I’m so sorry you feel so exhausted. I would start by making sure you cry out to Jesus and ask Him for wisdom and strength to help you carry what He has called you to carry, and let go of what He has called you to lay down. Second, what should you do now? If you don’t, will things really fall apart? Eating, sleeping, loving your children and making sure they are fed and clothed… anything else? Start with the basics and let go of anything else you can let go of in the coming weeks.
Then prioritize sleep, life-giving activities, nourishing your body, and time with Jesus. If you can get a little time outside, it can do wonders for your body and mind.
I would also recommend doing a time audit to see what you are spending your time on, + considering getting blood work done to see if anything is wrong. And ask those who know you well to provide input on some solutions or strategies that can help you too.
Q: Have you changed your diet at all since you started lifting weights? Any new easy meals?
Answer: Since I’m currently doing some pretty intense strength training four times a week, I’m once again tracking my macros from a very healthy mental space – which I’m so excited about and I think helps me fuel my body much better than if I don’t.
I aim for 130 grams of carbs, 60 grams of fat, 25-30 grams of fiber and 200+ grams of carbs per day + almost 7 hours of sleep or more. I usually use most of these every day and I love how it affects my body!
I usually have two active recovery days (where I take at least 10,000 steps) and one rest day where I really try to take it easy.
Right now this plan is working super well and my Oura ring numbers are actually better than ever before + I feel so strong and energetic.
I keep the meals very simple and many would probably think they are boring, but it works for me at the moment! I’ll try to share more since so many people have been asking for meal ideas!
In case you missed it: posts from this week
20+ Best Board Games Under $30 — Whether you’re looking for the best board games for the whole family, the best 2-player board games, or even the best solo board games, this guide has what you’re looking for! We are big board game lovers in our family and these are some of our favorites that we have been playing over and over again for years!
Breakfast Sandwiches ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — This delicious breakfast sandwich recipe turns simple ingredients into a satisfying, budget-friendly meal that everyone will love.
Brigette’s $79 shopping trip and weekly menu for 4 people! — Look what my sister Brigette bought last week and what she is feeding her family!
Is Amazon Prime worth it? — Wondering if an Amazon Prime membership is worth it? In this post, we outline the key benefits of Amazon Prime – from fast, free shipping and easy access to Amazon deals to streaming and storage – to help you decide whether Prime really offers value for money.
This week’s podcast episode: One man’s journey from abuse and addiction to forgiveness and redemption with Stephen McWhirter
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this episode’s honest and vulnerable conversation with memoir author Stephen McWhirter. Radically Restored: How Knowing Jesus Heals Our Brokenness.
I’ve really been looking forward to sharing this episode because its story is raw, sometimes disturbing, and deeply hopeful, and it challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. Listen to Stephen talk about growing up in a home where faith was loudly preached in public but painfully contradicted in private. We talk about what it does to a child when the person who represents God also causes pain and how that kind of hypocrisy can lead to anger, rebellion, and addiction for years to come.
Stephen openly shares his long road to substance abuse, the surprising moment when everything began to change, and how his encounter with Jesus didn’t happen in a pew, but rather alone, surrounded by darkness and drugs where grace met him anyway.
He guides us through forgiveness in a unique way, and we talk about abuse, safety, boundaries, and the very real cost of forgiving someone who has caused deep wounds, especially if that person is a parent. His story about forgiving his father (not once but throughout his life) is one of the best parts of the conversation.
We also spend some time talking directly to parents, friends and loved ones who feel helpless as they watch someone they care about struggle, with Stephen offering hope to those who carry silent shame, hidden addictions or unanswered prayers, and reminding us that repentance brings things to light.
If you’re struggling with forgiveness, addiction, trust, or whether God is really good, then this episode is definitely for you, and if you’re the one praying for someone else and wondering if it matters, I really hope this conversation gives you real hope that recovery is possible, sometimes even in ways we could never have expected or planned for ourselves. Make sure you get a copy of his book too!
Tell me about your week! Is something interesting happening? Have you read any good books, seen any good shows or tackled a project?
#Week #week #read #listen #watch