Welcome to my weekly put up after I share some photos and highlights from the previous week + what I’m studying, watching, and listening to. I additionally share hyperlinks to posts or different fascinating issues I don’t need you to overlook.

This previous week was fascinating with a lot snow and ice right here. From Saturday till Tuesday, issues have been principally all shut down in our space and we stayed dwelling. Wednesday was the primary time I received out of the home and it was somewhat surreal. I used to be not anticipating how dangerous it was simply getting out of our neighborhood (see a video right here).

We had plenty of indoor actions (see a video right here of somewhat peek into two of our snow days).

I did fairly a little bit of baking — together with making do-it-yourself sourdough bagels and attempting making Garbanzo Bean brownies — which have been a disappointment.

It’s been over per week for the reason that ice storm and we nonetheless have fairly a little bit of ice on the bottom in locations and so many nonetheless don’t have energy right here! (We someway by no means misplaced energy — which we nonetheless can’t imagine as a result of SO many did!)

Because it was so chilly they usually have been recovering from illness + it was so icy and there have been so many branches falling at first, they stayed inside for six days (and I wanted to work most of these days so I wasn’t as accessible as I’d have liked to be), so that they began to get somewhat stir-crazy by Day 5. However we survived and I saved pondering of what number of blessings we had that so many didn’t – like energy, heat home, heat water, and loads of meals!)

We made Power Bites collectively and did plenty of LEGO constructing and video games and made chocolate cake and skim and did plenty of workbooks and watches fairly just a few exhibits. I used to be actually thrilled when it was introduced that college can be again in session on Friday! 🙂

I’m LOVING this sweater — and it’s nonetheless on sale for an additional two days! Get the deal right here.

On Thursday, the roads have been cleared sufficient for us to go go to Kathrynne in Murfreesboro for her twenty first birthday. Jesse and I went and took her out to a late lunch.

It was so particular to get to hang around simply the three of us! We went out to eat at a new-to-us place (The Goat). It was scrumptious!! And we talked about her future and a few alternatives on the desk for her proper now. She needed our recommendation and enter and took notes as we shared.

I’ve stated it earlier than nevertheless it’s price repeating: watching your children as adults is wild and bizarre and oh so great!!

You spend years pouring a lot into them and caring for them and assembly their sensible wants and driving them locations and doing their laundry and making their lunches… after which in the future, they’re a full grown grownup, residing on their very own, taking good care of all the main points of their life, and asking you for recommendation about their future.

And also you sit there and understand that every one these days, weeks, months, and years of laundry and cooking and LEGOs and listening and answering questions and having laborious conversations and foolish inside jokes… all of it added up, although it felt so mundane and insignificant in many of the moments.

Only a reminder to you mamas nonetheless within the trenches: it’s price it! And also you really do work your self out of a job!

On this 12 months of setting no objectives and chopping my work hours considerably, I’m studying to like and lean into my “Grandma hobbies” period — baking, water coloring, puzzles, and now crochet. And I’m discovering one thing so stunning… these hobbies should not solely bringing me a lot pleasure, they’re re-regulating my nervous system!

I completed this scarf for Kierstyn this week (nonetheless want so as to add the perimeter) and couldn’t imagine the extent of success I felt in creating one thing with my arms like this (plus, she was SO enthusiastic about it!!)

Once I first began working with my practical medication physician, she informed me that my nervous system was continuously in combat mode. That I’m mainly residing on adrenaline and at all times on this psychological and emotional stance of being ready for regardless of the subsequent massive problem will likely be — whether or not that’s with work, the youngsters, one other scenario, and so on.

She’s been gently encouraging me that it’s not wholesome for my physique — particularly longterm — to dwell in a state of hyper-vigilance the place I can’t let my physique calm down and absolutely breathe.

I’d lived like this for thus lengthy (we’re speaking YEARS!) that I had no thought as a result of it had simply change into my norm. And it has been a course of to even work out the way to cease residing on adrenaline. However I’m slowly untethering myself from the unhealthy habits and patterns and studying to manage my nervous system.

And issues like water coloration and crochet and watching calming exhibits like When Calls the Coronary heart and sitting in quiet and slowing down my tempo have been so good for my soul. It’s like I can take a deep breath and truly see, really feel, and listen to what’s going round me in a complete new manner!

Now I’m contemplating knitting and selecting again up embroidery and extra tinkering within the kitchen and even gardening (after an over 20 12 months hiatus!)… as a result of I’m simply loving this slower tempo of life with house for creating!

What “Grandma hobbies” ought to I strive subsequent??

Psst! If you’re eager to learn to crochet, examine this out! Simply $0.75 for a whole 12 months of classes!!

Since he had a relaxed college schedule on Friday, we went out to lunch mid-day, which was so enjoyable! Additionally, I neglect how tall he’s till we stand subsequent to at least one one other!!

She and I additionally had somewhat date on Friday after college and earlier than the basketball recreation!

I’ve been instructing her the way to prepare dinner and she or he’s been loving it and is getting higher and higher at doing issues herself!

Kaitlynn did my hair on Saturday!

Attending to be a cosmetology college guinea pig is one of the best — I get to hangout with my lady, she will get apply, I get pampered, I convey my laptop computer and cellphone and get some work carried out, and I get to depart with superbly carried out hair!

We began a brand new custom and went out to a flowery restaurant to rejoice her twenty first. We informed Silas and Kaitlynn that they’d get to choose a flowery restaurant for his or her twenty first birthdays, too, and Silas instantly went and added a reminder to his Google calendar for six years from now! 🙂 (It was Silas’s first time to go to a restaurant that had a costume code and the boyfriends got here, too, and we had such a enjoyable time!)

Joyful twenty first birthday to the lady who made me a mom! Kathrynne: what a present you’re to my life — and to everybody who is aware of you!

This previous 12 months, you’ve walked by way of some actually laborious issues — from well being battles, to heartbreaking conditions, to taking up massive new obligations in your life. I’ve watched you climate the storms and challenges of life with resilience and maturity that’s far past your years.

You might be an previous soul who cares deeply for everybody you realize, who needs to know what you imagine and why you imagine it, and listens intently to others and needs to listen to their tales and stroll with them nicely. I like that about you — although I generally must remind you you can’t carry everybody’s burdens for them and that you want to let different folks assist carry yours some, too!

You might be such a servant — at all times going out of your strategy to do issues to bless and assist and cheer up others. You might be additionally hilarious — just some days in the past, you and your roommate had me laughing so laborious on the cellphone I used to be crying.

And also you amaze me with all of the stuff you juggle, all of the folks you retain up with, and the way you at all times have time to speak and hearken to me, too.

This 12 months was full of so many particular reminiscences collectively — together with our Spring break journey simply the 2 of us! It means a lot to me that you simply at all times wish to hang around with me and introduce me to your folks!

Most of all, your love for Jesus deeply shines by way of you! I’m excited to see His plans unfold for you this 12 months as you proceed to hunt Him and belief Him to your future! You might be one-of-a-kind and I like you a lot!!

Books I Completed This Week

And She Acquired Up — This e book is the heart-rending but additionally hope-giving story of the creator shedding her husband to a tragic biking accident. It’s the story of nice loss but additionally nice redemption — and the way she selected life when it felt like her life was falling aside.

What I’m Listening To

I didn’t actually hearken to something this previous week since we have been principally snowed in/iced in so I didn’t do virtually any driving (which is often after I hearken to podcasts/audiobooks!)

What I’m Watching

I’m persevering with to look at When Calls the Coronary heart throughout a few of my afternoon work time that I can simply do one thing else whereas working. I completed season 4 final week and am simply beginning season 5. I truthfully can’t imagine how a lot I’m having fun with this present. It simply feels prefer it has such a relaxing impact on me!

In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week

Hen Alfredo and Roasted Carrots ($10 Household Dinner Concept) — Your entire household will love this hearty household dinner that has creamy rooster Alfredo and caramelized carrots — and all of it comes collectively in below 45 minutes for below $10!

Brigette’s $104 Grocery Procuring Journey and Weekly Menu Plan for 4! — See what my sister, Brigette, purchased for her household of 4 and what she’s feeding them for $104 this previous week.

Frugal Methods to Make Valentine’s Day Particular for Children — Valentine’s Day is the right alternative to remind your children simply how a lot you like them. That will help you create particular reminiscences — with out stressing your self out or stretching your finances — we’ve rounded up easy, significant methods to rejoice. From hands-on crafts to considerate gestures that spark kindness, these Valentine’s Day concepts are designed to assist your loved ones make Valentine’s Day doable and particular.

Throwing It Again to 2016 — There’s been a pattern going round Instagram to put up photos from 2016 so I had enjoyable rounding these as much as share. (Have been any of you round and following when first I posted these in 2016?)

This Week’s Podcast Episode

Be part of me and Jesse this week as I share what it has really been like carrying a steady glucose monitor as a non-diabetic, why I made a decision to strive it, and what I’ve realized about my physique within the course of. All of it begins in the course of a “snowpocalypse” with canceled plans, sick children, and a scrapped anniversary journey, which changed into the right time to decelerate, relaxation, and pay nearer consideration to my well being!

On this episode, we stroll you thru the fundamentals of what a steady glucose monitor is, how the non-medical variations work, and why my practical medication physician inspired me to make use of one for just a few months. I additionally dig into why we selected the model that we did, what it value, how straightforward it was to put in and take away, and what it really feels prefer to put on one day-to-day. (It’s manner much less intense than I anticipated, and I forgot it was even there more often than not!)

The true worth for me, although, has been the info. Seeing my blood sugar in actual time fully modified how I take into consideration meals, particularly carbs, protein, and motion. Hear in as I share how I assumed that I had main blood sugar points solely to seek out out that my ranges have been really fairly secure and that almost all of my previous “crashes” have been possible from under-eating and never getting sufficient protein. I break down the most important patterns that I seen reminiscent of why carb-only snacks spike my blood sugar, why beginning meals with protein issues, and the way even a brief stroll after consuming could make a measurable distinction.

Jesse and I additionally get into some surprisingly sensible discoveries reminiscent of why consuming the identical meals in a unique order modifications the end result, how exercises have an effect on glucose ranges, and why three muffins in a single night sounded enjoyable however didn’t really feel nice later. In case you have ever questioned how your habits really affect your power, focus, or total well being, then this episode is mainly me being your guinea pig so that you don’t must be!

Inform me about your week! Something fascinating occur? Did you learn any good books, watch any good exhibits, or deal with any undertaking?