How is your January going?

We have had a good week, and I’m thankful.

How has your week been? Or rather, your month of January?

January started off on a heavy note with sickness.

Chills, the rawest sore-throat, and a hammering headache. Slowly (and thankfully), the germs left and we are back together, back as a family unit, back trying to hide the laughs (when children push boundaries), back building puzzles and listening to fun music, and telling tales as children fall asleep to the “star machine” casting gentle lights on the walls… We are back to having the laughs come to a full roar when humor is heard. These kids have so much personality! It’s a wonderful feeling to have your sides ache from laughter. Mmhmm.

We are already on day twenty-one of the year. Already! I have another nature walk planned for the afternoon; our 10th walk of the month. I’m tracking our long walks because it’s good for me to see the things we are doing. So much of my work right now is unseen work… some things take a lot of time to flourish, and children growing into the right virtues is one of those “things.” With our upcoming walk, I’m already anticipating the way the cold weather will feel on my face, the crunch of iced leaves underfoot, and the investigation of animal tracks along the path. I think my children look forward to these walks, these sounds, just as much as me.

My graduate studies are chugging along.

Week two of “New Testament History, Literature, and Theology” has begun, and my first deadline is tonight. Week 1 of class was difficult for my mind to wrap around…! There were just so many academic-heavy words to read, concepts to keep straight, and my dear friend Exhaustion was taking her time leaving my body. While there was sickness in our home, it was a challenge each day (and night) to keep the home managed; our children taught their lessons; my husband cared for. I kept my prayer line open and truly relied on His strength each day. My mind reared in protest against the classwork that was scheduled. I made it, though :) Three completed assignments later the final grade remains a full 100 percent. God is doing the impossible here! Wow.

Things that made me laugh (or smile) this week:

• One of my Christmas presents was a cordless vacuum. (You have permission to laugh.) I caught Zack vacuuming one of the attachments so it “would be cleaner.” Friends, I can’t make this stuff up. Between the two of us, Zack is the one who doesn’t see the mess in the room. He’s too busy having fun, living in the moment. But I caught him having a nice time keeping the cordless vacuum clean. [Still makes me chuckle to recall the moment…]
• As I pulled on my high-rise jeans I noticed something strange: my undergarments were competing with the height of my jeans. Who won, you ask with anticipation. Haha, well, welcome to four-kids-later motherhood! I will let you guess which garment won ;)
• Landon has been big into rolling his Rs lately. In fact, any time he can add a little trill to a sentence, he does. I hope this cutie habit lingers for a bit longer…
• Max came rushing into my bedroom one morning: “Mom, mom! Can I have your phone? The sunrise is beautiful and I want you to see it!” (He knows me very well: sunrises are beautiful!)

A few meals / snacks we enjoyed this week:

• beef stew made in the Dutch Oven, the smell of it simmer was heavenly!
• a large serving of oven-roasted veggies + couscous for lunch (parsnips, carrots, zucchini)
• buttermilk pancakes made on the cast iron skillet (love that crispy edge!) and sausage
• popcorn for dinner, along with warmed beef stew and a charcuterie board for the kids ;)
• granny smith apple slices & peanut butter (love the sour and sweet/salty combo)
• the kids had their first-ever oatmeal cream pie (!) and they were smitten

xx, Maggie

PS. one book on my nightstand queue, and one book I’m currently reading.