Tag: Daily Life

Happy Birthday, Mac Miller

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Today, I learned that yesterday was the late Mac Miller’s birthday. He would have been 34 years old.

How very fitting because as it turns out for about two weeks now, I’ve been listening to his album Circles almost daily.

It’s my favorite Mac Miller album, and a few times out of the year, I will listen to it over and over.

I’m still so sad he passed away. He was so young and incredibly talented. 🕊🙏🏽💜

RIP Mac Miller

Cooking Dinner in the Morning Saves Time

I started cooking dinner in the morning time. It makes a HUGE difference in my day. I feel less stressed when 4 p.m. rolls around and I know dinner is already prepared. BIG mom win! 💯

Today’s dinner: BBQ chicken, rice, and cream of corn for the kids, broccoli for me. I don’t know how they like cream of corn. I think it’s so gross. 😆

The weather forecast for this weekend!

Below Freezing Temps This Weekend

I’m worried about the weather for the weekend. The low is supposed to be between -7°F to -10°F. 😲

WHAT EVEN IS THAT?!! 😱🥶

So basically, we’ll be in the house all weekend. I hope we can make it to church. I’m going to go ahead and do the grocery shopping Thursday before the freezing temps hit us.

Here are a few moments from today.

Zaya (5) placing Stitch and Pandy on my bed.
Reading practice with Zephaniah (8).
Little Junco at my patio bird feeder. The Blie Jays, Juncos, Mourning Doves, and Sparrows have been eating all throughout the day at my bird feeders to prepare for the upcoming freezing cold.
Writing practice with Zechariah (10). Ever since we started working on writing skills with Building Writers (from Handwriting Without Tears) and The Usborne Creative Writing Book, Zechariah’s and Zhen’s writing has improved so much! I love that the writing activities are engaging, fun, and brief.
For some creative time, Zechariah worked on making a stop motion video. We got him this film slate for Christmas because he’s always making mini movies.
Todays art activity was creating a design with diagonal, horizontal, and vertical lines using strips of construction paper.
The kids really loved this art activity, and they got creative with it creating their own designs.
This is the art book we’ve been using. We’re loving it so far!
Sunlight shining through the stained-glass windows at church. 🙏🏽
I’m getting closer to finishing my 1,000 piece Jane Austen puzzle!
“Get swept away by love.” ❤️

“There’s a lot of beauty in the world, so go hang out and go be a part of the solution rather than the problem.” — Mac Miller

Feature image from Spotify. Personal photos info here.

MLK, Jr. Day

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For the last few years, I have tried to take the kids to an MLK, Jr. Day event, but the weather was always too cold.

Today was no different—it was freezing cold just like it always is every MLK Day. We got hit by an arctic blast, and the temps were 18° for the high and about 7° for the low! 🥶

However, I was determined to make it happen this time, so we were able to attend an MLK, Jr. Day Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Mass celebration and music were beautiful! I’m so glad we were able to brave the cold weather and attend the service.

Here are a few moments from our MLK, Jr. Day.

Once we got back home, I spent the rest of the afternoon working on my Jane Austen puzzle.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

French toast and a puzzle

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Today was peaceful and relaxing. 😌 I made a big batch of French Toast for breakfast before we headed out to church.

We were running a little behind schedule, though, (kids taking their sweet time getting ready 😏😆), so we ended up going to the 12 p.m. Mass.

That’s one of the plus sides about living in a big metropolitan — there are a lot of options for Mass times because there are so many Catholic churches here! 😄

I finally got to work on my 1,000-piece Jane Austen puzzle. 🙌🏾 Why is it so satisfying to put a puzzle together?

Once I finished connecting the edge pieces, I was in the zone and it was hard to stop working on my puzzle. 😄

Here are a few moments from today’s peaceful day.

Caught the sunrise this morning after dropping E off at work.
I made homemade French Toast for Sunday breakfast.
It started snowing again today. ❄️ We’re supposed to get more snow tomorrow. 😫
Corned beef sandwiches for lunch. 😋
My Jane Austen puzzle is finally starting to come together.
We finally took the Christmas tree down. 🙌🏾🎄

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” whom I trust.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Reading all day

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I know I’m going to regret not making French Toast the night before Sunday Mass 😆, but I am just so exhausted from this busy week.

I like to cook Sunday’s breakfast on Saturday night because it makes it easier for us to focus on getting ready for church.

It’s not happening tonight! 😴

I spent most of the day reading some of Little Women and Outlander. It felt good to slow down and just read books.

I’m trying to work on my reading. I’ve been struggling with staying focused on reading for 30 minutes or more.

I blame social media for this, which is why last year, I cut back on my social media usage. It was affecting my attention span.

I think January is the perfect time for me to work on my reading—it’s the first month of the year, and I spend more time indoors because it’s super cold outside. 📚🥶

For instance, right now the low is 12°F! Tomorrow it will be high 20°F and the low will be 13°F. Next Sunday—high 12° and low 2°!

TWO DEGREES!! 😲🥶

Here are a few moments from my reading all day.

“Return, my soul, to your rest; the LORD has been very good to you.” Psalm 116:7

Slushy snow day

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I could be wrong, but I think this is the most it has snowed in the winter out of all the winters I have lived in Michigan (10 years). It feels like it snows at least twice a week!

I used to love it when it snows, but now I dread the snow because I have to drive in it so much. Lol 😆☃️

While driving to pick up my daughter from work it snowed…again. 😏❄️

Please, no more snow! I’m ready for May to get here!

I would say I can’t wait for the spring, but the truth is, here in Michigan it can still snow in April! 😲❄️😭 Haha!

Everything is slushy outside—the sidewalks, parking lots, and the roads.

A lot of the neighborhood roads and store parking lots are still covered in snow because they haven’t been plowed yet.

Some of the main roads are clear, but not all of them. So, you still have to be cautious when driving on the roads.

But some people are so impatient and will still zip down the roads in the slush. Smh 🤦🏽‍♀️❄️ Couldn’t be me! You can honk your horn at me if you want to, but I’m not getting into a car accident.

Here are a few moments from today’s slushy snow day.

Snow-covered statue at church.
A black squirrel eating sunflower seeds at my patio bird feeder.
These green alien earrings I made were a great accessory for my thrifted green cardigan and green deer hunting shirt (no, I don’t hunt lol).
Keeping warm on this slushy snow day with a cup of Lavender Rose Black Tea. 🫖🍵
Zaya (5) pouring herself a cup of Mango Tango herbal tea.
Every morning, Zaya now asks for tea with her breakfast. Just like Mommy! 🫖🍵😊
I’m trying to take advantage of these cold, snow days and read more books!
Reading one of my library books while waiting for our pizza order.
M also reading her library book in the car while we wait on the pizza.
Here’s the book M is currently reading: Kill Switch.
My fortune from my fortune cookie. 🥠

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a lofty one.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

Photo credit info here.

Change of scenery

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Yesterday, we had a snow storm. It caught me by surprise because I thought it wasn’t going to snow.

When I had checked the weather forecast the day before, it only predicted a small chance of snow.

Boy, did they get it all wrong! 😏❄️

I got stuck in traffic for two hours because the roads were so bad. At one point, I almost hit another car because my brakes started to lock up.

Thank the Lord, I was able to regain control of my van and avoid an accident.

Today’s weather was the complete opposite from yesterday. We didn’t get anymore snow, and it was a sunny day.

Even though there was still a lot of snow on the ground, it was nice to get out of the house for a little bit. We needed a change of scenery.

Here are a few moments from our change of scenery.

Before heading out, I read a few pages of the classic novel Little Women.
“Show someone what they mean to you.” A message on the inside of the wrapper of my Dove milk chocolate.
We stopped by Goodwill to do a little thrifting.
M found these knee-high boots for only $10.
Snow at the library.
I checked out Alice Walker’s Gathering Blossoms Under Fire. I’ve read part of her book, but I never finished it. I thought I’d try to finish it this time.
I also checked out Outlander—another book I need to try and finish. I love the TV series!
I had no idea Dr. Dre had a biography book out!
Playtime at the library.
Zaya (5) “cooked” some pizza for me at her pretend restaurant. 🍕😊

“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you…” Ezekiel 36:26

It all came crashing down

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The past few months, my email inbox and phone text messages have been buzzing with appointment reminders from the optometrist, dentist, primary care doctor, gynecologist—and now health screenings for cancer.

Today, for instance, a Cologuard rep called me to remind me to complete my colorectal cancer home screening kit.

It initially triggered my anxiety, but the rep was so kind that I felt the tension lifting from my body, and I ended up sharing with her my anxieties.

“I just recently turned 45, and it seems like now I have to do a lot of health screenings,” I said to the Cologuard rep. “It’s a bit overwhelming, if I’m being honest.”

“Ahh yes,” she said to me. She said she completely understood how I was feeling.

“It just feels like it all came crashing down, doesn’t it?”

We both laughed, and I replied, “Yes! That is EXACTLY how it feels—it feels like it’s all crashing down on me.”

The rep was very compassionate and shared a way I can reframe my anxious thoughts on the health screenings.

She encouraged me to look at it like this: I’m simply taking good care of my health by getting routine preventive care. She reminded me that screenings can catch things early—before they become serious.

I didn’t mean to unload my heavy feelings onto a complete stranger 😆, but I am thankful for her kindness and helping me out!

“Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give you support. He will never allow the righteous to stumble.” Psalm 55:23

The 35-day streak

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I’ve been posting a new blog post every day for the last thirty-five days.

I started daily blogging because I wanted to challenge myself creatively and I thought it would be a fun hobby.

I am amazed that I actually did it this time! Last year, I tried daily blogging, and I didn’t last very long. Lol! 😂 It was just too much for me.

But I think I got the hang of it now.

I admire people who can daily blog consistently. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be.

Some days the words flow, and other days it takes real effort just to hit publish. But it’s teaching me discipline—and helping me appreciate ordinary life.

Five things I’ve learned about daily blogging so far:

  1. It pushes me to find something worth writing about in the moment.
  2. It keeps me on my toes — in a good way.
  3. Not every post has to be long. Short posts still count.
  4. Since I thrive on routines, I actually love the consistency of showing up daily.
  5. It makes me more present… because I’m paying closer attention to my day.

BONUS: It also gives me space to test out creative ideas. For example, I thought it would be fun to use a title theme like “The Day…”

It was fun for about a month 😆… but it’s not working for me anymore, so I’m letting it go.

After 35 days of consistently daily blogging, I decided to keep going! It’s become a small daily ritual I genuinely look forward to.

Even on the ordinary days, it helps me slow down, reflect, and appreciate the little moments that would’ve otherwise passed by.

“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” Romams 12:12

The dryer stopped working again

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It’s definitely a Monday.

First thing in the morning a repair technician arrived to fix the dryer. About 30 minutes later, he thought it was fixed.

Then, a few hours later, when E attempted to dry a load of clothes, he discovered the dryer still didn’t work. 😐

So, now we have to get a new dryer.

I’m trying to get the house back in order and gently transition the kids back into our homeschool rhythm.

There’s so much to do: take down/put away the Christmas decorations, take down/put away the Christmas tree, post-holiday cleaning/organizing of the house, reschedule dentist appointments, schedule annual doctor’s appointments for the kids, and the list goes on.

At first, I didn’t even know where to begin. But then, I reminded myself to just focus on doing a little at a time.

Why stress myself out by trying to tackle long to-do lists after being sick for a week?

So, that’s what I did today, and that will be my theme for the week—don’t overwhelm yourself. Just do a little at a time.

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

The day felt weird

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Today felt weird because we didn’t go to Mass. 😕 Well, Travis went to Mass last night because he had a group meeting, and they always go to the Saturday vigil Mass right after the meeting.

The kids and I, however, had to skip Mass this weekend because we’re still recovering from being sick.

I’d say I’m about 80% better. Zhen (13) still has sinus congestion. Zaya and the boys seem to be doing much better.

I’m just very grateful we are all recovering and getting healthy again. 🙏🏽

I’m a little nervous about the upcoming week. I didn’t realize how sick I was actually feeling last week until today when I noticed I didn’t feel anymore brain fog or super low energy.

So, naturally, I feel a little out of sorts because my usual routine got off track. I feel like I lost a lot of time even though it was just a week. Lol 😆😂

All I can do is take it slow and do my best!

Here are a few moments from today’s weird day. 😄

Not weird at all! We always have donuts on Sundays. Last Sunday, we had to skip donuts because the kids and I were sick. We were excited to have our Sunday donuts back! 😊
Dragons and slime. The kids played with their dinosaurs, dragons, and slime toys.
Zephaniah (8) putting together one of his green dinosaurs. 🦖
Encanto Lego House. Zhen put together her Encanto Lego set.
I did a little jewelry making today. I spent a few hours working on earrings for my oldest daughter and I. This set is one of the earrings I made today.
Time to get back to homeschooling! After making the jewelry, I did some homeschool lesson planning for the week.
I’m looking forward to starting our Art unit study this week! I can’t wait for us to visit more local art galleries.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.” Psalm 107:1