Happy Leap Day, friends! I'm thankful for an extra day to study, work, and enjoy life! Here's Watt's been keeping me busy this February.
READING: I read Hope Is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things by W. Lee Warren. I also won The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett and started reading it last night.
LISTENING: On Libby, I listened to The Five Love Languages Singles Edition by Gary Chapman, Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar with Derick Dillard and Craig Borlase, and Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, and currently, I'm listening to Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen and Why Am I Like This? by Kobe Campbell. Dad finished reading The Maggie Bright by Tracy Groot aloud to me, and he then read aloud Watership Down by Richard Adams. We just started Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. For this month, Watership Down was my favorite fictional book, and Hope is the First Dose was my favorite nonfiction book.
LEARNING: I finished Art History II and am wrapping up U.S. History II.
DECLUTTERING: I reorganized my craft supplies in my closet and got rid of some things. I'm also decluttering our yard of leaves!
MAKING: I have been working on almost exclusively one craft project: a counted cross-stitch picture of dandelions. I work on it every evening when Dad reads aloud to me.
ENJOYING: Mom, Dad, and I went to the Westmoreland Art Museum for the opening of their new exhibit, 65 Years, 65 Artists. We saw a painting of Rip Van Winkle, and I had my picture taken with him because I relate to his story in some ways.
FEELING: I caught a cold this month, but I rebounded quickly. I also officially stopped all antimicrobial treatment, and I’m feeling great without it!
PLANNING: I’m making plans for the spring and summer. Dad is going to teach me how to mow the lawn, and I plan to do landscaping and remodeling projects. I’m planning to grow some herbs and sunflowers and picked out seeds yesterday. I’m also planning to enter craft projects in the Westmoreland Fair again. :)
EXERCISING: The Spring100 walking challenge begins next month, and Mom and I are excited to attempt to walk 100 miles over the duration of spring. We did it last year and finished early, so we should be able to meet the goal again.
EATING: With school, I haven’t had as much time and energy for cooking, but I told Mom that I want to be in charge of dinner every Monday. I recently baked chicken legs that I marinated with lemon juice and spices, and I also used different spices on roasted vegetables and potatoes. I’m trying to stretch my skills with using spices. They really make food taste different, and I’m so glad that I’m now able to eat them without worrying about a reaction. I also baked blueberry muffins and gluten and dairy free peanut butter cookies for a craft night.
LOVING: In 2019, my great aunt Mary gave me a goldfish plant. We have been trying to get it to bloom ever since, and it finally did this month! We love how unique the flowers look. The plant almost died a few times in the past, and we wondered if we’d ever see the flowers that look like goldfish. It’s a good example of why we shouldn’t give up! Things can turn around, just like they have with my life. Praise God.
Watt have you been up to this month?
1 comment
Hello Lauren! Thank you for this message. I listened to “This Good Day,” and I really enjoyed it. I am going to make listening to it as part of my morning praise and worship routine. As well, I’m definitely going to visit the Westmoreland Museum before the current exhibit ends. The painting of Rip van Winkle is awesome and it reminded me of all the Grimm’s Fairy Tails I heard when I was young! Then seeing your cross stitch brought back my own memories of crewel projects when I was a teenager. Your dandelions look great!
I am so happy for your new level of health; you are an inspiration for those that are struggling and have lost hope. God Bless! Enjoy all the walking to reach your 100-mile goal! Also wishing you and your family a beautiful Easter Season. I’m reading a beautifully illustrated book by Ruth Chou Simon’s, entitled “Beholding and Becoming, The Art of Everyday Worship.” I am finding it to be very inspiring.
In Christ, Susan Dutko