I keep general track for taxes. If I make a donation run the reciept might say “2 bags clothes, 1 bike, 1 large box household/decorative items” or something like that. I do not create an exhaustive list. I put all of my reciepts in a manila envelope marked with the year and titled donations.

I'm working on something for myself. Started on the crosstitch from last year's She Reads Truth advent book. It's coming along (will post my progress later). This is what it will look like:

I'm 1000% on team crate. I don't know how people function without crating.

We have a 10wk old lab puppy. When we got our first big rain a couple of weeks ago, he REFUSED to go potty. I had to resort to holding an umbrella over him. So we're outside, he's on an awkward part of our planter, so I am holding the umbrella out over him while I get absolutely drenched. I look up and my neighbor is just standing there staring at me. I felt so ridiculous. So embarrasing. I yelled across to him (we're super friendly) "I swear I'm not one of THOSE dog owners!" He just laughed.

Ramona and Beezus was a surprisingly wonderful movie.

Armchair Expert (Dax Shepherd) was my favorite podcast this year. They’re super long, but I just break them up into chunks. It’s the only celebrity podcast I’ve ever enjoyed. Struggling Well- especially the problem solved episodes. This one is a 7/10 for me there are a few things that annoy me, but I mostly enjoy it The Happy Hour w Jamie Ivey. This is the my favorite woman-centered pod. Dr. Death. I binged this in one day. Fascinating story. (Oops, this is both crime and creepy) This American Life, Hidden Brain, Ted Talks, Invisibilia, Revisionist History, The Moth. I enjoy some of these. They put out a lot of content and it’s not all for me, but I do pick and choose when I am looking for something to listen to.

Much like children 🙂

I was looking at my answer to this question in 2018 and I didn’t reach one of my goals- and I honestly still feel successful! So I’m going to take this with a grain of salt. I would like to be ready to apply to nursing programs by the end of 2019. I would like to exercise regularly (I’m getting there but it hasn’t become a habit yet).

Finish out prerequisites for a nursing program and either volunteer or work in the medical field while waiting to apply.

Northern California, I think it was around $3.20ish the other day. I don’t really take notice unless it goes under $3 or over $4.

She posted on FB that they made it home this evening.

Your recipe is different than mine: "Dough: 1 T. Dry Yeast 1 Cup warm milk 1/3 C. white sugar 1/2 C. melted butter 1 tsp. salt 2 eggs 4 C. flour Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Knead into a ball. Let rise until double in size. When ready, roll out to about 1/4 inch thick. Spread with filling. Filling: 1/4 C. butter, softened 1 C. brown sugar 3 T. cinnamon Spread butter on dough evenly. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over dough evenly. Roll dough up. Slice roll into 1 inch slices. Place on a greased pan. Let rise again until doubled. bake 10 min. at 400 degrees. Icing: 1/2 C. butter, softened 1 1/2 C. powdered sugar 1 oz. cream cheese 2 T. whipping cream 1 tsp. vanilla extract pinch of salt Beat until fluffy. When rolls are hot, spread lots of icing on them. To make these the night before needed, skip the final rising step. Let rise overnight in the fridge. In the morning, bake!" This recipe is courtesy of Jean, a cinnamon roll saint!

I think '09 was when I started making them. I remember giving them to all of our neighbors our first Christmas in our last house (which we moved into in 2009).

Yep, made them for ds's classroom Christmas party earlier this week. I usually make them right before Christmas and again on New Year's Day.

Disclosure: Dh is a pastor, our church is small, but we've also worked at megachurches. I have a strong bent toward people commiting to stay at the church they are at instead of expecting a move to "fix" whatever problem they have. IMO, church is a long-term relationship that will ebb and flow like all relationships. With all that said, I totally get where you are coming from. Your feelings are valid. Big churches definitely lose people if they choose not to plug in. I really think that you should try to join a small group within your church and parade all of those beliefs and thoughts on out. Wherever you go, you probably won't feel known if you keep those hidden. There's no reason you'll feel more comfortable sharing your doubts in the brand new, small church. My guess is that you'll still feel unknown, even if you're more known. Megachurch Sunday mornings are not for being known. And truthfully, neither are small church Sunday mornings. Being known generally comes from being in community outside of Sundays. Not only that, but really being known comes with putting everything out on the table. No matter what you choose, I think your drive towards deeper intimacy is good and holy, and I pray that God makes it clear how and with whom He intends you to forge deeper relationships. And I'm so sorry for using the term "being known" 8 billion times. Lazy writing.

This year's word was Grow. It kind of fits, though I don't think I fully embodied it until the last few months of the year. Next year's word is Invest. I want to focus on the groundwork next year.

I’m super sad. Somehow it never feels like the right thing to do, even when you know it is.

Have him do the retake at a different dmv. I have a friend who is great about always reframing stuff like this as a learning/character opportunity for her kids. My knee jerk reaction is to wish stuff like this didn’t happen but she’s good at reminding me that it’s an opportunity for me to walk my kid through disappointing/unfair circumstances. If it helps, my brother failed his driving test like 4 times but later became (a very safety conscious and capable) truck driver. These experiences can be overcome. (((Hugs))) not fun for mama!

I am acting as a homeschool coach of sorts to my single mama friend. I meet with her 13yo every couple of weeks and go over her work/tutor/make a plan for the next stretch. It’s a way for me to give them some space in their relationship.

Day 16: progress towards goals. Completed 2 more semesters of nursing program prerequisites day 17: smart decisions: got a Y membership day 18: biggest lesson: no one will take care of my body for me

It is unusual but what a blessing! I think it’s pretty amazing. And honestly, if you have the ability to pull it off, I do think it’s better. Patients thinking they don’t need a nurse and taking a secondary fall is not unusual at all.

The only thing I should probably be clear on is that I hate exercising and I really won't do anything on my own.

I would still let her play outside but I would use this method the rest of the time. No more freely going in and out.

I feel much sympathy as we are currently training our puppy. It’s a ton of work. Along with the above, you should know that chihuahuas as a breed are just hard to train. Our will still (at 13) go in the house if he doesn’t feel like going outside. They’re stinkers.

I got a Y membership about a month ago and I’ve been trying out a variety of classes. Some are more cardio based, some are weight training, and some are stretch/balance, though of course there is cross over. What’s the best ratio if I’m going 4 days a week? Is weight training pointless if I’m only going once a week?