-
Finding the Extraordinary in Ordinary Time
The Christmas season is officially over, and as we reluctantly pack up our decorations and trudge forwards, back into the mundane of the everyday, the Church moves forward too. It is now that we leave a season of rejoicing, and enter back into Ordinary Time. I’ve always struggled with Ordinary Time. Shoved in between Christmas and Lent, Easter and Advent, Ordinary Time feels a bit like those final, stale pieces of a Thanksgiving feast that no one wants to eat. Nestled beside the emotional highs of suffering and joy, the mundane tends to lose its luster. After all, who wants to choose the ordinary? In actuality, most of our lives…
-
Black Friday Culture
It’s almost that time of year again — the long awaited “holiday season.” Soon it will be Thanksgiving, and then Christmas will be just a breath away. It is the day after Thanksgiving, however, that has been on my heart more recently. That day is Black Friday. I’ll be honest. I’ve done the Black Friday run several times, and it is a lot of fun. Looking through Black Friday ads on Thanksgiving, pushing your way through jam-packed stores, competing to snag that exclusive deal … there’s a sort of thrill to it all. Despite this, I find the day itself rather distasteful. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. We gather with our families…
-
It’s Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas (10 Things to do This Winter)
I know winter doesn’t technically start until December 21st, but in my head, December 1st is always the beginning of winter. The fact that most of December is actually fall has always been so odd to me! For me, December is the quintessential winter month. I figured I would share with you all my winter bucket list (a.k.a., the things I’d like to do this winter), in the hopes that it would inspire you to get out and enjoy the season. Maybe, you will even write a bucket list of your own! If you do, please share it in the comment section below 🙂 Find snow: If I’m lucky, this one…
-
Fourth of July and Big Changes
Last night, on Fourth of July, Brian and I thought it would be cool to play with the exposure on my camera and some sparklers. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but the pictures still turned out pretty cool — even if you can’t quite tell that it is our names we were spelling. At the very least, it was fun whirling flaming sticks around in the dark. So much has been going on lately, it’s kind of crazy. A couple weeks ago, Brian and I graduated with our bachelor’s degrees from Eastern Washington University. A few weeks after that, we packed up our apartment and moved from Cheney…
-
Goals for the New Year (2017)
The New Year is here and with it, a bundle of newfound energy and hope. I love making lists, and this year I decided it would be useful to scribble down a list of goals for 2017. I am separating “goals” from my New Year’s Resolution because in my head they seem to be two different things. To me, a New Year’s Resolution should be one thing—just ONE—that will improve the quality of your life. In contrast, goals are more of a collection of things that will help you grow as a person, with the aim of placing you closer to the person you were made to be by the…
-
Fall 2016 Bucket List
It’s official. Summer is over and fall has finally begun. I’ll be honest. Fall is one of my favorite seasons (aside from winter). There is just something about the crispness to the air, the coziness of sweaters and blankets, and the warm, rich hues of autumn leaves that really puts my soul at rest. I also love school, so the fact that it is starting up again after a long summer always excites me. 1) Curl up in a cozy blanket and read a book. Nearby window and sound of rain optional. 2) Redecorate the house. Emphasize warm, spicy, fall colors and upping the “cozy” factor. 3) Take the dog for an…
-
Crossing off Dreams
Today was kind of historic. Some of you may know that I have been working on a novel the past few years, and that I’ve finally finished it and gotten it self-published. That in itself was a huge deal. But the fact didn’t really seem real–tangible–because I only had an ebook, no physical copy. A few days ago I received a proof copy for review. My first chance to have a book I had written in my hands. The moment was thrilling. Today, the first fifty books arrived. They filled two medium sized boxes and one smaller box. I opened the packages carefully, remembering to breathe in the scent of…
