We’ve shifted into spring mode, which means busier Saturdays, warmer weather, and swim team just around the corner. It also means getting to experience a new season for the first time from our new perch in the neighborhood; I’ve been giddy to spot the azaleas, daffodils, dogwoods, and more popping up on our walks to school and walks after dinner. Feeling grateful for every sort of season right now! Here’s what else we have planned for April…

On my calendar:
— Spring sports! Annie is playing soccer at the fields in our neighborhood, June is playing town soccer, and Shep is trying baseball for the first time. June and I are also enrolled in a four-week JUMP ROPE CLINIC starting later this month. Pray for my knees!!
— A one-night campout with our church CG family. Fingers crossed for a warmer night and for the pollen to have washed away!
— A bike ride with a dear friend on the American Tobacco Trail. We’re planning to bike the full length and then meet our families for dinner at the American Tobacco Campus before driving home!

What I’m loving right now:
— Is it weird to say my own podcast interview? I can’t say I really love listening to my own recorded voice – it will never not be weird – but I am so grateful to have been a guest on my friend Katelyn’s podcast and hope it’s helpful to anyone who chooses to listen!
— I am super late to the game but I’ll go ahead and mention it anyway: I am loving Olivia Dean’s album The Art of Loving. Smooth, jazzy, fun – it’s my nightly dinner-making accompaniment.
— I’m out of time to write a blog post about this year’s Easter baskets, but I did want to share some of the goodies I’ve collected! As always, it’s a mix of new, consignment, and hand-me-down finds. I’ve linked everything I can here and am especially fond of the floral embroidered cross. Last year’s baskets here!

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— Annie’s colorful patterned socks. (Florals! Stripes! Dots!) So soft and fun.
— These tiny gold hoop earrings from my Christmas wish list. They look so good with every outfit!
— The Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece. Mine has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I rebought it (in this berry + melon combo!). Order 1-2 sizes up!
— The tanning drops I mix into my face lotion each night. A bottle lasts me a year! More current skincare here.
— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection.

Last month on The Connected Family:
— Wait, you have a landline?! | Our review of the screen-free, kid-friendly Tin Can landline phone
— 5 very practical things we do to have free-range kids | And not panic all the time.
— In good company | Everyone needs identity, belonging, and purpose.
— Care creates contentment | Tiny actions that can help in a few different categories.

What I read in March:
— Writing Creativity and Soul | This is Sue Monk Kidd’s book on craft. I think she is a magical writer, and though I don’t currently write fiction, I enjoyed getting a peek behind the curtain at her practices. Likely not that relevant if you’re not a writer or SMK super fan.
—Theo of Golden | Let me start by saying — I love this book! I love the characters, I love the quiet pacing, I love the fact that it’s a word-of-mouth smash hit, and most of all I love that a book that so clearly honors the concept of Imago Dei (the idea that all humans are created to reflect God’s nature, possessing inherent dignity, worth, and a divine imprint) has such visibility. That being said, my expectations were through the roof based on the universal effusive reviews, and the reality didn’t quite meet them – I’d have tightened the narrative a bit in a few places. But Theo is still 100% worth your time!
— Liturgy of the Ordinary | My main takeaway from this book: Tish Harrison Warren walked so Justin Whitmel Earley could run. Tish’s book is very similar to Justin’s The Common Rule (and equally lovely!), but I have to say I think I preferred Justin’s just a bit – the latter is a little more practical and structured. However, if you’re looking for ideas to infuse faith practices into everyday life, and to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary, I’m confident you’ll enjoy Tish’s book.
— The Covenant of Water | The adjective “sweeping” was made for books like this. Here’s the description: “Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, Abraham Verghese’s masterful novel follows three generations of a Christian family in Kerala, South India, that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning. As the novel opens, a twelve-year-old girl is sent by boat to her wedding, where she meets her husband for the first time. She joins a prosperous household and becomes known as Big Ammachi, the matriarch of an extraordinary family that will endure hardship, celebrate triumph, and witness unthinkable changes over the coming decades. An exquisite modern classic, The Covenant of Water is an unforgettable and stunning epic of love, faith, and medicine.” The characters! The plotting! Truly incredible and I highly recommend it. (If you love the Pillars of the Earth series, you will love this one.) Just know it is about four inches thick, ha.

My reading list for 2026! I’m 5 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my March goals:
Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects (Work is underway!)
Hang string lights in our backyard (Didn’t quite get to the backyard but we did hang them on our porch!)
Tag clothes for the consignment sale
Complete final prep for and enjoy June’s birthday trip
Host an Easter potluck and egg hunt for our neighbors (I couldn’t quite get it together to host this this year – planning on next year!)
Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group (Small group: ✅)
Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids
Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets
Tend to this month’s clutter spot: Shep’s bookshelf

April goals:
— Write the first draft of my Sunday service. I’ve once again volunteered to lead a service at our Island this summer. (The last time was — *checks notes* — four years ago.) I’m excited to do it, as it’s one of my very favorite traditions and I want to do my part to support it, but in order for it not to become stressful I plan to start and finish it far in advance. I already have a concept!
— Film Annie in April
— Hang string lights in our backyard
— Research outdoor movie set-ups and choose date for first movie
— Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the third floor bookshelf
— Choose a new wallpaper for the bathroom and otherwise continue to manage our renovation projects

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Grateful for you, friends! Please feel free to comment on anything I’ve mentioned here or anything else on your mind!

Affiliate links are used in this post!