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!
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.
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
The other day, my friend Ginna texted me and another friend who’s recently moved “Happy What’s In My Yard? season!!” She was nodding to the unique delight of experiencing your first spring in a new house, with mystery around every corner (and popping up through every pile of mulch). So far, I’ve counted two unexpected daffodils. Here’s to other welcome surprises this month!
On my calendar: — Spring break! We are road tripping to St. Simon’s Island, adjacent to one of our perennial favorites: Jekyll Island. — The fourth annual Articles Club retreat! We have plans to play Mahjong, exchange AC-themed favorite things, eat good food, make goal punch cards, chat, walk, read, craft, maybe cold plunge, and so much more. — June’s tenth birthday weekend getaway in Charlotte! The itinerary is finalized and we’re all so excited. I’ll be sharing more about it on TCF in the weeks to come!
What I’m loving right now: — I’ve long been a fan of the Birds & Bees ladies — John and I took their course a few years ago and I highly recommend it — and I really enjoyed this recent episode with them on the Raising Boys & Girls podcast. — My Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I’m going to rebuy it (likely in this berry + melon combo). I also have the Sidestroke and though it seems like it’s ubiquitous on the internet I get compliments every time I wear it to the pool. I recommend ordering 1-2 sizes up! — Speaking of summer: I bought this oversize sun hat last year when I was ready for something new in the sun protection game. It’s giant and I love it.
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!
What I read in February: — Little Women | Epic. I’ve wanted to do read this book for quite some time (at least since the 2019 movie adaption came out!) and I’m very glad I finally made time for it. It is so good and pure and delightful and wise and just makes you want to be a better mom and sister and friend, in the most gentle and loving way. This might have been my first time reading this classic but it will not be my last. — Come On Home | Eh. I agreed with most everything in this book, but what I loved was mostly the quotes from other books which she used liberally throughout. I’d skip it and read the books she quoted instead: The Lifegiving Home; Hold Onto Your Kids; Habits of the Household; and Hunter, Gather, Parent, to start. Or just read Little Women and get your parenting advice from there, ha! — Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan’s slim novel (novella?) is set in 1985 in a small Irish town. Bill, a coal merchant and family man, makes a discovery one morning which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. A “deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy,” this one feels like falling into a well, and then surfacing a short time later, blinking in the sun. I read it in one sitting.
Revisiting my February goals: Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (Done! We can’t wait!) Finish learning the jump rope routine (No progress on the routine with my knee issues but I have been ending every strength session with some jumping.) Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain Record June’s birthday interview Finish going through my phone screenshots (So happy to have completed this!!!) Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor Enjoy celebrating my birthday Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview (I gave practicing my all and I’m pleased with how it went! Will let you know when it’s live.)
March goals: — Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects – scheduled to start in April! — Hang string lights in our backyard — 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 — Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group — Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids — Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets — Tend to this month’s clutter post: Shep’s bookshelf
The last little bit of January and the beginning of February have been anything but regular – snow and ice have thrown our schedules into disarray, canceling plans, constricting work time, harrying normal rhythms. But, as is so often the case, these challenges have come with obvious bright sides: hours of sledding, neighbor connection, cozy domino games, and extra chapters of Goblet of Fire. I know enough to expect more glimmers and more challenges as we finish out the month – but maybe with a little less wild weather :)
On my calendar: — The Olympics! I anticipate having it on in the background for much of the month and turning up the volume when figure skating is on. I’m especially excited to watch this guy. (gift link!) — Valentine’s Day! It’s on a Saturday, but I’m planning to welcome the kids home from school the day before with a little surprise tea spread laid out on the table (likely store-bought, no shame there). Any excuse to use all those Southern Weddings cake stands ;) And the mailbox is still going strong! — My birthday! I’ll be coming off a weekday work trip to Texas and so want to give some thought as to how I can help it feel special and restful amidst the chaos of travel and returning home.
What I’m loving right now: — You’ve probably seen me mention jump roping a few times recently. I am attempting to get into it as a cardio option, and it’s been fun to do it alongside the kids! We have this rope for me, this rope for June, this rope for Shep, and this rope for double dutch. — I shared these tiny gold hoop earrings on my Christmas wish list and ended up getting them for myself after trying them on in person at the Gorjana store in California. I LOVE THEM. I didn’t think anything could replace my beloved pearl studs (which I still wear!) but these just look so good with everything. — Some friends recommended the podcast Dogood Detectives and our kids are obsessed. We listened to every episode on a long drive recently and all three were locked in.
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!
— This navy sweater jacket, my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life? — This eucalyptus + rosemary counter spray that continues to bring us all joy. — The Amazing Generation, once again. No surprise, it’s a no. 1 NYT bestseller (YAY!!!). — These very fun, very colorful shadow text notepads. I love a new notepad to start off the year. — My beloved window candles. They’re a great weight and the dusk-to-dawn sensor works perfectly. Ours are still up in every window even though John thinks I’m a loon :)
What I read in January: — My Oxford Year| Good not great. My biggest takeaway was that I’d like to visit Oxford! — Wild Dark Shore | Now this one – wow. “A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.” I will be thinking about these characters – each so exquisitely drawn, including the landscape, which seems a character of its own – for quite some time. — Romney: A Reckoning | This book which, among other things, is a walk through the last two decades of politics, was moving and so, so sad.
Revisiting my January goals: Finalize details and selections for our master bathroom and built-in projects (Made a lot of progress here! I have a meeting this week to make a few final decisions.) Set up our 2026 budget (Done! We are trying out Monarch Money. It has been a learning curve, but I am committed to giving it a fair shake.) Print 2024 + 2025 Instagram photos and photos for our Christmas album Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (A tiny bit of progress but mostly rolling over into February) Brainstorm my affirmations and phrases for each family member Learn all of the first jump rope routine (Learned half!) Register Annie for kindergarten Buy new glasses Attend to the first clutter spot: the piles in our bedroom Finish going through my phone screenshots (Some progress but not done yet.)
February goals: — Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip — Finish learning the jump rope routine — Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain — Record June’s birthday interview — Finish going through my phone screenshots — Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor — Enjoy celebrating my birthday — Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview. I AM TERRIFIED. I have been practicing answering questions with John on our daily walks and it is so easy to feel discouraged. I prefer to write rather than talk, you know? I am believing I can get better with practice, however, so practice, I shall.
This, below, is one of my new favorite views. There’s something about our larger, lower kitchen island (peninsula?) that draws the kids in, and I reliably field one, if not two or three, requests for an assignment while cooking dinner each night. On this evening, Annie was trimming green beans while Shep minced garlic and I pulled together the rest of the chicken piccata meatballs. (Shep was so proud of himself for learning a new task and using a “big knife” that he had me take a video to show John later.) More of this in January, please.
On my calendar: — June’s tenth birthday. I love her so. — At least five meals with friends, at our home or theirs. Starting strong with our hospitality goal despite raging illness on the East Coast. — Seeing the Charlotte Hornets play. This was John’s big Christmas gift; we’re both excited to attend our first NBA game and see Duke favorite Kon Knueppel in action.
What I’m loving right now: — We saw David in theatres with friends and loved it! The kids have been asking to listen to the soundtrack ever since. — We bought our first smart plug after realizing it was nearly impossible to plug and unplug our Christmas tree lights in our new set-up and — wow. Saying “Alexa, please turn off the tree lights” feels like magic. My kind of technology :) — John gave me this navy sweater jacket for Christmas and it’s my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life?
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!
— Once again the Brick was far and away the bestseller of everything I shared last month! I am so, so grateful that so many of you took the leap and feel confident you won’t regret it. If you need a refresher on what the Brick is, I’ve got you. Get 10% off with this link! — I feel like we all must be wearing matching undergarments at this point?! The Eby Relief bra has been a hit with friends of all shapes and sizes and is what I exclusively wear right now. — This eucalyptus + rosemary counter spray continues to bring all of us joy. — The Amazing Generation. No surprise, it’s a no. 1 NYT bestseller (YAY!!!). — My favorite new Christmas decoration, our beloved window candles! They’re a great weight and the dusk-to-dawn sensor works perfectly. I plan to keep mine up until my birthday, at the end of February!
What I read in December: — Code Name Helene | World War II books can feel a dime a dozen (and rightly so), but I hadn’t read in this genre for a bit and Code Name Helene was a great return. I love that Ariel Lawhon uses her books to elevate the stories of incredible real women from history and Nancy Wake, a daring socialite spy, is no exception. (I do think I preferred The Frozen River just a bit because of its less-common time period!) — Confronting Christianity | Combining research, personal stories, and careful biblical study, Rebecca McLaughlin’s apologetics offering explores 12 of the questions that keep people from considering faith in Christ. As Christians, we are meant to “be prepared to give a defense to explain the hope that we have” and I do think this book helped me to do that. — Real Americans | This novel, an “exhilarating exploration of American identity” that spans three generations, reminded me of one of my favorite novels from last year, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. If you enjoy twisting narratives that expose a bit more with each loop, this one’s for you.
Reading list for 2026 coming very soon!
Revisiting my December goals: Edit Sheptember, Volume 7 (No! Very bummed about this but I am forging on. I have now chosen a song, which is often the hardest part!) Finish the kids’ book ornaments Send care packages to our college gals Finalize plans for June’s tenth birthday Make progress on a big birthday project for June Carry out our gifting plans with joy Prepare well in advance for our post-Christmas travel, so that Christmas Eve and Day can be languorous and peaceful Execute our end-of-year generosity plans Savor the Christmas season
January goals: — Finalize details and selections for our master bathroom and built-in projects — Set up our 2026 budget. We are considering doing something other than the Google Doc set up we’ve used for the last 16 years – will report back if we like it! — Print 2024 + 2025 Instagram photos and photos for our Christmas album — Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip — Brainstorm my affirmations and phrases for each family member — Learn all of the first jump rope routine — Register Annie for kindergarten — Buy new glasses — Attend to the first clutter spot: the piles in our bedroom — Finish going through my phone screenshots. I kept up with this daily practice for most of the year but dropped off in the last quarter; I want to finish strong because it was so helpful!
