All posts by Jessica

What I’ve Been Reading – November 2018

I was doing REALLY good in August and then….It’s been a struggle to read these past few months. I know the holidays are just around the corner and it’s a crap-shoot as to whether I have more or less time to read. I was thinking there’s no way I’m going to read my 35 book goal for this year, but I’m at 31….so I’m hopeful!

FAVORITE FICTION BOOK

This is always so hard! I love fiction, especially historical fiction and I managed several of them this fall. I’m going to have to be completely cheesy and say that To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was my favorite. Yes, I know. I’m rolling my eyes while typing this. The rest of the fictions I’ve read were all great and I enjoyed most of them, but ATBILB was just a goofy, girly read.

My sister and I watched the movie on Netflix and both thought it was a fun, fluffy movie…and can we just say give all the heart eyes to Noah Centineo. The writing and the story were nothing spectacular, nothing surprising, but it was just a heartwarming teen romantic comedy. Something that just struck a chord in the teen girl in each of us.

Jane of Austin was right there with ATBILB, and honestly I may have loved a bit more. I’ve loved everything I’ve read my Hillary Manton Lodge. Her stories and characters are endearing and her knack for incorporating food and recipes is exquisite, not to mention very yummy. I’ve always had great success with ANY of her recipes.

 

FAVORITE NON-FICTION BOOK

By default the Clarkson Ladies have it, The Lifegiving Home. I honestly haven’t read much by any of the Clarksons that I didn’t love, but The Lifegiving Home was a different read. Month by month Sally and Sarah go through how they make a house a home, which is perfect for this time of year.

We’ve actually been going through TLH with my Raising Generations Today mom group; it’s been a great resource for discussing our homes and what we want our homes to be for our families. It’s a slow, thoughtful read (which is sometimes hard for me), but it would be a great book to take slowly over a year and really think about what you want “home” to mean to your family.

 

THE BOOK I DIDN’T LIKE

Big Little Lies. I tried, really I did. Some of it I liked. Some of it I skipped (like the last 1/4 of it). There was just way too much and it was drawn out and I just wanted to know what had happened. I listened to it on audiobook. I seriously skipped a couple of HOURS of reading, and I didn’t miss anything.

This is the first book of Moriarty’s that I read and people have raved about it for years, especially as her BEST book. I’m thinking I probably won’t pick up another book of her’s again. It’s just not my cup of tea.

 

What have you been reading?

Keep up with what I’ve been reading on GoodReads or Instagram 

(I’ve notated books I’ve read for my book club * and F for Fiction, NF for Non-Fiction, and A if it was an Audiobook).

*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

2 Comments Books, What I've Been Reading

When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan….

I can’t seem to get these words out…mostly because I don’t know how to say what I want to say, and it’s not something I want to share with everyone.

Things on the income/employment front have been less than stellar.

We had our usual fair season in August, which was a mess. It rained all week. To the point that the fairground parking lot was closed because of the mud. We lost money this year. Then the following week, after a variety of things (many long standing) Matt quit his job with my parents. Friday is his last day. He has one more paycheck, and then I don’t know.

We won’t starve. We won’t be homeless. God’s got this. All of this I know and yet…

My anxiety has been through the roof. My stress level is sky rocketing. I honestly don’t feel it’s because of us not having any income soon. I truly do feel that it’s a wide variety of things, because I’ve been feeling this way for a while. I’ve just been ignoring it.

We’ve had HUGE changes in our lives. In the Spring we decided to send the kids to public school, because they wanted to go and because I felt I was drowning in homeschooling and failing them terribly (logically I know I wasn’t). Our house has become a huge stress point for me because it is in such a state of chaos from unfinished and unorganized construction projects, compounded by 5 kids. Throw in the looming unknown, and I think it’s just the perfect storm.

All of this to say…I’m not ok. I’m really, REALLY struggling with life right now. I’m trying to see the things that God is pointing out to me and I’m either in such a state of denial that I’m oblivious or I’m just full of pride with how well I’m handling things. Either way isn’t good.

Matt will find a job, or I will. The house projects will get done (Hey…maybe that’s why he hasn’t found a job yet…so that he can help me get our house in order…looking on the bright side). The kids are loving school (for the most part). Life is truly good. I just wish my heart would stop racing and this feeling of panic would go away.

I listened to a podcast (I can’t remember which) and the person being interviewed said something about her struggle when she and her husband were in a season of no income. That she felt like she was supposed to DO something, make money somehow, rather than just sitting back and letting God. BUT God wanted her to just trust in him to provide everything, to not be busy doing.

That’s where I am. Because doesn’t God help those who help themselves? Aren’t I supposed to be the wife/mom who works hard for her family, bringing in an income?

Right now that’s what I’m doing…putting all my entrepreneurial skills to use. Selling the things we don’t need (furniture, electronics, etc) and setting myself up to do several holiday craft markets where I’m hoping I’ll sell my beeswax candles and some other home decor things Matthew and I make. BUT is that what I’m SUPPOSED to be doing?!

We’re still hoping Matthew will get a job interview somewhere. I’ve applied for two different jobs, one of them is a temporary fix, the other is more of a commitment of time, but a perfect fit for me (director of our town library). I haven’t been offered either job, but I’m in a tumult as to which is the right one to accept.

I have no idea….I need God to give me a swift kick in the rear or slap across the face, because I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing or how to decide on anything.

For now….I’m thinking of starting my etsy shop back up and hopefully between that and holiday markets that I’m signed up for we will be able to keep the lights on.

 

Comment A Look at Our Life, Faith, Intentional Living, Making a Home