A March Daybook
Outside my window: A fresh white layer of snow surprised me this morning. I can just make out the mountains on the other side of the valley as they’re currently covered in a layer of clouds. The scenery appears to be in soft focus and it doesn’t look promising that the driving range at the golf course will be open this week.
Listening to: Instrumental Study, a playlist on Spotify—my go-to when I’m writing.
Clothing myself in: Black leggings, a pink knit tunic, and fuzzy blue slippers.
Talking with my husband about this book: Backyard Pilgrim: Forty Days at Godspeed by Matt Canlis. This is a super short devotional that we’re doing together during Lent and it incorporates daily 15-minute walks around the neighborhood that helps us pay attention and slow down.
In my own reading: I just finished The Empowered Wife: Six Secrets to Attracting Your Husband’s Time, Attention, and Affection by Laura Doyle and though I didn’t fully agree with every point she made, I thought it was, overall, very good. I just started reading Don’t Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet by Alice Robb. I first read an excerpt in this month’s Vogue, and immediately wanted to read more. I was fascinated because her story seemed to parallel my daughter’s path in many ways.
Thinking and thinking: about how grateful I am for the journey I’ve been on over the past couple of years--even the hard parts. My family has been through some dramatic changes--a health scare for me, moving back to our hometown after twelve years, adjusting to both kids becoming independent and leaving home, and the death of my dad as well as our family pets all felt really big to me. Being closer to family, being welcomed into a wonderful new church, and recently adopting a cat named Milo are some of the sweet treasures we’ve gained.
Pondering: “Take a breath and keep going. Isn’t there a chance of being surprised by what happens next?” -Barbara Brown Taylor
Carefully Cultivating Rhythm: A rhythm that we’ve recently tweaked in our household has been the introduction of the intentional practice of Sabbath keeping. For me, it means, from sunset on Saturday night until sunset on Sunday I take a break from work and social media. It has been a really positive change that I’m grateful for. Also, we installed a sauna in our home after Christmas, and it has helped my spouse and me find an evening rhythm that is restful and encourages a deeper connection as we just sit in there and talk. It has replaced some of our t.v time, and I think that’s a good thing.
Creating By Hand: I’ve been doing counted cross-stitch for fun. It’s something to keep my hands busy as I listen to music or podcasts. I picked it up as a replacement for scrolling the news (which I gave up for Lent).
Learning lessons in: Relating to God as his child. I’ve written about this in past newsletters, here and here. I’m still learning I’ll probably write about it some more as I process these lessons. It’s a significant change for me, and it’s bringing me a lot of joy.
Keeping house: We found a leak coming from our upstairs bathtub into our family room downstairs. It turned out to be a big deal, so now a restoration company has come in and that bathroom has been torn down to the studs--and the family room is missing its’ ceiling. It’s a mess, but in the end, we will have a newly remodeled bathroom. In the meantime, I’m doing my best to be patient.
To be fit and happy: Eight weeks ago I sprained my ankle, but it’s healing--and I can even ski again, although not as aggressively as before. But still, that makes me happy! Yoga has been helpful in regaining my range of motion, and I’m trying to hop on the stationary bike more often too for aerobic fitness.
Giving thanks: for our new cat, Milo. He’s a sweetheart, and I love having a pet in the house again.
Living the Liturgy: I’ve been reading Tsh Oxenreider’s Bitter and Sweet: A Journey Into Easter during my morning quiet time. She also made a companion playlist on Spotify to go with it that I’m enjoying.
Planning for the week ahead: I’d like to get some more writing time in for my current work-in-progress. It’s a novel set in a bookstore in Moscow, Idaho during the early 2000s. I’m excited to share it with you, but it won’t be coming out for more than a year still--sorry. : ) It will be worth the wait!
In the meantime, if you haven’t read my Historic Hotels Collection, you can check out those books, here. : )
*Thank you to Elizabeth Foss, writer at In the Heart of My Home, for the inspiration and format behind this daybook.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
Oh I love this format! How fun!