Sharing The Good

I've noticed more recently how much is available out there that demand our time and attention. The trick is figuring out what is the most important in filling that time. It's been a good reflection for me to pin point what "feeds my soul" so to speak or at least give me motivation and encouragement as well as give me simple pleasures. 

I started jotting down things that I've loved recently. These are mostly books, movies, podcasts, articles, music, things I'm learning in my studies, and organizations that are doing some great work, and maybe a good recipe thrown in there and I just want to share these simple pleasures with you. This is also a way for me to remember and have an easy access of what I enjoy at this time of my life. These are the things I would put in my "sharing the good" Pinterest board if I had such a board...maybe I should make one? 

I have a list of about 15 things jotted down but I'll share a few now and maybe some next week and just keep adding either weekly or monthly depending on how much I have to share. There is a lot of good out there! And I realize I love to share a good thing. 

-In light of Mother's Day recently, I love this initiative that Big Ocean Women did on 'mother is a verb'. I love what BOW do in general. They call themselves maternal feminists which I think is awesome. :) And I love love this painting by Caitlin Connolly (and pretty much every other painting she has.)

-My sister introduced me to this podcast called Bold New Mom and this episode on worry is one that I will need to revisit again and again. She says "worry is one emotion that is never helpful and never necessary." 

-This What Should I Read Next podcast episode is probably my favorite. Kathleen Grissom describes how she came up with the story for The Kitchen House and it's pretty remarkable. I currently have her newest addition Glory Over Everything and can't wait to dive in. I love her writing and stories. 

-This Deseret News article about a woman who went from infertility to Mother of the Year. What's more impressive is her perspective and attitude then and now. I really want to develop her gratitude and faith filled perspective. “If I get back to my Father in Heaven with zero children in my house, I’m still committed,” Kjelstrom decided. “If I get back there with one child, or if I get back there as a widow, whatever it takes, that is my goal, to be there and to be faithful in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I decided this is what I wanted. My decision was to be committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of the blessings that came or didn’t come...I had determined I was in, no matter what.”

-We watched the movie A Monster Calls based on the YA novel that I read last year. And I cried (hard!) the same two spots in the movie that I did in the book. If you haven't read it yet, read it! It's the most unique book I've read in a long time. And it's probably the saddest book I've read in a long time but still so good. The way the author tells of how a 12-year old boy deals with his mother's terminal illness is one you won't soon forget. And then pair it with this song by Ed Sheeran. 

-And this chocolate ice cream we have been making several times around here. Even better with chopped strawberries. So excited for the start of summer!

What good things have you found this month? And is anyone watching the new Anne on Netflix? I'm starting episode 3 and it's where we get to meet Gil for the first time (gulp!)

Weekly Tidbits

-One of our dear friends, the Jarvis', moved yesterday and we're going to miss them a lot! I'm going to miss walking with Hannah and her two kids! I'm going to miss learning a lot from her and talking about books. And we're going to miss teaching Eva in sunbeams. When we were helping them pack in the truck, Austin was working his magic in the back of the truck doing tetrus with boxes and furniture. Hannah said that we should just move wherever they are so Austin can do this every time (I'm totally down for that!)

-This is my book haul from the library. Some of these are requested from "What should I read next" podcast and some were recommendations of Goodreads. And then Flipped was from The Little Free Library across the street from the library. So I took it home, plan to read and enjoy it and return it to the little free library (just like it says stamped on the book) . These little free libraries are the coolest! And we have two within walking distance. Austin and I are already planning on getting one in front of our house someday. ;)

-I got invited to play basketball with some ladies at the Church every Tuesday and Friday morning for an hour. Yesterday was the first one and man am I sore! I'm pretty sure I was the youngest one there but the most out of shape haha. Oh well, it was fun! But they are pretty intense: no timeouts, barely a break in between games, no foul shots at the line, and we played man on man the whole time. Maybe next time we could go to zone so I'm not frantically running everywhere. :)

-Rio Olympics have started! The whole bummer is that we have no tv and no cable provider so we are out of luck trying to watch the primetime events (which is my favorite part). We are so tempted to go to Goodwill and try to find a cheap tv...
There is nothing quite like the Olympic games!