Monday Musings: A Gentle Beginning
Back in the day when I first started blogging, there was a website known as The Simple Woman. One of my favorite posts on her site was The Simple Woman’s Daybook. Once a month, she would post her daybook – a glimpse into her world – and invite her followers to copy her template and share theirs as well.
Sadly, on New Year’s Eve she posted her last blog post and her blog and the daybook is no more. I looked through some old daybook posts I had made and was reminded of just how much I loved sharing a little glimpse into my life back then.
So, in that spirit, I am starting Monday Musings. If you’re a person who’s here for more practical type content, you will probably just want to scroll past these. But if you too miss the days when blogging was a mixture of the practical and the more personal, stick around.
Monday Musings: A Gentle Beginning
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For Today
Looking out my window
the snow is falling – big flakes and it looks really pretty
I am thinking
about how sad I am by all that is going on in the US right now and I’m praying for those whose lives are being endangered by the government
I am thankful
for the quiet moment in my day after the boys have gone to school and before my son in law gets home. There is half an hour where the house is silent and I am alone. God is in that silence.
One of my favorite things
right now is praying through art. I have been attending sessions put on by my friend Daniela from Soulistry Faith and Art Ministry.
I am creating
ACEOs. If you’re familiar with Artist Trading Cards, Art Cards Editions and Originals are essentially the same but instead of trading them, I’ll be putting these mini pieces of art up for sale.
I am listening to
Gregorian Chant. I find it incredibly calming. We all need calming given what’s happening in the world today.
I am watching
The Pitt. It’s currently my favorite show!
I am loving
These under eye patches and lip masks. Anyone else with super dry skin in the winter? These are helping those areas a lot!
I am wearing
red plaid flannel pajamas – baby it’s cold outside!
I am reading
The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon. This is our current read for the neighborhood book club and it’s so good. It really drew me in right from the beginning and as I learn more about the different characters, I just want to keep reading.
It’s not one of those books that you can’t put down because of the action or suspense. This is a quieter story with such depth of character and so much kindness and love being shown that it pulls you in and makes you smile.
As novels go, it’s fairly short and a quick read too. I haven’t finished it yet but as of right now, I’d give it a 4.5/5.
I am learning
About the letter to the Hebrews. I always thought it was written by Paul but apparently, that isn’t known for sure. It could have been Peter, Silas, Barnabas, or Apollos (those are the top contenders). As it states in my book though, “It doesn’t matter so much because the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author.”
We aren’t using a guide for our Bible study group. My friend Kerry leads it and she is super knowledgeable about the Bible and does a lot of prep and research for it. But I have this book Study Hebrews – A Practical 23 Week Bible Study for Leaders and Groups by Jason Dexter for a study I never got to attend so I’m using to supplement what we talk about.
In my kitchen
I’ve been making a lot of the viral two-ingredient “Japanese cheesecake” I have seen on TikTok. You start with a container of plain yogurt. I use a plain low fat Greek yogurt.
Most people make it right in the container but I find that it makes the yogurt overflow and really doesn’t fit well that way so I scoop some out into another container. Then, you push some cookies down into the yogurt. I use as many as will fit.
I’ve seen it demonstrated with Biscoff cookies so that’s what I tried first. Delicious! Okay so you push the cookies down into the yogurt so they’re basically submerged or really close to it.
In essence, you’re making a spin on a icebox cake. Put this container into the fridge overnight. It might actually be ready in a few hours but I’ve always made it the night before.
And that’s it! Dig in and enjoy! You’ll get a little bit of cookie in every bite.
Variations:
- Use Oreos or graham crackers in place of the Biscoff. I preferred the thin Oreos for this purpose.
- Stir some honey and vanilla into your plain yogurt.
- Use vanilla yogurt in place of the plain.
- Mix cheesecake pudding mix into the plain yogurt. Add graham crackers. They even have a sugar free cheesecake pudding mix if you’d prefer.
In my garden
It’s all buried under a blanket of snow right now. I did just get an adorable fairy house from our local buy nothing group because the boys and I have plans for a fairy garden in the spring.
Quote
Taking care of children has nothing to do with politics. I think perhaps with time, instead of there being a politicization of humanitarian aid, there will be a humanization of politics.
Audrey Hepburn
A moment from my day
I was greeted this morning with this adorable little snowman that the boys made and displayed on the railing of our back deck. It makes me smile and I just know they were filled with joy as they made it.
I hope you have a wonderful week. Cherish yourself!
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