Hello friends and welcome to Friday. And to this year’s first Share Four Somethings post. The prompts have been switched up a bit. Keeping it fresh, I suppose, and I like it. So, let’s just jump right into it. By the way, as always, this link-up goes live on the last Saturday day of each month, so you can check it out here starting tomorrow. This month, something..
I LOVED – both watching the birds during the snowstorm:) And seeing the kids have so much fun on their full week of snow days. It really brought back some fun memories from my own snow days…way back when. The end of our driveway was the beginning of large hill that led to our back yard. That hill ended on the lake behind our house. When that hill was covered with snow, we would hose it down and ice it over creating one fast downhill slope out onto the frozen lake. It was crazy fun. This week, no one needed to hose anything down. All the hills (big or small) around here are covered in a quarter inch of ice and the neighborhood kids have had a blast!! Back to memories, I even used to iceskate on that pond. I wasn’t half-bad either. Now that is crazy. Me? Enjoying outdoor winter activity? Tis true!:)
THAT SUSTAINED ME – was believing my hearing would (eventually) return. Not being able to hear for six weeks was discouraging. Sometimes I would jest that I needed to revisit my ASL classes. Maybe my hearing loss was permanent. But, deep down, I just had to believe there was a solution. I’m still putting my hope in that. The thoughts, ideas, concepts, etc. that we mentally dwell on (and constantly rehearse in our brain) genuinely have an effect on us. For the better or the worse.
I AM CARRYING FORWARD – cookie Wednesday:) For the past several months (well maybe not December when I was sick the entire month…), I have reserved Wednesdays for trying a different cookie recipe. I mentioned the problem with this on Wednesday’s post; however, I really do not eat that many of the cookies. I enjoy baking and I enjoy sharing cookies. I have shared cookies all over the place but, I have to admit, no one enjoys the cookies more than the neighbor boys. They love cookies…which makes cookie Wednesday a lot of fun!! Here is the recipe for this week’s cookies (and a photo from her site).
I AM MAKING SPACE FOR – this one was a new and interesting prompt for me. Actually I was a bit stumped at first. Probably over-thinking it, so I looked up the definition: Making space for means actively creating room, time, opportunity, or emotional availability to accommodate something new. It implies a deliberate effort to clear or adjust existing space, whether physically (like rearranging furniture), mentally (letting go of distractions), or emotionally (accepting someone’s truth without judgment). That is certainly a lot for one prompt but definitely a good exercise to consider. Perhaps I will just consider one aspect of the definition each month. I would say this month I have made time for more connections. Each week I am making sure to get out of the house. To meet others simply for social connection. Of course, I love the chance to catch up (and/or enjoy a good cup of coffee, etc) but it really is necessary for my mental health here in the middle of winter. And what a winter it has been so far! Many winters past have found me getting more and more snug inside (or reclusive) as the temperatures continued to drop. By the time the signs of spring would return, I was in a grumpy place. I am determined not to go there again this winter. That said, all this ice and super cold temperatures are really putting me to the test. Often I’m doing good just to keep a positive attitude much less forcing myself to bundle up in order to head out and meet a friend. But…I am always glad once I do!!
So what is something you have loved this month? Did you (do you) love the snow?? Let me know in the comments. And I hope everyone has a warm and safe weekend. I hear there are some (quite a few) that are getting another storm!! Oh my –
