Friday, January 25, 2019

Loving * Hearing * Learning * Reading . . . What's Saving My Life

Who doesn't enjoy reading their friends' end-of-the-month posts?  Perhaps taking a peek at what's saving their lives in the current season?  Or skimming through what a kindred spirit is loving, hearing, learning, and paging through?

Sifting through life's oft' random loose ends can be just plain fun.  Sometimes thought-provoking, informative, or touching.  That's what you've told me time and again.

Here's the bits and pieces of late January, what's giving me cause for pause and saving my life in the deep mid-winter by the sea ...


#1.  Something Loved
- the final two Christmas cookies, fished out of the freezer and finished off one mid-January lunchtime

- grabbing a lovely bunch of lilac-hued tulips from Trader Joe's, still closed snug, touched with dew ... a fabulous steal at $4.99

- big girls love stickers, too ... like these bird ones right here and these iconic masterpieces, too ... talk about stress relief


#2.  Something Said
- a curious granddaughter asks, 'Did you ride in covered wagons when you were a little girl?'

- a young pastor reminds his church family that 'God is King and you are not' ... and it recalibrates your controlling tendencies into a series of responses to life's challenges that are a whole lot healthier than they were before

- Brene's brilliant little video on the difference between empathy and sympathy ...


#3.  Something Learned
- if you pray that God will surprise you, be sure that He will ... I promise

- a blustery, frigid weekend is the ideal time to hunker down under a pile of quilts and polish off a riveting first season of The Crown on DVD

- turning off your phone right after dinner helps you get to sleep a whole lot quicker when bedtime rolls around


#4.  Something Read

Beverly Garside

KJ Dell'Antonia

Lois Flowers

And this crazy busy bookish gabfest that more than 700 of you came by to check out.


In the spirit of celebrating what Anne, Emily, Leigh, and Heather have invited us to along the way, I'd love for you to share the link to YOUR end of the month / what's saving my life / what I learned / 4 somethings posts in the comment section!

And please stop by and visit one or two others who've done the same!


like what's happening around here?
please share

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*

visiting 
Julie  .  MarySue  .  Kelly  .  Diane  .  Emily

56 comments:

  1. Loved this post, Linda! The video and pictures are a delight.

    Here's my end-of-month thought...

    Every day and every moment
    runs the knife deeper still;
    'tis the devil's own enjoyment
    setting up the cancer-kill.
    But he'll get no satisfaction
    past ending earthly life,
    for I stand with the faction
    that stands with me in pain and strife.
    These are friends of the ancient day
    who chose not to despise
    the world, and to humbly pay
    the price that bids us rise.
    Thus I raise my beer in toast
    to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

    https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/01/your-dying-spouse-572-lump-fmf.html

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The enemy comes to steal and kill and destroy. But when all is said and done, he has no power at all. Your life is in Christ.

      Praying with you, for you, friend, as you soldier on ...

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  2. Thank you for sharing that Brene Brown video. That was a very helpful illustration.

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    1. I love that little video! Every time I watch it, yet another bit of wisdom jumps out and grabs me.

      And I love that we've met this weekend, Megan ...

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  3. The Crown...so good! I finally caught up on a few shows while down with the flu this month (This is Us and Call the Midwife). I also love your tip to turn the phone off to get to bed early. So true!

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    1. Yep, there's nothing like the flu to wipe us out and render us pretty much useless. I remember when Lyme disease hit me. I think I pretty much just laid on the sofa for a few weeks, half watching Chopped reruns.

      I hope you're feeling better, Kelly!

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  4. Cookies ... plenty of food for thoughts in this post ... cookies ... cookies ...

    God bless.

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    1. I'm missing those cookies already, Victor ... ya' know, with a hot cuppa ...

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  5. Thanks for sharing all of these with us. So many valuable nuggets here,. Tulips sound heavenly right now. a little slice of spring!

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  6. This is a great end of the month collection. The Brene Brown video is great - I've seen it before but it's good to be reminded of it. And the sticker book looks like fun!

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    1. I love that little video! Sometimes a little humor goes a long way in making truth clear ...

      'You want a sandwich?'

      * smiles *

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  7. I love these monthly posts and especially like how you categorized yours. so much to read and click through.

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    1. Hi Jean! The categories this month are courtesy of Heather Gerwing
      http://www.heathergerwing.com/

      Always fun to do something a bit different ...

      I'm glad you're here.

      Delete
  8. I've got several tabs open from your links, Linda. :) Thanks for the goodies! Had to laugh at the covered wagon comment. I get those occasionally too. ha.

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  9. Oh Linda ... I do love these bits-n-pieces posts of yours! I occasionally get a question about "the olden days," which of course always makes me laugh. The video about the difference between empathy and sympathy is so good ... the visual of the silver lining will stick with me for sure. And many thanks for sharing my "God knew" post ... it's amazing how such a simple truth can make such a difference in your life, isn't it? Hugs, friend!

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    1. Dear Lois, your post was tender and wise and spoke deeply into my own heart. Delighted I am to share it here.

      I just KNOW that someone in this neck of the woods needs to read your truth, His truth.

      Delete
  10. The sticker masterpiece book looks fun. The article on the momma feeling alone is so good. So enjoyed your list. So many good tidbits here.

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    1. Sometimes a bunch of tidbits are a necessary pleasure!

      ;-)

      Theresa, so glad you're here ...

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  11. What a GREAT video! Thank you for sharing this! I see a storm headed your way--better be sure the wagon is in the barn and the animals are all bedded down. LOL!
    Blessings, My Friend!

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    1. THAT'S funny!

      Me and my covered wagon are ready to roll ...

      ;-)

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  12. Lots of goodies here again, Linda! Thank you! I never knew there was such a thing as a paint-by-sticker book. The post about the mom feeling invisible and excluded inspires me to remember what we can learn from those situations and how we can be an even better source of hope to others. Lois' blog is one of my regulars and always encourage me. :) Love and blessings to you!

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    1. Yes, Trudy, I've felt invisible more times than I care to remember. God can use those hurtful occasions to make us sensitive and compassionate toward others ...

      It's one of blogging's greatest opportunities, isn't it?!

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  13. My grandson and I made a batch of Christmas tree cookies that look just like yours--except I think he may have been a bit heavier handed with the sprinkles!

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    1. For sure! The most heavily decorated cookies usually come from the energetic hands of the next generation!

      And those are the ones I reach for first ...

      ;-)

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  14. Trade Joe's flowers are the best! Thanks for linking up!

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    1. Tulips and January were made for each other, yes?

      ;-}

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  15. Hi Linda, it is wonderful to meet you. I just read your bio, I always love meeting Christian bloggers! I enjoyed reading your end of the month post. What is not to love about finding two Christmas cookies in the freezer and eating them for lunch. Tulips at TJ’s are always a good idea. The only problem for me is that it is an hour and a half drive to get to the nearest TJ’s.

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    1. So fun to meet and connect with you this week, Pam! Looking forward to getting to know you better through your beautiful blog ...

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  16. Enjoyed your end of the month musings, Linda. I viewed Brene's video a while back and just love it. The question from your granddaughter about covered wagons made me smile. :-) And good advice about turning off the phone in the evening. It keeps our brain engaged for way too many hours in the day anyway.

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    1. You're so right, Karen. I'm finding myself detaching just a bit from my phone ... and certainly from my laptop.

      And it's a very very good feeling indeed ...

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  17. Great wrap up of "joys". Visiting you from the welcome heart link up. laurensparks.net

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    1. So much joy around us just waiting to be claimed ... even in the midst of everything else that's coming at us, yes?

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  18. Love your list! And that first one about the cookies made me smile (It also made me want cookies!) :)

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    1. Cookies make me smile, too, Becky.

      Especially when they're homemade. By someone else

      Bonus points for chocolate chips involved ...

      ;-}

      Delete
  19. Oh the last two Christmas cookies! Such a bittersweet moment each year!

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  20. What a beautiful month, Linda!The last of the Christmas cookies, tulips, little children with eye-widening conversation - so much sweet blessing!The goodness is there - if we look for it, vintage it - isn't it!

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    1. It has been a very good month! It's 9 degrees today but the sun is shining bright and our house is warm.

      God is good.

      And I'm so glad you're here!

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  21. Funny about the covered-wagon question. :-) I enjoyed the article about being excluded. I've seen adult coloring books but not sticker books til now.

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    1. Yeah, that exclusion article touched something tender in me ...

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  22. That Brene Brown video is amazing! The visual storytelling through animation really makes the theme memorable.

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    1. Absolutely, Valerie! A little humor goes a real long way ...

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  23. Turning off your phone right after dinner. Oh boy, I need to start embracing that one!

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    1. It's working for me. I don't need to be tethered any more than I already am.

      ;-(

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  24. Linda,
    #1 and #2 made me smile :-) Thanks for asking us to share our list of what we learned in January...here's mine https://soulstops.com/five-things-i-learned-in-january-2019/. Blessings on you :-)

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    1. Dolly, thanks for including your monthly link ... giving opportunity for everyone to share their roundups is something I want to cultivate!

      A great big gold star to you, friend ...

      ;-)

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  25. Linda, so much to love here! I am very late to your party, and for that I am sorry. I've been working to make sure my phone isn't the boss of me. I have turned off some notifications and I'm working to set boundaries so that it doesn't distract me.

    January is the month where I learned some ways to manage my time better, and I'm working on implementing some of the strategies I learned. :) And I read your article about "Man Overboard." There is so much wisdom in that post! My parents are on the hoarder side of things, and I am learning how to gently encourage them to go through some of their things and see what they can give to to others who will use them. My mom and I have begun going through her things, and honestly? That makes my heart ridiculously happy. :)

    Enjoy your weekend, and stay warm, my friend!

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  26. I LOVED The Crown! The best part was that my husband loved it too, so we watched together. And the last two Christmas cookies! What fun. :)

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    1. Don't you just love when you find something that the two of you can share?

      ;-}

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  27. February Share Four Somethings is up. Would love to have you join!

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    1. Here I come, ready or not!

      http://www.lindastoll.net/2019/02/a-mid-winter-photo-album-loose-ends.html

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  28. Just lovely, Linda! That Brene Brown video is profound. I will definitely be sharing that one. Thank you for these reflections.

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    1. Yes, for sure, it was simply profound ... a little humor sure goes along way.

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