Share Four Somethings: January 2021

Once the Christmas decorations are put away and the last pine needles swept out the front door, Randy starts talking about spring. He’s done with winter; he’s ready for sunny skies, gentle breezes and warmer temperatures.

Not me. Especially this winter, when we didn’t get our first real snowfall until a few weeks into January. I love my cozy winter home. I love my winter wardrobe. I love winter, period.

Now, though—not long after all the snow has melted—I feel the stirrings in my heart too. Not a longing for spring, exactly. But I gaze out at the gray landscape, even take a stroll around my backyard, and start looking forward to gardening season.

I’m still hoping there might be a few good snowstorms left in the forecast for this season. It is only January, after all. But as I wait to see what tomorrow holds, weather wise, I’m joining up with Heather Gerwing to recount something loved, something read, something treasured and something ahead.

• Something loved

Here at the Flowers house, we are big fans of all things Magnolia. We’ve not yet made the trek to Waco to visit the Silos and dine at the Magnolia Table restaurant. But the girls and I eagerly await the arrival of The Magnolia Journal every quarter, and I have a newfound love of cooking thanks to Joanna Gaines’ two cookbooks.

I’ve had Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering for more than a year and received the Volume 2 for my birthday in November. It wasn’t until then that I really started digging in to the recipes in both books, attempting dishes I’ve never tried before and enjoying almost every one of them.

What I love most about Joanna’s cookbooks is that they are completely oriented around food that tastes good and brings people together.

She includes plenty of notes about her family’s preferences and feelings about various dishes. But there is no nutritional information, no guild-inducing emphasis on health-consciousness, no recipes with ingredients that can only be found at Whole Foods Market.

That kind of approach to eating might not be for everyone, but during this season of my life, it’s exactly what I need to serve my family best.

Many of the recipes I’ve tried include multiple steps and take more time than the average home cook might have on any given weekday night. But the directions are understandable with every step clearly spelled out, and so far, even those I feared might turn out badly have been delicious.

Three different kinds of street tacos, chicken parmesan, “JoJo’s Biscuits” (Randy’s specialty), a chocolate cake roll, French silk pie, flourless chocolate cake, chicken-pot pie and beef enchiladas are a few of the dishes my family has appreciated thus far. Oh, and a recipe that is highly favored by all four of us (which rarely happens)—a simple side dish called “Cilantro Lime Rice.”

• Something read

I first saw A Resilient Life: You can Move Ahead No Matter What on my friend Linda’s list of favorite reads from 2020. Written by Gordon MacDonald and published 16 years ago, there’s nothing trendy or flashy about this book. But when Linda said she pulled it off her shelf because she was “not a happy camper” about turning 65, I knew I had to get my hands on it too.

I’m recently 50, not 65, but this book has been enormously helpful as I ponder what I want to do—and, more importantly, what I want to be like—for the rest of my life.

MacDonald’s tone is humble, yet wise; straightforward, yet empathetic. It would be a worthwhile read for anyone who has moved into middle age or beyond, as well as for younger folks who tend to take more of a long-view approach to life.

Here are just a few quotes that resonated with me.

About developing resilience “in secret:”

“People who are developing resilience learn over a period of time not to talk too much about what they’re into,” MacDonald explains. “Telling everyone what one is doing in the private moments of spiritual workout dissipates the quality and effectiveness of the experience.”

And regarding emotions:

“Resilient people … discipline their emotions and make sure they accurately reflect reality,” he writes. “They can be sad, joyful, or elated in appropriate ways at appropriate times. Resilient people see their feelings as a significant part of the wholeness of life, but they do not allow them to become the final arbiter of conviction and choice. ”

• Something treasured

 Last spring, I was planning to start going through and paring down boxes of old papers, letters and memorabilia from my childhood. For me, this type of work is best done when I’m home alone, in the quietness of my basement. So when the pandemic shutdowns began, I shelved the project for a later time when I could give it my full attention.

The beginning of 2021 seemed like a good time to dig in again, and I’ve made good progress pilfering through old school work and report cards, along with newspaper clippings and correspondence from my days as a business news reporter. It’s been quite enlightening to look back at who I was as I try to figure out who I am now and what I hope to become in the future.

The final phase of this project—which I’ve only just begun—is sorting a huge pile of personal letters, cards and notes that I’ve saved over the years. This collection includes an unexpectedly large quantity of typed letters, handwritten cards and emails from my mom.

She was a faithful letter writer and card sender, and—happily for me—had a habit of dating every piece of communication she ever produced. So not only do I have her words, I have chronological context. I can’t even begin to tell you how valuable that is to me.

• Something ahead

There’s a thing in the blogging world called #write28days. It’s a challenge that involves writing and posting every day during the month of February, with the express purpose of developing discipline, consistency and community.

I’m going to be following my own version of #write28days in February. Instead of following prompts sent out by the host of the challenge, I’m putting together a list of ideas that pertaining to a single topic. Instead of posting on my blog every day, I’m just committing to writing from my list every day.

I’ve learned a few things from attempting something similar in October and November. The list is an important starting point—I can’t just sit down at a blank screen and hope meaningful words just flow from my fingertips. I’m also going to try to write in the morning when I’m alone, and not put it off until the evening hours when family life is bustling around me.

• • • 

That’s it for me this month—now it’s your turn. In the comments, please share a favorite cookbook, a meaningful quote from a book you’re reading or your own list of something loved, read, treasured and ahead.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement and Grace & Truth.