February

February 2019

February was a straight up snowmeggedon. We have about 2 feet of snow and 3-4 foot snow banks and berms. It has been terrible to try to drive anywhere this month. The roads have been HORRID. It was also abnormally cold. We are caught in the midst of a hellacious polar vortex with a subzero weather pattern that has hung around for most of the end of January, all of February, and is going strong into March. I AM NOT A FAN. I have tried to hygge it up but this has been too much. I am done. Winter sucks.

Something that doesn't suck...Tyler's birthday!! He turned 48! We had a big family dinner and Superbowl/birthday celebration. He likes to do that every year. Although this year we almost broke with tradition. We almost didn't even do it because he threatened that he wasn't going to watch the Superbowl because he was so disgusted by the teams that were playing. He HATES the Patriots!! He absolutely LOATHES them!! It didn't help that his favorite team the Kansas City Chiefs were SO CLOSE to being in the Superbowl and then got knocked out. It was a hard blow and it took awhile for Tyler to rally. But traditions are traditions and as his birthday actually fell right on Superbowl Sunday we went ahead with his Superbowl Birthday Party! More on that later...

The day before Superbowl Sunday we met up with Jordin, Ramon, and kids. They wanted to celebrate Tyler's birthday so we met them at Ailey's dance team competition and they got to watch her perform. Ailey was so excited to have them there cheering her on!

Then we all went out to dinner at Fujiyama! It was so delicious! We haven't had a good Japanese Hibachi restaurant in town before and now we do! It was fantastic and I can't wait to go back!

We had so much fun!!

Then the next day was the Superbowl and we partied it up some more!! Tyler requested Mexican casserole and chips with homemade guacamole and salsa. He also requested his favorite southern specialty... pimento cheese and crackers. He didn't want a cake this year...he requested ice cream sundaes with my granny's homemade hot fudge. So despite his initial reluctance to watch the game he got right into it. There was a lot of yelling and cursing of the Patriots and everyone was riled up and seemed to enjoy it. Although I did think Tyler, Hunter, and Kam were going to lose their minds yelling and cursing those !@#$ Patriots! LOL.

Ailey and I were bored! We were only in it for the food!

The next weekend we had a lengthy power outage. It was terrible. Our power was out for 10 hours on a Saturday and the temperature outside was 5 degrees. All of the heavy snow, ice, and wind  took down power lines left and right. We had some serious flashbacks and PTSD to the windstorm of 2015 when our power was out for 9 days straight. But unlike the windstorm of 2015 we had a generator this time! Hallelujah. Tyler hooked that thing up and we were able to stay warm.

During that same storm a pine tree came down on Jordin and Ramon's house in North Idaho. Thank goodness no one was hurt and that the damage...while annoying...was minimal.

Kameron had his oral surgery and got the post, which is the first part of his tooth implant, put in. How crazy is this picture?! Now he waits while it heals into the bone and then he goes back in 6 months to have the faux tooth created and put over the top of the post. The post is titanium and it should last for a lifetime. I am so glad that we got this done! Kameron did really well. He said that the procedure didn't really hurt and his recovery was quick and not too painful. I was quite surprised at how well he did!

Kameron started going to physical therapy twice a week for his knees. The physical therapist did a bunch of tests and several different assessments like the zero gravity treadmill. They analyzed all the videos and data that they collected. They found out that Kameron's knee issues are actually the result of a hip issue. He has a very weak right hip muscle that has screwed up his knees and caused him to have a weird running gait (unnoticeable) but it forced Kam to have to overcompensate with both of his knees and it put stress and strain on them. Who knew?! His PT is continuing on into March...not sure how long he will have to go. But I am glad that we are getting this situation dealt with too.

Tyler also finished up all of his dental work. He DID need to have a root canal and crown but only on the one side. He did great and said that it didn't hurt during or after. Dental technology must have really improved over the years! I have heard so many people say how horrible root canals are. Tyler had no issues at all! I am glad that he is done! Sheesh!

Due to the incredible amount of snow that we have had...we had two days of "late start" two hour delays and one full snow day. Tyler was able to work from home on those days which was nice. I just had to stress about Reilly driving to and from work.

The girls played outside and ate jello in the snow! Looks terrible but tastes delicious!

Kameron had a big competition preview concert at the Fox Theater downtown on truly one of the snowiest nights ever! They should have cancelled this concert. I cannot even describe how treacherous the roads were that night!

Kameron did a great job and we survived the drive. Barely.

We had an early family Valentine's Dinner. I had a vintage show on Valentine's weekend which was inconvenient but what can you do? We celebrated early!

The kids requested homemade pizzas, (I had tempura shrimp), teriyaki green beans, and strawberry jello pretzel salad for dinner. I found the cutest mini Martinellis for us to drink. Reilly brought over cake pops for dessert and we had lots of chocolate!! :)

We had a fun night and played a bunch of games! I love our Valentine traditions!!

I also love tulips in February!! 

Tyler and I also had to celebrate early since set-up day for my vintage show in Post Falls, Idaho was actually on Valentine's Day so we were pretty low-key this year. We went out for Thai food a few days before and then took Ailey and Bryn out on Valentine's Day. That was okay because Tyler had planned a birthday/late Valentine's day weekend at the Davenport Hotel for a few weeks later. Things were so crazy with all that we had going on. (Kam was in Portland over Valentine's weekend.)

Bryn made this cute unicorn Valentine box for school!

The same day as I had set-up for my vintage show Kameron headed out of town to go to a band competition in Portland. The roads could not have been worse. I felt like this trip also should have been cancelled and expressed those feelings but it was not. I am not the biggest fan of Kameron's band teacher right now. But this picture shows that Kam had a great time despite my worry. He texted me multiple times to let me know that he was still alive. Much appreciated.

FYI... Kam's girlfriend Abby is the blonde in the red sweatshirt. ;)

I participated in the Pickin Post Falls Vintage Show and Artisan Market in Post Falls, Idaho. Ailey and Bryn totally stepped up and helped out. Normally Kameron helps Tyler with all of the heavy lifting, but for this show it was Ailey, Bryn, and me!!  Ailey and Bryn did such a great job! They loaded and unloaded the trailer and lugged furniture and bins like champs. They were awesome!!

Reilly stopped by the venue later in the day so we got to see all of our girlies on Valentine's Day!

The weather and roads were so awful that after I was done setting up we followed Reilly back to her apartment to make sure that she got home okay. It was TERRIBLE!

Here are some pictures of my booth:

Tyler was a great helper! It is really fun to do shows together!! I love working with him.

Ailey and Bryn also got to help out in my booth on day two of the show. They are so cute and such good helpers!! The weather was still a nightmare. It was an absolute blizzard all three days in a row. But people still showed up! I was shocked... and appreciative. Vintage shoppers truly are the best! Kameron made it home from Portland that night after my show was over. He got home while we were all out to dinner celebrating a job well done. I was so relieved that he made it home safely. They ended up leaving half a day early in order to deal with the snow and icy roads.

 Ailey got her official dance team pictures back:

So cute!

I had book club at my friend Arianne's house. We read this book...sad but good.

We all really liked it!

Here's proof that I actually *tried* to enjoy winter. I tried to be outside as much as possible despite knee deep snow and subzero temps!

Some days... actually many days...it was way too cold to be outside at all. (Bryn hasn't had an outside recess in weeks.) On those days we hit the gym. I had to stay active in order to combat severe cabin fever! I also read a lot! I flew through the books this month. Unfortunately, nothing really helped. I am SO OVER WINTER!!

Kameron had so many band and jazz concerts in February! He had the competition preview concert. He had a jazz concert. He went to Portland to compete. He went to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. He was supposed to go to another competition at Central Washington University last week for another competition but due to weather and sick students (half of the band was sick) they ended up cancelling that trip. Hallelujah. It has been too much this month! Oh yeah, there was also a wind ensemble retreat but Kam wasn't able to go to that. He also had multiple rehearsals for Hawaii. (He leaves for that school trip at the end of March.) It was craziness!

While Kameron had an unbelievable amount of performances this month...so did Ailey. It is dance competition season. Ailey had dance competitions every Saturday and so many rehearsals and practices. It has also been craziness! But just like with Kam, it has been fun to watch her perform.

For this competition, my mom, Reilly, and Hunter were able to come and cheer for Ailey. She loved having them there!!

We went out to dinner with my mom afterward. It has been fun having her come to all of the grandkids different events lately. Tyler and I also met up with Jordin, Ramon, and kids for a fun weekday lunch at PF Changs. Ramon had just flown back from a trip to Colorado and we were all able to meet up for a quick lunch before they drove back home and Tyler had to head back to the office.

We have had so many doctor and dental appointments! But it feels good to get things like this taken care of early in the year. Tyler had his yearly cardiology appointment and things looked good so that was a relief!

The church had another delightful bombshell of an announcement. I literally burst into hysterical tears of joy upon reading the statement from the First Presidency... that missionaries can now call, text, and video chat with their families WEEKLY!! I read that and promptly began sobbing. I had been dreading Kam's mission on bad days and trying to come to terms with only talking to him twice a year on good days. I have been so stressed about how I was going to deal with that. It was hard enough sending Reilly out into the world and I was able to track her and text her and talk to her whenever I wanted. Not being in regular communication with Kameron was going to be very difficult. I know that Kameron was apprehensive about that too. I like how one church blogger put it, "The shouts of joy from the moms of the church ascended to heaven!" I immediately texted Kam at school to tell him the news. He was pretty happy about it! He said that the news was spreading fast because he had several of his non church member friends come up to him to talk about it and to tell him this good news if he didn't already know. I think it is so great that families will be able to share more in their child's missionary experience and that the missionary will also be able to receive regular support and encouragement from their families.

Under the category of it's hard to parent adult children.... we have had several family meetings with Reilly and Hunter. Hunter moved in with Reilly at the first of February. Tyler and I knew that it was coming so we were somewhat prepared but it was still a hard situation for our family to come to terms with...particularly for Kam, Ailey, and Bryn. I think as parents of faith you always hope that your kids will stay on the path that you have set before them. It is hard when they seem to reject their upbringing and faith. I wouldn't say that Reilly has rejected them as much as she feels that she has put them "on hold" for now. Regardless, there were repercussions and ripple effects from their decision to move in together. I think we all handled it pretty well under the circumstances. Hunter, not coming from an LDS background, didn't really know why we felt the way that we did when his family didn't seem to have any issues with it. We were able to have several really good family discussions where Tyler and I explained our position, where we were coming from, why we feel the way that we do, and our concerns. Reilly and Hunter were very respectful. Everyone was very loving and no one was angry or defensive. We did have to set some boundaries with them which they agreed to and they were both very understanding about. Tyler and I prayed HARD before those conversations and they went pretty well. It all comes down to the fact that we love our daughter... unconditionally. Nothing is going to change that or put a wedge into our family. We love each other, we support one another, and we are there for one another...the end. Those conversations were filled with a lot of love on both sides and they took place early in the month and as we are all still hanging out and having fun together I consider that a win. We still talk a lot as things come up. It isn't easy but keeping the lines of communication open...and lots of prayer...has been helpful.

On a lighter note...Ailey and I are planning a fun trip this summer with my sister-in-law, Meki, my niece, Kaiya, and my mom. We are going on a big crazy road trip to Texas! We are going to Waco, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Galveston, Fredrickburg, and who knows where else. My niece Kaiya will be spending the summer in Houston for ballet and we are all going to drop her off. It should be quite the adventure! Ailey and Kaiya are so excited!

Also, my sister-in-law Lori (Tyler's sister) moved to Salt Lake. We are super excited to have her closer and to be able to see her more often. It is going to be such a great move for her.

Now onto March!

February: Things I am Loving

Things I am Loving:


1.) The Last Kingdom on Netflix

Tyler's favorite author is Bernard Cornwell. He writes historical fiction and Tyler is a HUGE fan! He has been trying...to no avail...to get me to read some of his novels. I don't know why I haven't because I love historical fiction. It is my favorite genre. I guess it is because most Bernard Cornwell books center around war and they just haven't sounded that appealing to me despite hearing hours and hours of book synopses and discussion from Tyler. :)

A couple of years ago the BBC made one of his series of books...previously called The Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories and now called The Last Kingdom series... into a TV show which Tyler watched and loved. Then Netflix bought the show and made a third season and they are currently at work on season four. Tyler has been begging me to watch this series and I just haven't really wanted to. Vikings...Saxons... whatever. BOY WAS I WRONG!!

Due to Snowmageddon here in Spokane and having to be cooped up even more than usual in the winter I relented and said that I would watch the first episode. I will warn you that the first episode is probably the worst one so I wasn't completely sold on the series even then but I wanted to know what happened next so I watched another episode and that was it! No one saw me for the next four days!! I binged watched the entire show. IT IS SO GOOD!!!

The Last Kingdom series tells the tale of Alfred the Great and his descendants through the eyes of Uhtred (all the heart eyes for him!!) an English boy born into the aristocracy of ninth century Northumbria. He ends up being captured by the Danes as a small boy and being raised by a Viking warlord and taught their ways. I will also add all the heart eyes for Ragnar Ragnarsson too!

I loved this show so much!! It is fantastic!! It is also quite racy, violent, and bloody so if that isn't your thing you have been warned and should read the books instead. I loved this show so passionately that I went into serious mourning and could have killed Tyler because he told me that there were four seasons to watch and it turned out there were ONLY THREE!! (Season four is in production). You did not want to be at our house that night when the series...just...ended.... I was not a happy camper!! Now while I wait...for months...for season four... I guess I will read the books. I need more Uhtred and Ragnar!!

2.) Silicon Egg Bite Maker.

Tyler and I like those weird egg bites from Starbucks...Sous Vide Egg Bites. If I have to eat something fast-foodish I get those. Anyway, Tyler found this silicon egg bite maker on Amazon that works in your Instapot. Tyler has been making us all kinds of different egg bite combos with all sorts of different ingredients. They are so good! They are the perfect protein packed snack or meal. We are loving them!

3.) Audible Membership

Have I done this one before? I don't think so but I do think that I have talked about it. I got an Audible membership for Christmas and I love it so much!! I always need to have an audiobook on my phone. I love listening to audiobooks while I'm working on Sisters Creed projects and driving my kids all over the place. This has truly been the gift that keeps on giving!

4.) Trader Joe's Salted Caramel Sauce

How have I never even heard about this until a few weeks ago?! Tyler and I were at Trader Joe's one Saturday night trying to find a dessert for Sunday. We came in for mochi but our favorite flavors were sold out but right above the mochi was this little jar of heaven!! We decided to grab some ice cream for our Sunday dessert and we also grabbed a jar of this caramel sauce to try. It may have been our most brilliant idea! Or my diet down fall....  IT IS SO DELICIOUS!! It tastes just like homemade caramel sauce. I am a big caramel person and I am super picky about my caramel. It has to be REALLY good or it's not worth my time. THIS is worth my time! You can hold the ice cream please...just give me a spoon. And period week? This jar is a real friend!! ;)


5.) Magnolia Table Cookbook

I read this cookbook last month and thought that it was great! There were so many recipes that I wanted to try. Fast forward to the end of February and I HAVE tried a bunch and we have loved all of them!! Seriously! We haven't tried a bad recipe yet!! This is a great cookbook and I highly recommend it! Also, the holy grail of pimento cheese has been found within its covers. Joanna Gaines' recipe is THE BEST!! I am LOVING making, baking, cooking, and preparing all of her delicious recipes!!

10 Things to Tell You: #4

10 Things to Tell You: How Do You Connect To Your Body?

And...it's another difficult writing prompt. How do I connect to my body? Good question.

I would say that I didn't for many years. But once I hit 40 and actually started *feeling* my body more...since it seemed to be falling apart and betraying me...I tuned in and started paying more attention. I had to. It was demanding notice.

I would say that in the last five years I have been learning about and experiencing more of the mind/body/spirit connection and trying to find balance. I have been so surprised to learn how truly our body keeps the score...with stress, trauma, anxiety...things like that. I am learning how everything really is connected. I don't know why this was such a shock to me but it was. It seems so obvious now. I have been working hard to try to have a healthy and loving relationship with my body. It hasn't been easy but I am listening to it more...because it has been screaming at me for the past several years...gut issues, hair loss, weight gain, low energy, anxiety, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, suddenly needing reading glasses, wrinkles...add to that the relentless noise of body issues. I am trying to learn to feel comfortable in my own skin...mentally and physically. It is a process.

I grew up in a home that was stressful and chaotic. It wasn't always a safe place. Exercise became my way of dealing with hard emotions and problems. It was a release for me. I was a child who played outside and played hard for as long as possible. I never came inside unless I absolutely had to. Living in Springdell was the perfect outlet...there was so much to do but when we moved to Kansas City and I was cooped up inside it was terrible. When I was a junior in high school I got a job at Meadowbrook Athletic Club. I started working in their childcare center and then moved up to the front desk. I got a free membership and worked out to my heart's content. I took every aerobics and fitness class that I could and hung out there with my coworkers and friends. When I had hard emotions to deal with I went for long walks or runs. I remember being in certain situations at home and not being able to deal with it anymore so I would grab my running shoes and hit the road. Many times I remember my mom chasing me down in the car to try to talk to me. Somehow exercise has always been an outlet for me. I always knew that it helped to relieve my anxiety and stress and helped me to problem solve. I have worked out regularly, 4-5 days a week, for the last 30 years. I have never been without a gym membership since I was 17 years old. It is a necessity for me. I know that I need that outlet both mentally and physically.

My relationship with food has been a journey as well. Up until having children I had always been tall and slim and I never had to worry about what I ate. I could eat what I wanted and not gain weight. Oh those were the days! I am also not a stress eater which is good but since I am a stress exerciser that was not always helpful. As a teenager I would sometimes get too skinny and had several uncomfortable conversations with my mother about that. She would ask me... did I think I had an eating disorder...did I feel compelled to exercise...did I think I needed to lose weight. No on all accounts. But my home life during high school was traumatic and there were times that I did lose weight that I didn't need to lose. College, while fun and exciting, was also stressful so I worked out a lot and didn't eat much due to being a poor college student. Several times my roommate and BFF Tiffany threatened to call my mom if I didn't start gaining some weight. I think she actually did call my mom once. At that time, I had just broken up with someone, I was taking a full and challenging course load, and I was working two jobs. My weight was 103 and I am 5'9. I don't blame her. I would have called her too. When I am stressed, worried, scared, or sad I literally cannot eat. I just shut down that way.

But despite all of that, food is one of the great loves of my life and it is something that I have been consciously mindful of since puberty. My stepfather, a runner and a jerk, often remarked on the foods that I ate. I felt like everything I ate was being noticed and judged which was weird since we very rarely had sweets, snacks, or desserts at our house. My mom loves salty and fatty foods and we had those things in abundance but as those aren't my go-to snacks I have been a fairly healthy eater from early on.

Marrying Tyler, who is a type 1 diabetic, made me even more mindful of the things that we ate and had in our home. I had to constantly think about what foods to buy and eat. Especially in the days before insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Tyler has a HUGE sweet tooth which is TERRIBLE for a diabetic obviously and so we couldn't have a bunch of junk in the house or he would eat it. I have also had to think about how many carbs we were eating since Tyler had to calculate those after meals to know how much insulin he would need to take. Those were the days before carb counting was a thing. Mindful eating has been a part of our lives since we started dating.

After having kids we knew that we wanted to start them out on a healthy path. Since we have a one in four chance of our kids also being diabetic we often talked about having our kids eat healthy foods from the start. Then if they should become diabetic changing their diets wouldn't be such a traumatic  upheaval like it was for Tyler. Also, with Tyler's family's heart issues (and now Tyler's too) we have also been conscientious about not eating a super fatty diet.

When Reilly was a toddler and Kameron was a baby we had a few situations occur. Reilly got terrible food poisoning from a hot dog and Kameron had a severe milk allergy. Tyler and I made the decision to cut out meat from our kids diets and ours too, for the most part, and as Kam couldn't have any milk products and I was breastfeeding him we cut out dairy also. This was drastic but we felt that it was necessary. We were vegan WAY before being vegan was hip and cool. After Kam turned one and I stopped breastfeeding him we added dairy back into our diets. Kameron eventually out grew his milk allergy (thank goodness) but we kept our children eating a vegetarian diet. You cannot believe the blowback that we got for that decision. People, family, friends, acquaintances, even strangers were down right rude and extremely judgmental. So often people DEMANDED an explanation. Like we need to explain to you... random ward member... why our kids don't eat meat OR how they are getting enough protein? I don't think so. That still pisses me off and society has really evolved in the last 20 years. Let me just add that our pediatricians both in Utah and here in WA have always been super supportive of this and many times both of them have asked me for vegetarian recipes!! So suck it. See I am still hostile about it.

Our families didn't understand it either. My family was more supportive and my mom would always... although at times exasperatedly... make sure that there was always a vegetarian option. My mother in law, on the other hand, did not support our decision and was very vocal about her displeasure to everyone. What is absolutely hilarious and oh so ironic...is that my mother in law over the course of the last 20 years with her various health and gut issues is now a VEGAN!! Will wonders never cease?! I still can't believe it. Tyler's brother and his wife also eat almost no meat and dairy. Hmmm... times they are a changin'. Even on my side of the family my sister in law Meki eats very similar to us and my niece, Kaiya, is a vegetarian. I guess we aren't so weird after all. I mean my extended family still finds it weird that the Johnsons don't eat many snacks and treats but we aren't crazy about it...lake time, holidays, birthdays etc are times to splurge. We always have a dessert on Sunday but my kids never take chips or desserts or "snack type foods" in their lunches. They don't eat sugar cereal. We very rarely eat processed foods or fast food. We just don't have stuff like that in our house. Do they complain? YES! Have they thanked us? Also YES!

It has been interesting watching Reilly over the years. After moving out and living on her own she decided that she was going to eat whatever she liked. She has now come back around to our way of eating. She learned that eating whatever she liked with no regard for her body had consequences. Plus, it really is easier and cheaper to eat healthy. Reilly still eats a vegetarian diet. Kameron will eat meat when he is not eating at home... but at our house he still eats a vegetarian diet. But every one of our kids are mindful eaters and haters of processed foods. They have learned what Tyler and I have learned...that when we eat garbage we feel like garbage. I love that they all talk about how they feel after eating certain things. They are learning way earlier than me to feel connected to their bodies. It was so funny after the holidays this year when every single member of my family said to me at one point..."No more sweets and no more rich food!"

Our way of eating has been super helpful with all of Tyler's health issues like when he had his heart surgery and had a stent put in. He didn't have to change one thing in his diet. His heart issues are 100% hereditary. Our kids family health history REQUIRES that they be mindful eaters. Reilly struggles with emotional and stress eating. (Many people in my family do.) She also hates to exercise. She has really struggled the past few years. I am super proud of the decision that she has made in the last few months to make her health her first priority. Health...not weight. There is a difference and a distinction. It isn't about losing weight... it is about being healthy and feeling good. I eat the way I do and exercise because of the way it makes me feel...losing weight is secondary.

Now onto the mind. I am a big proponent of counseling. The mind part of the mind/body connection is huge. What happens in our minds manifests itself in our bodies. Read the book The Body Keeps the Score. That book is powerful and life changing. Also, there is no shame in going to counseling. Everyone needs counseling. I REPEAT...EVERYONE needs counseling!! Working through issues as they arise is so helpful and healing past issues is so important.

Stillness is another thing that I am learning and working on. Stillness is becoming relaxing to me...be that through prayer or meditation. Prayer is my go to. I need prayer all day every day. That connection to the Lord is my lifeline. How do you parent without prayer? Not possible. Also listening to my body and understanding its need for down days...days without anything going on...days of quiet and rest. I am not a quiet and restful person by nature. Quiet and rest have always made me antsy but I am learning and coming to really appreciate and value those days. I cannot go 100 miles an hour each and every day. It drains me and leaves me empty with nothing to give to anyone.

Sleep is also huge for me. I NEED 8 hours. I am neither a night owl nor an early bird. I could seriously go to bed every night at 8 pm. I don't...but nights that I do get to bed early are a delight as are mornings that I get to sleep in!

The whole concept of the mind/body/spirit connection and feeling connected to my body is a work in progress. Exercise, healthy eating, dealing with issues and emotions as they arise, being still, connecting with a higher power, getting adequate sleep, and having a healthy sex life are all ways that help me to do that. (Yes, a healthy sex life is a big part of feeling connected to our bodies and to our partners...but that is a topic for another day!)

I am sure that it will be a life long journey for me to feel connected to my body and to have a balanced mind, body, and spirit. But I have seen a crucial shift over the last few years in my thinking and how I live my life. I do have a deeper appreciation and respect for what a miracle my body is and what it can do. I am listening to my body much more these days but I still have a long way to go.

10 Things to Tell You: #3

10 Things to Tell You: Where Do You Live?

Why do you live there? What do you love about it, or don't? How has it changed you (or not)?

Yes! A lighter and less gloomy writing prompt. I live in Spokane, WA and I love it...most of the time. I am NOT a fan of the cold and snow and right now we are inundated with several feet of snow and I am HATING it. I cannot take all of this winteriness. I am most definitely a summer person!

Why do we live in Spokane?

Reason #1

My great-great grandparents, great-grandparents, and grandparents are all from around here...the Eastern WA and Northern Idaho area. My mom and her siblings were raised in a small town about 2 hours away. My great-grandparents purchased a piece of property on a lake in Northern Idaho in the early 1900s and started a resort called Echo Beach. The lake, which is approximately a half an hour from our house, has been a gathering place and summer vacation destination for five generations now. It is a place and area that I love.

I grew up for most of my life in Utah and loved the craggy mountains and canyons there. (I have also lived in Kansas City and Houston.) I attended college at BYU and Tyler and I lived in Utah for the first five years of our marriage. But there was always something that called for us to move up North. One summer when I was a newlywed and up at the lake for vacation I went on a walk with my Aunt Marji. I asked her to give me her best marriage advice. She told me first and foremost to, "Move where you want to live!" She told me that she wished that she and my Uncle Dennis had done that right away after they got married because once you have kids and get established in an area it is really hard to move and relocate. Her advice stuck with me. Tyler and I always hated the drive back to Utah after leaving the lake and would constantly ask ourselves, "Why do we live in Utah?! We don't we live up here?!" We talked about it all the time and talked about what my Aunt Marji had said but moving just never seemed like a real possibility.

When I was pregnant with Kameron, Tyler was working for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympics. As the Olympics approached and his work began to dwindle SLOC sent in headhunters to help their employees find new jobs... even around the country if that was their wish. I remember Tyler and I joking around and saying,  "We should see if there is anything in Spokane!" I didn't really take it seriously but Tyler did and a position was found in Spokane. He applied, interviewed, and got the job. We were so excited!!

I loved the Utah of my youth and, of course, I love and adore Springdell but coming back to Utah for college (although I loved Provo and BYU) and definitely after... it no longer felt like home to me. Tyler and I never thought that we would stay in Utah forever or raise our family there. Tyler and I really hated the Utah Mormon Culture AND the Utah Anti-Mormon Counter Culture. We still do. It is such a hostile environment. It feels like being permanently trapped in an election year with constant attacks and counter attacks from both sides. Who wants to live like that? Utah Mormons and ex-Mormons are constantly at each other's throats. We loathed it. We couldn't wait to move away. Tyler and I both have lived in other states and have experienced the church outside of Utah. Those experiences had a big influence on us. The church culture is so much more accepting and peaceful outside of Utah as is what ever happens to be the counter culture. There is just so much anger and rage in Utah. People who leave the church cannot leave the church alone. It becomes weirdly part of their identity to constantly *rebel* against the church and their members and beliefs. I find this so odd. When people leave the Catholic church or the Protestant church or whatever...they just leave. There isn't this need to fight against everything their previous church stands for. On the other side, there are many members of the church in Utah that have this bizarre superiority complex and that grated on us too. We had to get out. It was the best decision that we have made. For our family and for our spirituality.

One of my very favorite sights!

All of that to say, that I really do love where we live. We might not have towering craggy mountains but we have gorgeous pine covered mountains that are just as beautiful. We have water! Lakes, rivers, creeks, streams, and waterfalls all over the place. I love it when I am on a road trip and I start getting closer to home and I can smell the pine trees again. There is no better smell to me than pine and water. The most heavenly smell in the world is pulling up to the lake house. Make that a perfume and I will buy it!

Reason #2

I love the beauty of our area. I love how close we are to nature. Want to go hiking? A trail is 10 minutes away and the trail head isn't crowded and packed...unlike Utah. Plus, when I am hiking I want to see water and water is everywhere here. There are 76 lakes near the Spokane area. 76! I googled it. I am lake girl through and through. I love the water...boating, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding. This area is heaven for me. There are gorgeous biking trails and if you are into camping, fishing, and skiing this area cannot be beat.

Reason #3

I love that Spokane is the perfect size. Not too small and not too big. It's around the same size as Boise but it feels smaller and less sprawling. I love our downtown. I love the Spokane River that flows through it. I love the gorgeous parks we have. I feel like Spokane is a hidden gem. The cost of living here is cheap. There is so much to do. There is culture and the arts. The shopping and restaurant scenes are really taking off. Our traffic and commute times are so much better than most other places of a similar size. We have good schools here and the Gonzaga University scene. There is a temple here and a large LDS population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the second largest religion in Spokane with Catholicism being the first. I love the connection to history that I feel here and to my own personal family history. Also, the architecture has a timeless quality that I love. There are great people and the summers are AMAZING!!

Reason #4

It feels like home. We have loved living here for the past 17 years. It's been a great place to raise our family. Sometimes we get the itch to move to another area. Tyler and I love Texas, Tyler loves North Carolina, and we both love Portland. We often long to get out of the snow and move somewhere warmer. We want to be snowbirds in our retirement! But we both really love living here and it can't be too bad because Reilly moved back and she doesn't seem to have any interest in moving anywhere else. Yay! Now if we could get all of our kids to do the same! :) Most of my family lives here now and the rest aren't too far away in Utah. I think that Spokane is a wonderful well kept secret in the Pacific Northwest. Plus, I love that it is close to Seattle, Portland, and Canada.

There are a few things that I DISLIKE about living here:

1.) It starts to get dark at 3:30 pm in the winter.

2.) Winters...they are super long, gray, and gloomy.

3.) Summer is short...but oh so sweet.

4.) No good Mexican food.

5.) No good Chinese food ...or Chinese delivery! How have I lived here for so long without Chinese delivery? That was our weekly staple/splurge when we lived in Utah. Although with things like Ubereats that is starting to change.

6.) Sunny days are never the norm. They are a surprise and a delight! I always notice and appreciate them! Although we usually get a pretty good run of sunny days July through mid-September. I am glad that we get more sun than the west side of the state! Seattle typically has 152 days of sun out of 365. Portland has 144/365. Spokane has 171/365.

We love living here for many more reasons than I can name in this post and we are so happy that we moved here from Salt Lake over 17 years ago!

10 Things to Tell You: #2

10 Things to Tell You: Are You Lonely? When Have You Felt Lonely?

As I said in a previous post I am doing Laura Tremaine's 10 Things to Tell You challenge. Laura asks some interesting questions and then she challenges you to share your thoughts via blogs, social media, or journaling. This is prompt #2 and it is definitely a more thought-provoking prompt and one that is more difficult to answer. This is a subject that isn't often talked about...even with our closest friends and family. When I asked myself the question, "Am I lonely?" My answer was immediately no. I'm not lonely. But the follow up question of "When have you felt lonely?" really opened up some self-reflection and brought up some different times in my life. Yes, I have been lonely... often extremely lonely... at different times throughout my life. I am going to skip over the obvious...moving to a new town and being the new girl in high school or college when I was homesick. I'll focus on times of loneliness in my adult life. Ironically the times in my life when I have felt the most lonely were times when I was surrounded by people. So you really can feel lonely while having loving friends, family, spouses, and children around you.

The first time that came to mind was as a young mother. I remember feeling very lonely during those early first years of motherhood. It spanned the time from Reilly's birth through the year after Kameron's birth. I was home alone with little kids. Tyler worked two jobs and was gone from early in the morning until late at night. It was just me and babies...for hours and hours. I was trying to find my way as a stay-at-home mom and I felt very isolated and lonely. This was also pre-internet (at least when Reilly was a baby), texting, and social media.

It was also during this time that we moved from Provo, Utah to Salt Lake City. I was no longer working or going to school full-time although I did take college night classes at the BYU Extension campus and that literally saved my life. Our big group of friends from college were all starting new lives in other cities and other states. All of us were headed in all different directions. We scattered and were busy starting our families and careers. Tyler and I were active in the church but we were in a ward with a lot of apartments and people moving in and out so we didn't feel like a part of the ward. It was not very welcoming. Particularly because they knew that we were transitional and probably wouldn't be in the ward for very long. My family lived in or near SLC but my mom was busy with her career, Kirk and Jordin were in high school, and I wasn't close to my sisters despite living literally next door to one of them. We would all gather at my mom's house for Sunday dinners and that was about it. There wasn't a lot of interaction and support. Tyler and I were the only active members of the church and that seemed to cause tension and issues in both of our families. Our lives were going in a different direction. I also know now that for part of those years I was suffering from post-partum depression especially after Kameron was born. That was a super hard time. I had severe post-partum depression after Kameron and Bryn. It wasn't quite as bad with Reilly and Ailey. No one (besides Tyler) really asked me how I was doing or how I was feeling and I guess I just thought that this was how women feel. I look back on that time in my life and I wish that I knew then what I know now and had the support system that I do now. It certainly would've made those early years a bit easier.

Things definitely improved when we moved to Spokane. Moving here was the best decision. We moved when Reilly was four and a few months before Kameron turned one. We moved into a super welcoming ward. We got callings right away and found good friends and mentors. We felt part of a big ward family and stake. We were taken in and cared and looked out for. I met a bunch of amazing moms. The kids and I were part of a big active playgroup that met once a week and I was invited to join a book club that was a huge blessing in my life. It was a completely different atmosphere and vibe. We felt so supported, loved, and appreciated. We were busy and active and things improved so much for me.

The next super lonely time was after Tyler's brain hemorrhage. That was such a hard and scary time. We didn't know what the future held for us. I was trying to hold it all together for Tyler and the kids. I couldn't always be scared and crying and panicked. But sometimes I just couldn't hold it in...and the kids saw me cry and worry. Too many times Tyler was trying to comfort and reassure me when he should have been focusing on his recovery and I should have been comforting and reassuring him. Many times I would burst into tears with my friends and we would all cry together and they would listen to me talk for hours. Even though they were so sweet and helpful I still felt very alone in all of it. My family wasn't really involved besides occasional calls and texts to check in...perhaps some of that was my own fault...I could've said that I needed more support or that I felt really alone and scared. But at that time we weren't all getting along and I didn't feel comfortable or safe opening up to them. I absolutely could not deal with any family drama on top of what we were already dealing with. I pulled away for the mental health of my own family. I still feel like that was the best decision. We could only concentrate on one thing...Tyler's health. Once Tyler started to improve I know that he felt the isolation/loneliness too... like it was the two of us against the world. We have a super supportive ward and great friends but that kind of situation (probably any kind of serious health issue or serious challenge or struggle) is super isolating. People don't want to intrude or disturb when really we would've welcomed any distraction. I think that is a big lesson that I learned. Go visit people. Even if you think they aren't up for visitors. Everyone that came to see us or brought us meals or just came over to visit during that time were such welcome distractions. I can't tell you how nice it was to laugh and feel somewhat normal and to take even a short break from the overwhelming worry and anxiety of the situation. But despite friends and love being shown to us and all around us it still was a very lonely time. We were in a weird situation that was hard for other people to relate to or know how to help. We had no idea either. It was a tough tough time. Our family of six turned inward and fortified our boundaries and strengthened and lifted one another. We leaned hard into our faith and relied on the Lord to help us through which He did.

The next lonely time was an offshoot of the one above and actually started before that and extended after. When I am going through rough times with my family I feel very lonely. We had a little over two years of hard extended family issues. It made us not want to spend a lot of time with family. There is a lot of dysfunction in my family (my own siblings and mom) and it extends out to aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was a really uncomfortable time. Often we would attend a family event and as we walked in all conversation would stop. I remember being at an event that we literally forced ourselves to attend and had a family member say, "Why are YOU here? I thought you WEREN'T going to be here!!" It was terrible. Down came our walls and boundaries. Like I said... this started before Tyler's health issues and didn't end until our family discussion over Christmas break. When I feel disconnected from my family (siblings and mom) I do feel lonely.  I saw this quote about loneliness and it felt really applicable to this particular time. I know this isn't always the case when people feel lonely but it certainly was the case for me in the last situation with my family.

Loneliness isn't a topic that I am super comfortable discussing but I think that in this day and age so many people DO feel lonely and like no one cares. It is an epidemic in our culture. We are all so connected (digitally) and so unconnected (physically). I know that all three of these situations have taught me a great deal and have changed the way that I do things and how I interact with others. I know that loneliness will come again. It is a part of life. We all struggle. We all do or will feel lonely but by being vulnerable and sharing our stories and the things that we struggle with it helps us to connect with one another. It helps us to have compassion and empathy for one another and it teaches us to reach out to those around us and helps us to feel less alone.

Good grief! That was a dark and gloomy post. I hope that the next prompt is a bit lighter!!

Winter Book Reviews

Book Reviews

1.) P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

This book was downloaded onto my Kindle at about 1:30 am because the first book leaves you hanging and I had to know what happened next. This series is so fun and charming that I got sucked right back into high school and the life of Lara Jean and I didn't mind a bit.

From Goodreads:

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

I liked this sequel to All the Boys I've Loved Before. This one was full of high school drama and angst. I had to laugh a few times...high school love...so twisty and complicated...or so you think at the time. I loved this quote from the book: "People come in and out of your life. For a time they are your world; they are everything. And then one day they're not." That sums up high school romance in a nutshell.

This book series has just the right combination of nostalgia and freshness. It is laugh aloud funny but it can also be incredibly poignant. The family dynamics are my favorite part of this series. The three girls and their single father making their way through the tumultuous teenage and young adult years. I loved everything about it!! I also especially loved Kitty!! She is the best! I also really enjoyed the addition of John Ambrose and the complications that ensued. Stormy was another favorite character and her antics at the assisted living facility were hilarious!

This book was a fun and easy read. I do feel like the language took a bit of a turn for the worst in this book and that there was more swearing in this book and even more in the third book. That is not something that normally bothers me too much but my daughter is also reading this series so it caught my attention more than if I was just reading the series myself.

My Rating: Fun read! 


2.) Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

After finishing P.S. I Still Love You I moved right on to Always and Forever, Lara Jean. This is the third and final book in the series and the weakest of the books in my opinion. The plot was basically Lara Jean waiting to hear which college she would be accepted to. While true to life...very true to life...it brought back all of my senior year anxiety waiting for acceptance letters...it doesn't make for  particularly thrilling plot. Where will Lara Jean go to school and what does that mean for her relationship with her high school boyfriend?

What this book does well is deal with the changing family dynamics that occur when kids leave home and go off to college. I have experienced this myself and am now currently experiencing it with my own children. That part was excellent. It also deals well with the tougher topics of sex and drinking. This book definitely had a more mature tone than the first two books. I also missed the character of Josh. We grow to love and care about him in book one. We see some of him in book two but by book three he is a complete nonentity. That was unfortunate.

I do feel that this series is relatable. Especially for high school seniors. I have one at my house right now.  It brought me right back to my senior year and my high school boyfriend and waiting to hear if we both got into the same university. I did and he did not. We also had to navigate what that meant for our relationship. We broke up (my decision) and went our separate ways. The mother in me kept wanting to yell at Lara Jean...just wait...college is AWESOME and yes...don't go to college with a boyfriend!! Despite how much I enjoy Peter Kavinsky.

This series is delightful and it was enjoyable to revisit the characters and to be a part of their world for a little bit longer. This book definitely tackles more mature themes than the first and second books but I think they were handled well. I just wish that there was more of a plot.

My Rating: Enjoyable but perhaps the weakest of the trilogy.

3.) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This book has been all the buzz on social media and was recently made into a movie. I wanted to see the movie but decided to read the book first. I thought that this book would be a fun read over Christmas break.

From Goodreads:

When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor. On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

This novel is over the top in so many ways and that's the point I guess. It's satire. But... all the glitzy descriptions, sprawling mansions, exotic locations, designer clothing, and nonstop consumption got tiring and tedious. It was a lot of obnoxious shallow people overspending with little plot or character development. It did not keep my attention for the 527 pages it took to slog through. The novel really lost momentum in the middle for me. I almost abandoned it. But I decided to keep going to see if the ending redeemed the book and it did somewhat. The last quarter of the book was by far the most interesting. Finally we have more of a plot and some conflict...not just lush descriptions and annoying characters. I enjoyed the last quarter of the book and almost felt like I was reading a different book. I wish the rest of it was like the last few chapters. I *almost* want to read the next book in the series just to see what happens to Nick, Rachel, and Astrid. Too much time was spent on secondary characters and scenes that didn't move the plot forward or in some cases have anything to do with the plot at all.

Parts of the novel that I enjoyed were: the location, the food descriptions, and a glimpse into a world that I really didn't know existed. I loved the setting of Singapore. I thought the setting was so unique and interesting. I loved reading about an area of the world that I was unfamiliar with and learning more about the location, customs, culture, and even about the wealthiest of its citizens. I particularly loved the descriptions of all of the food that Rachel and Nick were eating and it made me hungry!

I have heard that the movie is cute and better than the book. Hmm...the opposite is nearly always true but I will give it a shot.

**Edited to add: The movie was cute! I liked it better than the book.**

My Rating: Okay...but didn't live up to the hype.

4.) Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

I love a good foodie memoir. I love reading essays and recipes and stories of food, family, friends, and connection. They always make for a cozy winter read. This book was exactly that. It was very enjoyable to curl up on a wintery day and read about food and hospitality. I am always inspired to do more and host more.

From Goodreads:

This book is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. Written by well-loved writer and blogger, Shauna Niequist, this mix of Girl Meets God and the Food Network is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared and life around the table, and it reminds us of the joy we find in connection and relationship.

The essays are well written and cover topics like love, loss, community, faith, family, friendship, marriage, motherhood, travel, and of course food. Niequist encourages the reader to forget perfectionism and practice hospitality. Open your doors and invite others in...your home doesn't have to be a show place and you don't have to be Martha Stewart to invite people over for a meal.

“There are interesting, smart, kind people just absolutely everywhere, and that when you do things you care about, you find quick kinship with people who are passionate about those same things.” 

I loved the chapter called Russian Dolls. I thought it had some beautiful imagery on growing up and growing old that will stay with me. This book was an enjoyable read if not exactly a super exciting one. I would recommend it if you enjoy reading about food or memoirs although my very favorite book in this particular genre is The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Memories of My Life because writing just doesn't get better than Pat Conroy's and his recipes are fantastic.

My Rating: Good. A cozy read for January.

5.) Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines

From Goodreads:

Magnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines' warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight from the heart of her home, with recipes inspired by dozens of Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple's new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table.

I enjoy reading cookbooks and I loved this cookbook. The recipes looked interesting. I have tabbed about 20 different ones to make. I love the stories behind the recipes. I especially love that Joanna included many of her family's favorite meals...even if they included things like Velveeta and cream of whatever soup. Apparently this has people up in arms. Guess what? Busy moms use cream of whatever soups and occasionally use Velveeta... even though I am NOT a fan of Velveeta. I like that she didn't try to make this cookbook anything other than a collection of favorite family recipes. Joanna didn't try to make everything super healthy or super clean or super trendy or whatever. That actually makes me want to try these recipes even more because they seem like the kind of recipes that a friend or neighbor would give you. That said, I would consider most of these recipes as a Sunday dinner type recipes. Most of them are a bit too rich and heavy for every day for my family. I can't wait to give some of these recipes a try!

***I have tried several recipes and loved them all. Even one with Velveeta!!**

My Rating: Good!

6.) Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steele

I have not read a Danielle Steele novel since I was in high school. I read my fill then and got tired of reading the same old formulaic story. But whenever I think of Danielle Steele books it reminds me of summers at the lake. I guess I was feeling nostalgic so I decided to read this one over Christmas Break. It popped up in my feed and it sounded kind of fun in a Downton Abbey-esque way.

From Goodreads:

Winona Farmington once dreamed of graduating from college, moving to New York City, and pursuing a career in publishing. Then real life got in the way when she left college and returned to her small Michigan hometown to care for her sick mother.  Years later, stuck in a dead-end job and an unsatisfying relationship, Winnie has concluded that dreams were meant for others. She consoles herself with binge-watching the British television series that she loves, Beauchamp Hall, enthralled by the sumptuous period drama set on a great Norfolk estate in the 1920s. The rich upstairs-downstairs world brilliantly brought to life by superb actors is the ultimate in escapism. On the day Winnie is passed over for a long-overdue promotion, she is also betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend. Heartbroken, she makes the first impulsive decision of her conventional life—which changes everything.  She packs her bags and flies to England to see the town where Beauchamp Hall is filmed. The quaint B & B where she stays feels like home. The brother and sister who live in the castle where the show is filmed, rich in titles but poor in cash, are more like long-lost friends than British nobility. And the show itself, with its colorful company and behind-the-scenes affairs, is a drama all its own. Winnie’s world comes alive on the set of the show.

Well...I think I can safely say that I won't be reading any more Danielle Steele novels. It all came back to me. She has an odd...and slightly passive...way of writing that annoys me. Constant telling without showing... and the characters are always kept at a slight distance so you are never totally invested or really care about what happens to them. That was definitely the case for me while reading about Winnie. She just didn't inspire any great empathy or loyalty. All of the characters are so one dimensional. I needed some depth! The first half of the book about her life in Michigan was terrible. The book got a bit better once she went to England and then the last part of the book was so rushed and forced. It didn't make for a great read. I thought the premise of the story was good I just wish that the book lived up to what could have been a cute story.

My Rating: Not great. 

7.) Save the Date by Morgan Matson

The same person who recommended To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han also recommended this book. She was right yet again. It's a cute YA novel and I liked it. It's not as good as To All the Boys...but it was a cute fun read.

From Goodreads:

Charlie Grant's older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can't wait for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect...Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she'll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

Although this book semi-stressed me out with all of the wedding day mishaps what I really loved was the Grant family. I absolutely loved their family dynamic. I found it to be very real. Their sibling interactions are funny and touching. There are five Grant children and I enjoyed them all. Of course I am partial to stories about five siblings. You don't find many of them! I was glad when the wedding drama was over but I will admit to being sad to say goodbye to this delightful family. I hope that the author writes more books about the Grants.

My Rating: A cute book! Would make a darling Netflix movie.


8.) The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy

I am a HUGE fan of Knox McCoy. I love both of his podcasts with Jamie Golden...The Popcast and The Bible Binge. I follow both he and Jamie on social media and I think that Knox is absolutely hilarious. His humor totally resonates with me and I was super excited to read his memoir.

From Goodreads:

When you hear the phrase pop culture, you likely think reality television, boy bands or Real Housewives of various cities. While these are elements of popular culture, they aren’t all it has to offer. Pop culture may not cure diseases, topple political regimes, or make scientific breakthroughs, but it does play a vital role in the story of humanity...In The Wondering Years, Knox explores this idea of connecting popular culture to his own experiences. Through hilarious yet poignant stories, he reflects on how pop culture has helped shape his life and carve out the foundation of his faith. While the three cultural tentpoles—the South, the Church, and Sports—defined many aspects of his East Tennessee upbringing, it was pop culture that most definitively influenced Knox and his sense of the world at large. 

I loved it! Yes, it talks about faith AND pop culture AND it hilarious...Knox McCoy canine evangelist and his childhood search to identify potential Antichrists had me wheezy laughing (Knox's trademark laugh) and also thinking deeply about my own faith. That is quite the combo and it totally worked!! The footnotes...are absolute perfection!!

This is a great collection of essays. It is a refreshingly introspective look at faith and yet Knox never takes himself too seriously. He has the best sense of humor about everything including life's deepest questions. Knox grew up as a Southern Baptist and his upbringing in many ways was quite similar to being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Church culture is church culture!

I love the idea that questioning and searching for answers about even the most profound questions is healthy and should be encouraged. I know that my husband and I certainly encourage it with our children who are being raised in the LDS faith. Wondering ISN'T wandering!! How I want to shout that from the roof tops. God is great and He can handle us asking questions, in fact, He encourages it.

I loved this book! I would have enjoyed it even if I didn't know Knox from his various podcasts. Listen to The Popcast podcast if you are into hysterical commentary on pop culture and listen to The Bible Binge podcast if you are interested in some interesting and funny discussions of the Bible. I laugh and I learn.

This is a great memoir...vulnerable and touching. Thoughtful and refreshing. I highly recommend it! I especially recommend the audiobook. Knox does the narration and it really doesn't get better than that!

My Rating: Excellent

9.) Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

I love Reese Witherspoon and I loved this book. It had it all for me...part memoir, part cookbook, part decorating, style, and entertaining guide. It was a fun quick read.

From Goodreads:

Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.

If you like lipstick, peonies, pearls, books, monograms, cooking, the South, elegance, hospitality, friendship, and family traditions you will like this book. I do and I did!

My Rating: Fun!

10.) I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

I listen to the podcast What Should I Read Next by Anne Bogel and enjoy her Modern Mrs. Darcy blog. This is the second of two books that she has written about reading. This is a slim little volume. It would be a great gift book or book club exchange. It is definitely a quick read and caters to the bookish types... like me.

“We are readers. Books grace our shelves and fill our homes with beauty; they dwell in our minds and occupy our thoughts. Books prompt us to spend pleasant hours alone and connect us with fellow readers. They invite us to escape into their pages for an afternoon, and they inspire us to reimagine our lives...“We are readers. Books are an essential part of our lives and of our life stories. For us, reading isn’t just a hobby or a pastime; its a lifestyle.” 

From Goodreads:

 In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives.

I love books about books. This is a small volume of essays for people who love to read. Anne Bogel shares her experiences and insights about reading. Some of my favorite essays were:

Confess Your Literary Sins
The Books That Find You
Bookworm Problems
Readers I Have Been

I loved this quote from the essay Bookworm Problems. It was my favorite and I could definitely relate!!

"You finally persuade your friend to read your lifetime favorite book. She gives it three stars. You persuade your husband to read one of your favorites. He pronounces it "fine." You cannot, no matter how much you beg, plead, or wheedle, convince your book club to read your favorite book. You cannot, no matter how or what you try, persuade your child to read your favorite childhood book. You convince your child to read your favorite childhood book, and he begins, but then says, "I just can't get into it."

My only negatives were that I now have a new found angst caused by the author reminding me multiple times how there will never be enough time to read all of the books on my To-Read list and reminding me that even if I read a book a day it would still only be 365 books a year and that there are more books than that published on Tuesdays. There will never be enough time to read all of the books we want to read in our lifetimes. Depressing.  Also she returned The Prince of Tides back to the bookstore. An unpardonable sin. Granted she was 14 at the time but so was I when I read that book for the first time and I loved it. Pat Conroy is my all-time favorite author. Actually my very favorite book about books is Conroy's My Reading Life. It is fabulous.

My Rating: A cozy little read for bibliophiles. 

January: Things I am Loving

1.) Petit Fours

Somehow Tyler and I stumbled upon a local bakery that makes petit fours. Good petit fours. This is a REAL problem. I love petit fours... so much that they were served at our wedding reception. We had a big dessert buffet and this was one of the things that I HAD TO HAVE. Raspberry Almond Petit Fours. They were precious and delicious. They were also the only thing that I actually ate at our wedding reception besides the bite of cake that Tyler gave to me when we cut our cake. Sometime during the course of the night I managed to snarf a couple of these delicious little confections down before I changed out of my wedding dress into my going away dress and bid our family goodbye. Don't ask how many times Tyler and I have stopped by this bakery for these...just don't... you don't want to know. I also bought some for book club so that I could share the love and ended up eating most of them myself.

2.) Snow Sneakers

Due to #1 these came in VERY handy! One day whilst perusing at Costco I saw a display for Snow Sneakers. Hmmm...interesting. I hate snow boots. I despise clomping around in Sorels. I have never and will never own Uggs. They are glorified moonboots people! And... they are called Uggs for a reason. They are UGLY. Don't tell me how comfy they are or how warm they are...blah blah...I've heard it all before. And no one looks good in them...nope...not even you. They are the crocs of winter. I will wear Hunters if I have to wear some form of snow boots or Sorels if I will be seriously in the snow but I don't enjoy it. And people who wear Hunters just for fun and fashion? I don't get you either. If it isn't snowing or raining they are just clompy rubber boots. They are not comfy. My hatred of proper winter footwear annoys Tyler to no end. He was the first to spot the ol' snow sneakers and he was the one that demanded that I try them on in the middle of a crowded Costco. They look sporty and almost like high tops BUT they are insulated and have tread. They are also super light weight and zip up (despite having ties). Here is my other issue with snow boots...getting them on and off. Ugh...Tying them (Sorels)...getting in and hopping around on one foot trying to get out of them (Hunters)...no thank you. But these were easy to slip on and off and light and somewhat sporty looking. They were also $15 so you can be sure that I saved that receipt because it seemed too good to be true. But...they are still in my possession and I wear them all the time while out walking and hiking almost daily in the ice and snow. They are warm and delightful. I texted my sister and daughter to go buy some immediately which neither of them did. Whatever. They should've listened to me! I don't think you can beat a pair of $15 snow sneakers!!

3.) Duck shoes

Now lest you think that I put on my snow sneakers to run errands or to take the kids to school you would be wrong. I wear duck shoes for that and I love them. Duck shoes hadn't crossed my mind since about 1989 until we went to Portland for Thanksgiving and Tyler found the coolest pair of slip on duck boots which he bought as fast as he could. Portland knows its rain gear. Spokane isn't nearly as rainy as Portland but we still get a lot of rain and Portlandians have taught me a lot about how to deal with the elements. Like always buy a hat with a hood. That one took me a good 30 years to figure out. Rain coats are a necessity. I had been living in the PNW for 15 years without one. Scarves actually serve a purpose. You know, things like that. I have had Hunter boots for the last 8 years so I can walk around in any kind of slush and rain but Tyler has not had an equivalent in footwear. Enter duck boots. Something about his joy and delight with those duck boots took me back to the 1980s and I saw in my mind's eye my BFF Naomi with her bobbed hair and ribbon headband wearing her pegged jeans and a Forenza sweater and a pair of duck shoes. I decided right then that I NEEDED a pair!! They went on my Christmas list and Tyler bought me some. All blue and retro-like. I love them. I wear them every day!!

4.) Hoarfrost

This has made the list before but it is my favorite wintery item so I am bringing it back. We've had a lot of hoar-frosty goodness. I love frosty trees but no snow on the ground. It's like you get a bit of winter but not all of the drudgery that goes with snow and slush.

5.) Marie Kondo on Netflix

Let's just say that this show sucked us in for several episodes one weekend. I cannot stand having things around that we don't use or that I don't love so I make many donation trips. But there is someone in our house/garage/laundry room who has a few issues. #Tyler There are three specific places that I am NOT allowed to organize or go through and clean out. It is annoying. He is starting to let me go through some of the things that are in the off limit zones. I am truly enjoying saying this little phrase to Tyler. "Spark Joy??" :)