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Hey friends and happy Friday!
I’m writing this email to you direct from our local library. My Mac screen went black last week and needs a new battery, but in the meantime I get to spend the day in one of my favorite places surrounded by books. Thank God for public libraries, honestly.
Speaking of, I have an interview coming up to work in one of our county branches! My position would be as a library tech—because I have an M.A. but not a degree in library science—so it would just be part-time. I’m not quite sure how all of that will look for us since Pierce is working out of the home again and I’m planning to homeschool our son in the fall, but I’m going to interview anyway. God has a plan. I’ll just keep walking this direction until He tells me otherwise.
I hope you all have a lovely (warm? ish?) weekend! Thanks for spending some of your time with me today.
P.S. Here’s a short survey for all subscribers that will help me better serve you. It will take about two minutes of your time. Thanks!
Point #1: “You have to experience it to know what it’s like.”
Our Bible study group was just talking about Dane Ortlund’s popular book Gentle and Lowly the other night in reference to the vulnerable way our own pastor has preached for the last few weeks and how much we appreciate it. Imagine my (un)surprise to find out days later that Ortlund, like many other pastors who find their way to the pulpit based on gender and position alone, has abused his power. I’m so grateful to
for continuing to write with such honesty about these issues within the Church. We need it.Point #2: Hanson was truly beyond their time.
I don’t care what you say. This song still slaps. (Who also remembers watching this performance live? 🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️) A big thanks to my little sister for sending me down memory lane last night. #Hanson4Eva
Point #3: Haunting my high school would be truly terrifying.
I liked high school and all, but being forced to stay there as a ghost whilst trying to solve my own murder where everyone I know is a suspect? Doesn’t sound fun in real life, but it makes for excellent television!
Point #4: “Drop it.”
Word of the Week
Werifesteria: (v.) To wander a forest longingly in search of mystery.
Receipts from a No-Buy Year
I want to give a shout-out and thank you to
and for their beautiful, funny work. I decided to give all my no-buy essays the same main title and use “receipts” for this section of the newsletter because I was inspired by these lovely, talented women who employ similar methods on their Substacks. It’s important for me to give credit where credit is due, especially as a writer who has had her work “borrowed” in the past, so please forgive the lateness of this disclaimer. I meant to write it earlier, but all the job and house stuff took up most of the real estate in my brain for a good while. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll give Jess and Katie a follow. You will not be disappointed!Clothing/Home: $9.11
I bought a sweater this week. And a glass water bottle after the one I thrifted in December got shattered into a million tiny pieces on our driveway. BUT I left behind two other shirts, a pair of Oxfords that had me salivating, and a terribly-made but adorable trench coat. So. That’s that.
Food/Coffee: $14.91
I sort of lost count of how many times we ate out as a family because we had over THIRTY showings of our house this past weekend, which, as you might know, means we had to be gone all.damn.day. (With our dog and two children. The cat roamed the yard. I’m counting on him to charm buyers.) Also, Pierce started his new job this week and I’ve been alone every day which doesn’t equate to much self-control on my part, especially when tired or stressed. I’m learning new ways to justify my vices all the time.
I also bought coffee three times this week (outside of the allotted Monday purchases), but it’s a whole lot less than I wanted to since I’ve cleaned my house every single morning from top to bottom in the hopes that someone will buy it. One of those purchases was with points, which is allowed, so hah! I’m tired. I needed the caffeine.
Also also I grabbed two free Chick-Fil-A breakfast sandwiches with app rewards and a gift card on Wednesday and Thursday. They were so freakin’ delicious I heard the angels sing. Hallelujah for Jesus Chicken!
Books: $0.00
As I said, I’m at the library.
Total: $24.02
If you want to read more about my no-buy 2024, you can catch up with all the latest posts right here.
Reading in The Nook
Still slogging through House of Flame and Shadow. It’s good, but a lot.
I also started A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918 by Joseph Loconte. Lewis’ work has been so pivotal to my faith journey and I’m fascinated by the influence he and Tolkien had on one another.
The other library book I checked out is With My Little Eye from Joshilyn Jackson, one of my absolute favorite Southern writers who can turn a phrase like no one I’ve ever read. (And who happens to live down the road from me!) She used to write more gothic fiction, but in recent years has turned to thrillers. It’s not fair how good she is at everything.
What’s on your reading list right now? 👇🏻
(All book links are affiliates, which means any purchase you make through them will earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. This is one small way you help to support this newsletter, so thanks!)
“The real things haven’t changed. It’s still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”
—Laura Ingalls Wilder—
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