Memoir

Books and Baking

Books and baking. I’m pretty sure that could have been the name of this blog 😉

I feel like it has been a while since I last posted, but it has only been a few days that have felt like weeks due to a not-so-fun sleep regression and toddler separation anxiety. God is teaching me so much as I parent Sadie and something I’m learning lately is to let go of expectations.

Toddler sitting in window with husky

There are a million things I’d like to do, but the most important thing is that I serve God and my family. I’m right where He has me and that’s what matters.

Some days I just won’t get my real estate work done, or the laundry folded, or even get to shower. Some days the only accomplishment I have achieved is getting my toddler to take a stroller nap.

Toddler sleeping in Graco stroller

I’m realizing that’s okay. This is such a short, precious season of my life with a little one who is so dependent on me. I’m blessed to be with her each and every day and I pray I can always be present and show her the love God has shown me ❤

Parenting a child can feel so all-consuming at times. It’s the hardest, most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I constantly feel God refining my character and pushing me to seek Him in every moment.

Onto the baking and books. We had a church fellowship planned for Sunday night and I made blueberry muffins with a cinnamon crumble topping!

Blueberry muffins with cinnamon crumble topping

Church ended up being cancelled due to a power outage, so we enjoyed the muffins after dinner. We’ve had some windy days here lately.

Jimmy had another long day at work in West Virginia yesterday. He left our house at 5:45 am and got home at 9:45 pm. Sadie and I whipped up brown sugar pumpkin spice cookie dough while he was away and we baked it tonight for us to all celebrate an evening together 🙂

Brown sugar pumpkin spice cookies

Sorry about the poor lighting… daylight savings life, lol.

Let’s talk books! Here’s what I’m reading at the moment:

Books I’m eying up next:

Books Sadie has loving:

Are you reading any good books?

What’s the last thing you baked?

What’s the weather like where you live?

Husky sitting on girl

Fence Extensions, Reading, and a Thrift Find

Hello and Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? Poor Jimmy had a long day yesterday. He had to travel to West Virginia for work and was gone from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm. He’s such a hard worker. He (and my dad–thanks, dad!) also spent most of the day on Saturday working on our fence extension. 

We’re hoping the extra few feet of fence keeps our pupperoni pizza in our yard! 

Husky sitting on girl

I filmed a vlog on Saturday, too! It features the oh-so-exciting fence, my parents loving on Sadie, some cleaning, Sadie getting her nails painted, a bonfire, and more. It was a good day 🙂

I’m still loving reading fall-themed books with Sadie. My mom gave this one to Sadie and she has had us read it about 839 times since Saturday.

Grandpa reading to grandchild

Sadie and I went thrifting together again! There’s a Goodwill outlet store near our house, so we popped in and Sadie scored a new dress.

Everything is sold by weight at the outlet stores, so her dress cost $0.32. I can’t wait to see her wear it! 

Gymboree toddler dress from thrift store

I also bought a mini Christmas tree at the thrift store that I’m going to try and revamp this week. I’ll take some before and after pictures when I get the chance! 

Before I finish out this post, let’s talk books.

–> I just finished Runaway Amish Girl and found it absolutely fascinating. The author decided to leave her Amish life at age 18 and earned her GED and put herself through college. Along with that, she had to adjust to a new culture without the support of her family.

–>Now I’m onto Etched in Sand and it’s intense. The author and her siblings survived an abusive childhood but chose to rise above and depend on each other. 

–> Last but not least, I finished a devotional in the Bible app called Quieting the Shout of Should, which is based off of a book with the same name and now I’m adding that to my to-read list 😉

What are you reading?

Do you have a to-read list?

What did you do this weekend?