5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – February 2018
The first month of 2018 is already over. We’re on the roller coaster again.
Here are favorites from January (mainly, my 1st granddaughter is here!!!) and what I’m looking forward to in February. We share once a month at Leigh’s.
1 Second Everyday
[If you can’t see the 1 Second Everyday video, click here]
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
5 Things Around the Web
1. There’s a reason using a period in a text message makes you sound angry
by Lauren Collister
Uh-oh. Do we appear standoffish or angry if we use periods in text messages?
2. 40 Essential Songs Turning 40 This Year
So many memories here. 1978 was a great year for music.
3. Help! My Husband Is Tuning Me Out. What Can I Do?
by Gary Thomas
“Understandably, few things irritate women more than being tuned out—and yet it is a stereotypically male action.”
4. 5 Things That People Who Are Dying Want You to Know
by Kerry Egan
I don’t know why, but I always like reading these kinds of things. A hospice chaplain tells what she’s learned from people who are dying.
5. How Global Warming Works
Not only are these informative videos, but choose the length you want to watch from 5 versions: 1 minute up to 5 minutes (I rarely watch a long video of anything).
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
5 Things about Books
1. Why We Forget Most of the Books We Read
. . . and the movies and TV shows we watch
by Julie Beck
I often remember where I was when I read a book or who gave it to me, but not always the content of the book itself.
~ * ~
2. Bill Gates Has a New Favorite Book
. . . and he says everyone should read it
by Chris Weller
I’ve just recently finished Gates’ last favorite book, The Better Angels of Our Nature (it was 832 pages long). And recommend it. It’s one of my favorite 10 books of 2017. But now a new favorite? I hope to read it soon.
~ * ~
3. 5 Unconventional Ways to Read More in 2018
by Sam Burt
I follow suggestion #1 religiously.
~ * ~
4. 25 Must-Read Classics for Women
by Anne Bogel
This list makes me smile when I see books I’ve read in years gone by.
~ * ~
5. 8 Books I Recommend – January 2018
Recommended reading from books I finished in January 2018
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
5 Things I Love
1. New Grandbaby!
Of course our first grandbaby tops the list of things I love this month. She was born Saturday, January 27, one day after Jenna’s birthday. I’m having all kinds of fun getting to stay with her and Morgan and Fuller these first few weeks.
~ * ~
2. My Daughter as Mom
I also love watching my daughter be a mother. Another one of God’s ingenious designs.
~ * ~
3. One Word – Not There Yet
This quote is perfect for my One Word 2018 – Mystery. I’m working to be more comfortable with not knowing.
~ * ~
4. Backyard-by-Month
Just for fun, I took a picture of my backyard the first day (or thereabouts) of each month last year. Here’s the year in review.
~ * ~
5. Back to the Past
Jeff and I returned to our previous church, along with our friend Kay, to our friends Ed and Sharon’s 50th wedding anniversary party. It was nice celebrating such a faithful commitment and seeing old friends.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
5 Things on the Blog
- Raise Your Hand If . . .
Averie asked, “Why do people raise their hands at your church?” That’s a good question. How would you answer? - Meet Travis 1. Meet Travis 2.
I met two new friends, both named Travis. One was a pastor; one was homeless. What did they have in common? - How to Love Well in Our Culture
How can we love with both grace and truth in our culture? It’s more about how we live than what we say. Review of Chris Hodges’ The Daniel Dilemma. - Is This a Throwaway Prayer?
She said someone prayed over her 4 years ago. And now this? Why prayer is never a throwaway line. - Say It More: “I Don’t Know” (And My One Word for 2018)
We don’t want to be unprepared. Mysteries can feel dangerous. Start by saying, “I don’t know.”
* * *
What was one of your highlights from January? What are you looking forward to in February? Please share in the comments.
Dear Lisa
I like you backyard pictures (that’s a big backyard!). They remind me of David Hockney’s Woldgate Woods project. Do you know it? It’s hard to find on the web. The National Gallery of Victoria has a snippet; and here‘s a blog post with some footage & documentary.
February: I’m looking forward to Enlightenment Now coming out 🙂
David
oops, here’s the NGV page: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/multimedia/the-four-seasons/
No, I don’t know about the Woldgate Woods project, but I definitely am interested now. Thanks for the link! I put in for a review copy of Enlightenment Now but haven’t heard back yet. I’m looking forward to it as well.
This is a great post for so many reasons.
First granddaughters are just amazing! I got to snuggle mine for a long time yesterday. What a gift. Congratulations and best wishes and blessings and all the other things, too.
Also, I always appreciate the selection of books you read that I’ve never even heard of. Gotta do a better job trolling the new non-fiction at my library.
I’m glad you got to snuggle with your granddaughter yesterday too, Michele. I’m really, really going to be sad when I have to go back home. But I’ll keep the road hot back and forth in visits. 🙂
Oh blessed, blessed baby girl!! Praise God! Lisa … I am so very excited for you. It just doesn’t get better than this.
My happiness for you all brims from my eyes …
xo
Thanks so much, Linda. Happiness has been brimming from my eyes for days now. 🙂
Lots I enjoyed about this post, but NOTHING is better than a grandone — or seeing a daughter adoring her own child… What a precious picture of you and Jeff admiring your granddaughter. She’s one lucky little girl to have you in her life!
I appreciate you so much, Susan, for sharing my joy all along the way. This is going to be a grand adventure for sure! 🙂
Ok, the one of periods caught my eye and I had to go over and read it! My problem is that I’m an English teacher and poor grammar and punctuation drives me crazy ;). I almost always use complete sentences, never use short cuts (ur, u, etc.)–mostly because those things started showing up in my students’ writing. Welcome to grandmotherhood! It’s awesome!
Bah! And then I say ‘poor grammar and punctuation drives’ instead of ‘drive’ ;).
Ha. I didn’t even catch that either. Serves us right for being grammar perfectionists. lol.
Poor grammar drives me crazy too, Anita. I’m one of those full word texters as well. It may take me a few seconds longer, but I can’t help myself. 🙂
Thanks for the welcome into the grandparent club! I’m loving every second of it!
Congratulations on becoming a grandmother! It’s SO much fun! It’s so neat, too, to see our kids transform into parents.
The article about the period surprised me. I had never heard that – it strikes me so odd that people would take it as insincere and angry and offensive and interpret it to mean anything other than the end of a sentence, as they do in any other context. Live and learn, I guess.
The one about dying was enlightening, too. As you said, I don’t know why I am drawn to such articles – I guess because we’ll all face not only our own dying but that of others as well. I would add to her first point about touch that that’s another thing to be sure that you really know the other person or that you ask before you proceed. I kind of have an extended physical privacy bubble and can get uncomfortable if people other than family even stand too close to me while talking, much less hug me. I don’t know what I’ll feel like when I get to that point, but I’m pretty sure I’d be freaked out if someone held my hand, much less climbed in bed with me, ha!
I like the idea of taking a picture of the yard every month! Nice perspective!
I was surprised about the period too. Who knew? Altho I have noticed that several millennials I text with use LOTS of exclamation marks. 🙂 It’s hard to keep up with the latest.
Good point to add that not everyone likes being touched. We definitely have to be sensitive to what the other person needs, not just what we want to give. To either the dying or the living!
I’ve been having a blast both hanging out with my granddaughter for a week and seeing my daughter gain confidence in being a mother. The circle of life goes on….
Congratulations, Lisa, on becoming a grandparent. There is nothing like it!
So much info in this post! I will have to bookmark and come back if only to discover how using periods can offend people. Really?
I love the idea of the backyard photos … too bad I didn’t read this before January was over – but still, I want to give it a try. I will have to definitely leave notes to remind myself, though!
Thanks, Jerralea! I’ve been having so much fun every day being around this new little one!
I have a perpetual monthly reminder about the pics. 🙂 I’d never remember on my own. This year I’m just going to do one particular tree to notice the changes more closely. Why? I don’t know. ha. Just a fun thing to help me pay closer attention to things.
Congrats on the first grandchild. You better be careful though. Jo & I were almost fugitives since we threatened to take Braden with us when we left.
Oh, I can understand that now, Bill! I’ve wondered how long it would take me to be found out if I were to leave with our little one. 🙂 I’m guessing about 5 minutes. ha.
Congratulations on your granddaughter! How exciting.
Thanks, Leigh! It’s been so fun getting to play with a sweet little one again.
Huge congratulations, Grandma! It’s going to be hard to top that excitement! Love your idea of taking a photo of your backyard each month! I wish I would have seen this 5 days ago, lol. I may have to fudge a bit on the January photo! Interesting links and things, as usual – thanks, Lisa!
Yes, I think this will likely be a highlight that can’t be topped. 🙂 We’ve been having such fun getting in lots of cuddle time with our little one.
Welcome to grandmotherhood! She is absolutely beautiful. I love your 1 minute a day videos. How do you do those? I linked up with Leigh this month and hope to continue each month!
Thanks, Barbie. I’m glad to finally join the ranks of grandmothers. 🙂 The videos are super easy to do. I use an app called 1 Second Everyday. I take a short video on my phone every day, picking a one second clip from each one using the app. Then at the end of the month, I hit save and the app puts it all together for me in one 30 second video.
Congratulations! You are going to be one terrific grandma!
Thanks for your confidence in me, Elizabeth. I sure am going to have fun trying! 🙂
Congratulations on your first grandbaby! They are so much fun – enjoy every minute. (My third will come this summer.) I also just wanted to tell you how much I always enjoy your monthly wrap-ups. You find the most interesting things! Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks, Alyson. I am so thankful that she made it here safe and sound and healthy! I can’t imagine yet having more than one, so congrats on being an almost 3-timer!
Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter! She’s beautiful! As usual, this is a great collection of links and resources too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Lesley. I think she’s quite beautiful myself. 🙂 I could just stare at her for hours and hours.
There is a saying from my childhood, “she doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet”, which translated means, she is a busy person which fits you well. . I always look to your take on new books. Love the picture of grand daughter. Our oldest just turned 20, seems impossible. As for the article on the “period”, all I can say, I pray for gracious eyes on those who read anything I write.
I already am thinking ahead to the day when our little baby granddaughter will be a 10 yr old, then 20, etc. It’s hard to imagine now, but I know that time will fly by! The “period” was a surprising finding to me, too. I think that most of my own friends still appreciate using a period and aren’t insulted by it. 🙂
Congratulations, Grandma! Enjoy that cuddle stage! Grandkids are so special! Thanks for sharing oodles of interesting info again, too. Love and hugs to you!
Thanks, Trudy! I’m having a blast with our little one! I know this stage zooms by so quickly.
Lisa, thanks for all the goodies! Your back yard was my favorite! (Wait, I take that back! Your granddaughter was my favorite!!! Sweet thing!)
Thanks, Leslie. Yes, that grandbaby is definitely a sweet thing and my favorite too! Not just for this month but for years and eternity to come. 🙂
Congratulations, grandma!!!
So happy for you and the entire family. She’s very beautiful!!!
It just doesn’t get any better than that, sister.
What a gift from God!
I’ve finally joined the club, and I’m so happy to be here. 🙂 Thanks, Floyd. We’re so in love with her already. God outdid himself; I praise him for it.
Lisa, this is a rich resource and so creative. Congratulations on being a grandma!
Thanks, Debbie! I’m enjoying my new role as grandma. 🙂
Congratulations on that new grandbaby, Lisa! I know you are having the time of your life right now! I have gone through all of the things you’ve shared here and the one that stood out to me the most was the one on dying. I suppose that is because of my mother’s passing in October of last year. But it was a comfort to me to read #1 under that…to be touched. I have sweet memories of my mom and I sitting on her sofa and my combing her hair and then as the end drew closer of my stroking her hair, or rubbing her arm and how that brought quiet to her. Thank you for sharing that particular article, my sweet friend.
Thanks, Dianna! I am having such fun with our little sweet thing so far! I’m glad you have such sweet memories of caring for your mom in those tactile ways. I’m sure it meant more to her than she was able to say. You are such a godly woman and a great example. I know you miss her terribly.
Wow! You have an extensive offering here today, friend! I love the grandbaby picture, and what an interesting post about 5 Unconventional Ways to Read More. That is one of my goals for 2018. Both to widen my horizons and to improve my writing by reading in my genre. (And to grow as a person!)
They say that good reading and good writing go hand in hand. You’re already a very good writer, Betsy!
Congratulations on your granddaughter, Lisa! How exciting! xoxo
Thank you, Brenda! It has been an exciting two weeks!
love your smile of joy holding that bundle from heaven! congrats. I was pleased by the number of books I read on the list of 25 classics but have more to read. Also fascinating article about how to read more since that is something near and dear to our hearts. Never tried this: SKIP FROM THE LEFT-HAND TO THE RIGHT-HAND PAGE, THEN BACK AGAIN. mmm, may have to try it. Thanks for a great round up of ideas once again.
Our little grandbaby is definitely a bundle from heaven for sure! I’ve loved every second I’ve gotten to be around her the past couple of weeks. The bad news is I have to go back home tomorrow. Not sure how I’m going to handle that yet. 🙁
Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! I am so excited for you and can’t wait to hear more about this new part of your life! 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. I’m sure this new season will bring lots of changes with it; it already has!
What a fun post! I loved the 1-second video. I’ll bet your grandchildren enjoy watching it. The 40 songs were fun, but I had to resist the temptation to listen to them all. LOL Then there’s the “period” thing … all those years of grammar in school make me a little crazy when I leave it off. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I was tempted to listen to all 40 songs too, Donna. 🙂 I picked a few along the way that I couldn’t resist, but maybe another time I can go back and hear more. They did bring back lots of memories.
I can’t NOT omit a period either; it’s just not in me. 🙂
Lisa, I just had to say CONGRATS on being a grma! It’s simply THE best! My daughter just ‘delivered’ our 2nd grandbaby – a girl – in December and I’m loving it. Also, as ever, I appreciate your great reads and links. Blessings Grandma!
Congrats on your 2nd grandbaby, Sandra! I am thrilled to be joining your ranks. I only wished I lived right next door to my granddaughter, but I’m sure it’s for the best that I don’t. ha.
I love your videos, Lisa, such a great idea. And CONGRATULATIONS! Oh my, I can’t imagine how much joy this baby brings 🙂 I also loved Anne Bogel’s list of classics and realized I have several on my bookshelf… unread. Must remedy that. Thanks for sharing all the things. Stopping by from #SittingAmongFriends
The videos are definitely fun to do. I enjoy looking back each month at highlights. Yes, my sweet little granddaughter has already brought me SUCH joy! I was blessed to spend her first 2 weeks of life with her and now I feel bonded forever.
Congratulations Lisa,
Love your post!
Being a Gran is such a blessing & joy!
You are most welcome to drop by with a fellow Grannie for a time of reflection at timewithjennifer.blog bring your favorite beverage & tasty treat too. 🙂
Jennifer
Thanks for the welcome and the invitation, Jennifer. I may drop in sometimes. Altho I’m new to grandmotherhood, I’m already loving it!
These are great links. I’ll visit them. 🙂
Hope you find something useful in the links, Lux!
What a neat snapshot of your life!! I was particularly drawn to the pictures of your back yard. It looks like a beautiful place. And … your grandbaby and daughter being a mom. What treasures!
I do love staring at the trees and lake in my backyard. I’m glad we live in a region where we have actual seasons so I can appreciate them even more. Yes, watching my daughter become a mom and loving my granddaughter has been such a joy already! Thanks, Dianne.