Lisa notes

5 Snapshots of Time

By LisaNotes December 4, 2020 Life updates, Linger 21 Comments

A New One Word 2021 Group

Lately I’ve been lingering in my memories. “Linger” is the word I chose for 2020. Little did we realize how much lingering we each would do in our own spaces in 2020!

I’ve also been thinking ahead about my One Word for 2021. So I’m creating a One Word community for 2021.

Sign up for the One Word 2021 group here.

It will be a low-key group where we can:

  • Share about our One Words once a month
  • Listen to others share about their One Words
  • Help each other stay accountable to practice our individual word throughout the year

On the 21st day of each month I’ll offer my blog as home for you to share your own progress (or lack thereof) via comments or your own blog posts or Instagram posts. I’m also setting up a Facebook group for those interested in more interactions throughout each month.

More information about the One Word 2021 community is on my blog here. 

5 Snapshots of Lingering in Time

Here are 5 pictures from last month, reflecting on time—past, present, and future.

1. THE PAST – PART 1

Cushman Golfster

My husband Jeff has a gift for connecting with the older generation, listening to them talk about their past, about the toys they grew up with, the lives they lived. One such toy is Cushman scooters. Jeff’s hobby is buying old Cushmans, working on them awhile, then selling them to those who want them. This is a unique one, a 1961-ish Cushman Golfster.

2. THE PAST – PART 2

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Our granddaughters were with us on November 13 this year, the birthday and death anniversary of our precious middle daughter Kali 27 years ago. Our granddaughter got to wish Aunt Kali a “Happy Birthday” and leave flowers on her grave.

3. THE PRESENT 

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Living in 2020 has brought many firsts. This was our first all-outdoors Thanksgiving. Thankfully it was a semi-warm, totally sunny day at my in-laws’ house. But who knows?—this could be the beginning of a brand new tradition (except I hope we’ll not have to keep a 6-foot distance again).

4. THE FUTURE

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I love watching my youngest daughter Jenna and Trey grow into their marriage. They have a bright future together. They are both avid photographers, so Trey rowed Jenna to the pelicans who were also visiting my in-laws on Thanksgiving Day so she could get closer photos of them. 

5. TIME COMBINED

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Our oldest granddaughter always asks to see the rockets when she comes to our house. This trip we took her to the Space and Rocket Center near us to walk among the rockets. My father spent his career building rockets and the Space Shuttle for NASA so I love that she is interested in them. Jeff also builds rockets for his job, so I feel past, present, and future all combined in this photo.  

Did you choose One Word for 2020? Do you have one yet for 2021? Share your thoughts in the comments.

5 Favorite Comments on 5 Posts

By LisaNotes December 3, 2020 Life updates 9 Comments

I love reading your comments at the end of blog posts. You teach me so much.

Here are five favorite comments from five posts from the blog last month. Thank you for sharing your hearts and wisdom here. 

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I’m sharing five groups of five things I love, one per day this week.

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5 Posts and 5 Favorite Comments

1. How Can We Stay Close If We Don’t Communicate?

If we keep avoiding people who disagree with us, how will we ever come back together? Let’s relearn how to talk together.

From Martha:

“I remind myself often that we are all God’s children, and that we should treat one another with respect and dignity. I do wish things weren’t so polarized right now, but with God’s help, we can recover and truly be one nation under God.”

2. 5 Reasons to Read Nonfiction Books + 5 Favorite Books to Read in 2020

If you don’t already love nonfiction books, here are 5 reasons on this blog post for you to add nonfiction to your to-read list. Plus a book suggestion for each category.

From Literary Feline:

“I like to be inspired by my reading and find that in both fiction and nonfiction. I enjoy historical fiction and when I come across a character that existed in real life, I will often do a bit of research to find out more about that person in their real-life. More often than not, I am more impressed with the real person. Sometimes I like to read about someone’s struggle or journey and gain perspective about my own life that maybe I was missing or needed illuminated, whether similar or completely different. And I just plain love to learn new things and expand my worldview.”

3. Is Someone Avoiding Your Table?

Who is avoiding your table? When we make others uncomfortable, they’ll sit elsewhere. Learn to be a safe place. Ideas in the post.

From Carlie:

“As a believer in Christ, I long for us (believers) to truly live out His mission, and ours, to make room at the table for EVERYONE. May we purposefully strive ‘for everyone to be invited. To feel welcomed. To feel at home.’”

4. 5 Reasons to Love Being a Grandparent (+ Pictures)

I share 5 reasons in this post about why I love being a grandparent. I’m still a newbie, but I’m loving it. 

From Theresa:

“My grandmother used to wear polyester pants with creases sewn in. For years, that’s what I associated with being a grandmother. Luckily, they are no longer required!”

5. How Do You Decide What to Read Next?

In this post I share how I decide what to read next, plus some books recommended to me from #nonficnov.

From Jeanne:

“I have a couple hundred hard copy books on my TBR shelves. I have placed them in the order I want to read them. Although, admittedly, that order changes from time to time. ? I also take note of what blogging friends have recommended, and if the book is on a topic that resonates with me or that I have been pondering, I’ll pick up that book and put it at the front of the pile.”

previous Favorite 5’s

5 Links I Love—December 2020

By LisaNotes December 2, 2020 Life updates, Links I like 6 Comments

I’m sharing 5 things I love over 5 days this week. Every month I share my list of favorite 5’s.

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5 Links I Love

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Nine Nonobvious Ways to Have Deeper Conversations

I’d answer YES to this question. You, too? “After all we’ve been through this year, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to talk about this whole experience with others, in a deep, satisfying way?”

Why Your Christian Friends and Family Members Are So Easily Fooled by Conspiracy Theories

“Rather than attempt to debunk the plethora of conspiracy theories, it’d be more helpful to understand why we’re so enamored with them in the first place.”

How to Socialize in the Cold Without Being Miserable

We had a relatively warm family Thanksgiving dinner outside last Thursday, but it may be a different temperature for an outside family Christmas dinner. I appreciate all the tips I can get. 

10 Journalism Brands Where You Find Real Facts Rather Than Alternative Facts

I’m doing a serious look through this list of “top 10 large journalistic brands where I believe you can most often find real, reported facts.”

The 10 Happiest Songs, According to Science

Do you have a happy song? I have a few that I play when I need to immediately lift my spirits. Here are 10 songs through the years that might bring you joy. Does one resonate most with you? Of these, my favorite is #5. 

5 Things to Laugh About in 2020

By LisaNotes December 1, 2020 Encouragement, Life updates 14 Comments

What an unusual year we’re living through! As we enter December 2020, let’s take a minute to laugh in spite of it all.

Being intentional about joy is an important exercise to keep us mentally healthy for the winter ahead.

May God give you many reasons to smile as we end this year and prepare for 2021.

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At the first of each new month, I share 5 days of 5 things. Here’s the schedule.

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5 Things to Laugh About in 2020

I didn’t create any of these. But they each made me laugh as I came across them on social media. I hope they will make you laugh, too. 

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I knew I forgot to do something for Thanksgiving this year. I should have done this! 

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I realize life won’t drastically change when the calendar flips to 2021, but here’s to praying that 2021 won’t be just an extension of 2020. 

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previous Favorite 5’s

On the Blog—November 2020

By LisaNotes November 30, 2020 Archives No Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to blog posts from November 2020.

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5 Books I Recommend—November 2020

By LisaNotes November 30, 2020 Books I Recommend, Life updates 18 Comments

That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.
—Jhumpa Lahiri

Below are 5 books I recommend from those I finished reading in November. See all my recommended books here.

This week I’m sharing 5 days of 5 favorite things. Here’s the schedule.

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Nonfiction

1. The Color of Compromise
The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism
by Jemar Tisby

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Jemar Tisby gives us a history of racism through the lens of the Christian church in America. It’s not a pleasant journey. But it’s an essential one to see. He offers insights on better steps moving forward. An important book. 

2. White Fragility
Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
by Robin DiAngelo

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This one is written by a white lady to a white audience about how we as whites can learn to be less defensive when confronted about racial issues. DiAngelo helps us see things from a different perspective, a needed perspective, so we can step away from our blind biases.

3. The Paper Solution
What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life
by Lisa Woodruff

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If you want to get a handle on your paper clutter, this is an excellent place to start. This is a how-to book, broken down into manageable steps. I hope to put more of it into practice soon.

Fiction

4. Deacon King Kong
by James McBride

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Set in the housing projects in New York in 1969, this novel begins with an old church deacon shooting a drug dealer. From there you see the ripple effects throughout the neighborhood of how people are affected by the shooting.

5. Transcendent Kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi

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The author of this novel grew up in the largest city near me, Huntsville, Alabama. Her book is partially set in Huntsville as her family from Ghana acclimates (and doesn’t) to American culture. Both this book and Deacon King Kong have strong church themes running through them.

Reading Now

  • Always a Guest
    Speaking of Faith Far from Home
    by Barbara Brown Taylor
  • Searching for Certainty
    Finding God in the Disruptions of Life
    by Shelly Miller
  • Total Meditation
    Practices in Living the Awakened Life
    by Deepak Chopra
  • Attention!
    The Power of Simple Decisions in a Distracted World
    by Rob Hatch
  • The Lazy Genius Way
    Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done
    by Kendra Adachi
  • Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man
    by Emmanuel Acho

What good book are YOU reading this month? Please share in the comments.

My books on Goodreads
More books I recommend

sharing with Modern Mrs. Darcy