Share Four Somethings—March 2023
—Grace & Truth Linkup
Near the end of each month, I share four somethings at Jennifer’s linkup: what I’m loving, reading, learning, and eating.
And my last month’s One Second Everyday video . . .
[click here if you can’t see the video]
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What I’m Loving
- AURA DIGITAL FRAME
Jenna and Trey (my youngest daughter and s-i-l) bought us this Aura digital frame for Christmas. I have really enjoyed seeing the “new” pictures on it everytime I walk by!
Mine changes photos every minute, but you can adjust it to change every 15 seconds up to once every 24 hours. It will also play videos. I have it set to turn on at 8am every morning and turn off at 8pm.
Jenna and I both can email pictures directly to it via the cloud so I stay up to date on the cutest photos of my grandson. I highly recommend it.
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What I’m Reading
- THE DANCE OF THE DISSIDENT DAUGHTER
On a lunch break at the Christian conference we attended in January, we were sharing favorite books we’ve read. One of our new friends highly recommended Sue Monk Kidd’s older book, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine. I checked out a copy this month from the library.
I’ve since noticed this book is also one of the suggestions for Lory’s Spiritual Memoir Reading Challenge this year. Perfect for me.
Now that I’m halfway through the book, I understand why it gets the recommendations. I’m currently on the section about healing the feminine wound. Kidd writes:
“Maybe in the end we cannot make healing happen; perhaps it is, after all, a grace. But we can put ourselves in its path. We can create a healing refuge for ourselves.”
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What I’m Learning
- NEW TECHNOLOGY
I was on a zoom call recently that was quite fun because a few newbies to zoom were also on. It was a delightful circus of “Can you hear me?”, “Honey, is the TV still on?”, “I can’t see myself!”
It reminded me I need to continue learning new things. The past few months I’ve been doing that. I joined our local Moms Demand Action team to help with their database. It’s forcing me to learn things online, through tutorials, through more experienced leaders, and through trial and error.
Sometimes I feel stupid when I can’t figure something out; other times I feel elated when technology actually works like I want it to.
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What I’m Eating
- LEFTOVERS FROM THE FREEZER
I don’t remember when we made the decision. But one of the best ones Jeff and I have made in the past year or two was this: label every leftover we put into the freezer.
It’s eliminated all the mystery that we used to have: Is this taco meat or just browned beef? Is this the chicken stew from last month or 3 years ago? What even is this?
And because we can identify the leftovers, we eat the leftovers.
What’s something you’re learning or loving this month?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Grace & Truth Featured Post
Not keeping up with technology is only one possible side effect of getting older. We all know there are more.
So I was happy to read Maree’s post from last week’s linkup about aging being a good thing, not a bad thing.
Maree writes:
“When I linger in the mirror a little too long, complaining of those deep lines on my face, or when I receive news from the doctor that there are signs of aging, I will remember the Lord blessed me with another day. Yes, we will slow down as we grow older, but to live another day is a gift to savor.”
Read all of Maree’s words at her blog, then add your own link below.
“Do You See Growing Older as a Gift or Misfortune?”
Review the rules here about adding your most recent Christian Living posts and how to be the Featured Post. Visit all four hosts social media here or websites here: Maree Dee, Lisa notes, Lauren Sparks, Tammy Kennington.
Now Let’s Link Up!
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The Dance of the Dissident Daughter is on my list. Glad you are finding it lives up to its reputation so far. And great job with the freezer labeling! Often the simplest strategies are the most effective.
I was happy to see The Dance of the Dissident Daughter on your list as an example since I had wanted to read it anyway! 🙂 I’ve read several of her books in the past; not sure how I never read this one before.
Always love your videos Lisa! A wonderful glimpse into what you value. Added The Dance of the Dissident Daughter to my kindle queue, it is exactly what I was looking for only I didn’t know it!!
My Mom who recently passed away at age 85, always said, try to learn something new every day, even if it’s only a new vocabulary word. I try to do the same, whether it’s technology, or a new way to fold clothes!
Had to laugh about the leftovers, I never label anything, so sure that I will remember what it is, and just the other day thawed out what I thought was chicken gravy, only to find out it was lemon pie filling, this may be the “sign” or rather “label” I need to stop being so lazy and label my leftovers!!!
I’m sorry about the loss of your mother, Donna. 🙁 She sounds like she was a wise woman; I appreciate her philosophy to learn something new every day.
Lol about your chicken gravy turning into lemon pie filling. I hope you were able to make a lemon pie after that discovery! 🙂
Lisa, I always love seeing photos of your precious grandson. I really love those digital frames. I don’t know why I have never gotten one. But Mother’s Day is coming up and now I know what to say when my husband asks me what I would like!
I don’t know why I’d never gotten a digital frame either because I’ve seen them at other people’s houses and always admired them. My daughter surprised me with this one. She knows me well in getting things for me that I don’t think to get for myself. 🙂 I’m sure you’ll enjoy one if you do ask for it for Mother’s Day!
Lisa, the book your mentioned sounds fabulous. I’m adding it to my long list of books I want to read. Okay, I have a question about your leftovers. When you cook do you purposely make more so you will have something to freeze? I need to start doing this and labeling would help.
Thank you for featuring my post on growing older this week.
Blessings,
Maree
To answer your question, no, I usually don’t purposely cook more to have something to freeze (but I respect people who do!). However, we do tend to cook whatever a “package” is (such as chicken breasts or whatever), knowing we can’t eat it all at once and will freeze the leftovers. Well, maybe my answer should be yes, after all? 🙂
Hope your back is feeling better, friend!
I really really really need to label leftovers for the freezer too. Do you use a label maker? I just recently reorganized my underwear drawer – weird? but it is the best underwear drawer I have ever had! LOL So we can teach an old dog a new trick, right? Thanks for the push!
No, I don’t use a label maker for my leftovers. That one additional step might deter me from doing it at all. lol. I keep it simple and just mark on the saran wrap or aluminum foil what it is. You have me curious about how you organized your underwear drawer! 🙂 After reading Marie Kondo’s books, I started (and now continue to) fold mine differently instead of just shoving them all in, and I have loved that! Yep, we are still capable of learning new tricks.
LOL! Yes, labeling the leftovers in the freezer is a must.. I was just having this same conversation with my family last week when I could not tell what was in the freezer bag (though I’m pretty sure it’s leftover ham– we might just be surprised!).
I hope your leftover ham does indeed turn out to be leftover ham. lol. I totally understand how hard it is to convince everyone else to label the leftovers, when it’s hard enough for myself to do it! 🙂 But the rewards have been so worth the minor inconvenience.
Your grandson is just a delight, Lisa, thanks for sharing your highlights with us! Technology is a blessing and a challenge! Thanks for the book recommendation. I’m inspired to do better with my leftover labels, Lisa.
Thanks, Lisa. Our little grandson is definitely a delight to us. I’m so grateful for the sunshine he brings to our days. I hope you find success in doing better with your leftover labeling. 🙂 Sometimes those little things can make a big difference.
Love that idea of labeling freezer food, Lisa. Oh my! We have a small deep freeze in the basement, and one never knows what’s lurking down there. Actually, I’m exaggerating, b/c Michael, chief cook and bottle washer does, and he’s highly organized, but I still sometimes unearth stuff in the frig freezer upstairs (w/ vertigo I’m not descending into the basement right now), and I have these “little packages,” wrapped tightly by my own loving handns!, and I don’t know half the time what’s in them! Ugh. I do sometimes mark dates on bottled stuff though which is also a good idea.
As for Kidd’s book, I read it years ago. I admire her excellent and often metaphoric writing. She’s a skilled author. Loved her earlier memoirs like God’s Joyful Suprise and When the Heart Waits, and later, First Light, which contains her earlier writing. But for me, Dance of the Dissident Daughter was problematic, not in her writing skill, but views. Again, I’ve not read it in aeons, but if my memory serves correctly, it’s here that she really departs from her Christian faith. So I felt I had to be grounded in God’s Word to read it discerningly. Obviously, this is my opinion, and you’ll come to your own conclusions.
I share with *you* four somethings: Joy, Hope, Peace, & Love.
xo
Lynn
PS Love that you are working w/ Moms Demand Action. And I’d recommend Kinzinger’s Country First, where “regular” Americans, with various viewpoints, can Zoom together peacefully and share our views rationally and our love of country.
I’m still so sorry that your vertigo won’t leave you alone, Lynn. 🙁 I guess there are a million little ways that it affects your everyday life that we just take for granted, like being able to go into the basement.
I need to start marking dates on bottled items too. I always wonder how old my taco sauce is and how long I can keep it in the fridge, but rarely do I label it when I open it. Always more to improve on! 🙂
Thanks for sharing about Kidd’s book. I haven’t picked up on her leaving Christianity yet in it. You know I appreciate you sharing your thoughts so thanks for this. And also for sharing about Country First. It sounds so interesting and needed.
Joy, Hope, Peace, and Love. Those are 4 somethings that we all need every day! Love you for including these here every time you comment.
Lisa, this is a fun post. I’ve labeled leftovers for years now for the reason you stated. Now, to get the rest of my family to do this consistently . . . 😉 The quote from Sue Monk Kidd resonated with me!
When I got my husband on board with labeling the leftovers, I knew the battle was won. lol. Good luck to you! 🙂
The digital frame sounds like a wonderful gift! I have not heard of the Sue Monk Kidd book you shared, but I will look into it. I hope you have a wonderful month 🙂
Thanks, Cindy. The digital frame has been such a delight not only to me, but to anybody else who is at our house!
Ah, yes, I hear you about the mystery meat, Lisa. Loved your 1-second video as ever. And Sue Monk Kidd’s book looks intriguing.
And oh does your grandson look just like his grandpa or what?!
I’ll have to tell Jeff that you see a resemblance with our grandson! I see it too. 🙂
I love those digital frames, and have it on my wishlist for when I feel like I can afford one. Labeling leftovers is a game-changer, isn’t it? We have a very sophisticated system here – it involves masking tape and a pencil! My one son and I used to have a game of trying to outdo each other with creative wording for our labels, and I miss that now. Have a blessed weekend! Visiting from SFS#12
Masking tape and a sharpie are my tools of the trade! 🙂 I better not mention to my husband about doing creative wording though because he would LOVE to do that, and I’d be back to never knowing what anything is. lol. He likes to use creative wording for Christmas labels on gifts, things like, “From the oldest teacher to the youngest teacher.” Sometimes they’re easy to figure out; sometimes not. 😉
I am thoroughly enjoying waltzing around the SFS Link Up posts…
So many interesting things to ponder, like properly labeling things in the freezer. What a game changer that just might be!
I’m also going to check out some of the other links you mention.
Yes, I enjoy visiting around the SFS posts too. They’re all so different and so interesting! I’m just now getting around to visiting yours and such a delight to meet you! I hope you’ll find a nice place to settle.
I’ve recently started labeling things in the freezer too, Lisa. It’s just me and Randy so often these days, it helps to split larger meals into smaller portions. But it doesn’t do us any good if we don’t know what it is! I love your digital photo frame, and I really admire your willingness to learn new technology in your volunteer role!
Yep, those days are coming soon where it will be mainly the two of you at every meal. But you’re easing into it this year so maybe it won’t be too jarring. It is nice to have extra portions to freeze though, but I’d much rather have everybody at the table together eating them all up!
I love the digital frame. I always label all of the food that goes into my freezer with the name and date. I enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Yes, I’ve discovered that adding the date to the leftovers is just as important as adding the name! Is this 5 years old or 5 months? lol. It makes a difference.
Labeling everything in the freezer….brilliant! Can’t think how many times things have gone bad/to waste because I didn’t use them. Because I wasn’t sure what they were?!? Seeing that cutie sitting on a big wheel brought back sooo many fun memories! Oh the fun of big wheels!!:)
I’m sure we’ve thrown away perfectly good food again and again from our freezer before we started labeling things. I always thought I would remember what everything was, but not so. lol.
For some unknowable reason, I have resisted labeling. For decades. I’m coming around though. Thanks for adding to my incentive. Also, I think I may “need” that frame. Thanks for the share.
Well, I’ve got to tell you guys that I don’t label leftovers. I always appreciate your 1-second videos; they are so touching. I really think I need to get myself one of those digital photo frames, that’s great.
Visiting today from Share Four Somethings. {{Hugs}}