January Meanderings
Winter in full force
We’re a month into the new year and it already feels normal to write the date as 2025. I guess life moves on without too much drama.
It has been snowy and cold here in Southwestern PA. This is a good thing for us since last year’s winter was pretty mild and we thought we may never have a good snow again. But this month has been as snowy as my kids could desire. Their snow pants are out all the time and the messy hats/gloves/snowboots mess is for real here.
The snow has hindered my newfound walking routine though. The place where I walk is unplowed, so very slippery. I tried to get out once and fell, so I’ve decided to wait till things melt off a bit before I go again. Happily, I still really want to walk, and I’m confident that I’ll get back out and keep it up, even after days and days of not.
Sunday, January 5
Today is Twelfth Night and the final day of Christmas tide. Normally I would have a small feast or party with a cake of some kind, but because this day falls on Sunday it’s almost impossible to host a party on an evening service night. I decide to do something next year instead and let it roll. I cannot be a prisoner to my self-imposed traditions, no matter how dear they are to me.
It’s been so very gray in the skies lately. These small breaks of sunspots are all we get and I have to be on the lookout for them. I keep my eyes flickering outside as I do the dishes hoping to see them when they come.
Wednesday, January 8
It is the day after theater tryouts. Up until yesterday, my kids were pretty hyped about tryouts with visions of starring rolls in their heads. You could cut the tension with a knife, it was so thick! Now the tension in the house has gone back down to zero, and life feels normal again. I also met with my NCVA* Zoom group this afternoon. I love the fellowship of other believers who make art and talk about where their work and their faith intersect.
*Network of Christians in Visual Arts
Thursday, January 9
I picked up my Azure Standard order today. It’s such a blessing to be able to order so much of my food from a family-owned business and have it delivered relatively close to me. I love getting all my larger bulk orders of baking ingredients from them, and I love their quality.
I finished a page in my art journal and posted it today. So much of what I’m putting into my art journal are ideas for larger pieces when the time comes. Part of me wants to get big canvases and start on them right now. Life restricts my abilities though. A more patient approach is needed.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
Matthew 18:20
Saturday, January 11
Our local firehouse has a monthly buckwheat breakfast that we love to serve at. My older three kids are there all morning. Then we have a friend in for dinner and the day feels very complete.
Sunday, January 12
I finished reading Once You See by Jeff Christopherson. This was a book that was handed around to all the pastors at a conference my husband and I attended several years ago. This book started out strong and I love the new way of viewing the church this author represents. However, the idea of the three-level warehouse as community support/ministry/employment would never work in a rural setting. BUT the ideas of how to meet the needs of the community being firmly the church’s goal is fantastic, and I’ll be letting the ideas simmer on the back burner of my mind for a while.
Monday, January 13
While my husband was at a late meeting, I finished reading The Bridge of San Luis Rey, the first
book of the year! This was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed. I’m not sure it will be a book friend and probably will get culled from my shelves when push comes to shove. I’m glad to have read it though. I so enjoy listening to the discussions too.
Friday, January 17
I’ve been sick these past couple of days. I was able to keep school going on Wednesday, but Thursday I was down for the day, so the kids got a day off. Today I’ve been able to muddle through, though I’m still pretty tired. I had to skip choir practice which makes me sad, since we had been on break since the holidays and I was so looking forward to singing again.
Saturday, January 18
Today we all get up early and out the door and head to the Lancaster County area. I’m meeting the people of the Poiema Visual Arts group. I joined this Pennsylvania-based Christian artist community after moving here. It’s all felt remote since most of their activities happen around the Lancaster area and I can’t really join in. Today is a Saturday though, and I swing bringing the entire family. They are a growing group and I hope to see more artists of faith from my side of the state joining eventually. We spend all afternoon playing games, eating, and talking. All great things for creating community. Afterwards, we get outside and the sky is a lovely watery rainbow cloudy mess that I take a few pictures of. We also take a quick spin through my husband’s alma mater, Lancaster Bible College.
I also finished Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane on the car trip home. I love words, especially unique words, so this book was right up my alley. I highly recommend everything I’ve read by Macfarlane. His prose are poetical and powerful.
Sunday, January 19
I’m still sick enough, and losing my voice, so I stay home from church today. Three of my six kids are sick now too, so we enjoy snuggling under blankets and being quiet at home. It’s only a matter of time before they all come down with it, and I want to be as rested as possible to deal with it. I make noodley soup, a sick day favorite, for everyone. I make sure and add lots of garlic to boost our immune systems.
Despite being sick, I am motivated to work on my larger hanging art piece. Motivation always comes after spending time with other artists. I realize I haven’t posted any progress posts on this piece at all over on my Instagram channel, so I need to think through that and get to work on how I want to show the process I’ve had with it. This piece has been a long slow one for me, and I’m almost ready to be done. I’m looking forward to finishing it so I can move on to new projects that have been slowly bubbling in the background.
Wednesday, January 22
Today I meet remotely with my SAQA* group. We haven’t met since before the holidays in October, so it’s a real treat to see everyone’s faces again. We also had a lot of work to show and tell and that was delightful too, to see what everyone had been working on. I am truly blessed to have had this group in my life for so many years and who can speak to my art so well.
*Studio Art Quilt Association
Sunday, January 26
Another sick day home. A new bug surfaced in the house and my youngest has a fever. I’m so glad I got out yesterday and did some thrift store shopping by myself. It was just what I needed to keep on dealing with illness here with a good attitude.
I’m enjoying watching the birds at the bird feeder these days. We have a great deal of Juncos, some of my favorites. We also have a Nuthatch that hops upside down on our feeder. He brings delight to my heart whenever I catch a glimpse of him.
At the end of the month, I am feeling a bit frayed by all the illness. But as I look back over the month, I’m surprised we were as healthy as we were. Having a big family can make it seem like illness never leaves as a bug circles the house. Thankfully, we prioritize good food, healthy amounts of activities (where we can still rest at night), and less technology. We all have healthy personal rhythms and can do the little things that keep us healthy and help us bounce back after sickness. This is one of the things that I love about being a homemaker and a homeschooler, my schedule is my own and nobody dictates or obligates me to be on their schedule. My kids’ obligations are very minimal and so if they need a day or two to rest it rarely interferes with our other activities. When we need to rest we do, so simple!
Looking toward to February, Valentine’s Day, and my hubby’s birthday! Blessings to you all for this coming month as well!