Weekend Coffee Share.....Come sit with me


It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

It's been a few weeks since I've posted. Life has been busy and I just haven't had a chance to sit and focus and write. Plus I knew it would be hard to get around to commenting so I just waited. We'll see if I get this weeks done. I'm starting it on Wednesday. 


If we were having coffee, maybe we'd talk about:


The weather: For the most part the weather has been in the 80's. A few days with 90's (uggh) but thankfully not too many. This next week we'll see some temps in the 70's which will be nice. The whole Pacific coast has been on Tsunami watch/warning (depending on where you are), because of the earthquake off Russia. I think the Oregon and Washington Coast were fine. Phew.

What we're thinking about: So one thing I've thought about recently and many may not understand it (that's okay), but about 11 years ago we left the church we were a part of for over 20 years (my husband for even longer). We didn't leave our faith, but the tension that came with us, the pastors, and a few others in leadership not conforming to how others thought things should be caused us all to just step aside...long story short, anyways. I'm sure many would say there was a crisis of faith, whatever it was, I was at a spot where I just couldn't seem to pick up my Bible. Like I said I didn't leave faith behind, but I put some "rituals" of faith aside. I listened to podcasts, speakers, and read books, but not much else. A few months ago I thought "you know, I'd like to get a new Bible to read without all the old markings I made, to read it through a new lens, not one that was drilled in to me over the years". So I did. Now I'm pondering the direction I want to go with it. I have always been a black and white person but I've come to realize that life, faith, the Bible isn't always black and white. So, that's what I've been thinking about. 

What we're thankful for: Thankful that this journey we've been on, while it hasn't been easy and we've lost many friendships over differences of thoughts, has taken us to where we are, has allowed me to grow, to sit with things and learn and even be okay with changing the way I think about some things. 

Around the house:
We should be starting work on our garage soon...well, someone else will be doing it. We ended up needing to nix the idea of an apartment above it, we just couldn't wing it financially. That was a bummer because we were really hoping that could be some extra income. BUT I think it will be nice to have a garage finally. It will be big enough to have our workout equipment in it as well as two cars. 

My blueberries are doing AMAZING..I've gotten over 12 gallon size bags and there a lot more out there to be picked. I've allowed some others to come pick because there's no way we'll get them all.



For the love of food: The other day I decided to make a sourdough sandwich bread. While the traditional rounds are a favorite, sometimes I like to change it up. The recipe was fairly easy and not very labor intensive...a lot of just letting the dough do it's thing. Here is the link. I didn't realize that it said it shouldn't be freshly fed starter, but I used that anyways along with putting it in my oven to proof because I also did NOT plan my timing well. All in all, it turned out good. My philosophy is always, it doesn't have to be pretty as long as it tastes good. 



As for other food, I've kept it pretty simple. We had a busy few weeks, and I didn't have it in me to do much than very simple. No new recipes. I did make a yummy ground beef stirfry that was satisfying. I simply browned some ground beef in sesame oil, added some coconut aminos and a chili paste. Then I sauteed some onion, broccoli, pepper, carrot and zucchini, seasoned with coconut aminos, added some The Skinny Pasta Orzo and we had a quick and tasty meal. 

My youngest was in charge of making the cake and cupcakes for my MIL's birthday party we had a couple weeks ago. The cake turned out great, the cupcakes fell, and since time was short, she just went to the store and bought a boxed mix. Ha! We never do that but desperate times call for desperate measures.




 My MIL made tiny Bratzille cookies to go on top of them. 

For the love of reading: I've managed to do well with my reading. I read 9 books in July. I've mentioned before I always have at least one physical book, one ebook and one audiobook going at all times. It's really the only way I get as many read as I do. Currently I am reading Save the Fate by Mary Karnes (this will go with my Murder They Write monthly challenge of a book with a wedding theme), Meet your Baker (A Bakeshop Mystery #1) by Ellie Alexander. Many in the cozy mystery community talk about her and I hadn't read any of her books yet so thought I'd start this one. I also just started a book I picked up at the Pacific NW Book Fair called A Very Simple Estate Planning Guide (that goes beyond creating a will) by Cheryl Gill. I have kept saying we need to start getting things in order, and this gal was so great to chat with and her book so simple that I thought it would be the tool to get my rear in gear. 

Of course my TBR list just keeps growing! 

What we're watching or listening to: Other than audiobooks, I haven't watched or listened to much of anything else. I'm currently listening to The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler. So far (and I'm not far into it) I am really enjoying it and may buy the book. 

Favorite quote: In one of the books I'm reading, I came across this quote and thought it was good. The two people having the conversation were discussing the way the daughter remembered something about her parents and the mother responded this way.

"True, but that's the gift of memories, isn't it? We filter out what we don't need to carry with us, letting time and distance cleanse the rest."...."They aren't necessarily a true reflection of the past". 

Maybe if we were having coffee we'd discuss this further. 

Favorite photo(s):

Recent craft with the kids. We put glue in a lid and used paint to swirl around and make sun catchers. 
I'm making headway on my puzzle, thanks in part to my daughter helping me. 

The grandkids loved watching everyone jump.




My MIL coming in for a landing. 


Random or not so random things: I think I'm learning to not feel FOMO when I don't get around to posting to various link parties...because the reality is, and I know it's a no brainer, but, the reality is if I don't, it just means I'm busy living life and the extra time to blog isn't there, and that is fine. It is one of my creative outlets but it's only one of many and some days I just can't make it happen. 

We had a busy few weeks/weekends with planning and putting on my mother in laws 80th birthday AND her jumping out of an airplane. Both of which went well. Originally she was supposed to jump the morning of her birthday party but there was too much cloud cover so we rescheduled for the following week. We did take family photos at a local park, then went home to set up for the party. Quite a few people came and it was nice for her to visit with so many. It was the first time she had all her kids, grandkids and great grandkids in one place at one time...her biggest thing was to get a photo with everyone. 

The day after the party, we celebrated my grandsons 7th birthday at our house, then I hosted book club that Wednesday. 

Last Saturday I drove up to Seattle (well, Snoqualmie/North Bend to be exact), to spend the day with two friends. We were supposed to go to Idaho to visit one of them but  her son and daughter in law had their baby so she ended up being here instead. It was a great day and I met my aunt for coffee first. Oh, and my hubby drove to Spokane to buy a truck. My son in law went with him. 

Last Sunday we all drove 45 minutes north to Toledo Skydive in Toledo, Washington. They have been in business for 50 years. In talking with one of the girls who helped us, it was her grandfather who started it. It was a great environment and everyone had a great time either watching or jumping. There were four that jumped. My MIL, my brother in law, nephew and another friend. She said it was quite the experience. 

This week was a little bit of getting back to a normal routine. Normal work schedule, home schedule, etc. I'm ready for it. 


With Joy Unquenchable,
Kirstinh

Comments

  1. Wow, you've been busy with such good stuff!! The blueberries, the party, the MIL JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE!!! You officially have a good excuse not to post, lol. I'm kidding in terms of you should never feel pressure to write or post. Life is definitely made to be living- if time permits to write about it, great! If not, keep on living life to the fullest :). We left a church after twenty years during the pandemic and then about a year we left another church. Both times leaving were hard but we felt we weren't hearing Biblical truth and that trumps everything regarding church attendance. Have a great week!

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  2. Your MIL birthday celebration and skydiving sound awesome. The blueberries look delicious. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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