10 on the 10th ala Valentine's Day

We've had a busy busy weekend which included a road trip, so I think I'll save my recap for tomorrow (Tuesday) and join Marsha In The Middle for her monthly 10 on the 10th today. 

Feel free to play along and add your link on her blog. Every month is different and this month we have ten 'would you rather' style questions related to Valentine's Day. Here we go-

 

1. A cozy restaurant or cozied up at home in your jammies?

We typically try to cook something special or a little bit fancy together at home on Valentine's Day because restaurants are busy and often have set menus for the holiday. That being said, I feel like we've spent a lot of time cooking at home lately so a nice dinner out is really appealing. 

This year we'll be in charge of the grands over the Valentine's Day weekend while my daughter1 and her husband travel to a wedding. It's possible we'll be dining on pizza and that's okay too. 

2. Eat red velvet cake or wear red velvet? 

I'll have the slice of cake please. I love velvet fabric especially around the Christmas holidays, but I prefer the darker tones-black, emerald, navy. 

When my girls were little I did dress them in red velvet on occasion, but it's not a color/fabric combo I'd wear myself. 

3.  A heart shaped box of candy or a heart shaped piece of jewelry? 

It would depend on the jewelry. Some delicate heart shaped earrings? Yes please. I love these from Kendra Scott-

The little Kate Spade hearts are also really cute-

4. Reese's Pieces or a Reese's Heart?  

I'd be happy with either, but would probably opt for the Reese's Pieces. 

5. Watch a Valentine themed movie or an action movie? 

Is the Valentine movie any good or is it super cheesy? If it's the latter, then I'd rather watch an action movie. 

6. A box of chocolates or a less than perfect homemade card for my person? 

Can I just share the above mentioned Reese's Pieces with my person? They're one of his favorites. 

7. Iceland or Tahiti? 

Definitely Tahiti. I'd like a trip to Tahiti more than a cozy dinner in a restaurant or a cozy dinner at home in my jammies or a bag of Reese's Pieces or some heart shaped jewelry. 

8. Would my Valentine want me to sing At Last or I Don't Want To Miss A Thing? 

My Valentine wouldn't want me to sing lol. Are these my only choices because neither would be songs I'd sing? 

If I could sing I mean. 

Which I can't so there won't be singing. 

9. Celebrate for a week or not at all? 

I like the holiday, but a week might be a lot. Not at all sounds like the February equivalent of Scrooge. A single day feels just right. 

10. A really sour piece of candy or a Brussel sprout dipped in chocolate? 

Finally an easy one...sour candies are my favorite so will happily opt for that one. 

Hope your week is filled with the things and people you love. 

Ten On The Tenth

Joining Marsha today for her monthly 10 on the 10th prompt which is this-

I didn't do a year end recap on my blog this year, so I'm thinking this might take it's place. Scrolling back through the prior year's pictures it's funny the moments you see captured there that were so special as you lived them, but that were then pushed to the recesses of your mind as time rolled forward. It was fun to pull them out and dust them off.  

Here are ten for keeps..

1. A new little someone to love joined our family in February. 

The baby shower my daughter's friends hosted for her was truly so special. 

These friends praying for Sugar, who arrived just a few weeks later, is a moment I don't want to forget.

My own momma meeting her for the first time a few weeks later is another memory I'll treasure. 

2. There was a whole lot of lake fun this year-

3. Cousin time was for sure a favorite...

And even with all the comings and goings and people moving countries we still managed to squeeze in a whole lotta fun with grandkids in the house. 

4. Lots of happy celebrations happened this year, including a 2nd birthday..

Fireworks on the 4th of July...

A summer bridal shower and traveling to two different weddings of kids we knew when they were still just kids...

5. There were some fun weekends spent with college friends...

6. A great big outdoor project that will be enormously enjoyed in 2025...

7. Tea in Cambridge with my daughter on my birthday was a 5-star highlight from 2024...

That day was part of a fabulous trip to England taken with my hubs to mark our 40th anniversary....

8. Not enough sister time in 2024, but what we did have was special...

And I loved that my momma had a day at the lake with her three girls plus one granddaughter all together...

9. As always I am so grateful for the beauty that surrounds us...

10.  And last but not least, there was the Christmas holiday spent with littles to round out the year.

There was an awful lot to love in 2024. I knew this of course, but looking back and writing it down helps make it all stick. And while I'm sure I could have made a list of things I'd rather forget, it felt really good to count my blessings. 

'Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.' Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ten on the Twelfth

So, funny story, or at least it's funny to me. 

Last week I saw Marsha post the topic for this month's ten on the tenth and I jotted a few thoughts into a post to save in my draft folder with every intention of joining. I was actually feeling pretty proud of myself for being ahead of the game. Ha! 

Here was the intro I had written..'playing along with 10 on the 10th this month because a) I remembered it was the 10th and b) I only have about 150 other things I should be doing so blogging seems reasonable.'

On Tuesday I saw a bunch of people posting their 10 on the 10th posts and I was scratching my head thinking why are they posting on Tuesday when the 10th isn't until Thursday??? 

Bother. 

December has been a whirlwind, and I'm going to participate anyway because why not? There are zero rules when it comes to your own blog. 

This month's prompt is-

Hmmm...which way do I go? Is there anything I truly dislike about the month of December? Doesn't each month brings its own mixture of sorrow and joy? I'm a bit like Pollyanna in that I prefer to focus on the joy, so here's what I really enjoy during the month of December. 

anticipation...

December, 2021

reflection...

December, 2019

family...

December, 2023

memory...

December, 1995

pretty food...

December, 2022

lights...

December, 2019

cookies -both the baking and the eating ...

December 2017

holiday parties...

December, 2021

little children...

December, 2018

And above all, the gospel story that never grows old or cold or irrelevant or is ever anything less than miraculous...

timeless

What would make your list of December favorites? 

Ten On The Tenth

There's a blog link up every month known as '10 on the 10th' (hosted by Marsha In The Middle) and I never participate, because normally by the time I realize it's the 10th it's already the 11th. Not this month! The theme for November is easy peasy-'10 things you love about Thanksgiving'. I'm going to throw a few recent pictures into the mix too because it's my blog and they gotta go somewhere. 

What do I love about Thanksgiving? 

1.Everything. I mean what's not to love, except maybe the slightly tighter waistband the day after? 

2. I love that in a world where everything under the sun has turned into an Event (yes, with a capital E) with themes and decor and planning starting months in advance, Thanksgiving remains relatively simple. 

3.You don't need to rack your brain trying to come up with an original menu, because what you're eating is (wonderfully!) pretty much the same year after year. I mean my family better not be messing with the sides too much because they're what I like best on the day. 

4. Dressing. Stuffing. Whatever you want to call it, is the best part of the meal in my opinion. It's not something I make any other time of the year so feels like a treat on Thanksgiving. I make my mama's cornbread stuffing and my girls do the same. I'm not cooking this year, but there will be dressing. 

5. Leftovers. I'm not a huge fan of leftovers normally, but somehow a turkey sandwich with dressing and cranberry sauce, eaten the day after, doesn't feel like leftovers. 

6. Family. And if you can't be with your actual family you can have a wonderful meal with friends who feel like family. One of our favorite Thanksgivings was spent in England where it's not even celebrated. We shared a traditional meal with another American family, some Canadian friends, and our two Young Life leaders. I have such warm memories of that day. If you can't be with family, or friends who feel like family, there are lots of places to volunteer and serve a meal to folks who need one, which is also gratifying. 

7. No gifts=no pressure. 

8. Naps are for everyone. 

9.Thanksgiving lands in the middle of my most favorite season of the year-autumn. Ours has been particularly lovely this year, and every afternoon for the past couple of weeks I've been taking my cup of tea and my laptop out on the back porch and enjoying the afternoon sky. The color, the temperature, and the light....it's pure gold. 

10. Perhaps what I love best about this day is the way we pause for a minute before December comes barreling in. This holiday is a gentle reminder to count our blessings, and acknowledge there's an awful lot to be thankful for. In these troubled times it's comforting to stop and recognize God's goodness...to rest in the knowledge that He holds the future. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!"
1 Chronicles 16:34