November 2017 In Review

Hey folks! I started blogging this morning, then was called away to babysit for someone who had to leave suddenly. So, my day was spent hanging out with a delightful little girly and no computer, but I’m back home now and I’m finally posting. Enjoy!

What I focused on in November:

November went so fast I didn’t feel like I had time to focus on anything other than keeping up
Family time – between a cousin’s weekend, Thanksgiving, and going to an out-of-state wedding, I was able to log a bunch of good time with people I love

Reading Update

Fiction: 4 (Edit: Actually 5 – I forgot about one. Obviously it didn’t make a big impression on me.)
Plus the first “book” in a novella collection, but I decided not to read the rest of the collection, so I don’t have a review of it.
Nonfiction: 4
Book Reviews: I’m not sure #oops
Audio Books: 2

PicMonkey Sample-21

Traveling

Nights Gone: 4 or 5
New States or Countries: None

Goals

I didn’t really write goals for November, and I think that really cut down on my productivity.

Near the end of the month I did jot down a few things I wanted to accomplish, and that helped some. My list included:

1. Read 4 Nonfiction books (YES)

2. Bed by 10:30 5 times (this was just for the last third of the month, and I did at least 4 nights)

3. Walk 15 miles (Again, during the last week and a half, and no I didn’t)

4. Edit 3,000 words of Echoes (Altogether – yes. During the last third of the month, no)

5. Clean my bathroom, office, and get laundry done (Yes, although I sadly didn’t hang up all my laundry, so #oops)

What I’ve Been Learning

Y’all. I learned how fast a month can fly by. I can barely even remember November it seems like. Life happened. Lots of life. Like, uber amounts of life. And that’s good and makes me happy, but also leaves my brain in a bit of a “I need to catch up so much” state of being.

One of the big things I learned this month was how I can “reset” as an introvert, so I can spend more time with people. And yes, that sounds weird, but it was a total lightbulb moment for me, and I plan on blogging about it soon.

My sister shared one of my blog posts (this one) on Facebook, and I had a lot of people read it and comment on her post. It was really encouraging and reminded me that my words – like everyone’s words – are important. I want to use my life and my words to help others, even when that means a lot of extra work. I’d been praying recently about God using my blog, and seeing people respond to that post gave me some ideas that I’ve continued praying about.

Although my fiction reading was lacking in the brilliancy compartment, I had some winners when it comes to the nonfiction reads of November, and I’m thankful for what I could learn through the books. I want my life to be full-out for God, and that doesn’t just happen. This month I’ve been learning not only about doing things for God, but also just being. Sitting and taking time to be still. And yes, I know I’ve been learning this for a while, but it’s different aspects each month, which is why I keep bringing it up.

I learned a couple of new games, and that makes my little heart happy. This time of year is pretty much the best ever, because it means long evenings spent sitting around the table playing games with family and friends. One of the games involves a bunch of dice and guessing and challenging and that kind of fun. (Do any of y’all know what I’m talking about? And if so, does the game have a name?) Another one of the games is called “Hand and Foot” and you play it with Skip-Bo cards.

Other

I generally refresh my mind of what’s been happening by going through my pictures at the end of the month, but the lens on my case is scratched, and it’s a bit of a hassle to take my case (it’s LifeProof) off, so I don’t have many pictures. Therefore, I don’t have quite as many easily-recalled memories of this month.

I worked at a retreat at the beginning of this month, which means I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, and that’s always rewarding. I also did a fair amount of Christmas cookie baking with one of my jobs. Now that was fun. In two days I listened to two whole audio books plus a lot of Christmas music.

During the second week of the month, I went to Columbus for a Girl Cousin’s Weekend. We haven’t had one of those for a couple of years, so it was nice to get all together again. We cooked, played games, talked, shopped, and at one time even took an unplanned group nap. #Goodtimes

The next weekend I went to PA for a wedding where my beautiful sister was a bridesmaid. I got to visit some good friends there, so that was fun. By the time the reception was over it was pouring down rain, so the bride and all the bridesmaids ran out to get some pictures in the deluge. How’s that for a great way to end the day?

Thanksgiving was a special time even though some of the family was sick, so we were missing them when the rest of us got together. The following few days were also nice as we spent a lot of time together as a family making memories and watching dreams unfold.

Other special snapshots of the month include cutting grass during a light snow flurry, making baklava that actually turned out the correct way, buying ice cream that was on an extreme sale when we stopped at a gas station, a surprise birthday party for one of my cousins, finally getting back to eating healthfully, finding a mystery series that looked interesting, and enjoying the delightfulness of November.

How was your November?

2 thoughts on “November 2017 In Review”

Bekah says:
December 10, 2017 at 5:05 pm


Wow! Such a busy month. I can sympathize a little with you there, Lydia. This time of year, especially October, November, and December all seem to hold some of the busiest times of the year for me. But I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and the gathering together of family and such. It’s always so much fun!
-Bekah

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- Lydia Howe says:
  December 14, 2017 at 3:26 pm
  
  
  This time of year is busy for sure, but I like it so much! It’s just hard to keep caught up. Still, I wouldn’t trade it. So many special things happen and so many good memories! 🙂
  
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