Connections that Enrich: Don't Miss the Blessings

Do you ever experience those moments when you look back on your life, or even just your day, and think, "How blessed I am by the friends and experiences I've had in my life?"  

As I prepare to move into a new little chapter of life, I can't help but be grateful for the blessings I've been given up to this point.  The late-night theology discussions, the giddy friendship discoveries, the kind listening, and supportive cheering-each-other-on are just some of the experiences I have been thankful for lately.  Looking back even farther, I can't help but smile at all the experiences, the religious instruction, the musical formation, the quiet retreats, the rambling adventures, and times with God that have shaped me into the woman I am today, not to mention all the people who have crossed my path and even become wonderful friends along the way.  Looking at old photos on Facebook, on the family computer, and even in albums is a dear pastime for me.  They bring back such wonderful and diverse memories, resurfacing good times, struggles, hopes, joys, friendships, and life.

My life has not been as exciting as some, but maybe some would say it's been more exciting than theirs.  I think that each person's life is unique; no two people have the same one, and so each one is special.  My life is special; your life is special, and all our lives are filled with blessings and meaning.  In our hurried, stressed, and comparison-driven culture, it is important to take this step back and examine our lives in their own light, not in light of anyone else's.  

When you do this, it may be easy to spot the difficulties and the heartache, but I hope it will also be easy for you to remember and relish the joys, the blessings.  They come in all sizes and kinds.  I treasure the multi-state road trip I took with family friends after I graduated from high school, as well as the fun little talks I've had with students after tutoring when they show me a favorite toy.  Even more than the experiences, I think the memories of the people throughout my life are what bring me joy.  It is amazing how many friends you can make; whether you know them intimately for years or only briefly, each person is unique and unrepeatable, and it is a joy to have made their acquaintance.  

Humans were created to live together in a family and community.  Whether your family or community is those you've grown up with or found along your way in life, they're an incredible gift from God and make life so rich!  All of life's experiences would be nowhere near as exciting or meaningful if other people weren't a part of them.  Imagine that special birthday party, or church picnic, without friends and family, or maybe more accurately, without connection.  These connections are what bring us together and create the friendships we hold dear.  Sometimes it can be hard to connect despite the internet "connected" age we exist in.  This is why it is more important now than ever before to foster these connections, to slow down and actually listen to what someone is saying in a conversation, to reach out to a new person, to help someone in need, to share a smile or laugh over the seemingly small things, because we're losing them.  

I know it sounds extremely cliché to say, "be present," but it is increasingly difficult to actually be present, even with ourselves.  As I drove home after tea with a friend, I turned on my music and jammed away as I drove, but as I did so, I realized I wasn't completely present in my driving.  Yes, I was paying attention to the road, but I was also somewhere else in the music and the lyrics.  My drive home had become second nature and almost passed by unnoticed.  Compare that to the drives home from friends' homes years ago when I sat in the back seat of our family minivan just staring out the window at the starry sky above, contemplating my own thoughts, or conversing with family in the car.  I was present in the drive, and I was present with those around me.  Even more so, we are less present today with others in public, in our homes, even at events, with the distractions of our phones, our "lives" on the internet.  How can we make connections when we are connected more to the small white screen in our hands?  

At this same tea outing with a friend, when she got up momentarily from the table, I was tempted to whip out my phone and check it.  Check for what?  Notifications?  Who would be needing my attention?  No one, really.  I fought the urge in that instant and instead decided to look around.  Ah, that is something we don't do as often now because we immediately look down at our phones.  To my delight, I noticed the cute decor on the walls, the live cactus plants with their tiny thorns and soft leaves in the planter behind our booth, and the water spigot mounted directly into the hutch that housed the water cups and to-go boxes.  I made connections, and I noticed life.  Now imagine doing that when people are present, too.  I have certainly checked my phone on impulse, out of habit, when with others, only to find no pressing notifications, oftentimes none at all.  In those moments, what could I have noticed?  A friendly smile?  Someone's new outfit?  A witty remark?  A forlorn look?  A need for care?  All these things create those connections that we will remember infinitely longer than the pesky notifications.  As we look back, those connections are life.  They weave the fabric of our memories and make us who we are.  As I get older and life seems to pass more quickly each year, I can't help but think of all the moments and connections I've missed, but also the ones yet to be made.  

Now I look to the future as I move to a new place and look forward to new friendships, new connections, that will bring joy, shape me, try me, and ultimately become beautiful memories.  God is continually blessing us moment to moment, year to year.  I don't want to miss these blessings.  I want to be able to look back on my young adulthood with fondness and a full heart.  I want to enjoy the friendships I have and will have.  I want to be a good friend so others will have these beautiful memories too.  May we be able to look back in the years to come and see many beautiful memories and friendships that have enriched our lives and brought us closer to eternal happiness.

P.S. I cannot believe this, but I wrote this on the eve of National Best Friends Day without knowing it!   How ironic and providential is that?!  

Sunshine Blogger Award Vol. 6

 

Thank you to Lizzy of Starlight and Saucepans for tagging me for the Sunshine Blogger Award!  I always love it when this comes around, and you all have the best questions!  I also can't believe I haven't answered one of these since 2022.  Where does the time go?!

These are the rules:


1. Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog. (Check!)

2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you. (Presently...)

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write 11 new questions for them. (hehe, maybe not today...)

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog. (Check, check!)

You have the opportunity to invite over a fictional character for a day and show him/her around your neighborhood. Which character do you choose?

Oooh, good question, right off the bat! Anne Shirley comes to mind right away. I would just love to have her over, share all my scrapes with her, and introduce her to my friends so they could get to know and love her, hopefully as I do.

What kind of weather do you like best? What weather makes you happiest/saddest?

I definitely enjoy different kinds of weather. In the middle of summer, when the monsoon season brings its dark clouds, I relish the thunder and rainstorms that bring a cool reprieve to the desert, but I also very much enjoy the sunny spring days that warm the chill in the house as the sun shines through the windows. Grey skies (especially those made by cloudseeding 😖) are very depressing, but I think rain, rainbows, sunshine, and snow make me the happiest.

If you had to move to a foreign country, which one would it be?

Oooh! I've never been out of the US, but if I had to choose without visiting any other countries, I think I would pick Poland. Not only do I have family roots there, but I also love the Catholic culture that permeates life in Europe. I would be able to travel to other favorite countries, such as the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland, very easily.

A functional time-machine has just been invented! You can go to any time and place in the past that you like. When and where do you go?

Take me to the late 1800's or Early 1900's, please. I'm not sure what place or date exactly. It would be very fun to visit my ancestors in those days, if it wouldn't break the space-time continuum, of course. 😅

You get to choose one book to be perfectly adapted into a movie/mini-series/TV show/musical. Which book do you choose, and which kind of adaptation do you think it would work best as?

Noooo! I have to choose just one?! 😱 One of my top picks for this question has to be "The Blue Castle" by L. M. Montgomery. I would love to see it well adapted, not with any feminist push. To watch Valancey grow and blossom, see her and Barney, and of course have The Blue Castle materialize, would be lovely. I think it would work well in any of these formats, but I would request a mini-series or a movie. A musical would be lovely for the story, but sometimes you can't get all the fine details of setting, and I really want to see the house come to life!

Gregory Peck?  Yes please!  Although I may ultimately cast someone else a bit wilder in this role.

Do you prefer pens or pencils?

It really depends on what I'm writing. Notes, planning, drafts, and homework definitely are pencil tasks for me. writing letters, cards, my diary, dates, and activities in my planner, as well as creative lists, are best in pen. There is nothing like a fine tip ballpoint pen or a sharp No. 2B pencil.

What’s your favorite genre of music?

I have to say, sacred polyphony. I have lots of favorites, including country, Broadway, and Irish folk, but polyphony takes the cake. Have you listened to "Sicut Cervus"?

Do you use bookmarks? If so, do you use actual, nice-looking bookmarks, or do you just grab the nearest small flat object and use that?

Haha! I mostly try to use real bookmarks, but religious holy cards often make their way into my books. I also tend to use scraps of paper and receipts when nothing else is handy. And once I get something into a book as a bookmark, it stays. There is no option to switch it out for me unless it's absolutely necessary. Weird, I know.

What kind of aesthetic do you/would you like to decorate your home?

Shabby Chic Cottagecore. When I was in junior high/ high school, I really liked Shabby Chic, but as I've grown and trends have emerged, I really like Cottagecore for its soft, natural, and unassuming beauty. If I could combine the two with the pink and lace of Shabby Chic with the natural woods and green plants of Cottagecore, I would be in heaven! I try to decorate my room this way, but it is a work in progress.

Suppose you had the opportunity to do a good deed, but knew beforehand that it would fail and be misinterpreted. Would you still do it or not?

Yes. Absolutely yes. The good deed would not be misinterpreted in God's eyes, and if it was for His glory, I would most certainly do it, no matter what. Knowing it would fail might be hard, but I think there have been a lot of figures in history (the Christero martyrs of Mexico come to mind) who knew their mission was sometimes impossible, and yet they persevered and fought till the bitter end.

Which form of art do you think is inherently the most expressive: music, literature, or art?

Wow, deep question. I think Literature is the most expressive. It has to be because not only does it convey truths and thoughts, it has to paint a picture or set a scene in the reader's mind. Much literature takes far longer to consume as well, whereas even the most exquisite musical experience only lasts for a few hours. Words have power, as do art and music, but there is something about the words we read that usually sticks with us longer than the art we see or the music we hear. (Unless it is Sicut Cervus. 😉)

Thank you so much for these interesting and entertaining questions, Lizzy! I had a great time answering them! I hope you enjoyed my answers. What are your thoughts on these questions? I'm especially curious as to everyone's take on the last question. If you made it this far and would like to answer these questions on your own blog, consider yourself tagged! I will hopefully be tagging others gain very soon as I make my way back into the bloggosphere.


Have a wonderful day!

2025 - Movies of the Year

 I've never done this before...

There have been quite a few great movie recaps in the blogosphere, and I thought it would be fun to do my own because my mom and I have watched so many good and great movies this year.  I do wish there were a way to track the movies I've watched, like GoodReads is for books.  (IMDb is too intimidating to me, though.)

So without further ado, here are the ones that I remember and I would recommend!  

An asterisk (*) denotes that I watched more than once.

1.  The Inheritance *

Based on Louisa May Alcott's debut novel, this movie is such a beautiful and captivating romance.  My sister's mother-in-law showed this one to me while I was staying with her, and I'm so glad she did!  I read the book after watching the movie and have to say the book is even better, but I enjoyed the movie so much that I had my parents watch it too.

2.  This Beautiful Fantastic

One of my roommates showed me this one, and it was quirky, whimsical, and delightful.  I've been meaning to show it to my family, too.  I wonder if it has a novel version because the plot felt like a cute, well-written romance/academia novel rather than a Hallmark movie.  (Which it wasn't, but I guess I was expecting it to be.)

3.  Good Morning, Miss Dove

My mom found the novel on which this movie is based at a garage sale while on our summer vacation.  We only read the first couple of pages before we watched the film, but based on comparing the two, I believe the movie is extremely close to the book, even sharing exact quotes.  This movie was beautiful, thought-provoking, and delightful all around.  Be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged upon. 

4.  Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Similar to the reflective movie above, "Goodbye Mr. Chips" is a delightful, heartwrenching, and timeless film.  The acting is superb, and the storyline is endearing.  Both of these movies are dear to me too, as a school teacher, as the main characters of each are talented and impactful on their pupils.  There's also something to these films that start at the end and take you back as the main character reflects on how far they've come and how much they've witnessed over the course of their life.

5. Ball of Fire

Any movie starring Garry Cooper is of interest to me.  He's such a great actor. 🫠  This film was both funny and exhilarating.  Imagine a bunch of musty old scholars, plus their one not-so-old, English-obsessed colleague, thrown together with a worldly-wise dancer, and you have the zany movie, "Ball of Fire."  

6.  Pennies from Heaven

This. Movie. Is. The. Best!!!  I actually just watched this movie in February, but I had to include it here because it is sooo good!!  One of my childhood crushes of the silver screen was good ol' Bing Crosby in "White Christmas", probably because I was the older of two sisters and I related to the character of Betty Haynes.  Now, in this film, I see myself once again as the little girl, admiring Bing's persona.  This film is delightful, heartwarming, and mischievous for lots of fun!  It would be a great movie for October with its dinner show and song "The Skeleton in the Closet." 💀  And please, do yourself a favor and listen to Bing's "Pennies from Heaven" from this film.  I've only ever heard the version by Louis Prima, which is performed in a swinging jazz style, but Bing's lullaby rendition is *chef's kiss*. 

7.  East Side of Heaven

Bing Crosby and a baby... need I say more?  This movie, too, is filled with beautiful songs, an excitingly funny plot, and all around a good time.

8. Father is a Bachelor *

Such a fun and sweet movie with catchy songs too.  "Big Rock Candy Mountain" has been one of those songs that gets stuck in my head (in the best way possible), and as I sing it, I imagine I'm strolling by a creek with Feb or May.  Also, I want an Uncle Johnny.  (:

9. Apartment for Peggy

Another good William Holden one, although he's not exactly the main character.  And maybe it's a teeny bit feminist, but the relationship between Jean Crain's character and the beloved Edmund Gwen is endearing.  It's hard to watch at some parts because it's not a warm and fuzzy movie; it deals with a very serious matter (viewer discretion advised just a little bit).  But it will inspire you with hope and know that no matter how bleak things seem, there's always a purpose for each one of us.

10. Three Blind Mice

I love David Niven, and this movie with Joel McCrea is just too fun.  Three sisters take their inheritance and go to find husbands in glamorous California.  This was fun to watch as I had been living and teaching in SoCal.  Unfortunately, I did not find a millionaire husband while out there. XD

11.  The More the Merrier *

A hilarious romcom with Joel McCrae once again, as well as the amusing Charles Coburn.  Scoot over and shove in!  We're getting nice and cozy in this one with three very individual characters and following them through the chaos that ensues.  My mom and I watched this twice because it was such a feel-good movie.

There were probably lots of other movies my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed, but alas, I didn't save them to a specific place to find them again.  If I come across any more excellent old movies, I will try to file them away for future sharing. ;) 

Have you seen any of these or watched any good black-and-white movies lately?  Bonus points if they're on YouTube.  Feel free to share them below!  Thanks so much for being here and reading!  <3

Drifting Leaves: Autumn Tag Challenge

🎵 "La-di-dah-di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn!" 🎵

I'm so excited to *ahem* steal this tag from Lizzie at Starlight and Saucepans because who wouldn't want to bask in the glory of autumn in blogger style?! 😊🍁🍂  Here are the rules!

1. Download the cover photo and use it for your post
2. Acknowledge the person who tagged you
3. Tag others and comment on their blog to let them know!
4. Slip into autumn vibes

 Now without further adieu, let's jump into this proverbial pile of leaves that are questions! 

1. If autumn isn't your favourite season, what is? And if autumn is your favourite season, why?

Back in 2017, it was my second favorite season, but I go back and forth between spring and autumn being my #1 favorite.  I love the cooling temperatures, the changing colors, and the anticipation of the holidays that it brings.  Of course there will be Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent, but there are some other feasts such as Christ the King, All Saints, and the octave of All Souls that I dearly love as well.

2. What is your favourite thing that you do each autumn?

My most regular favorite thing I do each autumn would be celebrate Thanksgiving.  I know that's for a later question though.  I look forward to listening to my autumn playlist and possibly adding to it as well!  (You can find it below!)  So many people rush into Christmas music only to wear out the same five songs by mid December, so I love savoring the season with cozy autumnal music.  I also very much enjoy praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory every November when we visit the local cemeteries.

3. What are a couple of your favourite autumn memories?

I have quite a few!  My mom's birthday, which is in October, is a highlight for two different years.  One year, friends of ours threw her a huge surprise party at their house and it was a jolly autumn bash!  Another year, my family took her up to the mountains to enjoy the cooler temperatures, the falling leaves, and a little picnic!  That was a delightful time.

Trips to the nearby orchard also come to mind.  There's not much like getting outdoors, roaming the orchards and fields, harvesting apples or potatoes, and enjoying delicious apple cider donuts.

Of course, times with family and friends at Thanksgiving have to be my all-time favorite autumn memories.

4. What book most reminds you of the autumn? Movie?

The first book that comes to mind is, of course, Anne of Windy Popplars.  This cover is the ideal autumn afternoon for me!  As for a movie, I *love* watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving each year around Thanksgiving.  I recenly discovered The Inheritance, based on the novel by L. M. Alcott.  While this movie is not expressly autumnal, there is something about the colors, characters, and settings that give a very fall-ish feeling.

*swoons*

          

5. What is your favourite drink for the season?

Chai tea is my go-to all year 'round, but at this time of year, I love pumkin chai; not the artificiall kind, but one from little coffee shops that use whole ingredients so that the latte tastes of pumpkin puree and fall goodness!! 

6. What is one new thing you want to do this autumn?

I want to travel to an area that has real fall foliage.  I live in the Southwest of the US, so we don't get much, if any, change in leaves.  We're surrounded mostly by pine and palm trees.  To be in a place that truly requires a fall overcoat, a scarf, and a warm drink in your hand would be lovely!

credit: Getty Images

7. Do you decorate for the autumn? If so, how soon? If not, why?

Why, yes, we do!  Not half as much as they do for fall Hallmark movies (that is next to craziness), but we have a tote or two of autumn decor that we usually bring out sometime in November, especially for Thanksgiving.  It's so nostalgic because we've had a lot of the decorations since I was little.

8. What is your favourite way to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Each year is pretty much the same for my family, and I wouldn't really change it.  I absolutely love spending time with dear family and friends.  It's usually a modest size gathering, not too fancy, but with plenty of charm.  When my sister and I were growing up, we would often make Thanksgiving crafts to decorate, personalize place cards, or even cook up a skit or two to perform between dinner and dessert!  

A couple of years ago, I really loved the way we began cooking the turkey the day before Thanksgiving because you know that smell just makes Thanksgiving official, so it really felt like we had two Thanksgiving days!

9. What colour makes you think most of autumn?

I suppose a warm, almost burt orrange.  But I do have to agree with Lizzie and Olivia @MeanwhileinRivendelle that all the autumn colors of orranges, yellows, reds, and browns together are quintessential autumn.

credit: Pinterest

10. Type up a list of ten words or names that encapsulate the season of autumn for you.

• thankful

• pumpkin

• cozy

• family

• warmth

• crisp

• nourish

• wind down

• recollection

• glory

Wow!  What a fun tag!  Thank you again, Lizzie for letting me steal it from you! 😉 How about you?  What are your autumn favorites?  Feel free to answer the tag questions on your own blog and share your answers with me in the comments below!  I really would like to read them!  

I hope you have a wonderful rest of autumn!

credit: Pinterest