I’m Back + What’s “Saving My Life”

Hi! *Waves*

I’m back!

Things feel… a lot better this week! I was in a rough spot when I last posted (all the ongoing things in life, a leaky roof, AND I was smack dab in my luteal phase).

I haven’t put the light cover back in place yet but, miraculously, all the water drained to this exact spot, came through the light fixture—which was turned off—and there was zero water damage to the ceiling.

The roof got fixed.

Unfortunately, there are systemic issues; this is the fourth (or fifth?) time we’ve had to get our roof patched since moving in 9 years ago. Thankfully, this was the first time any water got into the house. But it’s a known defect in the roofing shingles used by the previous homeowners (apparently there used to be warranty claims available, but the product has since been discontinued, probably because the manufacturers were tired of paying out claims).

At the end of the day, we either need to be prepared to throw some money at this every year or two (understanding that, at some point, water might get in again)… or replace the roof.

It’s frustrating because the shingles are still in good shape but the adhesive is faulty, making them susceptible to getting lifted in high winds.

For now, the roof has been patched (it took the roofer less than 10 minutes to fix the issue).

My to-do list is… shorter. There were so many mental load things on my list. Dentist appointments have been made. A borrowed key has been returned. Groceries have been purchased. Summer gear has been, for the most part, put away until next year. One doctor’s appointment is complete. The veggie intake in our house hold was marginally higher this week than last. I am caught up on various accounting tasks both personally and corporately.

I read this line in a book on Wednesday night:

• A friend’s son was recently in a horrible car crash.
• A friend is battling cancer.
• Canada/US trade relations are dire and it’s impacting a series of industries in both countries.
• My parents and some other seniors I know are battling challenging health situations.
• One of Indy’s closest friends (I had a great relationship with the mom) recently moved halfway across the country.
• OUR ROOF LEAKED.
• Poverty and disease are epidemics around the world.
• Industry experts are warning of a >10% chance that AI will destroy all of humanity in the next decade. I think this fits in very well with “We are not in full control of the circumstances of our lives.”

There were also a lot of possibilities for gratitude over the last week. And some things felt particularly energizing and helpful so I thought I’d do a little What’s Saving My Life segment.

PLENTY OF TOILET PAPER

I bought three packages of toilet paper as part of a curbside grocery pickup. It was on sale and it’s not something that will spoil.

Having a little stockpile felt like a reasonable response to our close call with running out.

When the store worker came to deliver the groceries he apologized because of a mixup with the toilet paper. UH OH.

But then he clarified that instead of giving me double rolls, I got triple rolls for the same price. (The only little hiccup in this being that in two out of three bathrooms in our house, our toilet paper holders can’t hold the larger-sized rolls).

So, not only did I get TP on sale, I got more TP than I bargained for!

DELEGATING

On the surface, delegation sounds great. Transfer a job off your list onto someone else’s. But often, I find delegation can become its own line item in my mental list. Sometimes it’s not an explicit delegation, and follow-up is required.

Numerous times in the last week, I’ve circumvented that pitfall.

First, while John was on his work trip, I texted him a series of tasks that are FULL delegation. As in, these aren’t going on my list to check in on. They include:

• Trying existing ski gear on Indy and sourcing any missing items ahead of the winter ski season. He also needs a new helmet.
• All the steps required to renew Indy’s passport: new photos, complete relevant paperwork, schedule the appointment to submit the application.
• Sanitizing our water cooler bottles.

That same day, the kids were complaining about being bored (it was Labour Day, so there was no school). I was fed up with both feeling overwhelmed AND hearing them bicker, so I gave them each lists of things that needed to be done that I didn’t want to do!

Belle:

• Prepped school lunchboxes for both kids.
• Wiped down our main door (it gets covered with grimy handprints from kids going in/out).
• Emptied the dishwasher.
• Carried a series of summer things downstairs to be stored away for another year.

Indy:

• Weeded the front walkway (I hate this job; I’d give him a B- on his efforts, but it’s better than me spending an hour of my own time to bring that grade to an A).
• Stacked lawn chairs that had blown over in the wind storm.
• Emptied a few overflowing garbage cans.

Another night I had a volunteer meeting and instead of hoping the kids would remember what I needed them to do, I left lists. The joys of them being literate! (They did all the jobs on their respective lists… and nothing more. The kitchen counter was a mess when I came home. Note to self: add that to the list next time.)

A NEW MUG

Years ago, when we were visiting family in South Carolina, I bought a mug at a pier in Charleston. It became my favourite mug and I consumed hundreds of cups of hot beverages from it.

Just before we headed to Europe, it broke. I was sad for a few minutes and then moved on; it served its purpose well and special things should be used, in my opinion. While I loved it, I didn’t baby it. (And I let my kids use it which ended up being its downfall.)

I bought a cute mug in Finland—complete with Moomin characters. But I’ve been craving a big mug that fills the gap left by my Charleston mug. (The Moomin mug is delightful, but significantly smaller than my beloved Charleston mug and I like to have at least one giant mug of coffee in the morning).

I’ve been looking at thrift stores for several months, but nothing caught my eye.

So I went to Winners (a local home goods store in Canada) looking for a new mug.

And I walked away with this one. I love it!

At $6.99, it’s not that much more expensive than many of the used ones I find at thrift stores. It has a great handle (which is a must for me; I want to fit all four fingers through the handle), and has the perfect amount of “heft” in my hand, etc.

I don’t typically buy “frivolous” things like this new. I have mugs in the cupboard. I didn’t need a mug. But it feels special and elevated to drink out of a pretty mug and it holds a lot of coffee!

DECAF TEA

I’ve been having sleep issues and I KNOW part of it is linked with my caffeine intake. This is a ridiculous demerit to be admitting because I know the issue and yet I persist. Also, decaf coffee exists. It’s not like my only option is to give up coffee.

But for some reason, I’ve been continuing to consume caffeine and at this point, anything beyond 10:30 am seems to wreak havoc with my nighttime sleep.

So I took one little step in the right direction and bought some decaf Earl Grey for my afternoon cozy drink.

NONFICTION

Speaking of cozy, nonfiction is my reading comfort zone. If I feel stressed and anxious, I’m going to feel most at ease slipping into a nonfiction book.

I know I shouldn’t feel silly about this, but time and again I’m embarrassed to admit this truth. I read fiction—and I do enjoy it—but if someone told me I could never read another work of fiction again in my life, I’d be okay. If someone told me I was cut off from nonfiction, my reading life would dramatically shrink in terms of scope and enjoyment.

So in this season, I’m throwing off any self-imposed feeling of needing to read fiction. (I AM still reading some fiction, and I think there is great value in it.)

But I prefer nonfiction and I can shout that from the roof tops and admit it proudly and settle in with a good memoir.

Last week: The Heart-Shaped Tin by Bee Wilson and Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (both 4-star reads).

ENCOURAGING/FUN BLOG POSTS

While I was silent on the internet for a week, I was still reading everyone’s posts and… what a delight. So many things that brought smiles to my face:

• Michelle has a new-to-her dollhouse. The possibilities are endless and I am HERE FOR ALL OF THEM.
• Kate has a postpartum post about What’s Saving Her Life (it includes snuggles with Baby George) which was the original inspiration for my post today!
• Jean shared a truly touching story about God’s goodness, neighbourly kindness, and generosity (with bonus pictures of her dog Miss Emma).
• Birchie shared an epic update from her cross-America road trip with Kyria.
• Catrina shared inspiring stories about aging well from a trip to Paris with her parents (including a stressful train-station sprint).
• I love a good bookmark, so was thrilled to see photo evidence of Nicole’s growing collection, slowly accumulated after losing her previous collection during a house move.
• San participated in my August gratitude practice and I had the biggest smile on my face while reading her answers to the gratitude prompts!
• Suzanne! We are kindred spirits in the overwhelm. I see you, I feel you… and I feel seen and known by you. Solidarity!

TAKING A WEEK OFF

Speaking of overwhelm. Taking some time away from the internet was DELIGHTFUL.

• Blogging. I love writing and showing up in this space (and in the comment sections of other blogs), but it did feel very good to step away for a week!
• It was middle school orientation one evening last week. I had a commitment for a volunteer gig mid-evening and it was going to be a squeeze to fit both events in and this is… not my first rodeo. I knew orientation is designed for you to see the school and sit with a group of parents in a classroom for 10 minutes hearing a canned speech about expected outcomes. With little to no guilt, I skipped it.

SCREEN TIME CHART

Like food, screens become a bit of a free-for-all in the summer. There are days where we spend zero time inside glued to screens, and other days where it feels like kids rotate between scrounging for sugary snacks in the kitchen and watching non-stop movies.

Last year, we established a schedule and it was extremely helpful.

John took the reins of this yet again, and I printed out the updated chart, put it on the fridge, and it is already a gamechanger!

I no longer have to think about how to answer when the kids ask if they can watch something.

GO LOOK AT THE CHART. THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.

EASY FOOD

First up, I love the Trader Joe’s Multipurpose Umami Seasoning. It adds a little pep to everything. My supply ran out a year ago, and I was delighted when Joy brought me back a brand new bottle on a recent trip to San Diego!

Which I added to… two soups last week.

I made a sausage, zucchini, carrot, mushroom, tomato, and pasta soup. I thought it was delicious, though I only had hot Italian sausage and there were complaints from one child about it being one of the worst things they had ever eaten.

Sigh. But, also, more leftovers for me.

Second, I made a pureed pumpkin soup. I actually prepped a double batch because it freezes well and why go to the bother of making a small soup when it takes marginally more time to make a much bigger soup and have leftovers.

THIS JOB ADVERT FROM JULIE

When Julie texted me this “job posting” I felt very seen!

I can’t make it work, but if anyone reading this likes lighthouses, would like to stay in a warmer climate over the winter, and is looking for free accommodations, have I got an idea for you!

MAGIC BAGS

Always and forever these save my life emotionally and physically. Warm feet make my life so much happier! Over the years our stash of heatable sacks has declined in number and this is a time to throw money at the problem. I had a coupon for our local pharmacy, so I marched down this week and bought a new supply. No more fighting over who gets a Magic Bag! There are plenty to go around. (I feel like this has to count as important preparation for winter.)

NON FRUGAL DECISIONS

Years ago I heard the term “throw money at the problem” and I think of it often. For the most part, I would prefer to keep my money, invest it, and spend it wisely. But sometimes, it really does help to swallow a theoretically unnecessary expense for the greater good.

First up, I made a few impulse purchases. I got the new mug referenced above. While I bought the Magic Bags with a 20x points coupon, they weren’t on sale (for a split second I debated waiting until they were on sale so I could pair that with a coupon, but decided life is too short).

Even more frivolous, I bought themed tea towels. This is extremely out of character for me. I rather famously do not enjoy Halloween and actively try to be away each year over Halloween! But I couldn’t resist picking these up for our kitchen. I spotted them at the store, left, and came back an hour later just to look at the towels again. (I love these sort of waffle weave 100% cotton towels, so part of the allure was also the material and structure.)

It’s ghosts! READING BOOKS!!! And walking little ghost puppies.

The other non-frugal thing I did relates to food waste.

Generally speaking we waste VERY little food in our house. We tend to eat leftovers quickly or find some way to repurpose or freeze them.

But last week there was homemade pizza that no one was eating. At this point it was almost a week old. I need to accept we don’t like re-heated pizza. If it’s not gone the first day, chances are it will languish in the fridge. Into the compost bin it went. A bag of grapes that were both tart and soft (a double whammy) that no one was eating. A bag of mini carrots that had gotten a bit slimy (I cooked them up but they just seemed a bit… off and I made the executive decision to pitch them).

While I do NOT like food waste, there was something very helpful about clearing the decks, so to speak, in the fridge. And my guilt is somewhat offset by the fact we have a composting program where we live, so all food waste does get repurposed (i.e. it’s not going to a landfill with regular trash).

*I had jotted down What’s Saving My Life things all week, and then it hit me between the eyes: only one thing truly matters and truly saves my life. And that’s Jesus!

I don’t talk about faith overtly very often on this blog—mostly around Christmas and Easter—but when I feel led to share, I do. I know faith can be a sensitive topic, and I respect everyone’s right to disagree with and/or reject what I believe.

Also, music is the form of worship that brings me the most joy, so I’m referencing a few songs that came to mind.

WHAT’S SAVING MY LIFE? JESUS!

When I saw the news spiral after the now-viral tweet about the risk of AI to human life (see above), my very first reaction was… calm.

God’s got this.

The Bible says we’re supposed to be able to answer everyone who asks us about the hope that’s within us, but sometimes I don’t know how to explain my hope beyond its undeniable presence in my life. (All My Hope by Crowder.)

My hope is not going to make sense to anyone who doesn’t also put their trust in Jesus because it’s not hope the world can give me. (Still/PEACE by Hillsong.)

When I say I have no faith or hope in humanity, that doesn’t feel like a death knell. It feels like… freedom!

I don’t have to put faith in mortal beings (myself included) because I trust in an immortal God.

At the end of the day, I know how the story ends. (You’ve Already Won by Shane & Shane)

Jesus is coming back.

I realize this is one of those “out there” concepts to people who think differently than I do about faith and God, but I believe there will be a time after this. The Bible promises us that.

Sometimes when I read the eschatological portions of the Bible (a big word for “end times”), it feels like I’m reading a current news bulletin.

Wars. Famine. Greed. Earthquakes. Nation rising against nation. Corrupt spiritual leaders. Human beings behaving badly in remarkably predictable ways. Mass extinctions of animal life. A worldwide focus on the Middle East.

To be clear, I’m not someone who tries to assign headlines to a particular prophecy or predict when the world is going to end.

It could be tomorrow. It could be hundreds of years from now. You will never—NEVER!—hear me suggest a date or time, and I will never entertain anyone’s claims of knowing a specific date or time. The Bible explicitly says we don’t know when it will happen and that it will come like a “thief in the night.” (In other words, it will catch everyone by surprise.) (Jesus Is Coming Back Soon by Forrest Frank and Josiah Queen.)

But until that time:

My hope is fixed. My confidence is set. My future is sure.

Clearly, I fret about leaky roofs. My heart breaks over sad things. I get overwhelmed by parenting and work and all the ordinary responsibilities of life.

But underneath all of that this truth remains: I firmly believe this life is not all there is. And knowing that changes how I experience my time on Earth.

Nowhere in the Bible does it promise health, wealth, and prosperity. In fact, Jesus says: “In this world you will have trouble.” (That’s a literal promise.)

But that’s not where the verse ends. It continues: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am in tears while writing this because I want so desperately to share my hope, and I feel incapable of properly articulating what Jesus does in my life.

Know this: I pray that each and every one of you reading this today, before your time on this planet ends—through old age, illness, environmental catastrophe, war, an accident, or because of some dystopian AI horrors—will have put your hope in Jesus.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a lighter start, middle, and ending to my post, but this was on my heart and I felt compelled to share. As always, I appreciate the respect and kindness shown when I share about faith topics. <3 (Altars Over Stages by Josiah Queen.)

And that’s a little update from my world lately.

Tell me:

• What’s new with you?
• What’s “saving your life” these days?