Zach and I become members at our new church this morning.
While we had planned to join at the beginning of the new year, the timing all fell into place this week, and Sunday it was. As we made plans I was kind of like, “oh ok, nbd cool that works see ya Sunday” but when I had a minute to step back, I stopped in my tracks. One of my greatest prayers when we made the move in August was to find a new church home that we loved. It will always be impossible to replace our church family at Midtown, but from the first week there, our new church truly did feel like home to me. WHAT AN ANSWERED PRAYER! Praise God for giving us this community that we sought and desired.
And don’t get me wrong — all in all, finding community outside of our family still hasn’t been a walk in the park. I still wonder sometimes if I’ll have deep, non-family friendships here like I do with my college fantastic three, my Tuscaloosa BFFs, my Columbia ride-or-dies. Maybe I will, but maybe it’ll look different here.
But either way, God is showing up in both of those areas. It may feel more obvious in finding our church home but it leads me to have no doubt He’s at work giving the community Zach and I need right now. I’m just glad I stopped and looked around long enough to be reminded of it.
What do you need to stop and look around at this week? Where do you need to be reminded of grace and beauty and forward movement in your own life?
The rest of this week’s Benediction is more stopping and looking around (or back, mostly) at the best of 2021! Emily Thomas of Em for Marvelous shares this every year and it’s always one of my favorite posts. I’m glad to have a space to share my own this year. Although, many things might be familiar to you, since I share so many of my recent faves here anyway.
the best of 2021
best adventure/travel/trip: Gah, so much! It's a three-way tie between a girls' weekend in Hot Springs, AR this spring, a family trip to 30-A, and Palm Springs Bachelorette Weekend this fall. I don't know if I would have put Hot Springs on here right after we went -- HS itself felt a little tired and I don't think I care to go back. BUT, looking back now, I needed that trip with those girls at that exact moment in time. I would most certainly go back to Palm Springs, though, and add on Joshua Tree National Park next time. And if there’s a 30-A trip in any given year, it’s impossible not to include it as a fave.
Lots of exciting trips already planned in the first half of 2022, both for work and play. I’m extremely grateful travel is such a big part of my life during this particular season.
best book: Going to divide this into fiction and non-fiction! My favorite fiction books were The Midnight Library and My Name is Lucy Barton (a backlist book at this point, but certainly the best of 2021 for me). My favorite non-fiction is a tougher choice, but I think I’ve narrowed it down to two... Being Mortal has had the longest lasting effect on me, but Gentle and Lowly was beautiful.
I had a goal of 52 books for 2021, and coming into the last quarter, 50 felt like a stretch, much less 52. However, thanks to my new audiobook habit (more on that below) and actually reading at night on a regular basis, 52 is somehow in sight!
best TV show: I loved Ted Lasso season 2, Mare of Easttown, and Succession season 3.
best album or song: I listened to a lot of Caamp, Olivia Rodrigo (what millenial woman didn't?!), and this particular Austin Stone Worship album on repeat while I worked.
best follow on Instagram: Oyster Creek Studios because of the inspiration they provided as we were moving into our new house. While their services and furniture line are not exactly in my budget, I’ve enjoyed stealing ideas from them and pulling off similar looks for less. They’re based in Houston and I’m dyingggg to go by their studio on one of my trips to the office soon (my company is headquartered in the Houston ‘burbs).
best faith grower: Hmmm… how about moving back to my hometown where I said I’d never live again, for a job in a new-to-me industry?! 🙃
best trend you tried: Finally gave in to straight legged jeans this fall and it made my wardrobe feel so much more up-to-date. Still love a dark wash skinny but dang if those Madewell jeans I shared a few weeks ago aren’t the best. (Looks like they’re on sale as of Saturday!)
best beauty purchase: Revlon Oil Absorbing Volcano Face Roller or Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer. Face roller if you get a lil greasy, primer if your makeup tends to fall off your face by the end of the day. Just bought a second bottle of the primer.
best little luxury you’ve enjoyed: Is now a good time to tell you I got Dysport this fall? (Dysport is essentially Botox, just another brand). I *love* it. I don’t know if I want to put my before and after photo out into internet land but DM or text me and I will absolutely show you. I also love getting dermaplaned with my brow wax every month.
best family memory: It’s been special to be able to have family dinners so easily since we moved (we’re actually having one tonight — lasagna at our house, a reason to use my Christmas china!). Pre-move, I’ll always remember going (i.e. essentially sliding the couple blocks) to Barred Owl for Valentine’s Day brunch with Z in -3 degree weather and tons of snow/ice on the ground.
best habit you created: 1. A standing early Friday morning coffee with my dad when we’re both in town.💛 2. My new gym routine. I was honestly pretty nervous about this before we moved, considering I've been a devoted workout studio/class person for the last decade and couldn't remember the last time I stepped foot in an actual gym. There was a learning curve when it came to learning how to use the weight and cable machines (and I'm still very much learning), but I’m doing it!
best new recipe: This brown sugar spice pork loin and this apple cider dijon grilled chicken (both Lillie Eats and Tells, another theme this year) will be go-to recipes for years to come. Note: I’ve never tried the chimichurri sauce with the pork, but we’ve used it in Mexican dishes like tostadas and just as bbq with roasted potatoes and/or salad.
best life hack: Listening to audiobooks before bed has helped me up my reading game tremendously. I was listening to a meditation app as I went to sleep, but this does the trick just as well AND helps me knock out my reading goal. Also, kinda boring, but splitting laundry into two days (Sunday towels/sheets, Monday clothes) and listening to podcasts while I fold and/or put clean sheets on the bed has made it so much more enjoyable.
best home improvement: Hmmm, this one is tough! We did lots of painting around the new house right when we moved in and changed out some light fixtures. My favorite has to be our powder room glow up, though. Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper (we hired someone to put it up because I sure didn’t want to screw that up), updated the mirror, blinds, sconces, and hardware, and it feels like a new room!
It’s been a good, kind of weird, hard, memorable year. Bringing Benediction to life in 2021 was its own particular joy. I can’t thank y’all enough for joining me here. See you in 2022!❤️
