Benediction #70

my first new year in nearly a decade without...

At this point, I don’t know if posting less than every couple months qualifies as “having a Substack,” but here I am again. Happy New Year!

Let’s immediately dive in with a confession: For the first time in nine years, I didn’t buy a set of Powersheets for 2024. I barely picked them up after the first half of 2023, and couldn’t see myself doing so this year. Life is *so* full right now, and Powersheets felt like too much in this season. I plan on doing a bit of end-of-year reflection and processing before I lead my work team through some review and strategy exercises in a couple weeks. Personally, though, I’m just going to take it a quarter at a time. Here are three things I plan to focus on in the next three months:

A bit more cardio. Before a couple months ago, I hadn’t run in YEARS. And then I just kinda… felt like running. I felt like Forrest Gump. Strength training is still my first love and my top priority, but I’m trying to add a day or two of cardio into my routine.

Add The Bible Recap into my listening routine. Between driving Hap to school and work travel, I have a ton of time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. I also always listen to an audiobook before bed. This week a lightbulb went off in my head and I was like, “Why don’t I just add listening to the Bible into that routine?” I’m going to attempt to follow The Bible Recap’s plan and am really liking how short but helpful the recap episodes are after I listen to that day’s reading.

Go through The Home Reset in Q1. After debating for weeks, I decided to buy Naptime Kitchen’s Home Reset guide. It includes audio episodes and task lists for every area of your home, walking you through home organization and how to make your home work for you. It’s not that any of it is rocket science… but having it all written out and explained in one spot is something I could use right now. I’ve tackled the fridge and freezer. The pantry is next, which is much more of a bear. Wish me luck!

eating

Pasta alla Vodka (Caro Chambers) — Comfort food at its finest, but nice enough to serve to guests. The vodka sauce is so rich! I added ground Italian sausage and used paccheri pasta because it’d been in my pantry for months (I don’t even remember where I bought it?!), but next time I think I’ll use rigatoni.

reading

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill — I hadn’t heard of this book until I saw someone mention it on Instagram as one of their favorites of the year. Set in 1950s Wisconsin, shortly before, during, and after an event where hundreds of thousands of women spontaneously turned into to dragons. The book follows Alex, who was a young girl at the time and whose family was directly impacted, despite most of them (and America) wanting to pretend it never happened. I’m not quite finished, but it’s such a unique premise that I’m glad I picked it up.

Also rereading (i.e. listening) the first few books in the Throne of Glass series. I read it around this time two years ago and then fell off at some point while pregnant. It’s been too long to just jump back in, so the audiobooks have been keeping me company lately. About to start book 3 (again), and then I think I’ll be back to where I left off a couple years ago. (Sidenote: Anyone else who has read this series OBSESSED with the new covers?! I seriously think they’re half the reason I decided to dive in again! Major glow up.)

loving

NYT Games App — I usually play Wordle and Connections in the AM, but I’ve gotten in the habit of playing Spelling Bee, the mini Crossword, and full Crossword after Hap goes to bed. It’s been a fun, non-scrolling evening hobby.

Thanks for hanging out with me here, y’all. I do plan to post more in 2024… I’ve missed this corner of the internet, and I could really use the outlet!

Wishing you well,
Mollie