This week, y’all.

I think our minds and hearts are all a bit battered.

I’ve stayed off the internet since the day after the election, but these posts rose to the surface in the initial aftermath of Tuesday. They helped me breathe, encouraged me to move forward in love, and reminded me to find comfort and purpose in the right-now rhythms of my everyday life. I hope they’ll do the same for you.

• How to Live When You Don’t Like What’s Happening by Lauren Washer
• In Which I Dare Not Tell You How to Feel This Morning by Emily P. Freeman
• All Shall Be Well by Kendra Adachi
• This print by Ruth Chou Simons at Gracelaced. I saw it on her Instagram feed and my soul felt a little less heavy. I don’t have to change the world. But I can begin by loving my own people well. Because love begets love begets love.

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Edie’s Chipotle Pumpkin Soup {with barley and chicken}

Part of loving your people well means feeding them. My friend made me this soup a couple of weeks ago and it might be my favorite soup of all time. It is the epitome of comfort food. {We can’t quit Edie’s soups.}

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Watching, Reading, Listening

• I watched The Great Gatsby last night {the new one} with my daughter and it was just okay for me. Baz Luhrmann’s films sometimes make me feel more stressed than enchanted. But the acting is wonderful and the costuming is on point. Plus Carey Mulligan plays Daisy and I adore her.

• This Is Us, a new show on NBC. I love, love, love it. I think I’ve cried in every episode, so be warned.
• {Currently reading} The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. We’ll talk more about the Enneagram later but I’m loving this book and I’ve listened to all of their podcasts. I got into the Enneagram about 7 years ago and it changed my life. The framework and self-awareness impacts how I think about myself and how I think about others every. single. day. Next to the Gospel, the Enneagram has been the second most game-changing lens of my life.
• After listening to all their podcasts, I read Jesus, My Father, and the CIA: A Memoir…of Sorts, also by Ian Morgan Cron. I love a good memoir and I highly recommend this one. I couldn’t put it down.

 

The blog has been quiet in November but I did pen this post, the day after The Election That Shall Not Be Named:

• 4 Things to Tell Our Kids {and Ourselves} the Day After a Bitter Election

Every vote has a story behind it. If we don’t make space in our minds and hearts to understand this, we will continue to be marked by division instead of connection.

Wherever this weekend takes you, may you find hope and possibility, right where you are. Happy weekend, friends!

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October may just be my favorite month of the year. In our neck of the woods, it’s a changing leaves / Friday night lights / college football homecoming / let’s eat soup kind of weekend.

So settle in and enjoy these treats for your weekend.

 

Make:

Edie’s Best Ever Beef Stew

I made this last weekend and ohmygosh, it was worth every bit of time in the kitchen and, like most soup, was even yummier the next day. Edie is the soup whisperer and I’ll try any soup she suggests.

Richella’s Pumpkin Bread

I’ve been making this pumpkin bread {which seriously takes only 5 minutes to mix and prepare} for probably 3 or 4 years now and it’s my family’s favorite. Once you see the recipe you’ll realize this is really just pumpkin cake pretending to be pumpkin bread, but that’s why it’s so good! Worth every calorie and so, so easy.

 

Watch:

Both of these have already come and gone in theaters and now they’re on Netflix. Giddy up.

Last weekend my girl and I watched The Imitation Game.

Unbelievable film. Unbelievable story. I see now why it won so many awards. Also, Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightly are two of my favorite Brits so that’s fun. If you’re a Downton Abbey fan, you’ll also recognize “Tom Branson” and “Henry Talbot.” Bonus.

This weekend I’ve already watched Spotlight.

I’m still trying to find the words but I was riveted to every single second of this film. I would watch it again right this second if I didn’t have to be a semi-responsible grown-up. Also, it made me want to move to a big city and become an investigative journalist. One hundred percent my dream job.

I’m tempted to list all sorts of disclaimers here but we all have different movie sensitivities. What I can handle may not be for you and vice versa. So just do your research before you tune in.

 

Laugh:

Because if we can’t find something to laugh about in this horrific political climate, we’re doomed as a nation. My husband and I both watched this “musically reimagined” video of the most recent debate and laughed till we cried.

 

Read:

* All The Pretty Things: The Story of a Southern Girl Who Went through Fire to Find Her Way Home by Edie Wadsworth

I read this entire book on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago and y’all, it’s such a beautiful story. I couldn’t put it down. If you liked The Glass Castle {one of my favorite books ever}, you’ll love Edie’s memoir.

* Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted by Shannan Martin

I wrote about this book and my abiding love for Shannan in this post. Now scoot on over to amazon and get your copy.

* The Broken Way: A Daring Path Into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp

I’ve only read the first chapter of this book, which Ann provided free for blog subscribers, and it moved me so deeply. I wrestle with the brokenness of my own life and this world every single day. I can’t wait to read the rest as I know this is such a timely message for me, and maybe for you too.

 

In case you missed it:

On the blog from the last month. These three posts have felt uniquely personal and special. I loved writing each of them.

The Ministry of Netflix

How the Broken + Beautiful Lives of Others Help Us Live a More Compassionate Story

How a 92-Year-Old Woman Taught Me the Real Value of My Right-Now Work

 

That’s a wrap. The loveliest of October weekends to you all!!!

 

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New here? I’m all about helping you recapture the possibility of your right-now life.

If that sounds like something you need, sign up in the box below to receive fresh hope and possibility delivered to your inbox no more than a couple of times a week.

And I have a gift for subscribers:

If you’re overwhelmed by the many educational options for your kids, if you’re curious about the most important questions to ask, I have a FREE resource created just for you!

*P.S. Amazon links are affiliates and help keep the lights on in this little corner of the internet. Thanks for your kind support!