March 2020: Recap + On My Shelves
March was a month unlike anything I ever expected, as I'm sure the rest of the world will agree. I still can't believe how quickly life turned upside down. I'm trying to focus on one day at time since the future feels so uncertain.
1. Celebrating One Month Old – Our sweet baby turned one month old on March 7, which also happened to be the last time I left the house for anything other than a doctor's appointment. I'm reminding myself daily to live in the present, to soak up this short season of his life, and not let fear of the unknown steal my joy.
2. Decorating Our Screened-In Porch – When we bought our house in September 2018, one of my favorite things about it was the screened-in porch. I'd always wanted one! Projects inside took priority, so it has remained mostly empty and unused. For my birthday this year, my mom has been helping my decorate it. I'm in love!
3. All the Afternoons Outside – Speaking of our porch, getting it fixed up has perfectly coincided with the arrival of some gorgeous weather in Georgia! Since we've been following all the guidelines about staying at home, I've been so thankful for our backyard and this beautiful porch that allows us to soak up some sun and get outside.
Read 14 Books | Favorites:
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
“The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted,
or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.”
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
“Through love, all is possible.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
“That’s the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow.
It makes everything that much more precious.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
“When I feel overlooked or ignored, I ask God what he wants me to learn from it.
Sometimes he is humbling me. Sometimes he is giving me a heart for the rejected.
Sometimes he is helping me die to myself. And sometimes he is pruning something toxic in my soul. But if I simply wish away the heartache, I wish away redemption too.”
Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
“When a goldsmith wants to purify gold, he heats it until the impurities are revealed
so he can skim them off. Without the heat, the impurities stay embedded in the gold.
Similarly, our circumstances turn up the heat until we see what's in our hearts.
It's not that we used to be nice, energetic people, and now (due to this transition
and things outside of our control) we're suddenly irritable and unkind.
Those changes simply expose the hidden sin that existed all along
in the ease and familiarity of our old circumstances.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
“Our everyday moments might be ordinary,
but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit,
they reflect our extraordinary Savior.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.”
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
“Through love, all is possible.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
“That’s the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow.
It makes everything that much more precious.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
“When I feel overlooked or ignored, I ask God what he wants me to learn from it.
Sometimes he is humbling me. Sometimes he is giving me a heart for the rejected.
Sometimes he is helping me die to myself. And sometimes he is pruning something toxic in my soul. But if I simply wish away the heartache, I wish away redemption too.”
Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
“When a goldsmith wants to purify gold, he heats it until the impurities are revealed
so he can skim them off. Without the heat, the impurities stay embedded in the gold.
Similarly, our circumstances turn up the heat until we see what's in our hearts.
It's not that we used to be nice, energetic people, and now (due to this transition
and things outside of our control) we're suddenly irritable and unkind.
Those changes simply expose the hidden sin that existed all along
in the ease and familiarity of our old circumstances.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
“Our everyday moments might be ordinary,
but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit,
they reflect our extraordinary Savior.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
Although I didn't blog quite as often in March as I did in February, I'm still pleased that I was able to keep posting consistently. It definitely took planning and patience, however! I met my goal of blogging two times per week – with only one exception. I started the month with my February 2020 Recap, my March 2020 Goals, and then shared my February 2020 Quick Lit with mini reviews of nine books. I wrote a full-length review for Maas' House of Earth and Blood because I went through almost every stage of my rating process while reading it.
I chatted about how I organize my digital photos, which is one of my big goals for the year. I'm working on years past while implementing a routine to help me stay on top of them moving forward. I participated in two Top Ten Tuesday topics: My Spring 2020 TBR and Ten Signs You're a Book Lover. Both were fun, though the latter was definitely my favorite. I wrote about my 12 favorite things to do at home since that's where we are spending all of our time lately. And finally, I chatted about what I learned from the no-spend Contentment Challenge.
I chatted about how I organize my digital photos, which is one of my big goals for the year. I'm working on years past while implementing a routine to help me stay on top of them moving forward. I participated in two Top Ten Tuesday topics: My Spring 2020 TBR and Ten Signs You're a Book Lover. Both were fun, though the latter was definitely my favorite. I wrote about my 12 favorite things to do at home since that's where we are spending all of our time lately. And finally, I chatted about what I learned from the no-spend Contentment Challenge.
I only posted on Instagram once, which seems like this might be my new normal! In March, I celebrated the release of House of Earth and Blood and reminisced on my past trips to England with Kelly. • @soobsessedblog
Favorite Album #1: Heartbreak Weather by Niall Horan
I never really listened to One Direction, but I've become a fan of much of their solo work.
I had this on repeat in March and found it so enjoyable! I need to go listen to his previous album now.
Favorite Album #2: Lady Like by Ingrid Andress
Someone I follow on Instagram has posted about Ingrid's singles over the past few months,
so I had this new release on my radar. It didn't disappoint! It's a great debut album.
Bought: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
For Review: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Gifted: Anna K by Jenny Lee
Audible: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, On Second Thought by Kristin Higgins, The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn, and Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Kindle: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
NetGalley: Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles, The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
I love your monthly recaps! I got so excited to see it in my inbox that I clapped, haha. I'm glad everything is going well with you and your family in this time! I think I might organize my photos too--seems like a good use of time with all that's going on!
ReplyDeleteI love your screened-in porch! I've always wanted one of those spaces too. Maybe one day ;) And I also loved House of Earth and Blood and The Happy Ever After Playlist last year! Excited to read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder this year.
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