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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

What I Learned in January

January 29, 2016 by HappyGoStuckey 4 Comments

Ahh, January. You are a month of fresh starts and new planner pages. You move us from seasons of travel and busy to normal everyday rhythms. I learned a few things, tried a few things, and now.. I’m ready for what’s next. Let’s jump in, and I’d love to hear what you learned this month in the comments! 

Copy of books-3

 

1. I am a Dickens person (and not just Charles.) In January, we were given the most beautiful little gentleman of a black labrador puppy and oh my goodness. I am not sure I can resist admitting that I love his fluffy self any longer. He has gained 13 lbs. in the last month and has no idea how adorably clumsy his massive paws make him. We have certainly had our moments. Like the mornings I’ve found myself standing in the front yard, bundled up like Clark Griswold in his attic– waiting on him to.. do his thing, when I very much wanted to be inside clutching a massive cup of coffee on the couch. I’ve resisted filling my instagram feed with pup photos and some hashtag Dickens of Instagram nonsense– but believe me, I’ve come close.

2. Snow makes me feel seven again. Last Saturday we had the first snow of the year and Oh, the joy it brought to our day. The girls had been hoping for snow all week and early that morning, I heard their delighted squeals ring out when they peeped through the blinds in their room. Watching them run through the yard and catch snowflakes as they fell was the best possible winter morning. I mentioned on Instagram how close it made me feel to being seven again and experiencing my first and only childhood snow in Florida, which was basically a miracle.

3. Voxer is my jam. Voxer has brought me a special connectedness to a few friends very far away. AND, bonus. I never have to worry if I’m calling at the wrong time. I love being able to leave messages and pick up conversations where we left off. If you’re on voxer- I’d love to know!

4. Not having cable isn’t so bad! Apparently very few people in my circle of life still have regular cable and I found this out when I asked about other options on Facebook. Who knew?!  We finally cut the cord this month and it’s been ok. Having Netflix and Amazon Prime has helped ease the blow. And BONUS. We’re reading more, which is fantastic.

January lessons

BOOKS.

  • The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay is the third novel of hers I have read. I refused to finish it for weeks and would only read a chapter at a time. I loved that Lucy, the heroine in this story came with the stuff of being human. She runs from her poor choices for awhile but ultimately finds herself right back where she began but with a completely different trajectory. I loved it. I’ve raved about her writing before– but Katherine Reay is a definite favorite. Who is hopefully writing another book as we speak… and another after that, and another.
  • The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien. I know, a classic! I read this in my own 7th grade English class and I’m now reading it again with my 8th grade Literature students. I am truly discovering it again as an adult and a teacher. I love what C.S. Lewis said about

WHAT I’M INTO.

  • Kale in non-horrible tasting forms. This Tropi-Kale Smoothie from Sally’s Baking Addiction is currently our cup of tea. It is not bitter, and when we use frozen pineapple and fresh bananas it’s a inexpensive way to get greens in our kiddos and ourselves. Also on my list of non-gag-inducing kale dishes? A Kale Caesar Salad. Yum.
  • Hope*Writers. Hope*Writers is exactly what I needed at this stage in my writing journey. It is lovely blend of technical helps and care for the soul of the creative. On different days, I need different things as a writer. Sometimes I need a kick in the marketing pants. Sometimes I need a hug. Hope*Writers gives me both. Interested? Come Join us! 
Why A Few Crazy Moments Do Not Equal a Crazy Mom.
Why Remembrance Matters

Comments

  1. Mindy says

    January 29, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    I keep wondering about life without cable (well, actually satellite because cable is not available where we live…). I do have Amazon that think that would help for sure coupled with Hulu or Netflix. I also love kale in salads, veggie dishes etc. I grow it in the garden when possible but since that is not possible with our winters I just bought a large bunch last week. I signed up for the Hope Writers webinar but due to technical issues (on MY end) I missed the first session but they so wonderfully sent a link for a replay! So anxious to check it out.

    Reply
  2. April Box says

    January 30, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    Hello! I’m April, your “neighbor” link up on Emily Freeman’s recent post. Also a Hope*writer 🙂 I will definitely check out your book recommendation, ‘The Bronte Plot’. It sounds interesting! And I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read ‘The Hobbit’ and just looked at it today on my shelf to consider reading. (bought it and never read it…..yet!).
    You also do a great job with your pictures. Keep writing!

    Reply
  3. bakerlinda54 says

    February 1, 2016 at 11:18 am

    I’ve enjoyed catching up a bit with your blog this morning! Love what you learned in January, and all your posts for that matter! I do hope you get published…you truly have a gift with the way you write, and many others need an opportunity to hear from you. Still struggling with kale here…may have to try that smoothie!

    Reply
    • HappyGoStuckey says

      February 6, 2016 at 4:33 pm

      Hi, Linda! I always love to see you here! Thank you for your thoughtful encouragement~ it means so much to have you read my words and be able to keep in touch!

      Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Joy is the courage of people who don’t have all Joy is the courage of people who don’t have all the answers, yet.

While you sit in a season of waiting,
the calendar can often be a cruel companion, reminding you that days go by, weeks, months— with what feels like very little change in the right direction.

Perhaps you can easily assent to: 
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but you strain to see just how it will be when: “...a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

Wherever you and I are today— whether we wander, wait, stand firmly planted, or some pressed together combination of all three — we can take heart.

We are not alone.
And this will not be wasted.
What seems to be an unending blank space, an indefinite pause, is a space for new things.

Long before all is made right, and whether or not it all is tied up neatly with a perfectly crafted bow— we can know this:

We do not have to know the outcome to be faithful today.

✨Joy is not disregard for reality as much as it is obstinacy against despair.✨
Hi 👋🏻 I’m Cynthia and I’m a bit weary. T Hi 👋🏻 I’m Cynthia and I’m a bit weary. There. I said it. These days I’m gravitating to the true & the beautiful as rest for my weary self... and I wonder if you are too.

So much so, that I’m starting a new little offering, it’s called “The Feast: Wonder for the Weary” and the first issue goes out this weekend. It’s a bit more personal (okay this first one is WAY more personal. 🤭) It will be a little bit of everything, all with the goal of offering REST to both the feasters & foragers alike. If you’re already a subscriber— no need to do anything, if not— click through my bio to “keep in touch” and join the feast.✨
We are a people of both lament and praise. We hol We are a people of both lament and praise.

We hold questions without answers— yet we hold them in hands already full of good things.

We hold our daily bread, our daily gifts, and we hold the daily closeness of the God Who Sees.

The God who is no stranger to our lament, and Who Is the reason for our every hope.
He does not grow weary of our asking. Of our need to be told again, He will. 

You friend, are not invisible.
You are seen and cared for by the God who does all things well. (Even when they feel anything but.)
Married love ambition: making the kids roll their Married love ambition: making the kids roll their eyes at our “gushy-ness” as often as possible. 

President & CEO of the Lance Stuckey Fan Club— in every season, but especially on days like today.
Rainy day Mocha date, courtesy of our own toasty k Rainy day Mocha date, courtesy of our own toasty kitchen.😍🌧📚

On this chilly Saturday, we spent entirely too long browsing for books at our library and then all came home to a fire, mochas, and cocoa, respectively. Of all the things we do not know at this very moment, we know the gifts abound, and are worth counting.

PS, if you haven’t spread whipped cream on a foil-lined baking sheet to freeze, and then cut out cute shapes with cookie cutters to top your coffee or hot cocoa, may I suggest you get thee on that at once.
“If God sends us on strong paths, we are provide “If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes.” — Corrie Ten Boom

✨File under, things to save in a fire.✨

The prayer journal pictured here contains six months of the hard & the sweet.
Six months of prayers asked & answered for ourselves and for others.
Six months of seeing through prayer, not how it changed our circumstances necessarily but how it changed us.

I always appreciate a record like this— being able to clearly see the paths we are led down, rocky though they may be? Priceless.

The ways God has come near us & drawn us to Himself again and again are written on these pages and I’ll treasure it forever.

Also pictured: Psalms Illuminated Scripture Journal. Highly recommend. Thank you always, @allifarnell
“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it th “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

While scrolling through my photos today, my heart was heavy to realize how far back “before” was.

Before masks and distancing, before loss, before other, more personal bits of hard. Multitudinous change, neither all bad nor all good.

With our free time, we’ve introduced our girls to Tolkien, Bilbo, Frodo, and especially Samwise the Brave. They are officially hooked and we are delighted to watch them discover another world where evil doesn’t win, and the courage of the small matters much. {they close their eyes at the Orcs and we haven’t had a nightmare yet!}🤞🏻😂😬
I’m leaning increasingly more into the analog th I’m leaning increasingly more into the analog these days.

It started with the Sourdough and a dozen different kinds of jam last year.
I suddenly find great calm in activities that stand in direction opposition to hurry, the textbook definition of ✨work in progress.✨ And really, if you could see the other side of this piece, you would believe me. 🙃

Thank you to @thebarmyfox for making embroidery so accessible!
@thenester says, “It doesn’t have to be perfec @thenester says, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful,” and I believe that the weeknight meal equivalent is, “Just because it’s easy— doesn’t make it a second-tier supper!”

Thank you, Spaghetti with Meat sauce for being both a ministry to mom AND a crowd pleaser. Especially on a dreary January-ish day. It is ✨quite alright✨ to make something we’ve made a million times just because we know it makes the people happy.🍝
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