Q is for Quiet Moments

 

We are on day 18 of the April A to Z Challenge and our

star letter for today is "Q" - such a fancy letter.

My theme is things that make life better and Q is for Quiet Moments. There are no photos - just words.

Our world is loud.

Not just in volume—but in voices. Competing voices. Constant opinions. Notifications chiming, headlines shouting, people talking over one another, each convinced they have something urgent to say and that WHAT they are saying is t. It’s a lot. Some days it feels like there’s no off switch—just a steady hum of noise that settles into the background of our lives until we almost forget it’s there.

Almost.

Because the moment it stops—or even softens—we notice.

This semester has been heavy for me. The kind of heavy that sits on your shoulders and follows you from room to room. Assignments, deadlines, responsibilities… all good things, but all demanding space in my mind. It would be easy to fill every spare second with more noise—TV on in the background, scrolling just to “check out” for a minute—but I’ve noticed something surprising.

When Mark is away for a night and a day, I rarely turn the TV on.

The house gets quiet.

And instead of reaching for noise, I find myself reaching for something else. I write. I read. I study. Not because I have to (though often I do), but because the quiet makes space for it. The absence of noise feels like an invitation—one I didn’t realize I needed.

It’s not dramatic or profound in the moment. There’s no grand revelation. Just a steady, gentle rhythm of focus and calm. And somehow, in that quiet, things feel a little more manageable.

But quiet moments don’t only come in long stretches.

Sometimes they show up in the middle of the chaos.

In the middle of a stressful day—when the to-do list feels impossible and my mind is racing—I can pause. Just for a moment. Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. As I breathe in, I say a breath prayer - "Breathe in Holy Spirit," and as I breathe out, I say "Breathe out self." I might close my eyes, even if just for a few seconds.

That’s it.

A quiet moment.

And it helps.

It doesn’t erase the noise waiting on the other side of that breath, but it softens it. It reminds me that I don’t have to match the pace of everything around me. That I can step out of the rush, even briefly, and find a little stillness. I just have to remember to do this!!

Those moments matter.

They don’t demand attention the way noise does. They don’t compete or clamor or insist. But they make life better in quieter, steadier ways. They give us space to think, to feel, to breathe.

In a world full of competing voices, quiet moments are a gift.

And sometimes, they’re as simple as choosing not to turn the TV on… or remembering to take one deep breath right in the middle of it all.

Do you need noise all of the time or do you enjoy quiet, too?

Sunday Stealing from Cry Baby

 

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

This week, we're once again stealing from Steph, aka Cry Baby. She loves Taco Bell and asking questions like these.

More Questions from Steph

1) Are you the sort of person who can nap or sleep anywhere, any time? No. I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes or in a car, but I love a 20-30 minute afternoon nap on the days that I am home! I go non-stop almost all of the time and so a sweet nap is a luxury.

2) Have you ever walked in your sleep? I don't think so. I have talked in my sleep and I have tried to scream in my sleep.

3) Do you chat with your Uber/Lyft/taxi driver? Guess what? I have never ridden with an Uber or Lyft driver. We did have a driver pick us up at the Amsterdam airport (pre-arranged through our TA) and we had a driver pick us up at the boat and take us to the airport in Basel. Mark and I did talk to the first driver - all the way to the hotel. There was another couple in the car with us on the return trip and we talked to them instead of the driver.

4) Do you remember what you did on Valentine's Day? We didn't celebrate Valentine's Day this year! We actually decorated our golf cart and participated in the neighborhood Mardi Gras parade and lunch.

5) How many laptops have you owned over your lifetime? Great question - maybe five or six? I actually have three right now. I have my old one that has a lot of documents saved on it. I have the one I am typing on right now and both this one and the old one are actually work computers. I know I've had at least two more work laptops because I have worked at the same place for over 20 years. I purchased a personal laptop a few years ago after I started back to college and I use it, too. I had a tablet at one time - not an apple product. Technically, I still have it upstairs if I needed to find something old.

6) How many countries have you visited? 1) Israel-4 trips; 2)Switzerland; 3)Ireland; 4)Austria; 5)Germany-2 trips; 6)France; 7)Italy; 8)the Netherlands - Amsterdam and St. Maarten; 9)Turkey, 10)Greece, 11)Egypt 12)the Bahamas - I just googled to see if the Bahamas are an actual country and according to Chat-gpt . . .they are. We have plans to visit England for the first time later this year with a few days back in Ireland because we loved it so much the first time.

7) Did you/will you go to work today? I am typing this on Saturday so I will not be going in to the office. I do work on Sundays so when you read this, I might be at work.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

P Is for Porch Time . . .or Porch Sittin'

 

We have about a week and a half left of the April A to Z challenge. Will I finish??

P Is for Porch Time . . .or Porch Sittin'

I have shared many of these pictures over the years. Mark and I are blessed to live in a home with multiple porches and a neighborhood where other homes have porches, too! Early mornings and late afternoons often have neighbors gathered together for a cup of coffee or an afternoon cocktail.

I shared this photo just last week -- the younger generation escaped to the screen porch after Easter lunch.

Our son and daughter-in-law hosted an evening gathering on their ginormous back deck - a deck counts as a porch, right?

We love to have our steps decorated for various seasons. Mark has a green thumb and a big watering can and he keeps all of our porch plants thriving!

Mark wants to replace the wooden steps with brick steps. I asked AI to generate a photo for me and it did and I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't sure the brick steps would look good, but they do in the AI picture (which I'm not sharing today).

We decorate our porch for Halloween because everyone (almost everyone) in the neighborhood decorates! We had a Harry Potter theme this year.

Here is a shot of our screen porch. We have a fishing motif :-).

Another view of the front porch is below -- the front porch is L shaped and we have Pottery Barn Palmetto chairs to the right of the steps. To the left, we have a wooden "glider" that will hold a couple of people - maybe even two adults and a small child. To the back on the left, we have a teak table with six chairs. From my favorite chair (check out M post), I can see the table through a window. It is totally yellow due to the pollen.

Here is a shot of the front porch to the right. We actually have a different rug out there now and different plants in the pots.

Great shot here -- below you can see the glider and the teak table and chairs.

Here is a different view. Mark will eventually wash everything, but the pollen is still coming down. The glider is instead of a swing.

Here is a view from the garage toward the house of the screen porch.

A view of the downstairs porch from the street (below).

We have been known to spend porch time on other porches! Below is Susie's porch (Mark's sister). Her porch is really nice and has lots of seating.

Here we are at the farm of a friend and we are all sitting outside on the porch. Long conversations, lots of laughter, and even some silence happened that weekend.

Look at this - Mark and I were having porch time in Austria. This was a cool, family-owned hotel. Our friends, Susan and Mark, were in the room next to us and they were on their porch, too!

We even used our porch and front sidewalk for a covid baby shower.

I didn't even talk about our top porch! There is a door from the loft area upstairs onto that porch. We used to sit up there more often, but right now, the chairs up there aren't that great. Because of the Alabama heat (and mosquitos), we have at least two ceiling fans on every porch.

One thing that makes me very sad is the fact that I am horribly allergic to pollen - pretty much all pollen. The weather here has been so nice but I can only stay outside a few moments at a time. I told Mark that it isn't fair that some people have NO allergies and can be outside as much as they want.

Do you have a porch? Do you get to enjoy the outdoors all you want or are you like me . . .and have lots of allergies? (Yes, I am on meds and shots, but my allergies are over the top bad).

O Is for One-on-One Conversations

 

Y'all . . .we are moving on through this month of April and the April A to Z blogging challenge. I've tried to write ahead of time because this semester, time has been at a premium.

Today's letter is O and we are going with One-on-One Conversations.

There is something sacred about a one-on-one conversation.

In a world full of noise, group texts, and hurried interactions, sitting across from just one other person—really listening, really being present—feels like a gift. These are the moments that make my life better… even when they aren’t really about me at all.

Some of the most meaningful one-on-one conversations happen on Tuesday nights.

Everyone is gathering their things, saying their goodbyes, heading out the door—and then it happens. One of the young adults lingers. Not by accident. Not because they forgot something. But because they need a moment. A real one. A conversation that won’t happen in the middle of a crowd.

Over time, it’s been different faces, different stories.

Sometimes it’s about relationships—questions, heartbreak, confusion, hope. Sometimes it’s heavier. A parent with a difficult diagnosis. News that changes things in ways you can’t quite put into words yet. And in those moments, there’s no script. No fixing. Just listening. Just being there.

Mark always seems to notice when it’s happening. Without making a big deal of it, he quietly steps into another room, giving space for what needs to unfold. It’s a small act, but a meaningful one.

Those conversations stay with me.

Not because I said anything particularly wise, but because I was trusted with something tender. And that matters.

But one-on-one conversations aren’t only found in those heavier moments.

Some of my favorites are the everyday kind—the ones with our two adult kids, when we get them one at a time. There’s something different that happens when it’s just you and one child, no competing voices, no interruptions. You hear things you might have missed otherwise. You see them more clearly.

The same is true with close friends.

A good one-on-one conversation can be life-giving. It can be laughter that comes easily, or honesty that comes slowly. It can be catching up, checking in, or simply sitting in the comfort of being known.

Not every conversation has to be deep to be meaningful.
But the space to be—to speak, to listen, to connect—that’s what makes it matter.

One-on-one conversations remind me that people don’t just need answers.
They need presence.

And I’m grateful for every single one.

I've tried to ask a question at the end of every post, so here goes ....are you the conversationist in your family? How are you at making small talk?

N Is for New Notebooks (even when you don't really need them)!

 

April A to Z Challenge Continues with the letter N!

N is for New Notebooks (even when you don't really need them)

There is just something about new notebooks.

I don’t care how old I get—or how many I already have stacked in a drawer—I will never outgrow the thrill of fresh school supplies. Crisp pages. Clean lines. Possibility sitting quietly between two covers. It feels like a new beginning every single time.

Yes, I’m “old”… but I’m also still a student. And maybe that’s part of why I refuse to let go of this simple joy.

Now, let’s be honest: I am a paper snob. Mark is a beer snob. I, on the other hand, am a paper snob!

Not all notebooks are created equal, and I will stand by that. The feel of the paper matters. If it’s too thin, the pen bleeds through and ruins everything. If it’s too slick, the ink doesn’t settle right. But when you find the one—that perfect balance of weight and texture—and pair it with a really good pen? That’s magic. Pure magic.

Most days start the same way for me: with my steno notebook.

There’s something wonderfully grounding about sitting down and writing out a daily to-do list by hand. Not typing. Not tapping. Writing. I list everything out, big and small, and then throughout the day I get the deep satisfaction of marking things off. Mark loves to laugh as he tells people that I have been known to add something to the list just so I can check it off immediately—and he is correct and I’m not even sorry about it.

Each steno notebook lasts me a couple of months, depending on how many pages I fill (and how ambitious I’m feeling when I make those lists). And when I reach that last page? There’s a strange mix of pride and excitement—because it means I get to start a new one.

And then there are my class notebooks.

Even now, I still take notes the old-fashioned way for some of my classes. There’s something about physically writing things down that helps it stick better. Page after page, thought after thought—it becomes more than notes; it becomes a record of the journey.

This semester, I have filled an entire notebook with notes from my New Testament class. Every page represents something I learned, something I questioned, something I wrestled with or understood more deeply. That notebook isn’t just paper and ink—it’s growth. It’s time spent leaning in. It's time listening to my professor as my mind is blown with new information.

So no, I don’t need another notebook.

But I will absolutely buy one anyway.

Because sometimes a blank page isn’t just a blank page.
Sometimes it’s an invitation.

What about you? Do you love new school supplies? What about notebooks? Do you make lists?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Joyce writes the questions and we answer! Join us at From This Side of the Pond and link up! I apologize for two posts today but I couldn't figure out a way to combine them without it being a really long post! If you want to read my April A to Z post, please check out the previous post. The challenge was set to post at 1:00 a.m. this morning and the Hodgepodge was set to post at 5:00 a.m.

1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately? 

I am married to a retired CPA who was the CFO of a local company. I haven't done my own taxes since 1983. Actually, we were dating in 1983 . . .so Mark probably did my taxes that year, too! What have I found taxing lately? The pollen! I would love to be outside in this amazing weather, but nope. I can't. Dealing with high pollen counts can be very taxing on the body!

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you. 

Normally, I plan what I am going to pack and make a packing list. I like to lay it out and pack a week in advance. Back in October, that did not happen before we went on the cruise and I was packing the night before. It worked. Yes! Yes! Yes! I struggle to pack light. As I'm packing, I think "I might need this!" A packing tip that has helped me is to purchase a set of packing cubes. I ordered a basic set from Amazon and have used them multiple times. I also roll lots of my items.

3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm...who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level? 

I did not know that they had their own month! I love a grilled cheese sandwich. I use Lewis Keto bread and 2 slices of Kraft Deluxe 2% cheese slices (not the individually wrapped ones). I prefer to use a pat of real butter, but due to weight control, I usually use butter spray. Toast the sandwich in a small skillet. Cut off the crusts AND EAT THEM FIRST! I am a grilled cheese purist. I don't want a lot of additions. When we were kids, I do remember adding dill pickle slices to our grilled cheese. I'm not sure I would like that addition now. Mark wants mustard on his grilled cheese. We all think that is so weird. Does anyone else want mustard? If I add anything, it would be a tiny bit of Hellman's light mayo!

4. There's a well known quote that says-

'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd  

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it's more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life? 

Constant growth is necessary. I've always heard that if you aren't growing, you are dying. I want to keep growing!! In my development class, we are studying older adults at this point. Continued learning is very important as we age. Don't stop learning!!

5. Let's wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

• daffodils or tulips - tulips, but I do like daffodils
• lemonade or iced tea - iced tea
• gardening or hiking - neither haha!
• ladybugs or butterflies - butterflies
• umbrella or raincoat - raincoat with a hood so my hands are free
• floral patterns or polka dots - Polka dots . . .though I do have lots of floral patterns. I am assuming we are talking clothing? I don't have any floral or polka dot furniture!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our two year old granddaughter is saying so many words since she had tubes put in her ears. I think she hit a developmental leap at the exact same time. She is still calling us Bop Bop and Ghee because she can't say Pop or Pops or Gran. Her momma told her that we are all going to the beach together this summer and she is saying "beach" in the cutest little voice! We FaceTime with them a lot. This generation of babies is learning how to have relationships over a screen. I'm glad we get to see and hear her.

M Is for My Favorite Chair(s)

 

Continuing on with April A to Z Blogging Challenge

M Is for My Favorite Chair(s)

My original title was simply My Favorite Chair, but as I began thinking about the post, I realized I had to add an "s."

My posts for this challenge are all about the things (some are just "things" and some include people) that make life a little better. 

Enter "My Favorite Chair."

I love this Pottery Barn recliner. When we first moved into this house back in 2014, we went to Pottery Barn to pick out some new furniture. I wanted a leather recliner. Mark, on the other hand, felt like sitting in a recliner is the pinnacle of laziness. Did I care that he thought that? Nope, I did not because I am confident in the knowledge that I AM NOT LAZY.

She is a really good chair. Yes, she has to be a girl because she is a little daintier than some sister chairs! You want to know something funny? Over the years, Mark has taken quite a few naps in this chair hahaha! When we came in from the surgery center last week, guess which chair he immediately sat in?? Yes, he snoozed in my recliner!

Let me be totally honest here. Unless he is infirm in some way, in the evenings . . .this chair is all mine.

But I wanted to share a few chairs that rate "honorable mention."

Mark and I have had the chair below since we were newlyweds. It belonged to someone in his family and we got it after they died. I can't remember who owned it first. Anyway, it has been recovered numerous times over the years. This chair was in the room that had the heaviest fire and water damage and I thought the chair would be like the bed in that room. I thought it would have to be thrown into the dumpster. My brother-in-law took it away and reworked all of the wood and then brought it back to us. I found this funky velvet at Joanne's Fabric and had the chair recovered. It sits in a corner of our bedroom and is the perfect chair. It squeaks everytime you move and for some reason, I love that about it!

Here is another chair that is in our upstairs "loft" area - like a den/sitting area for the bedrooms upstairs. Mark and I purchased two of these chairs at an expensive furniture store in Birmingham - once again, when we were newlyweds (almost 42 years ago). The other chair is across the room - I figured you only needed to see one. I thought this chair was destroyed in the fire, too. Our whole upstairs was heavily damaged - everything was taken to the studs and the roof beams, etc. had to be replaced. Anyway, they were stored while we were rebuilding and when they were returned to us, I decided to buy new fabric and have them recovered. The removal company had cleaned them several times so there was no smoke damage. I've used the same family re-upholstery company for years and I asked him to replace any stuffing if he saw any sign of mold. I found this fun fabric online. These chairs are comfortable and cute!

Only two more -- chairs are worth more than their sitting value. Chairs provide a space of rest for our bodies and souls. The chair below was my mother's. My mother died when I was 15 years old so when I sit in this chair, I feel her love. I actually remember sitting in my daddy's lap when he was in this chair. I wrote about the chair a while back - my niece found it in her mother's basement (my oldest sister) when she died and she asked if I wanted it. Mark and I picked it up and took it along with the fabric to the same family who upholstered everything else.

I did not go with a practical fabric. This is the softest velvet you can imagine and when I sit here, I feel the love of both of my parents.

The chair below has zero family ties. As a matter of fact, when we did the last renovations at the church, these chairs were no longer needed and I said, "me! me! me! May I have them?" I don't think Mark has ever really liked them, but I have one in each of the guest rooms upstairs. They are actually comfortable to sit in and they are the perfect place to sit to put on shoes, etc.

So . . .tell me about your favorite chair. Where do you sit to relax? Did the chair belong to someone else before you?