U Is for Unexpected Free Time

 

At this point in my life—working full-time and carrying a full load of classes—free time is rare.

Not just rare… minuscule.

Every hour tends to have a purpose. Every day has a plan. There’s always something that needs to be done, or a textbook that must be read, or a paper that needs to be written, or a project that needs to be finished.

So when unexpected free time shows up?

It feels like a gift. It IS a gift.

Today, I had several hours completely to myself. No obligations. No immediate deadlines pressing in. Just… space.

And I didn’t waste it. On top of having a chance to catch my breath, it was a gorgeous day (I'm writing on April 10th).

I got a pedicure.
I went to the mall—an actual store, just wandering a little. I never go to the mall.
I wrote a bunch of blog posts to try to get ahead (future me will be so grateful).
I called my sister in the middle of the day, just because I could.
And I even stopped at the grocery store and bought something fun—a sumo citrus, which felt like a tiny celebration all on its own. (If you've never eaten one, run to the store right now. Seriously. They are "in season" fruit and they are delicious!)

None of it was extravagant (actually the Sumos are kind of extravagant - $).
None of it was life-changing (my feet would beg to differ).

But all of it together? It was life-giving.

There’s something about unexpected free time that feels different from scheduled rest. It’s lighter. Freer. A little bit like found treasure.

It reminds me that even in a full, busy season, there can still be pockets of joy tucked into the margins.

You just have to notice them… and take them when they come. I'm thrilled that I am writing about Unexpected Free Time on a day where I actually experienced free time!

Sometimes, a few unplanned hours can make your whole week better.

If you were given three hours unexpected free time today, what would you do?

T Is for Texts from People You Love

 

This month, I’ve been sharing things that make life better—and this one might be small, but it carries a lot of weight.

Those unexpected texts from people you love.

You know the ones.

“The video of you interviewing Hannah was excellent.”
“Congratulations! Laura just told me you got accepted!”
“You’re amazing.”
“Thank you for being brave and sharing hard stuff out loud. I love you.”
Or a sweet little video: “Happy birthday, Gran! I love you.”

They don’t come with warning. They just show up.

And somehow… they always seem to arrive at exactly the right moment.

Right when you’re second-guessing yourself.
Right when you’re feeling a little tired or unseen.
Right when you didn’t even realize how much you needed encouragement.

A simple message. A few words on a screen.

But they have a way of cutting through the noise and going straight to the heart.

They make me pause.
They make me smile.
They remind me that I’m loved, seen, and supported.

And more than that—they leave a mark. Joy that lingers longer than the moment it took to read them.

It’s funny how something so small can make such a big difference.

So here’s my gentle reminder (to myself, too):
Send the text.

Tell someone they did a great job.
Celebrate their good news.
Remind them who they are.
Say “I love you” out loud and send the video.

Because chances are… it will arrive at just the right moment.

And it might just make their whole day better.

Please share with all of us -- did you stop and send a text of love or encouragement?

It's Hodgepodge Time

 

1. April 22nd is Earth Day...what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it. 

This is a hard question . . .I guess the most "out of this world" place I've ever visited would be the catacombs in Rome. The Catacombs of Rome felt completely “out of this world” because of their eerie silence, endless tunnels, and the sense of stepping into a hidden layer of history beneath the city. Walking through them felt less like being in Rome and more like entering a timeless, almost surreal underground world.

2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it? 

"It doesn't taste like dirt. It tastes like earth." Just typing those words makes me laugh. That is a quote from our friend, Mollie, when she and Mark were trying beet juice at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. I know that isn't where this question was supposed to take us . . . but it is a quote and it is one of my favorites. Mark and I both think beets taste like dirt. I didn't even try the beet juice, but the beet juice was such a beautiful color, he thought it was some other flavor - until he tasted dirt!

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

I am answering these questions at 5:22 a.m. I don't have a strong opinion about anything at this time of the morning EXCEPT I really enjoy my COLD Diet Pepsi at this time of the day. NO ice, but ice cold.

4. What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool? 

Mark's keurig is used every single day so that is probably our most commonly used kitchen tool. He is making a cup of coffee as I type. I guess one that I use everyday would be my knives. Mark does a good job of keeping all of them sharpened for me.

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

To be honest, I guess I have a couple of "extravagances" (is there a plural of extravagance?). I love going to the nail salon for a pedicure. I also love having my house cleaned by someone else. Some people would say that our trips are an extravagance, but I look at them as experiences we share together! With Mark's financial background (CPA, CFO), we've always lived within our means and I am very thankful for his wisdom.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I went to my 50th high school reunion on Saturday night! I need to write about it! I guess that means I am officially old. I don't feel that old!

S Is for Sunshine

 

This month, I’ve been talking about things that make life better, and today’s is about as simple as it gets.

Sunshine.

I don’t control it. I can’t plan it. But when it shows up, it makes everything feel a little brighter (pun intended).

On April 10 in the afternoon, the sun was streaming through the plantation shutters, casting the prettiest pattern across the rug. It caught my attention right away—one of those small, quiet moments that makes you pause and just take it in.

I love having the shutters open so I can see the world outside—blue skies, green trees, a day full of sunshine and possibility.

And sunshine on my face? That’s just divine.

Now, I’ll admit, I’m a little more careful than I used to be. There was a time when I’d sit out for hours chasing that golden brown tan. These days, I’m wiser (and a bit more sunscreen-friendly), but I still soak up the sunshine in my own way.

Because it makes me happy. Have you ever noticed that it is like your bones can feel the sunshine soaking in?

Sunshine lifts my mood. It softens the edges of the day.

It simply makes life better.

And here’s a little family quirk that always makes me smile—when our son steps out into bright sunshine, he sneezes three times in a row! Like clockwork. And I’m pretty sure our oldest granddaughter has inherited that same sunny surprise.

Just one more reason to smile on a bright, beautiful day.

What about you? What is your favorite thing to do on a sunny day?

R Is for Reading Your Bible

We are on Day 21 of the April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

I am counting down the days.

I am also continuing on with the theme "Things that make my day better" (or a variation of that!).

My mother-in-law gave me the Bible below many years ago. If this Bible were not in this Bible cover, it wouldn't be together. It is literally held together. This Bible, in this cover, was in the middle of the damage from the fire. The piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper that was tucked into the Bible was wet . . .the Bible was not. When I took this photo, it looks ashy (is that how you spell ashy?). Discovery is a spiritual weekend for Junior High students put on by High School and College students (plus a lot of adults). My Bible was evidently falling apart in 2004 . . .

I don't know about you . . .but I write in my Bible.

I've seen the Bible where you can actually draw and illustrate. Maybe some day I'll buy one of those.

My two textbooks for my New Testament class are below.

This semester, I’ve been reading the Bible a little differently.

I’m taking a New Testament class, which means a lot of the scripture has quite literally been read to me—slowly (except when I put the speed on 2 haha), thoughtfully, and with intention. There’s something powerful about hearing the words instead of just scanning them on a page. It forces me to sit with them a little longer.

But it’s not just the format that’s different—it’s the depth.

We’ve spent time really digging into the synoptic gospels, noticing the differences, the nuances, the way each writer tells the story with a slightly different lens. I’ve read these passages before—many times—but not like this. Not with such close attention. Not asking these kinds of questions.

And now, as we move further into the New Testament, I can feel that shift continuing. I’m not just reading to check a box or to say I did it for the day (I'll be honest - some times I am). I’m reading to understand. To notice. To wrestle a little.

And it’s making a difference.

Because here’s the truth: reading the Bible is something we know we should be doing. It’s one of those foundational rhythms of faith that we talk about often. We encourage it. We believe in its importance.

And yet… so often, we don’t do it.

Or we start and stop - I've done that a million times. Or we rush through it. Or we let it fall to the bottom of a long list of responsibilities and distractions. Or we read just enough to write our Sunday School lesson or our curriculum for our small group. Life gets full, and somehow this thing that we say matters so much quietly slips to the side.

I get that. I’ve lived that. Sometimes I'm still living it. I am just being totally honest with y'all.

But being in this class has reminded me what a gift it is to stay in the Word—not just occasionally, but consistently. To slow down enough to really see what’s there. To hear familiar stories with fresh ears.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be academic. Most days, it won’t look like a deep textual analysis.

Sometimes it’s just a few verses.

Sometimes it’s reading a passage you’ve read a hundred times and noticing one small thing you never saw before.

Sometimes it’s simply taking the time to open up the Bible or your phone app or your devotion book.

Reading the Bible has a way of grounding us. Of re-centering our perspective. Of reminding us what is true when everything else feels loud or uncertain.

It doesn’t magically fix everything.

But it does make every day better.

And maybe that’s the invitation—especially in a busy season, especially when life feels full—not to add something overwhelming, but to return to something steady.

To open the pages.

To read.

And to let those words, however familiar they may be, meet us right where we are.

I know that everyone who reads my blog is not a Christian. Some of you may not believe in God at all. Please know that you are loved by me no matter what you do or do not do.

If you ever want to talk about it, let me know.

If you are a daily Bible reader, please share some ways you find joy in your reading. It is ok if you want to be honest and tell me you read your Bible so you can check it off your to-do list. No judgment.

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.