Weekly Wrap-Up #3: Classics, Schooling, & Songza

It's been a cold, blustery week here in Tennessee. With the end of February, I'm hoping my grandmother is right that "March is coming in like a lion, but hopefully will be going out like a lamb!" The year is really flying by, but aside from the beautiful jonquils blooming, spring seems nowhere in sight. In fact, here's what we woke up to this morning:

 

Here's what's been going on this week:

 

What I'm Reading

 

   

Thanks to some sweet friends who invited our older girls over to decorate cookies, I finally finished Wuthering Heights and can move on to something more...uhm...uplifting? happy? The yucky dismal weather outside spent in the company of that diabolical Heathcliff has left me feeling rather gloomy. For my full review, click here. Note that Wuthering Heights is now on my "to never read again!" shelf on Goodreads as is Anna Karenina thank-you-very-much. The review for Anna Karenina is here.

I'm also starting "The Saxon Chronicles Series" by Bernard Cornwell, set in Anglo-Saxon England. The first book is The Last Kingdom. Did I ever tell you that when I was working on my doctorate that I translated Beowulf in its entirety? Yes, I like me some Old English literature, so I'm curious about this series.

I'll also continuing to read along this month for Quirky Bookworm's Classics Catch-up Challenge include Hamlet and Othello. Totally doable. In fact, I've read them both before, so a re-read is fine.

What I'm Writing

 

This week I wrote about "Why Comparing Hurts Us & What We Should Be Doing Instead," which is about how we tend to compare when we don't really know or understand another person's situation and how we should be living out God's unique purpose for us in our own lives instead.

I also completed my Pinterest pick for February: Faux Chalkboard Herb Pots. One of my personal goals for 2013 is to try a different Pinterest pin each month and review its success or failure. I hope you will follow me on Pinterest.

What's Inspiring Me

 

Source: simplehomeschool.net via Keri on Pinterest

 

"Preparing for New Growth" - Proverbial Homemaker
Because we all know growth is painful, but the blessings are oh so beautiful!

"A Day in the Life of an Introverted Homeschool Mom" - Simple Homeschool
Because introverts aren't shy; we just need time alone and quiet to recharge. Great tips & encouragement for introverts, homeschooling or not.

"Mothers, Daughters & the Estrogen that Assaults Them" - Raising Homemakers
Because I've got 3 daughters and my husband also cringes at thoughts of all that estrogen! Great thoughts to ponder and scriptures to cling to.

What I've Been Up To 

 

Running: I've been working on increasing speed in my runs in preparation for our 5K, which is 3 weeks from today! Super excited! And I finally ran 3.1 miles in under 30 minutes, which is a big achievement for this slow poke.

Finding a school for Kate: Our oldest daughter is 4, but because of an October birthday, cannot attend school for another year. So, I've spent the better part of this week visiting various preschools and Mother's Day Out programs to find a good fit for her for the fall. Ultimately, I've discovered that I need to homeschool her--or at least spend a year trying to work with her myself. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. My biggest concern is that we butt heads, and she is very headstrong. But I feel this is the road God wants us to go down.

Getting our house ready to sell: Once again we're putting the house back on the market. We just need more space desperately. While 1,100 square feet may work for some families of 5, it's making this introverted Mama claustrophobic. So, it's back to decluttering, painting, and cleaning up. Prayers for a couple or young family in need of a sweet little home are appreciated!

Singing & dancing: Have you tried out Songza yet? It's similar to Pandora, but Songza lets you choose music lists based on your mood or activity. So, you can select a playlist with mellow songs for when you're relaxing or an upbeat playlist with 80s music when you're working out or washing dishes. I love to sing and dance along while the kids laugh at their silly Mama. Oh, how it makes chores so much more enjoyable!

What have you been up to this week? 
Have you been reading or watching anything good?

Blessings to you this weekend!



Linking up to: Quirky Bookworm's Classics Catch-up Challenge

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