Today isn’t really the last day of spring break. After all, the weekend is coming. But according to our school district’s calendar, today is the last official day of break. I rather enjoyed having the Twedlings home full-time. It was a much-needed respite from sports, homework, packing lunches and needing to get dinner on the table in a timely manner. Another plus about spring break is that it has been devoted to sleeping in and watching Jane the Virgin on Netflix late into the night while the husband plays Gravel on Xbox. Honestly, we both end up falling asleep on the ugly rust couch every night around 10:30 p.m. because we’re romantic like that.
Since I’ve been up to my eyeballs in prepping for my secret project (more on that later), the kids have been fending for themselves. Normal Nicole never, well rarely ever, allows her children unregulated screen time THE ENTIRE DAY, but that’s exactly what happened today. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do when you’re not feeling your finest but you are heavily involved in a project. Live it up, kids. Monday will come soon enough. As the song goes, back to life, back to reality.
There are a few essays from Hope*Writers that I’d like to share this week. Reminder, Hope*Writers is the online writing community I’ve been part of for the last few years. Every week, most weeks, or some weeks (depending on my mood and life in general) I share articles and essays by a few of my writerly friends in a Weekend Roundup.
I’m trying hard to feature new-to-me writers in this week’s Roundup. After all, I could easily pull from Dorina Lazo Gilmore, Karen Gauvreau and a few others every week and call it good. I’m tempted to share their work and never write another sentence of my own, especially now that I’m engaged in this project. That’s how much I love and appreciate their writing.
Anyway, it’s time to level the playing field with a few new voices.
First up is an article by Alia Joy featured earlier this week over at (in)Courage. Check it out here. Alia writes about how it’s possible to love (and continue loving) someone very different than yourself. This was the perfect essay for this coffee-loving, book-obsessive INFJ married to an ISTP sheet metal worker who loves his new Xbox. Except for the introvert thing, we are opposites in every way. Poking around on Alia’s author website, I discovered that Alia is also an INFJ. Swoon. No wonder I related so well to her marriage essay. If you would like to discover more of Alia’s work, head on over to aliajoy.com.
I came across Alia’s stunning essay about marriage a few days ago on Facebook via another Hope*ster, Bethany Barendregt. It’s only natural that I should share a sample of Bethany’s writing next. Bethany lives in Grand Prairie, Alberta, CA and is one of the co-founders of the Women Encouraged website and podcast. I actually have a friend named Julie in Grand Prairie. Julie is the friend who threw a shower with a baby chick theme when I was pregnant with Emily, back when we were actively involved with the Young Marrieds group at our old church, back when Greg and I were actually young and newly married. I pretend that Julie and Bethany know each other because I’m weird like that. I fell in love with Bethany’s stunning essay, Courage To Labor and Love Like Jesus. Anyone who has given birth will appreciate this piece. While you are at it, check out the podcast episode with Ruth Cho Simonds on iTunes. I have to get dinner ready, otherwise I’d provide the link.
The final article is kind of a cheat on my end. You see, I’ve featured Christie Thomas’ work before. Since it’s been a while, I’m hoping that Christie might be a new writer to you. It counts, right? Right. In Yes Mama, You CAN Be The Spiritual Leader in Your Home, Christie explores why women should not shrink away from being the spiritual leader their children desperately need. The only thing I don’t like about Christie’s essay is the fact that I hadn’t read until now. Go read it.
Well, lovelies, that’s all for now. I really have to get dinner started. In reality, all I need to do is measure water and Jasmine Rice, throw them in the rice cooker, and reheat the curry sauce in the cast iron dutch oven. But I really should shower before Greg comes home. Spring break or not, showers are a very good thing.
N.
What kind of sweetness is this that you are writing about us? Your words mean so much, Nicole Tweet 😉
Ah, thank you Karen! But seriously, everyone should head on over to your blog post about inspiring teenagers!
Oh, I love hearing from you! And the essays you included are the best. xo
Hi Jody! Thanks for taking the time to comment! The essay by Alia made me cry in the best way possible!