Hello! Happy Friday!

Thanks for all of your encouraging comments this week here and on Facebook. I’ve appreciated hearing suggestions for other books as I work on my One Little Word for 2018.

Here are a few things on my mind this week:

1. New Things. In preparation for the new year, I read several articles on resolutions and goal setting. I came across the idea of a New Things List here, and then, last Friday, I went to a champagne-tasting party where my friend talked about her list of new things for 2018 (including finding her favorite champagne and learning to make sushi). I love this idea, so I made my own. Here are a few things from my list:

• JOY research (book list so far: Surprised by Joy, by CS Lewis, The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner, The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, and The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking)
• Dig into the Enneagram and figure out my type
• Plan trips to our wine club wineries with Husband
• Sew a quilt
• Plan for our 20th anniversary (it’s this August!)

2. This book. I’ve been moving through it very slowly – about a chapter a night. It took about a hundred pages to get into it, but I’m really enjoying it. It feels like a great winter book – I look forward to climbing into my cozy bed to read a little bit more each night about Count Rostov and the goings-on at the Metropol. I close the book, turn out my light, and smile as I drift off to sleep. Feels like JOY to me.

3. This quote.

4. Road to Recovery. This was beautiful, moving, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

5. Snow scene. My Facebook feed is full of photos of friends in Tennessee, enjoying the snow. We’ve had fog this week, which is as close as we’ll ever get. Then I found this. It’s like the Yule Log – it’s kind of hilarious, surprisingly relaxing, and addictive. And it turns out there are tons of these on YouTube. (Husband and I spent an inordinate amount of time critiquing them to determine the best. We think it’s this one.)

What are you up to this weekend? Last weekend was super busy, so we’re looking forward to a weekend without any plans. I’m hoping to finish my book, go for a long walk in the fog, and start a furniture makeover that I’ve been wanting to do for months. Hope your weekend is full of new things, good books, and quiet moments. Thanks for reading!