Share Four Somethings: November 2022

Inside: What I’m loving this month, a book about grief for Little Women fans, braving constructive feedback and a glimpse of my daughter’s awesome creativity.

As I write this, my family and I are driving home from North Dakota, where we spent Thanksgiving break with Randy’s family.

One of the things I love most about North Dakota is the hugeness of the sky. The orientation of my mother-in-law’s house provides a mostly unobstructed view of the sunrise and the sunset, and both were glorious the last time we saw them there.

That’s not all I’m noticing these days, of course. And before we turn another page on the calendar and move full speed ahead into the holiday season, I’d love for you to join me as I look back and identify Four Somethings that have steadied me in recent weeks.

Something Loved

Along with those brilliant North Dakota dawns, my handful of November loves includes candlelight in the kitchen, my new iPad cover, running when the wind chill is 14 degrees, cozy plush throws, actual birthday cards, my Santa Claus collection and the Little People nativity set we received when Lilly was a baby that—happily—she still wants to assemble.

Something Gleaned

In What Cannot Be Lost: How Jesus Holds Us Together When Life is Falling Apart, Melissa Zaldivar reflects on losing a dear friend while also recounting the experiences that led 19th-century author Louisa May Alcott to pen Little Women.

When her friend died, Zaldivar was working as a guide at Orchard House—Alcott’s home in Concord, Mass., where she composed the beloved children’s classic in 1868. With this poignant combination of past-meets-present as a backdrop, Zaldivar speaks with the compassion of someone who has grieved deeply, while never veering from truths about suffering and loss that are sometimes hard to hear.

On the fallacy of trusting in our plans:

“It’s human nature to trade truth for trendiness,” she writes. “And it’s more palatable to have a measurable plan, isn’t it? It’s easier to have ducks in a row for even a moment, and never mind the fact that they always go in random directions at some point; the ducks do not, simply put, stay put.”

And the importance of friends who help us put words to our sorrow:

“As grievers, it is so vital that we build friendships that allow us to be in the company with those who have mourned with Christian hope,” Zaldivar says. “It gives us a pathway to follow that leads to the fog of the cross and allows us to bring a friend along for the trip, even though our experiences are entirely different. There is a familiarity that brings comfort and understanding in a way that we so need. When someone else has seen or heard or walked out what you have, it sometimes puts language to what you haven’t had words for.”

Something Braved

Speaking of people who have been where we are, I recently asked a few blogger friends to read the manuscript I’ve been working on and offer feedback about what I’ve written.

I’ve never met these lovely folks in person, although I have relationships with each of them that go beyond simply reading and commenting on their blogs. Still, asking them to review this project about losing my parents was different from getting feedback from people who knew my mom and dad personally.

Two of these friends have counseling backgrounds and the other reads more books than anyone I know. This is partly why I asked them, but it also increased my trepidation a wee bit as I waited to hear what they thought.

As I had hoped, their responses were both helpful and encouraging. Which goes to show the value of seeking out the wise and honest perspectives of other people.

Something Achieved

This category is supposed to highlight one of my own achievements, but this month, I thought it would be fun to turn the spotlight on someone else.

When my daughter Molly first told me about her latest project, I had my doubts. It wasn’t something I would have ever tried, after all. I don’t have the skills or the patience for it, so I guess I just assumed she wouldn’t either.

I was wrong.

After hours of careful planning and stitching, Molly transformed her old high-top Converse sneakers from run of the mill to totally awesome. The flowers that she embroidered around the logo on the shoes make me smile every time I catch a glimpse of them on her feet.

This isn’t the first time my creative daughter has seen something on Pinterest and decided to replicate it for herself. It is, though, the most impressive. At least in the eyes of her mom who doesn’t even have a Pinterest account.

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Now it’s your turn. Please share in the comments your most recent Pinterest-inspired project, your own Four Somethings or your opinion about one of mine.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth

Sunrise and Converse photos by Lilly Flowers