What's Up Wednesday - January 2023

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This snuck up on me! At the beginning of the year, when I was thinking about what to do with my blogs and even when I first hatched the idea of starting this one, I decided on a couple of link-ups I'd seen that I wanted to jump in on. This one - What's Up Wednesday with Shaeffer & Shay - was among those I'd considered, but it kind of slipped my mind. So here I am, reminded that today is the day, and I'm really not prepared. I'll do what I can for today, and hope to be ready for next month!

On the last Wednesday of each month, these two lovely bloggers host a link-up to talk a bit about what's going on in our worlds - food, entertainment, plans, fashion, work, whatever - in the What's Up Wednesday linky party.

What We're Eating This Week . . . We've been mostly homebodies the past week or so, and as usual, I haven't been really excited about cooking. And I don't usually take pictures of our food anyway! We've had simple comfort food lately, like grilled cheese, crustless pizza, chorizo and potatoes, and tonight I think we'll have chicken potpie. I've been putting off baking bread but I think I'll do that tomorrow or Friday. 

We've been treating ourselves to these potato chips and cookies brought back from Canada when we visited there recently.

What I'm Reminiscing About . . . Silly thing, perhaps, but my husband put a small suet feeder outside one of our windows yesterday, and as I watch hopefully for a brave bird to visit, I've also been remembering the busy birdfeeders outside my window back home in Maryland. I think having a porch or deck suitable for lots of bird feeders will be an important feature to look for whenever we start house hunting!

What I'm Loving . . . Lots of things, but I don't know if there's anything really specific right now. I'm trying to love life the way it is here and now, and not to dwell on what I miss about my life before we moved. 

What We've Been Up To . . . We've had a fairly busy month, even if most of my weekdays are uneventful and somewhat repetitive. I stayed in Maryland just past New Years, after our trip home for Christmas, and once I got back here to Ohio, my husband and I turned our attention back to getting our townhouse a bit more settled and homey. Once the Christmas decorations came down, the living room looked rather bare, but at least we know how much space we have as we continue our search for a couple more pieces of furniture. The spare bedroom/office looks a bit more put together now, although there are still quite a few boxes in there waiting to be gone through and put away properly. In a way, I'm surprised at how long it's taking me to get the master bathroom organized. We got out the really important things and left everything else in boxes this whole time!

We've done a lot of the shopping together, which is new, but honestly I'm home alone during the day, so I don't also need alone time while getting groceries! 

We've visited two different churches on Sundays, still deciding which one is the better fit for us. We've gone out to eat a few times. We get together with our son and his family at least once a week, but I'd welcome much more time with our granddaughter if it works out! She doesn't stay still for very long at a time though!

In the middle of the month, we took a short-notice trip to Ontario to see my husband's family. He was able to visit two times during the past couple years, but I haven't seen them since the middle of 2019. BC - Before Covid. We now live just a little closer so we tested out the drive and it's quite doable. It was so nice to get away, to see some family and a couple friends, and for me to have some social interaction!

What I'm Dreading . . . looking for a job. As bored and lonely as I am during the day sometimes, I'm also leery of getting out there and hunting up a part-time job that interests me and is practical. My previous jobs over the past several years have been things that kind of fell into my lap, but I don't know if I'll be that lucky here!

What I'm Working On . . . Other than the job search? I've started getting geared up to do our tax returns, which is really exciting . . . not. But it has to be done. As does an update to our budget and financial planning. I'm working on a better way to meal plan and prep, now that it's just two of us. Also working on writing and updating my blogs, which is more hobby than anything.

What I'm Excited About . . . the next visit home to Maryland, whenever that will be! Or whenever those kids will be able to come visit us, although that probably won't be until summer. I'm starting to make plans for spending some time there with the kids around the time our daughter has her Senior Recital in April, although I think we'll try to go out on a weekend or two much sooner.

What I'm Watching/Reading . . . I've watched very little TV since Christmas, other than a bit of hockey now and then. I'm more of a reader (see my book blog at Just A Second).

I'm currently working on:

What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma

The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West

Recently completed:

Bridges by Linda Griffin

The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky

It Happened In Ohio by Carol Cartaino

Up next:

A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber

The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel

What I'm Listening To . . . I actually listen to the radio in the mornings - RadioU, to be exact - but no longer listen to talk radio since moving to Ohio. Nothing there catches my interest. So I listen to podcasts a lot more. My favorites are The Bible Project podcasts, Cooper Stuff, and The Dan Bongino Show. 

That's intentional listening. But it's been an interesting contrast of what I hear in the background here, compared to what I was used to in our previous home. Here I can hear traffic on the nearby highway, and occasionally doors or a dog barking around the apartments or townhomes close by. I also hear the washer and dryer, the water heater, and even the furnace running. I never noticed those sounds in our house in Maryland (we didn't even have a furnace!). But I can't hear birds just outside the window, pet cats doing whatever it is they are doing, family members coming and going, or farm equipment at the neighboring places. Still getting used to it!

What I'm Wearing . . . I'm not all that fashion-conscious, and I don't like taking pictures of myself. And I don't even have a full length mirror yet, so don't look for me to model my cute outfits in this section! 

I finally bought the new pair of shoes I've been wanting - these black moccasin type flats by Spring Step - and they are every bit as comfortable as the first pair I got from that brand. I got the light color ones last spring and have loved them so much I've been wanting a more winter suitable pair. 

I've been wanting a new winter coat for awhile too - my heavy leather one is warm, but it's more of a dress coat and I thought I needed something more casual and that I could bundle up in for cold weather walks. I got lucky when I found this Zeroxposur puffer at BJ's for just fifteen bucks. 

What I'm Doing This Weekend . . . we're planning to get together with our son and his family on Friday night but haven't decided what we're doing yet. Not sure if my husband and I will go exploring somewhere nearby on Saturday or Sunday, but one thing I hope to work on is getting some of my pictures and artwork hung up. I'm getting pretty sick of looking at the bare walls and we've been putting this off. Maybe we'll go furniture shopping too.

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month . . . We have friends from Ontario stopping by for a visit in mid-February so that's exciting! First time having company here, I guess. I'm hoping there will be a visit to Maryland next month too, but that's still up in the air.

What Else Is New . . . nothing much, or maybe almost everything! Nothing new in the last couple months, but since we only moved here at the end of November, everything is still new!

This post from my Homeschool Coffee Break blog sums up the move (and the new layout for my blogs too): Moving Updates

This post is linked at What's Up Wednesday for January, with Sheaffer & Shay.

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Everyday Images - My Personal Photo Challenge

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Last week I shared my meager collection of photos so far in January and reflected that I was really missing the weekly photo challenge that nudged me to take pictures. I decided that I could come up with my own prompts and challenge myself, and I'll share the prompts here if others would be interested in joining in. I probably spent too much time trying to come up with a good list of prompts, which certainly gave me an increased appreciation of the work that goes into hosting a link-up like this! (Shout-out to Lysha at A Camera and a Cookbook who hosted the I Spy photo challenge that I so enjoyed. A lot of the prompts I've chosen were I Spy prompts or inspired by them.)

So here's what I'm planning. I will post my prompts and my own photos every other Tuesday. I'm doing prompts for two weeks at a time, and I'll post the first set today with the first photo post coming next Tuesday, January 31st. I'll also include a link-up so others can share their photo posts. You can use all or some of the prompts for your own photo posts, or none of the prompts and just share a post featuring your photos. Simple rules: Your posts must be family-friendly; the photos must be your own; and the post must be mostly photos. If you do share I'd appreciate a mention and link to A Fresh Cup of Coffee on your post.

January Prompts

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weather (quarterly)

yard (quarterly)

building

pieces

design

beautiful

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Here is last week's post that got me thinking about doing this: Everyday Images - January

What do you think? Will you be using the prompts? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Scripture and a Snapshot - One Body With Many Members

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For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

~Romans 12:4-8~

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Five Minute Friday - Doubt

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

I have my doubts

no doubt about it

when in doubt

not a shadow of doubt

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To doubt everything, or, to believe everything, are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. ~Henri Poincare

There's a popular saying - "Question everything" - that seems to encourage a starting point of doubt and mistrust of anything and everything we cannot personally verify. And on the opposite end of the spectrum is a completely blind and undiscerning acceptance of everything. Is asking questions the same as doubting? Is a need for more answers or assurance or understanding the same as being a "Doubting Thomas"? And while I'm asking questions, is it fair to criticize Thomas for his doubt? 

I'm not sure that Jesus' words to Thomas were meant as harsh criticism. We don't know the tone of voice he used, and I believe that Jesus understood why Thomas was hesitant to accept the claims of the others that Jesus - whom Thomas KNEW was dead and buried - could possibly be alive and well. And Jesus knew what Thomas needed - apparently it wasn't to touch the nail holes, because it's not recorded that Thomas did that - in order to satisfy his valid question.

Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can't believe. Unbelief is won't believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness. ~Henry Drummond

Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. ~Paul Tillich

Now Thomas . . . was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

~John 20:24-29

Surely if Jesus could help Thomas overcome his doubt, he can help us overcome ours. Because doubt is not always the same as refusal to believe. Doubt happens when we have questions and are perplexed and confused about what is true, or about what our next step should be. Doubt happens when we are hesitant or worried about the implications of a decision. Doubt happens when what we are taught doesn't seem to line up with what we see or experience. Those are questions that are often fair to ask. 

When we have questions or doubts about our faith, we need to take them to the Lord. Search the Scripture, spend time in prayer, seek wise counsel from other believers. When others have sincere questions and express doubts, we believers have a responsibility to help them find the answers. That's usually a better response to doubts than to judge harshly and criticize someone who may just be perplexed or hurting. (It requires discernment, of course, because some people really are just mockers and are trying to stir up trouble. The Bible has different advice for dealing with those people.) Jude addressed this in his letter to the early church. He talked about how the church should handle three different kinds of people. Those who doubt are to be shown mercy. Maybe because their doubts come from their pain or their confusion or their fear, and they need mercy and assurance and comfort in order to overcome.

These [scoffers] are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

~Jude 1:19-25~

If a man fights his way through his doubts to the conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, he has attained to a certainty that the man who unthinkingly accepts things can never reach ~William Barclay

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Doubt".

This post will also be linked at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Simply Coffee & Jesus.

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Everyday Images - January

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I'm not taking a lot of photos these days, so there's not much variety here.

Nonny and Aubrey at New Year's:

A Christmas gift from my oldest son - a wooden mounted family portrait.

For now it's with these portraits, some of which need to be hung up.

Christmas decorations are gone, and now I need to decide how to decorate for a more everyday look. And what, exactly, we need as far as a couple of additional pieces of furniture.

The spare bedroom/office is looking more put together too.

This past weekend, we made a quick trip to Canada to visit family.

And while I certainly did enjoy some Tim Hortons coffee while there, I did not indulge in Tim Hortons branded cereals. They're taking over, folks! 😆

See what I mean about not very many photos? I've come up with a possible solution.

I used to participate in a weekly photo challenge with prompts, and I really miss it. The purpose was to get participants thinking creatively about using their cameras, even if it was just the camera on their cellphones. And let's be real - cellphone cameras are actually pretty good, and what most of us are using unless we are serious about photography. I found that just keeping my eyes open for something that would satisfy a prompt kept me thinking outside the box and helped me notice details or different perspectives than the usual. Some of the prompts had us taking a photo of the same thing at different times throughout the year, or perhaps a view or even a selfie quarterly - and believe me, I would not have posted selfies otherwise, but it turned out that I liked a couple of those selfies enough to use them as profile photos. 

Anyway, I got to thinking I could create my own set of photo prompts to get myself taking photos a little more often, and maybe reminding me to use Instagram sometimes. I could do that for myself and then have a weekly or biweekly photo dump to share here, but if I'm doing the prompts anyway, I wondered if others would be interested in sharing photos for the prompts as well. What do you think? You could use all or just some of the prompts and link-up your photo album posts here. No real rules except that the posts you link should be mostly photos. 

Would you be interested in linking up your photo posts, with or without the prompts? Leave a comment and let me know!

This post will be linked at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea Scribbles.

Pictorial Tuesday

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Scripture and a Snapshot - Comfort

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

~II Corinthians 1:3-5~

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