Eclectic Momma

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Urban Hike

Michael and I have started letterboxing. Our first attempt was unsuccessful, so we went on an "urban hike"!

Hike #7

2021 Books Read List

January:

Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney

Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves

A Catered Murder by Isis Crawford

Murder at the Courthouse: A Hidden Springs Mystery by A. H. Gabhart

Murder Comes by Mail: A Hidden Springs Mystery by A. H. Gabhart

Dolled Up to Die by Lorena McCourtney

Murder is No Accident: A Hidden Springs Mystery by A. H. Gabhart

A Sheetcake Named Desire: Piece of Cake Mystery Book 1 by Jacklyn Brady

The Missing Golden Ticket and Other Splendiferous Secrets by Roald Dahl

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

A Pizza to Die For by Chris Cavender

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof: Piece of Cake Mystery Book 2 by Jacklyn Brady

Read Alouds:

The Witches by Roald Dahl

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

The Minpins by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The Boxcar Children: The Mystery of the Midnight Dog created by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Books of the Bible:

Daniel

Romans

Hosea

Revelations

Acts

Ezekiel

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

January Total:

Books Read: 12

Read Alouds: 5

Books of the Bible: 11

February:

Books read:

Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell

Rest in Pizza by Chris Cavender

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams

Killer Crust by Chris Cavender

When the Cookie Crumbles by Virginia Lowell

Read Alouds:

Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment by James Patterson

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

Bible:

Ruth

Esther

Proverbs

Isaiah

Ecclesiastes

1 Corinthians

Amos

Ezra

Matthew

Song of Songs

February Total:

Books Read: 8

Read Alouds: 2

Books of the Bible: 10

March:

Books read:

Ali Cross by James Patterson (audiobook)

The Missing Dough by Chris Cavender

When the Cookie Crumbles by Virginia Lowell

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson (audiobook)

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds (audiobook)

One Dead Cookie by Virginia Lowell

Framed by James Ponti (audiobook)

The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung

Rebel Without a Cake by Jacklyn Brady

Cookies and Scream by Virginia Lowell

Vanished by James Ponti (audiobook)

A Cookie Before Dying by Virginia Lowell

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl (audiobook)

Read Alouds:

Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith

The Trail by Meika Hashimoto

Max Einstein: Rebels with a Cause by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

The Shopkeeper's Story: Suddenly One Morning by Chuck Swindoll

Bible:

2 Corinthians

Mark

Jude

Joshua

Obadiah

Jonah

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

1 Samuel

March Total:

Books read: 13

Read alouds: 4

Books of the Bible: 11

April:

Books:

Cakes of Wrath by Jacklyn Brady

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs (audiobook)

Trapped by James Ponti (audiobook)

Gertie's Leap of Greatness by Kate Beasley (audiobook)

Checkmate to Murder: A Second World War Mystery by E. R. C. Lorac

Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two by Ann B. Ross

Ghost by Jason Reynolds (audiobook)

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender

Patina by Jason Reynolds (audiobook)

Read Alouds:

Max the Brave by Ed Vere

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

Books of the Bible:

2 Samuel

Luke

Galatians

James

Joel

Habbakuk

Zephaniah

Nahum

Psalms 1-75

April Total:

Books read: 9

Read alouds: 2

Books of the Bible: 8 1/2

May:

Books:

Caught by the Sea by Gary Paulsen

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan (audiobook)

Nana Cracks the Case by Kathleen Lane

File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket

Monsieur Pamplemousse by Michael Bonds

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan (audiobook)---even better than the book--which is one of my all-time favorites.

42 is Not Just a Number by Doreen Rappaport

Can you Crack the Code? by Ella Schwartz

Sunny by Jason Reynolds (audiobook)

Read Alouds:

Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick

The Boxcar Children: The Mystery of the Alamo by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Books of the Bible:

Judges

Genesis

Exodus

Psalms 76-150

Jeremiah

John

May Total:

Books read: 10

Read alouds: 2

Books of the Bible 5 1/2

June:

Books:

Miss Julia Happily Ever After by Ann B. Ross

The Bluebird Effect by Julie Zickefoose

Storm Warning--The Story of a Killer Tornado by Nancy Mathis

Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons

Lu by Jason Reynolds (audiobook)

City Spies by James Ponti

Legends and Lore of East Tennessee by Shane S. Simmons

Forgotten Tales of Tennessee by Kelly Kazek

What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross

Charlie Thorne and the Lost City by Stuart Gibbs

A History of Alabama's Deadliest Tornadoes: Disaster in Dixie by Kelly Kazek

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry

The Religious Body by Catherine Aird

Read Alouds:

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

The Home-Run King by Patricia Mckissack

Books of the Bible:

Lamentations

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

Micah

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

Job

Zechariah

Malachi

Leviticus

Nehemiah

June Total:

Books read: 13

Read alouds: 2

Books of the Bible: 12

Friday, January 1, 2021

Reflections on 2020 and 2021 Goals

Accomplishments of 2020:

Total books read: 166 with 37 read alouds with Michael.

Miles clocked on my Fitbit: 1850.46

We have remained healthy so far throughout the pandemic.

More time to connect with family especially my two adult college students.

Weekly date nights with JP.

Remembering to bring a mask with us most of the time.

Joined a new in-person Bible study.

Met quite a few new people and had regular times together outdoors getting to know other people better.

High Points of the year:

JP got a promotion at work and a new schedule AND got four backyard chickens.

Tera made the Dean's List twice, got certified as a group fitness instructor and started a young adult Bible study.

Daniel won first place at the regional chess tournament, graduated, got his first job and won a full tuition music scholarship to attend Maryville College.

Michael spent a lot of time outdoors, placed 5th in 4-H Wildlife Judging, his Clover Bowl team made it to the semi-finals, won 1st place and 2nd place in the two Lego contests at the library, and went monarch butterfly tagging.

Lowest Points of the year:

Losing a dear friend to Covid in September.

Election and pandemic stress due to the oversaturation of social media and news.

Postponing Daniel's senior trip.

Missing Fred's 90th birthday due to Covid concerns.

My "word" for 2021 is "Healthy"--mind, body and soul.

2021 Goals:

Participate in the Tennessee 4-H 2021 miles in 2021 virtual race--I'm already signed up. YAY!!! (Almost 6.5 miles clocked today)

Complete the 52 Hike Challenge. (I'm on hike #6 already)

Log hours for the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge (I'm pretty sure I won't reach that goal, but I've enjoyed being outside so much during the pandemic--I want to encourage myself in that habit!)

Reading challenge--Michael wants to up our read aloud total to 40 books. I'm still looking for a personal reading challenge, but will log my "books read" anyway until I decide.

Continue Bible studies--one-on-one and group studies, be consistent in my daily devotion times, start daily scripture writing again.

Healthy habits--try to lower cholesterol, resting heart rate and weight. Hoping my exercise challenges will help with these goals!

I just really want to work on being healthy this year and doing things that help me be a better person for myself and those I love!

New Year's Eve 2020

The game Uncle John and Aunt Christy sent was a huge hit!!!

Let the record show that I had enough brain energy at the end of 2020 to win Clue!

Michael's new Minecraft game

Party punch and Christmas snacks...

JP went all out and made us chicken and pork kebabs. They were delicious! Veggie and fruit trays and Hawaiian rolls were my contribution to dinner.

We ended the evening introducing the kids to a classic: "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and prayed before going to bed! We survived 2020 and look forward to how God will work in our lives in 2021!

New Year's Eve Hike

Jackson Bend Branch Trail

a little under 5 miles--in and out

Hike #6

After seeing a couple of hunters on a nearby trail, we decided that orange vests would be a good idea. A nice fashion statement they are not. Tera said, we looked like we were from a carnival.

Not our favorite trail. When it started getting basically to a rock path, we turned around. People's backyards, boat docks, dogs and this great "waterfall" peppered this trail. Not one we will hike again.