Happy November, everyone! I am not sure what happened to September and October, but here we are with crisp mornings, earlier sunsets, and the end of the gardening season, at least here in Nebraska. My last baby's first birthday is rapidly approaching, and I'm kind of in shock that time is passing so quickly!
What I'm learning
This month has been learning a lot of acceptance for what is. What if God's desire in this season is to change my heart and not my baby's sleep (or lack thereof)? I've been called back into prayer, which I've resisted for a long time. But instead of trying to "figure out" my life in prayer or get a specific answer to a specific problem, I'm trying to just ask God in his mercy to show me his nearness and his goodness in whatever circumstance I need help with. As Elisabeth Elliot says, "The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."
What I'm reading
I'm still plowing through fiction at bedtime and when I'm frustratingly awake between nighttime feeds, but my nonfiction pile is full of a lot of books I need to finish, so there's that. My goal for the next newsletter is to report that I actually finished one of my nonfiction books!
What I'm listening to
Even my podcast listening has taken a hit this month. Seriously, where has time gone? I think the only episode I started and finished was the Histmaine Intolerance 101 episode on the Are You Menstrual? podcast because I'm still struggling with baby food allergy issues.
BUT WAIT! Looking that episode up reminded me I also listened to this phenomenal interview with Adina Rubin about strength training. I've been so tired of being tired and achy, and so conflicted as to whether or not to workout in this state. This episode on Strength Training for Happy Hormones convinced me it's worth starting to build up my strength again becuase being weak is just as stressful as being tired is, especially when you struggle with hypermobility like I do!
What I'm cooking
Just last night my husband helped me made this Sheet Pan Teriyaki Meatball dinner (he helps with dinner on the weekend and I love it). This wasn't nearly as quick and simple as I like sheet pan meals to be, but it was DELICIOUS and we will definitely eat it agian.
What I'm feeding my kids
Last year, we discovered this apple pie filling recipe that you cook and then freeze in batches so you can eat applie cobbler or pie all winter long! We just made our third batch this fall. I use arrowroot instead of cornstarch.
Parting thoughts
I've started including affiliate links at the bottom of my montly email. I have such mixed thoughts about appearaing sales-y, but the fact is that these are companies I have purchased from (and still do, with my own money) for years so *I* approached *them* for affiliate links so you can try my favorite things at a discount, too.
That being said, I wanted you to know that Perfect Supplements is starting their holiday sale at 7pm Monday night. It runs through November 3 and it includes 25% off of any of their Perfect brand products! We use their collagen, gelatin, immunity mushroom blend, Vitamin C powder, and desiccated beef liver regularly and I love their transparency and quality. Every product has their quality testing available per batch right on the page so you know there's no contamination, heavy metals, glyphosate, etc. If you use code HAPPYMAMA10, you get an *additional* 10% off Perfect brand products AND anything else in your cart (they also sell Smidge magnesium, Rosita cod liver oil, and more).
