1. Alexander Hamilton
I mean, come on...he's totally dreamy, right? Admit it! 😍
I can't really explain why I am so obsessed (yes, this has crossed over from plain interest to a full-blown obsession) with Alexander Hamilton. At the recommendation of a friend, I listened to some of the songs from the musical Hamilton last year. I really liked what I heard, but didn't really think much of it. Then before Christmas I heard about this book series by Melissa de la Cruz called Alex and Eliza. It's a young adult/historical fiction series that sounded interesting, so I ordered it for the high school library. The ABSOLUTELY GREATEST thing about being a librarian is that I get first shot at all the new books that come in. I try to read most of what I put out on the shelves anyway, just so I can know the content and make recommendations to the students and teachers. So I took home Alex and Eliza, as well as the second book in the series Love & War. So began my love affair with Alexander Hamilton. I could not put the books down. I immediately downloaded the entire album of Hamilton the musical and started playing it on repeat. I am pretty sure my boys can sing the entire musical as much as I have had it playing. I told everyone who I ran into about this series. When I finished reading the two books (the third in the series doesn't come out till April), I went online and read everything I could about Alexander and Eliza. You know how drug addicts have withdrawal symptoms after quitting drugs? Yeah, that was me. I absolutely could not stop thinking about, reading about, and talking about Alexander Hamilton. I found another historical fiction book on Amazon called My Dear Hamilton, and ordered it immediately. Isn't the cover just beautiful?
I DEVOURED it. When I was finished with that, I still couldn't stop. I ordered another book called The Hamilton Affair.
One of my friends said, "I feel like I need to read about Alexander Hamilton because you talk about him so much." :) So really I am educating my friends, right? There is something good about my obsession. My sister asked me, "What's so great about Hamilton?" Ten minutes later she interrupted me and said, "I am sorry that I asked." 😂 The musical comes to the Orpheum Theater in Omaha in September, and I have been
2. Podcasts
This past year, I have become a podcast junkie. I received Airpods for Christmas (another one of the things that I love lately), and I have them in whenever I am doing busywork. My favorite podcasts are Christian ones, especially ones that focus on marriage and family. Right now I am listening to: Focus on the Family, The Naked Marriage, For the Love with Jen Hatmaker, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, and The Fierce Marriage. These podcasts are so inspiring. I also have been reading and watching videos of Chris Stefanick (Real Life Catholic). Chris has a podcast, but hasn't released a new one since 2017. However, he posts videos through social media or on You Tube that you can watch. He's amazing!!! I am SO EXCITED to see him in May when he comes to Nebraska to speak. My friend, Jessica, saw him in Kansas last fall and had him autograph his book for me. She gave it to me for Christmas, and I nearly cried. It was the best gift ever!!
I am helping teach 5th-6th grade CCD this year, since I am in Ewing and can be there by 4:00 now. We use some of Chris's videos in our lessons. He has such a down-to-earth way of wording things so that it completely makes sense in your life. I just adore him!
3. Christian Music
I have listened to Christian music for years, but lately it is all I want to listen to, with the exception of music from Hamilton. Whenever we get in the van to go somewhere, it's a fight to control the radio. We usually alternate turns, so the boys can listen to their rap/pop music on the way there and then we listen to The Message on the way home. The boys usually groan, but lately I have caught Gavin switching over the The Message if we get a Favorites alert on the screen that For King and Country is on. He would NEVER in a million years admit it, but I think he likes For King and Country. Some friends and I got tickets to their concert in Lincoln in August, and he was disappointed that he wasn't going along. I also love Matthew West and Lauren Daigle. Matthew West is going to be in Norfolk this summer at the Christian Cross Festival, so I am hoping I can take the boys.
I read a book that talked about how you really need to look at what you surround yourself with if you want to lead a Christian life: people, music, movies/TV, books, etc... If you want God at the forefront of your life, you need to surround yourself with things that honor Him. That really resonated with me. Now don't get me wrong, I still like an occasional action movie or steamy book, but I am much more conscience about what my family is exposed to. I am also spending more time with friends who value family and live their lives with God as the center. I have already talked about my Bible Study group and the Mom Set Free study that we are working through. The women in my group all have kids around my boys' ages, so our children are becoming friends too, which is wonderful since they aren't in the same schools. It's kind of a crazy story how God brought us all together, but I won't go into that in this post. I will just say that I am so blessed to have these women in my life. It's hard to imagine my life without them now.
4. Morning Time
A few summers ago I read the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.
I became very disciplined about getting up early before anyone else is awake. Elrod has specific things that he recommends doing during The Miracle Morning. At one time, I followed his routine, but as time went on, I developed my own routine that fulfills me. 1) Pray, 2) Devotion, 3) Read--usually something nonfiction or personal development, 4) Workout, and 5) Plan for my day. Life happens, and my discipline has wavered at times since I started. Sometimes I sleep in. Sometimes I don't make this morning time a priority, which means I don't make myself a priority. Here's the thing...I feel better in all areas of my life when I have that morning time to myself. Lately, I started getting back into my morning routine. When I get up early and do my morning routine, it's amazing how energized, positive, patient, and relaxed and calm I feel as I begin my busy day. I think my husband and children would agree that I am a better wife, mom, and person when have my morning time to myself.
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