writing
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31 days: a writing project.
Welcome to 31 Days! The above graphic is now in our blog sidebar, and you can click it any time for the list of posts. I’ll update it as the posts go live. day 1: why purposeful simplicity? day 2: the outside noise of purposeless busyness day 3: a good thing turns bad day 4: the best advice day 6: living within my purpose day 7: the outside noise of media day 8: podcasts day 9: the inside noise of pleasing people day 10: the inside noise of performance day 11: only in the gospel day 12: home study day 13: church noise day 14: godly grief day 15: take…
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writing challenge.
People have spoken to me about being a writer ever since I was 11 years old. My great-uncle Dave was a book editor and one day in his house we stood next to a table overflowing with stacks of manuscripts, and he grasped my hands in his huge, loving, trembly ones and said, “Julie, you need to write every single day. Just a little bit. Just write.” I listened to him, not because I wanted to make something outstanding out of my writing, but just because I loved to do it. That’s how it’s been for me all these years. I love to write. And I’ve had help along the…
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subscribe to our blog.
For those have been asking about how to have blog posts emailed to you, thanks a ton for your patience. Thanks to help from our friend Paul you now have the option to subscribe to our blog. Here’s how to do it: 1. Enter your email address in the box on the top right of our blog, 2. You’ll receive an email from FeedBurner asking you to confirm your subscription request (if you don’t see the email check your junk folder), 3. Click on the link in the email, and 4. You’ll receive our new blog posts in your inbox. Happy reading!
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baby reading.
I’ve been working away, in fits and starts, at my adoption reading this summer. After our home study, I fully intend to skim through Secrets of the Baby Whisperer again — my go-to book on newborns and scheduling with my first two kids. And when the baby comes, whenever that is, I’ll dig into What to Expect the First Year. But my favorite books to read when expecting a baby are Anne Lamott’s memoirs. I believe David’s aunt recommended Operating Instructions when I was pregnant with Judah. It was the middle of summer when I first read it; we’d just moved 600 miles north to Lititz, Pennsylvania, for David to start seminary, and I was 7 months pregnant.…
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the blog isn’t real life.
I’ve been scrolling back through our blog, grinning at glossy photos of my kids enjoying spring and our evolving backyard and peaceful family moments from Easter. And with my head full of all of these memories, I want to take the time to tell you something which you may forget: the blog isn’t real life. Nope, this blog is edited life — just a small snapshot of the living, breathing, messy thing that is the Gentino family. It may seem self-evident, but dig a bit deeper with me: most of us need to be reminded of this fact from time to time. Lately I can tell I’m getting older because I’m ceasing to think other people’s…
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03.13.14.
We spent four quiet, peaceful days at the top of a mountain this week. A friend offered us his family’s mountain home and we’ve had this little trip planned for a couple months. David and I didn’t realize how badly we needed a getaway until Monday morning. We were so tired and our heads were spinning with a whole lot of things to process from the last few weeks. The week was very, very restful. It was over 70 degrees when we arrived Monday afternoon and there was snow today when we left. Bizarre. The four of us slept a lot, talked, read books, watched the Food Network, hiked and…
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welcome 2014 and daily photo.
I got a new camera lens for Christmas which I’m really excited about. The last couple of years I’ve been focusing on writing here on the blog and this year I want to grow in taking better photos. So a photographer friend recommended that I take a photo a day as a way to practice. She does it year-round but since I’m not always great at finishing projects I start, I decided my goal will be to post a daily photo through the month of January. Hopefully I’ll keep up with writing too. Several of you have said you like the practical contentment/simple life posts and someone requested that I…
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golden birthday.
Last year was a big year for me: the big 3-0. So I compiled a blog post of “30 things I’m thankful for on my 30th birthday.” Well lo and behold, this year’s also a big day: my golden birthday. This year I’m thirty-one on the thirty-first! So to commemorate this once-in-my-lifetime birthday, I give you “31 things I’m thankful for on my 31st birthday”: 1. I woke up on this birthday headache-free and cough-free 2. It’s been seven months since I’ve taken antibiotics 2. There’s plenty of energy to get out of bed each morning and face the whole day 3. I’m able to do all of the glorious,…
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comments, take two.
I’ve had a couple people tell me they want to leave comments on the blog, but feel intimidated. So I’m here to say: please don’t be intimidated! I’m thrilled to hear from you–no matter what you say! But even so, I removed the “recent comments” link from the sidebar, just in case you don’t want your name paraded for all to see (and by all, I mean my mom and David’s mom). Also I feel completely silly and presumptuous, speaking about theoretical comments, but I also want you to know that if you’re not a “blog comment-er,” that is also completely okay with me! I love hearing from you in…
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comments.
We changed the format of blog comments because we were getting tons of spam. Now you can leave a comment when signed into your Facebook account, or leave a comment by entering your email address. Sorry for the extra step, but it’s a way to keep our blog public and also protect it from spam. I leave you with a photo of some cute kids: