Category: Moments and Musings

Posted in Moments and Musings

February 2025

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

When I started out with this idea of posting a monthly life update, I didn’t mean to be so inconsistent. However, here I am, almost four months later, and just now finding time to write again.

I’m not going to try to backtrack too much. My family enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving and a quiet, comfortable Christmas. 2024 ended with a bang as I was involved in my first car wreck since my early twenties. I spent most of January dealing with the fall out of that.

God is so very faithful! Even when we are not. I still feel so undeserving of his total provision and yet, this car accident is proof of that very thing. Provision! I spoke it out immediately. I believed it immediately. God has surpassed by expectations.

And He’s not done yet! There is still more to come!!

At the beginning of February, I held a baby shower for my baby girl and her husband. My home filled to overflowing with so many folks who came out to celebrate. Of course, my anxiety and perfectionism kicked in causing me several panicky moments. (Oh, when will I ever learn!) My sister and niece came up from Tennessee and it was such a blessing to have them here! I love it when we can be together!

Emilie and Ben were blessed multiple times over with so many gifts. My sister, who has organized corporate parties, helped me with the food. My stepmom brought a lovely fruit tray, and we had perfect weather. What a wonderful day for them!

We finally got some winter weather in the form of about 4 inches of snow and a couple ice “events”. I love snow but I love it most on the weekends when I don’t have to go out anywhere. As a Midwest girl, born and raised, I know how to drive in the snow and I’m not afraid. However, I don’t like others who drive in any bad weather like they’re in a hurry to meet Jesus. It doesn’t help that I’m also still suffering from some residual trauma from my accident so driving has its challenging moments on dry pavement, let alone in slippery conditions.  

I purchased a new car – I had to, really, as my other car was totaled. But I’m loving my new car, and I plan to pay her off and drive her until bits and pieces are falling out behind me. She’s a 2022 Hyundai Sonata and she’s a comfort car! Definitely one of the most luxurious cars I’ve ever owned so I’m very happy with her. Again, God’s perfect provision!

On a financial note, I’ve waged war against my debt. I don’t have a lot of it but what I do have, I’ve decided to put as much as I can towards getting it paid off. I’ve been using Dave Ramsey’s snowball method and already have paid off 2 credit cards! I have one more to go and then a small personal loan (I know, it’s a complete no-no!). Money has been on my mind lately as I’ve put some big goals into place. While praying about it, I felt God challenge me to go big in my giving and go even bigger in my faith.

So, God told me to ask BIG. And I did. I’m 56 years old. I want to retire when I’m supposed to and when I do, I want the house that I just bought last year to be completely paid off. I want to own nothing to no one. No house mortgage. No car payment. I want to be completely debt free by the time I retire.

Creatively, I struggled just a wee bit. I have way too many incomplete projects and more ideas and plans than I can shake a stick at. I also have a deficit of knowledge where some much-needed technology is concerned (like Procreate and learning to read crochet patterns). I allowed it to all bash me about mentally and put me in a bit of a funk. So, I took a weekend off from crafting, put my phone down (no Pinterest) and did some reading. I haven’t spent a weekend with a book in a really long time. It felt really good to get back into the old groove and even better not having a crochet needle in my hand, if only for a little while.

I read The Crow Trap, which is the first of the Vera Stanhope books by Ann Cleeves. It’s a long read as Ann doesn’t rush when introducing her characters. In fact, the character of Vera Stanhope isn’t fully realized until you’re almost halfway through the book. It was very good and, after finishing that, quickly picked up the next one in the series called Telling Tales. Again, it didn’t take me long to get through it. All in all, I was pleased to have my reading mojo back.

I can’t tell what helped me creatively more, reading or not spinning through Pinterest. I think I might give myself a social media break for lent and just refocus a bit. More God. More Word. More ideas. More finishing what I started. That’s a big goal for me for 2025. I don’t mind having a few projects going at once, but I have many more than that at the moment and it’s starting to grate against my anxiety. Too many tabs are open and I need to close a few.

After another long really cold snap, we’re finally warming up. It’s giving me Spring vibes in a huge way. This is the time of year when I count down to when the clocks turn back, and I wait for the snow to melt, revealing an ugly brown carpet of mud and dead grass. Spring is an ugly time of year as far as I’m concerned. However, I’m ready to put away the heavy coats, scarves, hats and gloves in favor of rain jackets, umbrellas and Wellingtons. It’s time to come out of hibernation, get out in the sunshine and take some walks. Already, I’ve noticed new blooms on the trees and increased birdsong. I can’t wait to sit outside and soak it all up.

February ended on a super high note! And you can read all about it here! I’m absolutely in love! God is so very good. And this next season of my life is about to be the best yet!

Photo courtesy of Glen Carrie via Unsplash.com

Posted in Moments and Musings

October, 2024

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

October has been a crazy month. Just like the weather, which has been up and down and all around, so has life.

I did manage to get away for a short trip to Tennessee to see my sister and her family. No matter how long or short, it’s never enough time. There’s always so much I want to share with them. Cook for them. Make for them. Show them. And it’s never enough of anything. I always leave feeling fulfilled and yet wanting more.

Tennessee was beautiful and I loved seeing my sisters’ house. The weather was perfect, and I really enjoyed sitting in her enclosed back patio watching the dogs play. Always such a treat and a very relaxing mini getaway.

The drive down and back was actually quite delightful. I’m not a fan of long drives but my sister blessed me by letting me take her Tucson. I must admit, it’s a sweet ride. There was plenty of room for Shelby and I and all our stuff. All the hum dings and doo dads a car can have. I chose an audio book for the drive there and back since I knew Shelby would immerse herself in Shelbyville via her ear buds.

In other news, I turned 56 this month so happy birthday to me!

It’s still very weird being on this side of 50 years old. I don’t feel like I’m in my 50s most days. I still feel young. I still dream about the future and what I want to be when I grow up. I still make big plans at a time when most people are settling into what will be for the rest of their lives. That’s just not me. I’m still perusing the college websites in the off chance I want to finish my associate degree. I still feel like I have my whole life ahead of me.

My first born also celebrated turning 27 years old.

We went to Olive Garden for dinner the following Friday where she ate her fill of salad and pasta. I love this girl beyond words. I love her fierce loyalty to her family. I love the way she does anything her aunts ask her to do. I love the relationship she has with them. She does well with her little life. She doesn’t desire to do anything other than work and play any one of her video games. She’s one of the smartest people I know and mixes wisdom with common sense easily. She makes my life sparkle.

Autumn has finally arrived with all it’s wonder and vibrant colors! This is my favorite time of the year! The first frost. The chill. The crispness. The smell of fireplaces. Pulling out the sweaters and leggings and other comfy clothing. It’s all so very magical. I love getting the blankets out, giving them a good wash, and laying them out on the sofa. Books full of magic and folklore appear on coffee tables and the most common indoor smell is cinnamon. I love it all!

Two other important events happened.

The first one is Shelby and I were able to get out early to vote. I’m so ridiculous because it is just voting but I always leave the polling place feeling proud and hopeful. If my choice doesn’t win, I’ll not despair. It’s not about Trump or Harris anyway; it’s all about Jesus and no president-elect can change or affect the plans God has for me. Jesus is still King and His Kingdom has no end.

The other event was substantially less nationally important however, to Shelby, it was critical to the success of the Halloween season. And that was pumpkin carving! I haven’t carved a pumpkin since the girls were little and my mom was alive. She made those times so special, making her wonderful vegetable soup and homemade biscuit rolls. There would be apple tarts for dessert, and she would help Shelby clean and roast the pumpkin seeds for a snack later on.

Here’s how it started….

….and here’s how it went…

We knew the second we put them outside that they would become food for the local squirrel council and the chipmunk population of Orland Park. We weren’t disappointed.

As for my monthly goals, I did pretty well. I lost another 6 lbs., bringing my total to 14, which isn’t too bad. I also did the majority of my Christmas shopping and came in way under budget. I’ve planned out the rest of the year crochet-wise, including finishing this huge monster of a blanket that’s now on my bed.

Yes, October, you were wonderful, and I thank you!

Posted in Moments and Musings

August 2024

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Happy September! I don’t know about you but I’m so ready to see the end of summer. I know the official start of fall isn’t until September 21, but I tend to celebrate the meteorological calendar a bit more. It just makes more sense to me.

That means Fall is here!!

I have to tell you; out of all the seasons, summer is my least favorite. As a 55-year-old woman living in the heart of her menopause years, the heat and I are not friends. The idea of walking outside and breathing in water is not fun. I’m not a fan of the oppressiveness high humidity lends to a hot day. August always feels like it’s the hottest month of the year for no good reason other than just to be August.

You may have guessed by now – August is my least favorite month. I’m way too antsy for Fall. Around halfway through the month, I suddenly get a craving for pumpkin flavored things. I want to wear boots and scarves and curl up in oversized thick sweaters on a rainy day.

William Faulkner said:

“Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar.”

That pretty much sums up my general emotional state except the air was not thin. It was very hot and humid with heat indexes up to 115 degrees. But it was nostalgic, in a way.

I feel like I’ve come full circle somehow. When my mom was alive, my girls and I would join her every Saturday evening for Mass at St. Gilbert’s church. Then afterwards, we always went to a neighborhood restaurant for dinner. Living out my faith beside my mom was very special to me, especially during the holidays.

Living so close to my dad and stepmom, I’ve started to attend Saturday night Mass with them along with my sister and occasionally my daughter, Shelby. Afterwards, we find a local restaurant and enjoy a meal together. It’s amazing how much comes back to me and how much of my Catholic faith never left. I feel my mom sharing this with me in a way and I absolutely love how much it means to my 91 year old Dad to have his kids and grandkids attending with him. It’s changed me.

Of course, I will always love my other church, and I watch the recordings of services during the week online but being with my dad and sharing this with him is something I know I’ll remember and cherish long after he’s in the arms of Jesus.

As I stated earlier, August is not my favorite month. Covid visited me at the beginning of the month, so that was fun. I felt like death warmed over and the congestion was just great (insert sarcasm). Mucinex was a huge life saver for me as was my sister who, during her time off work, took my daughter to work and picked her up for me so I could get as much rest as possible. She also took care of my dog so…huge shout out thanks to Kathleen! She was the MVP of my covid week. I joked that I went back to Mass and came home with Covid but I’m not too sure people thought that funny, so I stopped. It must have just been a coincidence that the first time I went to Mass since my mom’s passing and the next day, I started feeling ill.

I also stayed down here in my room in the basement for a whole week which was a very hot week at that. Thankfully, as my fever broke, so did the weather and it was total joy to be back in the living room with my family.

Just a quick note. I was very careful to stay away from my family as much as possible however, I would do that regardless of whether it was covid or a simple cold. We all lead busy lives and a huge part of that includes my 91-year-old dad, who doesn’t need to get sick. Plus, being sick sucks and I’m not interested in spreading it around. There are more people living with me now, so I felt it best to be prudent.

But enough of that! I’m much better now, Praise God!

August did bring me the sweetest news ever.

I am going to be a grandma!!

Yes, my daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child in March 2025. I’m beyond thrilled and so very excited for them. Emilie is truly living the life she’s prayed for all her life, and I am so thankful to God for all the blessings pouring out on them. They also bought their first house! God is just so good.

It’s times like this when I wish my mom was still here. Of course, I always wish for her and always will. Since she died, everything good that happens, every joyful moment, is always tainted with a tiny particle of grief and longing. I imagine it always will be.

Nevertheless, this baby is already a blessing and will be the first of a new generation in our family. I can’t wait to meet him or her! I can’t wait to be “Grammy”! Now more than ever, I need to get serious about getting into shape. I want no restrictions on the number of activities I can do with my grandbabies. I want to do it all with them!

Which brings us to the goal-setting part of this gab fest. I love setting goals! I love to plan out what I want to do with my life. I love to write it down on a list and then cross off tasks as I complete them. Therefore, here’s some goals I have going into September.

Be content. I love my new home so much. It’s not perfect. It doesn’t have to be. This house has brought me the best of both worlds. I can be alone, if I want some alone time. Or I can be with people. Before moving here, I decided living alone was really not for me.  

Now, I’m not talking about being in a relationship. I’m NOT relationship material. I’m not interested. I’m way too old and romance isn’t really my strong suit, so I steer clear. If I want romance in my life, I’m more than happy to grab a mug of tea and embrace the couch life while watching the Hallmark channel. There, I can stream romance at any time of the year and in any season.

Prioritize my health. I’m not joining any diet culture or keeping track of everything I eat. That really only stresses me out which leads to more unhealthy eating. Just taking longer and longer walks as the days grow cold. Encouraging those in my household to do the same. Focus more on portions than the actual contents of my plate. Forgive myself for bad food moments.

Be a better steward of my money. The closer I get to 65, the more I realize that I do want to experience some retirement years before going home to Jesus. I want to crochet, embroider, travel all over, and be at my grandbabies’ beck and call. That’s my plan. Some changes I’m committing myself to make may seem small, but everyone has to start somewhere.

For example, I’ve been able to cancel some streaming services and started using my library more. Hoopla is a wonderful app and much of what I like to watch is available for free almost anytime I want.

Coffee is a huge expense for me. Not only do I like all the frou-frou coffees, but I also tend to buy a pastry to go with it. Thanks to the wonder of Pinterest, I’ve found some easy recipes I want to try. I also discovered a few cool techniques. That, combined with the fact that Shelby used to work for Starbucks and knows several tips and tricks herself, should help save money.

Finally, I’m declaring a yarn buying ban in September. We’ll see if I actually meet this goal. I have so much yarn!!

Increase my skill as an artist. Artist! I choke on that word! I still cannot define myself as an artist of any kind since I’ve never really created anything original. I do want to be praying on that, though. I know there’s a purpose for this desire to create something. I want to be a blessing and am actively seeking opportunities.

Enhance my personal sense of style. Working from home so much really has put a huge dent in my sense of fashion. I have no idea what I like anymore and would like to put more of an effort into dressing up more for Mass, other church events and even going out to Friday night dinners.

For far too long, I’ve looked in the mirror only to see a fat, frumpy, middle-aged woman looking back. I’m ready to change that. I see plus-sized women all around me who are beautiful having a strong sense of classical fashion and I want in on it. I’ve always prided myself on being a Walmart girl and you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that when that’s all your budget allows. At this time of my life, I want a little more. I want to make quality purchases on quality clothing that will carry me into my grandma years. I want to be beautiful, and I want clothes that make me feel beautiful.

Take one Pinterest idea and make it a reality. While it’s fun to scroll through Pinterest and pin idea after idea, I find doing too much of it makes me restless. I want to be a doer, not just a pinner. I want to make my dreams a reality even if it is just something decorative to hang on a wall.

Well, the coffee pot is empty now as is my coffee mug. I hope you enjoyed this first gab session! Maybe you have a cool coffee recipe or a crochet pattern. Feel free to drop me a note and share anything that’s on your heart. Prayer requests included. I’m happy to be praying with you and for you for anything you may be believing God for.

Happy September!

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

    Posted in Moments and Musings

    My top 5 Favorite Starbucks Drinks

    Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

    It’s that time of the year again. Starbucks has dropped their pumpkin menu today and from now until the end of the year, we will all be living our lives based on the Starbucks menu. Pumpkin spice everything will rule the day until they drop their holiday menu at which time everything will transition from pumpkin to peppermint. This will go on until the end of the year when we will all return to our regularly scheduled daily lives, broke from all the money we’ve given to the Starbucks corporation and sad to be drinking our free, homemade, boring coffees.

    That being said, I thought I’d use this commemorative day to share my top 5 favorite Starbucks drinks, from my least favorite to my “usual”.

    5. London Fog Latte (hot) – I reduce the pumps of vanilla syrup from 4 to 1 for a grande. I am a huge, huge fan of Earl Grey tea and just love the pairing of a milky tea and a latte.

    4. Mint Majesty Tea (hot) – This is a must-have when I’m sick. There’s something about this specific mint tea that soothes my sinuses and just makes me feel like all is well in the world when I don’t feel well. I take this one black. It needs nothing.

    3. Flat White (hot) – No modifications needed for this one. It’s light and while the whole milk may add calories, it also adds sweetness so nothing else is necessary.

    2. Caffe Latte (hot) – The only change I make to this I substitute soy milk for regular milk. Again, this is all about adding a bit of sweetness without adding any sugar. No syrups or sweetener. The soy is plenty sweet for me.

    1. Chocolate Cream Cold Brew – I use less ice (to get more drink). I add extra chocolate cream because Starbucks makes their own and it’s so delicious! And, of course, I reduce the number of pumps of vanilla from 2 to about half of one (if I can get away with it). I also will add a splash of milk to add a bit of sweetness without adding a bunch of sugar.

    Now, you may have noticed there’s no pumpkin anything on here at all. I’m really not a fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes. I know, I know! Gasp! Shock! Horror! But I’m not. Their spice blend is way too spicy and tends to burn my throat and is way too sweet no matter how little I put in. I don’t like my coffee or tea overly sweet. You may have noticed I modify the sugar right out of my favorites listed above.

    Even though I have my favorites, I will take my life in my hands and say this; If you have to make multiple changes just to enjoy your coffee, maybe it’s time for a new coffee place. After all, it’s just coffee; it’s not who you are as a person. It’s not a life-altering moment. IT’S JUST COFFEE. People take the simple joys way too seriously and consider it a disparagement against their person should a barista get confused with multiple modifications. If you’re that picky about your coffee, perhaps you should spend some time on Pinterest and figure out how to make your own. You’ll probably save some money in the process.

    I’m going to enjoy my chocolate cream cold brew now. Don’t forget to let me know what your favorite coffee is! Maybe, it’s not even Starbucks! (Say what???)

      Photo by Madeline Liu on Unsplash