Jan&Feb in review in Musings

—The biggest news is—I’m going to be an aunt! My brothers wife is due in September. I’m so excited. She’s been really really sick. I hope it goes away for her and she doesn’t end up having hypermesis. She’s most likely going to take some time off teaching after finishing this year so hopefully we will get to spend a lot more time together which will be fun. We are very different but we get along pretty well.

—I got in a little bit of an argument (all over text/social media) with one of my other sisters in law (Nathan’s sister). I posted about my opinions on diet culture and shared some stuff about how detox teas are a scam. Well she’s in an MLM that promotes all that garbage. So she took what I was sharing as a diss against her. Which it wasn’t directly. I ended up telling her that I don’t support her company or any diet company but I love her and I’m glad she’s happy. So we are fine and just have to agree to disagree.

—I have gone down the rabbit hole of anti-MLM reddoric. I listened to the podcast The Dream. I joined the Facebook group “Sounds like MLM but okay” and the subreddit anti-MLM. It’s fascinating, sad, and shocking. I’m covert about it right now since SIL is in one. But I’d really encourage you to read some of these peoples stories. Losing money, strained friendship, cult like behavior. I’ve been doing some research and from the products my SIL shares on social media that she uses just for herself, she’s spending $200-$300 a month even with her discount and I seriously doubt she’s making back enough per month to cover it. And this doesn’t count the money she’s spending in fees and parties etc. It’s sad how delusional people get about it too. She thinks this stuff is “higher quality” when it really isn’t and is for sure not worth the price.

—I’m happy to say my relationship with food and my body are improving all the time. It’s not easy. I’ve always hated my body for one reason or another. I’m too short. Stretch marks. Muscles aren’t toned. Stomach is too big. Etc etc. But lately I have been focusing so much more on how my body FEELS and not how it looks. My personal goals are to have 5 servings of fruits/veggies a day. Exercise 5 days a week. Drink 5 big glasses of water a day. But if I don’t always get there I don’t and I’ve very forgiving of myself.

—I failed at getting to the dentist. Mostly because there was an error with our dental insurance that we still haven’t worked out. Once it’s figured out we will all be going.

—Instead of focusing on mental growth, I think I’m focusing more on parenting in March and April for my happiness project . Mostly because I’ve discovered some new parenting IG accounts and other methods I’m wanting to try out. I’ll make a separate entry about this.

—I made a new friend! This technically happened the beginning of March but I originally reached out in February. She’s the wife of our music minister. She’s younger than me by several years. Which made me feel intimated to reach out to her for some reason? She’s still in college and graduating in May. But she’s pregnant—due in September and I figured she could use some support and I have been praying for new friends. We had coffee and it was SO great! The conversation was easy and we were both very open with each other. Which is the kind of friendship I’ve been desiring. She texted me after thanking me for inviting her and hoping we can get together again soon. So yay! Making friends as an adult is so hard for some reason. At least it has been for me.

—Everyone in my house had the flu except for me. No idea how or why I avoided it. Nathan is back at work today and Leah and Alex both have lingering coughs but are otherwise okay. Spring cannot get here soon enough.