Here we go, third Monday in a row. The weekend zoomed past (again). Monica is getting progressively louder, it is adorable and distracting. Also a little tough on virtual meetings, but her excitement cannot be contained.

I have to say, I am so grateful for weekends. The quality time with my little family is so so valuable. We had quite a peaceful one that included one errand and one social event (the kind that ended early…my favorite). We also watched the Pink Panther (the Steve Martin version) and man, did it feel good to laugh. I know it’s slapstick humor, but I can’t help myself.

I’m still trying to get back into a routine after sickness. There’s a lingering fatigue that has made getting up early a little out of reach. I’m hoping this week I’ll get back to feeling 100%.

1. Artwork.

For our anniversary, my husband got me this piece of art. I’m actually really excited about it. I think it is a beautiful, thought-provoking piece that marries the human and divine in a somewhat humorous way. I can’t wait to hang it up in the study.

2. Matt Walsh

I’ve liked him for a few years now, his sarcastic sense humor speaks to my edgy heart. This past week he made a lot of headlines because of some unpopular comments that got him removed from Twitter. It takes courage to speak truth, especially in the public eye, but he does it unapologetically and I am grateful.

3. After-Action Report

Since we’ve gotten married, Stephen and I have been in the habit of doing an ‘after-action’ report every Sunday. In it, we talk about what went wrong and what went well in the past week, and what we want to work on in the upcoming one. This includes the virtues we want to work on, the habits we want to develop and the ways we want to grow as a couple. It’s a great opportunity to visit some tough topics, but especially to encourage each other in our personal growth. A virtuous couple= a happy couple.

4. Jalapeño Dip

Over the past few weeks we ended up with a lot of sour cream in our house. I was at a loss for what to do with it until my mother-in-law shared a jalapeño dip with me which is just sour cream, chopped up jalapeños and spices to taste (onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika and cumin). It is so easy and tasty to eat with chopped up bell peppers and carrots.

5. Temperance

A virtue I’ve been wanting to learn more about for a while now is temperance (moderation/self-restraint). I finally found it in the Summa Theologica (a theological treatise written by St. Thomas Aquinas) and I’m looking forward to reading what he has to say about it. For some reason, I associate temperance with being a strong, holy woman—which is what I want to be. I’m excited to learn more about this virtue and hopefully find ways to put it into practice, too.

What are you excited about this week?

Cheers,

Miranda