Forever Edgington - May 2024
Running away from the algorithm and into your inboxes.
Welcome back to the Forever Edgington newsletter! It’s been a beautiful, spring month to share with friends and family. A little bit of travel and a lot of smiles. New habits made and grey hairs discovered (yes, I’m excited about it)!
1. What’s New?
Well, I have some heavenly photos to show of our partial eclipse here in Nashville on April 8. This was taken outside our apartment. Just look at the clouds - it’s like a scene from Hercules!
We traveled to Chattanooga for a weekend to visit the Maengs and Birds. We enjoyed great food, conversation and acting like a kid. I flew my first kite and rode on an antique merry-go-round. & We couldn’t have asked for better weather.
2. Work it, Girl!
Work has been very fulfilling. I am focusing heavily on our company’s regulatory compliance and third-party risk work - story of my 2024 life. Building a program from scratch is hard, but I think the work is finally paying off. Finally, I am getting buy in from my leadership to go spend some money and begin the hiring process for another analyst!
Octavio is learning exponentially, getting thrown into the deep end with the various contracts he’s working on. His law license is priceless for his work, no doubt!
Both of us are enjoying our work/life balance. I work from home Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays. Octavio works from home on Friday. Brody loves having us home more often these days.
3. Faith, Prayer & Spirituality
This month, Octavio and I participated in a FOCUS Alum retreat with a key focus (ha) on friendship. It included a couple talks from spiritual leaders in the Diocese, while also offering adoration, reflection, group discussion, and confession.
My biggest takeaways from the weekend were the importance of sharing joy with those around me and remembering my personal gift of radical availability.
I have included some reflections below, which you may find helpful in your own prayer life:
RADICAL AVAILABILITY. I have a heart available…
to break
to hurt
to love
to share
to sacrifice
to grow
to change
to rest
I am capable of giving my heart in a radical way to God, my spouse, my family and my community. It requires a closeness with God to remain in this confidence and certainty. When I drift away from God, my heart loses its availability.
Another interesting reflection from the retreat:
I consider how Jesus is not enough for me. I am restless, never satisfied. I see that even if I pursue the things I desire, even if it were God to grant my every wish, it wouldn’t be enough. What I really desire is God, and only God. Nothing else makes sense and nothing ever seems to meet my expectations on their own.
It’s only when I sit with Jesus do I feel peace and confidence and purpose and joy and rest. These are all things that God promises us. So how can I find contentment in Jesus being enough…
4. Goals & Resolutions
In an effort of solidarity with Octavio, I am now getting up at 5am to go to the gym at the same time he does on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
To be continued the fruits of our hard work…
5. Health & Wellness
After 7 years, I started running again!
I’ve been waking up at 6am to run with Rueben on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Funny enough, Rueben works out with Octavio on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Then he runs with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
I am following the Zone 2 methodology for my cardio, and it is tough. HOWEVER, I am going to be such an evangelist for running this way, because I see how I have completely overdone it and overworked myself in my past exercises. Zone 2 allows me to find the joy in pushing myself (but not too much). Very helpful on this stubborn, stressed, PCOS-filled body.
No running goals yet - just learning how to love the activity again.
6. What’s for Dinner?
Here I thought I’d share with you our Friday and Saturday meals in Chattanooga. It was Julie who made us homemade Vietnamese spring rolls, where we got to choose our own ingredients! Check out this table spread:
We also enjoyed a hot dog food truck, where I got myself a Chicago-styled dog. So tasty and filling!
7. Good Reads
Books Completed in 2024: 5
Books Completed in April:
This Tender Land (William Kent Krueger)- A historical fiction story about a vagabond group of orphans running away from an Indian Training School during the Great Depression and sailing down the Mississippi to St. Louis. Five stars!
Books in Progress:
Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
The Pilgrimage (Paulo Coelho)
How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America (Clint Smith)
Billion Dollar Whale: The Man who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood and the World (Tom Wright & Bradley Hope)
Remember I always add suggested books to my Goodreads account! Let me know if there are any I should add.
8. Songs on Repeat
This April, I’ve been on a 2000’s R&B/Pop binge, as well as listening to my (2016) Mindy’s Summer Favorites playlist. I’ve linked my most played playlists here and here! I also made my annual pilgrimage to lower Broadway. Sometimes, a girl just needs to get her 10,000 steps on the dance floor!
8. On the Calendar
MAY
MAY 3 - 1st Birthday Party for a wee little friend
MAY 4 - Morning of Service with St. Vincent De Paul ministry
MAY 4 - “It’s Still Easter” Easter Party
MAY 11 - 2nd Birthday Party & PhD Celebration (for different people!)
MAY 24-25 - Baby Shower in Knoxville
MAY 27 - Memorial Day
As always, don’t be shy to make plans! And let us know if you’ll be stopping through town - we never turn down an opportunity to host.
Feel free to unsubscribe at any time! (But I hope you'll stay)