Welcome to What We Learned, a regular practice we engage in together as we learn the value of looking back before moving forward.
No lesson is too small to share in this space, as you will quickly see when you read my list. This post includes affiliate links, helping me to run this fine establishment at no cost to you.
Here are 5 things I learned in November:
1. I have a new favorite way to start my week.
Monday prayers.
I’ve been writing short blessings on Saturdays for the blog for four years. But in November I decided to do three things differently: write them as prayers, make them a little bit longer, and share them on Mondays instead of on Saturdays.
As it turns out, this is now my favorite way to start the week – to write a prayer for us to share as a community.
In fact, I’ve been enjoying this new practice so much that I forgot yesterday (Monday) was the last day of November which is when this post was supposed to go up. Whoops! Here are November’s prayers all in one place.
A Prayer For:
- When Life Moves Too Fast
- When You Need Some Motivation
- Those Who Are Grieving
- When You Need Some Confidence
- The Waiting Time
2. Hurry and busy are not the same thing.
3. Joey Cook is my favorite person of the month.
Ever since American Idol aired last spring and Joey Cook was her favorite contestant, my daughter decided she wanted to dress as Joey for Halloween and that was that.
So of course I had to share it with Joey on Twitter:
And do you know the next day, Joey Cook responded and completely thrilled one North Carolina eleven year old girl?
Thanks Joey for being great and recognizing how cool it is when kids look up to you!
4. I have a strange affection for the city of Chicago.
I don’t even know, you guys.
I’ve only been to the city three times in my life (if you don’t count connecting flights, which you don’t): once when I was basically too young to remember, once with John and the kids when the girls turned 7, and a few weeks ago for a speaking engagement but we didn’t even really go into the city that time so I’m not sure that fully counts, either.
But there’s something about Chicago that feels like home.
I know some people feel that way about New York or Seattle. But for me it’s Chicago and I’m not sure why. It could be the mid-western-ness of it (I grew up living in Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan).
I wrote about the city once before, skirted around the edges of the strange longing.
I have a similar feeling about Alaska and also Maine. Maybe I want to live someplace cold? That can’t be right.
Do you have any cities you are drawn to for reasons you can’t explain?
5. Cozy doesn’t have to mean cluttered.
My favorite online course I’ve ever taken (by far) is the Cozy Minimalist course taught by my sister.
Listen, I paid full price for the course when it came out (she later got on me about that – I would have let you do it for free, you crazy girl!) But it was the best money I spent for my house.
Here’s the gist: If you give a girl a room makeover she’ll have one room she loves that someone else styled for her. But if you teach a girl to style a room then she’ll have a house she loves for a lifetime.
And that’s what The Nester does in the Cozy Minimalist course. For example, here is my awkward sunroom office before – my biggest trouble room because of all the doors and windows.
I’m telling you now because I’m pulling out the skills I learned in that course all over again and applying them as I slowly decorate for Christmas. For basically the price of a small lamp at Home Goods ($39) you can learn tricks to help you style your home with the stuff you have right now.
You can sign up for the self-study course and do it at your own pace. Treat yo self for Christmas and it will be waiting for you in the new year!
Next month, rather than sharing what we learned in December, we’ll do a massive What We Learned in 2015 link-up. I hope December offers you some pockets of quiet, reflective time to consider the past year as well as the one to come.
Anna says
December 1, 2015 at 12:39 PMThis month’s list is awesome, but that being said, I always look forward to your monthly lists. And celebrities, big or small, responding when you reach out always makes you feel great and restores faith in humanity. And the weird connection to a city? Mine’s D.C. and I’m glad to know that someone else has this odd connection! Happy December! ☺
Melody says
December 1, 2015 at 1:31 PMEmily….I have really enjoyed reading, watching and listening to you for the last month. I look forward to your posts and am learning a lot about myself through Simply Tuesday. I’m the girl who said on periscope that I once cried over a burnt turkey and what did that mean. You said, “I don’t know….write about it and see.” And thus a practice has started of me being more aware of what makes me cry and frustrated even to the point of writing about it privately. I’ve also ordered several books and gained new friends through your site – thank you for what you’re offering.
emily freeman says
December 1, 2015 at 1:40 PMHi Melody! Your comment has made my day. I love hearing that you have started the practice of writing through your questions – and especially that it started as silly as that. Perfect.
Welcome to our little community – we’re so glad to have you here!
Beth Williams says
December 1, 2015 at 2:46 PMEmily,
Loved the article about hurry and busy! I am always rushing around and lately have taught myself to move at a somewhat slower pace. Oh I still stay plenty busy-taking care of aging dad, church, etc.
My strange affection isn’t for a city, but for a place. A wide open space with lots of land, mountains, miles and miles of nothing–small townish! I guess since I was young I have loved Montana for its wide open spaces, horses, etc. I am a country girl at heart!
Blessings 🙂
Shaina says
December 1, 2015 at 3:06 PMI look forward to these lists every month! Thanks for allowing me to share my lessons along with yours and others. It moves us forward learning from each other.
Please keep writing and sharing your art!
Tara says
December 1, 2015 at 3:09 PMEmily, Joey was one of my faves too…and now I love her even more. That is so cool that she sent a comment back to you all. Loved your list this month! So cool!
Dolly@Soulstops says
December 1, 2015 at 6:48 PMEmily,
Wow, so glad Joey Cook acknowledged your tweet and your daughter is adorable….and you’re tempting me with that class as your “after” class looks fabulous…I’m not that good with online classes but I do need help decorating….now I’m in a slowly de-clutter mode as I recover from a cold and finish my paper for seminary…
Teresa L Hardymon says
December 1, 2015 at 9:53 PMI’ve always wanted to live in Vermont – which is why two of my favorite movies are Baby Boom and Funny Farm. I’ve also always thought I might like Seattle, although I’ve never been there, not even close. And Canada sounds like a fun place to live. I think Nashville might be my kind of town too, although I’m really just a small town girl. Actually, I’ve never really been to any of these places unless you count driving through Nashville on the interstate. Who knows why a place tugs on our heart. This might be a good topic to explore further.
I purchased the cozy minimalist course when it was on sale a few months ago, and have yet to finish it. Goal for the new year I think as I really need to get some things in my house settled. Nester is such an inspiration in helping us to love our houses.
As always, love hearing about what you’ve learned. I didn’t link up this time, so will look forward to end of the year reflection and discovering what the year has taught me.
April says
December 2, 2015 at 1:49 AMI know what you mean about a city feeling like home. I’ve visited Dallas and Houston numerous times. I even lived in Dallas for over a year, and while I truly enjoy these cities, they are not home. I didn’t even think I was really a city person. Until August, when my oldest daughter and I spent 6 days in New York City. I absolutely LOVED it! It did feel strangely like home. I hope she studies ballet in New York again this summer so I can go back!
The only other place that has had this affect on my was Disney World (which is kind of like it’s own city), which I also loved. And, even though I haven’t been there yet, I know London will be the same way!
Rachael says
December 2, 2015 at 6:07 AMI love your new Monday prayer practice! And how cool about Joey Cook ! I always look forward to what you and others have learned this month…. generally it teaches me some new things, too! Merry Christmas!
Southern Gal says
December 2, 2015 at 7:35 AMI thought maybe you were skipping November. 😉 Thanks for the prayers. I’ve been reading them as you post them.
Joey Cook! I haven’t thought about her in a while. I always loved the anticipation to see and hear what she would come up with every week on AI. Now I like her even better.
Your office is gorgeous.
Lauren says
December 2, 2015 at 9:13 AMI just have to say that I’m loving your Monday Prayer posts! Even though Sundays are full of prayer, worship, confession, and sermon listening, I have found that by Monday I’m in need of reminders from the day before. Thank you for adding this into your writing schedule. And, how fun for your daughter to get a tweet back from a famous person! Happy December, Emily. May you find rest and joy in this season of Advent.
Lindsay says
December 2, 2015 at 2:36 PMEmily,
Your Monday prayers have been a highlight of my week. I never used to catch the Saturday ones, but having your words speak truth and beauty into my Monday morning has been so refreshing. Thanks for taking the time to share them.
New England feels like home for me too. My dad’s family is from New Hampshire and many of my childhood memories have links to NH and Maine. A few years back when my grandmother passed away, my husband and our 3 kids, the youngest of which was 7 weeks, drove straight through 13 hours so we could go say our last goodbye. Even though I was so saddened at her passing, the beauty of the countryside of Vermont and NH brought back so many wonderful memories and the feeling that heaven will have a little New England in it.