It’s the end of another month and time to share what we’ve learned. If you’re new around here, this is a regular practice we engage in together, as we are learning the value of looking back before moving forward. We’re all at different spots on the journey, and these end of the month posts are a way to reflect, share, and celebrate on purpose – the fascinating, ridiculous, sacred and small.

what we learned in march 2015

If you have a blog and want to share your own list, you can do so at the bottom of the post. Or if you don’t have a blog, you can share in the comment section.

Here are 9 things I learned in March in no particular order:

1. Speaking locally isn’t as scary as I thought.

The beginning of this month I served as a speaker at my dear friend, Angela Thomas’ Beautiful Life Conference here in Greensboro at the church where John used to work, two minutes from our house. I was nervous, worried for a thousand reasons I can’t even remember now because having the opportunity to share my stories with many of the women I know and love was an unexpected kind of gift.

2. Middle school is soon to be a normal part of our life.

The twins will start in the fall and it feels scary because it’s unknown. But our girls are ready for it, doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing – growing up. In March, I learned to open my hands a little more as it concerns them.

3. Quieting a room changes everything. 

“Everything in your room has a voice. You become immune to the voices over time, so you need to get everything out to quiet the room.” – The Nester

My sister has been doing this for years and I’ve semi-done it as well – here’s a post she wrote about how she quiets her house now and then. But since I’ve been enrolled in her Cozy Minimalist class, she’s teaching us how to have the home we’ve always wanted with the stuff we have right now and the first step to doing that is to empty your space of the little junk.

quiet the sunroom

I chose my sunroom/office to focus on this month and you guys. Just quieting the room has made so much difference – I can see it again! I’m excited about the potential.

4. I have two couple friends named Kevin and Amy.

I have known them both for years and just realized this a few weeks ago when they were all in the same room. I just never noticed they have the same names. It’s always like, well they’re Kevin and Amy, but then they are Kevin and Amy. Totally different!

Yeah, not different.

5. I learned how to use Voxer.

I have avoided Voxer for years, thinking it would annoy me. I couldn’t see the difference between a vox and a voicemail. But I see it now. I’ve learned this month that it’s a nice way to keep in touch with friends for people who don’t like talking on the phone but still like hearing people’s voices.

voxer

6. Half of my readers aren’t raising kids at home right now.

I’ve been sifting through the Spring Reader Survey results and, of those who answered the survey, half either don’t have children at all or your children are grown and out of the house. This was so interesting to learn!

7. What Edith from Downton Abby will look like when she gets older:

the ediths

Her TV twin is Archie Bunker’s wife. And then THEN I learned that her character name IS ALSO EDITH. It’s like the 70s was telling us something about TV in the future.

8. Planning a talk for writers is one of my favorite things to do.

Next week I’m headed to Portland to spend a few days with writers at the Faith & Culture Writer’s Conference (which by the way, you can still get the early bird ticket price through tonight!) I’ve been working on my talks and the trouble isn’t what to say, it’s what to cut out. I love talking writing with writers.

9. Stitch Fix now has petite and maternity!

I’m not petite or pregnant, but for those of you who are, maybe you’d like to give your future self a gift and sign up for Stitch Fix. My first box I did during my birthday month and it was so fun to get a box of clothes on my doorstep. Here’s some of my reviews if you want to check it out.

And just for fun, here’s what I learned last year in March – see, you do these for a while and then you have a record of all the learnings. (Warning, last March’s record of learning was high on the ridiculous scale.)

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