Thursday Things #117

Guess who's back... back again. HELLO, IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE.

Every other Thursday, I share a handful of good things I'm loving, reading, watching, listening to or just discovered. AKA the random good stuff we’d talk about over coffee or text if we had one another’s phone number. I'm glad you're here!

HI GUYS. HAPPY AUGUST. HOW ARE YOU?

After one hundred and sixteen Thursday Things, we took our first real break (if you subscribed between then and now, here’s why I hit pause) but as promised, we’re returning to normally scheduled programming today.

I thought of you often and would love to hear how your summer is going so far. Will you click comment below and share a good thing from your June/July? It could be good news you received, a book you read, your favorite summer treat, an Instagram post you loved — whatever!

I will say, something I didn’t expect was how much you would engage with/reply to/share the 3 reader-favorite posts that went up this summer. I’m fully convinced y’all are the best — but because they’re older, previously published pieces, I hoped they would be a right on time re-encouragement but would totally understand if you didn’t open the email because you read it years before.

To which y’all clearly said a big NOPE to that and then went above and beyond replying and sharing. (Please see: y’all are the best.)

This has me pondering what it might look like to bring back one of YOUR favorites every other month or so. Your reaction + over a decade regularly writing online + how easy it is to miss something from algorithms and full inboxes = something I’m thinking through for the fall! TBD.

I’m going to include the June & July pieces at the bottom in case you missed one or just recently subscribed (in which case hi and thank you for putting up with the housekeeping of TT returning today), but for now let’s get to the good things!

The Summer Olympics.

No other commentary necessary.

(Except, IT’S THE BEST and deserves a mention in a round-up of good things.)

(Listen, I know I’m quiet about the Olympics on social (we can’t all talk about everything, amen?) but when I tell you I’ve watched more TV this last week than the last many months combined, it’s the actual truth. Gymnastics. Swimming. Volleyball. Beach volleyball. Water polo. Pole vault. Long jump. I’ll take all of it, please.)

Simple but shockingly effective.

Sophie Hudson recommended this all-in-one spray and wipe cleaner on a recent episode of The Big Boo Cast (throwback to Thursday Things #45 in the year of our Lord 2021 — it’s still one of my all-time favorite shows. I might even have a Note of favorite quotes. “I have the foot of a peasant,” anyone?) and I’m here to say she wasn’t lying. Thumbs up from me.

Hello to my new fall wardrobe.

My car said it’s 105 here today so I recognize this is about to sound ridiculous, but I wanted to get a couple things for fall while prices are a bit lower for out-of-season clothes. I’ve gotta be extra careful with my budget right now due to a few medical things (more to come on that this fall in ATT), but I scrolled through ThredUp and you guys I might have squealed when my order arrived.

I mentioned ThredUp once before (TT #72) but it’s 100% worth sharing again — especially if you’re also looking for a like-new, new-to-you something or other for fall. It’s an online thrift store with actual millions of items up to 90% off. I purchased a pair of jeans, three sweaters, and a winter jacket — $51 total. Everything fit perfectly, it looks brand new, and odds are good if you see me in person Oct-Feb, I’ll be wearing some combo of the 5. The prices and the quality are really good (in my experience), and I love their mission of sustainability too.

They’re having a great sale right now so it’s the perfect time to mention here, but if you’re a new customer, I have a referral link (this one right here) for 45% off + free shipping. (P.S. All customers receive a link, so if you love it like I have, pass your link along to your friends.)

When the oceans rise and thunders roar.

You know how a song can instantly take you back to a time and place? That happened with this one right here. I haven’t heard it in two decades but it popped up on YouTube this week and suddenly I remembered the melody buried deep. It’s simple and slow, but there’s something sweet in returning and re-singing words that still hold just as true with 20+ years of life and pain and laughs and memories and heartbreaks. Dear God, somehow bring this one back around in another 20 so I’m reminded all over again of what forever holds.

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Reader-favorite posts from over the years, shared again this summer:

Oh, just some thoughts on loving single people well…

What if We Chose to Be for One Another?

On haircuts and a wounded Savior…

What If Scars Are Actually Miracles Written on Skin?

Shame, freedom, and a pile of jeans.

For When Your Clothes No Longer Fit

Brand new posts shared this summer:

For the one who is in a seemingly endless night... for you, if you're waiting, hoping, believing that morning is on the way…

No Matter How Deep or Long or Dark the Night, This Remains

12 years in the making…

Temples, Trails, and When God Says “No”

(Paying subscribers, there are 3 other emails for you + extras in the ATT IG. You can view them any time in the dashboard or the app, if you don’t see them in your inbox!)

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There are so many more good things to share, saved up over June and July, but it’s telling me “near email length limit” so I’m gonna wrap this up before it cuts off. Next time: maybe a few good finds that saved me on my travels? Or favorite posts from the summer? ;)

For now, share one of your recent faves and/or what you absolutely can’t miss watching during the Summer Olympics:

💛 See you soon!