The Catch Up, Vol 4✿
My monthly note, April
Welcome back to “The Catch Up”! I thought it would be fun once a month to do a post with all-the-things we would talk about over Marco Polo or coffee if we were IRL! Books I’d beg you to read, tech tips I’ve learned, show's I’ve watched, new obsessions, and something to love about the current season.
When I’ve seen friends around town this week and they ask, “So, how are you?”—I’ve been really honest. I’ve said something like, “It’s been a really challenging season, but there are beautiful things woven in too.” And that feels very true to me.
It’s been a both/and kind of season—the kind that doesn’t make sense to explain. How can something be both beautiful and full of connection, and at the same time heavy and hard?
What I’ve learned about life is that it’s “50/50,” as my coach Dr. Edie says.
What surprised me this month is that, as I gathered photos into my “April Faves” note, I started to see something new. I saw so much celebration of life. I saw friends supporting us. I saw family encouraging each other. I saw connection in random FaceTime calls, dinner guests, and birthday toasts.
I saw people come alongside us as my daughter Rivers (8) broke her arm—an entire classroom of girls delighted to take turns being her helper.
I saw birthday dates, book club around the kitchen island, and a long car ride with a best friend. I saw homemade granola bars, late nights working on the family budget, a front-row seat at the junior high choir concert, and our last tennis match of the season.
I saw friends gathered on a porch, pouring out their hearts and praying over each other. I saw family gathered in the church foyer after the funeral of our family matriarch.
All of it—woven together—showed me again that life isn’t always easy or comfortable. But it’s always full of God’s presence and love.
I think I need a nap now, but until then…grab a homemade latte or iced coffee, and lets get down to this months catch-up!
✿Books I Read and Loved this Month
✿Obsessed with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – If you're a parent or work with Gen Z in any capacity, you must read this book. It's blowing my mind, making me think deeply, and already shifting some things in our family. So, so important!
✿L-O-V-E-D⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist – A re-read for me (this time on audio via Libby!). Shauna is my favorite nonfiction writer, and her words always move me.
🎧 The Favorites by Layne Fargo – This was our book club pick, and I binge-listened to the full cast audio the weekend my daughter broke her arm. I loved the drama of the ice skating world and all the layered relationships. I didn’t love the ending—or a few of the characters—but I enjoyed the docu-style storytelling and overall plot.
📚 Promise My Sunshine by Cara Bastone – A slow-burn romance, for sure, but I enjoyed it! A sweet, cute rom-com.
✿Liked ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron – I listened to this one (on Libby) during a long car ride. Nora's wit and stories kept me company and had me laughing. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve heard from one of the greats in screenwriting.
✿Learned something / from someone 🤍
🎧 The Wild and Free Family by Ainsley Arment – I picked this up at the library on a whim and ended up enjoying it. While it’s geared toward homeschooling families, I think any parent looking to live differently than the cultural “norm” would be encouraged by it.
🎧 Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson – Recommended by our school counselor, and it’s spot on. It took me a while to finish, but it’s full of practical, relatable examples of what life is like for a child who struggles with executive functioning. A friend introduced me to that term years ago, and it’s helped me better support more than one of my kids. Highly recommend if you have a kid who seems a little “scattered.”
✿Didn’t finish 😜
📚 Cue the Sun – This one’s about the history of reality TV, which I love, so I was intrigued. But after listening to hour one of eleven, I decided that was enough. LOL.
Your turn—what did you read in April? Anything I need to add to my list for May? I always love swapping book recs, so feel free to reply here or send me a message. Happy reading, friends. 💛
✿Shows I’ve Watched and Loved
📺 Ransom Canyon – Netflix
This popped up as a suggestion (and has been the #1 show on Netflix), and with Lyla Garrity—I mean, Minka Kelly—starring, I had to press play. I’m sort of embarrassed to say I binged the whole thing in a weekend (almost all in one night 😅).
It’s about three West Texas ranching families and the drama that comes with small-town living, money, and relationships. It gave me Virgin River vibes—multiple generations, a cozy town gathering spot, and equal parts love and drama. The next day, I saw the book series at Target, so yay for more seasons to come!
📺 Love on the Spectrum (Season 3) – Netflix
YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS SHOW!!! It just keeps getting better. Normally, I don’t love shows that spotlight autism (my son is autistic!), but this one is different. It’s real.
Season 3 follows young adults on the spectrum looking for love, and it is absolutely precious. Even my younger daughters watched (most) of the storylines with us—especially Tanner, Connor, and Madison! After we finished, I found out Tanner and Connor’s moms have a podcast together called Talk to Me Sis, and I’ve since binged every episode. If you love someone with autism—this one’s for you. 💛
📺 Pulse – Netflix
Just started this new medical drama (romance? both?) and I’m into it! It’s not my usual vibe, but it’s giving early Grey’s Anatomy energy in the best way.
✿Seasonal family rhythm list
If you read my “Family Binder” post, you saw this idea to create a google doc for monthly to-do’s that are specific to each month. This helps with my mental load sooooo much! It’s a “decide once” (thank you, Lazy Genius) type of principal. So each month I’ll give you a peak into what’s on my monthly list. I hope it encourages you to think about and start building your own!
theme night outfits for summer camp
awards ceremony dresses for girls
“it’s summer” gifts on table for last day of school
summer bucket list sign printed
Dad birthday gift and card
Delete, Sort, Organize monthly pics on google photos
Order monthly Chatbook
✿May Habit: Hydration 💧
Earlier this month, I shared my April habit, and I thought it would be fun to keep tracking my monthly habits here. My May habit had to be simple and straightforward—because let’s be honest... it’s MAY-CEMBER.
Since I live in Texas and the heat is about to crank up, I’m focusing on hydration. Not a specific ounces-per-day goal, but rather intentional hydration that fits the season I’m in.
This month, I want to:
Add electrolytes more consistently
Drink greens and detox tea
Sprinkle salt into my water for better absorption
Cut back on soda (confession: I hadn’t touched it for 20 years… then one McDonald’s Diet Coke this spring changed everything 😅)
I’m still fine-tuning my approach this weekend, but I’m ready to reset and hydrate well this month!
✿Phone note to start
✨ Start a ChatGPT folder or note—I love chatting with “Chat” (obviously 😉), and keeping your convos saved in one place makes it easy to refer back. Are you as obsessed as I am?
📸 Create a “May Faves” note on your phone to start collecting favorite photos throughout the month. It’s such a simple way to reflect back on the beauty you might otherwise miss.
✿Newly obsessed with….
I kept getting ads for them, and then my friend Jacci showed up to the pool wearing a pair—clearly, it was meant to be. I got them as a birthday gift and I’m pretty sure I’ll be living in them all summer.
They come in fun colors, they’re water-resistant, and they’re so comfy. Highly recommend!
I have the “brown duo”, and my friend has “cloud”.
✿Things to love entering the summer season!!!
I am obsessed with the seasons, and I thought it would be encouraging to share some things to love about whichever season we are in. There ARE things to love about each and every season. Even in these "in between” seasons.
welcomed break from early school mornings, packing lunches, and homework
slower pace, more room to breathe
days by the water: pool, lake, river, ocean….
lazy days, later nights, time spent with friends and family
shifting out of the school year rhythm and into the freedom of summer
sunshine, country music, sonic drinks, trips to the lake
What about you?! Have you read or watched something you want to share! Lets make this a fun group chat type experience!
Share in the comments!
I've heard so much about The Anxious Generation. It's on my to-be-read shelf!
I felt the same way about Cue the Sun. Interesting but stopped before I finished.