In the past few months I’ve sat down several times to write something for this space. You have no idea how many “brilliant” ideas I’ve come up with. A challenging take on the whole “love your body” movement, the reality of fitness fatigue, or how to spot fake fitness. I’ve also wanted to reveal bits of life on “Tiff’s Corner”, as I’ve done for so many years now, sharing my journey in faith, running, and now motherhood.

Instead, I’ve been silent (or silenced?). Sometimes because a precious nap got cut short. Or I chose to read my Bible, or shower, or start preparing dinner instead of write. Or I stare at my laptop with thrice reheated coffee under my nose, and something in me just can’t. Maybe my inner blogger is having an existential crisis? Or…more likely, I’m in a season of checking my priorities and motivations before I say or do anything. It’s been really good.

Between the Blog Posts

Here are a few things I would like to share about the goings on during my Winter of Silence.

I Run Sporadically
I have not run as often as I should. I have, however, been playing in a community indoor volleyball league – so that weekly activity counts for something, right? (Insert Desperate Laughter) I have an 8k in less than two weeks which just might become a 5k. Game day decision.

Motherhood is Terrific & Tedious Simultaneously
I’m not sure how I can be both bored to tears repeating the same activities with my son and also in absolute awe and wonder at his little person at the very same moment in time. But I can be. He’s nearly 11 months old and he’s freaking amazing and I love every moment with him. Yet I also yearn to do other, non-mommy things and I think that’s ok. That one time I spent a night away visiting friends in Seattle…I guiltlessly and thoroughly enjoyed those diaper/slobber free 24 hours.

I’m Killing it in the Kitchen
I shared dumplings with friends for Chinese New Year and made homemade sushi for the first time. My most recent obsession is now making baozi (stuffed steamed buns). I found a good recipe and have plans for trying out all different kinds of filling. It is more than a little silly how much joy I get out of folding these beautiful little purses of tastiness. I think a bao food business would do gangbusters! J wants to call it “Bao Chicken Bao Wow”. 😐

Postpartum Health is Mostly Good
I’ve lost more weight than I intended (still breastfeeding) but am still not nearly as strong as I’d like to be. I have some core strength deficiencies and a recent ear infection has reminded me that I need to consider the health of my overall immune system.

Call me Joanna Gaines
She’s part german and part asian just like me, but that’s not all we have in common! My home is now displaying not one but TWO reclaimed farmhouse windows, thankyouverymuch. The ugly truth is we’ve been in our home nearly 2 years and it’s still dreadfully under decorated and under furnished. We’ve been making a very concerted effort in the past two months to dust off our project pieces and complete them.

I’m Taking Stock of Life
You know how some family event or near-miss disaster can cause you stop and consider what matters most to you? Make you ask those dreadful questions like, “What if I died today?” or “What if everything I care about were taken from me?”. That’s where I’ve been for the past month. Neck deep in self-evaluation of what matters most, what do I spend the most of my time and energy on, and is all of that lining up with what I believe to be true about God and what He wants of/for me?

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. It’s probably not healthy to constantly marinate in this line of thinking, but it is good to frequently check in with it. It reminds us that we can always do more to let our loved ones know just how crazy we are about them. To be oh so very grateful for the good that is. Even the tedious little mommy moments. And to recognize when we are depleting our emotions and energies for things, situations, or even people who are distracting us from our core pursuits.

So that’s what’s been going on between the blog posts over here in Tiff’s Corner. That’s what I’d share if we were sitting down for coffee and catching up.