Hi friends. What a heavy week this first full week of the new year has been. Where I live in the midwest, we had an ice storm, my hubby started a new job, I am doing more farm work which I love, my work week has been hectic with long days into late evenings, and now I am home writing this watching it snow with about 6 inches on the ground already. But what is really bothering me in a way I never imagined, is watching on tv and social media, the images and videos of the devastation that has been caused by the fires in Los Angeles. I am in absolute shock at the amount of devastation. It is almost incomprehensible for me. I can’t imagine the people that are there…fighting the fires, moving people to safety, getting people oxygen, trying to save homes with garden hoses, grabbing what you absolutely need (your family, wallet, passport, animals). Fleeing, then returning and finding your entire life, whether worth something or not monetarily but worth something to you, gone, instantly, down to absolutely nothing being able to be salvaged. I feel so much sorrow and sadness for everyone. The homes, the schools, the businesses, the tourist sites, landmarks, and even the banks. Please join me in praying for LA. Praying for California. Praying for the firefighters, the volunteers, the people cooking, the businesses and people donating, and pray pray pray for those who have lost it all. Let’s band together as a country, politics aside, and just be kind to one another. Help one another. Be there for one another.

I didn’t mean to say so much, it just flowed out of me. After being engrossed the past few days on what is happening there, I feel helpless here. Pray friends, pray.

On to today’s Friday Night Reads. I went back to some articles I saved from January 2022, and thought I would share those, along with some new ones. I love reading and reading articles helps me to feel informed, and right now maybe a little distraction is what I need. So here are some articles for you to read tonight. I’ll be going back and reading them myself. Have a great weekend friends.

First, here are some throwbacks:

Grace’s post all about her break from work in the blogging world for a few days.

A great morning routine to consider.

Memorable moments from Lauren Conrad’s 2021 year.

I just loved Grace’s sheer honesty and transparency in her 2021 year in review post.

Now on to current articles and blog posts:

If you can’t tell already, I am a huge fan of Grace’s blog and yesterday she posted all the books she read in 2024.

Sometimes we need to talk to ourselves. Grace writes a letter to her future 2025 self.

We all love some little things that may seem small to others but are big to us. Leandra shares hers here.

Closet clean outs are so good to do at the beginning of a new year. I worked on mine today.

Shira Gill shares on her Substack how you can help support Los Angeles.

I hope you enjoy your Friday evening. Try to relax as best you can.