Monthly Mercies: Goodbye, 2023
A year in review. And hey, Monthly Mercies is on Substack now!
Hello, friend. Welcome to the special year-end edition of Monthly Mercies!
I think we are going to have a New Year’s Eve party this year.
It’s been a complicated last few years trying to ring in the new year with a group of our friends. The party was canceled in December 2020 for obvious reasons. We thought we might be able to make a tiki NYE happen in Dec. 2021, but, well, remember Omicron? Last year’s turtleneck-themed NYE seemed promising until Joel ended up sick and we had to cancel, eventually celebrating the new year with a belated mid-January turtleneck party.
In December of 2019 we went big. Our crew rang in 2020 with a roaring twenties bash complete with fancy attire, a balloon arch, and a champagne tower. Looking back, we’ve all joked that maybe we shouldn’t have gone that hard considering the type of year we were ushering in. Hindsight and all that.
So, this year we are trying again. We have no theme, no fancy clothes or elaborate decorations. We’ll be eating snacks in our comfies. I might make a pretty ice mold for the punch bowl. We’ll do an early countdown with the kids and eat more snacks until midnight. We’ll tiptoe into 2024, low-key and together.
Come to think of it, that approach feels just right for 2024.
Wishing you rest, fun, and a pretty ice mold or two as you head into the new year.
In his mercy,
Amy.
Favorite Reads
2023 was a big reading year, I read 106 books (and counting!)
Listed in the order they were read, here are my favorite books of 2023:
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt by Duchess Goldblatt
All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore
Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd
You Could Make this Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
How To Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key
The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club #4) by Richard Osman
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Favorite Poetry:
Sorry for Your Troubles by Padraig O'Tuama
Good Bones by Maggie Smith
The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck
Check out my Goodreads Year in Books here!
Favorite Bakes
2023 was a fun baking year, but obviously one project takes the cake (sorry): baking through the Eras! I had the best time recreating each Taylor Swift album in cake form.
Favorite Words
Joining and launching Part-Time Poets with a group of remarkably talented women has been the highlight of my writing this year!
And as always, this newsletter is so much fun for me. Thanks for inviting me into your inbox for another year!
Favorite Favorites
The music I found myself listening to over and over:
Zach Bryan- Zach Bryan
the record- boygenius
Orange Blood & Mt. Joy- Mt. Joy
Lavender Days- Caamp
Endless Summer Vacation- Miley Cyrus
Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)- Noah Kahan
B-Room- Dr. Dog
Tapestry- Carole King
And of course, Taylor Swift’s entire catalogue
Shows & Movies I couldn’t get enough of:
The Great British Baking Show, obvi
The Bear
Barbie
I spent a lot less time listening to podcasts in 2023, but What Should I Read Next is one I never miss!
These don’t really have a category, but other favorites from the year I really wanted to include:
Banff!
The Eras Tour with some besties
I mean really, could anything top my bright pink jumpsuit?
Only thing that comes close is the Butter sweatshirt from my favorite local bakery
Planning and attending a retreat with the amazing ladies of Exhale Creativity
See a few more highlights of 2023 here!
This list is not exhaustive, because I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Now I’d love to hear from you! What were your favorite things from 2023??
Happy New Year!
I'll see you back here on the first Friday in January! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.
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I hope you have some time in the next few days to reflect on the mercies held by 2023. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Those cakes!
I look forward to your book recommendations each month! Glad to see you on Substack!