Small rituals for the moments in between.
November: Notice
There is more here than you think.
November has a way of drawing our attention in several directions at once. The days grow shorter, the holiday lists begin to grow, and before we know it, we're thinking about everything that needs to be done.
But there are little things happening right alongside all that busyness.
The warmth of a mug between our hands. The bright scent of an orange being peeled. The way the afternoon light falls across the kitchen table. A kind word we weren't expecting.
This month, we're practicing something simple: noticing.
Not searching for something extraordinary or trying to make every moment meaningful. Just paying a little more attention to the life God has placed in front of us.
Let's begin with something warm to sip, something nourishing to make, and a reminder to look again at the ordinary gifts of today.
Something to Sip
Cranberry-Orange Spice Tea
Cranberry and orange make such a cheerful combination for November. The cranberries bring a little tartness, the orange adds brightness, and cinnamon gives everything a gentle warmth.
This is a simple stovetop infusion to enjoy while reading, journaling, or taking a few minutes for yourself.
You'll need:
2 cups water
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries
3–4 strips of orange peel, avoiding as much of the bitter white pith as possible
1 small cinnamon stick
Honey or your preferred sweetener, to taste
To make it:
Add the water, cranberries, orange peel, and cinnamon stick to a small saucepan.
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes, lightly pressing a few cranberries to release their color and flavor.
Strain into your favorite mug.
Add a little honey if you'd like, then take a moment to notice the tart fruit, bright citrus, and warm spice.
This makes about one generous mug or two smaller servings.
A little noticing practice: Before taking your first sip, pause long enough to notice the color, the aroma, and the warmth of the mug. You don't have to turn it into a big ritual. Sometimes paying attention to one small thing is enough.
Something to Read
Find a Story to Settle Into
One of my favorite things about reading is how a story can draw our attention to details we might have overlooked in our own lives.
A character remembers someone's favorite tea. A stranger offers a small kindness. A familiar place becomes meaningful because of the people who gather there.
As you explore this month's BookFunnel recommendations, notice what draws you toward a particular story. Is it the setting? The characters? The promise of a little mystery? The feeling that you might like to stay in that fictional world awhile?
You don't have to read quickly or finish a book in a weekend. You can simply enjoy discovering your next story, one page at a time.
Explore this month's BookFunnel reads:
Stories of discovering where we belong
Something to Make
Simple Shea Butter Balm for Dry Skin
As the weather gets cooler, hands, elbows, and other dry spots may appreciate a little extra care. This firm, water-free balm is made with shea butter and nourishing plant oils. It softens with the warmth of your fingers and creates a comforting layer on the skin.
Unlike a whipped body butter, this recipe sets into a firmer balm that's easy to scoop into a small jar.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons shea butter
1 tablespoon beeswax pastilles
2 tablespoons jojoba oil or sunflower oil
¼ teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
You'll also need: A clean, completely dry heat-safe jar or bowl for melting, a small spatula, and a clean, dry storage tin or jar.
Instructions
Place the shea butter, beeswax, and jojoba or sunflower oil in a heat-safe container.
Melt gently using a double boiler, stirring until everything is just melted. Avoid overheating the shea butter.
Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Stir in the vitamin E oil, if using.
Pour into a clean, completely dry tin or jar.
Allow it to cool undisturbed until firm, then cap and label it with the ingredients and date.
How to use: Warm a small amount between your fingertips and smooth it over dry hands, elbows, heels, or other areas that need extra moisture. A little goes a long way.
A few practical notes: This is a water-free balm, not a lotion, so it doesn't contain water or require a traditional water-based preservative. Vitamin E helps slow the oxidation of oils but is not a preservative. Keep water out of the jar, use clean, dry hands, and store it somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight. Discard it if the smell, color, or texture changes. Homemade products don't have a guaranteed shelf life, so making a small batch is a good idea.
Shea butter and plant oils can bother some people's skin, so patch-test first. Keep the recipe fragrance-free for sensitive skin; essential oils aren't necessary to make this balm lovely.
A little noticing practice: As you make your balm, pay attention to the ingredients themselves—the solid shea butter, the way the beeswax melts, and how the mixture changes as it cools. There's something satisfying about making a useful thing with your own hands.
Something to Remember
The Gift of Today
Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Some days are easy to appreciate. Others are full of errands, responsibilities, interruptions, and things we wish had gone differently.
This verse doesn't promise that every day will be easy. It reminds us that today is a gift from God, even when it doesn't look the way we expected.
We can become so focused on what is missing, what needs fixing, or what comes next that we overlook the small gifts already woven into the day.
Perhaps it's a conversation that lifted your spirits. Perhaps it's the strength to finish a difficult task. Perhaps it's simply the chance to begin again this morning.
We don't need to pretend that hard things aren't hard. We can bring those things to God and still make room to notice His goodness.
Take a few moments to write:
What is one small thing I noticed today that I might otherwise have overlooked?
Who has shown me kindness recently, even in an ordinary way?
Where have I seen a reminder of God's care in the middle of everyday life?
What is one thing I want to pay closer attention to this week?
You don't need a long list of blessings. Start with one honest observation.
Sometimes the smallest things are the ones we remember longest.
A Gentle Thought to Carry With You
You don't have to make every day remarkable.
You can let an ordinary day be ordinary and still notice something worth keeping: the warmth of a drink, the comfort of a familiar story, the satisfaction of making something useful, or the quiet reminder that God is with you here, too.
This week, look again at something familiar.
You might discover there's more there than you thought.
Until next time, take good care of yourself and notice the little things.
Radiance & Ritual: Skincare and Self-Care for the Winter Season
Winter is a season of beauty and serenity, but it can also present challenges for our skin and well-being. In "Radiance & Ritual," we invite you on a journey through the winter season, exploring the art of self-care and skincare to help you thrive during these colder months.
