Reading Recap

 

1.  What Does It Feel Like?  by Sophie Kinsella -- Recap HERE.

2.  Don't Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose by Christine Caine -- Reread this two years later - Christine is encouraging and motivating!  Original recap HERE.

3.  Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves by Allison Wood Brooks 

I enjoyed this one!  In this book, T-A-L-K is an acronym for Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness... aka coming in prepared with ideas when you're meeting new people, being genuinely curious and asking good questions about their lives, bringing light and laughter into your conversations, and treating people the way they want to be treated.  I learned about this author through the Mel Robbins podcast -- she's a Harvard professor with some great insights for building better communication skills, and her tips for job interviews were timely and helpful just before my MCC interviews!

4.  My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

This is Jeremy's story of surviving and thriving after being crushed by a Snowcat (38 broken bones) on New Years Day 2023 -- I sincerely applaud his resilience, grit, stubborn strength, and holding onto hope.  They included the audio from the actual 911 call made by his neighbor where you hear him groaning in pain and his nephew explaining things in the background.  Rough.  He talks about going to Lamaze classes with his pregnant mom as a young boy, and practicing those breathing techniques as he was alone on the ice waiting for paramedics to arrive - he refused to let himself fall asleep or lose consciousness in that critical period.  I found myself repeatedly thinking how I want him to know Jesus - he refers to certain things as coincidences or twists of fate that were so clearly God's protection.  Grateful he shared his inspiring story; praying for his eyes and heart to be open to gospel truth.

5.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

After all this time!?  Always.  Sooooo gooood.  Not even sure how many times I've read these at this point, but I know this won't be the last.  The life lessons and the redemptive arc are so strong in this final book - so much loss and sacrifice, but also a great deal of restoration and high purpose and hope.  The hallows and the horcruxes - I marvel at J.K.'s ability to weave this whole story together.  My love for the characters is real, and the story continues on in my mind.  The thought of the Weasley and Potter family dinners brings me an absurd amount of joy - like, I literally think about them on Thanksgiving and Christmas sometimes, imagining them all together at the Burrow with their kids and the Weasley siblings and all the noise and laughter and drama and great food. lol  Of course it is happening inside my head... but why on earth should that mean that it is not real? ;-)

6.  Ordinary Time:  Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones

Recommended by Mel and Sophie - loved it - a warm collection of essays and stories that made me want to continue writing my own and potentially find the recurring themes and collect them into a lovely book format. lol  

Quotes that stood out for me:
"I am no longer devastated when the church behaves in contradiction to itself.  The church is not Jesus; Jesus is Jesus.  And my expectations of Him are met every time.  My spiritual life no longer has church at its center.  Do I still believe in church?  Still attend a church?  Yes. Not everyone I love does, but I still do.  I think one of the reasons this is even conceivable is because I lowered the bar... In so much of my life, I want our institutions to do better, to behave better, to provide better.  But much like I no longer worship a particular political party, I no longer worship church.  I do not have her on a high pedestal because I see her for what she is...  Of course I want more out of church, more out of faith, but I now know perfection won't exist this side of Heaven."

"My very favorites are the ones who I can tell are having a great time, the women who aren't afraid to laugh heartily or grin giddily, the ones who take photos and express gratitude and pull staffers aside to share their awe.  The solution to an age of disenchantment?  Be enchanted.  Share about it.  In a world of cynicism, earnestness is crucial... I don't want to be known for my eyeroll, but for my awe.  Love what you love, yes.  But also, don't keep it to yourself!"

Thanks for stopping by! =)  I love you and believe in you,

and I'm confident God is with you and for you!

❤ ❤ ❤