First Quarter Books

I've listened to eight audiobooks thus far - a solid first quarter of 2026!

(HP full cast book 2 and 3 not pictured.)

Quick recaps/thoughts below...

Awake
(by Jen Hatmaker)

Better than expected.  A timely book about rebuilding your life when some things you've deeply counted on end or fall apart.  This memoir was divided into three sections, beginning with "The End" of her marriage, moving into "The Middle" with messy rebuilding, and finally "The Beginning," where she was growing and embracing the new story - I loved that structure!  Also loved her story about building a big backyard table and learning to cook and intentionally filling her home and feeding her people.  Promptly ordered her cookbook after reading that part.  Her theology is obviously a bit off-base, but this is more of a memoir than a self-help or instructional book, and there are good things to be taken from it.  She's feisty and funny and a strong writer and lovable person!

Anne of Green Gables
(by Lucy Maud Montgomery)

Familiar, fantastic, and heartwarming - and I love that Rachel McAdams reads this one!

Harry Potter Full Cast Audiobooks #1, 2, and 3
(by J.K. Rowling)

Strengthening and light and fun!  Ironically, I still prefer the Jim Dale version to the full-cast audio.  (They made very little effort to cast people who sound similar to the movie characters, and it bothers me.)

Strong Ground
(by Brene Brown)

“Transformation is about building, and it must start with dismantling. The process is deeply personal, disorienting, and almost always involves going backward before speeding forward. We must be willing to confront the off-limits stuff, intentionally and strategically breaking old systems that no longer serve us while fiercely protecting a strong, mission-grounded foundation… I always thought the Phoenix rising was the transformation and the fire was something we had to survive, but I was wrong. The fire is the transformation!” ~Brené Brown (condensed & paraphrased - I loved that chapter!)

Enough
(by Oprah Winfrey and Ania Jastreboff)

This book explains the biology of obesity, the way our brains and bodies work together to maintain a "set point" weight range, making sure that we have "enough" calories/energy by increasing hunger and slowing metabolism whenever our weight drops... driving weight back toward the ingrained "enough point."  They compared this to a thermostat that constantly adjusts to defend the set temperature… so for people with obesity, the rough reality is when you work hard to lose weight, your metabolism slows down and your hunger hormones are activated, naturally pushing your weight back up over time.  Special.  Because modern environments are stressful and full of highly-palatable food, many people experience persistent food noise, meaning constant thoughts about eating + food cravings that make it harder to stick with diets.  That's all I have known, but not everyone thinks that way - some people live free from that preoccupation, and it's those mindset factors that comprise obesity being a disease or diagnosis, and that all makes sense and truly resonates for me.  They explain in scientific detail how GLP-1 medications turn down these internal thermostat settings, working with our biology by mimicking natural gut hormones that signal fullness, quieting the internal food noise, and reducing appetite/cravings, all by lowering our body’s defended weight range so that it works *with us* on our health goals rather than pushing back and resisting weight loss!  Sign. me. up.  (Currently in my first month on Zepbound - more on that later).

The Coddling of the American Mind
(by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt)

This book was a gem (recommended by Jonathan T. from CCU).  About intent versus perception, the  unintentional damage caused by our cultural emphasis on safety, and how to rebuild resilience and raise strong children!

Final Books for 2025!

1.  SPSS Survival Manual: A Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using IBM SPSS by Julie Pallant -- My statistics textbook - riveting, as you might imagine!  But I learned some new things, and I'm officially done with math courses forevermore at the end of this week -- HUZZAH!!

2.  How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self by Nicole LePera -- Read this three years ago and revisited it recently based on Emily's recommendation since it has some great content on calming and resetting your nervous system! ❤

3.  It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life by Dr. Sanjay Gupta -- He was on Mel's podcast, and he is good at explaining medical things on a relatable layperson level.  This book has great evidence-based insight on how our mindset affects our pain tolerance and experience of physical pain.

4.  Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Dr. Sanjay Gupta -- Again, strong medical content that feels accessible for the average reader... with relevant lifestyle changes and medical tests that would be helpful for anyone dealing with cognitive decline or hoping to prevent it.

5.  Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions by Todd Rose -- my favorite book of 2025, found through Mel Robbins' podcast!!  The author researched how our false assumptions about the majority opinion quietly shape our decisions and our culture.  He argues that most of us hide our preferences and conform in an effort to belong, chasing goals we do not really value and reinforcing systems most people do not believe in.  This drives political polarization and personal dissatisfaction, not to mention the issues it creates within the church... and this book is a roadmap for questioning the perceived norms, speaking honestly about our true values, and building healthier environments where AUTHENTICITY replaces conformity!

6.  The Lion and the Bear: A 100-Day Guide for Facing Your Giants by Caroline Shankle -- A solid devotional book intended for teens and college girls... I was excited to support Caroline's first book (Melanie's daughter from the Big Boo Podcast), and I wanted to listen to it before giving it to my niece as a bonus Christmas gift! =)

7.  That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers -- Another first-book effort I was happy to support!  I always enjoy Elyse's reels and the way she shares her personal stories with vulnerability and humor, and this book was sweet and fun.  I appreciate the stream-of-consciousness-style storytelling, and it was nice to learn more about how she and Jonas (her husband) first met.

8.  Hiring for Attitude: A Revolutionary Approach to Recruiting Star Performers.. by Mark Murphy -- Did not love this one - maybe because it felt outdated and a little condescending, or maybe because the author used the phrase "brown shorts" approximately 100,000 times when I'd have preferred "workplace culture" or "company values."  I understand the general message of "prioritize hiring people who share your core values," but I did not love the way it was delivered.

9.  Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck - Why Some Thrive Despite Them All by Jim Collins -- Loved this one, found through Craig's Leadership podcast.  Another research-driven book (yay for thinking ahead on dissertation ideas) where they compared the performance of several top companies and analyzed the main qualities that led to 10x greatness: fanatic discipline, evidence-based creativity, and productive paranoia.

So that officially wraps up my reading list for 2025.  The 40 books pictured below + my annual re-read of Atomic Habits, for a total of 41 books at age 41 - YAY!  A happy accident this year, but one I will be intentional about continuing!! =)

Seven of this year's books were re-reads from past years,
but of the books that were new to me:

Gold = Collective Illusions

Silver = I've Never Been Here Before

Bronze = Here Be Dragons

❤ ❤ ❤

Walking with God

Day 24:  Which TV or film character’s journey reminds you of your walk with God, and why?

• Ron Weasley, Harry Potter series
• Cousin Richie, The Bear
• Andrea Sachs, The Devil Wears Prada

Ron:  I just adore Ron.  In the beginning, he often feels overlooked and insecure among his talented family and famous friends.  He struggles with feeling unimportant or unseen (or undeserving when he is seen/chosen), but throughout the series, it becomes clear that he is the grounding force between Harry’s intensity and Hermione’s brilliance, the natural connector who makes their friendship trio work and gradually move from loyal friends to family.  His story reminds me that God often casts us in roles we do not recognize as vital while we’re in them.  Like being the supportive encourager, showing up faithfully, and bringing light into hard situations.

Richie:  Richie's transformation resonated with me more than I expected.  His character starts off insecure, overcompensating in obnoxious ways for the lack of real purpose in his own life.  The lightbulbs come on for him in the “Forks” episode (The Bear, S. 2, Ep. 7), among my very favorite episodes of any show.  Without changing his career description, his newfound sense of purpose and personal pride in serving others well and giving them a great, memorable experience changes EVERYTHING!  Every second counts.  When he says, “I think I’m the sand,” in season 3, that also hit me.  He found purpose in realizing he wasn’t the star of the show, but a vital behind-the-scenes connector who fills in the gaps, brings joy, and helps others shine and feel special.  I’ve felt God calling me into that same posture, finding purpose in being a steady anchor and connecting presence in the lives of my friends, family, and hopefully future clients and students!

Andrea:  Andi is an introverted writer determined to prove herself in a high-pressure job, and she gets lost and confused in the chaotic process.  Her journey is a good reminder that high achievement means nothing if it costs you your integrity, joy, or close relationships.  It's a rough comparison, but it came to mind here - as the idea of striving while losing sight of the end goal resonates for me, and so does her turning point of remembering her values and goals, finding a healthier balance, and reaching out to mend fences with people she hurt along the way. 

God is always at work, currently shaping my understanding that purpose is not found in the spotlight of being the most accomplished or most impressive, but in the subtle work of faithfully showing up, prioritizing strong connections, and helping others feel safe, seen, and supported! ❤

Having said all of that, the above characters represent things God is teaching me.  But a walk with God is a RELATIONSHIP, and the book & film relationship that best mirrors that for me is Harry and Dumbledore.

The story begins with Harry feeling a sense of awe and mystery as he meets Dumbledore.  Learned reverence mixed with a lot of deeper questions.  He shows an instinctive childlike trust that Dumbledore is wise and has his best interest at heart, even though he is slower than Harry would prefer to reveal the answers he wants.  Dumbledore sees something special in Harry that makes him want to grow and become better, and Harry is fiercely loyal and defends Dumbledore's reputation whenever anyone tries to question or diminish him.  "Dumbledore's man through and through."  In Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore intentionally distances himself from Harry to protect him.  Naturally, Harry feels abandoned and hurt, all while battling mounting confusion, opposition, anger, and darkness in the world around him.  Yet the entire time, Dumbledore is fighting a larger battle on Harry’s behalf, shielding him from Voldemort’s influence and preparing Harry for a confrontation he doesn't fully understand yet.  He shows up powerfully to stand between Harry and the enemy when Harry needs him most, then he helps Harry process the worst grief and loss he has faced even as Harry is violently angry with him.  Toward the end of the series, Dumbledore becomes a closer mentor to Harry as they partner together in shared missions to learn about and confront their enemy.  There is a deep respect along with a growing sense of friendship, collaboration, and purpose.  In the end, Dumbledore sacrifices himself for the cause, and Harry and friends have to rally and use all they have learned from him to sort through the curious mysteries left behind and complete the vital mission he assigned to them.

And every. bit. of the above mirrors my walk with God. ❤

Okay then, good talk!  I maaaay have overthought this one. lol

Happy Monday, blog fam!  I love you and believe in you, and Jesus does too!!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Story Time

Day 9:  What’s a story from your life most people haven’t heard but reveals something important about who you are?

Not a dramatic story, but in fifth grade, for the first time since young childhood, Miss White (my teacher) decided to read to us after lunch and recess.  We would come back inside and have the option to sit up and listen or lay our head on our desk and close our eyes and listen.  There were no quizzes or tests over what she was reading - it was simply meant for us to settle in and feel calm and enjoy it - and I did!!  She read a few fiction books to us through the course of that year, one chapter per day.  And I really loved imagining it all as I was hearing it.  I remember feeling relaxed and engaged and thinking back then that I wish I could always have someone else read stories to me...

Years later, I am keeping my Audible (and Libby and Hoopla) apps very busy, not to mention all the audio podcasts!  I listen while driving/traveling, while cooking, while folding laundry, while walking and jogging.  I'm an audiobook enthusiast (or an audiobibliophile, if you will), and I give a lot of credit to Miss White for my ability to fully engage my heart and imagination and stay interested as I listen!  So today, I am grateful for good narrators and authors who take the time to read and record their books for myself and all the people like me!! ❤

Brilliant Books!

1.  I've Never Been Here Before: Our Family's Year of Budget Travel, Wandering the World, and Finding the Sacred by Ashley Campbell

I adore Ashley and love her photos and perspective and family stories, and I highly recommend this book (full post HERE).  An audiobook version is not yet available, but I had Gwyneth Paltrow's voice read it to me on Speechify, and that was pretty great! =)

2.  Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success by David Feldman and Lee Kravetz

A Dr. Burkhart recommendation that aligns well with my interests!  I will always love stories of resilient people who overcome hardship and live lives that have a great impact!!

3.  Hero on a Mission: A Path to a Meaningful Life by Donald Miller

It was good to revisit this one for my Leadership class presentation.  This book (and the 2012 precursor to it, Storyline) changed the course of my life.  I will forever be grateful to Donald Miller for his perspective and his inspiring journey!  Original blog post HERE.

4.  The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation by Suzanne Stabile

Good wisdom for each of the nine personality types on the Enneagram - she talks about how we react to stress and how to let go of our defense mechanisms and become more whole and healed.  I took pages of notes about the Ennegram 9 (me).  Side note: As a Tulsa-loving 9 with a dominant 1-wing and inferior 8-wing, it makes me happy that my personality is 918.

"Nines have the least energy of any type on the enneagram… they want to keep out anything that might steal their peace and keep in anything that might cause trouble! Notice how often you choose not to say something that you believe could cause fragmentation.  Nines desire to be unaffected by life, especially conflict.  Healthy nines serve as peacemakers and mediators.  It's a joy to encounter nines when they are secure and well-integrated.  When nines are stressed, they disengage.  They may temporarily lose the optimism and faith that normally sustains them.   The unconscious childhood message for 9s is: It's not okay to assert yourself.  But it is okay.  Part of your work and responsibility is to find a way to make your thoughts and feelings known to others, even those who might disagree.  Please consider giving up your tendency to erase yourself, and choose participation instead.

Change is when we take on something new.  Transformation occurs when something old falls away... The wisdom teachers I respect insist that all great spirituality is about letting go.  Could you develop a plan for allowing pain from your past to fall away?  You might be surprised with the energy that is the result of letting go!

Nines are well loved… We appreciate the gift you have of seeing two sides to everything and the way it equips you for mediation between people who want to get along but can't...  You are thoughtful and loyal and treasured by almost all the people who know you.  It's heartbreaking when you think you are unimportant or that what you offer is something anyone else could have contributed.  Your presence matters.  And if you don't remember anything else from this chapter, please remember that.” ❤

5.  The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Another Dr. Burkhart recommendation that I really enjoyed!  They encourage us to be intentional about creating defining moments by prioritizing elevation (a vivid and extraordinary atmosphere), pride (validating and celebrating achievements and growth), insight (learning something new), and connection (a memorable shared experience that leads to good conversation)!  The EPIC acronym helps me remember that.  *Fun fact: Dr. Burkhart told me they redesigned the CCU Residency weekends after he read this book, and I can confirm that it was effective!

6.  Younger Next Year, for Women: Live Like You're 50 - Strong, Fit, Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge

A Facebook recommendation from Dana Logsdon.  Their tone and delivery leave something to be desired, but the authors had a lot of great practical advice!  Their strongest and most repeated advice backed by loads of scientific research was to build a keystone habit of working out for 45 minutes six days a week (getting good cardio 4 days a week and strength training 2 days a week).  I'm taking that to heart as life moves forward!

7.  Boundaries for Leaders: Why Some People Get Results and Others Don't by Dr. Henry Cloud

A little tedious, but there was a lot of good insight here.  It led to a lot of me pondering where and how I might be called to lead.

8.  The Wedding People: A Novel by Alison Espach

Not a Christian book, but it was recommended by Katie and Ashley in my lifegroup (just bc they enjoyed it).  This one hit me kinda like The Authenticity Project.  The main character is Phoebe, a detail-oriented, intelligent, and quietly depressed single woman in her early 40s who decides life isn't really worth living anymore after years of painful fertility struggles and bad relationship endings and slowly realizing her dream of motherhood will probably never happen and that all the hard work and time she put into her doctorate was barely interesting to her anymore and she is mostly unfulfilled by her work as a college literature professor.  Nope, not kidding.  Following a relational betrayal and the death of a beloved pet, she books an expensive solo trip to a fancy hotel to have a fantastic 'last meal' before taking pills to quietly end her life.  She soon realizes she is the only hotel guest who is not there for the extravagant wedding happening that weekend... and she gradually and reluctantly meets several new people who change her perspective, including a kind widower with a young daughter who misses her mom.  (Yes, please.)  There are a few things I would have left out, but overall, it's well written and relatable with a good redemptive arc in the end.  The emphasis is on our ability to change our minds and shift our course to create a vastly different life that makes us happier and more energized, which feels encouraging to me even now!

9.  Write Your Story: A Simple Framework to Understand Yourself, Your Story, and Your Purpose in the World by Allison Fallon

My second time through this one (also to help with my Leadership presentation).  I love this framework and plan to use it soon!

Happy Tuesday, friends, and happy reading!

❤ ❤ ❤

I've Never Been Here Before

So I've been following Ashley's blog and Instagram stories for. a. minute.

(15 years and counting now).

Saturday, I had the privilege of meeting her in person for the first time! ❤

She had a book signing event at Book and Bloom in Broken Arrow... an adorable bookstore & flower shop that she said reminded her of You've Got Mail.  For real, Main Street in Broken Arrow is the best, and they chose the perfect location for this event!  Oooh, and I stopped by the Laurannae Bakery Ashley had recommended afterward and had the very best cupcake ever, but let's not get sidetracked. lol

The entire Campbell family was there... they're all kind and down-to-earth people who probably found the book-signing dynamic a bit awkward, but they're basically celebrities from my vantage point!!

Fun fact: My favorite photo wall at 522 was inspired by Ashley Ann!!

Campbell fam exactly ten years ago on Saturday. ❤ 

I felt very happy and proud for Ashley that there was a steady crowd of people from 10am to 1pm for this book launch event - amazing!!

Love the whole Campbell fam more than you might think possible - their childhood stories and photos, and the way Ashley celebrates what makes each of her kids unique - gracious, it's been subtle and gradual, but her writing style, eye for detail, love of adventure and color, exceptional photography skills (#snapshops2011), and her genuine love of humanity have shaped my life and taught me so much!! ❤

For a while, Chris and Ashley had three boys and one girl, and that dynamic reminded me of my preshface niece and nephews.

After a long road in the adoption process, in 2012, they traveled internationally to adopt Evann, who completes the awesome Campbell fam party of 7! ❤

In 2022, they took a highly-anticipated year-long trip around the world, visiting 20 different countries and learning from all the people and places along the way.  Ashley wrote and published her first book detailing their memories and stories from that trip, and it is phenomenal!  Genuinely.  Highly recommend it!!

I loved seeing their whole family there in BA supporting her and signing books with her!!  Blogging creates such a fascinating dynamic... I understand that I'm a kind and supportive stranger to them, but I feel like I've known them well for years, and I am so cheering for them right now!!

Each of her kids wrote a personal essay that is included in the book, so I marked their pages for them to sign! =)

Chris was greeting people in the line, so he was the first to sign my book... then I reached Corbett, Hudson, and Everett... the awesome men of the Campbell fam!  I loved following their Instagram posts and stories during their world-traveling adventure, and it made me happy to see them in person!!

I was also really happy to see Breese... fun fact: she has loved baking since she was little (left pic)... she now has her own side business called Sunshine Baked Goods.  And this summer, she baked and decorated the cake for her oldest brother, Corbett's wedding - so cool!

Finally, I was delighted to meet the youngest member of the Campbell fam... following Chris and Ashley's adoption journey was inspiring for me - I was among the hundreds who donated to the Incubator Project for the orphanage, and I cried when Ashley cried the day she met her daughter almost 13 years ago.  I so LOVED reading Evann's essay about conquering her fears and food aversions and embracing new things throughout this trip!!

Ashley Ann was the last person I connected with at the signing table.  The friendly woman next to me in line knew their family well and announced that I had traveled from OKC to be there.  Ashley thanked me for that, and I told her I've followed the blog for years and congratulated her on this massive accomplishment!!  We talked about the cute bookstore and the book launch team and got a photo together, then I stepped forward to keep the line moving.  All in all, my time in the bookstore was relatively short, and there was no way to adequately convey my deeper thoughts or level of gratitude there... but it was a fun Saturday in the Tulsa area, and I'm really glad I came out to support them!

This ended up being more of a tribute to their family than an official book review... but the book is exceptional!  How could it not be!?  I'll write a shorter review for Amazon later this week.  Ashley is a gifted writer and photographer, and her debut book is brimming over with high-quality photos from their trip - (mostly taken by her, but some courtesy of Corbett's impressive drone photography).  Anyway, following their family's trip in real-time was great fun, and it's awesome and expansive to get the behind-the-scenes stories in the book, vicariously experiencing the new people, places, foods, and great memories they shared!  

As a long-time blogger who aspires to be a book author someday, I can appreciate what opening this box meant to Ashley!  Well-deserved joy!!  I really love that Chris and each of the kids wrote their own essays that are included in it - what a gift and keepsake this book will be for their family, and what a gift for everyone who takes the time to read it!  Even the way Ashley formatted the book has inspired me creatively - it's unique, and it's exactly what it should be.  I am deeply thankful for Ashley's wisdom, warmth, and personal strength - over the past 15+ years, her subtle influence on my life has been positive and profound.  The Campbell family is such a light in the world, and I'm happy this book will carry that light a little further!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #229

"Study this Book of Instruction continually.

Mediate on it day and night

so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.

Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

~Joshua 1:8

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  This book.  The #1 book I would recommend as it's the #1 book outside the Bible that has changed the course of my life.  I reread it last week preparing for my presentation next week...

2.  On a very related note, I'm grateful for the many stories that demonstrate the positive impact a seasoned guide/mentor can have on someone's life and identity!   I love this topic, and I'm excited to create a video presentation on how it relates to counseling professors and their students + counselors and their clients!! ❤
**If you think of another good example of the guide/mentor from books, TV, or movies, please message me!! =)

3.  That Dad was celebrated well on his 72nd birthday, by his staff and family and friends!

4.  AFD and Edward V. Kaufholz, III. =)  I'm forever a fan of their friendship and so happy they're back to regular podcasting together!

5.  Dr. Ku, my Dallas IVF embryo transfer doctor, who is on Instagram as drknockedup, which made me laugh pretty hard this morning.  Our meeting early this week went well - what felt potentially catastrophic last week should only cause a minor delay either way, so I am grateful for his insight, sincerity, and medical care!

6.  PELOTON... after five great years, my membership expired on 7-27-25.  I did my final Intention Setting walk with Kirsten Ferguson on Friday the 25th.  I'm thankful for the rides, the laughs, the strength workouts, the walks and jogs, the yoga workouts, the stretches, the music, and the coaches who inspired me and made working out feel more accessible and so much more fun from the start of the pandemic to today!  At this point in my life and schedule, I  usually prefer outdoor jogs and listening to podcasts or chatting with friends, but I will always be grateful for the way Peloton shaped my life and my identity!  My "Board of Empowerment" would not exist without those coaches, and they walked me all the way through my first (and likely only) marathon!  I'm forever grateful for the way the Peloton coaches and community helped me experience the joy of movement and exercise!!
"Live, Learn, Love Well."  "Peace, love, power, and respect!!"  #lindseyclaire7  ❤

7.  A really good day of counseling yesterday!  I'm grateful to be building connections and feeling more hopeful and confident about this work, and for the reminder below that God's power to transform our lives and our world is abundant and infinite. His perspective and resources are unlimited, and He is happy to share with us. ❤

I love you and believe in you,
and I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead!
❤ ❤ ❤

Listening Library

1.  The Silent Patient  by Alex Michaelides -- Well written, but not really the type of book I enjoy!  It's a thriller or crime fiction book - I tried it because Alicia and Katie highly recommended it and really loved the plot twist, so I wanted to know more.  It was interesting, but I get enough crime stories in court. lol

2.  LeaderShift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell - The first of his books that I've read.  Good, but a little formulaic.  I'm on a leadership kick, so it was helpful to think about the ways my thinking needs to shift to be an inspiring leader (soloist to conductor, team uniformity to team diversity, pleasing people to challenging people, etc.)!  It also added some good content for my Leadership Philosophy paper, so yay for that!

3.  Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop - (Recommended by Alicia when she heard I was interested in grief counseling).  This explains lament from a Biblical perspective - the author is a dad grieving the loss of his child, and he writes about how the book of Lamentations offers a blueprint for venting frustrations and expressing hard emotions while keeping our hearts turned toward God.  Heavy, but good and aligned with my heart for helping people move forward with grief.  

4.  The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change by Damon West and Jon Gordon - Very short and not worth the money for the audiobook, honestly - it would've been 100x better if Damon had told more of his own story rather than stopping with the short metaphor.  He was on the Jefferson Fisher podcast (video HERE)... Damon had served time in prison, and he shared the advice another man gave him just before going in: Think of prison as a pot of boiling water... and you can be like a carrot that is weakened and softened by that environment.  You can be like an egg that becomes hard inside... Or you can be like the coffee bean that gradually changes the water surrounding it.  Y'all know I love metaphors, and this one works in all of life - wherever we may find ourselves, it's important to remember we have the power to color and change our environment rather than allowing it to weaken or harden us. ❤

5.  The 5 Second Rule by my friend, Mel Robbins - Mel is the queen of audiobooks!  She reads them in such a natural, conversational way that it's much more like listening to her podcast (which I also enjoy).  She's also the queen of expounding on a simple concept and giving you loads of practical examples and stories to help it stick.  The concept here is giving yourself a 5-4-3-2-1, GO!! countdown for any task you do not want to do - pushing forward and interrupting the part of your brain that overthinks things and talks you out of it.  Sounds simple, but it's effective, and it's revolutionizing my morning routine at the moment (no more snooze button). =)

6.  Visioneering: God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Vision by Andy Stanley - So good - my favorite of the three books on this list recommended by Alicia! =)  Andy writes eloquently about vision-casting, leadership, and the inimitable value of moral authority!!  He goes through the story of Nehemiah as he led the rebuilding of the temple - "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down."  My favorite part was definitely the section on moral authority, also known as the anointing of God on those who have a clear conscience before Him.  Andy said, "On the path to any big dream, you will be tempted to compromise.  We have to be willing to let go of our vision or dream before we would compromise our moral authority."  Embracing that concept has already cost me several hours of extra work, and paid off in higher self-respect, a deeper connection with God, and greater confidence in my creative writing and academic research abilities!!

Okay then, Happy Monday!  I love you and believe in you,

and I'm confident God will finish the good things He has begun in us and for us and through us!!

❤ ❤ ❤

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!

❤ ❤ ❤