The smell coming out of our public library was intoxicating! 😍♥️
I really enjoy this app and that they make Saturday a time of spiritual reflection over the past week. ♥️🙏🏻 I highly recommend listening (you can listen on their website, too!)
I jotted down their questions this week and found it so refreshing and challenging to honestly pray through them. It’s sobering to deeply examine oneself in the light of our Lord!
Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
Planning for autumn, deck flowers, and black coffee in my Betsy, Tacy, & Tib mug…Pulling out my owl vase , a few black-eyed beauties from my weedy flower bed…Good bye, summer mugs…have a good rest in the cupboard…love all the green 🌿🌱🪴🌲🌳Welcome, Autumn mugs…you feel new & fresh 🍁🍂🍄🍄🟫Butterflies and moths everywhere…🦋🦋🦋Mysterious and swoony 💗paths…where does it lead? Restored steam tractors and my hubby’s sheer delight in this 150 Case…spark show was lovely! I really loved the quiet tinkling noise this tractor makes. It’s so peaceful compared to the truck pulls! 😅 Interesting and inspiring story about the restoration/reproduction of this road locomotive. Peaches and new library reads… 💕Sky & clouds…such gifts 🩵🤍🩵🤍🩵This photo. What a brave dad! 😂😍🥹♥️
Watching… I love the peaceful atmosphere of Cath’s vlogs. If you love cozy stationary, journaling, or slow reading reflections, her channel is for you. We don’t perfectly line up in reading tastes, but I enjoy her videos so much.
Noticing…the grasshoppers fleeing the edge of the road as I crunch past on my walk. The golden edge to the weeds and fields.
What are you listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? 🥰♥️
The times are so unfriendly. Play me something, would you, Rainy?
Leif Enger, I Cheerfully Refuse
{starting my 180 Days Project! More about it as the days come and go! How are you all? Blessings over your week. Don’t forget to ‘play a little music’ against these unfriendly times! 😌♥️}
Listening… I really enjoyed Episode S6E85 Morning Time for Moms, Part 4, with Christina Baehr, here. I couldn’t figure out how to directly link. Christina is a cozy fantasy author and homeschooling mom who chatted with Cindy Rollins. Thanks to my friend, Kate, for telling me about it!
Reading…Know & Tell by Karen Glass. I was desperately in need of a refresher on all things Charlotte Mason as I plan our upcoming homeschool year. I’m entering my 15th year of homeschooling. I’m so thankful to God for His faithfulness. 😭♥️🌿
Watching…This YouTube channel about Charlotte Mason homeschooling.
Noticing… raindrops on hollyhock buds, endless blue skies, and the way the barn swallows swoop around me when I’m on the mower. Not to mention the smell of freshly cut grass! 🥰🥰🥰
How ‘bout you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? ♥️🌿📚😍
Hi 👋 friends! Trying to close out my yearly reads here. It’s so fun to go back and see all the years of great reading lists. ♥️
~October~
Pillars of the House Volume 2 by Charlotte Mary Yonge – 4 ⭐️ I had read the first Volume in the 3rd quarter and honestly, the Voxer/Zoom discussion group through Booktuber Kate Howe’s Patreon made this book come alive. The two volumes were over 1,000 pages combined! 😳😂 This followed generations of a large, orphaned family in England and it was heartwarming and inspiring. I learned a lot about the Oxford Movement from the group discussions which I found fascinating. The community aspect kept me going and I’m so glad I did!
Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett- 4 ⭐️ This was a charming middle grade fantasy twist on Anne of Green Gables. A young girl has nowhere to go and attempts to apprentice herself to the local, grumpy witch. I loved the found family, adventures, and gorgeous writing style. Fawcett has been very hit or miss for me, but I did enjoy this one a lot!
Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell – 5 ⭐️ This has become something of a yearly reread for me and this past Victober was no exception. I absolutely loved listening to this favorite Victorian classic again. So many great characters in this story of a widowed country doctor and his daughter and everything surrounding his remarriage. All of the lovely villagers, class tensions, and life drama makes for a wonderful story. The BBC film adaptation is wonderful, too!!!
~November~
Keturah & Lord Death by Martine Leavitt – 4 ⭐️ An YA clean fantasy w/ light romance, this was so unique. Keturah has made a deal and she has a short time to complete her end of the bargain! I found the setting so compelling and I loved Keturah as a character. I’m still thinking about this one.
Parents are Peacemakers by Essex Cholmondeley- 5⭐️ I love this short nonfiction pamphlet on parenting from a friend of Charlotte Mason. I have reread this multiple times. I love the focus on the needs of each person in a family. So good! Great way to refresh your parenting and/or homeschooling.
Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah – 4 ⭐️ Honestly, this was such a fun adventure…think Arabian nights and a gorgeously, immersive setting. Treasure, djinn, and treachery lurks around every corner! Older YA as it’s violent, but pretty clean. I’m worried about the others in the trilogy ruining my reading experience with this one. 😂 I may just stop here. 🛑
Dune by Frank Herbert – 4⭐️ I listened to the audiobook of this one and was so pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this political, sci-fi family story. It moved EXTREMELY slowly, but it was just what I needed at the time. I loved thinking of the influence this had on Star Wars.
~December~
Julie by Catherine Marshall- 4 ⭐️ A buddy read with my penpal via Voxer. This was a wonderful Depression era historical fiction story set in Pennsylvania. I loved the male characters in this book, and Julie and her father’s relationship was such an interesting dynamic. Julie and her family take over a failing newspaper in this coming of age story that brought up so many thought-provoking themes.
Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr – 4⭐️ I thought this clean Victorian era fantasy with a side of dragons was extremely fun and I loved the main character, Edith Worms. This had Jane Eyre- vibes. I’m looking forward to the second coming out this month?! The author is a mother of a large family. 😍
Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick – 4⭐️ This lovely, small town story follows 12 yo Truly Lovejoy as she adjusts to her family’s move after her dad had a terrible accident in the military. PTSD, family, new friends, Shakespeare, and birding are just a few things in this charming middle grade.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – 5 ⭐️ This was a reread, but I listened and I adored being back with these characters even more than the first time. An unique look at WWII from a different perspective, told through letters, and so very real and humorous.
Dombey & Son by Charles Dickens – 4 ⭐️ I just finished this, but read/listened to most of it in December. It dragged just a wee bit at about 3/4th the way through, but just what you’d expect from Mr. Dickens. Amazing, quirky cast of characters and a deeper conversation on so many issues/levels. This focused a lot on parental and child relationships. It was very good! I loved so many characters!
How was your last quarter of reading for 2023? Any plans for this year? I’m thinking about how to share my reading in the new year. May change it up? Not sure. Watch soon for my 23 favorite reads of ‘23 list! Happy Reading! ♥️😁
..is my surrender to the crushing narrowness of earthly existence the beginning of my liberation from it, precisely because this surrender is my “Amen” to your human life, my way of saying yes to your human coming, which happens in a manner so contrary to my expectations?
Karl Rahner, Watch for the Light, p. 74
Spiritual
I’ve begun a reread of The Life of Prayer by Edith Schaeffer and have really been enjoying a refreshing and convicting look at prayer. I’m loving how she lays out that prayer is first worship, then for repentance, and FINALLY for requests. A reminder that I sorely needed, (looking at you, whiny prayer journal)! 😂📓😌 I decided to choose a reread for my Advent devotions from my shelf, Watch for the Light: Readings forAdvent and Christmas, and it has been so thought-provoking. I’ve streamlined my prayer journal a bit, also, to help refresh my reflection time. I’m also slowly buddy reading The Christian Year by John Keble with two friends this year.
Physical
Honestly, I’ve made some huge health goals, but have really been struggling. I tend to hide and binge 🥲 eat through my exhaustion or big emotions. 😩🖤 Food addiction is a real thing, friends. This trying to process in unhealthy ways. I’m laying out here what I mentioned to my support group, too, I’d love to fit back into these lovely Carhartt overalls that I had got for myself in 2021. But more than size, I want to learn to be vulnerable with people when I need help, deepen my prayer practice, and use my love of creativity and journaling to process my thoughts and feelings. I acknowledge here, too, that sometimes I actually need to get OUT of my head/books/social media 😖 and feelings and change my thoughts upward to Jesus and outward to others. 🖤
Mental
I’m finding that taking short walks with music or an audiobook has been clearing the mental cobwebs. I’ve also really enjoyed instrumental music/soundtracks. I’m seeing that I’m handling the early sunset and waning light of this year much better than last year, by pressing into the unique beauty of THIS season. I’ve REALLY been blessed by poetry this year and hope to do a post about that soon.
Emotional
I’ve been noticing lately that overwhelming feelings threaten to drown me if I don’t purposefully choose to take life in small moments. Our whole, ‘wild and precious life’ is made up of these minute moments. I’ve forgotten the way of small bits of joy and gratitude a bit, 🥲 and it is always so wonderful to hear that still, Small Voice gently guiding us back into The Way. I found that free with my Audible account, the audiobook of Hinds Feet on High Places, is available and while I know that the allegory is very ‘on the nose’ in this book, it is one of my favorite books of all time. I identify with Much-Afraid SO much, but I mostly love this book for the picture of Jesus, my Lovely Shepherd.
Beautiful Jackie Morris postcard from a friend.
Servanthood
My son and I were talking the other day and we realized that this really isn’t an easy area. Some individuals may be a bit more servant-like naturally, but I know that I need to practice it and make it a habit. I’ve been working hard to reach out consciously to one person a day. This could be a text or popping a card in the post, focused listening to those right in front of me, or bigger things as the Holy Spirit leads. Of course, I also end up being SO blessed 🥲 in return by this.
But as for me, I will watch ♥️expectantly for the LORD. I will wait ♥️ for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. ♥️ Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; ♥️ Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. ♥️
from Micah 7, I recommend listening to this song after savoring these verses.
Thank you for being here. You are a blessing and are loved. How ‘bout you? How are YOU truly doing? Glad to be doing this life with you. 🥰🌾🍄✨🌙❄️🥗☕️🌲🍂🍁🖤📝📚📖📓💌📬🗝️🧺
I’ve been plugging away at my devotionals, Bible, reading, and journaling. I’ve really tried to concentrate and put a little more focus into it as I had gotten so distracted this summer during my meditation time. I’ve also noticed I’ve really enjoyed taking notes at church, helping me to concentrate. There’s so many things the Lord has been showing me, He is SO faithful! I’m excited about Advent readings soon.
Physical
I’m back in my food program called Bright Line Eating. It has been a bit bumpy, but October was the best so far! I’ve been texting a friend for accountability and that’s really helped. Writing my food down for each day helps with not making bad, emotional decisions. I’ve gone back to Instagram after a 10 month break for the purpose of using it as an encouragement to others, but also to keep myself accountable in many areas. I will watch carefully my usage. I’ve been re-listening to Rezoom by Susan Peirce Thompson and it’s been to good to refresh myself. I have to be purposeful about my health, so I can be of service to others.
My son took this picture! ♥️✨🍁🍂
Mental
I’m challenging myself to read a little deeper and I have some great buddy reads lined up in November. Dombey & Son, The Makioka Sisters, Countess Kate by Charlotte Mary Yonge, and Julie by Catherine Marshall. Nourishing food for my brain instead of “candy”. I’ve been reading more poetry, especially Emily Bronte, Rilke, and Sara Teasdale. I’m trying to write more poetry too, as a healthy, healing way to work through emotions and feelings (instead of eating and binging on media). I’m thinking on the tagline, “rage and grace”, that I saw on the artist RM’s Instagram a few days ago.
Emotional
This ties into the mental category too, while in reality, all of this is in relationship together, but I’ve been journaling, writing penpals, taking nature photos, and dipping into seasonal books. Taking drives in nature (the leaves!!!!) and keeping track of the moon phases has been a relaxing and enjoyable experience lately. God’s creation is a gift given for the taking if I just open my eyes and heart and RECEIVE. ♥️✨
Servanthood
Our homeschool activities are in full swing and it’s been good and stretching for me to give! 😬🥱😂 We’ve been getting back into better daily rhythms and I’m continually learning that servanthood can mean something as simple as shutting my mouth and listening. 😶🤐😂♥️
First snow, leaves in glass ✨🍁🍂♥️
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.
from The Beatitudes, Jesus
Light ✨
How about you? How are you doing? I’d love to chat in comments or drop me an email! 🌾🎃♥️🍄✨🍁🖤🍂💌📚 Blessings over your new November month ahead!
A.M. Pine - Hearth Ridge Reflections 