colorful spines down
the home libraryโs back
a living being
fire-breathed
forest of words
scaled and long-limbed
hint of dangerous beauty
caresses and rustles
through my pine-needled
red hair.
A.M. Pine ๐ฒ
The Wood
Category: Books
๐ โฅ๏ธ23 Favorite Reads from 2023 โฅ๏ธ๐ ( I cheated a little)
Hello Friends! I trust the new year is easing in kindly for you. โบ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ๐๐ โ๏ธ๐It was hard to narrow down my favs, but here they are {not really in any particular order} with a small snippet to celebrate each one! I definitely picked the books and characters I keep thinking ๐ค about. How do you pick your favorites?
~2023~
1. Klara & the Sun โ๏ธ by Kazau Ishiguro ~ 5 ๐ a sympathetic story that considers what makes us human from the viewpoint of Klara, an Artificial Friend (AI) to an ill teenager, Josie. I keep thinking about all the themes and questions brought up in this one. I loved the audiobook! (Possibly my favorite of the year?! ๐ฑ)
2. The Sword of Kaigen โ๏ธ by M. L. Wang ~ 4 ๐ The set up to this Asian -inspired fantasy world was very (too) slow, but you find yourself gripped by a mother and son trapped in an insular community that is holding onto the old ways. They face danger and questions from within and without. Extremely violent, FYI, check trigger warnings. This is such a beautiful story about standing tall in the face of adversity and self-sacrifice.
3. Wormwood Abbey ๐ by Christina Baehr ~ 4 ๐ This was a cozy, Victorian-time period, family-centric fantasy story. I looooved the main protagonist, Edith Worms. She has a few secrets of her own, not unlike the new abbey her father has inherited. Looking forward to next in series!
4. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society ๐ฅ by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows ~ 5๐ (reread) I adored visiting again with these characters through the letters they exchanged. WWII historical fiction set on the island of Guernsey ๐ฌ๐ฌ. The audiobook was fantastic.
5. Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella ๐ by Megan Morrison ~ 4 ๐ This MG/YA retelling was deeper and more thoughtful than I expected. It felt like the themes of Elizabeth Gaskellโs North & South except with fairies. ๐ There were a few things I didnโt love, but overall, I sooo enjoyed this story of standing up for the suffering people in the world.
6. Evelina by Francis Burney ๐ ~ 4 ๐ Honestly, not a lot really happens in this coming-of-age Regency story. I found the excessive formality hilarious and enjoyed following teenager Evelina as she grows. I listened to this long novel and really enjoyed being along for the ride.
7. Gods, Graves, & Scholars ๐ฟ by C. W. Ceram~ 4 ๐ I found this nonfiction fascinating about the beginnings of archaeology and I loved how it made my Old Testament reading come alive. A bit dated, but a fascinating read!
8. Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth ๐ง๐ป๐จ๐ผโ๐ฆณ by Sheila OโConner ~ 5 ๐ Heartwarming and heart wrenching story about a young girl who befriends an ostracized Quaker on her paper route. Her and her brothers navigate the world of conscientious objectors during the Vietnam ๐ป๐ณ War.
9. Marilla of Green Gables ๐ก by Sarah McCoy ~ 4 ๐ I keep thinking about this one that my daughterโs friend recommended to me. Fun retelling of sorts for Anne fans, but I wasnโt expecting the historical fiction side about the Canadian Underground Railroad. Fascinating!
10. Ourselves, School Education, both by Charlotte Mason, and Parents are Peacemakers by Essex Cholmondeley ๐ญ๐จ๐ โ๏ธ~ 5 ๐(rereads) This was my cheat, lumping all these nonfiction educational beauties together. Powerful encouragement for raising children- educational philosophy at itโs finest.
11. Unearthing the Secret Garden ๐ชด by Marta McDowell ~ 5 ๐ Beautiful and truly lovely look at the 3 gardens created by Frances Hodgson Burnett in her lifetime that definitely shaped her life and writing.
12. Katherine Wentworth ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ by D. E Stevenson ~ 5 ๐so gentle, full of peace, hope, nature, and a charming cottage. Second chance story with lovely mother & children. This reminds me slightly of The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, although not quite as quirky!
13. Mrs. Lorimerโs Quiet Summer ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ by Molly Clavering ~ 5 ๐A sweet family tale set in beautiful Scottish scenery. I found out that Clavering and D.E. Stevenson were friends and that this is semi autobiographical.
14. Grapes of Wrath ๐ by John Steinbeck ~ 4 ๐ This is a Great Depression/Dust Bowl era historical fiction. This was gorgeously written, raw, heartfelt, and disturbing. Ma Joad was my favorite! Adult content and language.
15. Everything Sad is Untrue ๐ฎ๐ท by Daniel Nayeri ~ 4 ๐ A slow, but heart-wrenching stream-of-conscious nonlinear fictionalized memoir of a young Iranianโs experience as a religious refugee in Oklahoma. It took me a long time to get into this as it had a very unconventional writing style , but then I loved the thought-provoking themes it brought up.
16. Seasons of Your Heart ๐ by Macrina Wiederkehr ~ 5 ๐beautiful poetry and short Christian devotional entries. A bit unorthodox and slightly mystical, but really spoke to my weird, word lover side. My friend gave this to me as a gift and it was such a blessing!
17. The Belton Estate ๐น by Anthony Trollope ~ 5๐A super interesting story about a Victorian woman who bucks tradition in a situation involving male entailment of property. This had so many interesting themes around marriage of convenience and friendship with a woman of โdubiousโ character.
18. The Historian ๐ by Elizabeth Kostova ~ 4 ๐A deep, rich historical thriller with a slight fantastical twist. The atmospheric setting of this was a amazing! Told through multiple timelines and flashbacks, the story of a daughter tracing her fatherโs discovery of a strange book with connections to Dracula. This has a lot of travel, Balkan culture, history, and so much more.
19. The Last Cuentista ๐ช by Donna Barbara Higuera ~ 4 ๐This was a darker, dystopian, scifi middle grade book and coming of age story. I loved the main character Petra and how she kept hope alive through storytelling.
20. Pat of the Silverbush ๐ฒ by L.M. Montgomery ~ 4 ๐wow! So beautifully atmospheric! I loved this book for the writing, but overall, this was not a happy book. It felt sad and lonely. However, it was full of interesting, quirky characters that Montgomery does so well. I really enjoyed discussing this book with Chantel Reads All Day YouTube channel.
21. Grace of Wild Things ๐งโโ๏ธ by Heather Fawcett ~ 5 ๐This 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.
22. Dune ๐ชฑ by Frank Herbert ~ 4 ๐I 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. I loved Lady Jessicaโs perspective.
23. Julie ๐๏ธ by Catherine Marshall ~ 4 ๐A 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 fatherโs 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.
A few honorable mentions: The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer (ridiculously hilarious), Hindsโ Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard (faith-building reread), All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (heartwarming), Two Old Women by Velma Wallis (inspiring), Distilled Genius by Susan Branch (inspiring), and Cottage Fairy Companion by Paola Merrill (inspiring). All the poetry I read was also SO enriching!
2023 was a โYear of Changeโ for me and I found myself drawn to darker stories that show the protagonist overcoming! I had a wonderful reading year mostly due to narrating, interacting, and discussing what I was reading with so many wonderful friends (Voxer and Zoom for the win!), writing in my journals (here and in the regular paper & ink kind ๐คฃ), and sharing a little on Booktube. Engaging deeply instead of just inhaling mindlessly. Granted I still read my fair share of fluff, ๐ฅฐ but my reading life felt more life-giving this year. How about you? How was your reading in 2023? Iโd love to chat below!
๐๐๐ 4th Quarter Favorite Reads ~October, November, and December 2023~ ๐๐๐
Hi ๐ friends! Trying to close out my yearly reads here. Itโs so fun to go back and see all the years of great reading lists. โฅ๏ธ
~October~
Pillars of the House Volume 2 by Charlotte Mary Yonge – 4 โญ๏ธ I had read the first Volume in the 3rd quarter and honestly, the Voxer/Zoom discussion group through Booktuber Kate Howeโs Patreon made this book come alive. The two volumes were over 1,000 pages combined! ๐ณ๐ 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 Iโm so glad I did!
Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett- 4 โญ๏ธ 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 โญ๏ธ 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 โญ๏ธ 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. Iโm still thinking about this one.
Parents are Peacemakers by Essex Cholmondeley- 5โญ๏ธ 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 โญ๏ธ Honestly, this was such a fun adventureโฆthink Arabian nights and a gorgeously, immersive setting. Treasure, djinn, and treachery lurks around every corner! Older YA as itโs violent, but pretty clean. Iโm worried about the others in the trilogy ruining my reading experience with this one. ๐ I may just stop here. ๐
Dune by Frank Herbert – 4โญ๏ธ 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 โญ๏ธ 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 fatherโs 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 – 4โญ๏ธ 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. Iโm looking forward to the second coming out this month?! The author is a mother of a large family. ๐
Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick – 4โญ๏ธ This lovely, small town story follows 12 yo Truly Lovejoy as she adjusts to her familyโs 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 โญ๏ธ 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 โญ๏ธ 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 youโd 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? Iโm 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 โ23 list! Happy Reading! โฅ๏ธ๐
โจโ๏ธHappy Winter Solstice โจโ๏ธ ~ winter is a wonderful time for poetryโฆ
Winter is just about here, friends! โ๏ธโฅ๏ธOne of my delights this year has been dipping into a fair amount of poetry. Here are some highlights for you to consider adding to your stack for next yearโฆcozy up, grab a hot drink , and read on โ๏ธ. Enjoy!
Mary Oliverโs Devotions ~ I received this as a Christmas gift a few years ago and have been sipping from it here and there. Oliver has such an eye for life-giving details in nature and she asks us questions that go just a bit deeper. I love that about her. As a modern poet, she is definitely a bit more approachable and easier to ease into than some of your classic poets. Not every one of her poems hits for me, but sometimes one line or a word will meet me right where Iโm at in that moment. Iโm often surprised by her.
Emily Bronte ~ I was extremely surprised how much I loved this dark and brooding poetry. Just like the all the Bronte sisterโs fiction, this was sooo atmospheric and because she talks of death frequently, it actually made me contemplate how Iโm living life. I found the Everymanโs Library Pocket Poets collection to be a wonderful selection of her poetry and I love the small size of these editions.
William Wordsworth ( and donโt forget Dorothy) ~ I love the poems and writings of this brother and sister duo. Williamโs beautiful poetry centered in life around The Lake District, Cumbria, England really feeds my soul and my faith. He really grasps the touch of God in nature and it is such a testimony to me. I love his poetic storytelling, too. Dorothyโs journals are so simple, domestic, yet so compelling. They both have that artistic eye. โฅ๏ธ I loved sharing Wordsworth with our Charlotte Mason co op homeschool group last term.
Gerald Manly Hopkins ~ Wow. Mr. Hopkinโs use of language and metaphor is so gorgeously layered and rich. I will confess I struggle a bit with his writing richness, but if I have a little patience and read just to enjoy each word, I walk away blessed. His wrestling with faith and art is so relatable and real. Heโs one of the hardest poets for me to read, but also one of my favorites.
Robert MacFarlane The Lost Spells ~ I would be remiss to not mention this gorgeously illustrated (Jackie Morris) collection of modern nature poetry. MacFarlane is a lover of Hopkinโs wordsmithing and the homeschool co op and I loved looking at both poets together earlier this year. MacFarlaneโs wordsmithing, storytelling, and putting himself into the everyday life of animals and plants is just lovely. He is another poet whose work is perfect for those new to poetry!
Kim Piรฑa ~ this is an online friend that I was blessed to โmeetโ YEARS ago, through blogging. ๐๐โฅ๏ธ I love Kimโs word play, almost like a songwriter/compelling poem-rap style, and I love how she asks deeper questions tangled with the daily mundanity of life. Her Instagram account is lovely, too!
Robert Frost, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Sara Teasdale ~ Iโm extremely new to these three poets and canโt wait to really sink into their work more in the new year. I was familiar with a few famous poems, but I recently got Mirror of the Heart, a Teasdale collection, Rilkeโs Everymanโs Library Pocket Poet collection, and The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Latham, and am so excited for new words to drink up.
I also asked for two new poetry collections for Christmas and canโt wait to dive into these more!
Lastly, I have two poetry nonfiction books that Iโd love to get too, just to keep growing and learning about this life-giving art.
How about you? Do you read poetry? Who are your favorites? โฅ๏ธโ๏ธโฅ๏ธHappiest Winter Beginnings and Christmas ๐ to you all, friends!
Wednesday Wonders
There is wonder all around us…
Listeningโฆinteresting audiobook by Gretchen Rubin and โPlease Donโt Changeโ ~ reminding myself of the unchanging faithfulness of Jesus!
Readingโฆfinishing up the quiet, intriguing Makioka Sisters by Junichio Tanizaki.
Watchingโฆreading journal setup videos! Iโm much simpler than this style, but itโs still fun watching others ideas.
Noticingโฆthe Beaver Moon and gorgeous sky lately. Lift up your eyes, friends! โฅ๏ธ
What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? ๐คโจ๐คโจ๐ค
Monday Ponderings {November 13th}
โDoes it make you sad that your son doesnโt believe in God?โ Jacques asked his grandfather.
โIt used to, yes. But now I tell myself, the important thing is that God believes in your father.โ
Anne Berest, The Postcard, p. 80
Monday Ponderings {October 30th}
On the brow of Dombey, Time and his brother Care had set some marks, as on a tree that was to come down in good time-remorseless twins they are for striding through their human forests, notching as they go-while the countenance of Son was crossed and recrossed with a thousand little creases, which the same deceitful Time would take delight in smoothing out and wearing away with the flat part of his scythe, as a preparation of the surface for his deeper operations.
Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, p. 1
Wednesday Wonders ๐๐โจ
There is wonder all around usโฆ
Listeningโฆ slowly to this podcast – lots of food for thought.
Readingโฆ I SO enjoyed Victober and am continuing my Victorian reading. Currently, Iโm really enjoying the middle grade mystery, A Girl Called Justice, about a homeschooled girl in England who has to go to a creepy girlโs boarding school after the death of her mother.
WatchingโฆI absolutely adored BBCโs Cranford miniseries and hope to get to Return to Cranford soon.
Noticingโฆ the sky has been so expressive above the gorgeous tree tops.
What have you been listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? โจ๐ฅ๐๐ง๏ธ๐ค๏ธ๐พ๐๐๐
๐๐ค3rd Quarter Favorite Reads๐๐ค July ๐ August ๐ September ๐ 2023
Hello ๐ Friends! Back here for a favorite ๐คฉ post to share with you. These are quick snippets of favorite reads from the summer! I was surprised by all the nonfiction, coming-of-age, and Victorian favs. โฃ๏ธ
Charlotte Fairlie by D.E. Stevenson – charming story – about a single woman, head of a girlโs school who feels a bit stuck. She finds herself getting involved in one of her studentโs lives, helping her through her parents divorce. I especially loved how Charlotte and the student, Tess, help another student and her brother who are in an abusive situation.
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri – slow, but heart-wrenching stream-of-conscious fictionalized memoir of a young Iranianโs experience as a religious refugee in Oklahoma. It took me a long time to get into this as it had a very unconventional writing style , but then I loved the thought-provoking themes it brought up.
Seasons of Your Heart: Prayers & Reflections by Macrina Wiederkehr – beautiful poetry and short Christian devotional entries. A bit unorthodox and slightly mystical, but really spoke to my weird, word lover side.
The Belton Estate by Anthony Trollope – super interesting story about a Victorian woman who bucks tradition in a situation involving male entailment of property. This had so many interesting themes around marriage of convenience and friendship with a woman of โdubiousโ character.
The Historian by Elizabeth Koskova – deep, rich historical thriller with slight fantastical twist. The atmospheric setting of this was a amazing! Told through multiple timelines and flashbacks, the story of a daughter tracing her fatherโs discovery of a strange book with connections to Dracula. This has a lot of travel, Balkan culture, history, and so much more. Iโd love to reread someday with the audiobook.
Klara & the Sun by Kazau Ishiguro – I listened to the audiobook of this and I loved being in the head of the AI Klara. The interesting way Ishiguro made you think and view Klara with sympathy. The teens Josie and Rick were interesting characters and this book brought up so many themes and questions on what does it mean to be human, love, technology, loneliness, etc.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera – this was a darker, dystopian middle grade book coming of age story. I loved the main character Petra and how she kept hope alive through storytelling.
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg – I loved this heart wrenching biography on Montgomery.
Three Men in a Boat ( To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome – This was charming story and the travel/ nature writing superb. It had a humorous, arm-chair philosophical twist to it and it was a bit slapstick and so relatable.
The Stokesley Secret by Charlotte Mary Yonge – Christian fiction novella from the Victorian era! This may come across โpreachyโ to some, but I loved this tale of Miss Fosbrook, a young governess, to a large family. She was compassionate, but just. So charming!
The Cottage Fairy Companion by Paola Merrill – I donโt totally connect with the authorโs YouTube channel, but I loved her book. Overall, her watercolors, photos, poetry, and short essays were sweet and inspiring. Her and I donโt totally agree on worldview, but I still think about the gentleness of this title.
Home for Christmas by Susan Branch – a very short memoir of her childhood Christmasโ in a large family. The care that Branchโs mother put into everything was so inspiring.
All-of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor – This was a charming story of a religious Jewish family of 5 girlโs living in New York in the early 20th century. The audiobook was fantastic! I loved the sweet librarian and the mother was lovely!
Pillars of the House Volume 1 by Charlotte Mary Yonge – the first half of a massive family saga surrounding the lives of an orphaned family of 13. An in-depth coming of age story that Iโm LOVING reading with a wonderful bunch of Victorian literature lovers. ๐
Distilled Genius by Susan Branch – a charming collection of handwritten and illustrated quotes. Branch and I differ on worldviews a bit, but I really adored this overall.
Two Old Women by Velma Wallis – a short story based on true events of two tribal Alaskan women who get left behind as their band is starving. A tale of survival and forgiveness. My friend recommended this and I loved it!
Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery – wow! So beautifully atmospheric! I loved this book for the writing, but overall, this was not a happy book. It felt sad and lonely. However, it was full of interesting, quirky characters that Montgomery does so well. Another coming of age tale that I listened to via a YouTube recording, as one of the main characters has a heavy Irish accent.
How about you? What were your favorite reads for the summer? Have you read any of these above? Letโs chat! ๐๐ค๐โ๏ธ๐๐ปโจ๐ฅ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐ฅโ๏ธ๐จ
Monday Ponderings {October 2nd} ๐๐
The house remembered her whole life. It had always been the sameโฆit had never changedโฆnot really. Only little surface changes. How she loved it! She loved it in morning rose and sunset amber, and best of all in the darkness of night, when it loomed palely through the gloom and was all her own. This beauty was hersโฆall hers. Life could never be empty at Silver Bush. Somebody had pitied her onceโฆโso out of this world.โ Pat laughed. Out of the world? Nay, she was in the world hereโฆher world. โ I dwell among my own people.โ Wise Shulamite!
A mysterious content flooded her. This was home.
L. M. Montgomery, Pat of the Silver Bush, p. 278
๐๐Ode to September๐๐ whole person work check-in, book chat, and more
There is just something about September๐พ๐๐ that has gotten under my skin and deep down into my soul. The golden tinge, the lazy, drift-y woodsmoke through the warm sunโs slant, the cool, autumn-touched mornings, and the swirl of leaves ๐ behind my van as I go a toolinโ down the road. Sigh. I declare September as my โnew yearโ, the sitting among fluttering Queen Anneโs Lace with the Chicory and Golden Rod as my only resolution. Oh, glorious September, donโt go with your woody smell of freshly sharpened pencils, favorite cardigans pulled out, and bold Zinnias flaring out of gardens. The cicadas screaming buzz, green speckled grasshoppers, and that deep, dark secretive cricket singing from behind the refrigerator. There is an end of summertime, early autumn ๐ rustle and crunch to everything, cornstalks, leaves, and a rattle and roll to the landscape. It is SO unbelievably beautiful and Iโm thankful for new seasons and new, fresh beginnings.
Never put the key to your Happiness in somebody elseโs pocket.
Tom Ziegler
{Previous Whole Person Work Posts}
Spiritual:
Iโm really trying to get into focused prayer and devotions. I have a well established devotional time, but it has been very distracted and disjointed. Iโm loving the second half of Ezekiel! Itโs an intense book, but oh, thereโs some richness and encouragement, too.
Again He said to me, โProphesy to these bones, and say to them, โO dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD GOD to these bones: โ Surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live.
Ezekiel 37:4-5, NKJV
Physical:
Iโve really struggled and I know itโs because my good habits were not well established again after letting them fall by the wayside. Homeschooling began and it has been a battle for me in getting enough well, everything. ๐๐ Sleep, water, walks, and healthy, nourishing meals. Pray for me to slowly integrate these back in as our homeschool days are evening out now.
Mental:
Honestly, with school beginning, Iโve felt myself feeling โcrazyโ and even though homeschooling is going well, itโs just that added โon- nessโ that I know contributes. We have extra outside obligations, also, and I know that adds to this feeling. Iโm recognizing I need to adjust some of my summer habits and be very choosy about what Iโm giving mental space to and also remembering to judge my feelings by Truth. Taking my thoughts captive! My sister sent me this quote to think on:
The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not be able to do something, and enter Godโs realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His Almighty Power. Nothing is too small for His love.
Corrie ten Boom
Emotional:
Iโve been *trying* to turn off social media (curse you, Booktube- jk, jk! ) and actually use my hands to make bouquets, write penpals, and lately, create altered composition notebooks. Creating with my hands always helps encourage and calm my emotions. We took a little โTookishโ adventure the other day to a cemetery with gorgeous leaves and had a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie ๐ช snack there, yes, I know thatโs sort of weird , but we loved reading the history of peopleโs lives on the headstones ๐ชฆ and enjoying the autumn atmosphere. We then visited a new-to-us public library and it was fun setting aside my Baggins habits of wanting to hide in my house all the time. ๐๐
Servanthood: thinking ๐ค on this quote! ๐จโฅ๏ธ๐
Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. Every time we crucify the flesh, we crucify our pride and arrogance.
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, p. 130
Verse focus:
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase and they will be secure on their land. โฅ๏ธ
from Ezekiel 34, NASB
Last, but certainly not least, Iโve been so encouraged and enjoying my reading. I finished Volume 1. of Charlotte Mary Yongeโs delightful family saga, The Pillars of the Home, with my favorite online book people, Victorian literature lovers. Victorian literature is fast becoming a favorite genre! We will continue Volume 2 for Victober! I also SO enjoyed Distilled Genius by Susan Branch, a collection of her illustrations and hand lettered quotes. Branch and I differ in some worldview and lifestyle aspects, but overall, I loooved this collection. Iโm currently rereading for the third time, her Marthaโs Vineyard: Isle of Dreams, one of my favorite memoirs of all time.
How about you? How are you? ๐ธ๏ธ๐ช๐ท๏ธ๐๐ชฆ๐๐๐โฅ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ๐๐๐๐๐๏ธโค๏ธโ๐ฉนโฃ๏ธ๐๐ Please chat below, Iโd love to catch up!
Monday Ponderings ๐ฏ๏ธ{September 18th}
It was really beautiful to come home at nightโฆto step out of darkness into the light and warmth of home.
L.M. Montgomery, Pat of Silver Bush, p. 67
A.M. Pine - Hearth Ridge Reflections 