Monthly Miscellany: April Edition
Recent Reads & Favorite Things
If you’re new here, welcome! This is my monthly recap of things that I love, whether it’s a book, podcast, song, or nail polish color. If I love it, you’re going to hear about it! I love hearing what you’re enjoying as well, so please feel free to leave a comment or hit reply to this email and share your faves with me!
Life Lately
I currently have close to a dozen post drafts on Substack and Google Docs. My head is full of words, but I’m having a hard time completing my thoughts. I think of post titles at night when I can’t sleep (which is far more often than not); I’ll come up with a fun sentence or two while driving home from work; I’ll think of a few killer lines of poetry while taking a shower1. I assure myself that I’ll remember all these wonderful expressions of my writing talent when I’m able to commit them to digital paper (my hand cramps too much for me to write on actual paper), but if you’re a writer, you know what I’m about to say. I never remember. At most, I can summon up a phrase or maybe only a couple of words, but I never come close to that magical writing that lived in my head.
My actual life has been a bit like my writing life: disjointed and hard to capture. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, but I am not willing to share most of it right now. At one point in my life I would not have had people in my “real life” that I could share these things with; now I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by people who love me and who are helping me carry the burdens I have found myself encumbered by these past several months. I am not alone, even though my darker moments try to tell me otherwise. The Lord is near, even though I am quick to question him. I am loved, even though I find myself quite unlovable at times.
These things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love2.
Recent Reads
I finished 2 books in April: Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole and Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz3. Missing in Flight ended up being a book with an interesting premise that failed to deliver a solid execution (2 stars). As for Dinner for Vampires, I never watched One Tree Hill (the show that made Lenz famous), but I had seen good reviews for Lenz’s memoir and wanted to check it out4. The tone of the book seemed pretty uneven to me, but the story of Bethany getting sucked into what turned out to be a religious cult was both fascinating and sad. I wished she had written more about where she currently stands in regards to faith. (4 stars)
I’m still reading and appreciating Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies (it’s a short book, but I’m taking it in small chunks), and I’m also reading The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and am definitely engrossed in it.
Favorite Music
“Easy Burden” by John Mark McMillan. I’m enjoying McMillan’s whole album, Cosmic Supreme.
“In the Dark” by JJ Heller. I cried the first time I heard this song. It’s like it was written for me.
“Malibu” by Mumford & Sons. Mumford kind of fell off my radar for a while, but this song grabbed me right away, and I’ve enjoyed listening to their new album.
“Overthink It Baby” by Fielder. Fielder is a duo composed of Skye Peterson and Addison Agen, and I really like their style.5
Favorite Finds Around the Web
“Hello, I Want Your Life” by Bethany Allen. This post was Relatable with a capital R.
I want to host a book swap after reading Kelsey’s article!
“The Kids Are Up Past Seven and Other Tales of Recalibration” by Molly Flinkman. We are long past the days of the 7:00PM bedtime, and man, sometimes I really miss it! But these days are good too.
“Heart of Stone” by Ashlee Gadd. I am a dog lover through and through, and I adored this essay.
I wanted to get some type of durable drawstring bag to use at the ballfields this season (both girls are playing softball), and Stephen and I both ended up getting this bag. (He got black and white.) It’s the perfect size and even holds my Owala in the outer side pocket.
Reader Poll
That’s it for this month’s miscellany. What are you reading, listening to, or watching lately? Please tell me all the good stuff.
You and I both know all of this internal writing is not in fact literary genius, but humor me.
See 1 Corinthians 13:13
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If you’re wanting a gossipy tell-all about One Tree Hill, this book is not that.
I do think the song should be called “DON’T Overthink It Baby,” but I’m not a songwriter.
I’m totally hyped for you to host a book swap now—truly the best party! Also, I’ve had my eye on God of the Woods but can’t tell how unsettling it is (I like suspenseful/thriller but not unsettling, which is a fine line). I also keep hearing about Dinner for Vampires, maybe this is my sign to actually read it.
I'm so glad you have people in your life to talk to! I enjoyed the Dinner for Vampires book, but I was also a huge One Tree Hill fan back in the day!