Monthly Miscellany: June Edition
Recent Reads and Favorite Things
If you’re new here, 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! I found lots to love this month, so bear with me.
Recent Reads
I finally finished The Rose Code1, about female codebreakers during World War II, and I loved it.
This month’s book club pick was Bono’s book Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. I confess to not having made it through this whole book because it’s long and I guess I’m lazy (although to be fair, the audiobook is TWENTY hours long). I highly recommend listening to the audiobook because Bono reads it, and his accent takes the whole experience to another level.
As you can see, tt’s been a slow reading month. I’ve only read 16 books this year, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m probably not going to make it to my goal of 45 for the year. Sigh.
Favorite Music
“Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. I love Leanna’s voice, and this song is powerful. I have listened to it every day recently.
“I Still Do” by Maggie Rogers. This song is rather melancholy, but I love the lyrics.
“You Said I Am (Behold and Believe)” by Shane & Shane. Shane & Shane premiered this song at The Gospel Coalition’s Women’s conference last weekend (which I sadly did not attend), and I love it so much.
“Find Me in This Cave” by Caroline Cobb. Caroline said that she wrote this specifically for people who deal with anxiety or depression, and the lyrics are honest and true.
Favorite Podcasts
“Hope + Help for Waiting on God with Mark Vroegop” on the Hope + Help Podcast with Christine Chappell. Mark just recently released a new book on waiting called Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life (the title alone makes me want to buy it!), and he discusses some of the books main ideas on this episode. We all hate waiting, but it’s an unavoidable part of life, and I appreciated his perspective.
“The Snack Episode” on The Lazy Genius podcast. If you too tire of the “Can I have a snack?” question, this episode could be helpful! Lots of tips and ideas for how to handle the snack dilemma.
“The Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt” on the Good Inside podcast. I don’t know about you, but I am seeing/reading about the book The Anxious Generation EVERYWHERE. I got the book on Libby and then my loan lapsed before I had time to read it all. I definitely want to come back to it, though. This podcast is a good primer for what Haidt’s main ideas are. He talks about the negative impacts that social media and smartphones have had on teens. I highly recommend listening to it. (Note: I have not listened to any other episodes of this podcast, so this is not an endorsement for the podcast itself, just this episode.)
Favorite Articles
“Pep Talk” by Maggie Smith. “What does it mean—what does it take—to be a writer? To be able to claim that identity?” These words were so encouraging to me, as someone who always says, “I like to write” but never says, “I am a writer.”
“Everything You Learn that Is Wrong about Yourself When a 14-Year-Old Stays with You for the Summer” by Ruth Buchanan. Hilarious. #1 on this list is 100% me, and I’m proud of it.
“To Be Seen as a Writer or Artist.” Dan Blank’s Substack is one of my favorites about writing, and I love how he used an episode of The Office to make his point here.
Favorite Finds Around the Web
I’ve come to appreciate the work that Protect Young Eyes is doing to educate adults about all of technology’s dangers as it relates to children and youth, and their guide on parental controls for every device is really helpful.
Emily Jensen shared about these Shower Scripture cards in a recent newsletter, and I ordered several sets for Charlotte and will be stealing some for myself! There’s some magic in them that causes the cards to stick to the shower after you get them wet, so you can work on Scripture memory while you shower.
My 2 favorite summer nail polish shades: “Yes Please” and “Field Day” from Olive & June.
Saying this may make me a basic white girl, but this Bath and Body Works candle smells heavenly.
I’m still a huge fan of our bamboo sheets, but after we added a mattress topper to improve our sleep, the sheets no longer fit very well. We just found these sheets that are extra-deep, and though they aren’t bamboo, they are still soft and cozy.
If you’re looking for a quick recap of the news that applies a Christian worldview, I recommend subscribing (for free) to The Pour Over. They send emails on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays with brief summaries of the most important news in the U.S. and around the world.
Book me for your next event!
I’d love to speak at your church’s next women’s event and am currently booking for the fall. I’m passionate about declaring God’s goodness in the midst of suffering and showing the ways God’s Word and His people can sustain us. Whether it’s a luncheon, banquet, or retreat, I’m happy to tailor a message for your event. Reach out to me at erinmountspeaks@gmail.com for availability.
That’s it for this month’s miscellany! What are you reading, listening to, or watching lately?
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So much good stuff! We have a B&BW shop on base here, but I haven’t seen that scented candle. 😕 I recently got two that I love on sale though: Gwen’s Note and Lavender & Vétiver.