Tuesday Tidbits (Volume 1, Edition 2)

 Different Perspectives and Opinions are Okay

I recently saw a post made by an author I enjoy on her social media page. The picture was of her grand-daughter, holding a copy of Becoming by Michelle Obama, smiling, after a visit to a bookstore. 

The comments on that post made me so very sad. I am not a political person, and I obviously don't know Obama personally, but I devoured her book last summer. I even went into hesitantly because I will admit I was not the greatest fan of the Obama administration. This book is all about empowering young women. Yes, she speaks of race relations, because it is from her perspective. It would be like me trying to tell my story without referring to the mountains I love so much. 

I'm not defending the book, though. What really bothered me was that the author was attacked because her readers had different views. It saddens me to think that we live in a world where we feel like it's ok to attack somebody we've never met, just for a different opinion. If I've learned anything this last year (and I've learned a lot), it is that we often learn the most when we are uncomfortable, and usually it is from someone who has had a different experience than us. I'm not speaking solely on race here. It could be someone from a different socioeconomic background, a different generation, a different religion. As an individual who lives in an area where a lot of the people look and sound like me, I want to explore the perspectives of people who may not think like me and who may not experience life like I do. I'd like to challenge you, if you are reading this, to do the same. 

Stress in Our Kids

Mental health awareness is increasingly important. Mental health disorders occur across the lifespan, in all ethnicities, regardless of gender and socioeconomic status. Historically, a stigma made mental health taboo to talk about, and I think it is something that we must confront. It is often a difficult conversation, but one that is needed. We must learn to be vulnerable with one another. 

With that being said, I snapped this pic on vacation recently at Myrtle Beach. Mel and Caleb had stopped to look at the pop-it toys.. but the words "stress relief toys" caught my eye. I just think it's sad that we need to market stress relief toys. I hope that if you have a little one you will teach them about their emotions and model positive coping strategies, especially if you see anxiety, which is increasingly more common in our kids. And also, give grace! To them! To yourself! To the person who just cut you off in traffic!

Also... I never thought of a slinky as a stress related toy... but I must admit it is pretty relaxing to sit and watch one slink down a set of stairs...

Life Hack- Sunscreen on makeup brushes

My sister Holly shared a video of this life hack and it honestly was genius. I can remember Caleb HATING sunscreen, and I know that he isn't alone. I don't know if it is because they have to stand still, or they are just dying to get in the water, but I've never seen a kid who doesn't squirm and whine and cry as you try to rub in the sunscreen. Use the spray on and it may or may not cover as it should, or gets in their eyes. 

So this genius hack showed a Mom putting the sunscreen on a makeup brush and then using the brush to rub it in. The kid seemed a little more agreeable, but maybe just because she was on video? Anyway, may be worth a try if you have littles. 

I'll also make a statement here about sunscreen. I never used sunscreen until a couple of years ago, but when I turned 40 I knew I needed to start being smart because I'd be aging. I use Neutrogena on my face and I discovered (thanks to several recommendations on Facebook by my friends) Sunbum. I love the smell of it, and it doesn't feel gritty. I'm sharing a link from Amazon, which surprisingly has both the body sunscreen and the Neutrogena I use on my face, just as if they knew what I just typed =)

Click here to protect your skin! 

What I Read this Week

No pic of a book stack this week because one book was on my Kindle and one had to be returned to the library. Come back at the beginning of next month to get reviews on: 1. The Dutch House 2. Characters of Christmas (yes, a Christmas in July read!) 3. Giver of the Stars (I can't wait to review this one!) 

Have a blessed week, friends! Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear what's going on in your neck of the woods in the comments. What are you pondering about? What are you loving right now? And as always, what are you reading? 

Book People are my People

 Book people are my people. There's a kindred spirit with someone else who loves words. 

Words on a page, that bring meaning to our emotions and experiences. Words that unite. Words that make you think. Words that help you process. Words that transport you to another world, another culture, another place, another time. 

Just as airports are gateways to an adventure. the door of a bookstore can do that in your own community. Owning a bookstore has always been my dream job, but Wallace assured me I'd read away all the profits. 

I love my Kindle. I love being able to download ten books and have them at my fingertips at anytime. I am never alone or bored because I have my books with me. I can read in the dark and change the font. 

But it's not a book. 

There's something about a new, uncracked spine... and if you are a reader like me, a spine that shows some wear and tear. 

The feel of pages turning underneath your fingers, of peeking ahead to see how many pages you have left, of holding the heaviness of a book and feeling the sustenance it gives to the soul. 

Book people understand...

the thrill of unread stacks of books. 

Zooming in on a pic of a book stack on social media to see if there's anything you haven't read... or a book that you particularly love. 

The anticipation when you walk in a bookstore and see those shelves of unopened books... a world of possibility at your fingertips. 

There's something intimate about a bookstore, as well, as your selections often bare your soul to those around you. Your title choice, the topic about which you are learning, the hurt you're looking to drown, the curiosity related to something new, the need to escape...

it can all be found by a book. 

Now I love Half-Price books. I love Barnes and Noble. 

But there's something about a bookstore that has your roots. 

Today, I talked local books with Mandy at Read Spotted Newts and I think I've found a little piece of home. 

I'll still be on my Kindle and still be visiting the library that I've rediscovered, but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be treating myself to some special titles from her store. She's got a good selection of local authors, which is one of the things I'm loving right now- exploring Ky through the words of her people. 

As Anne Bogel, one of my favorite podcasters, always quotes on her podcast (originally quote attributed to Rainer Rilke), "Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading."

Check out Read Spotted Newt on Facebook or Instagram or stop by in person if you're in Hazard! 

Five MInute Friday: Summer

 I'll admit I cheated on this one. I actually typed this up for an Instagram caption on July 5th, as I was reflecting on what summer meant to me, and figured since that was the topic for the week, it'd be fine for me to share it again, here. This is a little longer because what I originally wrote was too long for a caption (I've been typing up captions in word and then copy/pasting so that I can fully collect my thoughts. And also I have fat fingers and blind eyes so I can't see typing on my phone the best...) 

This actually did only take me about five minutes to type up as I was formulating it in my head the whole trip home from Buckhorn. Sharing now with the Five Minute Friday linkup.

There is something about the 5^th of July that signifies the beginning of the end. I’m not sure why, exactly, except we’ve anticipated the celebration of the 4^th and we usually take our vacation in June. Walmart starts putting school supplies out, and suddenly my mind is thinking of all of the organization I didn’t do and how I’m still overweight and still sleeping in every morning.

Summer means different things to different people. It’s my favorite time of the year, even though I don’t like the humidity and the bugs… but I know that others anticipate fall, winter, and spring just as much. To me, summer is a season of slowing down. As a daughter of a school teacher (even one who coached cheerleading and therefore worked most of the summer), we slept in and made trips to the city pool and the library and stopped for Cherry Coke at the Dairy Bar. I can still feel the uneven concrete, bright blue, under my feet as I waded up from the kiddy end of the pool.  Days at home were a mixture of reading and laundry and lounging outside listening to mix tapes.

Summer means the lake, too… on Sunday mornings I would sometimes slide out the back door after children’s church and make my way down the road to climb in my Uncle Mike’s truck. He’d haul Jen and I to Cave Run, where we would sometimes swim and tube and sometimes sit and watch him fish and complain (because I never was a fisherman).

There is no better taste than bologna when you are dripping wet, swim suit stuck to you like crazy glue, wild hair dripping down your back, or sticky popsicles running down your fingers in the dog days.

Today, on what I usually imagine as the beginning of the end, we took the boat to the lake for the first time this summer. Caleb has been working full time, and the days are shorter than they used to be, as seems to happen when you get older. The water felt fine, a clear green; the sky was perfectly overcast. No tubing for us, just a few hours swimming (or floating, really), and then a run up and down the lake to dry off… And as I sat in the back of that boat, sweet Mel Belle next to me and Caleb in the front, I snapped a picture in my mind of their laughter, their smiles… sweet summer time… because it won’t last long.

Hope you’re enjoying your summer, friends! What does it mean to you?

Tuesday Tidbits Volume 1 Edition 1 Whatever 1 (It's the First. It May be the Last).

 "Your life is your last week."- Brian Dixon, Hope*writers

This quote was on an episode of a podcast I listened  and it really made me think. The podcast was about using Instagram to increase your platform if you're a writer (did you know I was a writer? Well... I'm not published but I'm striving to be a writer so I'm listening to and reading all the things about writing). I can remember when Caleb was younger and he would delete all of his Instagram posts every few days because it wasn't his "aesthetic". Apparently, that's a real thing. (Not deleting your posts. Having an aesthetic, a certain look to your Instagram). 

Anyhow, Dixon was talking about how if you wanted to know what was important to anyone who posts on Instagram in a snapshot of time, you can look back at their last nine pictures. We post about what we care about, so if you only post a pic a day to Instagram, your top nine pictures (which usually show up on the screen when you access through your phone) tell your followers what is important to you. Obviously, we don't all live on Instagram... or we shouldn't... and we also know that we post through the filter of trying to make ourselves look better, but... 

In using that as an analogy for life, what we do in the past week makes up our life... because each week builds upon the next. On thinking about that quote, I couldn't help but ask myself, "Is this a reflection of my life? A TRUE reflection of what I'd like my priorities to be? Did I spend my time the way I wanted? If not, how can I change that?"

This summer I've been trying to establish a routine. I'm doing some freelance work with a textbook company, so I don't really have the summer completely off, plus I'm finishing up a Pathophysiology class (prayers, please! I have a final tomorrow!). I figure a routine will help ensure I get done what needs to get done, while still giving me plenty of time to read, write, float in the pool, spend time with family, and other things that I really do want to be my priorities for self-care. 

Challenge: Look at your schedule/planner/Instagram feed and see if it reflects what you want to be a priority. If not, what do you need to remove or add? 

Quote I read on a post on Facebook- not sure of the source- "Imagine how dark the sky would be if there was only one star"

I've seen a lot of talk recently about comparison and encouraging each other. I'm a cheerleader at heart, so I want to be your biggest cheerleader! It's important that we spur one another along. It's even Biblical... there's a verse in Ecclesiastes about two being better than one so that if one falls there is somebody to help them up. I thought this quote was a beautiful example of that.  Too often we feel that if somebody is doing somhething, it may negate what we are doing, but that is so far from the truth.  We need each other... each one of us unique! 

Just to Make You Smile

Let me preface this by saying that I am not an animal lover. 

This cute, adorable face is Ellie. She causes me to have a crick in my neck most mornings because she likes to sleep on my head She also likes to read my Kindle when I reading in the dark. She wakes up at 1 AM and wants to play with her toys and is afraid of thunderstorms. It's like having a baby in the house again... but gosh how I love this dog. 

What I Read This Week

Come back at the beginning of August to get my reviews. 

The beginning of August... school supplies. Syllabi. Actual work clothes....

Oh my! 

What I Read in June

It's been a while, friends! 

Welcome back to this space. I apologize for my absence. Most likely, nobody noticed, but it still seems that apologizing is the right thing to do. 

2020 was a rough year. The beginning of 2021 has been... different... but I've started the process of self-reflection and one of the things I've found is that I'm a better me when I'm writing. 

Doesn't matter if anyone is reading.... but getting the words down is important. 

Because of that, I've made some intentional steps to start focusing on my writing. 

I know, I know... I've said that before. 

But this time I REALLY mean it. 

I'm going to get in a writing routine. I'm going to get words on paper. 

What better topic to write about than books? 

If you've spent any time around this space, you know I love books. Any kind of book. Most kinds of genres. I read multiple titles at a time. 

This summer, I re-discovered the public library. When I was young, I always loved going to the library. When Caleb was little, we enjoyed going together and picking out Little Critter books. He also loved When You A Mouse a Cookie, Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus, and anything that involved cars, planes and automobiles. 

Alas, Mama got busy and forgot to take books back. And lost books. And kept forgetting. And the fines built up and the shame compounded... so much that I just pretended I didn't know where the library was. 

I know, I know. 

So about a year ago, I called the library to see what my bill was. I was going to pay up, because I read all kinds of blogs and listen to all kinds of podcasts and follow all kinds of people on social media who were giving me library envy. 

Y'all... it had been so long they had purged my account. So this summer I finally made my way back into the library and opened up a new account. Got my new card, and checked out 5 books. 

I read 1 by the due date. 

I'm not a quitter, though, so I renewed 4 and checked out  6 other to reach my limit of 10. 

I ended up finishing 3 by the next deadline. 

I'm learning that "adult" responsibilities and class and life in general means I'm a slower reader...

but I love checking out books. I love book stacks. It gives me a sense of accomplishment in a way I don't get on my Kindle (although I'm still logging plenty of hours there, too!) 

So, here is what I read in June. 10 books. Not my best month... but not too shabby, either. 

1. Something Needs to Change by David Platt-

 Platt goes on a hiking missionary adventure in the Himalayan mountains and takes readers along for the adventure. A largely unchurched people, the stories he encountered and his reading of the Gospels as he encountered them made an impact on his life, and he encourages his readers to allow it to do so for them, too. I got this book several months ago when there was a free online Bible study for the study book and a webpage was offering the videos for free. (I cheat, y'all. I buy the study books, watch the videos while they are free, sometimes binge-watching several in a day, then go back and complete the workbook). I have always wanted to go on a missions trip. I'm not sure hiking in the Himalayas is something I'm up for, but it definitely prompted me to take a look around my own world and think of how I can affect those in my influence. 

One of my 21 for 2021 goals this year is to do some type of kindness act every day. I'd like to challenge you to join me if you're reading this. It doesn't have to be anything big; a hand-written note, holding the door open for someone, a smile when a person may need it. Just do something. 

2. Remarkable Hope: by Shauna Letellier

I started this book at the beginning of the year after completing Remarkable Advent. I enjoy the author's writing style. She brings Biblical characters to life in this devotional style book, with references to their stories from the Scripture. It's a good reminder that our stories matter, and that we can embrace hope. 

*This book is on sale on Kindle for $1.99, a really good deal. 

3. Half-Finished by Lauraine Snelling- I LOVED this book. My aunt let me borrow it and I devoured it.... well, as much as you can devour a book when working on class work and focusing on other obligations. This tells the story of a group of friends who are crafters but are perpetual un-finishers (is that a word?) One gets the idea to start a club to help them finish their projects, and the idea catches on quickly in their small community. The characters are lovely, the dialogue is realistic, and there's a combination of love, loss, and hope that left me a little teary-eyed throughout. I don't know if it's because we still aren't completely back to normal with gatherings after COVID or what, but this book made me wish I had learned to crochet and could sit around with a group of friends and work on new baby blankets. 

*This book is also on sale for Kindle. 

4. The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper

My summer 2020 obsession (maybe even earlier than that) was the British Royal family. I loved The Crown series (so yeah, 2019 was the beginning of the obsession, I believe) and watched every British documentary that I could find on Netflix. As a result, I added a lot of books related to the British family, some non-fictional, some fictional. This was my first library read of the summer and it did not disappoint. It's loosely based on Queen Elizabeth's father's nanny when growing up, and is delightfully written. It had enough  historical detail thrown in to satisfy my need for learning (I even looked up a couple of events and facts mentioned) and was a pleasure to read. 

5. Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

I love Sophie Kinsella. She is wickedly funny, so much so that I literally sometimes lose my breath from laughing out loud. This novel, my second library read, was no disappointment. The book follows a couple who have fallen into the mundane, everyday sameness of a marriage with kids. Work obligations, childcare, adulting, what they think to be middle age, and a visit to the doctor for a physical where they are assured they are in perfect health leaves Sylvie in a bit of a tailspin. In an effort to spice up the marriage, she proposes to Dan that they need to try to surprise each other... and this they do. It's a fast read, with funny characters and enough real-life to make it believable. There is some language and it can be racy in places. Any book written by Kinsella is a winner for me! 

6. House on Foster Hill by  Jamie Jo Wright

I got this book on Kindle Unlimited, and had it downloaded for a while before really diving in. This book goes back and forth in time between two young ladies caught up in the mysteries surrounding the house on Foster Hill. Kaine has purchased the house, sight unseen, in an effort to run from her own past. In a previous generation, Ivy is a young lady who grew up in the community and is seeking to find out the truth about a murder that occurred there. The interweaving of their tales over the span of generations makes for a good plot, a surprising ending, and a twist on an issue that is very current in today's society. (No spoilers, but I'll never look at mail order brides the same way again.)

7. Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

This is another book I read on Kindle Unlimited. I started it in April, and the beginning narrative of a flood that swept away a community hit a little close to home. I had to stop reading! I have read several of Fabry's books. I enjoy them because many are set in West Virginia/Virginia... Kentucky even made an appearance in this one. 

Billy is a musical genius but socially awkward. This book deals with his childhood, his first love, his starting of a gospel radio station out of his house, the death of his mother, and many other life events. Some of the chapters are narrated by his guardian angel, making for an interesting read. This book deals with difficult subjects, so it could be a trigger for anyone with trauma-based feelings, from abuse, suicide and depression, violence... but it is a beautifully written story of how redemption can be found. Highly recommend! 

8. For My Daughters by Barbara Delinsky

This was another of my library reads. This poignant read focuses on the intricate, complicated relationship of a mother and her daughters, with each of them being the subject of different chapters so you get their perspective. Forced together, the sisters find that they have more in common than they thought, and find an unbreakable bond as they learn about a hidden side of their mother. This is a love story, about a mother's love, about young love, about unexpected love, and a reminder that love is the tie that binds us all together. 

9. 84, Charring Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I'm not sure how this book came to be on my TBR. Most likely it fulfilled a "book written in letter format" on one challenge or another. To be honest, I had bought it early in January and just stumbled across it looking for a cheap paperback to read in the pool. I'm so glad I did. This book chronicles the pen-pal relationship between Hanff and a bookseller in London. She lives in New York and writes requesting a book, and over a series of years becomes friends with the bookstore staff. I finished it quickly on the beach and it was just the perfect feel-good read. There are some sad turn of events, and one of them is finding out that by the end of the book Hanff still hasn't made it to London.

I was delighted when I just logged on Amazon to share the link to find it had been made into a movie... and Hanff wrote another book chronicling a visit to London!!! Yay for new finds. Added a new book to my TBR and rented the movie for the next rainy day. 

10. The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

This was my last library book, and it was one of my favorite books I've read in a while. Is there anything better than a book that takes place in a bookshop? Wiggs includes thoughtful quotes and references to real books (adding to my TBR!!!). Natalie Harper never thought she'd be in charge of the bookstore where she grew up, but here she is. Coupled with unexpected debt and an ill grandfather, she struggles to figure out how to save the bookshop (does she even want to?) and how to save her self. Of course, there's romance thrown in, a love triangle, some historical intrigue... all which add up to make this a marvelous read. 

So, there's what I read for June. As I mentioned before, I'm going to try to write more this summer. Posts will be about books, about my thoughts and reflections, about intentionality, maybe some thoughts on grace and a couple of Caleb stories... nothing really regular but my goal is a couple of times a week. At least on Tuesdays and Fridays =) 

Thanks for reading, if you did. Give me a follow or share... and comment below what you are reading! One can never be aware of too many books. 

10. The Lost and Found Bookstore by Susan Wiggs

What I Read in June

I always longingly look forward to summer break, as it gives me a chance to dig into my TBR piles of books, scattered throughout my house.

At the beginning of 2020, I set a goal to read 150 books... an average of around 13 books per month. I was on target until Corona and online work took over my life. At the end of June, I've read 66.

June was a month of tumult in the United States. As with most things, I process through the written word. As I watched history being made on my newsfeed, I was unsure of who or what was wrong... at the beginning of June, I decided that as a white person in a very rural, homogenous community, what I could do is vow to do the best I can for my world, for others. And in order to do that, I had to be informed... so I dived into books.

As I processed the books I read, I thought about how often we look for books, especially fiction, where the characters are somewhat like we are. We long to relate, and because of that we are sometimes selective about the words we read. I often try to picture characters in my mind, I found that often I picture those characters as white... because that is most often what I see in my everyday life. I also picture those authors as white.

So I made a conscious effort to try to broaden my worldview.

Some of that is reflected in my June reads, and also things that I'm reading into July.

Here's what I finished in June.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee

This is one of my favorite books, and I try to read it every couple of years. Scout and Jem seem like old friends. Atticus, with his integrity and empathy, remind me that it is important to stand up for what we believe in.

As I read through those familiar pages, laughing at some of the scenes and finding my eyes well up at others, the words seemed new on the page. As I thought of the injustices so many were sharing, as I thought of posts I had read about the fear many face every day because of their skin color... I read those words in a new light. How was it possible that 60 years later we still have black people who are scared just because they are black? That injustices like an innocent man being accused still result in death?

If you've never read this book... what are you waiting for? Pick it up. Read it thinking about what is going on in today's world.

2. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

This book was hard for me to get into, but worth the effort. It takes place in two different time periods... modern day, and the Russian Revolution. Meredith and Nina are sisters. One of them is settled, steady. The other is an international photographer whose work is her passion. When their father dies, it leaves them unmoored, struggling to stay together as a family, especially since their mother was often cold and unreachable. In this tale, though, they discover their mother's history and in the process learn what the love of a family truly is. I was not prepared for the ending of the story but it was beautifully written. The characters are rich and relatable. Part of it is written as a fairy tale, though... taking you back to the past... and sometimes that is hard to follow... but if you like family drama this is a great read.

3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Coates writes this in a letter form to his son. As an African-American man, he wants to try to explain the world to his son from the eyes of a black body. He talks about the American Dream and what its perception is from a black perspective. He addresses racial injustice and inequality and if I'm honest it was hard for me to read. Remember, my perspective comes from that of a white, college graduate... the very definition of white privilege many are denying exist. Before June of this year, I myself did not understand white privilege. Coates's words, his stories, the examples he uses, were hard for me to face because I had never thought that way before. I'm still not sure I understand. Still not sure I relate... no, I know I don't relate, and I'll never be able to fully do so... but the fact that the book made me think of things I had never thought of before and see things in a new light means that it was a good book. Coates poses difficult questions to his son, and in that, difficult questions to the reader. These are complex issues that can't simply be explained away... and that is why it is a good book. Because even now, almost a month after finishing, I'm trying to process what his words mean to me, someone with white privilege, who he was not considering as he wrote the book, but who needed the message in a desperate way, because I no longer want to use ignorance as an excuse for not being better. If you're interested in seeing things in a new light, I'd recommend you read this, too... and keep reading, even if it is hard. Allow yourself to get uncomfortable... because that's how we grow.

4. Hardcore Twentyfour by Janet Evanovich

This series, featuring Stephanie Plum, bondswoman extraordinaire, is a light-hearted read that I didn't have to think much about. Stephanie is looking for zombies in this one. There's a totaled car, a mishap with Granny, and lots of donuts consumed. Not much change in Stephanie, or the plot, but it's familiar and it's fun and I'm a fan.

5. The Color of a Christmas Miracle by Julianne Maclean

This is another book in a "series", except that the books are stand-alone. I know it seems funny that I finished a Christmas book in June, but this one was next and I'm working my way through the series I've started. This miracle involves an infertile couple whose infertility push them apart, the miracle of forgiveness, and a little Christmas magic thrown in. This was another light read that I'd recommend if you're looking for a feel-good story.

6. Eden Hills by Bill Higgs

This book was set in Kentucky, in small town USA, in the mid-1900s. I loved that it talked about Lexington and rolling hills and fishing. I loved the small church and the Pastor. I could even see and imagine the excitement of a new gas station moving in... for everyone except the owner of the current station. This was a delightful read, with no foul language, a wholesome story line, and characters that I felt like I had grown up with. Again, I found myself laughing and crying. I was especially delighted to learn that the author is married to another one of my favorite writers, Liz Curtis Higgs. I can't recommend this read enough!

7. Star Rising by Janet Ferguson

I have read every book written by Janet Ferguson except one, and I'm not sure how I missed it. She also writes stand-alone series books. This one finds Star, a recovering drug addict, caring for her older neighbor who has health issues. Paul, the neighbor's son, isn't appreciative of her help... but his mother is stubborn and insists that Star is her friend. As Mrs. Kelley faces her health issues, she is determined to go on a once in a lifetime trip to Ireland. She wants Star to go. Paul doesn't, so he somehow manages to crash the trip. What follows is a forged friendship and a lesson in faithfulness, hope, grace, and love. Again, I've loved everything written by this author and I highly recommend this book!

8. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

I had wanted to see this movie for several months but was determined to read the book first. It follows the story of Walter Mcmillan, a Black man in the South framed for killing a white woman. McMillan was sentenced to death row. Stevenson was his council, and he dictates that story as well as other cases he fought for justice. I was amazed by the numbers cited by Stevenson- of innocent men. Of kids being sentenced to death. Of injustice after injustice. Highly recommend this book. Highly recommend this movie.

9. Becoming by Michelle Obama

Caleb loved this book and recommended it for me. I never really cared for the Obama Presidency, honestly, so I wasn't sure what I would think of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book details Michelle's youth in South Side Chicago, her college education, the decision that law maybe wasn't the career for her, learning to balance work and motherhood, the campaign trail, and her life in the White House. Her message of "not feeling good enough" is one I can relate to, and her passion to empower young people is a message I can get behind. I enjoyed the behind the scenes stories and found myself a fan at the end of the book.

What I'm Reading in July

-What LIES Between Us by Lucretia Berry- I'm actually going through a webinar series based on this book through Berry's organization, Brownicity. This book is about race/ism and our perspectives, and I've found the book and the supplemental resources very helpful.

-Go Set a Watchman- The "sequel" to To Kill a Mockingbird- Jean Louise is all grown up. I fought reading this one for a while, and I've really only just now started it. I actually prayed before I started that it wouldn't affect my love for the original. Isn't that silly?

-Be the Bridge by Latoshia Morrison- Another book on race relations. I'm reading this one for a book club with other volunteers through Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies. It has been very eye-opening. (There are common themes in the books that I've been reading, and many of the perspectives brought forth are things I never thought about. White washed culture. How we can be offensive without meaning to be. Things I take for granted).

-Unoffended- because I want to live unoffended... and that's hard in our world today. There's so much we can choose to take offense to... but I want to be love. I don't want to be bitter.

-The Fiery Cross- the 5th book in the Outlander series

-The Bungalow Mystery- Nancy Drew

-These Happy Golden Years- Little House series

-Shopaholic to the Stars

-The Crown: The Official Companion to season One- if you like the Netflix show the Crown this is a must read. It goes into detail for each episode regarding historical content. I've been reading about the episode before watching it so that the scenes make sense. Love it!

And, of course, making my way through my Bible and reading a few daily devotion books.

What are you reading?

Stay

This space has been pretty quiet this year. Was silent for almost six months, until last Friday. I felt compelled to write then, and since then, I've been out of words.

Or, maybe, I've been reflecting that maybe my words aren't right.

As I noted the word for the FMF linkup this week, stay, I thought of how this word has been on the forefront for many in our country this season.

We've been forced to stay-

stay at home.
stay away from church.
stay in our own worlds.

Stay- in one place.

But stay can also mean something else, and as the world has seemed to explode and protestors pour out into the street in droves, I was reminded of it's more literary meaning.

To curb, or check.

And that has been what this week has been for me.

For many of us.

A gut check.

Who am I in relation to my neighbor? And how do I relate to them?

What biases do I have without realizing them? And how do those biases impact my actions?

I've been trying to learn. I've downloaded books. I've read articles. I've followed some people on Twitter, and unfollowed some others. I've noted movies to watch. I've talked with Caleb, who is much more educated than I am.

But I keep asking myself, "What can I really do? How can I make a difference, a real difference, in Eastern Kentucky, where most people look like me and talk like me, even if they don't necessarily look like me?"

I'd like to have conversations... but there isn't really anyone to have those conversations with. And I know it's my responsibility. Nobody owes me any explanations...

So I'll keep digging. I"ll keep allowing myself to be uncomfortable, because growth can't happen when we stay in our comfort zone.

And I'll keep praying... because that's the most important thing I can do.

"They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay."- Psalm 18:18

The Lord will be our stay. Our support. Our protector.

May you feel it tonight, and know Him.

And may we not allow our hearts to stay as they have been. May we not let ourselves grow calloused. May we stay uncomfortable.