Monday, June 30, 2025

Everything I Read in June


My reading habit fell apart for much of June. Too much social media. Inattention. Not enough blocks of time to get into books. I even set aside crosswords in the evening in an attempt to read, and still only go through one book! When podcasts that interested me ran out, I did engage in an audiobook, and it turned out to be the best book of the month! I then put it in high gear and finished seven books in the last week (including a few more audiobooks). Will I actually read 100 books total this year? We shall see....

42) Finally Free by Michael Vick with Brett Honeycutt and Stephen Copeland— Though not my typical type of book, this was an interesting read. Michael Vick was a standout, stand-up football player, the “first African-American quarterback in history to be picked first overall in the NFL draft..." until he wasn't. He became a disgraced felon, imprisoned for his role in dogfighting rings, and then he came back. With the accountability and support of people like Coach Tony Dungy, Vick came out of prison to try to fulfill three goals raise his children in the Lord, become a role model for young people, and be a better NFL quarterback than when he left. His is a story of steps forward and steps back, of stumbles, and of attempts at recovery. More a book about the inner workings of Vick's life than football, this is a story that causes readers to think, about their judgments of Vick, and about the potential for redemption in their own lives. 

As the Sports Spectrum co-authors write in the introduction:

We [are] left to determine what we [are] going to do with the Vick issue. [Will] we forgive?
This, then, is a story about the rest of us as it is about Michael Vick. It will chronicle perhaps the most remarkable personal and professional turnaround in pro sports history.”

I have not heard as much about Michael Vick lately, but his message rings echoes that of the apostle John in the Bible, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (English Standard Version, 2016, John 8:36).

43) Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees with Chris Fabry—I really enjoyed this book! I will be honest and say that I probably missed most of the football references, however. Football is not my thing, but human interest stories are, and this was a good one! Drew Brees planned to play pro baseball, but he got into football in high school. During high school, he came back from an ACL injury to play at Purdue. He went to play for the Chargers in the NFL, but after a severe shoulder-injury, he got cut. He thought about going to the Miami Dolphins, but found a home with the New Orleans Saints. His faith and tenacity kept him coming back, and that helped him lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. There is a little bit of health/wealth/abundance theology in this book, but more of it is about working hard and trusting God. There are lots of one-liners worth requoting, and I have already shared some of the life lessons I got from this book with others. All in all, I think it’s a good memoir, for both fans of football, and fans of the human story.

44) The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish—Part thriller, part mystery, and part stories of redemption, this book also took me a while to get into. It is artfully written, following the stories of two different women in two different time periods. The character, Hanna Suller and Claire Rodriguez, both face insurmountable psychological pains. They need to learn to love themselves, others, and God, again. They need to find strength to break out of their prisons and breathe fresh air. I could not read this book at night due to the trauma portrayed, but I was glad I finished it when I got to the end. Having read all the library's book by this author now, I do wonder what her own story is. Given the depth of pain her characters experience, perhaps she, too, has a redemption story?

45) Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin—This was a good book, and it still took me some time to read it. Bylin writes in an interview on her website that her books are about “redemption, resurrection, and restoration.” This book falls into all of these categories. There is wrestling with God. There is a unique aspect of condor restoration that the author ties in with the stories of marketing expert Kate Darby, bad-boy-turned-Christ-follower Nick Sheridan, and Kate’s grandmother Leona. The plot has lots of stops and starts, which maybe fits with the story, but it felt jarring because I could not tell if these were intentional, or due to writing that needs more refinishing. All in all this was a good book, and I finished. I have not found any other library books from this author that I want to read, though.

46) On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble—This is definitely one of the best books on mental illness/mental health that I have read in a long time! In it, Professor Alan Noble provides a balanced approach to the topic, naming its nuances and inconsistencies, all while insisting that people get support and help. He insists that getting out of bed in an act of worship, a testament, and a witness. He neither condemns suicide not encourages it, stating that God's grace is enough to cover all sin, and “giving up” fails to love neighbors because it gives them an excuse to give up, too. The last few chapters name practical ways to cope with ongoing, chronic mental illness, suggesting that sometimes the right thing to do is drop everything and seek help, and sometimes it is to put others before self and keep going. I appreciated this short read (two hours and eighteen minutes on audiobook) and highly, highly recommend it. As Noble states, whether you have struggled with mental affliction yourself, someone you know has, and they need you, and you need them.

47) Finding Kind: Discovering Hope and Purpose While Loving Kids with Invisible Neurological Differences by Kari A. Baker—Kari Baker always wanted to be a mom, and when she became one to Brady, she felt delighted. As Brady aged, though, she noticed some differences in him. Then he received a diagnosis of autism. In this book, Baker chronicles some of her journey as Brady’s mother. She shares how this journey grew both her faith in God and her empathy for fellow humans. This book is not treatment advice, but rather more of a spiritual memoir. Baker ends not with platitudes about Brady having a rosy future, but with gratitude for how her son’s journey continues to help her find kind and discover hope and purpose. That is the ultimate good, and a hope for parents whose children struggle, and may always struggle. Finding kind is not about finding ultimate earthly healing or success, but about finding and seeking God’s strength as the source of hope and purpose, for only His strength is enough to sustain the hard work of parenting a child with special needs.

48) The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano—Carla Laureano has a special way of weaving food into her books, and she did it again with this one. Chef Rachel Bishop has worked her way from the bottom of the food industry to the top, but loses everything in a misplaced, misused statement to the media. Writer Alex Kanin takes some of the blame for her fall from fame and tries to make it up to her. When he offers to try to help Rachel, she reluctantly takes him up on it, and a tenuous partnership to put on “supper club” dinners begins. Along the way, both must wrestle with trust, their pasts, and what God has for them. This novel's plot seemed to resolve just a bit too quickly, in my opinion, but that might partly have been because my book contained previews of Laureano's next books, causing me to think I had more to read than I really did. All in all, I enjoyed the book and look forward to more Saturday night reading from this series.

49) The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God’s Goodness Around You by Shannan Martin—This book was not quite what I expected. What I expected was a book about faithfulness in the home. What I read was a book about paying attention to and living faithfully in community. Shannan Martin and her family went from living comfortably to living and finding community on "the wrong side of the tracks." Martin has a lot to say about paying attention, about forming relationships rather than making judgements, and about truly learning to love and be loved on. Martin shares honest and vulnerable stories, sometimes along with self-deprecating humor. She encourages faithfulness in the small things, stating that this is the true definition of success. This book was not earth-shattering, but rather gently challenging and reinforcing. People moving to new areas for ministry might especially benefit from reading it, as their ministry might just be more in the ordinary than in the extraordinary.

50) Over It: How to Face Life’s Hurdles With Grit, Hustle, and Grace by Lolo Jones—I enjoyed listening to this book in audio. Read by Olympian bobsledder and hurdler LoLo Jones, it chronicles her journey from a broken, impoverished childhood to that of an inspiring, albeit controversial, athlete. Lolo is a self-proclaimed Christian, but an atypical one in some ways. She doesn’t believe that language impacts her testimony, and she curses throughout the book. She believes in care and kindness, but has a temper, and is currently banned from using Olympic training facilities due to cursing at staff. While LoLo Jones isn’t a golden girl, not standing up as a perfect Christian, and having not yet won an Olympic medal, if readers can get over the language in her book, it’s a good one.

51) Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano—Baker Melody Johansson has had a string of relationships that went up in flames. She lost her pastry job when her friend Rachel Bishop resigned from her chef job. Now Melody is at a run-of-the-mill bakery, exhausted, but thinking she has no other options. When Pilot Justin Keller rolls in and sweeps her off her feet, she begins to think that things are looking up, only for it to seem like everything crashes and burns. There is a little bit of spiritual inequality in the romance represented here, but overall some good lessons to learn about learning to trust God and people, and putting down roots. The books in this series are longer than some I read, but I am up and ready to consume the next one!

52) Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier—This is a controversial book, to be sure, but if read objectively, it’s a qualitative study on the rising prevalence of the transgender identity, particularly for girls. Journalist Abigail Shrier writes compellingly, using a collection of composite stories, interviews with experts, and straight up research. She does not suggest that gender dysphoria does not exist. Rather, she suggests that transgenderism might be becoming a social contagion, drawing in girls struggling with things like anxiety, body dysmorphia, and social anxiety. Rushing these girls into choosing a different identity and supporting them with medical interventions like surgery and testosterone shots might not be the right answers, she suggests. Rather, these interventions might be causing irreversible damage. Re-envisioning what it looks like to “be a girl,” uplifting women (rather than putting them down or comparing them to men), and providing community support might be better answers. If individuals want to transition, they can do so as adults. Regardless of where people stand on the issue of transgender identity, I think this is a book worth reading because ultimately, it is a book about valuing humans, all of them, in all of their differences: men, women, children, boys, girls, and even adults who have chosen to change the way they identify.

53) Uncanceled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation by Phil Robertson—Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson might surprise readers with his very intelligent, pastoral writing in this (relatively) short book. In it, Robertson explains why he believes that cancel culture holds power for people of the world and not for people of the gospel. People of the gospel have always been cancelled, he states, but cancelling has to do with guilt and shame, and Jesus cancelled all that on the cross. This book is rich with scripture and with Phil's heart for the unbeliever. If you call yourself a Christian, read this book. Robertson has something to say, and as the next to last book he published before his death in 2025, I think it leaves behind a great legacy.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Strong(er) in June

 


How has it been another month already? Life is certainly flying by, but here we are!

In my strong(er) updates, I praise God for continued growth in strengthening our understanding of one another in marriage. We aren't perfect, and I think we are starting to recognize more and more how we are different, trying to work through those differences, rather than forcing the other person to take our position (an effort in insanity). We continue our work through The Marriage Devotional by Jennie and Levi Lusko, and that alone promotes good conversation. It also points out areas where I need to grow stronger in my identity in Christ. Most recently, we read about pride and the spirit has convicted me several times about my weak identity in Christ contributes to this sin.

On the physical front, I completed Nourish Move Love's two week Overload 30 challenge. I know I am not lifting as heavy as I could (because I am still running), but whew! That first week, I had trouble walking. This is for sure a plan to build strength! While I am focused on running and maintaining strength for that, this is a plan to bookmark for the future. As Lindsey Bomgren says, it's not about changing your body, but building strength for your 70 year-old self. I like that!

Spiritually, I feel in the same place. Maybe I should do more? Maybe I am maintaining strength? Or maybe I am still growing in strength (albeit slowly) through regular spiritual disciplines? I have heard several things lately about how staying in the Word does strengthen us to be able to recognize counterfeit truth when we see it. So many the regular humdrum disciplines are the strength? May the Spirit continue to show me the way, and if there is to be a different way.

And that's a wrap! (Maybe more pull-up progress next month as I finish another progression of the Nourish Move Love Assisted Pull-Up Plan? I am not convinced, but we will see!)

Eats and Empties (Week 26)


The Eats:

Baby back ribs (The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook)

Best barbecue sauce (Easy Vegetarian Slow Cooker) 

Cheesy ranch chicken casserole (Meal Prep in an Instant)

Chicken and rice with broccoli and mushrooms (Meal Prep in an Instant)

Easy overnight sourdough bagels (Daddio's Kitchen)

Fire-roasted white bean quinoa soup (How Sweet Eats)

Spread for bread (German) (The Flavor of Wisconsin)

The Empties:

Old apples
Jar of applesauce
Package of bacon
Two cans of cannellini beans
Box of beef broth
Bag of clementines
Container of cocoa
Container of cottage cheese
Carton of a dozen eggs
Old garlic
Head of iceberg lettuce
Half gallon of milk
Bottle of oregano
Quinoa
Package of pearl onions
Rack of pork ribs
Five pound bag of potatoes
Sushi rice
Two cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes
White rice

What went to waste:   

Some ricotta we kind of forgot about and didn't use up

Monday, June 23, 2025

Afghan 86


I am finally starting to rebuild my baby afghan gift stash! I started this afghan under duress, having left my
current afghan and ergonomic crochet hook at work, but needing and wanting something to do to keep my hands busy. I picked this pattern because it seemed simple, and easy, and it was! This afghan worked up a bit more slowly than some others, due to the single crochet stitch, but I liked it.

I started out with the Red Heart royal yarn because it was all I had. I added the white when it ran out. I liked the way the stripes looked, so I kept at it. I think the navy and white have kind of a coastal vibe.

I used a different hook for this afghan, a handle into which the crocheter inserts her own hook. I had not figured out how to use it when my friend gifted it to me, but after reading and re-reading the instructions, I got it. After making an entire afghan with this hook, I think it might be my go-to for future projects! All in all, I thank God that this was a more enjoyable afghan to crochet this time around!

Hook: Size I placed into a Boye ergonomic crochet hook handle

Yarn: 

Mainstays white

Red Heart royal blue

Pattern: Simple linen stitch crochet throw (I Can Crochet That)

Finished size: 35 by 50 inches

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Eats and Empties (Week 25)

The Eats:

Banana bread muffins with peanut butter frosting (Meal Prep in an Instant)

Chicken and sourdough dumplings (Our Gabled Home)

Chocolate chip brownies (Meal Prep in an Instant)

Furikake rice krispies treats (Healthy Nibbles and Bits)

Perfect creamy scrambled eggs (Inspired Taste)

Roasted corn in the oven (The Kitchn)

Sourdough French toast (Heartbeet Kitchen)

Southwest stuffed peppers (Meal Prep in an Instant)

Tomato sauce (Italian) (The Flavor of Wisconsin)

The Empties:

Can of baking powder
Ripe bananas
Carton of Breyer's vanilla ice cream
Three pound bag of carrots
Family size box of chicken broth
Regular size box of chicken broth
All the remaining chicken breast in the freezer!
Frozen chipotle black beans (She Likes Food)
Chocolate baking bar
Cinnamon oatmeal squares mix
Bag of frozen corn
Carton of a dozen eggs
Furikake seasoning
Bag of frozen green beans
Six green bell peppers
Half gallon of milk
Two pound bag of mixed vegetables
Frozen mushrooms
Five pound bag of potatoes
Reese's peanut butter ice cream
Rice crisp cereal
Two cans of crushed tomatoes
Two can of tomato paste
Pound of ground turkey
Vanilla frosting
Container of whipping cream
Zucchini

What went to waste: 

Nothing that I know of!  

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Living Well


It is no coincidence that I was in the middle of listening to a podcast about longevity when my Granddad went to glory. I had also been talking to my mom about health when we last visited. She relayed some of the habits she saw people her age doing in order to maintain their health. I admired how she and my dad were trying to take a moderate approach: walking daily, taking their vitamins and supplements, trying to keep their prescriptions as few as possible, and eating healthy while not giving up everything they loved. I relayed how I now often drink out of plastic water bottles (something over which I once panicked), go out to get hamburgers (my husband's favorite food) pretty frequently, and buy foods that (gasp!) contain preservatives when I can't find other options, or just can't be bothered to look. Losing Granddad made me reconsider all this, not from a perspective of wanting to change any of my habits, but from the perspective that nothing can extend life forever. Living in a sin-stained world means we will all die.

If I am going to die, though, I want to live well. Granddad did that. He exercised, walking and doing calisthenics into his nineties. Even from the wheelchair which confined him these past few years, he tried to engage in activities like bowling with his nursing home cohorts. Granddad took his vitamins and prescriptions. He wore hearing aids. He also ate dessert with almost every lunch, and when he could no longer cook for himself, he ate the food his nursing home prepared for him.

I think Granddad's healthy habits helped him live long, and that is saying something considered that he nearly died of an appendicitis in his middle adult year. He traveled to I don't know how many countries, and to most of the continents. He helped build the home in which he and my nana lived for most of their later years. He moved he and Nana cross country when it came time to leave that home. He cared for Nana up until the last few months of her life, which involved doing all of the household chores, as well as carrying her from room to room when she needed to move. He survived prostate issues as well as the removal of a cantaloupe-sized mass from his abdomen. He drove up until my parents moved him into assisted living, and then long-term care. He lived a good life, until he didn't, falling so often that he needed to be confined to a wheelchair and then lost his strength to walk.

Maybe it's morbid to relay the fact that Granddad's healthy living didn't save him, but I think that's the point. He cared for himself the best he could, given the circumstances, but that wasn't his life. His life was in Jesus. His live was caring for others. He lived well, not because he focused on some wellness regimen for longevity, but because he valued life and lived it to its fullest.

I was not thinking of Granddad when I wrote on my birthday that I wanted to reclaim my life, but that goal seems even more appropriate after losing Granddad. Only God knows the number of years we will get on this earth. For Granddad it was 94. For me, it may be more or less. Either way, I want to make those years count!

Living my life needs to involve some matter of self-care, but for me, living my life may mean that I actually get a few less years out of it, if living more years requires living a constrained, overly regimented life. That's okay with me. If I live every day to its fullest, I will have a full life. That's what I want, in Granddad's honor, and for God's glory.

So if you see me over here running races that perhaps aren't the best for my health, or eating one too many hamburgers, know I am good for it. If my body doesn't look quite as fit as I could, but I am taking care of it in a moderate way, see that this is not my top priority. My top priorities are loving God, loving people, and enjoying life, supplements included only if they contribute to the above goals.

Monday, June 16, 2025

When You're Losing a Loved One (And They're Still Here)


I have lost a variety of loved ones over the course of my life. Some have been family. Some have been friends. Some have been friends that felt like family. Several I have lost before it seemed like time to lose them. Some I have lost while they were still on earth. Losing the people we love is extremely difficult, whether they are still living, or actually dead. Sometimes I lose people to relationship struggles and they cut me off. Sometimes the person loses capacity due to a physical health issue (such as a stroke that affects speech). Sometimes the person becomes a shell of their former selves due to a neurological or mental health condition (eg Alzheimer's or a mental illness). It's hard. It's still a loss.

In the midst of some of these losses, I received some wise counsel. "Who they are now does not take away from who they were," he said. Another time, he said, "You've done enough." Those words have stuck with me.

When I feel grief over "loss" of a loved one who is still here, I feel that I have lost all that they are/were. It almost feels worse that if they died, because if they died, I would still have those memories. Now, it feels like something else is replacing those good times. To the counsel I received, though, change cannot take people away from us. That includes both physical death and emotional/mental/relational death. We can choose what to hold onto. I am learning to choose to remember the good, and let the rest go.

As I learn to grieve people who are still here, I wonder if some of those people grieve, too. Maybe they grieve the decision that separated them from us, temporarily or permanently. If they realize they are losing cognitive faculties, they may grieve that loss, too. Or maybe they want to keep their mood regulated, but cannot. They may grieve the loss of their self-control, or even the personality they once had. They may grieve themselves.

Grief is a thing, whether I am grieving a person still here, gone to be with the Lord, or gone someone else. I can even grieve loss of my former self. Nothing can truly take away the past. I can choose to remember it. I can choose not to let today steal the joy of yesterday. I can choose to acknowledge the former good of a person, even if things are not good now. I can choose to see the person as good, even if they are not able to act good or be good to me now.