What I have been doing...
My husband, myself, and our three girls watched Secret Church 2019, have you heard of this?!?! It was AMAZING. Seriously, the neatest experience we have had as a family.
(here are the past years so you can get an idea of what I am talking about).
Anyway, around the end of 2017/beginning of 2018, I read The Insanity of God, it was seriously one of those books that just changes you, wrecks your perspective on what it means to follow God. Participating in Secret Church gave a tangible experience as to what it is like to have six hours(ish) to consume, digest, and revel in the Word, literally like the hidden churches all over the world do.
I highly, highly recommend gathering those closest to you and hosting a simulcast. It is amazing. Seriously amazing.
I started Weight Watchers (I am doing it on my own, free with resources I found online) on Monday. I have tracked with my lose it! app to make sure that I am moving in the right direction, since it isn't based on counting calories per se, and since I don't have someone(s) guiding my journey. The hardest part of any weight loss journey is the starting and sticking to it when you see no immediate results. *sigh* But, as with anything else, it is worth the effort. And time. And endless steamed broccoli and carrot sticks, right?
What I have been reading...
I just finished a book, it was an advanced copy, the actual book doesn't release until September. I have contacted the author to see if we are allowed to talk about it - because - it is one of those books you can't stop thinking about when you close the last page.
I read When Jesus Wept by Bodie and Brock Thoene, I borrowed it from the library and it is about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It is based on the Bible stories/accounts but is definitely fiction, with that caveat, it is a really good read. I am now reading Take This Cup, I think it technically was supposed to be read first, but it just came available for check-out, so I am quickly trying to read it before it's due back. There are only so many hours in the day, I wish I had more of those for reading.
My kids and I are literally at the very end of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the first book in the Wingfeather Saga, and we LOVE it. It is REALLY, REALLY good. I am so glad book two arrived yesterday because it looks like it going to leave off on a cliffhanger.
We finished up George Mueller (it was our second time through this book, we LOVE his story). We are now reading Footprints Over the Mountain, Sundar Singh's story.
I recently received two books, Meeting God in Quiet Places and Meeting God in Holy Places as a gift for Mother's Day. OH MY. These books are really good. My kids wanted me to read Meeting God in Quiet Places out loud, so we are going through that one together, I am reading Holy Places to myself and it is so beautiful.
I am also pre-reading The Book Thief and Endling, the Last to see if they are good for my girls.
In the middle of it all I am trying to not let all of these wonderful words and pages of words sift through my fingers. I mean some stories are good for that, you enjoy them, create beautiful memories with your family, and just be reminded of what a gift it is to be able to read and take simple joy in someone else's incredible talent. Kind of like decorative cupcakes, I cannot make them, but boy can I eat them and fully enjoy the talent of the one who can 😃.
But other books are more of a full healthy meal, with a large salad, which takes a looooong time to chew through. It is meant to nourish you, be deeply enjoyed yes, but to change the way you move through your day. You aren't the same person after you read that book, you cannot continue going through the motions of each day the same way you did before.
