Well, I actually feel as if I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. This has been our busiest fall season yet and I’ve had to drop the ball on several things. Housework, unfortunately has been a ball I’ve let drop. Apparently writing – one of the things I love most in the world – was also one of those things. But I couldn’t resist doing a favorite things for September. I mean, these posts are literally my favorite things!
First, some podcast recommendations…
This podcast with guests John and Lisa Bevere: I love the Rhythms for Life podcast hosted by Gabe and Rebekah Lyons. They’re always encouraging to guests and listeners and each other, and it’s refreshing to hear a married couple lift each other up in this way. But this particular episode was great because guests John and Lisa spoke about honoring each other’s strengths in marriage, even when your marriage may not be in a great place. Check it out and let me know what you think.
This Dadville episode with Mathew West: Mathew West is not only a singer and entertainer; he’s also an author, a podcast host, and a dad. And he shares lots of wisdom in this episode. I’m pretty sure I cried multiple times listening to him tell stories about himself and his daughters, particularly the summer camp story. This is a good one, y’all!
This Crazy Love podcast: Okay, somehow I stumbled upon Francis Chan’s Crazy Love podcast. I absolutely adore Francis Chan, and his books are profound and life changing. I didn’t even know he had a podcast until Peter mentioned it one day. Basically, this podcast consists of previous teachings he’s done, and they are so good! Give this one a listen – it’s my favorite of the past couple weeks.
Next, a couple of my favorite recent books…
The Love Hypothesis: I picked up this book over the summer and it was a light entertaining read. FYI – there are a couple racy parts which you can skip over if needed, and if you read lots of books in this genre, you’ll quickly figure out the plot. But still, sometimes it’s nice to have something mindless to fall back on other than scrolling on your phone, and this book fit the bill. If you’re headed out for vacation or you’ve got a stressful couple weeks coming up, this may be just the book for you!
The Record Keeper: If you know me at all, you’ll know that Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors ever. His writing is clever and deep and I truly never know how his books will end. I discovered him years and years ago and I quickly became a big fan. This book is the last in a series of three, and I highly recommend it. But first, you’ll need to read the other two, The Water Keeper and The Letter Keeper. And if you want to go way back to my first foray with Charles Martin, read this one!
The Magnolia Palace: Our book club is currently reading this, and although I haven’t quite finished it yet, I’m finding it to be intriguing. One of my favorite genres is when a book alternates between two different time periods, and that’s exactly what The Magnolia Palace does. I love trying to figure out how the characters in the different time periods fit together; what the common thread is. So if you like that sort of book too, pick this one up.
Lastly, some random faves!
I will never stop recommending my beloved rosehip oil. It’s my favorite product to use for moisture and I feel like it helps with wrinkles too. Plus it’s cheap – $12, y’all! If you feel like your skin needs a little something different, especially as we approach fall and winter, grab a bottle of rosehip oil. You won’t be sorry.
My echelon! Listen. I know the Peloton is all the rage right now, and I get it. I’ve got the Peloton app and it has a ton of classes to choose from which is amazing. But I just couldn’t make myself pay that much money for a stationary bike that I wasn’t sure I’d love. Enter the echelon. I can use the Peloton app or watch youtube videos, and I always get a great workout. If you’re looking for a less expensive option for the Peloton, give the echelon a try. Or go ahead and get the Peloton! Just get started with something – I think you’ll love it!
This card game: We taught our girls to play Rook this summer and they caught on more quickly than I thought. It’s been delightful to take a few minutes at the end of each day and play with Peter and Vivienne, particularly as we all try to strategize and figure out who has which cards. If you’ve never played, grab a set of cards and teach yourself. If you have played before but it’s been a while, get your cards out. Teach your kids to play and get ready for a fun game night with your family!
Alright! That’s all I can think of for this month. Hopefully I’ll be around a little more consistently. And don’t forget to tell me some of your favorites this month!
Happy Fall!