Summer is here! Woohoo!
Can you tell I’m excited that school is finally out for summer? It’s been a good but long year and I’m grateful for a few weeks of rest, relaxation, vacations, summer camps, and time with my sweet little family. Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately. (Some links are affiliate)
Something to Read:
- I’ve read several good books over the past couple months. I finally got around to reading the Mark of the Lion series, written by Francine Rivers (author of Redeeming Love). I absolutely LOVED this series. It’s set in 1st Century Rome and follows a Jewish servant girl. I learned so much about that time period in history – things I’d never been taught in school. If you’re looking for something a little different yet very compelling, grab this series.
- The Measure was a popular book earlier this year. We read it with our book club because we wanted to see what the hype was all about. The premise is that everyone in the world receives a box containing a string, and the string indicates how long your life will be. People can choose whether to open the box or not, depending on their willingness to know their life expectancy. This book follows several characters as they journey through this difficult process, and I loved seeing how these characters come together in different ways. The topic is a heavy one, but the author handles it with a lightness that feels significant yet without sorrow. I thought it was a great book!
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: another great book that garnered a lot of attention this year. This book follows a friendship over several decades. These friends are video game designers, which really isn’t my cup of tea, but I loved watching how the characters developed over time. I thought it was a sweet story of love, loss, friendship, and the nuances of life, and is definitely in the running for my favorite book of the year!
Something to Watch and Listen to:
- We haven’t watched a lot of television lately, but I did recently watch the Wynona Judd documentary called Between Hell and Hallelujah on Paramount +. I grew up listening to the Judds so I knew I wanted to watch this documentary as the cameras followed Wynona on what was supposed to be the Judds’ final tour. This show dealt with her relationship with her mother, the grief process after losing her, and showcased a very sweet relationship between Wynona and her husband. I highly recommend this for anyone who loved the Judds!
- I’ve listened to a million podcasts over the past few months but only a couple stand out to me. That Sounds Fun Episode 463 with Dr. Jeremiah Johnston is one of those. This interview was super interesting. I learned so much about biblical history, Jesus, the resurrection and the gospels. Highly recommend!
- Dadville Episode with Ellie Holcomb: Ellie is such a sweet and fun spirit but she brings some hard truths to this show. I loved listening to her honesty as she discusses her relationship with her own father as well as her relationship with her husband as they are growing toward health.
A couple fun things:
- This initial necklace: I wear this all the time and always get tons of compliments. And when I say it is literally $14.00 on Amazon – well, how can you go wrong?
- My new favorite pair of jeans! I found these at Buckle a few weeks ago and every single time I wear them, people tell me how cute they are and ask me where I got them. If you’re looking for a trendy look, these might be just what you need!
Those are just a few things I’ve been loving lately. What are some of your favorite things right now?