Daybook
November
Outside my window: It’s a rainy day: cold, soaking, gray. But it’s cozy inside.
Clothing myself in: blue jeans, gray Oxford sweatshirt
Reading: Empty Nest Awakening by Ruthie Gray (non-fiction)
My review (5 stars): The question, what's next, is a common one for many women who are entering the empty nest phase of life. The author of this book offers wisdom, humor, and practical step-by-step advice based on her own experience, and she does it through the lens of someone who allows God to guide and direct her path. I loved the book and highly recommend it!
The Deep Down Things by Amber and Seth Haines (non-fiction)
My review (5 stars): An honest, beautifully written, God-honoring look at how to find hope in pain.
Julian of Norwich’s Teabag by Martin Wroe (poetry)
My review: 5 stars
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney (fiction)
My review: 4 stars (content is for MA)
Julian of Norwich’s Showings, translation by Edmund Colledge, O.S.A. and James Walsh, S.J. (non-fiction)
My review: 5 stars (not an easy read)
Priscilla, book #3 of the Apron Strings Series by Jenny Knipfer (fiction) Available for pre-order, release date, 03/2024
My review: (5 stars) Pricilla is a story set in the 1940s that really seems to center around the theme of trusting God in all things. It’s also a story about the love of family and friends--and there’s definitely some romance as well. I was rooting for the characters, and I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book. I highly recommend it!
Thinking and thinking: about next summer’s travel plans (already). My husband and I are making reservations and booking tickets. Hotels were already filling up for next July, so we had to get on it! My husband and I loved visiting Ireland so much this past May that we’re going back again. And this time, we’re bringing our two kids. After some travel time with my family, I plan to go on to Oxford for another couple of weeks, where I’ll be doing the in-person portion of my Creative Writing program.
Pondering:
“And all shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be exceeding well.”― Julian of Norwich
Carefully Cultivating Rhythm: I’m finding a new rhythm to my week now that I’m a student again. My online classes are asynchronous, but the new units drop on Wednesdays. I do some reading for my classes daily, but the bulk of the work I do is Wednesday-Friday. This means I have Mondays and Tuesdays to do things like grocery shopping, keeping up with house stuff, editing, critiquing, and other writerly jobs I have. Weekends are for family and friends. I love this new rhythm.
Creating By Hand: I haven’t been creating much this month in the way of handcrafts. Maybe I should take this category away from my Daybook--but I won’t because I see the value in handcrafts, and I need the reminder to make time for these kinds of activities. Maybe next month, I’ll have something to share!
Learning lessons in: poetry, which is the focus of my studies in school right now. In my reading, I’ve tackled some very difficult-to-understand poems, and I’m learning it’s worth sticking with it and putting in the effort. Two big takeaways: 1. read poems out loud, and 2. If you don’t understand a poem at first, read it again (and again…).
Keeping house: Today, I’ll go to the grocery store to re-stock the fridge.
To be fit and happy: Yoga, sauna, walking.
Giving thanks: for re-uniting with a long-lost family member after 23 years!
Living the Liturgy: Advent is only four weeks away. I just ordered Tsh Oxendrieder’s book on Advent called Shadow and Light. I enjoyed her Lent book, Bitter and Sweet, so I’m confident this one will also be good.
Planning for the week ahead: my first graded assignment for school is due this week, so that will be the focus.
Book Stuff: I’ve been using a plug-in on my browser to listen to my work-in-progress manuscript read aloud. It’s a helpful way to catch mistakes my eyes might skim over. However, the A.I. read-aloud program I’m using has shown me this: professional book narrators are far superior to anything a machine can do. I don’t think the good ones need to worry too much about A.I. taking away their jobs anytime soon.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.