So, I’m jumping on the monthly compendium bandwagon, a bandwagon decorated lovingly and so hospitably decorated by Hopeful Leigh. I know I’m a bit late to this party, but I’ve done it in my head for at least the past three months. That should count, shouldn’t it?
April’s been the cruelest month in terms of the weather here in Colorado Springs. We’ve had more snow in the past four weeks than we’ve had almost all winter. But it’s also been a month of incredible creativity, change and hope in our home and in my ministry. There are good things pushing up from the under the soil, things long buried and some things thought dead.
So here’s what I’ve been into (and up to) this April.
Read and Reading:
When Women Were Birds—I picked this up several months ago for my book club, and didn’t get through it. I’m taking an incredible e-course called Story101 with Elora of The Story Unfolding, and the first week’s assignment was to read WWWB. I didn’t think that I’d get through it, but reading it with a pen in hand, interacting with the pages and engaging my own voice has been transformative. I recommend it.
Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes—another book club pick, most of this information is familiar to me because of some of the rabbinic study that I do, but it’s good to remember.
The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant—I feel a bit embarrassed sharing this title with you, but I’m reading it. It’s funny, although a little too desultory toward men for my taste, and just keeps me grounded as my husband and I continue along the journey of trying to conceive. I’m actually not feeling impatient at all, so don’t let the title fool you, but it’s full of grounded statistics and good advice in a way that random Internet searches are definitely not.
Blue Nights—I didn’t enjoy this as much as some of my respected friends, so I’m not going to effuse about it. I love her style and her voice, but since this is my first Joan Didion, I wasn’t as blown away as I expected to be. Perhaps I should have read A Year of Magical Thinking first.
Wild Mind—another from Story101. Loving.
Freefall to Fly—I read Rebekah Lyons on the plane ride to England. I’m going to be interviewing her for a piece in Conversations. Her book is lovely.
The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought—short, meaty pieces to keep me thinking while I’m writing.
A Diary of Private Prayer—A stunning little book of daily prayer that’s humbling me before God.
Waiting for God—I dip into Simone Weil like I eat a piece of rich, expensive dark chocolate, or drink a complex red wine: slowly, one bit at a time.
Everything is Waiting for You—because I always need to be reading poetry.
On My Nightstand:
Benediction—I’m looking forward to this. I’ve heard good things about it from voices that I love.
Prophetic Imagination—I’ve read this before, but I’m looking forward to a re-read.
Journal of a Solitude & Zen in the Art of Writing—two more for Story101
Honoring the Body—a re-read for my book writing
Driftless—A book recommended by a man whose reading recommendations I would take any day, any time, even if he said the phone book was engaging in this year’s addition, Warren Farha of Eighth Day Books
Bread & Wine—I’ve heard great things about Shauna Niequist’s newest. I’m looking forward to tasting and seeing for myself.
TV:
I’ve gotten addicted to Call the Midwife, and started to watch Game of Cards. But generally, I’m watching TV less these days and reading more books. (Although I will readily admit that I’m super happy to have So You Think You Can Dance returning on May 14.) We’ve also been re-watching all of Firefly, and saw Serenity again—because. FIREFLY.
Music:
I’ve gotten addicted to cello music as the soundtrack for my writing this month. I’ve downloaded all of Yo-Yo Ma‘s Cello Suites and I’m checking out other more contemporary composers and cellists. I was also introduced to Page CXVI and their heavenly renditions of traditional hymns, and Anaïs Mitchell, whose pipes are just my style. We saw Great Big Sea in concert, and loved the sense of my homeland and the dancing all night.
Things I Love:
- Seeing so many of my directees fall more deeply in love with God
- Traveling for my niece’s first birthday, and watching her confusion over what to do with a cupcake turn to utter delight
- Preparing to celebrate my best friend’s wedding in England on May 11
- This video about making art
- Whit Wednesdays on the Anam Cara Facebook page
- The Story101 e-course and the women creatives there. To quote a friend, “Whoa-dang.”
- Seeing the word count on my book go up day after day. It’s happening, people!
- This free desktop image:
- The crocuses I planted last fall poking through the Spring snow:
Eventually, I’ll add a section on what’s been going on here on the Anam Cara blog, as well as around the web (but not today, I’m in England with my best friend, and I’m going to go focus on that now). I’m going to try to keep those lists focused on things sacred and beautiful, but I suspect I’ll throw in a silly gif or meme along the way—because I’m holding to my theory that Jesus *loved* to laugh, and laugh readily and heartily. It’s a discipline I’m learning, y’all. As a spiritual director, I get way too serious sometimes. It’s not me holding the world in place, after all.
So, how about you? How was your April?
What are you into? What are you up to?
I’m linking up with the wordsmistress Leigh Kramer. Join us, if you’re so inclined!