And just like that…. July is over! This month started out with an amazing family vacation to Yellowstone which you can read more about here. During the rest of the month, my days and my heart have been full with all of Summers joys- swimming, ice cream, reading at the beach… I am so grateful for this time of year- and all of God’s sweet blessings.
READING UPDATE
Book #1
Not Without Hope by Nick Schuyler
“In the face of adversity- be not without Hope.”
On a blustery February day in 2009, two NFL players and two best friends embarked on a fishing trip in a 21 foot single engine boat. They had gone fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, about 50 miles off of Clearwater, Florida. At around 5:30 pm, a storm began to roll in and they decided to head back to port. There was only one problem. Their anchor was stuck. When one of the men thrust the boat forward in a attempt to dislodge the anchor, the vessel became capsized and flipped upside down, tossing the men into icy, storm ridden waters. A harrowing two days later, only one of them returned. I read this true story while on my family vacation and it’s like the book version of an episode of “I shouldn’t be alive.” Though not a religious book, the author talks about crying out to God in the midst of his peril, and praying the Lords prayer with his friends before they were lost forever, which I always find so interesting…. Gods truth really is written in the heart of mankind. We all know who to look to when hope seems lost.
A tragic yet triumphant story written by the survivor, Not without Hope unveils the grit and determination of the human will, but also the weakness and frailty of our bodies and minds in the face of great trial and difficulty.
After finishing the book, I looked up some news articles and found out they are making it into a movie with Miles Teller playing the survivor, Nick, so definitely check out the book before watching the film!
Book #2
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst
(currently free on Kindle for a limited time!)
“God doesn’t want you or me to suffer. But He will allow it in doses to increase our trust. Our pain and suffering isn’t to hurt us. It’s to save us. To save us from a life where we are self-reliant, self-satisfied, self-absorbed and set up for the greatest pain of all….. separation from God.”
What do you do when Gods timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention hurtful, and his promises doubtful?
In this book, written by the president of Proverbs 31 ministries, Lysa Terkeurst attempts to unpack these questions- difficult but not unanswerable as she journeys through her own season of despair in the face of a cancer diagnosis and her husbands infidelity.
Lysa helps readers change their outlook on life’s challenges, saying that “disappointments are really divine appointments to see God work.” Using scripture, her honest humor, and heartfelt compassion, she helps readers understand that nothing catches God off guard and he never wastes pain, but uses it- in our lives and in others.
Something unique about this book was how Lysa spent a chapter talking about Satan. Typically, Christian writers only focus on God and the bible when encouraging fellow believers during difficult times- which is definitely important and necessary. However by understanding how limited Satan is and how he is still subject to Gods authority, we can truly grasp the verse that says “In all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” As Lysa quotes, “Satan may be vicious- but he is not victorious.”
“It’s not supposed to be this way” is like a hug from a wise Christian woman. It’s not an in depth study of trials, packed with doctrine or theology. But when you’re going through something hard- that’s not the book you want. All you want is some strength and solace from a source who understands- Lysa does, and her book will encourage you.
Book #3
Lily’s Promise by Lily Ebert and Dov Forman
“The one thing we must remember is that we must remember. We must tell the world…we must not let the world forget. We must continue to tell our children, and our children’s children.”
It’s been a long time since I cried while reading a book…. That is until I read Lily’s promise.
Stories from the Holocaust always peak my interest- even though they are difficult to read. This book was no exception. Inspired by honest conversations that took place between her and her great grandson as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Lily, 98 years old, recounts the painful events leading up to, during, and after her time as a prisoner in Aushwitz. Most of the chapters are written by Lily, but there’s a few written by her great grandson, which give a unique, multi generational perspective on how the Holocaust has affected our world, and continues to affect it. As a young person, this drew me in even more.
Another thing I really liked about this book was how much time Lily spent talking about life after the war. Most Holocaust stories just focus on the horrors of the concentration camps, so I’d never considered how difficult it was for survivors to attempt to rebuild their lives after they were freed- when all they knew and loved had been lost.
This book is a great read for the next generation- bridging the gap between the present and the past and reminding us to listen and learn from those who’ve gone before us
WRITING UPDATE:
Current word count for my novel: 63,342 words.
Quote: “Is there anything else you need from me? Anything else I can help you with?”
Can you stop my heart from clawing out of my chest?
Can you erase this whole thing and bring my Mama back to life?
Can you make me 10 years older so I don’t have to go through this?
But Laura’s done all she can do. So I answer-
“No.”
This month I worked on editing and re-writing some chapters I’d already drafted. As I’ve said before, it’s difficult for me to write without editing and I was having a hard time moving forward with my story when there were a few problems with my manuscript.
I almost reached my goal of writing through my next major plot point, but didn’t quite get there. Slow progress is still progress however and I’m excited to get back to drafting!
Also, this next month I’ll have some exciting news to share about an opportunity to write a guest post for another blog!
Stay tuned and happy August!
