Books For Spring

Isn't it funny how sometimes you have stacks of books you're dying to read on your nightstand (your figurative or literal one) and other times you can't quite figure out what to pick up next? Suddenly this spring (and it does feel like spring, weather-wise and inspiration-wise and hopefulness-wise) I'm swimming in books and loving it. Here's what's on my (literal) nightstand.

The Opposite of Loneliness was on a recommended reading list for 20-something women in Domino Magazine. I read this short piece of Keegan's in the New York Times and loved her wise, confident writing. I checked her book out of the library and was shocked to discover that this smart young woman died days after her graduation from Yale and that this collection of her writing was published posthumously. Heartbreaking, but how powerful that her words live on.

I pre-ordered Hey Natalie Jean (written by one of my favorite bloggers)  a few months ago and Amazon says it will show up tomorrow. Hooray! Natalie is a deep and witty and lovely writer and I think her story is meaningful and important. Excited to dig into her book when it comes.

My parents sent me this hilarious article on Airbnb in Japan because we decided to use Airbnb for two nights in Tokyo. I loved the writing so much I decided to look up the reporter and discovered she co-authored this book. The book is dark and disturbing but from what I've gathered from reviews, incredibly brave and beautiful too.

My mom recently finished Lila and passed it on to me. I don't know much about it but if my mom liked it, I'm sure I will too. Fact of life.

What's on your reading list this spring? Please share!

(Not pictured: a book on Japan, and another book on Japan, and one more.)

Proud Sister Moment

Noah Zinsmeister Photography

I'm going to play the part of the proud sister today and first share an article that my younger brother recently wrote and had published. It's called "The Foreign Language Courses Colleges Should Be Teaching" and it's wise and thoughtful and funny and I think you'll really enjoy it. I won't give away the argument he's making--you'll have to click the link to find out!--but I think that most bloggers will be able to relate to it and appreciate the stance he's taken. It's a pretty hip and cutting edge piece and I can't help bragging about it!

Now for the second proud sister moment. My older brother works for Uber, the car service company/tech startup that has been fantastically successful, and he and his team in Dallas recently appeared in Modern Luxury Dallas magazine. He's the one on the far left. Doesn't he look like quite the suave gentleman? I think this is such a cool feature! Once again, I can't help but brag.

I always think that the most wonderful gift parents can give their children is siblings. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for my brothers. They're the best.

Bittersweet

A few weeks ago, I placed a big order of books on Amazon. I'm definitely a library gal and love getting my books that way, but I'm boycotting one of my local libraries (that's a story for another time--let's just say that several of the women who work there fit the stereotype of the cranky, old librarian and aren't too pleasant to be around) and I didn't think the other library was likely to have the books I was after.

So I hopped on Amazon and a fresh stack of books arrived on my stoop a few days later. Almost immediately I sat down with Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist, devoured the first 100 pages in about 30 minutes, and ended up finishing the book the next day. I think my soul must have been thirsting for the wisdom and the stories and the amazing beauty that is packed into this book. I remember I wasn't really having a great day when the box arrived and I think this book was just what I needed, at that precise moment, to get me out of a funk.

The idea behind Bittersweet is powerful and encouraging. Niequist writes so convincingly about the trying, sorrowful, heartbreaking seasons of life and the ways they can shape us if we let them. That we can't grow and change and become more than we are if life is only easy, pure sweetness, filled with unmitigated happiness and joy. That we need those trials and difficulties and that if we lean into them, instead of fighting them, we will change in remarkable ways and lead better, more godly lives as a result. Life is bittersweet and that's a blessing.

Here is a little snippet from the book. This is how the book ends, with a plea for all of us to share our own lives, the bitter and the sweet and the bittersweet:


This is what I want you to do: tell your story. Don't allow the story of God, the sacred, transforming story of what God does in a human heart to become flat and lifeless. If we choose silence, if we allow the gospel to be told only on Sundays, only in sanctuaries, only by approved and educated professionals, that life-changing story will lose its ability to change lives.

It always goes back to the beginning, no matter how far we've wandered off course. When Christ walked among us, he entrusted the gospel to plain old regular people who were absolutely not religious professionals. If you have been transformed by the grace of God, then you have within you all you need to write your manifesto, your poem, your song, your battle cry, your love letter to a beautiful and broken world.


Among other things, I think these two paragraphs are such a powerful testament to what we do as bloggers. When we sit at our computers and write about the hills and valleys in our lives and what brings us hope on darker days and how we choose to celebrate our greatest joys. We all have different writing styles and levels of comfort with how much we divulge and we certainly all have unique struggles and triumphs. What matters is that we aren't "choosing silence" and that instead, we have this belief to some degree that what each of us have to say is worthy and meaningful.

The way God works in each of us is wonderful. We shouldn't hide the light that gives us daily courage, and neither should we hide the pain that sometimes feels like it will be too much. Both are beautiful, both have God at the center, and both deserve a voice.

Headaches, Glasses, And Honesty

You might think I'm a little bit wimpy when I tell you this, but I've been getting some pretty unpleasant computer headaches due to eye strain. I've been noticing them more and more and a few weeks ago I felt like my head was pounding for about 4 days straight. I spend a lot of time writing and reading on my computer and my eyes were simply not happy about it! In fact, my brother told me that typing black words on a white screen is just about the worst thing for your eyes because of the stark color contrast. Plus, you're concentrating and often staring at a single area, maybe even squinting. If that isn't a recipe for a headache, right?

Once I connected the headaches to the computer I realized that all of the tall cups of water in the world (my usual headache remedy) wouldn't cut it. And I didn't want to just swallow a few Tylenols if I could potentially fix this problem at the source. So I Googled "computer glasses for eye strain" and after doing some research, I ordered an inexpensive pair on Amazon. I guess the more high-tech computer glasses have yellow lenses but I was too vain to spring for those. I want to be able to blog at Panera without being self-conscious or looking like a gaming nerd! Plus, the clear lens pair I bought got great reviews and several people specifically said that their headaches vanished when they started wearing them at the computer.

I've been using them for almost a full week now and I'm glad to report that I haven't had one headache since. I really couldn't explain how it works (the Amazon link has more information), and my skeptic of a husband not so subtly opined that there might be a hint of a placebo effect involved. Even if there is, I really am happy that my eyes and head are feeling like their old selves again! And of course that makes him happy, so placebo or not, these glasses are here to stay.

I have to say that in addition to being pleased with my recent lack of headaches, I'm having fun with these glasses. I was blessed with my Mom's eyes and fantastic vision and I've escaped the eye-doctor visits and contact lenses and prescription glasses my brothers got stuck with. But I've always liked the idea of wearing glasses and I think they're cute (I know--only someone with good vision would say that--I'm sorry!) and I feel sort of "writerly" when I put these on. It's kind of embarrassing to admit that, but tell me I'm not alone? Any other 20/20s out there who tried on their friend's glasses and were envious for just a minute? (I'm really letting you in on my vanity today!)

Anyway, I can't recommend these glasses enough. Headaches are no fun, especially when they take me away from blogging and connecting with all of you. And I feel like I'm doing something good for my eyes when I slip them on. I hate the idea of straining them day in and day out--who knows the damage that could do long term.

(Plus, aren't they kind of cute?! Please humor me.)

This post is not sponsored in any way. Just wanted to share a new discovery and sing the praises of these headache-curing glasses!

What Are You Reading?

Inspired by Heather's post of a few days ago (thanks Heather!), I decided to share a list of some of my favorite books of 2013. Lest you think that bloggers ever tire of words, I've found that my reading has actually become more voracious ever since I became a blogger. That probably has a lot to do with other life changes as well (no grad school consuming my days) but I really do think that writing on a regular basis has made me crave reading even more than before.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some but these are the ones that really made an impression. Happy reading!

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. This book made the nurturing/mothering part of me hurt inside, and I ended up sobbing through the ending. A beautiful, soulful read.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. My mom and I read this together and I was so glad to be able to talk through it with her. This is an epic tale, beautifully written, incredibly sad and full of human rawness. In some reviews it was compared to a Dickens novel. Very much worth reading.

Becoming Who You Are by James Martin. This is a non-fiction book and a quick, uplifting read. James Martin writes about how the 20th century Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, inspired him to be his true self. A lovely little book.

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I can't believe it took me so long to pick up this American classic. I started it when I got my wisdom teeth out and it kept me nice and distracted! I'm so glad I read this while living in the South--it helped me to see things from a slightly new perspective.

Crossing To Safety by Wallace Stegner. I blogged about this poignant book here and here as I was reading it. Wonderfully bittersweet. I highly recommend it.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. This is another one I read with my mom. It's a classic that everyone should get to! Especially if you love New York, as I do.

The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins. Oh, this is mystery at its finest. I sped through this thick tome in a matter of days.


I thought I'd also share the books that are in my queue. I've got some really great ones lined up for the first few weeks of 2014!


How The West Really Lost God by Mary Eberstadt. This book was a birthday gift from my Dad but I've been a bad daughter and am just getting to it now! I'm really enjoying it so far. It's non-fiction, obviously, and I'm fascinated by the way she has linked the decline of family and the decline of Christianity. This is a subject that interests me very much.

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton. After finishing Becoming Who You Are I knew I had to read this Thomas Merton classic. My mom read it and loved it, and I also remember talking about Merton in a college class I took my sophomore year. I'm excited to learn more about this admirable man.

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. More of a picture book than anything, but a book nonetheless. I actually pre-ordered this for my little brother as a Christmas present but he beat me to it and got one for himself! So I kept this copy for me. I love the HONY blog and Brandon's photographic census of my favorite city is fascinating.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. My husband has a weakness for any fantasy series so I got him these for Christmas. On our car trip, I ended up reading some of the first book aloud to him while he drove and I got hooked. So now we're both reading them and passing the books back and forth (I dog-ear on the bottom and he dog-ears on the top).


What are you reading these days? I'd love to know.

Civil War Fashion

Image Source

As I've been reading Gone With The Wind, I've become really fascinated with Margaret Mitchell's descriptions of fashion and clothing, particularly how the women dressed and the importance and significance of what they wore. It's reminded me of a class I took in college for my American Studies majored called "American Colonial Fashion," which was one of the most interesting classes I ever took. We talked about everything from specific fabrics and materials to wigs to shoes and buckles, and how all of these details of dress clue you in to so much about the person underneath. In the past, fashion was very much connected to your class, your family and upbringing, and the kind of impression you intended to make in your social circles, and so much care and thought went into dressing and presenting yourself appropriately.

It's been really interesting to read about Southern fashion before, during, and after the Civil War, because it changed so dramatically. Before the war, Scarlett O'Hara's main occupations were making sure she looked her prettiest and effectively showed off her "17-inch waist" so that the county boys would find her charming. That meant very tight corsets and stays and very wide hoops, and green dresses that made her eyes look emerald. I also loved reading about the pains these girls took to avoid having any sort of contact with the sun. They couldn't go out without gloves, a shawl, a bonnet, and probably a parasol too. I can't even imagine how they enjoyed themselves in the Georgia heat and humidity with all of those layers!

Then, during the war and especially in the early Reconstruction years, when there was barely enough money for Scarlett's family to eat, everything changed dramatically. For the first time, upper-class women had to mend their old, worn dresses, and make do with the same ones for months on end. Scarlett's slippers had holes in them and her beautiful, ladylike white hands became calloused from all of the physical labor she did to keep Tara alive. They made clothing out of curtains, flour sacks, and old linens. For many women, being seen in their worn dresses was a point of pride, a way of proclaiming their allegiance to the South through thick and thin, an open acknowledgment of their dignity and lack of shame in the face of newfound poverty. (Scarlett didn't feel that way, however--she never stopped missing looking pretty and fresh-faced and couldn't stand her ratty old dresses.)

Anyway, my curiosity about Southern Civil War era fashion has been totally piqued, so I did some searching and found these terrific old photographs in the Library of Congress archives. These aren't all Southern women--there are Northern women in these photos too--but I imagine the style of dress was similar and the photos are all from the same time period.

Mrs. Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate spy

Belle Boyd

Officers and Ladies

Clara Barton

Confederate soldier with his wife and baby

Maj. Gen. McClellan and his wife

Full-length portrait of a woman

Two Young Women

There were so many more, but aren't these just beautiful? I noticed how many of the dresses were black--Civil War women lost so many husbands, brothers, and sons, and many of them were in "mourning" attire for years and years. It's hard for us to imagine the sorts of losses these families went through.

What do you think? Are you interested in historical fashion? 

Chasing Lasting Peace

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."

-Proverbs 3:5-8

A field of lavender, just because it's beautiful.

Do you find that you worry most about the things that are largely out of your control? And do you find that those things are also, often, the things in life you most desire? I do. I've really been tuning in to my thoughts and worries lately and I've come to realize that the lack of control is what I tend to be afraid of, more than anything else.

I stumbled across this verse from Proverbs a few days ago and since then, whether by chance or not (I'm guessing not), I've been feeling a whole lot lighter. As I've written before, I worry. It's a fairly normal state for me. So I'm always especially thankful for the days and weeks when my heart is at peace and the worrying is kept at bay.

I so love this line: "Do not rely on your own insight." And this one, too: "Be not wise in your own eyes." Very often, we're told exactly the opposite. You can do anything you set your mind to. If you try hard enough, the world will be yours. With confidence, you will succeed.

And of course all of that is true and useful to an extent. Sometimes I worry over my own efforts, or I feel guilt over whether I'm doing enough, or anxiety about whether I'm on the right path. But working on myself and trying always to do my best just isn't enough. Not if I'm after lasting, inner peace, a true sense of self-worth, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing I am eternally loved. 

When it comes to those things I worry about most--those things that are entirely out of my hands--my insight and knowledge and work ethic alone won't get me through. Nor will the insight of my husband, or my parents, or my friends. They will help, but on their own, they won't get me through.

That's why I need God. Only through faith will I ever feel peace. Only by His Grace will I ever be truly free. Only by trusting Him and His goodness can I ever loosen my grip and just let it all go.

Six Things

Well, I'm still recovering from the oral surgery I had on Tuesday that left me four teeth lighter. I'm feeling better each day and my husband is taking good care of me, but these puffy cheeks and this sore jaw still aren't 100% back to normal. So I was excited to see that lovely Sarah invited me to participate in a "Six Things" post. She asks the questions, and I answer. I wasn't feeling up for blogging this morning, but Sarah has made it simple for me! So here we go.

(My Dad sent me these photos yesterday and said this is what I really look like with chubby cheeks.)

What book or movie best describes how you view life?

This is actually a difficult question (I take back what I said about this being easy!) because I find that most of the time, books and movies take us out of our lives and into a foreign experience or time period or perspective. I think I'd have to say Pride and Prejudice, though, mainly because of the purity and wholesomeness of the love between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and because she can't imagine settling for anything less than head-over-heels passion in her marriage. She wants true love, and even though she lived in a time when marriages were often about things other than love, Elizabeth knew she couldn't be happy in a marriage like that. I've always admire the grace she maintained throughout the novel. 

Let's talk brunch. If we were to hit up one of DC's finest, what would you be ordering off the menu?

Eggs Benedict and a hot coffee with cream.

Tell us about a time you surprised yourself (could be in a good or bad way).

Another hard question! I suppose I surprised myself in a good way last week when I went to a new yoga class and opened up to a stranger about some of the things I'm feeling. I typically am more reserved than that. But it felt good and natural to talk openly with this woman, and I must have really needed the encouragement she offered.

If you could live in a different time period, what would it be and why?

I really do love living in the 21st century. Especially now that I've had my wisdom teeth yanked out and have allowed myself to imagine how horrifying an experience it would have been sans anesthesia. However, I think I would have fit in pretty well in Mozart's time, in Enlightenment-era Vienna or Paris. 

What gives you inspiration?

Lots of things! Lately, Tim Keller's sermons have been incredibly inspiring to me and my husband. 

Quick! What's the last thing you Googled?

"800 mg ibuprofen." I'm just about out of the painkillers from the oral surgeon so I'm going to be using over-the-counter meds until I feel better. Don't worry, I didn't take 800 mg of ibuprofen. I guess I just wanted to know my absolute limit? 

Thanks for inviting me to join in on the fun, Sarah!

How I Love A Magazine

Magazines are such a thrill to get in your mailbox, don't you think? I've always had a thing for magazines but I'm usually too frugal to buy subscriptions for myself (aside from Verily, which I subscribed to the second I finished the teaser issue--I can't wait for the first print issue!). In the past, I've occasionally bought single issues of favorite magazines in a bookstore, or an airport, and it feels like such a special treat.

Well, thanks to some generous family and friends, along with one much-appreciated (and much-earned, I should say) free alumni magazine subscription, there's no shortage of magazines in our house these days. It's wonderful! Here's a look at what we've been reading.

Cooks Illustrated was a Christmas gift from my parents, and I absolutely love it. Ever since I really got serious about cooking, I'd heard about this magazine. Every recipe is tested to perfection by America's Test Kitchen, and the articles that going along with each recipe are fascinating because they divulge the trial-and-error process. The pages are all black and white, so aesthetically, it's nothing like picking up Cooking Light or Gourmet. But I think that adds to the magazine's charm. The cooking and writing are as solid as it gets, the tips and bits of advice and illustrations are brilliant, and the attention to detail is unmatched. 

This magazine I'm very proud of, as it is the work of my Dad! He works at Philanthropy Roundtable in D.C., and running this magazine is just one of the many things he does. This issue took a look at America's greatest charitable givers--who they were, their philosophies, their lasting legacies. I was especially moved by the stories of St. Katharine Drexel and Oseola McCarty (her story was written by my dad--take a look!).

Do you agree with my assessment that our free copies of Notre Dame Magazine are much-deserved? I'd say that after a collective 7 1/2 years at Notre Dame (and my portion of those years weren't cheap!), my husband and I have definitely earned this subscription. I really look forward to getting ND Magazine 4 times a year. The photography is beautiful and reminds me of my wonderful college years--and how lucky I was to attend such a fantastic university. The articles are quite interesting and it's fun when I recognize a name or two. It's a high-quality publication and one that I'm proud to receive.

Clavier Companion was a gift from my dear friend and piano teacher from my high school years. In fact, the photo on the cover of this issue is her studio. Stunning, isn't it? Her daughter designed the space and it's not only lovely and spacious, but acoustically very good too. I've enjoyed getting this magazine, especially now that I'm teaching professionally. I appreciate the good tips and wisdom and ideas found in its pages.

Forbes was another Christmas gift from my parents--not for me, for my husband. I'm not much of a business girl myself, but I'm very happy that my husband gets his own magazine to read each month!

Do you subscribe to any magazines? Were they gifts or did you treat yourself? I'd love to know!