How to Have Peace When Life is Hard

🌱“What’s the worse that can happen?” Today answers that question for me.

🌱Out of every holiday, birthday, anniversary, and planned festivity, Easter is my favorite. Not just because it sums up the crux of my faith in a publically celebrated way, but because it holds the reason as to why I don’t need to be anxious about anything in life, and why I am able to have peace through hard things.

🌱How? Because when I ask myself, “What’s the worse that can happen?” the two answers that present themselves are ‘death’ or ‘lack of hope in living.’ In every scenario of broken bodies, broken hearts, broken minds, and broken expectations, the worse that could happen is either a life extinguished, or prolonged life with only pain in sight.

🌱BUT, when the gospel is applied, every brokenness is countered by the promise of eternal life and unending hope, thus granting life with unparalleled peace. At the cross death was conquered, and we can have unwavering confidence that every good promise is an unequivocal YES and AMEN in Jesus.

🌱The worse that can happen is that I might trade in my broken shell for a glorified body. And until then, the worse that could happen is that I’m given the opportunity to use this broken shell to proclaim Christ.

🌱In light of Easter’s victory I can trade every anxious thought for life and hope and peace. And that is why today is my favorite.

11:11

“Muah!” My husband had looked up from his computer and was waiting for my response.

I looked down at the phone in my hands and checked the time. “Oh! Muah!”

I’m not sure when it started but for years now we’ll grab a kiss when the clock hits a fun number like 2:22 or 5:55, though 11:11 is by far the coolest hour-minute combo. If we’re in the midst of a project or farther away from each other we’ll text or holler the kiss, but in whatever form the kiss takes it’s become a regular part of our day.

Our 10yo has decided it’s her job to help facilitate this tradition, making sure we’re aware of the passing time. I’ll often have her rush up to me saying, “Mama!! Text Daddy!” I’ll look at the clock and send off a kissing emoji or yell out a “Muah!” down the hallway.

I can’t say it’s “kept our marriage alive,” but it’s a sweetness in our relationship that’s a treasure to my heart.

What little things do you do in your marriage that bring a moment of sparkle to the mundane?

Reading Review (February-March)

I love a good book! But finding goldilocks literature these days is hard. There are a few authors I’ll always trust, and a few readers whose recommendations I’ll always take. But even then the good and beautiful pickin’s tend to hide quietly behind an unending pile of unwholesome titles, and it takes patience and diligence to seek them out.

I’m always on the lookout for books with zero spice, zero woke agendas, beautiful words, poignant characters, well-crafted storylines, and memorable/applicable situations.

I am usually deep-diving into a theological/Christian application/discipleship book, but I also really love fiction. My preferred fiction genres are YA fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, reimagined fairy tales) historical fiction, and sometimes mystery. A bit of a love story is fine, but don’t like when the romance is more of a protagonist than the protagonist herself.

Do you have a title (or 17) you think I’d like? Please (oh, please!) drop a comment and let me know! Bonus points if it’s on audiobook! (These days my “reading” is accomplished while tackling laundry, dinner, or a sink full of dishes…!)

Below are my reads from February and March. (At some point I hope to update this post to include my January reads as well.) Each title has a very brief review. Here’s the key to my rating scale:

___________

⭐️Love it enough to have on my shelf, and have folks judge my character thereby.

😍 LOVE IT! Would recommend to nearly everyone.

😊 Enjoyable/worthwhile read. Would recommend with some reservations.

👍🏻 “Just fine” but not my vibe. Might recommend.

😐 So close. Good story line/engaging read, but enough woke or secular worldview sprinkles that I’d recommend only to discerning readers.

😬 No thanks. I finished it, but I wouldn’t recommend it (either for spice or worldview)

😭 Brought on a good cry. (Fully invested.)

🥲 Nearly made me cry. (All the feels.)

______

🙂😢 Sunrise on the Reaping

This is Haymitch’s story from the Hunger Games, most likely only appreciated by those who have read the previous Hunger Games books. Dystopian and political (Orwellian and Poe themes), simply written, tactful/tasteful violence when necessary,  clean, memorable characters, and it tugs at the emotions. Two passing mentions of a gay couple. I almost cried.

😍⭐️10,000 Doors of January

What if words were worlds and beautiful phrases could paint doors between realities? EXQUISITE writing, beautiful storyline. Read with discernment due to a secular worldview on marriage and bitterness, though the beauty and wholesome story far outweighs the brokenness for me.

Full review here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100200579011450&set=a.507298928320&type=3&mibextid=wwXIfr

😐The Women

An excellent retelling of a female nurse in Vietnam, her experiences, relationships, PTSD, and her attempt to live amidst the grief. A great story, historically informed, and I learned a lot, but there were three places I needed to fast forward through (hints of spice), and several choices I can’t condone.

😍⭐️😭Facing the Dawn

Adding to my collection of annotated Ruchti trophies is this beautiful gospel-propelled story on grief and hope. Bonus points for making me cry.

👍🏻A Flight of Arrows

I only made it through the first two chapters but was turned off by the immature love and sticky romance. This is the second Benton book I’ve tried and I don’t think it’s my vibe. I’ll try another of her titles next year.

😍⭐️🥲Embers in the London Sky

Everything from Sundin is gold. She’s a gem when it comes to WWII research and storytelling, and this is no exception. Hard topics written with grace. Super good.

My review here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100202421703680&set=a.581573481520&type=3&mibextid=wwXIfr

😍Spouse in the House

Another Ruchti title, and amazing as usual. This Christian Living book is funny and engaging and encouraging for anyone who has to live with sinners.

My review: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0F492juqCQxynxjDXxGC3Ucht5bQmBEpdojxdd1q98M5RFaQDKYWSpktxbnGiPxhUl&id=100063555611328&mibextid=wwXIfr

😍⭐️When the Day Comes & In This Moment

My first intro to a Meyer title and I loved it! Wonderful timeslip concept, great historical anchors (I was googling people and places through the whole story), and VERY well written. If you don’t like history this series may change your mind.

🙂Mistborn

My first foray into the Sanderson universe and it was… good. He’s not a great writer, but he is a phenomenal world builder and storyteller. There were only three or four phrases that I wanted to remember (either they were beautiful words or they made me chuckle), and I’ll probably not read the book again, but I will read the rest in the series. Recommended for age 16+ for tactfully written moral situations.

🙂🥲(⭐️)Remarkably Bright Creatures

A janitor, a mystery, a deadbeat, and an octopus who has a surplus of opinions regarding the amusing, yet dull-witted humans that care for him. Some language, but super purposefully written. Clever, cute, intelligent, and I’m thinking about buying it.

😍⭐️Cinder & Scarlet

The first two books in the Lunar Chronicles, a sci-fi retelling of a tangle of fairy tales. Clever, well written, and a nifty blend of cyborg meets magic with a political edge. (The audiobooks are VERY well done, too.)

😐Strange the Dreamer & Muse of Nightmares

Brilliant story, clever writing, great characters, and engaging plot, but too many “I-wouldn’t-let-my-13yo-read-this” situations.

_____

Your turn! What are you reading now? What’s on your TBR (to be read) pile? What would you recommend?