Somewhere in the Middle... - Reflect

December 2022 In Review

12/31/2022

DECEMBER 2022 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Somewhere in the Middle

Read

These Precious Days will get under your skin

Ann Patchett is flying high in this essay collection, seemingly enjoying her time away from the creation of another successful novel, exploring her craft as she tentatively explores her past. These essays highlight so many lovely things that have happened to her, things that poked the bear of this sleeping writer and made me wonder if they would ever happen to me too...

Write

Now it’s just a Christmas card

To write them or not to write them? This month, I first cringed and then gained momentum as the reasons to tackle the end-of-year challenge mounted. If you didn’t get my card, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

Discuss

The Girl with the Louding Voice

Read this debut novel that centers an untold story amidst a complex history and landscape that shapes present-day Nigeria. While the author points no fingers, she makes a compelling argument for much needed awareness and change, both of which first start with educating ourselves.

Pray

A prayer for the new year

A friend sent me a NY Times article this month on healing prayer that was refreshingly void of any political statement or angle. This article, along with exposure to a prayer format at our new church, reminded me to be specific when I pray, and challenged me to trust that it actually matters.

Serve

Caris Diaper Drive

This month’s service project at church was a diaper drive for a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides counseling and practical support for women with unexpected pregnancies. While shopping at Target for diapers to give to these women, I was reminded that about eight years ago, I was one of them.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

November 2022 In Review

11/30/2022

NOVEMBER 2022 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Somewhere in the Middle

Read

Cold November Plagues

This month, the days grew shorter, darkness descended around me, and mice and pantry moths invaded my home. Of course, I ended up at the library in search of escape. Thank you Ellery Adams for writing a mystery series that could take me away so swiftly. A main character who solves crime and recommends book titles? The Secret, Book and Scone Society couldn’t have been more perfect.

Write

The Happy Leaf Blower

When you move to the suburbs and acquire a lawn, you have to take care of it. This is a poem about that. I’m not sure when I last wrote a poem, but my writing group affirmed that this is, indeed, a poem. I wish I had a picture of the leaves so you could get the full experience of the swirling colors…

Discuss

In Sickness

Much to discuss following a read of Dr. Rollins’ memoir about his wife Dr. Jane Weeks’ struggle with and demise from breast cancer. Why would an oncologist refuse treatment? Why would a husband uphold his wife’s demand for privacy while knowing that there might be something they could do to prolong her life? Perhaps, in the end, there were no answers, but Dr. Rollins leaves this reader wishing there were.

Pray

Be the Match

This month, a friend of mine donated hematopoietic stem cells in hopes of forwarding research in gene therapy for Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, a genetic disorder resulting in bone marrow failure. She asked for support, and so I pass along that plea to you. There are ways to be informed, ways to donate funds, and ways you too can consider becoming a bone marrow donor.

Serve

Project Share

This Thanksgiving, our church congregation gathered to pack food baskets to be distributed to families in need via over a dozen faith- and community-based service groups. I was glad to be a part of the effort, but the project highlighted how removed I felt from those families. I’m still trying to figure out how things work in this new place, and in the meantime, I am missing Cambridge, where our diverse community had more opportunity to share life together.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

October 2022 In Review

10/31/2022

OCTOBER 2022 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Even outside of Cambridge

Read

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Join Mr. Doerr’s characters on a quest braided across centuries as they seek to preserve an ancient text that both connects them to each other and encapsulates their greatest and simplest desires. It really does come together by the end. You’ll be amazed.

Write

See Ya Later, Alligator: Reflections on Lyle, Lyle Crocodile

Like the Primms, my family also moved to a new city this year. There was no scaly surprise in my bathtub, but I did have to reflect on a few differences that brought many changes, both tangible and developmental.

Discuss

Project Hail Mary

Consider this book a challenge to all of you who claim to be science nerds. See if you can follow his experiments, and then consider whether you’d follow this (sort of self-absorbed and spineless) protagonist to the end of the world, and beyond.

Pray

Grace be with us all

During this month of breast cancer awareness, I lost a writer friend to a recurrence. A decision to move to hospice care gave her better last months with her daughter and granddaughters, and allowed her to taste so much of the good food she loved. I mourn your loss, Grace, and I look forward to seeing you again.

Serve

Feed My Starving Children

I have served on many food ministries in the past, but this operation, however, gave my daughter and I the chance to participate on the ground level – actually bagging the raw ingredients that would be shipped overseas and then cooked by people in need. Proof all over again that the assembly line really works!

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

September 2022 In Review

9/30/2022

SEPTEMBER 2022 | IN REVIEW
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Even in Cambridge

Read

Sea of Tranquility

This is the best book I have read in a long time. Even if you aren’t into science fiction…or apocalyptic novels (though who isn’t after going through a pandemic?), enjoy the ride as Ms. Mandel’s characters try to make sense of humanity across the space time continuum.

Write

Four Thousand Weeks

In his recent self-help book on time management, Oliver Burkeman argues that the key to achieving our goals is to understand our limits. Instead of beating ourselves up over failing to meet our own deadlines, he invites us to embrace “settling,” explaining how it can free us up to appreciate the options in front of us.

Discuss

The Paper Palace

This is a masterfully-woven though challenging read. I found myself cringing and wanting to look away many times, but by the end, I truly appreciated the depth of the character relationships explored in this text. While the men were a bit underdeveloped, the women give testament to the fierceness of sister-sister and mother-daughter bonds.

Pray

The Worry Worksheet

My family returned to in-person church on Palm Sunday this year. Shortly after that, I was invited to a prayer meeting where we used this worksheet as a starting off point. Devised by the mother of a good friend of mine, I offer it here for you, as a tool for when you want to pray but don’t know where to begin.

Serve

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

If you turn that into an acronym, it spells SPAM. Still, don’t scroll past this. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has resources to help. You may never need them, but you can know where to turn if your neighbor does.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

August 2022 In Review

8/31/2022

AUGUST 2022 | IN REVIEW
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Even in Cambridge

Read

The Book of Lost Friends

Covering racism, ableism, women’s rights, and ultimately the interconnectedness of communities, Wingate’s newest novel is nothing other than timely. Read along as fictional Hannie Gossett of 1875 Louisiana discovers true stories of Lost Friends from the Reconstruction era and learn why this all matters today.

Write

Reflecting on a year of writing

I waited years to take Grub Street’s Memoir Incubator course. It took over my life for a while, but post-graduation, I’m so grateful for the experience.

Discuss

Beautiful World, Where Are You

Dear Book Club, I’m so glad we met one last time in my kitchen this past May. Thank you for the send off party in June. I miss you – and the beautiful world we created together – already.

Pray

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet

Sometimes a book finds you at exactly the right moment. Thank you to my sister for sending this one my way. It turns out I’m not the only one to turn forty and suddenly wonder where she’s going in life. Shauna Niequist’s writing may be vague in terms of certain details, but the messaging hits it right on the head.

Serve

Jimmy Fund Walk 2022

This year, my daughter and I are participating in the 2022 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk with our dear friends whose daughter succumbed to DIPG in 2017. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is the deadliest pediatric cancer, but Dr. Mariella Filbin is working to change that. Would you consider making a donation to support her work? Any amount helps. Thank you for considering.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

December 2021 In Review

12/8/2021

DECEMBER 2021 | IN REVIEW
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Even in Cambridge

Write

Cultural Infusion
by Caroline Stowell

I am thrilled to announce that today my writing was published for the first time ever. Please toggle over to The Other Journal to read my essay Cultural Infusion, which is part of my memoir in progress called I Can’t See Where You’re Leading Me. I am incredibly grateful to... (keep reading here)

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

August 2021 In Review

8/31/2021

AUGUST 2021 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

Read

A Survey of Summer Reading and Lessons that are Never Too Late to Learn

Why read books that plunk you down right in the middle of the worst events in history? Isn’t the news bad enough? Why suffer more? As I reflected on several books I read this month, I was reminded of why we should put ourselves through it: The emotional experience of art draws empathy, and the attention to detail breathes life into those whose dying wish was to be remembered.

Write

Men We Reaped

Jesmyn Ward’s memoir provides a personal look of the larger story of the inequities and injustices of growing up Black in the South, in her community in Mississippi, as she explores the question of why her brother died while she lived. My writing class read this book collectively, in order to learn more about the memoir craft. Here is a summary of our summer lessons.

Discuss

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue

Overall, people really liked this one, even though we were a little stumped by some of the terms of the deal Addie made with the devil. As we followed Addie on her quest for freedom, we enjoyed reimagining what that looked like, ultimately concluding that the answer lies in self-expression.

Pray

Rain, and a vaccine

While walking my dog this month, I reflected on my prayer requests from last summer, how they had been answered, and how intimidated I was to ask for anything more.

Serve

Code Talker

During our end of summer road trip to the Grand Canyon, I came across the memoir of the last original Navajo code talker from World War II. What was even more incredible than reading about how this spoken code secured victory in the Pacific, was learning the tremendous sacrifice and courage of a group of people who weren’t even treated like American citizens, who, with their actions, redefined what it means to serve one’s country.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

July 2021 In Review

7/31/2021

JULY 2021 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

Read

We Ride Upon Sticks

Yes, this is a book about a high school girls’ field hockey team that dabbles in the occult. It’s also an examination of racism and classism in the Boston suburbs in the late 1980s. “Stick” with this one. By the end, you’ll be yelling with the girls: “Field field field!” and “Hockey hockey hockey!”

Write

How did you come to the word?

A few weeks ago, my writing instructor asked an icebreaker question that threw me for a loop. Maybe I tend to overthink things in general, but in the end, I enjoyed what I had to discover about what drew me to writing. How would you explain what inspires you?

Discuss

The Duke Who Didn’t

We read this independently published romance last winter when we were in search of a lighter read, although we agreed that we accidentally went a little too light. No, it isn't going to win any awards, but we were mildly entertained, mildly moved and only mildly scarred. Ms. Milan got readers, and we got a laugh. So I think it was a win win all around. If you missed this one, don’t worry, just go on to the next title on your beach read list!

Pray

Summer Blast 2021: Press Play and Get in the Mix

Once again, our church put on a phenomenal virtual Vacation Bible School program. Unfortunately, my kids had trouble getting into it this year, perhaps completely spent on virtual programming. Still, they were thrilled and captivated by some of the teaching buried within. We hope you and your kids can enjoy the fresh perspective and laughs of...the So & So Show!

Serve

Might be late for dinner; have to call 911

A day trip to the Rockies game from my parents’ house seemed doable. We weren’t counting on the monsoon on the return to the mountains...or our SUV completely losing power. At the end of the day, I realized how many people I wanted to thank for helping us make it home in one piece.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

June 2021 In Review

6/30/2021

JUNE 2021 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

Read

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

This was perhaps not the book to read during the busiest spring season our family has ever had. Talk about a humbling reminder to slow down. And yet, the reason for slowing down was new to me. I have read dozens of books about the teachings of Jesus, but this is the first that spoke on Jesus’s lifestyle -- how he could be as satisfied with solitude as he was while slacking off with sinners. Pick up a copy and discover that Jesus himself has an MO.

Write

I Must Be Dreaming: GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator

Are you a dreamer? I mean, do you have vivid dreams at night that you remember in the morning? Or actually, is there something in your life that you’ve always wanted to do? Dreams like this -- both kinds -- came alive for me this spring. They were unexpected and freaked me out, but in a good way. And they have me eager for more.

Discuss

Transcendent Kingdom

This is the kind of book that makes writers jealous. Though I was raised evangelical and studied neuroscience and have asked many of the questions that Gifty wrestles with, the similarities stop there. A timely portrait that addresses the complexity within issues that loud voices insist are black and white, Gyasi’s highly original story deepens with every page as she weaves layers of richness that challenge us to consider what matters most -- both to Gifty, and in our own lives.

Pray

The Bible Challenge 2021

After a sluggish spiritual season marked by waning church attendance, I appreciated our family pastor’s reminder to not let time pass us by. Our second grader had mastered reading. It was time to present him with the greatest book of all time. But first, he had some work to do.

Serve

Misión de Caridad

This past spring I found myself in good company with friends and neighbors searching for a way out of the pandemic, though apprehensive about what this change would mean for our families and for ourselves. As I sank into the disappointments accrued over the past year, I reconnected with this organization and discovered a potential new path that might connect my goals with theirs.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

May 2021 In Review

5/31/2021

MAY 2021 | IN REVIEW
READ | WRITE | DISCUSS | PRAY | SERVE | REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

Read

Everything Sad is Untrue

This month I was hoping to grace the world with my first official publication, a story of my friendship with an Iranian Muslim mom, but fortunately, since my submission didn’t pan out, Daniel Nayeri has a much, much better memoir for you. Please read his book and be humbled by the faith of his own Iranian Muslim-turned-Christian mother.

Write

Parachutes

The friend who recommended this book is right: it addresses some really big issues both for girls and women and for certain cultural groups. I’m just not sure I’d give this YA book to anyone under the age of 18. Is it just me, or is our reading culture becoming much more aggressive and explicit in the subject matter it tackles? Here’s my take on how to temper our portion control.

Discuss

The Vanishing Half

We all found this story incredibly engrossing. My favorite character was Desiree, but the rest of you said, hands down, that yours was Jude, whom we admired for her steadfast acceptance of who she was in the midst of great antagonism and racism. A fascinating inquiry on what it means to be successful and how characters are able or unable to separate that from attaining whiteness, this book is definitely one to try.

Pray

Adventure Awaits: Mother Daughter Retreat

After a year hiatus, my daughter and I returned to Camp Berea for a weekend retreat, where once again she challenged me with her questions, and I realized all over again why this was worth renting a car and picking off ticks and dodging maskless others who might spread COVID: Some things are eternal.

Serve

How to serve other people’s children

Before I started my current job as a lunch and recess monitor at an elementary school, I hadn’t thought much about a teacher’s perspective. I could barely imagine it. Now I look at the students around me and wonder, how can I reach them? Fortunately, educators like Lisa Delpit started researching this question decades ago, and in my community, her ideas are gathering strength like never before.

Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!