A few things I’ve enjoyed over the last several months:

1. The Book World: Dangerous topic as this post covers summer which meant extra time for personal reading. A list will suffice:
   • Moby Dick. If you don’t know the Bible fairly well, this book will make no sense. The last lines about Rachel still weeping over her children literally had me in tears. The frightening whiteness. The hatred of Ahab to all that is holy. Ishmael, the Presbyterian who worships an idol with Queegueg. Un. be. le. via. ble.
   • Fierce Convictions. Thanks to one of you for this recommendation! Great to read about Hannah More who I had never heard of—and then to have her and the Blue Stockings referenced in a Charlotte Mason book and know exactly who she meant!
   • The Crusades through Arab Eyes. Look, when you believe the entire episodic medieval waste of lives was over a land that belonged to neither, it’s easy to read this fascinating account with open eyes and a believing heart.
   • The Abolition of Man, CS Lewis. I tried years ago to read Mere Christianity and gave up. Started back nice and short and….easy? Always those parts beyond me, but wonderful brain food, especially applicable to today’s social climate.
   • Pride and Prejudice. Need I say more? Look for Solomon/Christ. You won’t be disappointed.
   • Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Thomas Brooks. My first long form Puritan work completed. Life changing.
   • Ourselves, Charlotte Mason. Written for young people, enjoyed and NEEDED by all. She talks about allll the things I basically avoided thinking about for 30 years.
   • Busman’s Honeymoon, Dorothy Sayers. Just had to find out what happened after Lord Peter Wimsy and Harriet tied the knot. As usual, Sayers takes a detective novel, adds a splash of beautiful romance and an unbelievable dose of accurate human nature analysis.
   • Cranford, Elizabeth Glaskell. As someone who struggles to exercise gentleness and kindness and thoughtfulness, this slow, beautiful story went straight to the conscience through the heart.
   • In the middle of The Infidel and the Professor which explores the lives and relationship between David Hume and Adam Smith. As a conservative christian, it is hard to read, mainly due to Hume’s opinion of believers, but it has been good for me. Good to be attacked by someone 250 years ago and have to just take it in silence.
2. The Poetry World: Beowulf. So so so so so amazing and wonderful and beautiful. Here are two links to hear it read and to follow along. Burton Raffel’s translation.
3. The Kitchen World: We have a star gooseberry tree (grosella) that is finally bearing fruit. Made jam and it’s been a fun change from the normal flavors. It’s thick, tart, and just sweet enough–slight flavor memory to apple butter.
4. The School World: On week 7 which is hard to believe. As the kids get older, each year gets more enjoyable. My 11 year old told me just the other day, “Just this last year, I started realizing and noticing all those things in literature, like how white makes you think of holiness and purity and maybe it’s not really a big deal, but it just takes the books to another level in your mind.” It is humbling to see them growing and developing into lovers of learning.
5. The Botanical World: The believers in Carmen gave me dried zinnias to harvest the seeds so have been loving their bright colors and all the butterflies that come to visit. I have some of them in pots on the porch outside the kitchen window so between podcasts and butterfly covered zinnias, washing dishes suddenly isn’t so bad.
6. The Spiritual World: A new family receiving studies in Atasta. Harmony amongst believers. God’s ways that are past finding out. Men of valor. The last several months have been….interesting….for us. To watch God work among His people is amazing.

I just realized that if you don’t care for books, this was a very, very boring post. Admittedly, this is not the place to look for fashion, tech, gadgets or otherwise. I must concur with Cicero that as long as you have a garden and books, you’ve got what you need.

So, one more book before we go. For a long time, I have been slowly working through From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters. It feels especially pertinent today as Hamas seeks to once more “push the Jews into the Sea” to recommend this book. As believers, yes, we know that Israel belongs to God’s people-the Jews-and yes, we know that they will never be irradicated. However, it is incumbent upon us to be fully informed as to the motives: politically, culturally and otherwise that promote this scale of hatred. Will this be the catalyst for that Day we anxiously await? I hope so. In the meantime, let’s pray for Israel.