Glories of the Day

These days Arden and I are reading about the incomprehensible devastation that was Gettysburg. The Wheat Field, the Peach Orchard, Devil's Den: all unimaginable. Lines of men marching (men like us) under the bronze July skies, across open fields, to fall en-masse, and die alone. Arden glories in the generals, the battle maps, the strategy, the heroes.

Kara and I are reading Good Wives. Arden can't help himself: he listens too. Thus far Good Wives is all sweetness and joy. Domestic bliss, noble poverty, and twins. Today Jo winced and groaned as she dressed to go calling. She was altogether too much like Kara herself, preparing for church. I enjoyed the scene just a bit too much.

In my rare moments of domestic bliss, I am working on a pair of socks for Kara. I just finished the first sock tonight. My handmade knitting basket will join me in the quiet moments for a couple more weeks. A finished sock provides a wonderful sense of satisfaction.

To Slow and Ponder

Too often I am a speed reader. Too often I speed read the Word of God. But I think God's Word is meant to be savored. His Word is meant to be meditated, pondered, and prayed over. Though I know these are not the words of any ordinary book, I find it hard to change speed when I transition from the novel to the Words of Life.

I have borrowed a tool from the kids' school days: copywork. The process of reading, remembering, and writing the Psalms helps me to slow. To ponder. To give the Word of Christ the consideration it is due. This is a discipline I plan to continue; when I finish the Psalms I'll pick an Epistle of Paul, perhaps, and appreciate it as I ought to.

"May I learn from you, who are Truth, 

and may I put close to your mouth the ear of my heart..."

St. Augustine 

What I'm Reading in 2013 (Maybe)

Back by popular demand: a blog post. And per special request of my mom,

2013 Reading Goals

Christian Books:

1. Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

2. Calvin's Institutes

3. Augustine's Confessions

4. Imitation of Christ

5. Shaping of a Christian Family - Elliot

6. Desiring God

7. Give Them Grace - Fitzpatrick

8. Holiness - Ryle

9. Resolution For Women

10. When Sinners Say I Do

(Other options...in case the above are too few...smile...Letters of Rutherford and City of God)

Biographies:

11. My Heart In His Hands

12. A Chance to Die

13. Passion for the Impossible: the Life of Lillias Trotter

14. Killing Lincoln

15. Becoming Dickens

Classics:

16. Mill on the Floss

17. Jane Austen Book

18. Jane Austen Book (I mean to read one a year and skipped last year, this is make-up work)

19. Anna Karenina (maybe??)

20. Herodotus

21. Plutarch's Lives

Other:

22. Shelby Foote's Civil War Vol. II

23. Shelby Foote's Civil War Vol. III

24. Lonesome Dove

25. Book on keeping chickens (maybe someday?...sigh)

26. EntreLeadership

27. Financial Peace

28. Another book on finance

(I'm thinking of reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I might finally be ready.)

If you have a very good memory, or the patience to check, you'll notice there are several titles that were also on last year's list. I did not read "well" last year - at least in terms of meeting my goals. Perhaps I need fewer 700 plus page books on my list, at least during my mothering years. Maybe next year; this year I'm still planning ambitious goals.

These 28 titles leave a little room for fun. And there's always fun to be had at the library.

 You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.

C.S. Lewis