Monthly Mercies: September
Buncha books I loved, 'Bama Rush, and finding mercy in the glutes.
Hello, friend.
Last month, just as I was starting to increase my weekly running mileage, I began feeling an uncomfortable tightness in my right hip. I’ve had some issues with that side for a while now, but it had never limited my running or caused any real concern for me. This was different and after a couple days of pain and discomfort, I knew I should rest it. I took a week off from running knowing I was doing the right thing, but also disappointed that my progress wasn’t looking at all like I planned.
As I eased back into exercise, I started lifting differently in the gym, trying to target and strengthen the issue. Every rep reminded me of my weak, tight glute muscles that were straining my whole right leg and hip. Again, progress wasn’t looking at all like I planned. (If you saw a very sad looking lady modifying all her lower body lifts at the South City Family YMCA a couple weeks ago, hi, hello, that was me.)
An interesting thing is that the same week I started a new lifting routine in an effort to rehab and strengthen my hip, I noticed gains in other areas. I started using heavier dumbbells for overhead press and rows. I pushed myself and I felt strong. Even though my legs aren’t doing what I want them to, my arms are still becoming stronger.
I guess that’s a decent metaphor for my life outside of physical strength, too. There are some areas where I see increased growth and strength. That success is fun and I love it. But there are other areas—namely, parenting, tbh—where I am acutely aware of my weakness. I have some things I want to focus in on a little more and modifications might be required for growth in this area.
The thing about exercise, particularly as I get older, is it teaches me I’m not in control. As much as I like to have a gym routine and running routine and goals and all the things, I am ultimately not in control of my physical body. I wrestle with that, because I REALLY like feeling in control. I suppose that’s where I’m at on the other stuff too—the pain points show me where I don’t have it all under control (and they remind me that I’m not actually supposed to have it all under control). The more I fight to be competent and in charge and feel at ease in my sense of control, the more I fail and flail and hurt myself and those around me. Because I forget grace.
“My grace is sufficient for you,” God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. “My power is perfected in weakness.”
It turns out that the most merciful thing God can do for me is give me a glute imbalance. I need my eyes forced open to my weakness so that I can find grace in his strength. “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9b
If you didn’t expect a story of mercy to be found in glutes, well, that makes two of us but the Lord works in mysterious ways. Wishing you a month of finding His power perfected in your weakness.
In His mercy,
Amy.
August Reads
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
This library hold came up at the perfect time to read in its entirety on the couch with the Olympics on in the background one Saturday in early August. I’ve read multiple of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs, but this was my first novel of hers! The Paris Novel is about a woman whose mother left money for her daughter specifically to use to travel to Paris. Stella has led a notably small life in protest to her mother’s loud, mostly absent parenting so her trip abroad pushes her way out of her comfort zone and into a life she never imagined full of food, fashion, and interesting people. The whole book was inspired by a scene in Save Me the Plums, which was fun to see re-imagined in fiction. The plot of this book was interesting enough, but the food writing is what stood out to me most. No one writes about food like Ruth Reichl.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
This is one of those novels that had been everywhere so I grabbed it from the library. Family Family is a novel about—you guessed it—family. India Allwood is a successful film and tv star whose worlds unexpectedly begin to collide in the middle of a PR nightmare after she (an adoptive mom herself) pushes back on the notion that all adoption stories are stories of pain and regret. While I truly cannot imagine a real person being like India’s character, I found this book to be big-hearted and very charming.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
Tired of Being Tired: Receive God’s Realistic Rest for Your Soul-Deep Exhaustion by Jess Connolly
Here’s the thing: I am always tired. So when I saw that Jess Connolly had a new book about rest out, I didn’t hesitate to borrow it on Hoopla. While it unfortunately did not solve all of my problems, this book had many excellent reminders of what it means to find rest in the Lord and some practical thoughts that have continued to inspire me as well!
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
The God of the Woods was one of the new summer reads I had been most looking forward to, so I was thrilled when my library hold finally came up. It’s the summer of 1975 and a girl goes missing at a summer camp owned by a wealthy family in the Adirondacks. The missing girl—a camper—is actually the daughter of the owners and as a search unfolds for her, secrets of this family that have long been kept are at risk of coming to light. This novel was the perfect amount of suspense and thrill for me without being scary. Excellent summer read.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
This book was delightful. When Jolene—who has never made friends in her office after years of working there—ends up with access to everyone’s emails and IMs through an IT mixup, she uses the inner look at their lives to work in her favor and try to gain more job security. The thing she doesn’t expect is that she’ll actually start to form relationships in the office and the effect that will have on her otherwise very lonely life. You know I love a story of unlikely friendship and I found myself rooting for Jolene through this whole novel.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
Splinters by Leslie Jamison
My friend
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
A Murder Most French (An American in Paris Mystery #2) by Colleen Cambridge
My book club read the first book in this series last year, so I was pleased to realize a second had been released! The protagonist, Tabitha Knight, is Julia Child’s fictional best friend living in Paris with her grandfather who seems to keep finding herself in the middle of murder investigations. This second installment in the series delved into the history of French wine, particularly the few valuable reserves that were successfully hidden from the Germans during WWII. I found the French perspective on the war fascinating and overall this was a fun, easy read.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley
I’ve read all of Sloane Crosley’s books and while her novels have fallen a little flat for me, her nonfiction have always been stand out reads. This was no exception. Grief is for People is a memoir where Crosley weaves together the stories of two griefs that happened within one month in 2019: first, her apartment was burgled and heirloom jewelry stolen and second, her best friend died by suicide. As she processes her grief, the two events become intertwined in her mind and I found it to be such an accurate portrayal of the ways our brains process grief and traumatic events. This was a heavy read, but still full of the wit and humor I’ve loved in her past nonfiction. This is maybe obvious, but there are lots and lots of mentions of suicide, so content warnings apply.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant
This novel felt so tailor-made for me that when I explained the premise to Joel, he immediately started laughing. The main character Mavis is a mom navigating the challenges of single parenthood, career, and the pressures of involvement in her daughter’s public school in their gentrifying neighborhood. But also then the principal goes missing and it seems like the PTA president might have something to do with it?? I found this book to be entertaining and also full of good commentary on public education.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
A Sunlit Weapon (Maisie Dobbs #17) by Jacqueline Winspear
It’s been a bit since I read a Maisie book! A Sunlit Weapon takes place in 1942 when Maisie takes on a case involving attacks on some British pilots, a few American soldiers, and even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. As they always seem to do, this case lines up with some circumstances in Maisie’s personal life. Up next is book #18, the final novel in the Maisie Dobbs series, which I am very sad about.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
August Bakes
August Words
I shared a lil love poem on Instagram from Issue 15 of Part-Time Poets. Read the full issue here!
Speaking of PTP, you can read more about me and my elementary school poetry roots in this Who’s that Poet feature!
I shared another poem on Instagram about the many ways music weaves through my life.
August Favorites
Back to school season is in full swing, and Eloise’s first days of third grade were made that much more exciting with some new school-themed accessories—this headband and these socks. Target had a LOT more cutie accessories that I had to stop myself from buying.
Back to school also means ‘Bama Rush ‘24 happened which also means I’ve watched all of Anne Helen Peterson’s Instagram stories and highlights like they’re my favorite tv show (they very well may be).
Okay, I have been using these period underwear for five months now and can officially recommend them. Biggest pro is that they are a fraction of the cost of many other brands I looked at!
Greeking Out is one of the most-often read books in our house so my kids were thrilled to learn a new one is coming out (I pre-ordered but don’t tell them, okay? It’s a surprise. [Don’t worry, they don’t even subscribe to this newsletter!]). Both are co-authored by fellow Part-Time Poet and all-around wildly talented writer
.Since Oliver is in first grade now, he sits in the worship service with Joel, Eloise, and me. I grabbed a couple of these sticker by number books he loves to ease the transition and it’s been a real win!
I’ve made spinach artichoke dip two times in the last month. This has been my go-to recipe for at least ten years now and it’s a crowd-pleaser every dang time.
Anyone else out there at the stage of your life where you refuse to wear shoes that don’t include comfort and arch support but have struggled to find a basic, affordable loafer to meet those requirements? I have great news.
🎶This month's newsletter was written while listening to:
F-1 Trillion- Post Malone
Graveyard Flower- Sam Burchfield
I'll see you back here on the first Friday in October! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.
Do you know a friend who you think would enjoy this newsletter? I'd love for you to share it.
I hope your September is full of new mercies. Take care of yourselves, friends.
As someone who recently started barre classes, I really enjoyed hearing your “finding mercy in the glutes” story lol. Here’s to learning to do more weight-bearing in our 30s and beyond. Hope your hip feels better soon, also. And I LOVED seeing Splinters in your list! It’s very sweet to have a friend who loved this book as much as I did. :) Also just v happy to know someone who recommends Dr. Scholl’s loafers. A true blessing in the times of Target shoes that are cute but also horrible for my aging feet joints (LOL #grandmaenergy).
Loved reading how you’re finding mercy in the glutes! 💕 I’ve had a long road of struggle with exercise and running because of my hips and ankles—almost 2 years ago now after a double round of hip physical therapy (during which the Lord showed his mercy by using the PT to help discover an unrelated issue that I was able to get surgery to fix), I started going to the personal trainer at the PT office. I’ve been training with him (functional weight training) 2x a week for 2 yrs and it’s the strongest I’ve felt since I was 20yo. It’s a big sacrifice, but very worth it to me—a kindness of the Lord to lead me to this solution after being disheartened by my body and inability to exercise without pain for so long. He is so very good to us 💕
Saved that dip recipe! Obv putting some books on hold too!