It’s seems like July flew by, but it is time for my monthly tell-all-things-mundane-and-trivial post. :) So here we go:

BOOKS
In July I got completely hooked on a very long series so I read too much. Next month I try to read a little less. Or not. But I am 15 books ahead of schedule for my book- reading goal for the year…so maybe a good update would be to live more and read less. Leigh’s post about reading to escape got me thinking about the reasons I read so much.

But anyway.
I Read:

• Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future by Elizabeth Esther- an eye opening read about what it’s like to grow up in, and then subsequently to leave, a cult. I really appreciated her story telling style and insight.
• Accidental Pharisees: Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity, and the Other Dangers of Overzealous Faith* by Larry Osborne – surprisingly insightful look into pharisees and our modern-day equivalent. I would suggest it for anyone dealing with christians.
• The Barefoot Running Book Deluxe: The Art and Science of Barefoot and Minimalist Shoe Running – inspiring and instructional.
• Books 1-3 of the Circle series* by Ted Dekker – so engrossing. Be prepared to read all 1600 pages of this series as quicky as possible though. I couldn’t put it down.
• Gospel Powered Parenting – this book made me so mad. In trying to emphasize how important fathers are to a gospel-centered family, he almost completely devalues the mother’s role. He also claimed that since no biblical commands about parenting are directed towards the mother that her roles is pretty insignificant. I think he needs to reevaluate his exegesis eisegesis.
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life* – enjoyed it and then started lightly skimming halfway through and then left off shortly after. It’s an interesting idea, just not something that really engrosses me right now.

I’m Reading:

• Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry by Grenz and Kjesbo
• Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
• I’m also on the verge of starting more. For some reason I can’t read only two books at a time. :)

RUNNING!! I ran 50 miles this month with my longest run at 9.4 miles, fastest run at 9:14 pace for 1.25 miles, and one fun 10k with my Aunt.

On Their Blogs :

• Creating Maps by Elora Nicole and Dreaming Big in Motherhood and Beyond by Liz Griffin on following your heart as you follow God.
• Disturb the Universe by Glennon Melton. Really. Go ahead.
• Doc McStuffins and Gender Stereotypes at Junia Project and I Should Have Been an Engineer by Danielle L. Vermeer on encouraging girls to think big.
• When Jesus Asks, “What about you?” by Preston Yancey and We Are Small at She Laughs at the Days are just wise.
• What Love Looks Like by Darcy’s Heartstrings on her own unique marriage.
• It Shouldn’t Have Worked but It Did by Sarah Bessey about less than perfect evangelism practices that God still uses.

MUSIC:
Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave
And various others. But this was a favorite.

IMPROVING HOME:

• I’ve been getting behind in my Bible in a Year reading program so to catch up in 1 Kings I’ve been listening to the reading on biblegateway.com while I fold the laundry.
• I put my laundry room door back on. Even though the dryer keeps it from closing all the way it still improves the look. It had been off since we got the dryer almost a year ago.
• I finally took down some curtains in our bedroom that came with the house. We both didn’t like them. I don’t know why that took a year and a half. I have temporarily put a pretty scarf over the sheer curtains
  I left. It is actually pretty!
• I put up pictures in Ranger’s room! :) i’m so accomplished.



• We put a baby swing in our front yard tree. They love it. I’ll have to take pictures sometime.

On My Blog:
I’ve started talking about my journey with feminism and this month I wrote about how our childhood dreams are influenced by what is culturally allowable, my thoughts on the #womenagainstfeminism problem, and how using the word ‘complementarian’ can wreck havoc in your marriage.

I updated you on my babies, simplifying my dishes, and my goals for the year. I also shared my thoughts on chapter six of The Normal Christian Life, a summer day, and some of our cheap summer activities.

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What have you been into in July?
Do you blog? What have you been up to on your blog? Comment here and I’d love to go check it out!
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*I read these books on Scribd which is free the first two months if you use my link to sign up. :)
And these cows.

They make me happy.

And now I want oreos.