Currently

Reading ... in the Bible I'm a bit all over the place. I'm midway through Proverbs while also reading the gospels, and my favorite Psalms.

In other books insert long exhalation this could be a post on its own. 

The library we use is doing a reading challenge that includes mostly classics. I decided to participate since I was hoping to read a lot more classics this year, but it has been rough. My latest from that challenge Grapes of Wrath I had a miserable time reading it. I had several gripes and issues with it almost from the very beginning, but I thoroughly despised the ending so much that I rated it a generous one star. 

Finishing it I thought I really, really need something completely different. Something light and fluffy. A quick read of some kind. 

Someone had shared that one of her all time favorite book series is a YA taking place in Ireland, there was going to be rugby, and high-school. The main characters names are Johnny and Shannon. Armed with only that for information I thought I would give it a go.

The library had all the books in the series so on a whim I decided to take all of them. That way if I like the first one I can immediately continue. If not, no big deal. I can always return them unread.

When I tell you I was unprepared for this series, I mean, I was unprepared! 

It was like nothing else I have ever read.

I've heard tell that some books find you when you need them. Maybe that is the case. I'm fairly certain had I attempted reading them even several months ago I would probably not have made it past the first few chapters in book one, but for some reason even though there were cringe inducing things sprinkled quite liberally in those first handful of chapters there was also something that kept me reading. And so I did.

Book one ended on a huge cliff hanger and I was so glad I had the next book to immediately continue. I could have quit reading at the end of the second book since that was the end of Johnny and Shannon's POV, but book three was waiting and I saw it would be from Shannon's brother Joey's POV who I had really liked in the previous books. He was such a good brother to Shannon and the rest of the Lynch siblings that I had to continue the series.

My heart had already gone through the wringer in books one and two. But reading from Joey's POV took it to a whole other level. It was brutally painful to read, but also so good if that makes any sense. 

Maybe it was because we're only a few weeks from the anniversary of my brother Mahlon passing away, but reading about Joey's battle with addiction was utterly heartbreaking and healing at the same time. I truly think I needed to read these.

These books should not be YA, though. They're so, so heavy. Going in I had been completely unaware of the trigger warnings attached to them and there are plenty.

I have zero regrets that I read them. They were such a hard read, but somehow still so good. I can not stop thinking about these characters. It's been over a week since I read them and I've been unable to pick up any other books. I still wake up at night and they're the first thing I think about.

In the end, even though I'm glad I read these I would be very hesitant to recommend them to anyone, because of all the triggers.

Writing ... other than this blogpost, nothing. After that reading journey my well of creativity and inspiration has dried up. I know it will come back someday, but today is not that day and tomorrow isn't looking too good either.

Listening ... to the neighbor's rooster crowing loudly, the hum of the dehumidifier running in the basement, and the trilling of a bird I can't identify.

Baking ... I made a small batch of cookies yesterday, there are still five left, but I'm assuming those will disappear soon.

Cooking ... for dinner I'll be making a lentil stew and some herbed dinner rolls to enjoy with it. It's been cold lately which has made me crave this stew, so we shall have it tonight.

Feeling ... so very thankful for the life I get to live. I've been blessed beyond measure to have LV for my husband, to have the family we have, and to know our Saviour. It's not a perfect life, but it's a really, really good one. And I'm feeling overwhelmingly thankful for all of it.

Disliking ... drought. After all the rain and flooding at the beginning of the summer we are back to being dry. Timothy and Rosie Mae's well ran dry on Saturday. They're drilling today, but in the meantime they've been coming over to our house for showers, laundry, etc.  As much as I love having them here, I wish it would be for a happier reason.

Loving ... the bouquet of flowers in the living room. They're Rosie Mae's. She brought them along over so that she still gets to enjoy them while they wait on having water in their house.

Playing ... a variety of games. My favorite for right now is called Squirrels. 

Cleaning ... we were planning on deep cleaning the basement on Labor Day but then someone wanted to have an interview so LV went into work instead to conduct it. He was able to work all day, but the prospective hire was a no-show. Not the best first impression if you're hoping to get a job, I must say.