June 2024 Monthly Wrap-Up

June was a difficult month. It started out hard and heavy from the very beginning; then turned stressful and upsetting; then made my mental health dip; and finally ended with me simply feeling distracted and stuck. I cried a lot this month, lol. If I had to name good things from June, I honestly feel hard-pressed… but I’d mention listening to expansive new music, seeing new connections in Scripture during book research, and feeling a special kind of unity in my church family.

This month I’m…

Reading: Daughters of a Dead Empire, Carolyn Tara O’Neil. The Promise and Davita’s Harp, Chaim Potok. Faithful and Virtuous Night, Louise Gluck. The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, Anna Rose Johnson. Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt. Deeper, Dane C. Ortlund. Through A Clouded Mirror, Miya T. Beck. Funny Story, Emily Henry. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus. Ophie’s Ghosts, Justina Ireland. 11 total

Listening to: My summer playlist. The Journeywomen podcast. The Outsiders musical. Gracie Abrams’ new album.

Watching: Movies–Moana (yes, for the first time). TV shows–America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Writing: I did my usual volunteer work for my church, and for People Hope, who is actually closing its doors at the end of this month after an amazing ten years. I worked on voice (once my breathing and cough finally stabilized after my May admission) and enjoyed getting back into penpalling more than I have in a while. I did a photoshoot for an upcoming project launch; took a really excellent poetry class from Joy Sullivan; and the draft of my book is currently sitting around 35,000 words.

Grateful for: Clean sheets. A new Internet friend sending flowers to my door. Celestial and butterfly paper. Windows down weather. Seeing new connections in Scripture. A new Barnes & Noble opening less than ten minutes away from me. My mom cleaning my shower. Strawberry sorbetto. Inbound leads. Kitty biscuits. Getting two months of music lessons for $1.

What did you in June?