Goodbye to the Old Year: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Issue #2/December 30, 2022
Welcome to the second issue of my newsletter. Here’s a glance back at 2022.
FIVE books that influenced my year
A Million Little Ways by Emily P Freeman: I started 2022 with this book and I enjoyed it so much, I’m starting 2023 with it as well.
If I Understood You, Would I Have this Look on My Face by Alan Alda: Alda is insatiably curious and in this book he directs his curiosity toward the challenges of communication, especially in medical and scientific fields. Definitely recommend the audiobook narrated by Alda himself.
Breaking Free from Body Shame by Jess Connolly: Thanks to the work of God and this book, after four decades on this earth, I’ve begun to consider the possibility that “this is a good body”.
The life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum: This fiction debut novel answers the question: What if Gary Schmidt (The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now) wrote from the perspective of an Orthodox Jewish Teenager? Can’t wait to see what Blum writes next.
You are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich: The author and his wife are “doing something big” and even though I don’t want to do what they did, it got me thinking about doing some big things myself.
“I can’t imagine anything more dangerous to the enemy of our hearts than people who know who they are.”
-Emily P Freeman, A Million Little Things
FOUR Movies that inspired my storytelling heart
C’mon C’mon directed and written by Mike Mills
Paris, je t'aime (multiple directors)
Everything Everywhere All At Once directed and written by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Sr. directed by Chris Smith
“Surely it is not his desire for us to continue living in shame as it pertains to the holy space of our skin.”
-Jess Connolly, Breaking free from Body Shame
THREE Podcasts that have provided companionship
The Friendship Onion with Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
The Stories Between Us with Shawn and Maile Smucker
TWO Quotes I’m taking into the New Year
“The promise my parents instilled in my name has held true: God has and will be my strength, and I have the name to prove it.”
-Our daughter Jael, from a speech written for a college class
“Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
And went out into the morning,
And sang.”
-by Mary Oliver, from “I worried”
(illustrated below)
ONE Scripture that captures 2022
“I will not die but live, and will proclaim what this Lord has done.”
-Psalm 118:7
Blessings from the Guest Nest,
-Aimee
I love your artwork!