Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Summer Reading

Hey Girls,

So I realize that I wasn't very active this year (as in I made it to 1 and 1/3 meetings) but oh well, I think this blog is a really cool idea. I was wondering, is anybody reading anything really good over the summer or did you read anything really great over this past year? I made a list of books that I plan on reading, but most of them are more classic literature and I would love to get recommendations from you all and make a list of books to read that would help me grow in my faith. I just stole a copy of The Five Love Languages from Colleen and I am really enjoying it and I am also planning on reading The Story of a Soul. Have any of you read either of these or do you have any suggestions?
Also, has anyone come up with a plan for staying in touch with Jesus over the summer? Have you picked a special prayer to say everyday? Do you have a prayer journal? Have you worked anything out with a prayer partner? I'd love to hear about your ideas or plans because if I don't mix things up fairly often I know I tend to get bored and things (my workout schedule, study habits, spirituality) can end up kinda lax or stale or forgotten altogether.
Ok I hope you guys respond. Have an awesome summer. Miss you tons (especially you Kat Harter). Love, Beth

6 comments:

  1. The Privilege of Being a Woman is also a pretty good book, and so is the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. I think I have one or both if you're interested!

    In terms of staying in touch with JC...my first thought was to say definitely Mass. It gets me up in the morning, which is probably the biggest factor of whether or not my whole day is productive! It's rough though because you want to relax during the summer, but you also don't want to feel like a major couch potato. So, with Mass (and with running actually) I try to stick to the rule of at least every three days (i.e. I go Sunday, so if I skip Mon and Tues then I MUST go on Wed. And then if I skip Thurs and Fri, I MUST go on Sat). I think I also like Mass because it's scheduled at a specific time. Like, if I say to myself, "oh, I'll pray for 20 minutes sometime today" there's a really good chance that it won't happen. But my church only has daily Mass at 6:45 and 9 am, so if I don't go then, I've missed it for the day.

    I've found that a prayer partner though is the key to actually sticking to that! You can ask Caitlin to put you on the GP list if you want, or just find any friend. I'd like to say that I keep myself accountable, but I really don't.

    But I definitely know what you mean about things going lax during the summer. It's almost like...like the air is different at CUA, like there's this aura that makes me a better person. Mostly spiritually, but in other ways too. And when I come home, it definitely takes effort to feel that same way.

    Kind of like how the Pevensies are stronger and more awesome when they're in Narnia haha :)

    Love, Mimi

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  2. I read the beginning of story of a soul but then schoolwork got in the way. I plan on finishing it this summer though. I'd also recommend the screwtape letters. And I plan on reading the Theology of the Body this summer yeah JPII.
    As for my staying in touch with Jesus I am a journal girl. I journal all the time about important stuff and about really stupid stuff too that I just feel like I need to get out. And its actually pretty cool casue I was looking back on all my journals from high school (becasue i've been writing them since like freshman year of HS) and they have changed so much! My journal did like a complete 180 when I came to CUA from like talking about boys and prom to God.

    But Mimi I like your mass scheduale idea. I went once this week and i feel like I should have gone more. Its just hard casue the daily at my church is at 9 so my friends are like what the heck when i have to wake up and leavev their house at like 8.
    In conlculsion I miss CUA!

    Love JAmie

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  3. Hello love; The Perks of Being a Wildflower. It's a summer read; really not hard to comprehend slash you can read it in two hours. It's by far my favorite book I have ever read. Ever. And I love you Beth; you're an amazing woman and I am so incredibly blessed to have you in my life.

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  4. i LOVE LOVE LOVE the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I read it stretched out on a hammock in Honduras (between playing with babies, of course.) It's really good.

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  5. Ha I have it and though it may not be quite as awesome in rockville, stretched out on the couch, I'm still looking forward to reading it.

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  6. Hey ladies! I know I'm not "in" GP, but I've always been on the email list... you're like my lifeline to CUA when we're away!

    I've really enjoyed "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom and "Christy" by Katherin Marshall. The former is an amazing autobiography of a woman whose family hid Jews in the Netherlands in WWII, and her changing faith in that time. READ IT. "Christy" is more fictional, but if you're looking for an easier book (it is long, but so good!) that will strengthen rather than contradict your faith, it's a good selection. The main character was a missionary school teacher in a very poor region of Appalachia around 1910. It's based on a true story, slash is mostly true.

    Thanks for keeping me on track!
    Lauren Joyce :)

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