Currently: December 2024
New favorite books, storytelling, and cults
December Recap
We made it to the end of 2024.
This year, as I shared in my Holiday Inspiration post, I wanted December to feel less rushed and more rested. Less material and more meaningful. Less stressful and more sacred.
And thankfully, I feel like it was that. We spent time with family and visited with friends. We sought to give generously but also didn’t focus on gifts. We listened to Christmas hymns and made cookies and read and walked and rested.
And now in these cozy days between Christmas and New Years, we begin to look ahead to the hope of what 2025 will bring.
Check out previous editions of Currently here!
Reading
2 of my new favorite Christmas books - both are on Kindle Unlimited!
Christmas with a Crank by Courtney Walsh - Small town, friends to lovers, Christmas tree farm, no spice romance. I am obsessed with this one!!!! Watch me read it here.
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh - Friends to lovers, ultimate road / boat / train / plane trip to get home for Christmas (skip pages 294-298 for no spice). This one was such a fun adventure!
The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman - This is a really sweet short story by one of my new favorite authors that you can read on Kindle Unlimited. This one is perfect if you need something short to help you reach your 2024 reading goal!
Watching
Virgin River: Season 6 - The new season of Virgin River came out towards the end of the month, and I have slowly but surely been making my way through the episodes. My favorite part, aside from the never-ending small town drama and the meddling sewing circle ladies, is always the scenery. It is so beautiful! I can’t wait to see what kind of cliff hanger this season ends on…
Nate Bargatze - I mentioned Nate Bargatze’s Christmas special in last week’s post, but I thought it was worth mentioning again. He also has a handful of specials on Netflix now as well. If you are looking for a laugh, I believe these will deliver!
Listening
Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz - Technically, this is a book, so it could also go under reading. However, since I have been listening to the audiobook, I am counting it as listening. This is the story of Joy, also known as Haley from One Tree Hill, and her experience in a cult. I haven’t finished the book yet, but so far I have been hanging on every word. Her writing is phenomenal, and the story is devastating and gripping all at the same time. I can’t wait to finish it!
Thinking
The Power of Storytelling - I have always loved a good story. I grew up with a love of reading and music and theater. This past month, as I watched movies and read books and laughed alongside comedians and listened to songs, I was just so fascinated by the power of a good story. I think what sparked this for me recently was attending my aunt’s celebration of life back in November. Her and her husband were storytellers, and so naturally, her celebration was full of wonderful stories. It got me thinking. I believe God is the greatest storyteller, and we are made in His image. Therefore, I think we are all made to tell stories, we just do it in different ways. I want to figure out what my avenue is for storytelling and start using it. What is yours?
Goals for 2025 - As many of us do when the calendar turns to a new year, I have been brainstorming goals and dreams. Some are small, like wanting to take more photos or find a better rhythm with meal planning. Others are big, like writing a book or traveling out west for the summer. Whatever it is, I love letting my mind wander and envision what I hope the future to hold. At the same time, I wrote down that I want to let go of the pressure of what I think life “should” look like - arbitrary timelines and standards and comparison. I hope to share more of my goals in the new year!
Quote
As we wrap up the holiday season and enter a new year, I will leave you with this…
“Your generation is in such a hurry. Everyone is in such a rush. Don’t you know that when you die, your inbox is still going to be full?”
(from Christmas with a Crank by Courtney Walsh)
Thanks for reading! I pray you are going into 2025 full of hope and peace.
Here’s to a fresh start.
Take care,
Caroline