A few weeks ago I wrote about things that were restoring my heart. I shared some really amazing books, a podcast and a journal. Surprisingly, the post has been my most popular so far. It seems like most of you are in the same boat as me and are also seeking things that are heart restorers.
So what’s restoring my heart right now?
Wendell Berry! I know y’all are like, “Wendell Berry again?” I’m sorry but I can't help myself! I am just such a huge Wendell Berry fan right now! I’ve already shared Hannah Coulter and Jayber Crow, two books from his Port William series which are two of my favorite books I have read lately. But did you know that he also writes poetry? My sister, knowing my love for him, just gave me “The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry” and I am already loving it! Here is one of my favorite poems so far -
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Social media can be a tricky thing. There are accounts that make you feel terrible, like you are never enough or that you want more, more, more. There are ones that leave you so heavy and filled with discontentment. But there are also those bright lights that stand out and when you find them they are so welcome! Hearthstone Fables is one of those accounts. Kristin’s blog is just enchanting! Her passion, like mine, is how to help families celebrate the seasons of the church in their homes. She creates the most beautiful write ups as well as the sweetest printables for families to use.
Ok, so, I am team Jonanna and Chip Gaines in a major way! They used to stress me out and I avoided them at all costs. I thought they were doing way too much and I feared for their marriage and their family! LOL But seriously, I did! When they decided to walk away from their hit show to have another baby, I was so relieved. It seemed like they had struggled with the whole fame/empire building thing and realized what was most important in life. Two things that I absolutely love that they produce are there magazine and their network. I love their magazine, Magnolia Journal. It is peaceful and thoughtful and it calls us all to higher things. One of my favorite sections is where they take a theme like “strength” and they showcase people from all races, ages and walks of life on their particular story of “strength”. It’s really encouraging and inspiring!
I also can’t recommend their channel enough! It might seem like your run of the mill home makeover/cooking show channel but it is not! Each show is visually stunning and has this sense of goodness about it. There’s no gimmicky cliffhanger before the commercial, no high anxiety problem to be fixed. It’s just beautiful, meaningful and peaceful. My husband and I watched Lost Kitchen during the pandemic and I know this is weird to say but we teared up with each episode. There’s just a loveliness and a goodness about these shows that is so unique. The cost is only $4.99 a month which is so worth it for the feeling of restoration that you get after watching it! (this is not an ad in any way!)
I hope you love all of these things as much as I have! They have definitely been a source of encouragement and restoration for me. I'd also love to hear what's restoring your heart right now!