I'm a little over 38 weeks preggers, so that is much on my mind these days. Yesterday it took me 20 minutes to walk a little under one mile, going at a steady pace. I now outweigh my husband and my children can't sit on my lap. I'm ready to have a baby instead of a belly.
But in the midst of trying to keep cool and stay sane as I chase around two other little ones, I've enjoyed some really great books, have written out my angsty thoughts and listened to some new podcasts in the midst of sorting baby clothes and starting projects I usually don't have the energy to finish.
I'd love to hear what you're learning and being entertained by this month, so be sure to drop a note in the comments!
Next month's mentionables post should include funny looking newborn baby pics...;-)
Books
Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith by D.L. Mayfield
Check out my review of this book here. If you are involved in cross-cultural work of any kind, then this book is a must-read!
Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination and Spirit: A Reflection on Creativity and Faith, by Luci Shaw
This was the first book I have read by Luci Shaw and I couldn't put it down. Along the lines of one of my favorite books of all time, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Wheaton Literary Series)
, by Madeline L'Engle, Shaw reflects on the dissection of faith and art in such a beautiful and logical way. It will be one of my new yearly reads, I am sure. Very inspirational to those of us attempting to write or create.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
, by Ina May Gaskin
Okay, though I admit I definitely read more than one line aloud to my husband saying, "Listen to this--this is hilarious!" (usually about the "ecstasy of childbirth" or the woman's "parts" being referred to as "the gates of life") this is still my favorite book about natural childbirth. This was a re-read for me in preparation for baby #3 coming in a few weeks. What I love most is the way she discusses the mind-body connection and the way childbirth is considered as a natural, beautiful occurrence instead of a medical and scary one.
Podcasts
Beautiful Writers
I have binge-listened to this podcast all month. Two women interview writers and others involved with the publishing business about how they work, what works for them and what they've learned over the years in the business. My favorites were with Marianne Williamson and Seth Godin (though I seriously listened to more than half of them and enjoyed many!).
The Liturgists
#37 The Enneagram
(Just took the test for the Enneagram and I think I'm a 3. Hard to be an "Achiever" AND a pregnant mom of littles.) This show, though probably the longest podcast I've ever listened to at two hours, is a great overview of what the Enneagram is if you have never heard of it before!
Global Mom Show
If I could host my own podcast, this would be it. Love this idea and have gotten some great tips about books to read, fair trade clothing to buy and just a general outlook on life as a mom who hopes to raise kids who look past their own backyard.
Back to the Basics and Blog Posts (This gives a good overview of what this show is about!)
Fair Trade, Fashion and Global Girlfriends with Stacey Edgar
Books for Global Moms with Anne Bogel
Living Barefoot with Nancy Traversy
God Centered Mom
This podcast was also new to me this month and I LOVED it. Though I listened to at least six of these, these were my favorites:
Calmly Parenting the Strong-Willed Child with Kirk Martin
Debunking Spiritual Leadership Myths with Jen Wilkin
Relief Journal
#3 D.L. Mayfield (author of the book I mentioned above, Assimilate or Go Home)
#1 Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
Recipes
Slow Cooker Carnitas (All Recipes)
This was so good and incredibly easy. I copied some of the comments and put the meat in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 just to brown the meat a bit more after it had cooked. I also threw together a salsa made of chopped purple onion, garlic, cilantro, lime and tomatoes. Add some shredded cheese and put in warm tortillas and you have an amazing meal. LOVE easy food.
Zucchini Rice Gratin (Smitten Kitchen)
Our neighbor gave us a GIANT zucchini, so I was excited to find this recipe to put it to use (we only used about 1/6 of it!). This could have used a bit more salt, but other than that it was really good. We ate it with some Italian sausages and that really made it, I think.
Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Pinch of Yum)
I made the mistake of doubling this recipe, thinking I would be smart and save some soup for when the baby comes, but now I have about 4 extra containers in my freezer! It was good, though a bit richer than I would have liked. Next time I think I'll use less butter and try it out with 1% milk instead of whole milk. This will be a great soup for cold weather.
Thought-Provoking Articles from the Web
An Open Letter to the Parents of Well-Behaved Children, by Jillian Lauren for Huffington Post
Children's Books to Help Talk about Race with Kids
Don't Carpe Diem, by Glennon Doyle Melton for Huffington Post
How to Make Your Voice Sound Better So People Will Actually Listen to You, by Laura Vanderkam for Fast Company (My hubby was interviewed for this article!)
My Lack of World-Changing Extracurriculars, by Megan Gahan for SheLoves
Pregnant with God, by Danielle Strickland for SheLoves
So you're thinking of voting for a pro-choice candidate... by Rachel Held Evans at her blog
Ultimate Guide to Keeping Young Children with You at Church, at Living and Learning at Home
5 Actions White Educators Can Take to Help Make Schools Anti-Racist, by Jamie Utt for Everyday Feminism
Published Articles
I once was (color) blind, but now... for Altarwork
How Our Muslim Student Became Auntie Boo for SheLoves
In Case You Missed it at Scraping Raisins:
(Lots about pregnancy this month now that I'm in the final stretch--no pun intended...)
What My Pregnant Body is Teaching Me
When You Can't Quit Your Job (a reflection on my time at the Simply Jesus conference I went to at the end of July)
The 37 Week Pep Talk for the (Scared) Waiting Mama
What have you been into this month?
***
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Previous Post: A Fellow Failed Missionary {A Review of Assimilate or Go Home}
Next Post: 39 Weeks ~ These Strange Days
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Labels: 2016 Monthly Mentionables, blogs, book review, books, podcasts, pregnancy, race, recipes
Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith
Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination and Spirit: A Reflection on Creativity and Faith
, by Madeline L'Engle, Shaw reflects on the dissection of faith and art in such a beautiful and logical way. It will be one of my new yearly reads, I am sure. Very inspirational to those of us attempting to write or create.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
, by Ina May Gaskin 
