2024 Reads: A Private and Public Faith by William Stringfellow 📚

Stringfellow’s prophetic words ring through from the 1960s as an essential voice for today’s church.

One minute your youngest child is a rambunctious preschooler making a mess baking cookies with dad; you blink and she’s almost 16 and baking her own bread to go with Christmas Eve charcuterie.

Two freshly baked loaves of bread on a baking tray, one sliced open to show a nice white bread textureTwo freshly baked loaves of bread on a baking tray, browned cheese crusty on top

2024 Reads: Tripwire (Jack Reacher, #3) by Lee Child 📚

Ah, back when Jack Reacher books still had some plot to them. Nice light entertainment.

Last weekend started my Christmas break - done with work until the new year. But the weekend was so busy with chorus performances that it wasn’t really until today that it feels like break. Slept in, drank a pot of coffee, reading a book. A much needed rest. Thankful.

2024 Reads: The Hours of the Universe by Ilia Delio 📚

A nice short summation of Delio’s earlier writing.

Time for night #2 singing in the Orchestra Iowa Chorus holiday concert!

A selfie of a bald, bearded man in a black suit with a red bow tie

Some customer ahead of me at the bakery bought a $250 gift card to be used on the next customers. I would’ve happily paid for my pecan roll and coffee myself, but… thanks, random stranger!

2024 Reads: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss 📚

I don’t read a lot of business books, and I dislike negotiation, but my boss recommended this one. Some decent strategies I could use here.

Singing with the orchestra chorus this weekend for the holiday concerts. First rehearsal with the orchestra was last night, went from 6:30 to almost 10. Lots of fun but definitely needing the coffee this morning.

Same rehearsal schedule tonight!

Oldest daughter got in from college last night, and now we have everyone at home for the next two weeks! The delight comes with the growing, sobering realization of the limited number of times this will ever happen again.