I Knew She Was There: Rich Community Murder (4 Stars)

I recently finished reading I Knew She Was There by Jennifer Sadera. This book, which comes out tomorrow, Nov. 12th, is a murder mystery thriller with a sometimes unreliable narrator. For much of the story, you’re not entirely sure if our narrator, Caroline Case, is telling the whole truth or even if she’s aware that…… Continue reading I Knew She Was There: Rich Community Murder (4 Stars)

The Girls We Sent Away: Hidden Pregnancy (4.5 Stars)

Recently, I finished reading The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church. This story, which takes place in the 1960s, involves Lorraine, who’s sent away to hide her teen pregnancy. What You Should Know Lorraine is about to start her senior year of high school when the story starts. She’s the only female lifeguard at…… Continue reading The Girls We Sent Away: Hidden Pregnancy (4.5 Stars)

Psychopathic: Stalker, Blind, Strange Medical Practices (4 Stars)

I recently finished reading an ARC of Pyschopathic by Jason Melby. This book comes out on January 10, 2025. It’s about Faith Galloway, a blind psychiatrist. Don’t worry. The book isn’t as crazy as the title or the book cover implies. While I would consider this book suspenseful and a little creepy at times, the…… Continue reading Psychopathic: Stalker, Blind, Strange Medical Practices (4 Stars)

Scabs Never Heal if We Keep Picking at Them

Sometimes, I get really dry skin. This is particularly true in the winter. My hands are the worst. It gets to the point where my hands, particularly my knuckles, will start to bleed. Then they’ll get scabs. I’ll also sometimes get really dry skin around my ears, which also may turn into scabs. Not to…… Continue reading Scabs Never Heal if We Keep Picking at Them

Insecurities, Assumptions, and Not Having the Full Story

While going to grad school in 2010-2012, I taught a YSA Sunday School class. Honestly, it was one of the hardest callings emotionally and mentally that I’ve ever had. I had an assortment of insecurities concerning teaching. I felt unsure about my own gospel knowledge. Along with that, several people in the class were going…… Continue reading Insecurities, Assumptions, and Not Having the Full Story

Angry, Annoyed, Frustrated, and Tired

For my Emotional Resilience group last week, we talked about anger. This discussion included talking about how other emotions build up to us feeling angry. Some of the things we talked about are how you might feel annoyed, disrespected, frustrated, or tired before acting out in anger. We talked about how anger in itself isn’t…… Continue reading Angry, Annoyed, Frustrated, and Tired

The Slow March of Light: Divided Germany (4.5 Stars)

If you’re interested in Germany post-WW II, you may want to read The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore. This book begins in Utah in December 1959. Our main character, Bob, is drafted into the army. After basic training, he heads to West Germany. Germany Post World War II This was a well-written…… Continue reading The Slow March of Light: Divided Germany (4.5 Stars)

Is It Really Success Disguised as Failure?

I talked recently about how I’ve started taking an Emotional Resilience class in my ward. Each week, we set five goals to work on for that week. The following week, we individually rate how we did with each goal. You can pick “very little effort,” “some effort,” or “significant effort.” The first two weeks, I…… Continue reading Is It Really Success Disguised as Failure?

Are They Judging Me or Am I Being Self-Conscious?

Earlier this week, I talked about how I started an Emotional Resilience group last week. While the class went well enough this week, ironically I had two moments where I wondered if people were judging me. Take this half-jokingly. In looking back, the other people probably put almost no thought into what I said even…… Continue reading Are They Judging Me or Am I Being Self-Conscious?

The First Time I Felt Like I Could Belong

About six months ago, I started going to a Single Adult ward. Anyone who knows me well knows this transition was not an easy one for me for several reasons. Despite feeling like I needed to go, I have struggled with feelings that I really don’t belong there. I feel like I don’t have a…… Continue reading The First Time I Felt Like I Could Belong