Posts by Well-Read Mom
Dracula: The Inspiring Power of Tangible Beauty
More than a mere horror story, Dracula invites the reader to examine what is required to seek and protect the Good from the evils which are always present, though not always easily recognized or seen, in our world. What fascinates me most, particularly during this latest encounter with the novel, is Stoker’s proposition that the most potent methods of promoting the Good are also some of the most ancient and timeless.
Read MoreHumility & Wonder—the doorway to experiencing poetry
When we encounter a poem that is challenging, we practice bearing the tension of not understanding and approach it with humility and wonder.
Read MoreSeeking to See the Gift
“Everything is gift.” The theme of last year’s Well-Read Mom conference for the Year of the Giver seemed perfect. The idea sounds so beautiful. And yet still, I sometimes wonder, is everything a gift?
Read MoreHome: A Reflection on Seeking Amid Family and Motherhood
Listening to my husband read aloud “Two Old Men” to me and our children was one of my sweetest memories of 2022. And this introduction to Tolstoy led me to read Anna Karenina, my favorite book of 2023. This story of two old men, with all its beautiful lessons about pilgrimage, true worship, hospitality, and corporal works of mercy, seemed to me a story about motherhood and being a stay-at-home mom.
Read MoreWonder Makes Us More Human—and More Fun!
Women who live with wonder have a unique ability to impact their surroundings; they are the ones who create an environment in which people can thrive. Children are good at reminding us to see. Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s Little Prince teaches the narrator, “It is only with the heart that one sees rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”
Read MoreGrateful for the Journey
As we enter into this holiday season, Well-Read Mom invites you to pause with us and reflect in gratitude on the many ways our Well-Read Mom family has been a blessing. It is our sincere hope that as we embark on this Advent journey you may enter into the seasonal preparations as a pilgrimage—seeking an intentional journey to the manger. It is our prayer that you may reclaim the busyness of the holiday season as a time of preparation and peace which deepens your connections with family, friends, and the true reason for the season. Happy Thanksgiving!
Read MoreDracula and the Sacredness of Marriage
I love reading aloud to my husband. We have enjoyed this activity ever since we were dating, but for the past few years we’ve made it an intentional habit. As soon as the booklist was released for this year, I knew that Dracula would be our next readaloud.
Read MoreSeeking: An Artist’s Journey
In my role as an artist (and as a reader), I have experienced every part of the creative process over and over again.
Read More“Blessings Greater in the Privation”: Charis and the Grace of Suffering
Despite the beauty of this season, I, like many other mothers, find myself somewhat (okay, very) overwhelmed as I grapple with new academic schedules and tackle evenings dominated by homework and other responsibilities. Yet, for the past three years, the fall months also signify something satisfying: the commencement of another year of reading great literature alongside some of my dearest friends.
Read MoreTo Be Charis in a World of Victims
Charis’s lack of a crisis of faith and her lack of acceptance of victimhood as her identity struck me. In a world where victimhood seems to be a surefire way to gain social status, what a refreshing and inspiring tale!
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