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Summer’s heating up: Check out our Family Summer Reading List 2021

One of our favorite ways to relax during the hot days of summer is to read. Our family of five likes to read in all different genres. Sometimes we read books out loud together and sometimes we read solo by the pool, in our bedrooms, on the airplane, or any place. The beauty of reading is that even if you can’t go on some exotic vacation or you only have 30 minutes to spare, you can enter into a different world through books!

Zayla’s picks:

  1. Mindy Kim and the Trip to Korea (chapter book) by Lyla Lee and illustrated by Dung Ho.

My girl has been eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the Mindy Kim series. (She ordered it with her own money months ago.) Zayla has loved learning about Korean culture and going on adventures with Mindy Kim.

2. Any Day with You (middle grade) by Mae Respicio

Kaia and her family live near the beach in California, where the fun of moviemaking is all around them. Kaia loves playing with makeup and creating special effects, turning her friends into merfolk and other magical creatures. Zayla and I were both interested in this book because the author is Filipino-American and incorporates so many cultural details in the telling of this story.

Giada’s picks:

3. Halfway to Harmony (middle grade) by Barbara O’Connor.

Walter Tipple is looking for adventure. The book unfolds the details of his summer of taking chances, becoming braver, and making friends. This one caught Giada’s eye because the main character seems to be working through his grief.

4. Path to Stars (middle grade memoir) by Sylvia Acevedo

Giada loves biographies and said she was attracted to this book because it’s about a girl scout who became a rocket scientist. This book is actually a memoir by a Latina author who endures much loss but eventually goes on to work for NASA. Perfect for my girl who loves all things space!

Meilani’s picks:

5. Rule of Wolves (YA fantasy) by Leigh Bardugo

This book Meilani chose this novel, which is part of a larger series that she loves called the Grishaverse. The place to begin is the Shadow & Bone trilogy. Meilani says these books are the perfect combination of mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy in these books.

6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (YA fantasy) by Rick Riordan

In book 5 of the series, the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing that the odds of victory are grim. Again, you might want to start with book one in the series. My girl says this one is appealing because it’s packed with adventure and you don’t want to put it down.

Shawn’s picks:

7. Win at All Costs: Inside Nike Running and Its Culture of Deception (non-fiction) by Matt Hart

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the Nike Oregon Project and coach Alberto Salazar. Shawn was interested in this one because it’s a running scandal. Who wouldn’t be interested?!

8. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (memoir) by Haruki Murakami

This book is about the intersection of writing and running. While training for the New York City Marathon, Murakami decided to keep a journal of his progress. Shawn says this was appealing because it gives a little more of a philosophical view of running. (We quoted Murakami in our Walk Run Soar book published in September 2020.

Dorina’s picks:

9. Growing Slow (non-fiction) by Jennifer Dukes Lee

I’m a few chapters in and this book is helping me enter a simpler way of living by unhurrying my heart, embracing the relaxed rhythms of nature, and discovering the meaningful gift of growing slow. We long to make a break from the fast pace of life, but if we’re honest, we’re afraid of what we’ll miss if we do. I’m taking this book on my vacation and reading it slow so I can marinate on all the words. I especially like the space for writing reflections at the end of each chapter.

10. Becoming All Things (non-fiction) by Michelle Reyes

Many of us want to have diverse friends and are passionate about justice. But if we are serious about cross-cultural relationships, we need to be willing to change. This book gives us stories and practical ways we can become all things to all people as 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 talks about in the Bible. I actually read this book when it came out this Spring, but I’m reading through it again more slowly with a friend so we can discuss it.

What are you reading this summer? Leave us a comment and share about the books on your list or a favorite you’ve already finished!

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June 12, 2021 Categories: Book Reviews, General

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  1. Sarah says

    July 13, 2021 at 6:53 am

    I think the book “ What I talk about when I am Running” sounds interesting and full of wisdom. I am reading “Circling the Sun” by Paula McClain – which is about Beryl Markham, the pilot, who lived in Kenya.

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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This summer our Giada is trying something new. She joined the Fresno Flyers Track Club. This means a little more competition for our girl and more ...

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Jul 3

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This summer our Giada is trying something new. She joined the Fresno Flyers Track Club. This means a little more competition for our girl and more travel for our family.
This weekend we watched our girl compete in the West Coast Nationals in Reno, NV. She snagged: 
👉🏾3rd in her heat in the 100 and 200 meters with 11th overall in both
👉🏾2nd place in her heat for 7th overall in the 400 meters, which got her a medal and a 2.75-second personal record! 🥈 
🏃🏾‍♀️If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know @shawnyoungruns and I are running coaches and enthusiasts. Truth be told, we’d be proud of her no matter what place she got. It’s a true joy to see our child run for His glory! 🏃🏾‍♀️I know her daddy is smiling from heaven! 
🥳 Is there something your kids do that brings you joy?! Share in the comments. 
#trackfam #trackandfield #trackgirls #glorychasers #walkrunsoar
104 15

Hey friend, I’m ba-ack! This week we are Walking Through His Word together in Psalm 91. If you are feeling weary or facing some challenges this ...

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Jul 1

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Hey friend, I’m ba-ack! This week we are Walking Through His Word together in Psalm 91. If you are feeling weary or facing some challenges this week, these words were penned for you.
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The psalmist reminds us that God is our:
1️⃣refuge
2️⃣shelter
3️⃣fortress
4️⃣deliverer
5️⃣covering
6️⃣rescuer
Sometimes we feel like we have to do all the things when really we are called to trust God to be all the things for us!
“When he calls me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him.” - Psalm 91:15
👉🏾How does psalm 91 encourage you today?! Share in the comments. 
#biblestudy #psalms #devotional #womenoftheword #bibleverse
26 5

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” - Psalm 90:12
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Todays psalm takes us all the way back to the time ...

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Jun 17

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“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” - Psalm 90:12
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Todays psalm takes us all the way back to the time when the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This psalm from the pen of Moses reminds us that life is short. None of us is promised tomorrow.
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Friends, this psalm serves as a pertinent reminder that today is the day to return to God, to rejoice = return to joy, to ask Him to establish the work of our hands (instead of trying to pull it all together by ourselves!)
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👉🏾How does Psalm 91 encourage your heart?
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#devotional #psalm #womenoftheword #bibkestudy #incourage #hopewriters #christianwomenspeaker
19 3

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we live in fractured times. The pandemic forced us to distance ourselves and isolate. Politics and hot ...

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Jun 15

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we live in fractured times. The pandemic forced us to distance ourselves and isolate. Politics and hot button issues have created a wide divide. Church hurt has caused us to withdraw and question. We’ve lost our value for doing life together.
I believe we are going to have to reimagine community in order to survive this next season. We are going to have to prune and cultivate, to bear each other’s burdens around the table and tend to each other’s wounds in the garden. We need to support each other and root ourselves anew in rich soul.
The word flourish means “to thrive, to grow luxuriantly, to grow in excellence and influence.” I don’t know about you, but I long to flourish in this one life I have to live. And even more I would love to be planted in a garden of people flourishing all around me. God designed us to flourish together!
🌺Is there someone you have been disconnected with for a while that you could reach out to today? Is there a friend or a neighbor you could invite over for tea or a meal? Let’s lean in to bloom where we’re planted in community. 🪴☕️ 
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👉🏾SAVE or SHARE this post if you found it valuable!
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#chaisisters #flourishingtogether #community #communitylife #jesusgirl #hopewriters #bloomwhereyouareplanted #womemoftheword #bettertogether #incourage
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Today we are marching through Psalm 89. This one is dense with reminders that God is awesome, faithful, and brimming with steadfast love for us!
...

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Jun 10

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Today we are marching through Psalm 89. This one is dense with reminders that God is awesome, faithful, and brimming with steadfast love for us!
.
I love the call and response and the honest questions that Hubble to the surface in this psalm. The people are struggling. They are wondering when God is going to show up to rescue them.
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This psalm invites us to 3 things:
1️⃣sing
2️⃣question
3️⃣trust
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👉🏾What resonates with you today?
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#prayer #psalms #devotional #womenoffaith #propelwomen #hopewriters #incourage #david
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