Hello lovely friends!

Who’s ready for summer around here? 🙋🏻‍♀️ My college kiddos have successfully wrapped up their respective terms, and we’ve got one of ’em home until September, so our nest is feeling a little less empty these days.

Looking ahead at what our family has planned, I realize this could very well be the last summer we travel together as a family of just four, as our offspring are spreading their wings and future travel will likely include either a subset of four or future significant others.

Over the years I’ve written quite a bit about why and how my husband and I have purposed to make world travel a family value, including this article for The Lookout magazine, which includes an interview with “Travel Mom” and renowned photographer Me Ra Koh. Also talked about it here and here on the Mom Inspired Show with Amber Sandberg. (Let me know if you catch my startling blooper — in the intro of the second episode, I think. 😂) Suffice it to say, travel has been an important part of our lives with kids, and it’s sobering to think that this particular era is likely coming to an end.

On a sunnier note, our normally temperamental Northwest weather has been in a beautiful mood lately, so we’ve actually been enjoying some weeks of pre-summer sunshine, unsurpassed in recent memory. Which for me means more runs on the trail (which, because I’m a fair-weather runner, in these climes means I don’t do a whole lot of running) and more evenings on the back deck with a good book in hand.

Speaking of which…

What I’m Reading

Like Honey for the Bones by Brandy Heineman. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak-peek at Brandy Heineman’s latest romantic suspense before it releases July 24. Brandy is a beautiful writer with a gift for weaving unusual elements into an artfully complex story. This one features two flawed but redeemed-by-the-love-of-Jesus characters who are doing their darnedest to love Jesus with all their hearts while trying not lose their hearts to each other. Not that these must be mutually incompatible, but of course he and she think they are until proven otherwise. And I love how Brandy goes about proving just that, with many unlikely twists and unexpected wit. If you love unusual fiction that holds to solid biblical values, as I do, put Like Honey for the Bones on your list. Pre-order your eBook here.

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart. Nicole professes to have “adored” writing this book, and I think it shows. Despite the gravitas of the material, there’s a certain light touch that feels unique to this among her more recent releases. Given the road-trip nature of The Long Way Back, I recommend it as ideal summertime reading. If you missed it, more on my take here.

When the Day of Evil Comes, The Soul Hunter, & My Soul to Keep | Day of Evil series by Melanie Wells. An oldie to be sure, but oh my, I am loving this trio of books again so much. I came to revisit this series on my shelf a few weeks ago when I hit a bit of a reading rut and craved something reliable, a story to check all my boxes. This series does. Don’t let the grim covers scare you (seriously). Had these books been published today, they’d have been given much more appealing cover art to do them their due justice. They might also come packaged with content warnings, as they do deal with some truly serious issues, such as suicide, rape, and child abduction. But in the hands of this gifted writer, these tough topics are rendered into top-drawer suspense with a Christian, supernatural twist, edgy and smart. Masterfully paced and ingeniously plotted with a flutter of romance, these books feature a terrifically crafted protag with a slightly irreverent and wholly vivid voice.

The Body Revelation: Physical and Spiritual Practices to Metabolize Pain, Banish Shame, and Connect to God with Your Whole Self by Alisa Keeton just debuted as an Amazon #1 New Release. The Body Revelation provided me with revitalizing insights into how to use times of both stillness and motion to process the hurts of life. It picks up where Bessel van der Kolk’s seminal work on trauma, The Body Keeps the Score, leaves off, by highlighting the critical-yet-neglected (or ignored) spiritual component. Thanks to what I’ve learned, I’ve become much more intentional about naming what my body is feeling, and what my mind is thinking, especially as I move. And this has resulted in increased intimacy with God, and therefore greater joy. Catch my behind-the-scenes interview and Quick Qs with Alisa here.

What I’m Up To

In May, Scott and I crossed the state to pick up our daughter after her freshman year at college, and to witness our son’s girlfriend graduate from the same. Emma finished with honors with a degree in English and an emphasis in communications. Woohoo, another writer in the ranks!

And now our family is gearing up for our upcoming trip to the Holy Land. I’ve been indulging in bowls of shakshuka, the traditional Israeli dish I’ve come to love — vegetarian comfort food, Mediterranean style! We’ve also been consuming boxes of this bite-sized baklava. My husband ordered the first box as a gift for Valentine’s Day (such a nice variation on traditional chocolates!), and we’ve loved them so much that we’ve gone through two more boxes since! I’ve also been loving this soundtrack with definite ancient Jerusalem vibes, sipping this tea, reading this Holy Land devotional, and allowing these moisturizing socks to get my feet sandal-ready. 😉

Book News

This spring’s relaunch saw both my books hit bestseller status in the Faith & Spirituality category on Amazon, with Her Memory of Music and Shadow Sister filling the #1 and #2 slots respectively.

My readers are the best! Thanks to all of you who were a part of this effort to get my books into the hands of more readers who love multi-layered stories of women overcoming adversity on complex emotional journeys that spotlight the sisterhood of women around the world. I’m so grateful!

Author News

I was also blessed to have two author events recently — a book signing at the Romans 8:28 Books & Gift shop in Enumclaw (thanks to those of you who came out to encourage me! 😘), followed by a speaking event at a local P.E.O. chapter gathering here in Kent.

I’m telling you, the positive vibes in that room of congenial women were remarkable! I felt them the moment I walked through the door and loved my time with them as I shared about the writer-reader brain connection. (Curious? Invite me to speak at your group’s gathering too!) They graciously bought a good number of my books, the proceeds of which have gone directly to International Justice Mission (IJM).

Speaking of which…

IJM Event

My daughter and I recently attended an IJM event in Seattle at which they unveiled Seen,  a short film that “reminds us that there are people in this world who seek to harm the most vulnerable people in unimaginable ways; it continues today with a hope-filled dream of a safer future.”

My daughter made her first personal donation to IJM and said afterwards, “That felt so much better than spending that money on myself.” And while what matters is not what feels good but rather what actually does good, the great thing is, her donation accomplished both! And netted her one of these handcrafted bookmarks made by women rescued from human trafficking in India, like Jayashri in Her Memory of Music. I’ll gladly send you one of these bookmarks as well when you let me know you’ve made a donation of any size to IJM. Email me here today!

Remembering My Mom

May 27 marked the one-year anniversary of my mom’s passing into the presence of Jesus, and I spent much of that day quietly remembering her and celebrating where she is today. I found myself going through her recipe box and discovered the activity of sorting and saving her well-worn recipe cards remarkably therapeutic. So many good memories of the ways she tangibly loved her family by feeding us well. Bless you, Mom.

And you? What are you up to this summer? I’d really love to know. Please tell me in the comments!

💛 Katherine

Featured image by Diliara Garifullina on Unsplash.