Wedding Reflection: Grief as a vine
I was twenty when my great grandmother died, twenty-two when my grandfather followed. I held my grandfather's hand in the hospital room...
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Shanley McConnell
- 6 days ago
- 2 min
Ode to September
We begin the academic year with September. A month to learn and enjoy learning. To be inspired. This word "inspire" descends from the ...
Shanley McConnell
- Jul 30
- 6 min
Wedding Reflection: The Engagement Season and Forever After
Joshua and I courted our wedding day like a beloved date. We bought flowers, chose a venue, confirmed decor and finalised details with...
- Jan 22, 2020
- 7 min
Devotion: Creativity & The Art of Paying Attention
~ ~ I listened to a Ted Talk by widely regarded actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt today about how craving attention can make us less creative....
- Jan 20, 2020
- 3 min
The Monday Review, week ten
~ ~ 1. Astonishing The Gods, Ben Okri Astonishing The Gods is a book that highlights the theme of invisibility. The notion of...
- Jan 19, 2020
- 4 min
Devotion: Waiting In A State Of Holy Anticipation
Devotional, a response to Priscilla Shirer's Awaken. Waiting In A State of Holy Anticipation.
- Jan 13, 2020
- 4 min
The Monday Review, week nine
~ ~ 1. Normal People, Sally Rooney This book has been widely circulated in conversations. A title of literary debate & discussion among...
- Jan 13, 2020
- 6 min
Devotion: The New Year
~ Hello! Welcome to one of my first posts of 2020. I hope you are well, and had a restful Christmas and New Year season. I'm thrilled to...
- Dec 31, 2019
- 4 min
The Monday Review, week eight
~ 1. Dragons, Matthew Francis Faber & Faber published Matthew Francis' Dragons in 2001; his second collection focuses on...
- Dec 19, 2019
- 5 min
Michaelmas in Recap
~ The Best of 2019 Michaelmas & the Festive Season ~ Scrolling Back Can you believe its been months since my last week-in-recap update?...
- Dec 9, 2019
- 3 min
The Monday Review, week seven
~ It's been a while since my last upload, apologies! I do hope you are well, and have had a lovely start to your Christmas season. I...
- Nov 4, 2019
- 9 min
The Monday Review, week six
~ ~ 1. The Age of Magic, Ben Okri Okay, so we've returned to Ben Okri with The Age of Magic. This novel takes us on a journey: a magical,...
- Oct 15, 2019
- 6 min
This Week In Recap: Early October
~ Sunday, 6th October Formal (Freshers' Welcome) Dinner: My beautiful friend was curled in cosy covers on our couch when I went...
- Oct 7, 2019
- 12 min
This Week In Recap: September to October
~ Anxiety Attack To Begin The Week I am finding it hard to breathe. If I sit quietly and close my eyes, I can still feel my...
- Sep 27, 2019
- 13 min
Holiday Mornings Mid-Term
~ ~ Disclaimer: Hello! My friends 🍁 I hope you are well, and have had a lovely, restful summer so far. I haven't written a random...
- Aug 23, 2019
- 8 min
Classical Stories: 10 Most Overplayed Classical Music Pieces.
~ Some of you may already know this, but for those of you who are newer friends, here's a little backing track from my childhood. When I...
- Aug 14, 2019
- 3 min
Good Morning Devotions on a Rainy Day: 2nd Thessalonians 2v10b
~ Dearest friends, Good morning / afternoon / evening I hope you are well whenever this post reaches you. I thought I would begin my day...
- Aug 1, 2019
- 3 min
How to Create a Work of Art with/(in) the Waiting.
~ ~ Sometimes, when all for the world this life seems a bit overwhelming, I cycle to the Art Store on Banbury Road to buy a canvas. A...
- Jun 28, 2019
- 2 min
A Friday Film: The Guilty (2018)
~ The Guilty, Gustav Möller (original title: Den Skyldige) Released 26th October 2018, The Guilty is a truly dramatic thriller....
- Jun 24, 2019
- 6 min
The Monday Review, week five
~ ~ 1. In Arcadia, Ben Okri (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2002) I'm so worried about spoilers so I'll simply say that this was one of my...
- Jun 21, 2019
- 3 min
The Ration Challenge, Lizzie Husum.
Good-afternoon friends, It is such an honour to welcome Lizzie Husum to the blog today. This dear friend of mine often helped me with the...
- Jun 20, 2019
- 5 min
Poetry & Renewal: Imagination In A Secular Age, Lecture by Malcolm Guite.
~ ~ Poetry and Renewal: Imagination in a Secular Age, Malcolm Guite. Last Thursday, I attended a lecture at OCCA (Oxford Centre for...
- Jun 15, 2019
- 2 min
AURORA | A Different Kind of Human, Step Two.
~ ~ AURORA (Laura Aksnes) sensitivity to poetic-language is powerful and comforting. If I had to choose one artist whose music has had...
- Jun 3, 2019
- 4 min
The Monday Review, week four
~ ~ 1. Almost the Equinox, Sarah Maguire (London: Chatto & Windus, 2015) Sarah Maguire's Almost the Equinox is a gorgeous bouquet of a...
- Jun 2, 2019
- 4 min
Social Media Week: Instagram, and a Challenge for 9th June 2019
~ ~ Social Media can be an uplifting tool because enables us to connect, share treasured moments and reach out for knowledge of...
- Jun 1, 2019
- 6 min
A Semester-Review: Through The Sunshine Days.
~ ~ Are you weary? Worn-out? Burned out? Come to me and rest. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or...
- May 21, 2019
- 8 min
The Monday Review, week three
~ Good-morning, my friends, Here's a little update, and a list of books/poetry collections I've read over the last month or so. Although...
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