2 months old

I’ve put my blog on the back burner for now. (Well, maybe it’s not even on the stove. Technically, it’s probably that pot you forgot about 2 days ago and now is so caked with leftovers you might have thought about throwing it away. OK, that analogy might have fallen apart.)

For now, if I post it will probably be quick little family updates as we are adjusting to a family of five. We have a fun summer planned with 5 camping trips booked! (And would you believe Lydia is the most excited about this!) And we are picking up our Y membership again to hit the pool as often as possible. (Also, Lydia can’t wait for this. She might ask me every day if she can just wear her swimsuit instead of clothes.)

Wednesday Isaac turned 10 weeks. I had to go count that on the calendar. I officially quit counting weeks at 8 weeks. It’s too much to keep track of and really no one else cares exactly how many weeks, right? When someone tells me their baby is 17 weeks or 34 weeks, I’m like, “I don’t even know what that means??” So month-counting it is for me!

I grabbed a few photos of when each of the kids were around 10 weeks old to compare and share:

almost 3 mo

 

I think it’s fairly easy to tell who is who. I see some similarities, but for the most part they each have their own look (and certainly their own expressions and personalities!) 

I’ve been spending my days enjoying these last newborn days of Isaac’s. He’s growing so fast, as they all do. I’ve backed down on everything I’m doing to be at the minimum. During Isaac’s nap time I give Aaron and Lydia my full attention (that they are craving!) and we read, play, clean or cook together. (If I don’t have us clean and cook together it wouldn’t get done. seriously. I tired it. When Isaac is awake we all hang out together and the big kids give Isaac some heavy lovin’ -sometimes a little TOO heavy. ;-) They can’t get enough of him!

Hope you enjoyed this little update and my very random thoughts thrown in. Aaron told me today my brain wasn’t working right when I couldn’t figure something out. (and proof that he might be correct, I can’t remember what it was?!) ;-)

I’m off to finish this little bit of quiet time and grab a book to read while Isaac finishes his nap and the other kids are playing in the back with David. PTL for good weather finally! We’ve been letting them run wild outside ’till past their bedtime and enjoying the quiet of the morning as they SLEEP IN! (Honestly, didn’t think I’d get to the point of parenthood where my before 7 risers would sleep later!)

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March Twitterature 2013

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Joining Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy for her Twitterature Link-up

Here are my twitter(ish)-length thoughts on the books I’ve read in the past TWO months… because, ya know, having a baby meant I didn’t do much blogging last month:

Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst – read quickly. 3 stars. glad to have read it, but not in an “unglued” place right now (thankfully!)

Mended by Angie Smith – set up as a month long devotional. first Angie Smith book, would like to read more from her! enjoyed her writing style! 4 stars

Teddy’s Button by Amy Le Feuvre (Lamplighter Ministries) – Love Lamplighter books! Will read this aloud to my kids soon. 5 stars

Introverts in the Church by Adam S McHugh - Excellent. Will read this again for sure. 5 stars. Introvert or not everyone could benefit from read this I think!

The Dragons of Blueland by Ruth Stiles Gannett (read-aloud) – Aaron was a huge fan of this series! Would highly recommend it for young boys. 5 stars

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – Great book! 4 stars. Didn’t know the ending so I enjoyed hearing the investigation and guessing along the way!

You’re Already Amazing by Holley Gerth - Maybe a cheesy title but I needed to read this. 4 stars. Full of Scripture and Truth.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Love Austen. 5 stars. What else can I say?

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary (read-aloud) I remember reading this as a child so it was fun to revisit it! Aaron was a fan but isn’t one he’s asked to hear again. 4 stars.

Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (read-aloud) Like I said before, this series was a hit. 5 stars.

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth – 3 stars. I liked reading about the midwife life, but parts were hard to take. (I’m just not a fan about reading about kids in tough situations.)

The Frog and Toad Treasury by Arnold Lobel (read-aloud) Frog and Toad! Who doesn’t love those two? 5 stars. We have this on audio too so Aaron has listened to it more than once during rest/quiet time.

So… in keeping with how I do things, it’s no surprise I’m WAY ahead of my yearly reading goal. According to my GoodReads page I’m 29% or 9 books ahead of schedule, having read 15 of my goal to read 30 this year. Counting the chapter books I read to the kids does give me a good cushion ;-) Who knows how the year will turn out and how many I’ll read.

Pretty sure next month I won’t have read this much! Heading into a season I suspect will be low on reading and high on sunshine and trips to the park! (I hope! -regarding the sunshine considering today we have about 10 inches of snow!)

Also linking up with Sheila at
The Deliberate Reader for her Reading Challenge.

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Isaac Matthew

 

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(photo by Rachel Vanoven Photography)

Three weeks ago this Wednesday our newest little guy arrived via a peaceful planned home water birth on February 27th. He started life already trying to keep up with his big brother and sister surprising us at being 10lbs 13 oz and 22 in long. We are all in love with him and have been adjusting to a family of five easily. I’d love to share more of his birth story another day if there’s some interest.

Hope to dust off the blog and write more, but I’m not going to make any guarantees on that just yet ;-)

Posted in Family Life, Natural Living | 5 Comments

What I’m Into (January)

Joining up with some fellow bloggers to share a bit what’s going on with me lately…

TV & Movies:
We aren’t big tv watching fans around here. Our tv is actually on the opposite wall from the TV jack, so when we DO watch there’s a lovely cord that runs across the room. Fancy huh? :-) BUT I did watch some of the Golden Globes. (And I’ll admit I had to stop and google just exactly what they where. Actually, I just had to google which awards show it was I watched, I couldn’t remember.)

This time around I’ve had my share of pregnancy-insomnia. Usually about an hour and a half because I can watch about 3 reruns of FRIENDS. I think I know that show too well.

On netflix:
I’ve gotten a bit hooked on Warehouse 13. Reminds me some of The Pretender but more of X-Files, but not too much.
I watched ALL of DC Cupcakes while drooling a big ol puddle! Man, talk about the power of suggestion! Good thing The Flying Cupcake isn’t open at night!
I also watched My Best Friends Wedding. And wow, I didn’t realize just how long ago that movie came out! I’m old.

From The Bookshelf:
Reading has slowed at tad around here. Plenty of kids stories being read but not so many of my kind. Too much sleepiness these days. Growing a baby wears me out, I don’t get through too many pages till I’m snoozing.
I’m in the middle of 6 books. Probably the max of how many books I read/listen too at a time.
Mainly working on Sense and Sensibility for book club right now. I’m up to chapter 18 and book club is next Thursday. Time to power back up the speed!

My Life:
Pregnancy. Still on that boat. :-) Tomorrow I meet with our midwife for my 36 week appointment and next week we have our “home visit.” Which, essentially, is just the walk though of the house with the midwifes and doulas and other people who might be around for the kids. They check to be sure they know how to get here, where everything is in the kitchen and around the house and how to work the washer/dryer etc. I have almost the same birth team (except the assistant midwife) as with Lydia’s birth and am SO excited! They were fantastic last time!

Random life:
No new or funny pregnancy cravings. Just ice. Lots of crushed ice. And small meals. Very small.
Not too many shirts are long enough these days which just baffles me. I grow babies straight.out.front. to the extreme. What do tall people do?
My 3yo daughter saw an old picture of me not pregnant and exclaimed! “Mommy look no baby in your tummy! You can bend down now!” She makes me laugh!
Not traveling too many places anymore. Running out of room to fit in the van while reaching the peddles. Has this happened to others? Short-people pregnancy issues.

Around The House:
I’ve finished all (which was very little) baby prep and laundry. It’s all tiny and cute and ready and waiting! (like me, except for the tiny and cute party ;-) )

David finished the wainscotting backsplash in the kitchen and painted the walls the most awesome shade of happy green imaginable! The kitchen is by no means done (I’ve got big plans to get some more storage “in the galley”) but we are both happy to get to a nice stopping point to rest and wait before any real construction begins.

Bible Study:
I joined #HideHisWord at Do Not Depart for this session memorizing Psalm 71. We are on verse 6 this week and I’m doing pretty good! THIS is something I’m actually keeping up with despite my tendency to not be able to move or do much each day. The ScriptureTyper app is such a blessing.

I’ve also joined Adrienne over at A Suburban Menagerie for #the7experiment fast and study by Jen Hatmaker. I started a tad early to give myself a “baby buffer” and am loving it! Not sure I’ll be posting tons of updates on here, giving myself advance grace not knowing exactly how life will be with 3 littles.

My #writetheword is temporarily on hold for now. The technical difficulty of actually sitting at a table, reaching it, AND writing is near impossible. Although for short periods of time I can kneel and write. But that just might be the best position for writing the word, no?

In The Kitchen:
I’ve been busy pinning plenty of low prep and crockpot meals to make now and after the baby comes. I’m hoping to start getting some freezer meals done this week. So far, my priorities have been sweets. I have chocolate chip banana bread and oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough all ready to go!

We’ve been making dairy kefir for about 5 years now -and believe it or not, with the.same.grains. they just keep on growin’! BUT… this month have recently switched to making greek style yogurt. I should say… my husband has. He is the master yogurt maker! The whole family is loving it! We have almost completely stopped drinking milk and cut a good deal of dairy out of our diet but still love our cow share milk as thick creamy yogurt!

On The Blog:
Still pretty quite around here but I did share a few posts, all on books and reading:

January Twitterature

January’s 2013 Reading Challenge

2012: My Favorite Books

2012: The Year In Books

 

Linking up with Hopeful Leigh

Posted in More About Me | Tagged | 5 Comments

January Twitterature

Screen Shot 2013-01-17 at 8.44.51 AMJoining Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy for her Twitterature Link-up

Here are my twitter(ish)-length thoughts on the books I’ve read in the past month:

A Midwife’s Story by Penny Armstrong:: Good story, quick read. But I would recommend Baby Catcher if you are looking for more midwife birth stories. (3 stars) (Just started Call The Midwife… full baby mode over here for sure!)

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens:: Not my favorite Dickens book, long for the story involved. He wrote & published 2 ch. each week for a year, wish I would have read it with that in mind. (3 stars)

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle:: I’ve enjoyed every Sherlock Holms story I’ve read (listened to, in this case) Very short little Christmas story. (4 stars)

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg, Melinda Blau:: Reread this FAV baby book of mine. Love the “English” language from a long time baby nanny & her solid advice for understanding what my baby’s telling me. (Worked like a charm for my first 2 babies!!) (5 stars)

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth:: Another reread. Another favorite! Love how it’s divided into sections by stages. Again, whenever my first 2 tried to switch up sleep schedules on me, I found answers here. (5 stars)

Posted in Books, Twitterature | 2 Comments

2013 Reading Challenge

I’m joining my friend Sheila over at The Deliberate Reader for::

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Without knowing what 2013 really has to hold it’s hard for me to make good predictions and goals. This past New Years I’ve actually made the least resolutions and goals ever, (I love setting goals!) giving myself (new to me) freedom to just BE. It’s changed me to be a much more relaxed-laid-back-Sarah. I like her.

My GoodReads goal I set for myself in 2013 is 30 books.

In 2011 I guessed I’d read 30 and read 38.
Last year I guessed I’d read 31 and read 57.

So there’s a great chance 30 books for this year will be way off, but I’m anticipating spending many more moments snuggling a little one and less curled with a book. So we shall see. (I’ve been stocking my kindle/kindle app for those chances to possibly read while nursing, but I’m not sure that’s something I can really get into. I’m a huge fan of multi-tasking, most of the time, so we’ll just have to wait and see.)

Rules for myself:
1. I’d like to read all of our book club books (I’m currently working to try to get a tad ahead.) 12 books

2. I doubt I’ll listen to as many audiobooks as last year, but I’m thinking I can fit in 6 audiobooks.

3. When Lamplighter ministries had their ebook sale over the holidays I stocked up! Hoping to read 6 Lamplighter books.

4. That leaves 6 books that I find along the way. With the chapter read aloud’s to the kids, new ebooks that are released and the other books that I’m sure will find their way to the top of my reading pile I’m think 30 total books will be something I can accomplish.

Linking up with The Deliberate Reader

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2012: My Favorite Books

12 Favorites of 2012

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day:: Start this in the morning and I’ll bet you have trouble NOT finishing it in a single day.

Quiet:: It might be my personal goal for the year to encourage more people to read this and Introverts of the Church. Such. Good. Books. (for both Introverts, Extroverts, and those who have to ever engage with other people.)

Love Does:: When I have to stop constantly and tell someone about what I’m reading, the book will always make it to my favorites list.

Anne of the Island:: Working my way through this series. Can you believe I’ve never read them before?

Grace Based Parenting:: Need some fresh parenting inspiration? Start with this book.

7:: Great message, hilarious writing, life changing. Not a typical pastors wife author in a super awesome way. Next month I’m joining Adrienne and the new Bible Study that accompanies this book: Stage Your Own Mutiny.

Les Mis:: I listened to the full unabridged version of this masterpiece. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the movie just yet but my sister has, twice. And after talking about it with her I’d recommending reading the book not just the fabulous movie. It sounds like for the sake of time they had to fly through some great portions of the the story.

The Lamplighter:: The book that inspired Lamplighter Ministries. Another one I couldn’t help telling people about as I read it! Haven’t read a Lamplighter book yet that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy!

Educating the WholeHearted Child:: Excellent book. Great reference!

The Well-Educated Mind:: Inspiring! So many books. So little time. I want to always be learning.

The Good Earth:: Fascinating story of a man’s life in rural, pre-revolutionary China. So, so good. Pulitzer Prize winning book.

The Great Divorce:: C. S. Lewis always wins. His writing is packed so full it can’t be read just once.

Do you agree? Are any of these on your “Favorite Books” list?

Stay tuned for some thoughts on my reading goals for 2013: the year we welcome baby #3!

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2012: The Year In Books

Just a little slow in getting this post out, but I wanted to recap my books of 2012.

I started the year with the goal of reading 31 books since I was turning 31…

Well, I blew past that hitting 31 books in the middle of the summer. I eventually will have to stop saying this as the years go by, but I still consider myself a “new reader” (as in, I didn’t start reading for fun until about 6 years ago) but I’m apparently horrible at predicating the free time I’ll have in the coming year to read.

Mid-summer I upped my book goal to 50 and finished with reading 57.

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57. Farmer Boy (read aloud)
56. James Harriot’s Treasury for Children (read aloud)
55. Quiet** (half read – half audiobook)
54. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day **
53. Interrupted
52. Wrecked
51. The Promise
50. A Moveable Feast (book club)
49. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (didn’t finish*)
48. Tears of the Giraffe
47. The Paris Wife (audiobook)
46. Wild (audiobook)
45. Quitter (audiobook)
44. My Father’s Dragon (read aloud)
43. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (book club)
42. Mine is the Night
41. Ivanhoe (book club) (audiobook)
40. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (book club)
39. Dolphin Treasure (read aloud)
38. 1776 (audiobook)

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37. The Core
36. Getting Started In Homeschooling
35. Love Does**
34. You are a Writer
33. Nature/Walking (book club)
32. What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
31. Anne of the Island**
30. Beezus and Ramona (read aloud) (audiobook)
29. Last Child in the Woods
28. Grace Based Parenting**
27. Walking on Water
26. 7**
25. Summer of Promise
24. Les Mis** (book club) (audiobook)
23. Created To Be His Help Meet
22. The Body in the Library
21. Alice In Wonderland (audiobook)
20. Call of the Wild (audiobook)
19. Benjamin Button (audiobook)
18. The Lamplighter**

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17. The Book Group Book
16. A Wrinkle in Time (book club)
15. Educating the WholeHearted Child**
14. Scribbling in the Sand
13. A Confident Heart
12. Black Heals to Tractor Wheels
11. Redeeming Love
10. A Year In Provence (book club)
9. Bird by Bird
8. The Well-Educated Mind**
7. The Readers’ Choice
6. The Picture of Dorian Gray (audiobook)
5. Happy to Be Here (book club)
4. The Good Earth** (book club) (audiobook)
3. Water for Elephants (didn’t finish*) (audiobook)
2. The Great Divorce** (audiobook)
1. Heaven is for Real

57 Total
15 Audiobooks
10 Book Club books
5 Read Alouds

** See next post for a little bit more on these favorite books of mine.

Posted in Books | 1 Comment

Young Living Essential Rewards

Linking up with Natural His and sharing what came in my December Essential Rewards box!

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Forgiveness, Exodus II, Patchouli, RutaVaLa Roll-On :: oils that came up high for my family when we recently took the Compass test. LOVE their roll-ons. So handy and good to share with new oilers w/o frightening them off too bad :-)  

Eucalyptus Radiata, Cedarwood, & Rosemary :: in the process of gathering oils recommended in the book Gentle Baby and our upcoming homebirth.

Lavender & Myrtle :: for my sister

Thieves Bar Soap (not pictured) :: I’m adding this to my homemade laundry detergent.

Frankincense :: My order was large enough this was the free promo for the month! Simply amazing, amazing oil!

Information from the Young Living website:

Forgiveness™ contains a synergistic blend of soothing and uplifting essential oils that may enhance the ability to release hurtful memories and move beyond emotional barriers. The process of growth can only proceed when we have the ability to forgive and let go of negative emotions. (Ingredients: Melissa, geranium, frankincense, rosewood, sandalwood, angelica, lavender, lemon, jasmine, Roman chamomile, bergamot, ylang ylang, palmarosa, helichrysum, and rose in a base of sesame seed oil.)

Exodus II™ is a timeless blend of essential oils from the same type of plants that Moses used for temple incense. Exodus II energizes while it complements Young Living’s Exodus dietary supplement. (Ingredients: A base of olive oil, cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), myrrh (Commiphor myrrha), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), calamus (Acorus calamus), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), galbanum (Ferula gummosa), frankincense (Boswellia carteri), and spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi).

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), sometimes called “the scent of the sixties,” has a musky, earthy, exotic aroma. In Eastern cultures, it is commonly used around the house to provide general support for health and to help release negative emotions. It is very beneficial for the skin, helping to reduce a wrinkled or chapped appearance. Patchouli is a general tonic that supports the digestive system and soothes occasional queasiness.* Patchouli has an approximate ORAC of 494,271 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Young Living’s RutaVaLa Roll-On (patents pending) is a proprietary blend of Ruta graveolens (rue), lavender, and valerian essential oils that promotes relaxation of the body and mind, soothes stressed nerves, and induces sleep.*

Eucalyptus radiata is cooling, refreshing, and energizing. Lighter in smell than Eucalyptus globulus, it has many of the same supportive properties. Because it is relatively gentle and nonirritating, it is the preferred choice for children. This variety is one of the most versatile of the eucalyptus oils and is suitable for topical use, diffusing, and even direct inhalation. It has long been an ingredient in some of Young Living’s most popular blends.

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) has a warm, balsamic, woody aroma. It is relaxing and soothing when used for massage, and has long been used as a beneficial ingredient in cosmetic preparations for oily skin.* Cedarwood has an approximate ORAC of 1,689,996 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis CT cineol) has a fresh, herbaceous, sweet, slightly medicinal aroma. An energizing oil, it may be beneficial for helping to restore mental alertness when experiencing fatigue.* It is also a popular ingredient in skin and hair care products. This oil should be diluted before use and is recommended for adult use only. Rosemary may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods while cooking. Rosemary has an approximate ORAC of 3,309 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma that is soothing and refreshing. Because it is the most versatile of all essential oils, no home should be without it. Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy. Therapeutic-grade lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, and skin irritations. The French scientist René Gattefossé was among the first to discover these properties when he was severely burned in a laboratory explosion. Lavender may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods. Lavender has an approximate ORAC of 3,669 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) has a clear, fresh, herbaceous scent, similar to eucalyptus. Supportive of the respiratory system, skin, and hair, it has been researched for its effects on glandular imbalances* and its soothing effects when inhaled. It is also helpful for meditation and lifting the spirit. Myrtle has an approximate ORAC of 253,512 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has a sweet, warm, balsamic aroma that is stimulating and elevating to the mind. Useful for visualizing, improving one’s spiritual connection, and centering, it has comforting properties that help focus the mind and overcome stress and despair. Frankincense is considered the holy anointing oil in the Middle East, where it has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. More recently, it has been used in European and American hospitals and is the subject of substantial research. Frankincense is also a valuable ingredient in skin care products for aging and dry skin. The ancient Egyptians used it in rejuvenation face masks. Frankincense has an approximate ORAC of 6,125 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

* These statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

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Fall Into Reading: Wrap It Up!

Fall Into Reading 2012 with Callapidder Days

Seems like this has been THE longest Fall ever. The days just creeped by! BUT… I did manage to get a good handful of books read.

I stuck to my original list, for the most part, and I added quite a few more along the way.

My original Fall challenge list::

1. The Promise by Chaim Potok :: Always a Potok fan! Wasn’t disappointed with this follow up to The Chosen.

2. Quitter by Jon Acuff (audiobook) :: Great book! Recommending it to so many and I don’t even have a traditional “job” in any sense of the word. (It’s not really about quitting either. :-) …and I loved his other book Stuff Christian’s Like -hilarious!)

3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith :: TOTALLY forgot it was on my list! I read almost all the books on my list right away and thought I had them all done or at least started… oops!

4. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway  (November book club) :: I gave it 3 out of 5 stars (in GoodReads) This was my first Hemingway, I know it’s different than his style is his other books, but it didn’t make me want to run out and read more of his work right now.

5. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain :: Loved this! Can’t decide if I would stress more that all introverts should read this or ALL extroverts. Nobody’s off the hook. All would benefit from the knowledge of this book.

6. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (audiobook) :: Entertaining story! Laughed many times at her lack of backpacking knowledge, definitely not a backpacking how-to story.

7. Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs :: Not usually big Historical Fiction fan, Christian or not. But I had read part one/book one* of Higgs interpretation of the book of Ruth a few years ago and finally got around to grabbing a Kindle copy. I may have enjoyed this one better! You could easily read just this one and not be lost on the story, which was nice. (*Book one is Here Burns My Candle)

8. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller {in progress} This book is officially on hold. I know SO many people loved it but maybe this just isn’t the right timing for me. I have it on my Kindle so maybe I can finish it sometime in the future.

Additional books read:

9. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (audiobook) :: Reading both A Moveable Feast by Hemingway and The Paris Wife, a novel told from his Paris wife, back to back was a fun combo. Being that was the first Hemingway I’d read and I think it helped that I knew the basic story first.

10. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (December book club) :: Fun, short kids story.

11. Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker :: Enjoyed this one! Loved her book 7, so I wanted to read more from Hatmaker. (Plus, her style is just so funny! If you’re looking for humor, 7 is where you should start!) The timing of reading this for me was good. It’s sort of her (and her family’s) story and transition to starting a church which was enlightening and applicable to me right now. (Not the “starting a new church” part)

12. Wrecked by Jeff Goins :: Thought-provoking and a great message. I hope I never get stuck in ‘comfortable’ and forget being ‘wrecked’ is a good thing.

13. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith :: Read book 1 in the series with our book club and right away wanted to read this one. Took me awhile to get my copy from the library (was to expensive to buy!!) I’m not usually a ‘series’ reader but this one got me hooked!

14. The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens (audiobook & January book club) {in progress}

15. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson :: Fun, light read! Highly recommend it! Thinking about buying a copy. 1: because I’d read it again for sure, and 2: because I love loaning out good books!

16. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (audiobook) {in progress}

This has been another fun reading challenge, will be back in the Spring for the next one with a new baby along for the ride!

~

Linking up with Katrina at Callapidder Days
Find me on GoodReads

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