Read. Reading. Will Read.

January 17th, 2012

I re”kindled” my love for reading in 2011, much to the credit of an earlier bedtime for the boys (after dropping nap) and my Kindle Reader that Brad got me for my birthday. I don’t have a ton of free time, as many of you can relate with… but I do love a good read during my down time.  It’s a much needed quiet retreat at the end of a crazy day.

I love hearing book suggestions and to see what people have on their nightstands, so here’s what I’ve read, what I’m reading, and what I plan to read in 2012.

So what did I read in 2011?  Here’s a handful that I READ:

1. All New Square Foot Gardening – This was a great resource in planning and growing our garden this year.

2. The Pursuit of Holiness – I did a Bible study on this book and gained so much. 

3. Unbroken – This is a non-fiction WWII read that was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read!  The story of survival and redemption is phenomenal! So much respect for our military!

4. What Women Fear – Easy read, but a challenging and convicting read. There’s something in here that every woman can relate to, even if you don’t deal with anxiety.

5. One Thousand Gifts – A life changing book on embracing life in the now with gratitude and contentment.

6. The Help – The movie was good, but the book was better of course! Read this during my surgery recovery, and enjoyed it the entire way through.

7. Fifteen Minutes Outside – Awesome suggestions and ideas for enjoying each season with your children outdoors.

8. Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl – This book challenged me to dig deeper and to become a doer of the Word.

9. The Hunger Games Trilogy – Although it was darker and different than any other fiction I typically read, I was hooked from the beginning with this series.

Still READING:

1. Grace-Based Parenting – Brad and I have been working our way through this one, and it’s been a thought provoking read on parenting and our motives.

2. Grace for the Good Girl – So thankful for this read from my friend, Emily, and look forward unpacking it further in the next few weeks.

3. Radical – Brad and I started reading this on a date night and hoped to continue you it in dates to come, and we’ve gotten interrupted and I look forward to going back to these pages soon.

4. What’s It Like to Be Married to Me? – I picked up this book at Half Priced Books because I love Linda Dillow’s writing on marriage.

5. Organized Simplicity – I’m all about a more simpler 2012 and I’ve loved this book so far. It’s full of practical advice for simplifying life at home and making a more intentional effort in prioritizing what matters. {The Kindle version of this book was FREE yesterday, so check and see if it’s a free read again today!}

6.The Home Experience – I started this as a Bible study last week, and I think it’s going to be fantastic.  It’s a beautiful book about creating a “haven of peace and a sanctuary of love” in our homes. Definitely my heart for our home!

WILL READ in 2012 (or really hope to):

1. The Mission of Motherhood – I’ve had the privilege of hearing Sally Clarkson speak, but have yet to read one of her books, so I’m looking forward to reading this one soon!

2. Kisses from Katie  – This comes highly recommended from several friends, about a girl named Katie who is doing big things in Uganda.

3. One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler – Again, simplifying in 2012.  52 projects that can be taken at my own pace. (This is an ebook.)

4. Quitter – As Brad and I continue to work together on business ventures, I’d love to gain some more inspiration and knowledge.  I’m excited to hear Jon Acuff speak in February at The Blissdom Conference in Nashville, where I’ll be a Community Leader for Newcomers!

5.The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections – This book looks like it’s filled with beautiful inspiration for creative play and memory making.

6. Feminine Appeal – This has been on my list for some time, and has also been recommended by several women whom I look up to spiritually.  It looks like a great read on Biblical womanhood.

7. Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder – Another beautiful resource on making learning enjoyable through experiences that encourage curiosity and that child-like wonder we all need more of!

My number one reading recommendation would be The Bible – and I can’t emphasize enough how helpful a study Bible is for understanding context and meaning.  I downloaded the The ESV Study Bible last year, and it’s been a tremendous resource!

I would LOVE to hear YOUR recommendations for more to add to my list for 2012.  (Especially a few fiction suggestions) What have you read?  What are you reading?  What are you wanting to read?

* Many of these links are affiliate links for Amazon – meaning if you click on them and buy them they give me pennies, dimes, and sometimes even quarters for your purchase.  It’s not much, but I’ll take it! =)