Library play and Good Readings for 2013

A picture of some of the books I want to read in 2013 and a few that were read back in 2012...

Did you ever play library when you were growing up? Do you remember sitting in the middle of your bedroom floor with your books piled up next to you and carefully stamping the inside cover with your personal name stamp? My stamp was inked in red and had two hearts bordering my first name. After my beloved paperback was stamped I would use a pretend pen type reader (like our hometown library used) to scan the barcode on the back. Some days, when I wasn't playing school, or Agent 99 (from "Get Smart") with childhood friend Ashley (between the two of us, we would take turns playing Max, aka 86, and 99. I had this fabulous compact that served as a secret phone device and of course the perfect lip stick tube that acted as a secret microphone) I would sit for what seemed like hours and pour over my many-times-read-through books. It was the best. I remember going on family vacations and packing multiple books to read while on the car ride alone (thankfully, I didn't have to worry about a queasy tummy back then; I do believe if you dug through some of my mom's old albums you would find pictures of me laid out on the backseat of our van quite happily popping gum with a book in hand.)

Those days of endless hours of reading time have long passed. :) Since having kiddos, I have gone through spells of reading some and reading very little (other than some favorite magazines that come in the mail monthly). Sometime last year I picked up the lifelong love and haven't been able to keep my hands off of books...literally. There have been days that I have carried a book around with me to multiple rooms in an attempt to read just a few pages and then life happened and at the end of the day I might have 3-4 pages read. Hence, part of the reason that if you were to walk into any room of my house right now, you would find at least 1 or 2 of my books sitting out. Though just as intriguing, the books I find myself leaning towards are not quite like the fiction books I used to dive into, but instead, books that I feel will uplift me as a woman, wife, mother, daughter of Christ, etc. and will help me grow. I have decided that this most recent fixation must be due to the fact that I have been depriving myself of one of my happy past times for far too long. Now, if I can just work out a happy balance... ;)

Here are a few of the books I have finished thus far this year:
(and p.s. I really like each of them and would recommend them to be added to your collection. Each one has been lovingly marked and underlined in--after much debate of whether or not I wanted to start marking up all my books I finally dove right in and went to town with the highlighting! :))

One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp

Favorite! Favorite! Love Love!! Just go ahead and purchase it...

     The last of the sunflowers stands tall in the kitchen garden right off of the porch. It's early, too early, really. The picket fence gate at the side of the garden lies open. I have scissors in hand and hopes for just a ring or two of fresh petals. In the house, empty vases line the counter. Emptiness opened wide for beauty filling. So I have gone looking, always looking.
     The finches, yellow on wing, flit among the high leaves. The ground is damp from the night dreams. I stretch high on the toes to reach a crowning sunflower, perfect. A few lower ones, bowed, still new. I walk the rows of giants and I gather. My arms are wet with dew, full of summer.
     In the house, I trim stems, shear off lower leaves, fill the open vase mouths, and I arrange. I set the vases of the golden heads out. One on the side table by the window, another at the end of the hand hewn-mantel, beam from a barn that the school bus drove past all my childhood. I bring beauty in. I take the last to the table, set its bouquet in the middle of the quilted runner of pinwheel stars that Mama stitched for my birthday, thrifted cotton ginghams, old men's shirts, faded summer work. For a moment, I bend, fingering petals.
     I peer into a wide circle of sunflower, a mother seraching a child's face.

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, by Lysa TerKeurst

     I've heard it said that life would not be so hard if it weren't so daily. Yet the Bible says that each day is a gift from God that we should rejoice in (Psalm 118:24). Daily adventures with God will add an excitement to your life that will change your whole perspective. No longer is your day just one humdrum task after another, but rather a string of divine appointments and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.
     Seeing life like this opens up God's storehouses of joy. The mark of a truly godly woman is one who reveals the power of God not so much in her doing as in her being. she has opened God's treasure chest of joy and so filled her heart with gratitude and love that just being around her inspires you. She goes about the simplest of tasks, her everyday duties, and even the rough patches of life with such grace that you find yourself wanting to imitate her. She is full of adventure yet not worn out from the journey.

Finding God's Path Through Your Trials, by Elizabeth George

     We view our trials from the "underside," the human side, the earthly side. All we see is a mass of unfortunate trials and tragedies that are many times ugly, confusing and disturbing. But what God wants us to understand is that He is producing works of art.
...
     Exactly what is a stable woman, a woman with staying power? And how would you recognize her? She's one who endures whatever life brings her way. She doesn't crumble under pressure. She persists. For her there's no stopping allowed, no bailing out. There's no giving up and no giving in. And there are no excuses. She keeps on keeping on, staying to the end.
     And that's not all. A stable woman is one who's steady. She's not soon shaken or easily rocked. Like my first mentor, she is a rock. She's constant, even-tempered, never fickle, and not wavering or fitful. She's steadfast and fixed. She's not a flake. She is faithful and solid.

It is now past my bedtime and as I sit here listening to Florida Georgia Line's latest song, "Get Your Shine On" I smile. For what I am about to do is crawl into my cool bed sheets, pick up a near bedside table book, and read a few pages...

May your evening be filled with only good things.

3 new books for my bedside table

January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons. Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell: cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys. Outside the temperature drops as the snow falls softly. All of nature is at peace. We should be, too. Draw hearthside. This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within. 
     -excerpt taken from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I am one who would choose a quiet bookstore and a cup of chai tea over clothes shopping any day. Three books I am literally giddy about having on my bedside table as I start this new year are One Thousand Gifts, my One Day per Page At-a-Glance Planner, and Simple Abundance: a Daybook of Comfort and Joy!

One Thousand Gifts had been on my "wish list" for several months before I finally snagged a copy late this fall when it went on sale at Lifeway. I am already midway through this refreshing book, but I know it will be one I will re-read throughout the year. Ann Voskamp's writing makes you want to curl up in your nearest comfy chair and get lost in her inspirational thoughts. She has such a gift for embracing and sharing everyday moments. (Do not be surprised if I share a few lines from her book in the new future.) And if you really want to drool over her work, her words, her everyday pictures, her beautiful simplicity...visit her site. (Drool sounds like such a crude word when you are discussing Ann's work; however, since that is what I was literally doing the first time I visited her site, it was deemed appropriate.)

 

One of the most thought out purchases for me at the end of each year is choosing my new planner. I take my time strolling through the aisles of multiple stores to find exactly what I am looking for in a daytime planner. This year, I had a really hard time finding what I wanted. The last two years I picked up one of the Mead Planners from Target, but I was not able to find them this year. This size and style are perfect for my purse and a quick on-the-go-glance; however, it fits my note-taking style and allows for plenty of daily and future planning. Both years, (the green in 2011, and the pink in 2012) these were my go to calendars. As I studied the planners and calendars in Office Max two days before the New Year, I laughed and then got frustrated when I saw how many adorable pint-sized planners they had in stock. What about real-size planners for real people that have more appointments and activities in a given day than what will fit in a 1/2 inch space?! Now, I do realize that I am slightly more detailed than some people; however, these small things just seemed pointless.

I finally landed on three options. All totally different. The one I am most excited about is the planner mentioned above and pictured below. This One Day Per Page At-a-Glance Planner is currently sitting at my bedside table for all my intricate daily details to be recorded. I have never stuck with Journals longer than the first several fresh pages of the book, but this I can and will do! My calendars always have A LOT of detail. (So much that my friends used to laugh at me in Jr. High when they would open one of the weekly page views. I distinctly remember a Geography class period when one of my girlfriends, Meagan, looked through it and said something to the effect of, "Carrie, I am surprised you do not have the exact times of when you brush your teeth in here, because you certainly have everything else!")

Blank, lined pages for each day of the year. YES!

I get excited just thumbing through the thickness of it!

My second planner that I decided our family needed this upcoming year was a simple Day-Timer Monthly Planner. Last year, had we had one of these in our kitchen, it would have saved a number of questions and quite honestly, just time in general. So, now I have a pretty green monthly calendar that will stay either in our kitchen or at our desk (whichever seems to be the perfect fit for us as we start to use it this month). The only details it will hold will be birthdays and the appts with office location and time. And for the third planner, instead of the Mead planner that I so loved these last two years, I opted for the next best available option, a Blue Sky Weekly/Monthly planner. (I could not find the exact link for mine, but the content iteself is exactly the same. Mine is a simple gray with white stitching around the edges.) The two things I like about it are the size and the cover style. What I do not like about it is that there is no "looking ahead" monthly planning area prior to the two-page monthly spread. I like a place where I can jot down monthly goals and to do's. Also, in the Mead planners, on the weekly page spreads, there is a small area that allows you to jot down notes and to do's for that current week. My Blue Sky planner does not have that space. Those two details make me frown. I am still not sure if I made a right choice by this one, but worse case scenario, if I can't work with the less detailed version, I order a Mead planner from their site. For a usable friendly planner that is practically my best friend throughout the year, the extra $14 would be totally worth it.

Side notes: Next year, I am thinking on splurging on an Erin Condren planner. I probably would have purchased one this year, but my budget was smaller than what my chosen style and preferences were for a personal Erin Condren design. Also, it will be different refering to and using multiple calendars this year, so I am interested to see if I choose to go back down to using just one the following year.

All right, that was way more information on my personal choice in planners that anyone could have ever wanted to read, so on to my third book that totally excites me: Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I found this jewel at a library sale this past Fall and snagged it for a mere $2. It was in perfect, unused condition. I had never heard of this book, but was immediately drawn to it and after reading a page or two, promptly handed over my two $1 bills. Best book purchase for $2 I made this year. I have been trying to patiently wait to start this book until the first of the year, but I have to admit I skipped ahead to read a few of the monthly selections. Now I am happily starting with the month of January and going through the entire year's passages. I can't get over the fact that I want to highlight every.single.line of this book. The whole collection of daily quotes and inspirational ideas is like a treasure chest filled with single, bright and colorful jewels.

With these three books, my bedside table has never looked more welcoming and inviting. Here's to Good Reads in 2013. :)

life:beautiful magazine

Really enjoy this magazine!!
"All Good, Simple, & Inspiring" are 3 adjectives I would use to describe this publication!
When you get a few minutes of free time, pick up a copy of Life: Beautiful, sit in your comfy chair with a warm mug of tea & enjoy! :)

Just for fun:
The magazine holder by our bed holds my current reading material..whether the magazine/book is new or old, it's just whatever I'm grabbing that month when I just have a few free minutes. Here's what is currently filling it: An old Creating Keepsakes issue, Parenting, Southern Living, an old Mississippi edition, Scrapbooks, Etc., Life: Beautiful, & The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian (thanks Aunt Val!).
Usually, it's more of a mixture of books & magazines, but right now only one book graces the rack! :)

What are some of your favorite magazines? Please share! It's always fun to try new ones!

snapshots & blessings of today

Have I mentioned how much I miss my camera? I'm so thankful that Clay has his for us to use...I just need to get in the habit of grabbing it before I walk out the door. I left it at home for 3/4 of our day before I remembered to pick it up. I did manage to snap some cute ones of Parker playing late this afternoon though!!!

Totally in the moment!
These are the two books I'm reading this week! Love the cute illustrations & creative ideas in the first & the awesome tried & true practices with invaluable information in the second.

I said this tonight as I laid Parker down to sleep:
"Our family will never be the same,
because a special someone came.
We thank God every morning,
and we thank him every night,
when we kiss your precious head
and put you sleeping into bed."

Love the sweet sayings & blessings in this book; I pick it up frequently!!

nothing like a good book...

Totally into this book right now...my first novel to read in a year and a half...I had already read the first two in this series a few years ago. Each of the three books in the Mark of the Lion series is amazing! Francine Rivers delivers those "heart-racing, tear jerking, sit on the edge of your seat, don't interupt me because I won't acknowledge you" type books. Go pick up a copy of the first book in the series & let me know what you think about it when you're done! What books are you into right now?