What I Read: February Edition

Here is where I share some of the books I managed to complete in the past month.
Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

The Fring Hours

Winnie the Pooh and Making Poems

Reading aloud to my children is my favorite.

I pick a story and read it at naptime until they all nod off. Sometimes I keep reading the story to myself. Lately I have been read A.A. Milne's "The House at Pooh Corner." Every once in a while I run across something that very accurately describes me, how I think and function. For instance, when Piglet tells Pooh that shillings shouldn't come after pounds in his poem, Pooh responds,

"They wanted to come in after the pounds," explained Pooh,"so I let them. It is the best way to write poetry, letting things come."

That is often how I write. I let things come, ideas start and I just sort of follow it and see what fits. Sometimes I fight it, because I think it should have a different message, and maybe I am trying to make a point that really isn't mine to make. I like rules as much as anybody, in fact more than most people. But when it comes to writing poetry, I just have to let things come. It is the best way after all.

And just FYI, I have been making videos of my kiddos lately, slowly flexing my techy muscles, and I created a Vimeo channel for them. Here is the link:

KittyFish Productions

What Am I Reading in 2014?

February was an incredibly busy month and March is laid out to be even busier. Still, it has been nice to have a stack of books that I am eager to pick up in a spare moment. I usually have one sitting on the piano in the living area, and I find it easy to read a couple of pages when the children and chores are not demanding immediate attention. I am finding that the right reading material can actually inspire me to continue forward in my daily tasks.

 

So here is what I managed to read over the past month.

 

Loved, loved, loved this book. Tsh's style really grabbed me, and I was inspired by the vision of living intentionally. I appreciated the flexibility with which that vision was presented. How it looked for the Oxenreider family is fascinating, but I know it can and will look entirely different for the Mallery family. I am re-reading this more slowly.

 

So after reading her latest book, I decided check out her first book from the library. Definitely interesting to note how she has grown as a writer in the four year gap. I find this book helpful and so much better than "Large Family Logistics" which I had been reading. I would recommend "Organized Simplicity" above it for sure.

This was a book I borrowed from my sister and finally got around to finishing and returning. I think I may need to re-read it during a slower time of life.

I am still in the middle of this, but am reading it super fast. It falls into a similar category as "Notes from a Blue Bike" and I am totally enjoying the authors style. At times it seems like someone who is just thinking out loud about how to be happy.

I was given this book last fall, and while it was an easy and pleasant read, I am happy to reshelve it. While I would consider myself a definite Narnia fan, I become tired of constantly finding Christian references in the Chronicles. I am not denying they exist, but I just want to enjoy the stories the way I enjoy many stories. They provide wonderful examples to children of nobility, courage, and other attributes (which I believe all good children's literature should). When I introduce the books to my kids I want them to love them, because then the learning comes naturally. I don't intend to read them with a guidebook of character questions. So this was good book for those who need a jumping off point for deeper conversation.

 

There you have it! I am delighted to have covered so much ground over the past month-ish, and feel like I am getting into the reading groove again. I am trying to stick with books I want to read, rather than the ones I feel I should read. I have stopped a book or two because it was becoming an obligation rather than a joy. As a mother I do not have time to read something I don't really want to, and no one is forcing or expecting me to read anything. My reading should be helping, not hindering, my journey as a mother, wife, and woman.

 

Reading Goals for 2014

In my childhood, reading was the favored activity. From dawn to dusk any free time I had found me nose deep in a book. For several years I could read one a day. As my free time grew less and the books became more challenging (i.e. non-fiction) I went through one a week, give or take. And of course I learned about having multiple books stacked next to the bed all of which I was reading.
However, the past two years of motherhood, marriage, and generally living life left me with a shorter stack of books, and taking a lot longer to work through them. Last year I overwhelmed myself with a long list of books to be read in 2013, along with deadlines for finishing them. By mid-year I was frustrated whenever I sat down to read, and unable to focus on a once-loved activity. So I stopped reading my books and just read to my wee ones. Hardly stimulating material.

Throughout last autumn I learned a lot about how to say "no" to the world outside. This left me with a great deal of time that had hitherto been filled by church, extended family, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. And I found I could read again. Not the way I used too; after all I have a home to care for and children to invest in. I found I could read about two books a month. So in early January I made a list of books I would like to read. Books we have been given, books recommended, books that have sat on our shelves untouched, books borrowed. I organized by subject/genre, then picked three for January and three for February. And that is about as far as I have planned. I picked books that felt relevant to the needs of the hour. As the month draws to a close, I am trying to remember that it is not about finishing the final chapters of each book in a late night cram. It is about learning when to say "no"; to reading, to events, to outings, to the Internet. The needs of my life are my husband, two toddlers, and pregnancy. I can't do every good activity, clean every room, read every good book I hear of. But I am happy with how my reading is going so far. It is nice to pick up a book and read a page or two. Right now, it is not about finishing a check list. It is about choosing the best things over the good ones.

So did I read in January?

This has been a slow read, and more of a reference book. I am about half way through. It was passed on to me a while back by my sister-in-law. I picked it as a stimulator for ideas on managing my little family as we move out of the baby years. The author has a great deal of helpful thoughts. It is the small things that I that give me "Aha!" moments. Since I have a natural bent to organization, and was raised by an organized mother, the book feels like a repeat of things I already know. But I would recommend it to those who are looking for help in managing their homes.

Nearly at the end of this and I think I might need to read it all over again. This book was a gift last spring, but was so timely for right now as I re-evaluate a my stage of life.

 

I also have been reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as part of a large blog community.

Jane Austen and Motherhood is the reflective theme. It is fun to re-read this classic as a wife and mother. Whole new set of thoughts than when I was unmarried. The plan is to read through all six Austen novels this year. It is nice to have some familiar fiction to pick up now and then.

Those were the books I set out to read. A couple of bonuses came from a trip to the library.

This cookbook is now on my wish list. In the past month I learned a huge amount about making sourdough, a super simple pretzel recipe (Ethan loved making those) and successfully made croissants.

 

I picked up an audio copy of Wind in the Willows from the library, borrowed a beautifully illustrated version from my parents, and Ethan and I have enjoyed the adventures of Mole, Rat, Mr. Toad, and Badger over the past month. It was pleasant way to replace Netflix, and I hope I can find more stories to enjoy with my wee ones.

 

 

Along the lines of learning to say "no": The Art of Simple: To Don't Do, is a very encouraging article. I hope you are all settling well into whatever goals you made for 2014.

 

 

 

Reading List: The Web Edition

Happy Birthday to my lovely sister-in-law Rayia!
My husband adores his older sister, who taught him so much about being a loving man. Thanks Rayia, for everything you give to Roman. I am glad we are all such great friends!

My reading this week has been a smattering of blog posts and articles from all over.
So I figured I would share some my favorites with anyone else who enjoys looking at links.

Petit Collage I am wishing I could spruce up my nursery space and toy collection with this company. Utterly darling. And just about everything is wooden, which I like more than plastic.

A Prayer for All the World's Sons {in honor of the Royal Baby}
I am looking forward to watching William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, raise their son George Alexander Louis. The couple seem to be setting the standards high, but we all have a world watching in our children.

I'm Trying Not to be the "Just Wait" Mom Hayley @ Carrots for Michaelmas has some great reminders for all mothers.

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge If you feel like a classic fairy tale in French! (Little Red Riding Hood) My kids enjoyed it! It is a video

So explore the world wide web of blogs. Maybe you'll find your cup of tea!

Reading List Quotes

...if there is God in this place -- expect to see God.  Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us? Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with suffering doesn't rescue the suffering. The converse does. The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even the here and now, They are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world. Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

...Michael asked,"Can anything harm us, mother, after the night-lights are lit?"
  "Nothing, precious," she said,"they are the eyes a mother leaves behind to guard her children."
She went from bed to bed singing enchantments over them, and little Michael flung his arms round her."Mother," he cried, "I am glad of you." J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

From My Reading List

I love finding words that beautifully describe motherhood, and this week I found them in Peter Pan.

It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for the next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would find it interesting to watch her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing it out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

A mother has many tasks that may seem menial, but children need to be oblivious to that, if their innocent minds are to be filled with thoughts that will help grow into beautiful, caring adults.

Decor of Choice

My Son's Favorite Stories

I love introducing my children to books, and they both seem to enjoy being read to. I have listed some of Ethans especial favorites below. I can't wait to share other books with him as he gets older.

He loves it when the bear sneezes and all the animals scatter.

Curious George is a regular read

Mamas, mamas everywhere

Dogs and cars the best combination ever!!

From My Reading List

I am always trying to read something, and the list of books I want to read is constantly growing. I have a stack on my nightstand that includes C.S. Lewis's Til We Have Faces, Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, a couple of parenting books, and a few Christian living books. Some of these books are borrowed, some were gifts, and then there is the one I got from the library last week that I hope to finish while I am on vacation (we will see how that goes).

Anyway, one of the books I am reading is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Here are a few thoughts that I have marked from her book.

The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be - unbelievably- possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.

We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks.

How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us?

If you care to read more from Ann visit: A Holy Experience

A Worthwhile Read

I am slowly working through the massive Les Miserables and am continually impressed by the truth and insight into human nature that Victor Hugo seems to have. I hope to finish it before the year is out, but from the sliver I have read these insights have stood out to me.

One can no more pray too much than one can love too much.

He did not study God; he was dazzled by Him.

His universal suavity was less an instinct of nature than the result of a grand conviction which had filtered into his heart through the medium of life, and had trickled there slowly, thought by thought; for, in a character, as in a rock, there may exist apertures made by drops of water.

Be lucky and you will have all the rest; be happy, and people will think you great.

Is there not in every human soul a first spark, a divine element, incorruptible in this world, immortal in the other, which good can develop, fan, ignite, and make to glow with splendor, and which evil can never wholly extinguish?

Put this book on your reading list, and read it one page at a time. Do not rush through it and keep a pencil nearby to note the thoughts that you find intriguing. The movie is good, the story is great, the book is best.

From The Book I Am Reading

"Everything is as good or as bad as our opinion makes it."

C.S. Lewis

Till We Have Faces

A walk with  Hayley