So much Christmas magic has happened since my last post! It’s almost too much to recap in words so you’ll notice a LOT of photo collages to share the last two weeks. We’ve had church Christmas gatherings, Christmas lights galore, Christmas baking, Christmas movie watching (we introduced the boys to Home Alone 1 & 2 and Journey to Bethlehem), Christmas family celebrations, Christmas shopping, and Christmas gift wrapping. So. Much. Christmas. This time of year is truly magical. The sights, the sounds, the flavors… They bring out child-like wonder in all of us. It’s a joy to celebrate together as a family. All the Christmas festivities are a chance to remember the true reason for Christmas – Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Emmanuel, God with us! I hope and pray that your Christmas season was filled with light, joy, and peace. Merry Christmas from our family to ours!
Jeremy turned our family into cartoons! The kids had a blast helping Jeremy make our Scott extended family into cartoons for Christmas as well.
Gingerbread House Decorating Day
A weekend filled with Christmas shopping and wrapping, our church float in the Lighted Tractor Parade, and Advent after multiple church Christmas parties.
Hot cocoa and Borst Park Lights
Christmas Baking: I made molasses softies and sugar cookies. I used Starbucks holiday cups as my color inspiration this year.
Enchant Christmas Light Maze in Seattle, WA
Christmas with the Scotts
Christmas with the Vitzthums
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Candlelight Gathering
Christmas Day: Stockings and gifts at GG’s house
Christmas at GG’s house
Day After Christmas: Woke up to no power due to a wind storm, so LEGO building happened by lantern light. We still did our Day After Christmas shopping – books and Pokémon card were a highlight.
So many bookish thoughts for November! Where to begin? Let’s go for the highlight of the month – Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyers. I love the Timeless series! Across the Ages is the fourth book and it did not disappoint. I purchased it on my Kindle for a day when I knew I would be waiting a lot and would need a book to fill the time. It was the perfect companion! I love the time-crossing, dual historical timelines in this series. This latest installment gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes which made me chuckle. Also in historical-fiction new releases, I enjoyed An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White. This book concluded her Imposters series and I felt like it was a great conclusion. White brought in characters from her other works which I adore when an author does that. It’s like bumping into an old friend unexpectedly. Makes me happy!
Christmas reading makes this time of year even more magical!
Shall we move on to Christmas books? Since it’s November, I dove into Christmas books like an Olympic swimmer! I started the month with The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox. It features twin sisters who are both bakers. This vibe fit perfect with cheering on our friend, Megan, on the Holiday Baking Championship. Give me all the holiday baking goodness!!! I read new Christmas releases by Kortney Keisel (this one was sad, but good) and Courtney Walsh (gotta love the save-the-family-Christmas-tree-farm plot). I’ve also been re-reading the Christmas Escape series. I’m waiting for December to renew my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I have a list of Christmas books TBR in December. Seasonal reading is the best!
Ending my non-fiction dry spell
I completed The Tenet of Windfell Hall at the start of November. I can now claim I’ve read a book by each Bronte sister. I’ll take that as my literary gold star for the month. I also ended my non-fiction dry spell. I did a book swap with a friend a couple weeks ago and she supplied with me a stack of non-fiction books. Borrowing books is very motivating. I try to return books relatively quickly, so it means I’m likely to prioritize them on my TBR list. I have a couple of her books left to read in December. Non-fiction often gets lost in my busy autumn season and then is eclipsed by Christmas reading. As someone who “tries” to diversify my reading, I’m glad I could end the fiction-only phase.
Top Pick for November
Across the Ages (Timeless Series: Book 4) by Gabrielle Meyer – I would have included The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, but I’m currently loaning my copy to friend.
The Book List for November 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing
Non-Fiction:
Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better by Brant Hansen – 3 stars
You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis and Lisa Chan – 3 stars
Psalms: The Prayer Book Of The Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer – 3 stars
Fiction:
The Tenet of Windfell Hall by Anne Bronte – 3 stars
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain – 4 stars
Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
Before I Do by Sophie Cousens – 3 stars
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox – 4 stars
The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler – 4 stars
One Foggy Christmas by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
Later on We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
Christmas with a Crank by Courtney Walsh – 3 stars
November hasn’t turned out to be a hibernation month like I originally thought it would. I assumed we would slide into a quieter schedule after all the hubbub of birthday month in October. But… November had other plans. I’m thankful to say we’ve found a good groove now that we’re in the latter half of the month, but I’m still waiting for my hibernation feels. I doubt I’ll find it with the holidays right around the corner… Maybe January will have the quiet, chill vibes I’ve been longing for?
Our first weekend of the month was a restful one. It was nice to recover from Fall Fest with a puzzle, cider in the crockpot, breakfast out at a local favorite (Berry Field’s pumpkin pancakes – yum!), lots of fall baking, and some LEGO building. The first full week of the month was filled with a co-op field trip and an out of town conference leading into multiple family birthday celebrations. After that, I moved into friendship focused week. Lots of good stuff happening here!
Our family enjoyed our visit to a hands-on pioneer farm with our homeschool co-op. We learned about pioneer school rules and pioneer chores and housekeeping. I’m so grateful for modern conveniences. I’m not cut out for farm chores and pioneer housekeeping. The kids loved getting a wagon ride and testing out many of the farm chores for themselves. Owen really enjoyed his time at the blacksmith forge. Graham liked fiddling with the tools. The farm animals were super friendly and the boys made good friends with Bacon Bits, the pig.
A highlight of our weekly family calendar right now is watching our good friend, Megan, compete on the Holiday Baking Championship on Food Network. It’s such a neat experience to personally know someone on television. We watch Megan bake on the edge of seats each week! Our family is a whole cheer squad. It’s a big deal and we take watching Megan very seriously. Can’t wait for week three to air tonight!
While the calendar has been full these last few weeks, it’s been filled to the brim with the people we love. We’ve celebrated three family birthdays this month. We had pizza and cake with Nana, we went to a trampoline birthday party for my nephew, and we had a surprise party for Jeremy’s aunt. I’ve also been thankful for time with forever friends. I got a red cup and talked books with Christy last Monday, I had a phone date the next day with my out-of-state friend, Maggie, and then dinner with Christa on Wednesday. I’m extra thankful this month for the friends and family I get to do life with!
November is over halfway over, but there is still so much fun ahead this month. It’s crazy to think we are breezing through November and while it hasn’t been the quiet month I expected, it’s been a good month. As we focus on gratitude this month, I am thankful for the people who color our days with love, joy, support, and a bit of excitement! We certainly keep things interesting around here!
Snickerdoodles were giving me all the fall baking feels.
Owen’s first 18+ LEGO build!
Cheering on Megan on Monday nights!
Visiting a pioneer farm with our homeschool co-op
Visiting a pioneer farm with our homeschool co-op
Visiting a pioneer farm with our homeschool co-op
Visiting a pioneer farm with our homeschool co-op
Nana & Papa had the boys overnight so Jeremy & I could attend a conference. The kids had a great time!
Wishing Nana a very happy birthday with her favorite dessert, German chocolate cake!
Piano lessons with Nana just got better! Nana gifted us a hand-me-down piano so the boys have a bigger keyboard to practice with. They get to bond with Nana over a shared love of piano!
Trampoline birthday party!
Celebrating with the whole Scott crew!
A beautiful sight! Peppermint hot chocolate, Christmas books, and time with a beloved friend.
As you can tell from my last few posts, October has been a full month for our family. So many good times, celebrations, and fun adventures. My book list this month definitely reflects that my time was spent elsewhere this month (and that’s okay). September turned out to have extra time at home and my book list was longer than I expected. October had less time at home, therefore, less books read. I’m optimistic that November will fall somewhere in the middle, but we’ll see.
I decided to re-read Wuthering Heights this month. It had the right vibes for October – spooky, suspenseful, chilly, and dreary. I read Wuthering Heights as a high school student and strongly disliked it. I wanted to see if Adult Amy would feel the same way as Teen Amy. While I wasn’t scandalized by the book like I was the first time I read it, I also didn’t warm to it. I kept thinking about how much therapy Heathcliff would need to be a healthy person. I did like the ending, though. There was a whole lot of melodramatic non-sense to get to it, but once it arrived, I was happy with the conclusion. I’ll confess it took me much longer than I wanted to get through the book and that is partly to blame for the shorter book list this month. Wuthering Heights hijacked my reading flow. I started The Tenant of Windfell Hall this week. I’ve read Emily, I’ve read Charlotte, and I plan to read Anne so I can say I’ve read something by all three Bronte sisters.
On to the books I really enjoyed this month!!! The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin was a well-written WWII novel about a Polish librarian who saved books that were being banned and destroyed. Martin’s WWII novels have become a must-read for me. I highly recommend them. At the recommendation of a friend, I started the Timelessseries by Gabrielle Meyer. I flew through the first three books and I’m eagerly waiting for the fourth to be released next month. Each books features characters who live in two timelines. They live one day in one and wake up in the other. At a certain age (either 21 or 25), they must decide which path to live in and they leave the other path permanently. It was neat to read two historical timelines in one book. I enjoyed the suspense of finding out which path the character would choose. This series was the highlight of my reading month!
You’ll notice my non-fiction reading was non-existent this month. I have a friend who is going to do a book swap with me soon. She’ll get some fiction from me and I’ll get some non-fiction from her. Hopefully that will pull me out of my non-fiction dry spell! Maybe there will be more diversity in next month’s book list!
Top Pick for October
The Timeless series
The Book List for October 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin – 4 stars
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
For A Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
The Match by Sarah Adams – 3 stars
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams – 3 stars
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe by Julie Christianson – 3 stars
Britta & the Beach Boy by Brittany Larsen – 3 stars
It’s been a very fictional fall for me! I’ve been in book heaven with so many new releases this month. It seems like each week I’m looking forward to a new book! This month, I enjoyed new Christmas novellas from Melody Carlson and Roseanna M. White. I couldn’t wait for the Christmas season to read them. I had to start them right away! When I wasn’t reading a new release, I was filling my time by binge reading Kasey Stockton’s regency romances. The regency era isn’t my favorite genre, but it was nice to mix things up and camp out there for a while. A big thanks to Kasey Stockton for filling my September!
A good chunk of my month has been quiet and around the house. My husband’s work schedule shifted and hunting season started at the same time. For a couple of weeks it felt like Jeremy was only eating and sleeping at home. In his absence, I became the parent that held down the fort at home. The boys did join Jeremy out hunting a few times which meant I got extra time to read. I’ve been playing those cozy (aka cheesy) YouTube videos with falling leaves, crackling fires, and soft piano music while I snuggle in with a good book. September has definitely been my month to stay home with my nose in a book. Not a bad way to welcome my favorite season of the year!
Top Picks for September
I’ve read At Your Best three times now. It’s such a good book for calibrating your calendar and priorities! I’ve made it annual read to keep me on track. Roseanna M. White is go-to author for me and Christmas novellas make my heart happy!
The Book List for September 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget by Myquillyn Smith – 3 stars
At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor by Carey Nieuwhof – 5 stars
How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away by Emily P. Freeman – 2.5 stars
Fiction:
When in Rome by Sarah Adams – 3 stars
Don’t Go Faking My Heart by Kate Watson – 3 stars (new release)
Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor – 3 stars (new release)
West of Port by Carina Taylor – 3 stars (new release)
Finding Jack by Melanie Jacobson – 4 stars
Reel Love by Savannah Scott – 3 stars (new release)
The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson – 3 stars (new release)
Christmas at Sugar Plum Manner by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars (new release)
Sensibly Wed by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Pleasantly Pursued by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Honorably Engaged by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
Properly Kissed by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
A Noble Inheritance by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
To Forge Her Fate by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
A Proper Governess by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars (new release)
Journey to Bongary Spring by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Through the Fairy Tree by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
The Enemy Across the Loch by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
My book list this month is super long! There are a few reasons for this, so let me explain. (1) I was home alone while my family was at summer camp and I had extra time to read. (2) My boys came home from summer camp with colds and we had four days of cancelled plans to spend at home. (3) Our beach vacation was very chill with plenty of time to read. (4) Many of the books listed are under 300 pages, which means I can read them in just a few hours. All of these factors combined into a very bookish month! I’m not complaining! (Okay, it would have been nice to not have summer colds, but… other than that, I’m not complaining.)
Highlights from this very bookish month would be binge reading Katie Bailey and Marie Soleil. I really enjoyed The Midnight Princess by Kiera Dominguez which was a reverse Princess Diaries – the prince gets the makeover and learns how to be royal. It’s been ages since I read a regency romance so I enjoyed the change of genre with Sarah Adams and Kasey Stockton’s novels. Courtney Walsh is a favorite of mine and her new release, The Summer of Yes, was the perfect beach read while on vacation.
Another highlight of the month has been my new study Bible (pictured below). I loved using the NLT Filament Bible journals to study the gospels these last few months. I wanted the Filament app content for the whole Bible so I bought a new Bible to accomplish that. I’ve used it to read the Book of Acts and I’m now into Romans. I love way the Filament app enhances my Bible study, especially the videos from The Bible Project. Plus, this Bible is super pretty. I love my new beautiful and nerdy Bible!
Top Picks for August
The Book List for August 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
NLT Filament Bible Journal: The Gospel of John – 5 stars
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer – 5 stars
Boy Mom: What Your Son Needs Most from You by Monica Swanson – 4 stars
Fiction:
The Midnight Princess by Kiera Dominguez – 4 stars
Stay Close by Kiera Dominguez – 3 stars
So That Happened by Katie Bailey – 3 stars
I Think He Knows by Katie Bailey – 3 stars
Resorting to Romance by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery – 4 stars
To Con aGentleman by Sarah Adams – 4 stars
To Catch a Suitor by Sarah Adams – 3 stars
But He’s My Roommate by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
Speak Your Truth by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Feel the Rhythm by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Let Love In by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Take a Chance by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Cookies & Kisses by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Love is a Roller Coaster by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
Exceptional Emma by Marie Soleil – 4 stars
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh – 4 stars
Love in the Bargain by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Love for the Spinster by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Love at the House Party by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
Love in the Wager by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
Love in the Ballroom by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
A Groom of One’s Own by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
Runaway Bride & Prejudice by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
Last week was a milestone! Both boys are now old enough to go to summer camp as campers! Two summers ago, Owen went as a first-time camper while Graham and I stayed home. Because Graham missed Owen and Jeremy so much (my company wasn’t enough), he and I went last year and stayed with Jeremy in his cabin (Jeremy is the co-director of kids camp). But this year! This year they could all go and I opted (with the blessing of my husband) to stay home.
I’ve dreamt of a having a solitude retreat for many years. I’ve read from multiple authors who suggest solitude retreats at hotels or conference centers, but I don’t have the time or budget for that in this season of life. Staying home while my family went to camp gave me the solitude retreat I’ve been envious of without paying to go away. Also, as a homeschool mom, I’m in the background (or forefront) of most of my kids’ activities. I figured by staying home, I could give them some growing independence and a chance to make memories without me. It’s difficult to say that since I love making fun memories with my kids, but I can also release them to have good experiences without me. I’m looking at it as preparation for launching adults someday. Baby steps toward the main goal!
Summer camp is always a whirlwind of activity! The kids enjoyed snack shack, swimming at the lake, boating, paddling boarding, climbing the rock wall, smores, chapel, and time with cousins and church friends. Summer camp is such an awesome experience not only to have fun, but to connect with God and deepen friendships. I went to this same camp as an elementary student. I love that the boys are making summer camp memories in the same spot I did.
I enjoyed my own version of summer camp – Mom Camp! I definitely had a plan for each day I was home. I’m so happy with what I was able to accomplish! Some of my home projects included mopping, washing all the bedding, and washing the sofa covers (all tasks that are easier alone). I did a mini-spa night with Crest White Strips and a hair mask. I watched Unsung Hero, both the movie and the extras. I worked on a diamond art coaster craft. I’ve never done this craft before and since I’m leading a workshop on it this fall, it was good practice. I was able to make photobook of our Yellowstone road trip on Shutterfly. I did some baking. I took extra long walks. I enjoyed so many good books and did a prayer exercise that really set the tone for my alone time. Right before the start of a new school year, it felt like the perfect time to invest in my physical, mental, and spiritual health. I’m already brainstorming and daydreaming about what next year could hold.
There was plenty of light and fluffy summer reading this month, but… I took a detour and spent time with some wonderful parenting books. Being in children’s ministry (and being a homeschool mom), I’m always looking for books to recommend. From Monica Swanson to Sally Clarkson to Cindy Rollins, I learned so much this month. All of these women have raised grown children and have written down their experiences and wisdom. I am so thankful for their voices! Also, Monica and Sally have invited their children to share (and for Monica, her husband as well) their family story has well. I love when families collaborate on books. Not only to do see one side of their family, but we get to see the layers of family experience. It’s a powerful testimony!
Fiction highlights of the month were the Sweet as Sugar Maple series by Kate Watson and The Falling for Summer series (by various authors) with all it’s beachy vibes. I re-read the Caraval series and the Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie Garber. These have all been fun summer reads. I’ve enjoyed meeting new characters along with revisiting familiar faces. I love new books, but I will always be a re-reader as well! Summer reading in July has definitely been a good mix.
First time taking my Kindle camping. I was a little nervous about taking tech into the woods, but it was great!
Nothing quite like reading by a campfire!
Top Picks for July
No fiction this month! Non-Fiction wins for the first time in forever! Ha! Monica Swanson became a favorite author of mine this month. These two books are top notch resources for parents. I also ordered her book on being a boy mom. I can’t wait to dive into it next month.
The Book List for July 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him by Sally Clarkson and Nathan Clarkson – 4 stars
Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, & My Journey Toward Sanctification by Cindy Rollins – 4 stars
Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes without Being Asked by Monica Swanson – 5 stars
Becoming Homeschoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You for Later by Monica Swanson – 4 stars
NLT Filament Bible Journal: Luke – 5 stars
Fiction:
Strawberry Fields for Never by Kate Watson – 4 stars
Baby Llama Drama by Kate Watson – 4 stars
It’s Always Sonny by Kate Watson – 3 stars
Love and Treasure by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
Caraval by Stephanie Garber – 4 stars
Legendary by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
Finale by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber – 4 stars
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
Summer Tease by Martha Keyes – 3 stars
Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell – 3 stars
I have Kindle Unlimited again!!! You know what that means? A summer filled with rom-coms! I’ve been patiently waiting for months, letting a hoard of new releases stack up so I could binge read all my favorite rom-com authors this summer. It’s been so much fun! Especially since many of them are beach and summer themed! It’s the perfect time of year to be well-stocked with easy, peasy summer reads.
Highlights from this month include Neighbors Like That by Carina Taylor and The Quit List by Katie Bailey. I own a couple of Miralee Ferrell’s “Love Finds You In” books and was surprised to discover she had works on Kindle Unlimited. I completed her wild west series and then read her contemporary Amish series. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book set in Amish country! Both of her series’ were a break from my usual. It’s always fun to diversify!
When it comes non-fiction, I’m still loving my NLT Filament Bible Journals. I finished Mark this month and I’m on to Luke now. I hope to get a Filament Bible in future so I’ll have access to the whole Bible using the Filament app. The extra content is so useful for studying the Bible deeper. It’s been a great tool for me the last couple of the months. I’ve been spending my time with Sally Clarkson and her family this month. I finished Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation by Sally & Clay Clarkson. I’m currently reading Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him by Sally & Nathan Clarkson. Their family is such an inspiration to me!
Top Picks for June
The Book List for June 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation by Sally & Clay Clarkson – 4 stars
NLT Filament Bible Journal: Mark – 5 stars
Fiction:
His Mistletoe Miracle by Jenny B. Jones – 4 stars
Royally Rearranged by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
Royal Gone Rogue by Emma St. Clair – 4 stars
Betting on the Brainiac by Melanie Jacobson – 3 stars
The Perfect Putt by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner – 3 stars
Enemies in Paradise by Brittany Larsen – 3 stars
Summer Ever After by Kortney Keisel – 3 stars
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
The Quit List by Katie Bailey – 4 stars
That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss by Julie Christianson – 3 stars
Runaway Romance by Miralee Ferrell – 3 stars
Follow Your Heart by Miralee Ferrell – 3 stars
Plus One at an Amish Wedding by Miralee Ferrell – 3 stars
Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona by Miralee Ferrell – 3 stars
May started with a deep, deep dive! I discovered the NLT Filament Bible Journal: Matthew and fell in love with it! I appreciate the format of the Bible on one side and a journal page on the other. It has plenty of space for notes and thoughts to be written down. The support of commentary, devotionals, and The Bible Project videos through the Filament app has been a game changer for my quiet time. Instead of reading my Bible and checking it off the daily to-do list, I’m actually studying it and the resources are so neatly sorted using this app.
At the same time I started studying Matthew, I also started the Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard. A few of my favorite authors love Willard, so I thought it was time I read some of his work. This book’s foundation was the “Sermon on the Mount” so it fit well with my time in Matthew. Let me tell you, I wasn’t quite ready for Dallas Willard! The book was double in length of most non-fiction works and the chapters took one-two hours each to read. While his theology was approachable, the content was meaty. This book made my brain work overtime! I was also on a time crunch to finish the book before our Yellowstone road trip. (I don’t read weighty books on trips. I only read fluff when I travel.) The content with the time constraint was almost too much for me. I will probably read it again when I have space to let the ideas settle more in my soul. Overall, I enjoyed the deep dive into the Bible and theology. I felt like a college kid back at Multnomah Bible College again! It was good to use my brain even though it was work!
After a big week of deep reading, I went to the shallow end of the reading pool. I’ve been re-reading fluffy, comfort books for the rest of the month! I enjoyed reading a book set in Montana while staying in Montana. Angela Ruth Strong’s “Resorting to Love” series was the perfect travel read. A big chunk of May was spent traveling, recovering from traveling, and wrapping up the last few weeks of school. My mind needed reading as a mental break – thus, all the “Love Finds You In” books this month. They are not rocket science, but they were just what my mind needed to rest during this busy month. As you know, I love re-reading my home library!
Top Picks for May
Fiction: Loves Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho isn’t my top rated book this month, but I selected it to represent the “Resorting to Love” series by Angela Ruth Strong as well as all the “Love Finds You In” books I read. It was a month of comfort re-reads. Non-Fiction: I loved my new Filament Bible Journal for Matthew. I’m currently using one for Mark and I have the rest of Gospels ordered!
The Book List for May 1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by Dallas Willard – 4 stars
Chasing the Dragon: One Woman’s Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong’s Drug Dens by Jackie Pullinger – 4 stars
NLT Filament Bible Journal: Matthew – 5 stars
Fiction:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Jester – 3 stars
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown – 3 stars
Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho by Angela Ruth – 3 stars
Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana by Angela Ruth Strong – 4 stars
Finding Love in Park City, Utah by Angela Ruth Strong – 4 stars
Finding Love in Eureka, California by Angela Ruth Strong – 4 stars
Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon by Angela Ruth Strong – 3 stars
Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming by Miralee Ferrell – 4 stars
Loves Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell – 4 stars
Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
All Summer Long by Melody Carlson – 4 stars
Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island by Susan Page Davis – 3 stars
Amy Scott's Thoughts 