Monday Confessions, Reading in 2021

We have officially made it to 2021! Happy New Year! I had a few minutes last week to reflect on what I read in 2020. I confess there was a time when the pandemic first hit that I found it very hard to focus and to read. I know many experienced this struggle as well. When I looked over what I read in 2020, I made it through the entire Bible cover to cover and I was surprised to find that I actually read 33 entire books in 2020 (a few others I started but didn’t finish.) It’s funny though because I had forgotten about a couple that I read in early 2020 before coronavirus. It feels like everything in my memory right now is split between pre-pandemic living and pandemic living! I am sure many of you feel the same way.

I get asked all the time how do I “find time” to read and I really just tell people that it’s like anything else, we have to make time. I think the best way to get back into the habit of reading is in the evening before bed, instead of scrolling on your phone, put a book or two on your nightstand! I promise even 10-15 minutes of reading each night will get you through a book.

So what are my favorites of my 2020 reads?

In fiction reading, I really liked the Dutch House by Ann Patchett and American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. They were really different stories but both excellent characters and writing. The Dutch House was a classic style novel based through decades of a family’s story but set all around a specific house. American Dirt was a very timely novel about what forces a family to attempt to immigrate to the United States. It’s an unsuspectingly powerful read, written with so many details that bring you right into the story. The characters and narrative in this one will stay with you, but I definitely had trouble reading this one at night (I had bad dreams about Mexican cartels!). It’s not a light read in any way and in fact, highlights many of the plights and dangers for those trying to flee their homeland. I definitely recommend it though!

Two other novels I really liked in 2020 were The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes and Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The Giver of Stars is historical fiction set in the Appalachian mountains with the pack horse librarians. Daisy Jones and the six is the tale of a 70s rock band in California, which is literally about “sex, drugs and rock n roll” in no certain order.

As for non fiction, of course reading through the entire bible was a major challenge but I would say also a highlight. This is something that I have attempted before but not made it all the way through in chronological order. This type of reading plan does take significant commitment but it really was worth it, especially in the year of 2020. I have been asked quite a few times about this plan and go here to find out how to start! There’s an app for the plan and then the related podcasts in your podcast app. I also really found encouragement in Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund, talking about the heart of Christ. It’s honestly one of those books I could probably read yearly because I need the reminders so much of Christ’s love and character.

SO here’s to a fresh start in 2021 for so many things! I got on the scale this morning and the verdict is way worse than I thought! Today is a good day to start fresh, get moving and plan out some reading for 2021. Have a great week my friends!

Monday Confessions, Recent Reads

Good morning, how was your weekend? The rainy Saturday morning was actually nice for me, I was able to finish up a couple things I was reading in between feeding children and refereeing screen time and sibling disagreements. My Instagram break in January kept me from sharing some books I’ve read on my feed but that’s a fantastic reason to share a post here on the blog today! In the winter, I love being cozy under a blanket with a hot drink and a good book. I also think that this collection of books has such a HUGE range of variety, there’s something for everyone. I don’t discriminate from memoirs, biographies, fiction and religious writing…I love it all! You’ll have to let me know if you decide to read one of these and how you like or don’t like it!

1. The Bible, I am reading along with the Bible Recap plan, which has been great. The sections are broken into a daily reading of 2-3 chapters and then accompanied by a short podcast that helps fill in details on what you read. I really enjoy Tara Leigh Cobble and the awesome news is that you can start at any time and get in on the plan! My goal is to make it through the entire bible by the end of 2020. I have had this goal before and I confess, have never made it in a consecutive 12 months. I realized that this is the most important reading I could possibly do, so why delay?!

   Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t read the whole Bible yet this year. We have only made it through Genesis and Job. Let me tell you though, if you think the bible is a boring book, you obviously have never read it through! These two books of the bible read more like soap operas and dystopias than boring religious texts!

(Not my own image)

2. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett which is a fiction read, based just out side of Philadelphia and spans decades of time after WWII. The Dutch House is a central character in the book, it’s “a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.” I really enjoyed this book because it explores so much of how childhood and a sense of home forever shape us, even late into adulthood. It explores relationships and how they too, give us a sense of home. The main characters throughout are siblings, Maeve and Danny, who share their story over the decades. Definitely recommend if you are in for a good fiction story to get lost in.

3. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan: I enjoy her writing style and again, that local Philadelphia perspective allows me to understand her stories from her youth, even though they preceded my existence. In this non-fiction memoir, it’s a poignant mix of her stories from youth and finding out that she and her beloved Dad simultaneously are fighting cancer on opposite coasts. It’s both heavy and light-hearted, the way much of life unfolds as we face struggles. If you are in the mood for a memoir, I liked this one. I think it’s also helpful perspective if you have a friend facing fighting breast cancer, she shares lots of insight.

4. Troublemaker by Leah Remini: This might seem like a total left field option from my usual but I have to admit that I was fascinated by her life story and mainly how she got into Scientology. She reveals so much about the “religion” that just seems flat out crazy. Crazy is the word that just kept coming to mind as I was reading! Scientology has strategically been kept under wraps for so long, which makes this a rare look into the life of the cult members. I enjoyed this biography even more than I thought I might, although I admittedly skimmed certain parts that sounded like another language ( some of the Scientology talk that sounded more like science fiction than real life). Scientology was created by L. Ron Hubbard and if you read about him for only about 5 minutes, you can tell that there’s nothing about this man that you want to base your own life or fate on. I found the descriptions of Scientology both ludicrous and fascinating all at the same time! It did drive home the point for me though that people are seeking truth in life and they can find very skewed versions of truth that they’re willing to sacrifice their lives for.

I also am curious that if she reads her own audio book, it might be an awesome option just to listen to. i could truly her her voice and personality in the writing!

6. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon: I adore Reese Witherspoon from so many of her movies as well as her recent Netflix Series Shine On, featuring women in different roles in culture. She just seems like the real deal and this book was both biography and cook book! I have not yet tried any of her recipes, but I plan on. I read it in an afternoon because it’s a beautiful blend of images and text. She shares on everything from throwing a party with southern hospitality to the correct way to use hot rollers to set your hair! Fantastic, right? This book just reinforced my adoration for her!

7. Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond: This is actually her first cookbook from years ago, which also blends her stories in with her food. I love her as a person and haven’t made one of her recipes yet that I didn't like. I actually picked this book up on Christmas clearance because it was super inexpensive and I have a few other books of hers I enjoy. It was actually fun to look back over her earlier photography and stories from the race the preceded her Food Network cooking show, which I am also a fan of. I like reading cook books because they inspire me to cook more, to try new things and to remember that meal literally nourish our bodies and souls!

8. Steal Away Home by Matt Carter & Aaron Ivey: If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know I like the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast. Her husband wrote a book a couple years back and it has long been on my “to read” list, so I was excited when I got it for Christmas! It’s a historical fiction, weaving together the life stories of Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson. Charles Spurgeon grew up to be a prolific English preacher and writer, who still impacts the faith of so many today. Thomas Johnson is a lesser known person, but a fascinating story as he was born a slave on a Virginia plantation. His unlikely story of becoming a Christian and eventually a freed slave after the civil war, led him to the pastor’s college under Spurgeon’s teaching. It’s really well written and as historically accurate as possible, which I found enjoyable. I liked getting to read about the daily life of such a well known historical figure, as well as the eye witness accounts from Thomas Johnson in civil war era Virginia. This book was a little ride through the 1800’s in both the United States and England. I definitely recommend this one!

Monday Confessions, A glimpse into our weekend

    Here's a little glimpse into our weekend with Macy's first horse show Saturday and some cookie baking on Sunday! 

I confess that I am feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. I tend to feel this way during a busy family and photography season. It's all good things, don't get me wrong, but it's still a mountain of things I feel responsible for. It's the life of all mothers right?! I am trying to do it all with a toddler who is sort of walking and into everything! His latest achievement is being able to open all the doors in our house, heaven help me! 

I just finished reading, Rare Bird, and it literally made my heart hurt reading it. I was full on ugly crying at 6:30 in the morning Saturday while reading. Ben was up early and although I love Elmo as much as the next girl, I preferred picking up a book. I do whole heartedly recommend this book but at the same time, read with caution. If you have recently lost a dearly loved one, it might be balm to your soul. It also could crack your heart open into a million pieces if your a mother. It reaches right into all of our deepest fears, yet at the same time promises us God will still be there. It's a small but mighty book. I will not soon forget it or the story of Jack, a brown-eyed boy who loved his legos and God. Read with tissues!!!

So although I feel far less than capable of all the needs and to-do's in my life today, I am going to repeat this truth from Psalm 62 (& go get my free coffee, Go Eagles!),

"I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken."