I’m SO excited that this gem showed up in my mailbox this week! Rachel’s book, Hands Free Mama, was a game-changer for me as a wife and mom and I can’t WAIT to dive into this pre-release copy of her brand-new book. I’m prepping myself to be highly challenged and convicted again!
2 Books I Read This Week
How Do I Get It All Done? And Still Have Time to Enjoy It? — This was not an “I have it all figured out, come learn from me” book, but a “Come learn alongside me as I’m figuring it out” kind of book. And I found it inspiring and thought-provoking.
It’s a quick read and there are some typos in it, but overall, it’s a great book if you’re struggling with prioritizing and time management. Lots of great refresher ideas and motivation. I especially loved these three quotes:
So the first step in getting it all done is to define ‘it all’. This is the act of very purposefully defining your priorities, as well as discovering your unique gifts and talents and how God wants you to use them. It’s all too easy to get distracted into doing those things that are not for you to do. You must know what it is that you are to be about in order to do those things well.
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When God gives you an assignment, he doesn’t leave you alone, he equips you with whatever you need to accomplish what he had called you to do.
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Whenever you choose to do something, you choose not to do something else.
Lizzy & Jane — I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written, engaging, and just an all-around great read. It makes you want to read Jane Austen and become a better cook!
Speaking of which, I’m not a foodie and have only read a little bit of Jane Austen, so if I enjoyed the book, I think those of you who love Austen and/or food-related books will especially find this a good read.
As I’ve just walked through Michele’s cancer journey with her, I found the sections on chemo and the losses and grief related to cancer to be very authentic and real — and something that would be helpful to those who are trying to understand what it’s like to go through chemo treatments and to experience the heavy losses and hard burdens that cancer can bring.
11 Books I’m Reading This Week:
The Green Ember — This read aloud has come highly recommended to us by multiple sources and, so far, we’re really enjoying it. It is well-written and keeping all of my kids on the edges of their seats.
Dear Mr. Knightley — My friend, Lisa-Jo, says that I must, must, MUST read this book. And considering how much I enjoyed Lizzy & Jane (by the same author), I’m pretty positive she’s right. 🙂
The Meaning of Marriage — I’m reading through this with my friend, Allison, as part of our weekly accountability meetings. We’re aiming for two chapters every week and then we’ll discuss it when we meet.
Galatians for You — And another Tim Keller book! This one is what we’re going through in our new Community Group. Again, we’re doing just a few chapters every week and discussing them when we meet. So far, it’s been really good.
Their Lives and Your Life — This is a devotional I’m currently reading with the kids. My mom gave it to me awhile back, if I’m remembering correctly.
Parenting the Wholehearted Child — Can I be really honest with you? Parenting books aren’t my favorite genre. In fact, I typically steer clear of them.
I was raised in an age and culture where many families followed parenting books and discipline plans to a tee and, well, much of the fruit from all that didn’t turn out so great. It left a bad taste in my mouth for the whole “follow steps A, B, and C as a parent and you’ll be a Godly family/good parent” etc.
So yes, I kinda prefer to stay far away from anything that remotely resembles a system or method of parenting. Because I truly have come to believe that there are no one-size-fits-all plans.
At any rate, I was hesitant to start this book because it fell under the “parenting book” genre. But I’m so glad that I did. I’m two chapters in and it is honestly turning out to be one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time.
I just want to sit and read the whole thing in one sitting. But on the other hand, I want to process it slowly so that I can take it all in!
She Reads Truth Lent Study/Bible — I am loving the Lent study so far… as I have loved all the She Reads Truth studies. Seriously, one of the best things I’ve invested in for my personal spiritual development and relationship with God ever.
Stepping Heavenward — My friend, Allison Burr, loaned me this book and said it was one of her very favorites ever. Can you believe I’ve never read it? I’m working on remedying that stat.
Love Without Limits – For years, Nick Vujicic has been a huge inspiration to me. I was excited to see that he had gotten married and is a dad now and am looking forward to reading this book from he and his wife.
Long Walk to Freedom & Kaffir Boy — I’m slowly working through these as I seek to understand more about South African history.
What did you read this past week? Any must-read book recommendations?
I just finished “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken. Wowzer! Highly recommend grabbing a friend and reading this together as you can’t help but want to discuss it as you read. Lots of great nuggets in this book.
I read A Confident Heart by Renee Swope this week and absolutely loved it! Thanks for sharing your list of books. I’m always on the lookout for recommendations.
Here’s a link to the books I’ve been reading: http://www.onemomsguide.com/books/
I’m currently reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. It’s a fantastic book about living, leading, and loving through vulnerability.
We got The Green Ember for our Kindles a few months ago. It is a favorite of my oldest two children. My son is already asking if there will be a second book. (Having multiple basic Kindle e-readers linked to the same account means that my children can read the same books at the same time. A good, money-saving tip!)
I always love to see what you are reading. It gives me a starting place to find new books. I recently read The Wild Goose Chase from your list. Currently, I am reading Sacred Marriage (by Gary Thomas) and Hopeful Parenting (by David Jeremiah).
Where do you choose or how do you choose the books you read? Also do you check your books from the library, or purchase any of them?
Just finished Muscle and a Shovel by Michael Shank. I thought it was thought provoking and liked how it was non-fiction, but presented in narrative form.
This month I finally finished “Made for Heaven and Why On Earth It Matters” by C.S. Lewis and “Families Where Grace is in Place” by Jeff VanVonderen. It has taken me about 6 months to work my way through these books, because I want to ponder and take in many of the principles and ideas between the two. In this season of parenting teens, a refining and strengthening of ideas, standards and purposes was needed. Both books ministered to me in the work of parenting teens and growing as a grace drenched Christ follower.
I have not read “Made for Heaven and Why On Earth It Matters” by C.S. Lewis. I’m going to add it to my list! I have teenagers and have been looking for books that will encourage me through this season. Thank you for mentioning “Families Where Grace is in Place” by Jeff VanVonderen. I’m going to add that one, too. 🙂
Hi Crystal, Thank you so much for sharing such nice words about my book (How Do I Get It All Done). It was a fun project and I hope it will be a blessing to all who read it. (So embarrassed about the typos! Note to self: hire an editor!)
Thanks for all you do. You and your family are in my prayers!
No worries on the typos… I have plenty of those, too! Thanks for such a great and thought-provoking read!
Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to see your thoughts on “Hands Free Life”!
I purchased the Lizzy & Jane book a while ago when it was .99 cents on Kindle. Haven’t gotten to it yet though. I read Always On My Mind by Susan May Warren. I really love her Christianson Series. I have been picking them up through Tyndale Rewards. I also started Tricia Goyer’s “Balanced: Finding Center As A Work At Home Mom. I am just over half way through and really enjoying it not really learning much new but I am so encouraged by her words. I have highlighted several areas that just really spoke to me especially this week.
I just downloaded Dear Mr Knightley to my Kindle from my local library. I wasn’t familiar with this author, but it sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never commented on your website before, and I’ve been a subscriber for years, but I had to stop and tell you how excited I got when I saw that you’re reading Parenting the Whole Child. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.