My Reading List 2011, part 1

Remember I mentioned that I am going to be intentional in my reading this year, reading the Bible twice this year as well as a biography and spiritually challenging book each month? Well, I guess you could say this is where the rubber meets the road - my list.

I did not go very far out because that is a recipe for disaster as far as I am concerned as a new book catches my eye, or I feel the need to read about something or other for some reason and then my list is impossible and I get discouraged. So instead I will just have a few books on my list and will just keep adding to it as I go along.

Let's start with Books I have finished in January 2011:

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

What I appreciated about this book is that it was about encouraging the reader in the disciplines for the express purpose of growing in God. It took each discipline and explained it clearly making you confident that you can indeed do this!

Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting

This one was from our Church book table, with all the books being carefully selected by our pastors. It was on my list to read before, but the ease of picking up a copy and my daughter reminding me certainly helped move it up the list, and I am so glad it did! It is basically about parenting in light of the Gospel, of parenting with a high view of God. It sets a high standard for parenting, no question, but makes it clear that as children of God, we can do it in His power. I seriously could not put this one down!

Currently Reading:

Bible - I am reading on a 6 month plan that I made up and am on track.

Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long

This devotional was a gift and I am loving it! I start with this one, and no, it is not uncommon for me to use two devotionals to start my quiet time!

My Utmost for His Highest - Deluxe (DELUXE CHRISTIAN CLASSICS)

I love this devotional - at the end of last year I simply moved my bookmark back to the beginning. Unbelievably rich!

The Complete Tightwad Gazette

This is a huge book, and I am almost half way through it. I read a bit, then put it aside for a bit and then pull it out again. Lots of great tips for saving money - I can see why it is referred to as the top resource for making changes to save money! While some of the ideas are a bit extreme, she is up front about saying that not all the ideas work for her either! It is about finding what works for you and your family.

Inkspell (Inkheart)

I picked up this whole series at Costco in hardcover with each book being under $7! I had read the first one while Miss Pear was recovering from her surgery last winter, and loved it, but I had to finish the first one up fast when we were suddenly moving and I had to return the borrowed copy. So now I have the full set and am slowly reading through it. While this second book is good, it is not as good as the first book, Inkheart, or at least not yet. I had buried this book under other ones and was pleased to discover it under my stack of books and look forward to reading it again!

Release the Power of Jesus

This book was highly recommended to me as it talks about healing and how sharing our testimony of what God has done glorifies Him and teaches others about Him. "Remember, in every story of what God has done, there is an unveiling of HIs nature and an invitation to know Him experientially in the same way." (pg 80)

On the To Be Read Pile (prioritized, the whole pile would be a book in itself!)

The Normal Christian Life

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives

The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life

Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham

Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi (Compass)

The Hidden Art of Homemaking

For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life

Thank you for the suggestions of books to read, I am enjoying looking into them! This list is the books I want to read that I have copies of! But it is always being added to, so I always love hearing what others are reading and loving, or not loving, it is sometimes good to know what was not as good as one thought it would be!

I am Booking It in 2011...

Multitude Monday 24

January 3 - A dear friend calling with words to encourage us in our walk with the Lord.

-Dear little girls who want to play with Mommy's Christmas present - a Stomp Rocket

January 4 - A mother in law who really listens to me and hears what I say, and what I don't say.

- Miss Pear crying because she wants to be a good girl, she doesn't want to sin.

January 5 - Little girls tending my hurt hand with kisses and love

- The fact that I did not break my hand when I somehow bashed it into the doorframe while carrying a basket full of laundry.

- Homemade pasta for lunch (already made before the hand injury)

- My rice cooker - probably the only way we got supper that night. It saves me time all the time though.

January 6 - Little girls so eager to help mommy when she is injured.

- I did not break a single dish, and considering my clumsiness, that is amazing!

January 7 - Skating night went so well, Miss Pear is doing great! And seems to be building momentum in her ability! She is working so hard and having so much fun!

- Home safely in the rain with a quick stop for milk with the storm in the forecast.

January 8 - Waking up to bright sunny skies and news that the storm is delayed

- Clear roads for the trek to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law.

- A new snow shovel and de-icer, along with 2 child sized snow shovels and the two delighted girls who had to demonstrate how to use them...in the living room.

January 9 - Worship with our church family

- Following my daughter to the Lord's Supper knowing God has done a mighty work in her and is doing a mighty work in her.

- Listening to baby sing the Lord's prayer after she has been put to bed tonight

- The joy of a hot bath, a good book, and a cup of tea before bed.

Blessings 281 -299, and continually counting.

Bible in 90 Days - Encouraging Post

Good morning, I am over here today sharing about my experience with the Bible in 90 Days this last year.

I specifically asked for a link back to my blog not to be included because I blog anonymously but have been telling lots of friends and family about reading the Bible in 90 days! So please keep my secret!

Emergency Meals

I had an excellent (at least in my mind) post all written in my head for today. I will write it up for next week. But something more pressing came up I wanted to share with you.

Yesterday I did something very foolish. I was rushing, I overloaded my laundry basket and in the rush to stash it away and get back downstairs I was not paying attention and jammed my hand into the door frame badly hurting two knuckles on my dominant hand. I know it was an accident but I feel so foolish!

My hand is fine. It is just bruised and sore. It is also wimpy, I am dropping lots of things...my husband requests that I leave emptying the dishwasher for him! :-)

But this has reinforced three habits very firmly in my mind, and again shown me the importance of them.

1. I always keep meals in the freezer that are thaw and cook, or easy to prepare. So we are not at the mercy of take out or toast and cereal for supper (although that is fun, but not when it is cold and rainy). Today I am pulling out orange chicken for supper. It is as simple as put in plan, cook, pour sauce over top, return to oven for 5 minutes, serve over rice.

While I usual make my own freezer meals this particular one is one I pick up at Costco once in a while for a treat. When we want Chinese food without the bill.

Along with the staples for quick meals like cooked beans, cooked chopped chicken, broth, stuff for soup and the like I try to keep meals in the freezer that are quick and easy, and it has been a blessing! Even if I am healthy and someone else in the house is sick it is wonderful to be able to not worry about meals knowing that something is there!

2. I keep my rice cooker on my counter so I see it. This might seem silly, but I have the room, and it encourages me to get it ready early, and then set the timer for supper, it takes guess work out of making sure everything is ready at the same time. I use it for a lot of things, much more than rice. But I had set it up for supper last night before I hurt my hand. One thing done. And if it is a nutty day I throw in some frozen veggies and we have veggie rice - two things taken care of!

3. Keep up with the dishes. Yes, our dishwasher ran last night and has to be emptied and reloaded, but because I was caught up on our dishes this is not a big deal, I am just stacking the dirty ones in the sink. Plus in my quest to get the plastic out of the kitchen we picked up some Corelle plates for the girls so I can use those too and not worry if I drop something...which I have...dropped something I mean...

I am so thankful that before Miss Pear was born that a friend introduced me to the concept of freezer meals, and that I learned the importance of keeping up with the kitchen early in my marriage. These things are blessing me so much right now!

What are your favorite tips for being prepared when life throws you a curve ball?

The Rest of My New Year Goals

I have to confess that I am at a loss on the rest of the areas I usually set goals in. With the firm knowledge that we will start looking for our new home in January it is hard to get worked up about much else!

I also don't necessarily wait for the new year to set goals, if something comes up I feel needs to change, I do it. I don't think the Lord waits for the new year to say, "Okay, here are the things we need to work on!", although, of course, He sometimes does! I think very often He nudges us along whenever we need it, encourages us to grow continually, and shows us things that need to change in His good timing.

But just to be contradictory, I think there is also said for taking time to sit down and evaluate certain areas and make goals to help you go in a certain direction. And that time between Christmas and New Year's Day often lends itself very well to that.

Most of my goals were already set. I knew that after I finished reading the New Testament Chronologically, which would conveniently end December 31 I wanted to read the Bible cover to cover again, but after reading the Bible in 90 Days, reading in a year was not enough for me! So reading the Bible twice in one year was a no brainer for me, and a goal set in November.

The goals I am going to share today are ones that I am already working on, or know I either want to work on or need to work on. Some have been ongoing since the summer! But I need to have them all in one place, and this seems like an excellent place.

Homeschooling

I love homeschooling, I adore the mini-culture it creates in our home, and I love seeing the curiosity in the girls! While I do want to stick with the curriculum and schedule we have, I also am looking for ways to start Baby on her path as she is so eager, but still very little, even though she tries so hard to keep up with her big sister! I am carefully considering what subjects to add for Grade 1 next fall, focusing mainly on what we are interested in (Astronomy!) what would help us! (Spelling! Miss Pear has great distain for those naughty words that don't follow the rules! It makes reading difficult! Mama has a hard time disagreeing with her on this one!), and what would glorify God. We want to continue gently and lovingly.

Kitchen

This one has a nice long list I have been working on!

- Completely update my kitchen recipes binder - neglected since before Baby was born!

- Perfect the art of homemade pasta, especially whole wheat soaked pasta! I think my pasta makers from Christmas should be a big help, one extrudes for things like fusilli and macaroni and one makes the nice sheets!

- Become an expert at using up our CSA box each delivery! This is an ongoing one and I am working hard at getting some new ideas and methods in this area!

- Develop a rough monthly menu guide to help us follow our eating goals. This is a work in progress. The things I would like to do weekly are in place, but I want to stretch it out monthly for a little bit more variety.

- Continue to remove plastic from the kitchen where I can!

- Find a reliable but simple pasta sauce that is loaded with veggies, can be made in large batches, and freezes beautifully.

- Find a simple pasta sauce that can be made in large batches an freezes beautifully (I am kind of thinking more of a seasoned crushed tomatoes idea

- Continue to move towards a healthier diet while maintaining our budget.

Home

Let's just start with the big one:

- Find a new home in our price range that we love in January/February.

- Move in April!

- Make our new house a home (April and beyond)

- Set up a workable housekeeping schedule once we move and follow it reliably! Includes updating homemaking binder.

- Set up a freezer system and freezer stocking system that works and MAINTAIN it. Of course, this is also part of the pasta sauces thing!

Beyond that I don't know. I anticipate sitting down in May and thinking hard about things - or maybe God will make it easy and just give me the list. Either way, at least I have a start!

Multitude Monday 23

I count the blessings, the big and the small, the funny and the silly, and give thanks. The more I count the more I find and the bigger my heart feels, the greater the well of gratitude, the deeper the love for my Lord.

So each day I look for reasons to say thank you, and each day as I do I am reminded to be more vocal in my love for God and my family!

December 14 - We were safe and our power stayed on during a fierce wind storm. The wind was so strong that the rain sounded like hail as it pounded against our home.

December 15 - Wonderful surprise of Christmas place mats arriving in the mail!

December 16 - Baby said "I love you" all on her own, she initiated it, and followed it up with a hug.

December 17 - Big sister sharing her reading reward with her little sister because she is too young to learn to read yet and should not be left out!

December 18 - We are gifted with a piano that will be delivered tomorrow. It is a beautiful piano that is 105 years old.

December 19 - Baby says, "Worship, worship, I worship!"

Plus God prompted me to call and pray with a friend, and the timing was perfect, exactly what she needed.

December 20 - Buddy skate day with Miss Pear at her skating lesson! So much fun!

I stayed up to see the lunar eclipse and to wake everyone up. I sat reading my Bible at watching. Just as it was almost time for it to start the clouds moved in and we could not see anything! So I finished up reading and went to bed.

December 21 - Feeling so relaxed and Christmas is only a couple days away!

Plus a Christmas package we look forward to each year arrived! Despite the temptation I stashed it under the tree!

December 22 - Cookie baking afternoon - not that we need more cookies, we just wanted to!

Dear husband asks me what I need him to wrap, I say nothing, it is all done!

December 23 - Cookie decorating morning! We make a beautiful manger scene with mommy applying a layer of icing and the girls applying a layer of colored sugar!

Another special package arrives from friends!

The stack of Christmas cards

December 24 - The last 2 quilted Advent wreaths arrive. They are beautiful. Now both girls have their own and so do I!

Walking around during afternoon rest time looking for something to do - it is al done, and for the first time I know what it is like to be eagerly anticipating Christmas rather than racing to the finish

Christmas Eve service was beautiful and Miss Pear curled up next to me trying to sing a long to all the songs with her new reading skills.

December 25 - Jesus

The girls stopping in the middle of opening presents to sing songs to Jesus for His birthday.

December 26 - Miss Pear takes Lord's Supper for the first time, and we move our membership to our new church

December 27 - A day at home laughing, playing, and being silly - such a joy!

December 28 - The gift of my family

December 29 - Snow! But it stayed warm enough that we could pick up our CSA Box!

December 30 - The girls continuing joy in snow - they had not played in it or even scene it in person until we moved here.

December 31 - Chinese Food to Celebrate!

January 1 - Rose Bowl Parade

NHL Winter Classic hockey game

All the decorations come down

January 2 - Buttermilk pancakes, little girl smiles and husband's jokes

January 3 - A husband who does not feel great, but uncomplaining goes to work to provide for our family.

Numbers 249-280 and counting.

Bible in 90 Days...

...starts tomorrow!

And I honestly cannot recommend this enough. Last year I did it, and I can often be heard telling my friends that I did not read the Bible in 90 days because I am super-spiritual but because I know exactly how much I suck...plus I was desperate! (Miss Pear had her heart surgery last year on January 11)

At the end of the day, I knew I needed more of God, and the only way that was going to happen was to give Him more of me, more of my time, more of my attention to His Word.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days is one of those things that has changed me and helped me grow so much I cannot help but strongly recommend it to everyone I know and everyone I know wants more of God in their life or wants to go deeper in their relationship with God. It is not always easy, but God is always faithful.

We Wish You A Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

One thing I love about the New Year - besides the fact that we order Chinese food for supper to celebrate its arrival and then spend New Year's Day watching the Rosebowl Parade and the NHL Winter Classic - is thinking about my priorities and my goals.

As I write this it is not New Year's yet, but I am starting to think about my goals. Actually I am thinking about where I want to be, what I want to accomplish so I can then set meaningful goals.

Here is what I have so far for my reading goals:

1. Read the Bible twice this year (I am making my own reading plan for this, it is half done, and I need to finish it ASAP)
2. Read 1 Biography a month - I am saying 1 because sometimes finding good ones will make even this a challenge - post your recommendations!
3. Read 1 Spiritually Challenging book a month.
4. Read good books in between!

What are you reading? Do you have any suggestions for me?

Merry Christmas

Christmas is drawing closer - 11 days a friend emailed me today. At first I thought she was mistaken! Then I realized she was right!

We are ready. My to do list is short:

1. Ship package Tuesday night
2. Do final Costco shop Tuesday night (no grocery stores until after Christmas - oh the joy of the CSA box!)
3. Do some more baking
4. Love my family extra special, lots and lots.
   

Okay, so number 4 is only on there because it is the reason I decided to take a bloggy break until the New Year. We are having lots of fun this Advent season, but it is taking time to prepare that extra fun, and extra time is only found by cutting out other things, which means my computer time, as you can tell by the lack of posts!

I wish you a wonderful Christmas season, and pray that the Lord blesses you as we celebrate His birthday! May He be glorified by and be the center of our celebrations!

See you in the new year!

More Than A To Do List

This time of year finds many women at the mercy or under the tyranny of their to do list, and I confess, I am often no different. As the girls become increasingly aware of things around them I am reminded that life is more than a to do list, life is essentially about living every day to the glory of God.

I certainly don't have this down perfect, but I am slowly learning.

Many friends have praised me for having my shopping done and mostly wrapped...not hard when most of the things that need to leave our house ship internationally! They had to be out last Saturday!

As for the wrapped part - we used a lot of furoshiki this year, and the toys all came from a store that wrapped them for me.

I am skipping the newsletter for the Christmas card this year, I just cannot get it done and be a good mom right now. Not a hard priority call once I realized that that was the trade off.

We are happily baking away - yes it goes slower with little helpers and the mess is bigger, but then, so are the smiles.

When little girls hold up a book, even the one I have read many times today, I am trying hard to say yes.

Yes to reading.

Yes to snuggling and watching a Christmas special...

...or the family hockey night we have planned to watch a game this weekend.

Yes to reading the lunch time advent reading one more time (yes, they ask for the Bible passage to be read again).

Yes to lighting the advent candles every meal and taking turns blowing them out.

Yes to help wrapping presents.

Yes to help of little ones with the Christmas cards.

It is not helping my to do list very much, but it most certainly is helping my joy, and my family's joy too!

Multitude Monday 22

I lost my little list I keep during the week, something new I was doing, so this list is just off the top of my head!

237. Christmas shopping is done, we are just waiting for a couple orders to arrive

238. ...and the presents that need to be shipped are all gone except for 1 that is awaiting its second half, which is arriving on Wednesday.

239. ...and most of the presents are wrapped and under the tree, but that is mostly thanks to my favorite store that wraps everything for you but has excellent prices!

240. The Christmas tree has been up for almost 2 weeks and has not been completely redecorated by little people. Admired and touched, yes, but only 2 ornaments were removed.

241. The Christmas cards with pictures are ordered, the list of who will get them is prepared with addresses, so the hardest is done.

242. We did find a light up angel for our window. I am still on the look out for a nativity, but that can wait for next year.

243. Little girls who seem to grasp firmly that Christmas is about a lot more than gifts...

244. ...who are enjoying celebrating Advent and looking forward to Jesus' birthday.

245. A husband who likes to surprise me!

246. That we found rubber boots for all the girls in the house and new work shoes for my husband for Christmas, but he has them already because he could not wait.

247. A beautiful quilted Advent calendar where you add pieces to make a nativity that just arrived in the mail today - such a beautiful and special gift.

248. The indescribably Gift.

Christmas Shopping...

...is done.

I do have one thing on hold that my husband will pick up tomorrow (it was not available at the store we were at), and am waiting for a few deliveries.

But it is done.

And so am I.

A Servant's Heart

After reading this beautiful post this morning it is clear in my heart that there is nothing more valuable I can write today than to send you to read it. It made me cry.

This Week's CSA Box

This week we are getting some delicious things in our box - but I think I say that every time.

We will be receiving:

Roma Tomatoes, Organic - 1.5 pounds
Bunched Carrots, Organic - 1 bunch
Red Cabbage, Organic - 1 each
Yellow Onions, Organic - 3 each
Avocados, Organic - 3 each
Cucumbers, Organic - 1 each
Satsuma, Organic - 6 each
Broccoli, Organic - 1 each
Satsuma, Organic - 6 each (yes, I am getting a second 6)
Valencia Oranges, Organic - 6 each
Bartlett Pears, Organic - 5 each
Braeburn Apples, Organic - 6 each


I am thinking guacamole and chips one night, fresh squeezed OJ to go with pancakes one night, and that is as far as I got!

Now that I start thinking I wonder if I should not make some Carne Asada with fresh salsa to go with that guacamole....

What would you be thinking of this box was being delivered to you tonight?

January Bible in 90 Days!

All the info for the Bible in 90 Days beginning January 3 is available here! I just cannot recommend it enough!