And in January, we hibernate!
This has been our theme this month. We've made time to read, slow down and regroup at the start of the year. By day, we're getting after our goals and preparing for Kenya, but, we've filled our evenings with books, getting in bed early because it's middle-of-the-night-dark at 9:30 p.m.
We recently got in bed at 9:15 so we could read a little longer and joked as we did that, if it were July, we'd be throwing the frisbee or sitting on the porch, the remnants of daylight hanging in the air.
Oh, winter!
Here are four good books I wanted to share with y'all!:
1. Love Warrior: First of all, I liked this book significantly more than Carry On Warrior. I couldn't put it down. It's beautiful and raw and made me super uncomfortable at times. Although there are few things I don't necessarily agree with, I highly recommend it. Anyone who has been in a relationship or has struggled in life (AKA adult humans), should read it. She's honest and has a lot of insight about dealing with pain and the way we, as humans, numb. It felt like therapy each time I read it.
2. Eleanor & Park: Confession: I am glutton for fiction. It takes discipline for me to read nonfiction. But novels? Yes, please! Murder mysteries? Give them to me! If you follow me on insta, you know that I already declared Eleanor & Park my favorite book of 2017. Too soon to say? Maybe. But mayyyybe not, because this book is a dream.
I'm a sucker for unique, witty writing and this book is full of it (it reads like John Green!). It is such a sweet story; I laughed, I cried, I couldn't wait to finish it, yet was so sad when it was over. I highly recommend it.
3. The Power of a Praying Wife: OK so. This book is a little old school, if you will. For some, it will probably be too conservative regarding gender + marriage roles. I sometimes felt myself cringing at specific portions. However, what I liked about it is that it served as a reminder for me to pray for Chris and taught me how to do it well. It also softened my heart when I was frustrated and reminded me we are a team. I don't agree with everything she has to say, but I felt like it was a productive read. I used it like a devotional and appreciated that it helped me with actionable prayers + specific scripture around day-to-day topics.
4. Iggie's House: My niece and I read this one together, which I loved because Judy Blume is the bomb and it felt like my childhood. Also, it was interesting to read about race relations in the late 60s, which sometimes feel like they have changed a lot and other times feel like nothing has changed much at all. It is a good read-with-a-kid (& discuss!) book.
Next up? Reading The Girl on the Train obsessively right now. I'm also working on Boundaries and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, but, ya know, nonfiction. :)