My Favorite Books of 2014*

 

I made a resolution last January to read more. And I did! I kept my resolution and read double the amount of books that I’d normally read in one year. Being in two book clubs, listening to audiobooks in the car and reading aloud to the kids helped me with my goal. I also spent 3-4 nights a week reading, instead of doing something else (like blogging, hence the dust around here!). Keeping books scattered around the house, near all my sitting areas, also helped.

Today I’m linking up with the Modern Mrs. Darcy to discuss my favorite books from this year. *These are books that I read this year, they were not necessary published this year. I read so many great books, it’s almost impossible to narrow the list down. I decided to go with the standout books – the ones that impacted my life – and the stories that I really enjoyed. These are the books that that I would recommend or give to a friend.

Fiction

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

 

I conquered this beast of a book during the summer. I had mixed feelings going into it because I had heard mixed reviews and I liked the movie but wasn’t sure how the melodrama would translate in the story. The first quarter of the book was a little slow going for me but once Rhett Butler came on the scene I was completely and totally hooked on the story. Oh, Rhett Butler! Never have I loved and, at the same time, hated a fictional character as much as Mr. Butler. I would recommend this story for its characters alone, but the added bonus is how much I learned about the Southern perspective of the war, the harsh conditions they endured and the shady post-war reconstruction dealings. The ending was gut wrenching, even more so than the pathetic ending scene in the movie. It’s a time investment but well worth it!  

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Hands down, The Rosie Project was my favorite “feel good” story of the year. The sweet but misguided (and super uptight) main character, Don Tillman, finds himself paired with the easy-going but street-wise Rosie in a project to find her real father. At the same time, Don is trying to find his future wife using a series of tests that he’s created. Over the course of the project, they discover a few things about themselves, often with hilarious and sometimes poignant results. The story showed that we don’t always know what’s best for us.

Non-Fiction

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

This is the story of how Barbara Kingsolver and her family moved to a farm and lived on locally produced food products for a year. She sprinkles the story with sobering information about our current farm practices and yet keeps us laughing with her stories about life on the farm. This book reads like a good conversation with a witty friend. The highest praise I can give it, though, is that her story was persuasive enough to cause us to change our habits. We started shopping at the local Farmer’s Market, my husband started making his own bread, and now we check labels in the produce section to see how far our apples have traveled. If you eat, you should read this book.

 

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

Do you notice a trend? I like books about food! This is not a cookbook (although the recipes are a nice perk!). It’s a compilation of stories, from her life, about food, friends and family, and faith, and how they are all connected. I think Shauna Niequist has such a neat writer’s voice. She gently inspires, encourages and makes the reader laugh, all at once. I feel like I could be her friend. I want to be her friend! This is a book to be savored.  

Wherever the River Runs by Kelly Minter

This is Kelly Minter’s story about how God lead her on several missions trip to South America and how it impacted her life. It reads like a travelogue, but inspires as much as some of my favorite Christian classic books. Read at your own risk, the story is so impactful that it might make you want to go on a missions trip!

Favorite Family Read-Aloud Book

Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry

We read a lot of books together. This year we’ve read SO many great stories. I could write a whole another post on the topic. I’ve included this story here because I think this book is worth reading even as an adult. It is based on the true story of an unlikely hero, Annie Bronn. It starts with her early childhood and her struggles with polio, and then goes on to tell how she took on big business and the government to help save the wild mustang horses from being slaughter. Her story kept all of us on the edge of our seats, wondering how it was going to turn out. I think it’s an important story to read to kids because it shows how people can turn struggles into triumphs. It also made me think about how sometimes in life we are given situations that we can’t turn our back on and how we must find the strength to fight for what we believe in. It is truly a great book for all ages.

 

- The Runner-Ups -

These books didn’t make the cut but are worth mentioning….

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (great story but too bizarre for the “best of” list), 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (a solid love story with a Kleenex-worthy ending), 

Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell (not as good as Unbroken but equally inspiring), 

Moccasin Trail by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

My complete 2014 reading list is here.

What books did you enjoy in 2014?

What We're Into: Winter Edition

I love blog posts that do roundups of what people have been reading or listening to or what they’ve learned, etc. I think it’s fun and interesting and I almost always find something new to check out (in all my free time – ha!). So, just for fun, here’s my version of that concept...

I’m calling it “What We’re Into” and - who knows? - maybe I’ll keep going with this series, but for now I’m going to focus on the little things that have made our house feel cozy when it’s been blustery and cold outside.

First off, I have had these three albums on repeat since I turned off the Christmas music. Combine them all for the perfect wintery soundtrack.

Sara Groves – Invisible Empires

Sojourn – Before The Throne

Audrey Assad – Fortunate Fall

Second, while hibernating in your house, you’ve gotta have good snacks. Lately, we’ve been experimenting with fresh-made popcorn and different seasonings. We recently discovered that it’s SO EASY to pop your own popcorn! It does take a minute for taste buds to readjust from the god-only-knows chemicals that makes microwave popcorn so good but I promise these two recipes will not disappoint: Hot Cocoa Popcorn and Birthday Cake Batter Popcorn. I also recommend simply pouring melted butter on top with a sprinkle of sea salt. It’s super tasty, economical, and I’m guessing way better for you!

As for TV, we’re working our way through Season One of The West Wing and Once Upon A Time. We’ve also been watching a surprising amount of the Olympics. Without much prompting from us, the kids have been very interested in it. And now that we have cable again (after 3 years of not having cable!), it’s been fun to have it on throughout the day.

Lastly, we've been snuggling up on the couch with the kids and a good book a lot lately. And we've read some great books this past month (that could be another blog post...). To help ease “we’ve been in the house together too long” tensions, the kids and I are working through “TheYoung Peacemakers” by Corlette Sande.  It is a GREAT family study. The concepts are very easy to implement and the kids love it! I highly recommend it. Also, as part of our homeschool, we’ve been reading “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have to admit, reading about their struggles and seeing the pleasure they found in the simplest things has encouraged my heart so much. I’m not sure who’s liking the story more, me or the kids?! 

According to the groundhog, we’ll be doing this winter thing for a few more weeks. Sigh. I hope you’re all finding a way to stay warm and cozy. (This doesn’t apply to my California and Arizona family and friends with your 80-degree weather. Psh!)

Homeschool Is Cool

   

We are officially halfway done with our first year of homeschool. YAY! 

Now that I have a few months of homeschool under my belt, I feel that I can give some opinion and have some perspective on it. It has been an adventure, and there are tough days with tears, but mostly it has been a HUGE BLESSING to our family.

First of all, the flexibility is exactly what we need while living out this crazy military life. Since we started school in early July, we were able to take a couple of days off in September to spend time with Bill after his deployment. We were also able to take some time off during our recent move – and then we picked right back up where we left off without concerns about new schools, etc. And on the days that Bill has off, or is home early, the kids are here and able to have the much-needed time with him.

Second, I am so proud of how well the kids are doing in school. I’m not an easy teacher. I know my child's potential and I won’t settle for anything less. I realize now that no one is going to push my kids as much as I do.

But, having said that, they really love school. I see passions lighting up in both of them and I’m able to gear my curriculum in that direction. And, most important, even through the struggles we are growing together and bonding in an entirely new way.

Speaking of passions, I love this quote...

“Passions weaken, but habits strengthen, with age, and it is the great task of youth to set the current of habit and to form the tastes which are most productive of happiness in life.” -The Map of Life, William Edward Hartpole Lecky

I hope to achieve both with our homeschool time. I want them to learn productive life skills while igniting passions. Yet, as this quotes infers, passions come and go but good habits last a lifetime. 

Finally, I love that I am able to point things out to them when we’re out and about and tie it back to something we learned a couple of weeks ago. No errand or outing is “safe” from a learning tidbit.

So, having come this far, it felt necessary to celebrate. On Friday we ordered pizza (kids’ choice), made and ate cupcakes, presented awards and made fun crafts (thank you, Kiwi Crate).

Lastly, if you’re interested, I highly recommend watching this commentary video about our current school system. Bill watched it as part of his class and then shared it with me. It’s entertaining, informative and thought-provoking. 

I'm so glad I decided to homeschool the kids. It works for our family right now. It was a huge leap of faith and has required so much from all of us but the rewards of seeing the kids learn and grow has made it so worth it.

My Favorite Books of 2013

Today I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy’s blog to discuss the best books of 2013 (the best books we read in 2013, not necessarily published in 2013). According to my Goodreads account, I read about 20 books this year. You can see the complete list here.

I really enjoyed most of the books I read this year. But, for the purpose of this blog, I’m going to narrow it down to my Top 5 books. I’m not ranking them in order of least to greatest because they are all so different and hard to compare. 

I’m including a quick note on each book rather than a detailed review because I believe it’s better to go into a book with a fresh slate than with expectations from what others have said about it.  

Here they are...

Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson – I laughed on almost every page of this book. The author’s witty commentary on the people and places of Europe are spot on. Reading this book was like being on a European vacation – without the expense of airfare! Hands down the best travelogue that I’ve ever read.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – I hate to sound dramatic or cliché but this book changed my outlook on life. She has such a unique writing style, and because of it, she’s able to bring stories and ideas to life in a new way. Her heart for the Lord is inspiring, too.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – I kept seeing this book pop up on “Must Read” lists this summer but I was skeptical. I don’t really care about Ernest Hemingway or his life, so I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not – but it grabbed me in the first chapter and didn’t let me go until the end. It’s an intriguing story in a fabulous setting. Having a glimpse into these iconic lives – good, bad and ugly – was utterly fascinating. Plus, his first wife was a diamond in the rough and I enjoyed “her” perspective of the story.

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls – Need a hero? Look no further than the lead character of this book. The author did an excellent job bringing her grandmother to life – all her spunk, sass and tenacity. Her life story is amazing, shocking and bittersweet. You’ll be cheering for her the entire time. Overall, an uplifting and inspiring story.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker – Don’t’ let the title of this book scare you. This book isn’t a guilt trip. Actually, it’s more like meeting your friend at Starbucks and catching up on the latest antics. Through her excellent story telling, I was able to journey along side of her – while laughing and learning. I think about things from this book often. I can honestly say it’s still working on me. 

Again, I enjoyed so many books this past year  - and still feel "connected" to most of them - so it was hard to narrow it down to these Top 5 picks.

Finally, although I’m not a fast reader, I’m hoping to double the amount of books that I read this year. That would put me at about 40 books in 2014. Let’s see if I can do it!

What about you, what were your favorite books in 2013?

Counting My Blessings in 2013

When I think about 2013, the first word that comes to mind is HARD. Just-keep-putting-one-foot-in-front-of-another-and-get-through-this kind of hard. I think about a year filled with sickness, pain and heartache.

Yet, that isn’t the entire picture. When I really stop and think about this year, I see a year filled with blessings, God’s provisions, and a whole lotta grace.

I’m going to choose to focus on that part as I send this year off into history. So, for fun, I’m going to highlight some of my favorite parts of this year.

1) We are blessed with some amazing friends, and even if I don’t call as much as I should (sorry), don’t think that I take one of you for granted. I count my friends as one of my biggest blessings. Here are just a few fun memories we had with friends this year….

Sienna's Valentine's Day "Tea with Dolls" Party

Our monthly Deployment Countdown Celebrations. Here we're celebrating Bill's birthday on our "3rd month done" celebration.

CFA meals with friends

2) Another highlight to the year is the visitors we had this year. Want to earn some extra “treasures in heaven”? Go visit a military family. It means SO MUCH to us. Honestly, you have no idea how happy it makes us when you come visit.

This year, both sets of our visitors braved the El Paso heat to come visit us. That’s dedication and love!

My aunt and uncle came to visit in early summer…

And I enjoyed a girls’ weekend with Shaena and Suzanne in the late summer…

3) I can barely type these words with out tears filling my eyes, but here goes (please excuse typos at this point)…God was so good to me this year. I read a Sally Clarkson blog article recently and she basically outlined how when we’re going through a tough season of life, God is actually holding us tighter and caring for us more, just as a parent tends to a sick child a bit more than they might with a child that is well. (Shout out to Sally for ALWAYS speaking to my heart right where it’s hurting) I can give many examples of how God cared for me in His own little way through out this year, but the one that first pops into my mind is this one….

At what I’ll call my “darkest hour” of the year, when I was just surviving the days and calling out to Him for help and hope, this beautiful rainbow was waiting for me right outside my back door. I let the dog out in the morning and – BAM! – this huge, beautiful rainbow.

You could say it was just a rainbow - a work of science/atmosphere/whatever - but I KNOW that God gave me that rainbow as a visual sign of the hope and promise I have in Him. (I can appreciate the whole Noah’s ark rainbow so much more now!)

4) Another huge boast in morale was adding two adorable kitties to our house. They are a pain but they bring us (us=me and Sienna) so much joy and happiness. There is something quirky about cats' personalities that I love so much.

5) Sienna’s baptism was a huge blessing to us too. The fact that she took the initiative and pushed to be baptized all on her own, encouraged my heart and soul a million times a million. I wish Bill could have been there in person (thankfully he was able to watch online) but I know that it was all God’s timing and I'm happy to see my little ones grow in their walks with God.

6) Sometimes getting out of the daily routine and exploring a new place is necessary to feel rejuvenated. Traveling to Albuquerque and Santa Fe this summer with our friends was exactly that for me. Although it was exhausting to travel outnumbered (2 Moms, 5 Kids), it was a lot of fun and will always be a fun memory for me. 

7) The turning point in the year was when we welcomed Bill home from the deployment. We are so thankful to have him home safely. I pray we don’t have to do that again anytime soon!!  Even though it was “only 9 months” it was incredibly hard and I’m happy to put it behind us. 

8) I started homeschooling the kids this year. I love it, the kids love it, and I'm so glad I took the plunge and did it. 

9) Speaking of learning, I learned how to knit this year! It's something I've always wanted to learn how to do. Be warned, I foresee lots of scarves as Christmas gifts next year. 

10) Finally, to me, the entire year has been redeemed in this one month of December. We have had so much fun setting up our new house (which has everything I’ve ever wanted and so much more!) and we’re enjoying all the nature (snow, birds, etc.) and having lots and lots of family time to create new and happy memories together.

Despite the hard times, I will look back at this year fondly and be thankful for all the blessings.

And now…Happy 2014!!!

The Gs Hit DC

One of the best parts about moving is exploring the new surroundings and finding places to go and eat. Everything is new and exciting and thrilling. It’s like a restart button on life. As for places to eat and things to see, we are completely spoiled here. If we lived here our whole lives, I don’t think we’d be able to cover it all. I love it and I keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I can’t believe I get to live here.

We’ve been good about exploring locally but we needed to go explore some of THE city. So we decided to go into the city yesterday to explore and see some sights. We didn’t have an official timeline or agenda. We were just planning things as we went. It was awesome! We had a great day and everything worked out well.

We live about 45 minutes outside of the heart of DC. For our California friends, it’s about the same as the trek from Eastvale/Corona area to Los Angeles. But unlike California, we have public transportation options. So yesterday we decided to take the Metro. Even though I love good public transportation, I was dreading the trip. Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly the drama I thought it’d be. Every thing was rather easy to figure out (with Bill’s help, of course!) and an uber-friendly attendant at the Metro stop helped us figure out the tickets and fees, etc. And the kids, oh my goodness, they LOVED it. I think we could have just taken a ride on the train and the kids would have been happy with that. 

It was a beautiful sunny day. There was still a chill in the air but not nearly as cold as it’s been here lately. 

We decided to go to the National Museum of Natural History (say that five times!). Entrance was FREE. It was busy but not overwhelmingly busy. It did become more crowded in the afternoon but by then we were almost done seeing everything we wanted to see.

It is a beautiful building with lots to see. The exhibits kept the kids' interest throughout the day.

The exhibits were family-friendly and they had just opened an exhibit especially for kids - with lots of hands-on activities - and both our kids had fun going through. 

Here's a picture of Grant with his favorite animal - a Giant Squid. 

My favorite part of the museum was watching the show “Jerusalem” in the IMAX theater. Some of it was probably over the kids’ heads, but I still think it’s important to expose them to things they might not fully understand. I haven’t looked up any scientific evidence to prove this but I do think that we absorb a lot in our subconscious before it actually registers in our brains. So, we dragged the kids into the show when they really wanted to see the ocean IMAX instead. But it was a very interesting show – and even the kids were engaged in it.

And yes, homeschool friends, I'm counting this as a Field Trip! 

We left the museum in the late afternoon and walked to the Capitol building. 

The sun was setting and everything was “glowing” in the late afternoon sun. It was truly beautiful. I’m a person that gets inspired by my surroundings and nature, and this setting made me want to go “conquer the world” …but then I realized I can’t even “conquer” my kids, so I better keep my work at home for a little while longer. Still, it was inspiring and I felt rejuvenated by time we headed home.  

T'is the Season ...to Bake!

This week I started one of my favorite parts of the holiday season - baking!! 

I thought I'd share the recipes I'm cookin' up this holiday season, in case you need some inspiration. These recipes are tested and approved by everyone in my family! 

Saltine Cracker Toffee - Over the past few years, these have become a family favorite at Christmastime. They are super easy to make and so delicious. 

What does Ginger do when she gets mad? She snaps! 

That's a joke that someone I used to work with told everytime he saw me. Well, with this recipe, Ginger (cookies) won't snap but instead melt in your mouth. I like it better this way. 

Brown Butter Soft Batch Ginger Snaps 

Christmas isn't complete without Sugar Cookies and cookie decorating. I let the kids go to town last night. There was sugar and frosting everywhere - counters, floor, foreheads, etc. At the end of it, I was so proud that I was able to suppress my clean-freak tendencies so the kids could have a fun time. Memory making in progress! 

This year, I let Trader Joe's save the day on the Sugar Cookies. This kit was too cute to pass up. We added M&Ms, mini chocolate chips and colored/glitter frosting to the decorating line-up. 

This is a lot of cookies even for us, so we're planning to package them up and bring them to the neighbors this afternoon.  

I came across a recipe for Almond Shortbread that looks pretty tasty. I haven't tried this recipe yet but I'm hoping to make them soon.
 
Finally, I also like to make pecan pies during the holidays. I tried this recipe (Trisha Yearwood's Pecan Pie) last year and loved it and everyone I shared it with loved it too. I'm planning to make it again this year. Maybe for New Year's Eve? 

What are your favorite holiday recipes? I'd love for you to share them! 

Happy Baking! And may your holidays be merry and bright!