Currently Reading...

My currently reading list is getting outrageous again but I’m really enjoying everything I’m reading now so here ya go:

First, sneaky because I've already finished it: a family treasure my grandma passed down to me on our Arizona trip, Mama's Journal and My Memories of the Covered Wagon Days. Y'all, how insanely cool is this?! I'm so thankful this exists in my family!!

-Stella by Starlight. I have two chapters left of this one and I’m dragging them out because I have loved this children’s novel! Stella is such a wonderful character and the story is so powerful! It’s not The Good and the Beautiful friendly because of a few Lord-a-mercy’s and I think I recall something else (maybe not?) but I am still a fan. 

-The Mouse and the Motorcycle. I'm pretty confident I must have read this book as a kid because even though I have zero recollection of it, it's all vaguely familiar anyways. A, at five, is definitely very much loving the book... but the chapters are a hair long and he occasionally asks me to stop for a break in the middle of one.

-In Bloom. I started doing this one with a friend but now we’re just reading it normally and discussing whatever feel like rather than actually following the discussion questions. I have a huge hangup with feelings of shame/humiliation so this has also been wonderful! Also, her 90s jokes crack me up.

-Educated. I was so excited about this one, and then it turned out I could only borrow it from the library for two weeks because the hold list is so long. So I started it right away, even though I wasn’t yet done with Stella by Starlight, and I’ve been plowing through this one at night too. I can’t get over this girl’s resilience!

-Breaking Free. I’ve heard Beth Moore a million times on the radio but this is my first book of hers. I’m doing the study with Ryan’s cousin and getting so much out of it. We have a weekly Bible study phone call and it has been so awesome for both of us so far, definitely think I’m going to force somebody else to do with me even if she is done after this one.

-31 Prayers for my Husband. One of my sweet friends bought this for me and I have been loving it. I’m almost done with it and then I’ll be going right back through it again. I love what it stands for, I love that there is always something that applies to me/my husband/our marriage even when the entire prayer doesn’t, and I love that it makes me feel more connected to Ryan even while he’s at work and away for the day. It has been such a sweet addition to my morning routines and I’ve been recommending it left and right!

-God Always Keeps His Promises*. I was super excited to see this pop up in my list of potential review books because my son is a huge Max Lucado fan. (Because I Love You is his favorite). I’ve been reading through it myself before we start it together and I love this book. This is such a big concept but he has presented it in a way that is easy for children to grasp. I also think the illustrations (by Alessia Trunfio) are fun. I always think the mark of a great children’s book is one that adults can get a lot out of and this definitely hits the mark there. This is a strange season in my life, lots of sadness mixed with something super exciting (which I am going to reveal eventually, I promise) (also, I’m not pregnant) and I feel like this book was so precious to my soul in this season, both in seeing all the bright ways he’s kept promises to me and in seeing all the ways he’s kept them (both to me and to people I love) even through pain and sadness. If you’re a Max Lucado fan, you’ll love this one! And if you aren’t a fan yet, I would definitely feel comfortable suggesting this one as your first foray into his great work!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

On my radar: Life Changing Prayers (because the stories sound amazing and, well, I’m pretty confident I’ll be thankful I read it at some point when my life needs changed! ;]) // Book Girl (I adore the Clarksons and I have been dying to check this one out!) // Pilgrim’s Wilderness (found it by accident at the library and oh my word, does it not sound like the perfect book for me to read?!) // Unbroken (I still haven’t read this one but I’ve been meaning to for so long!)