Riverbend Ramblings

Labels: Favorite Things, My Book Basket

A Lady of High Regard by Tracie Peterson Acts Dispensationally Considered by C. R. Stam (I've read 1/3 of it.) Ever After by Karen Kingsbury Going Home by Wanda Brunstetter Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury Mission: Motherhood by Cathy Corle Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp (This is a re-read.) Summer by Karen Kingsbury The Choice by Nicholas Sparks The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell

How did I do? As you can see, I didn’t finish all of the books on my original list. I had a little problem. I read 9 others books during this time period that weren’t on my list, and that doesn’t even begin to count all of the reading I do with my kids each day! When I get on the library’s waiting list for a particular book, it sometimes takes months for me to get it. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the books I was planning on reading for the challenge) a few books I signed up for arrived much earlier than expected, so I had to quickly get them read and returned to the library. Also, I have a good friend who gets a lot of wonderful books and shares them with me. I always read them right away and try to get them back to her before I forget that I have them.

Best book/Worst book The book I enjoyed the most from my fall list was The Five Love Languages of Children. I have read a slew of parenting books, and this one by far has helped me the most in terms of understanding what makes each of my children tick. I catch myself in situations on a daily basis with each child where I’m reminded of their particular “love language.” This book was such an eye-opener! I’m keeping it on my nightstand indefinitely and highly recommend it. The worst book I read this fall wasn’t even on my list. I started a book that I’d seen on tons of book lists. Since it was written by a secular author, I should have done a little research before I checked it out at the library. A few pages in, I felt that heaviness come over me, and I knew that it wasn’t a book that I should be reading. I closed the book and promptly returned it to the library. Ladies, we really must guard our eyes and minds! What did I learn from this challenge? As you can see by looking at my list, I read more fiction than non-fiction. Most of the other books I read that weren’t on my list were fiction, too. I think that I read fiction books as a way to relax and unwind at the end of a long day. Sometimes I don’t want to analyze what I’m reading, hence the neglect of non-fiction. Now, I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with recreational reading; however, I do believe it’s wrong to let reading (or any other hobby) cause me to neglect my priorities—God, husband, children, home. Sometimes I am guilty in this area. I have recently scheduled more time into my day for Bible reading, which is the most important reading any of us will ever do. That has cut down some on my other reading, but God’s word is life-changing and vital in my daily walk with Him. I plan on finishing up my list in the next few weeks. I’ll just carry the unread books over to the next challenge.

Labels: My Book Basket, Reading Challenge

Labels: My Book Basket, Reading Challenge