The Flirtation Experiment by Phylicia Masonheimer and Lisa Jacobson: 4 Stars- Life gets busy and quickly fills with distractions. In my marriage, our loyalty and desire for each other might not waver, but there have been times where we are more like roommates than lovers.
This book is written to couples who find themselves in that spot. Couples who want to light a fire back into their marriage and romance. Phylicia and Lisa tag team the chapters, giving varying perspectives and wisdom from different levels of experience. I enjoyed that aspect of the book! They delve into 30 areas where you can rekindle the spark. Some of these areas are tenderness, friendship, affirmation, adventure, playfulness, and many more. Their ideas and insight helped me think through ways I can love my man better.Better Together by Pam Barnhill: 5 Stars- We LOVE morning time in our household. This goes beyond breakfast and rushing to get ready to start another day. When I say “morning time”, I’m referring to the devoted time that we spend setting the tone for the day. It does start at breakfast when we eat together as a family and spend time studying and memorizing God’s Word. From there, Simeon heads off to work, and I transition into morning time with the kids. It’s really a part of our homeschool day, our favorite part! We have a basket of books that we rotate reading through. We sing songs, practice our Scripture memory, work on behavior training and manners, do puzzles, play educational games, and so much more. If you already have some sort of “morning time”, or if this sounds like something you want to add to your day (it doesn’t have to be confined to the morning hours!), you’ll love this book by homeschool veteran, Pam Barnhill. She gives helpful insight and so many rich resources to make the most of your time together.
Trusting God in Troubled Times by R. B. Ouellette: 4 Stars- The subtitle of this book is, developing unshakable faith for unpredictable circumstances. I think we all would say we need that in our lives! I know I do! R. B. Ouellette has been the pastor of the same church in Michigan for over 40 years. His ministry has touched to many people, my husband and I included. This book was full of Scripture and biblical principles to apply as we go through the trials life brings. The insight he gave from years of life experience, walking with Christ, and ministry is invaluable!
Fervent by Priscilla Shirer: 5 Stars- This book was such a challenge to my prayer life! Priscilla doesn’t beat around the bush, and I appreciate that. She makes the reader keenly aware of the spiritual warfare that is waging all around us. She opens our eyes to Satan’s strategic attacks on our lives, our families, our emotions, our thoughts, etc. The devil would love nothing more than to see you waste your time and energy on anything other than serving Christ and fulfilling His purpose for your life. Several of the most common areas Satan targets us are addressed in this book. Priscilla gives Scripture and insight on how we can fight Satan’s attacks- through fervent prayer! I finished this book with a renewed zeal to be more direct and invested in my prayer time. Satan knows the power God has given us through prayer, of course he’d want to do everything in his power to keep us from it. Let’s determine to not give him the victory, but to commit to do battle on our knees!
Help! I’m Drowning by Sally Clarkson: 4 Stars- “Living as a victorious sailor through the storms of life requires the courage to trust Him, the patience to wait it out by His grace, and the strength to find hope and His light in the midst.” I have yet to read a book by Sally that I didn’t enjoy! It is such a blessing to read counsel from someone who has walked through decades of life seeking to live in a way that honors Christ and points others to Him. From this experience, Sally writes about weathering the storms of life that threaten to drown us. She addresses many different storms we might face- marriage issues, struggles with our children, sickness, heartbreak, disappointment from other believers, etc.
Everyday Talk about Sex and Marriage by John Younts: 3 Stars- This booklet was written as a handbook for parents to talk with their children about marriage and sex from a biblical perspective. The author gave some great insight on how to lay a foundation of biblical truth and character to instruct your children in when they are little which will set you up for more specific conversations about sexuality when children get older. While there were some helpful things I pulled from the book, I felt like the author was quite repetitive, especially for the book being so short. Also, the author gave some suggested conversation dialogues in the back of the book, and I felt that they had an awkward vibe. I know these conversations bring a level of discomfort, but Simeon and I hope to be real and present God’s holy design for sex without acting like it’s an embarrassing topic to shy away from.
Hearts of Fire by Voice of the Martyrs: 5 Stars- What a powerful book! This book shares the story of 8 women who gave everything for Christ. In the midst of persecution, torture, rape, imprisonment, and more, they were resolved to be found faithful by their Lord and Savior. Each story challenged me in my own faith. Each story reminded me that ours truly is a faith worth dying for. And if that is the path God chooses for your story, He will walk with you through the fire! This was an inspiring read that left me wanting to fall more in love with Jesus and to stand for Him no matter the cost.
The Look by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth: 5 Stars- This was a short booklet addressing modesty. It had a quiz and spaces to answer questions which would make it a very helpful resource if you are going through this topic with women or teen girls. I thought Nancy did a great job addressing this issue! While she did get specific in regards to certain issues surrounding modesty, she emphasized the heart behind it as opposed to simply following a list of do’s and don’ts. The booklet is filled with Scripture and biblical truth to help you understand God’s design for our how we are to present our bodies. Nancy encourages women to seek to glorify God with their bodies in the area of modesty.
Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson: 5 Stars- This is my second time reading this book, and what a treasure trove it is! Sally is a favorite author of mine, and this book resonates deeply with my heart and desires for what education can look like for our family. You know the phrase, “this is everything I never knew I ever wanted?” That is how I feel about this! As an education major, someone who loves academia, and a mama who has researched home education for years, I knew I wanted more than the traditional approach that our current educational system offered. I just didn’t know what that “more” was. This book helped direct my thoughts and clarify my vision of education and discipleship as God intended. It lit a fire in my heart making me passionate about educating my children. It opened my eyes to the potential that education can have when a lifestyle of learning is pursued. Hands down, every homeschool mom needs to read this book. It would also be helpful for any parent or teacher! Sally shares decades of wisdom and experience in the pages of this book.
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Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor & Joe Sutphin: 5 Stars- I could not recommend this book enough! It is a beautifully illustrated children’s rendition of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. I don’t normally count books I read to the kids towards my reading goal, but this one was a huge book, so I’m counting it! The riveting story captured our hearts and minds. We could not put this book down! We learned so much from this book that I actually devoted an entire podcast episode to it. You can listen to that here.
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin: 5 Stars- World War II. Clean romance. Books. What more would you want in a historical fiction novel? I’ll be honest, I rarely read fiction books, but this one caught my eye. I’m glad it did! I quickly got swept up in it’s pages as I walked the streets of London with Grace Bennett. She had always dreamed of living in the big city. Moving there right as WWII was ramping up wasn’t the fairytale life she’d hoped for, but it wound up filling her with purpose and resolve. This book walks through the years of war sharing the devastation that ensued and the tenacity of the people to find normalcy in something as simple as sharing books with one another.
The First Forty Days by Heng Ou: 1 Star- I would NOT recommend reading this book. I am currently researching a lot of resources about the postpartum period, especially in regards to nourishing your postpartum body. While this book did give a few helpful things, most of it was very ritualistic, cultural, and new age. It was interesting to hear the emphasis that other cultures put on the postpartum period, but almost all of the advice (beyond actual food recipes and information) we in opposition to my beliefs as a follow of Christ.
Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst: 2 Stars- Another book I would NOT recommend. I did not know much about this author before reading this book, but I did know enough about her beliefs and the church she attends to read with caution. While there were some helpful thoughts, the overarching message was rooted in self-help forgiveness as opposed to what the Bible says about forgiveness. When it comes to an issue as deep and complex as forgiving those who have so hurt you that it radically changes your life, I believe that the only answers we need come straight from God’s Word first and foremost, not from an author mustering her way through the labyrinth of emotion and forgiveness.
M is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt: 5 Stars- I love when a mama defies cultural norms to stand on strong biblical convictions. That is what Abbie did in her book! She challenged women to see motherhood as Christ intended it, and to reclaim the beauty and joy of motherhood that the world has sought to snuff out. The book was filled with truth as well as practical principles to help you be the mama Christ intended for you to be.
Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt: 5 Stars- I loved this book! It is packed full with fun ideas on how you can create a home culture, celebrate life together, and make memories that will be so etched into your child’s heart and mind that they’ll never forget them. At the same time, the author realizes that the majority of us are busy moms who are doing all we can just to get dinner on the table each day. She does a wonderful job of finding balance between the two, and putting an emphasis on what is important long-term. This book gave me many ideas of things to make a part of our home as we seek to embrace home for all that God wants it to be for our family.
God Does His Best Work with Empty by Nancy Guthrie: 5 Stars- You often hear the quote, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Author Nancy Guthrie presents a very different opinion. She proves from Scripture that God does His best work with empty vessels. Why is this? Because, when we are empty of ourselves, we then have room to be fully filled with Him. That is a vessel that brings Him much glory! This book is rich with Scripture references which I really enjoyed. I’ve been through seasons where I’ve felt so empty. This quote was an encouragement- “See that even the hardest providences of life come to us through our Redeemer’s nail-scarred hands. He’s allowing this emptiness in your life, seeking to draw you back to the place where he intends to bless you beyond what you can imagine. … He is committed to meeting your true and deepest needs fully and forever.”
Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read: 4 Stars- This book was written by an OB doctor back in the 1930/1940s. So much has changed in obstetrics since then (be thankful!!), but there are still many things that we could be doing better. Dr. Grantley was an “outside-the-box_ thinker when it came to birth, especially natural birth and a woman’s right to education. During a time when birth was treated as a condition that needed medical intervention, he championed for birth as a natural process to be embraced. This book has great information about the family body, natural birth, and the connection between fear and tension resulting in pain. Dr. Grantly states that when a woman is educated, encouraged, and empowered, she can have a birth that changes her life as it unites with that of her new child.
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham: 5 Stars- Part of my reading challenge for the year has been for Simeon and I to read 1 book together each quarter. This is the book we read for this quarter, and what a powerful read! We got through through Audible, and regret it! You’ll want a physical copy of this book. We plan to purchase it and go through it again with a highlighter and notepad! Voddie Baucham speaks of his desire for his family to have a multi-generational faith. This has shaped the way he and his wife parent their children. Actually, it has shaped every aspect of their lives. Having the desire to raise children who will have a genuine faith that will pass to future generations has fueled their intensity and guided their decision making. He brings up so many important points that parents need to think through as they seek to raise their children for Christ.
Read-Alouds
I don’t usually count the books that I read aloud to my kids, but this year, we’ve been reading some more lengthy books. I think several of them deserve being added to my count for the year! 🙂
19. Little Pear (note- there were several references to Easter religion such as good and bad spirits, good luck, etc)
20. Pippi Longstocking (note- the last chapter talked heavily about ghosts)