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2014 reading goal for non-fiction books…

Written by Joy
2014 reading goal for non-fiction books…

{This post may contain affiliate links. Any money that is made will go towards our homeschooling journey and the operation of this blog.}

I recently shared some of the fiction books that I will be reading to help me towards my reading goal in 2014. So I thought I would also share the non-fiction books that I am reading throughout the 2014 year.

Some of these books, I mentioned last year and never did get very far in.  So I have added them back to this year.  Two of the books have workbooks that go along with them.
non-fiction books

I have several books by Sally Clarkson on the list, one of those was co-authored by Sarah Mae.

Seasons of a Mother’s Heart

The Mom Walk

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe

Three of the books that are on my list, are written by Susan Hunt, with one of those books being co-authored by J. Ligon Duncan.

Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women

The True Woman

Women’s Ministry in the Local Church

Susan Hunt has several more books that I have added to my wish list.  She seems to be an excellent author with topics that are close to my heart.

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Disire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George

A Praying Life by Paul Miller

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

15 Minutes Alone with God by Emilie Barnes

As you can tell, by the titles of some of these books, my heart is really focusing on a few specific topics; Motherhood, Prayer, Mentoring and Loving God.   While I know I am not perfect, I am a sinner saved by grace, I want to read and learn as much as I can, to help better myself, so that I can glorify God in all that I do.  I want to be able to help, nurture and encourage others, including young wives and mothers.

Which do you like to read, fiction or non-fiction? Do you have any books you would recommend for me to read?  I am always looking for new books to learn from!

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reading goal for 2014 ~ fiction books

Written by Joy
2 Comments
reading goal for 2014 ~ fiction books

As I am sure y’all have noticed, if you follow me on my A Journey of Joy on Facebook, I love to read.  Reading is a passion of mine.  I read because it helps me to relax.  I can sit down with a book and totally shut everything out (just ask my family) and immerse myself in the book.

I will read fiction or non-fiction, but fiction is my favorite, especially the Christian fiction books.  My favorite ear to read is the 1800’s, especially the settling of the Old West.

I always try to set aside time and a goal for me to read.  On Goodreads.com, they have a book reading challenge.  I joined it last year with a goal of 52 books. While I didn’t keep very good track of all the books or ebooks that I read, I do know that I passed that goal, because of all the free ebooks and books that I had ordered. This year, I set my goal of 100 books.  Since I passed 100 last year, I know I can meet that goal this year.  I just need to remember to add them to my profile!

January Fiction Books for 2014

January Fiction Books for 2014

I have already read several books this year that I need to add.  The picture above also shows some books that I just received that will be used towards my goal.  I also need to add the books that I have on my Kindle. I have a list of non-fiction books, I will be sharing those in another post.

So what books am I starting the challenge with?  Here they are with the author and a link to where you can purchase them.  {This is an affiliate link. Any purchase you make, helps to support this blog and our homeschool journey}

Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings

The Sheriff’s Surrender by Susan Page Davis – Book #1 in the Ladies Shooting Club Series

The Gunsmith’s Gallantry by Susan Page Davis – Book #2 in the Ladies Shooting Club Series

Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson

Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna

I am also reading a series by Mona Hodgson.  It is the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek. There are 4 books in this series.  I only have two of the books in the picture above; Too Rich for a Bride and The Bride Wore Blue.  The books I am waiting to arrive are, Two Brides Too Many and Twice a Bride.

Do you love to read?  Have you made any goals for how many books you would like to try and read? I would love if you would join me at Goodreads.com and join in the reading challenge with me!

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books I am reading and January book reading update…

Written by Joy
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books I am reading and January book reading update…

I started this post back at the beginning of February and now the month is half way over. I wanted to update you on the books that I am reading. I had made a goal for myself, at the beginning of the year to read 52 books. My book list for January, I am almost finished with them.  I am still working on Desperate – Hope For The Mom Who Needs to Breathe.  I will also begin The Mom Walk when I finish Desperate.

Most of the books I have chosen next to read, are study guides and books that I can read to help me mentor, help and encourage other women.  God has laid on my heart Titus 2:3-5.   I feel like He is leading me in the direction to help and train younger women/moms.  Lord willing and with much prayer, I gain a little more knowledge, along with courage and strength to do as God is leading me.  I am also hoping I can figure out how to do this as well.  What books have I chosen to read to learn more from, besides the Bible?

A couple of the books are by Susan Hunt, The True Woman and Spiritual Mothering.  Women’s Ministry in the Local Church is also authored by Susan Hunt along with Duncan Ligon.

I am also doing a bible study by Elizabeth George called by Loving God with All Your Mind.

books I am reading

All of my books just isn’t for studying though.  I added in a few books for fun and enjoyment.  I love books that are based in the 1800’s time period.  I love just reading and slipping away to a time period long gone.  When, in some ways life was a little simpler, yet they still had issues just like we do today.  While the stories are made up, I can still imagine life back in time.

I have the second book in the Homeward on the Oregon Trail by Melody Carlson, A Dream for Tomorrow.  I loved the first book, so I am excited to read this second one.

I also came across another book about the Oregon Trail.  It is Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson.  It is set in 1841, so I am sure it will be a nice read.

The last book in this list is A Patchwork Christmas Collection.   This book has 3 stories in it along with recipes and handcraft patterns.  I am hoping to learn to crochet and knit, so this book looked interesting to me.  I have already read the first story in the book and it was pretty good.  Looking forward to finishing the other two books in this collection.

As you can tell, I do love to read.  It isn’t unusual for me to be reading several books at one time.   I love to mix the serious and fun books up.  This is the way I like to wind down and relax after a long day or, if I just want to take some time off.

What are you reading now?  What type of books do you like to read?

 

 

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books I am reading…

Written by Joy
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books I am reading…

Reading is a passion of mine. You can find all sorts of my books lying around the home and in our vehicle. Lately though, I haven’t made time for myself to read. One of my goals for the new year is to read at least one book a week. I thought I would share with you the books I am reading as I head into 2013.

books I am reading

Love to read all types of books; fiction, non-fiction, study guides, devotionals.  Anything to help me take my mind off things and relax.   The books I am reading in this list just shows a couple of different genres that I love.

Sally Clarkson is a favorite author of mine.  Her love of God, her husband and children shine through when she writes.  I have enjoyed all of her books I have read so far and have added two more of her books to my list.  I love how she encourages others.  While I have never met Sally Clarkson, I do consider her a mentor.  The books that I will be reading from Sally Clarkson is The Mom Walk and Desperate – Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe, which was also co-authored by Sarah Mae (Desperate is supposed to go on sale Jan. 8th, however, I was able to buy it from Amazon early).

The Bartered Bride is a collection of nine stories written by 8 different authors.  This is a collection of inspirational historical fiction and I think my most favorite genre of books, ever.

Rugged and Relentless is the first book in the series Husbands for Hire and one that I am excited to read about.   It is written by Kelly Hake, another one of my favorite authors.

Westwards Hearts is written by Melody Carlson and is the first book in the series Homeward on the Oregon Trail.

Are you seeing a pattern here?  Yes, I love inspirational historical romance novels, especially if they are part of a series!

I am still waiting on one more book to come in the mail.   It is a book series that I just found out about today.  The book is The Memory Jar, the first book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series written by Tricia Goyer.

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

So these are my first several books that I have chosen to read and I am truly looking forward to getting back in the habit of reading something for myself.  Perhaps I will take time to write a short review on them.  We will see!

What do you have on your night stand?  I would love for you to share your books with me.  I am always looking for new books to read!

 

 

 

 

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homeschooling plans changing just bit..

Written by Joy
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I am sure you are all just about tired of hearing about us moving to Colorado.  I know I am!  I am so ready to be there!  So I thought I would talk a little about how our homeschooling will look for us when we first get to Golden, CO.  You see, we will be living in a vacation rental for a month, or until we can find us a more permanent place to live.  That means that the majority of our school books are boxed up and in a storage unit until then.  So what will we be doing for school until then? Well, I am so glad you asked!  {grin}

Thanks to an awesome homeschooling blogging buddy of mine, we will be approaching the first 4-6 weeks slightly different.  To begin with, we will be covering the state history of Colorado and the town history of Golden, CO.  It will be good to learn all about the place that we will be calling home.  We will be taking field trips to local historical places in town, as well as finding the library, police and fire stations and any science or history museums in the area.  We will also be covering geography and science by learning all we can about the Rocky Mountains.

I have packed a couple of small boxes with our math, spelling and bible study books.  For math, my oldest daughter will finish up her Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra, while the younger two kids will finish up their Bob Jones math books.

We will be using a new spelling book this year for the younger two kids.  The Natural Speller is recommended with the Illuminations program that I will be using by Bright Ideas Press.

As for the bible study, we will finish up the Esther book we started last year.  We got side-tracked and I never finished it with the kids.  They loved doing this study, so I am excited to begin it once again.

I also packed up the See The Light art curriculum DVD’s.  My youngest son just asked me the other day when we could begin this again.  I am so happy that we have found an art curriculum they love!

So as you can tell, we do have some great ideas to get us started.  While it isn’t everything that we will eventually be using, I am happy that we will be able to do something not long after we arrive.  My kids thrive on a routine and we have been out of one for far too long.

I was so excited when Honey mentioned those ideas to me about studying the state and local history with the kids once we arrived.  It will help us get acquainted with the area, as well as get one some sort of routine with our schooling.  A win-win for all of us!

We will also be meeting up with a new homeschool group that I have been in contact with.  They will have their first park day on August 9th.  We will also be checking into the extra-curricular activities that the kids want to be involved with.  This includes finding a new dance studio, musical theater company and a recreation league for sports.  I don’t know why I was so worried about jumping right into school, we will have plenty to keep us busy the first couple of weeks!

Once we get settled next week in our temporary rental, I plan on sharing with you all the rest of the curriculum we will be using.  I am truly excited about it this year as I am stepping away from a lot of the traditional textbooks and workbooks.  This is truly going to be an interesting year with all the new adventures that we will have!

Do you have any special studies planned to begin your new school year with?

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