Monday, February 8, 2010

Bookin' It in 2010: The Plan

Reading is such a big part of life. It stretches your mind. It helps relax. During stressful times it helps me sleep. So naturally, one of my goals for this year is to read. Typically, I don't set goals to read - I just read. But, this year I decided to be more deliberate and join Fishmama in Bookin' It in 2010. It's taken me a whole month to come up with my plan, and it's still unfinished - but that's the way my life is!

Here's the plan & the current progress:

Spiritual Growth:
Read the Bible cover to cover in 90 days. Finished reading Esther (Day 36)

Read the Bible every day after April 1

Read one book for spiritual growth per month (after April 1). Here's what's on my list so far:
  • Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains*
  • Building Faith at Home by Mark A Holmen*
  • My Heart's at Home by Jill Savage
  • Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas* (biography of William Wilberforce)
  • Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
  • A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson **
  • Think Orange: Imagine the Impact when Church and Family Collide by Reggie Joiner
  • Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonald (reread)
  • Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels
  • Faith Begins at Home by Mark A Holmen
Other Non-fiction I want to read:
  • That's My Son: How Moms can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character by Rick Johnson
  • Have a New Kid by Friday by Dr. Leman
  • Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn
  • Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn (reread)
  • Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
  • The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
  • Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching & Appreciating Boys by Hal & Melanie Young 
  • Prarie Tale by Melissa Gilbert (currently reading)

Reading for Pleasure (1 per month):
(Most of these were strongly recommended by my sister who reads voraciously and much faster)

  • The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser Finished
  • Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
  • Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers 
  • Yada Yada Prayer Group Series by Neta Jackson (I think I'm on #6 of 8) 
  • Sister Chicks Series by Robin Jones Gunn (I'm on #4 of 8)
  • 16 Lighthouse Road & series by Debbie Macomber
  • The Quilters' Apprentice & series by Jennifer Chiaverini
 Reading with the Kids:
  • Little House on the Prairie - even my boy is enjoying this one!
  • ??? I need suggestions here for books to read with my kids (girl age 6, boy age 8)

*books I've started previously, but never finished


Ummm. Yeah. There's no way I'll be able to read all of these in a year. I'm just not that fast a reader. I'm not even going to attempt the Spiritual Growth books until I'm finished reading the Bible in 90 Days. I simply don't have the time. But, having written down the list will help me stay focused and get further through the list than I would otherwise.

What are you reading this month? Have a good read aloud with your kids you can recommend?

3 comments:

C.G. Koens said...

Visiting from the Life as Mom Booking It post. Looks like you have a good list going. A couple of recommendations for reading with your kids:

"The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie" - both by George Macdonald. My mom read those to me when I was around 6 or 7 years old.

"The Light Princess", also by George Macdonald - one of my favorites.

"The Search for Delicious" by Natalie Babbitt - great book!

Some of my favorite and best memories are of days when I was curled up with my mom, listening to her read aloud from the stack of books I brought her - sometimes until she fell asleep! Keep it up - your kids will thank you!

Unknown said...

Looks like you are going to be doing a lot of reading! :)

For books to read with the kids, I highly recomend the Amercian Girl series. They are so good and very relatable. I loved them when I was a kid, and the series just keeps growing and getting more charectors. A girl I used to babysit (She was 6) really loved the Molly books. My favorite was Samantha and Addy.

FishMama said...

Your boy books sound interesting. Can't wait to hear which ones you like best.

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