what I read in 2011

At the beginning of 2010, I decided it might be fun to start keeping track of the books I read throughout the year, just for the heck of it.  Turned out it was, in fact, interesting (to me, anyway) at the end of the year to look back and see what all I'd read (I guess since I have a terrible memory and couldn't otherwise remember...), and to remember what was going on in life when I was reading certain books (like being stranded in a random person's house in South Florida while reading Candles in the Dark).  I continued this tradition in 2011, and I think the most interesting realization I've had now while looking over the list is that I read nearly 2/3 of these books in the last 4 months of the year.  Apparently I became somewhat of a hermit for the fall...

Here's the 2011 list:

1.       Dear Enemy – Jean Webster

This is the sequel to Daddy Long Legs, which I read at the end of 2010.  I really enjoyed both of them!  Thanks, Everly, for introducing me to these books!

2.       Redeeming Love – Francine Rivers

This was my second time reading this book, and if I'm remembering right, both times I read the whole thing in just a few days.  Beautiful, powerful story of redemption.  Thanks, Michelle, for loaning me your copy!

3.       Anne of Avonlea – L.M. Montgomery

A classic.  Love the Anne books!

4.       The Hidden Jewel – Dave & Neta Jackson

This was one of my favorite books as a child.  Though I enjoyed it more as a 9-year-old, it was still fun to reread it.

5.       The Lottery Rose – Irene Hunt

I have to say, I didn't really enjoy this book.  I read Across Five Aprils last year and loved it, but this book just didn't hold my interest nearly as much.

6.       When People are Big and God is Small – Edward T. Welch

A must-read for anyone who struggles with people-pleasing.  Five stars :)

7.       Calm My Anxious Heart – Linda Dillow

Such a great book on dealing with anxiety and finding contentment.  Very practical and applicable.  My Bible study group went through this together in the spring.

8.       Anne of the Island – L.M. Montgomery

9.       Anne of Windy Poplars – L.M. Montgomery

10.   Anne’s House of Dreams – L.M. Montgomery

11.   Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen

Good book.  Not my favorite from Jane Austen, but still a fun read.

12.   Anne of Ingleside – L.M. Montgomery

13.   Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens

I did not enjoy this book.  I tried.  Didn't work.  But I still made myself finish it.

14.   The Help – Kathryn Stockett

Love, love, love this book!  The movie is good, too...but of course the book is better :)

15.   Along Came Jones – Linda Windsor

I think I got this book in high school.  I read it this time while waiting to borrow the Harry Potter books.  It's not my favorite, but it was something to read, so I did :)

16.   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – J.K. Rowling

For a decade, I refused to be part of the HP craze (wouldn't read the books, wouldn't watch the movies)...up until I went with friends to the opening midnight showing of The Deathly Hollows Part 2 in July, at which time I became instantly hooked.  I subsequently read all of the books over the next few months, and as of mid-December, I'm all caught up on the movies, too.  Thanks, Meg, for loaning your books!  (I promise we'll eventually remember to get the last four back to you!)

17.   Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J.K. Rowling

18.   Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – J.K. Rowling

19.   Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling

20.   Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling

21.   Beyond the Blue – Leslie Gould

This novel does an excellent job of exploring and depicting the intricacies of international adoption, specifically in Vietnam.  Very good book.

22.   North of Tomorrow – Cindy McCormick Martinusen

Not sure when this book showed up on my shelf, but I read it for the first time this fall and really enjoyed it.  It's a mystery of sorts and also deals with a lot of World War II history, which I found really interesting.

23.   Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling

24.   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling

25.   Rainbow Valley – L.M. Montgomery

26.   Rilla of Ingleside – L.M. Montgomery

27.   Taste of Salt – Frances Temple

A fictional account of a young man in Haiti.  It has Kreyol in it; I love it :)

28.   The Zombie Curse – Arthur M. Fournier

This is a memoir of a doctor's experiences throughout the rise of the AIDS epidemic, first in Miami and then in Haiti.  I had a hard time getting through the first part of the book, but once  Haiti came into the picture, it held my interest a little better.

29.   Monique and the Mango Rains – Kris Holloway

The biography of a Peace Corps volunteer who worked alongside a Malian midwife.  There wasn't as much actual midwifery in the book as I'd hoped, but I still enjoyed it.

30.   Listen to Me Good – Margaret Charles Smith & Linda Janet Holmes

The biography of a black midwife in Alabama in the early/mid-twentieth century.  It was a bit hard to follow, with unannounced shifts from third-person prose first-person rural dialect, but it was still fairly interesting.

31.   Choosing to See – Mary Beth Chapman

A very honest autobiographical account of a lifetime of joys and struggles and God's faithfulness in the midst of it all, including the heartbreaking account of her five-year-old daughter's death.  I think I cried through nearly all of the last half of the book.

32.   Totally Surrounded – Christina Di Stefano Davis

Another autobiography; this book details the author's experiences as a young, single missionary living in a remote village in the Phillipines.  Definitely recommend, especially for anyone considering overseas missions work.

33.   The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd

This was at the cabin where I stayed with my family between Christmas and New Years, so I decided to read it.  I enjoyed it, though it probably won't be something I read again.

34.   Searching for Eternity – Elizabeth Musser

This was also at the cabin.  I kind of expected it to be a cheesy Christian novel (sorry), but it was actually incredibly good and very real (non-cheesy).  I read it in one day (ahh, love vacation!).

35.   The Atonement Child – Francine Rivers

I think this is probably one of my favorite books.  This novel deals with the issue of abortion from several perspectives and is very thought-provoking.

Books I've started and hope to eventually finish:

(I am so bad about starting multitudes of books at one time...)

1. When Helping Hurts – Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett

2. What is the Mission of the Church? – Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

3. Lesley Castle – Jane Austen

4. The Curious Career of Roderick Campbell – Jean Newton McIlwraith

cookies and coffee and snow, oh my!

241. Watching the kids at Lifegroup act out the story of Ruth.

242. A great evening at f(logos) discussing the first chapter of the book we're studying this semester.

243. SNOW!!! and the wonderfully fun morning at work that consisted of running outside every 15 minutes or so to make snow angels (especially enjoyed teaching the proper way to make a snow angel to a customer named Josh from Aruba who had never seen snow), slide around, and basically just bask in the Texas snow!

244. Sitting in the falling snow, drinking a cup of Verona with Sir Green Shirt.

245. Spending time with Bunny at a coffee shop, sharing about what the Lord is doing in our lives.

246. A homemade hat, knitted by a friend in Chicago, which I've had several opportunities to wear again this week.

247. Girl Scout Cookies (I bought Thin Mints and Caramel Delights on Sunday!)

248. This book; so convicting, but soooo good.

249. Getting to sleep in on Saturday after a busy week filled with late nights and early mornings.

250. Getting to visit with Everly and another girl from f(logos) Saturday afternoon.

loving life

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights...

James 1:17

211. A fun evening hanging out with friends after a wonderful church service.

212. The first Lifegroup meeting of the year; so good to be back together again.

213. Tuesday night Bingo at the assisted living home with Samuel, Bunny, and friends from church.

214. Baking cupcakes with Willin and Jubilee.

215. The gift of friendship...so grateful for long-time friends; thoroughly enjoying meeting new friends.

216. That my ice skates were able to be repaired (so that I don't have to buy new ones!).

217. This lovely book, which I am currently rereading.

218. A conversation with TGIGM.

219. Watching this fantastic movie again.

220. Hanging out with Paul, Sabrina, Everly, and Birdie at a local coffeeshop.

my 2010 reading list

At the commencement of 2010 (I am in denial that that was a year ago already), I decided to keep track of all that I read over the next 12 months. Among other reasons, I figured it'd be kind of interesting to find out how much I actually read in a year; additionally, now as I look back over the list, just by seeing the titles of some of these books again, I am reminded of whatever was going on in my life while I was reading them (for example, I read Candles in the Dark while stranded in South Florida; the Emily books kept me company during the Period of Never-Ending Sickness and Near Death). So many of the books I read last year have made their way onto my list of all-time favorites; there were only two books, I think, that I absolutely did not like and only finished so that I could at least say I'd read them once. So, overall, it was a good literary year. Thanks to all who recommended (and sometimes loaned) books (Everly, Samuel, Gina, Loren); I certainly welcome more suggestions for 2011! Happy New Year!

Reading List 2010

1. Across Five Aprils – Irene Hunt

2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll

3. The Jungle Books Volume I – Rudyard Kipling

4. Candles in the Dark – Amy Carmichael

5. A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

6. Emily of New Moon – L.M. Montgomery

7. Emily Climbs – L.M. Montgomery

8. Haiti Past, Present, Future: Where is the Hope? – Timothy DeTellis

9. Dancing under the Red Star – Karl Tobien

10. Little House in the Big Woods – Laura Ingalls Wilder

11. Mary Poppins – P.L. Travers

12. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain

13. No Graven Image – Elisabeth Elliot

14. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

15. The Scarlet Pimpernel – Baroness Emmuska Orczy

16. Chronicles of Avonlea – L.M. Montgomery

17. Kiss – Ted Dekker

18. The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart

19. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

20. Fearlessly Feminine – Jani Ortlund

21. The Story Girl – L.M. Montgomery

22. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

23. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey – Trenton Lee Stewart

24. To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee

25. The Homecoming – Earl Hamner, Jr.

26. Kilmeny of the Orchard – L.M. Montgomery

27. Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery

28. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma – Trenton Lee Stewart

29. A Doll’s House – Henrik Ibsen

30. Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe

31. After Many Days – L.M. Montgomery

32. These Strange Ashes – Elisabeth Elliot

33. Discipline: The Glad Surrender – Elisabeth Elliot

34. Tommy and Grizel – J.M. Barrie

35. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle

36. The Happy Hollisters – Jerry West

37. A Lifetime of Wisdom – Joni Eareckson Tada

38. Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson

39. Love Has a Price Tag – Elisabeth Elliot

40. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

41. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers – Maria Augusta Trapp

42. Daddy Long Legs – Jean Webster

Currently reading:

1. Prayers of an Excellent Wife – Andrew Case

2. Dear Enemy – Jean Webster

3. What is the Gospel? – Greg Gilbert

Sleepy but thankful :)

91. This blog, written by the wife of the former deacon of music at my church. Aaron and Heather moved their family to Haiti in August (I am not-so-secretly envious of this), and Heather updates her blog regularly with very honest (and often quite humorous) glimpses into her heart as she and her family experience both the beauty and the ugliness of life in Haiti. Her posts are not only very well-written, but they're also simultaneously challenging and encouraging and point straight to God and the truth of the Gospel.

92. So thankful for the time I was able to spend with Lina in Nashville last week!

93. Re-reading a favorite childhood book

94. Conversations with friends about what the Lord is doing in our lives (whether we understand it, exactly, or not!)

95. Officially becoming a member of this amazing church tomorrow!

96. I can absolutely and confidently trust in God's promises. Like this one: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

97. Christmas Blend is back (err, well, for us Starbucks people, that is; guess the rest of y'all still have to wait a few more weeks). Anyway, excited for the upcoming Christmas season (though I still don't understand how it's possible that we're almost to November...)!

98. Band-Aids. A very important part of a klutz's life. I should probably buy stock.

99. Little kids; love them!

100. Cool, breezy nights.

fifty-one to sixty

51. Cooler weather (the high today is only 79, and it's a beautiful 58 degrees out at the moment!)

52. The ability to laugh at myself

53. That God can and does use even me (yeah, crazy!) to accomplish His purposes for His glory--in spite of my ignorance and ineptitude!

54. Multiple opportunities recently to share the reason for the Hope that is in me

55. That even though I wish I myself were in Haiti, I can at least read stories from those who are.

56. Girl time with the lovely Sabrina, Everly, and Birdie which involved chocolate (of course) and finally getting to watch Letters to Juliet again.

57. This book, which Sabrina, Everly, and I used for our summer book study (though summer has turned into fall and we still have a final meeting left).

58. Swinging in the twilight on a cool autumn evening.

59. That I have no guilt in life, no fear in death (this is the power of Christ in me) / From life's first cry to final breath, JESUS COMMANDS MY DESTINY!

60. For my "Texas family", my church, several of my coworkers, my "flogos" Bible study group -- all those God has put in my life who encourage me and challenge me to grow in my faith and in my walk with Him.

21-30

(1-10) (11-20)

21. Encouraging cards (of both the electronic and the paper variety) from dear friends, and unexpected but encouraging phone calls

22. Our very own wireless internet at our apartment (no more huddling by the window trying to catch the one non-password-protected network near our building!); seriously, it is a beautiful thing to be able to sit at my desk and type this!

23. French-pressed Anniversary Blend

24. A lovely Sunday afternoon of cookies and movie-watching with Paul, Everly, and Birdie.

25. My rearranged (and currently quite clean) room; there's just something therapeutic about changing the layout of my room from time to time (yes, I am strange).

26. Prayers of friends, and their patience with me in all of my emotional ups and downs

27. Surviving (andsurprisinglymostlyenjoying) week one of (sort of) being a shift supervisor at work

28. The anticipation of new-to-me old books coming soon in the mail, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string (how fun is that!)

29. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

30. 23 years with my wonderful, selfless, giving, loving, amazing, beautiful, godly, incredible mother, who is now in heaven with Jesus

1000 gifts

So, I've decided to join in on Multitude Mondays and start posting every week about things for which I'm thankful. Here's this week's 10:

1. New books (well, new to me, anyway) from Half-Price Books

2. Late-night kitchen adventures with Sabrina, Everly, and Birdie

3. Lovely sunsets

4. Seeing Jack Johnson in concert last week

5. Psalm 139, and good sermons preached on it

6. New friends

7. An "old" friend moving to town soon

8. Several opportunities to cross things off my Bucket List

9. A long letter from a friend

10. An entire weekend off of work

me and Birdie at the Jack Johnson concert

2010 reading list thus far

I learned to love books at a very young age :)

Here is the list of the books I've read during the first six months of 2010 (can you believe this year is already halfway over???). I'd love comments and/or suggestions for further reading :)

Reading List 2010

1. Across Five Aprils – Irene Hunt

2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll

3. The Jungle Books Volume I – Rudyard Kipling

4. Candles in the Dark – Amy Carmichael

5. A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

6. Emily of New Moon – L.M. Montgomery

7. Emily Climbs – L.M. Montgomery

8. Haiti Past, Present, Future: Where is the Hope? – Timothy DeTellis

9. Dancing under the Red Star – Karl Tobien

10. Little House in the Big Woods – Laura Ingalls Wilder

11. Mary Poppins – P.L. Travers

12. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain

13. No Graven Image – Elisabeth Elliot

14. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

15. The Scarlet Pimpernel – Baroness Emmuska Orczy

16. Chronicles of Avonlea – L.M. Montgomery

17. Kiss – Ted Dekker

18. The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart

19. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

20. Fearlessly Feminine – Jani Ortlund

21. The Story Girl – L.M. Montgomery

22. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

Currently reading:

1. Prayers of an Excellent Wife – Andrew Case

2. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey – Trenton Lee Stewart

3. The Awesome Work of God – Jonathan Edwards

4. Discipline: The Glad Surrender – Elisabeth Elliot

5. Keep a Quiet Heart – Elisabeth Elliot

Closest book

This is just a quick post; something I saw that I thought Everly, in particular, might enjoy:

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note to your wall.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
* Tag your friends including me..

Alors les pharisiens allerent se consulter sur les moyens de surprendre Jesus par ses propres paroles. (Matthieu 22:15) from the Nouveau Testament et Psaumes