Sunday, December 30, 2012

Read a Latte in 2013


Goal: Cappuccino level of 100 books.

Books read in 2013 are:
  1. Ashton Park - Murray Pura
  2. Zora and Nicky - Claudia Mair Burney
  3. Austentatious - Alyssa Goodnight
  4. The Calling of Emily Evans - Janette Oke
  5. Sleeping in Eden - Nicole Baart (netgalley)
  6. {manuscript by Sara Horn}
  7. Moon Over Tokyo - Siri Mitchell
  8. Help Thanks Wow - Anne Lamott
  9. The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey
  10. The Do What You Can Plan - Holley Gerth
  11. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
  12. Bread & Wine - Shauna Niequist
  13. Reinventing Claire - Darian Wilk
  14. Holiday Buzz - Cleo Coyle
  15. Great-Aunt Sophia's Lessons for Bombshells - Lisa Cach
  16. The Good Daughter - Jane Porter
  17. Home Front - Kristin Hannah
  18. Stalker in the Shadows - Camy Tang
  19. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
  20. Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story - Dee Henderson
  21. A Royal Pain - Megan Mulry
  22. Rumor Has It - Jill Mansell
  23. The Memoir Project - Marion Roach Smith


Reading Challenges 2013

I completely failed at this year's reading challenge....so this year I'm hosting my own! I plan to read 12 year-long memoirs as a part of my Year-Long Memoir Reading Challenge (which can be found here).

I generally read a minimum of 100 books per year, and of course I wish to read at least 100 this next year. (Currently for 2012 I'm at 105!)

That said, here are my reading challenges for 2013:


The 2013 Year-Long Memoir Reading Challenge


Kimberly's Read a Latte Challenge (books+coffee=awesome)


Goal: Cappuccino level :)


Saturday, December 29, 2012

Up for a Reading Challenge?


If you like to read and like to be challenged to read memoir, perhaps this is for you? I'm beginning a reading project in 2013 to read year-long memoirs..... join us?

Reading Challenge in 2013

My first challenge to host and to do: The Year-Long Memoir Reading Challenge



Let me know if you would like to join us!

Monday, December 24, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end.
~Isaiah 9:6-7a, New King James Version~

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Fall Into Reading 2012 Wrap-Up

Year six--complete.

Thoughts: I still read fiction really quickly. I still read nonfiction really slowly. In some cases with books I know will be convicting, my inner procrastinator takes over and I don't get to them. For evidence:

My original list:
  • Seven by Jen Hatmaker

    I really, really do want to read this book. I just need the motivation to do so.
    I have read the intro about three times now.
  • Letting Go of Perfect by Amy Spiegel

    Sometimes, I cling to my perfectionism and use it to beat myself up. This is a pattern I can't seem to break out of. Perhaps in the new year.
  • Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

    I am about 2/3 of the way through. Most of Shauna Niequist's essays are so poignant, I can only read one or two before needing a break---then I get distracted by one or three fiction books and soon I'm off and reading something else. But I have loved this book a lot. I *will* finish it.
  • Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin
  • Wings of Glory trilogy by Sarah Sundin {need to reread the first two to make sense of the third}: A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow

My list of other books I read but which are not on the original list--obviously, I have a problem committing to my list:


  • A Brew to a Kill - Cleo Coyle 
  • Full Disclosure - Dee Henderson
  • Vivaldi's Virgins - Barbara Quick
  • The Heart Remembers - Irene Hannon (for review)
  • Prom and Prejudice - Elizabeth Eulberg
  • Alaskan Hearts - Teri Wilson
  • Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend - Matthew Dicks
  • In the Shadow of Lions: A Novel of Anne Boleyn - Ginger Garrett
  • The Negotiator - Dee Henderson
  • Northern Lights - Nora Roberts
  • Psych: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read - William Rabkin
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows {comfort reread, well worth it}
  • The Good Woman by Jane Porter
  • At Every Turn - Anne Mateer
  • The Call of the Wild - Jack London
  • The Meryl Streep Movie Club - Mia March

Fall Into Reading Challenge History: 2007     2008     2009     2010     2011

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Yes, it's true...I connect people

My friend Angela was known on the now-closed Women at Home board as AGK, and she began a photography business a few years back. It's grown and changed along with her, and it's been a joy to watch from afar (because it can't be from a-near!).

I saw this morning that she posted some photos of my other online friend Kristen, whom I met through the (in)Courage blog as well as through my college friend Teri Lynne (if we'd had sororities in college, we'd have been sorority sisters--as it is, we shared a dorm and are two of many lovely Leslie ladies!).

So yes, I am in the business of connecting people. It's what I do, and it's fun.

Day 1: Scripture


Good morning! Time to start the Wives of Faith 12 Days of Christmas Blog Carnival.

Today's topic: What is your favorite verse of scripture at Christmastime and why?

My favorite Christmas scripture passage is Luke 2. I think it hearkens back to Linus on the Charlie Brown Christmas special. You know the part I mean, don't you?



Anyway, this is my favorite. It's the gospel in a manger-sized package, with love that cannot be contained even by a stable, or a town, or even the earthly heavens.