Books and Thoughts on Books | By Quiet Waters

Reading in April, Reading with Grandkids Edition

April 27, 2017 By Michelle

Have I mentioned before how fantastic it is to be a grandmother? Well it is truly fantastic in many ways. This month I introduced my 4 year old grand daughter to two old favorites, James Herriot’s Animal Stories and also, Brambly Hedge.

Those are two books I delighted in reading to my kids when they were young. And it is a treat to share these stories with Miss Joyness.

Now, of course not all my reading is of the children’s book genre. But sometimes I wonder if it isn’t better to stay on that side of the library!

In March I began listening to A Walk In the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. Just last week I actually returned the book to Audible (did you know that you can do that? You can.). There is coarse language throughout the book, and after the chapter with the laundry mat lady I realized that I am not the audience for this book.

And as soon as I made the decision that I could stop listening to A Walk in the Woods, Tsh Oxenreider’s new book was next in the queue. At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider is a travel memoir, and I am loving the descriptions of the places and people. I love that people are as much a part of her family’s world travels as the places they visited.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan is on my kindle app and I am slowly reading this book while waiting in various lines and offices.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave is the impulse buy when I visited Powell Books in Portland over spring break. The book is not holding my attention, but I am not thinking of abandoning it.

Ruthless Grace by Brennan Manning was mentioned by my mentor recently and I found it at the library. Brennan Manning has a way of sharing his life with Christ that breaks it down in ways that I relate so well. His books are always slow reads, as I like to roll his words around and hold them up to the Gospel. I think it is really good to get outside the Christian vocabulary, and really have to think through what is said. For example in the few chapter of this book I have been challenged with the idea that the need for clarity from God is a holdout from trust.

Reading in April has been a delightful return to some favorites for bedtime reading with my grand daughter when I get the opportunity. It has also be a month of unfinished reading. And I am good with that.

What have you been reading this month?

New Board Book ~ God Loves Mommy & Me

April 10, 2017 By Michelle

New from TommyNELSON Publishers is this cheerful board book, God Loves Mommy & Me by Bonnie Rickner Jensen. The book is illustrated by Laura Watkins. This children’s board book is illustrated with two long ear bunnies, and cheerful colors. Young children will find the story delightful, and will likely recognize activities they do illustrated on the pages. This is a good book for stimulating conversation between the child and the loved one who is reading to her.

” God put love in Mommy’s heart, and I can feel it too…”

“God’s great love is endless – it reaches to the sky, like when I’m on the swing and Mommy helps me fly so high!”

Aren’t those words sweet and true?! As mothers, we do want the love of God to be evident in us, to flow through us to our children, husbands, and the world around us. This is another book affirming the love and purpose God has for the different roles in family life. And in this case, the role of Mommy in the raising and nurture of children. I think it is important and good that these books are being written, and that the family is being esteemed by authors and publishers at this time.

If you are interested in adding God Loves Mommy & Me to your family’s library, you can do so here. There is also a giveaway happening for the book, HERE.

This complimentary copy of God Loves Mommy and Me was provided by FrontGate Media, in exchange for my review.

Reading in March 2017

April 4, 2017 By Michelle

Over the past few months I’ve been spending most of my “fringe hours” at my sewing table, working on quilts and other sewing projects. Reading this month has taken place, largely, at the sewing table. With audiobooks.

This month I listened to The Kitchen House while working on my youngest daughter’s new sunrise/sunset quilt. I am not sure whether it was the desire to get the quilt done, or how much the story drew me in, but I spent way more than my “fringe hours” in my sewing room this month! The Kitchen House drew me in and is still on my mind. What an powerful, heartbreaking story. This book is entered as a book with a reputation for being un-put-down-able on my “Reading for Fun” list for the MMD 2017 Reading Challenge.

Another book that will stick with me for awhile is His Word in My Heart by Janet Pope. When we stopped homeschooling, Scripture memory fell off to the side. It had been a regular part of our homeschool journey. New school schedules changed our daily routines and I have struggled to find a place for that discipline. Now, even though I struggle with doing things alone after so many “together” years, I have jumped back in. If you need encouragement as to why memorize and how to memorize, I encourage you to read this book. His Word in My Heart is just that, an encouragement!

The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an YA book that I heard about on the What Should I Read Next podcast by Anne Bogel, The Modern Mrs Darcy.

I could not put this book down. At times I have thought a little about the evacuation of British children during World War 2, but not to the extent that this book has me thinking. Can you imagine sending all the children of your city, including your own, to live with people you don’t know who live in the countryside? Of course I start thinking about all the things that could go wrong, will they treat my children kindly, will the children be safe? But this story has a tremendous twist. I won’t share any spoiler here, but just think about the title.

Another thought on my mind from this book is this; people at that time just might have been stronger and tougher than we are now. They sure faced a terrible threat, made hard, yet proved wise decisions and took on the fight. Such self sacrifice and courage.

So that is what I finished reading this month. On our vacation to the Pacific Northwest we listened to about 12 hours of the Count of Monte Cristo. I am continuing to read Full by Asheritah Ciuciu and Crazy Love by Francis Chan. And after a trip to Powells Bookstore in Portland, I have a pretty stack of books to read my way through this spring.

What did you read in March?

Food, Jesus and the Battle for Satisfaction

April 3, 2017 By Michelle

Full: Food, Jesus and the Battle for Satisfaction, by Asheritah Ciuciu.

Asheritah Ciuciu has a blog, One Thing Alone, that I have read for a year or two. She is a younger woman who is committed to encouraging other women in their relationship with Jesus. If you are looking for encouragement in your Christian walk, check out Asheritah’s blog. You just might find a nugget or two that will encourage you and help you press on.

Asheritah has a new book, Full: Food, Jesus and the Battle for the Satisfaction. This is a wonderful encouraging book on a topic so many of us struggle with. In our crazy abundance, so often food looses it rightful place in our life, and we find ourselves struggling. We are made to crave but that craving is meant to be for God. But so often we find many other things, food, shopping, relationships, etc. to satisfy those desires for identity and intimacy. Only the One who made us to crave is the One who will satisfy those longings.

The forward to the book is written by Linda Dillow, which should be an encouragement to many women that this book carries a trustworthy message. The book is presented in four parts, and a bonus section. In each chapter one will find the content and also questions to aid in digestion of the meat of the matter. There are also web addresses for bonus online content (which I did not use…going online would have hijacked my reading time!)

Ashertiah speaks with a gentle, yet firm, and so very encouraging voice. The book is like a series of get togethers over coffee, for prayer, teaching and strengthening.

If you have ever struggled with foods rightful place in your life, to be enjoyed, to be nourished by and not controlled, then think about reading this book. I think you will be encouraged.

Also, I just found out, there is a companion journal, The Full Life: A companion journal for Full: Food, Jesus and the Battle for Satisfaction that you can use as you read the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program.

Newest Favorite Children’s Books

April 2, 2017 By Michelle

Over the many years of parenting, I have found many favorite children’s books. Now as a grandmother, I have the privilege of helping my daughter in raising another young reader. And in exchange, I am being introduced to many new books and authors! This month I want to share with you two of my newest favorite children’s books.

When God Made You is written by Matthew Paul Turner (husband of Jessica N Turner), and is illustrated by David Catrow. When God Made You is more than gorgeous. I truly can’t get over the colorful illustrations. As amazing as the words in this book are, it is the illustrations that capture my grand daughter’s attention every time we read the book together.

The illustrations are full of abundant, brilliant, wild color, with a little girl character who so closely resembles a little one I love so much. The words of this book are a prayer, or a blessing, to speak over our precious little ones. Words to settle in the deeper places of young hearts, to settle on the soil, take root and grow stems and branches of fruit as the child grows in understanding. I’ve purchased several more copies of this book, and I imagine it will be the baby gift I give, over and over again.

Another favorite is one that I was recently sent for review; Thank you, God for Grandpa by Amy Parker.

I have enjoyed many other books by Amy Parker, and this one is just as fun. The illustrations are cheerful and full in color, and the words are sweet. Papa and Miss Joyness have had a great time reading the book together. “Thank You, God, for Grandpas,For Pops and Papas too,For Granddads, Gramps, and Grandpappies— They’re great, grand gifts from You!” Yes, Miss Joyness calls her grandpa Papa, and I love how the book covered many of the names grandfathers go by.

Daddies and Grandfathers are invaluable and precious members of each family and it warms my heart that they are celebrated in this book.

Thank you, God for Grandpa by Amy Parker was provided to me for free by Book Look Bloggers, in exchange for my thoughts on the book. When God Made You was purchased by me, over and over again. There are affiliate links in this post, so I may receive a small compensation from Amazon if you make a purchase through these links. That will help me continue to add good books to our reading stack!

Reading in February, 2017

March 5, 2017 By Michelle

February passed so quickly, it always does. Two of my daughters have birthdays in this month, one at the beginning and another at the end. I think that is a fantastic was for months to begin and end. Some of our kids are prolific readers, and others not so much. That is the case in the February birthdays. So for one of these celebrations, enough books to nearly fill a shelf were gifted. Her to be read pile is very tall right now.

One to what I read this month. Again, audiobooks were how I took in the most “pages.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown. This book is in my top 5 most influencial books list. As a woman who grew up with shame and then passed shame onto my own children, I am excited to have more information and encouragement to continue to learn to live differently. This was an audiobook narrated by Karen White.

Project Mnemosyne (When No One was Looking Book 1) by Kim Frauli. (Book dying to read, MMD Read for Fun) This is a book I was sent for review. Can I say, I loved this book for the masterful use of suspense while remaining family friendly.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by the author. (Newbery Award winner MMD Read for Growth)Another audiobook. This one, I feel priviledged to have had the opportunity to read this book. During this time of so much unrest, and division in our country, cities and communities, it is very important to seek to understand others.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, read by Rachel McAdams. An old favorite. (Set somewhere I’ve never been, but would love to MMD Read for Fun)

The Essence of Courage by Lynn U Watson. (A genre I typically avoid, MMD Read for Growth) An interesting journey with women of the Bible, essential oils and a community of women who are learning through them.

Birthbond: Reunions Between Birthparents and Adoptees– by Judith S Gedimen. For anyone involved in post adoption reunions, this book offers a wealth of information. Just remember that each journey is unique and cant be defined by anyone else’s journey.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan, read by the author. (3 books by same author, MMD Read for Growth) I am reading and re reading the books by Francis Chan this winter, finding them once again full of Biblical encouragement.

The Gentle Art of Discipling Women: Nurturing Authentic Faith in Ourselves and Others by Dana Yeakley. This book helped me fill in blanks in my spiritual journey, and gave me the push I needed to get into a mentoring relationship with another woman in our congregation. Game changing.

Overall I completed 4 audiobooks, 2 paper and ink books and 2 books on my Kindle.

As March begins I am reading The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, What Really Happened in the Garden?: The Reality and Ramifications of the Creation and Fall of Man, His Word in my Heart by Janet Pope, and Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction by Asheritah Ciuciu.

What are you reading these days? Do you have any book suggestions for me?