The 7 Best Books I Read In 2011
As a mom, I don’t always have a lot of time for reading. I try to keep the Bible as my number one priority, and sometimes that leaves little time for other reading. But little by little, here and there, sometimes I’m actually able to finish a book! Here are some of my favorites from this year.
Large Family Logistics was one of the first books I read this year, and I found lots of inspiration there. I read Kim’s blog years ago, so a lot of the information I had already read and implemented way back then. But there were some new ideas and helpful tips, and I also just really like having it all in book form.
My husband and I first read Love and Respect years ago (borrowed from our public library), and we thought it was good, but the advice was quickly forgotten. It really didn’t make a huge impression on us the first time around. We had only been married around five years then. Earlier this year (in February), I was sent a copy of this book to review, so we both decided to read it again. And it was amazing how differently we felt about the book, about eight years later. This time we declared it the best book on marriage we had ever read!
In February of this year, my husband surprised me with this little gem of a book for my birthday. I had never heard of it, but he saw it come up on Amazon and thought it looked like something I would like (he knows me well–I love it!). I’m planning to go back though it this coming year and actually follow the advice and hopefully move toward a simpler and more organized lifestyle.
Oh, how I loved reading this book! I love Rachel’s insights and her writing style. She has a lot of mothering wisdom that I wish I would have had earlier in the journey. I love that this is a quick, simple, and encouraging read (great for busy moms!).
Choosing Gratitude has really inspired me to do just that. It has opened my eyes to how much I have to be thankful for–every day.
We are still attempting to restore my husband’s health through nutrition. It takes a lot of planning. We are still holding on to the nourishing food practices found in Nourishing Traditions and Eat Fat, Lose Fat (especially the “Health Recovery” chapters in the latter book), but we have been looking for more creative ways to consume fewer grains. Since getting the Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook several months ago, we are steadily working our way through the recipes. So far we have loved every one we’ve tried.
Kisses from Katie changed my life. I have been following Katie’s story through her blog for a couple of years now, but this book filled in some details I wasn’t familiar with. This was another book my husband just knew I would like, so he ordered it for me. When it came in the mail, he set it on my desk. I picked it up and had a very hard time putting it down. I cried through parts of it. I don’t know what God is doing in me. But this book was just another link in the long chain of change He is working in my heart. This would be my #1 book of the year. My twelve-year-old daughter is reading it now.
In addition to these books, I have been able to keep up with my Bible reading. The goal was to read straight through the Bible in one year, and I’m in Revelation right now (with just three days of readings left!).
What books most influenced you this year? I’d love to hear your recommendations. In a coming post, I’ll share what’s on my reading list for 2012.
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Sharon,
Thanks for recommending the Elizabeth George book. I love her writing, and that sounds very good!
Tanya,
There is so much I love about Large Family Logistics! My favorite chapters were the ones on goals and self-discipline. The best tip I learned from Kim years ago as a mom with several small children and no older ones, was to get a locked cupboard to keep some of the toys and games and crafts in. This really helped prevent total chaos when I had morning sickness and was stuck in bed or on the couch all day. And another favorite tip from Kim is to go through your closet and plan each day's clothes for each day of the week. This saves so much time! I need to re-do mine. 🙂
Heather,
Thank you so much for your comments! That is wonderful that you are finding health by eating real food! I think right now for us it isn't so much figuring out what to do as it is just putting forth the effort to do it. The most difficult thing for me is coming up with a menu that will work for the whole family of 7. 🙂 But yes, I'd be interested in hearing all that you've done to restore your health!
Hi Sarah!
Thanks for the book series recommendation. I've never heard of those books before, so I'll look into them. I hope you have a blessed new year!
Hi Joy! I do hope you and your family had a fabulous Christmas! Thanks for sharing the fave books. I enjoyed reading Parenting Your Child in the Spirit (series) by Sally Hohnberger. Very insightful. I recently found Love & Respect after you recommended it…great book. God bless you!
I forgot to ask something..I read that you are working on eating healthier to help your hubby feel better. I have an auto-immune condition called ulcerative-proctitis…a minor form of colitis…and I started eating gluten-free on September 1st…then switched to the GAPS diet at the beginning of December. It comes down to eating real food…and I've never felt better…and the things the doctors told me would never heal…are starting to correct themselves. In any case, I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts on that topic as well 🙂 🙂
Happy New Year to you and your family. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
p.s. If you want to know more about what I'm doing, I'm more than happy to share. You can always private-email me…
The book on organized simplicity looks really interesting…and the cover sure caught my attention. I'd really like to know what you think of it as you re-read it 🙂 🙂 My dad and I are living in my aunt's home. It's a 5-bedroom house…large for us two…but we're so thankful. We were living in a not-nice place before…but that's a story for another time. In any case, I'm really needing to be better at homemaking and taking care of the home. It's something I want to work on for myself, but also to show my appreciation to my aunt for her taking us into her home!!! Okay, I know that was random…so maybe I should just get the book for myself 🙂 🙂 🙂
I've been really bad at keeping up with my Bible reading and that has had a direct aaffect on my attitude…from good to not so good 🙂 🙂 so that's something else I really want to work on, because I want my home to be a godly home 🙂 🙂
Alrighty, Happy New Year to you and your family. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
I also read Large Family Logistics this past year! What did you like most about her book? I'm still digesting it and planning how to use her suggestions in our home.
I'm almost done reading "Loving the Little Years", a recent buy for me. I'm enjoying it and have been blessed!
I've seen Love and Rexpect, but haven't read that one yet. "Organized Simplicity" is a book on my wish list now and so is "Choosing Gratitude" as is "Kisses From Katie". Kisses From Katie sounds like a great read. I hoping to buy those soon. I haven't made/had much time for reading and I miss it! I've been thinking alot about choosing gratitude too, so that is another book I hope to read! 🙂
Also this coming new year I'm going to try and read the Bible through in a year. But please share your simple version that you are going to try!
Thanks for sharing!
Hello Joy 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this list of favorites. Choosing Gratitude was one of my favorites this year, very thought-provoking AND encouraging 🙂 I also read AB Simpson's The Life of Prayer, very good! We started a ladies Bible Study in late Fall and are still working on it: Following God with all your Heart by Elizabeth George, it is wonderful and such a blessing! I would highly recommend it to anyone that longs to grow closer to the Lord.
Thanks so much for sharing and have a blessed evening!
Sharon
Annie,
Thanks for the book recommendations! I haven't heard of the first two you mentioned, so I'll have to look into them. I remember enjoying Nancy Wilson's book several years ago, also.
Danielle,
We must have similar taste in books! I got behind on my Bible reading several times this year, too. Next year I'm planning on a much simpler Bible reading plan so that I'll be much less likely to fall behind. 🙂
Elisabeth,
I hope your library has it!
Heather,
It was great to hear from you! You may want to check out Elana's blog:
http://www.elanaspantry.com/
She has so many good recipes on there (including ones from her cookbook). That way you could try them out without having to spend the money for the book! I think a lot of the recipes from the book (if not all) are on the website, too. I can't print anything from my computer (hopefully someday I'll be able to), so it works better for me right now to have the recipes in book form.
I hope your day is blessed also!
I love the idea of having a book list for the new year! Maybe I'll need to make one…
I was interested to see the gluten free cookbook! I have just started a gluten free diet & am discovering more yucky recipes than good ones through trial and error! 🙂 The yummy ones that I do find, I hang onto! I may have to check into this book. I keep hoping that I will be able to introduce gluten back into my diet, but I don't see that happening any time soon!
I am also interested in Kisses From Katie! I am about to go view her blog & perhaps I should speak to my husband about getting her book. I love reading & especially when the books come so highly reccommended!
Wishing you a blessed day!
Thanks for your recomendations, Joy. I also love the book Love and Respect. I have been thinking about buying Large Family Logistics and maybe checking to see if our library has Organized Simplicity.
I read Large Family Logistics, Loving the Little Years and Kisses from Katie this year too! I was also reading through the bible this year… but am a few weeks behind. Thanks for sharing Love & Respect, I'll have to see if my library has that one.
Kisses from Katie was incredably convicting. Best book of the year!
One of my favorite books this year has been The Incomparable Christ- by J. Oswald Sanders. I read this book inconjunction with Nancy Leigh DeMoss on Revive Our Hearts during the season of Lent. Also, Amish Peace- by Suzanne Woods Fisher and Praise Her In The Gates- by Nancy Wilson are two more really great books I read this past year and highly recommend!