2012: Mission Complete

We did it!!!!! We made it!!!!! What an accomplishment!!!!!
The one real resolution I had for this past year was to read one book a month. I also had the intent of having a happiness focused mindset and living in the present. I really did accomplish a change in my mindset. That has been life changing. But, I am most proud of my book list....

2012 Book List

*Percy Jackson Book 1, 2, 3, 4- great read aloud series with the boys!! Educational, moral lessons, and exciting. Even Leyton likes them!

*My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn- felt redundant, reads like a blog- a really long winded blog. Take away: Focus on God and everything else will fall into place. Pray to be the wife and mother that God wants you to be, without your own agenda or selfishness.

*Matched- very well written story. I enjoyed this more than other fiction I’ve tried to read recently (Mortal Instruments, Vampire Diaries)

*Crossed (Matched book 2)- couldn’t get into the story. It was slow and pointless. Had it for a month from the library and didn’t even get thru it. Returned it and will try again another month…

*Things I Wish I’d Known Sooner by Jaroldeen Edwards—good, with some interesting reminders & ideas

*The Secret Holocaust Diary – This book was a really good read. It was very difficult because of the reality of the brutality of the war. Its eye-opening and historic perspective make it a must read. It is not the “happy ending” type of memoir. It is well written which makes it heartbreaking.

*Pride & Prejudice – made it half way through… I don’t know what it is about this book, well, maybe I do know… I already know the story! They did such a great job on the movie --it mirrors the book so closely-- I can’t stand to read the book!! It feels like a waste!! I have the same issue with the first Harry Potter book. I can’t seem to get through the first few chapters because it is word for word the same as the movie. Bleck! But, I absolutely LOVE the story! I love the change in both Lizzy and Mr. Darcey. I love the way Lizzy’s parents remind me of my own. There is so much about this story to love, making it a classic.

*No One Can Take Your Place- eh. Good premise, not a favorite.

*Believing Christ- Excellent book, so many poignant truths that I need to be reminded of often

*Leadership 101 series by JC Maxwell- (Leadership 101, and Attitude 101, Mentoring 101) are excellent!!!!

Les Miserables- currently reading. Known as a tremendous story of grace and love. The part I have made it through has detailed the sacrificial life of the bishop and has inspired me already to live off of less and look more to the needs of others.

*Escape by Carolyn Jessops- oh my heavens. This was an eye-opening and fabulous book!! She has such amazing strength of character to be able to see the truth of the situation she was in and to seek a way out. I literally could not put this book down. It is the first one in a long time that I stayed up until 1:00 am to read. This is a book that will reveal details of the truth within a horrible cult and remind you that when you reach out to face your biggest challenge, you can always find support. It was not easy for her, but she knew she was doing the right thing and I cannot even bare to imagine the end result had she been so brainwashed to have accepted the lies she was being told and submitted to her husband’s selfish will.  Truly a great story.

*Triumph by Carolyn Jessops- This book is very redundant to Escape. I wish she had provided something new or different in this book, especially considering so many of the people involved she knew personally. It simply felt like the same story, the same details, the same perspective repeated.

*An Unlikely Friendship by Ann Rinaldi- Good. I did not like the shift of narration in each section, but overall a very interesting read. Chronicles the lives and friendship of Mary Todd Lincoln and her servant Elizabeth Keckley. I have on my ‘to read list’ the full biography of Elizabeth Keckly as I saw it at the library recently. Should prove to be quite interesting.

*The Parenting Breakthrough by Merrilee Boyack- excellent book of suggestions and ideas that have inspired me to be more of a teacher to my boys in every single way.

*The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis- I consider this to be a heavy read because it takes my focus and attention more than other books. When I just breeze through it, I find myself lost, but when I put forth the effort to think about what is NOT being said but implied, it is incredibly very applicable! It is a perennial reminder of the snares the surround us.

*Mormonism: A life under false pretenses- eye opening although poorly narrated. Great resource of FULL Mormon history. Considered anti-mormon literature ONLY BECAUSE IT TELLS THE WHOLE STORY! Mormons are only told one side of the history and taught that anything more is evil, of the devil and to be avoided. That is where the ‘life under false pretenses’ comes in, if the church would accept the schetchy parts of the history, apologize, and then look forward, it would be completely different. Ignoring, condemning and falsifying the true history is where deceit takes over. The truly sad part is that so very many are clueless to the full history or accept it as ‘mistakes made’ without asking their leaders to acknowledge it as well. The leaders of the church force silence on the matter and that is wrong.

*When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore. Excellent book. I love love love her conversational tone. I think she bases her opinions on scripture and she hits the nail on the head. Her perspective on seduce proofing your life is timely and useful and applicable. A must read for everyone; particularly those who are seeking God, as the title indicates.

*Crazy Love- describes the true meaning of being a disciple of Christ. Now to align my life every way that I can.

*The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale- great story, captivating, unique. Grabbed my attention and never let go.

*Enna Burning- not as good as goose girl, but an interesting read

*Third book of Bayern- did not finish, too boring

*The Book of Mormon Girl by Joanna Brooks- excellent memoir which chronicles her conflict between her beliefs in true equality of human rights vs. the outdated yet highly funded dogma of a church she also believes. NOT anti-mormon literature. Open your mind a little if you instantly judge it as such.

*The Mysterious Benedict Society – What a fun book! The author draws you in with an omnipresent/ 1^st person point of view, the story unfolds at just the right pace to keep you anticipating the next chapter and the characters are just unpredictable enough to keep you guessing. The premise of the story is a group of talented young children are brought together to stop a madman. I can’t wait to start the second book!

*Guys Read; Humor Edition- We started this book, advertised as a selection of short stories with the interest of boys as the highest priority, on a long car ride. I was disappointed that many of the stories were debatably appropriate for adults, let alone children which are the intended audience! Overall, I view it as a waste of money and I will not so much as look at additional books in the series as their ideal of appropriate material is sub-par.

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Sherlock Holmes- Read an abridged version with Bryce. So fun!

Moby Dick- Began reading as Zackary did, neither of us finished! It was booooring!

The Boxcar Children Book- Started the first book with the boys, did not get all the way through but they have enjoyed the series independently.

So, I did it. More than one book a month. Many enjoyable hours of reading, learning, and discussing. My list for 2013 is already too long!! This is one resolution that I look forward to keeping for another year.

If I had to pick a favorite... I would say Crazy Love because it has stuck with me the most. The ideals and themes of this book are life changing. I think about it daily and try to live my life differently because of it. I encourage anyone who has not, to pick it up and give it a try. Maybe it will be old news to you, maybe you are already on that path, but as a human, I keep hopping off of that path and need to be reminded to get back on! Anyway, I highly recommend it for anyone with out hesitation.

My favorite fiction has been the Percy Jackson series, but I believe I am behind the crowd on that one. Maybe this year I will find the 'next new thing' before anyone else, but I doubt it!  Second to Percy Jackson is Matched, but I was so disappointed in book two that it is hard for me to suggest it at all.

Ann Rinaldi is a perennial  favorite of mine and I look forward to reading more from her this year. Finally, I will also continue the Mysterious Benedict Society series as it has been entertaining and compelling. 

Happy reading!