Life as Mrs. Emerson

I ended up reading 5 personal books in January and they were all pretty good.  I'm really thankful after last months reading!  Looks like I'm on track to hit my goal of 52 books this year.  We also finished up two children's books.  Although it wasn't intentional, I am glad to see a little more variety in the books that I read this month.  Last month almost everything I read was fiction.   All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: This book contained two parallel stories set during World War II.  A bright, young orphan boy named Werner lives in Nazi Germany when he becomes spellbound by a nightly science program broadcast from France.  Mari-Laure is a clever girl who lives in Paris, France with her locksmith father who works in an art museum.  When she goes blind her father builds her a detailed miniature model of their neighborhood.  Germans invade and Marie-Laure and her father must flee to the town of Saint-Malo to live with ...

While I usually make it a point to read books of different genres that didn't really happen this month. It was almost straight fiction.  Should I blame it on the road trips or poor planning?  Most of these are light fiction reads that I read as we traveled this month.   December Reads  The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen:   This is the second book in the Tales from Ivy Hill  series.  Since I read the first book,  The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill last month, I had high expectations for this book.  The first book in the series was quite the page turner and I definitely stayed up past bedtime to finish it!  The story line continues in this second book where the reader learns more about Miss Rachel Ashford.  She opens a circulating library to help alleviate her difficult financial circumstances after her father's passing.  Along the way Miss Ashford discovers a number of mysteries as she deals with her own complicated fr...

I forgot to hit publish a few months ago but I wanted to go ahead and share this post anyway.  I so enjoy getting a glimpse into the reading life of my friends.   After reading only one disappointing book in August I was determined to make up for lost time in September!  I was much more observant of how I was using small pockets of time and found that I was able to read quite a nice pile of books!  It was very humbling to discover I could read this many books in the amount of time I usually spent scrolling social media.  I made sure to take a book with me on any errand even I didn't possibly think I would have any time to read.  In September we also flew to Texas so I read two of these books on the plane.   Still Waiting: Hope for When God Doesn't Give You What You Want by Ann Swindell: I loved hearing the author share her compelling story of waiting for healing.  It was both fascinating and incredibly encouraging to see her cling to the c...

Ah June!  A month filled with a few lazy afternoons and a long road trip.  The perfect combination for reading through a delightful pile of books.  (Not all books are in the photo.)  I am trying to read a broad variety of books but something about summer continues to steer me straight to the fiction section.  Does anyone else have this problem only in the summer months?  Nevertheless here is a look at what I read last month.  When People Are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch: This was a fantastic, thoughtful book which I worked through the past few months.  Over and over again this book helped me to see areas where I need to think more biblically.  The end of each chapter also includes 3-4 questions and applications.  While I really enjoyed working through this book, I think it would be even more fantastic to read through with a close friend or small group.   The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett: I loved reading this "vintage ...

April and May were simply full of fantastic adventures traveling to visit both family and friends!  Here are some of the books that I read the past few months.   The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally & Sarah Clarkson: Sally & Sarah Clarkson are two ladies that I would simply love to have over for tea.  As I read through this lovely book it just felt like having sweet friends over curled up in my living room while we discussed all things pertaining to the home.  This book is simply delightful and provided so much encouragement.  It's definitely one of my favorites that I have read this year! Glory in the Ordinary: Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God by Courtney Reissig: I was so excited about reading this book that I not only purchased the book, I pre-ordered it!  It sure did not disappoint.  I loved this thoughtful book on the importance of work in the home.  Reissig encouraged me to think de...

Happy Spring!  It feels good to be jumping back into a somewhat more regular reading routine at home.  Here's a look at the books I read in March.   Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed  by Betsy Childs Howard; Everyone is waiting for something.  This book was such a good reminder of that simple fact.  It never dawned on me as a young woman that I would find myself waiting on things for the rest of my life. In this book Howard writes about 5 different types of waiting: Waiting on a Bridegroom, Waiting for a Child, Waiting for Healing, Waiting for a Home, and Waiting for a Prodigal. I'm positive that all of the chapters (including those that didn't specifically apply to me) will help me to understand the waiting that my friends endure.  Right now I can think of at least one friend that is waiting on each of those five different things.  Howard gave much hope throughout this book and truly made my heart long for the day ...

Happy Monday friends!  I hope you all had such a fantastic week last week.  I made it safely home with both kids from our road trip to Arkansas!  Hooray.  I'll have lots more to share about it later in the week.  It was such a good trip.  Don't you just love that sweet photo above that I snapped the minute we returned home?   When I first sat down last night to think about my goals I had all sorts of lofty ambitions.  Then the Holy Spirit worked on my heart.  This isn't the week to deep clean my basement.  Of all the weeks of the year this is the week to celebrate and remember.  Christ has Risen from the grave!  This week I hope to take extra time to walk slowly through the days leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection both with my children and on my own.  I hope you take some time out to do the same.   Goals from Two Weeks Ago: Marriage, Mothering, & Family: 1.  Go on a real (out of the house...