Hello, hello, welcome to the second day of January 2025.
You may be shocked to see another post from me, the third in a row. Yes it's me, I haven't been hacked by a good blogger who posts all the time (hahah). It really is me.
I want to get back into my old way of blogging and I really want to try to do that this year. As I mentioned in my previous post, there are a few things that I want to do and stick to, and one of those is definitely taking the time to post more frequently, to share my memories and to be more present in my little corner of blogland.
Slowing down and stepping away from social media, albeit not completely, but cutting back on posting and wasting so much time online, for me, means getting back to who I really am. The girl that loves to cook and bake, read and crochet, sew and take photographs. That's who I really am and that's who I want to continue to be.
I think I've just reached a time in my life, now that I am 50, that I have zero patience for nonsense, and don't want to give energy to things that don't bring me joy, or contribute to my well being.
Anyway, all that just to say that I am planning on blogging more. I've told myself that I don't have to rush back and do huge, long written posts, that it's ok to do smaller little things, as long as I'm putting in the effort here on the blog. So we will see!
Now, I want to just talk to you about my reading goals for January.
I decided that instead of having a huge pile of books for the whole year, I would break it into months and strive for a certain amount of books each month. I also want to try and do themed months, where I read a different kind of genre, or a specific author.
With that in mind, my pick for January is Janette Oke, who is without a doubt, one of my favorite book authors. I love the way she writes, I love her stories, her characters, the settings and the sweet family oriented books.
They're just good family books that I so enjoy reading. I actually wish all her books were made into TV series, not just Where the Heart Is. Maybe one day, right?
Even though she has a few series, I picked her Women of the West series for my first reading choice. I am just missing the last 3, but they are on the way from Thriftbooks.
Women of the West is a series of standalone novels; each one
dealing with a different woman living in the west and her relationship
with God.
Book 1 - The Calling of Emily Evans
Book 2 - Julia's Last Hope
Book 3 - Roses for Mama
Book 4 - A woman named Damaris
Book 5 - They called her Mrs. Doc
Book 6 - The Measure of a Heart
Book 7 - A Bride for Donnigan
Book 8 - Heart of the Wilderness
Book 9 - Too Long a Stranger
Book 10 - The Bluebird and the Sparrow
Book 11 - A Gown of Spanish Lace
Book 12 - Drums of Change
I am not sure that I will get to the whole series in the month of January, but that is what I'm shooting for. However, if I don't make it, I will just shift them to the month of February, which is not a problem at all.
Looking at the list, I think I might break them in half, and read the first 6 books this month and then move the next 6 to February.
I am also starting my Bible from the beginning again. I have read it completely from Genesis to Revelation, I think 2 years ago, and loved it so much, that I've decided it's time to do it again.
I thought I would just go again straight from the beginning to the end, but then I remembered that a couple of years ago I purchased the Chronological Tour Through the Bible by Ron Rhodes. After praying about it, I felt that I should do that instead, so that is what I'll do.
The Ron Rhodes book is a kind of Bible Study, read along, which takes us through the whole Bible in chronological order, breaking it into sections. I'm quite excited to read it this way and I'll definitely share more on it as I go.
For devotional, I have once again picked up one of my favorites, which is The New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp. It is such a wonderful devotional series.
What are your reading plans for 2025, do you plan on reading more, not reading at all, do you have books picked out or are you more of a read whatever you pick up at the moment, kind of girl?
Would love to know, and if you want to share what you're currently reading, or plan on reading soon, I would like that very much too.
Have a blessed rest of Thursday!
8 comments:
Happy New Year and wonderful readings!
I have read the entire Janette Oke series, and used to own every single book until it was just time to let it go. I loved them all. I have a plan for this year's reading, but do not have a book list so to speak. I do keep a journal, because I do not like to read the same book twice (that is just me).
Planning which books you're going to read each month is such a great idea! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how many books I want to read, I think planning it out like that would help a lot. I'm so glad I came across this while getting my carpets cleaned today! Can't wait to follow along your reading journey this year!
I love your idea of a theme for each month (or two). I usually read several books at a time because each one is for a different use. I will always have a spiritual book going - right now it's The Prayer of Jabez and God's Smuggler. I will read these along with my devotional and Bible in the morning. Then I might have a fiction book going, for pure entertainment. This year I plan on pulling out some of my books for learning, such as Essentialism, The Art of Listening Prayer and some Henri Nouwen books. And I echo your sentiment about social media and all the nonsense. If it weren't for my kids, I would trash it all together. It's such a waste of time. As I get older, the gap between me and social media gets wider :)
Social media is a trap. We have to be so careful when approaching it and using it. I love staying up to date with family and friends, but if I'm not careful, I will spend endless hours just scrolling and filling my heart and soul with things that have no place being there. I would trash it all together too if not for family and friends.
Hi Cati, thank you for stopping by. Happy New Year to you and your family too!
Oh I wish you would have given me those books hahahah I don't read the same book twice either, I tend to keep the ones I really love, and donate the ones I no longer wish to keep.
Thank you so much Sara! Happy reading to you!
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