The Book List - October 2014

Themes

This month my reading will investigate the themes of sleep, (natural) health remedies, homemade beauty products and dental care. I'll continue to divvy up my reading by time of day, with Sundays focusing different books from the rest of the week. My evening reading will switch between the lighter reads and the self-educating e-books/books I've amassed. I don't intend that all my choices will be read cover-to-cover but rather this is a gathering of all the resources I have at my disposal and this reading plan may well continue into November or not...

"Morning Time"

This is completed with James and will also include memory verses and other rote learning such as months of the year, the alphabet etc.

MT (Monday-Saturday)

• The Book of Jonah

Reading the Bible book aloud, first a chapter at a time, then reading back through it in sections that correspond to our "New Bible Commentary" below and summarising/discussing the Scripture readings with James. Then reading back through it again in sections that correspond to "Matthew Henry's Commentary." Once completed we'll move through other "shorter" Bible books (e.g. Joel, Amos, Micah, Nahum).

• New Bible Commentary (HB, Consulting Editors: D A Carson, R T France, J A Motyer and G A Wenham)

I realised that I hadn't listed our Bible commentary in previous months! I'll read through the commentary to accompany Jonah but silently rather than aloud as I had been doing

• Matthew Henry's Commentary (HB, Edited by Rev. Leslie F. Church)

I've added a second commentary this month, which again I'll read to myself not aloud, as I'm focusing on much shorter, more easily covered books. I'll be interested to see which commentary I prefer.

• Little Visits for Toddlers and Little Visits with Jesus (both PB, Mary Manz Simon)

These short devotions work much like a perpetual calendar and we should manage to work through both together as even together they don't contain a full month's worth of daily devotions. These are age-appropriate and I'm hoping will allow James to take in more than he has done from the pretty-wordy commentary.

• Westminster Shorter Catechism

James and I'll continue working through the questions and answers (one a week) from number four on, while I continue my review of the first 25 questions and answers (and reading through their Scripture proofs using reformed.org). We'll also help ourselves with our memorisation by using this wonderful set of CDs

• Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism (PB, Starr Meade)

Six days a week of short devotionals about each Q&A of the WSC (one a week)

MT (Sunday)

• The Book of Proverbs

A chapter or a section of a chapter read-aloud and discussed

• Prayer Handbook 2014/15

We'll continue to pray for our church (and church family) using this as a starting point

Independent Reading Time (between lunch and naptime)

• James

Two/three different picture books each day and one Winnie-the-Pooh/Dr Seuss book (see below)

• Mummy (Mon-Sat) Kisses from Katie (HB, Katie Davis)

• Mummy (Sun) Beyond the Sling (HB, Mayim Bialik) and The Happiness Project (PB, Gretchen Rubin)

My weekday choice is another Christian autobiography, about the founding of Amazima, a Ugandan ministry and charity, while my Sunday choices are: a secular (Jewish perspective) gentle attachment parenting book and a philosophical autobiographical tale of choosing to be intentional and build better habits/follow new resolutions in order to increase personal happiness (again secular but somewhat Catholic-perspective) both of which I've chosen to read in smaller increments.

Naptime Reading/Learning for Mummy (Monday-Saturday)

• Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams (PB, Paul Martin)

I think this might be a bit intellectual of this sleep-deprived insomniac Mama but hopefully it'll be enlightening too

• Honoring the Rhythm of Rest (purchased e-book, Daniele Evans)

A devotional of sorts looking at focusing on God to help you through a difficult time or time of burnout

• How to Sleep Well: Relief and Remedies to Ease Sleep Problems (free e-book, Infinite Ideas)

Focusing in on what makes for good sleep and implementing suggestions, I may well dip in and out of this title

• As a further part of my month-long commitment to sleep, I'll be choosing to sleep or at least have an eyes-closed silent rest for an hour while James naps following my reading

Read-alouds (during nursing)

• Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know (free e-book, Edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie)

I continue to read-aloud to James during nursing (after nap and before bedtime stories) and we'll continue our way through Fairytales before continuing on to Mother Carey's Chickens (if we ever finish this mammoth tome).

• Mother Carey's Chickens (free e-book, Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin)

A classic American children's novel about the life of a family following the death of their father and near destitution, it is filled with much love, respect, community, thrift and character-building morals and they are a wonderful picture of joyous family life, and hospitality.

Storytime (post-nap)

I'll read James' independent reading books to him directly after nap, we've also been reading through one book a day from either his Winnie-the-Pooh mini library or his Dr Seuss mini-library. He's got enough stamina for them (just about) and we'll continue this across October (and beyond)

Bedtime Stories

Daddy takes charge of bedtime stories unless he's working and they involve reading through James' (current) children's Bible and about three picture books, depending on time

Lighter Evening Reading (Mon-Sat)

• Something Other Than God (HB, Jennifer Fulwiller)

Finishing off the last few chapters of this excellent autobiographical account of conversion from atheism to Christianity (Roman Catholic)

• ConDeceived (free e-book, Cindy Dyer)

Available here, this e-book tackles the subject of what I always refer to as "God family planning" and giving your fertility over to the Creator who gave it to you. I only have about a fifth of this book and to go and have found it a very good Biblically-based book thus far.

• From Cube to Farm: Surviving and Thriving as a Stay-at-Home Mom (purchased e-book, Heather Bryant)

The autobiographical tale of one woman's move from a corporate lifestyle in the technology sector to a SAHM and cattle rancher.

• The Giver (First of four stories in one volume, HB, Lois Lowry)

The tale of Jonah, who lives in a so-called utopia where all is not as it seems

• The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden (purchased e-book, Jonas Jonasson)

The story of an illiterate girl from apartheid South Africa and her life as it winds around major (recent) historical events and world leaders. A fascinating way to overview the history of a particular year with the everyday man

• Allerednic: A Regency Cinderella Tale in Reverse (purchased e-book, Chautona Havig)

I'm going on the sub-title for the contents of this one. I've really enjoyed the other titles I've read by Havig so far (Thirty days hath..., Advent, the Aggie's inheritance series) and I'm looking forward to a little "old-fashioned" romance.

Self-educating Evening Reading (Mon-Sat)

Recipes/Homemaking/Green Living

• The Busy Mom's Make-Ahead Breakfast Cookbook (free-at-the-time e-book, Carrie Willard)

Although James and I don't often have to rush off to morning activities, the occasional morning outing makes a already prepared breakfast a must for this sleepy-headed Mama and the oncoming cold weather make a hot breakfast that much more appetising. Over the last couple of months we have developed a family breakfast routine on Sundays which will need to be much earlier with the approach of a third birthday and starting to attend junior Sunday school (before church) Altogether I hope this book will greatly add to my repertoire of eggs (four different ways), slow-cooker apple barley hot cereal (hat-tip to The Head Girl @ The Common Room) and porridge (oatmeal).

• Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time (purchased e-book, Stephanie Langford)

This is described as "a 52-week journey of baby steps, to help move towards more natural, nutritious and sustainable living." I want to read all the way through this and put some actions onto the calendar, but I know this won't be a year-long project for me. After only a cursory glance, there a few are things I would never consider (e.g. making my own Ketchup), whilst others are things I already do (e.g. using reusable bags). This should provide plenty of food for thought.

• Accidentally Green: How and Why One Family Began Making Healthy Changes That Honour God and Happen to Help the Environment (purchased e-book, Hilary Kimes Bernstein)

The autobiographical story of one family's move from "normal" to "accidentally green" one small change at a time

• Go Green! Shortcuts to a Healthier World (free e-book, Infinite Ideas)

Tips to lessen your impact on the world

• Going Green: A Christian Guide (PB, Catherine von Ruhland)

From the blurb, "at last a no-nonsense guide on how to live as a green Christian today."

• How to Save the Planet: The Hands-on Guide to Becoming an Eco-superstar (PB, Barbara Taylor)

From the blurb, "a first-aid manual for planet Earth."
I'll be reading all these green living books with a pinch of salt (especially the older volumes) as the green conspiracy theorists have yet to explain the twenty-year pause in their dire analysis of what would happen to our beloved planet. I still think it's important ti use our resources wisely though :)

Natural Remedies/Beauty Products

• The Curative Kitchen: Gratify Your Taste Buds and Revitalise Your Body with Superior Super Foods, Herbs, Spices and Natural Remedies (purchase e-book, Susan Smith Jones)

• Folk Medicine: The Honey and Cider-Vinegar Way to Health, A Doctor's Bagful of Health Secrets, This is the Famous Book that has Swept Britain and America, 2'6, 1958 (PB, D C Jarvis, M.D.)

• Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing and Learning Guide (purchased e-book, Michele Augur)

• Herbal Remedies A-Z: Your Complete Guide to Natural Health and Beauty (free e-book, Infinite Ideas)

• Herbal Remedies for Ailments A to Z: 190+ Natural Remedies for 50 Common Ailments (free e-book, Beau Norton)

• Herbal Remedies for Children During Cold & Flu Season (purchased e-book, Rosalee de la Forêt)

• The Lazy Girl's Guide to Good Health (PB, Anita Naik)

• Living Medicine: The Healing Properties of Plants, How to Prepare and Use Plants with Scientifically Proven Properties (HB, Mannfried Pahlow)

• Mother's Little Herbal Helper and Home Remedies (purchased e-book, Natalie Vickery)

• 1001 Little Health Miracles: Simple Solutions that Provide Big Benefits (PB, Esme Floyd)

• 2002 Health & Beauty Planner (PB, InStyle)

• Body Butters for Beginners: Proven Secrets to Making All Natural Body Butters for Rejuvenating & Hydrating Your Skin (free e-book, Lindsey P.)

• 50 Best Beauty Recipes for Skin (free e-book, Kate Hilton)

• Homemade Body Scrub Recipes: Amazing Natural Body Scrub Recipes That Will Make You Look and Feel Great (free e-book, Anonymous)

• Homemade Body Scrubs & Masks for Beginners: 50 Proven All Natural, Easy Recipes for Body Scrubs & Facial Masks to Exfoliate, Nourish & Care for Your Skin (free e-book, Lindsey P.)

• Homemade Body Scrubs & Masks for Beginners: Over 50 Simple & Natural Recipes For Body & Facial Masks to Exfoliate and Nourish Your Skin Today! (free e-book, Amy Barnett)

• Make Your Own Organic Scrubs and Masks: An Everyday Guide to Simple Homemade Beauty Products (free e-book, Fiona Summers)

• My Buttered Life - Baby Edition: Recipes Using Primary Butters and Oils to Feed the Skin (purchased e-book, Renee Harris)

• Natural Beauty Recipes: Wellness Mama Guide (e-book, WellnessMama.com)

• Organic Lotion Recipes for Beginners: How to Create Homemade Organic Lotions for Beauty, Nourishment, and Skin Healing (free e-book, Marlene Ray)

• Quick & Easy Homemade Body Butters: Recipes for Natural, Healthy, Additive-free and Simple to Make Body Butters (free e-book, Dogwood Apps)

• Simple Scrubs to Make and Give (free e-book, Stacy Karen)

• Soap Making for Beginners: A Guide to Making Natural Homemade Soaps Grom Scratch. includes Recipes and Step By Step Processes for Making Soap (free e-book, Lindsey P.)

I suspect a lot of these recipes, lotions and potions won't appeal to me/our family but I want to improve my/our knowledge of natural healing and alternatives to the over-the-counter/prescription medicines on which we too often rely as well as moving away from chemical laden creams. Knowing I have things on hand to treat symptoms rather than having to always visit a doctor/pharmacy is a definite plus too.

Dental Health Care

• Questions to Ask Your Dentist (purchased e-book, OraWellness LLC)

• Tips and Tricks to Remineralise and Repair Your Cavities Now (purchased e-book, Ramiel Nagel)

My dental health is awful despite regular brushing and dentist visits, anything that could improve my teeth (and reduce the cost of treatment) is definitely a plus

Short-burst Evening Reads (Sundays)

• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (free e-book, Benjamin Franklin)

By all accounts a fascinating man and a man of good habits and resolutions (which he kept to), I suspect this will be a more intellectual read so I'll aim for a slow and steady approach toward it

• Discipline Without Shouting or Spanking (free sample only e-book, Jerry Wyckoff and Barbara C. Unell)

I'll be interested to see the authors' approach and whether or not this would be worth purchasing. I don't have a problem with smacking but it's certainly not the only option and I shout way too much (definitely not a strength!).

• The Happiness Project (PB, Gretchen Rubin)

See independent reading for Sunday, above

• Homeschooling Day By Day: A Thriving Guide for Mothers (e-book, Kirsty Howard - Editor)

A chapter or so and associated Scriptures

• The Visit (HB, Adrian Plass)

From the flyleaf, "what on earth would happen if Jesus Himself arrived, in the flesh, to attend Sunday service at an average High Street church?"

The September 2014 Book Review

Running a little late on my posting but here's how September's reading list panned out

"Morning Time" with James (Monday-Saturday)
- The Book of Romans
--- Woohoo! We managed to work our way through the remainder of Romans with the commentary. October will begin a whole new book (see tomorrow's post) and a decision to read the Bible aloud but the commentary to myself and instead work through devotionals for kids with James.
- Westminster Shorter Catechism and Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism (PB, Starr Meade)
--- We worked through the devotions for the first three questions and answers (James has the first three memorised and is almost there with the fourth) and took an extra week to practise reciting the fourth Q&A, beginning the devotions for it at the beginning of this week. James has learnt them so quickly and I pray they will be useful to him as he grows.

Sunday Morning/Evening with James
- The Book of Proverbs
--- This was much less consistent than I would like

Independent Reading Time (between lunch and naptime)
- James
--- There are days this doesn't happen but James enjoys it so much that it is better to have a minute of "quiet reading time" than to try to skip it. We worked our way through the "baby books" toward the end of the month as I've sought to further organise J's books. After a last reading the plan was to set these aside for possible siblings but although I would consider that J has outgrown these, he wouldn't agree ;) so we'll keep them to hand for a while yet
- Mummy
--- (Mon-Sat) Something Other Than God (HB, Jennifer Fulwiler)
As this book progressed I got more and more hooked and I read it a lot the last few evenings of the month and will finish it off first thing in October. Jen's style is not the norm and not what I had expected having been a long-time reader of her blog but her clarity of recall and the description of her journey, pulled in by God to reluctant faith is most fascinating especially because of its intellectual elements and as God pulls her to Him, she pulls you further into her story. I even underlined some passages! Unheard of for me to mark a book - gasp!
--- (Sun) Beyond the Sling (HB, Mayim Bialik)
I still haven't gotten into this title as much as I expected to but by reading it in very small increments I feel I'm getting the best of it without the reading of it feeling like work or an "ought to" task.

Read-alouds (during nursing)
- Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know (free e-book, Edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie)
--- Wow I did not realise how long this book was, Aladdin alone took us hours to read! I think in total the kindle reckoned it would take me about ten hours to read this one, so we're still working through it - phew! Definitely a mixed bag of stories, much darker and containing harder vocabulary than any modern retellings but also containing some less well known tales, many new to me. We're not quite half-way through.

Naptime (Monday-Saturday)
- Westminster Shorter Catechism
--- I started so well with my review but fell out of the habit and need to re-commit myself to this goal over October
- Breastfeeding Matters (La Leche League UK magazine)
--- I've continued through my last two magazines and have enjoyed reading these as we approach the end of our breastfeeding journey

Storytime (post-nap)
- James really enjoyed the gentle wake-up of stories after his nap when time/circumstances/behaviour allowed.

Bedtime Stories continued to be mostly with Daddy

Mummy's Evening Reading (Monday-Saturday, except Wednesdays)
- The Valley of Heaven and Hell: Cycling in the Shadow of Marie Antoinette (free at the time e-book, Susie Kelly)
--- This one finished off nicely with the finale of the couple's epic cycling holiday, the author really was a bit of a grump but very well informed about French history and gave an interesting perspective on the lives of the fated first couple of France.
- Dying to Run (purchased e-book, Cami Checketts)
--- Short sequel to Dead Running with much less running but lots of violence and death and trafficking and kissing. A thoughtful read in that it made you confront the issue of human trafficking and the ethics/morals of fighting the slavers but also a light read in terms of romance and sarcasm. I think I might go for it and buy the third and final installment, which randomly is a paperback rather than an e-book like the first two.
- Thirty Days Hath... (e-book, Chautona Havig)
--- A year of month-long in-house (chaperoned) dates for Adric set-up by his sister and her pastor husband. A good read for an in-depth look at different dating/courtship experiences. The assignments the "dating" couple are given by the pastor brother-in-law contain very good topics for discussion for a courting couple. An interesting resource on top of a good Christian romance read with a twist. I especially liked "witnessing" the relationships between Adric and his sister and brother-in-law as well as the way most of the characters lived out their faith.
- I didn't get through as many books this month at all.

Mummy's Evening Reading (Wednesdays/Sundays)
- Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years as a Homeschooling Mother (e-book, Joyce Swann)
--- I got rather sucked into this one and ended up finishing it. Swann rounded off the story of her family with an update as to their adult lives and although I could never be similar in my approach to home education (very structured and formal with strict hours) it was really educational for me to hear another perspective of homeschooling told in such a personal way. The "story" of her family and their trials and tribulations and personal faith and prayer testimonies were a wonderful addition. I've had her daughter's autobiography concerning her education on my amazon wishlist for a while and I look forward to reading the other side of the story in the near-future.
- 100 LB Loser (purchased e-book, Jessica Heights)
--- I finished this a little early, it was a fairly basic how-to/how-I-did-it weight-loss book but it's always fun to read someone else's story and was helpful as I have put myself back on a weight-loss journey (finally). I'm currently down 10 pounds and whilst I'd love to be down more weight already, a decade (or more) of continual weight gain doesn't fall off overnight unless you go on "biggest loser" which is so not happening (especially because I'm no longer big enough-yay) or put in a lot more effort than I currently am (*gulp* must try harder).
- ConDeceived (free e-book, Cindy Dyer)
--- Cindy did warn about the formatting and it is a pain occasionally, because I don't want to lose the end of a sentence, because I like how she writes and I wanted to read it all. Cindy explains it all (a giving over of your fertility to God) so well and I wish I had that gift to explain my position to others. A great read in a fairly conversational style. I've about a fifth of it left to read.
- 50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share... Things We Wished We'd Known (PB, Edited by Bill & Diana Waring)
--- I just have not felt compelled to read this at all this month so I'm setting it aside until the new year.
- The Happiness Project (PB, Gretchen Rubin)
--- Wow, despite my having read thrugh much of the archives of her website, there is so much in this book. I've had to read through it more slowly than I anticipated as I've made so many notes. So I'll continue through this one for the next few months, in smaller sections.
- Why Love Matters (PB, Sue Gerhardt)
--- I couldn't get into this at first and once I had still couldn't read it straight through so I've dipped in and out and found it rather interesting, if not quite in the way the author fully intended. I think this book could lead a parent into more anxiety over their parenting decisions, past sins or their child's future development but I took away the message that you should be emotionally available to your children, gentle and approachable without forgoing discipline - I doubt this was the author's planned takeaway at all. I feel I've really read enough of this title so I'll return it to the lending library and move on - life is too short to waste my time on books that don't build me up, or break me down in order to build me up.
- Homeschooling Day By Day: A Thriving Guide for Mothers (e-book, Kirsty Howard - Editor)
--- I've only read two/three chapters of this one across September but I think I'll continue with this across the coming months.

All in all I don't think I read as much this month, but this is accounted for as I did a lot more work on the house and watched a good few (very interesting and diverse) documentaries (about Space Archaelogy and Egyptology, the daughters of the last Tsar, the history of anatomy, a couple about inventions etcetera). I look forward to the month ahead and a whole new reading plan. Setting aside different portions of the day for different books/subjects worked really well for me and I think only having one day - Sunday - set aside as a day for the books I want to read in shorter bursts (e.g. beyond the Sling) will be how I proceed. It's been a really good experience for me being more intentional about my reading and has decidedly upped my happiness overall. It hasn't reduced my "to be read" pile at all though - rather it has grown - as one title read has led to more suggestions to be read in the future or sequels or prequels or others by the same author :) It's a nice problem to have.

October's Reading List to follow...

5 for 30 (September 2014)

Five goals to focus on for the next thirty day:

1. Potty training at nap and night.
James is all but potty-trained at nap (occasional slips) but I gave up the night-training in favour of much-needed sleep. He night-weaned a bit ago and then after a few particularly restless and aggravating nights we insisted that he was not to leave his bed until morning and he didn't because he is very good but he was still waking enough to wet and thus awakens soaked. I even abandoned the reusables last month in favour of disposables as his pyjamas and bed were wet each morning from leaking.
So I know he can't make it through the night yet without a trip to the loo, therefore if I want rid of nappies I'm going to have to take the "emptying" approach at least to begin with.
A week or more ago I told him that we were going to get rid of the nappies for good and I began yesterday (Monday the first) by reminding him that today was the last day of nappies. Typical that this followed a night when he'd wet the bed after soaking his disposable, pyjamas and linen (within the first few hours of sleep). So with the bed double-wrapped (as well as his pillow), the pyjama drawer full and Mama (being in a state of insomnia) ready to roll and launder we began this month's challenge with a view to "emptying" him at half ten and again at half four.

2. Dusting Tuesdays - dusting is sadly neglected in my house so I need to make a day to dust, wearing my fashion-conscious dust mask of course!

3. List Writing - unlike many of the other goals I don't intend this to become a daily or even regular habit. My goal is to write twenty useful lists across the month that will help make my life easier. E.g. snack foods, dinner menus, car boot checklist, picnic checklist)

4. Lights out by midnight
With exceptions for visitors or time with the Hubby, I'm giving myself a bedtime. I've gotten good at getting into bed by eleven but am still struggling to lie down at a sensible hour. So strict I must be!

5. Food Diary - keeping a food diary of everything I eat (and drink, excepting water) because monitoring helps you change habits. Also noting the times I eat/drink.

I'll also be continuing with my daily stretching, independent reading and post-nap story times with James, my daily habits (tidying, emptying the diswasher etcetera) and chocolate intake limiting as per last month.

The Book List - September 2014

I've organised this month's reading list according to when it'll be read, with only two days a week of lots of chopping and changing between titles and the rest working through a book until it's finished. I'm intrigued to see which approach best suits me.

"Morning Time" with James (Monday-Saturday)
- The Book of Romans
--- alongside our commentary, re-reading in depth, we're hoping to read through to about chapter fourteen
- Westminster Shorter Catechism
--- I'll begin to put James over the first four/five questions and answers (one a week) along with the next title
- Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism (PB, Starr Meade)
--- Six days a week of short devotionals about each Q&A of the WSC (one a week)

"Morning Time" is sometimes at lunch rather than breakfast ;)
It's a homeschooling term/approach that I only just found but the execution of it had developed organically already for us. I'm choosing to add Catechism this month as I feel it is important to look at the over-arching themes and teachings of the Bible as well as the individual books/chapters/verses. Whilst I know James is young to be beginning on this, getting him into the habits of learning is good training and knowing that that which he learns will always be accessible to him (for when he is older and more able to understand it) is a huge motivator for me. Also there are 107 questions and answers so he won't be so young by the time we finish ;)
MT also includes memory verses, prayer time and nursery rhymes or learning rhymes or songs such as those teaching the books of the Bible, days of the week or months of the year etc. this certainly does not happen everyday and won't, such is life.

Sunday Morning/Evening with James
- The Book of Proverbs
--- a chapter or a section of a chapter read-aloud and discussed

Independent Reading Time (between lunch and naptime)
- James
--- Three different picture books each day
- Mummy
--- (Mon-Sat) Something Other Than God (HB, Jennifer Fulwiler)
--- (Sun) Beyond the Sling (HB, Mayim Bialik)
--- If I finish SOTG my next choice is another Christian autobiography, Kisses from Katie, HB, Katie Davis, about the founding of Amazima, a Ugandan ministry and charity.]

Read-alouds (during nursing)
- Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know (free e-book, Edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie) and
--- I continue to read-aloud to James during nursing (before nap and before bed) and we'll continue our way through Fairytales before continuing on to Mother Carey's Chickens...
- Mother Carey's Chickens (free e-book, Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin)
--- A classic American children's novel about the life of a family following the death of their father and near destitution, it is filled with much love, respect, community, thrift and character-building morals and they are a wonderful picture of joyous family life, and hospitality.

Naptime Reading/Learning for Mummy (Monday-Saturday)
- Westminster Shorter Catechism
--- With the advent of the new "school year" I'm going to spend this month reviewing (the only ones I've memorised) the first 25 questions and answers (and reading through their Scripture proofs) by myself (which this wonderful set of CDs will definitely help with)
- Breastfeeding Matters (La Leche League UK magazine)
--- One article at a time as I have the time. (I got two new magazines at my August meeting.)

Storytime (post-nap)
- I'll read James' independent reading books to him directly after nap

Bedtime Stories
- Daddy takes charge of bedtime stories unless he's working and they involve reading through J's (current) children's Bible and three picture books

Mummy's Evening Reading (Monday-Saturday, except Wednesdays)
- The Valley of Heaven and Hell: Cycling in the Shadow of Marie Antoinette (free at the time e-book, Susie Kelly)
--- An interesting travelogue of cycling, French Revolution history, random tid-bits of local knowledge and finding vegetarian fare in French restaurants, nine chapters to go so I'll begin the month by finishing this book off
- Dying to Run (purchased e-book, Cami Checketts)
--- Short sequel to Dead Running. I'm hoping this will finish off the romance storyline of its predecessor.
- Thirty Days Hath... (e-book, Chautona Havig)
--- Because how could I not read this book in September y'all? I may not "Southern" but that needed a y'all in my head, sixty-three short chapters in all
- The Giver (PB, Lois Lowry)
--- I read the sample of this more than a year ago and am looking forward to reading this as the sample story has never left my mind. The movie version came out this summer but I wanted to read the story first so held off seeing it. The tale concerns a boy living in a colourless, emotionless so-called utopia; Jonah lives in an assigned family unit and people who do not fit are dispatched with or so my impression of it reads, twenty-three chapters in all
- The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden (purchased e-book, Jonas Jonasson)
--- This is the second novel from Jonasson following "The Hundred Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" which I bought on a whim in a twenty pence sale and devoured over our trip to Australia. It was amazing and I expect no less of this (unrelated) follow-up. I suspect the twenty-four chapters will leave me wanting more as Jonasson's last book did. Again this one seems to wind the main character's story around major (recent) historical events and world leaders. A fascinating way to overview the history of a particular year with the everyday man.

Mummy's Evening Reading (Wednesdays)
A chapter or so from each title:
- Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years as a Homeschooling Mother (e-book, Joyce Swann)
--- A how-to as well as an encouragement to homeschoolers. The Swann family took a rigid approach to school hours, year-round and used a private-school-linked-curriculum but only worked for about three hours a day. Fascinating to read the words of someone who has completed their journey of teaching their ten children through to Masters level in some cases (perhaps all)
- 100 LB Loser (purchased e-book, Jessica Heights)
--- Short auto-biographical chapters that challenge you as you consider your own weight-loss journey
- ConDeceived (free e-book, Cindy Dyer)
--- Available here, this e-book tackles the subject of what I always refer to as "God family planning" and giving your fertility over to the Creator who gave it to you. Cindy's blog-writing is challenging, thought-provoking and forthright so I think this should be a contemplative read.
- 50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share... Things We Wished We'd Known (PB, Edited by Bill & Diana Waring)
--- Re-reading in tandem with my Hubby
- The Happiness Project (PB, Gretchen Rubin)
--- I began looking at my own level of happiness/contentedness through Gretchen Rubin's writing/videos/links on her blog and it's been fascinating looking at the theories of happiness through the lens of her thoughts and those she links to or quotes. A fascinating, subjective but deeply researched, project that should help me as I seek to do battle with my black dog using the science of analysing what makes me happy and focusing thereon. Sometimes you just need someone else to word it differently to "hear" what you already heard.

Mummy's Evening Reading (Sundays)
- Why Love Matters (PB, Sue Gerhardt)
--- I borrowed this title from my La Leche League library. It concerns a gentle approach to parenting and discipline. I definitely could be more gentle in my disciplining! Here's to learning and growing.
- Homeschooling Day By Day: A Thriving Guide for Mothers (e-book, Kirsty Howard - Editor)
--- A chapter or so and associated Scriptures, these are very short but encouraging articles
- ConDeceived (free e-book, Cindy Dyer)
--- See above
- 50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share... Things We Wished We'd Known (PB, Edited by Bill & Diana Waring)
--- See above
- The Happiness Project (PB, Gretchen Rubin)
--- See above

I'm *hoping* that assigning a time to each section of reading will make it easier to follow my plan. Over the last couple of months I've read up to four different titles each and everyday and it involved lots of switching between books so this month will be an experiment. Will only a couple of nights a week of switching between (the more intensive/challenging/thought-provoking) books and otherwise just working through books start to finish be more suited to me?

The Happiness Project book and accompanying blog is actually part of the reason for this series of book lists. I realised that although I love to read and learn, I wasn't making the effort to do so. Reading was always being pushed aside by blogs or television viewing (often inane) so I made a plan and it has helped so much. I'm reading more and viewing less and I no longer feel guilty about the shelves of unread books, instead I just can't wait to read them.

The Happiness Project also led me to my 5for30 challenges and signing myself up for a few stickk.com contracts (only one of which has a monetary forfeit). Stickk contracts with a forfeit send money to your choice of recipient (I chose my sister) if you fail at your goal (my main one is weight-loss). So far the contracts are working though I'll blog more about the particulars at a later date.

My 5for30 post for September will be up tomorrow.

The August 2014 Book Review

Here's my (amended) reading list, reviewed for the month:

Bible
The Book of Romans
- We've almost finished chapter nine and will continue this next month (and the one after)
The Book of Proverbs
- We've read up to the end of chapter five thus far

Breastfeeding/Attachment Parenting
Breastfeeding Matters (La Leche League Members Magazine)
- Finished up and thoroughly enjoyed and I then got two new mags at this month's meeting - yay!
Beyond the Sling (HB, Mayim Bialik)
- I've begun chapter two and will continue through this for the next few months a little at a time

Christian Autobiography
Something Other Than God (HB, Jennifer Fulwiler)
- Haven't read as far through this as I thought by now but definitely enjoying the short and succinct retelling of her journey. I'm almost through with chapter fifteen and will continue through this over the next month or two.

Dystopian
Sycamore: Near Future Dystopia (e-book, Craig A. Falconer)
- Excellent, followed the same theme as "Funscreen" (the free e-book to entice you to buy this one) but worked it out beautifully in how it would snowball through society. Amazing writing and a scary possible future. May even make me rethink my love of my iPhone/iPad...well maybe... I look forward to more from this author.

Homeschooling
Homeschooling Day By Day: A Thriving Guide for Mothers (e-book, Kirsty Howard - Editor)
- More encourgaement albeit short, Which I'll continue with over the next few months.
Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years as a Homeschooling Mother (e-book, Joyce Swann)
- I've read a lot more than I planned of this title but it's drawn me in so I couldn't help it. Although I wouldn't agree with her whole outlook (quite formal) it has obviously worked well for her and her family and clearly she was very together as a homeschooling mother and very organised. A very interesting read indeed but I doubt it's a style of homeschooling I could fully espouse but I hope to learn much from this book despite that.
50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share... Things We Wished We'd Known (PB, Edited by Bill & Diana Waring)
- I haven't even cracked this one in August (but I don't think Hubs has either) so next month I'll need to as I think it'll be travelling with my Hubby on his business trip ;)

Modern Christian Novel
Here We Come: Aggie's Inheritance Series (Book 3/3, e-book, Chautona Havig)
- A beautiful picture of courtship and the church family coming together to assist a family unit with a very nice side storyline about homeschooling. The last chapter floored me with its beauty and love and its picture of marriage in all its solemnity and romance and oh I cried a lot. A lovely, lovely read!
Get Cozy, Josey! (PB, Susan May Warren)
- Took me a while to get into this one but it really grew on me and I finished it early as I wanted to see what happened. Not your typical rom-com as the main characters had been married four/five years, a good lesson in submission but also a great case for communicating with your spouse.

Modern Secular Novel
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (PB, Paul Torday)
- Very different style of book, with chapters of interviews, emails, letters, diary entries. Wonderfully organised and thought out, especially with reference to the modern joys of outsourcing and call centres, bureaucracy, civil servants and politics. A fabulous idea for a plot too. Political satire, comedy, romance (of a sort) and now I look forward to watching the movie. Also I liked the side-plot about a faith-based society versus a very atheistic western one with faith and belief winning out.

Quaint Christian Fiction
Becky Sue Cooper's Photo Album
- A short and sweet read which was easily a one sitting read. Not as moralistic or deep as I'd expected and was somewhat lacking but sweet nonetheless.

Read-Alouds
In the High Valley (5/5, free e-book, Susan Coolidge) and
Nine Little Goslings (free e-book, Susan Coolidge
- James and I finished our adventures with Katy and co. and it was sad to "leave" them though a fitting ending. We then waded back into the previously begun Nine Little Goslings - a collection of short stories of differing interests and skill. One story so intrigued my son he cried when it ended. Another ended with the death of a child and left this Mama in tears. Another shocked me with its of-the-day racism (including seeming to glory in the Southern Confederacy and its plantations and "glorious" history of slave labour). The sadness of an adoption which cut a child off from her loving family and which also came about because of the pity (corresponded about) over a previously-wealthy white child living in abject poverty which is portrayed as so much worse than the abject poverty of EVERYONE ELSE beside her who never knew wealth, who happen to be black so why would anyone worry for them anyway-this story reduced me to tears many times and required serious editing and censorship. I know the attitudes written of are of the time but this was a children's story and it taints my opinion of the author no end. The final story mixed a fairytale format with the reality of a father hitting a recessionary period and the struggles of the family - delightful - and a much brighter note to end upon. September will bring us a fresh read of fairytales from around the world which I look forward to.

Self-improvement
100 LB Loser (purchased e-book, Jessica Heights)
- I've enjoyed the laid back down-to-earth nature of this book - that is until the author explained how she GOT UP AT 4.30AM to exercise before her kids awoke after six. NO!!! Just wrong!!!! I will continue to read it though :)

Travel
The Valley of Heaven and Hell: Cycling in the Shadow of Marie Antoinette (free at the time e-book, Susie Kelly)
- Continuing through this travelogue is fascinating. This is the first on my list to finish in September though as I've been reading it for a while now ;)

Whodunnit
Dead Running (free e-book, Cami Checketts)
- A not entirely well-written book, the characters are a little one-dimensional and seriously the main one is a bit of a ditz but still an enjoyable read, especially for free. The theme of running was less-than-appealing (poor grammar but I digress) but interesting to experience through Cassidy's eyes. The whodunnit storyline was at times far-fetched and Cassidy seemed to take too much of it in her stride as if this was all normal. Despite all this as soon as I finished I bought the (very short) sequel and will read it in September.

I'll post September's reading list tomorrow, especially as I'm a little late posting this, owing in part to my need to finish up reading a couple of the books ;)

5 for 30 (August 2014)

Five goals to focus on for the next thirty days:

1: Making my daily habits daily, keeping up my slowly developing good routines about the house
- laying out my clothes and James' each night,
- packing our bags the night before an early planned outing,
- reading through the Bible, going over memory verses and and having a short prayer time with James,
- filling the dishwasher and wiping down the counters immediately after each meal,
- emptying the dishwasher reasonably quickly and leaving out the plasticware etc. to dry,
- putting away dry dishes first thing,
- putting away folded clothes first thing,
- folding clothes and generally dealing with laundry each evening/night etc.

2. Implementing a quiet(ish) independent reading time for James (and Mummy) post-lunch to settle him for nap.
- J will have three books to go through for five/ten/fifteen minutes (his bedtime stories for that night maybe) and I'll hopefully be able to use this time to fit in a short chapter from Jen's autobiography or some whodunnit reading.

3. Picture book reading with James post-nap
- Since I read aloud to him while he nurses before nap and bed, Daddy does the bedtime stories so it'll be nice to pick out a specific time each day to enjoy picture book stories with him, without losing my voice

4. Simple stretching (with James too) first thing
- To start off my morning in an energised manner, improve my flexibility and get me moving.

5. Beginning to limit my chocolate intake
- I'm not saying no chocolate, I'm just saying less :)

I'll also:
- get James' hair and mine cut,
- (finally) finish sorting all my kindle e-books into collections (e.g. by author, non-fiction, historical novels), I've got about a hundred e-books to go),
- download my recent purchase of a "homeschooling mom bundle" of e-books, save them to our PC, then to our external hard drive and finally send them to my kindle account,
- enjoy my reading plans for the month,
- sort through James' library, moving the more babyish books out from amongst the rest (while still accessible to James) and making bedtime options handier for Daddy, and
- look forward to the (deeply) discounted baby gift/future child gift purchases arriving with the much-loved (by James) postmen (Roy, James and the newest recruit, Alan), I love getting post and parcels especially.

Socially James and I have one scheduled playdate with B&T and Maddy (no doubt we'll host one too), our monthly La Leche League meeting, a daytrip with Daddy to the North Coast to enjoy time at the rararans (caravans) with Granny, Granda, Auntie J, Uncle G, LJ and baby ZG (yay cuddles). Besides which I'll have a meet up with friends, the monthly craft group and my monthly coffee date with the girls. Workwise I have a day of childminding (B&T) and three (mostly) weekly (and fairly flexible) tutoring students. Scheduling students once school starts back is more intrusive of family life and relaxing naptimes, though on a more positive note it doesn't impact on our mornings. Not that our mornings are manic :) a fortnightly toddler group, monthly LLL meeting and starting back to free-play gymnastics (hopefully weekly with a vague idea of going to teacher-led classes in January), but I am more hermit than social butterfly after all :)

Spiritually I'll miss another two weeks of church with creche duties (I missed three weeks in July) but I'll enjoy getting some one-on-one time with a few parents/children of the church family.

Anywho, here goes nothing.

The Book List - August 2014

Here's my reading list for the month:

Bible
The Book of Romans
- Continuing through Romans, alongside our Bible commentary
The Book of Proverbs
- This will prove "light relief" in amongst the deeper study of Romans

Breastfeeding/Attachment Parenting
Breastfeeding Matters (La Leche League Members Magazine)
- Two articles a day until completed (10)
Beyond the Sling (HB, Mayim Bialik)
- Read up to the end of chapter two at least (4)

Christian Autobiography
Something Other Than God (HB, Jennifer Fulwiler)
- Read up to the end of at least chapter twenty-five (19). This is another Christian/RC perspective book from an author whose blog I've read for six (or more) years

Dystopian
Sycamore: Near Future Dystopia (e-book, Craig A. Falconer)
- One chapter a day until complete (18). I really enjoyed his free e-book Funscreen so I'm hoping this will be equally well-written.

Homeschooling
Homeschooling Day By Day: A Thriving Guide for Mothers (e-book, Kirsty Howard - Editor)
- Chapters 3-6 (4)
Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years as a Homeschooling Mother (e-book, Joyce Swann)
- Up to the start of "establish..." (location 259) (2)
50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share... Things We Wished We'd Known (PB, Edited by Bill & Diana Waring)
- Catching up then continuing to (re)read through this a chapter at a time in tandem with my hubby - hopefully inciting good discussions

Miscellaneous
Soldier of Aquarius (free e-book, John W. Cassell)
- I'm not quite sure of the genre for this one but I've already been sucked in whilst trying to decide it. I suspect this will be weird and possibly violent, we shall see...
*Updated to add* Just confused writing with no sense coming to it and I have no affinity for the protagonist so I'm removing this from my list and my kindle.

Modern Christian Novel
Here We Come: Aggie's Inheritance Series (Book 3/3, e-book, Chautona Havig)
- One or two chapters a day until complete (22 chapters in all)
Get Cozy, Josey! (PB, Susan May Warren)
- One or two chapters a day until complete (19 chapters in all)

Modern Secular Novel
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (PB, Paul Torday)
- Two chapters a day until complete (17)

Quaint Christian Fiction
Becky Sue Cooper's Photo Album
- About sixty "pages" at a time (8), a quaint tale of what kids hear when you don't realise they're listening and a moral of guarding your tongue

Read-Alouds
In the High Valley (5/5, free e-book, Susan Coolidge) and
Nine Little Goslings (free e-book, Susan Coolidge
- James and I will complete our adventures with Katy and co. before finishing off the previously begun Nine Little Goslings - collection of short stories. If there's a need, we'll follow up with "Fairytales Every Child Should Know" (free e-book, edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie)

Self-improvement
100 LB Loser (purchased e-book, Jessica Heights)
- A chapter or so a week

Travel
The Valley of Heaven and Hell: Cycling in the Shadow of Marie Antoinette (free at the time e-book, Susie Kelly)
- A chapter or so a week

Whodunnit
Dead Running (free e-book, Cami Checketts)
- I'm not entirely certain this is a whodunnit, perhaps a thriller but my look-see to help me decide pulled me in so it's a last minute addition to this month, two or so chapters a day (11)
Short Fuses: Four free short stories (free e-book, Stephen Leather)
- These are very short stories a couple of which I've already read so this will be an easy read
*Updated to add* These are either infantile or filth so yet another to be deleted from this list and my kindle.

Here's to an enjoyable month's reading...