3 in 3 Challenge

Photo from dishevelledchic.com 

I came across the 3 in 3 Challenge over at Desiring Virtue recently, and decided to join in. Its very simple, you just read 3 books in 3 months. She has chosen one on theology, one on christian living, and one as a biography. The first book is "Name above all Names" and so far is awesome!

Want to join???

All you need to do is read the book, and at the end of the month head over to desiring virtue to discuss. Easy peasey.

I needed something to help push me to read something other than a parenting book ;-) haha! Yay for Fall reading. Something about Fall always makes me want to curl up with a book my iphone kindle app and some hot chocolate (might be too early for that considering it was high 90s today!).

Fall Into Reading List 2010- finally

So I am a few days late on this, mainly because a sickness has attacked my head and throat and chest and I just didnt have a clear enough head to type. Better late than never, right? Without further ado....

My Fall Into Reading List 

for 2010

This Fall I am doing it a little differently. I have a list of 12 books I would like to read overall, and my goal is to read 6 of them by the end of the challenge. 

1. Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
2. Radical by David Platt
3. The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
4. The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley
5. Women Leaving the Workplace by Larry Burkett (I am not leaving the workplace- just looks like an interesting book and has lots of stewardship tips within it)
6. Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
7. Engaging Parents as Allies by Wayne Rice
8. Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
9. The One Minute Organizer by Donna Smallin
10. Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
11. Getting Things Done by David Allen
12. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (I have read half and never finished!)

What will you be reading this fall?? 

**If you want to join in and have a blog, go to Callapidder Days and link to your post. If you dont have a blog, leave your list in the comments and I will check in with you to see how you are doing. Dont we all need a little encouragement to get our eyes off the tv and into a book??

Guess what time it is??

It's time for the Fall into Reading challenge over at Callapidder Days! For those of you who are newer to Patelife, "FIR" is a reading challenge I participated in last year. It is very low key; there are not very many rules. Basically it is just a way to motivate yourself to read some books you have been meaning to get around to but just havent yet. I will post the rules and how-to's below.

It is crazy for me to think that at this time last year I was still unemployed (its only been a year?). This year went sooo quick, but I feel like last fall was a million years ago. I am very ready for Fall- ready for the brisk weather, hot chocolate, leaves, lite jackets, hayrides and bonfires. I have done a horrid job of reading this summer, so I need something to push me to read more than just blogs! Here is how you join in, I hope many of you do!

To participate, here’s what you need to do:

• Create a list of some books you’d like to read or finish this fall. This is the only real requirement for participating in the challenge.

• Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). However, this is not required; setting additional goals is completely optional.

• Write a blog post that includes the list of books you want to read (and any additional goals you’ve set), and get ready to post it on your blog on September 22nd.

• Visit Callapidder Days on September 22nd to sign up for the challenge. I’ll have an official launch post up that morning, complete with an area for you to submit a link to your personal Fall Into Reading post, where it will be added to the master list of participants.

• Read! Work on your goals throughout Fall 2010.

• Report your results. Write another blog post in December to let everyone know how you did. (I’ll post an official wrap-up to the challenge on December 21st, where you’ll be able to share your results.)

• Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your fall reading!

Christmas Week: Day 3... Hundred Dollar Holiday

Hundred Dollar Holiday- My Take On It

I heard about this book on another blog that was making recommendations of books to read this Christmas. This one immediately sparked my interest. What does this $100 holiday look like? I am totally in! The book was not what I expected, but overall I enjoyed it.

What I liked about the book:

• It was short and well organized. There were only 3 chapters, so it was easy to know the overall point of each chapter you were reading.
• It gives a detailed description of the history of how the Christmas celebration came to be and how it evolved into what we all know it as today.
• You get a very honest look at what Christmas has become.
• It was a good way to refocus during the holidays.
• He emphasized homemade gifts and gifts of time, which I thought was a good reminder to get creative.

Things that annoyed me about the book:

• I thought he would share more about how his family actually celebrates the holiday with only $100, the boundaries they have setup etc. But he didn't and I was disappointed! He basically ignored giving any detail of how they do this. I can see that he doesn't want it to be a "formula" that people follow so he didn't want to give a five step plan or anything. But some of an example would have been nice.
• He gives way more info about the history than he does about celebrating the holiday for only $100. Maybe he should think about a name change?

I would recommend the book. I thought it was interesting overall and it was a neat perspective to read during the holidays.

Fall into Reading 2009: Wrap Up

Well, Christmas is almost here and that means Fall is a thing of the past. I joined in with Callapidder Days on the "Fall into Reading Challenge" this year, and I am here to share the outcome.

• Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?

I finished 6 on my original list, and 8 from my altered list (which I am hoping to make 9 this week). I did not finish "TrueFaced" because I am going through it with my youth on a week to week basis, "Treasuring God in our Traditions" because I am slow (but its almost done).

• Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

I changed the list because I just found that halfway through I just didnt have the desire to read some of the ones on my list anymore, or I just wanted to read some seasonal ones.

• What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why?

Either Life Together or The Giver! Life Together was just a really good spiritual challenge for me. And the Giver is just a great book and a great memory of childhood reading.

My least favorite was "Instructing a Child's Heart". It was boring and I dont like his writing style.

• Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them?

I read Julie Powell for the first time and oddly enough liked her writing. So I am planning on reading her new book too.

• Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2009 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about?

I learned a ton! Since I read a wide assortment of books, I feel I grew in my personal walk with the Lord, in knowledge about parenting techniques, in learning the history of Christmas, etc.

• What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

That I had a timeline and somewhere to check in at. This helped me stay motivated to read now instead of "later" (which usually turns into never).

Overall, I enjoyed the Challenge alot. I have been blessed by most of the books I have read and just really enjoyed reading again. Here is the final tally on the books I read and a link to my book review (if I did one).

1. Hundred Dollar Christmas - I saw this recommended on a blog recently and my curiosity was peaked. It is a short book about one families experiences during the holidays once they set a $100 budget. [Book review coming soon]

2. Treasuring our Traditions- I wanted to read this last year, but never got around to it. She talks about celebrating traditions as a family all year, and then also on the Holidays. [Hopefully finishing this right before Christmas]

3. The Fuel and the Flame- This is one of my favorite books! I am rereading it again with my dgroup this semester, and it is a great reminder to stay passionate about my Lord. [No book review]

4. TruFaced- Our high school youth small group is going through this right now, and boy is it amazing. Mr.Pate read this book in a counseling class at seminary and loved what it taught. This book focuses on living in community and dealing with sin. It teaches against putting on masks and hiding from God and each other, and it encourages learning to live in God's grace. It encourages knowing that we cant work on our sin and then come to God, instead we must just come as we are to God and work with Him on our sin. You will hear more later on this one, but so far i highly recommend it! [Still going thru it]

5.Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: This is the book that the recent movie Julie and Julia is based on. I have started it and can tell you it is way different than the movie and pretty crude at parts, but overall I am liking the point. [Book review found here]

6.The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar:This is a book the Duggars wrote to share their family philosophies and everyday habits etc. I dont have cable, so I dont watch the show but I am intrigued. [Book Review found here]

7. Teach them Diligently by Lou Priolo: Saw this book on Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking's booklist and wanted to read it for myself. I think it will be helpful for when I have kids but also now with my sunday school class etc. [Book Review found here]

8. Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp: mr.pate and I took a class based on one of Tripp's other books and loved it. So if the library can get it on interlibrary loan then this one is in. [Book Review found here]

9. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:currently reading this book and totally loving it! it is a hard read, but so worth it. anyone who really wants to improve in how they love the people around them, i would suggest this book! [Book review found here]

10. The Giver by Lois Lowry: My childhood favorite, I figured it was a good time to revisit it! [Book Review found here]

You can see how others did and what they enjoyed here.

Whewww... that was alot of hyperlinking action going on. I am going to go rest the fingers by watching some "Say Yes to the Dress Now!"

FIR Update

I am making some changes to my FIR List, because there are just some books I don't feel like reading right now, some that I am reading for bible studies, and some others that I really want to read. It's my list and I can change it if I want too (name that song!)! So as we are nearing the end of the "Fall Into Reading Challenge", I want to update my list so I can keep up with how I did overall. Here is my final goal list:

1. Hundred Dollar Christmas - I saw this recommended on a blog recently and my curiosity was peaked. It is a short book about one families experiences during the holidays once they set a $100 budget.

2. Treasuring our Traditions- I wanted to read this last year, but never got around to it. She talks about celebrating traditions as a family all year, and then also on the Holidays.

3. The Fuel and the Flame- This is one of my favorite books! I am rereading it again with my dgroup this semester, and it is a great reminder to stay passionate about my Lord.

4. TruFaced- Our high school youth small group is going through this right now, and boy is it amazing. Mr.Pate read this book in a counseling class at seminary and loved what it taught. This book focuses on living in community and dealing with sin. It teaches against putting on masks and hiding from God and each other, and it encourages learning to live in God's grace. It encourages knowing that we cant work on our sin and then come to God, instead we must just come as we are to God and work with Him on our sin. You will hear more later on this one, but so far i highly recommend it!

5.Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: This is the book that the recent movie Julie and Julia is based on. I have started it and can tell you it is way different than the movie and pretty crude at parts, but overall I am liking the point.

6.The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar:This is a book the Duggars wrote to share their family philosophies and everyday habits etc. I dont have cable, so I dont watch the show but I am intrigued.

7. Teach them Diligently by Lou Priolo: Saw this book on Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking's booklist and wanted to read it for myself. I think it will be helpful for when I have kids but also now with my sunday school class etc.

8. Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp: mr.pate and I took a class based on one of Tripp's other books and loved it. So if the library can get it on interlibrary loan then this one is in.

9. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: currently reading this book and totally loving it! it is a hard read, but so worth it. anyone who really wants to improve in how they love the people around them, i would suggest this book!

10. The Giver by Lois Lowry: My childhood favorite, I figured it was a good time to revisit it!

This season of reading has been full of learning and encouragement, and I have enjoyed it a ton! What have you been reading??

Teach them Diligently... My take on it

Well this was the 2nd book that came in on inter-library loan for me. I wasn't able to finish it in time, mainly because it took so long to force myself through "Instructing a Child's Heart"! And I was bummed too, because I definitley liked this book so much better than that one. But nonetheless, here is my take on it:

Things I liked about the book:

• It was very scripture focused.
• It was practical, and had plenty of examples.
• I liked the way it was organized. It had chapters like "using the scriptures for correcting, using the scriptures for training, and using the scriptures for conviction", which made it very easy to follow.
• I liked his style of writing. I felt like he was a friend just explaining how he uses the Scriptures to parent.

Things that annoyed me about the book:

• He used the word "milieu" all the time, which apparently means: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops. Vague right? It was just hard to understand what he was trying to say when he used it constantly. I think the point was using the Scriptures to define our everyday life, but why not just say that? That's it, the only thing that annoyed me.

I would highly recommend this book. I plan on purchasing it and completing it sometime soon. I think it would be very helpful for parents of pre-schoolers on and people who work with that age group in other settings (like sunday school or daycare). but that's just my take on it.

Halftime Report

I am a little over halfway through the Fall Into Reading Challenge, and I thought it was time to step back and see how I was doing. The FIR challenge started on the official day of fall, September 22 , and ends on the last day of fall, December 21. I set the goal to read 9 books in that time. You can see those books and why I chose them here.

So how have I done?

I have completed 5 & 1/2 of them! The 1/2 is one that I could not get done before I had to return it for interlibrary loan, so I wont be finishing it.

Completed reads:

1. Julie & Julia

2. The Duggars: 20 and counting

3. Life Together

4. The Giver

5. Instructing a Child's Heart

6. Teach them diligently (1/2)

Read still waiting to be read:

1. Mere Christianity (just started on it)

2. The Journals of Jim Elliot

3. Babywise

I have really liked the accountability this challenge has given me. Though there is no one here keeping me on track, by committing on paper cyber-paper I have really felt nudged to finish what I started. It also has really helped me stay on track with reading the book I really wanted to read, instead of just starting lots of books that sound good but not finishing. So I have some work to do to finish on time, but I think I can do it!

Have you read anything lately? If not get to it people! If so, what was it? Was it good? Do share please!

Instructing a Child’s Heart… My take on it

I bet you thought I gave up reading now that I have a job and all? Nope! I am still going strong slowly but surely. The library just happened to get both of the books I requested on Inter-Library loan at the same time, which meant I was forced to read them stat! (You can not extend Inter-library loans, so you pretty much have to read them fast) The one that was due back first, therefore the one I read first, was "Instructing a Child's heart" by Tedd and Margy Tripp. Tedd Tripp wrote "Shepherding a Child's Heart" also. So here is my take:

Things I liked about the book:

• The overall premise is that we need to correct a child's heart not simply their behavior. I fully agree with this.
  
• The last half of the book is more practical and walks you through what this may look like in everyday life.
  
• It focuses a lot on the why of correcting a child… and on how we need to be careful not to correct children just because we don't want to be judged by their behavior. This is a ministry, caring for children, and we need to remember what the goal is.
  

Things that annoyed me about this book:

• I am not sure why, but I just don't like their writing style. It just comes across as so drab and dull. It took a lot for me to keep reading.
  
• The first several chapters say the same thing over and over and over! I hate when books do that! If you are going to read it, just read chapter 1 and then skip to chapter 4 or something.
  
• Still not enough examples of how to do this in everyday life. Since this is not a parenting style you see often, I feel like I need more examples to see how it would really play out.
  

Overall, I only moderately liked this book. Again, I really like and agree with the teaching they are putting forth, but they just put it forth so boringly! If you are going to be a parent soon, or you are a parent of a young child I would recommend reading it, even though it's boring, just for the teaching value of it.

The Giver... My take on it.

I finished The Giver in three days. Really it was two focused times of reading, maybe a few hours total (it is young adult fiction though so I guess I shouldn't feel too accomplished)! I now remember why I dont often read fiction- it is too addicting. I could hardly put the book down! I love this book! I had read it once or twice when I was young, and for some reason I was in the mood to relive it (i have so been in a reminiscing mood). Here is my take:

Things I liked about the book:

• The whole concept is so creative!
• It makes you truly think about how you live life, view others and what's important.
• It elevates love, true feelings, and family
• For some reason it makes me think about sin and choice, if you read it you might understand this too

Things that annoyed me about the book:

• The ending! In literary terms it is probably a great ending, suspenseful and all, but I want to be told how everyone ends up!!!
• There are parts that are super sad... like "release"

I totally reccomend everyone read it- it is one of my favorite books, and it is short and easy to read! Here is a summary I found online so you can get a better picture of what it is about:

Jonas turns 12 he is going to receive special training from the Giver. The Giver will take Jonas through the pain and the pleasure of life. Now it’s time of Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. I recommend this book because it is unique and different.

“The Giver” is a futuristic science fiction novel set in a utopian society. In Jonas’s community, there are no feelings, no hunger, no inequalities, and no pain. Everything is created to be equal. Every family unit is uniform and prescribed according to the community leaders. Each member of the community is given their profession when they turn twelve. Jonas is selected to become the receiver of memory. As he trains with the Giver, he realizes the truth of the community he lives in. The people of the community do not get to feel love, true happiness, of any of the god qualities of life. On the other hand, they do not feel any of the negative aspects either. They live in a colorless society. Those who do not live up to the standards of this Utopian society are quickly “released”. Jonas later finds out that this release process is equivalent to that of death. He decides that it is up to him to return what has been taken from the members of the community. With the help of the Giver, Jonas escapes from the community, which will result in the release of all memories to the community. This memory release process initiates the community members to previously unfelt feelings of pain, famine, war, as well as human differences, love, and happiness. The resolution of this science fiction novel is up for debate and ultimately depends upon the discretion, opinion, and interpretation of each individual reader.

Review found here.