January Bookshelf

Last year was the year of preparing my grandparents’ house to be sold.

I live too far away to have helped much, but I had plenty of conversations about it.

Was there anything I wanted?

Not particularly.

Memories of my late grandma and the new address and phone number to reach my grandpa was all I needed.

But did I want grandma’s matching ceramic dishes?

I said I would think about it.

I ended up not taking the dishes.

My parents set aside a Louisville Stoneware Mug with a winter scene on it for me.

This winter has found me using that (pictured above) mug each day.

I have been reheating coffee while tending to children, sneaking chapters of books, and praying for my grandpa.

---

January Bookshelf

Here are some of the books I’ve read that are worth sharing this month.

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick had charm and mystery while still being a light read.

Like The Messy Lives of Book People, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick was sweet and interesting with a touch of suspense. It gives The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan vibes.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber was a sweet read about grief and resilience through life’s transitions.

I read The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski on the recommendations of several friends. This book was highly relatable from both the raw humanity of the characters and the activity of the Church and her people.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio was a middle of the night “available now” audiobook find while nursing the baby. The story shared the hundreds of ways the main character’s life could go and what she decides to do with those opportunities in an unexpected and clever way.

I’m currently working through Elisa Songs’s Healthy Kids, Happy Kids and have enjoyed affirmation in some of our choices and been inspired to consider new ways to support our family’s health more intentionally.

---

Next Month

You may have noticed most of my January bookshelf reads are lighter reads and fictional. That’s where I am at with much of my reading, since I listen to audiobooks while nursing in the middle of the night or filling the dishwasher during quiet time.

Devotionals and nonfiction books are on my lists, but I work through those at a much slower pace and with a physical copy of the book.

I would like to read fiction with a bit more complexity to storylines next month.

Thinking back to Grandma’s mug: my grandma read a lot, and she enjoyed many authors. When a friend introduced me to Francine Rivers in college, my mom had mentioned that my grandma liked reading Francine Rivers too.

With that in mind, I’m thinking I will go back and re-read Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series for the February Bookshelf.