A Mother's Basket of Books.

I was over at Creating with Wisdom a few weeks ago and came across Vicky's Book Meme and really liked the idea of listing some of my favourite books.

Some of my book shelves.

These three bookshelves hold some extra special memories for me. I love books and op shopping for them is one of my favourite things to do. One of my biggest gripes has been that bookshelves waist space and they really aren't made well enough to hold books the shelves always seem to bow under the weight.  When we moved to Australia my Dad lovingly made these three for me and I LOVE the fact that they are custom to what I wanted. 

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Book Meme

It hasn't been long since the last homeschooling meme. But if you are a book loving mother and would like to join in with another... Read on...

There is something very special about introducing someone to a favourite book. I wonder: Will she like it as much as I do? Will I discover we are kindred spirit book lovers?

All this talk of books made me think: What would I put in my basket of favourite novels?  Perhaps I might include some of the following children's and adults books:

Favourite books of my childhood
Two from Galilee The Story of Mary & Joseph- Marjorie Holmes
Christians Journey - Christopher Wright
Christiana's Journey - Christopher Wright

(I was not an avid reader till I was in my teens so don't remember that many books. )

Favourite books I have enjoyed reading aloud to my children
Doctor Doolittle - Hugh Lofting
Mountain Born -Elizabeth Yates
The Wheel on the School - Meindert de Jong
Strawberry Girl - Lois Lenski
Charlottes Webb - E.B. White
The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Elizabeth George Speare
Target Earth - Christopher Wright
Christians Journey - Christopher Wright
Christiana's Journey - Christopher Wright
The Cat of Bubastes - G.A. Henty
The House of Sixty Fathers - Meindert de Jong
Kildee House - Rutherford George Montgomery
A Basket of Flowers - Christoph von Schmid
The Phantom Tollbooth - Jules Feiffer
Black Horses for the King - Anne McCaffrey
The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare
Katie and the Mona Lisa  - James Mayhew
Carry on Mr Bowditch - Jean Lee Latham

Books I am reading aloud at the moment
A hive of busy Bees

Favourite Teaching  books **
The Hope Chest a legacy of love - Rebekah Wilson
Charlotte Mason Companion - Karen Andreola
Things We Wish We'd Known - Compiled by Bill and Diana Waring
Beyond Survival -  Diana Warring
Reaping the Harvest - Diana Warring
Raising a Modern Day Knight -
Honey for a Child's Heart - Gladys Hunt
What the Bible says about Healthy Living - Rex Russel
Passion and Purity - Elizabeth Elliot
Disappointment with God - Philip yancey
Where is God when it hurts ? - Philip Yancey
Silent Grief - Hinton
Power of a Praying Parent - Stormie O'Martin
Power of a Praying Wife - Stormie O'Martin
Captivating - John and Staci Eldridge
A Full Quiver - Rick and Jan Hess 
The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman
The Five Languages of Appology - Gary Chapman
Personality Plus - Florence Littaeur
Silver Boxes - Florence Littaeur
Prayer of Jabez -
A Life God Rewards - Bruce Wilkinson
Educating the WholeHearted Child - Clay and Sally Clarkson
Hairy Maclary - Lynley Dodd and any books by her.

Favourite True Stories **
I Dared to call Him Father - Sheikh
Ten Fingers for God the life and work of Dr Paul Brand - 
Alias Jungle Doctor - 
Jungle Calls - Ron Snell
Life is a Jungle- Ron Snell
There's a Jungle out there - Ron Snell
Life in spite of me - Kristen Jane Anderson

Favourite novels I’ve read
A voice in the Wind - Francine Rivers
An Echo in the Darkness - Francine Rivers
As sure as the Dawn - Francine Rivers
The Scarlet Thread - Francine Rivers
Moses - Ellen Gunderson Traylor
Joshua - Ellen Gunderson Traylor
This Present Darkness - Frank Peretti
Piercing the Darkness - Frank Peretti
The Left Behind Serries - Tim LaHaye and Jeffrey Jenkins

Authors I enjoy **
Wilbur Smith
Jeffrey Archer
Bryce Courtney
John Grisham
Clive Cussler
Francine Rivers
Ellen Gunderson Traylor

Novels I have recently enjoyed
False Impression - Jeffrey Archer
Cain and Able - Jeffrey Archer
Not a Penny more Not a penny less - Jeffrey Archer


Novels I am currently reading

No novels at present but I am reading:
GIFTS from the Hearth by Elizabeth R. Skoglund
For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaefer-McCauley
The Ministry of Motherhood - Sally Clarkson

(Although I enjoyed all these books and another mother might too, some of the books on my list are not suitable for children.)

There are so many other books I could include on my lists. This is only a sample. I wonder if you will find some of your old favourites here. Perhaps you will find something new you’d like to read.

Or perhaps you’d like to write your own lists and I will come and visit and share. Perhaps we will discover we are kindred spirits book lovers.

I hope the following people will share their favourite books.

Alecat from Serenades and Solace
Chelle from Last in Line
Erin from Seven Little Australians.  Found she has done hers already : My Book Love
Michelle from Homeschooling Downunder
And anyone else who'd like to share, please post your link in the comments section so I can come over and be inspired.

In Anticipation of reading more book Meme's
Blessings

P.S. I have added a few extra questions in as it better suited my list and made for easier listing. I have marked them with **

To make it easier to post your Meme here are the questions:

Book Meme
It hasn't been long since the last homeschooling meme. But if you are a book loving mother and would like to join in with another... Read on...

There is something very special about introducing someone to a favourite book. I wonder: Will she like it as much as I do? Will I discover we are kindred spirit book lovers?

All this talk of books made me think: What would I put in my basket of favourite novels?  Perhaps I might include some of the following children's and adults books:

Favourite books of my childhood
Favourite books I have enjoyed reading
Favourite books I have enjoyed reading aloud to my children
Books I am reading aloud at the moment
Favourite Teaching  books **
Favourite True Stories **
Favourite novels I’ve read
Authors I enjoy **
Novels I have recently enjoyed
Novels I am currently reading

(Although I enjoyed all these books and another mother might too, some of the books on my list are not suitable for children.)

There are so many other books I could include on my lists. This is only a sample. I wonder if you will find some of your old favourites here. Perhaps you will find something new you’d like to read.

Or perhaps you’d like to write your own lists and I will come and visit and share. Perhaps we will discover we are kindred spirits book lovers.

I hope the following people will share their favourite books

New Beginings

It's been nearly a month since I first started this new venture.  I am pleased to be back.  I have been surfing some encouraging bloggers and discovered a new challenge for this month that fits in really well with another challenge I have take on for home and self.

Today is a new start for me.  Last year I had a serious moment of "The grass is greener" and decided to look for a part time position.  I have spent the last year working 12 hours a week in the evenings as a Store Recovery associate at Big W.  Well as my year progressed I found that I have become more and more exhausted and have been neglecting both my family and my home.  I finally reached breaking point last month and had a chat with Paul and together we talked about my goals and priorities.  He was very supportive of me resigning and being once again a full time SAHM (Stay At Home Mother).  I feel as though this HUGE weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Now here I am feeling as though so much is spinning out of control and all I want to do is step of the planet and stand still !  I have found a few helps in the blogging sphere that I feel will help me gain control in a number of areas of my life.  I would like to share them here with you and invite you to join me on the journey.

First on my list is:

I have purchased this and had every intention of starting this on the 1 October but unfortunately life happened and it was not to be.  How ever I intend to start on Monday and will be blogging about this journey over here.  I invite anyone out there to join me on the journey.

The title of the eBook is 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha house the Mary way. This book has been written by Sarah Mae. Sarah has graciously provided a sample day (Day 1). 
I have had some time to look over this resource and it is something that provides baby steps and heaps of encouragement.  I have decided rather than work on clean for 31 days straight I will be working my way through the book/challenges from Monday to Friday.

Once you have purchased the book there is also a reader only download page containing a wonderful page of video's to encourage you on your journey (Sample). These video's have been created by Jennifer Ross from Renewing Housewives. The book costs US $4-99 and can be purchased on line. There is also a table of contents for you to look over.

Secondly

Today I discovered Courtney's blog called Women Living Well.  I am so pleased I stumbled across her little place in cyber space.  I have come away encouraged and inspired. Today I was reading about her 31 Day Fall Challenge - Making Your Home a Haven (for me it will be a spring challenge!)  

This challenge is NOT a daily challenge but rather a weekly challenge. 

• Week One's challenge: Purchase a candle. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home, I highly recommend her post:  Are you Distant or Engaged ?
• Week Two's challenge: Play soft music everyday Sing Dance Smile and Swoon and Making Your Home a Haven
• Week Three challenge: List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed because of all the clutter. An unplanned video of my clutter making your home a haven
• Week four challenge: Keep the candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family. Creating Family Nights
• Week five challenge: Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home.  Cook things with pleasant aromas

As Courtney Blogs her way through her challenges I will share the links here and update regularly.

Third but definitely not last !

Last weekend along with some beautiful women from Suburban Baptist Church we started Healthy Lifestyle by Careforce Lifekeys. This is a ten week course which we have started a bit late in the year so in order to complete it before the Christmas break we did session one, two and three last weekend.  I came home refreshed and encouraged to take ownership of my health, what I eat and what form of exercise I choose to do. 

• Session one was one which encouraged us to embrace life.
• Session two was all about Getting into Physical Activity. Part of this challenge is to choose to do a little more activity each day.  For me I would like to start walking and build up my endurance and speed.  I need to have a look at my schedule and see what will work without detracting from the time my family needs.  Any ideas would be appreciated.
• Session three looked at nutrition.  This is one in which there is nothing new but it was good to be reminded.    We also did a core training session using nothing but an exercise mat and a balance ball.  Really good workout.  I am sorry to report that no I have not repeated any of them this past week but this is something I am hoping to do at least twice a week.  However Sir N and I did get out and about on my bicycle and his tag along.
• Tomorrow will be session four:  Introduction to weight training. 

Blessings

Treasured Moments - 7

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Today is a treasured moment.  Today I am once again a full time SAHM (Stay At Home Mother)  Last year I suffered a really bad "The grass is always greener" moment and applied for an evening position at Big W as a Store Recovery Associate.  I have since been working 12 hours a week.  As the year wore on I became more and more exhausted and started neglecting so many things that needed to be done around here.  Final straw for me was once I started home schooling Sir N and found I was not giving him 100% that I had a chat with Paul.  I am pleased for the experience has taught me the full value of the priviledge I have of staying home full time with my treasures.

2.
Seeing Sir N climb up his first mountain. We went to Hanging Rock yesterday.

3.
Seeing Sir N jump up and down in delight when I said we can take the tag along out and go for a cycle together. My goal now that I am home is to go out daily together and enjoy the outdoors.

4.
Seeing Sir N land his first Rainbow trout when he went fishing with Paul at Hanging Rock yesterday.

5.
Yay I finally found a moment to work on GEMS 2 TOTS today and am really looking forward to investing in this blog.  Pop on over and share some of your thoughts.

To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings