I have slowly but surely been making progress on my Yearly Bucket List. I can already tell I need to get going on more items, but I have been doing well on at least one item – reading books!

I set the goal of reading at least four books this year: 2 recommended by loved ones, 1 non-fiction and 1 just for fun. At this point I have finished two books, and I am a little more than halfway through my third. I was planning on waiting until I had finished all 4 books before posting about them, but I have enjoyed them so much I decided I couldn’t wait to share!!!

First was one of my recommended books. My mom tends to pass along books she has really enjoyed, and they tend to then make the rounds through my extended family. I got first take of Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson and I really enjoyed it!

It took a little while for me to get into it and get used to the tone of the writing, but once the story really dug in, I was hooked. It is such an appealing mix of history, the grim reality of life in a war zone, the pressure of society rules, and the power of love. This one ended leaving me wishing this was just book one of a series. I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to these characters!

Next was another recommendation, this one from a dear friend of mine. We have been fortunate to know each other for years and years, and we got to enter the wonderful craziness that is motherhood around the same time. She told me I HAD to read this book. That it had her crying happy and sad tears during a pedicure. SOLD! I ordered Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle right away and I’m so glad I did!!

I adored this book. The way her stories are laced with witty humor and raw honesty, but grounded in her faith in God was just perfect. I have so many pages earmarked, and I know Max got tired of me reading passages out loud to him… But it was just too good to not share! So to all you mamas out there, pick this one up. You can thank me later!

Now I am reading my non-fiction book, I Am Malala by the AMAZING Malala Yousafzai. Holy inspiring. This young girl is such an amazing person with the most astonishing maturity and clear understanding of the world she lives in – as it is now, and as it could be.

It contains a lot of history which has reminded me of just how small my world is, and how ignorant most of us are about the realities people all across the world are living each day. Her way of thinking and her dedication to peacefully fighting for the right to education are most definitely worthy of her Nobel Peace Prize. I can only hope to be able to raise Peanut to be such a confident, kind, patient, strong, determined, wise and family-focused woman!