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Blessed by Books in 2017

2017 was awesome, in large part due to the self improvement and inspirational books I read. At the beginning of the year, I set the goal to read 20 books. For me, this was huge, considering that in 2016 I had only read 2 books from cover to cover. Reading with my kids has always been a priority, but, I was determined to make time for reading on my own!

 By the first half of 2017, I had already read 15 books. And by the end of the year, I read 28 books (not counting the many books I read to my kids, or scripture)--that's 14 times the number from the previous year! 

 Reading these books had a tremendous affect on my life! I have been truly blessed. I've learned and felt so much. I've felt enlightened and inspired. I wouldn't trade the year of reading for anything. And I will continue reading because I want to continue to learn and grow.

 Here are my favorites from 2017:

 The Miracle Morning, The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM), by Hal Elrod. Read it! Please! Read my post about living the Miracle Morning here.

 Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown. Wow! This book really helped me in considering what is important in my life, and how to focus my attention and eliminate the unnecessary. I want to say "yes" to every invitation to do something good. But this book helped me realize the importance of focusing on what matters most.

 No Greater Love, by Mother Teresa. She is so inspiring! I love her great faith and willingness to follow God, even when doing so requires great sacrifice. This book taught me so much about what it means to love. I highly recommend it! I also highly recommend the film, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I loved learning about her personality, which is very different than I had assumed.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. This book helped me better understand myself, my husband, my children, and people in general. It opened my eyes to how society views extroverts and introverts, and how we need to value the richness that comes from accepting the strengths of both.

 Covenant Keepers, by Wendy Watson Nelson. This book is fantastic! It helped me understand more what it means to be a person who has made covenants with God, and how those covenants can bless my life. And I loved her insight on the ministration of angels today, and how our ancestors are mindful of us and want to help us. A quick read.

 Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, by Francis Chan. I loved Chan's insights on God's love for us and how we can show our love for Him. This is the first Francis Chan book I've read, and I'd like to read more.

 The Whole Brained Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. Great insights on what our kids are going through and why. Understanding more about my children's brains changes my approach in dealing with issues.

 Most of these books are available on Audible.com, which you can try for free--I listen to most of the books I read. For more tips on finding time to read, check out my post, How Busy Moms Can Read More Books. 

 I'm going to read 20+ books again in 2018. I'm currently in the middle of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, and I know already it's going to be one of my favorites. I'm learning so much that will benefit me and my family! (It's free on Kindle Unlimited.)

 What are your reading goals for 2018?


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