Getting Back to the “Old Me”… the “Me” before kids
A few weeks ago a friend of mine had shared a screenshot of her “GoodReads” list on her personal instagram account and it clicked… I really need to get back to the things that I love and have missed over the last couple of years. Cue the excitement when I learned of and signed up for the 30 books in 2018 reading challenge.
Growing up I used to always have a book in hand it was truly something I really enjoyed. Perhaps it was my course load in college or the addition of kiddos that took me away from my love of reading. Maybe it was all the household chores. I’m not sure but it was likely all of the things listed above. One thing has become extremely evident, I’ve truly missed reading. There’s just something about reading a good book curled up on the couch under a warm blanket…
30 Books in 2018 Reading Challenge
Of course I have read a book here or there over the years and some more than others (kid books anyone?) but nothing like before I had my children. Needless to say, I downloaded the GoodReads app in the middle of January and have pretty much been reading about a book a week since.
“The More that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr Seuss
If I’m being honest I’m not exactly sure where the number 30 came from perhaps it was a suggestion on the GoodReads app? I wanted to share with you guys my current reading list. I know this list will change and evolve but regardless I wanted to share my starting list. It’s going to be fun to watch this list evolve over the course of the year.
30 Books And Counting
- Stronger than the Struggle – Havilah Cunnington – (*2/2/2018)
- The Magic of Motherhood – Ashlee Gadd – (*1/24/2018)
- Dance, Stand, Run: The God-Inspired Moves of a Woman on Holy Ground – Jess Connolly – (*2/18/18)
- Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely – Lys TerKeurst – (*4/16/18)
- Sing!: How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church – Keith & Kristyn Getty – (*2/25/18)
- Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living – Shauna Niequist – (*3/16/18)
- Wild and Free: A Hope-Filled Anthem for the Woman Who Feels She is Both Too Much and Need Enough – Hayley Morgan & Jess Connolly – (*4/3/18)
- If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free – Jamie Ivey – (*4/5/18)
- Fierce Faith: A Woman’s Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety – Alli Worthington
- Becoming MomStrong: How to Fight with All That’s in You for Your Family and Your Faith – Heidi St John – (*3/27/18)
- Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul – Hannah Anderson
- Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Kill The Spider: Getting Rid of What’s Really Holding You Back – Carlos Enrique Whittaker
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Magnolia Story – Chip and Joanna Gaines & Mark Dagostino – (*2/27/18)
- Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff – Chip Gaines (*2/3/18)
- Kisses From Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption – Katie Davis Majors
- Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and Beautiful – Katie Davis Majors
- Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What’s Right in Front of Me – Alexandra Kuykendall
- Own Your Life: How to Grow a Legacy of Faith, Love, and Spiritual Influence – Sally Clarkson
- Eat. Pray. Hustle: Dream Chasing God’s Way – Havilah Cunnington
- A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living – Emily Ley – (*3/10/18)
- Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life – Lara Casey
- The Turquoise Table: Finding Community and Connection in Your Own Front Yard – Kristin School
- Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life – Jen Hatmaker
- Always Enough, Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free – Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan (releases April 24th, 2018)*
- Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be – Rachel Hollis – (*3/9/18)
- More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated – Erin Odom
- Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – Brene Brown
- This Is Me: Loving the Person You Are Today – Chrissy Metz. – (*4/7/18)
- Love, Skip, Jump: Start Living the Adventure of Yes – Shelene Bryan – (*4/26/18)
- Adamant: Finding Truth in a Universe of Opinions – Lisa Bevere – (*4/30/18)
- Eat. Pray. Hustle.: Dream Chasing God’s Way – Havilah Cunnington – (*4/30/18)
*Books italicized, * and with dates have been read.
*I will be adding books that I read that are not on the list… Apparently I do this a lot. 😉 I was deleting books so that the list would stay at “30” but how silly is that? If a book made my list its because it was highly recommended to me or a book I truly want to read. As of April 30th, 2018 I have read 17 books. My 3 favorites (so far) from this list would have to be Stronger than the Struggle by Havilah Cunnington, Becoming Mom Strong by Heidi St. John and definitely Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis!
2018 is my QUEST to Read More
I’m sure that over the course of this year that I will be on and off with my reading and that my list may look vastly different by the end of the year. Personally I am very excited to read “all the books.” I’m really excited about this book challenge. Never before had I even heard of a book challenge, I’m glad I downloaded the GoodReads application. Reading 30 books in a year is probably super easy for some people. I am aware of the challenge this is going to be for me and I am truly excited.
Do you have a GoodReads account? Let’s connect on there! I’m not exactly sure how to do so but, don’t be shy. Send me an email or leave a note below and we’ll figure it out! Also, I am curious if you have any book recommendations for me? I am always open to hear your recommendations! Thanks everyone!
*List Updated 5/1/2018
10 Comments
Nicole
February 5, 2018 at 9:16 pmWow, the only ones of these I’ve heard of are the Magnolia ones! I think I should do a reading list like this, too! Maybe it’ll hold me accountable for reading more 🙂 Thanks for the great suggestions! I’m gonna add some to my Goodreads right now!
graceinspiredhome
February 15, 2018 at 12:08 pmNicole! Ever since I downloaded the GoodRead app on to my phone I see the darn little icon lol… then I remember oh yah I gotta go read my book. 😉 I’ve got goals ya know? I love watching the bar go up as I’ve read more and more of the book. It’s so weirdly satisfying ha!
Kim
February 6, 2018 at 5:55 amThanks for sharing and these are all inspiring. I hope you get a chance to read them all.
graceinspiredhome
February 15, 2018 at 12:06 pmHi Kim! Thanks goodness I hope I meet my goal – 30 books in a year. I’m really thinking its attainable! My kids are finally at the stage where I can sit on the couch and read a little here and there without having to get up non-stop 😉 It’s been a joy sitting down to read!
Kristen
February 6, 2018 at 10:23 pmWow there are so many great books on here! I am definitely saving this to come back to later, thank you!
graceinspiredhome
February 15, 2018 at 12:05 pmThanks Kristen! So far my favorite that I’ve read is Stronger than the Struggle by Havillah Cunnington! I have been debating writing up reviews as I finish the books… maybe I will! Thanks for stopping by Kristen!
Kippi
February 15, 2018 at 8:19 pmReady to get my read on 🙂
graceinspiredhome
February 16, 2018 at 8:32 amThanks Kippi! :):)
Dena @ Batch of Books
April 3, 2018 at 8:52 amThe only book on your list that I’ve already read is Big Magic and it was amazing. Eat, Pray, Hustle sounds right up my alley and I’ve added a few new books to my TBR thanks to your list. Best of luck with your reading this year! Books bring so much joy into my life. Happy reading!
graceinspiredhome
April 13, 2018 at 1:48 pmOhh I’ll be sure I get to that one then since you so highly recommend it!!! I love Havilah Cunnington and honestly highly recommend her books. The Eat, Pray Hustle book is a devotional. I wish that it were just a book because I want to read through it real fast ha! :X