Favorite Reads from 2024

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If I could do parenting over, I would live more simply.  I would slow down and not feel the need to do so much, buy so much and be so much. Yes, I would do less because less is truly more. Except for when it comes to the library. Can I get an amen? Greed is not a thing when it comes to books on loan, right? Greedy about reading is a thing I want my family to be about. I love the above snapshot of my twins as seven year olds. Apparently, they couldn't wait to get to the car to crack open their library books and just sat down right in the elevator. 
This year's favorites were a lot of theology books and mid-grade novels. Here are a few...


The author was a pastor and an actual sheep-caring shepherd. I found captivating the parallels that he pulls from Psalm 23. An easy read but with a lot of depth. I felt like each chapter described varying stages of my Christian walk.

Definitively explains why Christianity hinges on the trinity. The one true living God in three distinct persons is communal and always has been. The God of true love pours out and is not self-seeking like other deities. 


Seasoned pastors might be my favorite type of author. How to Listen to God is uniquely practical and deep.  Scripture is clear that Christians are to keep close to the Word of God and the person of God.  The more I listen to Him, the more my desire for affirmation from people lessens. It's a beautiful thing.


The church has (largely) lost it's fear of God. And thus, we are not rejoicing and running into the arms of our Creator and Savior.  We are living scared yet well-controlled lives instead of daring and adventurous, peace-filled lives. We can fear the Lord in a way that is really reverent love once we know Him personally. This may be one of my top-ten favorites of all-time. 


Secrets secrets are no fun, secrets secrets hurt someone. Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret is very-well researched and fascinating. The cleverest lies seem like the truth.  But they are still lies. I will likely do a full blog post on this soon. The Enneagram, from what I can see, is what the New Testament repeatedly warns the church against: a false, harmful teaching speaking from demonic influence. 
(1 John 4:4) 


Norm Geisler and Frank Turek are excellent at breaking down complex concepts. A re-read for me. My kids tease me that I have a crush on Turek. I absolutely do not (I'm crushing always and only on Winston Gaynor). But, I did pay a good amount of money, drive seven hours by myself, and prepare an 11 minute presentation in front of world class apologists at Turek's Cross Examined Instructor's Academy.  Mainly because Frank Turek's podcast and books have been so instrumental in keeping me in the faith. If you aren't sure why you are a Christian, I don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist is the book for you. If you are an atheist, this book is for you. If you have a kid and they can't explain why the Bible matches reality, then this book is for you. If you have been in the church a while and have been let down, this book is for you.  I'm not a Christ follower because of any other reason besides the fact that I am firmly convinced that Christianity is true.  Believe me, this book is for you.


I couldn't put The Women by Kristin Hannah down. Possibly because I was in need of a good fiction read. I learned sadly, how little I knew about the Vietnam War. 



Basically I home school because I love to laminate things and read mid-grade novels. I am kidding but I do love to read aloud with my girlies in the middle of the day. I was thankful Adventures with Waffles was a read-aloud with all three of my daughters. I laughed so hard it hurt. It's also sweet and sad and all the things. 


A classic that I had never read. And an animal story that ends happy. So many moral dilemmas.  I would say this is a good read for 8-12 year olds.


We save ourselves by saving others. I love this book! I read it with one of my eight year olds, she is brilliant but likely would have enjoyed it more if she was a bit older.  Suitable maybe more so for teenagers.

Phillipians 4:8 tells us the need to focus on what is excellent. Reading good books points us ultimately to the reality that God is a God worthy of worship. I hope 2025 finds you well and with plenty of reading time!










































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