Books read in 2018....

The goal for this year was to read 52 books.....and i completed it with 21 days to spare and added 3 more to the 52 
Totaling 55, for those who struggle with simple math, #handraised because honestly i usually struggle. 

Sisters-Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours-Lisa Wingate

Matched-Ally Condie

Kissing Father Christmas-Robin Jones Gunn

Waves of Mercy-Lynn Austin

The Precious One-Marisa de Los Santos

At Home in the World-Tsh Oxenreider

The Light we Lost-Jill Santopolo

The Noel Diary-Richard Paul Evans

The Masterpiece-Francine Rivers

Beartown-Fredrick Backman

The Turquoise Table-Kristin Schell

In This Moment-Karen Kingsbury

The Broken Road-Richard Paul Evans

The Shadow Sister-Lucinda Riley

The Broken Way-Ann Voskamp

Murder on the Orient Express-Agitha Christie

Bittersweet-Shauna Niequist

Flora & Ulysses-Kate DiCamillo

Miracle on the 17th Green-James Patterson

A Name Unknown-Rosanna M. White

An American Marriage-Tayari Jones

Crossed-Ally Condie

If I Run-Terri Blackstock

The Christmas Wedding-James Patterson

If I'm Found-Terri Blackstock

If I Live-Terri Blackstock

I'll Be Your Blue Sky-Marisa de los Santos

There You'll Find Me-Jenny B. Jones

The Pearl Sister- Lucinda Riley

The Invisible Library-Genevieve Cogman

Sandy Toes-Robin Jones Gunn

Salty Kisses-Robin Jones Gunn

Sunset Lulaby-Robin Jones Gunn

My Plain Jane-Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Austenland-Shannon Hale

Three Wishes-Lisa Tawn Bergren

Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately-Alicia Cook

Book of  a Thousand Days-Shannan Hale

Come & Eat-Bri McKoy

Discipline that Connects-Jim & Lynne Jackson

Horseradish-Lemony Snicket

Embraced-Lysa Terkeurst

The Mysterious Howling-Maryrose Wood

The Ministry of Ordinary Places-Shannan Martin

Poldark-Winston Graham

Cozy Minimalist Home-Myquillin Smith

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage-Ann Pattchet

Where We Belong-Lynn Austin

Chasing Slow-Erin Loecher
Demelza-Winston Graham
Jeremey Poldark-Winston Graham
Warleggan-Winston Graham
The Read Aloud Family-Sarah MacKenzie


Then there is this fun detail about the books i read this year.
you can click here on last years book list and see the book list from the previous years as well.

Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

A Thrill of Hope

Click below for....

Christmas photos through the years

Good Grief

The Stages of grief are an interesting thing. How do you walk through the first stage when another one faces you?
I don't really have the answer except to just walk through them all individually. Every stage is important for one reason or another.

Things I Learned this Fall

I participated in this link up with Emily P Freeman when she did what she learned every month. she has now revamped it to what she has learned in each season. 
Here is mine:

1. Bridges to songs are my favorite

2. Who actually really cares

3. There is something special about borrowing a book from someone and seeing what they underlined and marked and circled and noted. It gives you a little glimpse into their heart.

4. I feel like i have known this for a while, but actually writing it down and marking it as something, for whatever reason in the fall i usually slow down on the book reading. I really haven't figured out what it is about the season that makes me slow down. The books don't seem to be uninteresting but for some reason i slow down which is shocking to me because chilly weather and warm drinks make me think, i want a cozy chair and a book but it just doesn't happen that way.


5. On our last night of our cruise, I mentioned to my hubby that i was glad that we waited till our kids were 8 and 11 to take them on their first cruise. that i couldn't imagine taking them any younger. he leaned in and said, "and maybe they could have even been older."
I made the comment after seeing a set of parents juggling a 9ish month old baby and a toddler at dinner and not seeming to enjoy it all.

6. The Month of October holds a new meaning for me. Aside from it being my most favorite month, it now holds the realization that breast cancer has touched our family.

7. a mammogram appointment seems scary, especially when your little sister is walking through the battle of breast cancer.
I posted about my very first one and this was what i said:

So this happened, yesterday. 
Maybe you've seen my posts about my sisters journey, you've most likely seen hers.
.
My very first mammogram 
These gowns aren't the prettiest but there is something comforting about them.
They aren't scratchy like the paper drapes. And while I know they get cleaned between patients there is something soft and comforting about them. Knowing they have been draped over the shoulders of countless women who have gone before me, had this procedure, been brave and strong through positive and negative outcomes.
I didn't feel nervous but teared up when i started talking to the tech. She was kind and compassionate. Gentle in her answers and instructions.
.
I was told I would either get a call back and not to worry about that call back, it was in fact my first. Or a letter. It's been over 24 hours and I haven't gotten a call back. Guess it will be a letter. Also guessing that means all is well. .
So here is the first year of tests to be preventative and proactive as my little sister told me. #checkyourself

Books read this Fall:
October:
Poldark by Winston Graham
Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

November:
Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner
Where We Belong by Lynn Austin