Journal of a Busy Mom

living one day at a time

Reading Book Choices for 2014

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Last year I made some reading goals. I had decided to read one book for leisure and one book for learning. I did fall short. I ended up reading 6-8 books in all. I think its time-no, I know its time. I don’t understand how mom’s who read 35 books in a year get anything done! That’s 3 books a month! I can barely get through one. So, instead of beating myself up because I did not reach my reading goal, I am going to try again.

This time, I am deciding when I will carve the time:

1) Twice a week when I take my daughter to her riding lessons I will take my books with me and read.

2) I am also going to carry my books in the car so I have them with me if I’m stuck somewhere like a doctor’s office.

3) Anytime we are driving somewhere (more than 30 minutes) I will bring my book.

I am hoping that just these things will help me get through my reading list.

So here is my list, broken up into categories: Spiritual, Self-Help, Fiction, and Parenting/Homeschooling.

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Spiritual:
Mission Possible: The Wonderful Story of God and a Wycliffe Translator in the Jungles of Papua New Guinea

Evidence for Jesus: Discover the Facts That Prove the Truth of the Bible

Captured by Grace: No One Is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God

The Bible Jesus Read

God’s Will God’s Best: For Your Life

Why Pray?: 40-days from words to relationship

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Self-Help
Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell: Winning Weight Control Strategies for Women Over 35 to Stay Fit Through Menopause

Who You Are When No One’s Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life

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Fiction:
Locked Rooms: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes

Can You Keep a Secret?

The Miracle at Speedy Motors: A No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Novel (#9)

Wuthering Heights

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Parenting Homeschooling:
Dating with Integrity: Honoring Christ in your relationships with the opposite sex
(reading before my teenager does)
I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance
(reading before my teenager does)
Preparing Him for the Other Woman: A Mother’s Guide to Raising Her Son to Love a Wife and Lead a Family
Shepherding a Child’s Heart
No Ordinary Child: Unlocking the Leader Within Your Child
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child’s Confidence and Love of Learning
There are other books that I really want to read on my Goodreads page. I hope to get to some of those too, but for now, this is it.

So for 2014 my personal reading goal is 20 books. That is not counting the numerous books I read with my children for homeschooling. It still seems like a lot, but I am hoping that with me actually planning when I will read it will help me to accomplish that goal. I may add or change books as the year progresses. I will be tracking my reading on Goodreads.com

Ligia

7 Day Challenge Day #5: Declutter Your House

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Day five of my Seven Day Challenge to “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode” is to declutter. Lucky for me I’ve been a Flylady for a while. Please visit Flylady.net if you do not know what the term Flylady means. Part of being a Flylady is to declutter. Not that I no longer have clutter at all.  I know that I need to get certain rooms in my house decluttered. My main room to declutter in our classroom. I have piles everywhere. I get overwhelmed some days. I have to spend some time this week decluttering. So here are the main things I need to do:

  • Put all the curriculum that we will not be using on the curriculum selling sites and get rid of it
  • Use the beautiful shelve in the classroom!
  • Get rid of the exercise equipment
  • Get rid of stuff that just doesn’t belong

This might take me a while….

Ligia

7 Day Challenge Day #4: Use Your Minutes Wisely

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The 4th Challenge, Use Your Minutes Wisely, requires me to write a short to-do list of things that need to be done today and set a timer for 15 minutes to get it done.

I already have an on-going list posted on a whiteboard above my workspace. I usually have 3-4 things on that list that need to be done. Unfortunately, somedays I don’t get to them. So I need to start putting on a 15 minute timer and working on each of the things on my list. Here the things on my list today:

  • Put Christmas Tubs away (yes, they are still out)
  • Post for sale items on homeschool classified site (this is more time consuming that 15 minutes)
  • Submit Lifestyle perks requests (gift cards I get for shopping)

I think the best time of day to try and tackle these things are at lunch time. I give the kids an hour to unwind after lunch and so that is my golden opportunity.

Ligia