Sherds from a jar of clay

Ok, you may not care. But since reading is what I really enjoy doing, even though I don't have much time to do it, thought sharing what I am reading might shed some light on me or might encourage you to read something you might not otherwise. I tend to read across lots of categories, and to have multiple things going at once so I will try to divide it up a bit.

Fiction: The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith I am not finding that I like it as much as his Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series but it is still interesting and not too hard of a read.
I am waiting for Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card and The Serpent on the Crown by Elizabeth Peters to come out in March. These are two of my favorite authors and since my reading for pleasure time is limited these days they tend to be anticipated priority reads. My other favorite series is Sharan Newman's Catherine LeVendeur series.


Non Fiction: How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex by Stanton and Brenna Jones This was recommended by my pastors wife and I am finding it very helpful, it not only deals with the topic of sex education well but also had interesting/helpful things to say about discipline.

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey I am only about 100 pages into this so far but am enjoying it and finding it helpful in thinking about what it means to be in the world but not of it in terms of world view and what makes being a Christian different as we live out the roles we have that it might be easy to consider as being merely secular.

Latest Helpful Homeschool Tool: 365 Days of Celebration and Praise: Daily Devotions and Activities for Homeschooling Families by Julie Lavender I got this after seeing a review in Homeschooling Today Magazine. I have only had it a couple of days but really like how in a short and simple way it combines scripture and prayer, historic events or fun/silly happenings and educational tie ins with out being too sappy seeming.

Bible Study/Christian Walk: In my Tuesday bible study we are currently using The Ways of Wisdom:Studies in the Book of Proverbs by Katherine Nielson. This authors studies are not published but are available directly from her. It is the second one we have done and I find them very good and their structure is especially helpful in developing a daily habit of study.

A Mom's Ordinary Day bible study series edited by Jean E. Syswerda I recently discovered this series and bought a couple. I haven't gotten far in it yet but love the way it is organized and what I have read so far. I look forward to delving in when I finish the proverbs study.

Prayer By O. Hallesby I trusted friend and mentor recommended this to help me as I deal with a number of things in my extended and far flung family where I can't do much more then pray and trust the Lord. I have only read 40 pages so far but it is very helpful and challenging. Prayer is so important and so often taken for granted or misunderstood it is good to read this. I just have to make sure I don't let reading be a substitute for actually praying.

I also read tons of picture books, chapter books and longer books to and with my kids but that is another story...