Rural Simplicity

 Today Rural Simplicity is bringing you a Reading Challenge for the new year!  25 Books in 2025.      This is a very personalized list that came about when my favorite reading challenge people didn't put out a reading challenge for next year. I plopped myself down in front of my large TBR (to be read) stack and started making a list of categories.       I am going to walk you through my list in comparison to my TBR stack to give you an idea of where you could start. But like any good reading challenge you will nudge it this way and that to fit your needs and lifestyle. One thing I would not recommend is  fitting it to your likes.  One point of a reading challenge is to broaden your perspective and get you out of your comfort zone. One last point to address is that it's okay to not finish the challenge by December 31st. Again your goal is to read, not finish, or rush, or stress out. Just read and enjoy. Let it soak in slowly and cons...

Week 48 - Gather I am thankful for my church family and the blessing to worship freely every time we worship together.  Week 49 - Bokeh Christmas music and Christmas lights make for the most lovely and peaceful winter nights! Week 50 - Numbers Wrapping gifts and counting down the days! Week 51 - Winter The "look" of winter doesn't hit for a while, if ever, in West Virginia. But, the cold does and so of course do winter activities like reading and bundling up in fuzzy pajamas.  Week 52 - Hope/Peace/Joy Looking ahead to a new year and life with the hope and knowledge of God's guidance and ultimately eternal life with Christ!  Planning good habits, looking for ways to see God in everything, rearranging schedules to meet needs, and enjoying the planning process and God's gift to humans of organization and method.  What a fun project this year! I am amazed that it's over and that I completed all fifty-tw...

Week 44 - Spooky After almost finishing a full year of a photo a week, this is only my second "old" picture. This was my halloween costume from last year. We did not dress up this year, and I didn't have a chance to find a fun spooky landscape. I'm not really into spooky, so I'm afraid I didn't try very hard.  Week 45 - Motion Time is never rushed or in a hurry, And yet we go through life in a flurry, Always' saying 'I'm going to be late', As if it were your greatest fate. Time has always been and will always be, Not like your, or like me. We go on and complain, Every day is always the same, Never enough time, For my life is in the prime. There's so much to get done, And not much time for fun. Time cannot be stored. Time we can't afford. Time is time, And it won't decline, To the things ahead. Time has nothing to dread. Week 46 - Remember We remember our veterans and those who gave their yout...

I've hit upon a super fun read recently by the author Trenton Lee Stewart. They are called "The Mysterious Benedict Society" They are each about 430 some pages but quick reads due to the exciting nature of the books. There are three immediate books in the series and then a fourth that (as far as I understand, I haven't read the fourth one yet) delves into a little bit of the history of the series. It is about four brilliant and gifted children, helping an equally brilliant and gifted man overcome many puzzles and obstacles to overthrow the bad guy. I read all three books in about a week and a half, because the books just wont leave you alone. I kept dreaming about the characters and putting off chores to read the books. It's probably a good thing they are finished. (except that fourth one that's a little different.) A Few Other Reads:  Jayber Crow - Wendell Berry I almost quit this book multiple times because Jayber's lifestyle and inner thought...

Week 39 - Neighbor Country life, not many neighbors. Peace and quiet.  Week 40 - Golden I love the calming flame of fire. Candle, fall bonfire, fireplace evening fire.  Week 41 - Passion Nurturing the little people in my life is my passion. Teaching them to work with their hands. Generational teaching (this is at Grandma's house) helping them love hard work and hard people.  Week 42 - Framed Week 43 - Low Key Here are the previous weeks journals in case you want to look back. Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-9 Weeks 10-13 Weeks 14-18 Weeks 19-22 Weeks 23-26 Weeks 27-30 Weeks 31-34  Weeks 35-38

My book list has gotten out of control again and at the worst time. I was in the middle of book mania, doing Bible study homework weekly, started a Charlotte Mason book club with weekly readings, and of course I had a small(ish) stack of books that I was in the middle of reading or about to start on my nightstand... and then pregnancy brain hit. Oh dreaded pregnancy brain - where a poor, tired mom now can't even do the simplest tasks without messing everything up.  (for those of you who keep up to date with my posts, this is the very same reason there was no post last week.) This has definitely been the worst case of it so far, and reading a book is not even on my radar right now. I'm pretty good with a few school books in the morning with my kindergartener, but by the time I have a moment to read, my brain has long ago checked out. So here is a list of books I've finally gotten around to finishing, or finished in the last few weeks or months and simply haven't ha...

Week 35 - Sunset This was a hard subject, I live down in a valley and rarely see a full sunset. At this time of year I am home putting children to bed when the sun is setting. We stayed out late after church for a special hotdog and ice-cream treat and the perfect sunset accompanied us.  Week 36 - Wisdom There is a wealth of wisdom to be gained from reading. Fiction or nonfiction, novel or biography, self-help, textbook or commentary.  Week 37 - Over the Moon We are over the moon excited about welcoming our third child into the family! Week 38 - Fall Fall equniox is a favorite around here. We love the cool weather, the end of the mosquitos, and the beginning of a new season, school, and the coming of holidays. The food is yummy, the clothes are cozy, and the hot drinks are delicious. I'll list the previous weeks in case you want to look back. Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-9 Weeks 10-13 Weeks 14-18 Weeks 19-22 Weeks 23-26 Week...