What I'm Reading: March

February was both a blur and the slowest month ever.

I turned 28.
I enjoyed the Olympics. (Therefore I got far too little sleep.)
Josh's man crush inherited The Tonight Show. (Note: even less sleep.)
I fell down the front steps of the school. Still have a pretty nasty bruise to prove it. (John and I are on a self-declared winter break from school.)
John watched The Lion King for the first time. We have been learning about being sad and scared during movies together. (He is beginning to understand that The Lion King is NOT Alex the lion part four.)
I have enjoyed spending times indoors with my boy, but I'm very literally itching (when bellies grow, they itch; winter-y dry skin isn't helping) to get outside! March, be good to us!

I survived the blessed month of my birth thanks to reading.
Reading is an escape, an encouragement, and something that I can usually do without falling.

During February I successfully read several books.

Hosea (a new favorite), Joel (a reiteration of truths revealed last February), and Amos (including a fresh promise for tomorrow). God is good!

I finished Paper Towns in record time. It was a page-turner! And as a former pseudo-English teacher, I appreciated all the literary references therein.

Kisses from Katie challenged me. It was as if Katie flew over from Africa and kissed me on the cheek during this bleak February. Her words continue to challenge my lifestyle, and I cannot wait to post more about this book in this space very soon. I highly recommend anyone who longs to lose their life to gain Someone better, read this book! 

I am still reading the gospel of Matthew and The Ministry of Motherhood. I've read bits & pieces of Ephesians, but I find myself wanting to study it (and I have studied parts of it this month), but I've decided to drop the Ephesians bit and just move on to something in the New Testament that speaks to my spirit this March. My mama brain often finds the writings of Paul difficult. :)

Well, it's a new month, and I have high hopes for you, March. Let's warm up, but in the meantime, let's do some reading! Here's what I'm reading, March edition:

Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk & Zephaniah
Let's hear it for the minor prophets! I tend to gain such momentum when I get to this portion of my daily Bible reading. Maybe it's because they're short, and I have the ADD personality type #ENFP. But I have always really heard from God during my readings of the minors. Just a few days ago, as I finished the final chapter of Amos, God caused words to leap off the page as He promised me a new thing He's getting ready to do. I cannot wait to hear His voice and heed His guidance during this next month. What a thrill!

The Gospel According to Matthew
I am continuing the gospel of Matthew. I am begging God to answer me this question as I read: How can I follow Jesus's example (that He set with His Twelve) as I seek to disciple my Two? Many days, He answers. Other days, He asks questions of me. And others, He has in mind something completely different. I adore and aim to always be reading the life of Jesus. He's my perfect example, full of grace and truth, after all.

James
This letter seems to coincide with many of the themes God is streaming through my life (and my social media applications) at this point. I am really, really exhausted of religious people pursuing change through rules/politics when Jesus called us to live a life of love. James wrote things like this: "Mercy triumphs over judgment." This resonates with me, y'all. After I finish James, I'll likely camp in the epistles of John because I just want the reminder to love one another to wash over me and do ministry to my soul. I am exhausted of hearing the voices, but not experiencing the love. (Preaching to myself as always.)

Sparkly Green Earrings (Melanie Shankle)
I had the privilege of sitting under Melanie's teaching at Allume. She just seemed like my people. A little loud. A little crazy. A lotta Bible. A good storyteller. I added her book to my reading list that day (now books as she just released a second). Sparkly Green Earrings is a memoir of motherhood. I love reading, laughing, and being encouraged by the stories of others. While I am learning the hard lesson that comparing myself to other mommies is a totally meaningless pursuit, I am also learning that relating with, laughing with, and finding encouragement in other mommies is a balm to my soul! Bring it on, Big Mama! I'm ready to learn from your life and laugh with you.

An Abundance of Katherines (John Green)
I'm super excited for the second installment in my John Green adventure with my husband (Note: Josh's favorite writer). Josh picks up the books for me (because I'm not allowed to check out books from the library. Once again, #ENFP) or digs them out of storage in the basement (because I'm not allowed to go down there other than for laundry purposes - not sure why, I just made this rule for myself #creepy). I plan to read this book over the weekend while Josh is home (when I can shirk my mothering responsibilities a bit) because I know I won't wanna put it down once I start.

The Ministry of Motherhood (Sally Clarkson)
My goal is to finish this book this week. We shall see ...
I should probably read this book (and all of her books) with more intention, but I know that I will read it again soon. Thus, I am simply noting what I notice, delving deeper where God leads me, and then tucking it away for a few months before pulling it out again to read with women God entrusts/has entrusted. This stuff is simply too good to only read quickly and alone. I am craving a group to bounce ideas and practical applications off of. I want these words to take deep root in my heart and in the hearts of other mommies. It's that good! Stay tuned ...
God is moving in my heart fierce for mamas!

Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls (Gary L. Thomas)
Nothing, nothing, nothing has shaped my soul quite like mothering. {That would be an understatement.} My favorite, favorite blogger, Lisa-Jo Baker, raves about this book. She keeps re-reading it, and I keep re-reading her blog, so it must contain some worthy, gospel-saturated thoughts about parenting. I am giddy about reading this book. I plan to be both encouraged (I'm doing it, y'all; I'm Mama) and spurred on (I wanna parent with my guts for all the glory that He deserves).

It's gonna be a good month.

Happy National Reading Month!

I also have on order Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson (Sally's husband). Josh and I are going to read this book slowly, with intention. We have a toddler and are currently enduring the "wonderful two's." I've heard that three is the new two, so Josh and I want to be prepared to gently and thoughtfully guide John through his own shortcomings and selfish ways (even as we are guided by God through our own). Thank you, God, for giving us John (and sweet bro/sis) to disciple after Your Heart. We do not take this lightly! (Therefore, I am not promising that this book will get finished during March. Read: Not. Gonna. Happen.)

I am excited to continually record my wee little thoughts here on the good stuff that I'm putting into my wee little head. I'd also LOVE to know what y'all are reading. (???)

Happy March, fam!
xoxo, Ash