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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / recipe / 8 new books to share with you…

8 new books to share with you…

April 14, 2020 · 6 Comments
Filed Under: books, for fun, recipe

I’m eager to share with you a few of the books I’ve read the last few months, along with what I’m currently reading. When I open a book and process the written words of truth, goodness & beauty, I am edified. My mind expands and my heart settles into a state of peace.

As a mother of four young children, ages 7 years, 5-1/2, 4 and almost 2, I’ve found my hand naturally reaches for books in the following categories: Christian living, homeschooling, and memoir. These are the categories that fill me with much-needed truth, goodness & beauty. They pull me from my own seemingly despair and remind me, we are doing the good work of mothering together.

Tell me, what is your relationship with books? Are you a reader?  What shapes your reply?

Reading has been a wonderful companion throughout my life, ever since I was a young girl. But even if that’s not the story you’d tell of your life, you can begin enjoying and reading books today. Having grown up “a reader” isn’t a prerequisite to enjoying reading now. Here is a wonderful book list to help you get started.

With a gentle commitment, I average finishing two books each month. There are many highs & lows during my mothering and teaching our children, but what I’m beginning to notice about myself is this: books remind me I am capable of accomplishing great things. With patience, I can enjoy the time needed for the story to unfold.

During my recent time offline, in which I spent three months writing purely for myself (glorious! freeing!), I finished reading a small stack of books. May I share the titles with you? ;)

RECENTLY READ BOOKS:

Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons

Mere Motherhood: morning times, nursery rhymes, and my journey towards sanctification by Cindy Rollins

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Educated: a memoir by Tara Westover

CURRENTLY READING:

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart

Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story Between Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis by Patti Callahan

our Easter Sunday frittata (helpful baking instructions found here)

Now, in the spirit of sharing “things” that edify, may I also share with you some of the meals I’ve made recently? I’m always eager to find new recipes, or even simple meal ideas, that satisfy my family of six.

Not only am I looking to soothe our hunger through a meal, but I want to awaken our sense of taste. Food is something we can delight over, which is especially comforting during this season of intense laboring & heart training. Not just for my children, but for myself, too ;)

The five meals I’m sharing below can be modified to fit your family’s preference. Just keep an open mind, and think through what would serve you best.

RECENTLY PREPARED MEALS:

asian chicken wraps with peanut sauce

bell pepper nachos

mediterranean couscous salad

shepherds pie with cauliflower topping

garlic butter herb chicken with asparagus

 

You know I’m going to ask: what are you reading these days? Have you read any of the books on my shared lists? What does mealtime look like in your home? Which “sense” do you enjoy awaking?

xx, Maggie

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6 Comments
Filed Under: books, for fun, recipe

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Comments

  1. Ange says

    April 18, 2020 at 9:57 pm

    I’m reading Life Giving Parent by the Clarksons, The Way I heard it by Mike Rowe, and I sneak a few pages of Jean Fleming A Mother’s Heart. It’s such a good book, I reread it often. My husband and I are slowly working through the Chou’s new Foundation book. And of course all the read alouds with my gang of four boys(8 and under). I go through times of feasting on books then sort of burn out. I’m trying to learn to Pace myself. Great article!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 21, 2020 at 11:09 am

      I just love the wisdom and encouragement the Clarkson’s share with the world, don’t you?! Thanks for taking a moment to share what you’re reading :) xx

      Reply
  2. Julia says

    April 27, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    I’m currently reading through:
    None Like Him by Jen Wilkin
    Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
    The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner
    Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger & more
    The Little Veggie Patch Co. by Fabian Capomolla & Mat Pember
    And listening to Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas on audiobook from my library

    I really need to stop starting so many at one time ‍♀️

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 27, 2020 at 8:19 pm

      This is a fantastic list! So many intriguing titles, I’ll have to look them up. Thank you for the comment, Julia. Hope you’ll stick around. xx

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Life around here + FAQ - Maggie Whitley Designs says:
    April 28, 2020 at 8:40 am

    […] around here looks like reading a lot of books. Here’s a short recap of what I’ve read recently, plus what I’m currently reading. My children are reading all the books on animals, dolls, […]

    Reply
  2. What do you consider "a good book"? - Maggie Whitley Designs says:
    July 23, 2020 at 11:56 am

    […] April I published a post of book titles worth sharing, and to me these are all “good books”. But the longer I thought about this shared list […]

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
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