twenty two: my blogroll

About 2 years ago I stumbled upon the blogging world and was fascinated to find so many people sharing their ideas, gifts and lives with the world. And now here I am, one of them! 

Today's Blogtember Prompt: Introduce us to 5 blogs you read on the regular, and tell us why!

My Real Life Friends
Echoes of My Heart
Katie has been a mentor and friend since my early high school days. I am privleged to be on her encouragement team as she follows God's call and pursues her writing and speaking. She inspires me to live genuinely, think deeply and put it all on the line. I've also guest posted for her Psalms and Isaiah 40 series. 

Alyssa Wagner Photo
Alyssa has been a friend since our pre-teen days, back when we called each other by Veggie Tales nicknames! We went to college together, I stood in her wedding and she's one of my very dearest friends. She's an incredibly talented photographer and I never miss one of her posts because of the sheer beauty. She inspires me to laugh, go adventure, capture the little moments and enjoy great things. Lyss was my personal attendant at our wedding and she blogged a few of the images she snagged along the way. She's also responsible for my lovely profile pic to your left. 

One of my favorite wedding photos captured by the talented Alyssa Wagner.

Good Eats

Skinny Taste

If you're looking for healthy, easy and delicious recipes this website is great! I've made over 30 recipes and they have legitimately all been good. 

Inspiration

A Holy Experience- Ann Voskamp is a unique and beautiful writer, I loved her book, One Thousand Gifts and the daily inspiration she brings. 

Naptime Diaries- This was one of the very first blogs I started reading regularly and I admire Jess Connolly's intentional approach to goal setting, health and life. 

She Reads Truth- In 2012 a tweet sent me to the website of She Reads Truth and I started following the daily blog with devotions and Bible readings. It was instrumental in helping me to form a daily pattern of being in God's word. I'm not currently following their studies but if you're looking for something to get you in God's word I highly recommend this resource, they even have an app, now! 

Are you a blog reader? I'd love to know if you enjoy any of my recommendations! 

seven: what I read {blogtember edition}

Remember when I missed day 5 about passion? I get nerdily passionate about books, reading and reading lists. As evidence see this and this and yesterday, I'm pretty sure I talked about books yesterday.

As a middle schooler I remember feeling like I needed to move and go outside but I didn't want to stop reading so I rollerbladed in circles around a basketball court while reading. Impressive, I know.

Here's what my nose has been into lately, the ones that I would recommend at least. For more check out my goodreads list. In 2014 I've read 46 books, I better get serious if I'm going to beat last year's 103!

CURRENTLY READING
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
The Daily Chronological Bible (just finished Ezekiel and Daniel, Job is up next!)

RECENTLY READ
Christian Living --- The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst
I read this in one day on my personal retreat and filled about 10 pages of notes and journaling. I highly recommend it, I had a "lightbulb" moment about living with a fixed vs. growth mindset and have made some really healthy changes as a result.

Fiction --- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 
For a book lover this was so fun. It's about a bookseller of a small independent bookstore on an island. Doesn't that sound dreamy?

Fiction --- A Week In Winter by Maeve Binchy 
A perfect vacation read, a story you can get wrapped up in but not too fluffy. Pretty sure I need a trip to Ireland after reading this one!

Non Fiction --- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg 
While I didn't agree with everything in here I found this a really fascinating non-fiction read about women in the workforce. I'm the only female on my immediate team and while I work with a great group of respectful and caring men there were definitely some tips that I picked up from her. If you read on the Kindle the last 30% is references and notes so it's a lot shorter than you think!

ON MY TO READ LIST 
Restless by Jennie Allen 
The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith 
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

ALL TIME FAVORITES
Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, Bread & Wine all by Shauna Niequist (she's my favorite)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
 Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, Babysitters Club, Chronicles of Narnia (all childhood favorites I'd happily read again)

I'm excited to see what everyone else in the #blogtemberchallenge is reading! Have you read any of my books? What else should I add to my list?

three: grown up dreams

Alternatively you could title this, "My Ode To The Library." 

Today's #blogtemberchallenge is... 

Sept 3rd: "When I grow up I want to be...." Feel free to answer as your 5-year-old self or as of now.

When it came time for pre-school I went to the library. Once a week we gathered around our small wooden tables while our parents browsed through the stacks and played with other kids, made crafts, and drew pictures in shaving cream. (In hindsight that one doesn't really fit, I'm not sure what those crazy library people were thinking.) Every week we ended with the librarian reading stories out loud. And that's when 5-year old Abby knew, someday she wanted to be a librarian.

I love the library. I really do. I always have. I have no problem being silent and I love the hush and solemness  found within the tall and dusty shelves. The idea of helping someone find their next great read gets me excited as does cracking open the pages of a book I've never read.

Funny library story, (who has funny library stories? #booknerd) when I moved to my current home as an adult I went to the library right away to get a card and was told that until I would need to be on "library probation" for a month until I could prove I was responsible to return books. The only bad part was that as a part of my probation I could only check out 3 books at a time. For a 5 book regular I could barely stand the restrictiveness. Thankfully I was found worthy and the library and I have reconciled.

I don't work at the library now and maybe I never will but maybe someday that'll be my retirement job and you'll find me leading story time, but probably not letting 4 year-olds play in shaving cream.

The love of reading probably won't ever leave me. In 2013 I read 103 books! In this post I listed some of my favorites. Want to see what I'm currently reading? Check out my GoodReads profile.