The Power of Books

For all my life I have not been a huge book reader. Whether I haven't made the time or that I find they make me sleepy or maybe I feel like I have to go back and read something over and over again because I don't really read into what the words mean. During my training days at GROWMARK, I read lots of great books about improving customer service skills, sales skills, supervising skills and I could relate them to helping others and I would put my heart and soul into developing a great training program for my "customers." Throughout my schooling from elementary through college, teachers seemed to make us read a lot of crazy books like Tale of Two Cities, The Piano, The Scarlet Letter, Bridge to Terabithia and amazingly these are the books that I ended up loving and have copies in my "library" still today. Addison has really started to like pop up books...well at least the ones that you lift up a tab or pull out something to reveal a hidden animal. Needless to say no matter how deep I bury them in the stack, she pulls out the same ones every time and she carries them to Kevin or myself and we can't help but read them to her 3 times each.

Well I want to tell you about a few books that I have read or am starting to read. It seems that I have lots of time on my hands while being a full time mom and wife and I've been searching on how to be the best I can be as both. I was invited to be part of a Christian book club with some of the greatest women I have ever met and they have introduced me to some great books. The first book is called Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow. This book focused on becoming the woman, wife and mother you've longed to be and focuses on showing women on how to become more like the wise woman portrayed in Proverbs 31. She is the ultimate woman that God wants us to strive to become over our lifetime. I think the greatest gift this book gave me was the chance to really focus on different thoughts and doubts I've had about myself and get me reconnected with God, my husband, and my child. I felt I used to be so very strong in my faith when I accepted Christ as a fifth grader back at East Iowa Bible Camp. I was on fire!!! The over the years as my life got busier, God was there but I wasn't talking with Him as much as I used to. I'm on a quest to become a better follower which I know wil fill my life with the answers I need to be a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend and more. I want to start sharing with you through this amazing blog tool all the amazing things I learn so that I may be able to touch you all with the knowledge of some of God's great gifts as well.

Our next book for book club is called "Lies Women Believe and the Truths That Sets Them Free." We start discussing this book in April and continue through July so every two weeks I should have updates on what I've learned. If any of you out there want to start reading the book too and discuss thoughts via email I would love to do that. It has a companion guide that we will be filling out.