I used to be a voracious reader.
I still am, in some aspects. My nightstand threatens to buckle under the weight of books, but I have difficulty FINISHING any of them.
In an effort to multitask, I’ve ended up spinning my wheels and gotten NOWHERE fast.
This year, I want to finish what I’ve started. I want to gain the satisfaction of seeing a project through from start to finish.
Ready for my list?
I don’t remember where I first found this book, but it goes on the ‘books I recommend for every Catholic parent’.
The spread of paganism and relativism has been silent but swift in our society. This book has opened my eyes to literature I read as a child, and alerts me to be wary of what I read to my own children.
Paul reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8 –
Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
2. We Worship
I ran across Catholic Home Study Services years ago. It’s an amazing resource for every Catholic, and it’s FREE!
There’s an entire series of books about our Faith. You can read through them on your own time, then take a test about the book to see how much you’ve learned.
I heard this book mentioned on a podcast a while back, and thought “Hey! That could come in handy for me.”
I’m a working mother and my job as an Emergency Room nurse is very challenging. Even if I didn’t work outside the home, this book would still be a very valuable resource.
We come in contact with people daily …. our families, other parents in playgroups and schools, and people at the grocery store. This books gives us the tools and challenges us to live our faith in the world around us – not just at Mass on Sundays.
As I struggle to create some semblance of rhythm to my days with many children, I keep seeing folks refer to this book.
I’ll be pulling this one back out soon, finishing it off, and working to create my own Mother’s Sabbath.
Filled with powerhouse Catholic women, I haven’t even cracked the cover on this one.
Sssshhhh. Greg and Jennifer Willits might kick me off the New Evangelizers team if they find out that I ordered this book but never got around to reading it.
Rachael Carmen and I are cut out of the same stubborn cloth. Both of us are reluctant converts to homeschooling, and we both struggle with our plans versus God’s plans.
8. Raising Your Spirited Child
I took the wrong approach with this book. I became frustrated while reading it, when it seemed like three of my children are spirited, all in different ways.
I’m going to start over, reading it this time with Rachel in mind.
9. The Temperament God Gave You
I read enough of this book to learn that I’m a choleric with sanguine tendencies. It’s time I finished the entire thing, to learn how that affects my relationships with my husband and children.
10. 10 Habits of Happy Mothers
I’ve checked this book out in e-book form 3 different times, but still never got around to reading it before it expired! I’m determined to get it done this spring.
I love this post from Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom about finding more time to read. I’m going to carry out some of her advice this week.
Do you have books you plan to finish this spring? I’d like to hear what’s on your must read list. (I might check them out once I’ve finished my own!) After you share your must read list, head over to Angie’s to find more Top Ten Tuesday fun!
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I'm Dianna - a Catholic homeschooling mother of five, trying to live my faith, teach my children and stay fit - all while trying to manage a large family without losing my mind. 
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I think I am going to read a couple of these books!! Staying sane is a wonderful idea. And guarding your child’s heart is something that all parents should be concerned with
Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: diannakennedy
February 18, 2013 at 2:34 am
Thanks so much for stopping in, Kay!
I’ve finished Landscape with Dragons since I wrote this … now, I’m working on Catholic Briefcase.
Twitter: koalabearwriter
February 10, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Those look like great books! I have The Temperament God Gave You on my reading list too.
Twitter: diannakennedy
February 18, 2013 at 2:37 am
I read enough to figure out what temperament I am — that was easy!
I’ve got one down, 9 to go !
Twitter: ReadingCatholic
February 17, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Dianna,
This sounds like a great collection of books. I’ve reviewed a bunch of them, if you want some pre-reading ideas!
Landscape with Dragons is a good start, more for discussion than anything. I admire Michael O’Brien a lot and enjoy his fiction, but this book inspires thought for discussion, rather than a following all his ideas. I don’t agree with everything in the book.
Happy reading!
Twitter: diannakennedy
February 18, 2013 at 2:53 am
I totally agree with LFD — O’Brien brings up some good points, but there are some I disagree with as well. (I am a gigantic Harry Potter fan.)
He does make a good point about following our guts and having a good moral/religious frame of reference. We used to be big Magic Tree House fans for a while around here, but as we’ve gotten further into the series, they’re delving further and further into magic. We listen to them on audio a lot, and seems like I heard something one night about a character coming back from the dead. I had to quickly stop the CD and remind Rachel that things like that were impossible, that only Christ rose from the dead. The story didn’t sit right with me, and we haven’t listened to any since then.
Food for Thought.
I’m working on Catholic Briefcase now and will head over to your site to get more ideas. My bookshelf may buckle soon!
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