February reads

10 An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon    2/6    (eBook/hoopla)

52 Book club 24. Uneven Number Of Chapters

I read this for the Faith &Fables book club, but it had been on my TBR for a while, this just gave me the push I needed to actually read it. It was cute and funny. The main character Evangeline annoyed me at times, I adored the MMC Tai. He was kind and loving and seemed to have a solid faith in God.

A book doesn’t have feelings, but it does have a soul. Life exhaled into every word by the author and then breathed into each person who reads those same words. So, in a sense, books are both alive themselves and give life to others simultaneously.

“Bravery isn’t the absence of fear.” “No?” Her eyes watered. “What is it then?” He squeezed her fingers. “Bravery is just the voice telling fear he can’t win today.”

11 Bitter & Sweet by Rhonda McKnight    2/11    (print/own)

Our Alive BC pick for February. I wasn't a huge fan, I really did not like one of the characters and her storyline. I also felt there was so much more opportunity for faith to be woven in- and it wasn't.  Therapy though was a huge part of her story. Which don't get me wrong- I am not against therapy. But at the end (sorry spoiler!) she was like all you need is Jesus and therapy to find healing or something like that and I was like where was JESUS?! Anyway- over all it was an all-right story. 

The sky cast yellow and lavender ribbons in a post-card perfect pattern as the sun disappeared.  The sunsets over the foggy Blue Ridge Mountains in the Upstate blessed me with their own unique depth and beauty.  The contrasted with the vastness of low-country skyline in the evening.  Both stole my breath, slowed me down, made me aware of God's omnipresence, even in the moments I felt alone.

My mother made cakes in mason jars.  She called them sweet cakes.  Baking them created a warm feeling of connectedness to my mother, which I had to imagine because I never met her.

"I don't know.  All I know is God is still good.  He has good things for you, but you can't let this make you so bitter that you never get what God has planned."

12 The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini     2/16    (print/own)

52 Book club 28. From A Series At Least Eight Books Long

A reread, loved it. The beginning of The Elm Creek Quilts series. Like visiting old friends. Especially delightful as I am rekindling my own love for quilting. 

"A granddaughter deserves a handmade quilt.  It was a joy to make." (This line hit as I'm making my first granddaughter a quilt right now. DELIGHT!)

13 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 2/24 print own

52 Book club 23. Grumpy Sunshine Trope

Cousin book Club. Loved it! Hayden and Alice wind up together on a tiny Georgian island, competing to write the memoir of an eccentric recluse. It was a delight watching their stories unfold.

There’s an old saying about stories, and how there are always three versions of them: yours, mine, and the truth.

For the one you love? Anything. You unmake the world and build a new one. You do anything to give them what they need.

I find myself thinking that maybe every bit of heartbreak in life can be rearranged and used for something beautiful, that it doesn't really matter whether I chose this path or I was born onto it, so long as I stop and appreciate the path itself.

14 Emma M Lion V 5 by Beth Bower    2/27    (kindle/kindle unlimited)

52 Book Club 40. Authors First And Last Name Start With The Same Letter

The next installment of Emma M Lion and a complete delight! I was ready to jump into the next one as soon as I turned the last page. She's snarky and funny and so loveable.

He had a stack of five well-worn novels on a stool at its side. My heart softened at the sight. Just a touch.

A duke, a photographer, and a vicar? It sounds like an attempt at a clever riddle. What do you mean you’ve collected them? Are they behind glass in the hall? Please answer in the affirmative. I would be delighted.

I’ve always enjoyed the small turn that happens when one month folds into another. The exchange of the many for the one, the end for the beginning, over and over and over. My mother would say to look for bright things at a new month—“First day, Emma. What do you see gleaming?”

 He pulled the book of Whitman’s poetry from his pocket and handed it to me. “Thank you. I think you will find something here.” “Did you?” “A reminder that living is a thing of wonder.” “Yes.”

 15 Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson    2/28    (print/library)

I read this as part of my devotional time this month. I loved this book. It's a slim book but so much goodness packed inside.  This was a library copy or it would have been full of underlines and notations.  I may yet add it to my library.  It was just what I needed in this season and has so many things to ponder as well as practical advice for implementing in your life.

Like Jesus, you and I need a Peter, James and John in our lives-- a close-knit group of family or friends we encourage and are encouraged by.  We need a small tribe of people who have placed God at the center of their concentric circles and who, like Ecclesiastes 4:12 mentions, will help us form a strong, unbreakable cord against the enemy.

If you're having trouble voicing your gratefulness, remember that while practice doesn't make perfect, it does make progress.  Sometimes in life, you just have to play scales over and over until you get better, until the noise starts to sound like music.  In this case you have to keep saying "thank you" until you actually mean it.

In our daily, repetitive faithfulness—one breath at a time, one meal at a time, one prayer at a time— let us change our perspective. Let's walk in truth, serve others, and live with gratitude. Let's not waste another minute complaining about the weather. Let's just learn to put on better clothes.

Total: 6    2026: 15

Kindle/Ebook: 2   Print:  4   Audio: 0 although I did start at least 3 😅😬

Library: 2    Owned: 3    Kindle Unlimited: 1   

Unread shelf: 0     Reread: 1

Favorite: Holy Hygge

Challenges:

52 Bookclub: 4 --  11/52 total

My library's winter Challenge:

This week...

We got another peek at Princess Sparkles- I can not wait to meet this little girl.

Hannah was on break and able to be home for a few days, we had an impromptu family dinner Thursday night and it made my heart so happy.

Saturday we celebrated three nephews' birthdays. I made the younger two reading pillows and it gave me great delight!

More sourdough- I attempted a mini sourdough flight- with mixed results. I made a chocolate strawberry, cinnamon swirl, jalapeño cheddar and Italian Herb & Cheese.  They all baked in the same stoneware pan.  The Italian Herb one was grossly under baked. The jalapeño cheddar was passable. The sweet loaves were so good.  The only plausible thing I can think of is maybe I need to rotate the pan- but it was very perplexing. I also checked the internal temp of each loaf- so I am somewhat baffled.

Ryan also brought Nicole's bread slicer over for me to try- life changing!

I am really enjoying the Clinging to the Cross study from Daily Grace. And I just love our Facebook group- where we share about it daily.

I am hoping to do some quilting and/or crocheting tonight snuggled up with my pups and maybe an episode of The Chosen or an audiobook- depending on my mood.

Happy Tuesday Friends- spring is just around the corner!

Weekend Hygge Review

This weekend was super cold and a great day for hunkering down, staying home and crafting and reading. (Although I did have to venture out for groceries).

My morning stack...

I spent some extra quiet time reading by the fire. I am reading Holy Hygge by Jamie Erikson and really enjoying it. 

Made some triple berry scones (and more coffee).

I made a Valentine table runner with heart fabric from my stash and dog fabric I found at Hobby Lobby.

I finished the granbaby's quilt top and started quilting!

Some more cozy living room reading- with the boys.
I was reading Little Women on my kindle app because I didn't want to get up to get a physical book.

For dinner time I did a LIVE video of a new Kids Club recipe on my facebook page- Amy's Pampered Kitchen

They turned out pretty tasty.

After dinner, not pictured, I worked on my canal boat CAL and watched the Spring Book Preview on MMD Book club. I wish there was something like this for books in the Christian market.

I mixed up a loaf of sourdough bagel bread and baked it Sunday morning before church.

Mikayla and Ryan were both at our house for Sunday dinner and it made my heart happy.  

Rhett went to a Superbowl party and I stayed home with the dogs, did too much scrolling, a little reading and watched an episode or so of The Chosen.

I'm looking forward to starting my Lent study next week from Daily Grace Co. I was flipping through the book again this morning and I can't wait.  Even more exciting a few ladies are joining me and we have a fb group together to talk about our journey together.

I also got this book Draw Close to Jesus, I am very excited to dive in. It is part Biblical fictional and part devotional. I plan to read it before bed during Lent. I was listening to the author talk on the Faith & Fables podcast and could not order the book fast enough when I got to work!

What are you looking forward to today?

Books I read in January

1 The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams 1/6    (print/own/reread)★★★★★

First book of the year and a reread and I loved it just as much the 2nd time around. It is a story of found family, reluctant readers who come to love it, library love, grief, community, family. I just love it! Aleisha a teen is spending her summer holiday working in the library when Mukesh first finds to courage to wander into the library to return a long over due library book from his late wife, hoping to get a book rec to help him feel connected to his wife as well as his bookworm granddaughter. It was so wonderful watching their relationship with each other and books blossom and grow. I also loved the chapters interspersed which featured others in the community touched by the reading list.

In 2026 I am planning to read all the books from the reading list featured in the book.  If you were making a reading list of your most beloved books what would you include?

Please try to remember that books aren’t always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world; they don’t hide it.

...sometimes when you really like a book, you need to read it again! To relive what you loved and find out what you missed before. Books always change as the person who reads them changes too.

It was strange, the idea that this book wasn't just for him, it was for everyone. All these people who had taken it out before him, people who would take it out after him. Every reader, unknowingly connected in some small way.

2 The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton    1/8    (print/own)★★★★

• 52 Bookclub: 49. In The 800's Of The Dewey Decimal System
• 1000 Books to read 

Sort of buddy read with my sister. She mentioned her pretty copy day before our book trip and I immediately ordered a copy for myself.  I was delighted around that time to discover The Literary Life Podcast did a series on this book. I very much enjoyed the three episodes where they discussed the chapters. I hope it is expanding my mind and increasing my literary understanding.  Even now as I begin typing up my thoughts on this book I want to go back and read it again. To see if I can find and understand all the things they chatted about.

The last chapter was my absolute favorite and I delighted in the way Thomas Banks (from the podcast) stated he loved how quietly this novel ended and I would have to agree.

He had married (as most young men did) because he had met a perfectly charming girl at the moment when a series of rather aimless sentimental adventures were ending in premature disgust; and she had represented peace, stability, comradeship, and the steadying sense of an unescapable duty.

“We can't behave like people in novels, though, can we?”

The difference is that these young people take it for granted that they're going to get whatever they want, and that we almost always took it for granted that we shouldn't. Only, I wonder—the thing one's so certain of in advance: can it ever make one's heart beat as wildly?

 3 When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer    1/12    (print/own)★★★★★

• 52 Book club 11. Requires Suspension Of Disbelief

Reread for my Alive BC but honestly I picked it after reading #6 and wanting to reread the whole series before #7 comes out.  I'm anxious to hear if my book club ladies enjoyed it because I loved it just as much the 2nd time. I can't wait to dive into book #2 {again}.

Libby is living alternate days in different time lines- one life in 1775 and one in 1914. When she goes to sleep in one timeline she wakes up the next morning in the other. Until she reaches the age of 21 when she must choose which life to stay in. Gabrielle Meyer is a mastermind. I don't know how she comes up with all these stories and twists. A delight through and through.  This one is one of my favs as the American Revolution is one of my favorite time periods.  And also someday I hope we get to know Mama's full story.

We must take whatever joy can be found from each day and not borrow tomorrow’s sorrow.

But I also know that our hopes and dreams are not always God’s. Sometimes He has a plan that looks much different from ours.

“Freedom isn’t stagnant or guaranteed. It lives and breathes and must be defended constantly. Don’t take it for granted. Fight for it, both in the public and private spheres of your life. And always look for ways to help,” she continued, almost feverish in her instructions. “That is one of our greatest purposes upon this earth. To be the helpers.”

 4 Winter's Maiden by Morgan L. Busse    1/20    (audio/hoopla)★★★★

• 51. Includes A Map

January selection for Faith & Fables book club. Overall I really enjoyed it and plan to continue reading the series. I listened to this one on audio and I did have a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight. But maybe that will be less troublesome in book #2- now that the foundation is laid. I may switch to the print or kindle version. I'm very much looking forward to the author talk.

Do not waste your life wishing to be who you are not. Instead, let us continue to find out what kind of hands you were given. There is a reason for every birth. We will discover yours.

5 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig    1/21    (print/own)★★★★

We read this for cousin book club. I wasn't sure at the beginning and for a while it seemed slow. It was interesting but I didn't have any burning desire to pick it up. (I feel I should add a trigger warning for suicide/attempted suicide.) 1/2-2/3rds though it really picked up. The last few chapters- I loved! So good. The ending of the book makes it all worth it in my opinion. I don't think its a spoiler to say at the beginning of the book Nora is having a pretty rough go of it and decides the world would be better off without her.  She finds herself transported to The Midnight Library where the time is always midnight and the infinite books represent the countless other lives she could have lived.

Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices… Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?

“The only way to learn is to live.”

Never underestimate the big importance of small things

“You’re overthinking it.’ ‘I have anxiety. I have no other type of thinking available.”

We only need to be one person.
We only need to feel one existence.
We don't have to do everything in order to be everything, because we are already infinite. While we are alive we always contain a future of multifarious possibility.

6 The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett    1/23    (print/library)★★

• 8. A Three-Syllable Word In The Title 
• 1000 Books to read 

I feel so let down by this book. It was so slim, I feel embarrassed by how long it took to finish. In all honesty I decided to DNF it as it just wasn't holding my attention- then on Christmas I saw it on the list of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die- eh maybe I'll give it another shake I thought (I was more than halfway through and its only like 120 pages).  The night before it was due back at the library I decided to finish it, and I did. Do I feel happy about it- not really and even the ending was meh. I'm not sure why people love this book. There were a few witty quotes from the Queen that made me chuckle. But really- I wouldn't bother. 

What she was finding also was how one book led to another, doors kept opening wherever she turned and the days weren't long enough for the reading she wanted to do.

“Above literature?' said the Queen. 'Who is above literature? You might as well say one was above humanity.”

7 Not a Tame Lion: The Life, Teachings, and Legacy of C.S. Lewis by Terry Glaspey    1/26    (print/own)

• 15. Subtitle With A Comma

I read this slowly throughout the month in my quiet time. I felt it was thought provoking and great introduction to CS Lewis, his life and his works. It has been on myshelf for a year and I am glad I finally made it a priority.

Stories take us beyond ideas into the very experience of truth.... Although he never ceased to believe in the power of the intellect to grasp truth, it was in stories, Lewis found, that the truth of the Christian gospel could best be embodied and communicated.

Lewis believed that we lose a great deal by only reading a book once,  We must revisit the great books again and again throughout our lives, for they will always have something new to teach us.

Perhaps we could do no better than to repeat the advice Lewis gave to one of his students: "The great thing is to be always reading but not to get bored-- treat it not like work, more as a vice! Your book bill ought to be your biggest extravagance."

We must commit ourselves to "show up", to continue to practice the disciplines of our lives, to stand firm in what we believe, even when what we feel fails to come into line with it.  Moods are changeable, the truth is eternal.

8 Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy    1/29    (print/library)

• 44. Literary Device: Personification

A delight I almost missed. This is the January selection for MMD book club. I got it out of the library and allowed it to languish on my nightstand. I finally picked it up just days before the book club author talk and had to start over reading at least two or three times. At first not sure it was going to be up my alley. But once I got drawn into the story I had trouble putting it down! 83 year old Helen moves back to her hometown after 60 years away, with minimal belongs and seemingly giving up on life. She leads a solitary existence until one night she happens upon a tiny mouse.

“The only consolation of being the last to go,” she admits, “is knowing the people you loved the most won’t suffer the way you do in their absence.”

“You know what your gift to the world is, Sipsworth?” Helen asks him. “It’s that you bring out the best in people.”

9    The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini    1/30 (kindle/library)

• 18. Provokes Strong Emotions
• The Reading List

This is not an easy read at all. Lots of hard things in this story. I knew very little about it going in. I read it because it is one of the books in The Reading List. It is heart wrenching sad in places. It is a compelling read, despite the hard I wanted to keep reading. It takes place mostly in Kabul, Afghanistan, partly in America. The story of two boys brought up together. Once affluent, and one the son of the household servant.  Friendship, brotherhood, loyalty and betrayal. 

In these letters, I see the unique ability fiction has to connect people, and I see how universal some human experiences are: shame, guilt, regret, friendship, love, forgiveness, atonement.

There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.

“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime, Amir,” he said.

Total:  9  2026: 9

Kindle/Ebook:  1  Print:  7    Audio: 1

Library: 4    Owned: 5    Kindle Unlimited: 0   

Unread shelf:  2    Reread: 2

Favorite: Not a Tame Lion

Challenges:

1000 Books: 2 The Age of Innocence, The Uncommon Reader

52 Bookclub: 7 (off to a great start!)

 

January Review-

 January goals.... how'd we do?

• Pick pattern for baby quilt, purchase fabric for top.  Success! I scrapped the charm squares, picked a new pattern- made a second (and third) trip to hobby lobby- for more fabric. But the top is nearly completed and I feel much happier about it than I did the first attempt. Hope to get the border on this week and start quilting! 💖🎉 
  
  
  
• Exercise 3-4x's a week- I did ok for two weeks, fell off the band wagon- struggling to get back on this week.
• Finish 2025 photobooks- Finished my Mom's and its been delivered! 
• clean piano room- big fat nope
• Finish Age of Innocence; start Middlemarch-read book 1 Finished Age of Innocence and have two chapters left in book 1 of Middlemarch- I will finish in time to listen to the podcast recap on Friday 
• lean into cozy wintering and rest - for sure! 
  
• Delightful Sister Coffee Date! - added this one on

So maybe not as bad as I thought. Definitely room for improvement. 

I completed two blocks for two different versions of Emily's BOM sampler. Which made me want to read The Quilter's Apprentice. I went and dug it out of the basement and it's on my February TBR. 

I am making one in Christmas fabrics and one in rainbow colors, both from my stash and scraps.  January's block was a 9 patch- as there was a snow storm the day I was making them, one got a snow man as the center square.

I am also remaking this Pooh wall hanging I made when Mikayla was little for her little girl. Oh the delight and memories. It will match her quilt.

We picked a day for her shower, I ordered the invites last week and they already arrived! Let me tell you- Canva is the way to go. My first experience ordering anything printed through there and it was lightyears cheaper than anywhere else I found and they shipped next day and are beautiful!

I read 9 books in January- review post coming soon.

This weekend we spent Saturday with a couple of the nephews. 

Watching Cars with Evan

Uncle Rhett made a birdhouse with Isaac

Pizza pockets for lunch!

popcorn and video games

Their mom and dad came back for dinnertime, my Dad (Mom is out of town) also joined us-  and it was delightful time.

I got my Pampered Chef order! I love the heart shaped stone! 

I made pizza on it with the scraps from the boys pizza pockets.

Isaac took this picture

And brookies for dessert- I shall be baking all the heart shaped things in February!

New Cookbook! I want to make every recipe in this book- I am making one for dinner tonight! This will also be our next cookbook club book in March.

Happy Monday and happy February!