The Language of Flowers

12 Novels I Still Think About

539.

That’s how many books I’ve read since I started this blog in 2011! I absolutely love reading, so I thought it would be fun to start a series sharing the books that have stayed with me over the years—from novels I still think about to Christian books that have shaped my faith, memoirs I couldn’t put down, parenting books that influenced me, nonfiction that changed how I think, and more.

Novels I still think about graphic

I decided to start with 12 novels I’ve read since 2011 that I still find myself thinking about. Whether because of unforgettable characters, an ending I can’t shake, or a story that changed the way I see something, these books have stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

From historical fiction and literary fiction to romance and contemporary novels, each of these stories left a lasting impression. For each one, I’ve included the publisher’s description, followed by a few of my own thoughts about why it earned a spot on this list. I hope you’ll discover your next great read!

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Five Things

Hello! It has been almost a week since I last blogged and I’ve missed this little space.

hydrangea

This week has been busy with work and pet sitting, but I found a little chunk of time to pop in and share five random tidbits from my life lately!

1. I was thinking yesterday about how listening is a dying art in today’s culture. I know I’m guilty of being a bad listener at times. I’ve caught myself thinking of something I want to say before the person I’m talking to has finished their sentence. Ugh.

Feeling and knowing that I’m heard and understood is important to me. I’ve been making an effort to listen, really listen, to others when they communicate with me. Our culture is full of distractions that pull us away from true, deep connection. When someone talks to me, I want to always give them my full attention.

2. I’ve been enjoying The Language of Flowers lately. It was recommended to me by Amy (and probably ten other people) and I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up this book. It’s fascinating.

the-language-of-flowers

3. I looked up Youtube videos on how to tie baby wraps so I could bake and hold Malcolm at the same time. I used a big beach towel and it kind of worked. I’m still eyeing up cat strollers on Amazon.

malcolm-baby-sling

4. Pet sitting has been randomly busy for me lately. I so enjoy the company of animals. I constantly go back and forth on whether or not I want to pet sit full-time. It’s a tough decision, mostly because the income isn’t always steady. Speaking of pets, I took Lola to the vet on Tuesday because she has an ear infection. Poor girl!

lola-at-the-vet

5. My cousin sent me this picture of her adorable daughter, Macie, the other day. Ten minutes later, my aunt sent me the same picture of Macie.

macie

I had some suspicions about the reasoning behind the influx of baby pictures, so I texted my mom to discuss.

text-conversation

Jimmy and my mom are convinced if I ever become pregnant that I’m going to have twins. The thought of twins scares the living daylights out of me. It’s easy for me to think I can’t do it when I think about babies in general. The truth is that I can’t, but God will equip me for whatever He has in store for my life. Whether it’s writing a book, passing statistics, raising a family, or something totally different. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Children are something Jimmy and I talk about often. Whether we adopt, foster, or have biological (or all three, or none) is something we pray about diligently. It’s a huge responsibility and privilege to raise a human being. We trust that God will guide us and equip us for whatever His plans are for us 🙂

Tell me a random tidbit from your life lately!