Reading Goals for 2012

I've never made any reading goals that I've actually put down on paper or posted online, but I have piles of unread books in my house that need to be read. I want to focus on my personal stack of books and when I'm finished decide if I want to keep or delete.  Here are the books that are at the top of my list to be read:

1. A Philosophy of Education (Homeschooler Series) by Charlotte Mason

I love Charlotte Mason, but her books are touch reads. I want to get at least one conquered this year.

2. Letter from New York by Helene Hanff

I have really enjoyed Hanff's other books.

3. A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn

To some I don't have a large family, but I figure I can always learn from someone who has more kids than I do!

4. Personality Plus for Parents: Understanding What Makes Your Child Tick by Florence Littauer

I am a huge fan of Florence Littauer's books. I have had this on my shelf for forever. Now that my kids are getting older I may be able to check out their personalities.

5. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller

Carrie at Reading to Know highly recommended this book a couple of years ago. It took me awhile before I was able to get a copy and then it has just sat on my shelf. Time to blow the dust off!

6. Your Child's Growing Mind: A Guide to Learning and Brain Development from Birth to Adolescence by Jane Healy

I have heard great thing about Healy's books though I am a little intimidated to read them. I am determined to read this one before my kids are too old.

7. A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot

I keep coming across this book, so I decided I would give it a whirl. It is written from a Catholic perspective so it should be interesting.

8. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Honestly, I don't know that I really need to read this book, but it came highly recommended. I also have the one for kids which is probably the one I need to read. I thought this one might set the stage for the kid's book.

9. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald

This one piqued my interest and again it is one that I have had sitting around for awhile.

10. Professionalizing Motherhood: Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping Mothers At Home by Jill Savage

I brought this home a few weeks ago since I had previously read a book by Jill Savage which I really enjoyed. After I brought it home, Carrie at Reading to Know announced her Bookclub and this book is listed for September. I am hoping to join more of her Bookclub reads, but I definitely will be joining for September.

11. Parenting by The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child by John Rosemond

Again, another book that has been sitting on the shelf for a while. I have never read a John Rosemond book, but have heard him on Focus on the Family and read different articles online.

12. That's Life: Finding Scrapbook Inspiration in the Everyday by Nic Howard

13. Life Artist by Ali Edwards

I love the thought of scrapbooking, but honestly I can't get motivated to do it. I read a recommendation for these books several years ago and added them to my collection, but have yet to read them. I am hoping for some encouragement and some help to find a relatively simply way to keep memories and enjoy doing it rather than it feeling like a chore.

14. The Writer's Jungle by Julie Bogart
 
Writing is my thorn in the flesh. I really feel inadequate to teach this to my kids. This course has come highly recommended by many mom's who are using the Ambleside Online curriculum. We'll see how it goes.

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15. The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin

Again, this is another book that I kept coming across review after review all last year. I was able to get it for a good price on my Kindle and even though it doesn't take up a lot of room in my house I really feel like I could use more organization in my life.
16. The Bible

I have read through my Bible many times using many different Bible Reading programs and sometimes it feels like such a chore. Two years ago I decided to commit to two chapters a day. I figured that it would take me two years to read through it. Surprisingly it only took 1 year and 9 months and I filled out that last three months of last year reading the book of Proverbs through every month.

I found reading my Bible this way was enjoyable and it didn't feel like a chore, but very doable. I have decided that this year I will start over again reading 2 chapters a day and work through my Bible in a slower, but enjoyable pace.

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I am hoping that I make it through this pile and can start on my many other numerous piles. I know I will be reading a variety of other books. You will notice that my pile is non-fiction. That is due to the fact that I very rarely by a fiction book unless it is one I have read and have determined that I absolutely need it on my shelf. I tend to buy the non-fiction books since they are usually harder to find at the library.

So here is to being a little more purposeful in my reading.