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Heather's Dish

Heather's Dish

What I’ve Been Reading Lately

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A few days ago we all sat down for a little coffee date and I told you guys that I’ve tried to start reading a lot more lately.  When I was younger I would just feast on books for hours, losing myself in different worlds, learning new things, and growing in ways that only reading books can do.  As college came and went, so did my reading for the pure enjoyment of it, something that I regret deeply.  I feel like there are so many years where creativity was lost on me, and there’s a peace that I get from devouring the written word.  All that to say that thankfully I’m taking the time to start reading again, and here’s a short list of the most recent books!

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7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker Besides the fact that I just feel like Jen and I could be best friends in real life (WOOHOO for Texans!), this is by far my favorite book as of late.  If there was anything I needed to run far away from it’s excess in this life.  The book is thoughtful and hilarious, and (full disclosure warning) will absolutely turn your life upside down in such a GOOD way.  Every single chapter truly spoke to my heart, but the chapters on food, clothing and waste were especially poignant.  I really can’t recommend this book enough!

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Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman We actually read this one for a mom’s bible study at church, and word on the street is that it’s a pretty controversial book because it does endorse spanking.  HOWEVER I have to say that the best part of the entire book for me was the introduction.  Whatever method a loving mother chooses to discipline her children, the fact is that discipline is important.  The introduction is just a really solid reminder that it’s out of love that we teach our children right from wrong, that we teach them that their desires and emotions, while important, shouldn’t be the things that rule their lives.  I just felt truly encouraged as a mother through the intro to the book, and would recommend any mom read it on that alone.

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1000 Gifts by Anne Voskamp A couple of things here:  I actually didn’t really adore the way this book was written; it was almost too poetic for my taste.  It certainly is beautifully written though!  BUT – and this is important – the heart behind it makes it one of the biggest influences in the changes I’m making in my life these days.  It will make you so very thankful for every little detail of your life, and it makes me feel like I’ve truly begun to LIVE when I take the time to honestly and earnestly thank God for every bit of my life.

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The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns  Talk about conviction – this is the book to read if you know that you need to be motivated to help make a change in this world.  Richard Stearns is the president of World Vision, and as such has been in places of the world and met people of the world where no one else bothers to know what’s going on there.  I will be honest here:  I spent the majority of the book with a box of tissue by my side and read it through tear-filled eyes.  It will change your heart, again in the best way possible, and it won’t be comfortable, but it will be a gift from God.

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Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequest I am about 70% of the way through this book and I love it!  As Shauna says in the beginning, it’s a celebration of the stories in her life.  I love this idea – that all of our stories bring us closer to God and that all of our stories deserve to be celebrated for what they are.  I can’t wait to finish it and move on to her second book, Bittersweet, soon after.

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Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott I bought this book a few short days after the Sandy Hook tragedy on a whim after seeing it on a bookshelf at Barnes & Noble.  Anne Lamott is one of my favorite authors ever – the way she speaks is both painfully true and beautifully hilarious, all mixed together in a big word cocktail.  I loved that this was a short read and spoke very clearly about the three main things we pray about; more than anything it really made me examine the things that I pray about and how I talk to the Lord.

 

So what about you guys?  What have you been reading lately?  Any book recommendations?  I know these are all in the nonfiction genre, but I love a good fiction book too!

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  1. Kamille says

    December 11, 2013 at 4:42 am

    Hey Heather, I just came across this list and I am glad that I have found it. I think I am going to need all of these books and they will make my life change for the better! I want to read more self-help and life-changing books next year and I am using your list as guide. Anyway to answer your question, the last book I have finished is the memoir of Jennifer Saunders called Bonkers: My Life in Laughs. I am a huge fan of Ms. Saunders and reading this made me love her more. I was totally entertained by her stories and her adventures! Her life is so fascinating I definitely recommend it : https://www.bookworld.com.au/book/bonkers-my-life-in-laughs/40832750/

    Reply
  2. Marthafied says

    April 4, 2013 at 10:46 am

    I especially love the Cold Tangerines…. Im going to see if I can find that one! I recently finished Julia Gregson`s Jasmine Nights… if you like romance, glamour, thrills and drama… I highly recommend it!

    Reply
  3. Monica says

    April 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    What a great list Heather!! Thank you. I’ve read a couple of them, and would pretty much echo your reviews! (except I did love how Ann Voskamps’ book was written. Just so different and interesting!)
    I keep hearing about Jen Hatmakers’ book and can’t wait to dive into that one!!
    I WISH I had more time to read. Any extra time I have seems to go into writing now, though I know the more I read the better I write!
    aloha

    Reply
    • Heather says

      April 3, 2013 at 7:28 pm

      Girl, I think you’d really love 7 – it’s such an easy read and so thought-provoking!

      Reply
  4. Cathy says

    April 3, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Hi! I definetly want to check out “Don’t make me count to three”. Parenting is a neverending challenge and any and all help is appreciated. I’m rereading alot of Phillipa Gregory’s books ie: The Other Boelyn Girl. She writes about London Royalty from the 1500-1600. I love them. 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather says

      April 3, 2013 at 7:27 pm

      Oh, those books sound great! I really liked Don’t Make Me Count to Three – it gives practical examples of discipline and really solid biblical explanations 🙂

      Reply

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Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! 

As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
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In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
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This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
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1️⃣ SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like it, smiling (even forcing it to the point of feeling weird) has actually been scientifically proven to improve mood, lower stress, and boost your immune system. I actually recommend doing it awkwardly around other people because it’ll make them smile too 😉

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