Hello Friend,

I hope you had a wonderful month! March was fairly busy for us and quite a bit happened… We held a special dedication service for our son, spent time with family and friends, celebrated some birthdays, participated in a mission’s conference at our sending church, and more! I even managed to get away for a day-long ladies conference (Adam was kind enough to watch Daniel!). March was definitely a refreshing month for me, even though we had some busy days. I hope it was equally refreshing for you.

My reading goal is going well… and I even managed to finish a 500+ page book (it’s not often that I read a book that large!). I have some good “March Reads” to share with you this month, so let’s jump right in!

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March Reads: What I’m Reading Month by Month

How to Raise Good Kids by Barabara Cook

I found this old little book while out book shopping with my mom. Old books aren’t always that appealing to me, but this one had interesting chapter titles and was a mere .25 cents! Within a few days I read the book from cover to cover – it was very interesting. I read with a pen so that I could highlight as I went. There were a few things in the book that I disagreed with (mainly due to the fact that the author seemed to have a charismatic or pentecostal background) however, most of the advice was very sound. Some of the topics included: God’s expectations of a mother, causes and cures of rebellion, habits and attitudes for healthy Christians, dealing with children’s quarrels, fears and more! I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book:

“We need to remind ourselves that children are not cute little toys that are fun to cuddle and dress up. These little people are eternal souls, destined for a future that continues long after this life.” – pg. 16

A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn

This book was on my to-read list for a long time, not because I have a large family but because large family management can apply to small families as well. This book did not disappoint! It was immensely practical which was just what I had hoped. It was also a very interesting book to read. The author has four biological children and six adopted children – a total of ten! Her perspective from both a biological and adoptive parental standpoint was very interesting. Mary Ostyn talked of how the Lord worked in her heart and her husband’s heart as their family grew. There were also practical tips on saving money at the grocery store, homeschooling a large family, the best toys for young children, how to make more space in your current home, and so much more! I will definitely reference this book again as our family grows. I gave it five stars on Goodreads.

Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck

The first time I picked up this book I was pregnant… and all the information was SO OVERWHELMING. I only read a little bit. This time around, I could hardly put the book down and read it from cover to cover. This is an excellent read for women in the child-bearing years and it’s one I would recommend reading before conception. There are five large chapters in this book which discuss: what is real food?, the fertility diet, the forty weeks of pregnancy, nursing your baby, and first foods for your child. Nina is writing with a traditional foods diet in mind (meat, fish, milk, eggs, fruits, and veggies). Her writing stye was very interesting, although I will say she said/did some odd things throughout the book. She also wrote from an evolutional standpoint so there is mention of humans being mammals, our “relation to apes”, and other non-christian views. All in all, this book was incredibly helpful to me so I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

The Christian Homemaker’s Handbook edited by Pat Ennis and Dorothy Kelley Patterson

This is the 500+ page book I read this month – and what a wonderful resource! This book covers just about every homemaking topic imaginable: godly womanhood, the impacts of feminism, marriage, setting up a home, caring for aging parents, food safety, hospitality, choosing quality clothing, laundry care… it’s all there! Many of the chapters are written by different ladies, as a result, you get a unique and “expert opinion” on the various topics. If the Lord blesses us with any daughters in the future, this will probably be required reading before they leave home. It could easily be used as a homemaking curriculum. Definitely a must read for Christian wives and homemakers. I gave this book five stars on Goodreads.

Final Thoughts

Where is the best place to buy books? Some of the books on my list are quite pricy if purchased brand new at full price. When looking for certain books, I rarely buy from the first place I check! Here are some places to watch for good book deals…

• Thrift Shops! – Hands down my favorite place to find books. Unfortunately, buying books at a thrift shop requires more time and energy but the deals you find are certainly worth it. Find one or two thrift shops that have a quick turn around and check the book section as you’re able.
• Amazon – If I really want a book and don’t want to wait, I will often pay full price on Amazon if I have a gift card. Amazon does run frequent books sales (sometimes they have a deal where you can buy two books and get a third book free). Many times they also have really good Kindle deals if you’re okay with just a digital copy of the book. I always check the used books on Amazon as well.
• eBay – I have found some really good book deals on eBay. If a book is too expensive on Amazon, eBay may have a cheaper price. You can often find sellers that offer free shipping as well. Don’t let used books scare you either – they are often in good condition even if they aren’t brand new.
• Thrift Books – Another favorite of mine! Thrift books is awesome because once you have $15 in your cart, you get free shipping. Many of their used books are around $5 or less! If a book is in high demand, you may not get a great price, but for older books that have been around for a few years, thrift books is an excellent place to look. I recently got 7 books for about $35 (that’s $5 per book!) and because I racked up enough points, I got to order another free book on top of that! Click here for 15% off your first Thriftbooks order!

Reading is probably my favorite hobby and it’s something I try to do every day. These posts are not brag about all the books that I read, rather they are a way to keep me motivated to keep reading and share what I’m learning. It’s also an opportunity for me to encourage YOU in your own reading journey! Now…

What Did You Read This Month?

I can’t wait to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell me about a favorite book that you’ve read.

Related Posts: January Reads and February Reads