Book, Book Club, Review

2024 Book Club Recap

2024 Book Club Reads ❤️

Wow! What a year we had! As you can tell we read all genres this past year . I definitely came through these with some of my new favorite authors ❤️ So many of them gave such different perspectives into my faith.

Each book was unique and I love that! Just an FYI on how we decide as a book club what to read – Our curator gathers 3 books for our whole club to vote on when we gather once a month to discuss the current book we have read. We then announce the next months book once we have taken a paper vote. Some months , there is a clear winner and others we need a tiebreaker .

Below you will find a few highlights of things I loved about each book or that I found challenging . Think of it as a quick review of each book. ⬇️

⭐️ The Prophetess -Loved how the author brought a full story to Deborah which gave me something to ponder. It was fictional but made me see her in a whole new light.

⭐️ The Italian Ballerina -One of my favorite reads! It gave me a glimpse into WW2 that I had never explored with the Syndrome K sickness and the London ballet stage. Loved all the historical references throughout and the beauty from such heartache.

Check out my full review here ⬇️

⭐️ Yesterday’s Tides – Another one of my favorite picks from 2024. I discovered something I had never heard of , Okracoke Island . I loved how the author combined WW1 to WW2 in such a beautiful way. We also had the opportunity to zoom with the author during our book club which was a fun treat!

Check out my full review here ⬇️

⭐️ The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip – Wow! I want to be a Mrs.Kip! Such a great read and left me feeling that it is never to late to share Gods love❤️

⭐️ The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon – This one started out slow but I was so thankful that I stuck with it. We all need a neighbor like Mabel . I may just one day step into a funeral to celebrate the life of someone I have never met because of her .

⭐️ Drawn in Ash– This one was out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad I read it. It took a bit to understand all that was happening, but gave a glimpse of how things can change when we spend time talking to others instead of going with preconceived ideas. It is based on the story of Esther.

⭐️ The Number of Love – A beautiful story of the secretive Room 40 during WW2 and the power of prayer.

⭐️ Blink of an Eye– Thrilling but left me wanting a better ending . We discovered in book club that there are two editions of this and the first was better in our opinion

⭐️ Daughter of Eden – This fictional story of Adam and Eve gave me so much to ponder ! It gave me lots to think of with how pride and selfishness separated the relationship with God and left me yearning to have what Adam and Eve had before the fall.

⭐️ The Screwtape Letters – This is such a deep book . I have read it several times and each time get something different from it. It really highlights the spiritual warfare that is all around us and from the enemy’s perspective.

⭐️ The Last Exchange -This is such a beautiful unexpected love story . It is thrilling and just when you think it is all predictable. Watch out the turn you never saw coming is right around the corner. One of my favorite quotes of the book is “A life laid down is better than one picked up.

⭐️ We Three Kings -This Christmas Novella follows three generations of the Weise Family as they seek Jesus throughout each one. This was the perfect Christmas Book.

I hope our Book Club list from 2024 helps encourage you to start your own Book Club or gives you some new books to read ❤️ I would love to hear if you already do a Book Club and how yours works or if you would like to hear more about how we do ours send me a message .

And yes our 2025 Book Club has already started! Looking forward to a New Year and some new reads!

Goals

Goals

All starts with first spending time with God ❤️

pnw, Review, travel

Skamania Lodge Review

The husband and I were able to getaway for a few days to @skamanialodge for a romantic getaway right before Christmas which at first I thought was terrible timing but turned out to be just what we needed❤️
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Skamania Lodge has so many things to offer not just for the two of us but for the whole family. There are two restaurants on property , coffee and tea service that is complimentary, Spa , game room set up with games ,adventures like zip lining , on property trails and their Holiday Walk during our stay.


We were able to hike on our way to the lodge and then enjoy the hot tub once we checked in , which was so nice! There is an indoor and outdoor one .. the outdoor was our favorite!


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While we waited for our dinner reservations , we headed to the game room to play a game of chess. After dinner, we grabbed a complimentary umbrella and headed out for the Holiday Light Walk. It was an added treat and we enjoyed it . The best part was hearing an owl throughout the walk …so cool!


It’s no secret we love the Columbia Gorge area and Skamania Lodge is located in a great location to access so many different adventures . There are so many trails in this area to hike , so much history to immerse yourself in , and gorgeous views every where you look!

From our window


Have you ever visited the Columbia Gorge area? If so , what’s your favorite thing to do there?

Gathered thoughts

Gathered Thoughts

This is a good reminder for me today . I often want to hurry and get through moments or schedules but I am realizing that every moment is part of my story .The in between schedules , the late nights or the days when everything comes undone. These are the moments that build or tear down and my prayer this 2025 new year , is there will be more building then tearing down. That my story will be one that shows grace, forgiveness,kindness,humbleness and fun .
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What about you? Have you ever looked at your life as a story? Not just the Instagram moments but all the moments? What do you want your story to show ? Share below ⬇️ .. I would love to hear and cheer you on ❤️

Book, Review

Yesterdays Tides ~Book Review

Such a great read! There are so many things to love about this book and I love when books teach me new things like this one. I had never heard of the Okracoke Island…have you?
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The story crosses two different wars and differant generations and the author keeps you guessing right up until the end.I love how she weaves family into the generations and brings the struggles within to life and the different angles of each character. It is packed full!
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Our bookclub had the privilege to do a zoom with the author to talk through this book and it was awesome! We all loved getting her perspective and hearing about the writing process. A huge thank you to @roseannamwhite for taking the time to do this! We are looking forward to reading more of her books and if you haven’t read any of her books … pick up a copy!

Book, history, Review

The Librarian Spy ~Book Review

If you want a great WW2 read that is inspired by actual events then this is a must read. I could not put it down! I fell in love with the characters and loved all the historical references. There were some really tough moments with the characters in this book that honestly I had never considered in all my years of WW2 study that could have potentially happened. So hard to imagine what each person had to do and choose during this war. The author did a terrific job at bringing each of these characters to life as well as bringing the story full circle . I would love to know if you read this and your thoughts so send me a message or comment ⬇️

Gathered thoughts

Happy Friday ❤️

Happy Friday❤️

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Here’s to a weekend of adventure and memories made

California adventure, disney, Disneyland

Perfect Picture Stop on Route 66

A beautiful morning at Flo’s V8 Cafe and a perfect spot to take pics 📸

Book, history, Review

Italian Ballerina ~ Book Review

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron gives a rare look into the Nazi occupation of Rome and the fake Syndrome K of WW2 . Based on actual historical events it leaves you wanting to go back in history to reread events you may have missed. She gives the reader a wonderful story of the beauty even in the war from the London ballet stage and the allies storming the beaches of Salerno to the one moment that forever changed a soldier and a little girls life and those that got swept into life changing moments alongside them . The book bridges the beauty in how God can use each of us in a mighty way and create family where there is none.
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As the story unfolds I couldn’t help but think of the holocaust museum in Washington DC and the moment where I stood in the hallway and countless photographs were hung of those who were missing or killed in the war. Families that stepped from this world to eternity . It made me wonder and think about how their pictures ended up there . I’m sure there is a story in all of it and this book reminded me of that . However, they did, I’m so thankful they did so that they could be remembered❤️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

American Girl Doll, homeschooling

Tea in Paris

Grace Thomas Tea Party complete with macarons the girls made and ofcourse our passport to Paris and travel luggage for their dolls filled with strawberry pretzels.. yumm! Tea Party day is my fav❤️