I ended last year with some very specific goals for myself in 2015. One of those goals was to read more. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to make one gigantic list, I am going to post a monthly book report of what I’ve been reading. And instead of just listing the titles, I wanted to give my two cents while the books were still fresh on my mind. (I am, however, keeping this year’s giant list–sans reviews–here.)

Lady Bird and Lyndon: The Hidden Story of a Marriage That Made a President (Caroli)

Oh, I just LOVED and ADORED this book. Seriously, I was so immersed in this biography that I just wouldn’t wait to pick it up each time I had the chance to read. I have been drawn to stories about marriages and especially those that highlight the strength and dignity of a wife who serves alongside her husband who may have a non-traditional job. While Lyndon Johnson may have been a philanderer and weasel, Lady Bird was such a hard-working, dedicated, and steady companion to him. This book chronicles Claudia (Lady Bird) Johnson’s life from birth to death and is full of interesting anecdotes about her power, her own successful career, and her commitment to LBJ and our nation.

Easy Homeschooling Techniques (Curry)

This was an e-book I read and it was very intriguing. Much of the content is for people who may be new to homeschooling, but it did me a lot of good to refresh my heart on some of the reasons we do what we do; some great planning reminders; and organizing our day/year/etc.

The Seven Laws of Love (Willis)

This book is written by our friend and one of our pastors at Steven’s Creek Church, Dave Willis. Dave and Ashley are the REAL DEAL and write regularly for Patheos and run the Facebook Marriage page. Dave’s recent book is an outstanding guide for helping anyone (married, single, divorced, young, or old) to get back to the basics of what makes our relationships work. He shares Biblical wisdom as well as practical stories that shine a light on Christ as well as captivate the reader’s attention.

In this book, Dave doesn’t take himself too seriously and often uses self-deprecating humor to help readers relate. As a master story-teller, he allows pastoral experience, his own marriage foibles and successes, and common sense to guide readers into an understanding of how to effectively love others in this fallen world.