:what i'm into // january edition:

january has been a blur. even though we have committed our days to slowing down they still seem to have moved at warp speed when looking back. i usually spend most of january recovering from the rush of december. we do a lot of purging and organizing. the month of january also has me in birthday mode with two girlies to celebrate early in february. none-the-less i have been into things that might peak your interest. 

read and reading

i read Pastrix by Nadia Boltz-Weber and loved it. she's raw and genuine in her love for jesus and others. i love how transparent she is with her feelings. she's not perfect and doesn't pretend to be. a recovering alcoholic and cynic turned lover is just sheer beauty to me.

also read Unschooling Rules by Aldrich Clark

this is a great read for anyone considering the path of home education. he gives many benefits to an alternative style of teaching our children. this is our second year homeschooling but i found the book encouraging for our journey.

as a read aloud with the children this month i choose Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren. when i read the first chapter there were some harsh words and phrases which made me question if it was appropriate for my little first grader and four year old that would listen in. i read a bunch of reviews that sang its praises so we read on and i'm so glad we did. this book is about a girl learning to be herself. learning to be honest and do the right thing when those around her do not. it's about a father's great love for his daughter and her great love for her friend. i highly recommend it. 

currently i'm reading Free to Learn by Peter Gray. two chapters in and it is rocking my world. also, picked up Take This Bread by Sara Miles and started it last night before bed. i think i'm going to like it as well. she shares about her conversion via the eucharist and how she started food pantries and began feeding people all across the state in response. 

not sure what our next read aloud will be for the children for now we are returning to little house on the prairie. we go back to it often in between the other things we are reading. so much knowledge and life lessons to be gained in the stories told. 

tv

i watched the following, season one. it was disappointing but a good filler while folding laundry. parenthood leaves me in tears every single week. we are waiting for the return of the walking dead and scandal. 

music

i've been listening to all sons and daughters or gungor in the mornings. when the kids are outdside playing or i'm cleaning house i crank up dashboard confessional or the cure radio. throughout the rest of the day we keep the pandora station set on Symphony no. 5. it plays a beautiful mixture of classical music from many different composers. 

things i love

running. my husband is training for a half marathon and has been encouraging me to do the same. i've always loved running but i've never been a long distance runner. i'm setting goals and working toward them! 

coffee dates with this gal and this one scheming about something awesome in 2014. 

sunday nights with friends. 

this piece of art that i hope to hang on my wall soon. 

date nights often granted by loving parents that are amazing grandparents. 

this is a perfect gift for teachers or friends or your kiddos as a sweet surprise! use code VALENTINE to save 15%. also the more you buy the more you save so check out the bundles.

i would love it if you joined me in this!  follow me on instagram @melissabeaver and #thefunmomproject to see all the goodness. 

taking pictures of my kiddos in case you hadn't noticed. here are two that i love!

what are you into?

*linking up with leigh for what i'm into 

:what i'm into // october edition:

i love this shot captured of my girls. it looks like they are talking about all the things they are into- fitting for this post.

read and reading

Run by Dean Karnazes totally makes me want to run a marathon or a mile or something. i just want to run! 

Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin was a great reminder to refocus and be more intentional in the areas of home, marriage and motherhood.

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett is a beautiful story of friendship. it has made me reevaluate the kind of friend i am. ann gave a lot to a person that took a lot. this dynamic can often destroy a friendship. however they simply accepted the good with the bad in one another and loved strong in spite of differences. 

Reading like a Writer by Francine Prose is still on my list. i started it but wasn't able to finish it at the time. it is a book i definitely want to go back to.

Sever Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken and The Rock that is Higher by Madeleine L'Engle are up next!

tv

the walking dead, parenthood and scandal are on my must watch list. 

music

i always start my day with gungor radio on pandora. i have a new love for tegan and sarah. then there are old faithfuls like mumford & sons, alabama shakes, death cab for cutie and jimmy eat world. 

movies

finally watched the great gatsby and though i am a big fan of the actors in the movie, i was slightly disappointed in how this movie portrayed the book. it was such a strange mix of modern and vintage. we also watched iron man 3. 

things i love

these have been a really big hit. 

my husband bought me this as an early birthday present.

this is on my wish list. 

shopping handmade this year here and here.

my most popular posts

why we celebrate Advent

my favorite post 

new blogs i love

this one has my heart with her love of motherhood and books.

this one i love for the photographs alone but becca shares her heart for motherhood and urban ministry in a way that moves one to action. 

go ahead and snag your Advent Calendar today! get them here.

:what i'm into // may 2013:

another month spent, time fleeting, memories made. as a lover of details. knowledge of ones interests and quirks captivate me. tell me what you're reading or listening to, how it moves you and i am moved. that's why i look forward to reading what i'm into each month. you can follow along with the kind hearted Leigh who has provided this space for the monthly pouring out.

read and reading //

read all is grace by brennan manning is a heart wrenching book of a man struggle yet still and always within reach of a god too good to be true.

reading wild things: the art of nurturing boys by stephen james and david thomas. this book has already given me a greater understanding of the little man i'm raising. i have laughed out loud and read aloud the stories shared by the authors, with my husband. it is giving me great insight in how to respond to my little guys needs. i definitely recommend it for any mama raising boys.

reading the writing life by annie dillard: she paints amazing word pictures of her writing life. everything seems a metaphor for her journey of book making. i'll let you know more about this one next month.

plan to read: help thanks wow by ann lamott //  pilgrim at tinker creek by annie dillard // new collected poems by wendell berry // dinner a love story by jenny rosenstrach

tv //

i watched seasons 1 and 2 of call the midwife. i now want to be a midwife and have natural childbirth- which i have not done with my previous three children.

started watching the new episodes of arrested development with tobias' episode being the most comical so far. my husband laughs out loud while watching, pausing periodically to make sure i made the connection or explain something i missed. i'm easily distracted. 

movies //

jack reacher was the last movie in which i was awake for the entire viewing. i'm a fan of tom cruise as an actor and i like action so yeh, i would watch it again.

i really want to see gatsby, so maybe i can give you my thoughts on that next time.

music //

this pretty lady posted something about all sons & daughters so i looked them up and have listened to them pretty much every day since then.

i bought tickets as a birthday present for my husbands and our sweet friends to see derek webb. his heart stirring words have lingered speaking reminders of kingdom living throughout the month.

as i write this post i'm listening to beyonce cause i like to mix things up a bit. and dance. i like to dance.

other things of note //

my big girl finished kindergarten. totally blown away by her and the way she has blossomed into such a big girl this year. her love for art encourages my love for art. the more she wants to create, the more i search for new techniques and methods to fuel her interest while also fueling mine. she has a love for reading and my heart could not be happier. this summer we will be writing weekly letters to keep those skills in check. we've sent two out already. if you and your little one want in on the action send me a message because who doesn't love a pen pal? oh and she got her ears pierced!

last week i was able to celebrate alison and the soon-to-be-arrival of two precious babies girls. julie has such a knack for lovely things and the shower was beautiful in every way.

my sweet husband has been on vacation this week and we have loved having him home. we've enjoyed water fights and sweets and picnics and hours upon hours in the pool and bike rides a plenty. we will surely miss him when he returns to work on monday.

volume no. 4 scripture memory cards // red letter edition are now available at THE LOVELY WORDS so go ahead and grab those and maybe another set for a friend. you'll save a few bucks that way!


*linking up with leigh for what i'm into, you should too

:what i'm into // april 2013:

i look back on this month through blurred lenses. the most recent past is often the hardest to recall. moments that stand out the most are those moments spent in the midst of a full house. april was a month for practicing hospitality. local and out of town guests adorned our table while their children delighted in the bliss of unchartered territory in our back yard. stories were shared around the fire, drinks around the table, laughter throughout our home. planning for may to look very similar as we continue this journey of practicing hospitality.

other things i've been into in the month of april....

read & reading
i finished an altar in the world by barbara brown taylor. i checked it out from the library but this is a book i must own. she discusses twelve practices to consider incorporating in every day life. all beautiful. all worthy of contemplation.

i also read the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald for the first time ever. i loved the imagery, feeling more than once, as though i was actually at one of gatsby's famous parties. the ending was truly sad and as one that needs closure, if you've read it you know why, i was a little disappointed.

i am currently reading bread and wine by shauna niequist and have been on the hunt for arborio rice to make her risotto. shauna paints beautiful pictures of moments in her life where food has played an unforgettable role.

next up is falling upward, a spirituality for the two halves of life by richard rohr and cold tangerines by shauna niequest. 

watching
we haven't had much time for movies but our current television addiction is breaking bad. i usually watch mad men while folding laundry or processing orders.

music
music remains pretty much the same. we typically start our mornings with sufjan steves for children or the praise baby collection on pandora. this seems to put our moods in the proper place as we get ready for the day ahead. if the children are outside playing i find myself listening to mumford & sons because they just never get old. workout radio is my go-to for getting me through my time on the elliptical and when i'm cooking dinner it's always frank sinatra or billie holiday.

excited
blown away, actually, by the response to these. 

anticipating
starting in May, in honor or mothers everywhere, i will be hosting a series {tales of motherhood}, where i have invited some pretty amazing mama's to share pieces of their journey to encourage the rest of us. we are not meant to do this alone- motherhood // lets do it together, mmmkay?


what are you into?

*linking up with the lovely leigh