OK, let me admit that I did not follow through on this post … that I wrote to hold myself accountable to reading more.

BUT, I did read other books (or listen to them, Audible is awesome). Here’s what I read in 2017:

1. I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam 
   I heard about this from Christy Wright’s Business Boutique podcast — and the topic interested me so much that I added it to my audible queue right away. We always think we are “so busy” but are we really?Some of my favorite quotes from this book:

   There is time to have what matters.

   Life has space for paychecks and dandelions… business trips and Pokemon cakes.

   We can carry many responsibilities and still revel in our own sweet time.

   I happened to listen to this while on a plane to/from Los Angeles for a business trip, so that second quote really hit me.

2. Without Rival by Lisa Bevere
   I’ve heard Lisa Bevere preach a couple of times at my church, and she has a ferocious communication style that is both inspiring and thought provoking. She spoke at the women’s event this fall, which is what prompted me to download this book which is all about finding your true identity as a daughter of the one true king … in an age where comparison is all too prevalent.She shares a lot of cute stories from her life, as well as a different biblical perspective than you typically hear from male preachers. It’s not that men don’t understand the differences between themselves and women, it’s that they don’t relate. As my pastor says, men and women are equal but different.

   My favorite quote from this book:

   God does not love us equally…he loves us uniquely.

   “Equal” implies love may be measurable and it is not. You are uniquely loved because you are uniquely created. Let’s label that on our foreheads.

3. So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore
   This was given to me for my birthday by the owners of the dance studio I now teach out. They both read it and got a lot out of it, and so did I. It’s a pretty easy read, with lots of anecdotes and stories, but with some hard-hitting nuggets about how insecurity can affect you — and how to stop letting it affect you.This line stuck out at me, especially because of my 2-year-old daughter:

   Make me the kind of woman a little girl could follow to dignity and security.

   

   Wow. When I get upset or start doubting myself, or when I start feeling down because of a stupid picture on Instagram or something I see on Facebook, I want to remember this. Who cares about what social media says — I don’t want Claire to deal with my insecurity and the way it can make me act and react, nor do I want her to grow up with the same bad habits as me.

4. On Becoming Toddler Wise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
   I read the Baby Wise book before Claire was born, and it was really helpful. So was this one. It’s a heavy read, very academic — it’s written by pediatricians — but with good information.
5. The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni
   This book was given to me by my former manager and continuing mentor, and it’s fantastic. It’s a fairly easy read because it’s a story, but with important points and lessons that are illustrated by the story. It’s not a boring leadership book; it’s inspiring and relatable.
6. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
   Yes, I am a Patrick Lencioni fan. I like his writing style and the leadership and management lessons he teaches.  This is similar to “The Four Obsessions,” but it’s about a new leader who was brought in to manage an existing management team — and that’s similar to the situation I was (am) in with my current position.
7. The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker
   I bought David two Meg Meeker books, and he seemed to like them, and Dr. Meeker comes highly recommended by Dave Ramsey. This book offers great perspective, with advice and information grounded in Christianity and offered by a pediatrician.