It’s summer and time to relax, slow down, and enjoy time with family. The kids stay up later and spend their days swimming and playing with friends. The alarm clock doesn’t have to be set and the school books can stay on the shelves.
I love the change in schedule that comes with the hot summer sun. Our family is headed out for three weeks of vacation. While vacations usually mean a break from the usual routine, responsibilities, and busyness, there is one thing from which I never take a break:
Reading
Reading feeds my soul, pierces my heart, and stretches my faith. I discover things about myself I wouldn’t have otherwise. It takes me on adventures farther away than any vacation could do. And it connects me to my Creator in deeper and more intimate ways.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” C.S. Lewis
“Read one thinker and you become a clone. Read two and you become confused. Read a hundred and you start to become wise.” Tim Keller
This summer, as I head out on vacation, I’m taking a few books with me. And instead of tea, I’ll be drinking black coffee from my french press. Here’s what I have packed in my suitcase:
The Pressure’s Off: Breaking Free from Rules and Performance
Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
And on my Kindle:
One Year to a Writing Life: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer’s Art and Craft
What are you reading this summer?
Counting Gifts #1577-1598:
New books and a new journal
Boys huddled around the docking station, listening to the book of Exodus being read aloud from my phone
imaginations let loose for the summer–car ramps set up in the living room and under the dining table
an encouraging and unexpected email
packing for three weeks of vacation!
boys enjoying sports camp all week
finishing a writing project–I think:)
preparing for SheSpeaks by attending a helpful and encouraging conference call
getting unexpected positive feedback on my book proposal
play dates!
a back up mini french press for when I break my big french press–which I always do
help and encouragement from a sweet blogging friend
Psalm 27
dvd players arriving just in time for our long trip in the car
raining afternoons playing Connect 4, Sequence, and Build a Robot game
that nothing is impossible for God
that if He calls us to a task, He will ensure its completion
a visit with my grandfather on the way out of Florida
a long drive in the car with hours to read, think, write, and think
leaving hot and humid S. Florida and arriving to a raining yet cool 75 in Atlanta
time away with my family
What’s on your list this week?
Linking up with:
and at Sarah Mae’s.
Three weeks vacation sounds wonderful! The books you listed do, too. I’m currently reading Grace For the Good Girl, and Elizabeth’s Legacy.
I’ve heard great things about Grace for the Good Girl. My book wish list is so long, I’ll never catch up:)
I’m a book lover from way back. I love your list. I’m ordering the sample for “The Pressure’s Off” as soon as I leave this comment.
My teenage daughter read Kisses from Katie and was inspired; I need to read it next.
So far, I’ve cried through every page I’ve read of Kisses from Katie. The Pressure’s Off is like the 4th of July for your soul–you’ll love it!
Oops. That one isn’t available for the Kindle. And it’s Larry Crabb–one of my favorite authors. Oh well. I’ll put it on my wish list for later.
My stack of books is too high now anyway. ha.
Ooh! Great list! We have very similar taste in reading. I’ll be reading Kisses from Katie on my vacation in a few weeks too! I also have the Meaning of Marriage waiting for me on my bookshelf. Hopefully I’ll get to that one soon as well!
Thanks so much for listing the books you plan to take with you. Sounds like some great reads and I hope to have the opportunity to read several of them.
Have a great vacation!
Joy
I just KNEW I liked you, Christina.
We like so many of the same things/authors! And though I’ve only ever met you *virtually*, I wonder if those books you have recommended here that I have not read would be good ones for me, too . . . ?
The Lewis and Keller quotes were awesome. Thanks for the encouragement, friend, and have a great vacation! (As Jennifer at Getting Down With Jesus says, “Get lost . . . so you can be found.”)
I am devouring books lately (although I love to have two or three going all the time). I just finished a Marriage Coaching book (I’m a life coach), I also just finished A Better Way to Think (yep, another coaching book), and hoping to begin Michael Hyatt’s Platform book that came with a ton of resources. Thanks for sharing what you’re reading too, Christina. I’m interested in checking some of those titles out as well! Good reading to you!
Yay, for the DVD players arriving just in time!! Praying you and your family have a great time on vacation. I am sure we will get to see some beautiful pictures soon. Can’t wait.
and this… I love this!
“that if He calls us to a task, He will ensure its completion”
I stand on this truth daily as a wife and mom. I have to. He is so faithful all of His promises and this one is no exception.
Blessings friend!
Jumped over from Seedlings in Stone, and enjoyed so much your reading list as well as your list of gifts. Both are worthy. Right now I’m reading Moveable Feast, Writing His Answer, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. And I have a stack too high to mention yet to read. We just “inherited” a mountain of books from my husband’s brother and his wife (the brother is quite ill and now in a nursing home); he no longer reads. Some great treasures were found in those boxes of books! Talk about good gifts.
Enjoy your vacation.
Yay for three weeks of fun! Counting the days till mine begins. Sounds like an enriching list of books. I have about five I am working on myself. And I love road trips because of all the reading time I get too.
I love summer too! The sun, the breeze, the birds singing! Ahh the beauty of it all! I love to read as well! I just received a book to read and review and I’m excited to do so!
Thank you for sharing your book list 
I will definitely be having a look at them all!
Books! I should read more often. These all sound really good. I may have to look them up sometime! Thank you for sharing!
Have a wonderful vacation!
3 weeks sounds dreamy! and a tad stressful for this controlling, need-to-organize every detail self ; )
And we are SOOO kindred! I just picked up “Kisses from Katie” and “Abba’s Child” at the library this morning along with some L’Engle and Henri Nouwen, whom I’m shocked to say I’ve never read.
Just finished “Messy Spirituality” by one of the Notorious Sinners. Very good, quick read. oh, I could go on and on. My nose is always in a book!
We do have a lot in common! I am never without a book to read or journal to write in. And going on vacation gives me even more opportunity to do so:)
Enjoy your vacation! I am praying for your safe travels and a wonderful trip! Sounds like you are going to be doing some wonderful reading. Can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.
Many blessings, Lisa
Thanks for your sweet prayers!
I thought I’d pop over to your place and see your space! Love it! And I am jealous of your stacks of books ready for you to read! Thanks for sharing them, I’m always on the lookout for something new! My goal this year has been to read more! And I agree with the lovely quote-never enough books never enough tea (or coffee)!!!
Sounds incredible.
Yay for relaxed summer days!! I can hardly wait until that starts here.
I never take a break from reading. I enjoy the escape too much.
I love to read. Thank you for the recommendation. “Kisses for Kate” is going to be my next read!
Looks like some good books to add to my reading list.
Have fun on your trip. 