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Emily C Gardner

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The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy
25 Bunny Books perfect for Spring
17 Wintery Children’s Books
A Bible Literacy Book Flight
An Epistolary Book Flight

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“This magnetic pull toward beauty is an inclination most of us carry but too few of us acknowledge...Rarely do we know what is at stake when beauty surprises us into stillness and we pause to listen, even for a moment, to creation’s song.” - @christiepurifoy in Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty and Peace ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It is rare in non-fiction to find a voice so gentle and compelling that you want to gulp it down in one sitting like a novel. When I read Christie’s first book, Roots and Sky, last year, that’s exactly the kind of experience I had - I couldn’t get enough of her stories and wisdom. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Placemaker, her second book that comes out on March 12, has been pre-ordered in my Amazon cart for months. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve had this early copy in my hands for a week (thanks @zondervan!) but was waiting for just the right moment to start it because I knew I’d only have one go at reading her words for the first time. This sounds silly as I type but maybe you’ve had that experience before? I cracked this morning because school as been canceled AGAIN and I needed some beautiful writing in my life this morning. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you need some beauty and wisdom in your life this morning, go follow @christiepurifoy + @maplehurstgardens (her home Insta).

I’m a bit further behind than I’d like to be on a couple of buddy reads this month, so I’ve been toting books around everywhere. That’s not really a new habit - it’s comforting to always have reading material in my purse. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When do you find time to read? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As much as I love to read first thing when I wake up, I have more mental energy to work in the morning then later in the day. I’ve been getting up at 5:30 to work and then enjoying a relaxed chunk of time to read or putter around the house during naptime. It’s been a productive routine. Our evenings are either spent reading or watching. If we’re going to watch something, I like to read for a bit before we succumb to the Netflix vortex. 😊

May your weekend be full of carb-laden deliciousness, little pockets of reading time and a few rays of sunshine. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I don’t plan ahead enough to make yeasted breakfast treats, I default to these biscuit cinnamon rolls from @joythebaker. They were on the table in 30 minutes this morning! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I found Dear Fahrenheit 451 at a thrift store yesterday and am looking forward to reading some of her love letters and break up notes throughout the weekend. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you read this one?

As predicted, February has been a much slower reading month for me than its predecessor. I’ve made it through one physical book and two middle-grade audiobooks. This little stack is what I’m hoping to read by the end of the month. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ How has your reading month been so far? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thanks to @zondervan for the free copy of Taste and See. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #lmmreadalong2019 #tasteandseebook #willacather #deathcomesforthearchbishop #thestorygirl #lmmontgomery #tamingthetbr #bookstacks #currentlyreading #readerlife #bookspine #bookstafeatures #coolgirlsread

This is what Valentines Day looks like with a 5 and 3 year old and I am totally here for it. Both my kiddos’ preschool parties got canceled because of snow, so I’m trying to make up for it at home. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Valentines Day was a favorite growing up and I still love it. Candy (without having to dress up!), notes, little gifties, pink, red, flowers! I love it all. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Are you a fan of Valentines Day? How are you celebrating love in your life today?

“I cannot make speeches Emma...If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When it comes to romance in literature, I always return to Jane. Her ability to speak with wit and clarity about human nature all while crafting endlessly re-readable love stories makes her the queen of her craft. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Would you agree? When you think of romance in literature, what authors or characters come to mind? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In case you were wondering, Emma is my favorite Austen novel (most of the time 😏).

(@harperbooks #freebook) Do you like epistolary novels? I do! So I was excited to get Mary Adkins’ latest release in the mail. This novel was a mixed bag for me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We get to know the characters (a sister and co-worker both grieving the loss of Iris Massey, who died of cancer at 33) through emails, texts and blog posts. Think Where’d You Go Bernadette. The comedic foil to this heavier plot was well done, but terminal illness in books always spikes my anxiety so overall this was a 3⭐️ read. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I always seem to connect quicker with characters in epistolary novels. Maybe because you’re getting an immediate peek into their thoughts and style? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Some favorite novels in this genre (tell me yours!): ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Dear Mr. Knightley by @katherinereay Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff Love, Mary Elizabeth by Christy Martenson

Hi! 👋🏻 Whether you’ve been here for awhile or you’re new around these parts, I am thrilled you’ve chosen to follow along. Here’s a little #meetthebookstagrammer + #fridayintroduction for you... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m Emily - wife of almost 7 years, mom of 2, online communications director for @eda_efca, nap time reader. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Random Tidbits: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Born and raised in SoCal, college in MO, newly married in Idaho, now in PA. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I name cars. I’ve had a ruby, Mr. Knightley, Blueberry and Opal. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Amateur, but very enthusiastic gardner. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m 6 feet tall. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Very fascinated by personality frameworks. INFJ + HSP. Originally thought I was an Enneagram 1 w 9, but am now thinking I’m actually a 5 w 4. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Not a huge animal person but I love bunnies. My first pet was a black and white rabbit I named Rainbow (I was 5). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Prefer country to city. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I have a fondness for the raisins in packaged granola. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ YOUR TURN! Please say hi and tell me a random tidbit about yourself - I’d love to know who you are 😊.

Do you observe Lent in any way? I grew up in a non-denominational church setting where we didn’t follow the traditional church calendar aside from Easter and Christmas. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The older I get the more comfort I get from observing the rhythms of said church calendar. They help me appreciate the seasons and rhythms in my own life and faith. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @russramsey1 has done such an excellent job of capturing the gravity and hope found in Jesus’ death and resurrection. If you’re looking for a book (with 4-6 page chapters for each day of the season) to tune your heart to what we remember and celebrate during Lent, go get a copy of The Passion of The King of Glory. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I was thrilled to be part of the launch team for the Retelling The Story Series. This blurb explains them so well: “The Retelling The Story series explores the narrative arc of the Bible in compelling language that is faithful to the text of Scripture. The stories are told to help readers hide God’s Word in their hearts by way of their imaginations.”

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