Comments on: new

By: Mrs. B.

Mrs. B. — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:02:48 +0000

Hi Ashley (from another Ashley…there are lots of us out there aren’t there?) 🙂 It seems we have a lot in common. I’m going to be homeschooling my three babes – whom I call my “piglets” – and I love gleaning inspiration from books.
I wanted to give you a few to look for…
Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison is my very favorite (although she’s not a homeschooler)
Anything by Sally Clarkson – especially her books The Mission of Motherhood and The Ministry of Motherhood.
Of course there’s always C. S. Lewis who is a master at the art of writing.
And if you’re looking for an especially fabulous fiction (I LOVE fiction) you should read The Birth House by Ami McKay.
Okay, I’ll wrap it up now…don’t get me started on books. 😉

By: Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley Rodriguez — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:36:27 +0000

Melissa – This was so encouraging for both my husband and I. I can’t thank you enough for commenting.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:17:31 +0000

Just wanted to say good luck on your goals. I have decided that this is the year for me to realize my more creative aspirations as well. Regarding homeschooling: I was a homeschooled child. I loved the freedom. I wonder how my mom did it with 5 of us, but for me, I loved that we had Monday ‘Farm Days’ at my grandparents and that we had the option for beach days during the warm season if we got extra work done on the other days. Often this meant 3 day school weeks with lots of fun to be had the rest of the week. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:50:13 +0000

Hi Ashley!

I love your blog! Gabe took some engagement photos for us a few years back, and I’ve been faithfully reading your blog ever since but for whatever reason failed to introduce myself…

…anyways, if you are interested in any other books on writing (I loved Bird by Bird and A Million Miles) then I also love Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water, and Stephen King’s “On Writing” is hilarious and has definitely had an impact on how I write.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:02:24 +0000

Ashley, Thank you for sharing your 2011 goals with all of us. I have been working on mine this past week. Trying to get it all written down in the hopes of actually achieving them and your goals added more inspiration to what I have going. Appreciate you so openly writing yours down. Cheers, Carrie

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:23:36 +0000

Hey ashley,
I have to recommend my favorite book about writing–“Writing down the bones” by Natalie Goldberg. I also just read and loved one of Anne Lamott’s other books, “Operating instructions: a journal of my son’s first year.” She’s a great writer. Hope things are well. -Sara

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:59:32 +0000

I don’t do resolutions, just because I usually already have too much that I want to do and am working toward! But yours is a great list. Loved looking over your book ideas, and am going to add Bird by Bird to mine based on so many recommendations. Here’s a few I’d throw out there for you to consider: Keeping House: the Litany of Everyday Life by Margaret Kim Petersen. Helped me some with putting the hard day-to-day messes of being a mom you mention into perspective. Also Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Metaxas. Engaging read and a great mix of history, culture, theology and example of “missional living.” I’d second Noel Piper’s book–I skimmed some parts but found her overall thinking very helpful. Also, Bruce Ware’s Big Truths for Young Hearts is good and I’ve borrowed Gospel-Powered Parenting to read soon based on a lot of recommendations although I can’t vouch since I haven’t read it yet. Enjoy your quiet moments!=)

By: Leanne

Leanne — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:52:34 +0000

I love having a book list!
Francine Rivers’ Lineage of Grace books are some of my favorites, they made me get excited about reading the OT more. I can’t wait to meet those women in heaven! 🙂
You would also love “Faitfhul Women and Their Extraordinary God” by Noel Piper: http://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Women-Their-Extraordinary-God/dp/1581346735
Don’t know if anyone else suggested The Hunger Games, or The Help, but they are amazing books as well 🙂 yay for reading.

By: The Fromagette

The Fromagette — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:18:28 +0000

Happy New Year Ashley!!! RATIO should be on my doorstep today- I’ll let you know what I think. So cool that you have such defined goals. Mine are a bit vague this year. I’ve done a lot of research on writing a book query, so if you’d like help I’d be happy to assist you. Re:home schooling – I really respect that someone in a previous post had the guts to be honest about her negative experience. I know others who feel the same way- and moms need the few down moments while kids are at school to recharge. You know I am not a mom, so maybe I am not entitled to an opinion- I appreciate your selflessness in devoting your time to homeschooling, but I too urge you to rethink it…

By: Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley Rodriguez — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:27:58 +0000

Thank you all so much! Your words are so encouraging to me. I’m adding your book recommendations to my list. I’m on my 3rd book so far and loving my reading time. It’s amazing how much time there is when you are intentional about it.
I can’t thank you enough for your support.

By: Axon

Axon — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:51:47 +0000

What a fun post! I love keeping up with your blog…I too have a sweet little baby girl and an amazing two-year-old boy…I love to cook and read and date my husband…I want to learn to sew (how is that going?)…and I am working on a preschool/homeschool coop with some friends at church. I was homeschooled myself and am very excited about the adventure. I’m glad you are considering it. I am reading a couple of books by the Pipers, as well as The Forsyte Saga and some good old Dickens. For modern novels, I loved Olive Kitteridge, The Poisonwood Bible, and anything by Kazuo Ishiguro. I am also terribly addicted to mystery novels…

By: Deliciously Organic

Deliciously Organic — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:39:36 +0000

Thank you for being so open and honest about your goals. You’ve set your standards high! I like that! Go for that proposal…it’s a pain to write, but so rewarding. I will be first in line to buy your book! I hope to meet you someday. I think we hava a lot in common. 🙂 Thanks for the book list too!

By: Amy Baron

Amy Baron — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:02:12 +0000

I love this post Ashley! As always its inspirational and a bit intimidating.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:31:01 +0000

Hi Ashley,
I love your book list too! I am starting with Will Write for Food and Best Food Writing 2010. Not sure what I will read after that! I know what you mean by being passive and waiting for things to happen. That is what I do. I would love to write a book one day but I need to remember that I have to put in the effort. Its not going to just happen on its own. Thank you for reminding me of this!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:51:33 +0000

I love your book list – I would add Walking on Water by Madeline L’Engle, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and The Circle of Seasons by Kimberlee Conway Ireton. I also want to encourage you to do the date thing! My husband and I started a “Friday Night Date” when our first child was born. We almost never go out, but that night is dedicated to us. We’ve been married for 28 years, my boys are 17 and 21 now and they know better than to mess with Friday night!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:37:48 +0000

A smile came across my face today as I had some time to check in on your blog. I have for some time now counted your site as a favored one…your writing, photography, etc. But today seeing more of your heart in books of interest, mission opportunities, and raising your children under a banner of godliness filled my heart with joy. Thank you for your boldness and testimony. It has convicted and motivated me to press in to what God has also called me to do in my own stage of life.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:34:38 +0000

Ashley,

I was very moved by the vulnerability in your post. I was just telling my wife this morning that I don’t like making New Years resolutions, but yours have inspired me. Also, I’d love to hear more about the home school co-op – your thoughts for that and eventually how it goes. I currently teach middle school math and science at a classical Christian school and my wife does ESL (English as a Second Language) work; my wife and I have considered eventually doing a co-op with some friends (she is 18 weeks pregnant with our first).

As an addendum, we’ve been baking your chocolate chip cookies over the holidays and have just fallen in love with them: http://theshoeboxkitchen.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/our-new-favorite-chocolate-chip-cookie/

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:44:20 +0000

Ashley, I think you should consider writing a book about dating your husband, cooking together, the friendship you share. I’m sure it would be inspirational.
I loved what you said about baking being the source of so much knowledge! It really is true.
Happy New Year to you and yours.

By: Winnie

Winnie — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:54:25 +0000

What a beautiful list of goals. I hope to get a book proposal completed this year, too, and honestly, if that’s all I got done this year, I’d be pretty happy…the rest of your goals are truly inspiring, though. Thank you for sharing.

By: Kara

Kara — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 02:45:05 +0000

Go you. The “if you build it they will come” thing rarely happens in real life. If you’re meant to do something – be it write a book, build a business, be an artist – then you’re MEANT to pursue it with all your heart. And like you said, something you work for an earn is much more fulfilling than something that is handed to you.