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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

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9 Books I Loved: To Inspire, Entertain, and Encourage You

by Susan Alexander Yates

It’s mid-summer and time for a few good reads!

Here are some books that I have recently enjoyed. I read in a mix of categories as you’ll see here. If you’re looking for something to inspire, entertain, or encourage you this summer, I hope you’ll find one in this list!

(And comment below if you have one you’d recommend. I’d love to hear.)

OK my favorite fun book of the year:  

  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

This is a true story of a 63-year-old woman, Annie, who in 1954 rode her horse from Maine to the Pacific Ocean with her dog often hopping on the horse’s back too! It’s such a happy, inspiring story! And we need happy today.

stack of books mentioned in this blog post

And some other good ones:

  • Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn

This authorized biography by my friend Ellen is excellent. Well researched (with access to personal diaries) and deeply moving, this book gives a realistic picture into the struggles and victories of an amazing woman of faith. 

  • The God of The Garden by Andrew Peterson

I love this book! Comforting, refreshing, and encouraging. It opens my eyes to nature in new ways. It’s sort of a “Wendell Berry meets songwriter Andrew Peterson.”

  • Riding with Reagan by John Barletta

Horse fans will love this. An insider’s look into the “ranch life” of President Reagan. Told by his Secret Service riding partner, it is full of funny stories about the former President.  

  • Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life is Better with The Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion

An excellent book for everyone. It’s an easy read, theologically sound and practical. Personally, it has made me long to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s power to be more at work in my own life. 

  • Sent: How One Ordinary Family Traded the American Dream for God’s Greater Purpose by Hilary Alan

A true story of a family of 4 (including 2 teens) who gave up everything to follow God’s call to serve for several years in Southeast Asia in the aftermath of a tsunami. These folks are friends of ours and their story will bless you.

  • Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

Please forgive the self-promotion. 🙂  Barbara and I wrote this several years ago when we were beginning the empty nest years ourselves and could not find help to navigate this season!

As August arrives many of you are experiencing this as well. My friend Christi has used this book for about 10 years in her city as an outreach to other mothers, many non-believers. She’s had an amazing response. If you are interested in how Christi did this get in touch with me and I’ll connect you with her.

  • Social Sanity In An Insta World, edited by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

A brand-new book with excellent thoughts on the challenges of today’s social media. Short chapters written by well-known authors and speakers, it will inform and encourage you. Questions at the end of each chapter make it ideal for a book club 

  • The Radical Disciple by John Stott

This little book is John Stott’s last before he went to heaven. It’s excellent. Brief chapters include: “Nonconformity,”  “Simplicity,” “Dependence,” and others. I especially liked this quote, 

We are all designed to be a burden to others. You are designed to be a burden to me, and I am designed to be a burden to you. And the life of the family including the life of the local church family should be one of mutual burdensomeness. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

And if you haven’t watched the new series “All Creatures Great and Small” (PBS) it’s wonderful.

Happy reading!

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Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

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More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend. Such a joy! ⁣
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Be sure to check out the blog for more details and pics. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
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* Poppy (John) is always happy to get help with the horses and the kids love them.⁣
* There's always a competition of some kind going on! Volleyball, a hula hoop contest, a ping-pong tournament. ⁣
* The "ice cream gutter" is a cherished annual tradition!⁣
* Lots of hanging out, and even some quiet moments, but not a lot of sleep. ⁣
⁣
If you want to host a camp or family event of your own, check out my book Cousin Camp for all kinds of ideas. (Link in bio.)⁣
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#christianmom #christianfamily #grandparent #cousincamp #familycamp
One Word: Mystery One Verse: “To them God ch One Word: 
Mystery 
 
One Verse:
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
 
One Thought:
You are a God of mystery. It’s a glorious mystery. I can’t explain you even though sometimes I want to. Your mystery is part of what makes you so much greater than man. Thank you that you, with all of your glorious mystery, have chosen to dwell in me.
John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation, still celebrating 54 years of marriage! We had a fun dinner, sharing about folks who have been role models-mentors for us in ministry and family life over these years. It sparked a fun discussion and thankful memories!
We're so grateful we got to host another Family Ca We're so grateful we got to host another Family Camp over Labor Day weekend!⁣
⁣
Here's a peek behind the scenes. I'm sharing all the details (and more pics!) over on the blog, check it out. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
⁣
1 - We had 33 of us this year!⁣
2 - So much prep and shopping. But I never clean before they come because I learned that's futile. 😜⁣
3 - Lots of cousin bonding.⁣
4 - My daughter-in-law @christenbyates, who's a professional artist, set up an art station this year and the kids loved it.⁣
5 - Cousins with their camp journals. (I keep the journals at my house and they get to write in them every year.)⁣
6 - John led a short teaching time every day, this year on Psalm 139.⁣
7 - Meals are crazy when you're cooking for 33 people!⁣
8 - There are shoes everywhere. 😂 ⁣
9 - The kids actually did dinner cleanup this year, without any prompting! ⁣
10 - A few of our guys.💙⁣
⁣
#christianfamily #cousincamp #familycamp #christianmom #grandparent
One Word: Shows One Verse: “But God shows hi One Word:  Shows
 
One Verse:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
 
One Thought:

If you, God Almighty, would send your son to die for me in my own wickedness, then how much more will you show me how to make the decision I need to make.
Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our you Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our youngest grands. (We have 21!)

Catch the blog later this week for details and more pics.
This photo of me and John is from our trip to Isra This photo of me and John is from our trip to Israel last fall. When we first got married, I didn't know what being a pastor's wife would entail. Now after more than 50 years of marriage I understand a little better (although I can always learn more!).⁣
⁣
I'm sharing an interview over on my blog with @thegospelcoalition's Front Row Seat series on Supporting Our Husbands.⁣
⁣
We discussed how pastors’ wives can support and encourage their husbands in ministry, marriage, and life. But so much of this applies to any marriage, whether your husband is a pastor or not.⁣
⁣
Check it out -- link in bio, or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog⁣
⁣
You might want to share it with your pastor's wife -- it will encourage her!⁣
⁣
@kristen_wetherell  @kario312⁣
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#christianwife  #pastorswife  #christianmarriage
One Word: Founder One Verse: “...let us run One Word:  Founder
 
One Verse:

“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12: 1-2
 
One Thought:

You are the author of my faith. You began it, Father. It is yours. I ask you to be perfecting it. Thank you that even this isn't up to me. My part is to fix my eyes on you and let you do your work within me.
This is how we feel right now -- we finished our A This is how we feel right now -- we finished our Annual Family Camp yesterday!

4 days with 33 kids and grands; 19 teens sleeping on floors and outside, 44 bags of trash, 15 gallons of ice cream, 67 dirty towels, 135 ping pong games, 90 individual miles hiking on the AT, gleaning from Psalm 139, 532 tickles and hugs, and 2 exhausted grandparents--who are deliriously grateful!

More pics coming soon.

* numbers are estimates 😆

Copyright © 2023 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

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