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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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One Word: Warrior One Verse: “The Lord is a One Word:  Warrior 
 
One Verse:

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name." Exodus 15:3
 
One Thought:

Lord, it is good for me to be reminded that you are a warrior. You are not a pushover, or weak. You are mighty. You fight for me. You defend me. You have my back. You are for me.
One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, wa One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, watch me. He noticed my every move. If I looked him in the eye he would hop up and come to me. If I moved he would follow me. He listens for my voice. His greatest joy is for me to communicate with him, to pay attention to him. He loves me unconditionally, even if I’m having a bad day, blown it with a family member or friend, or still have on my smelly sweats! Watching him watch me I think about how he reflects God. Our heavenly Father watches over me. He waits for me to notice Him. He takes great joy when I call out to Him. He loves me no matter what.

“Father thank you for Charley and for using him to remind me how much You rejoice when I pay attention to You. At this moment, You are waiting patiently for me.”
These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins). Last time they were in town we went thrift shopping, and they found a single pair of pajamas that they could both fit into at one time, lol!⁣
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I've been thinking about them a lot lately as I just discovered my old 8th grade diary, which is hysterical. One of the main things I discovered is that even though so much has changed in the many years since I was in 8th grade, there are still lots of things that are the same.⁣
⁣
Read some excerpts and get insights for parenting middle school kids in my blog, "Help for Parents of Middle School Kids: Insights From My 8th Grade Diary."⁣
⁣
Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Sustains One Verse: “Surely God is One Word: Sustains 
 
One Verse:

“Surely God is my help. The Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4
 
One Thought:

Father, you sustain me in the tediousness of drudgery or the extreme challenges of life. Whatever I fear - you are sustaining me, my friend, my child. It is your joy to do so!
Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite re Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite reads! I read this every couple of years to prepare for Easter.
Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a di Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a diary I kept when I was in 8th grade! (Swipe right to see a photo of me with my siblings from around that time.)⁣
⁣
Here are a couple excerpts:⁣
⁣
“I’m afraid I’m beginning to like Jimmy but I don’t want to because I really hate him.”⁣
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"Nothing much happened today. Linda and I are real pals now and don’t like Becky. She’s bossy and conceited.”⁣
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I'm still laughing as I read it. But it actually gave me some insights that are helpful with my two 8th grade granddaughters -- and insights you may appreciate if you're the parent of a middle schooler. ⁣
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Get the full scoop on my blog -- link in profile or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Understands One Verse: “Great is o One Word:  Understands
 
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One Thought:

When no one else can understand me or my situation, you do completely, O Lord.
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 @apostleshouston  @historichillhouse
This is so important to remember when we're strugg This is so important to remember when we're struggling with our family relationships: God created family.⁣
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It was His idea. In the beginning He was part of a family -- Father God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. But that wasn’t enough, so they created man, Adam. Then God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He created Eve as a wife for Adam.⁣
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Through their disobedience sin entered family units. Even so God did not give up on family. Family has continued ever since.⁣
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Family has a broad meaning. We usually think of family as a dad, mom, and kids. But throughout both the Old and New Testaments we see family described as large tribes, small units, particularly the family of the church. A family might include singles as well as married people, young people, and old people.⁣
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God knows that we are not meant to be alone. We need one another. The big concept here can be summarized in a single word: together.⁣
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But that doesn't mean family is easy! It can be incredibly difficult at times. If you're looking for hope or help with your family relationships, check out my blog this week: "Family Can Be Hard: How to Handle Painful Family Relationships."⁣
⁣
Link in bio or go to  susanalexanderyates.com/blog

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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