Creating My Book Basket

February 12, 2024

For my fellow homeschoolers, you are probably familiar with the book basket concept which is simply creating a readily available collection of wonderful, engaging books. Why don’t we as mamas do that for ourselves? Why don’t we as grown adults do that for ourselves?

---

The heat aspect of our heat pump quit working this winter, and so my husband and I have been tag-teaming building fires this winter. It’s actually been rather fun, and I feel akin to Laura Ingalls Wilder as I build my stack of kindling and gently coax the flames to life. (In case you are worried, we have plans to get mini split systems installed this year.)

Anyways, my bible time migrated to the cozy arm chair beside the woodstove so that I can nurture my fire baby each morning. After weeks of my bible and supplies spilling everywhere, it finally dawned on me to grab an extra basket from upstairs. DUH! What a magical moment that was putting MY books into a basket and creating my own reading zone.

Now I still have another reading nook, as you may have seen in pictures. I stash my books in the cased opening between the foyer and the living room (it sounds fancy, but we are talking a miniscule area). This is my current treasure of tomes that pique my interest. 

I am not a natural reader and have to work at reading. Today I’d like to share a few ideas that have helped me actually gravitate towards reading and work it into the skinny margins of my life.

Create Your Own Special Space

Create your own special space for current books, whether it be your own shelf, a special basket, or even a stack set aside somewhere.

I smile when I walk out of my bedroom and see my personal current collection in the cased opening. Many of these books have become my friends (or are waiting to become my friends), and my life has been deeply enriched by them.

It also helps to have a special place to read though it doesn’t have to be fancy. I have several reading haunts: outside in a lawn chair while the kids play, my cozy armchair by the woodstove, and sometimes pillows piled high behind my back right before bed.

You are Worth the Investment

Don’t fall into the trap that you don’t have time to read. YOU are worth investing in, and reading is one of the best ways to invest into yourself. Read to better yourself for you, your family, your friends, your church family, and anyone else in your life.

Free Yourself from Rigid Paradigms

There are no rules about personal reading! Throw the rigid rules from school days out the window.

It’s okay to have multiple books going at the same time!

I probably have half a dozen books “open” right now, and my mood and energy level often determine which one I pick up.

You don’t have to finish every book you start.

If you start a book and don’t deem it worth your time, then move on. Recently, I checked out a book from our local library as recommended by a well-known Christian YouTuber. As I began reading the book, I felt tension rise in my heart. It’s almost as if the authors wanted to pick a fight with their readers. Instead of strengthening my faith in the sufficiency of scripture, I found this book subtly rattling me. I put it down. No questions asked, and I have no shame in doing so.

It’s okay to read slowly.

Do you want to know a secret? I am a painfully slow reader. It really is a wonder that I made it through grad school. But the more I read, the more my reading skills will strengthen.

---

What are you reading? Next week, I plan to share what is actually in my personal book basket. See you soon!

-Ashley

Personal Disclosure

As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.

#read #reading #books #book #learn #learning #education #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoollife #homeschoolmom #sahm #children #selfdiscipline #selfhelp #selfimprovement #grow #personal #development #ashleyqurollo #basket #shelf #nook #corner #livingroom #chair #outside