• Home
  • About
    • Our Family
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Christmas Letters
    • Other FAQ’s
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Flanders Family Homelife

Living, Loving, & Learning Together

  • Home
  • Love
    • Respect your Husband
    • Love your Wife
    • Get Along with In-laws
    • Find Time for Intimacy
    • More on Marriage
  • Learn
    • Why Homeschool? Our Family’s Reasons
    • Occupying Toddlers
    • Kindergarten Plan
    • Choosing Curriculum: Cultivate Your Child’s Love for Learning
    • Report Cards
    • High School Transcripts
    • CLEP/ Dual Credit
    • High School Diplomas
  • Parent
    • Tips on Potty Training
    • Stop Sibling Squabbles
    • Chore Assignments
    • Computer TIme
    • Adult Children at Home
  • Eat
    • Breakfasts
    • Breads
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sides
    • Main DIshes
    • Desserts
  • Celebrate
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • Summer Vacation
    • Independence Day
    • Back to School
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Save
    • Kids Eat Free
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Earn Cash Back w/Ebates
  • Read
    • Recent Reads
    • Books We’ve Authored
    • Reading Rewards
    • Free Books!!
  • Travel
    • Vacation Planning
    • We Flew FREE to Europe
    • Sample Itineraries
  • Organize
    • General Tips
    • Goal Setting
    • Mom’s Notebook
    • Kitchen
    • Bedrooms
    • Garage
  • Print
    • Calendars
    • Chore Charts
    • Coloring Pages
    • Math Drills
    • Prayer Guides
    • View All >
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Books / Dear Henry, Love Edith (& More February Reads)

in Books

Dear Henry, Love Edith (& More February Reads)

To Kill a Mockingbird and other February Reads

I read five books last month, including Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer. Read on for my impressions of each book.

The 5 Books I Finished in February

  • How to Get a Date Worth Keeping by Henry Cloud

    How to Get a Date Worth KeepingI often hear from singles asking for book recommendations on dating and marriage, so I’ve added a few to my reading list trying to find some titles worth passing on. Sadly, the one I read most recently probably won’t make that list — at least not without a huge caveat.

    In his 2011 best-seller, How to Get a Date Worth Keeping, Henry Cloud offers advice on improving faltering or non-existent dating lives. Written primarily for adults, many of his tips are practical and filled with good common sense; change your routine, go places you’ll meet lots of new people, make eye contact, be yourself, don’t play games. I found myself nodding along with much of what he wrote.

    However, I strongly disagreed with some of his other advice, including his stance on going out with non-Christians and dating multiple people at the same time, both which he views as no big deal. Granted, the author’s view of dating is different than mine: He views dating not so much as a method for finding a suitable marriage partner as a fun way to get to know a wide variety of people. And he provides a lot of qualifications for when it isn’t a good idea to date a non-Christian.

    But having seen many friends who took the just-for-fun approach to dating wind up falling for and marrying nonbelievers, and the heartache that inevitably ensued as a result, I would advise any serious Christian to steer clear of such a path by not even accepting a date with a professed unbeliever.

  • Real Citizenship by Tim Echols

    Real CitizenshipWe read a hard copy of Tim Echol’s Real Citizenship aloud on our way to Austin last month. It was part of the assigned homework Gabriel and Aiden had to do in preparation for TeenPact. We’ve been reading this same tattered copy of the book for years, every time another child is old enough to attend this 4-day government practicum in our state capital.

    Real Citizenship is a great little handbook. It’s a quick read, but full of solid advice for Christians wanting to be more involved in the political process and to make a positive impact on their culture.

    Sadly, I don’t think any paper copies of the book are currently in print, which is why I’m linking this title to the digital copy which is now available through the TeenPact website. 🇺🇸


  • Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

    Dear Henry, Love EdithI listened to Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer on Audible during a recent trip to San Antonio.

    After reading the first couple of chapters as part of a points promotion at My Reader Rewards, I was instantly hooked. And this, despite the fact it has been decades since I’ve read anything that could be even remotely classified as a romantic comedy.

    Billed as a tale of mistaken identities reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, Kinzer’s debut novel certainly delivers lots of laughs. My 13-year-old daughter and I listened to it together while working a jigsaw puzzle.

    The book is delightfully clean — nothing physical beyond a couple of kisses — and is well-paced. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

  • My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

    My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's SorryI started this book before we moved last year.

    Then it got temporarily misplaced somewhere in the shuffle. But I’m happy to report that the book (eventually) resurfaced, and I was finally able to finish it a few weeks ago.

    My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is a touching story describing the great lengths to which an extraordinarily unconventional grandmother goes to protect her precocious but frequently-bullied granddaughter. And while she’s at it, she fans the flame of her granddaughter’s giftedness, stores up a wealth of happy memories they’ll both always cherish, and introduces her to friends who will watch over her faithfully once grandma is gone.

    This slowly unfolding mystery contains quite a bit of mild language — some of it more offensive in Britain than America — but is otherwise an enjoyable read.

  • Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar

    Becoming Free IndeedThe final book I finished in February was Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo.

    In it, the author re-examines many of the beliefs and practices she has embraced since childhood. She does so in an effort to disentangle man-made rules from biblical truth.

    I have a lot of thoughts about this book — too many to share this brief synopsis. If you’re interested in reading them, follow this link: On Becoming Free Indeed​

Make Time for Reading

Do you love to read as much as we do? I’ve gathered all my best resources for bibliophiles into this post, or you can read more of my book reviews by following this link

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of those links, we may receive a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Such fees help defray the cost of running this website. This, in turn, allows us to continue offering our readers a wealth of FREE printable resources. So thank you for your support!

Related

Leave a Comment

« Nesting and Singing Coloring Page
Photography 4 Teens (Timberdoodle Review) »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




meet the parents

Doug & Jennifer Flanders - www.flandersfamily.info

We love Jesus, love each other, love our 12 children, and love the life God's given us. We started this blog as a way to share resources with others who want strong marriages, happy families, & healthy homes.

Read more

connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

looking for something?

freebies in your inbox

Join over 19K other subscribers and get sunshine delivered weekly to your inbox.

Unsure? Browse my newsletter archives to see what you're missing

get your family talking

Table Talk Book

cook gourmet meals at home

HelloFresh delivers great recipes and fresh ingredients to your home each week.

start your day right

make over your mornings

If your mornings don't run as smoothly as you'd like, this course can help. Good for night owls & early birds alike!

join the conversation

  • Jennifer Flanders on Summit Student Conferences: Our Family’s Experience
  • Jennifer Flanders on 10 Commandments Award Certificate and Memory Aid
  • Jennifer Flanders on Flanders Family Favorite Recipes
  • Suzan on Flanders Family Favorite Recipes
  • Donna Mcdannold on 10 Commandments Award Certificate and Memory Aid
  • Caroline on Summit Student Conferences: Our Family’s Experience
  • Jennifer Flanders on 2023 Calendars for Advanced Planning
  • Patricia C Knight on 2023 Calendars for Advanced Planning

Readers' Favorites

Name that Line - Christmas Movie Game

Name that Line Christmas Quiz

Shares: 39510

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols?

Shares: 28689

Age-Appropriate Children's Chore Chart - IG

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Shares: 92699

Make Every Month More Meaningful

Make Every Month More Memorable

Shares: 53690

most popular posts this week

  • Springtime Word Scramble (Free Printable)
  • 50 Fun Ideas for Spring (Free Printable)
  • Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist
  • Free Editable High School Transcript Template
  • Birds of the Air Coloring Page
  • Springtime Conversation Starters
  • A Fragrant Aroma Coloring Page
  • 2023 Calendars for Advanced Planning
  • 5 Things to Make Spring Better
  • Jelly Bean Gospel (Free Printable)

earn free books and bibles

Tyndale Rewards Club

This is a great program, and it's FREE! Bonus: when you sign up through this link, you get 25 points (& I get 10 -- so, thanks!).

free starter set

Free Starter Set from Grove Collaborativefree starter set from Grove

unleash your child’s creativity

agathon web hoting
Christian Family Blogs
  • Home
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Food
  • Fun
  • Freebies

visit jennifer’s blog

Jennifer Flanders' Blog: Loving Life At Home Loving Life at Home

visit doug’s blog

Doug Flanders' Blog: All Truth Is God's Truth All Truth is God's Truth

privacy policy | disclosure statement

shop our books

25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife
Sit Down & Eat Get Up & Go

thanks for dropping by

Thank you for visiting our website Let's Get Social
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

looking for something?

recommended resources

as seen on:

America Tonight ABC Australia BBC Tyler Morning Telegraph

Every spring, I pull out my little Easter journal, Every spring, I pull out my little Easter journal, read through it again, and complete a few more pages.  Packed with scripture, word studies, writing prompts, and gorgeous vintage artwork to color, it’s a great way to focus my heart and mind on the unfathomable love and unmerited grace that compelled Jesus to conquer sin, death, and the grave on behalf of all who put their trust in Him (including ME🙋‍♀️)!  If you enjoy coloring, journaling, and/or reflecting on Christ’s love, you can find BECAUSE HE LIVES — along with all of my other devotional journals — on Amazon. (Link in profile)  #flandersfamilyreads #bookstagram #devotionaljournal #becausehelives
I love leaving all our windows open to let the lig I love leaving all our windows open to let the light shine through, but the glare off this white wall blinds me whenever I’m washing dishes at our kitchen sink. So I decided to paint a mural to help absorb some of the reflected light!  Also, I figured it would be easier to keep painted shrubs and flowers alive than the real thing since we don’t have a sprinkler system and I sometimes forget to water the real stuff until it is limp and wilted — or worse!  #flandersfamilyhome #wallart #outdoorproject
I finished listening to David Epstein’s RANGE ye I finished listening to David Epstein’s RANGE yesterday. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  What an inspiring book! I told my husband, who’d read it years before, that this book really made me grateful we had chosen to homeschool.  “That’s exactly what I thought when I finished reading it!” he responded.  It’s not that one CAN’T learn to think broadly in a traditional classroom — Doug and I both attended public schools as children, earned specialized degrees in college and graduate/medical school, yet still managed to retain a healthy curiosity about a wide range of topics.  It is just that our modern educational system favors benchmarked learning and early specialization, often at the expense of making interdisciplinary connections or pursuing tangential topics.  Each teacher piles on homework in a given subject, seldom pausing to point out how the material being presented in one course relates to anything the student is learning in other classes.  Modern classrooms stress outcomes, grades, results. They have little time or patience for the kind of “mental meandering” and experimentation that is vital to innovation.  Happily for us, that hasn’t been the case with homeschooling. We teach our kids the basics, expose them to a broad range of books, people, places, and ideas, let them delve deeply into investigating topics or developing skills that interest them, and discuss with genuine enthusiasm and appreciation all the things each of us are learning — collectively and individually — and how it all fits into the framework of our Christian worldview.  As parents, I don’t think Doug and I deliberately set out to create that kind of environment for our kids when we first started teaching them at home, but by God’s grace, that is what our homeschooling experiment evolved into. And books like Range make me extra thankful that is the case. ❤️  #flandersfamilyreads #bookstagram #homeschooling #lifestyleoflearning #recommendedreading
Today was “Disney Day” at our homeschool co-op Today was “Disney Day” at our homeschool co-op.  Abby dressed as my all-time favorite Disney character, Belle. She was smart, loyal, compassionate, and loved to read. 📕  Gabriel dressed as Pongo. This tenacious Dalmatian was courageous, resourceful, and made an excellent father. 🐶  And I dressed as a Public Service Announcement: Parents, make sure you watch your children around Disney as vigilantly as you’d guard your puppies around Cruella de Vil!🚧  #homeschoolcoopthemedays
I was privileged to get a sneak peak at Hard Is No I was privileged to get a sneak peak at Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad, chapter by chapter, as it was being written And I absolutely loved it!  Now (at last!) it’s officially available for preorder. I ordered mine yesterday and can hardly wait to read the print copy, complete with gorgeous artwork from @paintandprose and the unique perspective Dad shares the end of each chapter!  I’m overjoyed to think how incredibly blessed families across the globe are going to be when they read the timely, encouraging, biblically-grounded message presented in this beautifully written book. ❤️  #flandersfamilyreads #bookstagram #hardisnotthesamethingasbad
On this date in 1987, my husband officially asked On this date in 1987, my husband officially asked me to marry him before slipping onto my finger an antique diamond ring his grandmother had taken off her own hand two days earlier and hand sized to fit mine.  He proposed on bended knee in the living room of his grandparents’ house in Corpus Christi, with Nanny and Poppie looking on, offering constructive criticism, and making him back up and re-do all the parts that THEY found unsatisfactory the first time. 😂😂🤣  The truth is, Doug and I had already been planning our wedding — and, even more importantly, discussing our hopes, dreams, and expectations for the life we’d share together after the ceremony — for months before his grandparents insisted he formalize things with an official proposal of marriage and a gorgeous ring I’ve worn proudly ever since. 💍  Either way — with or without a ring or a formal proposal — my answer to the question was a resounding “YES!” Agreeing to marry Doug remains one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. ❤️❤️❤️  #officiallyengaged #happilyeverafter
I recently finished Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s Becomi I recently finished Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s Becoming Free Indeed.  As relieved as I was to hear Jinger reaffirm her strong faith in God — as well as her love and respect for her parents— I still had a LOT of thoughts regarding the “disentangling” journey she shares.  You can swipe left to read a few of those thoughts. Or visit my Loving Life at Home blog (link in bio) for the unabridged version! 😂  #flandersfamilyreads #becomingfreeindeed #bookstagram #biblebeliever
Pics from our all-green-cuisine leprechaun lunch — a long standing tradition in the Flanders family!  #flandersfamilyfun #familytraditions #greenfood #leprechaunlunch
Another family tradition: Racing to see who can fi Another family tradition: Racing to see who can finish this year’s game the quickest.  You can download either of the ones pictured or one from past years for FREE on our family website (link in profile).  #saintpatricksday #freeprintable #triviagames #wordscramble
One thing the kids and I enjoy doing on vacation i One thing the kids and I enjoy doing on vacation is working puzzles. We start a 1000-piece jigsaw as soon as we arrive at our destination and race the clock to finish before time to leave.  Abby especially enjoys puzzles and is usually the one pushing for us to continue this tradition, although she abandoned me most of our evenings this trip to play pool with her brother.  Gabriel is an early riser though and made up for it by working on the puzzle with me in the mornings.  Dad and Nana aren’t huge fans of jigsaws, but we saved the last two pieces for them to put in, so they could say they helped, too. 😂

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316