10 Books that have changed my life

I posted this on my facebook and wanted to share it here. Warning this post is super long! Here are my 10 books that influenced me in my life:

1.  The Bible: No matter how many times I open that book I'm surprised that I can always learn something new and feel something different. No matter my mood, my attitude and whatever is going on in my life I always read what I need to read to fill me up spiritually. 
2. James Herriot's Cat Story's by James Herriot: Anything by James Herriot has a special place in my heart. I received a bunch of his books from my Great Grandma. She loved reading and always sent me books. She introduced me to the Harry Potter Series, but the ones by James Herriot were our favorite to talk about and read together. Whenever I see those books (which I still have and still love) and anything Harry Potter I always think of her and those memories.
3. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein: I have vivid memories as a kid. I loved all of Shel's books. In fact its one of my favorite memories as a kid involve me reading this book. I remember living in Texas as a kid and we had one giant tree in our backyard. I would climb up as high as I would go with a stack of Shel's books and read. Sometimes I would drop a book all the way down and I would laugh, climb down and get the book, and then climb right back up
4. Far Far Away by Tom McNeal: This book is one of my favorites. It surprised and shocked me in ways that I have never experienced. It made me love reading more than I thought was possible.
5. Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing by Joyce Meyer: This book deals with  healing from God after times that you think that God may have abandoned you. If you have ever dealt with anything like that then I highly recommend this book. It helped me see that even though bad things happens God still has a plan and he still loves and cares for you.
6. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull: In high school I stopped reading. I lost my passion. I only read the minimum needed for school. Then a friend of mine recommended this series to me and I adored it. Its full of action and adventure. It was technically the first Young Adult book I read as an adult (except for Twilight and Harry Potter) and it made me fall in love with the genre. The story is told by a Christian author about two kids who find that their grandparents have a backyard that doubles as a hidden magical creature sanctuary. Its not very popular but one of my favorites.
7.  The Nancy Drew Series by Caroline Keene: I have memories of reading this series with my mom. We would go to Goodwill and find the ones that I didn't have and read them and talk about them. Such classics :)
8.  Vermillion By Phyllis A. Whitney: This was another one that both me and my mom both loved. I love anything by Phyllis A. Whitney but by far this is my favorite one. Her books are mystery/ adventure/ love story. They opened up my vocabulary and opened my mind to new stories in different worlds. 
9. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom: This is the real life story of Corrie and her sister during Nazi times. She ended up in a concentration camp but her faith never wavered and God protected her the entire time.
10. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer: Love this book. Its part of a retelling of classic fairy tales mixed with Sci Fi. This book is one of my all time favorites and made me fall in love with re-tellings of classic stories. Plus next month I'm going to a meet and greet with the author and getting all my books of hers signed. I can't wait!