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Hey guys!
I don’t know what happened; I was doing so well with my reading and monthly book reviews at the beginning of the year and then along came May and June and, nothing. Oops!
That’s ok though, I’m back with a new resolve and I’ve already started diving into an awesome new book! But, today’s post is about a book I read back in April and just never reviewed for you guys: The Magnolia Story.
This was such a fun read! If you’ve watched and enjoyed the show Fixer Upper then you will love The Magnolia Story.
Easy to read – and not very long – The Magnolia Story tells the story of how Chip and Joanna got to where they are and boy, it is quite the ride!
It’s written by both of them and the font changes depending on who is speaking which is a lot of fun; you can totally hear them talking as you read. (If you want to actually hear Joanna talking check out the audio book version that she recorded herself!)
I really enjoyed reading about how Joanna and Chip met and their early years together before the show and everything else came about. I love that they share about their relationship with God and how they have tried to always follow His leading in their lives.
My biggest takeaway from The Magnolia Story was Joanna’s emphasis on thriving versus just surviving. In the chapter “Surviving or Thriving” she explains how she learned to be content and thrive “now”, not waiting for when everything was perfect. It was such a good reminder for me to be content and learn to thrive no matter what my circumstances are!
Of course, Chip and Joanna eventually end up in the farm house they had dreamed about, but they learned contentment before they got there. I love this quote from the last page of the book:
If we’re trying to push anything, it’s the hope that there’s contentment in the journey. Whether you are in an eight-hundred-square-foot home or living in a dream house on a lake, contentment is found on the way to the “farm”, not on the “farm” itself.”
My other big takeaway was that it’s okay to be adventurous and take risks sometimes. I’m so cautious – and such a realist – that I never want to do anything that’s not “safe”. Now, I’m not about to throw caution to the wind, but I am learning that I need to be open to trying new things instead of holding back because I’m afraid of failure. Like the back of the book says, “Sometimes the messiest stuff and the biggest mistakes can take you someplace wonderful.”
Now excuse me while I go purchase a few old houses to fix-up! 😉
