Cheaper, Better, Faster

Hello World,
Yesterday we took a mini-vacation to the city Lubbock.  I had a dear sweet friend who is an Auntie for one of the African Children's Choir.  It was great to see her, and to see her love for the kids. If you are interested in learning more about the African Children's Choir please feel free to click here.

Cheaper, Better, Faster by Mary Hunt is a great book of tips.  To be exact "Over 2,000 tips and tricks".  It has tips for car repair, tips for decorating your home, tips for washing your clothes, and tips for food.  I don't think there is a single thing that Mary Hunt did not cover to make your life Cheaper, Better, Faster.

I really think this book is full of common sense and sound advice.  The chapters are split up into little sections that points to helpful hints and making something cheaper.  There really isn't an area that Mary Hunt doesn't touch on.  So dear readers if you are the kind of reader that likes to save, make life slightly easier, and faster I would get this helpful book.
“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
This book was given to me via Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

Romans 8:28 (The Message)
^26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I've been really enjoying reading the Bible in The Message version.  It seems to me the verses that I have read so many times are being transformed in my mind and a new understanding is being placed.  I love that there is reassurance in my waiting.  That if we don't know how to pray that God knows our hearts and understands what we need.  It's truly is a beautiful thing when you have an Almighty God working out every detail of your life and making it good.

The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow

Hello World!
Sorry again for the late blog, it has been a rather hard week :)  It's been interesting to say the least.  We have a house in Oshkosh, WI that is beautiful and it was our first home and it was simply just a great house for our little family.  When we moved we thought that it would be easy to sell, unfortunately the housing market dropped significantly.  It's been five years and the house has yet to sell.  If you can say a prayer for our family as we decide what would be the best in our circumstance I would appreciate it.

The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow is the second book in the Avenue of Dreams series by Olivia Newport.  We first heard about Charlotte in the book The Pursuit of Lucy Banning (click here for the review).  Charlotte is a maid in the prestigious Banning household during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.  Her life is secure and her son safely secret at an older woman's home.  Until the day his caretaker drops him off at the Banning household.   Charlotte's Dilemma starts the moment she leaves, does she come out and say Henry is her son or allow the Banning's to determine her sons fate?  How will she trust God or anybody else with this beautiful secret?

This book was an incredible book, but in all honesty it was a tear jerker.  I have a very vivid imagination so when I read a book where a woman around my age is put in a situation of being forced to keep her son secret or lose her job it rips my heart.  I could not possibly fathom the pain of choosing between life of being destitute or losing your son.  My heart went out to Charlotte and the life she was leading.  I also was able to see the world of a servant, Ms. Newport's detailed descriptions of being a servant in an affluent home was historically accurate and telling.  The limits of what they can do for the pittance of  pay was eye opening to me.  So dear readers if you like a good historical romance this is a book for you.
*This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.
Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers-- most of which are never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?  What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.  People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works .  Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.  Don't worry about missing out.  You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

I have had to cling to this passage this week.  As I pray for our house in Oshkosh the reminder that God will meet my everyday human concerns is a relief.  Now to just keep reminding myself so I don't fall into despair over a house that isn't selling :)

Waiting for Spring

Hello World,
Our sweet kids were up super early today.  Liv leading the infantry with giggles and lots of kisses.  She has found a way to get up on our bed, and then our sweet Kylar came in asking "Mom is it morning yet" and then our rough and tumble Drew ran and jumped into bed with me too.  What a blessing my kids are, it's mornings like this where I feel fully encompassed by love :)  Are you having a good morning?

Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot is the story of Charlotte.  Charlotte has many burdens and secrets she is trying to hide from the town Cheyenne.  She has to be very careful with who she get's close to and in no uncertain terms she can not get close to a perspective senator Barrett Landry.  Barrett has dreams of greatness but in order to take the first step to being a senator he must marry.  The perfect bride would be Miriam the daughter of the local newspaper owner.  The only problem is he can't seem to get Charlotte out of his mind.

Ms. Cabot writes an interesting book.  Full of beautiful landscapes of the Wyoming territory, and an intriguing story line that will keep the reader wondering.  I loved how Ms. Cabot weaves Christ's lessons of love, forgiveness, and ultimately grace in her story.  The characters are real and you feel their pain and, but also their joy.  So dear readers if you're looking for a wholesome romance please read Amanda Cabot's Waiting for Spring.

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
*This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What a great reminder :)  When I was in high school I wrote this verse on my wall, so when I woke up it would be a reminder to me how I should treat others in school.  Now as I'm older I'm thinking I need to write this on my heart, to daily remind me once again how I should treat others whoever and whenever I meet them.
 

Choices of the Heart

Hello World,
I had just an amazing morning with my mom's Bible Study.  I love that I can get together with like women to grow closer to God.  It really is a big blessing and it also rejuvenates this tired mama :)  Do you go to a Bible Study?  If you live in Amarillo I want to encourage you to check out Hillside Christian Church, they have some awesome studies this semester and it seems that they always have a group for each life point.  If you're a mom in the Amarillo area I would love for you to join us at 9:30 on Mondays for our Bible Study Unglued :)

Choices of the Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes is the third installment in The Midwives series.  This story is about Esther.  Esther comes from a long line of midwives and is fully expected to become one herself.  Her life is full of potential until she makes a poor choice and she is forced to leave her beloved family.  Hoping to seek refuge in the mountains of Virginia as a teacher, she unknowingly walks into the middle of a family feud.  Now Esther is not only forced to deal with her past choices, but also the present choices that could potentially be life threatening.

To all my love triangle fans out there, this book is definitely for you :)  I think you'll enjoy the relationships between both Esther, Zach, and Griff.  It definitely made the story interesting because of the rift between Zach and Griff's family.  I also really enjoyed how we didn't find out right away what Esther's poor choice was.  I was dying to know and Ms. Eakes very skillfully kept me waiting.  This was an interesting read about the mountain people of Virginia as well as the health practices of that time.  So dear readers if you're looking for a good family feud and a love triangle go ahead and read Choices of the Heart.

This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.
 “Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It is really easy for me to get in a pattern.  I would like to say my brain is like a big ol' pile of mud and when the world rains down on me little tiny rivers go through that mud and make patterns on my brain.  With this verse I am reminded of the need to constantly bring the light of the Word in on my big ol' pile of mud to erase those worldly patterns.  In doing this I make room for God's will (or river on my mind)  His good, pleasing and perfect will be creating patterns in my mind instead of this worlds.

Unglued

Hello World :)

Yesterday we took down the crib for the last time, our sweet Livie girl moved into a big girl bed.  My heart is bittersweet because she is my last one and she is growing up too fast for this little mama's heart.  Is anything happening in your life where you are like, this is way too fast!  I would love to hear about it.

Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst is a book about emotions.  Happy, sad, angry, frustrated, or anxious all of these emotions were given to us by God, but it's up to us how we use them wisely.  This book is about gaining control of the emotions God has given and using them to make you a better person in Christ. 

First and foremost look very closely at the the image on the book.  There is a woman sticking her head in a bag and I assume she's screaming.  Have you ever felt like that?  I know I have, and always after I scream or spurt something not very pretty I regret it.  Most of the time it's with people I love most, and I can be pretty mean whenever I become Unglued.  What about you?  Do you spew emotional garbage out of your mouth whenever your frustrated, tired, angry, or have no control?  If you do, then this book is for you dear readers.    This book will help you trust God whenever it seems that He is far away, will help you control the emotions that you have, and help you grow closer to our Father who gave us all these amazing emotions :)  Because, truly, emotions are an awesome gift.  So dear readers if you have ever felt unglued you need to read this book by Lysa Terkeurst it's raw and poignant and for me at least a big life changer.

*This book was given to me via Zondervan in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.

Over the last few years I have forgotten this verse.  I stuff food into my mouth on a consistent basis that isn't good for my body.  I have stopped exercising  my body.  I don't think that's really glorifying God with my body.  The reality hit me when I consider that my body should be a temple for the Holy Spirit.  If my body was a house, and the Holy Spirit was invited to stay in it I would clean it from top to bottom making sure it was spotless and smelling great.  I need to do that with my body, because I glorify God when I do that.

The Lesson

Hello World,

Happy Wednesday everyone, it's been great here in Amarillo.  The kids have been playing outside in their coats and hats, but it really hasn't been chilly.  After spending about two weeks in Wisconsin where it was sometimes in the single digits at night we felt very blessed :)  Our you loving your winter season?  What' the weather like by you?

The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the story of bubbly Mary Kate Lapp.  M.K.  is now a very gregarious nineteen year old who longs for an adventure.  Desiring to see the world she doesn't think she'll find any fun in her small Amish neighborhood.  What she didn't expect was a murder, or having to teach the school, or a mysterious young man start working for her father.  One thing is for sure wherever M.K. is there is sure to be mischief ;-)

This is a fun story of a girl growing into a woman.  I loved how Suzanne Woods Fisher described the longing of teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood.  I felt that tug at that age and the uncertainty of what God has for my future.  M.K.  is a character that I enjoyed reading and I'm so glad Suzanne decided to write her story.  I also loved Chris and Jenny, what an interesting story of this unique brother and sister.  You will love how these two stories connect and the faith in God that grows these characters together.  This book will keep you reading because the secrets that are being uncovered are nonstop. So dear readers, if you love a good Amish story, with a little adventure that only the character like Mary Kate Lapp can bring you will love The Lesson.

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion, and I honestly gave it.

Proverbs 9:13
A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain

Sometimes I find myself snapping at my husband for no reason but to prove a point.  At the end I ask myself what in the world was I doing?  I just annoyed him and I knew not to do that.  Father forgive me for those times that I don't bring my husband up, forgive me of those times that I don't think before I speak and hurt him with my words.  I do not want to be a continual dripping of rain, annoying!

   

Vanished

Hello World,
I know today is Sunday and I usually don't blog on Sunday but I was too excited to wait :)  Sometimes you just have to jump in and get started with the New Year.  How are you?  Have you decided on a New Year's resolution?  I always have one, maybe because my birthday is on New Year's day, and it feel like since I'm starting a new age as well as a new age I need a new resolution.  My resolution is to practice my cello every day and by golly get back into shape!

Vanished by Irene Hannon is the story of reporter Moira Harrisons.  After a car crash Moira is certain that she hit someone and that someone was in dangerous trouble.  The only problem is that there isn't any evidence of her hitting anyone or the good Samaritan who said he would call the police and get help for the person she hit.  Feeling convicted that something is wrong she hires private investigator Cal Burke to dig a little deeper into the mystery of the vanishing person.

This was a book that had a lot of intrigue and suspense.  It kept me wanting to read more into each character to see why they acted the way they did.  Ms. Hannon has a really interesting writing point by already telling the reader who dunit, because of this she's able to dwell into the thought process of the protagonist and antagonist as well.  All in all an enjoyable read that will keep you wondering how it will end.  So dear readers if you're looking for a good Christian suspense book, this is the book for you.
Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
*This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,


With a New Year I feel even more the importance of laying aside every weight, and sin that clings so closely to me, and running the race with endurance as it is set before me :)  I'm making this my verse this year.  As I'm running, showering, practicing, being a mom, interacting with people, or blogging I want to run with endurance the race set before me.  How about you?

Vacation

Hello World,
Sorry for the sporadic blogs these past few weeks.  Most publishing companies do not promote books in the month of December and because of that I have taken a short break as well :)  As you can see I wish that this short little vacation would include a sandy desolate beach, but alas the budget of a book blogger is meager and would not permit my extravagant imagination :)  Have a great New Year everyone and I will be back to my regular blogging schedule Starting the week of January 6th. 

While I'm here feel free to comment and say what books you would be interested in having me review.  I would love to do that for you and already I have some friends who have asked me to review Unglued ( a Bible Study) and Harbringer.  Let me know your thoughts and I will try my hardest to review them and discuss them here on the blog :)