2013 Has Come In With A Bang

Image Credit

It's defiantly been a year to write in the memory books.  

And it's only the end of January.

Feels like when the calendar switched over that the whole world changed.  Now, I don't believe in the end of the world stuff and never have...we will never be able to predict that.  But, times do change.  The world changes and so do we.  It's a part of the way things are.

Life feels like it has fallen apart......

There have been some good things going on in January and they have to outshine the bad, or hard things, otherwise they could drag a person down.  It's been a rough month and I will get through this.

But, the upside....

I can say that it's been a little over 6 months since I started this blog and I am not sure whether I am reaching people or not.  It would be wonderful to know that my thoughts might be helping someone.  Guess I won't know until I write that one perfect post that will get people talking.   Maybe that will happen soon....

In the mean time I will continue with my Bible studies, self improvement and plugging alone with my wonderful thoughts.

A Change of Fortune | Book Review

I don't normally read too many fiction books but, I took the time to read A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano.  This was a wonderful story to lose myself in and it was an extremely quick read as I read it in about 6 hours.  I could have spent those 6 hours curled up in a chair reading straight through but, seeing as I have a family, those hours were split up across a few nights.

Eliza Sumner was a governess to 2 wonderful girls and 1 headstrong young adult for a upper-class family in New York in the late 1800's.  Little did that family know but, she wasn't just a normal governess.  She was actually Lady Eliza Sumner, an aristocrat from England.  

She was in New York incognito to recover her missing fortune and to reinstate her family's good name back in England.  But, first she will have to find the man that betrayed her father and stole every last cent they had. Little does she know but, God has other plans for her.  The only problem is Eliza has lost all faith and trust in God.

The other plan God has would come by the name of Mr. Hamilton Beckett.  A widower with two adorable children that would love nothing more than to make Eliza their mother.  The question is...Will Eliza regain her faith and trust in God in time to find her fortune and possibly fall in love with the man of her dreams?  Will she follow the plan for her life that God has laid out?

A story filled with jail time, lost fortunes, New York high society and, of course, love.  Throw in a little humor, here and there, and Turano has written a book that is impossible to put down.

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of my review*

Praying Circles Around Your Children | Book Review

Praying isn't always easy but, the ones we should be praying for the most are our children.  There is no right or wrong way to pray but, when it comes to our kids we want so much for them we can feel like we are doing it wrong.  In comes Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson.  He shows us an easy way to make sure we get everything out of our prayer time regarding our kids.

Physically circling something in prayer is a wonderful way to put your complete intent into it.  But, you can achieve that without "physically" circling someone. According to Batterson,  "Drawing prayer circles is a metaphor that simply means 'to pray without ceasing '"  So...no need to walk in circles around your children unless you feel the need.

In this book Batterson lists the 5 Circles of prayer that you can and will be making for your kids.  Along with what they are and why you use each one.

1. Circling the Promises of God
2. Making Prayer Lists
3. Creating Prayer Mantras
4. Forming Prayer Circles
5. Praying through the Bible

He explains what each circle is and how they become habits when praying.  You don't have to do all 5 of them all the time but, you can combine the circles that you need for a specific purpose, child, or issue.  Each time you pray you might need 1 circle or you might need them all.  

These are just suggestions and methods of how you can pray and Batterson encourages you to find the ones that work for you and to also figure out others that God might be pointing you towards.  

I know that this has helped me with praying for my children.  The habits (yes, they will become habits if you want) have helped me feel more at ease when I pray for my children.  I was always worried about whether I was doing it right.  I don't have those worries anymore!  I just continue to pray circles around my children.  

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

UNGLUED Devotional | Book Review

With the beginning of a new year I have stepped back and taken a look at how I handle situations.  I have a tendency to blow up or bottle things up.  It an either/or, never in the middle situation.  There is no middle ground when it comes to me getting stressed out.

I have been trying to work on finding a way to deal with my emotions and the unexpected.  It's not easy and I always feel like I am failing since I am not perfect.  The good part is I have found a book that has helped me on that journey called the UNGLUED Devotional by Lysa Terkeurst.

Most have heard of Terkeurst book UNGLUED but, she has now put together a devotional to accompany the book that will help you on your journey towards sanity.  I say sanity because, when I become unglued I feel like I have lost my mind.

I love what it says on the cover.  "60 Days of Imperfect Progress."  Terkeurst isn't taking you on a journey towards perfection and it helps knowing that.  Perfection is a lot to ask for and I know that I am not perfect. I can handle imperfect progress though.  I think that this is all I am asking for...progress.  Constantly moving forward.

Terkeurst has this set up as a quick and easy read for those 60 days.  Most of us don't have a lot of time during the day to MAKE the time for a devotional but, this is quick, easy and wonderful.  She starts each day off with a scripture verse then a thought for the day.  She goes into small discussion about the thought and finishes each day with a prayer to God.

I have just started on my journey of imperfect progress and I invite you to join me.  Whether you are a mother, wife, business woman, retired this book will help you work towards your imperfect progress.

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

So Far Behind

I hate getting sick.

I really don't get sick that often but, when I do it's bad.  Really bad.  Which is why I chose not to get sick that often....HAHAHA!!!  Ok, so maybe I don't get to chose but, I can try to refuse.  Right?

Anyway.........

I got behind on blog posts while I was sick so I am trying to get caught up now.  There has been a new Bible study start with Good Morning Girls (which I am leading a group in) on the book of Luke.  Loving every minute of it.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  I wanted to post my SOAPs for the day on my blog so that maybe it would help someone else but, haven't had the chance.

I have TONS of book reviews to get done.  I have already gotten one done and you can read it here.
There is so much that I have to do when a new starts.  Ok, who am I kidding....there is so much to do every day but, I just have to plan otherwise I get completely overwhelmed.  How about you?