Monday, January 30, 2012

Questions in The Quiet

Do you ever ride home from work in the car WITHOUT the radio on? I treasure quiet time lately. Work is noisy, people are noisy, the TV is noisy - so sometimes I turn off the radio and ride in silence. When one does that, it's amazing the things you ask yourself. I certainly don't have answers but here are some of the ramblings I have come up with lately.

Priorities - does anyone ever really have their priorities in the right order? It's hard! Do you live JOY-----the order of God? Jesus, Others, then Yourself? I get the last two in the right order but sometimes the Jesus part gets between or even after the other two. Do you do the same thing?

Your children - do you let your children be themselves (yet mind the rules)? Or are you reliving your childhood desires through your children? Is your life go, go, go all the time? If most children were asked, they would just prefer to be home with family and friends. Do you push them into every activity - ball, cheer, dance, soccer, scouting, every party they are invited to? Do you ever forego church or school or family time to do those things? If you do that, sit down and ask them what they really want - and listen!! My girls know that they are allowed to choose one outside activity per year. It's been a choice that has been a Blessing for my family.

Your parents (or extended family) - do you call them or see them as often as you'd like? Or do you let activities get in the way? I am so guilty of this but not for the reasons one would think. Family issues and conflicts get in the way on one side of the family - and distance of driving gets in the way on the other side. BUT, our parents (those who are still living) will not be here forever and time with them should be cherished - and that grandparent time is a blessing to your children as well.

Church - do you neglect going to church because of other things? There is a family at my church who drives one+ hour each Sunday to worship because they do not have a similar church near them. I drive 20 miles or so to church each Sunday. A family member who does not regularly attend services was appalled (yes, can you believe appalled?) that I drive that far because they thought 10-12 miles was too far to go where they used to worship. It's NOT too far - it's all in priorities and my priority is worship every Sunday.

Dinner - how many nights per week do you and your family sit down and eat together? I'm not talking about being home together and somehow everyone eating at some point between washing clothes, homework, lawnwork, etc. I mean sitting down all at the same time, NO TV, eating and talking about your day? Do you say the Blessing as a family? Or are you too rushed to remember to thank God for the food that HE has provided? We may have worked and gotten paid but God provided:-)

Those are just a few of my ramblings. Try sitting in the quiet sometime - in the car if that's where it has to be. It's amazing what you will dwell on and how your mind will gravitate towards some things. It just might change your life - or at least your outlook on life. Quiet is good for the soul, the mind and for your ears.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins
By John Trent MD & Annette Smith



Book Description
An orphaned boy's story of loss, love, and eventual acceptance by the most unlikely people.
Five-year-old Josh and his two older brothers lose their parents in a drunk-driving accident. A series of foster homes and a shocking tragedy eventually separate them, leaving Josh alone, angry, and distrustful of most everyone. At age eighteen, Josh strikes out on his own to find work. With only a high school education and few life skills, he is one step away from homelessness when Providence brings him to a place where he finds much more than physical shelter. For the first time in his life, Josh receives unconditional love and something every human being craves, the gift of "the blessing."

Review
I don't usually like stories like this - they make me sad. But this book was truly an eye opener as to how lucky I was to have had a loving family who taught me what it means to trust and be loved. Five year old Josh grows up to feel like he's nobody. He is not worthy of love and he can't trust ANYONE. You read about the tragedies he's endured and then how he evolves as an adult through no choice of his own. His tragedy comes full circle and the one thing that happened that made him feel so little of himself, becomes the one thing that teaches him about "the blessing."

His story makes the reader realize that everyone you meet, whether nice, mean, nasty, homeless, poor, rich, hateful - they all have a story that shapes who they are.

Includes an introduction and reader's guide designed to identify and discuss the five elements of the biblical blessing that every person needs. Readers are shown, through the power of Josh's story, how to give this gift to their children and others as outlined in the more than one million copy bestseller, The Blessing. I have not read this original book but after reading Josh's story (although fiction), I plan to go back and read it.

Note: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck


by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Product Description
Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away. Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible. But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

Review
After reading this book, I really wish I had read the earlier books in this series – it would have made the book more enjoyable (I was periodically lost about story content due to missed storylines). However, that being said, this is a good historical romance book and I did enjoy reading it. IT is also classified as Christian but it is not so obviously a “Christian” fiction book.

Alex and Charlotte are interesting characters. Charlotte is the typical historical young female – young, strong willed, stubborn to a fault, full of fun but deep down she cares and is loving nonethelsess. She gets into crazy situations and it is fun to see what Alex’s reaction will be to her ideas. They were thrown together by machinations of Charlotte’s father and they both know that agreeing to marry will benefit them both. They are engaged forever – four years - but as you read you just KNOW they love each other and you want them to just admit and be done with it. They agree to marry and eventually annul the marriage. But that does not happen of course.

You root for them from the start!

This book is light hearted and a quick fun read. However I was confused about plot several times due to not having read the earlier books in the series. Because of that I would recommend reading the series in order to save some frustration.

NOTE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

I Do It Because I Can And Because I Love It!

After taking the month of December off due to being so busy, I am back running and boy did I miss it. It's a miracle I didn't wind up in jail during December due to a stress-related break-down. Not only am I running, I am doing the 30 Days to Fit Arbonne program. It is a great program that teaches you to eat right, has products that are natural and you will lose weight and feel great. There is no soy or gluten in the products - a HUGE plus. Also, they do not use artificial sweeteners which, although they will help with weight loss, are very harmful to your body.

To get my mind motivated and maybe yours too, here are a few fun thoughts and pictures:-) Enjoy......

This first one says it all!!


This one tells it all - run no matter what!


Why do I do it - read below!


Get off the couch and join me! Live is passing you by.


A challenge for the men (and motivation for the ladies) ;)


Don't tell ME you're busy....


The correct question to ask.


The question NOT to ask.


It all comes down to one basic principal----BELIEVE you can--and you WILL!

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I am a mother who works full-time but who is also a chauffer, chef, seamstress, fitness instructor, teacher, maid, gardener, runner, organization expert, salesperson, secretary and wife. I love my family and life is always busy but fun! Come along with me for the ride:-)

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