Days meshing... parentheses abound!

I just pulled up my blog and I had the sudden thought: "I didn't get an email saying that I got paid from YouData today, and I know I read an ad for them this week."  (I get paid on Friday afternoons via Paypal.)  So I looked at my widget, and sure enough, my $.07 (huge paycheck, I know!) was still sitting in the widget.  I started to question it, then I realized: "Wait.  It's just now Friday.  As in 12:55am on Friday morning.  Ugg."

Since today was a "do nothing day", especially since Jenny was "sick" (she came home with a fever from Cubbies last night and just wanted to cling most of the day - even took a nap of her own accord this morning!!) and David was fussy (we think he might finally be teething??), I lost all track of what day of the week it was.  I tend to do that on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 

That's what tends to happen when you are a "do nothing on the weekends" kind of family.  J works hard (physically and mentally) during the week, so he just wants to crash on the weekends (and who can blame him?!), and since I'm "single mom" for four days straight minus most bedtimes (he works ten hour shifts Sun-Wed, and usually makes it home in time to say "goodnight" to the kids), I'm exhausted and don't want to do a whole lot either.

It must be late - I'm rambling as I tend to do when the hour is such.  (Or in this case, I guess you could technically say that the hour is "early".)  Oh dear, I'm sounding much too much like my dear friend Stephie Kay (whom I love dearly, but even she admits to rambling and losing people in her posts at times!).

Good night, world.  Or perhaps, good morning.  Regardless, I'm headed to bed where I'm guessing the majority of you reading this probably already are (or are planning to be there soon). 

The parentheses are done for the time being... until then!

Butterfly Wings...

... in case you cared:

Late Night Productivity

It's amazing what one can accomplish between the hours of 9pm and 12am! 

I had a really unproductive day yesterday.  Sure, we made it to the library for story time and stopped at WAGS on the way home for some cheap Dr. Pepper (4/$10 on sale w/ $.55 off coupons on each 12pk!), and sure, I managed to get Jenny's butterfly wings done.  But I hadn't seen the counter next to my computer in over a week (it was buried beneath LOTS of papers, books, etc), and I hadn't started organizing my Bible study notes for tonight.

When we realized that our shows weren't new last night, J decided to watch the baseball game (I think), and I decided to be productive for the first time all day.  I was tired of moving things on the counter so I could use my computer, so I input all the coupons into my database, printed new copies of my "daily goals checklist" and "week-at-a-glance planner", filed away all the papers and junk that had accumulated, and managed to get my "life binder" organized and put away!

When J went to bed around 9:30pm, I decided that I was finally on a roll and being productive, so I grabbed a Mountain Dew and my Bible study notes and started to put together my lesson for tonight.  I managed to get a good portion of my notes organized in a little under two hours (still have about two hours to go) before I decided to check on the kids and hit the sack.

I crawled into bed around 12:15am (this morning) and hoped for at least seven hours of sleep.  I got NINE!  When I finally got out of bed, it was a little after 9am.  The kids were both still sleeping!!!  I managed to get dressed and was finishing up in the bathroom when Jenny appeared a few minutes later.  (PLEASE let this be a sign that they are going to transition easily next week!!!)  It was a very nice surprise.

Now, I need to finish up my Bible study notes.  Hopefully I can manage to get them done "quickly" and without too many interruptions or distractions!

Q4U: What's your most productive time of day?

Find Wisdom in the Darkness - Action Blog Tour

Secrets, lies, and surveillance, can anyone really be trusted? WaterBrook/Multnomah Publishers have combined two dynamic action packed books into one tour - the suspense of both fiction, Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur, and non-fiction, Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey.

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.  

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world. 

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does. 

And it is about to cost him everything.

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

I really enjoyed reading both of these books.  

The nonfiction book, Shadow Government, is not a book that I would normally have picked up and read.  In fact, halfway through the introduction I almost put it down.  But, I wanted to be able to give a review of the book as a whole, not just my initial impression of it.  And I actually found myself struggling to put it down before I got out of the first chapter!  Though I don't necessarily believe everything that is stated as fact in the book, it definitely opened my eyes to a lot of what is going on around me and throughout the world in the ways of technology.

Wisdom Hunter has been around since 1991 (its originally publication date), but it is as relevant today as it was then.  This book will stir up people and churches wherever it goes as it speaks the truth that so many don't want to hear about legalism and the far right-wing in Christianity.  Randall Arthur has crafted an incredible story of loss that leads to searching for what is really true, leading to a life beyond Jason's (the main character) wildest imagination.  This story is well crafted and thoroughly enjoyable!

Thanks to WaterBrook/Multnomah Publishing for providing these books for me to read and review.

"Things Worth Remembering" by Jackina Stark

From the back cover:
Maisey asked for a bride doll the Christmas she was five, mesmerized by her aunt's wedding the fall before.  Since then I've been dreaming of the day, or days, we would shop for her wedding dress.  A mother helping her daughter find just the right creation for the momentous walk down the aisle strikes me as one of life's happiest endeavors.  The night she called to tell us she'd bought her "dream of a gown," I sat beside Luke on the couch, a striking contrast to Maisey's exuberance."

If I had been reading "for pleasure", I would never have gotten past the first chapter in this book.  The writing style was very choppy and lacked any fluid movement.  The book is written from the first-person POV of two characters - the mother and the daughter - and is almost written in a journal-like style.

Beyond the writing, the story was actually quite engaging.  The storyline was fresh and had just enough suspense to keep you reading.  The story was well laid out throughout the book, although the ending seemed a bit "dumped" on your lap.

I'm not sure I'd read Jackina Stark again, though I did enjoy her story, I didn't enjoy her writing style.

This book was provided for me to read and review by Bethany House Publishers.

I'm FREEZING!

And it's not even cold outside!  I'm not sure what's up with my house (or my body temperature).  But anyways, I just put a zip-up sweater/sweatshirt on & kicked the heat on, so hopefully I'll warm up.

Do you need a "how-to" on making quick, easy, and FREE flashcards?  I wrote a post for Lesson Pathways about that very topic!  Check it out!

I love getting great deals.  And I managed to do just that at WAGS today!  I went in to get some pop since they had it on sale 4/$10 and we were out of Dr. Pepper.  I was planning to use up a bunch of RR I've accumulated over the past week or so.  When I picked up the 12pks, I noticed a coupon on them - $.55 off "right now".  Well, that blew the plan to use the RR up, but it was going to make for some super cheap pop ($1.95 for a 12pk!!), so I headed back to the clearance end-cap to see if I could come up with any decent filler. They had contact solution on sale for $.82/ea, so I picked up three so I could use three RR (totally $10).  Gotta love when great deals get even better!  (I'll use the rest of my RR to pick up some Dr. Pepper for my dad before heading to MI this weekend!)

I finally sat down and started Jenny's Halloween costume today.  She has been asking for weeks to be a "beautiful butterfly" for Halloween, so she can "flap [her] wings".  I have been planning to make her a set of wings, but hadn't gotten around to it.  Since Halloween is Saturday, I decided I should probably get to work!  I used two empty cereal boxes and cut a set of upper wings and lower wings.  Then I covered them in aluminum foil and glued them together.  Then, I used my paper shredder to create colorful confetti, and Jenny and I glued the confetti to the wings.  I finished by using some decoupage glue on top of the wings to seal everything together.  I'll be punching holes in the top and bottom to attach a backpack-style system for her to wear the wings.  I also got out a purple (her choice of color) pipe cleaner to attach to a head band for her antennae.  I'll be sure to put pictures up when it's dry!

I think naps are officially a thing of the past for Jenny.  She's been over a week now without a nap, and last night, she even stayed up late (not with permission, though).  And when I have her "rest", she managed to destroy her room and cause David to be unable to nap either.

I'm really dreading the time change next week.  Last year it took us almost a month to get her inner clock switched.  This year, I have two to try to acclimate.

I really need to get off the internet and work on my Bible study notes for tomorrow night.  I have my study done, I just need to organize my notes so I'm ready to teach.

Q4U: What are you (or your kids) going to dress up as for Halloween?  David's going to be a soccer player (thanks to his aunt Alyssa for bringing him back a soccer uniform from Mexico this summer).  Jenny's going to be the before mentioned butterfly.  I haven't decided if I'm going to dress up or not - any suggestions?

It's MONDAY!!!

Unlike the majority of the world, I LOVE Mondays! (Well, most of the time, anyways.)  I wonder if it's partly due to the fact that my week actually starts on Sunday, whereas Sunday is still part of the weekend for the majority of the working world.

Anyways, why do I love Mondays so much?

#1 - I don't have to leave the house (unless we have a doctor's appt or something).

#2 - We're back into a regular routine of school, laundry, etc

#3 - My two favorite shows are on Monday nights - Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. (And, J even watches both of them with me!)

#4 - Only three days til the weekend! (Though that thought doesn't usually hit me.  I usually realize it's that my weekend starts on Thursday about 9:30pm on Wednesday night!)

#5 - "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Every God makes (and He makes them all) is a GREAT day!

Q4U: Do you LOVE Mondays?  Do you HATE Mondays?  Or are you INDIFFERENT to Mondays?  Why?

It's in HIS hands!

I'm so glad to know that EVERYTHING in life is in God's hands.  Nothing can come my way for which He is not already prepared.  And I can look to Him for the strength, endurance, patience, etc to deal with whatever I'm facing. 

I'm getting nervous.  In twenty short minutes, I'm meeting J at the Realtor's office to make our offer on the house.  Only God knows what will happen.  It's His money, His timing, His plan.  I have to fully trust in Him on this one!

It's not the mortgage that is my biggest concern.  It's the down payment.  We used our dp funds to kill some debt a few months ago when we decided we weren't going to buy a house.  And we won't have the funds again until our tax returns in Feb/Mar.  So we're probably going to have to take out an additional loan against our van to make our down payment.  But since it's all God's money, He knows what's ahead, and He will only allow it to happen if it's in His plan.

Gotta run - it's time to hit the road and head to Remax!

Random Ramblings, episode 1023

Today is going to be pretty random...

#1 - I'm blogging over at Lesson Pathways today.  Check out my post about Frugal Fall Family Fun!

#2 - We found a house that we REALLY like and are going to make an offer on tomorrow.  The only down-side is that we probably won't be able to get it closed before the end of next month (short of a miracle) since it's a short sale.  The upside is that it's a steal of a house! (See pictures here...)

#3 - Appliances are expensive.  We went to Lowe's yesterday to price them (we'll need to buy all new appliances, since they had to liquidate the ones in the house).  It looks like we'll probably have to spend around $2500 on appliances (unless somebody knows a better place/way to get them cheaper).

#4 - We're going to the animal shelter today to start investigated the adoption of a dog.  If we get the house, the kids are most likely getting a dog for Christmas.

#5 - This week has seemed to go quickly (especially since we didn't do school at all).  And yet, Sunday seems like it was such a long time ago.  I've actually had to stop and think about what day it is most days this week (today included).  What a strange week!

#6 - The kids and I are probably taking an extended vacation to Michigan next weekend.  We're going up to hear my brother preach on Nov. 1, and we're probably staying til mid-week.  (We'd stay all week if I didn't have Bible study to teach on Wednesday night.)  J's probably just going up for Fri/Sat, since he didn't get Sunday off.

#7 - The kids will possibly get to see three (out of four) grandparents at some point tomorrow.  J's parents are probably coming down to look at the house with us in the afternoon (we wanted to walk through it again before making our offer), and my mom might be staying the night with us due to needing to be in the area for something on Sunday morning.

And, since seven is the number of completion, I'm done.  Have a GREAT weekend - try to stay dry and warm (it's cool and rainy here)!

"Kiss Me Again" by Barbara Wilson

 This book deals with a difficult discussion topic - your sexual history and its effect on your marriage.  If you find yourself wondering why your sex life is not what you think it should be (or know it should be), grab this book and a pencil.  This is not a "light reading" book.  This book will challenge you and cause you to come on your knees before God, letting Him heal you and change you.

This book is a great book for counseling women who are struggling in their marriages or who are having sexual issues.  Barbara takes women step-by-step through the healing process, and encourages them with the Word of God.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling in this area.

(From the publisher:)
Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands.  But while sex before marriage was hard to resist, now resisting seems like all they do. In her new book, Barbara Wilson shows how couples can suffer for years from the “invisible bonds” of previous relationships without even knowing it. Hidden emotions of distrust, shame, and resentment can sabotage even the most loving marriage.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:
·        Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
·        Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices
·        Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
·        Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
·        Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
·        Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.  

Thanks to Multnomah Books for providing me with a copy to read and review.  Be sure to pick up your copy today!

My FREE CVS & WAGS trip this week...

Sorry, Mom.  I couldn't resist this week.  It was too good of a steal! (Click on the picture for a better look at what all I got!!)

I got all this stuff for FREE!!  (I paid $5.32 in sales tax, but even that was "discounted", as the total sales tax would have been $6.55, and I paid $1.38 of it with a gift card I had gotten for free.)  I also bought a CVS Green Bag Tag ($.99) which didn't make it in the picture - it will pay for itself in four trips to CVS!

Still Kickin'

Don't worry... I'm still alive.  And I'm still semi-sane.

I think the crud is finally on it's way out the door (praying this is the case, at least).  We've all had the "worst of it" (except for J), and the kids are down to runny noses (which is normal for them this time of year) and I'm down to sinus headaches and no voice (which is semi-normal for me this time of year), so I think the worst is over!

I decided to move up my "planning week" for school from next week to this week to coincide with having no Cubbies or Bible study on Wednesday night (due to the local schools being on Fall Break the end of this week).  We were doing mostly review stuff this week anyways, and Jenny doesn't really need the review at this point - she's soaking it all up like a sponge!  I think we're going to be increasing the pace in reading/writing a little bit, since she seems to have conquered letter sounds and is starting to be able to form her letters without too much help.

In other news, we decided last Friday to drive past a couple of houses J had found on Remax.com.  We're looking at one of them this Thursday.  We had decided that we weren't going to be buying a house here, but this house seems to have fallen in our laps for a reason.  It would save us a significant amount of money each month if we were to buy it, so that's in our favor.  And then, last night, we got an email from our landlady letting us know they are raising the rent starting with our January payment (due on Christmas Day).  So, that would mean even more savings if we bought this house.  But anyways, we're doing a lot of praying and numbers crunching and we're looking forward to Thursday.  If we decide to put in an offer, we have a little over a month to close in order to qualify for the housing stimulus package (have to close by Nov. 30), so we'll be moving quickly if we decide to move on it!

I can't really think of anything else to write about.  My brain is more school occupied than random clutter, so I'll probably spend some time over on the school blog today.  I'll try to be less absent this week, now that the crud has been kicked to the curb!

"The Jewel of His Heart" by Maggie Brendan

My first impression of this book is that it is too simple.  The writing reminds me (at times - mainly during the dialogue) of an elementary writer: He asked, "How are you?"  I said, "Fine."  (My example, not from the actual book.)  I felt at times like rolling my eyes at some of the writing.  To be honest, it was a lot like reading a movie script.

But, that stated, the storyline wasn't all bad, and the farther I got into the book, the more I found myself enjoying it.  While the story was a fairly "predictable" western love story with a bit of Christian values and principles thrown in, it was a semi-original storyline.

From the back cover: Juliana Brady is alone in an 1890s Montana mining town, with few prospects for making a living.  But she is determined not to be dependent on the charity of others... Josh McBride is trying to scrape a living from his sheep herd while he builds his ranch.  But when he discovers some rare stones on his property, he's tempted by the prospect of fast money... When their paths cross, Juliana and Josh must make a choice - the world's riches and promises, or the eternal value of love.

I'm not really sure I would have summarized the book in quite the same way, but in order to avoid any "spoilers", I'll leave you with what's there.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.  This book is available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Wonderful, Wonderful Weekend...

I'm SOOOO glad that the weekend is here!

I'm recovering from my bout of overwhelming stress (it was mostly mental due to illness), and I'm ready for a relaxing weekend, even if I only get two days of it this week instead of my normal three (J's headed to the Michigan football game on Saturday, so I'll be home alone with the kiddos all day).  I need the time to recoup from taking care of a sickie and then becoming a sickie myself.

I don't really have a whole lot on my mind right now, so there's not much oozing out.  I know that's pretty boring.  I'm going to try to get a post (w/ pictures) up on our homeschooling blog sometime today or tomorrow, so feel free to check that out!

Q4U: What is your favorite day of the week and why?

Life is interrupting life...

Have you ever noticed how the little things in life start interrupting the "normal" flow of life?  Like how a visit from your mom can put you four days behind in your "normal" daily tasks (even if she was only here for two nights)?  Or how one sicko turns into three sickos in a matter of days?  And then NOTHING gets done?  And then, being the go-getter you are, you volunteer yourself to do "x", "y", and "z" (all of which you're really good at) and then realize you have three too many things on your plate?

Yeah.  That's my life right now.  And that's why my blog is just not happening at the moment.

I'm working on thinning myself down as far as my external commitments, but I have this personality that not only wants to be involved in EVERYTHING, but wants to be part of the planning/organizing of everything, too!  And while each individual commitment is a great one (or at least a time worthy one), when they all add up, they're starting to look like too much.  And although I love the pressure of figuring it all out and fitting it all in, I like my down time too.  And I don't like getting sick while trying to get it all done.

So, that being said, I'm not accepting anymore responsibilities until further notice.  Though if you asked me, I'd probably say "yes".  So just don't ask me.  Thanks!

Q4U: Do you ever find yourself over-extended?  What have you said "yes" to lately that, although it's a perfectly good thing, you probably should have said "no" to?

"The Sound of Sleigh Bells" by Cindy Woodsmall

I walked away from this book with a smile on my face and a happy heart.  Though the story is not void of trouble and turmoil, the result is one that will leave you uplifted.

Cindy Woodsmall has written a beautiful love story in the midst of brokenness and suffering.  The Amish culture makes a beautiful background to this story that will grab your attention from the beginning.  Beth is an Amish girl who is getting "too old" to be single, yet holds on to a secret that keeps her from getting close to any males in her community.  Jonah is a talented craftsman who is holding out for the "right person" to make his wife.  Lizzy, Beth's single aunt, gets in the middle and stirs things up.  Heartache, pain, and healing come from the connection.

Here's a summary from the publisher:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

This is an easy and quick read (took me less than 2 hours to devour it).  I enjoy reading about the Amish culture and people, and Cindy Woodsmall did not disappoint me with her attention to detail and knowledge of the culture. 

Thanks to WaterBrook Press for sending me a book to read and review.  Grab your copy at your local bookseller!

"Leaving Yesterday" by Kathryn Cushman

This book is refreshingly unpredictable.

Are you as tired as I am of predictable plots and everything ending "happily ever after" in the books you read?  Leaving Yesterday is a breath of fresh air in the world of predictable plots and happily ever afters.  Finally, a book that shows life as it is - full of ups and downs and a "we'll be okay as long as we have God" ending rather than a "picture perfect life after grace".

I had never read Kathryn Cushman before, but I look forward to reading more of her books.  She writes in an easy to read way that will grab your attention from the get-go, and you won't want to put the book down.  I was truly pleased with her unpredictable plot twists and turns - and it's hard for me to not figure out where the story is going long before it gets there most of the time - and enjoyed the storyline.

(From the back cover:) The police car outside triggers Alisa Stewart's worst fear - her son, Kurt, is dead, his life lost forever to addiction.  Instead, the officer is just following a lead on a crime.  And when Kurt calls to say he's checked himself into rehab and found a healing faith, Alisa feels a hope she'd given up on.  It's like her son has been brought back from the dead.  But then the cop returns, asking dark questions about the murder of someone Kurt once knew.  Alisa is terrified.  Her boy is different now.  He's changed and deserves a second chance.  But as his old life refuses to stay buried, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: keep silent and keep her son... or risk everything in a quest for the truth.

That summary truly does not do the book justice.  The story is so deep and has so many real-to-life facets that it will stick with you long after you put the book down.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with this copy to read and review.  Be sure to pick up your copy at your local bookseller today!

Fever Free!

My little man is fever free!  It's probably too soon to start celebrating, but after three days of fever, I'm pretty happy.

I'm so glad he woke up fever free today (and has stayed such), because that means he can go to the nursery tomorrow during church (which is a good thing, since I'm on the praise team during the service) and that we can go to our friends' house tonight for dinner (which we've been trying to do for three weeks now)!

While the fever is gone, the misery is not.  He has a stuffy nose and is generally fussy (lots of tantrums being thrown today).  But I'm so glad to be out of the fever phase!

Poor Little Man

My little man has had a fever since Wednesday... and he's miserable. 

Thankfully, he's staying hydrated and is holding down his food.

I just want him to feel better.

It hurts Mommy's heart to see him so miserable and uncomfortable.

Get better soon, Little Man!

P.S.  He's the main reason I've been MIA since Wednesday (and probably will be the rest of the weekend).  Hope your weekend is GREAT!

"Sacred Waiting" by David Timms

 (The following is taken from the back cover of the book.)


No one likes to wait. Our irritation level rises in checkout lines, train stations, restaurants, and doctors' offices.  We don't have time to waste.  But Scripture constantly speaks of waiting: "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).


The good news is that waiting on God is much more than watching the clock.  Waiting plays a vital role in our spiritual formation as we draw closer to the Lord and respond to His leading.  Challenging believers to rediscover this lost spiritual discipline, pastor and Bible professor David Timms reveals the hidden treasures of waiting on God - the peace and joy of being with Him.


The heroes of the faith all waited on God.  And just like Abraham, Moses, and David, you'll find that your best moments arise from God's timing, not your own.  Every covenant God made came at the end of a season of waiting.  God's rewards wait for you when you learn to practice Sacred Waiting.

When Bethany House Publishers offered this book to me to read and review, I asked my husband to do the honors, and he willing accepted.  The following is a review based on his having read it and my having scanned it.

Sacred Waiting is a much needed book that is written "against the grain" of our culture today.  We are very much an "instant gratification" society (even those of us who are believers), and as such, we all too often try to "rush God".  David Timms reminds us in this book that throughout the Bible, "good things come to those who wait" on God.  This concept of waiting (let alone, waiting on God) is a foreign concept in today's society, but it is vitally necessary for the development of our spiritual walk with God.  We need to learn to depend on God and His timetable, not our own.  And sometimes, we just need to sit and wait.

This book is well-written, though wordy at points.  The topic is well researched and supported with Biblical references, and yet you do not feel overwhelmed by the amount of Scripture in the text.  It is a bold book, yet the topic is vital to a healthy believer's walk. 

The challenge of waiting is one that will challenge even the most patient person, yet Biblical examples and Scriptures command us to do just that - wait on God.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with this copy to read and review.  Pick up your copy at your local bookseller today!

And then...

...in case you haven't been following my Twitter/FB updates this afternoon...

David woke up from his nap w/ a 102.7 underarm temperature.  I gave him some Tylenol and called the doctor to see if I needed to bring him in (since 103 is the "worry point" & he was 103.7).  They said to wait an hour and see if the Tylenol did its thing.  So I stripped him to his diaper and started to feed him lunch and he promptly puked it all back up on me.  Since then, the fever dropped to 98.3 (underarm) around 3pm then was back up to 99.3 (underarm) at 4:15.  He's keeping the fluids down (has had two full cups of water since 2pm), thankfully.

And then, my neighbor just called.  He had to get 4 stitches in his finger.  And his wife just gave birth to a baby girl.  She's in recovery right now (c-section).  I have their 1.5yo daughter right now - she's the only one I was able to convince to take a nap before 5pm (I think my two kids are finally asleep now that it's time to start getting ready to go to church).

And while all this was going on, I was trying to get my notes ready for Bible study tonight.  Should be an interesting night...

Which is worse??

A headache from the stench of the dirty diapers and food scraps in the trash?  Or a headache from the air freshener to cover up the stench?

Oww.  I honestly think the stank was better than the cloudy head I have today.  Ugg.  I don't know what it is about the air freshener, but it's definitely the air freshener.  We had the same one in our bedroom for a couple months, and the headaches and sinus pressure that I had with it is back with this one.  If only the trash didn't stink so bad!!

In other news, tonight is Bible study, and I haven't touched my notes for it since Friday.  Not good.  I'm hoping to get to them during nap time today (praying that Jenny actually takes a nap today!!!), otherwise it might be a jumbled mess of notes for our study tonight.  Thankfully, I was able to get all my studying done on Friday and it's just a matter of organizing my thoughts today.

On another topic completely,

Well, I was going to ask if it was rude to ignore the phone when you're pretty sure it's your neighbor calling and he knows you're home.  But then, there was a knock on the door and it was the same neighbor.  Turns out he cut himself washing dishes and wanted my opinion about whether or not he needed to go the ER - he does need stitches (in my "professional" opinion) - and his wife is at the hospital in labor (she's scheduled to have a c-section on Friday).  So, my afternoon just got a little more interesting, since I'm now watching their 1.5 yo daughter indefinitely.

Alright... I should probably figure out what to feed the three little monsters in my kitchen...

I'm a "Contributing Blogger"...

I'm blogging over at Lesson Pathways today!!  Go read me over there, then come back here and let me know what you think!!

(And this is for real this time!!)

The Duck is Dead...

... and other short stories from our house.

Not really.  But the duck is dead.  I threw him in the last trash bag I took out to the dumpster, since tomorrow is garbage collection day.  "What duck?" you're asking.  Well, when my aunt was down here for David's birthday party a week and a half ago, she came in the house and asked me for a "tub" or large container to put water in.  Skeptically, I told her there was a dish tub (our camping one) on the counter that she could use.  A little while later, Jenny kept sneaking into the kitchen to "see if the duck had grown".  It didn't grow that day.  And it didn't grow the next day.  (The package said it might take up to 96 hours to grow - and it was supposed to grow to be the same size as whatever tub you put it in.  Uhhuh.)  Finally, on day 3 (as I was getting ready to pitch it), I started to see some growth.  And by day 7 (yes, I actually left it in the water for seven whole days), it had maybe tripled in size.  I took it out of the tub and laid it on a towel to dry.  Three days later, the duck was still slimy and wet, and Jenny keeps wanting to play with it.  So while she was "resting" (read: playing and singing and making lots of noise in the pack'n'play), I euthanized the duck. 

Q4U: What have you put out of its misery lately without your kids' knowledge?

I'm "Published"!!

I'm blogging over at Lesson Pathways today!!  Go read me over there, then come back here and let me know what you think!!

EDIT: The post has been delayed until tomorrow.  They ran into some issues with the formatting on the website. 

Swimming against the Tide

Lots of thoughts running through my brain tonight.

Monday nights we (J & I) watch the CW - One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl.  (I know I'm lucky to have a hubbie that likes and watches these show with me!!)  And something on OTH struck a chord in me.  I've been watching a particular subplot grow in intensity over the past couple of weeks, and each week I come away from the show contemplating the newest developments.  Though I don't agree with how a certain character is responding to the situation, I find myself "understanding" where the character is coming from.  I'm not ready (and I probably won't be for a long time) to identify the situation and/or why/how I find myself identifying with it.  It's too personal...

I guess since my thoughts are mostly centered around this particular topic, I'm probably not going to be very interesting to read tonight.  If I manage to ooze any brain clutter, it's going to be pretty encrypted in order to protect myself and anyone else the topic might affect.

The whole topic has got me thinking, though, that I live my life way too focused on trying to please others, rather than doing what I  really want to do.  And since I've been living that way as long as I can remember, I'm finding myself in the middle of situations that I probably wouldn't be in if I had actually decided to be brave and live life the way I wanted to.  Not that the situations in themselves are bad (or wrong), but just that if I was a braver person, I would (probably) find myself in a much different situation than I am finding myself in now.

I think part of the problem is that I've been living my life without a real  purpose.  I've just been "floating" through life, taking the good with the bad, and trying to serve God the best way I can wherever I find myself.  Not that that is all bad.  I'm just finding that having a purpose, especially a God-given/God-driven one, can take on a life of its own, leading me to places I never dreamed and opportunities that I would have never otherwise pursued.

Ugg... sorry if reading all this is like trying to swim against the tide.  I really just want to write everything that I'm thinking down, but I know that it's not the wise thing to do right now, and I'll definitely regret putting a lot of it into words before the timing is right. 

If you think of it, pray for me.  I need God to change me - specifically in the area I'm swimming around in this post.  And it's definitely going to take a mighty work on His behalf to change me, because on my own, I'll never change.  And if I don't change, I can see the downward spiral taking me to some seriously dark places.

I'm hoping to avoid the dark places.  It's just a matter of letting God work in me to change my heart.  It's going to take a lot of work and probably be pretty ugly and painful at times.  But in the end, I know it's all going to be worth it.

Father, Change ME!!  Yield my heart to Your will - break my pride and mold me into Your image.  Only Your Spirit can bring forth the change I know that needs to happen.  May I be willing to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son.

"Extraordinary" by John Bevere

Christians today tend to walk through life in the same monotonous and low-luster way that non-Christians do.  However, the Bible is full of examples of believers who rose up to the call that God had on their lives to live EXTRAORDINARY lives for Him!

John Bevere explores and expounds on the Scriptures in this book on how to live "The Life You're Meant to Live."  He brings you, as the reader, to the Word of God and shows you what God has in store for your life if you'll only jump at the chance and follow Him by faith.

I truly appreciate the quantity of Scriptural references and examples in this book.  This is not a "self-help" book, but rather a study of God's Word in order to live our lives in a manner that is closer to that to which He has called us.  This is a great book full of wonderful truths and challenges from the Word of God, put together in such a way that will challenge you to live differently and come back to this book as a reference over and over again.

Thanks to WaterBrook Press for providing this copy for me to read and review.  Be sure to pick your copy up today!

"Find Your Strongest Life" by Marcus Buckingham

"What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently"... this subtitle is the premise of the book.  Marcus Buckingham delves into the world of a woman and picks it apart, looking for the stressers and the de-stressers alike. 

From the inside flap of the book: "Have you given up on 'having it all'?  Or maybe you're so busy having it all that you can't figure out how to enjoy it?  Maybe, you don't even know what 'all' you're supposed to have anymore?  You are not alone.  Women today are working, juggling, achieving, succeeding, and beating expectations at every turn - and they are less happy than ever.  Which is why they're turning to the expert who has helped millions of people find, focus on, and benefit from their strengths.  From his decades of research at the Gallup Organization to years of walking business executives through the 'strengths revolution,' Marcus has gained an international reputation for practical, realistic, and life-changing advice.  Find "Your Strongest life helps women apply this expertise to their own lives, marrying success and happiness in ways that prove women really can 'have it all.'"

Though this book is published by a "Christian" publishing house, the book will reach to all women of all walk of life.  Marcus writes from a biblical worldview, yet I do not feel that an unbeliever would feel uncomfortable reading this book.  In fact, Marcus has been "hailed as a visionary by corporations such as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Disney."

This book incorporates personal stories, wisdom, and a chance to take a look at your life and re-prioritize your life.  One of the chapters is all about "unbalancing" your life to get more enjoyment out of it.  This book is an easy read and will bring to light some key thoughts regarding how you go about trying to get enjoyment out of life.

Super Saturday!!

5 Reasons today is a "Super Saturday"...

#1 - My in-laws are here for the weekend!

#2 - Michigan/Michigan State Game... GO BLUE!!

#3 - Golden Corral for dinner today!!

#4 - Hitting up WAGS for GREAT deals and "Money Making" sometime today!!

#5 - IT'S FALL!!!!

Q4U: Is today a "Super Saturday" for you?  What makes it SUPER??

"Let God Talk to You", by Becky Tirabassi

From the back cover:
"For many of us, talking to God sometimes feels like sending words out into empty space.  And hearing from God as the biblical prophets did may seem like an ancient fairy tale.  But Becky Tirabassi shares that it really is possible to hear from God.  In fact, God longs to talk to us.  He loves us and wants to communicate with us, just as we desire to communicate with those we love. You'll discover how to develop a conversational relationship with God, one where you can both talk to and hear from God.  You'll see that God is talking all the time, and there's no special prayer to pray or requirements to meet in order to hear from Hmi.  Becky shows the many ways saying things that have redirected her day or changed her entire life.  You can hear from God, too. When we set aside the times and focus our hearts on God every day, God talks to us."

I think having grown up in the Baptist church, I've never been very comfortable when somebody talks about their experience of "God talking to them".  But over the years, I've seen it time and time again from people I know and trust (and I know have a solid theology and faith in Christ).  So when Bethany House Publishers gave me the chance to review this book, I was intrigued. 

In this book, Becky brings to light the various ways that God speaks to us (through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through other Christians, etc) and the discipline it takes on our behalf to hear Him speak.  I really appreciated her section on knowing the difference between my voice and the voice of the Holy Spirit in chapter 3, as well as her admonition to schedule "meetings with God" each day in chapter 7.

Listening to God is a lost art and discipline.  We, especially in Western society, are so busy that we often fail to take the much needed time alone with God to truly listen to Him.  I know I often "hurry" through my "quiet time", trying to get to the next thing on my "to-do" list, failing to stop and truly listen to what God has to say to me.  We could all stand to read this book, taking to heart it's message and applying it to our lives.  We could all use a little more time with God!

The Weekend is HERE!!!

I am SOOO glad that it's THURSDAY!!!  The weekend is here, and I finally have nothing on the calendar (with the exception of my in-laws coming to visit) until SUNDAY!!!  I am SOOO ready for a few days of nothingness!

I think I might go shopping this afternoon.  Don't fall off your seat.  Yes, it's still me.  I have been needing a pair of jeans that actually fit correctly (the only pair I have that are long enough are two sizes too big - and these are the ones I've been wearing now that the weather is cooler and I can't roll the bottoms up).  I have a 20% off coupon for Kohls.  I'm hoping to make it over there sometime this afternoon.  AND, I saw an advertisement for Payless the other night on TV, and they have the shoes I've been wanting (and haven't been able to find - though I haven't looked too hard) on sale BOGO 1/2 half off (and I've been eyeing one of the other pairs in the BOGO sale as well).  So, I think I'm going to give in to my shoe fetish and need for jeans and go SHOPPING!!  Let's just hope I actually find some jeans I LOVE and not just some I'm "OK" with... then we'll have a happy trip!

We've had our first "canceled" day of school this week.  Yesterday, after getting home from the doctor's office, I could tell that it was going to be a struggle to keep Jenny focused on school (it was about the time that we usually end our school day), and I felt pretty crappy myself, so I opted to delay school a couple of days (we'll have school tomorrow morning instead) and I turned on Sesame Street & Caillou for her.  I put David down for a nap, and I crashed on the couch.  We all felt much better after our morning "off"!

Since it's already after 11am (and I actually got up sans kids before 8am this morning), and I haven't made it to the shower yet or had my quiet time, I'm going to get off the computer for a bit to get some much needed cleansing and QT w/ God.

Q4U: Are you as easily distracted in the mornings as I am?  By the time I finish breakfast (and get the kids fed), put away the clean dishes, check my email, and figure out "life", it's already almost afternoon!  What can't you start your day without?  How do you keep yourself in check and on track in the mornings?

"Love & Respect", by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Having had the opportunity to sit through Dr. Eggerichs' small group series based on this book, I was eager to read the book itself when Thomas Nelson Publishers gave me the opportunity to review it.  The wisdom and counseling in this book (and in the small group series, as well) is so well put together and beneficial for every marriage.

One of the things I appreciate about this book is the "story-telling" method Dr. Eggrichs uses throughout.  He uses a story to make a point and then expounds on the point.  He isn't just giving you a "to-do" list, but he shows you "real-life" examples of how each "task" he gives you plays out in "real" marriages.  So many times marriage "help books" focus only on what needs to be done to "fix the relationship" and fail to show how the "tasks" will actually help.  Dr. Eggrichs is a great story-teller and uses this gift to enhance his counseling.

Another thing I appreciate about Dr. Eggrichs is that he continues to come back to the Scriptures.  Another "marriage help book" I recently read failed to do this, and thus was not as Scripturally-sound as it could have been.  Dr. Eggrichs continually references the Scriptures, bringing the reader to the Word of God as the source of all the counseling he gives.  This is a critical component to look for in any "self-help" book you might pick up.

I would definitely recommend this book for all married couples.  Whether you're struggling or just want to better your marriage, this book will definitely point you in the right direction - pointing you to the Word of God.

"Amish Peace", by Suzanne Woods Fisher

If you like reading Amish fiction or like learning about the Amish culture, you'll definitely enjoy this book.  Suzanne Woods Fisher takes five basic categories of the Amish lifestyle and uses examples from real life Amish as to how each category is played out in their lives.  She then brings the simple wisdom learned from each experience into a personal application for her reader to take away, based on the truths from God's Word.

I really enjoyed reading this book - it was a good reminder of how the simple things in life can be some of life's biggest blessings.  It was also a reminder to simplify my life - to squeeze out the things that don't matter and focus on the stuff that is really important.

I enjoyed Fisher's style of writing - the short stories followed by an application.  It made the book easy to read and easy to come back to after a time away from it.  Fisher has a way of making each story touch your heart and take to heart the message it brings.

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.