I have a dream...

...I just can't share it with you yet.

My dream is about a future ministry opportunity.

But since it's WAY off in the future, I don't want to focus on it too much just yet.  God's still got some work to do in me RIGHT NOW.  I need to focus on what He's got on my to-do list today, and leave the future for another day.

And today, He has me meeting with a Realtor to finalize some plans for the house He's led us to build!

My 60/60 Check-in

I'm WAY behind this week on getting my 60/60 Challenge report up.  Sorry about that!  I've just had too much other stuff going on.

I can't believe we're already half-way through the challenge!  I am learning so much as I seek to stay continuously connected to God, learning to hear the Spirit's moment-by-moment promptings.

My 60/60 experience thus far has led me to experience joy in the moment.  The biggest change while I've been walking in the Spirit moment-by-moment has been finding joy in the little things.  When my watch beeps, I take a moment to reflect on what is happening in my life at that very moment and pause to give God thanks for it.  Being present in the moment has led to great joy in my life!

This post is linked to the 60/60 Halfway Point Recap.

What am I called to do TODAY?

In Mark 14.8, Jesus admonishes His disciples for their poor reaction to the women who anointed His head with her expensive perfume: "She did what she could."

How many times do we focus on what we long to do, rather than doing what we're able to do in the moment?

I am definitely guilty of this.

I am often so focused on what I want to do in the future, than I neglect to do what I am called to do in the present. This is something I have had to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me in - responding to His promptings as to what He would have me do now versus focusing all my energy and attention on a potential future.

What is God calling you to do today??

Random Ramblings, Vol. 427, Issue 1205

It's been one of those months.  You know the kind... the ones you find yourself at the end of before you realized the month began.  So much has happened this month - planned and unplanned.  There was so much more I had wanted to accomplish during the month of April, and yet I find myself at the end of the month having accomplished more than I had planned.

And so, to get my head on straight, I need a few minutes to ramble and let my brain clutter ooze out.

RR#1 - This month was full of birthdays.  My sister, J's sister, and J all had birthdays this month - within a two week period.  We were blessed to be able to see/spend time with each of our sisters during this month!

RR#2 - We made multiple trips to MI this month.  Since both of our families live in MI, a trip up there occurs at least every other month.  This month, it was TWICE - once to each of our parents' homes.  AND, J was able to join us on BOTH trips!

RR#3 - Jenny has taken off with her reading and writing.  Even though "school" has fallen by the wayside over the month, she has independently been working on improving her reading skills and her handwriting.  I love watching her learn and her desire to learn!

RR#4 - David has gone from a 'baby' to a full-blown 'toddler'.  He is growing up SO fast, and we're struggling to keep up at times!  He has started communicating with us, letting us know what he wants, thinks, etc (grunts and sounds, along with a few words), and it's been a fun (and trying) adventure to keep up with him!

RR#5 - I'm almost done with my first set of classes!  It's hard to believe that I've been back in school for 7 weeks now!  One more week of the current classes, then I'll be starting another 8 week session of classes, running through July 2.  I've been learning SO much about my walk with God - and I'm enjoying the challenge of 'being smart' again!

RR#6 - Our ladies' Wednesday night Bible study at church is coming to an end.  Two more weeks left, and then we'll take a break for the summer.  I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the ladies who come week after week, and I will miss our times together.

RR#7 - I desperately need to finish up planting/transplanting my garden.  Since I don't have to worry about frost (my plants are protected from the overhang on our house), I need to get the rest of my plants in the ground.  I'm enjoying the growth I'm seeing in the plants I've already got in the ground, and I can't wait to start harvesting the vegetables!

RR#8 - I've been struggling to get up again.  I'm not sure what's going on, but I've been sleeping 'hard' and have been struggling to wake up in the mornings.  This morning, I got out of bed and fell on my face because my legs literally gave out.  I think the issue is a lack of hydration, resulting in poor circulation, so I've been trying to drink more water (and less coffee/pop).  I really miss my quiet mornings!

RR#9 - We're meeting with our Realtor this week to start the home building process!  I can't believe that a month ago we weren't even thinking about buying a house, let alone building one!  God has definitely moved quickly on this process - we are trusting Him one step at a time.

RR#10 - This has nothing to do with the month gone by, but my kids are super cute right now - they're 'napping' on the living room floor, cuddling together and watching Sesame Street.  Gotta love siblings who love each other.  It makes my heart smile!

This post is being linked to Top Ten Tuesday and Company Girls Coffee.

Blog Overhaul!!

I've spent most of the day working on my blog layout... not intentionally, but I was getting SO close to being done with the overhaul, that I got a bit excited and carried away.

If you read this in an email or RSS feed, be sure to visit the blog today to see the new look!

Do you like the new look?  I used a few of my "favorite things" to inspire me: coffee, writing, chocolate (colors), symmetry, etc.  What's your favorite thing about the new look?

"The Bridegrooms" by Allison Pittman

When I picked up The Bridegrooms, I was expecting something totally different than what I ended up with.  I'm still not sure, a few days later, if I liked this book or not.  Something about it intrigues me, yet, I can't say that I want to read it again.  Maybe if I'd read the back cover, the story wouldn't have taken me by surprise...

From the back cover: Tragedy hit the Allenhouse family on a hot summer night in Ohio when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for the Cleveland's fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if seemingly passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious would-be sportswriter to the Bridegrooms' handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn't felt since his wife's disappearance. Vada's sisters are giddy at the bevy of possible suitors. And Vada's life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

Maybe next time, I'll read the synopsis on the back to get a better feel for the story, rather than assuming a storyline from the title alone!

Thanks to Multnomah Publishers for providing a copy of this book for review.

Halfway Through the 60/60 Challenge!

Monday is the halfway point of our 60/60 Challenge!   

How are you doing? Are you connecting with God more during the challenge than you were before the challenge?

What has God been teaching you over the first half of this challenge?  Is there any area of your life you've noticed God talking to you about?  Where do you sense the need for further change in how you "do life with God"?

Keep connecting and keep reflecting!

Weekend Wanderings

Happy Birthday to my Hubbie!  If you're on Twitter, you can wish him a "Happy Birthday"!

And now, on to Weekend Wanderings...  I don't really have a ton of links to share this week, as I haven't had a ton of time to read other blogs.  I'm weeding through my backlog, but when I accumulate over 100 new posts a day (I subscribe to WAY too many blogs), it takes awhile.  Here are a few, though, that I thought you'd enjoy...

Janna at The Adventure of Motherhood has been sharing a touching story about teaching an illiterate sixteen year old boy how to read.  This is the first installment... be sure to read the rest on her blog.

It's important to cement beliefs in your child's life that become their own!

I need to learn how to take care of myself - inside, not just outside!

I can't wait til my kids are old enough to play a game of Speed Scrabble.  I know my sister and mom would LOVE this!

Do you have a link to share? Leave it in the comments below!!

Is it Friday Already?!?

Where has this week gone?

We started the week off "running", as we had made a quick trip to Michigan on Friday (came back Saturday) to visit J's parents.  J and his dad went to the Michigan spring football game, while his mom and I hung out with the kids - McDonald's PlayPlace is our yearly tradition now!

Sunday was a great day at church - God confirmed so many things for me!!

Monday, my "adopted daughter" (aka one of the girls from church that is a student at Grace College) came over to hang out in the afternoon.  I did some transplanting of my starts into my garden while we chatted, and we enjoyed hanging out for a bit.  I was very glad that 'my shows' (aka Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill) weren't new on Monday night, as I was a bit 'late' in getting my school work done.

Tuesday, we had a 'normal' day until J got home.  After a quick dinner, he told me he was going to leave in about 15 minutes and wondered if I was planning to go with him.  Considering it was almost 7pm, and I was thinking about putting the kids to bed early, I was a bit confused why we would be leaving the house (we don't usually go anywhere on week nights).  I had forgotten that he had told me that he had a softball game at 8pm that night (church league).  So, rather than putting the kids to bed, I finished up my school work quickly, and we headed for the ball diamonds!  We watched American Idol afterwards, but had to save Glee for another time.

Wednesday, the kids and I 'hit the town' in the morning - library, park, Aldi, and the bread outlet.  We had our normal Wednesday night at church (Cubbies for Jenny and leading the ladies' Bible study for me).  After we got the kids to bed, it was time to watch Tim Urban get voted off American Idol.

Thursday, I actually got up 'early' and got my school work done before the kids woke up (though they didn't wake up til after 10am, since they'd had two late nights in a row!!!), so J and I decided to watch the Blind Side til they woke up.  We also watched Glee (I'm not sure I'm going to be a Glee fan much longer if they continue to have premarital s.e.x. promotions like this week's episode did - it was a little too much for me, and I watch Gossip Girl!) while the kids were 'napping', before enjoying a night of our Thursday night TV favorites: Survivor & The Office (we DVRed CSI and The Mentalist to watch today), along with snippets of the NFL Draft in between (yeah for Tebow getting drafted to Denver!!).

This morning, a friend came over so her son could play with Jenny (they're good buddies) while we chatted.  It was nice to catch up, since we don't see each other too often (though this was the third time in four days we'd seen other).  The kids enjoyed playing together, too.

Tonight we're headed to dinner at a friend's home from church.  It'll be nice to share a meal and get to know their family better.

Tomorrow is J's birthday, so my sister's BFF is watching the kids while we act "spontaneously".  In other words, we can't decide what we want to do (has to be cheap), so we're going to be "spontaneous" (which is totally NOT us).  Should make for an interesting day!

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

This post is linked to Company Girls Coffee 4.23. 

"In Harm's Way" by Irene Hannon

The third and final book in the Heroes of Quantico series (Against All Odds and An Eye for an Eye were the first two books in the series), In Harm's Way lived up to the standard set by the previous two.  Irene Hannon definitely has a gift for twisting and turning the plot in ways that you can't imagine until you're in the middle of it!

The third book in the series focuses on Nick, the last of the three former HRT buddies to 'find that special someone'.  Too bad the person he finds has an unbelievable story to tell him.  Wrapping suspense around romance, Irene Hannon draws readers in and leaves them satisfied!

From the back cover: FBI Special Agent Nick Bradley has seen his share of kooks during his fifteen years with the Bureau. But Rachel Sutton is an enigma. She seems normal when she shows up at his office - until she produces a tattered Raggedy Ann doll and tells him about a strange feeling of terror it gives her when she touches it. Nick dismisses her, only to stumble across a link between the doll and an abducted child, setting in motion a chain of events that uncovers startling connections - and puts Rachel's life on the line.

I'm sad to see this series end, but I'm looking forward to future suspense/romance novels from Irene Hannon!

Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Reading Aloud

Do you like to read aloud?  

I don't. Unless it's in Sunday school or something where I can 'sound superior' with my Bible reading skills.  (Yup - I'm really that vain.  Ugg.)

I really don't enjoy reading aloud to my kids.  I don't mind reading to them, it's just the reading aloud part that bugs me.

I'm a speed reader by nature.  Reading aloud slows me down - I actually have to semi-process every word.  (Normally I read by scanning, then if I don't completely comprehend what I scanned, I'll read with more detail.)  And since I'm a "hurry up and get to the good part" type reader, reading aloud bugs me.

Sunday, while reading aloud in Sunday school (see, I told you!), I observed something odd.  I found myself reading a phrase ahead of what I was actually vocalizing.  My eyes and brain were processing the next phrase (in order to properly emphasis and phrase it), while my mouth was vocalizing the previous phrase in 'perfection'.  It was really an odd experience - almost like an out-of-body view of what was happening in my head.

Have you ever "watched" yourself read aloud?

Wk 3: 60/60 Challenge Recap

As I tried to stay continuously connected with God this week, I tried to "be in the moment" each time my watch beeped.  I took a moment to stop, reflect, and be grateful for the little things, gaining an indescribable joy in living life, rather than rushing through it.

Jenny (3yo) decided to "join me" this week.  She asked me why my watch was beeping, and when I told her it was a reminder to talk to God, she jumped on board.  Every time she hears my watch beep, she lets me know it's time to talk to God - she stops what she's doing and prays.  It's fun to listen to some of her prayers, and even more fun to watch as she learns to live in constant communion with God!

*What are you learning about God and yourself as you seek to stay continuously connected and radically responsive?
God has been showing me specific answers to specific prayers.  As I've stayed connected to Him, He's placed prayers on my heart, prompting me to pray specifically in some areas.  Sunday, He showed me the answers to a number of those specific prayers that were "yes" as I had been praying His will.  What an awesome experience to pray the will of God and see your prayers answered!

Grace is not a strong character trait in my life.  I've become very aware of this deficiency through the 60/60 Challenge.

As God has shown me (through my constant connect with Him) my lack of grace for others, He has also shown me His grace for me.

*How have you treated those you do life with?
My area of struggle this week in regards to showing grace is with my children. Especially my son. He's an 18 month old boy - ALL BOY - and he is constantly into EVERYTHING. I have struggled to show grace to him this week, forgetting at times that he isn't trying to defy me (though at times he is), but rather that he is just exploring his world.  As I attempted to stay connected with God , He showed me that He has shown me immeasurable amounts of grace as I "explore my world", and that I need to show my son grace. My prayer became: "Reflect Your grace through me, as I have none to give. Change my attitude to be one that is able to freely give grace."

*What recurring sin(s) have you been conscious of this week? How have you dealt with it?
My short temper has been an area of sin that I have been made aware of again this week.  Finding joy in the moment, rather than rushing through life, has been a way of "extending the fuse".  Living in the grace of God and letting His grace be reflected in my life has helped with my short temper.

This post is linked up to the 60/60 Weekly Recap.  Be sure to read the other 60/60 Runners recaps and encourage them as they seek to live in constant communion with God!

Confirmed by God

Sunday was a great day.  God confirmed so many things for me (that I'd been praying about) in just a few short hours.

(These are in no particular order... just as I can remember them with my slightly groggy brain.)

#1 - Found a small group that will work for both J and me!
#2 - Found people to move our piano for us (so J doesn't have to) when we move - hopefully in Sept/Oct.
#3 - Men's softball team is FBC only (praise), and has mostly LATE games, so J can play this summer!
#4 - Got to connect with a bunch of people - had been feeling disconnected.
#5 - Our kids' best friends' family is seriously considering building a house next door to where we are going to build.
#6 - Pastor's sermon was on prayer - I'm turning in a MAJOR paper on prayer this week.
#7 - God showed me how to put a plan in action to address an issue that was revealed on Saturday.
#8 - God showed me a MAJOR answer to a prayer burden He's had on my heart for a couple of weeks - it was MIRACULOUS in nature!
#9 - I have two reference letters being written for scholarship applications.
#10 - I had a great time worshiping God with a bunch of great people!

What has God confirmed for you this week?


This post is being linked to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda.

60/60 Week Three Link-Up

Sorry for the delay in getting the linky up.  It was a busy weekend, and today hasn't slowed down!

How’s the challenge going for you?  It’s time for our weekly reflection and link-up.  Take a few minutes to put together a recap post (or leave your thoughts in the comments section below) so we can encourage and support one another.

Here are a few questions to think about when you’re reflecting on your “running” this week:
*  What are you learning about God and yourself as you seek to stay continuously connected and radically responsive?
*  How have you treated those you do life with?
*What recurring sin(s) have you been conscious of this week? How have you dealt with it?

Next Week's Focus (taken from Soul Revolution, p.100):
1. Stay Connected. Keep trying to improve on how often you turn your mind back to conversation with God. Use each sixty-minute beep to stop and reflect on how you did the past sixty minutes. Be sure to celebrate the successes, not just feel bad about the failures. Are you failing forward? Getting better at staying connected? Improvement, not perfection, is the goal each day.
2. How am I treating those around me? This week, be aware of your relationships in relation to God's will. With every beep or reminder, ask God to show you where your kingdom [looking out for my needs, wants, etc.] comes in conflict with others. Ask God to show you his kingdom will for how you should deal with those you do life with daily. Respond!

Try to link up by Wednesday.  Be sure to stop by each others posts to encourage and support one another!

Links to Live By is now Weekend Wanderings

Since I have two memes that I participate in on Fridays (Company Girls Coffee and Feed Me Books Friday), having another "scheduled" weekly post has been a bit challenging.  So I'm moving my weekly posts of links I love to the weekend.

These links date back to March, but I thought I'd share them with you anyways!

Did you ever "play" baptism in the bathtub as a kid?

Do you need to remember that what God said is TRUTH?

A super cute and easy quilt. I definitely want to try this one!

This post speaks to me - reminding me of the purpose of this blog.

Do you find yourself lost in time when online?

I needed to be inspired in my goal setting - and a 7 year old helped!

It's spring cleaning time - don't forget the toys!

Has blogging become a bigger priority than it should be?

Remember to be yourself in relationships.

This would be a fun challenge to do with your spouse!

This is a great way to keep kids busy when they can't run around.

It's important to take breaks, especially when you're a mom.

I hope you take the time to check some of these great posts out.  Be sure to leave them some comment love (and if you'd let them know I sent you, I'd really appreciate it) and share your thoughts!  Leave your links for me to check out in the comments below!

Company Girls Coffee, 4.16

Good Morning, Girls!  I'm glad you stopped by today!

I don't have a lot of time, as we're headed to an appointment to meet with a realtor. We got approved for a (dirt-cheap) loan to build a brand new house this week!! We're very excited as we wait on God for His plan for our lives - possibly including our own house!

If you have a few minutes to read a few posts about what God has been teaching me this week, check out these posts:
*Learning Balance
*"Busyness" vs "Solitude and Silence"

Thanks for stopping by!

This post is linked up with Company Girls Coffee 4.16 hosted by Home Sanctuary.

Learning Balance

In my season of life, I've learned that no two days are the same. The challenges of one day are the blessings of the next and vice versa. I appreciated Osborne's statement in A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God:

When we're juggling competing priorities, our ultimate goal is not to be perfectly balanced. The goal is to fulfill God's calling without falling over.

However, I (from experience) argue with his statement, regarding a mother of preschoolers (I'm a SAHM of a 1.5yo and 3yo):

Trying to balance good care of the kids with consistent Bible reading, prayer, physical exercise, proper diet, time for friends, and sizzling intimacy with her husband is a recipe for fatigue and failure.

It's not going to happen.

Of course it's not going to happen if we try to do it in and of ourselves! When I try (of my own will and power) to give equal attention to each of the priorities in my life (and they change every day), I will end up spending too much time and energy on some areas while neglecting to spend enough time and energy on others.

Priorities need to be evaluated regularly (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and given the proper amount of time and energy, drawing on God's resources of strength and endurance, depending on the priority. No two "tasks" require the same amount of time and energy, and (as I said before) no two days are alike. "Each day has its own calling, a series of specific tasks carried out in the framework of a larger calling."

Balance is not equal portions of each, but rather giving proper emphasis to each priority, evaluating what the priorities for that day are each day.

I came away from reading Osborne with the following thought:

Turning over my "to do list" each morning to God, asking if there is anything He'd like to add/subtract, and being willing to alter my day accordingly, is the key to being "balanced".

Keeping Clean Clothes CLEAN

Having an 18mo boy has been a challenge for me.  I honestly don't remember his sister being like this (although she was at the babysitter for 10 hours a day, five days a week).  He is into EVERYTHING and on EVERYTHING.  It has definitely challenged my creativity as I try to provide him with safe play areas.

One of his newest discoveries is how to open the dresser drawers.  He and his sister share a dresser, and he has managed to figure out how to open three of the five drawers - emptying them in the process.

Because I know that folding and putting the clothes away in those drawers would be a fruitless endeavor, I've gotten a bit lazy with the kids laundry.

Monday night, I decided to do something about it - something to tide me over until I could have my husband assist me with moving some furniture around for a more permanent solution.

I had two cute helpers.  First, we sorted the laundry by owner - one basket for each of the kids.  Then I folded each kid's laundry and put it in their basket. 

I stored the baskets in the crib (which is not currently being used) with the clothes in them from the bottom three drawers of the dresser.

EDIT: This solution worked well until the kids decided to take the screws of the crib (they're too smart for their own good, I know) and climbed up into the crib to get the laundry baskets out to play with them.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We are THAT Family.

"Busyness" vs "Solitude & Silence"

I'd like to say that I thrive on busyness (and it's a lie I've told myself over and over again), but in reality I know that it's not true.

As a stay-at-home mom, the word solitude is music to my soul. I love my husband and my children, but alone time for Mommy is not a concept they have mastered very well. I need my alone time to be able to regroup and focus, making me a better mom and wife.

Understanding my need for solitude within my normal function as a mom and wife, I am quick to understand my need for spiritual solitude within my function as a believer. Just as I need time away from my family to regroup and to rejuvenate, I need time away from "everything" to spend listening to God, rejuvenating spiritually.

However, understanding my need and addressing my need are not the same. Reading The Life You've Always Wanted (Ortberg), I found myself writing the word guilty in the margins as he described the characteristics of a hurried person.

• Switching lanes at stop lights (especially by my house, as there is a lot of semi traffic and a number of stop lights) and playing the grocery line "guessing game" are definitely two common activities in my daily life.
  
• Multi-tasking is an area where I've been proud of myself - bragging at times about how much I'm able to get done all at once. I've always assumed (thanks to culture) that this was something I should be good at - after all, I'm a better job candidate if I have multi-tasking listed as one of my skill on an application. I'd never stopped to consider that giving less than all my attention to a particular task/action actually takes more time than addressing each task/action with my full attention.
  
• Ortberg's statement, "love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have" (p.81), spoke truth to my heart. I struggle with having intimate relationships because I'm not willing to put the time into them that they require - I'm in too much of a hurry, and I'm not willing to "give up time" to spend on the relationships.

I need to work on cultivating patience - "deliberately choosing to place [myself] in positions where [I] simply have to wait" (Ortberg, p.83). I need to choose the longer line at the grocery store, stay behind the semi at the light, focus on one task at a time, ask a friend to coffee. I need to slow down and experience life instead of hurrying through it.

One of ways I try to practice the discipline of solitude is to "take advantage of the 'little solitudes' that fill [my] day" (Foster, p.105). I try (and have been fairly successful in the last couple of weeks, thanks to the work of the Spirit in my life) to get up and get dressed before my kids get up. This time of solitude in the mornings helps me to start the day un-frenzied and to have time to focus on what I want to get accomplished that day.

Just this morning, as I made out my "to-do list", I was prompted by the Spirit to turn it over to God to see if He would add/subtract anything to/from it. Starting my day with this moment of solitude and submission has been a blessing as I've worked through my day.

Whitney put it well when he said: "We all need times to unstring the bow of our routine stresses and enjoy the restoration that silence and solitude can provide for our body and soul" (p.190). Pulling away from everything and focusing my heart back on God is not only necessary but spiritual rejuvenating. And, as I turn my focus back on God, the things of this world lose their luster, leading me to live out a life of simplicity.

Winner of "Texas Roads" Giveaway

Thanks to all who entered, and a special thanks to Cathy Bryant for offering this giveaway of her book to compliment her guest post!

The winner, picked by Random.org, is Crystal.

If you didn't win, but you would like a copy of the book, you can contact Cathy for an autographed copy or click on the cover to the right and buy it in my Amazon store.

(I do make a small profit from all items purchased in my store, but there is no additional charge to you.)

My 60/60 Week Two Recap

This week of the 60/60 challenge has been eye-opening for me... not only at the time of my connections with God, but even more as I sit and reflect on it!

What’s been the most challenging aspect of the 60/60 challenge this week?
This week's challenge has been "mechanical" in nature.  I found myself just going through the motions early on in the week, sending off a prayer each hour, but not being connected to what I was praying (and thus, not truly connecting with God).  When I realized that I was being "mechanical", I started praying "Lord give me REAL connection" and He answered!  I started using Bible memory at each hourly interval to bring my mind back to God, and that seemed to help - I'm working on memorizing Psalm 19.

What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now?
What isn't He working on? :)  Honestly, I've felt Him working on changing my habits - one at a time.  This week (and last), He's been working on my sleeping habits, specifically working on my willingness to get out of bed in the mornings and get started on my day.  Though we're not 100% there yet, I have definitely sensed a change in my attitude and actions when it comes to getting up at a decent hour in the mornings (currently 6:30ish).

Yesterday was probably the most revealing of this change to me, as I usually have to literally fight with myself to get out of bed and to church on Sunday mornings (I love going, I just don't like getting up to go) - having gotten up at 6:30ish, I had no problem getting myself and both kids out the door and to church on time... and it wasn't a frenzied morning, either!

What sin(s) have you been conscious of this week?
This was a tough week on my "I don't want to" attitude.  Four days ago (I guess that would have been Thursday?), I "fought" with God:

apichea at my 7pm #sixty60 I had a fight... God won... I had to do a 180 in my attitude!

It was tough trying to connect with God but not being willing to yield my will to Him.  I'm SOOOO glad that we have such a gracious and patience God!

What are you learning about yourself through the challenge?
I waste a lot of time.  Having the hourly beep on my watch when I'm in the middle of an activity has helped me to realize just how much time I'm spending on certain things - i.e. blog hopping, reading, playing with the kids, etc.  It has helped me to better evaluate how I spend my time by including God in the decisions of what activities I'm going to allow myself to be involved in.  A challenge I'd like to take (probably not this week, but in the "near" future) is to spend a week documenting every 15 minute interval to better understand how I spend my time - am I "making the most of [my] time"? (Eph 5.16).

This post is linked to the 60/60 Week Two Recap.  Be sure to check out the other recaps and encourage the 60/60 "runners"!

"Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze

Another great suspense/thriller, Forget Me Not, is the story of a hunted woman who has lost her identity.  She doesn't know who she can trust, and when her secrets seem to be tied into another woman's past, it's no longer safe to trust anybody.

(From the back cover): Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

This is definitely an author I want to read more from!  Vicki's next book promises to tell the story of some of her "supporting" characters from this book, and I can't wait to read it!

Thanks to WaterBrook/Multnomah Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

"Too Close to Home" by Lynette Eason

I've found another favorite author in the Christian suspense/thriller genre. Lynette Eason is in the same category as Irene Hannon and Dee Henderson in my book!

Too Close to Home is the first book in the newest series from Lynette Eason, Women of Justice.  Twisting and turning, drawing you into the story line, Eason weaves a thrilling tale that will leave you not wanting to put the book down!

(From the back cover): When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, the FBI sends in Special Agent Samantha Cash to help crack the case.  Her methods are invisible, and she never quits until the case is closed.

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full. His relationship with his headstrong daughter is in a tailspin, and the string of unsolved murders has the town demanding answers. Connor is running out of ideas - and time.

Samantha joins Connor in a race against the clock to save the next victim. And the killer starts to get personal.

Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page even as love blossoms in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

If you like a good suspense novel, with a romance thrown into the mix, you will definitely enjoy Too Close to Home.  I can't wait until October when Don't Look Back is released!

Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

60/60 Recap Link Up

Can you believe we’ve been doing the 60/60 challenge for two whole weeks already?!?  It’s amazing how quickly time is flying on this challenge!

How’s the challenge going for you?  It’s time for our weekly reflection and link-up.  Take a few minutes to put together a recap post (or leave your thoughts in the comments section below) so we can encourage and support one another.

Here are a few questions to think about when you’re reflecting on your “running” this week:
* What’s been the most challenging aspect of the 60/60 challenge this week?
* What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now?
*What sin(s) have you been conscious of this week?
*What are you learning about yourself through the challenge?

Next Week’s 60/60 Focus (taken from p. 77 in Soul Revolution):
1. What’s on your mind? Continue to use the sixty-minute beep on the watch and take advantage of every reminder to stay connected moment by moment to your Father who guides you.  Talk with him about what’s most on your mind. Ask for what you need, and trust that he will provide what you truly need for the moment. If you don’t have an accurate view of the Father, read through one of the eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus [Matthew or John – one chapter a night for sixty days will get you through both]. As you read, open your mind to consider: If Jesus reveals God the Father, what new things do I learn about how to relate to this Parent who wants to guide me through life?

2. Practice “taking every thought captive.” Talk with God about thoughts that lead you into temptation. Ask God to show you those seemingly insignificant thoughts that lead you into proximity to your greatest temptations. As you “catch them” get raw and honest with God about those thoughts. He will honor this.

3. Fail forward. As soon as you become aware of thoughts or action against God’s will [sin], just admit it. Confess it to him, thank him for already forgiving all your sins [Jesus paid the price of God’s justice – nailing it to the cross]. Since Jesus paid, you don’t have to pay by staying separated from God – reconnect and move forward. Memorize 1 John 1.8-9 as a reminder of how to fail forward: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Try to link up by Monday or Tuesday.  Be sure to stop by each others posts to encourage and support one another!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Welcome to all those visiting from the Ultimate Blog Party 2010! I'm so glad you took the time to stop by my blog!



Take a few seconds (literally - it's not very long) to watch this short welcome vlog. (I'd love feedback on it, as it's my first attempt at a vlog.) Then check out a few of the links below to see what AP Freewriting's all about!

Getting to know Ashley @ AP Freewriting:

I Love Lists

I tend to Ramble Randomly

I love to read

I’m running the 60/60 challenge with some great blogging buddies!

I’m a Company Girl who loves Coffee!

Want to know more?  Be sure to check out my “About Me” page!  Also, feel free to leave questions for me in the comments below – if I get enough questions, I’ll do a follow-up “More about Me” post sometime next week!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and become a Fan on Facebook!!

The UBP'10 is giving away some GREAT prizes... I'd love to win a Gift Card (Hilton Garden Inn, Paypal, Amazon, Target, Kroger), a Tupperware Prize Pack, a Goodie Basket for Mom, or a Preschool Toy pack!

Links to Live By... March Blog Recap

Thanks to Google Analytics, I'm able to get lots of stats on my blog: how many of you come to the blog each day, what the most read posts are, where traffic is coming from, and more.  At the beginning of each month, I like to take some time to recap the previous month, giving credit where credit is due.  Thus, this week's Links to Live By are as follows...

Here are the top ten Posts from the Month of March:
*I love Oxi-Clean! - a WFMW post
*Something for YOU! - my first giveaway
*Wanted: Spiritual Running Partners - the introduction to the 60/60 Challenge
*Making do with what I have - a WFMW post
*Random Ramblings, vol 304, issue 1124 - a Top Ten Tuesday post
*When the ingredients aren't there... - a WFMW post
*Fuzzy Brain = Top Ten Jenny Quotes - a Top Ten Tuesday post
*I'm a newbie gardener - a WFMW post
*Writing for the masses is getting old... - linked to Company Girls Coffee
*Links to Live By... Has Been Cancelled - the end of a crazy week, linked to Company Girls Coffee

The top ten Referrers (be sure to visit each of them) from the Month of March are:
*We are THAT Family - WFMW
*Rocks in my Dryer - WFMW
*Home Sanctuary - Company Girls Coffee
*OrgJunkie - meal planning
*Facebook
*Twitter
*Blogger
*Coffee with Me
*The Youngman Family
*Oh Amanda - Top Ten Tuesdays

What was your favorite AP Freewriting post from the month of March?

Need some UBP'10 advice...

Tomorrow starts the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 (hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom), and I need a little advice from you.

For my "party post", I want to do a vlog (this will be a first for me) to welcome the party goers, along with highlighting a few "key posts" to introduce them to AP Freewriting.  (I was also hoping to be able to unveil the blog overhaul, but life has gotten in the way of my completing it.)

What would you like to see in the vlog?  I don't want it to be too long (30-45 seconds) or too deep.  Are there any key points I should be sure to mention?

What posts would be good ones to highlight?  What are some of your favorite features on this blog?

Is there anything you'd like to know about me that I could "share with the world" as part of this post?  Feel free to ask ANYTHING (with the understanding that I have the right to not answer should I choose)!

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

Lists keep me focused...

...sometimes.  But when I have a list, I do tend to be more productive. 

Lists help me see what I need to do, what I want to do, and what I should do.

Other "lists" posts:
* "A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists" review
* The 3 "L"s: Lists, Loves, and Lunch
* Why I thrive on LISTS
* Using "Sticky Notes" on the computer
* Letting go of the lists...

Most of the time, simply putting together a list helps me to organize my brain clutter so that I can focus on the task at hand rather than thinking about all the things I need to do later.

Do you use lists?  What's on your list today?

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We are THAT Family.

Random Ramblings: Reality in the Midst of Reviews

Here comes randomness... watch out!!

RR#1 - If you read my blog in an RSS feed or get my posts via email, then you probably have realized that I've been churning out the book reviews today! 

RR#2 - I finally feel "caught up" with life (amazing - I know!) and I decided to tackle the backlog of books I have sitting on my counter that I needed to review for various publishers.  But don't worry... I won't leave you without a "real" post in the midst of the "reviews"!

RR#3 - Since it's Tuesday, I linked this post to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday.

RR#4 - I have a giveaway going on this week, thanks to Cathy who wrote a beautiful guest post on Monday!

RR#5 - It's a beautiful day outside, and I'm kicking myself for still being on the computer... five more minutes, then I'm shutting it off!

RR#6 - If I've only got 5 minutes (oops... four now), I'd better finish this post FAST!!

RR#7 - Since I like to "pretty up" my posts (bold, italics, underline, etc.), I'd better get to it right NOW!!

Okay... it's 1:59pm, and I'm off the computer!!

"Kaleidoscope" by Patsy Clairmont

Written in short little chapters, each based on a verse in Proverbs, Kaleidoscope would make for a great devotional reading. The short "devotional" in each chapter is written in a real-to-life manner, drawing you in to the message of the verse.  Each chapter has "Bits and Pieces" - questions for reflection - that would be great journaling fodder, and the "Held to the Light" verses at the end of each chapter would make great verses for memorization or meditation throughout the day.

I plan to use this book for the Wednesday night ladies' Bible study I lead, focusing on one verse each week.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing this book for me to read and review.