First Halloween

Fitting

Last week in Bible Study we studied anger. I resolved to work on my temper and count to ten before reacting when feeling anger build.

The next day I discovered Joe at the table decorating my Bible. My first reaction was to cry, as this was a new leather bound "Mother's Bible" that I had purchased for the Bible Study. My second reaction was to get angry ("Can't I have one nice thing?!") but I counted to ten first to calm myself.  

During those ten seconds I found the irony in the situation. My little boy had written "I Mom" on my "Mother's Bible". Fitting, indeed.
 

Be Strong & Courageous

Courageous and Strong are words that described Jacob to a "T". I wrote this post last year all about Jacob's courage.

Joshua 1:9    "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

The verse hangs in my office, right next to a picture of Jesus. I glance at it several times a day, taking courage and strength from the fact that my sweet little boy is now with Jesus.

This verse has been special to me since the very day of Jacob's cancer diagnosis. As I put this picture together earlier this year I described to Jacob that this was his verse, and that he was the strongest and most courageous person I know. His smile was priceless as I hung it on the wall.

The morning Jacob passed away I sat outside alone in the dark and prayed. Prayed for comfort and peace...and strength and courage. A few hours later I log onto Facebook to update Jacob's Ladder page and the very first thing at the top of my Facebook wall was a verse that a local Christian Radio station had just posted.

Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Coincidence? I think not.
 

Forever Friday

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis interested me as it is a love story mainly set in the 1920's.

After the first several chapters I glanced back at the front cover to see the author's name again and wasn't surprised to realize I was reading a romance book written by a man. The style seemed a bit off. For example, the two main characters meet for only a few minutes (at most) at the beginning but can't stop thinking about each other and go so far as to think thoughts like getting a better job to be able to provide more when they get married? It seemed so unrealistic.

One of the main points of the book was the concept of "long division" and how things like work, children, and daily life can push married couples apart from each other. Instead of showing a romantic story about how to pull all these things together and make a great marriage the author made it seem as though the only reason that this relationship was able to stay so passionate was because there were no children involved. I actually felt, several times, that this couple was a bit selfish.

I didn't fall in love with the characters in this book or the exact story line. With that said, I did like how the book showcased our guardian angels as maybe strangers that we meet throughout life and the book did keep me entertained.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review

Ipsy October Bag Review

I have been canceling subscription boxes left and right this month. I think I have it narrowed down to four favorite boxes each month now and Ipsy is one of the keepers. Each month you get a fun makeup bag filled with 5 sample and full size items for $10. Each month there is a mixture of around 10 items that your bag could be made up with. Your mixture is personalized just for you with ipsyMatch (a survey you take). I was happy with most of my items this month but really wanted the cupcake hand lotion (which I did not end up getting).

This months theme is "The Art of Beauty".

*I love this makeup bag - I'll find some fun items to stick in it to throw in my purse.

*Zoya nail polish in Mason ($8) Such a pretty color

*Nourish Organic Coconut & Argan Body Lotion ($1.50)

*Style Sexy Hair Spray Clay ($5) I'm really curious how well this will hold my unruly hair together - look forward to trying it out!

*Ofra Lipgloss Plumper ($5) This is a pretty color but I do not like plumping lipgloss so will put in my Christmas pile.

*h2o Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment ($5?) This smells delicious and the reviews are great for it.

Total value of the bag is about $25, though I guessed on several items. I've received bags with over $50+ values. It's a fun surprise, I've found several new to me favorites with this bag, and whatever I can't use I'm able to pass on to others. For $10 a month it makes a great gift for a teen or any woman in your life. Think Christmas stockings as well - save these items throughout the year and make some awesome gift bags up! There is a waiting list right now but some people have been lucky to get off it within a month so you may still be able to get the December bag if you sign up now!

Disclaimer: Referral links included in post.  

The Beauty of Broken

They say not to judge a book by it's cover but I sort of did. This beautiful cover is what made me choose this book. I'm happy I did.

Elisa Morgan is the former CEO of MOPS International. She finally decided to tell her story, or frankly, to tell the truth.

We women do a disservice to each other. Most of us do not tell each other just how hard parenting is, how difficult marriage turned out to be, how exhausting our day to day life can be. We sugar coat everything - and then look at all the other perfect woman around us and feel like a failure. All because they aren't honest about their life either. It's hard. No one is perfect. Every family is broken in their own way.

Elisa decided to tell the story of her broken family, and in the process, shows the truth of most families. Alcoholism and drug addiction, infertility and adoption, teen pregnancy, divorce, homosexuality, and death. Most of us have to deal with one or more of these issues in our own families.

The fact is, we can see the beauty of broken.

This book kept me company on a dreary day and I was so interested in it that I completed it the same afternoon that I started it. I think all women, whether Christian or not, can take from it that all we can do is do our best and just go with the flow of our family.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Little Book of Great Dates

Little Book of Great Dates by Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley looked like a book that I could really use right about now. Admittedly, my husband and I can count on one hand the number of times we have gone out alone in three years. That's bad but it's also life with a sick child.

I don't know if it was just bad timing or the actual book but I didn't get a lot out of it. Apparently the dates should go in order of the book since many chapters reference the previous one with "On your last date you ". And with 52 chapters it seems as though the authors are insinuating that you will have a weekly date night (the first chapter starting with a New Year's date). For someone who went from roughly one date a year a weekly date night seems to stretch it.

Couple that with the fact that while some date night suggestions are relatively inexpensive (to downright free, such as a nature hike), it still begins to look unattainable from a budget standpoint. Babysitting is expensive - so unless you have a willing friend or relative to do it for free or you are more financially set these weekly dates can become quite expensive.

I'm not knocking weekly date night for those who do it but I wish this book would have had a little more leeway in terms of the suggestions or order in which to do them.

I also felt some of the suggestions were the same thing, over and over again, and quite frankly there were very few that actually sounded fun and/or exciting. With that said, it may be more of the timing for me (nothing sounds fun right now) than the actual book itself.

I, personally, think this book would be great for empty-nester couples. A way to connect on weekly date nights and get to know each other all over again. For me many of the suggestions seem unattainable for a couple with many small children who also live in a small town (trying Opera or ball room dancing would 1. not excite my husband, 2. involve a good amount of money, and 3. involve a trip to a much larger city which would also require more money for the date for gas costs and extra babysitting charges).

I did enjoy reading some of the questions spouses should ask each other on their dates and how these will also strengthen the Christian bond between the two. It may be better to use the book as a reference guide and pick and choose which ones work best for you.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.