“The Blessed Woman” {a Review}

The following post contains an affiliate link: You can read my full disclosure policy here.

I’ve been looking for a few good books, that discuss the women of the Bible, their stories and God’s work in their lives….applicable to today. Just a slightly tall order.

Surprisingly The Blessed Woman, by Debbie Morris, came quite close. Chapters were short, well organized, and a good balance between stories and application. It was good, but not perfect.

A variety of issues are tackled throughout the book: Allowing God to use us, giving our children to God,  overcoming our own insecurities,  services and more. Each one is addressed by a “mentor” in the bible, whether Eve, Naomi, Mary, Hagar or others. Even women who I was not at all familiar with.

I felt that despite how good it was, that it was lacking something that stuck with me. I think if I was to do this book as part of a group study {a study guide is provided in the back of the book} that it would greatly improve the depth of the book.

Would I recommend The Blessed Woman? Yes, I would. Particularly for a small group study.

You can find more from this author here:
*Author's Website
*Author Podcast
*More Info
*Read Chapter One
*Author Bio

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah, as a part of their Blogging for Books program. The opinions I shared here are my own. If you would be willing to rate my review there I would great appreciate it.

A Few Words of Thanks.

Thank you to each and every one of that purchased the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle. May it bless you and your family. I’ve just started downloading all of the files and oh my…there is some great stuff in there! Don’t worry if you didn’t pick up your’s: I have several giveaways that I’m going to be doing in the next few months, that will include eBooks from the bundle.

And now, the big reason that I say “Thank you!”
Last week, around Thursday, only 1 bundle had been purchased through my blog and I realized something: I could make this a very clear answer from God, as to whether I should do Blessings Unlimited or not. I told Him, if I was supposed to become a consultant that I needed to sell 8 bundles, to cover the cost of the start up kit. That if I did not sell those bundles, then I would take that as a resounding “No”.

As of Saturday morning I had only sold 3, and then purchased mine before my sister in law’s wedding reception {we were home for an hour between them}.
I got home that night, and at 12:30 checked my email. I had sold 8. Wonderful answer right?! But I had bought one of those 8…there was room to waffle on this answer. I didn’t feel like it was a resounding “yes” or “no”.

I went to bed, and was awoken at 4:30 {after 1.5 hours sleep} by someone who had found Matt’s cell phone…we hadn’t even known he lost it the night before. Since I was awake and not going back to sleep, I checked my email and double checked my e-junkie account. 9. 9? 9 bundles sold?
I counted again and sure enough 9 had sold. Meaning that I had actually sold 8, plus the one I bought.
I’d say that’s a pretty specific answer.

Of course, I’m now second guessing and question whether this is really what I’m supposed to be doing. I asked God for an answer, and then I’m not sure that the answer I got is actually an answer. How ridiculous we humans are!?!

But. I’m taking a leap of faith. Believing that God has answered my prayer, given me the the slap-up-side-the-head clarity that I requested on this issue. So sometime this week I will be signing the contract and becoming an official consultant for Blessings Unlimited. Stay tuned!

A little bit of housekeeping now:

What did you think of the eBook Bundle? What was the reason behind your buying {or not} buying it? I know for a lot of people it’s the cost. Did you feel like I was being pushy or posting too much about it? Did you feel like there was enough mentions that it reminded you, but you didn’t find it annoying? Did it have absolutely no effect on you in any way?

This was my first time doing a bundle or anything else of this size, so I’m very curious what you guys thought about it. I’d really appreciate your feedback.

eBooks? What are those?!

What are eBooks?

eBooks are “books” that are sold in a digital format {i.e. PDFs, Kindle, Nook etc} , allowing them to be easily accessed and transported.

The great thing about eBooks is that they very often are filled with excellent, relevant content, as these are, but that most publishers would deem not highly marketable. Meaning they never make it to press, they never get put on a shelf in a bookstore or library. In this day and age it is becoming harder and harder to find GOOD Christian material, because the margin of profit on those kinds of books just isn’t there.

eBooks give writers the chance to be published, to get there words out to others, to help; which is every writer’s dream. eBooks allow that to happen by removing the middle men {agents, publishers, book stores…all of it}.

Which leads into the next concern….

How much do eBooks cost?

eBooks range in price, just like any book, but unlike hard copy books, most of the time they will be significantly less, because all of the middle men have been removed and they are kept in a digital format {no printing expenses}. You can find ebooks from 99C to $40 or so dollars…it all depends on who’s putting them out and what’s in them. You can guarantee if the book is a popular hardcover or paperback then the digital copy isn’t going to be much cheaper.

Since every single one of these books is written by people just like me and you, women/bloggers, these aren’t books that mainstream publishers are going to be flocking to get in print. That doesn’t mean that the quality or the content is not there. Because it IS, it ABSOLUTELY IS! Remember, those publishers are really only concerned with making a buck, not with getting their words into the hands of those who need it most.

How to use eBooks?

You can use an eBook just like any paper book. The only difference is that it is not paper. The nice thing with eBooks  is that you CAN print them out, if you’re more of a paper kind of gal {or guy}, which I am. I much prefer to have a book in my hands, so that I can easily mark up the pages with notes, or flip back to another section. {All of the eBooks in this bundle are PDFs, which makes them compatible with nearly every single eReader device, as well as easy to view on your computer or print}.

I honestly don’t read many books on my iPad. I store them all on my computer, printing out the ones that are relevant to me NOW, and put them in a 1” binder. That way I can easily access, use, and make notes in my books.

What do you do with eBOOKS?

You read them, just as you would any book, but you don’t have to store them on your shelves or be overwhelmed by their sheer presence. You can gift them to people. Next weekend is Mother’s Day; how about gifting a few of the books to the special ladies in your life.

You can gift files to people that you know would be blessed with those words. Purchasing an ebook is like purchasing any other book, you receive one book for the price paid. Yea, you could share the file with your closest 50 friends and no one would know, but it’s really not the right thing to do. This is not just some random PDF documents. These are actual people who are supporting their families through self publishing.

eBooks Can be a Blessing?

*To the author’s who are getting to share their words and wisdom with you while supporting their families
*To the blogger’s promoting it, who are sometimes making a percentage on each sale, that will in some way bless their own families
*To those who read these wonderful books, and can in turn bless their families with new found hope and knowledge, while making their homes.

All of us are hoping to provide for our families, to pay for groceries and gas, all of those little things that seem to end up costing a lot of money in our lives, to be good stewards of the gifts and tools that God has given us.

May I be REAL with you?

To be honest things have been tight around here, as it is in most every house in this country. For the past year I’ve been contemplating starting my own business, becoming a part of Blessings Unlimited. For one reason or another the funds just haven’t presented themselves, and it just hasn’t happened. I’ve been praying about whether or not this is just not a direction God wants me to go in…and just haven’t had that slap-upside-the-head clarity yet.

I don’t blog for money {to date…I’ve made a total of $12.47 on my blog, in the almost 6 years that I’ve been blogging}. I blog because I love interacting with my readers and other bloggers, I blog because I love writing, I blog because I love {over} sharing with you about my life, and being a part of your’s.

Why else would I continue to put literally hours a week into reading and review books, writing, editing words and photos, designing graphics and my blogs design if I wasn’t making money doing it? The LOVE OF IT!
My husband asks me this constantly.

eBooks are relevant to our lives NOW: As wives, as mothers, as grandmothers, as homeschooling parents, and as bloggers. I ask you, the next time you see someone promoting an eBook or here about a bloggers new eBook, check it out. You never know...it might be just the eBook you need to read and you might have just helped pay for a little girl or boys piano lesson.

Hi, my name is Jessica…..Nice to meet you.

It’s been crazy around here….and I’m not even sure why. I know I had a few guest posts that went up last week, but they only happened, because they were written weeks ago. If you missed them, here they are: Meal Planning at the PurposefulWife.blogspot.com and Infertility Changed Me at NatashaMetzler.com .

This week isn’t shaping up to be much better. I feel like I go-go-go all day long, night comes and I look around and it seems like NOTHING was accomplished. Sunday, the kids stayed a few hours at my in-laws, which was great, for Matt. He managed to get a lot of outside work done: Apple trees trimmed, seeds planted in the garden, things done with the bees, and some other stuff. I’m not even sure what I accomplished, because there seemed to be just as much stuff before as after.

I have decided one thing though; the reason for my having to have projects, whether quilting or DIY, is because I need to have SOMETHING that has an absolute start and finish, otherwise I would go out of my mind. Laundry never gets “finished”, dishes never get “finished”, cleaning the house never gets “finished”: It’s entirely never ending. Sewing projects and other things at least give me a sense of accomplishment, once they’re done.

On top of the household to-dos, this weekend is Matt’s sister’s wedding, which means I’ve been doing whatever wedding stuff I can to help her out. Throw in a bit of kids not sleeping at night or during the day, and mommy is not having much time to blog, which stinks, because I so miss being here!

A brief run down of other things that I haven’t blogged about:

*Ellie is officially walking
*I started a Moms’ Night Out group, and we had our first get-together
*Went to (in)RL
*Started a project for the back yard
*Been busy planting veggies
*Finished a couple of books
*Got a haircut and color {realized how easy it is to straighten my hair with a curling iron}
*Bought some new fabric
*Finished a few more of my quilt blocks
*Have 50 chicks that we’re raising for meat, with another 50 coming today, and  more in the future {we’re doing 300 total}

I’m hoping that things slow down, at least a little bit, because we haven’t even gotten to the summer yet and I’m ready for Fall.

  If you’re missing me here, I am pretty active on instagram if you want to follow me there :-) or on Facebook

Don’t forget about the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle sale going on right now!

“Fortress of Mist” {a Review}

“Fortress of Mist” is Book Two in the Merlin’s Immortals series written by Sigmund Brouwer; the follow up to “The Orphan King”.

The “Fortress of Mist” picks up, easily enough, precisely were “The Orphan King” left off. The story continues his struggle as to which side he will join, when he himself still has no idea who the sides are. Throughout the story he begins to discover ONE side, but his questions remained entirely unanswered as to which is the “right” side.

The book was a quick read, with lots of short chapters {which I like}. The story flowed, with many moments of revelation of some sorts for the reader. The story is relatively good, although rather basic in it’s telling, which is ok with me, because I’m not looking to read anything exceptionally heady at the end of the day.

I am still trying to figure out how this series of books fits in with Merlin of Arthurian legend, as none of the characters bare any names or resemblance to characters in those stories. I’m hoping that as the story line progress the author will somehow tie the series into Arthur’s; particularly since that was one of the main reasons for reading this series.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah, as part of their Blogging for Books program. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This post contains affiliate links.

Going GF

For a while now my parents and my sister have been pretty much gluten free {due to gluten sensitivities and intolerance}….we’ve gone along with their “odd” meal time sustenance, with more resistance. But we are beginning to slooowwwlllyyyy come around to the whole Gluten Free – Grain Free lifestyle…and I mean, very slooowwwlllyyyy.

I did finally find a flour that I liked for cookies, that didn’t involve me becoming a rocket scientist to figure out what mix of different things I needed {it’s Pamela’s Pancake and Baking Mix}. We are also loving Bob’s Red Mill’s Gluten Free Pancake Mix {which was our first foray into being GF}. Interestingly enough I no longer feel sick a few hours after eating pancakes. Coincidence? I think not.

One of the things that I think makes Gluten Free so difficult for people to embrace, is the idea of it being complicated and giving up foods that you have loved all along. I get that, really I do, which is why we’re sloowwwlllyyyy going that way, because I need to be able to find a really good flour to use in my pie crusts, because I am not going to give those up {I am currently questing for this} as well as my breads. We more or less just limit how much we consume of those things, since I haven’t found a satisfactory replacement yet.

Knowing how overwhelming and challenging the change can be I came across something that I really wanted to share…..


Going grain-free can be overwhelming for families dealing with gluten-intolerance or Celiac disease, and this week's bundle includes more than 275 gluten-free and grain-free recipes plus a wealth of information and tips from the authors' own experiences. This week only, get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40 (a savings of more than 80%)!

*Against the Grain by Kate Tietje Grain-free doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can include all kinds of interesting flavors, spices, and even sauces. Against the Grain is a cookbook full of delicious, fun to eat, whole food recipes that are grain-free -- and mostly dairy-free and GAPS-friendly. You'll even find a few bread and dessert recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth!


*Beyond Grain & Dairy by Starlene Stewart In Beyond Grain & Dairy, Starlene shares 113 grain-free recipes that contain no grains, no gluten, no dairy, no soy, no corn, no gums and no processed sugars. With full-color photos and a handy ingredients index to help you find recipes by ingredient, Starlene has put together a cookbook to show you that there's no reason to feel deprived!

* The Grain-Free Snacker by Carol Lovett Going grain-free doesn't mean you have to give up tasty snacks, and in this brand new ebook, Carol offers more than 45+ homemade, grain-free recipes -- everything from gluten-free dorito chips, crackers and cookies to ice cream, frozen treats and mini pizzas.

*Best of the Grain Free Meal Plans by Cara Faus Cara has helped people from all over the world enjoy their grain-free transition with her meal plans, and she's now packaged the best of her menu planning service in a helpful, full-color cookbook. With more than 70 child-friendly, easy-to-follow recipes for busy households, this ebook makes going gluten-free fun and exciting rather than stressful and overwhelming.

*Gluten Free and Good for You by Kimberlee Tandy & Laura Coppinger Filled with tips and information to help you to eat gluten-free or serve gluten-free meals and snacks to family members and friends who have special dietary needs, Gluten Free and Good for You is both a handbook and a cookbook that uses basic, everyday ingredients that you’re likely to have on hand in your kitchen. Laura and Kim make gluten-free cooking accessible for every family! The Gluten-Free and Grain-Free bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 3/25.

Get yours today:

Why not give it a shot….you may be surprised at how easy it is and the difference in how you feel.

Here are some links to my sister’s blog and FB page. While she didn’t write any of these books, she is a vast source of knowledge regarding foods and how they affect the body, as well as how to live well without feeling as though you’re missing out on the “fun foods”.

Kate Beckmann, Nutrition Practitioner

*This post does contain affiliate links.

My Favorite Books

A friend of mine, Mandy from Daily Cup of Grace, is doing a link up of Favorite Books. Be sure to check it out :-)

I can’t even say what my “favorite” genre of book is, because I don’t really have one. Now, don’t get me wrong…I certainly have favorite books and authors. In 2010 I spent much of the year re-reading many of my favorite books. Then I became a more “serious and responsible” reader, focusing more on non-fiction, theology and parenting books. Given the choice between the two, I’d really rather read fiction: Maybe that’s why my completed reads per year dropped so much. I know. I know.

What exactly is my favorite book then? I honestly couldn’t say. Fortunately for me, most of my favorite {fiction} books are part of a larger series, which just spreads the yummy-goodness around a bit more.

BUT….if I had to choose, I’d have to say that “Anne of Green Gables” is my favorite young-adult fiction book series {even more so than Little House on the Prairie…which I absolutely love!} and my favorite adult-fiction book series is, without a doubt, “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon.

As for my favorite non-fiction, I must admit, I really don’t have one. Now don’t get me wrong, there have certainly been books that I have read that I’ve found to be very good, very helpful, and insightful, but none that I can say, “If I was stranded on a desert island…”. My mind just doesn’t work that way; it loves the “escapism” of fiction.

I suppose though, the book that has stuck with me would have to be {and yes, I sat here for a very long time thinking of what this book could be, even had to look on my shelves and dig about the blog}…..I could be a good Christian girl and say the bible, which would be true, but kind of a cop-out answer. *still thinking*

I guess it would have to be “When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling” by RC Sproul JR, even if only because I know I will go back to read it again once we’re at that point of making a decision about homeschooling. See…I told you I wasn’t a big fan of non-fiction. For me it has its purpose, but that’s about it. Bits and pieces of them stick with me, which is why I have to read them with sticky tabs and highlighters.

However, I do love reading poetry and plays…my favorites would have to be Seamus Heaney and George Bernard Shaw: Those Irish certainly have a way with words.

So there. You’ve now discovered that I really don’t like to be a deep intellectual non-fiction reader, I’d rather play with dragons, dwarves, hobbits, and hot tempered red heads. But occasionally I do force myself to be a grown-up.

“Redeeming Childbirth” {A Review}

A couple of weeks ago, I was blessed to share my trio's birth story and God's infinite grace and goodness through that experience. I'm here to share with you the wonderful book written by the creator of Redeeming Childbirth, Angie Tolpin, of the same title.


A bit long and sometimes wordy, but entirely worth the read. If you have had children, are pregnant with your first, or hoping on having more, this book is a wonderful resource of how to invite God into your birth, allowing Him to to be your redeemer and experience His redemption through pregnancy, labor and delivery.

Angie touches on every single aspect of pregnancy and delivery in this book, and how God wants to be a part of it for us. How He wants to use our experiences to minister to not only us, but to our families, and all who have a hand in your pregnancy and labor.

Step by step Angie discusses how to prepare during your pregnancy for your delivery, not in the way that most childbirth books do, but in the way we, as Christians, need to....spiritually. She gives extensive examples, testimonies, and full resources on just how to begin.

Open minded and open hearted for all "styles" of childbirth, however, Angie's heart is for natural childbirth. She discusses, quite tactfully, how even in different and sometimes unexpected scenarios, God can still be present, redeeming all for His glory. 

Don't lose hope. Don't fear childbirth. It can be glorious, regardless of the how, by asking the Lord to be a part of it.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

You can purchase Redeeming Childbirth, through Amazon.com, either as a print or Kindle book.

How do you, or did you, hope to feel God in your pregnancy and delivery?

Books 2013

It's a new year for me to attempt actually reading a few things. Last year I didn't do too badly, although I still haven't finished the book that is last on my list of those I actually read in 2012. I did manage to read 24, which I believe is 7 more than I did in 2011. Yea, those of you who manage to read 75+ books a year astound me.

I'm already behind the 8 ball with those I haven't finished from last year, those that are sitting untouched from last year, and those that I should have already read because I need to review them from last year.

I suppose my reading goal this year is to get caught up, not to mention actually READ the 10+ books on parenting that I really need to get through before the kids are grown. {One piece of advice: Read those books BEFORE you have kids!}

Anyways, here it is: My Accomplished Reads of 2013

* "Redeeming Childbirth" by Angie Tolpin
* "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp
* "Fit to Burst" by Rachel Jankovic
* "Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
* "The Orphan King" by Sigmund Brouwer
* "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
* "Growing Grateful Kids" by Susie Larson
* "Fortress of Mist" by Sigmund Brouwer
* "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
* "Embracing Beauty" by Trina Holden
* "The Blessed Woman" by Debbie Morris
* "Trim Healthy Mama" by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison
* "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon
* "The Exile" {A Graphic Novel...think comic book} by Diana Gabaldon
* "Dragonfly in Amber" by Diana Gabaldon
* "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon
* "Drums of Autumn" by Diana Gabaldon
* "The Fiery Cross" by Diana Gabaldon
* "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" by Diana Gabaldon
* "An Echo in the Bone" by Diana Gabaldon
* "The Scottish Prisoner" by Diana Gabaldon
* "A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows Eve" by Diana Gabaldon
* "A Wreath of Snow" by Liz Curtis Higgs
* "Women of Christmas" by Liz Curtis Higgs
* "The Martyr's Fire" by Sigmund Brouwer
* "Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist
* "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist

"The Orphan King" {a Review}

A long time ago, in a time gone by there was a book, "The Orphan King". A book that should've been reviewed months ago. Today is the that that book finally gets its review!

"The Orphan King" is about a young boy, who doesn't know much about his past, and only knows that he is destined to rule. Through a series of events in his life he begins to realize that there must be something more, even if he doesn't know what.

I enjoyed the book. I love anything that has to do with medieval times and King Arthur, this book was no different. It was enjoyable and quick enough to get through in only a few nights time. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series {this is the first in the series}. 

*I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my review, the opinions are my own.

"How I Lost a 100 lbs" {A Review}

If only it were me who actually lost a 100lbs, or even half of that. Jessica from MutheringHeights.com recently released her first e-book, 100 Pound Loser, in which she discusses her own fight with being overweight and what she did to overcome, despite 4 kids and fibromyalgia.

While I didn’t learn anything new, it was nice to read the perspective of someone who has been there, and what worked for them. Testimonials of other’s always help me more than just a To-Do-List of Weight loss. Also, in its favor was how quick it was to read….I think I finished it in less than an hour.

If you are looking to lose some serious pounds and thinking, “How the heck am I going to do this?” Pick up Jessica’s e-book, 100 Pound Loser. Her humor and candid discussion of her weight issues, is sure to entertain and inspire you to action!


It’s available at Amazon.com or HERE as a PDF.

I did receive a copy of 100 Pound Loser for free, for the sole purpose of reviewing….however the opinions and thoughts are my own.

A Few More of My Favorite Things: Christmas Books!

I love books, I love Christmas books even more! Over the years I’ve asked what everyone’s favorite Christmas reads were, because I was always at a loss of what to read. This year is different! This year I’m coming to YOU with some suggestions! {I’ll give you a second to be awed of me…you’re welcome}.

Mind you…I don’t have a ton of suggestions and only have those I do because of a flyer I got in the mail for a local Christian book store.

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury
There is a {e}pre-equel to this on amazon.com called The Beginning

Susanna’s Christmas Wish by Jerry S. Eicher

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

 

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee

The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson

Have you discovered a new Christmas favorite? I’d love to hear about it.
Don’t forget to enter the Ladder Bloggers Giveaway if you haven’t already…be sure to check out the other blogs too. There are some awesome gifts!

“First Bites” {A Review}

I was recently contacted by Hilary Kimes Bernstein, and asked whether I would like to review her new ebook: First Bites: How to instill healthy eating habits during your baby’s first year.

Being that we’re in the very thick of introducing new foods to our babies, this book couldn’t have come at a better time. We try to eat relatively healthy in our house, but we still run in to some road blocks with Ave when it comes to actually getting her to eat her veggies, fruits are no problem. I was curious what Bernstein would have to say.

Having formula fed each of my children I was curious as to how this book would apply to me. Bernstein discusses the breastfeeding vs formula feeding for half of the book. In all fairness she was conscious and considerate to those who were unable to provide breast milk for their children, while providing accurate information about the importance of babies being breastfed. She is very upfront and even suggests that those who could not breastfeed skip forward to the next section. I will not lie, I did have a lot of my mommy guilt dredged back up for me, and had to deal with it once again.

As for the next stages of foods she does a fantastic job of breaking it down, then backing it up with information as to what and why different things are best, and things to absolutely avoid. Being a second (third and fourth) time mom and someone who is very conscious about the use of growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, genetically-modified foods, plastics and BPA etc, ad nauseum, I really appreciated having the information, even though I already knew that majority of it, right in front of me with the backup research that I don’t have the time to look for.

All in all, a great book to help you put your child on the right path for healthy eating, especially if you’re a first time mom or dad.

First Bites can be purchased through FirstBites.com as a PDF or as a Kindle book. Be sure to visit First Bites on facebook, as well as on twitter!

I was also lucky enough to be given one PDF copy of First Bites, to share with one lucky reader :-) So be sure to enter the giveaway, which will close on the 30th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

*I received this complimentary book in return for my honest opinions and review of its contents: The opinions above are entirely my own.

“Hula Hoop Girl” {A Review}

Every felt like you had so much on your plate that you were waiting for it to all come crashing down? But you don’t know how you can say “no” to things, because you feel like you have to do it all? “Hula Hoop Girl” is the first ebook written by September McCarthy, from One September Day.

In short chapters September shares her own experiences, and how she learned to manage her hula hoops: By finding our identities in Christ, not in what others or ourselves think we should be or do.

Through a series of insightful questions at the conclusion of each chapter September helps us to discover our own identity and pitfalls in our lives. Going beyond just the surface of things, but trying to dig down and really discover why and how we do things and how we can move forward for the better.

If you’re struggling with feeling as though you can’t do it all, please, read this book. There are very few things that truly need to be priorities in our lives, so much that we can trim out. And in the trimming and simplifying giving us so much more to glorify God with!

Hula Hoop Girl is available on Amazon {for Kindle}, and as a PDF.  Snag your copy today for $4.99!

Looking for more?  You can like Hula Hoop Girl on Facebook, and learn more about September on her blog,One September Day.

“Pain Redeemed” {A Review}

Some of the most difficult years of my life were those spent struggling with infertility; and yet, God brought good out of it. He drew Matt and I closer together and both of us closer to Him. Isn’t that what we pray and hope for? To be drawn closer to God, to have our hurts and sufferings redeemed by His grace? To have a purpose for it all?

This book written by my dear friend and sister in infertility, Natasha Metzler, is the book that I WISH had existed four years ago when we were in the depths of feeling lost and a drift from God, not knowing what His plan was for our lives. Natasha so beautifully reaches from the pages, touching your soul in the most “beaten and bruised”
places, a healing salve.

With excerpts from her own journal, as well as beautifully worded poems and parables, Natasha shares how her own pain has been redeemed, is still being redeemed. No pain, whether from infertility, loss, or anything else, is unredeemable. We have a God who can and does work all for good. We just need to seek Him.

“He’s a God of miracles. A God of redemption. I can just barely hear His whisper at times but it is there, rising on the wings of the dawn.”
~from “Pain Redeemed”

If you have ever struggled with anything in life, whatever it is that left you on your knees and feeling as though God wasn’t there, that there was nothing that He could do to help in anyway, that you were beyond redemption, please read this book. I have not been touched or felt as strongly about any book as much as I do about this one, in a very long time.

Please visit Natasha’s blog and revel in the exquisiteness of her words, on a daily basis. You can purchase her book through her blog as well as through Amazon.com.

Stop the world - I want to get off!

It’s been a bit crazy, still, around here. The kids all struggled with Hand, Foot and Mouth, this past week. I had a couple of nights of not getting to bed until 5am, then being up for the day at 7am. Fortunately, my mother in law came and spent Friday night so that I could get some sleep.

Last night the kids seemed to be back on schedule. This afternoon I got home from a baby shower and Matt was on the couch, sore throat and a fever. Now I have a sore throat. I’m just praying I don’t get sick and that Matt gets over it REALLY fast.

I have about 5 or 6 posts, some already written, that I keep meaning to finish and get up here, but I just haven’t had time. I had a whole bunch of stuff I was going to say in this post, but now I seriously can’t remember them.

I did declare google-reader bankruptcy and cleared it out. I had over 250 unread posts. No way was I going to get to them and I didn’t really think that brow-beating myself was going to be productive. SO….tell me what’s been up with you, especially if I’ve missed something major (i.e. I didn’t comment on a post).

Also, since I can’t seem to remember what all I had planned on saying, what are your questions for me? Anything goes. Even if it’s something like what kind of PJs do I wear. What are some things you would like to see me do around here: Vlogging? Recipes? Tutorials? House or sewing projects? If you don’t want to leave a comment then feel free to email me jess.white05 at gmail dot come

Let me know :-)

Oh, and I’m not going to be doing the Creating Community through Comments Blog Hop in September. Just too many other things making demands on my time.  BUT I do still, encourage you to seek out new blogs and leave’em some comment love. Feel free to take down the graphic on your blogs.

Battling Against Youth Entitlement {Review: Cleaning House}

There is an epidemic in America, that could very well shred the last thread that we’re hanging by. You’ve probably noticed it: Youth Entitlement! It started about 30 years ago, parents and society catering to the every whim of its children. What we now have is a group of young adults {and younger} that are heading in to the world unable to not only care for themselves in the most basic ways, but do not have any sort of drive or determination to accomplish anything.*

We live in a youth-centric time. Everything is geared toward kids/teens whether it’s movies or music, academics or worship. And you know what, it isn’t working. We are creating a generation of self-righteous individuals, who exist and do only for what they can get. Churches are focusing more and more on programs for the youth, but more and more youths are leaving the church. Parents are focusing more and more on giving their kids everything, but their kids don’t know how to do anything.

Parents want to give their children every {child-like} desire of their hearts: But is that what is best for them?

In my own experience with the under 25 group, no, it’s not what’s best for them. So far we have a generation of individuals who view no ones needs, but their own, as important. Too many young adults today do not see the point of pushing forward when things get tough, to, as the saying goes, “Grab the bull by the horns”.

Many act as though they’re doing their bosses, parents, teachers and others around them a favor by simply existing. They feel that they’re entitled to not only working when {and only when} they feel like it, but to having high-paying jobs, money, luxuries, good grades etc, without putting forth any effort into them: They’re wrong. The world around you doesn’t care whether you had a bad day or not. The world doesn’t exist for your glory, you exist for God’s glory.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Colossians 3:23

I grew up working on my parents small farm. My days consisted of helping care for our huge garden, as well as helping in any and all family business ventures; whether it was raising calves, pigs, chickens, rabbits, or goats or slaughtering the animals that we raised. I was expected to do household chores, whether it was cooking, cleaning, laundry or anything else. I was expected to maintain good grades in school. I started mowing lawns for spending money when I was 13. I didn’t have an allowance: If I wanted something I had to work and save up my money for it.

Did I {always} like doing the work? No, sometimes I really hated it. It’s not much fun mucking out a barn when it’s 90*s and the rabbits in the cage above you are still peeing and pooping while you’re underneath (fortunately, very rarely did I get peed or pooped on, but it did happen); it’s not much fun when it’s 20* in the morning and you have to go lug 5 gallon buckets of water for chickens and turkeys, then move their pens and be slip-sliding {and sometimes falling} in their manure, before getting dressed for school.

BUT! I will say I know how to work. I know that work is necessary and good for the soul: We were not designed to lounge around, without a purpose. We were created for work. It builds character. It builds a sense of accomplishment, a sense of true self-worth.

“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Proverbs 10:4

I recently received the book Cleaning House: A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma via Blogging for Books to review. Wyma takes on entitlement-issues in her own children over the course of 12 months, during which she focuses on different areas in her childrens’ life where she is seeing their inflated self-worth and entitlement. Beginning with the childrens’ responsibility to keep their rooms clean and moving on to other areas such as the bathrooms, cooking and cleaning the kitchen, cleaning bathroom, home repairs, and employment outside the home.


While her kids often put up a fight with the addition of each new responsibility, they did rise to the occasion {however grudgingly}. She started to see a marked improvement in her childrens’ attitudes, how they treated each other, and how they viewed themselves.


Wyma’s sense of humor through it all and addressing her own issues as an enabler of her childrens’ entitlement-issues kept the book light, and real. As moms we often think “it’s easier if I just do it myself” or “they’re kids…they should be having fun, not worrying about laundry”; but neither of those mindsets help our children to become responsible adults, who know they are capable of doing what they are required to do.


This plague of Youth Entitlement must end, but first it must begin in our homes. I’m pretty sure our fore-fathers said “PURSUIT of happiness”, not a guarantee of happiness, or that it would be handed to you {as much as our government would like America’s youth to think that}. Having a job, a nice car, clothes, a house, insurances and the latest technological gadgetries are not a right for anyone. They are things that must be worked for, doing our best, always. Why not start young in our children, helping them to truly be the best they can be.

Please be sure to go and rate my review of this book here. Thanks!

*This does not apply to ALL young adults, teens and children, but definitely a growing majority of them.

You’re All My Favorites

There’s a really cute children’s book called “You’re All My Favorites”; in which 3 little bears (2 boys and a girl) become very concerned as to who is their parents’ favorite. Their parents explain that each of them are their favorite, for the very thing that made them different from the other two. Great book.

I think every parent wonders if they’ll ever be able to love another child as much as their first one, whether their first child will be their favorite. As a parent now of more than one child let me tell you something…your first child will be your favorite, so will your second, and third etc etc. They will all be your favorite.

I can hold each one of my children independently of the others and each time I think to myself, “There is no way I could love anyone more than I love you”, and it’s true. I love them all more than the rest of them, and love none of them less than the others. Except when I’m holding the one that doesn’t stop screaming, I may just love that one a little less at that moment :-)

How is this possible?

Don’t ask me. I have no idea. All I can think is this must be another one of God’s wonders; that we can love this way.

Review: Loving the Little Years

I just finished the book Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic (she blogs at DesiringGod.org and FeminaGirls.com). It was a light, fast read…managed it in 2 evenings…could’ve done it in one.

What I most enjoyed about this book is that it is the FIRST parenting book I’ve come across in which the author had more than one baby at a time, she has twins. There are so few books that talk about parenting with multiples, particularly when they are not the oldest. Jankovic had two singleton pregnancies, followed by twins: 4 kids 3 and under {not quite the same brand of crazy as us}.

Until I’ve written the book on raising triplets, while also having a 2 year old…this book will have to do. {And yes, that book is on my To-be-Written list}.

First off, Jankovic is the daughter of Nancy and Doug Wilson, the pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and the author of countless books and audios on theology and parenting. If you’ve never listened to his collection of sermons on Loving Little Ones…it is something to definitely listen to. Great parenting advice!

Anyways, back to Loving the Little Years.
One of the first things that Jankovic talks about is how the Lord calls us to be fruitful, but that it isn’t limited to bearing children. Having children, and scads of them, does NOT make you a fruitful person. Having NO children doesn’t mean you CAN’T be fruitful. What He calls us to is different than what we are often led to believe.

Being fruitful means giving of ourselves, our own overabundance, to the point of excess. Blessing everyone and everything around us with what we have and create. “Be bountiful with your fruit and free with it. The only thing you can know for certain is that God will use it.”

Throughout the book Jankovic shares several funny stories of her and her husband’s failed attempts at parenting. A few of them had me laughing out loud.

Another thing that Jankovic discusses is how we, as parents, very often will sin right back at our children for their sin: The get even approach. None of the kids are doing what they should and it’s because you didn’t do what you should (for example preparing for getting out of the house in advance, then yelling at the kids for being themselves and adding to the ensuing chaos). The other example she sites is two kids fighting over something and then rather than addressing the heart of the matter (their unwillingness to put others first), just removing the object of discord, because it’s the easier thing to do.

One thing that both Jankovic and Wilson discuss is something that Matt and I absolutely love. The idea of having very strong strictures and rules in place NOW, and as the children grow trusting them to go into the world knowing what is right and wrong, and what is expected of them. Rather than letting them run rampant now, then when they’re teenagers trying to reel them in with a thousand rules.

This book had so many wonderful insights and practical thoughts. Things that we all know, but often we’re so worried about just getting through the day with the kids still alive and the house still standing, that we forget about the importance of actually RAISING and GUIDING our children. Which isn’t that really the whole point anyways?

*This review was entirely my own. I didn’t even receive a free book for writing it :-P

Why it took me more than 3 months to finish an 850 page book…

OR

Why the iPad is truly a terrible invention

Back in the day, yes before children, I used to read a TON of books…probably between 75 and a 100 a year, of varying lengths. Even during Ave’s first year I managed to read, or rather re-read, a decent amount of books. Then last spring I really wanted this certain little gadget…and iPad. What a wonder!

You see, once I had that nifty little gadget I no longer would spend my evenings in bed reading. Oh I spent them in bed, but I spent them wasting time browsing online…and online that really doesn’t change that much, despite pinterest/facebook/blog/twitter updates. You see, it was just so easy with the iPad. There was no bulky laptop to balance on my stomach, there was no needing to plug it in…it was just so simple.

It was really simple to forget about reading books too.

I would look at the clock and think, “Oh there’s no point in reading for 10-15 minutes. I’ll just check a few things online.” Next thing I knew I had wasted an hour…an hour that would’ve been better spent reading.

So, what did I do about it? How did I finally manage to finish the aforementioned book {Inheritance by Christopher Paolini}?

I put the iPad away. That’s right. It sat in my nightstand draw…waiting for Avie in the mornings that she woke up way too early.

For the past 2 weeks the iPad hasn’t taken up much of my time. I’ve been focusing on finishing a book, so that I could continue on to several more books.

You know what?

As much as I love my iPad, I don’t miss it.

I might even get a few more books read.