Thursday, December 3, 2009

"Treasured" Book Review



Can I just say that I think the cover of this book is simply beautiful!  I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but man, the stunning image wrap on this one sure makes you want to!  Better yet, the inside truly lives up to the beauty of the cover!

This is a wonderful book to use as a devotional.  I have found it to be especially insightful as I have been using it in companion with a Bible study I am doing on contentment.  It helps reinforce the fact that God remembers us, no matter where we are in life and that He treasures us.

This is also highly relevant to my current life circumstances, with my husband nearly completely out of work.  Sometimes the Lord can feel so absent, but you read Treasured and are reminded that He does indeed know what you are going through, and beyond that He has a plan and can be trusted.

I thought that Leigh did a very nice job of incorporating her own applicable life events to bring these classic Bible stories into a modern light and make them seem very tangible.  I especially connected with her recounting of Hagar's story and Noah's as well.  Treasured is beautifully written and I think it would make a fantastic gift to the women in your life this Christmas.

Here is the publisher's summary, if you would like a little bit more insight into the book:
In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides readers in discovering evidence in their own lives of his attentive love.
            “The idea for the book came from a cigar box filled with odds and ends of my grandfather’s life that arrived a few months after his death. Sifting through the objects in the box, I experienced him in a fresh new way. This made me wonder what treasures might be tucked away in Scripture that could frame God for me in an equally intimate, tangible way. This process also helped me uncover my own “treasures” of my walk with the Lord: objects that remind me of my history with him and his faithfulness to me,” says McLeroy.
            Drawn from the pages of Scripture, the author considers twelve such treasures and personalizes their meaning for readers, such as a green olive branch that offers  proof of God’s “new every morning” mercy and a scarlet cord that demonstrates his willingness to adopt “strays” of every sort.
            Weaving these treasures together with scenes from her personal history, Leigh McLeroy invites readers to discover God’s heart for them and embrace their unique role in his redemptive story. Treasured offers readers a guided experience of God’s love and character and invites them to consider their own treasures that point to their part in God’s ongoing story.

To purchase your copy of Treasured you can visit Random House.
You can also find out more about Leigh McLeroy on her website.

This book was provided by the publisher for honest review.
To find out more about reviewing books for Waterbrook Press, you can go here.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Talk softly...

"MOMMY!!!  I need a napkin!"

The noise I just heard clammer upstairs begins to register.  He spilled his milk.  The very last, eansy bit of (expensive) milk that I had been saving for his breakfast. 


I stop doing the laundry and climb the stairs in frustration. 

"What happened?  Why did you spill it?  How did you do it?  Were you messing around?"

Of course he was messing around!  He is a three-year-old boy!

As I spew out my litany of questions and kneel on the floor to mop up the mess, certain humbling and convicting thoughts begin to enter my mind.

Would Michelle Duggar get this upset over a little spilled milk?  Nope- she would talk softly.  Does it really matter that much?  At least it was in the kitchen and not on the carpet.  Change your tone.  He didn't mean to. 

But he woke up like a whirlwind!  Did someone sneak him a Redbull sometime in the middle of the night?  How can he have this much energy?!  Can't he just sit still for 5 minutes?!  He is already driving me crazy and he has only been awake for an hour!



Just calm down.  He is three!!  You are doing a Bible study on peace and contentment- prove it.

But I was going to do that study right now, while they were both being good and content for that precious half an hour I have every morning!  Now I may not even get a shower!

HEY!  Knock it off!!  Get it together!  This is no way to have peace in your house!!!  Be the example!  STOP and pray- right now!

Jesus?  
Give me patience today.  
Help me stay calm.  
Help me to not use an exclamation point at the end of every sentence (or word) today.  
Help me think of the good things.  
Thank you for my little boys.  
My vibrant, crazy, unique little boys.  
Help me see them as your gift and not my inconvenience.  
Help me to honor you in the way I care for them.  
Help me follow your plan for my day instead of mine.  
And most of all... 
give me GRACE!

Amen!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Friend Makin' Mondays- Christmas Survey!



1. Favorite website- OOOO- that is so hard!  Of course I love blogger and my Google Reader!  I also usually hit Facebook a couple times a day, but generally on my iPhone.

2. Favorite color- Pink- but only since I had boys and I think I have to over compensate to have girly things in my life!

3. Facebook?  I am on it, but I generally keep it for IRL friends or people I have gotten to know really well online.  I do have a fan page for Mama Kenz Studio though, right here!

4. Favorite Christmas song?  Another toughy!  I love Carol of the Bells and all the tunes that actually sing about Christ's birth!

5. Christmas tree: Real or fake?  Fake for now, but someday if I have a bigger house I hope to get a giant real one!

6. Hottest celebrity?  Hugh Jackman

7. Favorite restaurant?  The Beach House, on Kauai!

8. Favorite magazine?  I don't read magazines much these days, but Mothering I guess.

9. Favorite thing to drink around the holidays?  Spiced Cider (and lately Hard Cider, but come on- Lion Cub cries A LOT!!!)

10. Favorite Christmas movie.  Tie between Christmas Vacation and The Santa Clause!

To join in on Friend Makin' Monday hop over and visit Amber at {ae}Filkins!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Honored Again!

In the couple of months I have received quite a few blog awards that I desperately need to express my thanks for and pass on to others!  In fact, it has been so long since I received a few of these I hope I remember all of them!  I thought that the week of Thanksgiving would probably be a very appropriate time to express my gratitude for all the wonderful love and support my readers show me!  If I miss one, I am terribly sorry!  So, here goes!



From Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Mama I received the Honest Scrap Award!  Here are the rules:
Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.

Show the 7 winners' names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were given the "Honest Scrap."

List at least 10 honest things about yourself
So, here is my honest 10:
1. I am a total night owl!  Always have been and always will be at heart, even if I have to start waking up earlier!
2. I HATE tomatoes, in any form!
3. I am not scared of heights, singing in front of thousands of people or being in small spaces, but seeing a spider makes me feel like I'm having a heart attack and going places alone where I feel like I could possibly be attacked sends me into a panic!
4. I think Facebook is superior to Twitter and Macs are by far superior to PCs!
5. One of my best friends is someone I never would have expected and would have never believed you if you had told me ten years ago that she would be, but she is!  And she gives me more wise counsel and comfort then most other friends combined!
6. I am greatly saddened by the birthing culture in our country and think that most women make the decisions they do because they don't know any better- they don't realize their is even a decision to make in most instances because they aren't educated about their options.
7. I HATE calling to order anything (such as pizza) or asking for help in a store!  I think it might have something to do with not being in charge of the situation.
8. At this point in my life I would rather take family vacations than just one with my husband.
9. I would move to Hawaii tomorrow if I had the chance!
10. I desperately want to find a home church for our family and have that kind of fellowship again.




Next, I received the Friends award from Jackie at 3 Little Ones (which I am entirely flattered by!)!  Here is this award's description:
This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. deliver this award to six bloggers who must choose six more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. I will pass this award to some of my bloggy friends that I find exceedingly charming…
These first two awards I would like to bestow on all of my loyal blog followers- you know who you are!  Those of you who consistently flow and comment- I so appreciate your audience, love and feedback and these awards are my way of showing you how much you mean to me!




Lastly, I received The One Lovely Blog Award from Nicolle at Babee Love!  Here are the rules for this award:
Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
Wow- tall order! I think I am going to have to narrow that list down to five for now, and if I think of more I will post them another time!  Here goes:
Life in Grace
Our Journey Westward
Owl Haven
Delightful Learning
Not Before 7

Many thanks to all three of you mamas who passed these awards to me!  And congrats to those receiving them from me!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Friend Makin' Monday- Thanksgiving!


Amber over at {ae filkins} is hosting Friend Makin' Monday, and this week it is all about Thanksgiving!  Here are her questions!


1. Turkey or Ham?  Turkey of course!  Who eats ham on Thanksgiving!?  That's just weird!

2. Favorite side dish.  Tie- Green Bean Casserole and Cheesy Potatoes!

3. Favorite dessert.  Cherry or apple pie!  With homemade whipped cream of course!

4. Black Friday: Are you going or not?  Not, for two reasons- no money and hate the crowds!

5. If so, what's on the top of your list?  Well, I am hoping to help my grandma take advantage of the Black Friday sales at Kelly'sCloset.com to buy Lion Cub some bigger diapers.

6. Going out of town or staying close to home?  Close to home, although I wish I was spending the holiday in Hawaii like last year- best Thanksgiving EVER!

7. Hosting or helping?  Helping (and really I don't even know how much of that I will be able to do with Lion Cub stuck to me!)


8. Name one family tradition at Thanksgiving.  Hmmm... don't really have many, although I do like watching the Macy's parade!

9. What do you do after dinner? Debate over what to do and try to convince the men that football and video games are not fun options for everyone.


10. What are you most thankful for this year? My healthy boys!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Simple Woman's Daybook- Week of Thanksgiving 09

FOR TODAY...
Sunday, November 22, 2009

Outside my window...  
Dreery, cold and wet!  It snowed this morning but has pretty much melted off by now.

I am thinking...
That I am tired and have lots to get ready for the week, but I am hoping to have a better attitude this week too.

I am thankful for... 
My boys!  They are happy and healthy and oblivious to our financial stresses during this holiday season!

I am wearing... 
Yoga Pants (even though I rarely do Yoga!), a nursing tank and a long sleeve T.

I am remembering... 
Not much lately!  My brain is so postpartum!  Everything seems to elude me!  I'm lucky if I can remember where I put anything during the day- so frustrating!

I am going... 
to finish up blogging (scheduling for the week) and try to work on what we are going to do for preschool this week!

I am reading... 
Treasured by Leigh McLeroy- just a couple chapters in but I need to finish because I am reviewing next week!

I am hoping... 
 That I can come up with a few good, frugal gift ideas that people will actually like!  Oh, and have the time to complete them!

On my mind... 
My to-do list and what a disaster my house currently is.

From the learning rooms... 
The letters H and I and Thanksgiving lapbooking projects.

Noticing that... 
That Lion Cub is not going to stop screaming until I get off of here and devote my full attention to him!  I have been singing to him while I write this post but it just isn't cutting it!

From the kitchen... 
Making a new recipe tonight- White Chicken Chili!  Hope it's good!

Around the house...
Starting to think about how to decorate this year and hoping our house will be full of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Spirit!

One of my favorite things~ 
Chewy Caramel Bars that I made as a coping mechanism to survive my current stress!

From my picture journal... 
This just make me laugh!



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Things to Share!

First off, for all of you who, like me, are going to have a very budget-conscious Christmas this year, I wanted to pass along a great blog I found called Skip To My Lou!  There is an entire handmade gift guide with the best and most affordable gifts!  I am definitely adding some of these to my list to tackle!




I also just have to mention the giveaway going on this week at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer!  Check this out:



This week's giveaway includes (a $260.00 + retail value!):
1-Flip Video Camcorder! (model to be posted soon)

I would LOVE that camera!!!  So, that is what I have to share for now!  Have a wonderful weekend all!



Commission! Thank you!

I just want to send out a HUGE thank you to whoever used my Kelly's Closet link (right sidebar) to place a $215 order!  I was able to earn a $10 commission- my first EVER!  Woohoo!  And I really need it right now (Lion Cub is growing so quickly- he will need new diapers again very soon and my husband still isn't really working!)!

At a time like this, heading into the holidays and being so financially strapped, little blessings like this just mean so much! So, thank you, thank you, thank you to whoever you are!

If anyone else out there needs to purchase any dipes it would be so totally and completely AWESOME if you did so through my link!  All you have to do is click on the Kelly's Closet link in my right sidebar (or the one in this post for your convenience!) and place your order as usual!  You get points in your customer account (to earn valuable gift certificates!) and I get the commission!  It's a win-win!



Thanks again for your support!
 

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