Loving | Leap Year

Currently and absolutely loving the movie "Leap Year". Beautiful scenery. Brilliant love story. Laughs. Tears. I love it. Kinda makes you realize that we don't always know what is best for us. I would highly recommend this one. :)

I've been reading...

Love Beyond Reason by John Ortberg

This was such a powerful book that I would highly recommend that you read. I feel like I need to read it again right now just to be able to absorb all of it. I felt like it took me on a behind the scenes journey of God's love for me, and how and why I can translate that into my love for Him and others. Some key elements that John Ortberg covered were contentment in the desert, being chosen, how He searches for hiding people, and how He is the God of the roundabout way. Here are a couple of quotes that were significant to me.

"You have made us for yourself; and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee." -Augustine

"This is the ineffable and infinite mercy of God which the slender capacity of man's heart cannot comprehend and much less utter- the unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God's love toward us." -martin luther

"Yes Lord [I love you.]," Peter answers. "Then feed my sheep," Jesus says. Love and teach and guard and guide and serve the little flock that means all the world to me. Get back in the game." -john ortberg

a taste of summer.

Now this is something I need to invest in for the summer... nothing like fresh fruit popsicles. And, I have never made my own... I'd say it's about time... do you have any good recipes/fruit combinations that I should try?! :) I found these on target.com.

sissy + me

Tonight I decided to stop what I was working on... and ended up spending about an hour in my sister's room just chilling. :) We just laid in her bed and talked and laughed and cried and it was beautiful. I need to do that more often... it's good for the soul. There's no one like a sister.

I've been reading...

So, I thought you might be interested in some mini reviews of the books I've been reading... there will be more to come, because I've finally fallen back in love with books. :) I will try to add a mini review each time I finish a book... a little reward to me and you. :) I know that summer is coming soon, and you might need a good read for the pool or beach. I'm currently about halfway through another really good book, so check back soon. :)

a man worth waiting for | by jackie kendall

Jackie is also the author of the book, Lady in Waiting, if you have read that. This book was a really quick read for me (which is rare!). Jackie really captures the reader's attention as she compares and contrasts modern day "Boazes" with "Bozos". The scriptural foundation is the book of Ruth. Jackie explored several non-negotiable characteristics of a "man worth waiting for", such as emotional maturity and faithfulness, as well as practical ways to be a "woman worth waiting for". I believe this book could relate to ladies of all ages... but, it seems to apply to post-grad ladies better than most other "relationship" books I have read. It was a fresh perspective on relationships and would be great for a girls' small group study, as it has discussion questions at the end of each chapter. This was a powerful quote I took away from the book... definitely worth reading!

"It is that we find in Him, the fact of His existence and of His character, all that we can possibly want for everything. God is, must be, our answer to every question & every cry of need. If there is any lack in the One who has undertaken to save us, nothing supplementary we can do will avail to make it up; and if there is no lack in Him, then He of Himself and in Himself is enough."

-hannah whitall smith

making work at home work | by mary m. byers

I'm SO glad I read this book... I will warn you that it's definitely geared toward moms of young children. (which I'm sure I will be able to relate someday!) But, I was able to look past that aspect and apply it to my current work situation. The first half of the book focuses on "saving your sanity", while the second half of the book focuses on "preserving your profit". I felt like it was very thorough in its coverage of topics and details related to working from home. This is one of those books that you will want to read a chapter or two a day in order to implement and absorb the info... and I kept a highlighter handy the whole time. Some of the topics that were very useful to me were: negotiating deadlines, new definition of success, developing policies, life schedules, systematizing, outsourcing, retirement planning. Some information that would be useful to moms would include information about networking, childcare, and dinner planning. I would recommend this book to anyone who works from home, with or without children.

the woman of mystery | by hayley dimarco

There were may aspects of this book that seemed common sense to me or that I've grown up hearing and learning. I love the perspective of a lady who was single until age 37 and all the details of living fully in every season of life. The characteristics of a woman of mystery are related to both single and married women. After all, shouldn't the mystery always be kept alive?! ;) This was another quick read for me... that's usually the case when I read books by female authors. She did a great job of describing how to embrace life while still making comfortable room for a man in your life. This was a powerful quote I took away from the book.

"He may delay because it would not be safe to give us at once what we ask: we are not ready for it. To give ere we could truly receive, would be to destroy the very heart and hope of prayer, to cease to be our Father. The delay itself may work to bring us nearer to our help, to increase the desire, perfect the prayer, and ripen the receptive condition." -george macdonald

Jesus loves me, this I know...

This is the view from my seat tonight and the sun sets... feeling like I have the best seat in the house... listening to the sound of the crashing waves and looking at the vast expanse of the ocean... in absolute awe... there is something about the ocean that makes you feel so near to God... and stand in such awe of Him at the very same moment. You guessed it... I'm on vacation... spending 10 days of relaxation in Florida. It's easy for one to feel guilty for taking time off... but, as I shared with a friend just the other day... I believe that vacation is absolutely necessary. And as I sit here at the ocean... I am reminded that some of my greatest vision and dreams for life have been the fruit of times away from the hustle and bustle of life.... when there is no agenda... nothing preoccupying your thoughts... and there is opportunity for sleep, rest, and refreshment... It brings clarity. And, I think that sometimes you don't realize how much you needed a break until you get one. These past couple of days have been incredible. So- I was walking by myself along the beach yesterday afternoon... splashing along and letting the sand squish beneath my toes.... when I said the silent prayer, "Lord, teach me something new about You... and I'll tell the world what I find." Now that seems like kind of a bold prayer... then, I go pick up the book "Love Beyond Reason" by John Ortberg... this could be a pretty neat journey... I'll let you be part of my "world". :) Yesterday my sister and I saw dolphins off the coast, and today we saw about 50 cownose sting rays [come to find out- they are migrating to Mexico and there could have been thousands of them!] and we didn't even have to go to sea world. :) I'm excited for the new things God is going to teach me this week, the visions and dreams He will place in my heart, and the rejuvenating He will give my body, mind, and spirit.

Signing off for now... here's what I've been up to as I've been writing... green tea in hand. :)