one word

With a new year I'm thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2014. I've made goals in prior years and at first tackled them and made all kinds of progress! But then, pretty much once February arrived, I started slacking until finally...I'd abandoned the goals I had put such great thought into. I don't want to do that this year. So I'm taking this snow day to figure out my focus for the year. Single Roots had a blog post today about a movement called One Word 365. Instead of having a list of good-intention goals, choose just one word that can be what drives and directs you for the year. So my word? Finally. I'm deciding to take off the shelf things I've thought about doing and finally get around to doing them! I think one of the most dangerous words is "someday." I'll write that book...someday. I'll get out of debt...someday. I'll take that leap...someday. So no more someday! This is the year of finally!

book review: "the governess of highland hall" by carrie turansky

     Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents' financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn't sure what to make of the estate's preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.

     Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin's two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith. 

     While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families - common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia's steadfast heart over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall's future?

What got my attention with this book is that Julia was a missionary. Having returned from my own short-term missions trip prior to requesting this book, that was still very much on my mind. I thought the story line to be interesting but didn't love the book. I tend to like more of a romance focus and I'm finding a lack of that in several of the historical fiction books I've read lately. I liked watching William and Julia's relationship slowly grow but just wanted a bit more between them. But I thought it very sweet to read William going after Julia and attempting to propose before finally blurting, "Blast! I'm not doing this very well. Not as the governess. As my wife." And I liked the secondary romance between Sarah and Dalton. They seemed to have more of the romance I was looking for with William and Julia. I liked the different characters in the story and didn't feel there were too many that I was constantly having to remember who was who. I think everything came together nicely for a pretty good read.

I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for my honest review.

mustache makeovers!

I don't know if you're part of the mustache fad that's currently...everywhere...but I think it's fun! And when I found out there was mustache duck tape, I knew there were projects just waiting to be created! I've posted two other mustache makeovers a while back but these are some of the things I've been doing while on Christmas break :) 

currently

Oh my goodness! I'm on Christmas break and have been just a little bit lazy but I'm ready to get back to blogging! 

Jessica from How Sweet It Is has a weekly "Currently Crushing On" feature on her blog. Here are a few of my "currently's":

Listening to ~ "Architecture" by Jonathan Thulin. Such a great song! It took me hearing it on the radio a time or two to really listen to it and oh, it's my new favorite! I can only find the acoustic version on youtube (which is awesome!) and ended up buying the EP through Amazon :)

Wearing ~ Revlon's "Timeless" nail polish and Trader Joe's Nourish Antioxidant Facial Serum. I was on the search for a new nail polish and wanted a grayish color. I didn't want it to be metallic but really wanted more of a matte look. So I came across this shade from Revlon and really like it! I normally don't pay more than $2 or $3 for a bottle of polish but decided to splurge :) I actually found out about the Trader Joe's facial serum through one of Jessica's Currently Crushing On posts. It wasn't until I finally made it to Trader Joe's for the first time that I remembered to look for the product. And I really like it! It makes my skin feel super soft and I think my face looks healthier. I wear it under my foundation and when I don't feel like putting on makeup, wear it solo. 

Munching on ~ Hershey's Mint Truffle kisses. I only found out about them this year and need to stock up before all the Christmas candy is gone :) 

book review: "whispers of hope" by beth moore

"Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, but how in the world do we do that? In fact, do we even know how to pray? Where do we start?

Whispers of Hope teaches the process of powerful Word-saturated prayer in response to a daily Bible reading. In turn, you will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God."

I became a fan of Beth Moore after participating in a book study for her book, So Long Insecurity. I like how the devotional is set up with different parts. There's a verse for each day and an accompanying passage as well. At the end of each devotional is a P.R.A.I.S.E. section to fill out: 

Praise - thanking God
Repentance - confession and repentance
Acknowledgement - submitting to God and His will
Intercession - praying for others
Supplication - praying for your needs

Equipping - "...ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, to make Himself "conspicuous" in you and to make you victorious over the evil one."

I really like the title of the book. It makes me think of God gently speaking to me as I prepare for my day or to wrap up my day. Just the idea of Him day by day instilling hope in me...Whispers of Hope  is a great read!

I received a copy of this book from Icon Media Group for my honest review. 

 

book review: "God is able" by priscilla shirer

"Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. 

Not even that thing. Your thing. The one thing that seems to defy all attempts to defeat it, restore it, heal it, change it, overcome it, undo it, or just to get through it. 

If you've lost even an ounce of confidence in the power and loving attention of God - if experience has told you that faith must simply acquiesce to impossibility - it's time somebody told you different. 

Believe it.

Experience it.

God is Able." 

What an awesome book! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review it! Ephesians 3:20 is one of my absolute favorite verses and to have Priscilla break it down as she has makes it come alive. At the end of each chapter she repeats the verse, highlighting the words she's focused on for that chapter. I think she repeats it so as we re-read the verse each time, it gets a little deeper inside of us. Priscilla challenges the reader to dream big! "Your "beyond" - the most extravagant solution to your problem, the one that would shock you if God really did it - is a piece of cake to Him, no matter how big and bold it seems to us. If we think what we're asking is beyond what He can do, we're not thinking big enough." This book really encouraged my faith, reassuring me of God's complete ability to answer my prayers - those things I've been believing for and sometimes wanted to give up on because I didn't see how God was going to work things out. In chapter four, Priscilla talks about being grateful for God not answering her prayers the way she wanted Him to. "But now, years down the line, far removed from the impetuous, impulsive experiences that were spurring me on to such urgent demands of Him, I can see more clearly. I can see that He was doing things beyond my wildest expectations - even in denying my requests." This is a really great book to strengthen your faith and allow you to see Ephesians 3:20 in a whole new way! 

I received a copy of this book from Icon Media Group for my honest review. 

 

new favorite

I have an obsession with ink pens. I'm always looking for fun colors and pens that write smoothly. I bought a pack of these today and yes, they're pretty awesome :) I have the InkJoy pens with lids but wondered if these click ones would be any different. I can't tell a huge difference between the two but definitely like the InkJoy line of pens! I also like felt tip pens but they tend to slow me down just a bit when I'm writing quickly. But if they're brightly colored, I'm probably going to at least try them :)