Book List

I want to be more strategic about finishing books. Reading is fun...but I many times fizzle out on a book when I'm about 3/4 the way through it. Here are some books I actually completed in 2011:1. So Long, Insecurity Oh my. It was like Beth Moore was writing directly to me at times. I think as women, (or humans?) it is in our nature to struggle with security. This weakness is identified and some reasons for insecurity are explored and explained. I love the encouragement she uses from the Word to show that insecurity can be overcome!! It doesn't have to be a way of life. Praise God!

2. Choosing to See Wow, this was such an incredible story. I bawled through most of it. Mary Beth Chapman is an amazing story teller. Her heartbreaking story of loss is an incredible testimony to God's healing love. This book also explores the adoption process and spotlights some of the many kids that NEED a family. I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. Mary Beth's faith is real. Her journey has been hard and her testimony is amazing.3. Crazy Love I thought this was a gripping book that was much needed for me in my Christian walk. The things I do (or choose not to do) need to stem from my love for the Creator and NOT a fear of what others will think of me. A heart that is totally sold out for Christ will be a heart on fire! I want to show others Christ's love through my actions in everyday life. What a challenge!4. She's Gonna Blow You never think when you are holding your newborn, sleeping baby that one day you might be angry with your child. Your innocent baby will turn into a 4 year old that knows exactly which buttons to push to get you hopping mad! I so appreciate Julie Ann Barnhill's willingness to be REAL and tell her story. Not every Mom is the June Cleaver type. Some Mom's (including me!) struggle with anger towards their children. The way Julie wrote made this a very enjoyable book. I love how she used tons of Scripture to encourage and show that real change can happen. Her life story is evidence of that fact. This book is life-changing and one that I hope to re-read every year!5. A Perfect Day Joel told me about writer Richard Paul Evans, and this was the first book I read of his. I thought this novel read like a modern day, "It's a Wonderful Life!" I loved it. I also liked the fact that I got to learn more about what a writer goes through when they are able to get a book published and go on book tour. Very fun story!

There are more books I read...but didn't actually finish. Maybe in 2012!! :) What are you reading?

Images from Amazon.com

2012

I have goals/visions for this year. I will not call them resolutions, because I fail at resolutions. Usually a couple months after the new year begins.

I want to read more. Last year I did accomplish more reading than the previous year. I still have a blog post in my brain about the books I read in 2011 and reviews.

I also want to read the Bible through this year. I definitely don't want to forget the most important Book, in my quest to be a better wife/mother/human. So, I started using YouVersion.com. I downloaded the mobile app on my phone and think this will be a great way to keep me focused and on track. They have different Bible reading plans on YouVersion and I chose the "Eat this Book: One Year Bible with Daily Psalm".

I'll end with a photo of Kenzie from Christmas Eve. Hope everyone has a blessed 2012!!

8 Years

This past Tuesday Joel and I celebrated 8 years of marriage. I can't believe it's been that long all ready. For better or worse, I'm glad to be Joel's wife.

We didn't do anything too exciting on our actual Anniversary. Joel came home feeling miserable after working a half day. He had a nasty cold. I did pick up Dinner for 2 for $15.99 at Whole Foods (which actually ended up being enough for the 4 of us, plus leftovers.) We had turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry compote, stuffing, and green beans. And sparkling cider of course.A couple weeks ago, we celebrated our Anniversary early by staying a night at the Atwood House. I have always wanted to stay at a Bed & Breakfast and am SO glad we finally got the chance! Larry (the owner) showed us around the gigantic home-decked out in Christmas decorations, upon our arrival. He pointed out the goodies in the kitchen and fridge stocked with sodas and water-free for the taking. Then he led us to our room. Up the spiral staircase, past the gigantic Christmas tree with sparkling white lights, and into our suite. Oh my! I almost cried tears of joy when he showed us our room. Incredible.The Bed & Breakfast had a gigantic movie library with around 700 different titles. (No we didn't count, I read that somewhere, ha!) We enjoyed watching a movie in this cozy setting.
We sprang for the "Romance Package" so we got a dozen roses in our room, rose petals & candles around the jetted tub, chocolate dipped strawberries, sparkling non-alcoholic champagne, and Godiva chocolates. This is definitely the most lavish place we've ever stayed. What a treat!!!
This is a working phone that was in our bedroom! I was shocked to pick up the receiver and hear a dial tone. How neat! :)
Chocolate-dipped strawberries. These were so yummy. I ate way too many. But fruit dipped in chocolate, right? At least there's something good for you under that sugar. :)
Breakfast the following morning was incredible. I felt so spoiled. I think the most exciting part for me was that around 6am, they brought a piping hot coffee pot upstairs and set it just outside our door. There were a variety of creamers and I had fun being a barista. We loved the Atwood House and hope to return one day.

Delightful Christmas Eats

I've been in baking mode lately. The other night I had to bring treats to Bible study so I made Cranberry Bliss Bars and Cookie Dough Truffles. They were a big hit!
I had fun decorating this batch of cookie dough balls. I didn't get that creative on the ones I took to study. The light brown sprinkles are caramel/cinnamon chip sprinkles...yum!I also made sugar cookies the other day. {Ok, I actually cheated and used a mix. The fun part is decorating!} P-man and H (a little girl I was babysitting) helped decorate. I especially like this one that P-man did...He said it's me, in a red dress! Of course. :)

Celebrating 6...Angry Birds Style!

Tomorrow my "little" boy will turn 6. It's crazy for me to think how much he's grown and changed in this past year. He's learned a lot but still says things at times that leave me wondering, "What in the world?!" P-man makes me laugh. He also makes me angry. (And he has taught me patience.) There are times that he melts my heart. Who knew kids could push your buttons one minute and then pull on your heart strings the next?! Not me...Until I became a mama.

We had a party last Saturday night, to celebrate P-man turning 6, and my nephew Nathan-turning 3. It was a snowy night, but guests still came. It was a fun evening of fellowship and celebration. Both Nathan and P-man are pretty crazy about Angry Birds, so that was the theme we went with. :)

I made cupcakes, and my Sister made a super creative cake.

A few of the gifts:

My little girl is sick again. It hasn't even been TWO whole weeks since she last had the nasty cold crud. I'm really wondering what I can do to boost her immune system! Kenzie gets sick about every month, sometimes every couple weeks!! This has been happening since she was about 4 months old. She's been a bear again the last couple days. I hate seeing her like this. :( I give her cod-liver oil and today I got some gummy Immune Support vitamins with echinacea and zinc. I also got some spirulina that I ground into a powder. I think I'll also try to get her into the chiropractor. I read that suggestion on a forum last night as I was researching why some kids get sick so much. If she keeps catching every little thing, this will be a very long winter.

Crafty Things

On Saturday we ate breakfast out with my parents. I now remember why we don't eat breakfast out anymore. It's very tricky with little ones. Kenzie was not a fan of being whisked out of the house first thing in the a.m. :) She was totally fussy until we left the restaurant. But I did get to enjoy the most wonderful breakfast crepes I've ever had. They were amazing!

Next, my Mom and I went to a craft fair here in town. Wow! My senses were overloaded with so many wonderful things. Sparkly art. Aromatic potpourri. Fleece hats and mittens that were way too adorable. And there were prints from the artist I've recently discovered: Marla Anders. LOVE her work! She's my type designing hero. I can hear the graphic designer inside me {deep inside} wanting to get out. I bought two prints. One was from a different booth, but still a Marla Rae (her art name) and it has a black frame. This is the print:

Image from Penny Lane Publishing.

I adore this print. And it is now hanging in my living room. I also got one from Marla's booth that says, "Keep Calm and Carry On." And it has Romans 8:28 at the bottom. LOVE.

Cookie Review

I've been a BzzAgent for 2 years now. I love receiving full-sized products and coupons in the mail. I've gotten packages with goodies such as Covergirl NatureLuxe makeup (my personal favorite), Children's Claritin Chewables, and Tom's of Maine toothpaste. As a BzzAgent, you get to review the products you receive. The package I got yesterday contained the Kroger Truly Awesome homestyle chocolate chip cookies.

I was excited to try these. Along with 5 $1/off coupons, I received 2 boxes of cookies. Mr. P was pretty pumped when I told him I'd gotten the cookies for FREE in the mail. It was not love at first bite, for me. I thought they tasted like boxed cookies should. The natural ingredients lured me in, and yes...they do have good buttery flavor and chocolate chips are the number one ingredient, but homestyle? I think not. When I think of homestyle cookies, I think of fresh from the oven chewy, chocolatey cookies. The Kroger Truly Awesome cookies are crunchy. However, Mr. P loved them, and asked for more. He's not picky when it comes to chocolate!