Book Review: Breathe Again How to Live When Life Falls Apart

From The Back:

"If you are struggling with what your life looks like right now, this book offers real help and tangible hope."--Sheila Walsh, cohost of Life Today and author of It's Okay Not to Be Okay
***

You can thrive, not just survive, no matter what life throws at you.
No one gets to skip the tough stuff. Niki Hardy knows. After losing both her mother and sister to cancer, she too was diagnosed. Eventually, she discovered that it was possible to find hope, peace, trust, joy, and even laughter in the midst of it all and that life doesn't have to be pain-free to be full.

With plenty of her British humour and loads of practical advice, Niki shows you how to

· replace soul-destroying myths of suffering with the hope-building truths of God
· escape the suffocating mire of survival mode by learning God's life-giving practices for thriving
· uncover more joy, peace, comfort, and connection, despite your circumstances
· laugh when all you want to do is cry, scream, or dive headfirst into a gallon of ice cream

My Reflections:

I absolutely love how God cares for his people! This book arrived at just the perfect time! Niki Hardy is my kind of authour, she speaks my language! This powerful book is filled with encouragement and practical back to the Bible basics, the very balm we often forget to apply to our lives. I loved Niki Hardy's quote, "life is not just about surviving but thriving" I'm a thriver" sounds so much better than "I'm a survivor" right?

This book had me crying from the first chapter, I'm a softy for a good story and Niki's life has some pretty deep stories. Niki's mother and sister both died from cancer, not long after she too was diagnosed with cancer. Her authenticity rings true in the entirety of this thought-provoking read.

This book is great for anyone who is experiencing tough situations, the hope and personalization Niki brings to her readers is refreshing and down to earth. I love how she points us back to the Bible and the God who is ever-present in those tough times. Life is all about free will and choices, we don't get to control what happens to us but we can control how we handle it. This reminded me of our sermon this Sunday, Jesus says to give thanks in ALL circumstances, not just when we felt thankful or happy. It's a beautiful reminder that God walks with us through everything, even when we don't feel him, he is faithful, he is the great I Am.

This hope infused book along with the writing style was the perfect fit for me and the journey I am blessed to travel. Is it easy? Heck no, but with God, by my side, we got this! This would be a fantastic book for a small study group. It's easy to read and encouraging for women of all ages and stages.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Niki Hardy

Niki Hardy is a speaker and writer whose work has appeared in Christian Today and Living by Design Ministries and on Premier Radio. After leaving corporate life in London, she trained as a teacher at...

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Book Review: King's Shadow

From The Back:

Their Lives Couldn't Be More Different,
but Their Goal Is the Same:
Survive King Herod's Rule. Two women occupy a place in Herod's court. The first, Salome, is the king's only sister, a resentful woman who has been told she's from an inferior race, a people whom God will never accept or approve of.

The second woman, Zara, is a lowly handmaid who serves Salome, but where Salome spies conspiracies and treachery, Zara sees hurting people in need of understanding and compassion.

Powerful and powerless, Idumean and Jew, selfish and selfless--both women struggle to reach their goals and survive each day within Herod the Great's tumultuous court, where no one is trustworthy and no one is safe.

My Reflections:
"king's Shadow" is Angela Hunt's fourth book in her "Silent Years" series, and while it is a series I feel this book can be read as a stand-alone. 
I found this novel's basis to be very interesting as it delves into the 400-year time span between the old testament and the new testament. It also features some lesser-known characters that are not often mentioned. 

The story is told through the eyes of the main characters, which made the story that much more multidimensional. I did find myself a little lost at times through this book, there are just so many facts to keep straight! (some of the characters had very similar names)That and following King Harod into near madness was at times a tad gruesome. Hence I would not recommend this one for the 16 and under crowd.

Salome is King Harold's sister but has taken on the weighty job of protecting Herold and his reign. She has her own issues and though she is stubborn and bitter she tries to rise above them in her own ways.

Salome's handmaid Zara sees the world through different eyes, having been born into a Jewish family her viewpoint comes from knowing the laws of the Tora, her heart is soft and feels the pain of those around her. 
It was interesting to get a glimpse into the King's court through the eyes of these two characters, it really was a thought-provoking aspect of this novel for me. 

I have read several of Hunt's novels, I can't say this was my absolute favourite, however, I did enjoy exploring this time period, it was a very unexpected journey! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Angela Hunt

The author of more than 100 published books and with more than 5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Note, The Nativity Story, and Esther: Royal Beauty. Romantic...

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Book Review: Confident Moms, Confident Daughters

From The Back:

What we say to our daughters lasts a moment. What we show our daughters lasts a lifetime.
No matter how much we try to tell our daughters that they are beautiful and lovable as they are, words are not enough. And if we're honest, we don't always set the best example. How can we build up confident girls if we struggle to be confident ourselves?

With deep compassion, Maria Furlough delves into the root causes of our insecurity, offers biblical guidance for seeing ourselves as God sees us, and shows how to model our newfound confidence to our impressionable daughters. Speaking as a daughter, a youth leader, and a mother, Furlough shares her own struggles and triumphs, as well as expert advice from a pediatrician, a nutritionist, a Christian counsellor, and more.

My Reflections: If you are a woman who has an influential role in the life of a child this book is for you. Maria Furlough makes it plain that the answer to the issue of how to be more confident lies in our relationship with God. Her assertions are backed up with biblical wisdom and professional advice from experts working in the field.

Furlough balances her subject matter well with ideas about insecurity, self-image and the ways our culture has twisted the Biblical God lense of beauty identity in Christ. This book is a great reminder that our children are watching our actions and beliefs about ourselves and how we need to work on ourselves so in turn, our children can see healthy role modelling. 

The highlight for me in this book was to work hard to portray a healthy self-image regarding myself and my daughters. 
-Don't talk to your kids like you would a friend, they don't need to know personal struggles or burdens. 
-Honest frank discussions will build relationship and help your children feel free to come to you with their big and small problems. 
-Connect with your children, listen when they share their lives with you and be involved in the things they are involved in. 

This book is a fantastic refresher for any mom who has a tween or teenaged daughters or women who work with this age group. Building relationship is critical to the development of our daughters and resources like this one are wonderful tools to help keep this goal in check. I enjoyed the refreshing manner this authour presented her ideas and will certainly be watching for more from Maria Furlough in the future.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Maria Furlough

Maria Furlough is a wife to her husband, Dave, and a mother to one amazing eleven-year-old daughter, three ridiculously fun boys, and one baby boy who lives in the arms of Jesus. She teaches women's Bible studies and works as the Missions Team Leader at Lake...

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Book Review: The Next Right Thing

From the Back:

Nothing gets our attention like an unmade decision: Should I accept the new position? Which schooling choice is best for my kids? How can I support my aging parents? When we have a decision to make and the answer isn't clear, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction.

If you have trouble making decisions, because of either chronic hesitation you've always lived with or a more recent onset of decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing.

Whether you're in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create space for your soul to breathe so you can live life with God at a gentle pace and discern your next right thing in love.

My Reflections:

Are you a chronic procrastinator, hate to make decisions whether its what to make for dinner or big changes in your personal life? I think at some level we all struggle to disentangle the fear, uncertainty and anxiety of making choices. 

In Freeman's book, she helps the reader untangle these choices without the typical pro/con lists, checklists or days of indecisiveness. Instead, Freeman encourages her readers to soulfully think through your next right thing. Ditch decision fatigue, and lean into trusting your own heart in the presence of God.

My eyes were opened to a different way to process, a newness in catching my own voice against God's small still one. If you like me want to improve little by little this may be just the book to help you catapult your decision-making strategies to a new level. 

What started as a podcast has turned into a book, if you would like to learn more search "The Next Right Thing" and you will find many encouraging podcasts to listen to, however, I love having this book to reference again and again!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Emily P. Freeman

Emily P. Freeman is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways. As host of The Next Right Thing podcast, she helps create space for the soul to breathe, offering fresh perspective on...

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Book Review: Until The Mountains Fall

From The Back:

"Old Testament-era life is enlivened by the timeless sizzle of desire as Cossette takes a fresh approach to biblical fiction with her deeply impassioned characters and electrifying ardor."--Booklist on Shelter of the Most High

Recently widowed, Rivkah refuses to submit to the Torah law compelling her to marry her husband's brother and instead flees Kedesh, hoping to use her talents as a scribe to support herself. Without the protection of her father, Kedesh's head priest, and the safety of the city of refuge, Rivkah soon discovers that the cost of recklessness is her own freedom.

Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but he never imagined his older brother's death would mean wedding her. After her disappearance, he throws himself into the ongoing fight against the Canaanites instead of dwelling on all he has lost. But with war looming over Israel, Rivkah's father comes to Malakhi with an impossible request.

As the enemies that Rivkah and Malakhi face from within and without Israel grow more threatening each day, is it too late for the restoration their wounded souls seek?

My Reflections: 

In Connilyn Cossetts Third book in the series "Cities Of Refuge," we delve headlong into a tale of regret and the paths they take. This is the classic "Prodigal Son" type tale, but with a twist. I absolutely adore Cossette's ability to take well-loved stories from the Bible and craft a little imagination making a well-rounded tale of how characters and people may have acted. It's important to note that these are fictional stories loosely based on the Bible. I love how these stories always encourage me to go back and re-read my Bible stories! It sure brought the ancient cities of refuge to light in the time of 1380 BC. This whole series has been such a treat to read!

Rivkah is grieving her late husband's death, having only been married a short time and at only 18 She is still quite immature, selfish, spoiled and headstrong. According to the laws of levirate marriage, she must marry the younger brother of her late husband. Once a child is born of this union they would be considered the heir of the late husband. Rivkah wants nothing to do with her betrothed, all she can see is a "boy" he is two years younger than she is and her childhood tormenter. Rivkah tries her best to show her disdain for Malakhi, going so far to outright telling him she does not want to marry him. 

Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah since they were small, but like most boys at that age didn't know how to express his true feelings. Now that he is older and his brother has passed on he wants to prove to her that he can be the man she deserves. However, before he can show her how he truly feels about her she flees, leaving him and their agreement a broken promise. 

I truly had a hard time liking Rivkah's character at the beginning of this book, but as the story progresses we see the devastating outcome of her choices and the five long years of self-loathing, and a spiralling set of choices that lead her ultimately into slavery. By the end, I was completely smitten with all these characters, along with supporting characters, oh how I hope there will be more books delving into some of these stories! 

A very satisfying read perfect, for people who love biblically based fiction. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Connilyn Cossette

When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), bestselling author Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure, out-of-print history books. There is...

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Book Review: "The Dog at my Feet"

From The Back:

Pets are such a big part of so many of our lives. As any pet lover knows, a wagging tail or a tender purr can soothe the soul after a hard day. And sometimes, the presence of dogs and cats in our lives can do even more. In these delightful books, Callie Smith Grant collects stories that celebrate the dogs and cats in our lives--stories that touch our hearts, renew our spirit, and show us how God created these beasts for unique purposes. A funny little dog named Prince earns his title by protecting the children of the house. A "dickens of a cat" gives a cancer survivor something else to think about. A lively litter of puppies soothes a troubled child. A scrawny kitten helps an anorexic girl begin to eat. 
Well-known authors, including Melody Carlson, Tracie Peterson, and Robert Benson, as well as new voices share their inspirational true stories of these otherwise ordinary cats and dogs whose presence in the lives of humans make them remarkable. Each book also includes interesting sidebars, memorable quotes, helpful hints for living with dogs and cats, and forewords by H. Norman Wright. The stories are warm, captivating, and ideal for a good curl-up-and-read or for a gift to any pet lover. Cat lovers, dog lovers, and anyone who likes to read uplifting stories will cherish these books.

My Reflections: By: Me 

I really enjoyed "The Dog At My Feet" because I felt like I could relate to this story. I have a service dog, and he is really awesome. 

My favourite part of the story is at page 67, called "A Dog Named Blue" I enjoyed this section of the book because it reminded me of how strong a connection between a dog and its owner can be. 
My Dog and I have a wonderful bond. 

I did, however, find this story really sad. 
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about their lovable pets.

sleep overs with A.S.D. + big news!!

Sleepovers with autism can be hard sometimes, I recently when to a sleepover party with about 6 people including myself. when I got to my friend's house,  I would say that I was COMPLETELY  unprepared. so I decided to make a blog post saying a few things I think are a good idea to bring to a sleepover. sadly I am too late, should have done this BEFORE going oh well.

1.  headphones: they WOULD have helped a lot because in the night people like to talk, snore and sleep talk.
2. books or something quiet- if you do an activity and Finnish before everyone else.
3. music- calming for sleep
4. small snack- hungry while watching a  movie or something.
5. and most IMPORTANTLY Melatonin!! (click for resources)

My BIG news 

I now have merchandise or whatever you wanna call it!!!!

sponsored by The Autistic Mind

mostly because  that's my business

sneak peek on my new t-shirt!!

now my funny pictures!!! :D

floating fort!!!!

its suppose to be upside down