Humor for a Woman's Heart review

This second book is one that I have had sitting on my shelf for quite a few years.  I will take it down occasionally when I want or need something lighthearted to read.  I read it recently because 1) I came across it while pulling books off my shelves to have our floors redone and 2) the book I was in the middle of reading is very thought provoking and I needed a break.

Even though Humor for a Woman's Heart has the word woman in the title, I would recommend this for anyone.  Whether you are single, married, a parent, like to travel or been a child, you can enjoy these light hearted stories that help us to look at life with a smile.  Many of them will also help us get our thinking back on track such as In the Throes of Mother Henhood reminding me that while I can't always be with my children, God will be.  A lesson I need today and in the days to come as my girls spread their wings more and more with some traveling quite far from the nest.

If you are looking for some light reading or some giggles, I recommend picking this book up.  I'm counting this book as one of my choice on the 2018 Reading Challenge.

Choosing to See review

Have you noticed a shortage in tissues lately?  Don't worry, the supply will go back up now that I am finished reading Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman.

I have been a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman from way back and his song, I Will Be Here, holds a special place in my heart as my husband recorded himself singing it to be played during our wedding.  I was not familiar with his wife, Mary Beth, but remember well when I heard of the tragedy that struck their family in May of 2008.  My heart as a mother hurt for them as I can only imagine the pain of losing a child but then to have another of my children be the one who had responsibility for the accident can only add unbearable ache.

I had heard bits and pieces about Mary Beth and her book so I have been intrigued to read her story but did not take the time until finding the 2018 Reading Challenge where the first book was a biography.  As a storm was coming our way that could possibly keep us at home for a day or so, I ran to the library to find a biography.  The first one my daughter and I saw was this one so I decided to finally learn more of Mary Beth and her family's journey.

The first half of the book focused on her childhood and young adult years focusing on her spiritual struggles with faith.  I enjoyed hearing how she and Steven met and their early years.  Her transparency regarding her struggle with depression and how that led her to lean more on the Lord was refreshing.  The rest of the book focused on the day of the tragedy and the up and down journey of the next 2 years.  This was the part of the book that my trashcan was overflowing with tissues as my heart broke putting myself in her shoes as much as possible.  Many of the last chapters contained blog posts that Mary Beth had written over that year and half.  Her transparency into her thoughts, feelings and emotions as she fought to have some kind of understanding of why her family was put through this tragedy was encouraging that if the Lord ever chose to have me face a similar suffering, I can have hope that clinging to the Lord is the only way I could make it through.

I encourage you to read this but if you are hormonal, menopausal or cry at the drop of a hat like I do lately, have a few boxes of tissues nearby.

SaveSave

March 2nd Photo

This is my oldest daughter and her first car.  She saved up diligently from her jobs and the opportunity to buy came about through a family at church.  We are so thankful for how the Lord provided.  The price of the car was the exact amount of money she had in her savings account!  We are definitely in a new season of life.

February 28th Photo

This is my 2nd oldest sitting in our sycamore tree.  This is not something she does real often but today it was for a very sad reason.  Her rabbit died very unexpectedly.  We found him just laying in his hutch.  What makes it worse is this was the 2nd rabbit she has had in less than a year and the first died also.  He had escaped the hutch and was found dead on the property.

February 27th Photo

Today's picture is my youngest daughter.  She had Daddy pull her tooth tonight, about the 6th one in 3 months.  She is the only one of my girls who is smiling and happy after a tooth comes out.  She is also the only one to have lost so many teeth so young.  The others took forever to lose teeth.

Fallen off the wagon!

February got to be a crazy month and I fell off the photo a day wagon.  I'm going to try and pick back up from here but I will include a few of the pics that I did get taken during the last month.

The end of January brought about our first speech/debate tournament of the season up in SC.  3 of my girls participated in it.  My 2nd oldest won a debate speaker award for the first time!

The week after returning we received some additions to our feathered flock.  We had ordered 15 pullets but 2 arrived dead and we lost 2 more by the end of the next day.  The other 11 are doing well.

My sweet youngest daughter is just like her older sisters with a book in her hand.  I have to say they get it honestly as I was the same way as a child.

The middle of the month we celebrated 2 15th birthdays.  I can't believe they are getting so big!!!

That same week was a wild one as I hosted 7 ladies from around the country and Canada.  I made 7 trips to the airport which is an hour away that week.  We stayed in cabins at an old Girl Scout camp near my house.  I actually stayed there a few times as a girl scout.  Problem was we had some of the coldest weather of the winter that weekend which wasn't really what the northern ladies were looking for during a visit to Florida.  It was a great weekend though!!

This is my pic from today.  It is the gift that the afore mentioned ladies sent me for hostessing.  I can't wait to use them and remember my sweet friends!!

Day 29 Photo Challenge

I have a habit of looking outside as soon as I get up in the mornings. This morning it was very foggy, which isn't unusual where we live.  This was the full moon making its way through the fog.