This past Sunday was a day to remember! It would have been my mother's 79th birthday, she passed away in 2017. Our family celebrates her birthday every year with her favorite cake German Chocolate. Well, this year was even more special since our younger daughter got married.

She informed us in December "mom, you aren't doing anything on the 11th correct?" I told her, " no, why?" She said, "we are getting married on grandma's birthday." I was excited they was getting married but a little surprised that they chose that date. One reason for that date was our son and his fiancé were coming home to celebrate Christmas with the family and because it was grandma's birthday. 

You can say this wasn't your traditional ceremony with a lot of people and fancy foods and decorations. It was a simple wedding at a park with just the immediate family and their best friends. They celebrated the way they wanted it and it turned out beautiful. They wrote their own vows. After the ceremony we had pizza, and cake with cider. Then all the children played on the swings and slides. It was very laid back and relaxing. 

Another special thing about this day was my son-in-law gave my daughter his grandma's beautiful wedding ring, which made it even more special. Always cherish the memories with your family. 

Another year in the making has ended and a new year has begun, I hear a lot of people ask, "Have you made a New Years Resolution?" My answer is "No". You ask why well, I had quit making resolution long ago since I would start at the beginning of the year and by February or March and I had stop doing what I had said I was going to do. Does this sound familiar? So you ask what do you do now? 

Now I just choose a word or a Scripture verse from the Bible that speaks to me. This year my word is "Still" and this one has already been speaking to me. I have come to realize I just need to be still and listen to God and relax and not stress. So, if you are having a hard time with New Years Resolution, try choosing a word (i.e. Still, patient, love, kindness) or Scripture verse. (i.e. Psalm 46:10; Psalm 119:105). When choosing a word you want this word to be able to speak to your heart, for example kindness. Maybe God is asking you to be kind to someone or maybe he wants you to show kindness to your family that you are struggling to show kindness too. 

If you don't do resolution either maybe this will help. Either way just take a deep breath and follow the leading God has set out for you. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

 May this year be a blessed and fun filled year for you!

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up (What Is Your Dream Job)?

What do you want to be when you grow up? What is your dream job? I am sure you have been asked these questions several times when you were young, I know I have. When we were young I am sure that several of you said I want to be or my dream job is being a teacher, singer, police officer, doctor, etc. Through the years of grade school, middle school, and high school how many times did it change over the years? 

When I was young, I wanted to be a singer, or a teacher. Once I was in high school I wanted to be a veterinary, then a nurse. Well, while in high school I worked as a nurses aid and did that for a year until one of my patients that I took care of passed away even though I wasn’t there when she passed it was really hard on me so I decided that wasn’t the job I wanted to do. Realizing working in a field where you lose people or animals I couldn’t do that. So, I ended up working in several different positions throughout my life then decided I wanted to work in the legal field I went to the junior college and got several certificates; legal secretary etc. I worked for legal offices for 10-12 years. But I come too realized even though I did enjoy some of the legal positions, I had it was stressful.

I had wanted to work with my husband since I could remember finally my chance came to where I could go work for him. I really enjoy working for the company and it is way less stressful then working in the legal field. So now when I run across articles that ask what is your dream job, or what do you want to be when you grow up, it makes me think have I done everything I wanted to be or did I just think to myself I could never be those things. Well, I can say yes I could have been those things if I had chosen to do that and gone to college etc.

 But, I wouldn’t change what I chose to do in life by becoming a wife and a mom to four children (1 angel and 3 adult). My parents always told me and my brothers you can be whatever you would like to be if you set your minds to it. So when you ask your child/children what they want to be when they grow up, remind them yes you can be that if that is what you want to be. I have heard parents tell their children oh you can’t be that we don’t have the money or means for you to accomplish that. You are wrong NEVER, tell them they can’t do something because if a child wants to be something they can do that if they just set their mind to it and do what it takes to become that teacher, singer, police officer or doctor, they will accomplish it as long as you tell them yes you can do that. 

And remember if you want to be one of those things when you were young and you still want to do that you can. So I now ask myself what do you want to be when you grow up. My answer is what I am doing now is what I want to be and that is being a wife, and mom and working for my husband. My dream was to get married and have children and that dream is what I am living out now. So just remember never stop believing in yourself or your children because you can have those dreams if you just do it.

Enfolded In God's Arms

Enfolded In God's Arms

By: Lisa Aré Wulf

This book is about embracing your inner healing within the sacred space of your heart, not only experiencing times of healing, transformation, but growing a better relationship with Jesus. There is a reflection section, gentle scriptures, and a section to dig deeper and prayer for today also a space for your own thoughts. This book allows God to heal you and restores your broken soul.

I really enjoyed reading this book and reflecting on the things in this book. If you are looking for a book that you can reflect on your inner self this would be the book for you. Let this book help you reflect on yourself and the healing God can help you with.

You can order your copy of Enfolded in God's Arms on Amazon.

Lisa Aré Wulf is an award-winning author, a ministry leader and Fuller Seminary graduate, she has a gift for creative communication that touches hearts and transforms lives. She has shared her spiritual story with women’s groups and churches across the country. Lisa served eight years on the Colorado Springs City Council, before entering in the ministry. She is a retired CPA, a former radio talk show host, an accounting professor, and was a violinist. Lisa and her husband currently live in Colorado and have four children.

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

The Song of Sadie Sparrow

The Song of Sadie Sparrow

By Kitty Foth-Regner

This book is about friendship found in a nursing home by 3 different ladies of different generations Sadie Sparrow, Meg Vogel and Elise Chapelle. They endure different sorrows and hardships and entertain different hopes in their lives. They each have different views of worldviews and how people are raised and what their lives are supposed to be like. One is a devoutly Christian to unapologetically atheist. Over a course of a year they endure things in each other’s lives in what leads to their friendship to grow.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it kept me in suspense of what was going to happen next and who and what was going to be said. I encourage if you want a book that you want to enjoy in different generations you would really like this book.

You can order your copy of The Song of Sadie Sparrow Amazon.

After Kitty Foth-Regner spent the first half of her adult life a feminist atheist her Christian mother stood on the cusp of eternity, sending Kitty off on a personal quest for the truth about where we come from what we’re doing here and where we’re going. During that quest she frantically sought evidence for everything but Christianity in a book Heaven Without Her (Thomas Nelson, 2008), finding no such evidence she finally turned to the Bible, and found the truth and that her long-held ideas about Christians had been 100% wrong. A retired copywriter Kitty spends 60-hour-a-month nursing-home volunteer at the facility where her mother lived and died.

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

The Near Journal

Creator: Jacob Vandenbark

If you enjoy writing and using Journals you will like using this one. It has a lot information, if not only gives you five anchors of success, it helps you in memorizing bible verses. There is a spot where you write about your feelings and focus on your progress and goals. There is a space to write your blessings and gratitude, also there is a space for prayer request and the results. There is plenty of blank pages for any other thoughts etc. you want to use it for.  

I enjoyed this Journal it was very handy and it help me in focusing on the positive things and on God more. I would recommend this Journal for anyone that not only wants a closer relationship with God, but enjoys writing to.

Jacob is the founder and CEO of The Near Journal, he is a Christian and he was born with a passion to help others succeed. Having a struggle to have a consistent daily quiet time, so he started this journal because he needed it himself. The Near Journal was inspired by James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Twintuition

Twintuition

By Joan Bannan

If you enjoy an adventure and mystery this book Twintuition by Joan Bannan is for you. It is about a single mom Olivia who inherits her mother’s home once she died and finds out that she has an identical twin sister Vivian whom her mother had given up for adoption to a wealthy family. Once the sisters meet each other Vivian ask Olivia to act as her double which Olivia agrees to step in as her sisters double. Once Olivia steps in to masquerade has her sister she realizes her life is nothing compared to her own life, she misses her son David while away from him. Olivia and Vivian doesn’t realize that someone is out to kill Vivian.

I really like this book it not only kept me in suspense I really learned that to trust your instincts in all things. I felt like I was there in the same room with the characters in the book. I would recommend this book if you are looking for adventure and mystery all rolled into one. 

You can order your copy of Twintuition on Amazon.

Joan Bannan is a native Californian, who still lives in Northern California. Joan is a Christian and her faith influences her writing and the characters and the theme of each novel, but she doesn’t consider herself an evangelist or feels called to explain her faith to her readers. 

You can find out more about Joan Bannan here:  http://just-joan.com

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.