I wanted to take a minute and share a few random things…
I have been reading A LOT lately. I’m loving it honestly. However, I do not want this blog to turn into a book blog. For the past three years I have posted a review of every single book I have read. I am no longer going to continue to do this. I will still share book reviews, because I love to share when a book touches my heart. However, I will not be reviewing every book. I will still keep my book list current (you can see what I am reading right now on this page), and I will denote on my annual book list the books I’ve finished.
Additionally, I love my kindle! Therefore, I’ve been reading a lot of books on my kindle. Kindle has an awesome feature where you can “lend” books to other people (I learned about this from Sandra, she is awesome and let me borrow a book!). I am going to specify what books I have in kindle format on my annual book list. If you want to “borrow” any of those books, just contact me and tell me your amazon e-mail address and what book you want to borrow! p.s. You don’t have to have a kindle to read kindle books!
Tomorrow we are announcing something super exciting over At the Well. I can barely hold my excitement!!! Please stop by tomorrow and find out what we have been planning!
Also tomorrow I am starting my 31 Days of Waiting series! I will be writing every single day in October! Firstly, I am excited about writing about this topic and fleshing out how God is working in my life right now, in this season of waiting. I think that everyone experiences waiting, whether in small or large ways. Therefore, I really think that everyone will benefit from this series! Secondly, I am excited about writing this consistently because I know that it will help to develop me into a better writer!
I hope that you will journey with me in October!
Disclosure: Please note the above links to amazon are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something from this link, I will get a small percentage of the sale price at no extra charge to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry!
Here is where we are. This is not where we expected to be, but yet this is where God has brought us.
We are in our house. We have the room for our children. We even have one of the rooms put together. However, we are still transitioning, still making this house a home.
Beyond that we are also in the midst of an upcoming transition (hopefully in the next couple of weeks) for Michael’s job.
These situations put us in a somewhat chaotic and unsettled life right now.
Therefore, we are going to continue to make out house a home. We are going to pray that Michael gets a new job very soon. However, we are not going to push through this process any further until Michael’s job situation changes.
We want to be able to offer a home that is peaceful and consistent and stable for our children. Part of that is because our life (and theirs) will he changing so drastically and we want to make sure we are in a place where we can handle the changes and stress without being pushed overboard and burnout. The other part is because a stable life is going to be important to thriving as a family, especially in the beginning.
So, we aren’t sure what exactly this is going to mean as far as a time line. Once Michael gets a new job (hopefully in the next couple of weeks) we will continue to move forward as quickly as possible. I still hope that will mean a placement by Christmas, but you just never really know.
I will be taking a break from this weekly updates during the month on October, because I will be talking about waiting for the entire month and conveniently we will be waiting for Michael’s job situation to change before moving further. Don’t worry though I will document any progress we have in October and plan to share starting again in November.
Waiting has been close to my heart, and I want to wait well. It’s funny (not really, more God’s master plan probably) that while I spend a whole month talking on the topic, I will be living in the midst of it.
Recently I shared on twitter about a challenge that my husband and I are doing together. Between the two of us, we want to lose 30 pounds before 2012.
We are always talking about losing weight and exercising more and being more intentional about living a healthier lifestyle. However, I seldom do anything about it. Especially since we are hoping to have children soon, I want to set a better example. I want to be able to run around and have fun with them without my extra pounds interferring.
I love the Money Saving Mom blog. Lately Crystal has been sharing weekly goals (and also tips for efficiency and success in getting things done). She takes her BIG goals (whether yearly or monthly goals) and breaks them into small bite size pieces, her weekly goals, to accomplish the goal.
I have started doing this too, and I am so happy with the accomplishments and progress I’ve been making. I have goals, like read more, exercise more, write a certain number of articles to submit to other platforms, and other goals. However, if I never do anything other than say the goal, nothing will happen!
I must be more intentional and SMART if I want to make progress in certain areas of my life.
In the midst of all this goal setting and aiming to live a healthier life, I read the book Reshaping It All.
This book was just what I needed to kick start my new healthy start. The book is written by Candace Cameron Bure (yepp…DJ from Full House) and Darlene Schacht.
Reshaping It All not only contains inspirational words, recipes, good memory verses, and biblical guidance…it also contains personal stories from Candace’s life and struggles with food.
I love books that read like a conversation. It makes the book more enjoyable and harder to put down! This is definitely one of those books!
I have some otherbooks that I am planning on reading to encourage me to continue making healthier choices. However, I really found this one to be encouraging and a great place to start!
With my new weekly goals, along with ongoing encouragement through books and my husband, I have been exercising more! I am trying to focus on food being for fuel not for entertainment or reward or what I go to when I feel sad, or angry, or lonely.
Overall, I am trying to create a different lifestyle. A healthier one.
Got any tips to share with me about how you make healthy choices in the midst of everyday life? Please share!
*The links to amazon in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something from these links, I will get a small percentage of the sale price at no extra charge to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry!
Praise God for how He is spreading my story to women in need and allowing them to find hope!
Here are some responses I’ve gotten lately,
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“As a woman who has not struggled with infertility, I so appreciated Ashley’s book in helping me to sympathize with others going through this difficult trial. Her description of her struggle was so helpful in bringing to life the pain of a hope deferred. At the same time, the book is filled with hope and constantly (especially towards the end) points to Christ’s greatness in conquering ALL our idols, among which can certainly include children.
One thing that is especially encouraging is Ashley’s honesty about her ongoing struggle. She hasn’t “arrived” and won’t until she is with the Lord in heaven. Best of all, the book doesn’t point to Ashley’s efforts or character, but gives praise to God for his work in her life. I think this book would be helpful to any Christian woman who is going through infertility or who knows someone who is.” – Amazon Reviewer
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“I have read your book and want you to know it has completely changed my perspective on my husband and I’s situation! Thank you for sharing your story and how you have handled it. Most importantly how God has helped you through it!” -Facebook Message from a Reader
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” Reading through How My Soul Yearns was a heart-wrenching, and yet hopeful and even joyful experience. Ashley Wells approaches the topic of infertility in an intensely personal, Biblical manner, and the result is truly beautiful. Infertility is such an emotional topic for so many women, and in her book Ashley not only shares her story and struggles, but she brings a message of hope and healing. ” -Amazon Reviewer
I had the honor of meeting Holley Gerth at The Relevant Conference last year. She has a soft and gentle voice. She looks you in the eyes and gives you her attention. She has a way of making you feel welcomed and encouraged just by her presence.
Holley’s most recent book, God’s Heart For You, portrays Holley’s heart and attitude perfectly. I felt as if instead of reading these pages I was having a conversation sitting across from Holley with her words whispering Biblical Truths into my tired heart.
It was a truly beautiful thing!
As I read through the pages of this book I was reminded of characteristics that describe who I am as a woman of God, I am loved, redeemed, strong, heard, supported, and more!
When I first heard of Holley’s book it was through this beautiful video,
I pondered the question for myself. Then I posted this picture on the facebook page,
In God’s heart I am secure. Nothing can pluck me from His hands. Nothing can separate me from His love. I am His.
In God’s heart I am…
I received the book, God’s Heart For You, along with a couple of magnetic bookmarks (which are really spiffy) for the purpose of this review from DaySpring as part of their monthly (in)spired deal! You can snag a copy of this awesome book from Blessings Unlimited, DaySpring’s home party business (think Pampered Chef of Christian home décor). All products are sold through independent Consultants. You can visit Blessings site to view the full Catalog, learn how to host a Gathering, or even start your own business.
Here is where we are. This is not where we expected to be, but yet this is where God has brought us.
