SRKindredSpirits

Somehow, I missed that this book was for men when I requested it for a review.  I loved the quotes -  "Make your mistakes full speed." "Always fall forward." "There are worse things than dying." And although I think a man would enjoy this book much more than myself, it does have some pretty good lessons for everyday life regardless of who you are.  I put this book on my hubby nightstand for him to read. In Always Fall Forward, join the Coach's son, Todd Gerelds, as he reflects on fifty-two of his dad's most formative "coachisms." From "Your stance is critical" to "One play at a time," you, too, will start hearing the strong and encouraging voice of the Coach when life hits you hard. Packed with life application, Always Fall Forward challenges you each week to live the way the Coach lived--grounded in faith and willing to stand up for what he believed--no matter the cost. Disclosure: I rec...

We took our 7 yr old and 10 yr old to a viewing for the first time today. We explained what to expect before we got there, dressed them in their Sunday best, and went through the line. But when it came time to view and walk by the casket, we let them sit with family instead of going up to it.  I'm a grown-up and I still hate walking by an open casket. (And I used to work at a cemetery doing funerals and filling the grave sites!)   There's always been a debate about whether or not kids should go to viewings and funerals. My hubby and I have lost 6 grandparents between us: four since we've been married. Our oldest daughter was age 9 -14, and we gave her the choice if she wanted to go or not. Our special needs son and youngest was ages 2-7, so we have always had someone watch them. I always figured that they were too young to really understand, and I don't regret waiting until they were older. At one viewing, this pastor came in with four of his grand kids; a...

Trade Your Cares for Calm By: Max Lucado I loved this little book! The size, the design, the words.... it did not disappoint! If you’re trembling on a tightrope of fear and worry, get ready for the best trade ever: your cares for God’s calm. What if faith, not fear, could be your default reaction to circumstances? Imagine being able to walk away from worry, conquer the need to control, get rid of guilt, and end if-only thinking. That’s God’s offer. He wants to exchange your burdens for an abundance of mercy, gratitude, and trust. To replace striving and stress with a faith-filled life in which you’ll see God’s goodness, feel calm in chaos, and find peace through prayer. Author Max Lucado understands what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by anxiety. Through unforgettable stories and biblical wisdom, he offers powerful tools and scripture to help you manage your fears and worries and give our cares and anxiety to God. Disclosure: I received this book free fro...

Zen Camera By: David Ulrich Now, that we all have a camera in our pocket and are taking photographs and sharing them all over social media, this book helps you to become more fully in the present moment and to be able to find your own authentic vision by  creating your own masterpiece .  Zen Camera teaches mindful attention through the medium of photography and cultivates a personal development and awareness for its readers to look at their own photographs in a totally different way. This book reminds us that with even just an cell phone camera in hand, we can capture the stunning world around us. The photographs are exquisite, and the stories are inspiring. This book makes you want to get outside and start  immediately.    Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through a  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Here's our bedroom before we started decluttering.... I never thought of us as being packrats or having a cluttered home until we started going through our house room by room and getting rid of stuff. ... Here's some ideas to help you unclutter your bedroom and make it a beautiful, relaxing space. Closets - clean them out! Get rid of all the clothes , shoes, purses, scarfs, and anything else you don't use reguarly or items that you have more than enough. Get rid of all the fake plants, they only collect dust. I'd like to add a few more live plants in here. Wall decor - less is more! For example: In our room we have four wall decor items. One is a picure fame with our  wedding photo , an old window frame from my Grandpa that I decorated, an old windmill blade and my jewelry holder which I made.  We do have a mirror hanging on the back of the of the bedroom door. Decor items, shelves, display cabinets - get rid of at least 75% of the ...

I have spent alot of time in a children's hospital since my son had emergency brain surgery. We have went through lots of tests and lots of waiting.... While I'm waiting, I often watch the people.  There is the poor family that looks like they don't have a clue of what's going on..... walking around in pajama pants - wishing they could be home drinking the pain away. There's the rich folks in their $500 shoes, typing on their fancy electronic gadget's looking like maybe the can work the pain away and wondering "how in the world could this happen to my child?" There's the family that has kids at home and kids in the hospital - trying to juggle being a parent, visiting the sick kids, keeping up with the house and working a full time job. There's the grandparents with the look of sadness in their eyes, as they ponder the seriousness of the situation. There's the young parents who look like kids themselvese unsure ...

Hello Mornings is an inspiring book that is based upon a really simple 3-minute, 3-step routine that helps you begin your day by focusing on God first – then establishing your plans for the day – then doing something healthy. While Kat offers specific steps to get you started, she also provides workbook style guidance – with space for journaling. I love how the verse Psalm 1 43:8 was the center for this book and for a morning routine. I have come to love this verse over the last few weeks. I really appreciated how Kat Lee focuses on the "why" of developing a morning routine, which is to serve the Lord better through focusing on Him first thing, making a plan to be effective for Him that day, and developing healthy habits so we have enough energy to serve the Lord well.   All that said, I'm a little bummed about this book. While I love the idea of a 3 minute morning, the book contradicts itself by at the same time wanting you to add in much more than 3 m...