Favorite Finds Friday

FRIDAY FAVORITES

It's Friday and finally the weekend!  I have a few Friday favorite finds to share!
The first thing I am loving right now is a new to me Bible study workbook, Seamless by Angie Smith. This is a seven week, daily homework format study. Each week has an accompanying video, that I honestly didn’t watch after the first one. They are an extra cost and really not needed for this study. I did this on my own and at my own pace, sometimes doing one or two “days” at a time. It is an awesome overview of the entire Bible and really helped me in my understanding of the Word.

While I am sharing a Bible study, I have to share my favorite Bible highlighters. They are perfect for the thin pages and do not bleed through. I use the Good Morning Girls Bible coloring chart so the colors are perfect. I’ll link the website, I like the ones called Bible Highlighter Set, and I just saw they are on sale today for $10. I make nothing from sharing, I just love them!


https://thedailygraceco.com/collections/pens-highlighters

















I am also loving binge watching New Girl on Netflix. I’m not sure how I missed this gem when it was on Fox, but I am in love with all the characters. I literally laugh out loud, sometimes so loud my family comes to see what’s up!


My new favorite food is a snack from Target, Archer Farms Handful of Everything, found in the nut section. It is dried fruit, almonds, coconut, chocolate and raisins. Yum!

Happy Friday!!!!

Devotional Review

I'm excited to be on the launch team for Holley Gerth's new devotional, "Do You Know You're Already Amazing?".  I have been a fan of Holley's blog Coffee For Your Heart and her book, "You're Already Amazing" and couldn't wait to read her new devotional.  

This book is a cute purse size of 30 short devotions and can easily be read as a daily encouragement.  Each entry addresses God's truth against the lies our hearts are tempted to believe. She uses women from the Bible and relates their stories to the lives of women today.  At the end of each devotion, there is space to journal your feelings and your personal battles.  

I found each devotion to be relevant to my life as a wife, mother, sister and friend.  The stories are easy to read and linked to Scripture verses.  I not only enjoyed the devotions, I enjoyed reading about so many strong women of the Bible.  

Holley writes from the heart and you can see her love of women and Jesus.  I would reccommend this book to all my girlfriends to read as beautiful encouragement to start each day.

(I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)

Tough Girl

How many times have I said I am going to blog more?? Definitely more than a few.  But, here I go again!  Hopefully not another thing I start and put to the side...how many half done projects do you have?  I am a procrastinator for sure, so maybe that's why I haven't written...no deadline.  

I have been thinking about who I am and what I want to be when I grow up...36 isn't grown up, right?  One thing that I am is a "tough girl."  Well, I decided that's what I am after I posted a picture recently on Instagram and my sister gave me the hashtag #ivDrugsAreForToughGirls

I have Crohn's Disease...pretty much my whole life.  Even though I don't always want it to, it does fit into the definition of who I am.  But that doesn't mean it "defines" who I am.  I have definitely had my "why me" moments, don't get me wrong, but mostly we deal with it.  And I say, we, because I have an awesome team.  My husband can talk drugs, procedures and hospital with the best of them and my son knows sometimes mom is in charge from her bedroom.  
Most of time I look at my disease as our burden that makes us stronger.  I feel like we are all given things to show our true character and help make us into strong people.  Having Crohn's disease has made me smarter, more independent, strengthened my marriage, made me a better mom and I have been able to share my knowledge of medicines, doctors, procedures, hospitals, all kinds of things with tons of people. I hope that I am also able to bring comfort and strength to others going through similar situations.  
I say it doesn't define me because I choose (almost) everyday to not let it; I don't complain, try my best not to let it change my plans and enjoy the day the best I can.  I also allow myself to be sick when I need to, and rest without feeling guilty.  And I know my limitations, this girl is not hiking on a remote path without a clean bathroom!  
I have not always been this positive, but as I get older and wiser, I realize life is full of ups and downs, sometimes you need to say, Crohn's Disease..."ain't nobody got time for that!"
And when I do need to cry about it my sister listens and still thinks I am tough!  



"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Baby Shower!

My baby sister is having a baby!  I am so excited to be an aunt. I can't wait for him to get here, only a few more weeks to go!  This weekend two of her best friends, my mom and I, threw her a baby shower. It was so fun to plan. 

Her nursery theme is nautical and Pirates. So we used pirates as our shower theme. 

My favorite thing about the whole shower was the cake. We found the cutest cake on Pinterest and her friend found a baker that made it perfect! Isn't he adorable?

We also did a "candy bar" with lots if goodies. I think everyone liked it. Bags of candy were filled and we also bought the cutest pirate ship cookies for favors. 

My sister was beautiful and I think she had a great time. She got lots of baby goodies and gift cards!  

Expanding My Blog

I have been wanting to expand my blog to more than recipes...Its really hard to start!!  My first thought is that no one wants to read what I have to say...but then I realized no one reads this blog anyway!!!  Then its hard to decide what to write to get started...it has to be something good right?  

If I keep waiting for the perfect topic to write about I guess I will never start!  

I figured I'd start with summer books.  I am not a very avid reader but I have my spurts.  This is the best time of the year for reading and books.  Beginning of summer, pool time, nothing on tv, and all the new books come out from my favorite authors!  

Some I have just read are:

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (the actress from Parenthood)

Easy read and good story.  It is not supposed to be based on her life, but seems like it might be close.  

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (author of the Kite Runner)

I loved The Kite Runner and this book was good.  Story of making sacrifices for your children.  

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger

The Devil Wears Prada was one of my favorite books and Weisberger is a guilty-pleasure author.  I always look forward to her books.  I am in the middle of this one and it is pretty good...not the original...but still entertaining.  

Looking forward to a few more books:  

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld (author of Prep and one of my favorites American Wife)

The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan (author of Commencement)

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Dr. Seuss!