The year we Quit Christmas...

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year... As a person whose love language is giving, it filled my soul to give in abundance every year; to see the faces of friends and family receiving a gift from me filled my heart with joy every year. Until one year, it didn't anymore.
Christmas of 2017... I no longer found joy in wrapping presents that would pile up under the tree and stare back at me just waiting to be opened. It was more of a burden this year than it ever had been. There was no smiles or feelings of success but, instead a backache, sticky fingers, and cuts from the tape dispensers.
As Christmas day approached my boys got more excited about what was in those sparkly packages and what "Santa" would bring to them on Christmas Day. I tried to psych myself up for them but, I couldn't.
Christmas day came and there was so much under the tree, it took over 4 hours to open everything. It was ridiculous, to say the least. Then, we took several trips carrying it all upstairs only for it to sit in my living room, reminding me that 1. I didn't have the room for all of this stuff and 2. I spent way too much money (that I didn't really have) to stare at the mess, not being touched, by the once excited little boys.
So after a few days now of pondering this, I've decided to [Sorta] quit Christmas. I don't want my boys growing up believing that Santa brings them what their hearts desire or that gifts only come on Christmas. I want them to believe in Jesus' birth and that giving happens all year.
I hope that I can remember this and hold to it when I become eager to fill up the tree in 2018, instead I hope to give them a want, a need, a wear and a read and maybe go on a trip together, to have experiences rather than things.
It's not that I don't still love Christmas, I don't love that the world (and myself) have forgotten the true meaning; that had that sweet little baby never been born, there would be no Christmas and we would never have had the greatest Gift of All...Jesus.

31 verses

This book is an excellent book. Giving the reader a deeper sense of scripture and taking them into 31 verses that show them how to be a good Christian. Beautiful and eloquent. The reader delves deep into the proverbs with other verses to coincide with the readings. I would recommend this book to any woman looking to become a better proverbs 31 woman.
received this book courtesy of bloggingforbooks.com

ME

This book is amazing. The perfect tool for your young child to think and explore their own lives and have something to cherish as time goes on. This is a great book, filled with a lot of topics. Some fun, some serious. It will enlighten your child to creativity and give them the chance to develop their own sense of accomplishment when filling in those spaces. My 8 yo loves doing this book and it helps him to calm down sometimes when he is having a bad day. My 2 yo joined in and had fun drawing in the spaces with his big brother and, you have to believe that I might just order another one for when the 2 yo is older. A great book, highly suggested!

I received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review, from bloggingforbooks.com


To find out more about the author and see what other books they have available, Click here

I Draw on Cats by A.R. Coffelt

This book is uniquely creative and so much fun. It has pictures of live cats with dots around the cat where you connect the dots and it creates a funny looking outfit, or add-on to the picture. I received this book and gave it to my son who loves cats but, is unfortunately allergic. He Had tons of fun creating new pictures and actually being able to draw in his books! I joined him and this made for a fun activity to do with your children, or by yourself.
Suggestion: use permanent markers so that they show up better. The pages are matte picture quality and will rub off if you use washable marker and won't show up with crayon or pencil

TO learn more about the author and see their other works please visit here

i received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review from bloggingforbooks.com

What is my title?

I've been considering ways to make money by doing something for myself as opposed to working for someone.
I have a great job that I love and that I finally, again, feel as though I have found my niche again but, there's something missing. I want to do something from the comfort of my couch. I have considered all sorts of ideas, even signed up for a tutoring website only to find out I know NOTHING about anything being asked on that site. Bam, there went all that possible money out the window. Could I research the stuff and figure it out, could I invest the time and energy that I invest into say, facebook, or my game on my phone? Why yes, yes I could but, what fun would that be. Money. It would be extra money to my name. Well, not really because it's money that I'd have to pay my own taxes on someday. I want to do so many things with my life but, I don't foresee many of them happening anytime soon. So till I figure it out, I think I am going to just start trying to figure out how to get 30+ active viewers on my blog so that I can sign up for booklook bloggers again. :-(
Till next time....

Jesus Speaks by Steven K. Scott

In this book... Jesus truly does speak. Its written in the format as if Jesus himself is talking to you. The words are simple, yet elegant, and are backed with a scripture. I like that I can pick it up and know that there are words to be spoken to me. Whether it is something in the past that I am struggling with, something in the present that is plaguing me, or something that I'm worried about for the future; this book speaks to me as if Jesus himself is sitting there having a conversation with me.
This book states that its for the already believing believer but, I think that it is open to anyone that has a passion to learn more of Jesus' word and take the little bit of wisdom with them as the days go by. With 365 days of reading, there's one for every day and if you miss a day you can either save it for next year or read it as a catch up.
Great book and I highly recommend.

For more information about this book, the author,  and their works please visit Here


I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion from bloggingforbooks.com

Meet the New You by Elisa Pulliam

This book is amazing. I wanted something that was going to give me real life direction, from someone that has actually experienced what its like to want to change your life and live better for God and yourself. This book does it. It has real life experience mixed with scripture to back up what you're struggling with. It also has applications- ideas and thoughts, actions for you to take to make you new. It also has information and knowledge on being able to reflect back on certain areas of your life and see how you could change them for the better or reflect on areas where you are struggling and want to make a difference. The scripture is fitting to whatever area you may be going through also. You don't necessarily have to go in order, there's a vast array of topics. Choose one or two, or the whole book, it's up to you!

For more information about the author and her works click here


I received this book for free from bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an unbiased review