Book Review: Your Beautiful Purpose

  Let God Breathe a Fresh Purpose Into Your Soul We so want each day to matter--to serve God in big and small ways. But how, especially when everyday responsibilities, work, fears, and other obstacles get in the way? Like a trusted friend, Susie Larson shares practical, scriptural ways to overcome whatever keeps us from living fully in God's will. Susie will help you learn to: • Discern the best use of your time and gifts • Confidently pursue God's unique desires for you • Stretch your faith and deepen your impact Respond today to that nudge in your spirit--that desire to use your gifts and passions more fully in God's work. Lay down lesser commitments and lay hold of God's beautiful purpose for your life.
~*~ ~*~ ~*   Let God Breathe a Fresh Purpose Into Your Soul   We so want each day to matter--to serve God in big and small ways. But how, especially when everyday responsibilities, work, fears, and other obstacles get in the way? Like a trusted friend, Susie Larson shares practical, scriptural ways to overcome whatever keeps us from living fully in God's will. Susie will help you learn to: • Discern the best use of your time and gifts   • Confidently pursue God's unique desires for you • Stretch your faith and deepen your impact Respond today to that nudge in your spirit--that desire to use your gifts and passions more fully in God's work. Lay down lesser commitments and lay hold of God's beautiful purpose for your life.   ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~   The tag-line for this book is discovering and enjoying what God can do through you. That is what drew me to this book. Well, that and the pretty cover.

This was a very full book. Lots of personal stories mixed in with bible verses, and questions for further consideration at the end of each chapter. This book would make a fabulous bible study.

I liked the author's easy writing style and sensed true authenticity from her. I really liked how she used every day situations that made some things clearer for me.

Several things from this book continue to swirl around in my mind. Like the image of the forces that stand behind us in this spiritual battle that we are in, that Satan can see but we cannot. And that scares him and he tries to throw us off. He knows we are close to victory, and he knows we can't see it, so he steps up his game.

I appreciated how open the author was with her personal life. She shares her struggles - past and current - in an open way, and I found myself encouraged by that. I found something in almost every chapter that resonated in a fresh way. I love when a book can do that.

This is the first book of Susie Larson's that I have read, but I enjoyed it enough to seek the other books she has written.

Your Beautiful Purpose makes it to my bookshelf.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~   "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Hey

I can't believe that this is the end of February. I just can't. Where have the last two months gone??

Meh. Who cares. Come on, Spring! I'm waiting for you!

I am fully into my new role as credit manager now and my days are very full. Tons of emails and my phone seems to never stop ringing. People asking me to make decisions on things. Lots of meetings. It's overwhelming and I feel the weight of it all. When I run my reports and see just how much money I am responsible for... well, I just can't absorb it. I don't know when (or if) the real credit manager will be coming back. I'm just continuing to try my best.

I'm over halfway through my course at the church now, with graduation scheduled for May 29th. I am beyond excited for this Wednesday night's session. The author of the study we're doing will be doing the teaching time and I CAN'T WAIT. He will also be speaking at the church on Sunday evening as well.

Yesterday I had some girl time with Julie and we spent our time together shopping. Walmart was all out of carts, so we had to use these baby sized carts that were absolutely adorable. It held my purse and a package of muffins, that's how small it was. I did her nails before bed and we talked about girly things.

Tonight I took Jordan out for a slushie after dinner, then I did her nails. Sweet mercy, that child never runs out of things to talk about! I love her dearly. Ian bought her a pair of skinny jeans and I just couldn't get over how cute she looked.

Sam is sick with some sort of bug for the last two days. I picked him up from a party on Saturday night and he was running down. Jordan asked if we could buy him a slushie to "help his sore froat".

I think Matthew is getting sick again as well. He was awfully sick about a week ago, sicker than he's ever been. I'm really hoping it's just molars or something. He is a cranky fellow and that's just not his nature.

Recently I decided to give Downton Abbey a second shot and I'm so glad I did. I am completely hooked on it. I'm on season 3 episode 6. Love it.

Mom came over on Friday night to invite us to join her on her August holiday. She rents a cottage on the lake and we all just love it there. I believe I've shared pictures here before. My favourite aunt will be joining us this year and I just can't wait. And Mattie will be old enough to run on the beach with the big kids! Too bad he hates the water though... I'm looking forward to being with all my most favourite people in the world all at once.

I don't really have a lot to talk about lately. My focus is on my job and my course, with little time or energy for anything else. I miss being with Ian and the children, but once I get home I just want to zone out in a quiet place. I feel out of touch with everything.

I have a book review coming up in a few days so you'll see me twice this week :-)

But for now... it's Downton Abbey time.

Winter Weekend

I am not a Winter person.

Not even a little bit.

I hate it, actually. I don't hate a lot of things, but Winter? YES. I want to punch it in the face.

Every Winter there is "that day". The day when I think I truly cannot survive one more day of Winter and will die before I see Spring.

This past Friday was that day.

The snow started falling on Thursday evening. I needed to leave the office right at 5pm so I could make it to the children's parent/teacher interviews that evening at 5:50, 6 and 6:10. The roads were already snow covered and traffic was crawling, and it was 6:20 before I reached the school. Most parents were delayed due to the weather so the interviews were pushed back. I missed Jordan's but arrived just as Sam's was ending, but got to be there for all of Julie's. Afterwards we took the children to McDonald's for dinner.

I set my alarm to get up early on Friday so I could leave in plenty of time to get to the office by 9. I was completely unprepared for what I saw outside. Ian shoveled a pathway to my car and started it for me. I headed off slowly, falling snow reducing any visibility. It took me forever just to get out of our subdivision. I stopped for gas and to buy a hot chocolate for the drive, then settled in for what I was sure to take me a couple of hours.

At the lights my wiper stopped working. There was no way I could continue without being able to see. I called Ian and asked him to start warming up the van and went home. I followed a snowplow all the way to my street, then got stuck in the snow twice before reaching my driveway.

I brushed off the van and headed off again. I couldn't believe how many buses I saw stuck in the snow, cars stuck in the snow, people struggling to walk along the unshoveled sidewalks. No visibility.

I made it to the office only 10 minutes late, surprised to see that we were almost at full staff. I was so glad I went in!

The owners let us go around 3:30. The parking lot was never plowed and we watched car after car struggling to get out. I didn't anticipate a problem with the van but I was wrong. It took me four tries just to get out of my parking spot, then I got stuck again when I tried to turn towards the exit, and again just at the exit.

I may or may not have used some words that were...inappropriate.

I stopped at the church to hang a sign advising parents that youth group was cancelled that night due to the weather, then went to pick up a pizza for dinner. I was parked and ready to go in when I realized I had left my bank card and credit card in the other car. I called Ian and drove home. By then I'd been in the car for close to 2 hours and was carsick. We both went back to get the pizza and to buy the kids a treat for shovelling the driveway. I was happy to be home.

I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I couldn't get the van warm enough. Turns out I had the a/c on. For pete's sake. Just when I think I can't get any dumber... I surprise myself.

I woke up early on Saturday morning to get the little's their breakfast so Ian could sleep in. He is always getting up with them on the weekends and during the night so I can get my rest, so I was glad to do this for him. In the afternoon we went to see Warm Bodies, a really sweet zombie movie.

A really sweet zombie movie?? Ha. But it was.

Saturday night I played chauffeur for Sam, dropping off and picking him up from a birthday party.

This morning I took the three older kids to church and Ian stayed home with Matthew. I arrived early (for a change!) and was able to chat with a couple of people before the service started. Great worship, great sermon.

This afternoon/evening Ian had a Batman-a-thon viewing party with Sam, Julie and the jr high youth leaders. They've been downstairs in Ian and Sam's man cave for hours! I hung out with Jordan and Matthew, and soaked up every single kiss and hug.

Our house is winding down for the night now, and I have the Sunday Night Blues. This week will be so busy at work as I continue to settle into my new (and temporary) responsibilities. Monday I'm meeting a friend for coffee, Tuesday is Sam's registration/orientation/whateveritis at the high school, Wednesday is my course and we're having a pot luck beforehand. I should be able to catch a breather on Thursday night.

I'm off to do my nails and get ready for bed. Maybe I'll watch the Grammys if I can figure out how to turn on my new tv...

Good News and More Good News

It's been an exciting few days around here.

I think I mentioned that Sam had his audition on Jan 25th for the media arts program and the high school he is longing to get into. He had submitted his letters of recommendation, character letters, report cards, attended their workshop, ect. For the audition, he had to prepare a 60 second video with a voice over and a certain number of transitions and graphics included. He chose to do his video on social media and the effects. It was awesome!

I took the morning off work to take him to his audition and I didn't know who was more nervous - him or me! He looked so handsome in his shirt, tie and dress pants. He was quiet afterwards, almost disappointed.

This past week was a long one for him as he waited for the results to be posted on the school website. Hundreds of students from several schools apply for this program and only 22 get accepted.

And he got in!!!

We are so thrilled for him. He came home that night and crashed and didn't wake up until 9pm. He said he had no idea how tightly wound he was, waiting for the results. We had a celebration dinner for him on Saturday night with ribs and wings, and a cookie cake with ice cream for dessert.

My boy is happy.

In other news... I got a promotion today. Our credit manager has been off sick for a month now, and it looks as though it will be another month or so before she returns. This morning the owners asked if I would step in and take over until she returns. We discussed my qualifications - or rather, lack therof - but they have faith in me that I can do it, so I agreed to give it my best. We're going to touch base in a week to see how I'm doing and if I want to continue in the role or have them bring someone in from outside.

Today was off the charts busy. My phone was going nonstop, the emails were pouring in, people were asking me questions and looking to me to make decisions... It was insane. I did the best I could today, and I'll do my best tomorrow. That's as far ahead as I can look at this point. I have this intense fear of failure, so I'm hoping it will go ok.

Alrighty. I need to work on my course homework so I'll wrap this up.

See you next time :-)