Another Year is Over

This year has seemed to have gone by very quickly. 2012 is around the corner and I'm trying to remember what happened in 2011. A lot changed for me this year and mylife is completely different then it was a year ago.(forgive me I am typing on a very small keyboard that is touchscreen) I started college classes in January after moving to Goodland, Kansas to be closer to my fiancé, now husband. A long distance relationship for two and a half years was more than enough years apart in my mind.

I started my first job in Kansas working nights which was also a first.
I traded in my Jeep and bought a car.
I started blogging more and doing blogging for books which I find ingenious!
I discovered more about Kansas- its not all flat.
I was/am continually working on trusting in God fully, especially with finding a job. This was really difficult for me this year.
My aunt got married in Corpus Christi,Texas and it was the first wedding I had been in.

Chance and I were married on July 28th in Jackson Hole Wyoming in the backyard of a bed and breakfast. This was my big event this year and made the year memorable.

Completed three semesters of college.

Celebrated our first Christmas together.

I bought a beautiful Pentax camera and Chance gave me a new lens to go with it this Christmas.

I will continue this list in my next post along with my new year resolutions!

Christmas is Almost Here

I can't believe that it is almost Christmas. It still doesn't feel like it at all this year, though we did get some snow last night. I have sent out the Christmas cards, wrapped most of the presents, and have yet to bake anything. At this point I have all of the gifts wrapped, but we aren't celebrating Christmas with both sides of the family until January.


I miss my dear mountains back home and the foot of snow that is being dumped upon them at this moment. The decorations here in Kansas are so very different than what I'm used to. Who puts a bunch of moldy stuffed animals in their front yard each year? Why would you do that? Stuffed animals that don't even pertain to the holidays. I don't understand the people out here in Kansas most days. I am trying but I can never understand even with an open mind.

I will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas morning this year. We have a fireplace at work and a pretty tree so it will be cozy. I might even enjoy hot chocolate on that evening.

I have discovered one new thing this Christmas and that is a new Christmas movie. I had never seen "It's A Wonderful Life" until about a week ago. I got it at the library and absolutely loved it! It's my new favorite and I'm quite certain it will be on my Christmas list next year. I love that it is an older movie but pertains to life today so well. Nothing really does change except hair styles (which isn't a bad thing!).

Sometimes it is hard to think about the true meaning of Christmas while you are being run over in the store, but try to remember what this holiday is all about. Get out your Bible, sing some songs that aren't about Frosty, and remember what is really important.
Merry Christmas!!

Fierce Beauty

Kim Meeder is the author to a new book called Fierce Beauty. This isn't the first book she has written but it is the first one of hers that I have read. I really enjoyed this book and Meeder's stories and her insights on God. The book is a collection of stories and adventures that Meeder has experienced and relates things to God. When I first got the book I thought it was mainly going to be about outer beauty but this book does not focus on  physical appearance, it focuses on other things that matter like being a strong person and TRULY trusting in Christ. It was a very thought provoking enjoyable book and I would recommend it to any woman.


“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

The Exceptional Life

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn is written to be an inspirational book that has "8 powerful steps to experiencing God's Best for You". I always ask myself what that really means? Who can come up with "8 powerful steps" that will change a person's life? Arterburn is a well known author and his book gives advice on guilt, love, trust, forgiveness, patience, power, community, and freedom.While his book covers a wide range of feelings, it is not a book that I found to be anything new or out of the ordinary. I do not agree with everything he wrote about from his point of view, but he did have some valid opinions. Each feeling is looked at differently, broken down, and analyzed. Then he writes how a person can change once both sides of the certain feeling are looked at. The first chapter is about giving up guilt in order to get back hope. This obviously won't be "life changing" for anyone, but for those interested on another point of view on such topics, read this book. Arterburn does do a good job on giving examples of feelings with different stories so you can really get into the book and understand what he is writing about.


"I received this book this book for free from Bethany House Publishers"

Ellie Kay's Money Wisdom

Ellie Kay is a pretty smart woman and does know how to handle money and help others do the same.  The 60 Minute Money Workout was picked because I wanted to get some tips and see what advice she has to offer. Her "money workouts" seem clever and set up different aspects to handling money. "Cardio Burn" is usually the part where you, as the reader, must come up with ideas or write something down accordingly to what she is writing about. Kay has some good pointers, but I honestly was disappointed with what I read. I wanted to read something new and this book is not something new. I personally did not like the formatting of the book with the "cardio burn" and "take your heart rate" titles, but that is just one opinion and not what I rated the book on.
Overall Kay is a smart lady, and I don't think this book does her justice.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Check out Cindy Woodsmall!

Cindy Woodsmall is an author that I have followed for the past few years. She writes about the Amish and has come up with some great stories! While some authors who write about the Amish are sometimes boring and dry, I have found Woodsmall to be a bit different. You can read the first chapter of her book The Christmas Singing.
ALSO! With Christmas coming up WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing is offering 30% and FREE shipping on books with this promo code-CHRISTMAS11 when checking out online at WaterBrookMultnomah.com. Expires Dec 20th so it would be a good deal for a Christmas present!

Mine is the Night

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs is a much longer book then I anticipated. That said, it was a difficult book for me to get into and enjoy reading. I'm sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book and its setting in Selkirk. The author did a great job at describing the area, characters, and using the language of the time.
Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the historical setting, time period, and some romance!

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Living Close to God-When You're not Good At It.

Living Close to God When You're Not Good At It by Gene Edwards was an interesting read. I wouldn't recommend the book to everyone, and I was a little disappointed myself. The title is catchy but I didn't agree with everything he wrote about. Each person is different in their walk with God so this book was just one perspective. Edwards did have some great advice such as talking with God in the mornings and keeping Him with you throughout the day. There are a few times in the book where you are suppose to speak out loud instead of just read. I personally did not get too much out of the book the first time around. I would be willing to read it again. To those that think this book will be eyeopening and different, you could be very disappointed.


“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

Crazy to think that Christmas is just around the corner! After ordering many prints from places like Wal-mart, I decided to print our large wedding picture with Shutterfly. It turned out lovely and the bright packaging was a great addition to the order. That was my first experience with the company, and because of my order I received multiple prints for free-what a deal!

The other day I was reading my friend's blog and wrote a post on the Christmas card giveaway Shutterfly does for bloggers each year. This was quite exciting because I have been trying to decide what to do for our first Christmas card together.  They so many different Christmas cards to choose from, I haven't decided which I like best. I always love the snowflakes and more simple cards. I also discovered they make Christmas cards that pertain to Christ as being the reason for the season.

As I was browsing, I started to think about different Christmas gifts I plan making/buying for my family. I hate buying things that someone won't use or enjoy, trinkets drive me crazy! So I am considering ordering a calendar for my mother that she can enjoy all year. I have made the calendar through Wal-Mart before, but not as high of a quality, hence the difference in price.

So this is the first time I have done the blogging for cards, I will let you know what I discover!

God Gave Us You

God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren was not was not what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a simple cute polar bear story and the end. As I was reading I realized that there is a lot more to the book than one could realize. The story itself is simple and cute, but the idea is that children need to be told that they matter. This book points out to a child that God had a plan and that he or she matters. Many children don't hear these words or believe that they matter and this book says, directly to them,that they are special. The pictures are cute and the book is the perfect size and understanding to read to an infant and older. Really, there is no age limit on who needs to hear that they are a gift from God.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

The Inconvenient Marriage -Good but Nothing New

This book was a light read that I enjoyed. Though I have read many other books with the same ideas, this story was surprisingly witty with interesting characters involved. I don't want to give too much away but this book has a journey that was historically written. like many other such books it has a twist and turn and a happily ever after. Recommend for a light happy read.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.