2015 Reading List

Reading lists. Aren't they such incredible fun! I really enjoy creating a reading list for the year; adding books that I've seen highly recommended on other blogs, or talked about by friends. There's just something amazing about being lost in the pages of a good book! 

I have so many books that I keep piled in the lounge room on the floor so that I can just see at a glance where I'm up to and which books are still beckoning me to fall into their world!

These are the titles that I am yet to read this year ...

• Farmhouse Revival by Steven Gross and Susan Daley
• Down to Earth by Rhonda Hetzel
• Professional Blogging For Dummies 
• Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell
• The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
• A Lady of High Regard by by Tracie Peterson
• On the Shoulders of Hobbits by Louis Markos
• The Artist's Daughter by Alexandra Kuyendall
• Princess by Janine Kubala
• One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (this I've read before, but I'm reading it again!)
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (also read before, but who can resist?!)
• Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohkle
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• The Brethren by Beverly Lewis
• The Englisher by Beverly Lewis

I also have a list of books that I would like to read this year, written in my diary. I hope to see if I can finish these by the end of the year (hopefully I won't add too many more to the list first!)

So far this year, I've read books that aren't even on this list!! 

Please tell me you do that too?!

Have you read any of these? ...

There were parts of this book that spoke deeply to me, others I found
more information that I had read in other books. Still a good read though.

Loved everything about this brilliant book!

I found this book to be very scientific, though very scripture based.
I had to re-read a few things to help it sink in, as my brain doesn't
naturally think scientifically. It was a good read though.

This book was AMAZING! It honestly had me hooked from the very first page.
I couldn't put it down. The characters, the story line, even just the title!
Highly recommend this beautiful piece of work!

For a non-Christian fiction novel, this was a great read.
I did have to ignore a small amount of swearing though.
I laughed out loud at least five times during this book!

Books, books and more books ... I think the world would be somewhat boring without them! Wouldn't you agree?

Journaling Bible - A Way To Relax

So much has been happening around here since I last posted. We've been very busy together! In between normal housework and shopping, dropping my eldest off to his first job, going to basketball and music practice etc; we've also been preparing for our neighboring towns local monthly markets. 

In among all this crazy busy, I've somehow managed to squeeze some time in to relax by doing some 'decorating' of my Bible.  I've also been playing with dollies (but that's for tomorrow's post!) 

Also, we officially began home schooling this week! ... 

 

Even though I fall into bed exhausted at the end of each day, I am so grateful (although in all honesty, there are days were I find it hard to be). Grateful for the opportunity to home school, to have more time with our precious kids, to have the time to teach them the things that my husband and I desire to see in their hearts and lives.

It is important though as home schooling Mothers, that we do take care of ourselves. We spend so much time, round the clock, taking care of those we love and assisting them with so many different things, that sometimes we can forget to look after us too. Sometimes, we even feel guilty for doing it. We shouldn't feel guilt though; if the needs of our family are met and we are not just sitting down all day doing our own thing and neglecting our families, then we can take time for us. Even fifteen minutes allows us to rest and refresh ourselves. 

Beautiful Mother, don't feel guilty for taking some time out; it makes us much better wives and mothers when we do. 

 I first brought this Journaling Bible back in 2009, and have only just figured out how I want to go about using it! I love photographs, and I love word art ... oh and washi tape! In my old Bible I had a pile of loose photos in between the pages that were always falling out and making it hard to turn the pages. 

Until I had a brainwave! ...

My new Bible is designed to have all the text written on the left page, and the right side page is left completely blank for journalling, notes etc.It's just fantastic and so much fun! I'll show you what I've been doing with mine ...

All supplies out and ready to go! Bible, photographs, pens, washi tape, scissors, double-sided tape and trimmer!

The two laminated verses are ones that I had on my wall at our old house in my craft room. I've just had them lying around since we've moved, and I'm glad I thought of adding them to my Bible!

I've added HEAPS of photographs (these are only some) onto the pages, just by sticking them down first with double-sided tape, and then adding washi tape to the edges to give it some colour and design! I may go back and write some details about the photos at a later date, I still haven't decided yet. These are memories that I just didn't want to forget, and these pictures make me smile every time I look at them!

I love scripture art, and words! So, I just sketched these using a normal blue Biro pen (so that the ink wouldn't seep through the pages) and added washi tape as well. These are some of my favourite scriptures that I want to remember and live by.

One of the best things that I love about this Bible is that it's a work in progress (just like me!) and it allows me to grab bits of time here and there to relax! I have many more verses to write out, and maybe some quotes or poems too. 

Is this something you do to relax too? 
I hope you find some time to relax this week ...

Pondering Hope

The last couple of days I've been pondering hope. 

Particularly the hope that we have of heaven. 

We allow ourselves to become so blinded into thinking that this life here on earth is reality. I've mainly been doing this pondering while driving in the car, and I don't really know why this particular stream of thought has been working it's way into my conscious while behind the steering wheel, maybe it's because I'm more focused and it's quieter. Whatever the reason, I like to take notice when these thoughts keep showing up.

I really love how God is not limited in where and when He speaks to us; it can sometimes be in the most oddest place we receive the greatest revelation. And so, while driving lately I've been struck deeply and reminded of the truth that this earth is not reality. It's only just the beginning. Did you hear that? It's only just the beginning. 

We have the hope of heaven! The hope of Glory. It is undeniable, unchangeable,  irremovable, unending .... and it can't ever be erased!  Heaven is real and it is where we are headed; it is home!

This is the eternal mindset that we must cling to everyday. We are not here to bring earth to earth, but heaven to earth. We are here to show the world a glimpse of what it is that is irreversibly ours through Christ! What they can also have!

Throughout the coming week I hope to find myself pondering more of Who God is, more of His promises to me, more of what I need to do for Him ... and praising Him. Praising Him for the incredibly beautiful God that He is. 

We have the hope of heaven; the overwhelming hope of glory.

Let it sink in this week.

Image from AVirtuousWoman.org, from Pinterest.