Better Together

I was so happy to be part of the Better Together launch team.  Through the years I have read many books by Jill Savage and have always, always been encouraged. These are books I like to go back to and reread.  We need encouragement as Moms to be reminded we aren't alone, and Jill Savage always does a great job at this.  This new one is a great addition to the Jill Savage section of my personal library.

About the book:
Being a mom is hard, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Are you trying to do this mothering thing alone? So focused on the kids that you’re hungry for friendships of your own? Have great friendships that you want to make even better?

Jill Savage, mother of five, knows those challenges well, and she’s here to help. Presenting a compelling vision of motherhood as a group effort among friends, Better Together shows how you can:

•  Combat isolation and enjoy a supportive mothering community 
• Increase your social confidence and stop the comparison game 
• Deepen your friendships as you share life with others
• Strengthen trust and build friendships without fear
• Increase your joy and thrive as a mom 

All these things are possible. Dive into this storehouse of creative ideas for how to make mothering easier, richer, and more fun than you ever imagined!

My thoughts:
Better Together by Jill Savage with Anne McClane (her daughter) is a wonderful resource for Moms.  I highly recommend this book to you.  It would be perfect for a Mother's Day gift for yourself or a Mom friend.  Also, it would be great to do in a study with friends or a ladies class.

Why did I like this book?  The information and stories are practical and from real Moms who understand the challenges we face as Moms. We NEED the support of friends.  Friends can help us when a crisis arises or just be there in the day to day routine.  Also, I learned that we have different types of friends, which are classified in the book.  We are also all different types of Moms.  This was very insightful to me to take the Mothering Personality quiz and learn more about myself.

Visit the Better Together website here to learn more. Get your copy of this fabulous book today!

#bettertogether #bettertogetherbook

(I received a copy of this book as part of the Better Together launch team. Thank you.)

Have a day of blessings!
 

More thoughts on Better Together

Friends are so important through all stages of life and definitely through motherhood.  We need the encouragement of fellow moms who understand us, who can help us, and who can be there for us in times of need.  Also we need friends to pray for us.  It is so encouraging to have a friend tell me she's praying for me. I can think of various instances when this has happened, and it really lifts me up.

So what about you.....is there any way I can pray for you or your family this week?  I asked this on Facebook and got a few responses so I wanted to ask here too.  Leave me a comment if you'd like to share a specific need.  I'll be happy to pray for you.

Today is the last day to pre order the book Better Together and receive over $50 in freebies.  Go to the website for more information and take advantage of this great deal!
http://www.bettertogetherbook.org/

#bettertogether
#bettertogetherbook

Have a day of blessings!
 

Some thoughts on Better Together

One of the chapters in the book I'm reading (Better Together) talks about how as Moms we do things differently.  This does not mean our way is the only right way of doing something and everyone else is wrong. It just means they may do things differently than we do.

I was thinking how this could apply to any relationship. When my son was cooking supper, I came behind him and stirred the meat. He had the skillet turned with the handle opposite of how I place it on the burner because he is left handed. It didn't mean it was wrong to do it that way even though I would never do it like that.

As I stirred the meat I thought back to this quote and how easy it is to criticize something that someone does differently than me.  Why did you do it that way?  Why would you think that was a good way to do that task?  I may not say these things out loud, but I do often have these thoughts.

This has been a good reminder to me to realize that doing something differently does not make the other person wrong.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Better Together

I was excited to find out I am on the launch team for a new book by Jill Savage with Anne McClane. I can't tell you how much I've been encouraged as a Mom through several Jill Savage books in the past and I knew this one would be beneficial to me as well.

I'm learning so much as I am reading.  There is just a lot of good stuff in here for Moms.  We need other Moms to help us along.  So far I've learned some things about myself with the Mothering Personality Inventory.

It will be out at the beginning of March, but I encourage you to preorder it now.  You can preorder it here or here or several other sites.  Also, there will be over $50 of freebies as a bonus if you preorder the book!

It would be great to read in a Mom's group or with a group of friends too.You don't want to miss out on this valuable book if you are a Mom!

#bettertogether
#bettertogetherbook

Have a day of blessings!
 

Nobody's Cuter than You

About the book:
There is nothing as precious in life as a friend who knows you and loves you in spite of yourself. Yet over the last couple of decades, we’ve substituted the joy of real friendship with cheap imitations. We settle for “community” on Facebook and Twitter and a series of text messages that allow us to communicate with someone without the commitment. We like each other’s beautifully filtered photos on Instagram and delude ourselves into believing we have a community. But real friendship requires effort. It’s showing up, laughing loud, and crying hard. It’s forgiving and loving and giving the benefit of the doubt. It’s making a casserole, doing a carpool pickup, and making sure she knows those cute shoes are 50 percent off. Written in the same comedic style as the New York Times bestsellers Sparkly Green Earrings and The Antelope in the Living Room, Nobody’s Cuter than You is a laugh-out-loud look at the special bond that exists between friends and a poignant celebration of all the extraordinary people God had the good sense to bring into our lives at exactly the right moments.

 From the friendships we develop over a lifetime to the ones that wounded us and the ones that taught us to love better, Melanie Shankle reveals the influence our friends have on who we were, who we are, and who we will become. And on a day when our jeans feel too tight, our chins have decided to embrace hormone-related acne reminiscent of our teen years, and our kids have tested the limits of our sanity, they are the ones who will look at us and say, “Nobody’s cuter than you!”

My thoughts:
I am so glad I got to listen to this third book by Melanie Shankle. She's written one about motherhood and another about marriage. This one is about friendship.  It pretty much went through her life, sharing stories about the friendships she's had at different stages.   I enjoyed hearing her stories and could relate to so many of the feelings evoked by these various situations. I found myself thinking about my own friends and lessons I learned through the years because of the situations she shared about her friendships. Friends are important in all stages of life, and this book was a reminder of that to me.  We can learn from our friends and support each other through the happy and sad times of life.

This audiobook is read by the Melanie Shankle. I always seem to enjoy the books more when they are read by the author. She adds more emotion to the reading since they are her own words.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to you.

This book was provided by christianaudio reviewers program in exchange for my review.


Have a day of blessings!
 

Thankful Thursday

We are meeting for Thankful Thursday in February over at Grace Alone with Iris. 

This week Iris wrote about being thankful for her lunch date with her friend.  It made me think of (and miss) my sweet friend, my forever friend I call her.  We went to school together, she was one year younger than me.  In high school I had the same lunch period as her, and we always sat together.  I graduated and went to college.  She went to her first year of college and then transferred to the college I attended.  We started eating together again and would meet each week.  I moved after my husband finished his degree, and she went on to law school.  We would still drive to meet to eat sometimes.  A few years ago, she took a job in a town about 45 minutes from my house.  We would meet about once a week for lunch at Panera or Pei Wei or Schlotzsky's.  I looked forward to these lunch dates so much.  Now that we have moved away, I have come to miss this time with my friend.  We still keep in touch, and the fun thing is I live on the same street as her parents.  I'm thankful for her and her friendship through the years. 

This week I am thankful for...
~ my husband who shows me his love every day, not just Valentine's Day.  He is so sweet and loving, I'm so thankful for him.

~ fun with my boy this week....Valentine's party at school (I loved that when he saw me he hugged me and told me he liked the frog balloon we sent him with the PTO Val-o-gram fundrasier), reading at bedtime, a walk/bike ride after school.

~ our fun Valentine's day.  I need to write a post about this.  We had a lot of fun with our countdown to Valentine's day using the mailboxes we decorated.

~ the snow we had on Sunday.....and the sunny 70+ degree days also this week!! 

~ being able to volunteer at the school. 
Have a day of blessings!

Etsy shop and GIVEAWAY

I have a friend who has opened an Etsy shop, and I wanted to share it with you. She creates cards. Here is her blog and a link to her Etsy shop Runnergirl Creations.

Also, I have a Valentine's Day card she made that I am giving away on my blog. To enter simply leave a comment on this post telling me which of the cards on Runnergirl Creations you like.

Here is a picture of the card that you will win. It comes with an envelope.

I will choose a winner on Saturday, January 29. US addresses only please. Thanks!

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday: Friends

Today Iris picked friends for the Thankful Thursday theme. Join us in being thankful today!

Friends are special people. We have different kinds of friends who go with us through different stages in life. I have my friends from my school days as well as college. Some I keep in better contact with than others. Some I know I could count on if I needed something; I know which ones would be there for me. Facebook has been a fun way to find old friends and make some new ones as well. I find it interesting to see which of my friends are friends with each other. Previously I made some good friends through a message board and those ladies are still special to me. Before that I never had "met" any friends online but it showed me how friendships can be formed online and you can feel a closeness with them. Now I've found some wonderful friendships through blogging, which has been a blessing to me.

Today I'm thankful for....

~ my husband. We were friends first before we started dating and I'm thankful he is my best friend.

~ my sweet boy who is a friendly little guy. I like to see him in different settings with different aged children and how he tries to relate to them....talking big to older kids and being helpful to younger children. I pray he makes many good friends as he begins school and he is a friend to others.-

~ my Mom is a dear friend to me and I'm thankful for our relationship.

~ life friends. I have a special friend I've known since elementary, probably 3rd grade. It is a blessing now that she lives close enough that we can go eat together often like we did when we were in college.

~ college friends. College was a special time in my life and I'm thankful to still keep in touch with my friends, for their prayers and encouragement, even though we are separated by miles.

Have a wonderful day! Be happy!
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"You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14

Friendship

I received the following in an email and wanted to share it. It didn't have an author or title in the email I received. Hope you enjoy!

---------------


I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts or fears.

But I can listen to you and together we can seek answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain nor the
Future with it's untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter and joy.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you and help you when you ask.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting;
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them
Back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.

~~Unknown

-----------------------

Are you this kind of friend? Do you have a friend like this in your life?

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"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7,8

A special friend

I have a special friend I'd like to thank for taking time to make me a little pink blanket for our baby we lost due to miscarriage. After reading my post about remembering, my friend offered to make a memorial blanket for me. It arrived on Saturday, which I thought was perfect timing.

I feel honored to have this friend. I "met" her several years ago through a PCOS message board. Even though we've never met in real life, I know she is a very generous Christian lady. For years she made afghans for all of the Mommies on the message board when they had a new addition to their families. Sadly, some women spoke hateful things about her, saying she was seeking attention for herself by making afghans and accused her of not really making them herself. I don't know why someone would say such things, but I guess they were probably jealous of her talent and generous spirit. She has not stopped making afghans and continues to donate them to various organizations. She's made one for both my son and grandmother as well, "just because."

I'm thankful for this friendship and her kindness. I have not used her name because she is the type of person who is not seeking attention or praise for herself. It really touched my heart though that she did this for us.

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"A friend loves at all times...." Proverbs 17:17

Friendship Day

Today the theme of the Precious Moments Inspiration email was friendship. It said that today, August 4, is Friendship Day. I looked on Wikipedia and found a little information too.

The Bible has a lot to say about friends. Doing a search of the word "friends" I found it used over 100 times throughout the Bible. David had a true friend in Jonathan. Job had trouble with his friends.

Do you value your friendships? I read something recently (not for sure where, probably on a blog) about how people come into our lives for a reason. Some are in our lives for long periods of time, and we develop a strong relationship. Others are just in our lives for a short time, and then we lose touch and don't have a deep connection. They are there to help you through a period in your life and then for whatever reason, you lose touch. I can think of examples of both in my life. I can also see the value of both as well.

My friends are very important to me. I'm thankful to have the friendship of some girls that I've known since my elementary school days. There is one I know that it won't matter how much time has passed since we've seen each other we still connect and have that special friendship bond. I'm thankful for my friends I met in college. I was at a different stage in my life when I met these girls for the first time, and they have been invaluable to me in their encouragement and prayer. I'm thankful for my teacher friends. By this I mean both the teachers that taught me and those friends I met while teaching. I'm thankful for my Internet friends. I never knew the support I would gain from a bunch of ladies on a PCOS message board. Even with changes on message boards and most of us never meeting in person, we've managed to stay in touch. We went through our pregnancies together and still enjoy sharing about our lives and our children online. Also my Internet friends include my new blogging friends. I've learned so much from them. Each one is different yet valuable to me. I'm thankful for my family friends. My Mom has always been my dear friend as well as my cousin. My husband and I were friends first before we started dating, and I'm thankful we are still best friends. I'm also thankful to say I have a friend in God! He is there no matter what and the greatest friend of all! All of these friends have added to my life to help me in some way. Today I am thankful for my friendships.

Here is one of the quotes I liked from the email I got this morning:

"True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable." Dave Tyson Gentry

Also, here is a beautiful passage from John:
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other." John 15:9-17

Amish Friendship Bread

Have you ever been given a starter of Amish Friendship Bread? Last Sunday our neighbor brought over a bag for me. A family from church had given us some bread at Christmas, but we didn't know that's what it was until we tasted the neighbor's sample.

We made the bread as a family activity together last night. It is so delicious. I have passed on one of the bags and two others are taken too. I guess that leaves one bag for me to do it again!

You can read about the Friendship Bread on Wikipedia.
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"Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat--refreshing!" Proverbs 25:13, MSG