the best yes & for the right reasons [book review]

EDIT:  I've hesitated to write this post for a while now, because I felt like my words wouldn't be able to do the book justice...and they don't.  But I still want to share it with you.  So please take them as that.  My words.  My best words. (no pun intended ;))  But the book is so much more!

I wanted to check in with my 2015 book list.  I've finished reading two books since then, and one that wasn't originally on my reading list.

The first read I accomplished was The Best Yes.  I'm not one to say "yes" too often, because I don't feel bad about saying "no" but this book still taught me so many wonderful things!

As a woman, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher...(the list could go on)...we have so many different demands in our life!  There are choices we are required to make to only choose to do the things that are beneficial to those in need in our lives; our children, our families, ourselves and our Lord.  That doesn't mean we have to say "yes" to every single one of the opportunities that comes to our attention.  

Learning to say "no" can make the things you say "yes" to, so much more enjoyable!

Lysa walks you through different situations, step-by-step, teaching you how and when to say no, but also when to say "yes" and making that YES, your "Best Yes".  It's a great read for women of all ages! 

Some of my favorite quotes from the book include:

We must not confuse the command to love with the disease to please.

But I dread what saying yes will do to the already-running-on-empty me.

When all of life feels like an urgent rush from one demands to another...we become forgetful.  Forgetful of God. 

A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.

And that's just getting into Chapter 3.  If any of these quotes reach out to you and grab you, and you can totally relate to them, then this books is for YOU!  You can order it HERE.

I didn't even know Sean Lowe was writing a book until I saw it on IG a week before it came out.  I quickly pre-ordered it and couldn't wait for it to arrive on my door step!

Most people just see him as one of those crazy people who went on a TV show to find love, but there is SO much more to him than that.  He actually gives me hope for men in this world.  All we see of his life now is the "fabulous-ness"...but it hasn't always been that way, and he tells you that in this book.  He gets REAL.  Some of it might make you wonder how someone made it through all that...but he did, and he is here to tell you about!

Yes, he did find love via a television show, but this guy is a class act, and I'm so glad he is sharing "his story" with the world.  For the most part, this is a "fluff" read...I read it in a weekend, but that should tell you how good it was!  

This is a great vacation or weekend getaway book!

Order yourself a copy HERE!

2015 books

I haven't really set "goals" for 2015 other than to "Be Still..."

...but like most people, I wish I had more time to READ!  I read a lot in HS during down time at school and that made me happy.  I miss that happiness that a book can bring!

Over the last year, as I would read about a certain book, or a new book would come out on a topic I was interested in, so I wouldn't forget about it, I added it to my Amazon wishlist.  Well, the Christmas fairies came through and I'm pretty sure I got ALL of those books for Christmas!  That's exciting and all...except you can't read all of them at once!  

I've been reading The Best Yes since September...and I love it, I just have taken it slow to be able to soak in all the goodness of it, but I'm ready to finish it so that I can reflect back on what it's taught me, and how to move forward with the knowledge and resources it has provided.  

And...I'm just ready to dive into all the other books I've been wanting to read! 

So...here is my list for 2015.  Surely I can get through 6 books in a whole year!  

The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst

The Essential 55 (this is a book about teaching, I've seen the movie, but want to read the book) by Ron Clark

Hand Free Mama by Rachel Stafford

Let's all be Brave by Annie Downs

Speak by Nish Weiseth

Praying for Boys by Brook McGlothlin

I'm not sure which one I"m going to read next!?  Any suggestions!  What should I add to my Amazon wish list for NEXT year!  Haha! ;)

spring/summer reading list

All through my Internship last fall, I wanted to READ!  I had read Divergent over the summer and slowly got through Insurgent during my Internship...but after that I wanted to read EVERYTHING, but I knew I honestly didn’t have the time and I was so sad about that!  

Any time I was spending leisurely reading, I knew I should be studying, or working on assignments due at the end of the semester.  It was hard to find time to squeeze a little leisurely reading in along with going to school every day 745-330.   

I was looking forward to graduating just so I could read books!  Ha...books I wanted to read, not overpriced textbooks!  

In High School I would read in class all the time when we had down time.  I usually had one of the Harry Potter books or something written by Nicholas Sparks with me.  That’s about as far as my reading got (and I’m okay with that!)

I finally finished Allegiant in mid January...I was ready to finish it to complete the Divergent series, especially since the movie was coming out in March.

I really enjoyed the series as a whole, but Divergent was my favorite book by far.  Insurgent I felt like was too long and drawn out and a lot of it could have been left out, but that’s just me!  Allegiant kept my attention...but was also confusing at times...and the end was complete SHOCKER!  But still happy I read the series!

I knew I wanted to read something by Nicholas Sparks afterwards...to get a little romance in my life!  Ha!  I took to his latest book The Longest Ride and let’s just say it was the best little ride! ;)  It is set in modern times and two love stories intertwined into one book.  It’s interesting to see how the two stories end up tying together.  I finished it in record time {for me!} which says a lot about how good it was!

Not everyone enjoys Nicholas Sparks’ books, but I have always loved them since the movie of The Notebook came out!  I don’t know if I can pick a favorite though!  I have all of his books and most of his movies...right now my favorite movies of his are Safe Haven and The Lucky One.  Both such sweet love stories!  

I knew his next movie coming out was The Best of Me, so that was my next book of choice.  I wanted to make sure I read it before it came out in theaters (October 2014).  It’s not nearly as long as The Longest Ride {no pun intended! ;)}...but I’m having a little trouble getting into it, but hoping that it is going to get moving at a faster speed soon.  Good or bad, I know I’ll be glad I read it before I see the  movie!

I just heard about The Fault in the Stars yesterday and had honestly seen the cover a few times floating around the web, but never paid much attention to it.  So of course I ran to Mr. Google to see what all the hype was about.  I watched the trailer and noticed one of the main characters was being played by one of the same girl who is playing Tris in Divergent...Shailene Woodley!  I haven’t been STOCKED about her being picked to play Tris, but I guess if she’s an up and coming star...there’s a reason she’s in too hot movies coming out this summer.  

So I guess she’s basically what reeled me in, and now The Fault in the Stars is next on my “To Read” list!

Few quotes from "Not Afraid of Life..."

Here are a few quotes & sayings & things that Bristol said in her book that I wanted to have to look back on. I think we both has the same mind set when we going through what we've been through, & have since then found out we were both way wrong. Maybe seeing some of these will make you want to read the book even more! :)























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It's already Monday again...?

So..what's new today?  Not a lot.

Ryder finally went to sleep in his OWN bed last night since being home from vaca.  It has been a bit of an adventure getting him back in his normal routine & not sleeping with Mama any more since our return home!  I have had to spank him 4-5 times every time it's time for him to lay down for getting out of his bed!  He has even learned how to open his door now!  :O  Thank you Uncle G for teaching him this while we were at the beach!!  Last night, I heard his door open, so I walked to the end of the hallway from the living room where I could see him & he saw me & shut the door & ran to the other side of his room!  Ha!  Like I can't get him over there or something!  & every time I go in there to spank him & put him back in his bed, he has the biggest, cheesiest, fake grin on his face & I have to cover up my face because I'm laughing so hard!  This kid is too much & is ALWAYS keeping me laughing & on.my.toes!

MacKenzie spent the night with us last night so we could watch her today while her mom went to work & sister went to class.  Ryder loves her so much & calls her "Kenzie".

I have been trying to get all of Ryder's old clothes together to get tagged & organized for the Rhea Lana sale coming up.  It is a tedious process, but so worth it when you go pick up that check!

 I finished reading Bristol Palin's book while on vaca.  I bought it on eBooks & seriously never put it down.  I was reading it every where we went.  Her story is so very similar to mine so I could relate to her almost 100% of the time...minus the part of having a mom that was running for VP of the United States--not that big of a different right?!  :P

She seems to be a very bright girl with a good head on her shoulders & gives 110% to provide her son with a good life, as well as a worry free future.  I can't imagine having to go through what she did in a National spotlight.  This is a great & super easy read & I highly recommend you to read it, especially TEEN GIRLS!--This might make you think about a few things before actually doing them! :)

{Isn't she just GORG?!}

I start school a month from today, so I am going to do my best to soak up these last few weeks at home with my sweet boy!  & he starts MDO the week after Labor Day!  I am happy, but sad at the same time...he is just growing up!  But I know it will be one of the best things I have ever done for him, which is why I'm doing it!  =)

Hope y'all are having a great Monday!