Still working toward my goal to read 52 books in 2013. Here's my reads for March and April:
My fiction reads:
I've stayed on track with my bible reading plan. It is my first read of the day. I am amazed that each time I read the scriptures I receive a new revelation. It is truly a living word! Our God is so good.
Books read year to date = 31.
I have a goal to read 52 books this year. Each month I update my reading list and track my progress.
My February Fiction reads were all free. I love the free ebook posts over at Frugal Girls.
My faves from February:
Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker - What happens when Jesus interrupts the average life? Interrupted encourages believers to ask if their lives bring integrity to the gospel. Follow the faith journey of author and fellow disciplemaker Jen Hatmaker and rediscover Jesus among the least of us.
Let. It. Go. by Karen Ehman - Many women are wired to control. You're the ones who make sure the house is clean, the meals are prepared, the beds are made, the children are dressed, and everyone gets to work, school, and other activities on time. But trying to control everything can be exhausting, and it can also cause friction with your friends and family. This humorous, yet thought-provoking book guides you as you discover for yourself the freedom and reward of living a life 'out of control,' in which you allow God to be seated in the rightful place in your life. Armed with relevant biblical and current examples (both to emulate and to avoid), doable ideas, new thought patterns, and practical tools to implement, Let It Go will gently lead you out of the land of over-control and into a place of quiet trust.
Goals for 2013 and my January reads. My year to date total is 19 books.
I started.
I finished.
I didn't die.
Me and my kiddos except the baby (happily riding in stroller = do not disturb even for a picture) in front of the Hampton fountain after the race. Katie and Gracie finished the Hampton Sweetheart 5K MUCH faster than me (my first). Gracie (also her first 5K) took 2nd in her age division (boys and girls). The Chief sat this one out to watch the littles. Turns out Katie also won a cutest cupid award. She is pretty cute.
So, I'll probably do another one in April. Hoping for a MUCH better finish time on the clock.
Mark that one off the list.
I've set a goal to read 52 books in 2013. I'm excited to have started the year off strong but I must confess that I've had a lot of extra reading time.
First of all, let me say that people often ask me how I find time to read because I have five kids, homeschool them, they're involved in lots, and I do a lot of volunteer work at our church. (The chief is the pastor, volunteering goes with the territory but even when he isn't the pastor it still goes with my territory.) Here's my secrets: I don't watch TV. My family may watch TV but you'll catch me sitting nearby with a nook in my hand. Unless, there is a new episode of Duck Dynasty. I also keep a book or my nook with me at all times. I might only get in a page or two here and there but if I'm waiting, I'm reading.
The extra reading time has come from basketball practice. Two of my gals are b-balling it up and as much as I enjoy watching them, I've been watching since October and there really are only so many suicides (running) a momma can watch. This has bought me about two extra reading hours (maybe more if I didn't have to run to the store so often). I am the crazy lady sitting in the bleachers at practice boohooing over an eReader. Seriously some of these books have been real tearjerkers.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess - 7 is the true story of how the author (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. Jen Hatmaker is hilarious. I love her humor. Most of all, she has set in motion some thoughts and evaluations of my current life. The Chief and I live pretty modestly as it is. I think reading 7 has given me more confidence in our lifestyle and opened my eyes to even more steps to a Christ-like simplicity and generosity. Just read it. You'll be glad.
Unglued - The most important thing I learned from Lysa TerKeurst's book is finding peace in your most difficult relationships as you learn to be honest but kind when offended. Serious. If you are in a difficult relationship the only thing you can change is - you! Unglued helps with that.
The Circle Maker - I will not lie. After reading Mark Batterson's book, I prayed a circle around my home, my church, and parts of our town. If that is weird to you, you'll have to read The Circle Maker to find out what the circles are all about. I'm still praying circles.
The Duck Dynasty Family - I love the show. I laughed and I was touched by their story. I loved learning more about the history of the family and Duck Commander. Reading their book only made me love the show even more.
The four remaining books are historical fiction. I was able to download all of them for free thanks to The Frugal Girls. Check the link everyday for free ebooks to download. I've seen cookbooks, children's books, and all types of Christian fiction. I enjoyed all four!
In addition to these great books, I am reading through the greatest book. I've been doing my daily bible reading plan. I've read the NKJV and the NIV in previous years. This year I am reading the NLT. I read from the Old Testament in the AM and the New Testament in the PM. It's been awesome.
The only things that will cause you to change over the years are the books you read and the people you meet.
No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.
Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.
You'll never achieve the goals you don't set. I want to always be a goal-setter. I fully believe that in order to get where you want to go, you have to have a map (aka steps/goals to get you there). You don't set out on a journey and accidentally arrive at the desired location. Setting goals closes the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Who you are and who you want to become. If we don't set goals, our minds become stagnant.
Reading at Money Saving Mom has persuaded me to share my goals for this year. So, if you are reading this, you've become my accountability. 
I'll keep you posted during the year how it's coming along.
Spiritual Goals
Personal Goals
Financial Goals
Family Goals
So here I go. I've set my goals. Going to break them down in bite-size pieces. Going to follow through with those bite-size pieces and re-evaluate my progress each month. Setting goals is the way to turn imaginations into memories! Thanks for reading!
7. Emrie turned 8!
8. The Chief and I celebrated our 16th Anniversary and Gracie turned 11!
9. The Chief celebrated his last thirty.
10. I celebrated 36 and the Chief ran his first 5K!
11. Then Katie ran her first 5K.
12. We celebrated our first Christmas with five kids!
2013, here we come!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Happy New Year!
2012 was an awesome year for us! We were abundantly blessed.
It is important to look back and remember the good things God has done. In honor of 2012, here are 12 things I'm thankful for (one from each month on my blog):
1. Josiah's first year. (Story of his birth.)
Jan 1, 2012
Dec 31, 2012
2. Our refurbished thrifted chalkboard table. Still loving it. Most days you will find our family of seven crowded around this little table instead of our big table.
3. In March, we renewed our commitment to bring our children up in the Lord. We were honored to stand before God and promise to continue to raise our first four and now our newest (5th) child to love and serve God.
4. Judah turned 5 and Katie turned 14!
5. The Chief and I led our first online small group. Family Devotions for the Young and Restless.
6. My nephew graduated highschool. We traveled to Virginia and had a blast!
to be continued...
God is so good to speak into our hearts exactly what we need to hear exactly when we need to hear it. On January 4, 2011, the Chief and I had a pastor to remind us that God speaks a word into our ear and we need to walk in that word even when it isn't logical. Even when everything around us says, "be afraid" or it seems too hard. We need to be confident and faithful to that word. Looking back at 2011, I can tell you that was a very timely word.
A New Year represents a time of new resolve. It is an opportunity to evaluate, renew, or set new goals. I think God wants to do really big things in our lives. Bigger than we can imagine. Bigger than we can do on our own.
Some sweet sweet friends of ours are adopting a child. Part of financing their adoption was an adoption loan. They found out at the start of December that their loan had been turned down. Understandably they were very upset not knowing where they would find the money they needed and fully expecting a delay in their adoption. When I heard their news, I hoped that God was wanting to do something really big - like fund their adoption debt free. I, along with many others, began to pray for them. They found out this week that an anonymous donor has contributed the exact amount they need to go forward with the adoption! Praise God that loan didn't go through!
So, if things don't seem to be going the way you thought, don't be discouraged. Just be prepared for God to do something bigger in 2012! God isn't a halfway God. He does things all the way. He makes BIG things possible!
So in 2012:
Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.
May 2012 be abundantly blessed!
With love, The Trents
Take the love dare.
Bible study coming to LHC in February. If there is not a study group near you, read the book and take the dare on your own! Save your marriage in 2011! Take the Love Dare to make your good marriage even better!
Drink the "Dave Ramsey Kool-Aid". Seriously one of the best things you can do for your 2011. It's not that Financial Peace offers some magical mystical information. It doesn't. It's common sense. But what it does do is give you step-by-step goals that are easy to follow. On average, FPU families pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in just the first 90 days! Stop worrying about money, and start your journey to Financial Peace. 2011 will be your best year yet!
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