Must Reads...

A few years ago my mom bought me a series of "cozy mysteries" for Christmas. The only reason she bought them for me, because they were set in Kansas. For some reason, I did the exact opposite of what I usually do, and I tucked them away on a bookshelf and I never read them. A year and a half later, I was on bedrest with Levi, and desperate for something new to read. So, I pulled them off the shelf. In four days I had read the four books in the "Cozy in Kansas" series. Somehow, God knew that I needed to tuck those books away for a rainy day, He knew that when I pulled those books off the shelf, I would find exactly what He was planning on teaching me, when I needed to learn it. You see, Nancy Mehl's books aren't just filled with a fun plot, cute romance, and captivating characters, they're something extra. Mehl incorporates her faith into each and every book that she writes. She puts in scriptures, prayers, and pulls you into the faith life of her characters. By doing this she reveals more about herself than most authors. She shares her love for the Lord and His plan for us in each and every book.

In her most recent book, Inescapable, she tells a story about a young woman, Lizzie, that has left the Mennonite faith, her family, and her hometown. Through a turn of events, Lizzie and her daughter, Charity, end up running back to the very place that Lizzie ran from, her hometown. As you read about their adjustment back into the small, conservative Mennonite town, you connect with the characters and fall in love with small town Kansas. As a young woman reading this book, I could see some of my own struggles and desires as a parent and a wife shine through. Mehl takes these struggles and turns them into triumphs, leaving you feeling refreshed and thankful for all God has blessed you with. Mehl has once again, brought forth her faith and love for others in this book. The worst news about this book, the next in the series isn't out yet!

Each time I'm done reading one of her books, I'm filled with a new sense of God's love for me, and I'm reminded of the true, Godly romance that started my relationship with my husband. These books are for every woman, and they're not something you'll be ashamed to tell your mom that you read! So, check her out online, download any of her books to your Nook, and you won't be disappointed, I promise!

Baby Steps

Okay, so we all know that getting healthier takes baby steps. In my case, I'm barely crawling at this point. But today, I drank more water than normal and my only snack was some sweet bell peppers, a tiny bit of cream cheese and some cucumbers. Yay! I know, I know, I have a long way to go to lose 50lbs, but every little bit helps!

Oh, Mondays!

This was little man today. Finally. The past couple of Mondays have not been wonderful. Levi has been sick enough that I haven't gone into work. He keeps throwing up. His doctors tell me that once he gets his feeding tube, he should stop puking so much. Today I called wondering what we could give him until then, and they don't want to give him anything. They feel as though anything that we give him could hurt his kidney. So instead, I just have to deal with a baby that throws up a few times a day. Today was better than most days though. Today we actually made it to work. We were there for about three hours, and then he started puking on the nursery workers. This really is an improvement over the past few Mondays! We came home and Levi took a good nap, then we just took it easy, reading books and such the rest of the day. A part of me is so ready for this stinking feeding tube.


On another note, I found a quote today that I love! "Stop trying to find the discipline. Find the motivation that makes you WANT to WIN. Then you will work." ~Gloria Mayfield Banks. This really made me think. I keep trying to get into a workout routine, and I worry mostly about the discipline of getting into the routine and trying to get going. I rarely think about what motivates me. I'm starting to walk in the mornings with a friend. I know that it's not much, but it's more than what we are doing now. I say we, because Levi will have to be with me. I figure that if we can get into a routine of doing something, I'll start to figure out what motivates me, and I'll go from there. I'll try to keep you updated on what works!