"Unglued"

    Do you have those freak out moments when you wish that life could rewind and you could take back the incident that just occurred? Well, I recently had one of those moments... and it was a pretty awful one.
     After a long day of attempting to homeschool my kids I felt beat down and to say the least- not worthy. My oldest had pushed my buttons until they were permanently stuck and my patience had become non-existent. Then instead of things getting better after Daddy arrived home- they just escalated to the next level.  She added one more smart-mouthed comment and I came unglued! What ensued next left her with a small red handprint close to her rear and me the feeling that she needed to be taken to the closest public school and enrolled before I strangled her. Okay so not literally but I had to go to my room and close the door to get away from it all. Once in there I realized that the bathtub still had cleaner in it from earlier in the day... thankfully cleaning calms me down and helps me think- so I started scrubbing, which led to sobbing, and eventually praying.
     Do I tell this because I am proud of it? NO, actually quite the opposite... I am appalled at my reaction! However, since that moment I have been spending time in prayer and the bible trying to figure out the root cause of my explosion moment. God is also hard at work trying to help me... every place I turn seems to be a slap in the face of the bad choice I made at that moment. So when I found out that the ladies group at church would be covering the book "Unglued" by Lysa Terkeurst I knew God had something in store for me within that group and in the pages of this book.
    Today we had our first meeting to discuss chapters 1 and 2.. can I just say- this is going to be a great book! When you can find yourself in the first chapter of a book it's usually a good indicator of something you will be able to learn from. This book addresses those "raw" emotions that all of us deal with... especially as women. So for the next 8 weeks I am opening myself up to the lesson(s) God has in store for me with this study. Along with this study I have devoted myself to an in depth study of Colossians with another group of wonderful ladies. Yes, I am ready for a detox and some deep growth.
    Please join me (if you would like) and learn what it is that really triggers your raw emotions and how God intends for you to truly handle them.
    I'm excited and ready for the improved mother and wife that will come from the knowledge I gain.

My 2012 Reading Goals

    I have spent quite a bit of time over the past few weeks looking back at 2011 and goal setting for 2012. I am not much of a New Years resolution setter because I feel most are never achieved, but I feel God intends for us to always set goals to stay on the correct path he has set before us.(Phillipians 3:13-16)
   As a homeschooling mom; I am constantly looking for ways to encourage my kids to read. I myself am an avid reader and love books (lots of them)! However, to this very day my girls detest reading. I tease my husband that the genetic passed from him because he is not a reader (as in his eyes close before the page turns). My son is just now learning to read and so I pray constantly for him to enjoy books.
   Each day as part of our school assignment I read various stories from history to the kids. On top of that the My Fathers World Curriculum gives a suggested book. Some last days; others go on for weeks. I have enjoyed each book recommended and as the year has gone by the kids have come to love this time as well. We are currently finishing up our reading of  "Farmer Boy" and just started "On the Banks of Plum Creek". Both are Little House Books and the kids anxiously listen to hear the next adventure in Laura's or Almanzo's life. I've read the entire series of Little House Books before and love them more with each reading.
   Outside of the reading I do with my kids I have several books going at one time. Sometimes I read to become a better disciple, wife, or mother. Other times I read for shear enjoyment.
   This year I decided to share my list of books with you. These are the books I am going to strive to read over 2012. I may add a few over the year, but this is a great starting point. I hope you see a few books you recognize, some that you are wanting to read your self, and others you've never heard of before. Please join me in making 2012 the "reading year" for your family!

January

1.  Honey for a Child's Heart- if you have children ( or are planning to) this should be the first book you read this year
2. The Love Dare: day by day- this is a 365 day devotional
3. Financial Peace Revisited- Dave Ramsey

February

1.  One Thousand Gifts-
2. Grace for the Good Girl- Letting Go of the Try Hard Life
3. Grace Based Parenting-

March

1. Season's of a Mother's Heart-
2. 168 hours- a book on time management because we all get the same # of hours
3. What Every Wife Wants Her Husband to Know- don't be fooled by the title of this one

April

1. Dancing with My Father-How God leads Us into a life of Grace and Joy
2. A Mother's Heart

May

1. Disciplines of a Godly Woman-
2. The Mission of Motherhood-

June

1. What Women Fear- walking in faith that transforms
2. David: 90 Days With a Heart Like His- Beth Moore

July

1. The Ministry of Motherhood-
2. Ragamuffin Gospel

August

1. Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be
2. Finding Your Purpose as a Mom

September

1. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger
2. Creating an Intimate Marriage

October

1. What Jesus Demands from The World
2. Living Simply

November

1.  Total Money Makeover- Dave Ramsey
2. Large Family Logistics-

December

1. Calm My Anxious Heart