I love books. If you have been in my home, you already know that. I have many, many book shelves all of them full and overflowing. I have tried to downsize; it's really hard. I have so many I want to read and I have very little spare time.

 So at the beginning of this year I decided to pull 12 books from my shelf and try to read one book a month this year. That seems like a fairly doable goal. So, here I am in February with one book finished. I received this book from my daughter in law, Brittany. She knows the types of things I enjoy reading so it was fun to start with that one. The author lives in the same area as my son and daughter in law. Very fun to read local authors that I may get the chance to meet!

The book is entitled 'Simply Tuesday' with a sub title of 'small-moment living in a fast-moving world.' This immediately caught my attention.

The book for me in the month of January was like a fleece blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. I seemed to snuggle down on a blustery day and read, figuratively speaking though. It warmed my soul and calmed my heart. It spoke truth but in a gentle and loving way. It was a comfort and encouraged the start of a new year.

If you are looking for a great book to possibly place a healing salve on an open wound, this is the book. If life has entrapped you and you feel a bit overwhelmed, this is the book. If you are looking for a long list of how to's and a heap of guilt, this is NOT the book. 

I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on this book. 

The book was written by Emily P Freeman. Enjoy! 

Over the next few weeks I want to share ways that I am living simply and enjoying the small things in life. 

Martha

Writing Again...

In 1991 my husband and I left our home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, packed all our belongings and took a full time job in ministry. Since then, we have journeyed through many highs and lows. At one of the extreme lows in our life, I began to write. I awoke early in the morning, jotting down my first thoughts. I laid awake at night with so much running through my mind that I began leaving a notebook next to my bed. It seemed that is when my mind would most often compile coherent thoughts. Writing was therapeutic for me, as I would write I could feel the healing sweeping over me. I learned to devour God's Word and then write my response to what I had learned.

I seemed to set writing aside for a time; it comes and goes. Just a few years later I began writing in a journal. My writings seemed to be more of a prayer journal for me, resembling the Psalms as David wrote of his highs and lows. When things are going well, my mind and heart demand less of an outlet. Blogging has become a popular thing, and while it cannot replace my prayer journal, it can be another way for me to work through the highs and lows of life. And so I write again.

In September my husband and I were privileged to take a sabbatical. As I was away from my home and had more time to process my thoughts, I began to write again. Over the next few weeks I will share some of those writings. I am thankful for the joy of writing and for the gift of hope that comes when we allow God to be a part of our hurt and healing. Joy comes when God's Word is carefully applied like a bandage to a wound, like a cool cloth to a fever or heat to a sore back. One thing I have learned is that what I have to say really does not matter much, it is what God has to say and how I respond to it that is significant. I am looking forward to begin my blog and have you along for the journey.