captivating...

i want to recommend another book.

wait wait wait!

don't go.

hear me out.

this book is a have to read for every woman who loves the Lord.

i know i am a little late to this popular read.

but i will be eternally grateful that i finally read it,

if not a tad remorseful that i hadn't read it years ago.

i honestly had to wait for a couple weeks to write this post on it,

because this book tore me up so much, that i needed the time to gather myself.

i am not a fan of 'self help' type books.

oh i read a lot on parenting, marriage, homeschooling,etc.

but as for bettering myself, figuring out my inner child and all that jazz...

i hate it.

high faluting mumbo jumbo {name that movie}

maybe that's why this one took me so long.

but this book thoroughly wrecked me in a beautiful way.

i am not a crier.

i am not generally an emotional woman.

and i'm really not a 'poor me' type.

but this brought me face to face with some spiritual demons in my life, both figuratively and literally.

God honestly spoke straight to me in through the pen of the Eldridge's.

i had, as we all do, some major misconceptions and fears about my little world and my role within it.

in this book, stasi and john delve into what God intended for womankind,

their role in making this world a beautiful place to be, and why evil wants to deter us from that role.

they speak to each woman's heart, having you dig into the lies you have believed and been a slave to, and then revealing the truth of  the captivating woman you are to Christ.

i'm going to give you just a taste...

"you are a woman.
an image bearer of God. The crown of creation.
You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved.
You are sought after, pursued, romanced,
the passionate desire of your Fiance, Jesus.
You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power.  And you are needed."


and i have taken a highlighter to my copy and could give you so many more beautiful words of theirs, but i really believe that EVERY single woman should read this.
when i do a giveaway, this will certainly be included as i would love to give one to every woman i know!

have you read Captivating?
did you love it as much as i did?

blessings,
mandy

what i've learned in the first homeschooling year...

that's right, what i've learned!

forget the kids!-ha!

i have learned:

1. not all pencils are created equal.

ticonderoga are the best i've found.  and even then they break insanely.

i despise pencils.

{bangs are getting better...especially when hidden under a Third Day hat. thanks for caring;)}

2. i should have bought stock in printer ink.

3. if you happen to spend 25 bucks on a planner...

and you happen to fill out the entire school years worth of curriculum and plans...

and decide to change up your curriculum  2 weeks in to the school year...

don't write in ink.

oops.

4. when your 5 year old yells out , "hey they're Red Coats!" upon hearing a news story about the 'British', it may be time to move on from the Revolutionary War period...

5.waking up early, having some time in the am to prep, really does pay off.

{dang}

6. that when your kid's fav. vocabulary word is "idiot", you may be failing your grade...

7. sometimes being able to recognize a rockwell or monet is better then knowing your times tables.

{oh be quiet, i'm making myself feel better!}

8. that giving myself grace on the days i don't feel well is okay.

no matter what other moms are doing.

whether that means late start, school in the afternoon, or on a sat. morn to catch up.

9. that i can be with my kids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and still be sane

 {give or take a couple instances;)}

10.  that this has been a blessing,

 it's easier than i had thought,

and yes,

we will be homeschooling again next year!

blessings,

mandy