Harvesting a Heart

I just finished a book I wanted to share with you. It is by one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. The book is called Harvesting the Heart.
. I happened to come across this one at a "Friends of the Library" sale for a dollar! It isn't typical of her writing, but while it was a little hard to get into, I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It is about a woman and a man who fall in love, one from a poor family, another an aspiring surgeon. It is an intensely emotional book, not a romance novel by any means, (I wouldn't read it if it was!) But an exploration of a relationship and what happens when a woman must discover who she is before she can love another person. It explores marriage, motherhood, family, in-laws and hurt in a captivating way. I would recommend this book!

Firstfruits

Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. Exodus 24:26a

My Garden Today

Planter Box made by Hubby about a month ago

I planted a garden a little while ago, with hopes for greatness, but low expectations.  I don't have what one would call a "green thumb."  I have never really had the opportunity for a real garden outside of a few flowers and a tomato plant.  So when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it....well sort of.  I had to sort of ease into it, convince my husband of its benefits, and then jump in. 

I planted mostly fall plants.  Tomatoes, Spaghetti Squash, Zucchini, Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, and a few others.  They have been growing like crazy, outgrew the planter box my husband made, and are starting to outgrow our little garden plot we created. 

The other day I found a cucumber hiding among the leaves, and about did a happy dance!  (Yeah, that would have been disturbing!)  I patiently waited a couple more days, then today went out and took a measurement and decided it was time to pick. 

First Cucumber

I am excited to see a couple more little ones growing, and can't wait for my other plants to do likewise.  So far I have 3 bellpeppers growing on one plant, but other than that, nothing but a lot of blooms.  At least the blooms are pretty!

My garden today

About a month ago

One Day Way Review

I got this book to review from blogging for books. Its a great website. Anyway, I loved this book! It is written in a way that I felt as if the author was sitting at my kitchen table, having a cup of coffee with me and discussing weight loss challenges! In the book Chantel discusses how to take the weight-loss journey one day at a time. She discusses the ups and downs of weight loss, and about giving your self grace while also having accountability. She includes a contract in the back of the book, committing oneself to taking life one day at a time, building yourself and others up rather than tearing down, and being your best person.
This may sound like a lot of fluff, but it is actually a very helpful book. She does include a small food plan, and while it doesn't seem like the most realistic one for me, it is good to see the perspective that comes from that plan.
I would recommend this book to others, I look forward to sharing it with friends.

Reflecting Him

"Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It is a ten-week Bible study that encourages women to see God's life lesson throughout their day. A detailed look at a potter and his wheel gives new insights to the creation of man. Open your eyes to see how God uses daily, mundane experiences to teach spiritual truths. As Jesus becomes part of eveything you do, you will be reflecting Him in ways you never dreamed possible."
"Carla McDougal, the founder of
Reflective Life Ministries, has a passion
for encouraging women to live every day
for Jesus Christ"
This book is an in depth study of the bible, Jesus, His creation, and all things surrounding it. It encourages the reader to look at aspects of God's word that might otherwise have been passed over, and contains great insight and inspiration.

This book was a little dry to me at times, sort of textbook like in its questions, however I appreciated the encourage to deepen my knowledge of and relationship with God. I still havent finished reading this book, however I am reading it daily, and looking forward to what is to come!

Heres the mail...

One of my favorite kids songs is the one from Nick Jr.'s Blue's Clues. It is about Blue getting the mail and starts "Here's the mail, it never fails, it makes me want to wag my tail.." This week was a great "mail week."


  I got two packages from Procter and Gamble, one from my scrapbooking group, a book from a friend that I need for class, a package for my kids, and a set of luggage that I got for less than $3!  The two from procter and gamble I thought were the most fun. They always come unexpected, and are always so useful!

Cover Girl package from P&G

Swiffer 360 Duster from P&G

Mail like this does make me "wag my tail"!  I could do without the bills though!

One Flesh Marriage: The Unstoppable Worshipper

One Flesh Marriage: The Unstoppable Worshipper: "Brad says... As I was reading Kate’s post, “Holding Hands in Worship” one question kept running through my mind, “what stops us?” Men, we ..."


This is a great article for all the husbands out there...Happy Father's Day!

A God of Compassion

I haven't posted my reading in a while, because I haven't been reading consistently, and when I have, I haven't always had time to post. I guess that's life with two toddlers though. I am not dwelling on the past however, but moving forward.

If you would like more information about SOAP journaling, click here.

Scripture
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.

Observation
God repeatedly has compassion on His people. He gives them 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances, even beyond that! 

Application

God is a God of compassion.  I need to embrace God's compassion, be grateful for it, and not swim in my guilt.  I need to pass His compassion on to others, with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Without the Holy Spirit, I am helpless; but with the Spirit I can have life and compassion to the fullest.


When you go about your day, think about how many chances God has given you, and pass this compassion along to others.