A Little Math...

The Clark Family has a little fun math we would like to share with you...

Our prayers and the prayers of many others have been answered! Our little bundle of joy is due in early June next year!

Thank you to everyone who has prayed and walked this part of the road with us! This adventure is just getting started! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Dan and Meghan

Book Review: Redeeming Love

I know I'm a little behind the times on this one. I've heard from several friends about how much they liked this book and how I should read it. So when it came up for review, I jumped at the chance to see what I had been missing...

Why had it taken me so long to read this?!?!

"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a new release of the book that includes a reader's guide. A modern take on the story of Gomer and Hosea set in the California Gold Rush, this story is one that can touch the heart of any women who has had trouble accepting the love of another unconditionally.

I loved this story and quickly soaked it up in just a few days. Francine Rivers weaves a compelling tale and believable characters. I found myself crying as I identified with so many of Angel's insecurities and worries that I have struggled with as well. I would, however, caution readers that there are several sensitive issues that may be inappropriate for younger readers, centering on prostitution, child abuse, nudity, and adultery. All of these are thematically relevant and not gratuitous but still something readers might want to be aware of.

You can read the complete Prologue HERE! :) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! Happy Reading!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Hardest Words

A couple of months back, I heard some of the hardest words a woman of child-bearing age who wants to have children could hear...

We've been going through some testing to try and find out why we've been unable to have children after more than a year (almost two years) of trying (more on that here). We've poured out our hearts to God about our desire for this blessing and many friends have joined us in approaching the throne of grace with this request.

We decided on a course of action with my doctor. We had blood work done. I had an HSG test (x-ray scan). Everything came back normal with no statistically significant deviations. When my doctor called to discuss the latest results and next steps, we had our initial diagnosis...

Unexplained Infertility.

What my heart heard: "We have no clue why you aren't pregnant already..."

I'll tell you, it's not quite what I expected. It's only the initial, easy tests of course, but still. I guess I thought if there was anything actually wrong that it would come up by now. I assumed it would be an easy issue that would resolve with just a few more pieces of information, more data. I assumed wrong.

So now we move forward in faith. We're discussing next steps with my doctor and will soon choose a path to follow. We've started to discuss at what point we stop any medical treatments and begin pursuing adoption.We continue to pray and lay our hearts out before God. We know that He has a plan for us.

It may not make this journey any easier, but it is reassuring to know that my tear-soaked prayers are heard by the One who loves me most. May God see fit to bless us in His timing.

"She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly." 1 Samuel 1:10

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Book Review: Anomaly

When I get really into a book, I tend to devour it. I take it with me wherever I go and read it whenever I can. This usually means that I finish them pretty quickly once they've hooked me. And this one? Well...I finished it in about 24 hours.

Granted it is a "Young Adult" book, but that's how gripped I was by the story. I had to know what happened!

"Anomaly" is the story of the world post-nuclear destruction. The Scientists are the rulers of the State and they have engineered everything for humanity's survival...including removing citizens' feelings and programming people for complete obedience and submission to the State. But they cannot control everything...

Thalli has never seen the outside world except through the thick windows above her. All she knows is she is different from the rest of the citizens in her Pod...she feels, a fact she must hide if she wishes to survive...

But when she's found out? Well, that's when the real adventure begins! I kept turning pages, wanting to find out what would happen next, losing myself in the suspense, along with losing track of time. :) And in the end...I never saw it coming.

Highly recommended for fans of "The Hunger Games" and other dystopian fiction. However, be forewarned...this is the first in a trilogy, something I didn't realize until the end of the book. The second book "Luminary" won't be released until July 2014.

Is it 2014 yet???

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Moving Day!

It's the follow-up to Closing Day (finally)! :)

The day after we closed on our house, friends descended on our rental to help us move our stuff!

Our moving truck...not sure why NC is associated with Venus Fly Traps...

We rented a truck and one of our friends helped direct the loading of the two truckloads of boxes and things that we moved to the new house. We prayed the weather would hold out since it was pouring earlier in the morning, but by the time everyone had arrived, things had cleared up considerably and there was no rain the rest of the day! What a blessing! Also thankfully, we still had boxes left over from our move out here and about one-third of our stuff was still packed from that move too. :) That made it much easier to get ready for the move.

Mostly unloaded now

Our friends were such troopers! They carried boxes all over the place and no one complained when lunch was a little late (store remade a couple pizzas that got burned). They were truly a Godsend for us. Being new to an area, it can feel hard to ask for help or can feel like no one will be willing or able to help with such an endeavor. But I was praising God that day for all the wonderful friends he has provided us since we moved to Lincoln.

Goofing around :)

Thank you to everyone who came and helped us move into our first home! You made it such a smooth process and a wonderful welcome to homeownership! :) Now to just keep unpacking all those boxes!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Closing Day

Well, I guess I owe you, my readers, some updates. :) A ton has happened in the past couple of weeks!

On Friday, May 24th, Dan and I closed on our very first home!

It was pretty exciting! We had to make a last minute stop at the bank on the way there, since we'd been given an incorrect amount for closing costs and had to pick up another cashier's check for the difference. Otherwise, it went really smoothly and quickly.

We spent most of the rest of the day at the new house taking care of business. Our realtor helped us get our locks re-keyed and we had to have an electrician come by to drop an extra electrical outlet in the basement (part of the inspection fixes). We also stopped by the Salvage Warehouse nearby and purchased our washer and dryer, a wonderful used pair with large capacity at the price one of them would be new and they work great! Who knew you could be this excited about appliances? ;)

So now the settling in process is in full swing! I'll draw up another post to tell you all about moving day and our wonderful friends that came out to help us. Let the adventures in homeownership begin!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Don't Worry...

I think God is trying to teach me something...

You know sometimes how multiple things will all happen in a short time frame that all address the same issue? And you're certain that God is just nudging you, asking "Are you paying attention?" Well, it's been like that for me the past couple weeks.

It all started with this song:

 "If we're gonna pray about it, there's no use in worrying.
If we're gonna worry about it, why are we praying?
Just leave it in the hands of the Father
Leave it in the hands of the Healer
Leave it in the hands of Jesus and Walk Away..."
~"Hands of the Healer", Brandon Heath

And then our pastor preached on worry this past Sunday:

"Worry is the emotional reward for material preoccupation." Wow...

My husband had agreed to cover for our Sunday School teacher next week so after church, we picked up the new materials from him. Turns out the material is different character studies from the Old Testament. And then we found out who he would be teaching on...Hannah. (For those who don't know Hannah's story, you can check it out in 1 Samuel 1.)

Hannah's story has been resonating with me lately. You see, Dan and I have known for a long time that we wanted children. We started talking about raising a family before we were even engaged while we were getting to know each other. We even made it one of our goals to be pregnant by our second anniversary.

Obviously, God had other ideas.

You see, after our first anniversary, we stopped trying to avoid pregnancy. Just a couple months later, we actively were trying to conceive. That was more than a year ago now...

When I met with my doctor in October, she looked at my NFP charts and we chatted for a bit about where Dan and I were at and what our goals were. We discussed steps I could take to try and help and that, if nothing happened, I should set up an appointment with her in 6 months to discuss our testing options. Since we'd already been trying for a bit, she didn't want to make me wait the traditional year. She was really sweet (I love when meeting new docs goes well) and even said that she hoped she got to see me sooner for better reasons (i.e. being pregnant).

Obviously, God has other ideas.

Our appointment to meet with her to discuss our options and first steps is in mid-June. We had hoped to avoid this journey. Yet at the same time, we knew it was very possible we would be asked to walk this path since both of our moms had issues getting pregnant and, once they did, were considered high-risk. So we knew it was a possibility, one that seems to be becoming a reality.

And this is why I think God has been putting all these "moments" in my life lately. Moments of telling me "I've got this." Whispering "I know your heart" and "Trust me." Only He knows what the future holds and, if I'm going to (and have been) pray about it, then what's the use of worrying? "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Luke 12:25)

So I'm thankful for small reminders, even when they pull at my heart and remind me of this desire. I'm grateful for that still, small voice that reminds me of how He holds me in His hands. So now I will attempt to do my part and leave it in the hands of the Healer.

Because God's plans are always the best.

Thank you for reading. I know this is longer and deeper than I may usually go in my writing so I appreciate you sticking it out to the end. :) Prayers are greatly cherished as we begin our walk down what could be a difficult road.

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone),
Meghan

Make Me an Offer

Friends! I am so excited to tell you that we are in the process of buying a house!!

We have been searching for months and at times I admit it was really discouraging to see multiple houses in a row that were all a bust. I specifically remember breaking down in tears in the converted attic space (1/2 story) of one house as I wondered if we would find something in a reasonable time and before our current lease ran out.

Well, we did! I even remember telling Dan the night before we saw our house that I thought it had potential based on the listing and pictures. But then we drove to it...and I realized where it was located. I began to second-guess myself. The house was fabulous...but would I be okay living on the edge of town?

I thought about it, slept on it, prayed about it. Then I Googled it. Turns out the house is no farther from anything than where we live now and it's in a more established neighborhood! It's even closer to some things that we are now. Then of course there's the benefit of it being our own home, not a rental. 

So I asked if we could see it a second time. We saw it the first time on a Tuesday (in bad weather so we couldn't really look outside) and then again on Friday. In between, it turns out someone else submitted an offer but the owners allowed us to still see it again so we could submit an offer.

So we took the plunge! We saw it again then sat in a Subway to immediately draw up the papers. We even waited in the parking lot while our realtor called the listing realtor and let her know what our offer was. With one adjustment to the closing date, our offer was accepted!

So now we are knee deep in mortgage paperwork, making insurance appointments, and attending inspections. Things are going smoothly so far and we hope it continues that way! We're pretty excited and are slowly beginning the process of packing the non-essentials. I am excited that this will hopefully be the last move for a while, Lord-willing!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Book Review: Baby's First Year

You may remember that my last book review was "The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby". Well, I liked it so much that I requested to review the next book in the series, "The Christian Mama's Guide to Baby's First Year". :)

"Baby's First Year" is chock full of the same wit and humor along with sage advice that made the first book so likable. Since there's not much you can do but pray before the baby arrives, the idea of a "Christian Mama's Guide" begins to fill out much more in this book. With the usual prayer breaks in each chapter, the author also writes about habits to start from the beginning, like talking to your baby about God, reading your Bible in front of him/her, and praying with and for your baby.

Along with the expected topics such as breastfeeding, solid foods, diapering, and baby gear, Erin also covers topics just for moms like Mommy Guilt, postpartum healing, giving your marriage the attention it still needs, and activities to do with your baby (for when you're tired of just watching them be cute). She provides plenty of links and places to look for further advice and information as well. I loved all the advice and ideas along with Erin's encouraging tone for moms, full of "been there, done that" knowing grace and comfort. It's a great high level overview (with some details) of baby's first year.

Probably my favorite line from the whole book came from the Epilogue, written as her youngest child had just turned one: "Yes, things were simpler before I became a mom. But not better. And certainly not happier."

If you would like to read more of Erin's work online, you can check out her website: http://www.christianmamasguide.com/. There are some great posts and additional content waiting for you!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Love Does

I bought a new CD the other day and immediately listened to the whole thing...who wouldn't? But there was one song that stuck in my mind and made me think of one of my best friends.

Many of my blog readers know my friend Holly. Holly and I met one summer evening when we TP'd a mutual friend's car while home from college. :) Ah, college...

Anyway...Holly has been living overseas for two years. She is on the front lines in fulfilling Our Father's commission in southeast Asia. I was super-blessed that she came back to be my maid of honor at our wedding and also that I've been able to Skype with her a few times (timing, third-world internet, and Lord willing).

I know how much I love this girl. I know how much she is in my heart, thoughts, and prayers. I know how excited I am for her to return to the field this June after her hiatus and I know that she will do some amazing things for the Kingdom. But I also know there is a lot I don't know.

Because of where she is located and for security reasons, I don't know all the places she has traveled. There are stories I will never hear. I don't always know when I'll get to talk to her again. I'm not even sure I'll ever get to see her in person again this side of heaven.

I don't know all the souls that now know our Father because of her efforts. But I know the One who does know all these things.

So this song is for my friend, Holly, and those around the world just like her, those I know and those I don't. When it feels like no one knows or hears, Love does. This one goes out to the world changers...

This one goes out to the world changer
Shining your light in the face of danger
Oh, tell us what you know
You’re a saint, you’re a son, you’re a promise keeper
Bottom of the well, still digging down deeper
Oh, how far you gonna go

Chasing down hope
Moving on dreams
Taking that path
Maybe it’ll lead you home
Maybe it won’t

(Chorus)
Nobody knows why your heart is broken
Nobody cries while your prayers are going up
But Love does
Nobody walks on the road you’re paving
Nobody sees all the souls you’re saving
Oh, but Love does
Love does
Love does

This is for the one on the front line fighting
Ringing that bell over everybody
Oh, tell us what you know
Knocking down doors in the midnight alley
Looking for a life in a desert valley
Oh, how far you gonna go

Chasing down hope
Moving on dreams
Taking that path
Maybe it’ll lead you home
Maybe it don’t

You are a renegade
You’re an outlaw of Love’s crusade
And they don’t know who you are
They don’t know
They don’t know
But Love does
I’m telling you, Love does

Somebody knows
Somebody cries
Somebody feels
Love does
Somebody walks
Somebody sees
Somebody knows
Love does

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Nothing Like Girlfriends!

After my stint as a film star for TrueU, I got the chance to see some friends in Colorado before heading off to a girls' weekend with some of my best girlfriends. :)

I made the drive down to Colorado Springs to visit the staff at the Focus Leadership Institute. It was a great time of catching up with friends and getting to sit in on one of the new classes they've added since I attended.

Man, I love this view! :)

Then, a short flight to Dallas later, it was reunion time with my roommates from FLI! :D

We were excited to celebrate our friend, Alisha, surviving the Texas Bar Exam but it was also a good excuse to see each other all together for the first time in 1.5 years. The last time we'd been in the same place was for Danielle's wedding in California in July 2011.

One of the best things about having these ladies as such good friends is that we pick up pretty much where we left off last time. We stayed up until 2:30 in the morning our first night together chatting and catching up. It felt good to pick up right where we had left off. From fields of daffodils and homemade Texas brisket to fire alarms and late night "interruptions" it was an unforgettable time.

The weekend was refreshing for me on so many levels. It is always nice to have a weekend away and especially to reconnect with old friends. However, with the move, I've felt slightly burned out with making new friends. I know it's part of moving to a totally new location but it takes a lot of energy, especially for an introvert, and sometimes you just want to go "where everybody knows your name" (to borrow from Cheers).

And these girls?

Yep, they totally know my name...and my hangups...and my dreams. We've been through a lot together in the 5 years since we met. I'm so glad I get to call them friends and I can't wait until our next awesome-ness filled reunion! :) Love you, ladies!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Book Review: Christian Mama's Guide

Disclaimer #1: I am not pregnant.

Disclaimer #2: I am NOT pregnant.

Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let the review commence. :)

"The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby" is the first in Erin MacPherson's series of "Christian Mama's Guide" books. And since my husband and I are trying to get pregnant, I figured it might be a good idea to get a jump start on my reading. :)

Erin's book is a pleasant combination of humor and information. It was like sitting with a good girlfriend who will give it to you straight but make you laugh at the same time. Now granted, I have not and am not pregnant but this was definitely the kind of book I would want to read. I enjoyed the tone very much and it was full of useful information in my opinion. Granted, she is not a medical professional so don't go looking for detailed information in that respect, but she also consults several other people and doesn't pretend to know everything.

I also liked that she covered topics tangential to the actual pregnancy but baby-related, such as baby gear, discussing names, and having a support system. The mini devotionals also help to refocus the reader's attention from obsessing over all things pregnancy and baby to centering on God and his blessings and strength.

To summarize, this is a great general pregnancy book with a Christian flair and a good sense of humor, probably best for first time mamas (though my mom and husband got a kick out of parts of it as well).

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Movie Star

At the end of February, I had the amazing opportunity to be part of a video taping through Focus on the Family.

In our Focus Leadership Institute Alumni newsletter last December, we received an invitation to participate as students while Dr. Del Tackett taught the third set of lessons for TrueU.

For those who are familiar with the Truth Project, Dr. Tackett's name will be familiar. He taught that study of Christian worldview and society in a 12 lessons DVD-based curriculum intended for small group adult Bible studies. Now, a similar series has been developed for students in late high school and early college that centers on equipping students to embrace and defend their faith in college.

So far, two sets of lessons have been filmed and distributed. The first set addressed the question "Does God Exist?" and the second was "Is the Bible Reliable?" Now the third set will ask "Who is Jesus?" and will be available in October of this year. If interested, you can pre-order it here. (Though if you plan on using it for a Bible study, I would recommend doing Sets 1 and 2 first since they all build on each other.)

It was an absolutely amazing experience that left me feeling immensely blessed to have had the opportunity to participate. We had been previously told to bring around six different outfits for taping and I'm glad that some of mine were interchangeable and could be added to since we ended up doing about nine outfit changes, even if some were only minor (add accessories, change hairstyle, etc.).

It was refreshing and stimulating to sit as a student again under Dr. Tackett's teaching. I scribbled notes as quickly as I could while still keeping in mind all the instructions and cues we'd been given by the film crew. "Look Alive!" "Don't look at the cameras!" "Don't slouch or cross your arms!" Only half my brain could pay attention to the lesson since the other half was focused on not hitting my microphone (lapel mics that plugged into a wire on our chairs), staying alert, and not shivering too much (the room was cold!). The whole crew was great and the makeup/wardrobe ladies kept us looking good. I felt a little like a movie star! :)

I don't want to spoil too much of what the lessons are about but I will share two statements I highlighted in my notes that made an impression:

"We are offended by Jesus when he doesn't fit our image of what he should be." <<< We referred to this image as our "Jesus doll" throughout the study.

"We struggle with exclusivity [that Jesus is the Only Way] because we think too little of Jesus and too little of what he did." <<<Explaining why we tend to think we have to defend Jesus or give into a doctrine of "tolerance" which in fact demeans what he did and elevates ourselves in our own minds.

If you want more you'll have to watch the series when it comes out in October! :)

Believe it or not, this was only the first half of my trip that started in Colorado! :) Second half was a girls' weekend with my roommates from the Focus Leadership Institute in Dallas, TX...that deserves a post all to itself! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

P.S. This photo was taken and posted on the FLI Facebook page :) I'm in the front row in the bright pink shirt (also visible in the camera screen in the foreground). How cool is that!

Book Review: Sudden Glory

Have you ever longed for something more in your relationships with God? Maybe if you just did one more Bible study, volunteered in one more ministry, or baked just one more meal for a family in need you might feel you had attained something more? I know I have at times which is probably why Sharon Jaynes' book "A Sudden Glory" appealed to me. I was curious to hear what she had to say about what she called the "glory ache" and how to alleviate it.

This book really drew me into its message of living, moving, and having our being in Christ (see Acts 17:28) at all times, eradicating the supposed barrier between the sacred and everyday life. As I continued reading and delving into the various aspects of this idea, I found my eyes opening and seeing more of the glory moments around me. Not only that, but it's reinforced my desire to have boundaries when it comes to getting involved in activities and ministries. I don't want to give in to the tyranny of the "busy" and miss out on what God would say to me when I heed to call to "be still". Sometimes it's just realizing that the real question is not what does God want from me but what does He want for me and the difference that small distinction can make.

The book also includes a study guide with a section for each chapter that can be used individually or with a group. In addition, on her website, Sharon offers additional resources and a place to read and share glory moments that you have experienced. There's even an online Bible study centered on the book. Everything available enhances the experience started in "A Sudden Glory". 

You can read Chapter One of "A Sudden Glory" HERE and see for yourself.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Letting go of "Not The One"

Well, friends, our house search has been going in earnest. We've seen seven houses so far with two more on the schedule for tomorrow evening.

But today was the first time one of the houses we had seen was placed under contract. This particular house was the one we had placed at the top of our list so far but were still not "sold" so we kept looking, figuring we'd come back to it and revisit the idea if there was nothing else.

Granted this house was not "The One", but it was still the one we had seen so far that we considered a best fit for us. Not only that, but it was the very first house we saw in our search. After seeing the other six houses, we kept coming back to this one, even though we knew there were still things we wanted to change and felt (along with our realtor) that it was overpriced. It was on the older end of the spectrum and needed a little work, but all feasible.

Despite deciding that, while it was the top of the ones we'd seen, it wasn't for us, I was still slightly crestfallen when I found out it was under contract. But there have been some positives in our search. After speaking with the loan officer, we've decided to expand our search a little by raising our price limit. There is plenty of stock within our price range, allowing us choices in what to see and the ability to exclude those whose layout we have completely discounted (i.e. split foyer/entry).

So we continue to press on. It's a first, but really minor disappointment in our search. We know that God has a place out there for us, we just have to persevere in finding it.

Soli Deo Glori,
Meghan

The Hunt is On!

Let the search begin!

On January 22nd, we had our first meeting with a realtor here in Lincoln, NE. While slightly depressing learning we couldn't afford as much as I originally thought if we wanted to keep our monthly payments on target/budget, it was still a very informative meeting and a good chance to start getting to know our realtor.

We've been looking at listings he's sent us and got to see our first ones Saturday morning! We had originally picked out seven from the initial list of 28, but now two of them are under contract and one has been taken off the market to be rented. So we were able to see four different places around town. We immediately eliminated at least one of them but it was a good start to our search. :)

We are really excited to start this phase of our lives. I'm already starting to imagine painting and fixing up a place so that it suits us and becomes our home. Now just praying that God will lead us to the right home and give us wisdom as we work through the process.

Look for more blog posts in the future as we walk this path as first-time homebuyers! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

One Crazy Idea...

You guys! I'm so excited today!

Not only is today the LAST DAY of my 2nd Whole30 (results posted next week)...but my friends, Jeff and Julie, asked me to guest blog about the experience for their blog! These two really inspired me to do my very first Whole30 last year. Julie fielded so many questions from me that she probably started wondering if I would ever stop! ;) But seriously, the experiences I've had on my Whole30 I own in part to them and the inspiration they have been over the past year as they've pursued their healthy eating goals. So it was an honor to be asked to write a guest blog for them.

Without further ado, my 1st guest blog!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Taking the Plunge

Well, last week I took the plunge...

Tweet, tweet

...I joined Twitter.

Yes, I know that I'm a little behind "trend" since people have been using Twitter for years now. But there wasn't much incentive until recently when one of the book review programs I review for tied the books you could choose to a social media influence score based partially on your Twitter account. Hence, Meghan has a new Twitter account. :)

If you'd like to follow me, you'll find me @Faith4Wings on Twitter :)

Happy Tweeting!
Meghan

Book Review: Grace

It's not often a book can move me or make me think just by reading the description, but "Grace" by Max Lucado. You may think you understand or know grace but Lucado challenges the reader to dig deeper and gain a deeper understanding of God's true grace. Because God's grace is not simple nor surface-level, but is a force of nature unto itself that God wishes to lavish on each of us to strengthen and sustain us, change and embolden us.

I loved this book. Each chapter was short enough to not weigh me down but always had plenty to think about after reading it. At times I read several chapters before processing but occasionally there would be something that would grab me and I would only get through one chapter. I was challenged to deepen my understanding of what God's grace looks like and how He might want to use his grace in my life. It truly gave me a more vibrant picture of what grace could look like.

Now, I know that Max Lucado's story telling style is not for everyone. But I rather enjoyed some of the real life stories that permeated the book and helped to give flesh to some of the concepts on grace. I think this will definitely be one I will have to reread at some point again as I work to have a more grace-filled life.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"NEw" Observations

Now that we've been in Nebraska for almost four months, I've learned several things about myself and my new surroundings that I thought I would share. :)

#1: I learn my way around a lot faster when the streets are in a grid system.
See all those nice roads that have numbers? They're all going north/south. See that road going east/west in the middle, labeled "O Street"? It's the north/south delineation for road names (N. 14th vs. S. 14th). I've been able to go out now without the GPS several times and know that I could find my way home. :) It's quite the feeling of accomplishment.

#2: Skunks seem to be the most common form of roadkill.
Don't know why...all I know is that I try to avoid them whenever I see them. No sense making my car smelly.

#3: If you have to go out, never leave the house until after kickoff on football game days (home OR away).
If it's a home game, then everyone is getting to the stadium. If it's an away game, everyone is out getting snacks or heading to friends' to watch the game. Either way, it's really much less crowded on the roads and in stores if you just wait until after kickoff. :) In a similar vein, make sure to be back again before the game ends.

Not our actual garage

#4: We love having a garage!
Our townhome has an attached 2-car garage and we are so enjoying the convenience and comfort of having it, especially when it snows.Makes it a lot easier when you don't have to clear off your car the next time you want to go out. We've so enjoyed it that I think it's going on the "must have" list when we start looking at homes.

#5: Hobby Lobby is A-MAZING!
Oh my gosh, I had no idea what I was missing! I had heard rave reviews from friends that had visited a Hobby Lobby before but had no clue what was in store for me when I visited for the first time. I've loved making return visits for yarn, home decor, Christmas items, and crochet supplies. I love it...and I really hope the government stops harassing it...

Well, that about sums it up for the first batch of lessons and observations from NE! :) I look forward to seeing what else I will learn in the months and years to come as we explore our new home.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan