Book Club

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Pocket Prayers Books

I did receive these books complimentary from Litfuse Publicity Group for my review. These thoughts are my own.

pocket-prayers

I was really excited to be part of this review. I was able to connect with several people who I felt fit the bill for each books audience.

I also am someone who struggles with prayers and feeling like I am never on the right track. I also lose focus so quickly and having guidance like these books sounds great. I think things like this help me in my prayer life and give me ideas of how to strengthen my faith.

Before I gifted these off, I was able to spend some time with them. They are small books but full of impactful nuggets. Each prayer is associated with a bible passage, which makes for a great devotional as well. They seem very down to earth and highly relateable.

My dad used to listen to Max Lucado tapes in the car to prepare for Sunday school, so it was nice to see something of his again. I love his honesty, and he explains how he struggles with prayer at times such as staying awake. Yep, I’ve been there.

I would highly recommend these if you are like me and struggle with knowing where to start with prayers.

—Moms (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)

  • I gave this one to my friend, Amber. She and I work together, and is the only other mom in our office suite. We are constantly swapping baby stories and lifting each other up when a mom struggle happens. She just announced that she is expecting her second, so I was super excited to give this to her. I am also always in awe of her faith and dedication to it is refreshing to see and share as a friend.

—Grads (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)

  • My friend Sandra is about to graduate from seminary, and she is getting married the next day! So many changes for her. She is surrounded by faith conversations constantly with her schooling and job, and I know that her prayer game is pretty strong. Knowing Sandra though, she is always looking to hear other perspectives, and I hope that she enjoys this prayer book as she starts her new adventures.

—Dads (written with Mark Mynheir)

  • This one I gave to Tom. We have been working to incorporate prayer a lot more in our house because George is now at a stage where he is picking up things so quickly that we really want to instill in him to have this conversation with God. Tom was really excited when I gave it to him, and he keeps it in his work bag.

—Military Life (written with Mark Mynheir)

  • This one I gave to my friend Janelle. She is a military spouse, who just had a baby with in the last year, AND they just moved due to military orders. Dan and Janelle went to school with me, and I know that their faith is very important to them as well. I hope that they find these prayers helpful especially in this time of change due to military transitions. Oh and she  is a blogger too!

—Teachers (written with blogger Jennifer Hale)

  • This one was so obvious. My sister-in-law is a teacher. We talk all the time about our prayer life and our faith struggles. I knew this had to go to her, and I hope it helps with centering her around God even when she is surrounded by a room full of kindergartners.

—Friends (written with Betsy St. Amant)

  • My friend Leslie. This woman has a heart of gold and she makes friends with everyone. Her friendships are so important to her and developing those is one of her greatest skills. I am in awe of her ability to connect on such a real level with people so quickly. I was so excited to send her some snail mail with this book!

I love sending out mail and giving to others, so it was fun to be part of this review!

As I said, these are a great addition to any faith walk. Sometimes we all need a little guidance. These would make great gifts! They could easily fit into any bag to be on the move with you, but would also be perfect on a nightstand.

You can enter a giveaway for these books here.

How do you stay focused with prayer?

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My Final Thoughts On The Final (Bachelor) Rose

And so another season has come to an end. I have been guessing Lauren gets the final rose forever! They were the most natural from the beginning.

Here are my thoughts about this final show.

  • I don’t know how I feel about the wedding before they have had a chance to be a real couple. I hope they are just doing this as a bit, and there are no nuptials tonight.
  • What is with the cutoff jean underwear…I mean shorts?
  • I don’t think I ever had these types of conversations with Tom’s family. They get so emotional so fast!
  • I love that Lauren asked for advice on how to support Ben.
  • Ben told JoJo that he is ready to propose…but he still loves both gals.
  • It’s wierding me out that I am now looking at these from the mom’s perspective.
  • “I love them the same”…What?? You can’t love two girls the same.
  • Ok so what bad things did JoJo and Ben go through? Are they saying the family squabble was a bad thing? I don’t get it.
  • After Laurens 1/1 it seems like he is going to pick JoJo.
  • The thought of someone who is too perfect is weird to me. Which I guess is why Ben doesn’t know how to feel about it.
  • Yes JoJo, you do love him more than he loves you because he loves 2 people and you love just one.
  • JoJo in the bathroom..real honest conversation, but what did she expect going on a competition show? You will be competing until the show is over.
  • Ok I’ve switched. I think he will pick JoJo. He seems more open and relaxed around her.
  • Ben looks like he was going to throw up picking out rings…dude you are getting a Neil lane ring for free…
  • Also by the ring I think it is Lauren. Back to #teamlauren
  • Lauren dress is gorgeous…JoJo looks like cotton candy got glitterbombed. I also read that they got to keep these dresses. So there are stylists!
  • Oh no JoJo is first. She is going home.
  • I would throw up if I was JoJo.
  • Ben is adorable when he gets giddy emotional.
  • That is so sweet that he called Lauren’s dad.
  • Lauren’s face was awesome when he said he said he wanted to spend every day waking up to her.
  • JoJo and Ben are so civil. He seems to be handling this whole experience so eloquently. (well besides telling two women he loves them)
  • Ahhhh no wonder JoJo is so civil and kind…she is the next Bachelorette.
  • Well JoJo will find out how hard this process is. You knew she was going to be when Chris started prepping it and she was in the background.
  • Oh I am so glad that they didn’t do the wedding and said they wanted to really date for awhile.
  • Their families are precious.

I am pretty happy with these results. As always, I am looking forward to the next season. I feel like JoJo will have a little bit more drama. Did you know that she had been on a reality show before, and her brother also was on a reality show?

Who wants to come over and watch with me?

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Bachelor Women Tell All Thoughts

Here are my thoughts from this week’s Women Tell All episode.
  • Women tell all…all the drama. Why can’t women keep our mouths shut? What is it about gossiping that is so alluring. I guess that is what I am doing now though…
  • Those chairs look so .
  • Jubilee. My heart goes out to her a little but a little not. She definitely made some poor choices with some comments made, but she also just seems so unsure of herself that she has no idea what she is doing on this stage. Her insecurities made her act in ways she probably doesn’t in a normal day to day scenario.
  • WHY DIDN’T THEY FOCUS MORE ON LEAH’S Lying? I feel like she got off the hook, and she was the worst one in my opinion. She tried hiding how devious she was.
  • Lace. You go figure you out girl! That guy’s tattoo! That gave me the heebeegeebees.
  • Olivia. Oh Olivia. I hate watching people gang up and attack someone. It is very uncomfortable. While I do think that Olivia was a bit of a bully, I don’t necessarily agree with the attacking method. And what is Leah doing trying to defend her? You are the worst of them all. Ugh at least Olivia gives a heartfelt apology. Leah you just kept being a denier. Blegh.
  • When did Shushana become so good with her English? I felt like she hardly talked when she was still on the show, and now she is playing referee for everyone.
  • Caila. I want to give her a hug. I always did like her. It is sad that she got in her own way and then once she finally opened up he was done with her. You can tell that everything is still very fresh for her.
  • LEAHHHHH! She said she lied to protect their relationship. Bullhockey…Relationships never do well when they involved lies.
  • I think Ben tried to be really eloquent with confronting Jubilee about the process and how he isn’t blaming any of them for how the relationship ended. Besides Sean Lowe, I don’t feel like any of the Bachelor’s have handled things as well as Ben.
  • Oh Amanda and Becca really tried to build him back up which was sweet. I think one of them will be the next Bachelorette.
  • There must have been a lot of outtakes because that chicken sure was well-behaved.

I am still Team Lauren. While I do like JoJo, I will still stay behind that I think Lauren and Ben are the most natural.

I think that he knew this whole time that he was madly in love with one of them, but the producers have been playing up the two I love yous for promotion. He has admitted now that he is happily engaged, so the drama will have its a conclusion this week.

Are you watching this week’s finale?
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Bachelor Thoughts This Week

We are getting close to the end folks! Only a couple more weeks until we find out who Ben is more in love with. He did announce on GMA on Tuesday that he is indeed engaged, so all this hoopla of being in love with two people does actually end. (And yes I recorded GMA just so I could watch the Bachelor news….don’t judge.)

 

So here are my thoughts on this week’s episode.

  • Caila and Ben’s date:
    • This is really awkward. Caila can only think about the other two women instead of relaxing. Tom in response to the riverboat scene-“I can only think about pirannahs.” Yea I think I would be more concerned about the wildlife in that instance too…
    • As I have said for a couple weeks now, she is getting in her own head. But in all fairness she should be allowed to have a quiet day so it is unfortunate that at this pace that is deemed a bad quality. I have a quiet day at least a couple days a week so I am glad Tom sticks around.
  • Lauren’s date:
    • I mean turtles? Really? Just precious.
    • I have said it many times, but Lauren and Ben seem like the most natural couple.
    • BEN SAID I LOVE YOU BACK! My mouth was on the floor! I saw the commercials leading up to it, but it still was crazy to see since they hardly ever say those words back until the final ceremony. Honestly I don’t remember them every saying that! That complicates things so much. She is going to think that she “wins” now.
  • That has to be so hard to go from an overnight date in the morning straight into another date. Talk about messing with emotions. No wonder all these Bachelors and Bachelorettes end up crying.
  • Can the Bachelor please pay for Tom and I’s honeymoon? I mean these places are dreamy and perfect.
  • JoJo’s date:
    • JoJo’s reaction to Ben’s I love You was priceless. I also love that she calls him babe.
    • Which kind of means that Caila is going home right?
    • I hate to say it but I think JoJo’s family will keep them from being together in the end.
  • Watching Caila go through the condo was painful to watch. You just know she is walking into heartache.
  • As he walks her out that has got to be the longest walk ever. That was so hard to watch…EEEK.
  • Good for her to ask questions. And bless Ben trying to give her some peace, but telling her that he is in love with two other women may not be the way to go.
  • I am glad she didn’t have to go through a rose ceremony like Ben had originally planned.
  • Ben is a bleeding heart. He is second guessing leaving Caila because he hurt her. Get it together man.
  • I also think he is a little smarmy for telling both of these women he loves them. How can he not be thinking about those consequences?
  • So these last few rose ceremonies, what do you think the women talk about before Ben gets there. Do you think they stand there silent? They wouldn’t talk about their feelings at this point would they?
  • Bahaha Chris Harrison’s poker face when both women tell him that Ben said I love you back.
  • Ok so JoJo tries to talk to Lauren about feelings.
  • This toast is so awkward…

 

I think Lauren is going to be the final one. Bahhhh it’s going to be crazy!

 

This video is pretty funny if you are a Bachelor Fan, and probably if you aren’t…

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This Week on the Bachelor

Monday nights are my jam. Someday I would love to have Bachelor watching parties in my house!

Here are my thoughts for this week’s episode!

  • Amanda’s kids are adorable. Ben did a good job with them on the beach. But the real questions is, how does Amanda wear that top with two small children. I can’t even wear normal tops without George trying to pull them off, let alone having a strapless get up…What IS your secret Amanda?
  • I feel like anytime they have a “meet the kids” date, it is always on a beach.
  • Why do I not live somewhere where there are food trucks?
  • Whiskey Library? Missouri you are missing out on a lot of things!!!
  • I love the hard questions of skepticism of the families. How can they not wonder how the experience goes of dating more than one person?
  • Ben said that his relationship with Caila was the deepest, and that shocked me. I would not have said that from what we have seen.
  • My heart is exploding over the toy house building. That is such a great idea! However, how come we never see those types of colors in what is sold in stores?
  • Do all these families have little nooks in their houses with perfectly symmetrical double seating? Does anyone else notice that?
  • This season has been relatively drama free, and then there is this letter from JoJo’s ex. I wouldn’t even know how to react. You wonder if they are just trying to ride the 15 minutes of fame train.
  • Also how did she not recognize his handwriting? She read the first page before she questioned it. Nooo.
  • JoJo’s parents’ house is huge! Holy moly.
  • JoJo’s mom is adorable. She is so sweet and totally a cheerleader for her daughter.
  • Ben held his own in that tough family cornering, but I think they have valid points. You can’t blame them for being over-protective. And I do think that the contestants are coached in some ways especially with what they are “allowed” to say.
  • Did anyone else notice that JoJo’s sister never made another appearance after the initial introduction?
  • None of them have said I love you yet going into the rose ceremony.
  • My heart is pounding waiting to see Amanda or JoJo….AHHHHH.
  • I knew that Amanda wouldn’t make it to the end, and it is sad that her girls had to get in the middle of that. Although I guess I am not good with math, but she keeps saying she has never introduced anyone to her kids. Hasn’t it only been a year since her divorce? Her youngest is only two right? How many people has she dated in that time? I guess that statement confuses me.
  • Is it weird to say that was a sweet breakup between Ben and Amanda?
  • I for sure think Lauren is in the final 2, but now after JoJo and Caila’s hometown I am not sure who will be the other! I am still going to go with JoJo. Also I totally called these three being in the final four!

Only a couple more weeks! Who do you have in the final two?