"What Women Fear" - a Giveaway!!!

I am so excited to share this book with you today and I have a great little giveaway too so keep reading!!  I got my copy of "What Women Fear - Walking in Faith that Transforms" by Angie Smith last Friday.
It.Is.Amazing!!

I finished it yesterday and I can't wait to find some time to go through it again and really devour it even more. I tend to read really fast and I don't want to miss any of Angie's nuggets of truth so this time I will have a pencil in hand so that I can mark my favorite parts.

In this book Angie shares about not only her personal fears, but of the fears of some familiar and maybe not so familiar people of the Bible.  I found in each chapter something that I could relate to and was moved by the honesty in which Angie shares her life.

Here is just one of my favorite parts....

"Another fear that many of us have is that we will let people down and not meet their expectation of us.  I think that so many of us feel like the real "us" will be exposed when we don't rise up to what someone else thinks we should be. So many of us feel burdened by our perceptions of the expectations of others. We often live our lives trying to avoid letting people down."....

"As a result, many of us talk about the weather at a Bible study instead of the fight we had with our teenage daughter, knowing that we might be labeled the overprotective parent, or the one that can't control her own children. And long after the issue is resolved, we will still be seen as the one who messed up. The labels we create (and dwell on) for each other are killing our chance for genuine community and we are missing the best part of each other."

Does any of this resonate with you like it does me? And the book is filled with points that not only helped to convict my stubborn heart but also offer hope for freedom....true freedom in following and trusting in the One true Redeemer.

I promise that it will be worth your time to read this book!!

And now is your chance to win one as well!! I have 2 copies available to share with 2 of my readers!! These are books that I purchased myself and I have not been compensated in any way to endorse Angie's book. I just believe in her and this book and want to share the love!!

The winners will be chosen randomly on Friday September 9th.

So here's how you enter with 3 separate chances to win: :)

(Leave 1 comment for each "Chance" and please make sure to leave your e-mail address in the comment if you don't have an active blog so that I can contact the winner!!)

1) Become a follower of my blog - The Smith Family Journey (Or comment if you already are!)

2) Share in a separate comment one of your fears...this can be anything you struggle with!

3) Share for another chance the title of a book you have read and enjoyed recently.

And if you want a copy of "What Women Fear" for yourself right now click on the Amazon link on the left sidebar and you can purchase a copy today!!  Have fun and good luck!!

"Maint Reqd"

So in the van I drive each day there is this "Maint Reqd" light that comes on every time you start it up. When the van is running as it should the light comes on briefly and then shuts off.

When you are nearing the time for an oil change the light will stay on and flash as you are in reverse and then shut off when you put it into drive.  Like a warning/reminder that you need to take some action soon.

And even after the vehicle has been checked and you think everything is ok, if the code isn't reset the light will stay on all the time. A sign that something is still not right on the inside.

And so it has been in my life recently as well....

When Dominic first moved to Tyler for this new job we didn't know how long we would have to live apart but we said we could do anything for 6-12 months. During that time, overall, things were pretty good. We cherished our phone conversations that we had every night and enjoyed our weekends as a family. We did that for 8 months. During that time we had a baby, put our house on the market, sold it, purchased a new one in Marshall and moved. In addition, during that same time I was made promises by my then boss that I could continue to work from the home when we finally moved. 2 weeks before the move my bosses employment with my company was no longer and it was learned by me that all of his promises had not been communicated to the "powers that be".

So in the midst of one of the biggest life changes for our entire family I was also fighting to save/keep the job I had with a company I have been with for almost 13 years. I have been given a "trial period" to see how/if it can continue and I say prayers everyday that it will....soon time will tell with that.

Well as you can imagine during this time the "Maint Reqd" light in my own life started showing up.

At first it was just that reminder that something needed to be taken care of in my heart. It was the Holy Spirit prodding me...trying to get my attention that if left alone/ignored a full-blown warning would ensue.

But I am a stubborn woman and one that wants to not only have the appearance that I have it all together...but actually HAVE it all together by my own doing - so I can take the credit right?. And when I don't have it all together- which if you must know is most days - I get frustrated, angry, discontented and negative.  All lovely qualities and surprisingly enough...none are found in the Bible under fruits of the spirit. hmmm....

So as you can about imagine when I stopped showing evidence of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control in my life - the dynamics of our family began to change and cracks started to form in our foundation.  And once a crack has started and the water starts to rise....if the foundation isn't solid it can start to crumble.

Friends I have found myself here. The "Maint Reqd" light is on and shining brightly ALL the time. Warning....warning... It isn't a pretty place to be when your actions cause hurt and frustration. When it is evident that negativity has permeated every aspect of your thinking once again and it hasn't just hurt you but it has hurt the people closest to you that you love the most.

For weeks I have focused on everything that I see is "wrong" about my husband. Refusing to allow myself to see the truth because believing the lie helps justify my awful behavior and admitting that I am to blame for anything is so very difficult for me.  I started thinking that this move was a mistake - we loved better when we were apart....when the truth is that I hadn't put much effort into loving well here....I just expected that once we were back together that we would be one big happy family and everything would come easy.

But it isn't always easy.

I worry about what will happen with my job on a daily basis and always feel that I need to "prove" myself more than I ever did before. And if I fail...if I lose the job what does that say about me? Because how I look to you from the outside seems more important lately than how my insides look to God.

I obsess over the kids and their transition here. Mornings are chaos it seems. I get up almost 2 1/2 hrs before we need to leave the house at 7:35am and yet it is always a rush. And I get overwhelmed and stressed and don't know how to appropriately deal with it so I end up barking at someone - causing more hurt. My motives may be good...getting everyone, including myself off to school/daycare/work by 8am. But the way I act as I try to carry out my objective isn't right.

Please tell me I am not alone in this struggle!!

But at times such as this I need to be honest about these struggles....and what I haven't been willing to do about them.

I haven't been actively seeking God's Word. Sure I pray and I go to church...but I don't make time to read His Word. I have plenty of time for blogging and Facebook and checking e-mails, but not enough time for Him.

And I don't seek accountability like I should from other believers. I would rather you see the facade then the real me because I am not sure many people would stick around if they knew how crazy my minds gets at times!

But this has to change! "Maint Reqd" in the vehicle handbook says "Take your vehicle to an appropriate Toyota mechanic immediately".

And I too need to respond immediately - but I need your help!! First I would love some recommendations for a devotional maybe that I could do each day. I have a hard time just opening the Bible and reading. Maybe a devotional would give me some direction..something where I can be led to read more in the Bible based on that day's devotion. What works for you??

And secondly I need your help in staying accountable. This is the part I really don't want to do...but I know that if I want things to change I HAVE to do it.

So if you see me ask me how I am treating my husband and my kids. Am I showing him respect, and I being patient with my kids or am I letting "life" overwhelm me again? If you ask me how I am doing I will always say "I'm fine". Guaranty it!! Email me and share your experience in these areas...what has worked for you (besides hiring a FT nanny/housekeeper) because that isn't in the budget!! :)

I would love to make this a place where we can fellowship together and be real. No pretty clothes, or makeup...no plastered smiles...but real, honest accountability. I promise you that even if I do all of these things I won't ever have it all together and somehow I need to come to a place where that is OK.

I know this post has gotten overly long and I apologize....thank you for allowing me to share my struggles with you. It is ugly....but I believe in the promises that God makes beauty from ashes. But I have to be willing to do a little "work" too...so that my friends is where I start!

"Daddy Dates" - Book Review

So there is this great website I have found called Booksneeze. It is a site where bloggers can go to request a free book in exchange for a posted review about the book.  I enjoy reading(when I can find the time) and thought this would be a great...and inexpensive way to get to read some new books!

They offer a selection of different books under several categories and the first book that I chose to read was "Daddy Dates" by Greg Wright.

Now obviously I am not a daddy but even so this book was a fun read. Greg (aka Daddy) has a family of 4 daughters and realizes that he doesn't know how to "connect" with them. And he wants to figure how how - points for daddy here!! So he sets to record the process by which he started to "date" his daughters and gives great example of what works and what doesn't work. The start of his process...."Just don't screw up"! :)

So what I liked best about Daddy Dates is that he wanted to meet his daughters where they are. Yes he set up a "standard" for how he was going to ask them on dates, and he showed them how he felt they should expect to be treated by a man by opening car doors, asking questions about them and treating them with respect.

But where I often fail is meeting my kids where they are. Greg understood that if he wanted his daughters to share their lives with him that he needed to listen to them -even if his instinct was to tell them how to fix their "problem" or to become distracted when they talked of things he maybe wasn't really interested in.  What he found was that there were MANY things he didn't know about them and when he really listened they shared a lot!

I find this in my own life with my own teenager...when I try and impose my ideas onto him he tends to shut down, but when I just talk with him about what he is interested in he shares much more with me!

Greg also made a point to say that the "dating" isn't just for the daughters. That men needed to date their wives as well. This is something I have heard before and something we need to do more often if we really want to connect!!

Finally I leave you with this....he was talking about parenting and had an interesting "formula" that I want to share.

1) Rules - Relationship = Rebellion

2) Relationship - Rules = Destruction

3) Relationship + Rules = Connection

Where do you find yourself today in regards to your relationship with your kids? If you want an "easy" and quick read with some good ideas - pick up "Daddy Dates" by Greg Wright.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Daddy's Arms

Sometimes all you need is a daddy's love and some rocking back and forth and you get this....

There isn't much sweeter than seeing my baby girl asleep in her daddy's arms.

A Day Off

The woman that watches Elijah and Karlena had a day off to have some fun with her daughter before she went back to college so I had a great reason to take a day off with my 2 youngest.

I always have high expectations about what a day like this could look like a rarely it turns out that way....when will I learn?  But we did have a little fun.

We jumped in the excersaucer...

We danced to Pandamania...

We got really goofy and fell on the floor...

And we even sat in time out for a bit...

But we recovered and headed out to the park down the street and we went down slides...

And chewed on some toys...

We got really excited about the concrete trucks working across the street...

And we tried to figure out what all the beeping was for...

And we went to McDonald's as a treat for lunch...

And we refused to take a nap and drove mom nuts until it was time to go and get Isaac and Gabriel from school! :) Overall it was a good day and although the laundry isn't done, the house is messier than normal and I still haven't painted those last 2 walls in Isaac's room - I am grateful to be able to spend a day with my 2 peanuts!

How did you spend your Wednesday?

First Day of School

To say that I was anxious about today for the kids is an understatement. Since we took the leap of faith and moved this was one of the days that I was both looking forward to and worried about.

I knew that once school started the boys would hopefully meet some friends, but I also knew that starting out in a new district would be difficult.

Gabriel was all ready to start 2nd grade. He told me he was a little nervous though and wondered if anyone would talk to him.

Insert the sound of mom's breaking heart. I was absolutely crying once I got home from dropping him off. Lots and lots of prayers were said all day long for both of them.

It was around noon when I realized that Isaac would be having lunch soon and probably wouldn't have someone he "knew" to sit with.  I said more prayers then....I can't imagine starting high school and not recognizing anyone in your classes.

They are both very brave in my eyes. It takes courage to tread in unknown waters. To walk down crowded hallways and not recognize anyone. I am so proud of them both.

Gabriel said he had a great day. He didn't get in trouble(his words) and got to have a cheeseburger for lunch - Score! 

Isaac wasn't late for any of his classes and said that they have "real" food here for lunch...so that is a good thing! The worst part is probably that it seems like everyone else has someone that they know...which makes the whole high-school transition easier.

We will get there. Hopefully before long school and the people there will feel like "home" like the rest of Marshall does. Until then the prayers will continue to be sent up!

How was your "first day" experience? Or if you haven't had it yet...do you have fears/worries that I could pray about for you? God Bless friends!

A busy Saturday

This weekend is Marshall's Sounds of Summer weekend. Several different things have been going on in town and we participated in a few things today.  Our realtor, friend and neighbor Molly stopped by yesterday with tickets for us to enjoy the Rotary Club's pancake feed out at the airfield.

Poor Karlena was forced to eat her toes since she was too little to enjoy the pancakes and sausages!!

Then we went out and looked at all the airplanes and Isaac and Gabriel got a ride in the MMU's utility bucket and boy did they go up high! They got the last ride of the day so I think they got a little longer ride than normal!

And finally there was a parade this afternoon and it goes right past the end of our block (we have such a great neighborhood!!) So we walked down and sat with Molly's family and lots of other people and watched the parade.

We are loving all of the opportunities that Marshall has for families and feel especially blessed to be in the neighborhood we are in.

How did you spend your Saturday?