Monday, August 31, 2015

What I Learned in August

What did I learn in August?

Well, friends, I learned a lot about myself and not all of it was pretty. But I'll be honest and say that some of it is good for me to know, so that I can continue growing and learning and changing as an adult.

Adulting is hard.

In fact, let's make that the first in the list....

Austen in August Update

WELL.

I did not finish even one book by Jane Austen during the month of August.

I feel like I've failed.

Except, I didn't.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Simply Tuesday - more than just a day of the week

To say that I was excited about reading Emily Freeman's new book Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World is truly an understatement. Even if you're only an occasional visitor to Fresh-Brewed Writer, you know that I've been in a season of great change for quite some time now.  The idea of a book that focuses on small-moment living truly appealed to me.

"Tuesday holds the ordinary, the everyday, and the small," Freeman writes. But did she decide to dismiss Tuesday? Ignore Tuesday? On the contrary, "I decided to mark them, to celebrate on purpose the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected moments of life."

In essence, celebrating "Simply Tuesday" has become so much more. On Instagram there is the fun hashtag #itssimplytuesday wherein the community of Tuesday dwellers celebrates the ordinary, small things in our lives that are worth noting. For me, it has become a way to look at the small, to take moments to sit and breathe, and to celebrate the ever-constant, often-quiet presence of Emmanuel, "God With Us" in this very human and often unsacred life.

The best chapters, for me, were "Success and Envy" and "Stairwells and Stages." I think the important wisdom offered there was perfect for me as I read this book in the midst of living as simply as I ever have--in our new house in Georgia with air mattresses and suitcases until our belongings and furniture arrived from Alaska.

If you're looking for a quiet moment to breathe in the midst of turmoil or busyness or even just LIFE, please order this book from your favorite bookseller. {I don't offer affiliate links.}

 Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Special thanks to Revell books for a review copy of this wonderful book, and thank you to Emily Freeman and Daniel Decker for inviting me to be a part of the launch team.

Monday, August 17, 2015

For the Love Review


I got this book as I was preparing to move across North America. For the Love gave me laughter, it gave me teary-eyed moments, and it gave me new phrases, like "off the beam" and "leggings as pants" (just say no, friends...) and the best of all: "Be Kind. Be You. Love Jesus."

If there is a book you want to give to all your friends, this would be the one. Jen Hatmaker has a smart and sassy sense of humor, and this book makes all of us feel that she's our very own bestie. She speaks truth in love and humor.

Here is my endorsement of the book. It wasn't chosen to be printed in the book itself, but it's on the website.



Biblical, humorous, poignant, and sometimes just a little bit irreverent, every chapter in Jen Hatmaker’s latest book For the Love is focused on what the title says: Everything we do, we do for the Love: love for God, love for His Son Jesus, love for His people. All His people: the people in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, in the world. I laughed and cried in turn, and my heart was moved to love God and His people in real and tangible ways. What more could one ask for in one book?

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

31 Days of . . .

Oh goodness, friends. I haven't been blogging as much this week as last week. Getting my girls geared up for school (younger settled into 10th grade, older ready to move to college next week) has been my top priority.

So when I got an email today about the Write 31 Days community changing hostesses and gearing up for another October full of writing and fun, I was a bit jarred. Um, it's August. For the love!

But it's never too early to plan. So I will give myself next week to drive to Oklahoma and back home to Georgia, and I'll have plenty of car ride time to think of something. My best idea was last year's challenge. But who knows, with a move to another region of this great nation, maybe I can think of some other things too.

The Nester is the creator and original hostess, and Crystal is taking over this year as the challenge's hostess.

Also, I think I need to learn Periscope.

Sunday, August 02, 2015

Austen in August? Yes, please!

My friend Leann posted about this reading challenge at Roof Beam Reader (intro post is here, master post is here) and I decided to go all in! I have been unpacking my books a few at a time, deciding which unread ones I want to read (and putting the ones I don't or no longer wish to own in the Paperbackswap.com list or the donation box). I have unearthed five Austenesque fiction and nonfiction books I haven't yet read, so I am going to read them during August. I have filled my July with fictiony fluff, so reading Austen may be a good grounding experience for me.







I will also add Emma to my Kindle as well, because I haven't read it in a while. I reread Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility over the past several months, so it's about time for an Emma reread.