What am I currently reading?

Hello, hello!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday. The weekend is over, and while that is a bit sad, this week is brand new. There is so much potential for greatness this week. There is happiness to be found. There is laughter to be had. Find a way this week to bring joy to someone else.

This weekend I was able to unwind a little bit, I stayed up a later than normal, the kids ran (and swam) off some energy, and I was fortunate enough to be able to read a little bit of a book. Let's just be honest here, with four kids getting that time to read a book isn't always possible, so I was ever so thankful it happened this weekend. Also, since it was a lake house weekend, I had the opportunity to read on the drive there as well as the drive home. So I'll take that.

This weekend we also celebrated my, soon-to-be, 3 year old son. His birthday is fast approaching and this was our chance to celebrate with cousins, aunts and uncles, and one set of grandparents. It was a good time, and he was quite spoiled with the gifts he received.

Since I brought up the subject of books, I thought I would share with you the five books that I am currently reading.  

1)  Life After: A Novel by Katie Ganshert

I had the honor of being a part of the launch team for Life After. This book was my introduction to author Katie Ganshert, and I am so glad to "know" her. This story follows the life of Autumn Manning. She is a young woman who experienced something horrific. Her memory of it all is a bit hazy, and she finds herself obsessed with the passengers who were on the train with her that day.  How can she move on with her life when the other 22 people on the train do not get that opportunity? How can she find herself again? Can anything snap her out of the survivors guilt she is feeling?

Check out this little blurb about the book:

"Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost."

Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? I highly recommend it. This book was an easy read, and I found myself unable to put the book down. Katie Ganshert has created some fantastic characters. You walk away feeling like you know them, and that you've been a fly on the wall of their stories. I will say that I found myself wanting more of the characters, I want to know what happens next in their lives. Sadly, I do believe this is a stand-alone book, so no more info on the characters lives.

2) Convicted: A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship by Jameel McGee and Andrew Collins

I'm not going to lie, this isn't a book I would usually pick up. Everyone who knows me knows that I have my favorite non-fiction authors and I tend to stick to them. Also, I don't typically read autobiographical books, it just isn't my go-to genre. So why did I read this book? Well, I had received an email from Waterbrook Multnomah about joining the launch team for the book. I read the description and it sounded interesting.  I threw chance to the wind, and signed up for the team. Another email arrived stating I was in, so therefore I HAD to read it. I mean I couldn't just shelve the book. That wouldn't be right.

This book though. Oh my word. SO GOOD.

As the book cover states, this book involves a crooked cop, an innocent man, and an unlikely journey of forgiveness and friendship.

Convicted reads like a gripping crime novel…except this story really happened!

" Racial tensions had long simmered in Benton Harbor, a small city on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, before the day a white narcotics officer--more focused on arrests than justice—set his sights on an innocent black man. But when officer Andrew Collins framed Jameel McGee for possession of crack cocaine, the surprising result was not a race riot but a transformative journey for both men. Falsely convicted, McGee spent four years in federal prison. Collins also went to prison a few years later for falsifying police reports. While behind bars, the faith of both men deepened. But the story took its most unexpected turn once they were released--when their lives collided again in a moment brimming with mistrust and anger. The two were on a collision course—not to violence—but forgiveness. As current as today’s headlines, this explosive, true story reveals how these radically conflicted men chose to let go of fear and a thirst for revenge to pursue reconciliation for themselves, their community, and our racially divided nation."

Want to read a bit of the first chapter? You can find that over on Waterbrook Multnomah's site by clicking here. Want to buy the book?

3) Me, Myself, and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild

I know I cannot be the only one who struggles with self-talk and the things that I think about myself. Right?

Anyway, I stumbled across this book when one of my friends (a fellow mom of a December 2012 child) shared it on her Facebook page. I was immediately curious and purchased it a couple days later.

Full disclosure time: Since purchasing the book, it has sadly just sat on my shelf in one of my MANY TBR (to be read) piles. It is my goal to read this book before August is up. And yes, I realize that means I have just 10 days to read it.

From good old Amazon:

"What Should You Say When You Talk to Yourself?Have you ever noticed the things you say to yourself—and believe?
I could never do that.They don't like me.I am such an idiot!
You wouldn't talk that way to anyone else, yet phrases like these constantly flow through your mind, leaving you insecure and defeated. "

Do you see why I want to read it? Does it sound like an interesting read to you? If so, let's read it together. Or I'll read it, you can read it, and then we'll discuss. Yes? No? Maybe so? Just promise me that you'll think about it.

4) Craving Connection by (in)courage

Did you know that (in)courage is one of my favorite websites? I remember when the site launched and immediate fell in love with what they had to "offer".

Back in December 2016, (in)courage was promoting their new book and had pre-order specials available. I knew I wanted to read this book, and therefore I placed my pre-order. Since that time, it has also been sitting in a TBR pile. I'm not proud of that fact, but it is what it is. With four kids and a husband, having that quiet time for reading just isn't always a possibility.

That being said, this past Friday I grabbed the book, tossed it in the front passenger seat of our van, and took the time to read the first entry as we traveled to the cabin.

Craving Connection isn't a book that should be read in one sitting. That was something I immediately understood after reading that first entry. Each entry/challenge/chapter needs to be digested. It needs to be thought about. There are questions that need to be answered or at least taken into consideration. Plus, there is an action item for each entry. (which I have yet to do the first action item, but I will get it done!)

Interested in a description of the book? Here's what Amazon has to say:

"We all long for meaningful relationships, the Colossians 3:14 kind that fulfill our desire for unity and connection with God, our friends, and our community. But where do we start? Craving Connection is a journey with (in)courage writers sharing real-life stories, practical Scripture application, and connection challenges that will encourage you to:

• Embrace the desire God has given each of us for connection

• Invest in meaningful relationships, right where God has you

• Become the friend you wish you had

The (in)courage community invites you to grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair to the table, and commit to creatively and prayerfully fulfilling your cravings for connection. How could your life be different after prayerfully and intentionally connecting with God, friends, and your community?"

5) You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth

Anyone who knows me, knows that Holley Gerth is one of my favorite writers. Hands down. If she writes it, I will read it. Not only that but if she writes a book, I will buy it, along with whatever extra that goes with it.

So it is no surprise that I purchased You're Already Amazing: Embracing who you are, becoming all God created you to be.

What is it that I like about her books? Honestly, I think it comes down to the fact that what she writes just speaks to me. She is tackling areas that I need to work on in my life.

I can't talk about this book without mentioning this little side story. Recently, my women's small group was trying to decide upon a book for the fall. We had thrown around a few titles, and You're Already Amazing was one of the options. So I figured I'd pick it up, along with devotional, and life guide. Hey I was going to be prepared. As I was looking at the cover, I was thinking to myself that I owned this book already. Yet, when I looked around it wasn't in any of my piles on my bookshelves, and it wasn't in my nightstand drawer either. I figured I was mistaken. Therefore I ordered all three books. After the book arrived, I looked through my "collection" again, and I was correct, I did already own the book.

That right there is the definition of an unorganized bookworm. I'm not going to complain though, as I can always pass a copy along to someone else.

From Amazon:

Holley Gerth invites you to embrace one very important truth--that you truly are already amazing. Like a trusted friend, Holley gently shows you how to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds you and instead believe that God loves you and has even bigger plans for your life than you've even imagined.

I plan on starting Holley's book as soon as I return from my trip to Wisconsin! It is my hope that during my drive to and from Wisconsin, I will be able to read Me, Myself, and Lies. I figure that since my 4 year old tells me it isn't my turn to drive (it is always daddy's turn), that I might as well take advantage of it and read a book.

That's it folks. These are the FIVE books that I am currently reading and/or have just finished up.

Have you read any of these books?

What books are you currently reading or have you recently finished? I'm always looking for new books to read.

Disclosure: My blog, Gratitude, Grace & Growth, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation.

I will be honored throughout the world.

Psalm 46:10 NLT

We all know that this is something we should be doing each day, but for many it is a struggle. There are things we put before our relationship with Christ. We may not always realize that we are doing this. 

For example, in the morning when you wake up, do you thank God for this day? It doesn't need to be vocalized. It can be a quiet something you think. You are acknowledging God and thanking Him for the rest you had last night. Next up, do you read your Bible? Or do you check email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat? Now, there is nothing wrong with checking your email and social media accounts, but we also need to make time for our relationship with Christ. We need to find a time each day to set aside just for Him. We need to "be still".

The last two weeks, I have been working hard at making sure I have my time with God right after I wake up. Yes, I still jump on my computer and open my emails, but the FIRST emails that I will even look at are my daily devotionals from She Reads Truth and Eagle Brook Church. The next email I read is from (in)courage. As I'm reading the devotionals, I will have my Bible in my lap and while I am reading the verse, I will look at the bottom portion of my Bible so that I can see if there are any study notes about what I just read. Sometimes there are, sometimes there are not. I find that the study notes help me to understand a little bit better. After I read my three things, I then open my Spotify app so that I can listen to worship music. There is something about it that just makes things better in my day. Often times a song will speak to me and I will tweet out lyrics that resonate with me.

I'm not saying that my track record is perfect, because it is far from. Weekdays I do much better than weekends. It's all about our intent though. Do we strive to put God first? Or do we look to our distractions?

Can I challenge you this week? This week, find a time that you will "be still" and focus on God. Read His word. Listen to worship music. Read devotionals. Read things written by the folks at (in)courage. Or who ever will help you grow in your faith and encourage your walk with God.

Curious what the study notes in my Bible say about verse 10? Here it is,

"War and destruction are inevitable, but so is God's final victory. At that time, all will stand quietly before the all-powerful Lord. How proper, then, for us to be still now, reverently honoring him and his power and majesty. Take time each day to be still and honor God"

I have the Life Application Study Bible by Tyndale. The translation that I use is the New Living Translation. 

A Greater Hope

Last weekend the sermon at church was entitled A Greater Hope. Jason Strand was the teaching Pastor for this week. This was the descriptor that was on the discussion guide:

No matter what is happening in your life—whether it’s conflict at work, health issues, break-ups, or miscarriages—Paul says in Romans that there is not one thing in your life that God cannot work out for your good. We can be comforted when we face problems and trials because we know that they will help us develop character, endurance, and a hope for Heaven. 

On Wednesday I watched the sermon again and was able to take notes. I shared all of this on twitter, but wanted to share here as well. If you'd like to watch, here is the video:



Here are my notes (in text and graphics):

No matter what happens in my life, God can work it for my good.

For we know...

There is a difference between a reason and purpose.

Loved this quote by Pastor Craig Groeschel, 

"You don't have to understand the WHY to trust God with the WHAT."

God never promises us understanding. He promises us a peace that goes beyond our understanding.

Pastor Strand says that there are two declarations that we, as believers, need to make.

This is so important to remember. 

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. - Romans 8:18

Why am I sharing this? Well quite honestly, this sermon is something that I can relate to. I had plans, but those didn't pan out. What God had in store was better. Only now, looking back, can I see that.

Allow me to explain.

Side note: in our pre-marital counseling sessions, one of the topics that was discussed was number of children desired, and the spacing between them. We had said 3 kids, and our plan was 2 or 2 1/2 years apart. After all, that was how it was with my siblings and myself, so it seemed perfect.

Moving on.

We began attending Eagle Brook Church in late 2006, after being invited by my Mom and Step-dad. We were curious as to what was so amazing about this church, because it was being talked up by my family. So we went and understood. It was (and still is) amazing.

In April 2007 I gave birth to our first child, a son. I was overjoyed. I was overwhelmed. I was exhausted. I was emotional. I suffered with separation anxiety, and honestly should have been diagnosed with (and treated for) postpartum depression/anxiety. That is a story for a different day though. After he was born, our attendance at church went down. When we did attend, we sat in the parent child room.

September 2008, we start trying for a second. Only to be disappointed cycle after cycle.

Fast forward to February 2009. Grandma and Grandpa took our son to church and checked him into kids ministry. He did amazing and had a wonderful time. After that weekend, we made the decision that we would begin attending on a regular basis again. We felt that nudge. This was what we were supposed to do, and we were supposed to check our son into kids ministry.

March 2009, my husband was laid off from his job. He had been with the company for 12 years. We were blindsided by this. I was a stay at home mom. How were we going to make this work? We did what we needed to do, and we kept attending church through this season.

April 2009, we took our son to his 2 year well child appointment. His doctor flagged him for early intervention and speech therapy. He wasn't really talking, so we wanted to get him help.

July 2009, we met with the early intervention people. We filled out the paperwork. They came to our house to meet our son. Shortly there after we were given the news that, from an educational standpoint, he has autism. I'm thankful that my husband was able to be here with me while all this was going on.

End of July 2009, my husband is hired at a new company. It is an answered prayer.

November 2009, home services finally begin for our son. He has a special education teacher four days per week for an hour, and a speech therapist for one hour per week.

March 2010, almost a year to the day of my husband's lay off, he is laid off again. It was devastating. However, we made it through last time and we knew we could handle it again. I still have not been able to get pregnant. Every time someone would announce a pregnancy, my heart shattered. I felt broken.

April 2010, my husband was offered a job and he accepted!

June 2010, that company starts having issues with paying their employees in a timely manner. This lasts all summer long.

In the middle of August, my husband hears from his original boss. He wants to know if my husband wants to come back to the company. We talk about this and agreed it was what we/he needed to do. Another answered prayer. Plus we'd have health insurance again.

At the end of 2011, I was coming to terms with the fact that we might be a family of three. That our son would not have any siblings. My heart was crushed, but I continued to pray that God would answer my prayers.

April 2, 2012 I received a positive pregnancy test! I was elated and in disbelief. My pregnancy was uneventful until week 32, and our daughter was born 3 weeks later due to pre-eclampsia. She was in the hospital for 6 days, but had no issues. Prayers answered again.

December 16, 2013, I received another positive pregnancy test! This pregnancy was uneventful until 32 weeks, when a routine ultrasound revealed my amniotic fluid was at the low-end of "normal". On August 26, 2014 we welcomed our second son into the world. I could not believe that we had a third child. This was what we wanted. Our family was complete.

October 2014, I am 2 months postpartum and my heart is saying "you're not done. You need to have one more child." December 2014 I reveal my hearts desire to my husband. He thinks I've lost my mind, but doesn't try to talk me out of it.

April 10, 2016, our fourth baby is born. We were blessed with another daughter. My pregnancy went wonderfully with little issue. I was monitored for low fluid again, but nothing came from that.

God heard our prayer of having three kids close in age. He answered our prayers in His time. He knew what storms were coming in our life. We did not.

We had plans.

God had a purpose.

And God knows best.

Now we wait for God to answer our next prayer, and show us what he has in-store for our family.

Loneliness and Distance

source

It is no secret that I often feel alone. It is something I have struggled with for so long. I would say probably since high school. In college it worsened, and now as an adult it just continues.

It is also no secret that my circle of friends is quite small. Very few know everything about me. I tend to keep all that bottled inside rather than sharing.

Lately I have found myself feeling extremely lonely and distant from everything. I wish I understood why. Some of it has to do with my social anxiety. Some might have to do with the fact that I just feel like I don't fit in. It just seems easier to build those virtual friendships versus the in real life ones. That might be because I can hide better with the virtual friends, whereas my IRL friends can see the pain, frustration, loneliness, etc.

My loneliness really flared up today. One of my small group ladies posted that she is moving on to a new church, and that she is going to be leaving our group. What caused the flare up though was what came next in her message. It said that we will still be in contact because we all send each other snaps on a daily basis and we text. So even though we won't be together in small group any longer, we'll still be in each others lives.

Why did that cause my loneliness to flare up? I don't have snapchat. I don't text. I don't have a cell phone. So I'm not part of that conversation. I'm not part of their community. It puts me on the side. The thoughts begin. The ones that say "see, they aren't your friends", "you're not wanted in the group", and "why did you ever think you were?".  I'm separated. Not wanted. Not included. More so, I'm hurt.

More than ever I am also feeling the, physical, distance from the woman I am honored to refer to as my best friend. An hour may not seem like much to some, but to me it is. Our time together is limited to the weekends. Our conversation, due to me lacking a cell phone, is limited to email and Facebook. Unless she wants to torture me with a phone call. ;) (those years working in a call center have ruined the phone for me) However with family commitments, church commitments, and just general life, that time is limited even further. Lately it has been more than physical distance though. I haven't reached out through email like I typically do. I don't know why either. I used to send an email that would simply say "I miss you", and that would get conversation flowing.

I truly do miss her. She is one of the few who knows a lot about me. She is the one who I would turn to with good news and not-so good news. She is the one who I think of when I hear a song on the radio, or read a good book, or read a fantastic blog post. She is the one I turn to to share. Yet, I've put distance between us in the communication area.

When I think of sending that email, that voice creeps up again that says "she doesn't want to hear from you", "she's moved on from you", "she has other people and doesn't need you". So that email sits in my draft folder and goes unsent. I know those thoughts are false. It is as though I get so caught up with that voice (hello satan) that I just cannot see the other side. I find myself struggling to listen to the other side (God) that says "reach out", "send that email", "tell her how much you miss her and appreciate her".

So instead of reaching out to my best friend, or telling my small group how much this revelation hurts me, I turn inward. I listen to the negative voices, and I fall further into the valley of doubt and isolation.

All of that brings me to this; I've only told one person* that my mother-in-law's cancer is now terminal and that her doctors have said she has six months. Which is now really five, as a month has passed since that news was given. I find myself struggling with how to support my husband through this time in his life, as he prepares to say goodbye to his mom. I struggle to know how to explain this to my kids, that soon we will not be able to visit grandma as she will be going to live with Jesus. It just sucks because my little two will have little to no memory of her. My four year old may have a few memories of her, but I can't guarantee that. It's time like this where physical distance is so rough. Being 3 1/2 hours away doesn't make it easy to go for regular visits.

This is a long post. However I needed to get this all out. I needed to put it somewhere so that it doesn't rattle around in my brain constantly. So here I write. In my safe place. Where I can write what I want and let all those thoughts out.



*I am so thankful to my, friend who reached out after seeing me tweet about my mother-in-law. She asked what was going on, and I just let it all out. 

Life After by Katie Ganshert

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE to read.

Also, anyone who knows me, knows that I adore fiction. It is my go to genre.

I'm not going to lie, I typically do not read stand alone titles.

So then why did you pick Life After by Katie Ganshert?

Honestly, the description on the back cover really grabbed my attention. It just sounds like a page turner and a bit of a tear jerker. Secondly, I love Christian fiction. The final reason is that I was accepted to the launch team for this book! That means that I receive an advanced reader copy (ARC), and get to share a lot of great information. Joining a launch team is something I've always wanted to do, so I was SO excited when I found out I was in.

Here's just a snippet of what is on the back cover:

"Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city's transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost."

Can you see why I wanted to join this launch team?

Based on that little snippet, does it sound like a book you'd want to read? If so, consider pre-ordering the book before February 16, 2017! Why you ask? If you do, you will receive a few extra goodies from the publisher. SWEET!

Click here to pre-order and receive the fantastic extras! http://bit.ly/2jt1HI9

Cannot wait to start reading and eventually share a review with you all. 

What are you reading currently?

Disclosure: I received this advanced reader copy of Life After by Katie Ganshert for free from WaterbrookMultnomah (Random House Publishing) for review and to assist with promotion as part of the launch team. A positive review is not necessary, if I enjoy the book I will say so. If I don't enjoy the book, I'll say that too. All thoughts are my own.

The Angel of Forest Hill {A Book Review}

Books are something that I am passionate about. I have loved them since I was a small child and remember spending much of my time with my nose buried in a book. As an adult my love for books is still there. Granted I don't get to read as much as I used to (hello four children), but on that rare occasion where I do get to read, I tend to devour the books. 

Fiction is my absolute favorite to read. There is something about escaping into the world the author has created and imagining myself as a little fly on the wall taking it all in. From the characters to the storylines to the setting, it's magical. While I do tend to stick to book series, I do occasionally pick up a stand-alone book, and I did that with my most recent read. I'm glad that I did too.

I have read a few books written by Cindy Woodsmall, so when I noticed The Angel of Forest Hill on the blogging for books website, I knew I had to grab this title. There is something about the way that Cindy writes that just draws me into her Amish fiction series. They are seriously that good. Her new release, The Angel of Forest Hill did not disappoint. I binge-read this book and finished it in two days. If I'm being honest, I could have finished it in one day, but I was trying to ignore my brain and it's request to read just one more page.

source: themetapicture.com

The book begins by introducing us to the Kurtz family in Perry County Pennsylvania. It is there that we find Rose, her parents, and their Bishop having a discussion about Rose traveling to West Virigina to assist the Dienner family. Joel and his wife Florence have two toddlers and a brand new baby, and things were not going well. Rose was needed to help care for the children as well as help Joel mend his broken heart.

Over the course of four years, we witness Rose and Joel's relationship change. It deepens and becomes more than what they expected. Of course there are still challenges that they must face and figure out how to work through. From jealousy to misunderstandings to bickering, there is a whole spectrum that they experience. 

The Angel of Forest Hill isn't just about Rose's relationship with Joel and the children though. It is also about Rose's relationship with her own Mamm and discovering how to repair what had happened during her time at home. Then there is the relationship with Erma, Florence's Mamm, and how to build that relationship so they can move past the hurt.

I find myself able to relate to Rose quite a bit. No, I'm not Amish nor did I marry a widower. What I mean is the way that she thinks of herself. She tends to not think highly of herself and it is a struggle for her. She doesn't want to be that way, it's the hurt of the past coming through and a constant loop of those negative thoughts playing in her mind. It's a challenge for her to change this, but as time progresses we see Rose making strides in this.

The relationship that Rose has with the children is quite wonderful. You can feel the bond that they have and how much the children care for her. Yes, they miss their Mamm, but Rose is doing a great job in that new role as their Mama. There are times in the book where you feel like you are right there participating. Especially when the rooster traps them in the barn. I know I'd be up a ladder too if a rooster was chasing after me and trying to attack my children.

Okay here comes the time for honesty. There are two things I didn't like about the book and I promise you they are really minor. First up is the oldest child's name. Wait, WHAT? What are you talking about Laura? Allow me to explain. The child's name is Mose and in my mind that just didn't seem to be correct. I thought for certain that it must be a typo, as in my brain the boy's name was Moses. (see minor issue) My other issue was that the ending didn't feel right. It felt kind of abrupt. I was expecting one more chapter to nicely wrap things up (and have a glimpse into the future to see how their lives had changed), but instead it just ended. It left me feeling a bit disappointed and wishing that the book was part of a series so I could connect further with these characters.

Other than those two minor issues, I really loved the book. From the storylines with the children, to the budding relationship between Rose and Joel, to Rose's relationship with her Mamm, it was all there. As I closed the book, I thought of the characters and how their lives had changed over the course of the story. I found myself wishing I could be there to see their day to day lives and witness what was to come in their futures.

If you are a fan of Amish fiction stories, or are the least bit curious about them, I highly suggest that you pick up The Angel of Forest Hill. If you do, please come back and tell me what you thought. I would love to talk with you about it.

Curious where to buy it? I have some links for you. 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Lifeway

Target

FTC Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.   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.”

9 gift suggestions for your small group

It's that time of year. The time of year where we purchase, or make, gifts for those closest to us.

The woman's small group that I am apart of has been together for a few years now, and each Christmas we exchange small gifts. Granted, you don't have to participate, but we all do anyways.

This year I was on the hunt for the perfect gift that wouldn't break the bank. There are six of us in the group, so I do have to think small.

Here are some of the things I was looking at purchasing. They are all available through Dayspring.

First on my mind were coffee mugs. The majority of us in the group are coffee and/or tea fans. Actually I'm not so certain that the word "fan" is strong enough. Seriously.

Enter these gorgeous mugs. They are $10.99-$12.99 each. Pair this with a couple hot cocoa packets or tea bags, and it is the perfect gift. Or toss in a Starbucks gift card so your friend can pick up a cup of coffee when out and about.

Everything Beautiful jumbo mug

$12.99

A woman who fears the Lord classic mug

$10.99

I wasn't convinced that coffee mugs were right. Not this year.

Next I found myself thinking jewelry. Necklaces to be more precise. These two made my list. I loved the simple phrasing and the designs. Most women like necklaces, so I figured these could be a possibility. (I say most women because I am one of the few who doesn't wear them.)

Be Brave necklace

$24

Follow Him arrow necklace

$14.99

Now I know you're thinking, "Laura, you said you wanted budget-friendly gifts. That necklace is $24! That is not budget-friendly". Am I right? Well I'll let you in on a little secret, both necklaces are currently on sale for $10 each. See, budget-friendly! (on sale as of December 8, 2016)

My next option was these beautiful coasters. YES, I said COASTERS. I love them. I would totally buy them for myself.

Scripture Ceramic Coasters, set of 4

$11.99

As much as I love those coasters, I still wasn't sold that it would be the perfect gift. Plus my ladies might not like coasters as much as I do. Even if they are pretty.

I was starting to feel defeated and figured I would go with my usual gift of a journal. Those who know me, know that I am journal obsessed and I love to share that obsession with others. Enter the two beauties. Swoon!

Lovely World coloring journal

$12.99

Being Kind journal

$8.99

Ultimately though, I wanted something different. I wanted something that would be looked at day after day, and could be used year after year. So, this year my small group ladies are going to receive perpetual calendars. I purchased five different titles because each one spoke to me and I have each lady in mind for each calendar. I'm only sharing two here though. You can see all that Dayspring has a offer on their website.

My friends know that I love everything by Holley Gerth. So when I found these perpetual calendars I knew they had to be mine -- err, rather my friends. (I will need to go back and buy one for myself.)

You're Already Amazing perpetual calendar

$10.99

You're Going to be Okay perpetual calendar

$10.99

There you have it. The 9 gift options that I came up with for my small group ladies. I hope they enjoy their perpetual calendars, because I know I love them.

By the way, if you're not in a small group, these items would make great gifts for moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts, teachers, or friends. Well really anyone would appreciate them, or so I believe.

Do you and your small group exchange gifts at Christmas?  What did you select for them?

*disclosure: this post is not sponsored by Dayspring. I just really love their products and happened to purchase some things to give to my friends for Christmas.

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When I am alone, give me Jesus

Do you ever wake up in the morning and a song is immediately playing in your head? To be honest, this happens to me frequently.

Yesterday the song I woke up to was Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp.

Initially it was the lyrics "in the morning when I rise give me Jesus' that I couldn't get enough of. The entire time I was reading my morning devotional, I would find myself reciting those lyrics.

Once I was up and moving, I decided that I needed to hear the full song and immediately opened my Spotify player. It's been on repeat ever since.

I've moved on from that initial lyric though. Now my heart, and mind, are on 'when I am alone, give me Jesus'.

There are many days that I feel alone. I am missing conversation and community. I would love to go to ECFE classes, the library, the zoo, and whatever other place is a must for stay at home moms to visit. Yet that isn't possible. This is one of the things that I have been struggling with the last couple of years, as we are a single vehicle family.

Another reason that I feel alone is because my circle of close friends is quite small. I have numerous acquaintances, but we don't truly know each other. It's all Facebook and Instagram likes, nothing of deep discussion. They are also all over the US, so I can't exactly pop into their house for a visit (or vice versa).

What I need to remember is that this is just a season that I am in. Before I know it all of my kids will be attending school and my home will be quiet during the day. One day we will have a second vehicle again, this is just a season.

I also need to remember that I am never truly alone. While I may be missing the conversation and connection that another adult can bring, God is always with me. He is there guiding me through my day and putting songs or verses in my mind to let me know that.

You can have all this world, just give me Jesus.

Do you struggle with feeling alone? What do you do to combat that?