I've been on a hiatus...

I've been on a hiatus but I have some really great excuses!

Excuse #1: I'm pregnant! We found out we are expecting baby #2 and it's caused us to shuffle our lives around a little bit to start to prepare for the new arrival. Chucky's 11 months old and I'm due in September so I'm hoping they are going to be the best of friends! Another perk of having them so close together is that I haven't put any of the baby stuff in storage yet and now I don't have to!

Excuse #2: I'm pregnant! I know I just said that but this pregnancy was a lot harder on me than my last one and it put me out of commission for a few weeks. I was very sick and my hormones and this dreadfully long winter  worked together to make me severley depressed. I plan on writing a post about it soon but suffice it to say, it was not a pretty picture. But then... 

Excuse #3: Spring came! After being depressed and cold for so long this spring has been especially rejuvenating for me. I've been taking advantage of every warm day to go outside and soak up the sunshine and I've been using every rainy day to put my house back in order after a few months of neglect.

As you can see readers, I didn't just abandon my post here, I've been absent across all platforms, including real life, because I wasn't doing well handling the day to day. But I am better now and I am once again committed to providing you with as much fun content as I can put out.

I'm going to be honest though. I don't know how much I am going to be able to work on this blog. I love doing it and I find it to be a wonderful creative outlet but I'm sure life will overwhelm me and I'll be pulled away from the keyboard again. I want to make you a promise though: no matter what happens during the seasons of my life I will always come back. This exercise means a lot to me and even though the venture is still young it's something that's made me very happy so I am going to try to make it a priority.

I will try to warn you if I'm about to go dark though, I won't leave you hanging again :)

In short, I'm back!!

SQT: The One with the Back Problems, the Sleep Training, and the Secret, Unspoken Wish

Hello everyone! I'm linking up with Kelly over at This Ain't The Lyceum for a fantastic edition of Seven Quick Takes! 

For lack of time I will be giving you a brief overview of my week.

1.  When I was pregnant with Chucky I suffered from horrendous back pain and while it's gotten better since his birth, he is getting heavier (currently 23 lbs. and rising!) So those back problems have started popping up again. I finally went to a chiropractor and he took a look at me and suggested that I come three times a week for the duration. I would have told him that he was asking for an unreasonable commitment from me but then he adjusted my back and I fell in love. Maybe he'll be my Valentine??

2. Chuck went back to school this week (he's a physics student at NJIT) and it's bittersweet. I miss him but I don't miss him being around. All. The. Time. 

3. Alison's whole family has been crazy sick so they're in quarantine. Which is fine except she's usually my go to baby sitter and I've had all the chiro appointments... First they had a stomach bug now Tessa seems to have an ear infection and Tristan may be coming down with something! Needless to say, they are not allowed to breathe my air...

4. Chucky is now eight and a half months old and he hit a fun little sleep regression. He used to just pass out when I put him in his crib but now he treats us to a fun screaming session every time he naps or goes to bed at night. One night I fell asleep listening to the screaming at a weird angle and got a crick in my neck. Oh my... He is doing better though. He barely screamed at all last night so... that's progress people! 

5. I got my hair cut and now I feel like a real person again. Yay #mommyproblems!

6. I've been fighting off a very minor stomach bug all week. It's making me sad. And unable to clean my house. If anyone would like to volunteer for a job where you clean my house and get a firm handshake in return, it's all yours. 

7. Alison and I are working on some big things! I don't want to jinx anything so I'll just ask you for prayers, support and incense instead. Thanks in advance! 

How did your week go?

Winter Blues

If you’re reading this than I would like to congratulate you on surviving the Blizzard of 2015! Feel free to eat all the eggs, bread, and milk you bought without shame. 

Seriously though, that was some kind of let down. I grew up in sunny SW Florida so cold weather and snow were foreign concepts to me until a few years ago. I moved to NJ in December of 2007 and I never looked back. That first winter was particularly hard for me because not only was I lacking the necessary skill set to survive cold weather, I was also missing a very important factor: the clothes. For some reason puffer jackets and waterproof gloves just aren’t in high demand in Florida and while I knew that snow was frozen water it never occurred to me that when you try to build a snowman it’s going to melt and soak into your gloves and make you miserable until the feeling comes back to your fingers. I’m not even exaggerating.

Now that I have a few years of experience under my belt I feel like I know what to expect from this season. November and December are great because no matter how cold it is you can see the twinkly Christmas lights at the end of the tunnel. The week after Christmas is also tolerable because you have copious amounts of alcohol to look forward to on New Year’s Eve. The first week or two of January are OK because you have that resolution you’re working on and you’re chugging along with it. Than January 20^th(ish) hits and it’s like a brick wall.

Suddenly, there are no more holidays to look forward to, no resolutions to keep you going. There’s only a long dark road of overcast days and blustery nights. In past years I’ve dealt with it slightly better because I was working and no matter how low the thermometer goes you have to go to work but now that I’m a SAHM there’s nothing stopping me from sitting in my PJ’s and watching Dr. Phil all day. 

One of my favorite quotes.

I don’t have any tips for dealing with the winter blues. Even when I was working I didn’t handle it well and this year is proving to be almost too much for me. I’m trying to keep busy though. I try to limit screen time and spend my days reading, crocheting, or working on Pinterest projects. Having a reading list is especially helpful right now because I’m not motivated to find any new titles for myself but I have a list written up from when I was motivated. As much as I love to eat I’m trying not to spend my free time cooking because the last thing I need to be doing when I’m this sedentary is eating more. I also nap at least once a day. It’s a silly thing but those little naps rejuvenate me and help me handle the rest of my time better.

I would love some advice on surviving the dreariness. What do you do to combat the winter blues? 

SQT: How to Deal with Difficult People

How to Deal with Difficult People:SQT Edition

      When I say Difficult people I'm not talking about the crazy family we're forced to see during the holidays or at birthday parties. We all have a little crazy in us too so we have to expect that from others. I'm talking about THOSE people. You know.. the people who love to complain about everything and everyone, pick fights, and find pleasure in making you feel horrible about yourself. Yeah, THOSE people. They're usually selfish, opinionated, and very loud! Unfortunately, there is no reasoning with people like this. So I've made a seven quick takes on some tips on how to deal with difficult people like that. 

1. Bite Your Tongue. 

This is the most important tip. This does not make you a coward. It's easy to spew mean words when you're angry. It takes more strength to keep composure and walk away from hurtful words. We have willpower and can control our actions even if we can't control the actions of others. As an adult, being right shouldn't be so important to us that we go around arguing with everyone that does something you don't like especially when family is involved because it effects everyone around you. Debates are okay but insults are not.

2. Remember Everyone Has Their Own Demons. Be Forgiving!     

We never really know what battles people are fighting behind closed doors. Sometimes people where raised by mean parents and are following by example. Or sometimes people feel sad about their own unhappiness that they lash out and take a shot at yours It's not always easy to stop and try and relate and understand where the evil stems from. Some people cant help it because their minds are not well, so you have to try and forgive and not take it so personally.

3. Aim For Civility Not Friendship. 

When people are connected to you as family or through family it feels like you need to be friendly in order to keep the peace but you don't need to be friends with those people, you need to tolerate them. This means being civil by saying hello and making small talk about the weather or how work sucks. Once you open yourself up and get personal, you allow them to find a way to use it against you. Keep it nice but put your guard up. 

4. Limit Your Time Around Them. 

It's way easier to get along with someone difficult when you see them very sparingly. This will also help you with #1. Your patience becomes manageable when you know you only have a few hours to spend with them or you only have to see them at family gatherings. 

5. Do Good For Yourself.

Trying to be righteous and good all the time can be tiresome but it's important that we always continue to work on ourselves. We all have bad habits that we need to kick. For example, I like to gossip. I can't help myself sometimes, but I do make a conscious effort to stop myself because I know it's a terrible thing to do. We need to remind ourselves to be better. If you're a better person, then you can find peace in knowing that their harsh words are not true. Also, before you take anything to heart, ask yourself, " how well do they know me now?" We're always changing and kicking old bad habits. It still doesn't mean we're perfect, but do their words hold true anymore? I know I'm not the same person I was 5 years ago. We mature and sometimes you can't relate to people you used to. It's just the sad truth, but instead of getting mad at people who don't understand you, just remember that you're growing and no one can fault you for that.

6. Think Of Who It Would Effect If You Cut Them Out. 

Would it mean you could never talk to your sister again? Could it cause a divorce and split your family apart? These are things we should think of before we speak. Hurtful words can be forgiven but not forgotten. You can tarnish a relationship with insults. It's important to not be selfish and think about how this would affect your children. Them getting to see their family is worth putting aside hostile feelings. It's usually best to use #1 for everyone's sake. Don't make family gatherings unbearable. 

7. Cut Them Out!

This is a last resort. Sometimes there are just people too self-centered to reason with. They can't help but pick a fight because being right is way more important than getting along. People like this always find new ways to make you feel like a horrible person even when you know you're not. A thick skin will only get you so far. If all else fails... LET THEM GO! Even if it hurts and not because you're losing them, but losing something or someone they take with them. There are people just too stubborn and rude that you can't forgive another word. It's sad, but remember they did it to themselves. 

Do you have any tips or stories to share about dealing with people like this?

Pro-Life Straight Talk

This week we’re talking about some tough stuff here at Chasing Cousins. January 22^nd is the National Day of Prayer for Unborn Children. Men, women and children all over the country will be praying for all the children lost to abortion and for their mothers. Alison and I are joining them in their prayers and by providing content and links that have a pro-life message. 

Alison shared her story yesterday and we got a lot of positive responses and even a really interesting debate on one of our shares. I want to thank all of you who took the time to read it and to comment. I truly mean it when I say that we appreciate every single one of you. 

Although the response was overwhelmingly positive we did get some negative comments. I'm not talking about the lively debate on Alison's Facebook. Although heated I think it was a productive conversation (Thank you Nicole!) There were negative comments from a few people we knew and from a lot of people we didn't. To the people we don't know who were posting horrible things about Alison and her message I can only say that I am shocked and that your mothers should be ashamed of you. To the ones that we know, I am deeply hurt. 

Abortion is a touchy subject. We know this and we were expecting discussion and dissension. What we were not expecting is people name-calling or judging us. There's something deeply sinister about evil words splayed across a computer screen. The people writing them forget that those words are directed at a real live person, a person with thoughts and emotions. It's so easy to sit behind our keyboards and sit in judgement of those around us, even as we think to ourselves how open minded and kind we are. 

I had a whole post penned for today. It was about love, acceptance, and forgiving. I've decided to scrap the whole thing. I slaved over it and I am immensely proud of every sentence but now is not the time for it. I've known darkness, I grew up in it, but the depravity that I've witnessed over the past two days is more than I can bear.

So instead, I'm going to hold my son today and say a rosary. I am going to think of every evil thing said and I am going to pray for the person behind the words. I am going to attempt to forgive those people. I don't understand them, they are too far gone for that, but I will try forgiveness.

I'd like to ask you to join me in prayer for those poor souls. You don't have to pray the rosary. If you need some inspiration feel free to use the image below of the prayer to St. Michael (I'm borrowing the image from Kendra at Catholic All Year). If you don't pray than light some incense and send some good vibes out into the universe. We need good vibes, now more than ever.  

My Pro-Life Journey

      This week at Chasing Cousins our topic is the Prayers for Unborn Children, January 22.  This is a topic very close to my heart, for personal reasons that don't stem from faith.  Most of you may know me and my story of motherhood, but for those of you who don't, I became a mother at the young age of 20. 

      Tristan was conceived the summer of 2009.  I was only out of high school two years and was still so young and naive.  I had no direction in my life. I worked hard to live on my own but didn't have a career or even an idea what I wanted out of life.  Imagine how scary it was finding out I was going to become a mother.  I could barely take care of myself, let alone another human being!  But for some reason, a trip to Planned Parenthood was never an option that came to my mind.  

      I'll never forget talking to the doctor, she said "your pregnancy test came back positive."  My mind was trying to process this huge, life changing information.  What I find interesting was my words were "so I'm having a baby?"  In my mind the fetus was already a person.  I thought of the final outcome; I imagined me holding a child.  I was only eight weeks pregnant, but I knew pregnancy led to an infant, something we learn in school.  I never thought that my life was more important than that soon to be child. It never occurred to me that I'm not ready to give up my life to figure out my goals and turn 21 and have fun and enjoy life before I have to settle down.  I had already made the irresponsible decision when I didn't use contraception.  This was my consequence to my carefree actions and I needed to stand up and get my life together quick so this child could have a good life.  It wasn't easy but it wasn't about me anymore.  I had to prepare for a new journey.  

      I know why people want to keep the option open.  It's convenient to feel like you have a way out.  Like that tiny fetus won't eventually become a child, a person with a heart just like we did as a baby.  A brain that will be able to have interests and ideas that will develop just like ours did.  Their journey to life has started just as ours did and we've had this great opportunity to experience life, and so should they.  

      I can't even imagine my life without Tristan.  He WAS that little bean at my 12 week ultrasound.  Now he's four and is a person.  He is obsessed with cars, loves playing video games, and makes friends everywhere we go.  He affects so many people's lives with his beautiful soul and loving personality.  If I decided my life was more important he never would've had that chance.  

      I know how it feels to be in that undesirable position. I know how it feels to be scared and disappointed with your decision. It's frustrating when you know it was easily preventable. But it's normal to go thru struggles in life and how you deal with them defines who you are.  It's not always about what makes life easiest for you.  People don't want to deal with bad consequences, even when it's morally wrong.  A life is a life, whether you put it there on purpose or not is irrelevant.  People need to open their eyes and their heart.

SQT: 7 Ways to Manage your Cramps

A humble offering for:

So here we are for our first "Seven Quick Takes" EVER and it feels pretty flipping awesome. I mean, I'm in the same state as Kelly which makes us practically cousins or something, so it feels like a coming home in a way. I thought I'd start this wonderful tradition off with a post that is guaranteed to stop any men from ever reading my blog. Smart right? Anyway, enjoy the post and don't forget to enjoy all the other link ups at Kelly's house, This Ain't The Lyceum.

I have always had really painful cramps, like crazy painful. The worst I ever had left me curled in a fetal position, crying my eyes out and unable to take anything for the pain because I had maxed out all my medicinal options. It was AWFUL. 

So imagine my trepidation when I was told that labor pain was the worst cramps you've ever had ten times over. I'm sure the person in question was trying to be helpful but it terrified me to the point that I wouldn't even discuss labor until I was about seven months pregnant. Anytime it was brought up before that I would just give a nervous laugh and say "It's ok!! I'm just going to go to sleep and than wake up and the baby will be there! It's going to be great!" Cue crazy laughter and bring out the strait jacket. 

Well, I gave birth and I survived because that well-meaning person was a big ole' liar. Labor pain sucks, it hurts, but it's nothing we can't live through and it certainly isn't ten times worse than my menstrual cramps. It's actually only a little worse than the worst cramps I've ever had which is saying something. 

Anyway, I thought I would give you all some of my favorite tips for dealing with menstrual cramps since, you know, I'm kind of an expert. Except I'm not so be sure to talk to your doctor before doing anything crazy and remember: these things work for me but they may not work for you so don't sue me. 

Tell me someone reading this is a nerd and knows what I'm talking about.

1. Tea, Earl Grey, Hot. 

Or any tea or warm food. Cramps are your body's way of ridding yourself of your uterine lining and that unused egg (technical enough for you?) so they are very similar to contractions in that they're pushing something down and out of you. So eating/drinking something warm might be enough to help you relax and get those muscles to unclench and give you some relief. 

I love this thing.

2. Honey, Bring me the Hot Water Bottle!

I've said that one a few times. Take a hot water bottle and put it right underneath your belly. This is working on the same principle as the last tip, trying to get those muscles relaxed and help you get some sleep. I have one similar to this.

This is the extent of my stretching ability when I'm cramping.

3. Lite Yoga 

I know, I know, the last thing you want to do when you're all periody is get up and move but trust me, this just might work. Just stand up, raise your arms up over your head, then slowly bend down and try to touch your toes. You don't have to touch your toes, we just want to stretch out those abdominal muscles. When you're done, get back in bed dammit. Or you could try going around the house doing light chores. It sounds awful but moving around works sometimes. And if it doesn't you can always...

A warm bath will turn that frown upside down!

4. Take a Warm Bath 

On one occasion when my cramps were keeping me up I took a hot bath at 3:00 in the morning. It was so effective and I was so tired I ended up dozing off for about 15 minutes. I DO NOT RECOMMEND SLEEPING IN THE TUB but it felt very nice that night. Let's just say it can't make you feel worse than you already do. 

I wish I was this pretty when I'm sleeping...

5. Go to Sleep 

For me, this one only works when I feel the cramps coming on but they haven't fully hit me yet. If I can manage to fall asleep before they get really bad I can sleep through the worse of it, no problem. Honestly, using this tip for years helped me incredibly with my early labor. I fell asleep that night and since I was so used to sleeping through my cramps I slept through all of those early contractions. I woke up the next morning when my contractions were six minutes apart so.... Win!

The miraculous properties of chocolate unfortunately do not include weight loss.

6. Chocolate

There is no scientific reason that this works. It just does. Let's call it a miracle. My favorite chocolate is Hershey Symphony Bars or Dove Milk Chocolate. Yum!

This is what I take, if I take medication at all.

7. Pills

I'm putting this one last because I think pills and medication should always be a last resort but that's just me. I do use Midol pretty often but only on the first day of my period and only if I can tell that it's going to be a doozy. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication but personally, I take Midol. It's fast and effective and works for twelve hours. I've never had any side effects from it so again, win!
 
Hopefully these tips will help you manage your pain and remember, you're just training for labor!

P.S. These links all go to Amazon.com and I don't make any money off of them. I just added them to make your life easier if you want to buy anything.

Alison's Recipes: Spaghetti squash with mushroom cream sauce

       After starting a low-carb diet I seriously needed to find alternatives to pasta. I didn't know what else to eat with my Alfredo sauce! Most of the recipes I discovered called for spaghetti squash. I was intimidated because I'd never eaten it and I didn't know how to make it. I turned to Martha Stewart, my go-to on all things domestic, to find the best way. I found out how easy it was and decided it was worth a try. It ended up being a lifesaver! It made my pasta-free lifestyle bearable. I've had many people say they've heard great things about spaghetti squash but don't know how to make it; I'm here to change that. I took step by step pictures to show just how painless it is. I didn't want to serve it plain so I paired it with my favorite mushroom cream sauce, also low-carb. It's worth trying anything once, especially because it's great for the kids, too. They can't even tell that they're eating squash! It's a deceptively perfect addition to your recipe repertoire.

Spaghetti Squash

They can range anywhere from 4-10 lbs. in the supermarket. The one I used was 5 lbs. The squash needs to be cut in half from the stem down. It's a little tough to get through so use a sharp knife and it may be useful to put a dish towel down so it doesn't slide.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

There will be seeds inside so you should take a spoon and scoop them out into the garbage.

Place the squash on a pan with foil, face up so you can salt and pepper the inside.

Flip the squash over so that the rind is facing up and drizzle olive oil over the top. This helps the inside scrape out easily when it's all done.

Bake for 45-50 minutes. If you like pasta al dente and you like a crunchier texture I would bake it about 40 minutes. If you like it softer then bake it longer than 50 minutes.

When it's all done you should flip it over to check the texture of the squash.

Take a fork and start to gently pull the inside of the squash away from the rind. It should come off very easily.

When you pull it off, it should look something like this. Voila! You've made spaghetti squash!

While the squash bakes for 45 minutes, I like to start on the sauce that will go over it so I can throw it in while it's hot. So, here is the recipe for my super easy and delicious mushroom cream sauce. This recipe is great because it's only 4 ingredients and easy to pull out when you're not in the mood to cook something complicated and time consuming.

Mushroom Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1-2 packages of Baby Bella mushrooms,cleaned and sliced( I like lots of mushrooms so I use 2 but you can use less if you prefer)
• 1 medium shallot, minced
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 cups heavy cream

Directions:

  

Step 1: Clean the mushrooms. I've learned that you can actually clean mushrooms in a bowl of water and that its not actually going to compromise the mushroom (thanks Martha!) Give those babies a nice bath.

Place the mushrooms onto a paper towel to dry. As you can see, the dirt has sunk to the bottom of the bowl. Better than when I used to wipe each one individually. What a time-saving tip!

Step 2: Slice 'em!

Step 3: In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and stir them around to coat them with the butter. Place a lid on them for about 8 minutes.

Step 4: While the mushrooms cook, start mincing the shallots. I like mine chunky so I chop them but you can keep going.

Step 5: Add shallots to the mushrooms and turn the heat to high. Saute them until soft, about 5 minutes.

Step 6: Add the Heavy Cream and bring to a boil.

Step 7: Turn heat down to medium and let simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce is this beautiful light brown color.

Step 8: Add the cooked spaghetti squash right to the pan and let it soak up the sauce.

  

Here is the delicious outcome! My ideal replacement to pasta.

      I hope this gets you motivated to try something new. It's just in time for people who are looking for something healthier to eat. This is also great for tricking your children into eating something nutritious. You can use any kind of sauce for the spaghetti squash like tomato sauce, garlic and oil, and even cheese to make a healthier substitute for mac and cheese. If you totally love the cream sauce like I do, then you can use it for lots of dishes as well. I put it over baked chicken or even switch it up by putting lemon juice in it. Even if you're not a fan of spaghetti squash, the sauce is great over pasta as well. There is nothing I love more than a versatile recipe that can make my life easier and my family happier and healthier.

What new things are you cooking in the new year? What are your favorite recipes?

Jessica's 2015 Reading List

Happy New Year everyone!

Like Alison, I don’t believe in resolutions. I think that improving yourself is a challenge that you work on every day, one step at a time. I do, however, believe in making lists so…. Here’s my 2015 reading list!

I never plan to read books in any particular order. I typically just start with whatever book I already have and then mosey around the genres as the fancy strikes me. My only rules are that I plan on at least 12 books and that they be a pleasant mix of classic and contemporary literature. I’ll spontaneously add books as I discover them throughout the year so 12 has been a solid number for me.

I always endeavor to read one giant, dusty tome a year and I start that one as soon as possible because it could very well take me the whole year to read. Last year I read Les Misérables by Victor Hugo and this year’s big ole’ book is…

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I read Anna Karenina two years ago and it left me with an appreciation for Russian literature so I thought this year I would return to it. There’s something incredibly beautiful about their prose so I am very excited about it. My theme this year seems to be religious literature so this was a nice addition to my list.

Contemporary 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I know nothing about this book except that people are reading it and it involves time travel and Scotland. I’m not really a fan of contemporary literature but I do try to stay up to date on what the populace is reading (which has resulted in my reading Fifty Shades and Twilight *shudder*) but this one seems like it might not be horrendously awful. I’ll let you know when I’m done.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
This is another contemporary read and a new addition to my reading list traditions. I read What Alice Forgot by Ms. Moriarty last year and it was deeply moving. Since I liked it so much and I was at a loss for another modern novel I decided to read another of her works. Once again, I know nothing about this book so we’ll see how it all works out.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I really don’t want to read these books. I swear to you I don’t. I already got suckered into Twilight and I am not a fan of young adult literature so I was not planning on reading these. However, Alison read them and says they’re great and we made a deal that if I read these she’ll read Harry Potter (I had to bribe her into reading Harry Potter, can you imagine????). I’m pretty sure they’ll be fast reads so I’m hoping to get through them in one week.

Nonfiction 
                               

                                                                                                                                
Diary of a Country Mother by Christina Montanaro
Haley over at Carrots for Michaelmas recommended this one so I’m adding it to my list. It’s about the (sadly) true story of a mother whose son committed suicide and her subsequent journey of prayer and peace. I’ve got a box of tissues ready.

Religious

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
I’m a little late in the game and just found out about this gem from some fellow bloggers. I decided to dive into it and although the writing is simple and profoundly thought provoking I’ve found myself struggling to complete it, partly because I'm so busy highlighting my favorite parts and having deep discussions with Chuck about the points he brings up. I’m about halfway through so I’m hoping to finish it this month.

Humane Vitae by Pope Paul IV
This is an encyclical letter which means the Church regards it as dogma so I’ve been itching to read it. I’ve read descriptions of it before and supposedly it did an eerie job of predicting the current state of affairs in regards to abortion, divorce, and contraception so I’m going to start reading it as soon as it comes in. This is kind of a cheat since it’s nowhere near as long as a regular book but I’m counting the whole Hunger Games trilogy as one so it seems fair.

Saints and Conversion Stories

 
The Confessions of St. Augustine
A lot of my favorite bloggers quote this guy so I decided it was time to learn more about him. That’s really the only reason. I guess I’m not that picky…..

Not God’s Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down her Arms by Holly Ordway
I read Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler in the last days of 2014 and I enjoyed it so much I decided to add another conversion book to my list. Amazon has been recommended this one for months so I bit the bullet and ordered it from Barnes and Noble (I had a gift card!)

The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur
This book is made up of the collected diaries of Elisabeth, a deeply religious woman who was married to an atheist. When her husband found them after her death he was so moved by her constant quiet and honest prayers for him that he began a spiritual journey that would result not only in his conversion but in his being ordained a priest. It seems inspiring so I added it to my list. I’m a few pages in and it seems like it’s going to be heavy going but we’ll see.

Classic Literature

 
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
I love love love classic children’s literature and I’ve decided this is the year I finally read about the boy who never grew up. It probably doesn’t have too much to do with how gorgeous this edition is… probably.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I actually already have this but I'm buying this edition because, again, it's amazingly gorgeous. I've read this book many, many times but I'm itching to read it again. I strongly believe that good literature can help you lay down a strong foundation for your life. Since the very first time I read this novel and ever since, I have been inspired by these four young women and their darling mother. Now that I have a little one of my own I'm interested to see if it speaks to me any differently. 

Have you read any of these? What's on your list this year? 

 

P.S. All of these links go to Amazon.com. I was not paid for any of this and I only include the links to make it easier for you if you want to purchase them.