Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 14
November 19, 2013
Shannon Ethridge’s TO KNOW YOU giveaway and Facebook Party
Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release of To Know You (co-written by Kathryn Mackel), by giving away a $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat Party!
One winner will receive:
A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard DesignsTo Know You by Shannon EthridgeEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th . Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!
So grab your copy of To Know You and join Shannon on the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on 11/19!
One winner will receive:
A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard DesignsTo Know You by Shannon EthridgeEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th . Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!
So grab your copy of To Know You and join Shannon on the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on 11/19!
November 18, 2013
Dear Mr. Knightley - Book Review & Tour
About the book: Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others-namely her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story-by giving that story to a complete stranger.Growing up orphaned and alone, Sam found her best friends in the works of Austen, Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. The problem is that she now relates to others more comfortably as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre than as herself.
Sometimes we lose ourselves in the things we care about most.
But life for this twenty-three-year-old is about to get stranger than fiction, when an anonymous benefactor (calling himself "Mr. Knightley") offers to put Sam through the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.
As Sam's program and peers force her to confront her past, she finds safety in her increasingly personal letters to Mr. Knightley. And when Sam meets eligible, best-selling novelist Alex Powell, those letters unfold a story of love and literature that feels as if it's pulled from her favorite books. But when secrets come to light, Sam is --- once again --- made painfully aware of how easily trust can be broken.
Reay's debut novel follows one young woman's journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qDEkp
Meet the author: Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked as a marketer for Proctor & Gamble and Sears before returning to school to earn her MTS. Her works have been published in "Focus on the Family" and the "Upper Room." Katherine currently lives with her husband and three children in Seattle. "Dear Mr. Knightley" is her first novel.Learn more about Katherine at: http://katherinereay.com/
Follow the Tour!
My Thoughts:I read books that I know I'm going to enjoy and rarely do I step out of my comfort zone and take a chance on one. I simply don't have the time to waste on a book I'm not sold on right away. I'm glad I did on this. Sam is one of the deepest characters I've read in a very, very long time. Ms. Reay took her time and wrote with deep detail without having information dumping problems or gaps in the plot. While I could guess at a couple things in the story, instead of detracting, it added appeal and I absolutely enjoyed this book.
I had to check several times to make sure it was a debut novel. Ms. Reay writes with raw emotion as if she personally knows her main character. So in tune with Sam, it's easy for the reader to connect with Sam and see life through her eyes.
Sam is chasing a dream. Her dream of a normal life. But not being able to connect with others creates a deep schism and she comes to realize her true goal is just to matter to someone else. Being emotionally abused and traumatized as a child, she must come to grips with the gritty reality that life isn't easy and people are going to hurt one another; but love and friendship is important enough to take a chance on.
No one is an island. No matter how much they think they want to be one.
This one has made it to my favorites shelf! ;)
November 17, 2013
November 16, 2013
Why I Will NEVER Buy Another Husqvarna Sewing Machine
**This is posted as a review on the Husqvarna Viking Topaz 30 Embroidering/Sewing Machine. These thoughts are from my vast experiences with the worst sewing machine I've ever used. Consider yourself warned.**
We bought this machine as soon as it came out. Yes. We were led astray by the name and once superior quality of Husqvarna. We have learned from our mistakes. Since purchase we've had nothing but trouble.
Here are a few of the issues we've had:
- The thread hops out of the rocker arm. Their response? Buy Sulky thread. (Excuse me, but we just paid $3500.00 for this machine and you're telling me it won't use other brands of embroidery thread? Gee, why weren't we told that before we wasted our hard-earned money?)
- The machine won't run designs previously stitched. The only thing I can think of to blame this part on, is Gremlins.
- The embroidery unit makes one of most awful sounds ever. (Our son says it sounds like a machine gun.) Their response? Make sure it's on a level surface and adjust the legs of the unit. No paper should be able to pass under the legs. My response? Been there. Done that. Nothing could squeeze between the large, spacious desk it's sitting on and the legs of the machine. Yet, the machine gun still goes off every time it's connected.
- The machine completely stops with main machine overloads with easy, simple stitching. And yes, this has happened even while NOT doing embroidery. It is scary how often this goes on.
- I've tried to run out a design from a reputable embroidery site that I've purchased from before. The machine calibrates, (machine gun goes off) I add the hoop, and press start to run the design...all it does is beep. I pick a new design, same thing. Repeat these steps four more times to get the full effect of the lunacy I'm having to endure. I call the place where we bought it. Their response? Let us look at it. If we can't fix it, we'll send it out. I said, you can't fix it. She said: Maybe it'll work once it's up here. What?! If we paid $3500.00 for a machine, that thing better work *awesome* EVERY time I turn it on and want to use it!
- Today, I made the mistake of thinking I could use my machine and finish the dress I was making. I thought my machine was reliable enough to run a straight stitch. No such luck. But, it did have a main machine overload, leave a gigantic bird's nest under the fabric, and a pretty awesome HOLE in the shoulder of my new dress. I've always wanted to wear a one-sleeved dress. NOT.
*As of this posting, 11-16-13, I just got off the phone with the dealer again, and here are my options:
- pay to have it serviced (which I will do and have no trouble or issues with.)
- trade up for the Topaz 50 @ $4399 or the Designer Diamond @ a whopping $10,999 (both these prices are without the trade in value for my little piece of Hades.)
OH GOODY! SIGN ME UP QUICK, right?! Look. I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night. Not. Happening.
A few weeks after purchase told me what a horrible mistake we'd made. My husband bought me the machine as an early Christmas present, and I had no desire to tell him it was a lemon. Yet I did. Their response? Let us send it out. Maybe it just needs a cleaning. It came back in the same irritating condition. Hubby and I took it back. We asked for a swap because there is something seriously wrong with this machine. Their response? Let us send it out again and have it looked at. It returns and nothing is fixed.
In conclusion, this sewing machine is Satan's toy and their customer service will send you to the looney-bin.
Now, after the warranty is up, after they've 'fixed' it repeatedly, or at least said they did, (it always returns in the same condition. Yeah. Thanks for fixing it. By the way, did you know gas is almost $4 a gallon and I have to drive at least 35 miles to get to the dealer? Yeah. Thanks for that too, you horrible horrible person.) I am stuck with this pile of doggy-doo that isn't worth the headaches it has given us. I'm stuck with this. I would not even feel right selling this machine on Craigslist because I'd be afraid the buyer would hunt me down and beat me to death after they've tried to use it.
What do I want from this post?
My dream come true would be for Husqvarna to buy this garbage back. Will it happen? Absolutely not. So, this is what I'm planning to do ~
1. I will post my negative experiences with their product on *every* website I own or guest post at.
2. I will post my sordid story in the multiple online magazines I'm a contributor to
3. I will tweet my experiences with husqvarna and their lack of quality and customer service
4. I will leave negative reviews on *absolutely every* sewing forum I'm a member of
5. I will write the Husqvarna designer topaz 30 into my next novel series as being of low quality and not stood behind where the heroine runs it over repeatedly with a Mack truck. While laughing like a lunatic.
6. I will post to my Facebook walls (walls, as I have several. One personal, one as business, and one as my author fan page)
7. I *may* write a Kindle single on the series of unfortunate events that have occurred after our purchase of this Gremlin infested, low quality, highly over-priced piece of workmanship.
We bought this machine as soon as it came out. Yes. We were led astray by the name and once superior quality of Husqvarna. We have learned from our mistakes. Since purchase we've had nothing but trouble.
Here are a few of the issues we've had:
- The thread hops out of the rocker arm. Their response? Buy Sulky thread. (Excuse me, but we just paid $3500.00 for this machine and you're telling me it won't use other brands of embroidery thread? Gee, why weren't we told that before we wasted our hard-earned money?)
- The machine won't run designs previously stitched. The only thing I can think of to blame this part on, is Gremlins.
- The embroidery unit makes one of most awful sounds ever. (Our son says it sounds like a machine gun.) Their response? Make sure it's on a level surface and adjust the legs of the unit. No paper should be able to pass under the legs. My response? Been there. Done that. Nothing could squeeze between the large, spacious desk it's sitting on and the legs of the machine. Yet, the machine gun still goes off every time it's connected.
- The machine completely stops with main machine overloads with easy, simple stitching. And yes, this has happened even while NOT doing embroidery. It is scary how often this goes on.
- I've tried to run out a design from a reputable embroidery site that I've purchased from before. The machine calibrates, (machine gun goes off) I add the hoop, and press start to run the design...all it does is beep. I pick a new design, same thing. Repeat these steps four more times to get the full effect of the lunacy I'm having to endure. I call the place where we bought it. Their response? Let us look at it. If we can't fix it, we'll send it out. I said, you can't fix it. She said: Maybe it'll work once it's up here. What?! If we paid $3500.00 for a machine, that thing better work *awesome* EVERY time I turn it on and want to use it!
- Today, I made the mistake of thinking I could use my machine and finish the dress I was making. I thought my machine was reliable enough to run a straight stitch. No such luck. But, it did have a main machine overload, leave a gigantic bird's nest under the fabric, and a pretty awesome HOLE in the shoulder of my new dress. I've always wanted to wear a one-sleeved dress. NOT.
*As of this posting, 11-16-13, I just got off the phone with the dealer again, and here are my options:
- pay to have it serviced (which I will do and have no trouble or issues with.)
- trade up for the Topaz 50 @ $4399 or the Designer Diamond @ a whopping $10,999 (both these prices are without the trade in value for my little piece of Hades.)
OH GOODY! SIGN ME UP QUICK, right?! Look. I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night. Not. Happening.
A few weeks after purchase told me what a horrible mistake we'd made. My husband bought me the machine as an early Christmas present, and I had no desire to tell him it was a lemon. Yet I did. Their response? Let us send it out. Maybe it just needs a cleaning. It came back in the same irritating condition. Hubby and I took it back. We asked for a swap because there is something seriously wrong with this machine. Their response? Let us send it out again and have it looked at. It returns and nothing is fixed.
In conclusion, this sewing machine is Satan's toy and their customer service will send you to the looney-bin.
Now, after the warranty is up, after they've 'fixed' it repeatedly, or at least said they did, (it always returns in the same condition. Yeah. Thanks for fixing it. By the way, did you know gas is almost $4 a gallon and I have to drive at least 35 miles to get to the dealer? Yeah. Thanks for that too, you horrible horrible person.) I am stuck with this pile of doggy-doo that isn't worth the headaches it has given us. I'm stuck with this. I would not even feel right selling this machine on Craigslist because I'd be afraid the buyer would hunt me down and beat me to death after they've tried to use it.
What do I want from this post?
My dream come true would be for Husqvarna to buy this garbage back. Will it happen? Absolutely not. So, this is what I'm planning to do ~
1. I will post my negative experiences with their product on *every* website I own or guest post at.
2. I will post my sordid story in the multiple online magazines I'm a contributor to
3. I will tweet my experiences with husqvarna and their lack of quality and customer service
4. I will leave negative reviews on *absolutely every* sewing forum I'm a member of
5. I will write the Husqvarna designer topaz 30 into my next novel series as being of low quality and not stood behind where the heroine runs it over repeatedly with a Mack truck. While laughing like a lunatic.
6. I will post to my Facebook walls (walls, as I have several. One personal, one as business, and one as my author fan page)
7. I *may* write a Kindle single on the series of unfortunate events that have occurred after our purchase of this Gremlin infested, low quality, highly over-priced piece of workmanship.
November 13, 2013
Pressing Forward - The Invisible Woman Part 3
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14
Sometimes we have to do difficult things. And we don't realize just how difficult they are until we are right in the middle of them.
Imagine.
You've started on a journey to get back on track. To fall back in love with your God and Saviour, to put Him first in your life, and in doing that, you find that you have to take a step away from things that have garnered your attention. Not bad things. Just things that keep you busy all the time.
Too busy.
So busy, that you forgot what was important, and that's when Satan upped the ante. You were serving the Lord. You were doing all you could, but something started lacking and you didn't realize it, until you were backslidden and you found yourself serving because it was expected of you.
Not because you loved it anymore.
Not because it was a blessing to someone else anymore.
Because you felt obligated to do so.
Maybe it was then you realized you had a problem. Or worse, maybe that's when Satan capitalized on your weakness and brought along some new distractions. Something that looked innocent enough, maybe was even fun in the beginning, but in the end, had the potential to tear you and your family apart.
It happens. I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
I've been there.
I'm in that hard part right now.
The part where I'm faced with walking forward, or turning around and running back to my comfort zone because it's easier than the unknown that faces me.The unknown that scares me.
The part where I have to figure out if this is God leading me, or am I allowing my emotions dictate these scary steps I'm taking.
How to figure that out? How to decide if this is the right path, if this is the path that in the end will draw me closer to God, my family closer to Him, and where I can come back to serving Him with passion and vitality?
Pray. Get in His Word.
I have to pray that He will continue to lead me each baby step of the way.
To pray that He will fight this battle for me, because I am weak and I know I'll falter.
To pray that He will be glorified in and through my life.
To pray that He will not give up on me even when I fail.
That He will anoint me with His Spirit again.
That I will feel His presence and guidance; the Peace that only He can provide.
With His strength, I must keep pressing forward; through the fog, through the scary unknown, through the weeds of despair and discouragement.
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
Sometimes we have to do difficult things. And we don't realize just how difficult they are until we are right in the middle of them.
Imagine.
You've started on a journey to get back on track. To fall back in love with your God and Saviour, to put Him first in your life, and in doing that, you find that you have to take a step away from things that have garnered your attention. Not bad things. Just things that keep you busy all the time.
Too busy.
So busy, that you forgot what was important, and that's when Satan upped the ante. You were serving the Lord. You were doing all you could, but something started lacking and you didn't realize it, until you were backslidden and you found yourself serving because it was expected of you.
Not because you loved it anymore.
Not because it was a blessing to someone else anymore.
Because you felt obligated to do so.
Maybe it was then you realized you had a problem. Or worse, maybe that's when Satan capitalized on your weakness and brought along some new distractions. Something that looked innocent enough, maybe was even fun in the beginning, but in the end, had the potential to tear you and your family apart.
It happens. I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
I've been there.
I'm in that hard part right now.
The part where I'm faced with walking forward, or turning around and running back to my comfort zone because it's easier than the unknown that faces me.The unknown that scares me.
The part where I have to figure out if this is God leading me, or am I allowing my emotions dictate these scary steps I'm taking.
How to figure that out? How to decide if this is the right path, if this is the path that in the end will draw me closer to God, my family closer to Him, and where I can come back to serving Him with passion and vitality?
Pray. Get in His Word.
I have to pray that He will continue to lead me each baby step of the way.
To pray that He will fight this battle for me, because I am weak and I know I'll falter.
To pray that He will be glorified in and through my life.
To pray that He will not give up on me even when I fail.
That He will anoint me with His Spirit again.
That I will feel His presence and guidance; the Peace that only He can provide.
With His strength, I must keep pressing forward; through the fog, through the scary unknown, through the weeds of despair and discouragement.
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
November 10, 2013
November 8, 2013
Amanda's Do It Yourself Penny Backsplash Adventure
I had this crazy idea that I could do it myself. Without help.
I made up my mind that I would, so I did the only thing any self-respecting frugal housewife could do. I procrastinated.
Until I couldn't take it any more. So I got up early one morning, rolled up my sleeves, and got busy.
I was time for a penny backsplash.
Now, if you know anything about me, this is how I operate. I see something I like, I research and research, talk to professionals, research some more, gather my materials, procrastinate because someone said it was going to be ugly, or that it was going to entail a ton of work with scary things like mastic, cementboard, etc, basically everything I know zilch about, I try to talk myself out of it, and then, when it's clear I'm not listening to myself anyway, I get to work.
Here's what I did.
I found this delightful tile mat stuff that sticks on your wall called Bondera - Thank you, Mr. Lowes man who endured all my weird questions and pointed me in this direction. You are *awesome!*
I measured and marked where I wanted the line of pennies to start and end to protect the wall behind the stove, and affixed the measured and cut Bondera inside the lines. *Note: Use old scissors. Not your sewing scissors. Unless you want a new pair for Christmas, then by all means, use 'em! ;) Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm still plucking goo off them. Ugh.
I had lofty plans of doing an artsy type of design with darker and lighter pennies, but I was so enthralled by how they looked, (a.k.a., it was four a.m., and I was lazy. Or tired. You choose.) I just stuck them on. After I had finished with the third vertical row, the OCD part of my brain kicked in, and I thought, 'Hey, wouldn't it have been cool if one row was all heads, the next all tails, and then repeat the pattern?' Yes. I did. I went back through the first three rows and swapped out the offending, incorrectly adhered pennies, and turned them the correct way. My fingernails still haven't grown back. Word to the wise? Next time, decide if you want a recurring pattern first, then adhere the pennies. Or perform a lobotomy. Whichever you prefer.
See the pic? This is when I'm starting to get very excited. I found that the more coffee I consumed, the pennies went on faster. I think I had a total of two and a half pots that morning. All before eight. Yeah. School was a blast. hehe
One thing I noticed during this time, though, is I seemed to be getting a little off on my vertical lines. This will send my OCD brain into fits, or the looney-bin, so I came up with my own plumb-line. Praise the good Lord for t-pins and crochet string! I just pushed the pin at the top of the Bondera, affixed a small clip on the end, waited for it to stop swinging, and Boosh! problem-solved! Straight, vertical lines that made me happy.
It didn't take me nearly as long as I thought it would/should to stick all 2300 pennies on (total count was 2310) and at this point, I stood and stared at my wall for a few minutes like any self-respecting, coffee addicted idiot would do.
And I thought, I wonder what it would look like with the stove in there?!But there too lies a problem. I didn't want to push a non-polished, uncleanned stove back into this beautified spot, so I scrubbed and polished and grinned and then pushed the stove into place.
I wasn't as happy with the results as I thought I'd be. It looked kind of, well, plain. And if I went to all that trouble, I wanted somewhere gorgeous. Something special and fancy.
Out came the stove, up went some strips of Bondera, and some tumbled tile I had picked up at Home Depot (just in case there was an emergency, and apparently, this was an emergency.) The tiles stuck great on the Bondera, by the way. I was nervous when I read some reviews, but these have worked great so far. None have loosened or fallen away from the wall at all.
Then, I grouted the entire thing. Over the pennies, over the tile, waited the allotted time, and then wiped it all down, over and over, over and over, etc. (repeat this step until your sponge is in rags and you're sick of the process. Then repeat some more.)
And this is the finished product. I'm so pleased with it that I can't wait to spend time in my kitchen cooking up fabulous meals for the family. Seriously. I have an entire month's menu prepared ahead and I haven't deviated off it yet.
I'm telling you, Pinterest is going to be my downfall. I have found so many things I want to do in our house, it literally scares the snot out of my hubby. You can follow my Pinterest boards to see what I have in store...
Muahahaha!
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
I made up my mind that I would, so I did the only thing any self-respecting frugal housewife could do. I procrastinated.
Until I couldn't take it any more. So I got up early one morning, rolled up my sleeves, and got busy.
I was time for a penny backsplash.
Now, if you know anything about me, this is how I operate. I see something I like, I research and research, talk to professionals, research some more, gather my materials, procrastinate because someone said it was going to be ugly, or that it was going to entail a ton of work with scary things like mastic, cementboard, etc, basically everything I know zilch about, I try to talk myself out of it, and then, when it's clear I'm not listening to myself anyway, I get to work.
Here's what I did.
I found this delightful tile mat stuff that sticks on your wall called Bondera - Thank you, Mr. Lowes man who endured all my weird questions and pointed me in this direction. You are *awesome!*
I measured and marked where I wanted the line of pennies to start and end to protect the wall behind the stove, and affixed the measured and cut Bondera inside the lines. *Note: Use old scissors. Not your sewing scissors. Unless you want a new pair for Christmas, then by all means, use 'em! ;) Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm still plucking goo off them. Ugh.
I had lofty plans of doing an artsy type of design with darker and lighter pennies, but I was so enthralled by how they looked, (a.k.a., it was four a.m., and I was lazy. Or tired. You choose.) I just stuck them on. After I had finished with the third vertical row, the OCD part of my brain kicked in, and I thought, 'Hey, wouldn't it have been cool if one row was all heads, the next all tails, and then repeat the pattern?' Yes. I did. I went back through the first three rows and swapped out the offending, incorrectly adhered pennies, and turned them the correct way. My fingernails still haven't grown back. Word to the wise? Next time, decide if you want a recurring pattern first, then adhere the pennies. Or perform a lobotomy. Whichever you prefer.
See the pic? This is when I'm starting to get very excited. I found that the more coffee I consumed, the pennies went on faster. I think I had a total of two and a half pots that morning. All before eight. Yeah. School was a blast. hehe
One thing I noticed during this time, though, is I seemed to be getting a little off on my vertical lines. This will send my OCD brain into fits, or the looney-bin, so I came up with my own plumb-line. Praise the good Lord for t-pins and crochet string! I just pushed the pin at the top of the Bondera, affixed a small clip on the end, waited for it to stop swinging, and Boosh! problem-solved! Straight, vertical lines that made me happy.
It didn't take me nearly as long as I thought it would/should to stick all 2300 pennies on (total count was 2310) and at this point, I stood and stared at my wall for a few minutes like any self-respecting, coffee addicted idiot would do.
And I thought, I wonder what it would look like with the stove in there?!But there too lies a problem. I didn't want to push a non-polished, uncleanned stove back into this beautified spot, so I scrubbed and polished and grinned and then pushed the stove into place.
I wasn't as happy with the results as I thought I'd be. It looked kind of, well, plain. And if I went to all that trouble, I wanted somewhere gorgeous. Something special and fancy.
Out came the stove, up went some strips of Bondera, and some tumbled tile I had picked up at Home Depot (just in case there was an emergency, and apparently, this was an emergency.) The tiles stuck great on the Bondera, by the way. I was nervous when I read some reviews, but these have worked great so far. None have loosened or fallen away from the wall at all.
Then, I grouted the entire thing. Over the pennies, over the tile, waited the allotted time, and then wiped it all down, over and over, over and over, etc. (repeat this step until your sponge is in rags and you're sick of the process. Then repeat some more.)
And this is the finished product. I'm so pleased with it that I can't wait to spend time in my kitchen cooking up fabulous meals for the family. Seriously. I have an entire month's menu prepared ahead and I haven't deviated off it yet.
I'm telling you, Pinterest is going to be my downfall. I have found so many things I want to do in our house, it literally scares the snot out of my hubby. You can follow my Pinterest boards to see what I have in store...
Muahahaha!
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
November 6, 2013
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey - Book Review
About the Book:If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.Build up your money muscles with America’s favorite finance coach.Okay, folks, do you want to turn those fat and flabby expenses into a well-toned budget? Do you want to transform your sad and skinny little bank account into a bulked-up cash machine? Then get with the program, people. There’s one sure way to whip your finances into shape, and that’s with The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition.By now, you’ve heard all the nutty get-rich-quick schemes, the fiscal diet fads that leave you with a lot of kooky ideas but not a penny in your pocket. Hey, if you’re tired of the lies and sick of the false promises, take a look at this—it’s the simplest, most straightforward game plan for completely making over your money habits. And it’s based on results, not pie-in-the-sky fantasies. With The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition, you’ll be able to: Design a sure-fire plan for paying off all debt—meaning cars, houses, everythingRecognize the 10 most dangerous money myths (these will kill you)Secure a big, fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement!
My Thoughts:
I've always been a firm believer that God is the One truly in control of our lives and that whatever happens, good or bad, we can learn from it and help others learn from our own experiences. Only, it seems that people are only willing to listen if what we've been through is particularly bad, whether it be abuse, alcohol, or as in this case, financial. Curse this sick part of humanity, but it's called negative reinforcement. Sometimes-most times-we must hurt before we will learn an important lesson.
This is the driving force behind Mr. Ramsey's book. Taking what he learned when he toppled and fell off the financial pedestal, he offers readers a new perspective on something that affects every one of our lives. Money.
I don't listen to his radio show. I have never been a 'follower' of his system (because I didn't really know what it was), but, being on one income with two children, I have always been frugally minded. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. What began as an experiment to see exactly where our money was going and how we could do things better, has now grown into a new way of living, spending, and saving. We are/were not in a terribly bad financial situation as most of the people in this book were/are, but if there's a way we can better use our money? Yeah. I'm going to use it.
I definitely learned a lot from this book and have begun to apply the easy principles behind it.
Highly recommend.
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back - The Invisible Woman Part 2
I hate failing. Really I do. When I'm tested and tried, I hate to fail. It doesn't matter what it's about, either. Karate. Being a good mom. Being a good wife. A good daughter.
I dislike feeling as though I'm not measuring up.
But the worst is when it's a Spiritual battle that I've failed. Those are the worst, I think. To know that I had the best intentions in the world, and yet, try as hard as I might, I. Still. Fail. UGH.
And then, during the midst of berating myself for failing yet again, I hear the still sweet voice whisper in my ear,
"Now, why don't you try it in MY strength, and not your own? I have pretty big shoulders, you know. Bring it. I can handle it and I will walk you through it."
I know. It's not a profound thought, but it's one that I forget every so often. See, I serve a God who loves me and has saved me from my sin. My problem (well, one of many, let's say) is forgiving myself.
Have you ever done something so awful, that it makes you sick to your stomach or made your adrenaline race? I don't like those feelings either. But sometimes, when we're in the middle of a battle, we have all the best intentions in the world and yet when given the right opportunity, we race right back to that secret sin that we can't seem to give up. Like a dog returning to its own vomit.
That's Biblical, you know. Proverbs 26:11 - As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly .
Are you stuck today in a secret sin that you just can't give up? Is there something you can't tell anyone else because you know or fear they'll reject you?
If you have Jesus as your Savior, why are you trying to take the burden all upon yourself? Friend, just why? Your shoulders are not large enough to carry the burden ~ to fix the problem. There's only One that can do that. Have you asked Him to fix it? To take the secret sin away? To create a clean heart in you?
You have? Fantastic. Have you, during this time of healing, have you failed in your purpose to do right? Have you returned to your folly?My friend, hit your knees and lay it on God. He can handle it. Confess it once again and ask Him to help you through this. You can tell Him anything and He won't forsake you. He's promised He'll always be there.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Need me to pray for you? I will gladly do so. Email me. Facebook Message me. I know how tough this road is. I have walked it myself and it almost beat me. I failed. I took those steps forward only to fall back.
The trick? Fall on your knees, confess it again, and get up and move forward.
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
I dislike feeling as though I'm not measuring up.
But the worst is when it's a Spiritual battle that I've failed. Those are the worst, I think. To know that I had the best intentions in the world, and yet, try as hard as I might, I. Still. Fail. UGH.
And then, during the midst of berating myself for failing yet again, I hear the still sweet voice whisper in my ear,
"Now, why don't you try it in MY strength, and not your own? I have pretty big shoulders, you know. Bring it. I can handle it and I will walk you through it."
I know. It's not a profound thought, but it's one that I forget every so often. See, I serve a God who loves me and has saved me from my sin. My problem (well, one of many, let's say) is forgiving myself.
Have you ever done something so awful, that it makes you sick to your stomach or made your adrenaline race? I don't like those feelings either. But sometimes, when we're in the middle of a battle, we have all the best intentions in the world and yet when given the right opportunity, we race right back to that secret sin that we can't seem to give up. Like a dog returning to its own vomit.
That's Biblical, you know. Proverbs 26:11 - As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly .
Are you stuck today in a secret sin that you just can't give up? Is there something you can't tell anyone else because you know or fear they'll reject you?
If you have Jesus as your Savior, why are you trying to take the burden all upon yourself? Friend, just why? Your shoulders are not large enough to carry the burden ~ to fix the problem. There's only One that can do that. Have you asked Him to fix it? To take the secret sin away? To create a clean heart in you?
You have? Fantastic. Have you, during this time of healing, have you failed in your purpose to do right? Have you returned to your folly?My friend, hit your knees and lay it on God. He can handle it. Confess it once again and ask Him to help you through this. You can tell Him anything and He won't forsake you. He's promised He'll always be there.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Need me to pray for you? I will gladly do so. Email me. Facebook Message me. I know how tough this road is. I have walked it myself and it almost beat me. I failed. I took those steps forward only to fall back.
The trick? Fall on your knees, confess it again, and get up and move forward.
Amanda Stephan~Christian AuthorBooksByAmanda.comJoin my Newsletter for *free* members only gifts!
November 3, 2013
God is Good, God is Great
A little of this, a little of that. I love doing many different things, but I'm going to share my love of good books, fun crafts, freebies, contests, and scrapbooking with this blog. Enjoy!
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