Laura Jackson's Blog, page 7

Confessional Friday

   Connecting with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/. 1. I confess that I am EXHAUSTED. The first week of school is always tiring. I've had a busy week after work, so it's been a long week. So glad for a long weekend. 2. I confess that I was nervous about my eye doctor's appointment Wednesday. She found a spot on my eye back in April, so we were checking it to see if it changed. Thankfully, it looks the exact same, so I just have to get it checked again at my early eye exam in April. Praise God. 3. I confess that I'm enjoying my new schedule at work. The last two years, I had just first and second for rotation (where the teachers drop off the kids for an hour). Now, I have 1-5 for an hour each day. It's BUSY but FUN! My day flies by.  4. I confess that I haven't taken my fish oil in like three weeks. UGH! I can't remember to take medicine/vitamins to save my life. Any suggestions for remembering?  5. I confess this Texas shirt is my favorite right now. I love how soft it is. I also love the slightly  longer sleeves. I got it online from Riffraff.     (My uncle gets the best seats to the Astros games. Here we are Wednesday night in the suite behind home plate.) 6. I confess I'm loving a crossbody bag (in picture too). I'm usually a satchel girl, but it's nice having your hands free but still having a big enough purse to hold all the junk I feel I must lug around. Happy Labor Day Weekend! '

Confessional Friday

 Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/. 1. I confess that at the time this post goes live, I'll officially be back at work. I'm excited because I love a routine.  2. I confess that although I feel that way now, I'll start counting down the days till the next holiday at about 9:30 Friday morning.  3. I confess that this is the picture I sent it for work. We had to take a picture and capture what we did this summer.  It's going to be hard to give those up.  4. I confess that I ate a whole carton of Bluebell Cookies and Cream ice cream this week...a little each night adds up. I need someone to slap my hand next time I go to HEB! 5. I confess that I'm super nervous about my second book, Worth the Time. What if it was just a fluke that I could write a book? I'm waiting for the edits, and I keep expecting an email that says, "This sucks. Delete it all and start over."   6. Finally, I confess that I am sad about the world. ISIS, Gaza, Ferguson. The world's gone mad, and I feel like I don't even know how or what to pray. My prayers have been a lot of "please help, Jesus" over and over. He is the prince of peace, and we desperately need Him. I know I do.   '

With Every Breath: A Review

   Summary: Kate and Trevor battled for the top spot in their class--and a scholarship--for years. When Trevor wins, Kate thinks she'll never see him again....not that she wants to. When she gets a job opportunity years later, she never expected it to be from him. Working together instead of against each other is a first, and with the growing dread of tuberculosis, how much time do they have?  My thoughts: Elizabeth Camden's books are so well researched, and this one is no exception. I love the backdrop of the tuberculosis epidemic. It seems Camden's novels just breathe life into historical events, and I felt the hopelessness and panic that communities felt. It set the mood and tone for two dynamic characters. I love Kate and Trevor. I loved their back and forth, how they challenged each other. Their feistiness offset a sad topic.  I also loved the theme of living life, celebrating every breath, and trusting God with what might come next.  Fans of historical fiction will love this book. Of course, Camden fans will be thrilled with this newest story, and fans of Jody Hedlund will also enjoy this tale. I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own. '

Confessional Friday

  Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.  1. I confess that I've never made paper mache before, yet I attempted it with 12 4th and 5th graders.
Lessons learned: glue and water are easier to work with than flour and water; for the last layer, use computer paper or something without writing, which makes it easier to paint.
2. I confess I bought the 42 ounce bag of peanut M&Ms because HEB had a 1.50 off coupon attached to it.3. I confess that I don't know why I can't upload from my Dropbox into this blog. Any suggestions? 4. I confess that I had so much fun melting crayons on a poster with a hair dryer with my book camp kids.  5. I confess that I just bought new bulletin board materials from Amazon for my library. I see a future where I never go to a store again. '

Confessional Friday

  1. I confess I don't enjoy fantasy books/movies. I'm watching the first Chronicles of Narnia movie with my nephew today, and I hope I like it--mainly because he does and I want something to talk to him about. 2. I confess that I LOVE this song. Dierks Bentley is my favorite country music artist, and I just love this song, especially when his daughter joins in.  3. I confess that my daily naps has interfered with my nightly sleep...and not just by keeping me up later. I now wake up throughout the night. I've turned into an infant sleeping in three-hour spurts. 4. I confess I've never made paper mache before. Next week, I'm hosting this book camp at my school. Kids will come for two hours in the morning to read a book and participate in activities. One of those activities involves paper mache. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend! Gotta learn fast. 5. I confess that I'm leaving my Goodwill donation bags open in the middle of my room, hoping that if I leave them there, I'll keep adding to them. It's working so far.  '

A Prayer for the Girls Reading Worth the Wait

  I usually participate in Confessional Friday, but I have something else on my heart today: the girls (young or old) who are reading or have read Worth the Wait. I thought I'd share the prayer that's been on my heart.  Jesus,I don't know her name, her age, her denomination or lack of one.I don't know if she's happy or sad, lonely or confused, single or in love.I don't know if her parents are married, divorced, or passed away.Or maybe she's never met her parents.I don't know her hopes, her dreams, or her fears. But You do. So, I ask that as she reads the words, that she would feel Your love.The love that comforts, heals, restores, makes new.The love that formed her in her mama's belly.The love that died on a cross.The love that never leaves.That never forsakes.That never disappoints. May she know that You love her, and may she love You back.If she doesn't know you, would You show Yourself to her?If she's walked away, would You woo her back?If she's already Yours, would you strengthen and encourage her?Show her that Your love is enough.That Your way is best.And that Your plan for her life is worth the wait, worth the time, and worth the journey.  As You wish it to be, let it be.Amen. '  

When I Fall in Love: A Review

 
Summary: When Grace Christiansen's family buys her a trip to Hawaii for a cooking retreat, she never thought she'd end up paired with Max Sharpe, her soon to be brother-in-law's former hockey teammate. Sparks fly, but when the timid Grace starts to spread her wings, Max pulls back. Will he let a unsure future ruin a beautiful present?
 My thoughts: I love this series. The family is so real. I love that while they love Jesus, they are still human, making mistakes and figuring life out. Grace is no exception. She's stronger than she knows, and I loved seeing her figure it out.I also liked that Susan May Warren tackled a tough topic--a terminal disease. If you knew your time was limited, how would you live? Keep everyone away or embrace every moment. Readers were also introduced to Raina and Casper, who I guess will be featured next. I can't wait to see what the author does with them.  Fans of Christian fiction will love this book. You don't have to read the series in order, but it does help get to know the characters better--and you'll love them.  '

Looking for Life in a Graveyard

 Last Sunday, my pastor made this suggestion for singles: Don't date a corpse. Find out my thoughts on this over at Stitches Thru Time.  Link: Looking for Life in a Graveyard  '

Confessional Friday

 Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/ again. 1. I confess that once I'm out of debt, I will put monthly facials at Aveda into my budget. I treated myself to one this week and went to heaven for 60 minutes.  2. I confess that God is still working in my heart on prayer. (I wrote about what I've been praying for lately here.) I listened to an old sermon from my pastor this week, and it convicted me again about having a specific time of prayer. My favorite point was that "The will of God is birthed into reality through the labor pains of your prayer." (Nathan Lino) Wow! Listen to sermon here.  3. I confess this song has been on loop during my prayer time. I was on YouTube listening to another Eddie James song, and I walked away. I guess it was on a playlist, but this song came on next. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Don't you love when a song captures everything your heart is desperately crying to Jesus?   4. I confess that I have a Bluebell Cookies and Cream addiction. My brain can't function without it. 5. I confess that after having a Pinterest account and using it occasionally, I have now entered the realm of looking up and realizing two hours have passed since I entered the abyss of creativity.  6. I confess that after being annoyed at myself for being sad that I didn't go on vacation this summer, I started a "Nantucket or somewhere else great" fund. If I just put 20 bucks in every time I babysit, I'll have enough to go somewhere cool next summer. Now, if I can just not "take" from that fund for another facial.  '

A Hard Prayer

(Picture from Microsoft's Royalty Free Clip Art) During our Sunday morning worship at church, my pastor leads us in corporate prayer. We all get in a posture of prayer (for me, that means I kneel at my seat) while he prays. Each week, he focuses on different things. One thing has stood out to me. He often prays for other churches by name. And he always asks God to bless that church more than He would bless ours. Wow.  I struggle with jealousy. I compare. I want to be the best. I found myself unable to pray that prayer about friends or other writers. I want to have a best selling book. I want to meet a great, godly guy and get married and have amazing kids.  But God has done miraculous things for me. He brought me from spiritual death to eternal life. He put me in a family where my mom and sister would be my best friends. I have friends that I've know for 20 plus years and one I've been friends with since birth. I have a great job with a fantastic boss.  I go to an amazing church where my pastor speaks the truth in love and sharing the message of Jesus to the city of Houston and the world is our goal.  So, I thought I would try. I began to pray for specific people that I had wasted time being jealous of (because jealousy is a waste of time, not that they are a waste of time). Beth Moore once said in Bible Study that praying for the people you're jealous of is the best way to get over being jealous of them. I had tried that years ago and found it to be true.  But, to pray for God to bless them more than He'd bless me?I wasn't there yet. But, I'm trying.  Because of at the end of the day, I want God's name to be glorified....through me and other people.   So, I'm bringing those people before Jesus, asking Him to pour out His love and blessing to them for His glory.  I can't wait to see them shine.  What are you praying for? Do you find yourself comparing yourself with others too often?   '