T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Taking Time to Read

Hello and Happy last-week-of-February! Last week's vacation helped restore my energy, clarity, and vision. My typical February break has a major list of things to-do for each day. This year, I spread out one a typical vacation day over the week. It was wonderful. I accomplished the important items and let go of those that weren't.

Instead of setting an alarm to bang out the lists and go to bed exhausted, I found myself sleeping hard and waking up before the alarm. The only reason I even had an alarm set was to make sure I made it to the YMCA each day. I tried new classes and benefited from extra workouts in some of my favorites. The Cricut was kept busy cutting my new logo so I can make some new swag. I hosted live cooking demos, posted new videos to my YouTube channel and on TikTok, and enjoyed time snuggled in with a good book, or two. 

One book I've read each day is, A Journey to Easter . Yup, my very own devotional. You might find it odd that I'm enjoying this but to write a book is totally different than reading it for enjoyment. A Journey to Easter , is a devotional to help you draw closer to Jesus during Lent.  I've shared a couple of the devotions on my Keeping it Real Cooking with Lisa Facebook page as part of my Sustenance Sunday: Live Devotionals , if you want to watch one, click here.

I also started Eat, Pray, Love and Plan B: Further thoughts on Faith for fun reads. I'm reading Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick with my Monday evening book club. I re-listened to Uninvited and Atomic Habits. BUT the most important book I read each day...my Bible. I'm trying something new this Lent. I'm going to read a few chapters (minimum) of the New Testament each day, starting with the book of Matthew. I'm reading with my new Bible, The Passion Translation.

It's empowering to let go of the lists (for a few days, lol) and enjoy life, creating, and reading. I'm still the first-born organized and planning person yet it feels good to know I have the strength to let go and relax for a week. We all need to relax and take time to "sharpen our saws" to recharge who we are. The Friday before break I was on an emotional low and near burn out. I'm returning to school with renewed energy and determination. I pray and hope you take this necessary time too. We all deserve, and need, this time. It's taken me decades to figure it out, maybe someone reading this will be saved from years of overworking and start incorporating weekly blocks to recharge.
Will you share a great book for
myself & others to read?