Distracted by Pinterest

Okay - I admit it. I have been cheating on my blog with Pinterest. Instead of tossing words down here when I have time - I am scrolling through image after image on my phone. The visual feast has been satisfying for the most part. I have learned things. It's true.  I am a better person, more organized and creative, thanks to Pinterest.

Okay, not really - that is just the addiction talking.

But I have found some nifty ideas and accomplished at least one silly goal....

I am technically laundry-challenged, but still made this ridiculous over-the-top declaration this year -

"My son will have the Cleanest Football Pants on the team"

Now, this is no easy feat - he does not sit the bench or even leave the field during the game most of the time. He plays offense, defense, and is the kicker, and the punter....and is simply a mud-magnet.
But - I figured a scrub brush and dedication to the task would be enough (along with copious amounts of bleach ...but not too much, I was going for the no holes look)

beginning of the season 

bring it, baby

Too bad he couldn't be green again this year - green pants, seriously brilliant. - Actually, brown football pants would take the pressure off moms everywhere, but no matter - I am up for the challenge! (I said foolishly)

Now for a little photo montage to illustrate how ridiculous this declaration really was/is  (I have not given up)

Yes, that is my son #48 with the mud-caked behind
note the boys around him...you can still tell their pants are supposed to be white, and they are wearing shoes - not blocks of mud.

Here he is all proud of himself.
He thought it would be a GREAT idea to slide face first into a giant puddle
Just for fun, mind you, practice was over. 

this is Joe - not at a football game
mud magnet I tell ya! 

Anyways, I have managed to keep his pants clean - but fell short of the WHITE - they were getting a little, um yellowy from all the bleach I think. - have no idea how that works or why... bleach=white, right?  guess not.

Enter Pinterest

A quick search on laundry tips brought up a brilliant idea and a recipe for making whites white again, complete with pictures. I like pictures.

ooooo chemical concoctions - this should be fun. So I bought all the supplies and YES - not only did the house have that "Wow, your-mom-really-knows-how-to-clean smell" it put me back in the running for the

*CLEANEST PANTS AWARD *

okay, yeah, whatever there is no such award - but Pinterest is proud of me.  Okay again, that is not true....

here is the truth

Pinterest makes me look good.


Pin on sisters!  

(and brothers, and random people of the world)

thank you for all your hard work
 

inSignificant by Chris Travis

Like a lot of people, I was blown away by Crazy Love and other books and teachings by Francis Chan. In fact, his books sort of ruined me. As a book reviewer, publishers expect me to offer an honest review of the new releases they send me.....while I continued to do so - in the back of my mind- every book was compared to Crazy Love.

The bar was simply set too high.



....and then came inSignificant.

Finally a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.  In this fairly small book - 150 or so pages - easy to read - humble tale of a pastor turned middle school teacher - Chris Travis offers an approach to life that is not only biblical, but relevant to the average person.

There so much to love about this book. I received it yesterday and couldn't put it down....but I am far from "done" with it. I plan on going back through it to soak up the lessons again. (and then pass it on - this book is too good to keep to myself)

And now for the review - Chris Travis taught math in the most dangerous middle school in the New York City School system for two years...and that is the main background of this book. Through this experience he learned how to navigate life focused on God.... and live a life that is truly Christ like - even if that means staying almost completely insignificant and irrelevant according to the world's standards. (and even if he really didn't WANT to some days, dare I say most days)

Unlike many other Christian books, Chris Travis does not spend time helping you figure out how to find your life purpose - in fact, he addresses that and other commonly held "religious" notions in a really interesting way. His take on some of the parables is refreshingly real. 

The conversational style will draw you in and the lessons will change you from the inside out if you let them. If you have ever felt insignificant or burdened by the mundane of your life - discouraged that you are not doing something BIG for the kingdom....this is the book for you.  - (And if you are doing something BIG, I still suggest you read this book - it may help you gain perspective.)

5 stars without any hesitation

* Thank you Bethany House for providing a free copy of inSignificant for review.  -and for restoring my faith in the Christian publishing world. : )

inSignificant by Chris Travis

Like a lot of people, I was blown away by Crazy Love and other books and teachings by Francis Chan. In fact, his books sort of ruined me. As a book reviewer, publishers expect me to offer an honest review of the new releases they send me.....while I continued to do so - in the back of my mind- every book was compared to Crazy Love.

The bar was simply set too high.



....and then came inSignificant.

Finally a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.  In this fairly small book - 150 or so pages - easy to read - humble tale of a pastor turned middle school teacher - Chris Travis offers an approach to life that is not only biblical, but relevant to the average person.

There so much to love about this book. I received it yesterday and couldn't put it down....but I am far from "done" with it. I plan on going back through it to soak up the lessons again. (and then pass it on - this book is too good to keep to myself)

And now for the review - Chris Travis taught math in the most dangerous middle school in the New York City School system for two years...and that is the main background of this book. Through this experience he learned how to navigate life focused on God.... and live a life that is truly Christ like - even if that means staying almost completely insignificant and irrelevant according to the world's standards. (and even if he really didn't WANT to some days, dare I say most days)

Unlike many other Christian books, Chris Travis does not spend time helping you figure out how to find your life purpose - in fact, he addresses that and other commonly held "religious" notions in a really interesting way. His take on some of the parables is refreshingly real. 

The conversational style will draw you in and the lessons will change you from the inside out if you let them. If you have ever felt insignificant or burdened by the mundane of your life - discouraged that you are not doing something BIG for the kingdom....this is the book for you.  - (And if you are doing something BIG, I still suggest you read this book - it may help you gain perspective.)

5 stars without any hesitation

* Thank you Bethany House for providing a free copy of inSignificant for review.  -and for restoring my faith in the Christian publishing world. : )

The Gospel of Yes

Mike Glenn sets out to share the most important thing about God in his book The Gospel of Yes. As a senior pastor of a mega-church in Tennessee, Mike Glenn really seems to love his church, his role in life and God. As a book reviewer...I really love reading this type of Christian book and I really want to give a completely positive review, but I have reservations.

Before I get into those, let me say The Gospel of Yes is a good book. Mike Glenn distills his thoughts on God in a wholly personal way. He pulls in illustrations and examples that are fresh, reminding the reader that God is in control - He made you and has a plan for your life. (God said Yes to you in other words)
 
My hesitation in giving this book my full support is simply that I think the premise of the book is a little too contrived. Figuring out that God says Yes to you is a nice twist, almost a play on words - as was some of the scripture references. (not all, in fact I really loved a lot of the truths - even if they were rehashed in order to put a "yes" spin on them) 

3 stars


Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, which requires an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

The Gospel of Yes

Mike Glenn sets out to share the most important thing about God in his book The Gospel of Yes. As a senior pastor of a mega-church in Tennessee, Mike Glenn really seems to love his church, his role in life and God. As a book reviewer...I really love reading this type of Christian book and I really want to give a completely positive review, but I have reservations.

Before I get into those, let me say The Gospel of Yes is a good book. Mike Glenn distills his thoughts on God in a wholly personal way. He pulls in illustrations and examples that are fresh, reminding the reader that God is in control - He made you and has a plan for your life. (God said Yes to you in other words)
 
My hesitation in giving this book my full support is simply that I think the premise of the book is a little too contrived. Figuring out that God says Yes to you is a nice twist, almost a play on words - as was some of the scripture references. (not all, in fact I really loved a lot of the truths - even if they were rehashed in order to put a "yes" spin on them) 

3 stars


Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, which requires an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

One Big Thing: Discovering what you were born to

What is your purpose? Why were you born?



"Big Thing is about finding out what you were born to do with your life and how to use it to revolutionize your business or ministry-and change the world." 
 
One Big Thing sets out to help readers find the one thing that sets them apart in order to make a real impact on the world. Phil Cooke compiled a lot of great information and asks all the right questions. OBT is an easy read, but if you desire change and really want to benefit from this book, then I suggest taking the chapters slowly in order to digest all the lessons.

I read this book during the Summer Olympics which offered a good backdrop for the message. Athletes from around the world are great examples of what a person can accomplish when they really put their heart and soul into one thing.

It really can be too easy to just slide through life, avoid taking risks or challenge yourself - but, the world really needs people to step out and be great at something. The author reminds us that throughout history, the people who are remembered, were those who specialized in one thing. -generally speaking of course :)

With that said, I wanted to like this book more....but can only give it 4 stars. There is something lacking, something just a little off, something too familiar - it seems as if I read this book many, many times before. The info is great, the author drives his point home that YOU MUST FIND YOUR ONE BIG THING - he makes you BELIEVE you must focus on ONE THING but then......

....

yeah, that's it. 

I agree with Phil Cooke, and I desire to make an impact on the world... but a lot can only be seen from hindsight - success does not look the same for everyone....and that is more than obvious from the examples in the book.  Some of the people highlighted were wildly successful, but completely unfulfilled and had to refocus...others had innate talents or experienced a one-shot chance at greatness ...after years of obscurity.

Even after reading the book (and really trying to love it) I came out with the same thing I went in with -

Do your best work.. where you are...with what is in front of you - Let God take care of the details.


I received this book from BookSneeze for free in exchange for an honest review.  4 stars - (teetering on 3)












 

One Big Thing: Discovering what you were born to

What is your purpose? Why were you born?



"Big Thing is about finding out what you were born to do with your life and how to use it to revolutionize your business or ministry-and change the world." 
 
One Big Thing sets out to help readers find the one thing that sets them apart in order to make a real impact on the world. Phil Cooke compiled a lot of great information and asks all the right questions. OBT is an easy read, but if you desire change and really want to benefit from this book, then I suggest taking the chapters slowly in order to digest all the lessons.

I read this book during the Summer Olympics which offered a good backdrop for the message. Athletes from around the world are great examples of what a person can accomplish when they really put their heart and soul into one thing.

It really can be too easy to just slide through life, avoid taking risks or challenge yourself - but, the world really needs people to step out and be great at something. The author reminds us that throughout history, the people who are remembered, were those who specialized in one thing. -generally speaking of course :)

With that said, I wanted to like this book more....but can only give it 4 stars. There is something lacking, something just a little off, something too familiar - it seems as if I read this book many, many times before. The info is great, the author drives his point home that YOU MUST FIND YOUR ONE BIG THING - he makes you BELIEVE you must focus on ONE THING but then......

....

yeah, that's it. 

I agree with Phil Cooke, and I desire to make an impact on the world... but a lot can only be seen from hindsight - success does not look the same for everyone....and that is more than obvious from the examples in the book.  Some of the people highlighted were wildly successful, but completely unfulfilled and had to refocus...others had innate talents or experienced a one-shot chance at greatness ...after years of obscurity.

Even after reading the book (and really trying to love it) I came out with the same thing I went in with -

Do your best work.. where you are...with what is in front of you - Let God take care of the details.


I received this book from BookSneeze for free in exchange for an honest review.  4 stars - (teetering on 3)