New Life

Am I repeating myself by telling you I'm a Fall/Winter gal?(um...yeah!) There's not much I enjoy more than hibernating at home, preferably in my pjs with hot tea & a good book nearby. And if it's cold enough for a fire...all the better. I don't know if I've ever really enjoyed Spring. Maybe it's my allergies. Maybe it's the fact that in my corner of the world, Spring lasts 48 seconds and then we're into the sweltering heat and humidity that is Summer in the South.

But this year is different. I'm actually anticipating Spring. Looking forward to it. Feeling the need to open the windows, scrub the house, and play in the dirt. More than anything, I'm ready to experience new life.

I watched helplessly as our old life was torn up by its roots. I've spent the last few months allowing the Lord to cultivate the hard places of my heart in order to uncover my belief, my trust, and my hope. He's poured Living Water into my soul and nourished my faith. Now, our new life is waiting to burst forth through the fertile soil.

And I can hardly wait.

"Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

~Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

P.S. - sorry I missed The Week in Words. It'll return next week!

The Week in Words A Day Late + What's on My Nightstand

I'm still playing catch up at home, so I haven't had time to pick out my favorite quotes yet. I've highlighted so much of Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual, it looks like the yellow pages :-)

And since that's on my nightstand, I decided to be exceedingly lazy and make this my What's on My Nightstand Post, too. Just think of it as my service to you...giving you books that you can get great quotes from!





~Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. I've been wanting it for a while. I couldn't resist it in the store last week, but it was okay because I had some extra fun money. I'm really looking forward to digging in.

~Watch Over Me. Lauren's review is here. I'm still in the middle of it, but I'd say her review is spot on.

~Family Feasts for $75 a Week: A Penny-wise Mom Shares Her Recipe for Cutting Hundreds from Your Monthly Food Bill. I used nearly an entire pad of post-its to mark the recipes I want to try in this one. Aside from the recipes, Mary gives some terrific and practical advice for saving money.

~In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. Several bloggers have had good things to say about this book, and I'm hopeful it will help us eat healthier and cheaper.

Reading something that spoke to your heart? Link your Week in Words post below. If you've got a stack of books on your nightstand, head over to 5 Minutes for Books and link up there.

The Week in Words - Coming Soon

Good morning! I've just spent a wonderful weekend at the beach with my closest friend for our annual girls' retreat. It's always fun to get away, but returning to the many things that need attention...not so much.

I'll be back to post The Week in Words either tonight or tomorrow morning. Sorry for the delay :-)