Currently: Watching, Reading, Wearing... and more!

Letting ya'll have a peek into my life these days currently! And honestly, I need some help with a few of these... Like my inability to commit to a book club 😅

What's on My Bookshelf: Gordon MacDonald, Barbara Rainey & Janet Pope

If you look at my track record for finishing the books, it's pretty sad. I get so distracted so easily! And during the schoolyear it's even worse.
So since February (when I walked away from a marriage conference with my arms full of books) I've tried really hard to start a book and then finish it.

I've also tried to incorporate time to read into my schedule. After I wake up and after I spend time in the Word, I try to read a chapter in a book that is for me and my enjoyment before I jump into reading homework or something.
As I was writing this blog post, I happened to find Lipstick & Gelato's vlog about her current reads, and I agree with the point she made that reading has a way of both waking you up and motivating you, but also giving you something to think about and hopefully add to your life throughout the day!

At first I almost chose all married books (from my arm-full of marriage conference resources) in my eagerness to learn what it is to be a good spouse, but I realized that gives me no balance.
So anyways, here are the three books that I've read, am reading, and about the start.

Letters for my Daughters by Barbara Rainey

This has become my #1 book to recommend to any wife, or even fiancé, or even single girl! It's a compilation of e-mails from Barbara Rainey (a co-founder of Family Life) to her daughters and daughters-in-law about marriage. 

But what I love about this book the most is that it's spiritual and reflective without being specific. One flaw I've found in marriage books is the authors tend to write about one type of husband, or a group of husbands. Barbara Rainey does a really great job of giving her daughters advice that centers, not on the type of husband they have, but on the spiritual significance of marriage.

Not only that, but she understands that the best way to be the best wife is to focus on your relationship with the Lord first and foremost.

I highly, highly recommend this book.

(Side note, she's also an incredible watercolor artists, so the chapters are absolutely BEA-UTIFUL.)

"In my marriage my goal is to always believe the best about my husband, to always believe God is not finished with him yet, and to always believe the best is yet to come." - Barbara Rainey

"The very best marriages, the ones that go the distance, have a purpose beyond mutual fulfillment and personal happiness... Marriage isn't designed to make us happy, but to make us holy." - Barbara Rainey

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald

This is the book I'm currently reading, and it was exactly what I needed for this season of life. It was written by a pastor who realized early on in his ministry that he was not structuring his life in a way that established his private life, and that this would only lead to a shaky foundation.

The whole book (which I'm only half-way through) is full of practical tips to know how to distinguish between drivenness and calledness, how to keep who you are and what you do separate, and valuable insight into how to budget your time wisely.
Already it has been super helpful, but especially because it is written in the context of pastoral ministry I would very much recommend this book to anyone who is called to ministry.

"We are naively inclined to believe that the most publicly active person is the most spiritual... Because we tend to think like this, there is the temptation to give imbalance attention to our public worlds at the expense of the private...There must be a quiet place where all is in order, a place from which comes the energy that overcomes turbulence and is not intimidated by it." - Gordon MacDonald

"For an inner life fraught with unresolved drives will not be able to hear clearly the voice of Christ when He calls. The noise and pain of stress will be too great." - Gordon MacDonald

His Word in My Heart by Janet Pope

I'm really excited to start this book after I finish the other one.

Janet Pope focuses on learning and meditating on the verses you're trying to memorize instead of simply choosing a few and running with them. She began the process as a mom-of-two with  little free time, so I'm hoping she will have some habits and practices to impart to me to help me make memorizing scripture a part of my busy, newlywed, college life.

I'm looking forward to treating this book more like a bible study guide for my quiet time with the Lord. Flipping through it it looks great for a bite-sized spiritual bite to start every day.

"In the book I present an alternative for the frazzled, guilt-ridden woman who longs to know God and His Word but hasn't yet found a way to accomplish this amidst the unrelenting treadmill of activities." - Janet Pope

What books are on YOUR bookshelf?

Linking up with some awesome parties here!

Currently: August

I shared with ya'll a "Currently" list for July last month, and I have again taken up the challenge from Anne In Residence.
I'm cramming homework and to-do's into these last two days before we leave on our anniversary trip... so blogging has been a little bumped down on the priority list.

But I don't feel that bad. I get to go to the Bahamas! ;)

That is where I will be in a couple of days, but

Currently I am...

hearting: my new Shop Sevan kimono!
I mention this kimono was something I was "wishlisting" last month, and I finally bought it... and of course, debuted it to my parents house while they were preparing for carpet to be installed (lol).
Can't wait to style this piece in a million cute ways.

watching: Food Network.
All. the. time.
One reason is that I am trying to gather tips and inspiration for learning how to cook, and the other is because it is always clean. (I don't have to keep the remote nearby in case something innappropriate makes an appearance on the screen.)
Also, who doesn't find Cutthroat Kitchen entertaining?

exploring: Pinterest for kitchen tips! Our kitchen is really small in our new house, and it is really giving my creativity a run for its money. Do ya'll have any tricks for storing things in a small kitchen? (particularly for short housewives?;)

creating: LISTS. This is nothing new for August, because I feel like I am always creating lists (and my husband will probably agree). Lists really are such a great way to empty your brain and give it some "room to breathe" and the ability to focus on what you need to do in that moment.
But with our trip to the Bahamas and the new semester right around the corner, I feel like my list-making has been taking steroids!

eating: delicious gf peanut butter cookies that a sweet friend brought over last night... and they only have 5 ingredients! They may make a debut here on the blog, but they will for-sure be in my kitchen again in the near future.

Other than that, it feels really, really good to be home from Maryland, and we are finally getting to enjoy being in our new little house for more than just a couple of days. It's starting to feel a little more like home!

What are you currently hearting/watching/exploring/creating/eating?
Linking up with Anne In Residence

Currently July + A Giveaway!

I know, I know, I just have tons of treats for ya'll this week, don't I?;)
Have any of ya'll bought anything with the Shop Sevan code I shared on Monday? 

Today I'm sharing with ya'll some things I'm doing currently. Jenna at Gold and Bloom blog had this fun list of questions, so I thought I'd "give it a go."

I am currently...


Toasting: marshmallows! Like I said a couple weeks ago, Jon's new hobby is grilling when we're home on the weekends (seriously, he's grilling everything!). And since I can't contribute to that portion of the dinner-making, I use the leftover coals to make us s'mores! Everyone knows they make for a great summertime desert.

Going: to the National Harbor. I've mentioned this place before as one of our favorite date night spots while we are living in Maryland, and I think one of those reasons is how much there is to do and try! We've been there 5 or 6 times now, and we still haven't tried everything.

Smelling: good! No, but seriously. I apparently smell GREAT. I was out yesterday on an errand after a 12-hour work day, and a woman told me that I smelled nice. After a 12-hour work day. What a compliment. Thanks, Bath & Body Works!

My sweet hubby's birthday gift to me:)

But since I am mostly unavailable, and you probably won't be smelling me anytime soon, you could also be smelling my favorite Yankee Candle right now;)

Wearing: working clothes. Which means jeans and a t-shirt, typically. My inner country girl doesn't mind, but the girly-girl inside of me is not very happy! But hey, that's what date nights and weekends are for, right?

(A few of my recent weekend/date night outfits)

Wishlisting: This kimono from Shop Sevan, and these yellow shorts from Target!

(Do you think it could work to wear them together?? Not sure, but I want to try!)

What are ya'll toasting/going/smelling/wearing/wishlisting currently?

On to the giveaway!!!

Today I have teamed up with some awesome ladies to bring you a giveaway meant for encouraging. Need a little pick me up? This giveaway is for you! There are 3 prizes and 3 winners! I think these businesses are so fun, and I'm so excited to team up with some fellow bloggers to bring it to you!

$25 eGift Card to christianbook.com

TEE from CrazyCoolThreads.com [ you choose ]

11oz mug from HelloAwesomeShop.com [ you choose ]

Here are the fabulous ladies I have teamed up with for this giveaway!

Whitney - Southern Hope Blog 

LeAnn - Love Unconditionally 

Sonya - The Paper Mouse Shop 

Stacy - Better Than Newlyweds 

Brittany - Everyday Thoughts 

Brittany - Grace Love Life 

Terryn - Just A Simple Home 

Casey - Cattails, Rabbit Trails, & Thistlefish 

Crazy Cool Threads 

Ashley - MamasBlessed

Also, you don't have to participate in all the entries... But the more you enter, the greater chance you will be one of the 3 winners!:)

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end July 7 in the evening and winners will be contacted on the 8th. You then have 24 hours to respond and claim your prize or another winner will be picked. This is US only;)

Have a great holiday weekend!!