New Year, New Look

Hello friends!  Happy 2018!!

I thought that it was about time to update the look of my blog.  It had been the same way since I started it in July of 2016, and a new year seemed like the perfect opportunity to change it up.  I hope you love it as much as I do. 

Y'all are the best.  I could probably write some sappy note about how I love you all and you mean so much to me, but I think I'll save that for my two year blogiversary in July.  For now, know that I genuinely love you guys.  Thanks for everything.

Here's to a richly blessed 2018.

~ Abby

My Favorite Books of 2017

We have come to the end of another year, and personally, I'm kind of offended at 2017 because excuse me??  Did I give you permission to go so fast???

I read a ton of books this year.  70 books, to be exact.  Which is insane and a great deal more than last year's 43.  So I thought that instead of doing a typical "Best Books of the Year" (which would just be way too difficult), I've decided to choose my top book from each month.  Which is probably still going to be hard, but here we go

January:

The top spot for the first month has to go to the first book I read in 2017.  Moon Over Manifest was absolutely gorgeous, and a fantastic way to start off my reading year.


February:

I have (hopefully, by the time you're reading this) finished the HTTYD books this year and I am SO proud of myself.  How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel was really great.


March:

Another new favorite series this year was started with The True Meaning of Smekday.  It was hilarious, heart-warming, and so original and creative.  I absolutely loved it. 
{Honorable Mention: The Silent Songbird}


April:

Lost in a Book was beautiful, inside and out.  I mean, look at that cover!  The domestic scenes of life in Beast's castle, the whole idea of being swept into a story, everything about it was pure magic and I adored every minute of it.
{Honorable Mention: The Reluctant Godfather}


May:

This month's top spot has to go to A Time to Die.  This book absolutely stunned me, so much so that I still haven't continued because honestly, this book messed up my emotions and I've needed this much recovery time just to handle it.


June:

For sure, this month's best book was Heist Society.  It was so fun and awesome and reminded me of Leverage and I am obsessed with this series now and Kat and Hale are so shippable I just.  I loved it.
{Honorable Mention: Payback}


July:

The Screwtape Letters blew me away.  It was my first time reading it, and I'm so glad I did.  It was so deep and powerful, and I will definitely be rereading it in the future.
{Honorable Mentions: Andora's Folly and Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover}


August:

You know what, I'm going to give The Noble Servant the top spot for August because I really loved this book.  It was funny, it was sassy, and I genuinely think that it may be my favorite Melanie Dickerson book. (So far, at least)


September:

September wasn't even a question, I just immediately knew it had to be The Goldfish Boy.  This is one of my favorite books now, and it was beautiful, and I need everyone to read it please.  It was so good.  I'm going to cry just thinking about it.


October:

This. was. awesome.  The top spot has to go to The Ship of the Dead because oh my word.  Rick knows how to do it. 


November:

The Coronation was amazing.  I loved it, I got to do an awesome review of it, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. 
{Honorable Mention: United We Spy}


December:

As I was looking through the list of books I read this month and trying to decide which one was my favorite, the first one that sent a jolt of pure happiness through my heart was Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King.  I thoroughly adored this book.  It was so magical and friendship-filled and just wonderful all around.  Highly recommended from me.
{Honorable Mentions: Stay Where You Are and Then Leave and Unafraid}


And there you have it!  My favorite books of 2017.  I greet 2018 and it's reading opportunities with open arms (and a good deal of nervousness).  Hopefully you found some more books to put on your TBR pile from these suggestions.

{What were some of (because obviously, picking just one is too hard) your favorite books of the year?}

~ Abby

The Faith of the Carpenter {The Greatest Story}

How different would the Christmas story have been if Mary hadn't been betrothed to Joseph?

Really, think about it.

Mary very likely would have been stoned, and then where would we be?  It takes a special man to listen to an angel from a dream. 

Joseph is someone I've really started thinking about just over the past few years.  My dad basically did a whole sermon on him at one point.  (Well, him and one other character... for Father's Day... yeah).

As many times as Mary must have wondered why she had been chosen, Joseph must have had those thoughts tenfold.  I mean, Mary was great, her faith was strong and her heart was pure - of course she'd been chosen to bear the Messiah.  But Joseph?  He was just a carpenter from Nazareth trying to make an honest living and provide a good life for Mary and their future family. 

And then those hopes were smashed when she told him the news - she was pregnant.  And it wasn't his baby.  More than that, she claimed that God was the father, of all things. 

Now, I like to think that Joseph really wanted to believe her.  He really did.  But the idea was so ridiculous that surely there was a lot of inner turmoil trying to figure out what to do.  His sleep the night of the dream was fitful, as he turned the problem over and over in his mind.  If he does let her live, her reputation will be destroyed.  If he marries her, his will be.  And the only other option is for her to die. 

But when he finally slips off into slumber, he's awoken moments later with the answer.  She's telling the truth.  Of course she is.  She's never lied before.  And he knows what he must do.

Maybe he concocts a story, claiming that the child is his, he seduced her.  Or maybe he just lets the gossips of Nazareth decide what happened.  It doesn't really matter, does it?  He knows the truth.  He lets her go to her cousin Elizabeth while he stays behind to start building them a life together, attempting to make one befitting of a young Messiah.

Obviously, then, nothing goes according to plan and he has to take her with him to Bethlehem by order of a Roman who had no clue what was at stake here. 

And to Joseph's horror, the only place he can find for the Messiah is a stable.  One that didn't come with a complimentary midwife.  Where it was just him and Mary to try and go about bringing God into the world.

How terrifying must that have been?  To know that the best you can offer God is a borrowed manger and a few ragged cloths.  To know that you have to raise Him with no experience and not much money.

And then, to save his life, Joseph had to take God incarnate to a pagan land, even farther from relatives and the safety of the Promised Land.  Carrying nothing with them but the gifts of the wise men and faith enough to move mountains.

I sometimes wonder if Jesus looked like Joseph.  If people saw Jesus and thought, "Wow, he's growing up to look like his father."  Not just in appearance.  I wonder if he picked up his mannerisms, his quirks, his terms for things.  His skills, his personality.  I wonder if Joseph was his hero.  How often did he think, "I chose the right man."

We don't see Joseph again after the fateful day in the temple at Passover.  I hope his death was peaceful.  Maybe he spent his last moments in the arms of his son, who would be his savior.  Maybe Mary was there, crying, begging Jesus to save him, knowing that he could if he willed it.  And Joseph looked into the eyes that had seen the dawn of time and were full of tears, and knew that his time on Earth was done.  And he touched the face of the one who had spoken everything into existence, and trusted that He would take care of Mary and the other children.  That everything, somehow, would be alright.

Joseph was incredible.  And he's so underappreciated.  Being the step-father of the Savior was no minor feat.  I can't wait to meet him in heaven and ask him about Jesus as a child.  To ask him about the flight into Egypt, the visit from the Magi, Jesus' first steps and His first words and His first laugh.

Won't that be amazing?

~ Abby

Thoughts from a Sleepless Night

Of course my mind races on a Saturday night. A Saturday night when I have to be at church at 8 in the morning. When every minute I spend thinking is one less I spend sleeping.

Of course.

Of course I can't stop thinking about the future on a night when I can't do anything about it. A night where the future isn't until tomorrow and even then it's still somewhere off in the distance. Where every minute I spend thinking is one less I spend sleeping.

Of course.

Of course there are a million things running through one half of my head that I could be doing, while the other half is screaming "You need to sleep!" "If you don't sleep you won't be any good to anyone!" Every minute my head is at war is one less I spend doing either thing it wants to do.

Of course.

Of course my brain doesn't think about God in the moments when He's all that could soothe my racing heart. When I can hardly breathe with anxiety and so far He's been the only remedy to work. When every minute I spend thinking is one less I spend praying.

Of course.

Of course, I'm only human. What more could I expect from myself?

{Hey, guys.  I wrote this last night when I couldn't sleep. I know it isn't Christmas-y, but I wanted to jot it down none the less.  Look for some Christmas posts this week! ~ Abby}

Her Son, Her Savior {The Greatest Story}

In order for any story to work, it needs characters.

And boy, did the Great Author pick out an eclectic cast to tell His Greatest Story.

I've been thinking about doing a special series of blog posts for Christmas.  Christmas is, after all, one of my favorite times of year.  And every year, God shows me something new in the Christmas story.  And this year, I thought I would share them with you.

So get ready to dive into the Greatest Story, where God proves His love for mankind in a most unexpected way.

And we begin with a young woman, who unexpectedly became a key player in this plan, despite being inexperienced, unmarried, and from a backwater town where not much happened... ever.

 

Mary is fascinating to think about. 

I mean, here you have this girl, who is probably younger than I am now, who is preparing for marriage to a man she probably doesn't know all that well, and is innocently gathering water or preparing for a meal when she is suddenly not alone.  And this intruder is so terrifying that his first words to her are "Fear not." 

(Mini side note here, I'm fairly certain that angels are really, really scary.  Because every single time, their first words are "Don't be afraid.")

This stranger, this glowing warrior, is telling her that she has been chosen by God.  Now, just the angel would have her freaked out.  But telling her that God has a job for her?  To a Jewish girl from a small town, that must have taken her breath away and left her silently gasping for a moment, only hearing the rush of her blood in her ears.  Her first thought, trying to wrap her mind around this declaration, comes out in a small-voiced question: "How can this be?  I am a virgin."

But then a voice whispers, "Mary, you know it's true."

And she lifts her chin, takes a deep breath, and knows the truth behind the words she speaks.

"I am the Lord's servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled."

Can you imagine carrying that kind of encounter in the forefront of your mind?  Feeling the change in your body, knowing the change in your heart, wondering when to bring it up to your family, when to say something to Joseph.  Having the knowledge that once this secret is out, it could not just ruin your life, it could end your life. 

She must have prayed about it on so many nights, when she was sleepless with fear, listening to her family's steady breaths, sensing that she could never go back to the way things were.  Picturing Joseph, his face hard and his eyes heartbroken, turning away and leaving her to the mercy of her neighbors.  She must have cried out to God, asking why she had been chosen, knowing, in her heart of hearts, that it would be alright because God was in it, but still wondering.  Still doubting, if only a little.

Mary's faith is something I aspire to have.  Because clearly she had a lot of it.  Not only was she hand-picked by God for this task when certainly (to human understanding, at least), there were other, more qualified people He could have chosen.  People who had a secure life, people who were older, people who knew more, who had more.  But God chose a humble Jewish girl from a humble Jewish town to carry out the most incredible plan He had ever put in motion.

One of my favorite Christmas songs asks the question of whether Mary knew what she was getting herself into.  Most people answer "Yes, of course she did", but I'm not sure about that.  Gabriel didn't really give her details.  Just that she had been chosen, that honored by God, that she would bear His son, and that son would be mighty.  But as for the actual miracles?  I can't help but think that she had no idea that those were coming.  I mean, she watched Jesus grow up.  She watched him go from a snotty-nosed toddler to a quietly curious child to a devoted teenager taking up his earthly father's job.  It's really no wonder the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus when he returned to them during his ministry.  They knew him as a child, not as Messiah.

And I highly doubt that she ever truly thought about the fact that he would die.  She knew the prophecies, of course, everyone knew the prophecies.  The Messiah would die for his people.  But standing at the foot of the cross, watching her firstborn's struggle for breath and watching the blood dripping from his broken body, she must have wondered again why she had been chosen.

Surely she didn't see the cross reflected in the eyes of a boy who had been born in a stable.  She didn't see the power to heal the blind in the little hand that held hers on the way to market.  She didn't know that the little boy who stumbled over his own feet and cried when he fell would walk on water.

And yet... she must have seen it.  In little things he did.  How he could calm conflict between his siblings with a single word.  How he had a kind word for everyone who came through the shop, even when they were there to complain.  How he lit up when he prayed.

Mary was amazing.  She really was.  But I doubt that she had the whole picture.  She was, after all, only human.  And that's the most amazing thing about her.

 

~ Abby

Books, Dancing, and a Whole Lot of Pumpkins {a look back at October and November}

OKAY I HAVE TO WRITE THIS NOW BEFORE IT GETS ANY LATER IN THE MONTH.

I mean, sheesh, I'm already a month behind.  I don't need more of this madness.

(And yes, I did take that picture.)

I'm currently sick, so if this is a bit disjointed, I'm sorry.  But that shouldn't stop my fingers from typing, so here I am to do a wrap-up that I should have already done.  Yay!


October was a month of long days, little sleep, and orange.  So much orange.  Our church pumpkin patch was in full swing, and I actually enjoyed working this year?  The weather wasn't terribly hot and humid like it usually is (we had a cool snap the week we worked which was awesome). 

We also participated in two Set Free events, one of which involved dancing on concrete (I don't recommend it) and one of which was debuting a new dance which was nerve-wracking but awesome.  I really enjoy fighting human trafficking with these girls.  We always have a great time and I think we touched a lot of people.

I also participated in and conquered my first Instagram challenge which was super fun!  And I reorganized my bookshelves which was really satisfying. 

Speaking of books, here's...

~ What I Read ~

~ Distorted Glass ~ Such a sweet little story!  It's a Snow Queen retelling, which is my favorite fairytale.  I loved it.
~ The Seer of Shadows ~ One of my favorites, a spooky historical ghost story.
~ Uncommon Criminals ~ THIS WAS AWESOME. I can't wait for the next one.
~ Lost Boy ~ This book was so interesting.  My Goodreads review has more of my thoughts, if you're interested.
~ Nightmare City ~ This was intense.  Like, wow. 
~ The Ship of the Dead ~ Yes.  Just... yes.

~ What I Watched ~

~ Spider-Man: Homecoming ~

I. LOVE. MY. SON.  That was literally my thought process through most of this film, which was absolutely fantastic and I loved it.  Tom Holland is so perfect for Peter I can't even right now.

~ Once Upon a Time ~

I'm... not sure if I'm sold on this new season but I am enjoying it.  Henry has been one of my favorite characters in the show, though, so I'm not wholly against it.

~ The Nightmare Before Christmas ~

This year was my first time watching this movie and I'm glad that now I can say I've seen it.  This is Halloween, THIS IS HALLOWEEN.

~ What I Listened To ~
 

Not much to explain here, really.  There was a ton of awesome Christian music that I started really obsessively listening to this month, which was nice to go back to after somewhat being away for awhile.  Honestly, sometimes when I put together these playlists, I just put a song or two here or there from whatever I've actually been obsessively listening to.  But this playlist I seriously had on repeat.  I jammed to this like crazy.  So this really was the soundtrack of my month.

~ What I Posted ~

 

When You're 18, Going on 19... {a post about growing up}
The Seer of Shadows {a spooky review}
The Nightmare Before Christmas {another spooky review}
Favorite Quotes ~ October {my favorite quotes of the month}
Nightmare City {yet another spooky review}

Aaaand, I think that's it for October! Now let's look at November:

November was a month of buying books, much dancing, and quite a bit of traveling... again.  We were in Fort Myers for a weekend, performing, and then up to Georgia for a week to help my Grandma move.  Life hasn't slowed down since then, and I highly doubt that it will going into December, but God is still good.

~ What I Read ~

~ How to Betray a Dragon's Hero ~ This was awesome.  And painful.  But mostly awesome.
~ The Coronation ~ Adorable, wonderful, I loved it so much.
~ United We Spy ~ I'm sad to have finished this series, because I loved it so much, but this was such a satisfying ending to the series that I was just happy throughout the whole thing.
~ The Doll People ~ This was so cute! Kind of like Toy Story but better explained.
~ Love Finds You in Frost, Minnesota ~ It was Christmas-y, it was sweet, it had great faith content, I really enjoyed this book.
~ The Mitford Snowmen ~ This was such an adorable story set in Mitford at Christmastime.

~ What I Watched ~

I finally figured out a way to keep track of the movies I'm watching by simply writing my thoughts in a notebook after each one I watch.  So maybe I'll actually be able to remember what I think about them afterwards even with my terrible memory.

~ The Finest Hours ~

I'm thinking about actually typing up the thoughts I wrote down on this film and posting a proper review.  Because this film stunned me with how beautiful it was.  I didn't think I was one for disaster films.  Clearly, I was wrong.  But this movie, guys.  It was so good.

~ Atlantis: The Lost Empire ~

Basically, I just worked my way through Disney movies I hadn't seen this month.  This one was absolutely beautiful.  I'm so glad that I've seen it.

~ Thor: Ragnarok ~

This was basically a comedy and never once was the joke "let's ragnarok and roll" made and I am disappointed, Marvel. 
But no, seriously, this movie was hilarious.  Not my favorite Thor movie (that goes to the first one, tbh), but I did really enjoy it.

~ Bull ~

I??? almost forgot about Bull???  This newest season has been wonderful and this is genuinely one of my favorite current running shows right now.  The crew is such a family and I love them.  Also look at that gif, Bull is such a Dad.

~ What I Listened To ~

So much awesome music this month!! New stuff I discovered, new stuff came out, it was a fabulous music month.  I also obsessively listened to this one.

~ What I Posted ~

The Mercy in the Madness {about God's goodness}
The Coronation {about a book review}
The Bibliophile Sweater Tag {about sweaters and books}
5 Ways I Princess & 5 Ways I Don't {about a blog tour and Disney princesses}




OKAY WHEW I FEEL BETTER!

So what do you think of the new wrap-up layout?  I thought it was about time that I switch it up.  Plus this post from Jonathan really got me thinking so maybe keep a look out for some changes soon?


Question of the Month:
Are you planning on reading any Christmas-themed books in December this year?  If so, which ones?  Let me know in the comments down below!

~ Abby

A Question of Courage {blog tour}

Hello friends!  Today, I'm very excited to be part of the blog tour for A Question of Courage, a new novel by Jesseca Wheaton!

Let's jump right in, shall we?

~ About the Book ~

A man. A decision. A destiny.
Rafe Sullivan never imagined the war would come to his doorstep.  But when Pearl Harbor is attacked and America's focus suddenly shifts to the Pacific, he finds he can't ignore the problem anymore. Leaving the life he loves behind, he joins up to do what he does best. Fly.
Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the horrors of war, and the struggle that is going on in his own heart. As an outstanding navy pilot, he is stationed on one of the few Pacific carriers. But could God be calling him to step out in faith, and go beyond the call of duty?
Lily Wilson gives her all to help the hurting community around her. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the war is brought home to many American families. And as a nurse, she longs to be able to relieve some of the suffering. Yet, her own grief is still fresh in her heart, and though she's made the decision to get on with her life, she can't seem to leave the past behind. When healing at last comes, the guard she placed around her heart slowly begins to crumble.
But when she receives the news she hoped she would never again hear, can she trust that God's plan is always right?
Arthur Warrington saw the Navy as an escape from the life he left behind. And it seems good for him. He is able to forge new friendships and distance himself from his past. But when his best friend makes a decision that rocks his world, he is left grappling with the question: what is true courage?
Three lives. One war. And a search for the Courage to go on.

~ About the Author ~


Jesseca is a daughter, sister, and child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with her siblings, or playing piano. And writing, of course! At an early age, words fascinated her, and her love for the printed word has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she's convinced there's no place like home.

~ About the Giveaway ~


Purchase the book here (for paperback), here (for Kindle), or here (on Createspace)! And you can add the book to your Goodreads shelf here!

I'm so excited for Jesseca!

~ Abby