One of those days...

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Winnie the Pooh

Today is a day where I would give anything to talk to my Granny again. To hear her voice, feel her arms envelop me in a sweet hug, and sit at her kitchen table and talk about life. I miss her.
She never traveled the world. In fact, from where she was born to where she died is probably a span of forty miles, maybe less. She didn't need to travel the world to know where she wanted to be and who she wanted to be around. She was kind, compassionate, and an amazing grandmother.
It is in remembering how she loved me well and how she taught me to love that I find strength.

Beautiful Battlefields | iPad Mini Giveaway and {3/12} Live Webcast with Bo Stern

Where is God in the midst of this?You’ve probably heard that question or perhaps asked it yourself. In the battle for your joy, your marriage, your finances, your health, an emptiness creeps in. Where is the peace You promised, God?

Bo Stern has been there—and is still there. Yet in studying the battles in Scripture, she came to a startling conclusion: God is using these fierce fights in our lives for an 
astonishing purpose.

My Review:

When I saw the title of this book, I was immediately drawn to it. Beautiful Battlefields. Battlefields don't seem like something that one would deem beautiful. Needless to say author Bo Stern had me intrigued. 

Stern uses this book to give an honest account of the struggle and hardship that she is facing. She is not asking for pity but rather points back to the One who has been her strength and comfort throughout. It is a book built on obedience to God's calling and dependence on God's presence especially in times of trouble.  

No matter your battlefield this book can speak wonders to your struggle. It is first hand knowledge of trusting God even when the outcome is unknown. Bo Stern is showing us how it is not the destination but the journey that is so important in these hard times. "We all suffer, but those who know Christ should suffer with hope so that a watching world can see that He is a very present help in times of trouble." Stern does an excellent job of echoing this sentiment in Beautiful Battlefields. http://litfusegroup.com/author/BStern


I received a copy of the book for review purposes only. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Nail Polish

For about 22 years I have been biting my fingernails. Countless times I have tried to stop, usually not making it longer than a few weeks. I have used incentives for myself, tape, nail polish, pepper polish, you name it I have tried it. My grandmother even told me a horror story about an appendix filled with fingernails and still I would bite my nails. Now I don't know if the appendix thing is possible but I understood what she was getting at; biting your fingernails is gross and bad for your health. I also know they look terrible when they are so chewed but it had become something I did out of nerves, boredom, or just whenever. Breaking a habit is difficult to say the least. Four weeks ago yesterday I decided to try and stop once again. I was at Target when a bottle of nail polish caught my eye. It's a peachy color so it looks bad with my pale skin but still I bought it and painted my chewed nails. It's been a long four weeks and when I find myself wanting to bite my nails or biting them I pop a rubber band on my wrist (I read about that on Pinterest). I've had a few relapses but it has only been a few fingers. And today something great happened, I actually broke a nail! That's never happened before. It's baby steps but I'm four weeks closer than I've ever been. My name is Kari and I bite my nails but I'm trying hard to break that habit.