Book Thoughts and Mental Toughness

A couple of weeks ago I finally finished Same Kind of Different As Me, and just yesterday I read The Traveler's Gift. Both were touching stories, spiritually encouraging, and motivational tools. If I had to recommend the one that hit me the hardest, I would definitely recommend The Traveler's Gift.

Patrick and I try to live our lives with the "Glass Half Full" mentality, but there are definite times where it is more difficult to intentionally choose that avenue. I know that I have alluded to the fact that life has taken us down roads that haven't even been on our radar during the past 7 months, and we have dealt with each curve as we have rounded it. Now, things are leveling out somewhat, and we are having to adjust to our new reality. We are grateful about so many aspects of it, but we still miss each other during the first few days of the week terribly--so much so that we are consistently having to pray that the Lord grant us, strengthen us, with some extra doses of mental toughness.

My mom was reading this book last week and told me about it, and on my way home, I felt like it might be something that could offer Patrick and me some extra encouragement, so I stopped at the local Books-A-Million and picked it up. I breezed through it yesterday because I wanted P to be able to take it with him this week, and I probably stopped several times and said, "Patrick, this is SO GOOD."

I am usually very skeptical about "self-help" books, but this one carries the reader and the narrator through history and uses various figures from Anne Frank to Christopher Columbus to Harry Truman to present its points. The premise is that we have to take responsibility of our choices, our success, and our happiness. We are not slaves or victims of our past choices but pioneers of our future. It was not a "health and wealth" type of presentation; rather it focused on God's gift of free will to us. One of my favorite points was when the narrator realized that life isn't always about making the right decisions but rather making each decision right.

You know how sometimes a book has to hit you at the right time to make an impression? Well, the timing of this one and our current situations couldn't have been more perfect. We had some special prayer time together and prepared ourselves to be mentally tough this week.

Then, this morning, Patrick called to tell me that his sweet Dad is in ICU in Louisville. He is going to have a pacemaker procedure in the morning. We sure would appreciate your prayers for him--and for us.

I also have a few new posts with recipes, updates, and thoughts below for your reading pleasure.

A couple of weeks ago I finally finished Same Kind of Different As Me, and just yesterday I read The Traveler's Gift. Both were touching stories, spiritually encouraging, and motivational tools. If I had to recommend the one that hit me the hardest, I would definitely recommend The Traveler's Gift.

Patrick and I try to live our lives with the "Glass Half Full" mentality, but there are definite times where it is more difficult to intentionally choose that avenue. I know that I have alluded to the fact that life has taken us down roads that haven't even been on our radar during the past 7 months, and we have dealt with each curve as we have rounded it. Now, things are leveling out somewhat, and we are having to adjust to our new reality. We are grateful about so many aspects of it, but we still miss each other during the first few days of the week terribly--so much so that we are consistently having to pray that the Lord grant us, strengthen us, with some extra doses of mental toughness.

My mom was reading this book last week and told me about it, and on my way home, I felt like it might be something that could offer Patrick and me some extra encouragement, so I stopped at the local Books-A-Million and picked it up. I breezed through it yesterday because I wanted P to be able to take it with him this week, and I probably stopped several times and said, "Patrick, this is SO GOOD."

I am usually very skeptical about "self-help" books, but this one carries the reader and the narrator through history and uses various figures from Anne Frank to Christopher Columbus to Harry Truman to present its points. The premise is that we have to take responsibility of our choices, our success, and our happiness. We are not slaves or victims of our past choices but pioneers of our future. It was not a "health and wealth" type of presentation; rather it focused on God's gift of free will to us. One of my favorite points was when the narrator realized that life isn't always about making the right decisions but rather making each decision right.

You know how sometimes a book has to hit you at the right time to make an impression? Well, the timing of this one and our current situations couldn't have been more perfect. We had some special prayer time together and prepared ourselves to be mentally tough this week.

Then, this morning, Patrick called to tell me that his sweet Dad is in ICU in Louisville. He is going to have a pacemaker procedure in the morning. We sure would appreciate your prayers for him--and for us.

I also have a few new posts with recipes, updates, and thoughts below for your reading pleasure.