The Family of Jesus By Karen Kingsbury

If you've seen many of my book reviews before, you probably know by now that I am a huge Karen Kingsbury fan. I own almost all of her books and have read the entire Baxter Family Series several times. The Bailey Flannigan Series even more. So when I was given a copy of her new book to review before it was even released, I may have squealed. 

The Family of Jesus releases tomorrow on July 1st, you can purchase it through amazon for $9.78 right now on their pre-release kindle price (hardcover print $13.00).  

This book is a historical biblical fiction account of the family members of Jesus. It gives fictional (but biblically accurate) accounts from the perspectives of Joseph, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, James and Mary. With bible study sections for each to look further into the biblical context and implications. 

I really appreciated Karen Kingsbury's careful way of sticking to biblical truth and her explanation of how she went about her construction of the stories. Inserting biblical truth first, then researching culture to ensure accuracy then lastly filling gaps with fiction. Obviously the most accurate accounts are those found in the bible itself, but I loved seeing it come to life through stories in the Family of Jesus as Karen Kingsbury has certainly been gifted with story-telling. 

I don't think it was my most favorite book written by her, I am not a particular fan of historical fiction. But it was definitely my favorite historical fiction book by far. I also loved the bible study sections with each perspective, that was a huge highlight. I look forward to going back and spending more time in those sections. 

Hope you enjoy! Have you read anything good lately?



Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for review, however all views expressed are entirely my own thoughts and opinions

New Home.

I will try and get some time maybe this weekend to write some more. But for now Instagram and other little snapshots will have to do. 
We've been busy with many house projects & working on our cars, as well as both working. My family is also staying with us for the next few weeks so most of my time is going there.

But for now, here's some sneek peeks of our new home.....hope you like the progress. I think I love it more than our last home even though I didn't know it was possible :) 

I haven't finished the master bedroom or painted the guest room (shown above) yet...so more on those soon. 

He is with Us. Always.

Its been a little heavy on book reviews, home tours and tutorials around here lately. Sorry about that....did you happen to catch that we moved again lol. On my days at work the girls have had me thinking up creative projects to keep their little hands busy during long summer days. Thank goodness we can play outside again now that its warm out. 

I mentioned before how I was trying to make my way through deeper content with daily prompts which took place back in February when I didn't have time for it. So I decided to just do them as I can which has actually given me time to think and process before just jumping in and writing. The first prompt was sharing your story/testimony which you can read here. 

So onto prompt number two: What fires you up? What are you passionate about? 

Well if we were together in person, I hope we would grab coffee for this conversation as I'm sure once we both get talking we would be here a while. What a question. And where does one even start on answering it? There's a reason I wrote an entire series back in October on figuring out all the different things I am passionate about, it was called 31 Days to figuring out the Pieces (link here). All of those different topics get me fired up in different ways. 


Purity. Waiting on the Lord. Hearing the sweet testimonies and stories of the Lord's faithfulness in sweet friend's lives. Central Africa. Adoption. Being a godly wife. Missions. Other Cultures. 

So many things....I couldn't even hope to touch on all of them in one simple answer to such a huge question. But I will share one way the Lord stirred my heart and got me fired up one weekend. 

We were sitting in our Sunday morning adult fellowship class listening to a precious young family share their story and where the Lord currently has them. 
He has called them to this crazy situation (at least I thought so when they first explained), living in community with people in the middle of a jungle. The only way in is by aircraft. 
No Target right down the street to go browse, no takeout locations in abundance if a night off from cooking is needed, no hospital to take their babies should they have a high fever & mama needs peace of mind. There kids are young, both under 3 and one of them a newborn. My first thought was wow Lord, I want to know this woman because I need faith like that.

Faith that would give me peace about following you into a situation where medical care is difficult and not easily accessible for my little ones. Faith that you will provide when supplies are needed and there is unrest in a country you have called us to. Faith that trusts you above situations occurring around us, that listens when you say stay & when you say go. 
Faith that requires placing future children in the palm of your hand and being willing to go wherever you called us even if that means a remote village and everyone we know thinks we are crazy. 

I want that kind of faith. 

To be able to trust Him so much for our daily bread, my every need. That I would be more afraid to be comfortable and outside of God's will for us, than in the middle of a jungle with precious little ones. 

I love it when the Lord stirs my heart and shows me more about Himself and areas of my life that need to change. Its far from comfortable, but its beautiful. 

May I never grow content with being comfortable.  

The Nesting Place /It doesn't have to be perfect to be Beautiful/ By Myquillyn Smith

This book couldn't have come to me for review at a more perfect time. I downloaded it two days before we were due to pack our current apartment into boxes, and finished it before we physically moved everything. It was that good! I know I will be reading it again! Myquillyn drew me in from the first page with her hilarious stories, helpful tips and motivation to try new things that I will probably love. 

The next thing is that I get to put it all into practice, having moved immediately after I felt like I was handed a blank canvas and given tips and resources to go with it. The hubby and I laughed hard over her story of spilling fresh paint on the floor of the rental (ok I may have cringed a little too knowing the horror I would feel if it were me). The pictures in the book of her beautiful home encouraged me and inspired me to try things I've never tried before. (I can't wait to look into have a canvas with all the streets we've lived on since being married) 

It felt like a big sister slightly further ahead of me, in a similar journey of moving every 12 months, giving me the permission I needed in the area of decorating our home. To try new things, to go ahead and paint those wood items which everyone keeps telling me I shouldn't even consider doing because who dares to paint perfectly good wood.

So I've been experimenting these last 2 weeks taking baby steps, my huge wall art of a London bus is hanging in the hallway of all places this time.....and you know what I LOVE it even more than I did previously!!! My $0.50 frames from goodwill got a coat of wall paint this week (no I didn't sand or even wipe down the frames) and they look AWESOME! I LOVE them!!! I even found $5 cabinet doors in Ikea on Monday which I have huge plans for.

This book is incredible. Be warned, its hard to put down and it might keep you up at night dreaming up ways of improving your home. Who says you can't love a rental.....I'm falling pretty hard over here as I adapt many of Myquillyn's ideas and dream up my own. 

Definitely one of the best books I have read in a while! A fast favorite! Be sure to head over to her blog as well if you want a sneek peek of Myquillyn's incredible work on a great budget. 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through BookLook, however all opinions expressed are my own.