Booking Through Thursday ...

I just finished reading the book "Heaven Is For Real" by Todd Burpo.  This was an AMAZING story of Colton Burpos' trip to Heaven while he was being operated on at the age of four.  Colton tells his story in bits and pieces because he doesn't understand what the big deal is.  It is such a humbling book that makes you really think of how we as adults think of God, Jesus, Heaven.  Colton has taught me to really praise God in the way that little Children do.  I have walked away from this book with such a heavy heart about the way I need to change my life.

Here are some points from the book:

• No one is old -- Colton saw his "Pop" (his father's grandfather) in Heaven and only knew him from an old picture of when he was 29.  He didn't recognize him from a picture that Todd kept on his desk of Pop as an older man.
• Jesus Loves the Children -- This was a point that Colton made over and over to his parents.  He was supposed to tell everyone that Jesus Loves the Children.
• Colors -- The colors in Heaven are so vivid and amazing that apparently we don't even have most of them here on Earth.
• Light/Dark -- Todd posed this question to Colton to try to challenge him about his experience.  He asked how they found each other in the dark.  Colton told him that it never gets dark in Heaven because God is the Light in Heaven.

This book is a great read and will give you chills.  It has made me rethink my walk with God and I am trying to get back on the straight and narrow.  It is a quick read -- so READ UP!!

Other books I have reviewed ...

Here is a list of the other books I have reviewed from BookSneeze (Thomas Nelson).  I will try to post the actual review at some point.  The list starts from the first book I received to the most recent.

1. Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O'Neal
2. Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado
3. The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews
4. The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews
5. Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart
6. Save the Date by Jenny Jones
7. We Be Big: The Mostly True Story of How Two Kids from Calhoun County, Alabama, Became Rick and Bubba by Rick Burgess and Bill Bussey
8. Time With God For Mothers by Jack Countryman

I had trouble getting through a few of the books, but most of them are awesome.  So glad that I found BookSneeze and started getting these books.  This is an awesome experience to read and review books that I probably would not have even looked at before.

Book Reviews Starting Soon ...

I have been a BookSneeze Book Reviewer for Thomas Nelson for a while now.  Since I have started my OWN blog -- instead of my daughter's -- I have decided to start posting my reviews on here.  My first review will be:

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace by K.D. McCrite

I haven't started reading this book yet, but it looked like a fun read, so I chose it as my next book.  I will try to update the blog with all of my other reviews soon.  Hopefully this will be a quick read, so start looking out for it soon!

Here is the description from BookSneeze's website:

If God wanted April Grace to be kind to her neighbors, He should have made them nicer!

Growing up in the country is never easy, but it sure is funny—especially if you happen to have a sister obsessed with being glamorous, a grandma just discovering make-up, hippie friends who never shower, and brand new neighbors from the city who test everyone’s patience. From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you’ll laugh ‘til you cry as you read the Confessions of April Grace!

Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me." On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"

In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God—to even the craziest of characters!

Below is a book preview widget for the book listed above.  Feel free to preview it ...

Four Things ...

Four jobs I’ve had:

1) Legal Secretary @ JBPR

2) Library Assistant @ JBPR

3) Sales Clerk @ Video 2 Go

4) Fast Food @ McDonald's

Four movies I can watch over and over:

1) Step Brothers

2) Sweet Home Alabama

3) Meet the Parents; Meet the Fockers (haven't seen the latest - Little Fockers)

4) Wedding Crashers

Four places I’ve lived:

1) Argo, AL

2) Birmingham, AL

3) Tuscaloosa, AL

4) Tenbroeck, AL

Four TV shows I love:

1) One Tree Hill

2) American Pickers; Pawn Stars (Reality shows on Discovery, History, etc.)

3) Kitchen Nightmares; Hell's Kitchen (Any reality show with Gordon Ramsey)

4) Family Guy

Four places I’ve vacationed:

1) Gulf Shores/Orange Beach

2) Atlanta

3) Chattanooga/Gatlinburg

4) Washington, DC

Four of my favorite dishes:

1) Chicken (Any)

2) Steak (Any)

3) Pizza (Pepperoni & Mushrooms)

4) Pork Chops (Any)

Four of my favorite restaurants:

1) Konomi Japanese (Trussville)

2) Outback Steakhouse

3) Longhorn Steakhouse

4) Olive Garden or Brio

Four sites I visit daily:

1) Yahoo!

2) Regions/Discover

3) Ebay

4) Plain Chicken Blog

Four places I would rather be right now:

1) Home 

2) Beach

3) Gatlinburg

4) Home!

20 Question Tuesday

20 QUESTION TUESDAY

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?

I don't have pets at my home in Trussville, but my parents and Dustin's parents have dogs.  My parents' dog, Nikki, and Dustin's parents' dog, Abby, are definitely members of the family.  Abby was originally Dustin's dog and just stayed with them after he moved out.  And Abby is where we got the idea for Abigail's name!

2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?  

Right now, my dream come true is for me to be the kind of mother, daughter and wife that God wants me to be and for my daughter to grow up to be a great Christian lady.

3. What would you do with a billion dollars?

Pay off bills -- House, Cars, etc.!

4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood? 

Abigail acting silly!

5. What is your bedtime routine? 

Take out contacts; Get Abigail to bed; Fall asleep with her; Wake up about an hour later; Take off makeup; Clean face; Brush teeth; Go to bed!

6. What activities did you do in High School? If you could go back, would you do the same stuff or something different?

Band, Yearbook, Softball in 10th Grade; I would probably try to stick with softball.  I was pretty good before High School and I would probably try to stick it out and be better.

7. What kind of books do you read?

Nicholas Sparks; Romance, Christian

8. How do you see yourself in 10 years? 

In 10 years, I will still be happily married to my husband, have a 12 year old daughter (wow!), and hopefully be in the exact place that God wants me to be.

9. What’s your fear? 

Heights, Snakes ...

10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space? 

NO WAY!

11. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Set the clock for 15 more minutes of sleep!

12. If you could change one thing about your significant other, what would it be?

I don't know ... This is a loaded question.  :O)

13. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

I like my name ... just don't like the fact that I am called by my middle name.

14. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose? 

Sun!

15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

One thing?  Pizza or Japanese (Konomi)!

16. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?

I love to just put all of my feelings out there -- whether anyone reads it or not, I don't care -- it helps me to vent.

17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?

Sweet

18. What items are in your purse right now?

Wallet, Makeup Bag, Checkbook, Keys, Lotion, Medicine, Pens...

19.  (Don't know what happened to this question ...)

20. What do you watch on television that you know you shouldn’t? 

One Tree Hill ... It is just so addicting, but I know it's not the best show that I should be watching ... AND Family Guy ... again, it is HORRIBLE! but I still watch.

Random Survey about Dustin & I

Michelle & Dustin

♥ What are your middle names? Michelle & John

♥ How long have you been together? 13 years this November

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? Since Kindergarten

♥ Who asked who out? He asked me out - was trying to set me up with a friend

♥ Who’ s siblings do you see the most? Dustin's because mine is hardly ever home when I visit.

♥ Do you have any children together? Yes, one - Abigail Kait

♥ What about pets? None

♥ Did you go to the same school? Yes, Geraldine

♥ Who is the most sensitive? Of couse, Me.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Everywhere -- Mostly at home now.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Gatlinburg? 

♥ Who has the craziest exes? Me

♥ Who has the worst temper? Him

♥ Who does the cooking? Me

♥ Who is the neat freak? Him

♥ Who is the most stubborn? Him 

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Me 

♥ Where was your first date? We went to see Waterboy at the movies in Fort Payne

♥ Who has the bigger family? Him

♥ Do you get flowers often? Nope

♥ How long did it take to get serious? Not long -- we were Seniors in High School when we started dating; went to Snead and Alabama together.

♥ Who eats more? Him

♥ Who sings better? I would say me, but he can sing pretty good too.

♥ Who does the laundry? Me

♥ Who’s better with the computer? Me

♥ Who drives when you are together? He does -- he can't stand for someone else to drive.

ABC Survey

A-Age: 29

B-Bed size: King

C-Chore you hate: All of them

D-Dogs: None

E-Essential start to your day: Waking up :o)

F-Favorite Color: Red

G-Gold or Silver: Silver

H-Height: 5'4"

I-Instruments you play: Piano, Clarinet, Saxophone - Those are the ones I can play well, I can "play" others, just not well (Trumpet, Flute)

J-Job title: Legal Secretary

K-Kids: 1 - Abigail Kait 2 years

L-Live: Birmingham, Alabama

M-My mom’s name: Patricia

N-Nickname: Chelle

O-Overnight hospital stay: Only when I had Abigail

P-Pet Peeve: Horrible drivers

Q-Quote: Smile because you never know who's looking!

R-Right/Lefty: Righty

S-Sibling: Older brother - Ryan

T-Time you wake up: 6:00 am

U-Underwear: Victoria's Secret 

V-Veggies you dislike: Carrots!

W-What makes you run late: Abigail!!

X-Xrays you’ve had: None recently, other than teeth -- Finger when I broke it in 3rd grade.

Y-Yummy food you make: Everything I make is yummy.  hahaha!

Z-Zoo animal: Monkey (Abigail's favorite!)

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

My high school class of 1999!   I truly miss all of these guys and the times we spent together.

Kim Jaynes Lancaster!  We had so much fun together at the University of Alabama and at my wedding.  Kim was always a joy to be around and I am so glad to have met her at UA.

Amanda Bearden Nash, Shelley Frasier Bearden and Lori McCollum Simpson.  These 3 girls were always my best friends in high school.  We have grown apart since then, but now they all live within miles of each other and I am an hour away!  Wish we could get together more often.  Love you girls!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." Psalm 73:28

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.

It's a new one, but everytime I see it, I laugh so hard!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Snakes!  I couldn't even put a picture of the real thing on here because it was giving me the creeps!!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:19

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Me and my Granny at my wedding in 2003.  God called Granny home in 2004 (I believe).  It doesn't seem like it's been that long.

Daily Bible Verse:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Jesus - My Faith - Christianity.

Daily Bible Verse:
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

Spent the day getting Abigail's Spring/Easter pictures made at Buck's Pocket!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:12

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

Poverty in the world.

Daily Bible Verse:
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

Anything by Nicholas Sparks!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Philipians 2:3

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Sports!!  Enough said.  :o)

Daily Bible Verse:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

There are 3 things, but I couldn't find pictures for all of them.  And they all happened when we were visiting my husband's parents house in Geraldine.

The house fire at my husband's parent's house -- this is not their house.  Happened about a year or two after we were married ... still scares me to this day.  We were spending the night with them that night and they lost their entire house.

Tornado that hit our small hometown of Geraldine, AL in April 2010.  Again, we were spending the night at my husband's parent's house and were terrified.  I've always been scared of storms, but this one hit less than a mile from their house and even though we were in the safe room, we could feel the whole house shaking.  Very scary night. 

Lastly, I don't have a picture of it, but a shooting that happened -- yep, you guessed it -- in Geraldine when we were spending the night with my husband's parent's.  Happened at the little church down from their house and the man who was shot walked up to their house and beat on the door until we woke up.  My husband and I were the first two to wake up and we had to wake up his parents.  Scary morning and I still dream about hearing someone beating on a door and saying they've been shot.

Those are three things I wish I could forget ...

Daily Bible Verse:
"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Hawaii!  I would love to travel to Hawaii.  It's such a beautiful place and I want to go there NOW!  :o)

Daily Bible Verse:
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD."  Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

Sorry to the others in these pictures, but I had to share the whole picture.  :o)  The first picture is our Kindergarten class picture.  Note - I am on the bottom row -- the last one on the right in the brown shorts and braided pigtails.  The bottom picture is a picture with 3 other good friends -- I am the second from the left with the blue jacket and glasses.  Yep - I was a pretty nerdy kid by then.  :o)

Daily Bible Verse:
"However, as it is written:
   “What no eye has seen,
   what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
   the things God has prepared for those who love him—"
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Myself -- my body image, my weight.  I know this is another thing that I need to turn over to God, but I'm working on it ... :o)  One thing at a time ....

Daily Bible Verse:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

God, the Bible ... trying to get back to where I need to be in my walk with God.

Daily Bible Verse:
(For some reason, I stopped getting Christ Notes Daily Bible Verse on March 31, so here is a Bible verse I receive from my friend, Amanda daily.)
From Friday, April 1, 2011 --
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Way behind again ... here we go ...

Amanda -- one of my best friends from high school.  She really inspires me to be the kind of Christian that I should be.  She is a sold out believer and I could learn so much from her.  Love you, Amanda!!

Daily Bible Verse:
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."  John 16:24 (NIV)