I have mixed feelings about book reviews on blogs. Have I talked about this before? I’ve actually turned down some free books lately, because I just didn’t feel like adding my small voice to the list of a billion bloggers saying in a monotone, “You should buy this book. This book is about something important. Buy this book. It is good. You will like it. Please buy it.”

So, this isn’t one of those reviews. I got this book in the mail back in September. I didn’t receive it randomly. The author (Gary Thomas) and I had chatted over e-mail about some stuff, and he mentioned his latest book. I told him I’d love to read it. He sent it.

I loved it.

Really, I’ve loved all of his books I’ve read. For one, they appeal to my inner nerd. He’s brilliant. And he loves history and books and heroes of the faith and philosophy. This is not a mindless read.

But he’s also completely down-to-earth, witty, and 100% practical. He shares personal stories about his family–weaves all kinds of stories seamlessly throughout his books actually.

Anyway. I always end up feeling doggone convicted when I’m done reading. (Sacred Marriage especially.) This one was no exception. The book is all about pleasure and how God created it for us and we should enjoy it. I’m one of those who feels guilty about taking small pleasures for myself and would rather play the martyr than have someone spoil me.

“Why do Christians feel so bad about feeling good?” he asks. Hmm… good question. “As a Christian, were you taught to deny pleasure and avoid impulses that roused excitement? Do you sometimes feel guilty about enjoying God’s blessings?”

Pure Pleasure will help you (and I quote–would’ve used my own words but these were better):

“Enjoy God with a new sense of freedom and insight. Exude a peace and satisfaction that attracts others to Christ. Experience a deeper awareness of God’s goodness in your life. And fortify yourself against temptation by replacing counterfeit diversions with true pleasure.”

Now we’re talking.

The book made an impact on me, and I made a note to myself, “When you get a free moment, blog about Pure Pleasure.” Then I forgot. Then Gary and I connected on facebook, and he said he was giving away a free e-book of Pure Pleasure on his website to anyone who wanted it.

Did you hear me? You can download Pure Pleasure for FREE just by clicking here. No strings attached. Not a single one.

You’re welcome. And hey, speaking of you’re welcome, THANK YOU. Two hundred (200!) Expecting books have been donated. Praise the Lord and hallelujah! So excited to see what God will do!

So tell me: what’s one of your favorite little pleasures (guilty or otherwise)?

Welcome to YOU Week!

There’s really no Game Plan. I just want to find out a little more about each of you–and give away some free stuff.

Since I have NaNoWriMo on the brain (which I keep inadvertently calling NaNiYoRiMo, because I know a Japanese song with that phrase in it) I thought I’d talk about LoLa today. Some of you might know LoLa by her full name–Love Languages.

You’ve probably heard of Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages. He has one for kiddos too–The Five Love Languages of Children.

A year or so ago, I shared a story about my middle daughter, Ava, who was in first grade at the time. I had been writing notes and putting them in her lunchbox for months when I found out she wasn’t even reading half of them. It crushed me, but then I realized that words of affirmation (at least written ones) might not be her love language. Love language = something others do/say that makes you feel especially loved.

Gabe and I began talking about the 5 LoLas and could only come up with 4.

1.) words of affirmation
2.) acts of service
3.) physical touch
4.) receiving gifts

I had to look up the 5th one.

5.) quality time (apparently, this isn’t mine, or I would have remembered it)

Gabe decided that his is acts of service. “Or maybe physical touch. One of those two.” I reminded him that physical touch does not mean you know. He knew that. He still likes it. But not in public. Gabe’s not a PDA guy.

Mine is acts of service too. Do something helpful for me, and I feel super-loved. Words are okay. Gifts are okay (if they’re something I really needed anyway and now I don’t have to buy it). Quality time = okay, I guess. But selfishly, I like quality time with myself. And touch? Yeah, not so much. I do like hugs, and I give them out frequently. And I do like it when Gabe or my girlies play with my hair–or when my sister Bethany scratches my back. Okay, maybe I like it more than I thought.

I told Ava the next morning that we were going to have a little talk about love languages, so Mommy could figure out how to love on her best.

Me: Which do you like best–when people do things for you…?
Ava: Mmm..hmmm!
Me: OR when people say nice things to you…?
Ava: Mmm…hmmm!
Me: OR when people get you gifts…?
Ava: Yep!
Me: OR when people touch and cuddle you…?
Ava: Mmm…hmmm!
Me: Or when people spend time with you…?
Ava: Yep!
Gabe: (in Brian Regan mode) All favorites! Many much favorites!

So, tell me: what’s your Love Language? And give me an example.

I’m going to choose one random commenter to win a copy of Blushing Bride. And if you’ve been around for awhile and are all Blushinged out, I’ll send it to the person of your choice as a gift from YOU!

Have a great week, friends!

To be honest, I’m a little bit sick of marriage books. I read so many when I was doing research for my books that I kind of subconsciously swore off of them for the next couple years. Sometimes, I feel like they’re all just saying the same ol’ thing.

However.

Can I just say that I REALLY enjoyed Kathi Lipp’s The Husband Project? Not the same ol’ thing.

I love her writing style. Natural, flowing, FUNNY, not cheesy, REAL, not overly poetic.

And The Husband Project? What a great idea! Loving on your husband in such practical (and easy) ways. I sometimes shy away from “idea” books because I know I’ll never actually implement them. And while I’ve totally cheated on the HP (21 Days of Loving Your Man–on Purpose and with a Plan), I’ve really done some of them too. She’s inspiring!

Kathi tells you right off the bat to hide the book from your husband. (I wonder if she’s going to get flak for it, because a woman wrote me once and said that my book encouraged keeping secrets from/lying to my husband. Uh…)

I can totally see why you shouldn’t let your hubby see the book. I wanted to blog about it quite awhile ago, but Mr. T. reads my blog. And then he found the book. And then he was all, “So, you’re going to be nice to me for three weeks?” and a bunch of other stuff. Grrrr…

It’s not dishonesty. It’s just not full disclosure. And believe me, the projects work better if your husband isn’t reading ahead in the book.

What are some of the projects? Give him 30 minutes of nag-free Free Time when he gets home. Say something nice about him to someone else (and make sure he finds out). Give him a food treat he doesn’t have to share with you or the kiddos. Help him with a project. Wear something he really likes. Get rid of one of the stressors in his life. Watch a guy movie with him.

See? Not so hard! And actually, they’re all really sweet things you can do to show your husband you love and appreciate him.

The longer we’re married, the more nice things Gabe does for me. And I’ve fallen into the trap of taking much of it for granted. NO MORE! I’m going to start making mental lists of every tiny thing he does to bless me, and I’m going to bless him back double. God picked me a good one, and I’m hanging on to him.

And, oh, I should mention the 3 BONUS projects. They each involve the same 3-letter word. Nice.

Generous Kathi sent me 2 copies of the book–one to keep and one to give away to a lucky reader. (It’s signed and everything.)

Here’s how you can win this very-funny, very-well-written, very-helpful book:

Leave a comment answering one of the following questions:

1. What is your husband’s favorite food/restaurant?

2. What is your husband’s favorite movie?

And you know what? If you’re not married and would like to win the book for a friend who is, tell me YOUR favorite food or movie.

U.S. addresses only. I’ll draw the winner first thing on Monday, September 28. Thanks for sharing your book with us, Kathi!

Have a great weekend, friends!!

or is anyone else having a rough week?

Nothing is going my way the past few days. Which might just be an indicator that I’m too focused on my way at the moment.

It’s high time I started looking up, fixing my eyes on Jesus, resting in His promises.

Since I’m too wiped out to review a book or be profound or make up new uses for a leaf blower, how about we play a game?

What do you is think the average age of people who read this blog on any given day?

Here’s how to play:

1. tell me YOUR age (no fudging–and whole numbers only)

2. then tell me your guess for the average age in parentheses (   )

For example: 33 (35 ) I’m 33, and I think the average age is 35.

Obviously, the people who comment first will be at a disadvantage, because they won’t get to see the other people’s ages. So, how about we do this–make your guess without peeking at anybody else’s answer. (Who am I kidding? I totally can’t trust you.)

There will be a prize for the person who guesses closest to the average age. Tiebreaker–whoever’s age is closest to the average. In other words, say Marilla and Cordelia both guess 40, and 40 is indeed the average age. But Marilla is 60 and Cordelia is 32. Cordelia wins!

Totally confused now? Sweet.

Tell me how old you are. Then, in parentheses, guess what the average age of your fellow blog-readers is.

The game will end on Friday at noon.

Have a SUPER day!

Every year I PROMISE myself that I’m going to make the most of Christmas. I’m going to start preparations WAY ahead of time, so that I never once feel rushed–the whole month of December. I’m going to spend quality time with my daughters, instilling in them the hope and true meaning of Christmas. I’m ONLY going to purchase gifts that are meaningful and fraught with eternal value (not to mention economical). I will NOT succumb to the horrors of last-minute shopping. I’m going to bake, bake, bake and give, give, give. Our home will be filled with greenery and candles and nativity scenes and music and people and laughter and a variety of delicious soups simmering in the Crock-pot.

It never happens.

The Advent Calendar, the Joshua Tree (okay, Jesse Tree–see what I mean?), the caroling around our neighborhood bearing homemade goods? Never happens.

So, this year? I have no lofty expectations. And keep this on the down-low, but I’m thinking that this might be the year that BIG things happen.

It’s already started. I got this book in the mail a few days ago and read it in no time flat.

And promptly wrote an Amazon review.

Touching Wonder by John Blase

Many of us have heard the Christmas Story a bazillion times. It quickly becomes impersonal, just some plastic story about people who aren’t even real. The last few Christmases, I’ve tried hard to put myself in the story as much as possible. To imagine the characters–Mary, Joseph, shepherds–as normal people just like me. People with feelings, weaknesses, fears. I love reading historical fiction accounts that help me empathize, relate, appreciate. (Two from Galilee and the Nativity Story are favorites.) I love how Touching Wonder takes actual Scripture (mainly from the raw, poetic Message Version of the Bible) and then extrapolates on those verses with poignant narration from each of the main players (and some “extras” as well). I’m adding this book to my collection of books that help me truly experience the Christ in Christmas.

I don’t know the author personally, but I feel like I know his wife after reading her blog and chatting with her online a bit. Meredith lost her daddy a little over a month ago to pancreatic cancer (the same thing Patrick Swayze had), and her post yesterday about him really touched my heart. Sending prayers and hugs out West to you, Meredith!

John has graciously offered to let me keep my own copy of the book (woohoo!), and he’s going to send the winner their very own personally autographed copy! And he said he’d sign any name you want. For example: To Krista, Christmas Blessings! Yours–Max Lucado. Seriously, he said he could do that.

So, for a chance to win Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas, tell me one thing you’d like to do this season to make Christmas meaningful. I’ll draw a winner randomly at noon on Friday. And John’s giving away a few copies on his blog as well.

For an additional entry in the give-away, all you have to do is dress up like Santa today and walk up and down the streets of your city/town wishing people a Merry Christmas.

Happy Wednesday, friends!