Girl Power & a Book Review of "I Like Giving"

We were treated to warmer temps over the weekend. It was absolutely springlike here on Long Island. Our snow mountains had shrunk considerably due to the heavy rain we had. We still have snow piles but they are smaller :)  Caitlin was swinging on her swing Saturday and Sunday, Billy walked down to the park nearby. Glorious Spring! BUT THEN....the arctic temps returned! Today we sit once again in what has become known as the polar vortex. I guess that's just the way it is going to be for what remains of Winter 2014! I refuse to get the Winter blues and what better way than to do crafts? or have some special friends over for brunch? I did both!

I worked on this earlier in the week. It had been blue and had a large metal flower above the faucet.

I was never completely happy with it but now I am!

It sits by my back door now. It's amazing what some wall paper decals, stars, and paint can do! Oh and of course a cute little bucket! Redo, Repurpose! SO much fun.

I planned a brunch for some special ladies in my life. Everyone who came has been my friend for a minimum of ten years and mean the world to me. If you surround yourself with good people, and these ladies are GOOD people, you truly reap the benefits of their conversation, humor, and fellowship. It was so rejuvenating to have all of them in one place at one time. There was just one person missing that I thought of all day and wished was here and that is my cousin Jo from Lancaster County...hopefully soon we'll get together .

I made a "Very Best Coffee Cake", a recipe from an Amish cookbook that I love. The perfect coffee cake it is  to enjoy with coffee or tea.

Baked french toast---a winner from the Pioneer Woman of Food Network. Really good!

A simple pasta recipe using zesty italian salad dressing, balsamic, cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic and fresh parmesan!

I also made two kinds of quiche--ham & tomato and broccoli & cheddar. A Mexican seven layer dip that is always a favorite and a few more things...And the desserts just kept on coming!  what a lovely day! It sure was uplifting considering the weather and handling my son's stomach situation and doctors appointments for he and my Mom...Plus because my son has been on medical leave from school we have home schooling from tutors every day.

Polar Vortex?...Snow tonight? BRING IT ON! I'm ready!

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And Now, because I have started to read and review books I receive for FREE (!) for Blogging For Books, is my first review! I hope you enjoy it.

I was looking forward to reading "I Like Giving" for I knew it would be an uplifting read; however I did not know if that feeling would sustain itself throughout all the chapters. It surely did! It was marvelous and inspiring book that explores and explains the act of giving. There are so many facets to "giving" that I found it hard to put this book down as it lead me from example, to explanation, to tools, to feelings, to anxieties and ultimately the good of giving. Because we live in a world where we are encouraged to take care of ourselves first, compete, and succeed it often clashes with our other "self" that attends church, charity events or donates to the poor. Giving rewards to others but mostly receiving them yourself through how it makes you feel. Living a generous life is what Jesus intended for us as that is the life he lead. If you choose to give and lead a generous life, you are rewarded back far greater than you have given. Brad Forsma cites examples of giving and how it comes in many forms such as giving when people ask, giving when they have not asked, tipping the unexpected, giving not only with money but with your time or with your words. Random deeds of kindness. He also tells about people's hesitancy to receive and how your giving may not always be accepted. Or perhaps we feel we have nothing to give; that we are strectched financially beyond our means and giving is out of the question? All of these scenarios are confronted and explained by example that makes this such an inspiring read. Most of all, he emphasizes that he believes we are made in the image of God and it is God's nature to give. In the end he poses the question to all of us--will you choose to lead the giving life?