My Summer Reading List: Great Expectations!

Okay. tonight I am way scattered. Benji just got home from Serbia yesterday, so it has been a whirlwind of emotion and exhaustion and excitement and did I say exhaustion!?



Today we just slept in. Yes, even the kids. Hadley had her 4/5 month well check visit yesterday and got a ton o' shots. so she has felt pretty rotten.

We ate lunch all together as a family. Which I have to say is RARE now that there are 3. We will get used to it, I know. Emery is usually great, Hadley is obviously great. Jesse not so much. BUT he is two and he is a boy. I know that in a few years he will eat just as well as Emery does. Then we will be dealing with Hadley as a 2 year old. :)

Seriously. I am so, SO thankful to have a 3rd child. I know that does not sound like a lot to many people but she is such a blessing.

Any way. I am in therapy. (I swear I will share that story) but anyway. Something we've talked about is trying to find time for me to do things I enjoy.

Well believe it or not I enjoy reading. This summer I have found a few books, from various lists and friends that I think make up a perfect summer reading list.

I Have a kindle, so if it can be downloaded, it is.

I can not BELIEVE summer is almost over. I swear Emery was just born yesterday and now in a few weeks she will start Kindergarten. WAAAHHHHHHH. :(


Okay. So I'm back. Few days later. Here is my list. Most I've read, partially read, or really want to read. I read in binges. ha. Like the OCD I am. I wont read for months then one day i pick of 4 books and read them all that week. It's random, it's eclectic, its totally ME! ha

(I was going to link the books to Amazon but it's late and I have faith that you all know how to find books on Amazon).

1. The Great Gatsby- FSF.  DUHHHHH. Most of us read it in high school, but PUHLEEZE see the movie and the read it again. Magic

2. Love Does- Bob Goff shares stories of his life, faith and love. "Discovering A Secretly Incredible Life In An Ordinary World." This guy is super smart, and Christian. I haven't started this one yet, but it's been recommend by many. If you like Donal Miller, this dudes for you.

3. Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals- Ian Osborn, M.D. "The Hidden Epidemic of OC-D. " reading up on my recent diagnosis.

4. Paris My Sweet- Karen Wheeler. I've been reading this one for awhile. I would pick it up and get really into it, then switch to another. Then I had Hadley...anyway I plan on finishing it this week. Great memoir of this women's move to Paris and her love affair with all things sweet.

5. The Paris Wife - Paula McLain. Inspired story of the first years of Hemingway's first marriage. To Hadley Richardson Hemingway. WELLLLLL. I named my daughter after Hadley. So I think that's enough said about this book. LOVE!

6. Melissa: A Father's Lessons from a Daughter's Suicide. - Frank Page. I could not put this book down. incredibly tragic, yet full of hope for those of us who suffer from depression. If you have a family member, friend, child, parent who has committed suicide, or if you have ever considered it. Read this book. Also I think all pastors should read this to better help them understand depression, drug use, and suicide.

7. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn. I was introduced to this author back in my Starbucks barista days. When conversations flowed and coffee did too. This is a great beach read, good mystery.

8. Les Miserables- Victor Hugo. Do I really have to tell you WHY?

9. So Long, Insecurity- Beth Moore. I read this one awhile ago. It was wonderful. It's like she sees into the minds of women everywhere. WE ALL have insecurities and we all need Jesus.

10. Loving The Little Years- Rachel Jankovic. So if you want a hand slap or a butt whooping on raising toddlers, this one is for you. I LOVED this book. She also has a way of looking into our houses where little ones reside and giving my poor attitude a swift kick.


HAPPY READING!!!! SOAK UP THESE LAST FEW DAYS OF A RAINY SUMMER!

Day 3

July, 4th is really one of my favorite holidays.

This year I barely noticed it. I has been POURING, like monsoon rain all week. Benji finally made it through, Munich, Paris and safely landed in Serbia. They will be there for the next week running around like crazy with our dear friends the Hepners.

 This is Caroline. She has been my saving grace during Benji's time away.  She comes over once or twice a week, while I'm here to let me run errands, nap. do laundry, etc. My therapist, (different post for a different time) suggested that I get her to come once a week over the summer. GREAT IDEA.

And,.... Honestly I can remember if I posted about our beach trip to Student Life camp this year. If I did I'm sorry. But I took Emery this time for the first year by herself. I knew going in that my intentions were to minister to my oldest daughter. We had a blast. We ended up being there the week of my 35 birthday. 

We haven't celebrated yet. In a few week we are headed to ATL to spend the weekend, alone, together!  I can not wait until Benji and the crew arrive safely home from Serbia. And we can spend a few weeks together before School starts. 

I Hate Paris Anyway

NO REALLY, I don't. But Benji should be making his way now from Munich to Paris and then on to Serbia. 9 days and counting.

Emery cried tonight when I put her to bed because Benji always puts her to bed first, then I go in and say my prayers with them. They get a double dose of the Holy Spirit round here.

Anyway, I have two, three, request. Please pray for the safety of Benji and the group of graduated seniors/chaperons he has traveling with him. Pray for their travels and that they will see seeds planted among the people of Serbia.

Please pray that I make it through the next 9 days. YOU ALL KNOW I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a almost 5 month old. Today it basically poured rain all day. Which makes for a wild bunch running around like banshees.

I have tried to plan as much as possible for things that we can do "out of the house". I have also planned as much as possible for every meal for 10 days.

Today was a pretty good day. I had a babysitter come and help out for a few hours. Which really takes the edge off of the 4-8pm "Witching Hours" as I call them.

I really am glad for Benji to get to experience all the dreams I had of traveling......it's like he got my dream life. Whatever.

Love to you all, and PRAY for my sanity.

How To Look Expensive for Cheap!

Fun article! and actually most things I already implement. Finger nail polish is worth everything! and costume jewelry, buy that big ol $20 fake diamond. Fashion is fun and should make you feel less stressed, not more. 

Summer

Tis summer y'all we are in survival mode. Benji is super bizzy. And we are going from zero to sixty every couple of days.

I will be here when I can. I have so, so much to say. I just have 5 thousand lbs of laundry that call to me instead of blogging.

Jay Gatsby

I can't get over it y'all. the movie was so beautiful. and perfect. and the music, perfect. the colors, perfect, wardrobe. LEO IS GATSBY.

Any way. I am so obsessed with the 20's. With FSF, Hemingway, all the ex pats that lived in Paris during that time.....ANDDDDD!!!! and Dowton Abbey...I just can not contain myself.

We are doing great. Benji is finally done with the subbing for the Greenville Co. school system special needs transportation (for the year). All the graduation ceremonies and parties are over and we are so, so thankful for this weekend of rest at home. Which we will NEED once his summer schedule gets going.

Hadley is getting bigger by the day, as well as Jesse and Emery. I signed Emery up for KINDERGARTEN!!!!!! AAHHHHHH.  i really am excited for her, only a little sad and a little nervous. but i know she will love it and thrive.

I have been frantically trying to find things for us to do every day during the summer. So far I have every day booked but Tuesday, so that will be our "chill" day. play outside in water, watch movies, color, shop :)......I have LOVED having a 3rd baby. I do not regret it at all. we have had some hairy moments. but i am so in love with Hadley. I can imagine our life without 3 kids. God is so good to us. Even though I worried through the entire pregnancy he heard my prayers and gave us a healthy baby. What more could I ask for?

We start our summer schedule Monday. Benji is supa busy in the summers. So I try and plan things for us to do every day.

I swear I am posting Hadley's birth story soon. Just got to get some time to remember the order of things. Happy summer all!

My Mama's Chicken Pot Pie

Okay. This is HER recipe. I will make the notes on how I change it at the bottom, but I will post the original first.

Filling 
1 Chicken, cooked and cubed
1 can of cream of chicken soup (the big can)
3 cups of chicken broth
1 16 oz can of veg all, drained

Crust 
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup self rising flower

*she always, always doubled the crust recipe. I do too. But I'm terrible at math so you can figure that out  yourself.

Preheat oven to 450. Combine chicken, soup, broth and veg all. Pour into 9 x12 casserole dish. in a separate bowl mix all the Crust ingredients Pour crust mixture over filling mixture. DO NOT STIR. Bake for 45 mins or until crust is brown.

*I use usually two rotisserie chickens instead of preparing my own. and just frozen peas and carrots instead of veg all.  I always double the crust recipe b/c of left overs. Mine is usually done before 45 minutes so check it. Amen.