This is my new lock screen on my phone. 

I need this reminder.

I spoke with a group of Mom's this past week.  As I was preparing I had this special message drop on my heart.  We as Mom's are going to fail.  We are going to say and do things that we regret.  Whether it is toward our husbands or our children - some days we are going to go to bed with a heavy heart after a long, hard day.

But as the sun sets and as the sun rises on a new day we are given this gift found in Lamentations.:

​It's hard to believe that my new favorite verse, that gives me so much hope and strength comes from a book about lamenting.  About the destruction of Jerusalem, about poor choices.  Lamentations is a hymn of sorrow and regret.  How many nights do I crawl into bed thinking those exact things about myself, my day, my choices.

But the book goes on to show us that God's faithfulness and mercy is the key to a restored relationship with Him.

I live in Saskatchewan and we are known as the Land of Living Skies, which comes in part from the dancing Northern Lights in our night skies, but we also have the most amazing sunsets and sunrises.  I have sat on my porch swing many nights enjoying the view of the setting sun.  

When I meditate on the words in Lamentations, it gives that sunset new meaning.  As the sun closes on the day that is now behind me, I have made many choices that day.  Some amazing and maybe some not so amazing.  But as the sun will rise the next morning I have the opportunity to wake up and be amazing.  Why? 

Because my Heavenly Father's faithful, loyal, constant and trusted love, combined with His patient and compassionate mercy restores my soul every morning.  How overwhelmingly beautiful is that!  Oh my word!  Do you understand the magnitude of that!  Dear Mama's - every sunset and sunrise presents another opportunity for us to experience God's grace.

What hope that gives this Mama's heart, as I passionately desire to be a godly example to my family, as I pray for wisdom and discernment in the parenting of our daughters, as I faithfully come alongside and do life with my husband - May my attitude become one of "I get to" instead of "I have to".  

As you journey through life today I want to leave you with this promise found in Romans 15:13 - have a beautiful day.

To be honest, I had a hard time trying to understand the analogies throughout the book.  Let me explain that a little, I understand what she is trying to get across but I am wondering why she shared them in this book.  I believe that instances happen in our lives that are evidence of a loving Father reaching out to us.  These moments are a unique gift.  I don't see them as something for a general audience.  I could see a chapter helping your reader learn how to take notice of these moments in our lives but each chapter is another example for Annie.  I just didn't get it.  

Annie shares a lot from her personal daily experiences which I found difficult to relate to, Annie is single.  Which is all good - but her experiences of texting friends and going out for supper, flaying around the world or just choosing to randomly do something does not happen in a family setting.  I have to plan and schedule, I just can't leave on a whim to go out for supper - I would have issues with child abandonment and a starving husband when he arrived home from work. :)

Looking for Lovely follows the basic format - Bible verse, personal story, application.  Personally, I seek a little more depth, but for those who are exploring their new faith this is a good place to start.

I was about 60% finished and I chose put the book aside for a couple of weeks.  Then early one Saturday morning while my family slept I thought I would give it another try.  Cup of coffee in hand, curled up in a blanket in my favorite chair I was pleasantly surprised to read that she definitely saved the best for last.  The last few chapters are where she is real and raw.

I am thankful that I picked it up again and finished it.  I have now passed Looking for Lovely on to a friend, I am interested to hear her review.  We are all at different places on our journey.  Books speak to us in different ways and in different seasons.  

​Have you read Looking for Lovely?  What is your honest review?

I am tired of losing sleep.  I am tired of carrying a burden that is weighing so heavily upon me.

I know for the moment that this burden is mine carry.  I know the scriptures say to cast our burdens onto Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)  But this is a different burden.  This is a deep desire to see change.  To inspire change.  To create change.

A friend of mine told me that my biggest hurts are my biggest ministry.  I experienced something huge in my life in the three years before I met my husband.  I thought that it was a journey that I was meant to travel and I persevered with God's tremendous help and blessings abounded from it.  Little did I know that years later God would want to use that experience to help others. 

I am now preparing to write a book about this experience and I need your help.  

See that button below, please click it.  It will take you to a survey that will have you anonymously answer a few questions that will help me as I write this book.  I am going away for a week to write.  I need you to click that button today.