He Will Protect Me

This is just something I was thinking about this week. 

My heart quakes within me 

I feel my world crumble a bit 

All around me the only thing I see 

Is a horrible world that is bent to destroy 

But then at that moment in time 

Something fills my entire soul 

And I know that I’m 

Filled with something greater 

Then all this mess outside 

He will protect me 

And catch every tear I’ve cried 

And nothing can pull Him away

Book Recap of 2016

Just to start us off: Happy 2016!!!! Now onto the tag. ;D

Rules:

1) Include the above button in your post.

2) Answer the 11 questions. 

3) Use as many book covers as you like. (The correct answer to this question would be ALOT. B-)) 

4) Tag 5-10 people and notify them that they have been tagged. 

How many books did you read in 2016? (Exact if you know, or approximate if not.) 

165 according to Goodreads. It was actually closer to 170 because of re-reads I couldn't count and unpublished books. =) 

Did you set a reading challenge for yourself and, if so, did you meet it?  

I tried for 120 and I got 165.

What was your most read genre this year? Least read? 

Children's Mystery books. Second was probably Historical Fiction.

What's five of your favorite books from 2016? 

I'm gonna cheat and do ten:

Now in actual order of how much I liked them. Sorry I couldn't do that with the photos, but I was having a problem. 

1. The Kings Scroll. That was my top book by far. Not only was the plot awesome, the message hit me at a time when I really needed it. 

2. Sufficient Grace. Its by Jessica Greyson, enough said, right? Seriously though, this book was amazing. 

3. God Smuggler. This book was so powerful. Really, if you haven't read it, you really should. It was incredible. 

4. Reversal Zone. J. Grace Pennington is always awesome, and this one followed suit. This felt like a Star Trek episode, except cooler. 

5. Courage and Corruption. What can I say, Sarah Holman never disappointing me. And I do mean never. I've loved every book by her so far, and I don't ever see that changing.

6. Unbroken. This was amazing. I cannot wait to finish this series. 

7. Dare. This book is kinda standing in for the three books of this series I have read. While it got off to a bit of a rough start, I loved the books. I am looking forward to reading more. 

8. Is That Really You, God? After hearing Loren Cunningham speak in person I really wanted to read his books, so this one seemed perfect. I loved this collecting of stories really showing the power of prayer, and how God always answers us. 

9. Samara's Peril. Yeah, I know, two books from the same series, but it was amazing. I am REALLY looking forward to the next book. 

10. The Treasure Hunt. This was a delightful book. I wish it had been around when I was 10, because I would have loved it even more, but as it was I really enjoyed it. 

What's five of your least favorite books from 2016? 

Yeah, sorry guys. I know most of these were pretty popular. I could go on a laundry list of what I didn't like, but I don't really want to. You can ask me about them in the comments and I'll tell you if you really want to know. 

What new favorite author did you discover? (Not necessarily that the author is 'new', but that they became new to you this year.) 

Rebekkah Morris!! You should try her out, shes awesome.

(These are the five of her books I read this year, and in the order I read them from left to right.)

What's five of your favorite book covers from the year? 

*Happy sigh* Aren't they pretty? I must say Sufficient Grace was probably my all time favorite of all the covers.

How many books did you purchase for yourself in 2016? (Exact if you know, approximate if not.) 

I think about fifteen. I did not buy a lot of books this year. But I did get Jaye L. Knight books, some Millie Keith books, Jane Austen and a few other books. Including Kate Willis's The Treasure Hunt. =)

What's the longest book you read in 2016? 

The Bible. Second was probably Samara's Peril or The Kings Scroll.

What's the shortest book you read in 2016? 

What's your reading goal for 2017?

I am aiming for 120 books, ten a month. I'm actually hoping not to go to far over that. I'm having a bit of trouble with over reading. =P 

Most everyone I know has already been tagged, so whoever wants to do it, can. =)

Draw Near to God

I was reading in Hebrews this morning and this passage just struck me. So then I went and looked up some more verses on the subject.

Hebrews 10:22-24

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

James 4:8

Come near to God and he will come near to you. 

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Goodbye Christmas

Merry Christmas! I know it is technically a day late, but I didn't really feel like writing on Christmas day. ;)

I had a pretty awesome Christmas, which we actually celebrated on Christmas eve. We opened our stockings, then played one of worlds longest games of Life. I actually won by a tiny margin. That night we went to a candle lit service, which was probably one of the most beautiful ones I've seen. On Christmas day, we had a nice meal and then... *cough* we took down all of our decorations. I had the bad timing to get a fever (I'm telling you, ether Ceder Fever or I am going to leave Texas, and I do not intend to leave my 85 degree Christmas. Yeah, so here's hoping Ceder Fever ends soon.)

So I spent most of yesterday on my window seat reading and trying to keep cool. That night I packed up my decorations. That was no small task because my two huge shelf's full of books had been packed up during the holiday and had to be unpacked and reorganized.

And then there was a tradition's my family has had for years now. On the day after Christmas, all the girls in our house go on a huge shopping day. That was today and the term shop till you drop actually seemed to apply. I am now fully convinced that Family Christian Store is the best place for buying music, Hobby Lobby best (I knew that before, but reaffirming never hurt), and I am glad these trips only come once a year or I would be perpetually bankrupt.

 Now I saying goodbye to the holiday season with cleaning, writing to-do lists, and trying to finish up a few last minute projects before next year.

How did your Christmas go?
Did you do any after Christmas shopping?

Hearts Longing

This is some poetry I wrote this month. 

My heart longs eternally for so many things

It longs for the things I've lost

They are gone forever

Never to return

They left a yearning whole inside of me.

They are lost, gone forever

Yet my heart wants them back oh so badly

It is desperate for a way for them to return

My hear longs eternally for so many things

It longs for things I have

They seem like they are with me

But they are so far away

I can’t help but long

For them even though they are here.

I want it back to its original condition

But its already damaged

My heart longs eternally for so many things

It longs for things that I do not yet have

They are coming

I can feel it

They are beautiful things

Things that have been coming for years

And I just can’t wait till they are here.

My heart longs for so many things

It makes me wish they would hurry up and get here.

My heart longs for things it has never seen 

It wants places I’ve never been 

An ache forms when I cannot be there

I tell myself I cannot possibly care 

But my heart tells me that is not true

That we most certainly can and do

Do you long for things you've never seen?