Dracula by Bram Stoker

I've been wanting to re-read this classic for quite sometime and the 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge gave me the perfect reason to do so! This book is for the category of A Fantasy, Science Fiction or Dystopian Classic.

I remember liking this book before, and I'm so thankful that I actually enjoy it now since it's been 17 years since I read it! In fact I loved this book! It was intricate, suspenseful and, for the most part, fast moving. I like that it is written in first person perspective from many people, giving the illusion of being all knowing, but each character only knowing parts until the culmination near the end. The honesty of the characters was also a nice touch as they wrote from there hearts.

Though I am familiar with the story, I enjoyed going through the mystery with the characters and watch as they put pieces together. The writing is simply brilliant. I could put myself there with the characters and see what the saw, hear what they heard and felt what they felt. It was hard to put down.

I never do this, but I would give this classic 5 stars. I would highly recommend it, but if you are sensitive to things of this nature I would exercise caution.

What Do You Do With One?

Last week I had the opportunity to spend 2 hours alone with my 2 year old. What on earth do you do with one kid!? That was what I was asking myself. I can barely remember having just one and my second was born well before he turned two. So really, what were we to do?

We ended up watching Leap Frog videos, reading a book in spurts, talking about letters and numbers and just rocking together. It was so weird! Enjoyable but very odd. I don't think either of us knew what to do without the others around.

I will say, though, I learned a very valuable lesson in this time. God knows what He's doing!

I know this is not an incredible observation for those who trust in the God of the universe, but it hit me so much in those two hours. Why? Because I realized just how lazy I would be if I only had one. And laziness is a sin. God has intentionally given me a big family to draw me out of my lazy tendencies and teach me more about hard work for Him, taking care of family and just how to be more like Jesus as a whole.

One is hard, don't get me wrong. Sam is crazy and very full of life and keeps me hopping on a regular basis. But 7, is even more so. There is little rest except that which God gives. There is always something that needs to be done and always training to do. You are responsible for so much!

But it is a great blessing. A great heritage from the Lord. (Psalm 127)

God gives different sized families to different people all for His purpose. No matter what size yours is, work hard as unto the Lord and not for man. Teach and train and do not fall pray to laziness that come so easily. Father, continue to teach me how to work hard in my home, for Your Kingdom and Your glory. Teach others as well, that Your people may be witness to a dying world Who You are and how great Your ways are.

Product Spotlight #6 (June Specials)

Another great special from Norwex this month includes the Travel Pack (p.6).

The Travel Pack come with 4 compact sized Envirocloths and a pouch to carry them in. This is great to keep in a purse or diaper bag for many purposes. Going shopping and not sure about your cart handle? Wipe it off with your Travel Pack cloth. Kids with sticky hands? Wipe them off with your Travel Pack cloth. Spill something on your shirt? Use your Travel Pack cloth to wipe it off and get a head start on stain removal.

Just wet the Travel Cloth and put in the pouch. It's ready to go when you need it. When you get home hang it up to dry. It's that simple and you always have an easy way to clean on the go.

Having 6 kids we are always in need of cleaning of hands, faces, etc. So thankful to have this available to clean when we need it while we're out!

How would you use your travel pack?

Park Ready has it with a reusable bag and towel so you are ready to head out into the summer fun!

Please Contact me with any questions
Emmie Manor Independent Norwex Consultant
Emmie.reducingchemicals@gmail.com
www.emmiemanor.norwex.biz
Catalog (p. 6)

Product Spotlight #5 (June Specials)

One of this months customer specials with Norwex features the Envirocloth (p.6) and Window Cloth (p.10). Today I want to share with you why our family loves our Window Cloth and why it pairs so well with the Envirocloth.

The Window Cloth works amazingly on windows, silver, jewelry and really any shiny surface to give you a nice clean and clear finish. After using our Window Cloth we could see clearly through the windows and the sunlight beamed through as I have never seen before.

With 6 kids there are always finger prints all over our windows. We use our Envirocloth to remove the grime that comes along with kids' finger prints and use the Window Cloth to shine it up. They are a great team!

You can clean the window with only spritzing water and wiping with the Window Cloth and it works quite well, especially if you don't have kids' hands all over them! But I really like the combo for a nice clean.

How have you used a Window Cloth? What is your preference? Just a Window Cloth or using it with the Envirocloth?

Check out Shines So Bright for a great deal on both!

Please Contact me with any questions
Emmie Manor Independent Norwex Consultant
Emmie.reducingchemicals@gmail.com
www.emmiemanor.norwex.biz
Catalog (p. 10)

Praying or Worrying

I was sharing with a friend how I've struggled to pray as much as I would like. I love to pray! But lately life has been hard and chaotic with a large family and another baby on the way. Most days my prayers have been "Help Me" or telling God what I think or what I want. Lately I've been convicted that this is not what I want nor is it how it should be. It's been all one sided. I have failed to listen.

My friend in her wisdom asked, "So are you really praying or are you worrying in prayer form?"

That was it! Instead of really praying for God's will to be done, I was telling God what I thought and then making my decisions based on my own logic, knowledge, merit and then fretting about the outcome. I was taking everything on myself and not letting God be God. As a result I was hostile, anxious, angry and easily upset. I was allowing others views to affect mine as well as my view of myself instead of letting God be my determining factor. Life was miserable for all of us!

During my drive that day I took a step back and listened. God absolutely spoke to me that day and He is continuing to speak to me as I take a moment to listen. With all the chaos it's not always easy to listen, but I'm learning that when I begin to feel that stress of life and am overwhelmed that I need to take a moment and just listen.

God will speak to you if you will just listen. Whether through Scripture, a friend, a song or that still small voice, when you seek Him, He can be found. Sometimes it's not immediate and we must be patient, but He will speak.

So how about you? Are you really praying and making it a conversation, listening to the voice of God? Or are you just worrying under the guise of prayer not really seeking to hear from God at all? I pray we will all grow in listening together!

The Light at Tern Rock

This book is part of our Core A curriculum through Sonlight. This book was nice and short but held a powerful message. It is a good look at forgiveness and seeing the best in situations, especially ones that are inconvenient and we were not expecting. I really enjoyed the relationship between Ronnie and Aunt Marthy. It was also good to see how important hard work is and how what we do can help or hurt others. As a whole I enjoyed this book. I can't say I loved it, but I'm not dreading reading it to my next group who do Core A in a couple of years.

4 stars for this book!

Our 12th Anniversary

Today it's been 12 years since Jim and I said "I Do". It's funny to look back and think how everything was going to be. Nursing school, family, maybe some traveling and overall a life of harmony and happiness.

And then real life hits. Nursing school is Hard! Family is Hard! We did some traveling before kids, which was incredible and led us to pursuing God's call in missions. That is also Hard!

But even in the hard, difficult and earth shattering moments, God, our Perfect and Holy God, has been faithful to us. He has been faithful to see us through school. He has been faithful to bring 6 (soon 7) babies into this world. He has been faithful to bring us to Louisville. He has been faithful to teach us, love us and discipline us. He has been faithful to remind us that marriage is not about a life of harmony and happiness, though it is a HUGE blessing when those things are present, but it is about becoming more like Jesus as we pursue Him together in all aspects of our life.

In the past 12 years we have done a few things we thought we would do from the beginning. But there are many others that God has brought us through during this time. He has taught us to love more, to wrestle, to not take good enough and to strive for more in Him.

By God's grace there is more harmony and happiness in our home than ever before. By God's grace we are learning what it means to do life together, even though we don't do it well all the time. By God's grace we are learning to parent and teach our children the ways of the Lord. By God's grace we are truly becoming friends and partners. By God's grace we are learning to communicate so that we can do more together and be effective.

These 12 years have been good and hard. But I'm so blessed to be in this marriage that God is using for His Kingdom and our good.

I love you, Jim and the life God is building in us. May we have many more years together both good and hard.