READ | Breaking Busy by Alli Worthington

I first was introduced to Ali Worthington through the blog world, she's the creator and founder of Blissdom (a blogging conference.) I was able to hear her speak at Propel Women last May and fell in love with her even more.

I adore her soft spoken voice, but don't let that fool you this mama of five has some spunk. She recently released a book at the end of January and I had the opportunity to read an advance copy before it came out.

'Breaking Busy' is a book about letting go of the ideas that we put on ourselves of what we think we should do and really taking a look at what God wants us to do. This thought has gripped me these last few weeks since finishing this book.

Another portion of the book I really loved was when she talked about "editing our lives" the idea being that we should every now and then be taking a look at the areas and things that we fill out lives with and make sure we are doing the things God has really called us to for that season.

As we as women learn to let go of our own expectations and things we put on ourselves we see the freedom that God can give us in these areas of our lives.

I loved this book it was the perfect read to start this new year, if you're looking for a book to read this year to kick you in the pants and challenge you I encourage you to give this one a read. You can pick it up here.

I was on the book launch team for Breaking Busy, where I was given a complimentary copy for the purpose of a review. All opinions are my own.

*affiliate link used.

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The Devotional for Women

I love finding great tools to help me in my quiet time connecting with God. There's so many great devotional tools out there today and one of which is the new Devotional for Women. I love this devotional, it's got a lot of really awesome features let me share a few with you.

First in the back it has a daily Bible reading plan that you can follow along with and check off as you go. This book has the look and feel of a Bible. I like the leather and silver lined pages.

There's also a spot at the end of each devotional for you to write thoughts and reflections. This is really helpful to look back on and see spiritual growth.

If you're looking for some new resources to add to your daily quiet time I encourage you to pick up a copy of this one. You can grab yours here.

I'm apart of the B&H bloggers program, I was offered a complimentary copy for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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Painting Days & Snacks I Feel Good About Giving My Kids.

this post is brought to you by Fly Joy. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that help make this blog possible.

We love quiet painting days around here. Most of the country is knee deep in snow during this time of year but here in Phoenix it's cooler temps and a bit of rain. On those rainy quiet days we like to stay inside and do quiet activities together.

My kids love painting and art, it's so easy to just sit and paint for a whole afternoon. I love seeing their creations.

Dollar Spot paints for the win! Whenever I see these in the Target dollar spot I scoop these up, they are easy and affordable.

During our painting time the kids always love a good snack. Since my kiddos were little we've always tried to keep healthy options on hand in our home. That's what I love about Fly Joy Bars, with 7 different flavors to choose from filled with grains like quinoa, flax seed and chia this is a snack I feel good about feeding my family.

Each Fly Joy bar is gluten free, vegan and non-GMO! And what I love even more is that each purchase 10% of the purchase price goes towards families in need.

My fave flavor is the Cashew Cookie Fly Joy bars! These are the perfect snacks for a day of art or coloring, I also like throwing these in my bag during days of errand running and afternoons at the park.

Fly Joy is offering 25% off your order with code: ART25 visit their site here to purchase.

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I never knew I was without, because He loved me so well.

Growing up in church most of my life I heard people always share their testimonies and these stories of what God brought them through. These amazing stories of God's redemption in their lives. For the longest time I didn't think that my story mattered or that it was at all worth repeating.

It took me a long time and spiritual growth to understand just exactly all the God had saved me from and protected me from. I came from a divorced family. My father abandoned me and my sister for much of our lives. When he was, he was in and out of our lives more than I want to remember.

Statistically speaking there's a lot of ways this story could have gone. There's a lot of bad choices I could have made and blamed them on the issues of my past.

Even in all of that here's where God's story of redemption and love lies. God gave me a loving mother. He placed male figures in my life that were such great examples to me in my life.

All my life I've had the best relationships with my Grandparents. I spent so much time with them when I was little. On vacations, trips in their motor home, playing in their backyard and countless of hours of time with them. It was on trips with them to the beach that I first fell in love with the ocean and the beach, or the "lotion" as I'm told I liked to call it when I was little.

All my life I've considered myself so lucky to have the relationship that I do with them. The closeness we have and honored that they've always been so involved in my life. A couple of years ago they moved right across the street from my little family and I. God answered my small prayer of living near family again.

For the last two years I've loved living so close to them. Walking over for dinners, having them into my home. Catching each other at the mailbox, having my Grandfather sing to my kids and them both playing with them has been such a joy.

My Grandfather passed away a month ago today. I spent his last everything with him in 2015. My Grandfather was strong and stern when he needed to be. He had the best sense of humor and the quickest whit of anyone I've known. He was smart, driven and a hard worker.

He loved me so well my entire life. I never knew emotionally that I was fatherless because he loved me so well. He made such a priority and commitment to me my entire life to give and show love to me. I can remember countless moments in my life where he made sure I knew I was loved by him and by God.

His last few years he was in such pain and confusion in his mind with dementia. He's made whole now in Jesus name. I have so much peace because I know that my Grandfather loved Jesus and served him with his entire life.

I was thinking the other day about the legacy that my Grandfather left behind. The greatest thing that he taught me is this; that we should love people so well they see the love of Christ.

Because that's what he did for me, my Grandfather loved me so well he pointed me towards Jesus. He allowed me to see that I was never lacking or without because Jesus loved me. Only Jesus can offer what this world can not.

This is my testimony.

Thank you Gramps for loving me and pointing me towards Jesus.

love, andrea.

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Coffee Date | 5 fave things on a Friday!

Happy Friday lovelies! I hope that you're having a great day so far! If you didn't catch me live for coffee date then you can watch the video below! Today I'm chatting 5 fave things; I'll link to them below!