Positively (Im)perfect

It's that time again - the year in review, IN BOOKS!  I don't feel like I fared as well as I did last year, but as I starting tapping out my list I realized I just plain forgot about some of the books I'd read, and I have a few more unfinished reads that last year. It's been no secret that this has been a tough few months for me (and all of humanity, I think), so we're just going to call it that 4th Quarter, 2016 was just a hard stretch to slog through for lots of people for lots of reasons. Books included. But it all evens out in the end, On to the fun part, though - the actual books! --- Back when I was on my game and trying to keep up with my reads quarterly, I did some good in-depth reviews of the individual books in The Parting Breath Series, The Name of the Wind Series , and Everyone Brave is Forgiven . Links are included - because no one needs me to re-write what I've already written! What I Read The Parting Breath Series |  Monic

Photo care of Blessed is She Photo credit: Jessica (@jess.takin.pics) Handlettering: Erica of Be a Heart Design   Come to the Manger Megan C. Hjelmstad Come to the manger Kneel close and see  The Gift Of eternity Wrapped in infancy Draw near at the invitation of the quiet young mother glowing with love of son and God -- holding the hand which holds time Feel the soft, wrinkled skin of His tiny palm reaching, grasping, closing tightly around your finger the innocence of this hand which will be carelessly thrust upon the rough, heavy beam mercilessly pierced for our transgressions  the hand from which His body will hang, sagging with the weight of all the world's darkness Draw the sleeping babe toward your heart as the gentle mother lovingly presses Him into your arms Cradle him closer; let the soft velvet of smooth, unblemished skin nestle against yours as a light sigh escapes the pucker of His lips The lips destined to speak t

I come to the manger  Longing-hearted Empty-handed but for a jumble of humble offerings The gift of generosity  Wrapped in the soggy trimmings  of tear-stained, pain-filled grimaces  The aspiration, "I want to trust" written across my heart in childlike scrawl,  wrapped in countless unanswered questions, lack of understanding, doubt  The gift of a small pause  Housing at its center the thought of Him,  Buried deep as it is within endless layers of daily duties and distractions I leave at the foot of the manger These paltry offerings  my meager widow's mite  For a king, seemingly helpless Himself in very picture of humility A king deserving so much more  than what I have to give -  than what the world will ever give And yet I leave Empty-handed But full-hearted The smile of His quiet eyes speaking of delight and gratitude  I take with me  A new joy born into my soul Knowing

“All that is good, all that is true, all that is beautiful brings us to God.” –Pope Francis We live in a world overflowing with beauty.  Yet we tend to relegate our ideals of beauty to pages of a magazine, places of intrigue, exotic destinations, a somewhere or a something new and different enough to jolt our senses awake and into an attitude of appreciation.  The truth, though, is that God has built a cathedral of ever-changing, ever-present beauty right in our daily sphere of being. So often, we walk past it with unseeing eyes and overworked hearts, overwhelmed by the craziness of work or family or holiday doings which keep our minds spinning and our stress mounting and our souls blind--blind to the simple, profound beauties created to punctuate our day with the kind of reminder that connects us at the soul-level with the truth of God’s love and creative genius. It's acceptable in the breakneck pace of our world to confine the when and where of our pl