Stretched Too Thin

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As a working mom you can often feel like you're living stretched too thin.  You want to thrive personally and professionally, but the day-to-day responsibilities and mental load can make that feel impossible.  While periods of busyness are normal, if life feels overwhelming, it's time for a reset.  With compassion and encouragement, Jessica N. Turner shows you how to:

• work and parent guilt-free
• set achievable goals
• discover more flexibility
• establish clear work boundaries
• develop home management solutions
• become more efficient and less stressed
• prioritize self-care
• invest in your marriage
• cultivate deeper friendships

Want to embrace your many roles and learn solutions that really work?  Let Stretched Too Thin empower you to make changes and live with contentment.

Review

Stretched Too Thin addresses a common struggle in today's culture: how to balance the many hats a woman, particularly, working mothers, wear.  It can seem impossible to give 100% equally and fully to being a wife, a mom, career woman, homemaker, friend, sister, etc. all at the same time.  Many women think of the descriptions of the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible as the all-time example to emulate.  And for many (myself included), while it can be encouraging, it can also be equally discouraging seeing how high the bar is raised.

What if there was a way to do it all?  To be the successful career woman, doting wife, loving mother, and loyal friend?  Jessica N. Turner seeks to answer that question in Stretched Too Thin.

Just reading the title speaks to me.  It is a phrase that has almost become my mantra, so I was eager to dive into book to hopefully glean some wisdom and practical advice.  My final impression of the read was overall positive.

One of the prevalent themes I found throughout the book was self-care.  It is true that unless we take care of ourselves, we will be unable to help others (something that I've been repeatedly reminded by my other half...).  If our well is running dry, we can't even being to hope to draw water from within for someone else.  Self-care includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, etc.  As my understanding was the book was being written from a Christian perspective, I would have liked to have seen more emphasis on spiritual self-care, as it was very, very briefly touched upon.

The majority of the book is filled with helpful suggestions, checklists, and brainstorming opportunities for better organizing daily routines and tasks.  Efficiency can often be the key to success as well as keeping track of time.  More often than I care to admit, I've been the victim of going on a social media website to check "just one thing", and before I know it, that one thing turned into many rabbit trails, and soon an hour has passed!  Oops...

In all, I found that Stretched Too Thin, while light on the faith component, provided some helpful tools for better organizational success to help maintain sanity whilst juggling all the different priorities in life!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Taming the To-Do List

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Ever just wish the world would stop for a day so you could catch up?

No matter how much we accomplish in a day, we nearly always feel a little guilt over what we didn’t do.  But do we really have more to do than the women who came before us?  Maybe not.

In Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis Whitwer exposes a seismic shift in society:  from one in which most of us were proactive to one in which we carry the burden of having to respond – to every email, text, tweet, and message we receive.  This creates a cycle where everyone else sets the priorities for our days rather than us directing our own lives.  The result?  We procrastinate, putting off the important stuff for later while we tend to the “urgent” stuff right now.

It’s time to take back your schedule!  Ready to tame that to-do list?  This book shows you how.

Review

Even though my job is fast-paced and ruled by strict deadlines whereby procrastination is an unfathomable thought, I’ve found that in my personal life, I can sometimes too easily “put off to tomorrow, what could be done today”.  And it’s always a variety of supposed reasons – (it’s amazing how many different excuses one can think up of when they are trying to get out of something!).  But really what is the root cause for all those excuses?

In Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis points out that procrastination can sometimes arise from is a fear of the outcome which perhaps results in failure - i.e. putting off starting a task or project for fear that it won’t be completed in the way we would have liked (which really is perfectionism), or failing to complete the task or project at all.  Of course, upon digging even deeper into that, one can see a root of pride.  We only accomplish things we can do and do well so that our image is protected.  But to take on a new project where one feels the odds of completing it in a worthy manner are not in your favour, and risk everyone seeing that and thinking badly of you?  Perish the thought! 

That begs the question: if we never challenge ourselves, how can we ever grow?  And it isn’t just growing in our natural abilities – what about our faith and walk with Christ?  If fear of failure is keeping us from accomplishing a personal goal, could it also be preventing us from following God’s plan for our life – thereby being disobedient to His call?  Yes, that’s a troubling statement, isn’t it!  Further it reveals a trust that is placed in our own abilities, and not in the power of Christ.

Of course, there are other reasons for procrastinating, and one of them I believe is “biting off more than one can chew”, as in, saying “yes” to one to many things when we really don’t have the time for it all!  Further, as Glynnis points out, some procrastination is a good thing.  On page 189 she states “all procrastination is delay, but not all delay is procrastination”.  For as it says in Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.  What I learned is that it’s just learning to recognize when procrastination in a certain situation isn’t a good thing, or is becoming a bad habit, and having the willingness to learn to change.

Glynnis doesn’t leave the reader at a standstill upon listing various reasons for procrastination.  She goes into detail about what can be done to help us overcome procrastination.  Some of her very helpful tips include creating a step-by-step plan for a “big project” so it doesn’t seem so daunting to start; implementing realistic timelines for completion of tasks; planning and adhering to simple routines; identify timewasters; have specific goals; enlisting the help of friends and/or family; having an accountability partner, etc.

Taming the To-Do List is a very practical book, but spoken from the heart of someone who cares.  Glynnis’ kind character shines throughout her writing and it felt more like sitting down over coffee with a girlfriend than actually reading an instructive book.  I highly recommend it, and will definitely be striving to apply her helpful advice to my life.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

The Chase

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Only God could have written a love story as beautiful as Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky’s.  From their teenage days thousands of miles apart when they separately wrote letters to their future spouses, to a chance meeting backstage at a concert, their story brings inspiration and hope to every girl.

It’s easy to get impatient for the future to play out, especially when it comes to love.  Before long you find yourself chasing the perfect guy and trying to write your own happily ever after.  But the truth is, your best future won’t be found chasing boys—it’ll only come by first chasing God.

In The Chase, Kyle and Kelsey take turns telling their story—with Kelsey sharing secrets to a godly relationship and Kyle revealing the truth about what guys really think.  Together they’ll show you how to put God first, protect your heart, deal with the loneliness and peer pressure that comes along with purity, and see yourself as God does.

Are you ready to trust God with your very own happily ever after?  Let the chase begin!

Review

It is so true that one’s relationship with God must be the first priority in your life.  When we can say that we truly trust God with our lives and seek His wisdom with decisions, then we do not have to stress about the outcome of our life – or if we will ever find our future spouse.  “He’s got the whole world in His hands” – what a beautiful truth!  Of course, it does not mean everyone will get married - some, like the Apostle Paul, are called to be single.  But when we are living our lives sold-out for God, He will satisfy our deepest hopes and desires, and at times, in ways we could never, ever imagine, but always for the better.

Each chapter in The Chase touched on some very key issues in relationships – from not compromising your values, to allowing the guy to initiate the relationship, what a girl wants (to be loved and cared for!) and what a guy wants (respect!), and staying pure.  It also ends on a very hopeful note – just because you aren’t married yet, doesn’t mean you never will be.  It could very well be that you haven’t met “the one” yet (and it well worth the wait!).

Well-thought out and equally well-written, The Chase would be a great book for every single girl to read.  As a single gal myself, I felt very encouraged reading Kyle and Kelsey’s story – and know I will take the constructive advice to heart.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The Beauty of Grace

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In this hectic life, it’s easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders.  The beauty amid the mess, the well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won’t let go of our hearts—they’re all ways God extends an open hand to us.  But if we’re not paying attention, we can miss it.

Combining heartfelt stories from some of today’s foremost writers with Dawn’s stunning photography of God’s incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos.  This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more.

If you’re in need of a little peace, a little quiet, a little beauty, find comfort in this:  you’re invited to experience them all within the pages of this soul-stirring book.

Review

I really, really enjoyed this book.

The Beauty of Grace is a compilation of various stories from different authors whose purpose is to cause us to pause, breathe deep, and remember the love and grace of God.   In today’s world, with hectic schedules, endless to-do lists, and no shortage of worries, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, drowning in a sea of busyness and losing sight of the Lord.  Some of the stories in The Beauty of Grace include daily struggles, and the writers share how they found calm in the midst of the storm, and hope in the chaos.  Other times they are of personal “aha!” moments or times of reflection. 

Split into seven themes, “Purpose”, “The Big Picture”, “Surrender”, “Trust”, “Lessons Learned”, “Hope and Encouragement”, and “Worship”, the various memoirs highlight Biblical principles, with the constant reminder to keep our eyes fixed upon the Saviour, who will guide us through life – from the daily “mundane” to the bumps in the road.

Beautifully written and very encouraging, this book will make the great addition to anyone’s reading list.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Revell and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from BakerBooks, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Becoming Myself

 

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Becoming Myself is a hope-filled book for anyone who wonders if her life will ever change—if she will ever change.  In Stasi Eldridge’s most intimate book yet, she shares her struggles with self-worth, addiction, and her past as she shows readers how God is faithfully bringing us to a life of freedom and wholeness.

 

God desires to restore us, and he is able to restore us—the real us.  As he heals our inner life he calls us to “rise to the occasion” of our lives.  The most important journey any woman can take is the one into becoming her true self through the love of God.  It’s a beautiful paradox:  the more God’s you become, the more yourself you become-the woman he had in mind when he thought of you before the creation of the world.

 

Review

 

When I first saw this book, I was intrigued.  Becoming myself- what exactly did the author mean?

 

As I dove into the book, it quite often became very hard to read.  Written more like a personal memoir, Stasi walks you through some difficult times throughout her life.  She hit on some very positive points such as we should not prison ourselves to fear (i.e. fear of what others think/say, fear of circumstance, etc.), but rather, release those fears and insecurities to God.  Other points were that beauty does not relate to some specific measurement, hair colour, or height (everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way!), and to always strive to be a good friend.

 

However, for the most part, I felt the book was wrought with some very troublesome issues.  What felt like rants against mothers (and two whole chapters of it), didn’t exactly coincide with one of the author’s agendas of helping eradicate misogyny, or hatred against women.  To blame your mother for any and all weight issues, insecurity, self-esteem, addiction, thoughts, feelings---- reminded me of a “scapegoat”.  Casting blame on others has been around for a loooong time – remember Adam in the Garden of Eden when God spoke to him about eating the forbidden fruit?  Adam said “This woman you gave me…”  And Eve goes on to say, “The serpent deceived me!”  While I understand that circumstances can and do mould us to a certain point, in the end, it is our choice to decide whether or not they will continue to define us. While I think that the author’s end point is about overcoming difficulties, it is shrouded in just heaping blame for our problems on someone else.  Instead of doing that, we need to take responsibility for our own mistakes and run to our Father in heaven, Who is always there with open arms – “Cast all your cares upon Him for He careth for you”.

 

There were other points of concern, such as talk of “soul ties” between two people, which was just plain bizarre, and feministic ideals and refusal to embrace to the God-ordained and wonderful roles of men and women as outlined in the Scriptures.

 

In closing, I want to put out there that I really dislike writing negative reviews.  As an aspiring writer myself, I understand how one person’s written work is viewed like their “baby”.  It’s something you’ve poured yourself into, and nurtured into the finished product it is now, so reviewing books is a task I do not take lightly.  But as this is a book about Christian living, I fear I had to raise some very key issues that do not align with Scriptural truths.  I did not hit on every single thing I was at odds with in the book, but instead choose to end this review with a strong word of caution.  If you decide to read this book (and really, any book about Christian living!), I would highly recommend to have the mind of the Bereans that the Apostle Paul spoke of in Acts 17:11, who after hearing Paul speak would search “the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Book has been provided courtesy of David C. Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller.