Today is Your Best Day. Review and FREE download!

You all know that I am part of the Mom's of Master Books monthly review group. This has been a tremendous blessing -- my children have received wonderful books, and now, this month, I received an excellent devotional book titled Today is Your Best Day, by Roy Lessin.

I really love the title, and I love the message in the short 60 lessons found within the book. He writes about living today as your best. Not looking back and not defining today based on yesterday. So often, we wake thinking about where we've failed, or that we can't do it, and we short-change today.

In this book, we are reminded that we are God's children, and that He has a plan for us, and that because of Him we can live today as our best. Here are a couple quotes that I highlighted while I was reading it.

Today is your best day because you are here. God has placed you in this moment of time for a purpose, and the things that happen to you today will be an unfolding of that purpose. p.13

There is a heavenly call on your life. Your best day is today whether you take a small step forward or a giant leap ahead. p.32

God not only wants you to have His joy reigning in your heart today, but He wants your joy to become great joy. {love this one} p.80

Grace makes it possible for today to be your best day. p.85

God never changes, but He is a changer. Because God never changes, you can trust His flawless character, because He is a changer, you can trust His creative hand. p.155

This book is perfect to have on your counter in the kitchen-- so that in the morning -- you can read the truth about who you are in Christ. Or you could do like me and carry it with you -- that way while I'm waiting, at say ballet, I can pull it out and read another encouraging word. Roy Lessin starts and ends Today is Your Best Day with Scripture and every single chapter has Scripture, truth, as the first point.

Here's the cool thing -- this book is available for you all!

Tonight, at 8pm CST, there is the monthly Moms of Master Books Twitter Party. To join use the hashtag #teachthetruth and be sure to follow @MasterBooks4U and @MamaHall {I use tweetgrid or tweetdeck}. You can win a hard copy of the book then.  And, in addition to that tomorrow, Friday, March 23, you can get a FREE digital download of Today is Your Best Day by signing up below. Be blessed friends and enjoy the book!



disclosure: As a member of the Moms of Master Books team, I received Today is Your Best Day to review in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. No other compensation was given. This post contains affiliate links.

the smallest things.

"Sometimes,' said Pooh,

'the smallest things

take up the most room in your heart."

I sat in this chair a year ago, on the last day of 2010, thinking about what 2011 would bring. I wondered, and prayed, and hoped, and dreamed about the possibilities that might happen. It was the closing of a year and the beginning of a new.

I even chose a word.

Contentment.

january 2011

And early, very, very early in my year of seeking contentment, I experienced one of my most crushing, most difficult, moments as a mother. I was raw, on my knees, at the foot of Jesus in prayer for my Samuel. It was this deep valley with fear, anxiety, and sadness that tried to take root in my soul. I was helpless -- watching and praying and utterly humbled in those early months of 2011.  It was Celiac Disease.

Somehow in those days of rawness and fighting I began to see life through a different lens. A smallest things kind of lens. It started when I sat in the teeny darkened hospital room while I stared at the monitor that blinked showing Samuel's pulse, and oxygen, and listened to the steady swish of his iv. I was broken. In that place, a place I never wanted to be, I prayed, Come unto me you who are burdened and I will give you rest. I was weary.

Rest didn't mean taking away the pain. Rest didn't mean leaving the hospital immediately. Rest was deeper.

Simpler.

Rest came.

I found it.

Not in the big things, no, not at all.

But, in the smallest, the simplest things of life.

No longer did the big goals seem to be what my heart yearned for -- instead it switched to simple and small gratitude. And in that spirit of gratitude I began to live. Deeply. Aware that joy in life can come from the small moments, the gifts, and in the simple joys found in the everyday.

It started with me being grateful for those monitors that beeped. Then for the bed. And the nurses. And labs. And it grew and grew and grew.

In the sweet sayings of a four year old.
Flowers from a Trader Joe's employee.
A phone call from a doctor.
Rain in the morning.
Prayers from a son.
Coffee bought by my daughter for me with her money as a surprise.

Those smallest things have become beautiful things in my heart.

So now, as I sit here, in the same chair with an entire year spread in front of me I wonder the same wonders as last year. I wonder what the year will bring. But, I will also be aware, watching, looking -

For the smallest finding joy things in life.

For they are the biggest.

Goodbye, 2011.

Top 2011 Posts - Friday Favorite Things Style

I thought I'd be all original
 and do a top posts of 2011 thing.
{I actually love those}

And, since today is Friday,

I've decided to link it into my

Friday Favorite Things.

I'm including pics from the posts

and why I think it was a favorite.

<br /> <br /> <a href="http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/search/label/friday%20favorite%20things"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="friday favorite things | finding joy" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/fridayfavoritethings.png" /></a>

Here goes.

You thought it would be that easy?

Well, actually, I'll post my top posts based on page views,

and then I'll post posts that I love.

It's only fair.

{All post titles are the links to the post mentioned.}

My number one post for 2011?

The Oreck Forever Series Gold Vacuum Giveaway Post

Now, you must know several things.

1st-- I still absolutely love that vacuum.

2nd -- Oreck is sponsoring me to go to Blissdom in February. 

3rd -- I love my vacuum even more.

4th -- February is typically cold in Minnesota and because of Oreck I'll be going to Nashville where it should be warmer.

5th -- Oreck is awesome. Totally. I think I need to vacuum.

You and Your Blog

 A little idea that generated a great deal of pageviews.

I still love the capturing of oneself with their art

that is their blog.

Celiac Disease Journey Part One

Dear Mom of the Little Boy with Celiac Disease

Search label - Celiac Disease

This one overwhelms me.

Humbles me.

Brings me to tears in gratitude.

When Samuel was in the hospital I prayed that

his story would be used to help others.

Praise God that Samuel's story,

his battle with Celiac Disease is reaching others.

I receive emails weekly from parents

encouraging, asking questions, praying.

To God be the glory!

The Flexible Schedule. It's possible.

My views on scheduling and not being a slave to the schedule.

Which I found to be very beneficial to me

as I ended up having that pesky shoulder surgery in November.

So often the Lord uses my blog to prepare me

and teach me for what is to come.

Where We Learn

Another homeschooling

large family

trying to keep it together type post.

We homeschool in the kitchen.

And in the living room, and the family room,

and I'm okay with it.

Running from Perfectionism

Ahh, yes, perfectionism.

Here's another humbling perfectionist moment

I realized that I had a label for my blog saved as

pefectionism

Ouch. Yep. Salt in a perfectionist's wound.

Yep. It's fixed. But, that too, taught me a lesson.

By the way, this has been facebooked liked 99 times
 anyone want to make it an even 100?

And now, some of my favorites.

In no particular order.

A Letter to My Celiac Disease Fighter

No explanation really needed.

I am just SO proud of him.

Open My Eyes

Another post

by me

dealing with perfectionism.

Sigh.

Lessons I've Learned

this is the classic motherhood post

about taking pics of baby's feet

or not worrying about sending out the Christmas card

{thanks friend to all of you who sent me one -- I'll try next year}

or not sweating potty-training

and always being goofy with your kids.

Peeling Away the Labels

We can't define success based on an earthly label.

We can't define motherhood based on an ideal.

Even if the day is hard at 8:38 in the morning

it can still be redeemed.

Letting Go of Fear

This post gives me chills.

I wrote this post nine days before Samuel was admitted to the hospital.

When I read my words, I knew deep down something was wrong.

And already, I was crying out to the Lord for His healing.

I am Going to Give Thanks No Matter What

This sums up my heart.

In the tough and the good and the hard and the well

my heart cries out to say

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Day One

Only thought it fitting to end with the first post of 2011.

It's the post where I describe my word for the year 

and my hopes and dreams.

My word? 

Contentment.

And, my friends, through it all
 I can tell you 

 I am content.

By the way? That picture above -- with snow? That's from last year.

We have NO snow here in Minnesota. :)
I'm looking forward to reading YOUR posts!

Want to link up? Write your own Friday Favorites Post -- it can be like I normally do it where I list some favorite moments and things from the week -- or feel free to do a recap post of the year. It's certainly time for one of those remembering posts! Grab the button, add your link, and pop around to visit some other blogs!Just a note - my fb like button is acting up - you can still click like, but for some reason it's not showing the count.grr...