Yesterday was National Gardening Day, so I couldn’t miss that wonderful opportunity to share another wonderful gardening book review and giveaway with you today. You know I love growing flowers and herbs, but for the last few years, I’ve been wanting to grow more edibles and have Googled How to grow ornamental and edible plants together many times over the last year or so, so imagine my delight when I received the opportunity to review garden designer Linda Vater’s newest book that teaches us how to pull this gardening style off. Read on to learn more about the book and enter the giveaway.

Grow ornamental and edible plants together

• Low levels of natural light and cooler temperatures mean you’ll need to adjust how much water and fertilizer you give.
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• Some plants adapt to hanging planters and terrariums better than others.
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• Some succulents can even be toxic to your indoor animals.

Before Amen stays on top of my reading list!  The idea of a simple prayer, one that would be good enough, powerful enough, dare I say it- Christian enough was intriguing to me.  I am a Christian woman, living smack dab in the middle of the Bible belt, so I have heard my fair share of impassioned prayers.  In church, in bible study group, in the pick- up line at my kid’s school… and my simple prayers always felt small and somehow less than when compared to others wordy and usually, lengthy prayers. To put it bluntly- I would never be asked to join the Prayer Warriors group!  After reading and in some parts, re-reading the amazing Before Amen, I now know something that gives me great confidence and helps me stand tall when I feel the need to pray. My simple prayers of “Dear Lord, please help me in this moment”, are perfectly okay to the only one that matters; Christ.   About Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado: “We all pray ... some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray. In Before Amen, bestselling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.”  My Thoughts: Max Lucado welcomed me into this book, like a dear friend would welcome me into their home. He hit the perfect mix of being an authority on the subject of prayer and the Bible without being overbearing. There wasn’t one single moment in this book where I felt I was being talked down to, or preached to. I actually learned biblical lessons from reading Before Amen that I somehow hadn’t retained from church sermons or bible study. For instance, did you know the first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance? In fact, the only tutorial they ever requested was on prayer! There really is something in the delivery of information folks and Max Lucado teaches in a way that I get. I have leaned heavily on the pocket prayer since first reading because it is such a simple, yet powerful prayer. The Pocket Prayer: Father, You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now that I know more about Intercessory prayer, I can expand on my prayers without feeling I’m not “Christian” enough.  As Max says; “Intercessory prayer isn’t rocket science. It acknowledges our inability and God’s ability.” If you are just entering your walk with Christ, or if you are like me and you feel like your prayers don’t quite measure up, I highly recommend you read Before Amen because the author is a self- professed prayer wimp that gets us! The best part about reading Before Amen is that the words and teachings are staying with me. I’m praying more in the moment, not just for myself or my family, but for the world at large.  I’ve shared many passages with my family as well and they have been moved as well. In fact, my youngest daughter who’s 12 asked if she could please read this book next. That’s how impactful this book is. Family Christian has named Before Amen their 2015 book of the year, so I invite you to visit their website where you can read more thoughts on Before Amen and if you are so moved, purchase a copy for yourself or a loved one. You’ll be able to discover more books and guides from Max Lucado as well.

I'm back from spring break feeling focused, refreshed and ready to get back to blogging on a consistent basis. One of my goals this year is to grow my blogging tribe and I can't think of a better way than to join 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate blog party 2014!




Some of you may be thinking, what's a blog party. Well here is how Susan and Janice from 5 Minutes for Mom explain it.

What Is The Ultimate Blog Party?