Girl Wash Your Face – Book Review

Hello Lovelies! I’ve got another book review for you and trust me, this is a book you do not want to pass up.

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion]

I will admit that I was on the fence about this book. I had heard so many amazing things and nearly gotten a copy so many times and let me just say I will be purchasing my own physical copy of this book!

This book is AMAZING and something all women, both young and old, should read! Although it is more directed towards mothers and wives in some chapters, the takeaway can be for anyone. The way this book was written is for both married or single, old and young, as the chapters all have their own point. For example, I did start to read the chapters directed towards motherhood but found I just couldn’t relate so I skipped them but the nice thing about this book and some of the chapters is simply this: If it doesn’t apply to you it’s made in a way that you can either read it or just move on without missing crucial information or points!

Right from the start I knew this book was going to be amazing. How? Well I encountered a quote like this in the opening letter:

            “The truth? You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are. That’s the takeaway.”

I just love that! Getting right to the point before the book has officially started! The way Hollis has structured the book and the chapters is brilliant! I love the whole approach of ‘here is a struggle that I, and many other women, have but this is how to deal with it!’ and at the end of each chapter she provides ways that helped her or would have helped her in these moments in her life!

 

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One of those days

****** THIS IS AN OLD POST FROM MARCH 2018 AND IT WAS COMPLETE BUT I NEVER HIT PUBLISH FOR SOME REASON******

Today was one of those days where I was in an off mood and the LAST thing I wanted to do was attend Day of Prayer at school today… But I’m so glad I did (even though it  was mandatory and I didn’t have much choice)

Day of prayer is something that occurs once per semester at my college and last semester I loved it. But this time I went into it with a pretty horrible attitude. I was mad because I had so much homework to do and a paper due the next day and the last thing I wanted to do was go sit in chapel all day.

Pretty horrible attitude am I right? But here I was CONVINCED it was going to be horrible and I was so stressed and angry that it’s actually quite embarrassing.

It was about halfway through the morning session and I was ANNOYED. I just wanted to get out of there and do homework but despite that I felt God tugging at my heart and so I, somewhat bitterly, picked up my journal and started to just write and vent my frustrations, telling God everything. The main one being that I was frustrated cause I felt like I didn’t have very many good friends around school or people that cared about me.  (not looking for sympathy I’m just saying it how it is. I was stressed and tired ) I was kind of bitterly just daring God to prove to me that I wasn’t alone.

You’d think by now I should have known better than to test or dare God because I find whenever I do that God kind of comes at me and proves me wrong. Sometimes I just picture Him with a smirk on His face kind of being like, “Did you really think I was just going to ignore you?” and today… well today was one of those moments.

Shortly upon finishing my prayer and journalling I had a friend come up to me and just hand me a note, say the words, “I just felt like I needed to give this to you.” and walked off after a moment or two of conversation. Shortly after this I had my boyfriend and a few other people I know bring me notes as well. Upon reading these notes, I found them to be ones of great encouragement and proving the opposite of how I was feeling. This was God proving to me that he has put people in my life to encourage me and be with me.

Just with this post I really want to encourage you to seek God. Go to God when you are happy or feeling fine but don’t forget to turn to him when you are angry, hurting or feeling lost. Because frankly, God never leaves you, even if you think He does. Or you think that He has forgotten about you. (And I know this isn’t easy as I struggle with this too but I hope you can find this whole thing encouraging in some way)

 

Open the Eyes of My Heart

So recently I did a ‘How to’ post on how to survive a modular course in college, but today I wanted to talk about a more serious side of my Modular course where my eyes were really opened to God’s work in my life. This really impacted me when my eyes were opened to an absence in my life.

So the week of February 28th/March I took a modular course called Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom and through it, God opened my mind and my heart to the realization that I didn’t and don’t know as much of the bible as I thought.

That hit me HARD.

I mean, in the first place, I’ve never really been someone who has boasted on their knowledge of the Bible and perfect relationship with God but I definitely thought I knew more than I did.

This course I took went over Old Testament Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom Literature (hence the name.) which were the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon. Taking this course made me realize how little I knew in general but out of the five books of the Bible we looked at I have only for sure, as far as my memory serves me, read ONE of them to completion.

ONE. 

Up until coming to school I realized how much of the Bible had gone unread by myself. Even now there is still so much of the Old Testament I haven’t read and even more of the New.

With this realization I was left shocked. I, someone who grew up in a christian home and attending church regularly thought I knew all there is to know about God and the Bible but I was proved wrong.

Put in my place.
Hit in the face by my own lack of knowledge – my own ignorance to this fact.

From there I realized how much I’ve been missing these hints from God that I need to be spending more time with Him and in His word. That being at Bible College is going to teach me things bit if I don’t know God and what His word says, then what is the point?

I strongly encourage you to sit back and take time with God. Talk to Him. Ask Him to reveal to you what you know or don’t know. Grow in Him. Grow in His word. Run to Him with arms wide open and dive into His love -gain knowledge and understanding in Him.  It’s not always going to be easy and there may be days where it’s not going to be easy or you won’t want to take that time in your schedule to dive in God’s word (trust me, I know. I get that sometimes) but in the end I assure you it will be SO rewarding.

Dear Body, I’m sorry

Dear Body,

I’m sorry for the way I treated you.

I’m sorry that I hate you, that I blame you for the reason I hate myself. Why I can’t look at you in the mirror. I’m sorry for blaming you for my pain.

It’s not your fault, because for almost 21 years you’ve kept me going and kept me moving. Yes, sometimes I’m in pain and I don’t love you the way I should but it’s not your fault. You are doing what you do best. What you were designed and created to do and I have not been treating you kindly.

From here on out I’m going to try my best. I’m going to take care of you this time. This year is going to be a learning curve for me but I’m not going to treat you the way I have anymore…. Why?

Well, because you are beautiful, you keep me living, moving, and breathing.

You were designed perfectly and I’ve neglected you.

No longer am I going to look on you as my worst enemy when I look in the mirror.

I’m not going to shed tears anymore because I hate you… because I don’t.

I love you.

 

Time To Share The Love! || The False Reflections Trilogy Review by Laura L. Smith

Hello Readers!

So lately I’ve been plugging away at a bunch of novels I’ve bought or been given and I am finally making a dent in my TBR pile…Until I add like ten more books per every one I complete…Anyways. I have FINALLY read the whole novella series of Laura L. Smith’s, The False Reflections Trilogy. So today you are getting three mini reviews of the novellas! Now, it’s time to meet the three main characters (who are best friends) and learn about their stories. (Aka. Lets get this review started! 😀 )

 

Skinny: She was starving to fit in… (The False Reflections Book 1)

Teenager Melissa Rollins seems to have it all, and now she’s got the eye of the cute new guy in school, Beau Pointreaux. The one thing Melissa doesn’t have is a perfect body. There are ways to fix that, though. Strict dieting and throwing up can’t be all bad, can they? Melissa soon finds the consequences are devestating, but turning back isn’t so easy. Will she hear God’s voice before it’s too late?

This book really touched me. It was very beautiful and so well done. Knowing a couple people with anorexia and struggling with eating and such has really made this book hit home for me. This book was really well done and shone a light on eating disorders and a struggle in many teenagers these days. *cue sadness*

Anyways. This book was absolutely fantastic and a well written, thought provoking, novella. Once again, Laura Smith’s writing is amazing and really draws me in instantly!

Melissa was such a sweet, adorable character who struggled with her weight. She constantly compared herself to her friends and those around her and that didn’t help with her insecurities. As Melissa went through everything and started (eventually) on her road to recovery my heart just went out to her. At points it just screamed reminders of someone I know who was going through the same thing and at points I was afraid to admit that my line of thought and such were the same as the characters. Laura did a fantastic job of really making the characters relatable (Whether or not you struggle with an eating disorder or anything like that) This book was beautifully done and a great read that I finished very quickly indeed.

My Rating for this novella is:

 

Hot: She was tempted to give in… (The False Reflections Book 2)

Lindsey is gorgeous and dresses like a model, but inside she feels alone. She feels as though no one truly understands her — until she meets Noah. Noah possesses a calm self-confidence that Lindsey craves. But what price will she pay to escape to the comfort of Noah’s soft words and strong arms? Drawn into a world where fashion, boys, and popularity rule, will Lindsey discover what truly matters before it’s too late?

 

Once again, another amazingly thought provoking novella about the struggles of many these days.( This book deals with sexual purity.)

Lindsey’s family is far from perfect or even amazing. Most her parents time is spent on her older sister who is on a path of self destruction. That takes up so much of her parents time that Lindsey feels very alone, really only having her friends in replacement of her family. Seeing this relationship with her friends and seeing the damaged relationship with her family made me feel for Lindsey. Not having a family who cares is just so saddening indeed. I really felt for this character as she struggled to make many decisions that may or may not have taken her down a road she never originally wanted.

My rating of this novella is 4.5 stars. Why? Just because it wasn’t my favorite…BUT it was still fantastic and I did really like it! (I feel terrible for rating a book I liked 4.5 when comparing it to the other book! *gasp* )

4.5 Stars!!!

 

Angry: She was screaming to be hear… (The False Reflections Book 3)

Who do you blame when your world is crashing down? Watching her parents go through a divorce is devestating for Emma and has turned her life into a tailspin. She’s angry at everyone around her. She’s angry at her siblings who she always has to babysit, her parents who are ruining her life, and herself for not measuring up to anyone’s standards. Will she turn her torment over to God and put her trust in Him before it’s too late?

 

Emma, Emma, Emma… such a sad girl just screaming to be heard (see what I did there? 😉 ) I just wanted to hug her so tightly and fix all her problems….but I couldn’t cause she’s fictional 😦 *sniff sniff* (The struggles of a reader, I tell you.) Angry is the third book in the series and a great, though heart shattering, end to the trilogy.

Emma’s family is falling apart and she’s left to clean up the damage and try to put her life back together. Amidst the struggle, she just wants everything to be normal even though that couldn’t happen. (this book made me cry!) When bad things happen all one wants is for things to be normal right? Yeah, been there. Bad stuff happens and if everything could just fix itself that would be great! My point? totally relatable. Once again, amazing writing and a great read! 😀

My rating:

Once again, with all her works, Laura Smith ceases to amaze with her beautiful writing just overflowing with God’s love and how we are all his creation.

Amazing author, amazing writing, amazing trilogy. Go read now!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Adriana Gabrielle