Alycia's Year in Review 2013

So this year was very eventful for me.  I had so much happen!  Here is my list of big events this year:)

1. Started graduate school for my Master's in Social Work.  My graduate school is a very great school.

2.  Moved from Wisconsin to Kentucky.

3.  Got my first apartment.

4.  Got an amazing job doing what I love - working with at - risk pregnant and parenting teenage girls.  This job always pushes me to new limits where I learn more about myself, the kids, and the girls every time I work.

5. Got to truly experience country life.

6. Moved to a new apartment where I got an awesome roommate and wonderful next door neighbor.  Definitely made some wonderful life-long friends with my roommates, neighbors, and schoolmates:)

7.Started this blog.

8. Got 1,000 views on my blog as of yesterday:)

9.Had my first car accident.

10. Had my first car buying experience.

11.  My little Julie (my grandmother's weiner dog) died:(

12. My grandmother got a new puppy that I absolutely adore:)

13. Became obsessed with zumba:)

14.Got highlights in my hair for the first time.

15. Crossed an item off of my bucket list - went on my first trail ride (and first time riding a horse since I was very young):)  It was a dream come true and now I want a horse of my own:)

16.  Got to see cool historical places in Kentucky.  ShakerVillage is pretty cool.

I leave you with this quote for New Year's.  Happy 2014 and God's blessings!!

Sex and the Single Christian Girl: Fighting for Purity in a Rom Com World ~ Marian Jordan Ellis

           Picture from:http://swittersb.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/simple-daisy-white-flower.jpeg

    Sex and the Single Christian Girl is an inspirational book.  Marian Jordan Ellis speaks with a lot of wisdom.  One of the neat things about this book is that Marian addresses the problem with romantic comedies portrayal of sex.  Marian talks about how romantic comedies portray sex with no consequences.  Every girl loves to watch a romantic comedy.  They are a must for girls night.  My friend and I were recently discussing how sex was portrayed on television.  People can have sex on television and in romantic comedies without emotional problems, STDs, or pregnancies.  With romantic comedies portraying things like that no wonder the world today sees sex outside of marriage as so acceptable.  Marian addresses how all single girls and women today can realize the true worth of purity in today's world.

    Marian does a great job of addressing purity on a spiritual level.  The beauty of Sex and the Single Christian Girl is that it talks about how purity is a very spiritual process.  Women should be pure because they know they are cherished.  Marian talks about how beautiful purity is when it is done because of a love for Jesus.  Marian helps women realize the true worth of purity and a relationship with God.  She also helps girls realize their worth because of Jesus' death on the cross for them.  One of the best things she said is that girls should settle for nothing less than a man who helps magnify the greatness of what Jesus did for them.  This book gets two thumbs up from a single Christian girl who works with pregnant and parenting teen girls!  It is a must read for every single girl.
*This book was given for free in exchange for a fair and unbiased review*

Real ~ Jamie Snyder

 

 Real by Jamie Snyder was an interesting book.  It poses some thought - provoking questions.  Do you go to church on Sundays to fulfill a commitment?  Can people see Jesus in you when you are not in church?  Does your life demonstrate God?  These are a few of the questions posed by Snyder in this book.

Snyder gives some insight to these questions.  He also talks about practical ways to make Jesus real in your life all of the time.  In a short and concise book with witty analogies, Snyder manages to teach about REAL faith.  As someone who lives in Kentucky I especially appreciate the analogies regarding horses and Kentucky. This is a great book.
*I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for a review*

Critical Reaction ~ Todd M. Johnson

(Picture originally belongs to http://www.funfluster.com/gallery/363-nuclear-explosion-in-space.html)

 Critical Reaction is a thrilling and fascinating book.  This is a book that caters to a broader audience than the books I typically review.  Men and women will enjoy reading about Kieran Mullaney's journey to justice.  Kieran calls up a friend from the past - Emily Hart - as he embarks on a journey to find out what really happened the night of an explosion in a nuclear facility.  Kieran doesn't just want justice but also to find out how much radiation he was exposed to that night.  The journey that ensues is full of twists and turns with interesting characters.

Not only is this book interesting but the author is also.  An interesting fact about Todd Johnson is that he has practiced law for over 30 years.  There's something even more exciting about a book when the author is an expert of so many years on a topic that is the main focus in a book.  Todd Johnson's expertise on law comes through and makes it even more interesting.  Definitely a must read.

*I was given this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a review*

Letting Go of Your Limitations ~ Sandie Freed

I was looking forward to getting Letting Go of Your Limitations.  It seemed like a genuinely interesting book.  The subject of the book was going into the light of God's grace and overcoming the various limitations in your life that keep you from living to your full potential.  However, I was unable to finish the book.  I really hate it when I don't finish a book but this one ended up being one I could not.

Letting Go of Your Limitations ended up being a let down.  I thought it would be very insightful.  There were good Scripture references in the book.  It ended up being too dry to finish though.  The references to Paul were nice but there was not enough substance to the book.  Sadly, this book just ended up not being my style of reading.  Maybe if you are more into the charasmatic interest Christian books you may like this a little more.

 * I received this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for a review*