We all want to do sweet things for our husbands to show them that we love them, but sometimes it’s hard to remember to make our husbands a priority when we’re exhausted or super busy (or both!). 

In my book, Bless Your Husband, Creative Ways to Encourage and Love Your Man, I give several tangible ideas for you to bless your guy. In this six-week study for wives, there are several blessings challenges to choose from each week as well as daily readings, prayers, memory verses, and more to grow as a wife and woman. The idea is that you can bless your husband and strengthen your marriage in fifteen minutes a day. 

But what about those days when you don’t have the time or energy for even fifteen minutes? In the book I stress that you should progress through at your own pace. So if this means it takes you two days to do one day’s study, that’s fine. Make it work for you! 

Today, I’m going to share 5 quick and easy ways to bless your husband for those days when you don’t even have fifteen minutes to spare.

1. Send him an encouraging text.

Think about any issues he is facing at the moment. Does he need to be reminded that he is strong, and that God has got him? Or maybe he needs a reminder of a time when he successfully solved a problem, encouraging him to have faith that he can do it again. Does he need a cheerful reminder that his wife is rooting for him, or maybe just a thoughtful thank you to encourage him? 

2. Buy a special drink next time you’re out grocery shopping.

My husband likes root beer in glass bottles. It would be easy to add to the cart when I’m already out doing an errand, and it would make him smile. Is there a fancy coffee or a bottled organic juice you can grab for him? It’s an easy way to say, “I’m thinking about you.”

3. Pray over him before you go to sleep.

Don’t feel like you have to be an eloquent prayer warrior to do this. Jesus kept his prayers simple, we can do the same! Put your hands on him, thank God for him, ask God to bless him and pray for any needs you know he has. 

4. Give him a hand massage next time you’re watching TV together.

A hand massage is an easy one to give, you don’t necessarily even need oil or lotion. Your loving touch can calm him down, lower his stress, and make him feel loved. Win-win-win! 

5. Study and grow as a Christian.

The best thing you can do to bless your husband and family is to stay rooted in God’s word. Find a Bible study that will help you dig in deep, or a great devotional to start your morning off right. God’s word changes us for the better, and what is stored in your heart will overflow into your family! 

Which of these 5 things would you be most likely to do tonight? Let me know how you like to bless your husband in the comments!

PS: Have you seen my new eBook? You can get A Hundred Dates for free when you sign up for my newsletter!

The post 5 Quick Ways to Bless Your Husband Tonight! appeared first on Angela Mills.

This post contains affiliate links. This was originally posted in April, 2016.

The day your daughter starts her period for the first time can be confusing, exciting, scary, and happy all at once. Hello, welcome to being a woman!

In our family, when this momentous occasion occurs, mom and daughter go out for a private, simple celebration (think coffee and the best chocolate you can find) and a chance to chat. We’ve already prepared them with talks long before they start, we have supplies in the house, and no one is shocked or thinks they are dying because they know it’s coming.

However, there are some things to make sure your girl knows about this blessing/curse of life. Even if you’ve covered a lot of this, now is a good time for a refresher course.

Please note, the simple celebration should be separate from the “Period Talk.” Most girls aren’t too keen to sit and talk about tampons and heavy flow days in their local bakery. Even just sitting in the car afterwards while you giggle and talk about these points works just fine. Print out this list if you need to! (There’s a “print” button at the bottom of this post.) I actually had a post-it note with reminders for myself, that’s where this post came from

1. This is a perfectly natural part of life.

It’s nice to be reminded of this on a day when your daughter might be feeling insecure and worried. Remind her that a lot of girls her age may be having their period soon, if they haven’t already. If you can remember when you started, share with her about that day, or another story about having your period at her age. If you’re a Dad having this talk with her, share a funny or embarrassing story about something you went through at her age. It will help put her at ease.

2. Share different methods of protection.

Most girls are most comfortable with a simple maxi pad when they are first starting out. Hopefully, you’ve already shown her how to use one. At this time, make sure she knows that it needs to be changed around every four hours. Talk about the different “strengths” available in pads and how to choose the right ones on the right days. Make sure she knows how to dispose of pads, using the wrapper from the new one to wrap the older one before throwing in the trash. This is a good time to remind her that pads aren’t to be flushed.

3. Talk about tampons.

She probably doesn’t want to use tampons yet, so let her know that is okay. Never force your daughter to use tampons, as some conditions cause tampons to be extremely painful! So follow her lead in this case. And if she does want to use them and you think she is ready, make sure she knows how to use them properly and that they need to be changed every four hours as well. Let her know the risks of keeping one in for too long. Remind her that while tampon inserts can usually be flushed, the applicator should not.

4. Talk about different levels of flows.

While talking about pads and tampons, be sure she is aware that sometimes she will have a heavier flow than others. Make sure she knows that if a pad or tampon is filled to the max in an hour, she needs to let you or a doctor know right away.

5. Teach her how to track her cycle on the calendar.

Whether she has her own calendar or not, most girls might be a little embarrassed at this age to have their period tracked. Let her know she can use a little symbol instead to indicate when she starts and how many days her period lasts (a little circle, a heart, an x, whatever works). Over time, she may be able to predict when her period is coming and plan accordingly. An average cycle is 28 days, starting on the day your period begins and ending when it starts again. However…

6. Let her know that it is totally normal to be irregular, especially at her age.

Many girls will start their period and not get one again for six months. Most girls just starting out will not have 28 day cycles. Have her keep track and see if she can identify any patterns, and reassure her that in a couple of years she might be regular.

7. Make sure she is prepared.

Stock up on supplies and have her always keep 2 pads or tampons in her purse. One for her, and one for a friend that may need it. A cute zipped pouch works great for this. Here is a super cute one. By the way, make sure she has these in her purse as soon as you think she may be getting ready to start someday. It’s never too early to be prepared! Usually, her body will show signs she’s going through puberty before she starts her period. That’s the time to start being prepared!

She might also want to keep ibuprofen or essential oils in her purse if she is prone to bad cramps and is mature enough to handle her own dosing. Schools may not allow her to carry her own meds, so if that’s the case, make sure she knows to go to the nurse.

8. Talk about some symptoms she might experience and how to relieve them.

She may experience cramps, bloating, and irritability. Remind her these things are normal and share how you would treat each symptom. I talk more in depth about this in this post about dealing with your daughter’s hormones.

9. Reinforce good hygiene habits.

Hopefully at this age, your girl is taking good care of herself. But if she’s been slacking, now is the time to make sure she is showering regularly and keeping her whole self clean and odor-free. You may also want to make sure the bathroom trash is emptied more often during this time.

10. Teach her how to deal with laundry issues.

No matter how careful you are, sometimes stains happen. Have her set aside a set of undies for Period Week, so all of hers aren’t ruined, and teach her how to treat stains on clothing or bedding and to deal with them right away.

Bonus # 11. Love, Love, Love

Remember that this is a very confusing time for girls. There are so many natural changes going on in their life and their bodies, and their friends are likely going through it, too…You couldn’t pay me to go back to those days! Show your girl some extra love and encourage her as often as you can. A “we’re in this together” attitude will do wonders for your relationship! You may also want to read this: Raising a Sensitive Girl in a Mean Girl World.

The Only Book About Puberty That I Recommend for Girls

The Body Book, by Nancy Rue. Please get your girl this book! It shares everything she needs to know about this time in her life in an easy-to-read format and it’s all based on a Biblical perspective. I usually recommend saving a few bucks and checking books out from the library, but this is the kind of book your daughter will want and need as a go-to reference for a couple years to come. At the time of writing this, it’s only $4.89 on Amazon, but even at the full price of $9.99, it is more than worth it!

Any more tips for what to tell your daughter when she starts her period? Leave them in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links.

The post 10 Things to Tell Your Daughter When She Gets Her First Period appeared first on Angela Mills.

If you’re in the Southern California area, I would love to meet you! On Saturday, October 20th, in Redlands California, I am having a launch party for my new book, Bless Your Husband, Creative Ways to Encourage and Love Your Man.

This free event will benefit Redlands Family Services. Guests are asked to bring a gift or donation. Family Services will disperse these gifts to local wives in need. (Think wedding shower gifts.) Everyone who brings a gift or donation will receive a raffle ticket and will be entered to win some cool prizes!

Books will be for sale, and I’ll be signing them. All profits from book sales will be donated as well. If you’ve already purchased a book, you can bring that for me to sign. Also, the early order bonuses go through October 22, so if you purchase a book at the party, you’ll get those bonuses!

I hope I get to meet some of you there! If you can’t make it, but wish you could, check out my speaking page for info on having me visit your church or retreat as a speaker.

The post Book Signing and Launch Party! appeared first on Angela Mills.

Every year, I wait for various Summer Reading Guides to come out and I head to the library and get as many picks as I can to fill the long, lazy days by the pool. This year, I decided to make my own Summer Reading Guide, this one exclusively for Christian reads. That’s right, every book in this guide is a Christian book! Whether you’re reading on the beach or in a cozy chair with a glass of iced tea, these reads will inspire and entertain you!

*Amazon Links are affiliate. Most of these books were provided by the publisher for review. However, I’ve only added the ones I honestly enjoyed reading.*

Below, you’ll find 4 categories of books— Beachy Reads, Historical Fiction, Thrillers & Mysteries, and Spiritual Growth— but let’s start with my top pick for this summer!

My Top Pick for Christian Summer Reading!

The Theory of Happily Ever After by Kristen Billerbeck
This book is my top pick for reading by the pool or at the beach this year! There are so many fabulous books on this list, but The Theory of Happily Ever After was exactly what I was looking for this summer. It’s hilarious and moving, light, yet deep, and romantic without being cheesy. Plus, the main character has a love of Hallmark Movies… hello. I’ve seen reviews comparing the dialogue to an episode of Gilmore Girls, and I have to agree. You know that’s high praise coming from me. (I have a bit of a Gilmore obsession)

From the Publisher:
According to Dr. Maggie Maguire, happiness is serious science, as serious as Maggie takes herself. But science can’t always account for life’s anomalies–for instance, why her fiancé dumped her for a silk-scarf acrobat and how the breakup sent Maggie spiraling into an extended ice cream-fueled chick flick binge.

Concerned that she might never pull herself out of this nosedive, Maggie’s friends book her as a speaker on a “New Year, New You” cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Maggie wonders if she’s qualified to teach others about happiness when she can’t muster up any for herself. But when a handsome stranger on board insists that smart women can’t ever be happy, Maggie sets out to prove him wrong. Along the way she may discover that happiness has far less to do with the head than with the heart. READ MORE

Beachy Reads

I could honestly read nothing but beach reads all summer. To me, a beachy read is something that you can lay on the beach or by the pool and read for two straight hours without looking up. Beachy reads are for when I want to escape the day to day drama of life and get invested in someone else’s story. Bonus if they are set in the summer, and double bonus if they are set in a beach town.

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel.
The Heart Between Us is such a unique story, I knew I had to read it as soon as I read the description, then I was hooked from reading the first page. If you can’t afford to travel the world this summer, escape into this book instead! You won’t regret it! I love books and movies where women travel the world to “find themselves,” but often you’re left feeling empty as the solutions they find don’t really satisfy one’s true needs. This book hits the target and goes beyond a shallow ending to one that truly satisfies!

From the Publisher:
Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide and living with her parents in her small Minnesota hometown, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey… READ MORE

The Sisterchicks Series by Robin Jones Gunn
The Sisterchicks series started in 2003, with Sisterchicks on the Loose. If you love friendships, hilarity, traveling, and feeling inspired as a Christian woman, you will devour these books. As a forty year old, I appreciate the life stage the women in these books are in! So relatable!

PS: If you were a reader of the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, she’s expanded that series to follow Christy and Todd through marriage and babies!) Catching up on their story could take you through the whole summer! PPS: Robin has her own bookstore and often has special offers, so check there first!

From the Publisher:
Get set for adventure as the sisterchicks drive, float, or fly off to faraway places—exploring new territory and delighting in the soul ties that forever bind their hearts.

Meet unlikely best friends Sharon, quiet mother of four, and Penny, former flower child/motorcycle mama. Connected as young moms, their twenty-year friendship is about to take a surprising leap! Penny hatches plans for a “post-kids” trip to seek out her only living relatives—somewhere in far-off Finland. READ MORE

Books to Curl up With

Our summers here in Southern California are endlessly hot. We don’t usually get any good rainy, gloomy summer days, but if you do, these are the books to read on those days. As for me, I’ll substitute a cozy warm mug and blanket for an iced tea and air conditioning. Either way, these are picks are perfect to curl up with on a long afternoon!

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West
Nobody does family drama like Catherine West. Where Hope Begins starts with the line, My husband is leaving me, and you will not be able to put it down until the last word. Have a box of tissues ready when you curl up with this one! West is never afraid to go deep and get very real, and yet she weaves in grace, in the most natural way.

From the Publisher:
Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .
Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all. READ MORE

Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti
Cynthia Ruchti writes stories hemmed in hope, and Song of Silence is no exception. If you want to be inspired and read an encouraging tale with deeply drawn characters, this is the book for you. And who doesn’t want that? I also love that this book is in the point of view of a retired woman and her husband, something you don’t find too often in contemporary literature. (Discussion guide included in book) PS: You can read my review of Ruchti’s A Fragile Hope here.

From the Publisher:
Charlie and Lucy Tuttle are committed to each other for life, but that life isn’t turning out quite like they expected. Charlie retired early, but Lucy planned to continue in her position as a music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school indefinitely. And then the day came when she was forced to retire. Lucy was devoted to the program her father started years ago and now she can only watch as it disintegrates before her eyes. The longer she is separated from the passion of her heart, the more the music fades from her life and she wonders if her faith’s song is fading too. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything. READ MORE

Historical Fiction

Reading Historical Fiction always makes me want to turn off the television and bake bread. Some of the first Christian novels I read as a teenager were Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly series, and I’ve been a huge fan of Historical Fiction ever since. Good Historical Fiction, like the books listed here, also educate without the reader noticing it. All of these books below seamlessly weave in historical facts for an authentic story that makes you feel a little smarter after you finish it.

Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar
This is my first Tessa Afhsar read and it will not be the last! Afshar is a gifted writer and has crafted a beautiful and richly woven story that will stay with you long after you read it. Bread of Angels is the story of Lydia, mentioned in Acts 16. I love Biblical fiction when it’s done well, and this one absolutely is. The Bible will come to life as you read it. I’d love to see movie based on this one! (Discussion Guide included in book.)

From the Publisher:
Purple. The foundation of an influential trade in a Roman world dominated by men. One woman rises up to take the reins of success in an incredible journey of courage, grit, and friendship. And along the way, she changes the world.

With only her father’s secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her business on her own. Determination and serendipitous acquaintances?along with her father’s precious dye?help her become one of the city’s preeminent merchants. But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert. Still, Lydia can’t outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life. READ MORE

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett
A romance set in the 1920’s in Yellowstone Park with a bit of mystery? Yes, please! Where the Fire Falls is so well done and well researched. If you love nature, you’ll love this book and feel like you have been transported to Yellowstone. I follow author Karen Barnett on Facebook and I’ve enjoyed the photos and posts she shares as she thoroughly researches her books. You can tell this is a passion of hers, and it definitely makes her books rich and meaningful. I’ve never been to Yellowstone, but after reading this, I feel like I have. It’s also made it’s way onto my travel bucket list because of this book!

From the Publisher:
Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as “pervaded with divine light.”

As Clark opens Olivia’s eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park’s story as its vistas–a revelation that may bring her charade to an end. READ MORE

These Healing Hills
These Healing Hills was a warm and comforting read, which is my favorite kind of historical fiction. I was hooked from the first page, much like I was when I first read Janette One all those years ago. I may have stayed up until early in the morning to finish this one! These Healing Hills is wonderfully researched and the setting and characters stay with you long after you finish the book.

From the Publisher:
Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII’s end writes to tell her he’s in love with a woman in England. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

When Francine’s and Ben’s paths intersect, it’s immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities. READ MORE

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin
Sarah Sundin is the go to author for WWII buffs that want to escape into an authentic, inspiring romance. The Sea Before Us is Book One in the Sunrise at Normandy series. Sundin is another author I follow on Facebook. In addition to research and fun updates, she also posts a daily “Today in WWII” post, where she shares history tidbits, photos, and interesting articles. The Sea Before Us is her latest romance that will capture your heart and make you feel as if you’ve stepped into the war as you root for these flawed and inspiring characters!

From the Publisher:
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France–including those of her own family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.

The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life under Sarah Sundin’s practiced pen with this powerful new series. READ MORE

The Improper Proposal by Davalynn Spencer
The Improper Proposal is the first Davalynn Spencer book I’ve read, and now I’m hooked on another series! This is the first in the Front Range Brides, and I’m looking forward to reading what comes next. This is a quick read, about a mail order bride and a marriage of convenience, and a heartwarming story that again is so well researched you feel as if you’re in the old west! Western readers will love this one, and if you haven’t read Westerns before, I encourage you to give this one a try!

From the Publisher:
Sweet Historical Western Romance An Improper Proposal – First in the Front Range Brides collection of stories about strong women who find and defend love in 1880s Colorado. Love hadn’t brought her to Colorado, but it might be the one thing that keeps her there. Mail-order bride Mae Ann Remington won’t let circumstances get in her way. When someone else’s greed costs her everything—including her groom—she does the only thing she can in a new town with no money or friends. She asks a stranger to marry her. Cattleman Cade Parker stops at the bank to withdraw cash for his sister, not find himself a wife. But that’s exactly what happens after a bank robbery leaves a farmer dead and his headstrong bride-to-be making a desperate business proposition. READ MORE

Thrillers & Mysteries

There’s nothing like a good thriller to help me escape from the worries of everyday life. I love being sucked into a good mystery, and if it’s a little scary, even better! These are the books to read when you’re home alone at night, unless you’re like me and you’ll freak yourself out. In that case, read them under a bright light and make sure your doors are locked!

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright
Confession. I had to stop reading this book at night because I started freaking out about every little noise in the house. When I called my husband in the midst of one of these freak outs, and asked him to come home early from an evening out, he said I was no longer allowed to read the book unless it was daytime. That is how suspenseful this book is! I’m really glad I finished it, because it was so well written and captured my interest from the first page. I love a good time split, and this one is particularly well done. I can’t wait to read Wright’s next novel, The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond, out on July 3. Hint: If you like Kate Morton, you’ll love this book.

From the Publisher:
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather’s Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house’s dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy’s search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives–including her own–are lost? READ MORE

The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel Rosenberg
Joel Rosenberg has a fascinating story, and he’s definitely on my list of authors I would love to meet someday. His books are fast paced, suspenseful, well-written, and clearly well-researched. His books are so timely and even prophetic… he had to make edits as his first novel was about to come out because it was too similar to the events of 9-11, even though it had been written months before. The Kremlin Conspiracy, his latest political thriller, is everything you want in a book like this. If you’re a fan of John Grisham or the popular TV show, 24, you will love these books. Save this one for when you can read it in one siting, because you won’t be able to put it down!

From the Publisher:
New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg returns with a high-stakes political thriller set in Russia.

With an American president distracted by growing tensions in North Korea and Iran, an ominous new threat is emerging in Moscow. A czar is rising in the Kremlin, a Russian president feverishly consolidating power, silencing his opposition, and plotting a brazen and lightning-fast military strike that could rupture the NATO alliance and bring Washington and Moscow to the brink of nuclear war. But in his blind spot is the former U.S. Secret Service agent, Marcus Ryker, trained to protect but ready to kill to save his country. READ MORE

Sweet on You (A Meddlin’ Madeline Mystery) by Chautona Havig
I discovered Sweet on You when author Chautona Havig shared on Facebook how she came up with this story idea. (It all started with a photo.) This cozy mystery is a sweet and fun read, and you’ll be rooting for Maddie and left wanting more. Good thing it’s only the first in a series of three! Bonus, this book is free on Kindle Unlimited if you have it!

From the Publisher:
Rockland circa 1900- As the mayor’s daughter, Madeline Brown enjoys a rich social life that many might envy. But a sharp mind and a growing talent for observation leaves Madeline torn between avoiding social censure and exploring the world around her. With an aunt who considers higher education and employment equally unsuitable for the mayor’s daughter, there is little to amuse her save endless committee meetings, evening socials, and her favorite pastime: curling up with an exciting detective novel.

The temperance and suffrage movements hold little interest for a young woman who has just endured the rigors of her father’s mayoral campaign. So when a young man shows interest in her friend, Madeline’s interest piques–until his actions hint that he might not be the upstanding gentleman everyone presumes him to be. Unable to ignore her concerns, Madeline finds herself in the middle of an investigation into his character and discovers a side of Rockland she’s never encountered. Will her new hobby reduce the tedium of her life, or will her “meddling” create tension for herself and her father? Will she be forced to squelch this budding skill of hers or has Madeline finally found her calling in life. READ MORE

Spiritual Growth

Though I read almost exclusively fiction during the summer, I also make sure I’m always reading at least one book for growth while we’re on our break from homeschooling. The books below will encourage you in your walk with God! These are the non-fiction books that made it out of my to-read stack and onto my nightstand this summer:

Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington
From the Publisher:
Enjoying life (zoe) in Christ comes in the choices we make moment-by-moment. Transparently sharing her struggles with anxiety, fear, and insecurity, Ginger Harrington invites women to discover how intentional choices made in the moment can become holy habits that open the door to healing and freedom. With a refreshing perspective, she shows that holiness isn’t a rigid standard to keep but a gift to receive through a vital relationship with God, who makes us whole.

Holy in the Moment explores the practical power of choices to grow in holiness without the pressure of perfectionism. Through gentle encouragement, biblical insights, and applicable ideas learn to discern feelings and overcome distractions and shame, adapt God’s equation for obedience, live a praying life, discover methods for practicing holiness in parenting and the importance of rest, embrace biblical love and forgiveness, and understand how work becomes holy. READ MORE

Walk it Out by Tricia Goyer
From the Publisher:
Women often pack their lives with family, friends, and faithful service, yet still end up feeling empty and unfulfilled. In Walk It Out, Tricia Goyer demonstrates to women that walking out the mandates of Scripture allows God to spark passion and mission within them.

Sometimes those steps are easy, but many times they require a move outside of what feels safe or secure. When women stop focusing on their own dreams and purposes, and instead focus on God’s dreams and purposes, everything changes. READ MORE

Okayest Mom by Natalie Gwyn (available for pre-order, releases June 26)

From the Publisher:
Natalie Gwyn uses humor to brilliantly capture how God led and helped this mother of two to adopt four children from Ethiopia and successfully bond her blended family.

Her lighthearted narrative begins with the nudge of God toward the uncomfortable. She and her husband are almost certain they have misunderstood what the Almighty is asking of them, and with self-deprecating humor Natalie allows readers a glimpse into the process by which this already imperfect mom agreed to transnational, transracial adoption of more children than she already has. READ MORE

Angels Among Us by Wanda Rosseland

From the Publisher:
Stories of ordinary people whose lives were extraordinarily changed through the divine intervention of guardian angels.

A vision in a dream. A long-awaited healing. Protection from an accident waiting to happen. Angels Among Us is a collection of stories of everyday people — little children, old women, young men, and more — who had their lives stopped for a moment and redirected with a little help from above. Some came to help. Some to heal. Others stood as protectors and guardians. Some were prayed for and others showed up totally unbidden, but all were remembered by those whose lives were changed from a visit by their guardian angel. These inspiring stories will give you comfort and hope as you learn that you are seen, protected, and loved throughout each and every day. READ MORE

Which books would you add to the Christian Summer Reading Guide?

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The post Christian Summer Reading Guide! appeared first on Angela Mills.

When we moved last year and downsized to a house almost half the size of the one we were leaving, I knew I was going to have to seriously rethink my book storage. I decided to combine our library with my home office. Since all I really require is a desk and a recliner to write in, we were able to fit 5 good sized bookcases in my little office.

This post contains affiliate links to items I bought for this office.

I don’t have a before photo of what the office looked like when we bought the house, but it looked pretty much exactly like this other bedroom that we also changed. The previous owners were big on diagonal wood paneling. Because who doesn’t want to look at diagonal wood paneling all day?

Notice the nice, smooth walls in the photo below! My husband ripped the paneling out with his bare hands and it was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Sorry if you weren’t planning on reading about my sexy husband in a post about my home office. You just never know what life is going to throw at you.

Back to my office. Here is my desk. I wanted a nice, big one, so that I could write on my laptop while surrounded by books or papers. This one has plenty of room to do so.

I wanted a huge bulletin board, but in the end, I opted for two separate ones. Since I write fiction and non-fiction, I can use one for my story ideas and one for my current book and blog notes. Here are the bulletin boards pictured below, and the cute pink pins I found.

I can’t wait to get these all decorated and organized. My fiction one will probably end up as a huge, beautifully messy collage, and the non-fiction one will be neatly organized and color coded. It will be like looking at both sides of my very interesting brain. Half chaotic-free-spirit, half task-managing-organizer.

I needed a task lamp (or as my girls both said, a Pixar lamp!) so that I could use it while working at my desk, and swivel it over and use it when writing in my recliner. This photo below is the only full photo of the desk I could get. I had to use my cell phone for this one. I wasn’t kidding about the office being small. I couldn’t get the whole thing in a photo using my regular camera lens.

On the other side of the room is our little library.

Below is another cell phone pic, since I couldn’t fit the whole wall into a regular photo. We have a few more boxes of books to find and unpack, so I left room for those. Most of our homeschooling books and children’s books are in our family room.

Next to the end of the library is this little closet, in which I’m storing yet more school books and we’re adding a shelf for the printer. On the closet door is a poster of my favorite small town. Because I know you’re going to ask, I found it on Etsy, here. They also sent a certificate from the Stars Hollow Museum, which totally rocked my world.

If you’re thinking I’m spoiled because I have a cozy recliner in my office, you’re kind of right. But, when I write for long stretches of time it starts to aggravate some pain issues I have. In this chair, I can recline and write for hours without getting sore. So it’s almost a necessity. I use this laptop tray meant for using in bed to keep the laptop off of my lap because even my light MacBook starts to hurt after holding it for awhile. This tray has made a huge difference in being able to work when I’m having a bad pain day. It’s a lifesaver!

Bonus, this chair is excellent for rocking grandbabies and for reading on lazy afternoons. Yes, that was a plural Grandbabies. Did you miss this announcement?!

I am obsessed with letter boards. I found this all-white letter board on Amazon here, where I also got the large letters and small letters. I don’t usually have the title of my book on it, I just did it for this post. I never said I wasn’t a dork.

Does this letter board remind you of anything? PS: You can Pre-order my book here. PPS: I obviously get a complimentary copy of my book from the publisher, but I still pre-ordered one for myself, and it was super thrilling. #dork

This sparkly pink “a” bookend is so me. I love it.

I have a thing for pink things. Pink just makes me happy! I found these pink hanging files and it makes filing so much more fun. I have 2 file drawers in my desk. It was a must-have when desk shopping, since my office doesn’t have room for a filing cabinet. I use one drawer for work files and one for home and finances.

More pink. Don’t hate me. I will eventually get drawer dividers, but for now I am using Birchbox boxes. They fit perfectly in the top drawer of my desk and they are pretty, too.

How Our Home Library is Organized.

Nonfiction is organized by genre, then by size. It’s more aesthetically pleasing to me to have the books organized by sized than by author.

Non-Fiction Shelves:

Current research and work. If you notice the books that are facing spine-in (next to the “We can do it” Lunch box), those are books I am currently reviewing for a Summer Reading Guide I’m putting together. More on that later this month! I also have a ton of books on Redlands, CA, and some Mexican cookbooks and books on Mexican American Culture, WWII, and Opera. Research is fun.

Writing Books

Biographies and Memoirs

Dieting. I have waaaay too many diet books. Anyone else?

Homemaking

TV Shows. I have a little stack of books about TV Shows I love. Mainly, Gilmore Girls books, Downton Abbey books, The Crown Book, and I Love Lucy Books. I have a few more that aren’t unpacked yet. I also enjoy cookbooks based on movies, TV shows, and novels. I just love to read about what I’m watching and watch what I’m reading about. And eating what I’m reading about or watching is just even more fun, especially if I’m eating it while I’m watching or reading. Right?

History

A Small section of Photography and other random non-fiction books.

Cookbooks and lots of other homeschool books are in our family room.

Fiction books are alphabetized by author on each shelf, then by size. I have a shelf just for Christmas books, because I am me, and a few shelves of classics that we’ve studied for school and based entire school years on. (Like our Little Women Unit Study)

I also have a shelf for small paperbacks, because they just don’t look right mixed in on the other shelves.

I must admit, I have 2 entire shelves for my To-Read list. I have a nasty little used bookstore habit and when I see a book for $1 that’s been in my Amazon cart for weeks, I have to buy it. I have to! So, I’m not allowing myself to go to the used bookstores until my To-Reads are down to like half a shelf. Except maybe for the library sale that’s happening next weekend. IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR, GUYS. Sorry I yelled, but I felt you were judging me just now. Anyway…

Also on my To-Read shelf is a huge stack of John Grisham and David Baldacci books that my Dad loaned me right before we moved. Unfortunately, I only just recently found and unpacked them. I can’t wait to get to these once I get my Summer Reading Guide written. Dad, you’ll get these back soon. I promise! PPPS: Loaning me books might not be the best idea.

Like I said, I have some empty shelves waiting for more books to be unpacked. It’s a mystery what those shelves will hold.

My Working at Home/Entire Life Planner

While I’m showing you my office, I have to show you my planner. It’s customize-able, so I was able to choose exactly what categories I wanted space for each day. I got mine from Plum Paper.

Inside, there are monthly calendars that I use for my editorial calendar. There are all kinds of other planning helps, but I bought it for the weekly planning pages. I specifically chose the categories I wanted to make room for each day, and it really helps when planning my week. The only thing not included in this planner is school. I have a different planner for that.

I try to keep work and family separate, but the truth is, as long as my kids are still at home, work and family get jumbled up quite a bit. Having most of my responsibilities in one planner helps me keep things straight. I also use a large fridge calendar that I can look at each day and see at a glance what we have going on.

That’s my home office and library!

What is your favorite reading spot?

The post Our Home Office / Library appeared first on Angela Mills.

When it comes to my husband, I like to give outings and experiences for gifts. There’s only so many shirts I can buy him, and he’s one of those guys who, 2 days before Christmas, buys himself that gadget he’s been wanting. I’ve found it’s safest to find something fun to do and gift him with tickets or a gift certificate instead.

10 Date-Gifts for Your Man

1. A sporting event: If tickets are too pricey or the event is too far away, find a local league to go cheer on.

2. A sporty activity: What are his interests? Take him fishing, hiking, bowling, golfing, or bike riding.

3. Manly movie and dinner: Go to see an action film, foreign language film, or whatever your husband is into. What kind of restaurant would he choose? Something loud with a game on television? Or maybe or a farm-fresh artisan place is more his style.

4. Concerts or shows: Eric took me to the symphony for my birthday one year, and it was great! Find a concert by his favorite band or a local offering of his style of music. Maybe he would enjoy a play or comedy show instead?

5. Picnic in the park: If you bake and pack his favorite foods, he’ll feel special! If he’s not into laying on a blanket for long chats, bring a fun card game or plan a nature walk nearby.

6. Retro date: Revisit the places you used to frequent when you were first dating. Reminisce about when you were a younger couple and keep the mood upbeat.

7. Plan a night in: If you’re busy, busy, your hubby might appreciate a night in. Clean the house, ship off the kids, get pretty, and cook his favorite dinner. Then set aside the whole night for whatever he wants to do. I’ve actually heard a whole group of men in a marriage group say this was their greatest desire!

8. Take him out for lunch and shopping: Yes, men like to shop. You just have to ask yourself where. Eric would love a gift card and patient wife while he browsed around Home Depot or Rockler. He’d also love a bookstore or surfing shop. What would your guy like? Gourmet foods, clothing, shoes, office supplies, electonics, video games…the list is endless!

9. Amusement park: Ride all the fast rides you can’t go on when the kids are with you!

10. Celebrate his hobbies: My mom took her train-crazy husband to a train museum. Look for: conventions, home shows, galleries, gardens, and museums featuring his special interest.

Tips:

If you don’t have something specific to wrap up, like a gift card or tickets, make a certificate detailing what you’ll do. Other ideas: A brochure, a collage, an invitation, or a gift basket with items for your special day.

Be sure to arrange for childcare if needed on the special day, and even take over the driving if he’d appreciate it. That way, he won’t have to do anything but show up!

Consider his schedule. If he has to request time off of work in advance, make plans, but let him choose the date. This is when a certificate comes in handy.

Remember, it’s all about him!

Anyone have any more creative date or gift ideas? Please share!

Here is an image to pin:

The post 10 Date-Gifts to Give Your Husband appeared first on Angela Mills.

The longer we’ve been married, and the busier we get, the easier it is to start taking our husbands for granted. Sure, we hope that they logically know that they are a priority, but how often do we actually show them this?

Years ago, I read A Woman After God’s Own Heart where author Elizabeth George suggested adding your husband and children to your daily to-do list, so that you remember to make them a priority. Then, next to their name, you list one thing you can do to show them that they are a priority in your life. (And, I must note, she adds God as her first priority!)

As a stay at home mom, I was with my kids all day every day and it was easy to remember to show them that they were important. But adding them to my list every day really encouraged me to go the extra mile and find something to do to show them they were special to me. Sometimes it was as simple as “not nagging,” and sometimes, it would be something more hands-on, like a reminder to make their favorite muffins.

While taking care of my girls came easily, remembering to not only add my husband to the list, but to move him to the top of the list was another story. Besides homeschooling, we were busy with the kids’ activities, church, and other life stuff. Most days, we were just happy to get through all we had to do and collapse into bed at night.

The simple act of adding Eric to my to-do list each day helped me to remember to show him that he was a top priority, and it also inspired me to find new little ways to bless him.

And as you may know, a whole book came out of that idea!

Taking that time to show Eric that he was a priority to me made our days richer, and I found we were connecting more on a real level, instead of just getting from one activity to the next. After awhile, this practice even led me to cutting back on activities so that we had more time as a family at home, and that changed our life for the better in so many ways. So when I say that this tip changed my marriage, I’m not kidding.

I want to encourage you today to put your husbands and kids on your to do list and think of one simple way you can show them that they are important to you. It might just be life-changing!

background photo by Hannah Olinger on unsplash

The post How My To-Do List Changed My Marriage appeared first on Angela Mills.

We all have seasons in life when we don’t feel very sexy. It happens. After 18 years of marriage, I’ve found that it’s best not to dwell on how unsexy I feel, and instead, work to make myself feel sexy in spite of how tired, unattractive, or cranky I am feeling. Feeling sexy is about more than just being in the mood. It’s about enjoying your intimate times with your husband to the fullest. It’s about embracing a very real and important side of yourself.

When you find yourself feeling not very sexy, here are ten things you can try to get yourself in a sexy state of mind.

1. Find something pretty to wear that is flattering to your body shape, in a fabric you love. If you’re self-conscious about a certain part of your body, wear something that skims over it.

2. Use a special body wash or perfume that you only use when you want to get in the mood. Save this scent for special occasions with your man, and before you know it, the very smell of it will get you feeling sexy!

3. Stop comparing yourself to others. Most of us aren’t going to look like Victoria’s Secret models, so let the pressure of trying to look like that go. If it makes you feel any better they don’t actually look like that either. Enjoy the natural beauty God gave you and focus on your assets, not your flaws. And that leads us to number four…

4. Realize that your husband isn’t looking at your flaws. He’s just excited to get naked with you! Honestly. We women put way more pressure on ourselves than our men do. No need to bring everything you’re feeling insecure about to his attention. Fake confidence at first if that’s what it takes. He’ll find that far sexier than he will if you’re complaining about your latest wrinkle.

5. Get out of the house and go somewhere new with your husband. Try a new kind of food, go dancing, explore a new town, or get a hotel room. Do something out of the ordinary and forget the troubles of every day life for a few hours. It will be good for both of you. (Hint: Sign up for my newsletter and get a free eBook with 100 Date Night Ideas!)

6. Try an essential oil that is supposed to increase libido. Rose, Ylang Ylang, Fennel, and Jasmine are all listed as being helpful in increasing sex drive. Dilute some drops with coconut oil and give each other sexy massages!

7. Think about a sexy time in the past with your husband that you really enjoyed. Dwell on that memory a little bit and let the feelings arise again!

8. Listen to music that makes you want to move your body. What songs make you feel sexy? Make a playlist and listen to it during your intimate times.

9. Wear super sexy undergarments under your regular clothes. You’ll have a secret all day and your husband will be pleasantly surprised later on! Or, send him a photo of just a strap or a small detail that he’ll recognize, so that he can wait all day to get your clothes off!

10. Flirt with your husband! Send him a flirty photo, pat his behind when you walk by him, leave a mushy love note with a lipstick print in his lunch. Do whatever makes you feel like you did when you were first married!

Sometimes, feeling sexy can take a little bit of work. But it’s always worth it in the end!

The post 10 Ways to Feel Sexy When You Don’t Feel Sexy appeared first on Angela Mills.

Interesting things I’ve realized this year about our marriage:

If our marriage was a child, it would now be a legal adult.

We’ve spent the equivalent of a person’s entire childhood building our marriage.

In the next year, my husband and I will be the age my parents were back when Eric and I started dating. And they were old!

I’ve been with my husband for over half of my life.

If we both live to our nineties, we could have 50 more years together. I shared this realization with my husband the other night and we were both like, woooow. I mean, in a good way. But also in an ugh kind of way. The reality of marriage.

Anyway, onto the good stuff I’ve learned. I wrote a post about our marriage on my Facebook page last year. Today, in honor of our 18th Anniversary, I’d like to share it here:

Believe me when I say, during those early days, I could never have imagined, that 18 years later, that not only would we still be together, but that we’d have grandkids and I’d be writing a book on marriage! Amazing stuff!

Happy Anniversary to My Love! Here’s to 50 more years! May they be the good kind of Wow!

Past Anniversary Posts:
Ten Years Ago Today
What Our Marriage Vows Should Have Said

The post What I’ve Learned After 18 Years of Marriage appeared first on Angela Mills.

1. Ask them what they’d like on the dinner menu next week and make it

This is such a simple way to show your kids that they matter. I don’t do this every single week, but often when I am making my shopping list (or wandering around the grocery store), I’ll ask my kids what sounds good for dinner, then I make sure to include it on the menu. Rather than just adding in meals I know they like (which is also a great thing to do) giving them a choice in the matter and letting them know that I want to make things they like blesses them in a different way.

2. Let them choose the music in the car

Again, another simple action that shows your kids that you care about their preferences. When I’m driving, I let my kids choose the music more than fifty percent of the time. Of course, I still make them listen to my music, and I dance along, too. How else will they get a great musical education? But the older they get, the more I let them choose. Fortunately for me, my girls have great taste in music (which I like to think I had a little to do with, not that they’d admit it). But even if they’re listening to funky screamo music, give them a little time to rock and try to enjoy it with them. This kind of goes along with the next item on our list…

3. Learn about what they are interested in

Besides their funky taste in music, make time to learn about and experience the things they love. My husband and I have more random Broadway and Marvel trivia bouncing around in our brains than we ever would if it weren’t for our fan-girl daughter. But we like to get into what she’s into. Because we love her, we try to love what she loves. Maybe not on the same obsessive scale, but still. Besides making your kids feel valued, being interested in what they’re into gives you more bonding time and something to help you connect.

4. Bring Them Breakfast in Bed

Every time my kids happen to mention that I’ve brought them breakfast in bed, without fail someone says, “you’re so spoiled!” Maybe they are a little spoiled. But guess what? On average over their childhood, I do this about once a year. It’s not like I’m serving them breakfast in bed every day and they get to lounge around in the mornings like the married ladies on Downton Abbey. (Is that anyone else’s fantasy? Or just me?)
It’s just a nice way to go the extra mile and show your kids some love once in a while.

5. Make Time for Individual Dates

One on one time is so important if you want to develop friendships with your kids. This can be a quick thing if you’re pressed for time. Take one kid with you to run errands and squeeze in a coffee date.

Or choose one night a month and take one kid out for ice cream and just hang out. Rotate through all of your children so that everyone gets a chance. My husband and I used to take turns taking each kid out (we only had 2 at home) a couple times a month. We’d all meet up afterwards and talk about the fun we had.

6. Get Messy Together

Especially if your kids are younger. Yes, we need to teach our kids to be neat and to be considerate of the environment they are in. But I think we should also let them play in the mud and we should make mud pies with them. Paint with your kids, make slime, let them bake. Get messy together and don’t freak out about keeping things perfect. If you’re really freaked out about the mess, take your activities outside where you can clean up with a hose.

Enjoying hands-on fun without worrying about making a mess is something all kids should be able to experience. And if you can turn off your inner neat freak, it’ll be fun for you, too.

7. Celebrate Little Things

Look for the little things to celebrate. An improved grade, an athletic accomplishment, a renewed friendship. Have a special dinner or dessert, or just give the one being celebrated a “you are special today” plate and make a big fuss over the guest of honor. You have to eat anyway, you may as well incorporate some fun family times. These are the dinners your kids will remember decades later.

8. Create Traditions

Traditions don’t have to be time consuming or stressful. Simple things like having pumpkin pancakes on the first day of fall or doing a store-bought advent calendar at Christmas time is not only something kids can look forward to, it’s something they’ll remember for years to come. Traditions themselves are based in remembering. They cause us to stop in our every day lives and set time aside to honor holidays or special events. Your kids may even grow up and continue the traditions with their own families one day, carrying your legacy onto future generations.

9. Laugh and have fun together

I actually switched out one item on this list for this one, because as I write this post, my daughter has been texting me and we’re carrying on a conversation that is making both of us laugh out loud. My girls and I have very similar sense of humor, and it’s something I love about or relationship. Even if your kid’s sense of humor differs from yours, find a way to laugh with them regularly.

If you don’t have a lot of laughter in your life, seek it out. Find a good comedian (like Tim Hawkins; Christian, clean, and downright hilarious. Here is one of his DVDs that we got for Christmas. We literally had tears running down our faces from laughing!). Other ideas: Watch a funny movie, look up jokes or memes online, play funny board games, whatever can make you share a giggle with your kids.

10. Hands on foot rub, neck rub, or hand massage

For the child who feels loved with physical touch, this is essential. For everyone else, it’s a blessing unique to any of the others listed here. Even just making sure you hug them a few times a day is important. Hugging actually releases serotonin in their brain and makes them feel happier. I had told my kids this when my youngest was little, and she used to come up to me and say, “Want me to release chemicals from your brain?” I thought it was adorable, but sometimes strangers gave me funny looks.

What is your favorite way to bless your kids?

An image to pin!

**There are affiliate links in this post, but it is not sponsored. We really do love Tim Hawkins and he has no idea who we are.**

The post 10 Quick Ways to Bless Your Kids appeared first on Angela Mills.