Book Review: Going for Broke by Shannon Medisky

Are you looking for a book that can help change your perspective? Then Going for Broke: How to Suffer Well by Shannon Medisky should be on your list.

Medisky has spent the last ten years learning a lot about suffering, but her book isn't going to be about how to get out of it or how to avoid it, because she knows that God allows us to suffer, but also "meets us in our mess." In those moments when life just "sucks," she encourages us to face suffering in "anticipation of meeting God personally in brand new ways."

Providing a fresh perspective on how God called Noah and Moses and what they suffered through, along with sharing her own journey, the reader is inspired to accept suffering, but not be defeated by it. She boils it down to three easy-to-remember steps to help you and guide you to intentionally lean on God in meaningful ways.

I loved everything about this book; especially because Medisky's style of writing makes the reader feel like she is speaking solely to her. I'll be on the lookout for more of the author's work, and have visited her website to check on additional resources.

Paperback: 134 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (September 14, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1986546292
ISBN-13: 978-1986546294

I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Mailbox Monday - Nov 26

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

With the crazy weather around here, I might have to switch my fall mailbox to a winter one soon. Gosh, we didn't even get a chance to pick up our leaves before the first storm hit us. Right now it looks like we will have rain instead of snow this week. There are still some frozen white mounds hanging around, but the snow is mostly gone. Sounds like the Midwest got slammed with the white stuff and high winds this past weekend. Are we ready for this?

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. The family was here, so that was nice. Project Get Rid of the Clutter isn't even close to done yet, so the house wasn't in as good of shape as I wanted. Hopefully, I'll make a dent in my office this week. The kitchen is done and two closets. The living room was cleaned this week and the new couch arrives today. The Lil' Princess made a huge dent in her room this weekend. Any progress is good progress as far as I am concerned.

I am reading, but haven't received anything new lately. That's okay with me. I have six boxes of unread books and a huge pile on my floor yet. I think that will keep me busy. LOL!

Hope you'll share your new arrivals with me. Have a great week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

As our family gathers around the table, we will be wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving.

New on PBS Kids: Let's Go Luna Premiers on November 21

PBS KIDS recently announced episode destinations and a holiday special from its new animated social studies series, LET’S GO LUNA! It premieres tomorrow, November 21 nationwide on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel. Want a sneak peek? Catch eight stories from the series that can now be streamed on pbskids.org and the free PBS KIDS Video app. Featuring countries, cultures and customs from around the globe, LET’S GO LUNA! encourages kids ages 4-7 to learn about world cultures while developing social skills.

LET’S GO LUNA! follows the adventures of three animal friends – Leo, a wombat from Australia; Carmen, a butterfly from Mexico; and Andy, a frog from the U.S. – as they traverse the globe with their parents’ traveling performance troupe. At each stop, the trio learns about the differences and similarities of the countries they visit – from language and music, to food and art – with the help of their friend Luna the moon, voiced by Judy Greer. The series takes kids on an informative and imaginative exploration of global culture to make connections between communities all over the world, integrating concepts of anthropology, history, ecology, geography and sociology.

“LET’S GO LUNA! has an important role to play in helping children explore world cultures and learn about all the ways we’re both different and the same,” said Judy Greer. “LET’S GO LUNA! helps kids develop an appreciation for cultural diversity while exploring the fun facets that make up our global community. I’m thrilled to be part of such an impactful and imaginative show that will delight everyone from age 2 to 100!”

Each LET’S GO LUNA! episode consists of two 11-minute animated stories based in a single country, joined together by an interstitial featuring a traditional folktale associated with each location. Two consecutive episodes – a total of four stories – are dedicated to a single city or country, to help kids better understand and retain the deep and vibrant culture that makes up each destination. While the locations are different, the core lessons and experiences of the characters are relatable – leading children through funny and entertaining storylines with friends all over the world.

LET’S GO LUNA! Season 1 Destinations:

• Mexico City, Mexico
• Moscow, Russia
• Cairo, Egypt
• Beijing, China
• London, England
• Delhi, India
• Sydney, Australia
• Tokyo, Japan
• Paris, France
• Juneau, Alaska
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Barcelona, Spain
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Munich, Germany
• Nairobi, Kenya,
• Qosqo, Peru
• Bangkok, Thailand
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Rome, Italy
• Antarctica (Christmas Special)

PBS KIDS will premiere a one-hour LET’S GO LUNA! holiday special on Monday, December 10: “Luna’s Christmas Around the World.” When Leo, Andy and Carmen get stuck at the South Pole with the performance troupe on Christmas Eve, the friends are convinced that Santa will never find them. With help from Luna, the kids endeavor to save Christmas, learning about gift-giver traditions and holiday customs from around the world along the way. 

Working closely with a team of cultural anthropologists, each episode of LET’S GO LUNA! is meticulously researched to ensure cities and regions are authentically and respectfully portrayed. One of the few storyboard-driven shows for preschoolers, writers work with storyboard artists to create visually-driven narratives that highlight each city’s distinctive landscape and features.

Created by Emmy Award-winning animator, writer and artist Joe Murray (“Rocko’s Modern Life,” “Camp Lazlo”), the series pulls artistic inspiration from vintage travel posters, the UPA, retro style found in timeless animated shows from the 20^th century and Murray’s popular animation style. The show is produced by 9 Story Media Group’s award-winning animation studio Brown Bag Films.

For TV schedules on their local PBS station, viewers can check local listings. LET’S GO LUNA! will offer a variety of games at pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Games App, including Chef Leo’s Crazy Kitchen, launching the week of November 21, as well as clips and full episodes across PBS KIDS’ streaming video platforms, including the PBS KIDS Video App.

Mailbox Monday - Nov 12

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Welcome back to Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a nice weekend. Mine involved cleaning. Reclaimed the kitchen and a closet and started emptying out the basement. My goal is to be done before Thanksgiving. The weekend was also about family: final soccer game of the season, church, and lunch with my father-in-law on Sunday to thank him for his service in Korea.

The mailbox was a bit skinny this week, but what is probably the most important book I've received this year arrived on Saturday.

I've never been much of a planner person, but when social media marketing, blogging, and then real estate came into my world, I realized the only way I could keep things straight was to start time blocking. I'm still not great at it, but I am getting there. 

I didn't know this until today-- www.christianplanner.com is a veteran-owned business. So glad I am supporting them.

After the instructions page, the next two pages are a vision board and bucket list for 2019, the next 5 years, and lifetime. The photo below shows the "My Healthy Habit Goals" pages. The Eucharist is divided into four sections: Daily/Often, 1-2 Times a Week, 1-2 Time a Month, and 1-3 Time a Year. The Chalice is where you write down your 2019 goals. 

There is full month calendar page with a memory verse, and a section at the bottom with reflection questions and an action item, followed by a weekly devotional page where you can list sermon notes and Bible study notes (this page has a lot of white space and you are encouraged to sketch). This page also has reflection questions and action items.

Then your monthly calendar is broken down by week where you can list your weekly goals at the bottom of the left page and the bottom of the right page can be used to track your daily healthy habits. 

This looks like a great way to plan all aspects of my life. Do you use a planner? What do you like about it? On another note, what was in your mailbox last week?

Mailbox Monday - Nov 5

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Wow! Where did October go? It has been such a hectic one around here. My beautiful niece got married.

Looking at this peaceful face you would have no idea her outside wedding was rearranged last minute thanks to a Nor'easter and lack of power until the middle of the reception.

Lots of sports, planning the WriteAngles Conference that takes place on November 17, and tons of real estate transactions keeping me busy. Today is the Lil' Princess' birthday. How is she already 15?

In my book world, the mailbox had been full for one reason or another. Here are my most recent mailbox finds:

What have you found in your mailbox lately? Anything fun and geared toward the holidays?

On a side note, the girls have been bugging me since November 1 to put up the Christmas tree. Have any of you started decorating yet?