February Goals Recap

This past month was a total whopper, at least where my goals are concerned. I really did not plan so I did not get much done. My mother's constant quote is "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." 

Read the Bible 1x- I am on track so far in my chronological Bible reading plan! I have also been more intentional in my journaling of my favorite scripture from my daily reading portion. My Jim Elliot Journal has opened my eyes to see God's word in such a daily applicable manner.

Get Fit-  I exercised roughly about 18 times this past month for about ten minutes each time. I have really been enjoying this exercise! I've also drank about 24 twenty oz. cups. 

Cultivate my Relationships- 

Improve my Work Ethic-

Work on my Talents- I volunteer with an art teacher after-school and she was having a really interesting fundraiser. The goal was to draw something and a company prints your drawing on different items for you to buy. I drew silhouettes of my family with a sunset background! (I posted a pic on Instagram @ali_see_ya) 

-I filmed another video, so stay tuned!

I will not let this past month bring me down but will continue! I will be purposeful, intentional, and get things done! 

MARCH

-I will continue with my Bible reading and journaling

-Continue Exercising

-Cultivate my Relationships- I will choose to not let roots of bitterness grow in my heart. I will have more in-depth conversations with my friends.

-Improve My Work Ethic- Teach music and art to my little sister with a cheerful and patient attitude

-Work on My Talents- I would like to start stashing some money to buy myself my guitar. I will continue with my 1 second a day video. 

Bookish Musings

I started getting free books about two years ago. I greatly enjoyed reading every new book that I could possibly get. It became part of my life. The past two years have been an incredible journey. I was introduced to so many new authors and genres, but with all good things there comes an end. Though I will still continue to be getting books from the programs, I will be more selective in my choosing. I am tired of filling my head only with romantic fluff and yearn for more. (I am not against reading romantic novels, just wouldn't recommend it to be the only types of book you read.) I want also, to read books that edify the spirit and draw me closer to the Lord. In January, I read gods at war(review coming soon) and was super enriched and blessed by this book. My family and I have decided to each read a biography of great men used by God. We hope that with these books we can  nourish our minds, help motivate us to follow the good in their lives, and ultimately draw closer to the Lord. My book this month is The Journal of Jim Elliot by Elizabeth Elliot. 

You can follow me on Good Reads to check out my progress!

Book Review- Firstborn

Where does a firstborn girl fit in a world dominated by men? When Tiadone was born, her parents had two choices: leave their daughter outside the community to die in the wilds, or raise her as male and force her to suppress all feminine traits. Now, as the first female living as male in her village, Tiadone must prove her father didn't make a mistake by letting her live. As her male initiation approaches, Tiadone knows every eye on the community is on her, and desperately wishes to belong and finally be accepted.---But at every step, traditional feminine gifts and traits emerge, and the bird she's been twined with is seen as a sign of the devil. Worse, as Tiadone completes her rites, she finds she is drawn to her male best friend in ways that are very much in line with the female gender. Confused and desperate, Tiadone tries to become what she must be while dealing with what she indeed has become: a young woman who may be able to stand up to her despotic rulers and uncover her real purpose in life.

As a firstborn daughter myself, it was with great expectation I read this novel. I was truly appalled at the fact that baby girls were left to die in the wilderness just because they were born first- the atrocity. Though the book is fictional the plight for baby girl's survival is very real. All around the world baby girls are looked upon as trash, burdens, and dispensable. 

I enjoyed Tiadone her struggles were real and emotions true. To the world she is supposed to be a male, but only she knows the truth. Despite what a great character she was, the author could have done so much with this subject, but sadly failed. A few complaints of mine would be: the time period, was this book past or futuristic? Why do these birds who take at least a decade to hatch seem unnaturally smart, why does the world seem to revolve around these birds? 

The greatest disappointment was that this was not a "christian" novel. The author mentioned a 'creator spirit' that had some of the same attributes as God, but was very far from the truth. Overall I was confused and felt uncomfortable with some of the things, mainly the whole bird and human relationship, the weird visions and talking through the visions, and just the lack of Biblical beliefs. 

However, Firstborn allowed me to be grateful to the Lord for allowing me to live as a firstborn female child!

I received a complimentary copy from BookSneeze in exchange for this independent and unbiased review.