Book Review: For Women Only, Revised and Updated Edition by Shaunti Feldhahn

I received a copy of the revised and updated edition of Shaunti Feldhahn's book, For Women Only.  I've been to numerous women's events and marriage retreats so I was familiar with the author's name and the line of books she has previously produced, yet I had never read one.  I was pleased to find that the information is well researched and is well presented throughout the book.  The research is eye-opening and could be extremely beneficial to understanding the men in your life.

The author had opportunities to survey and interview a variety of men to get gut-level, honest answers to the questions that men feel unable to explain in day-to-day conversations.  The author writes, "after interviewing and surveying thousands of men, I can tell you the answers to common perplexities are all related to what is going on in your man's inner life.  Most are things he wishes you knew but doesn't know how to tell you.  In many cases, they're things he has no idea you don't know."

I thought this book offered good insight to the man's perspective and explained the differences between how we are wired to process in various areas of our lives.  I have already recommended this book to friends.  I would highly suggest it to women in all stages of marriage and I think it could be greatly beneficial to the newly-wed or soon-to-be wed woman.

This book is relatively short, however, I found the information in it to require additional processing time.  I have already purchased her book, For Parent's Only, waiting to be read on a rainy day and I have also considered buying her book, "For Men Only" as a gift for my husband.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

2014 Reading List

1) A Hickory Ridge Christmas - Dana Corbit
2) The Heart Remembers - Irene Hannon
3) Freefall - Kristen Heitzmann
4) Deadly Devotion - Sandra Orchard
5) The Unexpected Gift - Irene Hannon
6) Silenced (Alaskan Courage Book #4) - Dani Pettrey
7) Trapped - Irene Hannon
8) For Women Only - Shaunti Feldhahn
9) Undetected - Dee Henderson
10) Fame - Karen Kingsbury
11) Forgiven - Karen Kingsbury
12) Found - Karen Kingsbury
13) Family - Karen Kingsbury
14) Forever - Karen Kingsbury
15) Redemption - Karen Kingsbury
16) Remember - Karen Kingsbury
17) Sunrise - Karen Kingsbury
18) Summer - Karen Kingsbury
19) Return - Karen Kingsbury
20) Someday - Karen Kingsbury
21) Sunset - Karen Kingsbury
22) Rejoice - Karen Kingsbury
23) Reunion - Karen Kingsbury
24) Deceived - Irene Hannon

All in my head

I enjoy lots of hobbies.  At least I think I do.  I have a sort of eclectic collection of interests.  One of those is writing, but you wouldn't know it by my blog or my journal.  Life seems to catch up to me quicker than I can get it all done.  Anyone else have that problem?  I have multiple blog posts written in the twists and turns of this crazy head of mine.  They are probably as numerous as the books waiting to be read on my bookshelf. 

I love to read too.  A few years ago I took off in a race to see how many books I could devour in a year.  It was really eye opening that it was possible to read that many books and enjoy them.  Lately, that too is just waiting for a moment.  A moment to read and enough energy to stay awake for page two.

I enjoy doing crafty things.  I have a variety of them ready and waiting.  Things like cross-stitch, jewelry making and cake decorating.  On occasion I even break out the sewing machine for a few simple projects.  For Christmas I received an acrylic painting set that my husband was so hesitant to buy because of this hobby delay disorder.  I'm super excited to use it...but it rests, not yet used for the first time.

I enjoy cooking and creating new things in the kitchen also.  Although I must make time for cooking, it is rarely any of those new and exciting pin-worthy super mom creations.  

I enjoy clear and organized space.  Something that really doesn't match the creative side of my mind.  It also doesn't match the current state of my life or my home.  If given ample amount of time, I might find what I'm searching to find.

I LOVE to date my husband. To sit and talk, laugh and enjoy each other and maybe even eat food I did not cook.  Life really takes over this one.  Miles away from family and living on a limited budget, it's not always easy to find that date night. 

I enjoy spending time with friends and welcoming them into my home.  But to get to the enjoyment part, I usually struggle with the rant and rave, dirty looks and exasperated fit-throwing get it clean part.  Because I know ALL my friends live in super clean, white glove homes where never a piece is out of place.  Did I mention that they NEVER rant and rave or give their children dirty looks?

I could tell you that I enjoy exercise especially running, but that would be a lie.  I wish I enjoyed exercise even running because I know these really awesome mom friends that I hang out with and they run - not walk - 5K's, half marathons and even full marathons in all their spare time. 

I'm sure you are wondering where this blog post is going...because I am beginning to ask myself.  Did I mention it's all in my head?  Yes, the things that hold me back most - are all in my head.  Many of them are lies.  Lies that lead to fear. The fear of failure. The fear of imperfection.  The fear of not living up to someone else's standards.  The fear of doing it wrong, all wrong.  

Thankfully, God did not call me to live in fear.  He has given me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. He has created me to do the things that he prepared in advance for me to do.  He promises me wisdom when I ask, strength when I am weak and hope beyond measure.

In the midst of unwritten blog posts, unread books, incomplete craft projects, repeated meals, store-bought cookies, piles of papers, dateless months, failed-to-issue invitations and never to be ran 5K's resides the heart of a family. My family.  My live in chaos, beautiful mess family. A family not to be defined by the undone.  A family to be defined by the love and grace of Jesus and his mornings filled with new mercies.  Here I will choose to search for truth.  Truth that sets me free from those lies that are all in my head.