Captive Book Review

I'm sure we have all felt "Captive" at some point or another in our lives.  I myself in more ways than one.  Right now I feel "Captive" to this crazy lifestyle my family has put ourselves in.  I leave the house at 7 AM and typically return around 9PM still needing to feed the family, bathe two kids, double check homework, clean (did I mention our dishwasher has been broken for 6 months??), put kids to bed, pack bags for the next day's activities...oh and then I work on more work from home until who knows when....to wake up and do it all over again the next day!

My captivity has nothing on Ashley Smith's experiences from 2005.  She was held captive in her own apartment by a man who had escaped prison and had been on a killing spree in the process.

Her book, also written in 2005 has been made into a movie by the same title, "Captive" and was released on 9/18/15.

Before I received the book to review I had heard this story but not in full detail.  Ashley had actually spoken at one of my church's women's retreats, but I had not attended.  I was intrigued by her story, but never got a chance to read or hear more.  I was excited to finally read her book.  I read it while at the beach with my family and I could not put it down.  It was an easy read, and I wanted to continue to read to find out what would happen next.  I knew that Ashley survived her captivity but I didn't know how or why.

I honestly felt like I was in her apartment with her, pleading with Brian Nichols to let her go, let her go see her daughter.  Let her turn her life around.  I was trying to find ways to help her escape, help her break away but in all honesty, Ashley needed Brian as much as Brian needed her.

Reading her book makes you question your own lifestyle.  Are you purposeful in what you are doing? 

Overview

CAPTIVE, based on a miraculous true story that drew the attention of the entire nation, is a thrilling drama about the spiritual collision of two broken lives.  When Brian Nichols - on the run as the subject of a city wide manhunt and desperate to make contact with his newborn son - takes recovering meth addict Ashley Smith hostage in her own apartment, she turns for guidance to Rick Warren’s best-selling inspirational book, The Purpose Driven Life.  While reading aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer each face crossroads where despair and death intersect hope.  

The movie stars David Oyelowo, who played Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the recent film, Selma.

Click HERE for a special greeting from David Oyelowo.

 

I have already read the book that helped her get through her captivity, A Purpose Driven Life but I want to go back and re-read it and see if I am able to pull more out of it.  My lifestyle (aka kids) has changed a lot since I first read this book. 

 

You can follow along with all the below links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE 

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

AUDIO BOOK BYTE  (Audio excerpt from the audio book format of CAPTIVE (chapter 1), read by the author, Ashley Smith.) 

OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER

 

If you have not read Ashley's book yet, please do, it really is a must read.  Once you have read the book, then head out to the theater and see the movie version.  I cannot wait to see this movie myself!

 

I leave you with some questions to ponder....

 

We’ve all faced circumstances that have held us captive in some regard.  What has held you captive?  How did you find your purpose?  

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this book for my review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

 

 

 

Where oh where have I been???

Have you missed me????  I have missed blogging....seriously!  I think about it a lot, but thinking and doing are two completely different things.  I need one of those tape recorder thingys (am I dating myself here??) that will record what I say, type it and post it...oh and add some cute pictures of course! 


I have tried to schedule myself a time to do this and a time to do that but then I realize that I'm too scheduled and just throw it all away and live my life!  It may almost be  time for me to admit that I'm doing too much....I'm not ready yet...but maybe soon.  I mean I think I can do it all....isn't it normal to work full time an hour away, have 2 part time direct sales jobs, have two kids involved in multiple sports (O - soccer, baseball, and tae-kwon-do, B - dance, cheering, & little kicks after school) which of course I'm the team mom, and event planner for their teams??  Oh and I'm also training for a marathon and attempting those other motherly/wifey things....ya know, homework, dinner, cleaning....spending time with the hubs.  (well actually he cooks and cleans most of the time...but I still attempt to look like I'm doing it every now and then!)


So with all that said...I DO want to keep blogging...and I do want to give you something you want to read and relate to....so the BOAT will be back up and running....I can't promise super long awesome posts all the time...but I can promise you a glimpse into my crazy life and give you some laughs along the way!!


Oh...and in case they never make it on here....I have written some awesome blog posts in my head....I mean can you imagine what goes through my head during an 18 mile run???  I swear I really need one of those tape recorder things...that would be multi-tasking at its finest!

The Struggle

Have you missed me?  I have been gone for awhile....and I've hated it.  I just had to step away though.  EVERYTHING had gotten crazy and I felt like I was being pulled in 100 different directions.  I would go one way in hopes it would help get me back on point only to find out that that way ended with 100 more directions.  I had to let go of something, and at that point it was the blog (and a lot more that you guys didn't see).

I fully expected to go all gung ho after Christmas which got pushed to after New Years which got pushed to now.

I put all these crazy expectations on myself that I eventually just gave up because I felt like I had failed when in reality I was expecting the impossible.

I want to be the best, the biggest, the top of everything and well that's not always possible, nor is it important.  I take the simplest thing and analyze it back to it's beginning features or further if possible.  For example...I don't run to the store to by my kids a pair of jeans....I look online at EVERY store I have access to so I can find out who has what styles at what price.  Then I go to the store, to buy, AFTER, I have researched the best coupons for that store.  So instead of running into Old Navy to buy the $10 jeans, I go to Crazy 8's to buy the $7.99 jeans with a 20% off coupon.  So in just 2 hours (minimum, cuz then I get sidetracked looking at the dresses or coats) I've saved us $3.61.  Yep, my time is worth a heck of a lot more than $3.61.

I just felt stuck, not sure what to do which way to turn.  I felt like I could not get anything accomplished, my mind was racing 100 times a second and in 500 different directions.  I couldn't focus.  I had a running list in my head, at work I need to do this, at home I need to do this, O needs this, B was missing this, I need to post this on the blog, oh crap I forgot to do this.  NONSTOP.  Sleep...what is sleep?  I would stay up staring at the computer or TV in a trance just so I didn't relax to fall asleep to remember ALL the things that I had not completed or pushed to the side.  Then of course the next day I was tired and not to my full potential.  It was a vicious vicious cycle to say the least.

With all of that going on I had myself surrounded by people who were negative.  They were mad at the world, nothing was good enough or right....and it gets contagious.  I caught myself complaining about how much people were complaining.  They didn't care about things so why should I.  Well that's all great until you go to lay down at night and realize that you really do care and realized that you shouldn't have put something off because it didn't fit in what YOU wanted to do at that time.

So even though some of the things I want may be unattainable or impossible.  I'm not giving up, I'm not walking away.  I will still try to be the best at what I do, but with a bit more flexibility and reason.  I am trying to stay organized, and writing to do lists at home, work, everywhere so I can make sure I prioritize and accomplish.  I am setting attainable goals (and a few dream goals just in case) and I'm getting my fight back!  I'm doing my best to ignore the unpleasables and trying to turn their negativity to positives.

So, the struggle, it's never ending and constantly changing, but I am not letting it suffocate me any longer...I'm fighting back and eventually I will win.

Wordless Wednesday - SHARKS!

Two weekends ago we were in the Outer Banks and took the kids over to the North Carolina Aquarium....

It got a little dicey and scary....they have some big sharks there...

 

 

 

Luckily we were able to all walk away safely!

 



 

 

Wordless Wednesday - Us - Fall 2013

Pictures of "us" don't happen very often....and pictures of 'us" where we are all smiling and looking in the same direction (notice I'm not even saying looking in the right direction) NEVER happen....so imagine my surprise to look through my camera card and find this..

 

Now of course I wish I had taken a little extra time and worked on my hair, and put on a little bit of makeup...but oh well!  So to the nice man who walked by us talking, and asked us if he could take a picture of us with my camera - thank you from the bottom of my (our) heart(s).

This was taken at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, VA (about 45 minutes from us).  This was our second year going and we had a ton of fun.  I promise a detailed post with all of our pictures soon (I know...I have 30483094 posts that I have promised you...I will sit down soon and play catch up).

I have two giveaways that are live right now, make sure you go enter them HERE (ends 10/25) and HERE (ends 10/28).

Wordless Wednesday - Why We Have Crazy Kids

I've always wondered why our kids always seemed to be wild, crazy, and energetic.  Then I realized that the apple....well it doesn't fall too far from the tree...

And I can't even say that these pictures were taken away from the kids because O took every single picture by himself...I guess he got tired of us always taking his picture.  He even directed us....this one, he told us to sleep.

And this next one....yep, it's all me 100% unassisted....I probably have 409538457 pictures of me this same exact way.

They may be a bit out of focus - but for being 6 years old and 3 hours past his bedtime, I think O did a pretty good job! 

Oh, and yes, those are Cheslea jerseys....more to come on this soon!! ; )

Weekend Recap - Oh, and I'm back!! ; )

I'm sorry I have  been MIA lately....things have just been crazy, and I really haven't been in the mood to blog.  These last few weeks I've been staying up late working on something, going to bed super early, or just totally vegging out on a game, or 5 of Candy Crush!  I hope this is the start of my return to the blogging world, I really want to work hard to get this blog where I want it, and where my readers want it.

This past weekend was a great family fun weekend.  We decided to have our first BOAT Bash (and hopefully not our last) on Saturday and it was so much fun!  Unfortunately I was having so much fun, that I did not take a bunch of pictures.

We let each kid invite 6 friends and their families.  Luckily for us, most of O's friends, had younger siblings that B picked for her friends so we ended up with 25 people total.  (For those of you that know me, know that this amazing...normally we end up with at least 50).

We wanted it to be laid back and fun, just let the kids be kids and allow the adults to just sit back and relax.  We had our blow up water slide, a bounce house (we rented this), and our handmade kiddie car wash (thank you Pinterest - post to come tomorrow with info on this).  We also had hula hoops, our swing set w/slide, and kid friendly horseshoes.  Oh, and silly string....which was a huge hit!!

The food was typical party food - hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, dips, chips, fruits, and veggies.  Dessert was ice cream cups, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, or freezer pops!  Don't worry, they were the small ones, so the kids didn't have to pick just one!

We had 13 kids ages 5 months to 6 years old, and they ALL GOT ALONG!  At one point the majority of them were inside playing with toys, and it was quiet and calm.  We will definitely have to do it again.

Next time, I'm thinking about adding a movie under the stars...I just need to get a projector, and decide how I want to do the screen!

Oh, I forgot, we bought this hula picture spot - it was a big hit, once we put it up!  (We don't have any standard doorways downstairs, so it was hard to find a safe spot!)  Here's one of my friend and neighbor, me, oh, and check out B's photo bomb!

Both O & B told us numerous times how much fun they had at The BOAT Bash and thanked us for having it.  We run around crazy 97% of the time, so it was nice to be able to let them have friends over for a great big play date!

That was Saturday, Sunday was spent straightening up the house, and celebrating our God Daughter's 1st Birthday!!  A fun weekend full of parties, friends, and family, we couldn't ask for more.

Wordless Wednesday - Way Back

So, way back huh?  Yep, these girls and I go way back, Kathy and I go all they way back to 2nd grade, and Amy and I back to high school, 10th or 11th grade.  Kathy and Amy go back to middle school too.

This picture, well that was way back from this past Sunday.....where we somewhat relaxed (you know, while chasing two 2 year olds and keeping up with a 6 year old) by the pool.  We aren't able to get together as much as we all would like, but try as much as possible. 

Nothing can replace a set of good girlfriends who like you for you, know your faults, and are okay hanging out doing nothing and consider it a great time!!!



Me, Kathy, & Amy

(So that's 2 WW back to back with an actual picture of me, and me in a bathing suit - that never happens...hee hee)

Wordless Wednesday - Twins

While we were in Disney we had a few twin sightings,




T & O in their camo!

 

Me & B w/our polka dots!

 

and now that I'm looking at these, I LOVE them!!  I promise a Disney post soon!!

Where Am I?

That's a good question right?  Where am I?  I'm sure you have been wondering what has been going on since I have been super slack on the blog posts....well the truth is...


I honestly don't know where I am, or who I am.  I'm 100% stuck in a rut and I cannot manage to get out.  It sucks actually. 

Never did I think that at 34 years old, I would still be asking myself "What do I want to be when I grow up?"  much less not being able to answer it.

It's not that I don't like my job, and it's not just my job, I just don't know.  I have always struggled with the work vs. stay at home Mom options (I act like it's an option) but I'm pretty sure stay at home isn't right for me either.  I would love to plan play dates and take my kids to the library, Children's Museum, shoot, even take them with me to the doctor (yep, I'm weird like that...are you just realizing?) but I also love my work time with adult company and that feeling that I am contributing and solving problems.

I guess it's hitting me know, because I know the kids are growing up....they won't want to go on play dates and the library, and the Children's museum much longer and I feel like I'm missing out.  I want to see their face when they leave for school every morning, and see their face when they get home.  I want to be the one they run to, telling me all about their day....but now, by the time I see them (6-7 pm) they don't remember what they did that day.  I want to do homework, and struggle trying to figure out how to get one kid one place and the other in the complete opposite direction (remember the weird part?).

Somehow, I just can't find a place for me....where do I fit what exactly is it that I'm supposed to do?

I've never fully proclaimed myself in a profession, I've always landed somewhere and made that work, my first job in high school, I worked at for 3 years (after I completely rearranged my summer schedule to be able to maintain that job) then I got a part time job in college, and guess what - 15 years later, I'm still here.  There is nothing wrong with my job, and what I do, so I feel weird (yep, again) even having these thoughts but they are there and I can no longer ignore them.  I just don't know what it is I'm destined to do, and maybe this is it....but at 34 I have had a total of 3 jobs in my life, one in high school, the one I'm in now, and a small part time job at the YMCA (while still working here).  I've always thought about becoming a teacher since I have a huge passion for kids and school supplies (yep, that weird thing again) but I'm just not sure I have what it takes.

How do I explain to my kids what they need to do so they can achieve their dreams and be what they want to be when they grow up, if I don't even know my own?