Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are by Alyssa Joy Bethke Book Review

In Satisfied, Alyssa Joy Bethke has written a brand-new book about finding true contentment and experiencing life with full force. She shared how she had her longings met. She opened up about how she struggled with being satisfied and she was experiencing loneliness. She recalled praying for a husband and then she met, Jeff and got married. She quit her job where they could travel together and they eventually moved back to Maui. She lived there before and she thought she would be quick to reconnect with her friends and build friendships. That didn’t happen in the way she thought it would. She had a disconnect with making friends and she had to deal the fear of rejection. She revealed how she had all of her longings answered when she learned to lean on His strength and trust in His timings. She had to remind herself that Jesus is her helper, comforter, and counselor. She did eventually make friends and God gave her a vision with groups gathered together. She shared how she had to change her perceptive and had to focus more on how she can be a friend to someone else and give them encouragement. She was able to build lasting friendships with a few women and they pray together, worship together, and they seek God together.

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to find true contentment with their life even if their battling and facing challenges circumstances. One of my favorite chapter was about grief. I appreciated how open and transparent she was in sharing how she has a miscarriage and the pain she experienced. She explained to readers how she had to seek the redemption found in the nailed scarred hands of Christ. She shared how she blamed herself and her body that she was too weak to carry the baby. She struggled with the lies until she was able to flip them around and remember that God is strong and powerful. I liked how she spoke to readers and explained how she dealt with her own trauma and how it is a healing journey process. I also enjoyed the recipe section she included in the book and how she enclosed recipes from also people closest to her in this book. Some of my favorites I want to try are: Pico-de-Guac, strawberry cake, apple berry crisp, and steak salad. I also loved the colorful photos this book had throughout each page. This isn’t your typical chapter book and it reminded me more of a colorful cookbook or a designer style book even though it did contain some recipes, this wasn’t necessary just a cooking book. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.” 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Satisfied, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Satisfied-Finding-Contentment-Right-Where/dp/1546034048

Sample Recipes: 

Jori’s Pork Carnitas

 

Serves 10-12 people

 

The other night we went over to our friend’s Greg and Sarah’s house for dinner. Sarah is one of my best friend’s. She loves Jesus with her whole heart, loves her family and has the gift of hospitality. We had asked to come over so we could pray for them, and here we were, being served with a delicious meal and sweet conversation- that’s just who she is. Giving, joyful, and present- you always feel so loved and known when you’re around Sarah.

We sat down to eat, and let me tell you guys, these tacos are the best I have ever had! When I asked for the recipe, she told me they are Jori’s- a friend of ours in our community who could have her own cookbook (and I’m wondering why she doesn’t yet!?) because anything that comes out of her kitchen is top notch! 

 

Guys, I promise you, these will be your favorite taco recipe ever. And as we enter into summer, this will be your go to for gatherings and picnics and special dinners under twinkly lights and warm night air.

 

BUT! You have to have the pickled red onion to go along with it! It is truly life changing, and so simple. Don’t skip that step!

 

 

½. Cup apple juice (can substitute for cranberry or pineapple juice)

1 lime, juiced

3 cloves garlic, crushed

 

1 Tablespoon salt

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. ancho chili powder

½ tsp. chipotle chili powder

½ tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

 

3-3.5lbs boneless pork shoulder roast (I’ve used pork butt, bone-in, etc. too)

1 Tablespoon bacon grease for searing

 

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Wisk together the apple and lime juice and garlic.

In another bowl, add all the spices.

Cut pork into 4 chunks. Sprinkle all sides with the spice mixture. 

Melt the bacon grease in a dutch oven. Seat the pork for a few minutes on all sides. 

Cover the meat with the juice mixture, cover and place in the oven.

Cook for 5-5 ½ hours.

Remove from oven and shred the meat. 

Set oven to broil and adjust rack to the top of the oven, about 6 inches from the top.

Place the shredded meat on a baking pan and drizzle some of the juice on top.

Place in oven to broil until crisp to your liking, making sure to watch it so it doesn’t burn. This should only take a couple of minutes.

 

Serve with tortillas topped with your favorite garnishes. 

Our favorites- cabbage, radish, onion (ideally pickled red onions), cilantro, tomatillo salsa, cojita cheese and your favorite hot sauces.

 

ENJOY!

 

 

Sarah’s Red Pickled Onions

 

1 red onion, thinkly sliced

½ cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 cup warm water 

 

On the stove top, on medium low heat, whisk all of the ingredients together, except the onions. Let cool. Then pour the mixture over the onions in a mason jar. Enjoy with the carnitas tacos, or on sandwiches! This really takes your tacos to the next level! 

The Miracle Collectors: Uncovering Stories of Wonder, Joy, and Mystery by Joan Luise Hill and Katie Mahon Book Review

In The Miracle Collectors, Joan and Katie explored the topic of miracles and how we can be open to witnessing all the miracles that are around us. They shared that statistics discovered that 80% of Americans believe in miracles and this has been true for decades. They opened up about how the first step is to having an open mind and to look for miracles everywhere around us and not to take anything for granted. The next step would be in sharing out personal stories of miracles with others and finding greater meaning and purpose in life. Throughout the book, readers will read about miracles that others have experienced and how their lives were changed. 

 

 

 

They begin the book by sharing the story of Joan’s eighth son, David and how she happened to be at her son’s school when he having chest pains during physical education. She took him to the doctor who discovered that he had a lethal cardiac anomaly. There were only two options open heart surgery or bypass surgery and both were dangerous. The week before the surgery the doctor found out that there wasn’t enough room to just move the coronary artery. The day of the procedure his grandmother sprinkled water on him from Lourdes a place known in France for miracles. Eventually, he experienced a miracle and he was alright. 

 

 

 

Katie also shared her own miracle story about being a freshman in college in San Francisco. She was on her way home from work when she saw a man who asked for help because he just had eye surgery and he couldn’t see well. He needed help looking up his best friend’s parents phone number in the phone book. He wouldn’t stop asking and he told her he was staying at the Hyatt which was a place filled with plenty of people around. She guided him to the pay phone and she shared her terror and how she felt uncomfortable. She also began to question that he had no eye patch and he didn’t know the first name of his friend’s parents. She described how his eyes darkened and something was off. There was movement near the door and a bellman appeared and she was able to get away. 15 years later she opened up about the experience and how Katie’s husband showed her the newspaper about Ted Bundy being put to death. She realized that this was the guy and back then she fit the profile of the women he captured and killed. She could have easily possibly have taken her. 

 

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is doubting that miracles can still happen in today’s times. This will assist readers into recentering their lives and believing that the impossible can happen and we can see a miracle and a breakthrough. I immensely liked the authors story about their own miracles and how they looked at other people own uplifting stories. The stories discussed healing, forgiveness, the ripple effect, 90 % rule, letting the spirit move in you, co-incidental, and much more. This book has truly remarkable stories that will inspire and bring hope in the midst of a fallen world. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.” 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Miracle Collectors, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CDWM41M/