The Fringe Hours {A Book for All Moms}

I’m so excited to share with you a brand new book that I really feel like ALL women can benefit from. In fact, I might go so far as to say that if you have children living in your home right now, you definitely need this book!! Now, this book was not just written for moms, women of ALL ages can benefit, but I feel that the 13 years I’ve spent as a mom have been especially hard in regards to finding time for myself.

Time for myself? What is this strange phenomenon you speak of?

In her new book, The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You, Jessica Turner not only defines what “the fringe hours” are, but gives us lots of ideas and strategies for using the time we’ve been given more intentionally.

Jessica Turner has been one of my favorite bloggers for a long while now. Her blog, The Mom Creative, introduced me to Project Life, for one thing. I will also admit to having run out to the store after reading one of her “good deal” posts. In addition to this lifestyle blog, Jessica works full time, has three children and lives a busy and full life with church, scrapbooking, and family. So, in other words, she is busy. If anyone knows how to find “fringe hours” and use them for good, it’s Jessica!

What are fringe hours exactly? The fringe hours are those extra moments while you’re waiting in the pick up line at school, those 30 minutes you wait at the doctor’s office, that hour while you’re watching your son’s soccer practice, your lunch hour at work, the kids bedtime, maybe it’s getting up earlier than your family. Utilizing your fringe hours means you look for the pockets of time in your day where you *could* be doing something that fills you up instead of wasting time on Facebook. Ahem.

I will admit, sometimes I feel guilty even *thinking* about taking time for myself. Why is this that we moms struggle with so much guilt? Jessica tackles this tough subject in her book.

I have often felt selfish knowing that I just needed some time to myself; I needed to get out of the house, or even just read a book in my bedroom. But, as women, whether we are moms or not, we are made up of more than just “mom” or “wife” or “job title.” You are more than your job. 

I have found it especially freeing over the past few years to learn and focus in on how God has gifted me. Learning that the Lord created me with passions and that when I am living inside those passions and giftings, I am more fulfilled, I am happier. God created us so uniquely. We won’t all love going to a scrapbooking weekend, but for some of us, that really fills us up and rejuvenates us! For others, it may be a hike in nature, a trip to the mall, a manicure, dinner out with friends, working out at the gym, getting lost in a great book…

What is it that gets you fired up? Are you making time for it? Are you allowing yourself to live out the passions that God created you with? They were gifted you for a reason! For your own abundant life living and to bring glory to God! We give Him glory when we use the gifts He has given us!

I encourage you to pick up this book . Jessica gives a lot of practical advice and shares tips for finding time {in the fringe hours} to do things that will fill you up. She also shares the stories of lots of women who are doing well at finding time, even moments here and there, to do things that bring them joy.

God created you with a unique set of gifts and passions. May The Fringe Hours give you permission to pursue those desires. Jessica Turner

Find more book suggestions here. 

Look at these beautiful postcards that Dayspring has available to go along with the Fringe Hours book!