True to You

Hello World,

Summer is here in Texas and it is warm and beautiful and perfect :)  I love summer, summer is for being lazy and reading books.  Amazing books, like this perfect book right above this blog.  I hope you all have an amazing summer and that time slows down just a little bit for you!  If you need me, I'll be reading books, playing with my kids, and holding our dog's new AKC litter of Labrador Retrievers :)  If you're interested please feel free to message me!!!

Ok Back to the book True to You written by Becky Wade is the incredibly sweet story of eclectic and nostalgic Nora Bradford.  She is the incredible owner of a historical town who also dabbles in ancestry.  This amazingly sweet lady has fallen head over heels for a war hero.  John Lawson is facing an unknown condition and he thinks Nora can help him find information regarding the condition that can have repercussions across his lifespan.    

These two have an awesome meet cute scene that I found utterly adorable and I may have fallen in love with Nora just a bit upon reading her first introduction to John Lawson.  This, book, right here friends is brilliant.  I went into thinking this would be a great summer read to enjoy and once again Becky Wade throws a curve ball at my idea of what a Christian romance should be.  She wrote with such poise and ease that I really didn't even see that curve ball until it hit me in the face, and the best part.  Wait for it... Wait just a second... I had know clue that it was coming!  So dear friends if you are wanting something fun, witty, a little deep, a bit poignant and filled with Christ's awesome redemption you need to read True to You!!!

*Yo peeps this book was given to me so I could tell the honest truth about it.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

—Galatians 2:20

Friends, I hope when you read the verses that I post at the end of my blog that you take the time to dig a little deeper into it and that you are given a strong desire to read your Bible every day.   That the yearning for this Book (the Bible) is always there and that you fall more in love with our incredible Father and the promises that He has for you.  Love you all.

Edens Garden

Hello World,
Today I'm fighting a double ear infection as well as a sinus infection.  This will be the first time I've been this sick in a very long time.  I'm pretty granola when it comes to fighting sickness as well as being healthy eating in general.  I'm not a big fan of using medication to make me feel better though I will use them if needed.   Yesterday, I received essential oils from Edens Garden.  These essential oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade oil and they're simply amazing.  I used the Frankincense and Myrrh in a netti pot to help my sinus infection and relief from pressure was instant. I also love that they're Christian and they give back 10% of their profits.  It's an amazing product at an extremely reasonable price.

So if you've never tried essential oils or are just tired of paying through the roof for pure oils I highly suggest you give Edens Garden a try.  Oh! I forgot, I use it on my kiddos too, Drew had a really bad tummy ache with a 100.2 temp, I rubbed Fighting Five with coconut oil on his tummy and feet yesterday.  He woke up this morning ready to go and no temp :-)

Here's the link if you want to check it out!

Edens Garden

What I've Learned

37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
-John 10:37-38

Hello World,
Something has been on my heart so I'm going to quickly write this before I go to work.  I don't talk about my faith much.  My job as it is, is something that I really try to keep my faith out and let my actions speak louder then words.  My country has asked me to have separation of church and state and I want to honor that when I'm at work, unfortunately that can leak into my life outside of work.  Here's the deal though, I don't believe that Jesus Christ is God because of blind faith.  I don't just willingly trust in Christ because of my family and how I grew up.  My parents encouraged me to look into the validity of Christ, they didn't ostracize me when I had questions about God, and they sure didn't say you're dead to me because I wanted to see what the Koran said about Jesus.  Jesus himself has asked everyone to search and to question to see if He is telling the truth.  I love that!  What other religion allows such freedom?  Our God is an amazing God, and the Holy Trinity is absolute perfect love.

So when I read the verses John 10:37-38,  I see a God saying grill me, fact check, and make sure I'm telling the truth.  Beseechingly, wanting the truth to be made true, to have no hypothesis, or theory that can be proved wrong, but to be true in every iota and cell of it's body.  Jesus Christ is God, He died on that cross for us, because if he didn't we would have to be on the cross.  God incarnate lowered himself to man's weakness, blindness, and understanding so we can have a relationship.  He didn't shed any one's blood in violence, but He shed his blood for us.

That's beautiful friends.

When Tides Turn

Hello World,

So today was full of firsts for our sweet family :)  Liv had her first soccer session while Drew tried out for the swim team and made it.  The were both so excited, but extremely tired.  My new Mondays are busy from ballet, to soccer, and finally swimming.  Are you busy on Mondays?  

When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin introduces us to Tessa and Dan.  Tessa is unhappy with how very little she can do with her bachelors degree and is craving a way to help the United States with WWII.  Dan has a goal in mind and he just can not allow any type of distraction to get in his way, especially a blonde hair, green eyed distraction.  Will these two see what's in their face or will they miss the boat on love (pun intended).

This is a fun book to read, I immediately fell in love with the spunky, intelligent, loving Tessa.  I could only imagine what it would be like to be a young woman from the 1940's era.  She's extremely bright, but there are very few places that will take a chance on a woman.  I also loved how Dan's character kind of peeled away to reveal a very well meaning man of God.  This book is definitely a fun read, with romance, adventure, and a little mystery thrown in too :)  So dear readers I highly suggest you pick up this book!

*Yo peeps this book was given to my by Revell for my honest opinion.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

—Romans 8:18

The Returning

Hello World :)
I know it's been a month and half since I last talked to you, but seriously, my life has been a matter of cray cray.  I loved every minute of it, but it's been crazy.  Here in Texas us orchestra teachers (said in a very Texas accent) have this little state competition called UIL and it is intense.  Truthfully, I've never been stretched as an orchestra teacher as I have with this competition.  It really makes you look at your teaching critically to see if you are teaching to the best of your ability.   My orchestras did fantabulous, and I'm so proud of their hard work and accomplishments.  So how are you?  Has life been good?  Would love to hear what you've been up to.

The Returning by Rachelle Dekker is the final book in the A Seer Series.  This is the continuation of Carrington and Remko's story.  Having had to give up their daughter to seek safety; twenty years have passed and they have both regrets and triumph.  The time has come for a new beginning and a final battle.

This book is for all you dystopian  readers, for all you fantasy and science fiction readers :)  This would be me and truthfully there are many Christian authors who do not know how to handle this genre well.   Rachelle Dekker has done a phenomenal job at creating a new world.  Her characters have come to life in this series and it's been an honor to read her books.  Ok, now on to the the third and final book.  I was at first a little shocked that she took the timeline so far ahead into the future, but after reading the book I liked it.  You can see what time does for a mother and father who have lost a child.  You also have the opportunity for new characters to be added into the story.  It was a great idea and the executed well.  So all in all dear readers read this series and read the final book that finishes the series oh so well :)

*Yo this book was given to me for my honest opinion!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

—Isaiah 41:10

Rescue Me

Hello World,
I have had a busy weekend with my orchestra students performing in UIL's solo/ensemble.  They did such a great job, every single one of them making the highest rank a 1 :)  Being a middle school orchestra director can be a lot of hard work, but it can be so rewarding.  Do you enjoy your job?

Rescue me by Susan May Warren is the second book in the Montana Rescue series.  This brings together Sam and Willow.  Willow has loved Sam for ages which is a little hard because is dating Willow's sister.  She tries incredibly hard to ignore her feelings, but that proves to be hard when they go on a youth hiking trip that goes from good to worse.

OH Boy!  I love reading Susan May Warren's books.  I don't know how she does it, but her story lines are always fresh, filled with adventure, romance, and God's wisdom.  Rescue me did not fail me.  It was full of great characters and this book digs deeper into Sam, Willow, Pete, Jess and Sierra.  You'll love how the story continues and the plot thickens with each page turned.  So dear readers if you love a great book that tugs on your heart strings, that brings the beautiful Montana sky to your backyard; you need to read Rescue me by Susan May Warren.

*Yo peeps this book was given to me in hopes of my honest opinion.

They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

—Psalm 22:5

In the Shadow of Denali

Hello World,
Yesterday for our family movie night we watched the new 2016 version of Pete's Dragon.  Oh my goodness, I was balling like a baby.  The movie was a great tale and fun to watch with our 8, 7, and 5 year old, but people;  be prepared for some very sad moments.

In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse brings an incredible story with mystery, love, and vengeance to the panoramic beauty of Alaska.  Come along mountain guides, cooks, politicians, and young entrepreneurs.  See the breathtaking views in the eyes of Alaskan natives and feel the pull of the timeless wonder.   Under all that beauty is a mystery that's years old and a young man visiting in hopes to uncover the death of his Father.

This book truly was an artistic dessert for my reading eyes.  If you love historical romance and are curious about what Alaska looks like you need to read this book.  It truly was one of the most descriptive books and I loved learning about Alaska.  So dear readers if this is something that you like you definitely need to read In The Shadow Of Denali.

*Yo peeps this book was given to me for my honest review.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

—2 Corinthians 12:9

Love

                                                      (@palacecoffee thanks for the cup)
So, I've been really trying hard to memorize 1 Corinthians 13, and it has taught me some pretty amazing things.  So here I am, the good the bad and the ugly.  This is what God has been teaching me as I've been memorizing it.

Love is patient and kind:  when my kids are demanding or being rude.  I can be patient with them and kindly remind them how to act.  Love does not envy or boast:  this is a hard one for me at times.  I don't need to be jealous of someone else's gain, or brag about how good certain things are in life (it became obvious that even when I do boast in a kind or sly way it is still boasting).  Love is not irritable or rude:  when my kids are asking for the 10th time for something that they know that they can't have, I can answer them with a kind no and patiently explain to them why (this one is a hard one for me, actually all of it is...).  Love bears all (cleaning the house with a happy heart), believes all (not judging people by their words or actions, but by how God see's them), hopes all (wanting the best for every person that God has put in my life, even when it seems they don't like me), endures all (I do not need to complain about the life that God has given me).  Love will never fade or pass away (thank you Jesus, because boy do I need your amazing awesome love).  As for prophecy, knowledge, and tongues (awesome gifts, but once Jesus comes these will cease).  Love is perfect it will never end.

So this is what I've learned so far and I have a couple more verses to go.  I hope those who are memorizing with me are gaining insight as much as I am.  I pray that God touches your heart today and that you see His amazing and unending love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-10English Standard Version (ESV)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Moonbow Night

Hello World,
So it's my birthday today :)  I turned 34 on this New Year's Day.  Today was filled with many dear friends wishing me a Happy Birthday, a husband who bent over backwards to make this day special for me, and I will admit going shopping because Dillard's has their annual New Year's Day sale on my birthday :)  It was a great day, and I wanted to end it with a great book.  What did you do today?

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz is about young Tempe Tucker.  Her family had to flee their hometown when Tempe's Father killed a man.   Now living in the Kentucke wilderness, their family has created a way station of sorts for travelers.   Their house is a place to get a homemade meal and a good nights sleep.  Tempe meets Sion when he is scouting for a survey company.  Though there is an immediate attraction both have past loves who died.  Are they willing to love once again, or will the ghost's of their loved ones for ever be in the way?

With such grace and beautiful prose Ms. Frantz has woven a tale so incredible it makes me sigh just thinking about it.  She is an incredible author and each new story she rights is always full of depth and the characters seem to come alive while your reading.  I loved the characters in "A Moonbow Night", each one was dear and it made me want to chat with them over coffee.  I know it's a good book when there is a variety of emotion; from laughter, to tears this book has it all.  If you're wanting a good book to read please go ahead and get "A Moonbow Night", it's available January 3, 2016.

*This book was freely given to me for my honest review.

Proverbs 31:25 (ESV)

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

    and she laughs at the time to come.