Scent of Lilacs

Hello World,
I am most certainly sliding in by the skin of my teeth with this book review.  Just yesterday we put new flooring in our master bedroom, and boy oh boy does it look great.  I am so thankful for our carpenter Jack Moore and his incredible guidance while Todd learned from him how to put in wood flooring.  Dear Amarillo friends if you are in need of a home renovation or really any carpentry needs please call Jack he's awesome. You can message me for his number :)  or find him on the world wide web.

Scent of Lilacs is the story about the Brooke family.  This tale is narrated by Jocie Brooke, a young lady full of wit and frank truth, she is a girl after my own heart.  Jocie feels that everything seems to be unfolding the summer of 1964.  Not only does her life have many unanswered questions including why her mother left, but the town is full of mystery and intrigue.  Can Jocie find out the truth and when she does will she regret learning about it?

Ms. Gabhart has a way with writing characters so real and situations that could happen that I find myself immersed in her books wondering the what if's.  She doesn't cover sin up, but the blatant truth of it is clear to any reader.  She uses her pen to show the world what sin can and will do.  She also writes with clarity of what Christ can and will do in ones life.  Dear readers if you want a book that will grab hold of you, and keep you thinking into the night I highly suggest you read Scent o Lilacs.  It is poignant, beautiful, at time laugh at loud, and definitely cry out loud too.
“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
*This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.  

Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Oh to know that what is happening is in God's perfect will, to truly trust that whatever is happening, whoever is trying to harm you, or whatever situation has fallen on you is God's will.  That it doesn't matter what is happening now, because God means for whatever happens to be for your good.  Don't forget that dear readers, you truly are loved, you truly are cared about, and whatever you're going through will be meant for good.

Shattered

Hello World,
I can smell spring :)  The windows are open and the kids are playing in the backyard as I look on them as I type.  I also can tell it's spring because I started working out.  I'm not a very motivated lady, but a friend of mine encouraged me to run a 5K.  I was like I can so do that, so now dear readers your Jesus book girl is preparing for a 5K and her goal is to run it around 22 minutes.  I used to be able to do 6 minute miles so I'm hoping I can run this baby with 7 minute miles.  Here is to hoping :)

Shattered by Dani Pettrey is the second book in the Alaskan Courage series.  The Mckenna family is once again in a bind when their brother Reef is incriminated with murder.  Not only is the evidence steeped against him, but so is the town's people he once grew up with.  The only thing Piper Mckenna can do is her own investigation.  Deputy Landon Grainger has been Pipers best friend for years and the last thing he wants is to arrest her brother for murder.  As the two join together to investigate the murder, they realize a deadly game is being played, that the two might not make it out alive.

This book is a hold on to your horse, this is going to be a fast ride.  If you love a good mystery, dear readers this is the book for you.  Not only does Ms. Pettrey dish out the suspense, but she adds just enough romance in it to keep me cheering for Piper and Landon.  Even though I haven't had the pleasure of reading the first book, I didn't feel that it put too much of a damper reading Shattered.  So dear readers if you haven't already read the first book of the series don't feel shy go ahead and jump into Shattered you won't regret it.

*This book was given to me via Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This past week our church, Hillside Christian Church gave a sermon on complaining.  As Pastor Tommy explained, complaining basically perverts the blessings God has given us.   The definition of pervert is to Alter (something) from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.  Man did that definition stay with me.  It made me realize that God has numerously given incredible things/blessings to me and here I am complaining and wishing for it to be different.  Lord Jesus forgive me for perverting your blessings time and again, May I continually rejoice, praying without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, because that is your will.

On another note congrats to Carmen Benge who won the book Love in a Broken Vessel :)  Leave me your address so I can get it to you.

Love in a Broken Vessel

Hello World,
Today I got all of my Easter shopping done.  I'm pretty sure the kids will appreciate the fun books, candy, and toys we got for them.  Each year for Easter the kids get a basket at the table and an egg hunt in the afternoon.  I usually play in the morning so our dinner is late afternoon to early evening. So I can thoroughly prepare our meal and other fun things for my family.   Is there anything you do as an Easter tradition?  I would love to hear about it, and if you comment I'll put your name in a raffle to win this book :)

Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews is about the book Hosea from the Bible.  If you're not familiar with the book of Hosea.  Hosea was a prophet in Israel, and he was asked by God to marry a prostitute to show God's love for his bride (Israel) and the bride's repeated adultery on God.  It is a book full of compassionate love in the face of blatant sin.

When I first heard that Ms. Andrews would be writing about Hosea and Gomer I kind of was like "Oh snap she just took a big leap".  If you're not familiar with Francine Rivers Redeeming Love it replicates the book of Hosea like Love in a Broken Vessel.  What Ms. Andrews did differently (which I will say is in her favor) she literally took the book and made it fictional instead of placing it in a different time and different characters.  I enjoyed reading about familiar prophets and kings of the time.  I really loved envisioning the culture of that time and connecting the pieces to a puzzle (i.e. the Bible)  that were slightly fuzzy to me.  This was a good read that stayed respectful to the actual events.  So dear readers if you like a good fictional book about Bible characters I highly suggest you read Love in a Broken Vessel.
“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
This book was given to me via Revell a divions of Baker Publishing Group in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

Psalms 105:4
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Today has been full of tears, angry words, and broken dishware from my three little ones.  It is indeed a day that I need to seek the Lord and His strength.  My three sweet little bebs are a good reminder for me to Seek His face evermore, because truthfully where else am I going to get that kind of strength.

Longing

Happy Wednesday Everyone,
Well we are in the midst of spring break.  On the first day off Kylar asked me if  "Spring Break is over and if she can go back to school".  I don't think I'll hear that after a couple of years at school.  I told her that Spring Break is supposed to be fun and we do fun stuff.  So of course we had to go to the Discovery Center, and then to the indoor water park at a local university here.  So far I think we've had fun, but to my little girl she still asks every morning "Mommy, can I go to school today".  It has me chuckling every time she asks.  Do you have unexpected questions from your kids?

Longing by Karen Kingsbury is the third book in the Bailey Flanigan Series.  Bailey is an aspiring, talented actress making her way in the broadway/acting world.  She faces struggles living and acting in such a secular job, but her faith is strong.  During this time she faces a hard choice to go back to her first love who has basically ignored her for a year or to start anew with heartthrob Brandon Paul?  What is a girl to do?

Ok, believe it or not this is my first Karen Kingsbury book!  I have been told for years to read her as an author, but it never seemed smart to me to just jump in to a middle of a series.  So when I saw this book available for bloggers through Zondervan I figured better just jump in and see if you like her.  So I did, and I sure am glad I did.  First off I am so, for team Brandon,( I don't have the background knowledge of team Cody) for me I read about a man who was truly pursuing the woman he wants to be with.  Cody in this book seemed incredibly wishy washy, which for me means he shouldn't commit to any relationship.  

*Spoilers following!!!!

Now I can understand readers who have read about Cody and Bailey from the beginning, but like in life you don't always get your fairy tale with the first person you fell in love with.  I can really relate to Bailey on this topic and I am ever so grateful that my first love and I didn't work out, because I got a way better man in my husband.  So for me this book rocked, but I can understand why so many other readers were disappointed. So dear readers if you haven't invested  in team Cody or you felt the way I feel, I highly suggest Longing by Karen Kingsbury.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

So I started a program today through a Bible app to increase my ability to memorize scripture.  This is my first Bible verse to memorize and I think I didn't pretty tootin' good :)  As I dwell on this verse it amazes me how God created so much.  I struggle to make my garden grow it's not without toil and back breaking work, and here our awesome Father created the heavens and the earth in six days.  What a cool thing!

Moonlight Masquerade

Hello World,
I'm enjoying a Saturday morning blogging in bed :) I was also talking to my mom this morning too.  I love Saturday mornings, they are incredibly slow, lazy, and simply wonderful.  What are doing this morning?

Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell is the story about Lady Celine Wexham.  She is a French widow living as an English countess during 1813.  Rees Phillips has been given the assignment to figure out if Lady Celine is spying for Napoleon Bonaparte or just enjoying her life as a lady on English soil. 

This is a fun romance, full of adventure and mystery.  I just had a slight problem with the historical aspect of it.  Lady Celine is clearly a revolutionist.  Now I know that the French Revolution brought a lot of liberties to France and allowed many people opportunities that would have never happened under noble rule.  Did you also know that the Catholic Church was desecrated, priest's and nuns were killed, churches were burned to the ground during this time.  The churches of France suffered greatly, because the revolutionist's thought that the church restricted the liberties of the French people.  I had a hard time knowing this and then seeing our main character be someone who would except this.  Especially when she learns of Christ's love and salvation.  Revolutions are not pretty and every story has two sides to it.  Unfortunately because I know the background and historical aspect this book was just not as enjoyable as it could be.  A lot of you might not have a problem reading it, but I wanted to give you a heads up if you are a history buff.

For more information regarding the French Revolution and what happened to the Catholic Church I highly suggest you visit this website for an unbiased opinion on this topic. Please click this French Revolution to find out more

“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

This book was given to me via Revell a division of Baker Publishing in hopes of my honest opinion and I honestly gave it.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18
¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,^[a] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I don't know if you have noticed, but there are an awful lot of tv shows, and movies on the end of the world.  I wanted to give you hope for you Christians, to see that Jesus is coming back and that we will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord.  What a beautiful moment that will be.  Be encouraged by these words dear readers and don't forget He is coming!