A Nest in the Rocks

"Sweet Sanctuary" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

2013-05-24T23:13:00.000-04:00

Lydia Eldredge longs to provide sanctuary for her young son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher faithfully serves the immigrant population of Queens, New York. But under cover of darkness, he has a secret mission that challenges everything he thought he wanted out of life.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Together, they seek a refuge of safety-for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God puts into their lives. Amid turmoil and discord, can hope and love prevail?

Sawyer knows exactly how to reach out and grab you. From the very first sentence she captures your attention and makes you fall in love with her characters. You want to find a pet for Nicky, a resolution for Lydia, and a home for Micah. As each roadblock comes into sight, you only want to reach peace that much more.

Yet that's the point of the book: that we don't choose our own endings because, as much as we'd like to think that we do, we aren't in control and we don't know best. Sometimes we have to walk the hard road of trust in order to see the wonders that God has planned for us all along. Micah has a way of sharing this resolutely but kindly just as Lydia becomes able to point out the glory in the plan afterwards, leaving you with an "Oh, yeah, now I get it," feeling.

Sawyer doesn't take the easy way out on this one, but she instead makes her characters walk a harder and harder path in every way - emotionally, romantically, parentally, and physically. There are troubles with characters whom you know and love and those far away whom you've never met. Sawyer has packed a powerful punch with this one - it's so tightly woven that her theme of trusting in God's providence is woven into every singe page.

I was surprised to read of Micah's connection to the Holocaust within these pages, especially since I've always considered Sawyer's books to be overwhelmingly sweet, but I love the way that she handles it: with tact, grace, confidence, and kindness. Micah's angle is also fresh and different.

Micah and Lydia are characters who will stand the test of time. Because of their strength, determination, and timelessness of their problems, you'll forget that you're reading about a long-ago era because if feels as if you're reading about your neighbors - and you'll want to walk over and help them out.

Don't miss out on their story.

You can read other reviews on this bloggy hop here; or, click here to purchase your own copy now.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of twenty-one novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and nine grandchildren.

Find out more about Kim at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/.

I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

The First Pretzel Bakery in the New World

2013-05-24T15:05:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago we visited the town of Lititz with my grandmother and aunt to tour the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Touted as the first of its kind in America, this was a really neat tour.

We've made soft pretzels a few times at home, but the kids were excited to learn how it was different to make them 'for real.' They wanted to know how to make that special shape, too, since I can never quite get it and just end up making pretzel rods. Somehow rods are not the same.

Our awesome tour guide seemed to know everything there was to know about making soft pretzels. She told us all about Julius Sturgis, his family, and how they made pretzels. She even gave everyone dough and let us all try our hands at it - though we could come nowhere close to the record numbers of pretzels-per-minute that the original shapers could. It was special to learn right here on the original tables, however.

These pretzel ovens were set high in the walls and were heated with wood. They got so hot that the rooms above the ovens neared 200 degrees some days! Pretzels could dry out quickly there.

In the ovens themselves salt was sprinkled so that the pretzels wouldn't stick. When they wanted to clean out these ovens, it would take two days to cool down enough to be cleaned. At that time one of Sturgis' fourteen children would be pushed inside the oven, where s/he would crawl around and scrub out the salt. My Big Helper was fascinated at that idea, though she stated firmly that she didn't want to go in there.

This tour took about 30 minutes and was very reasonable in price. We all received small bags of Sturgis pretzels and certificates of graduation upon completion, which thrilled the kids. They couldn't wait to sample their pretzels.

I think I'll have some pretzel graduates help out the next time we make pretzels.

Have you ever made your own soft pretzels??

Homestyle Grilled Chicken Salad

2013-05-23T20:58:00.002-04:00

It feels like forever since I've been able to share a recipe, so I'm especially happy to share this one. This simple salad reminds me of home - of the kinds of yummy salads you'll find in a Pennsylvania pub.

When I first started trying to eat healthier, I always looked at the salad menu cautiously. There were lots of things listed that I didn't like, but how can you go wrong when your salad has French fries on top?

This particular salad is one of my favorites. With only a few ingredients, it's full of bold and simple flavors. You won't leave the table hungry, but there's lots of nutrition hidden under those few fries.

Here's how to make it:

1-2 heads of romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
1 lb. of chicken tenders
your favorite barbecue sauce
1/2 c. of shredded monterey jack cheese
a handful of carrots
1 tomato, diced
Oreida crispy French fries
honey mustard salad dressing
1/2 c. prepared bacon crumbles (I bake bacon ahead, crumble it, and keep it in my freezer for these types of recipes.)
sliced onion (optional)

Directions:

Grill the chicken tenders. Coat with your favorite barbecue sauce just before they're done.
Bake French fries according to package directions. Add crumbled bacon to the fries during the last 5 minutes of baking time.
Arrange romaine lettuce on plates.
Top with carrots and onions.
Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after removing from heat. Slice into strips.
Arrange the chicken slices on top of the lettuce beds.
Top with fries, bacon, and tomatoes.
Serve with honey mustard dressing and fresh fruit slices.
Serves four.

What's your favorite kind of salad??

"Pastors' Wives" by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

2013-05-23T10:33:00.001-04:00

What's it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors' Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen's debut novel Pastors' Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith---in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf's "First Lady," a force of nature who'll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace's son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen's reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors' Wivesis a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors' wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

I've been thinking and thinking about how to describe this book. Tossing words around in my mind for several weeks. I'm still not sure how to do it.

Pastors' Wives is amazingly well written. It's a tightly-woven story of several families all connected to pastors and how they handle the pressures and stresses of always being the public specter, of how much of a leadership role they really play in their respective churches. The details spring each character to life and the large cast of characters keep the story interesting. The drama happening inside the church reads like a soap opera (as I imagine it often does in real life), and you won't be bored with this story.

Unlike many of today's popular novels, Cullen's writing sounds formal and a bit distant. It took me a few chapters to switch gears mentally into this style of writing, but I appreciate the excellent quality of her work. Nobody could claim that this is a watered-down piece of literature.

I appreciate how one of the biggest problems was resolved in the end, but the ending for another left me disappointed. Not because it wasn't realistic, because it may be, but because I didn't feel as if it offered any encouragement or hope for readers. Life is not perfect and we don't always get the happy ending that we want, but in this case, I felt as if the characters made a poor choice and that it was considered acceptable. That attitude left a bad taste in my mouth where this book is concerned.

So with that said, I'm still not sure what to say about this book. Because of the questionable ending, I won't be passing this book along to anyone who may be in a similar situation. If you're strong in your faith journey, however, and you appreciate quality literature, you might really enjoy Pastors' Wives.

To read other reviews of this book, click here. Go here to purchase your own copy.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen was a longtime staff writer for TIME magazine. She now develops TV pilots for production companies and recently sold her first pilot for "The Ordained" to CBS. Born in Japan, Cullen lives in New Jersey with family.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisacullen.com.

I received a free copy of Pastors' Wives from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

"Ray of Light" by Shelley Shepard Gray

2013-05-23T08:47:00.000-04:00

Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.

Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?

The author of the series Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an honest, tender love story in Ray of Light, featuring the challenges of faith, family, and romance.

Shelley Shepard Gray has penned another winner. I love her books for the reality of the characters, and Ray of Light is no exception. Most of the events of this book could happen to anyone; they are real, ordinary problems that any of us could have - except Gray's characters are Amish, adding another layer of interest to an already fascinating story.

When my truck-driving grandfather retired, he bought a van and set himself up as an Amish taxi driver. He spent his days driving people around, from work to errands to home, and had loads of friends and stories to match. He once drove some Amish to Florida to stay in an 'Amish resort' there, and I've been interested in the idea ever since.

That's how Gray opens this story - with Amish from the North on vacation in sunny Florida, and while no special resort is mentioned, the idea is intriguing. The Keim family is from a much more progressive sect than the Amish I grew up near, but reading about work schedules and vacation dreams and love triangles reminds me that they are people just like us. With foreign missionaries, multiple family weddings, cross-country vacations, rehab, and dark family secrets, they're certainly busier than my family!

Ray of Light is the second in this series, but while I haven't read it, it was not difficult to pick up on the characters or the past that was disclosed in the first book. That doesn't stop me from wanting to read it, however; I think reading the books in the wrong order actually makes me want to read that first one even more, and the same is true for the third. I can't wait to find out what happens to them!

I hope you can type like lightening, Mrs. Gray, because I can't wait to read the next installment of the Keim's lives.

You can see other reviews from this bloggy hop here, or click here to purchase your own copy now.

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Learn more at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

I received a free copy of Ray of Light from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

"It Happened At The Fair" by Deeanne Gist

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World'sFair with his most recent invention. But the noise in theFair's Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

It Happened At The Fair is a spectacular look at the underbelly of the Chicago World's Fair. If we think anything at all about these historical expositions, it's usually of shiny new inventions and gleaming innovations, but rarely do we think about the hard work or the dangers that accompanied this major event - or of how people's lives were changed because of the successes or failures they found there.

This story will change all that.

In a last-ditch attempt to save his family's farm, future, and livelihood, Cullen convinces Della to teach him to read lips. I know next-to-nothing about lipreading, but I studied sign language in college, and I think it's a beautiful way to express oneself. I was fascinated to learn through this story about the stereotypes and indignities that people with hearing disabilities used to have. Imagine being deprived of this now-common, beautiful language because others thought you mentally imbalanced!

As always, I loved Gist's descriptions. I feel as if I've been at the fair myself. I can picture the beautifully faux buildings, the fountains, the people from all over the world, and the danger that lurked beneath every dry building. I can see the crush of the crowds and the awe in the eyes of children in a city for the very first time.

Gist is also a master at building suspense. She does so in a myriad of ways in this book - by escalating the fear of a great fire on the grounds, by increasing the danger to Cullen's family farm, with flying sparks between Cullen and Della. It Happened at the Fair is one book you won't be able to put down until you've turned the very last page, because until then, you'll devour each one like the very fires that Cullen fears.

To read other reviews in this bloggy tour, click here; or, if you'd like to purchase your own copy now, click here.

Deeanne Gist---known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee---has rocketed up bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very fun, very original historicals. She has received numerous RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, and rave reviews. Deeanne has a background in education and journalism and a degree from Texas A&M. She has written for People, Parents, and Parenting. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and has four grown children. She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesFriends.

I received a free copy of It Happened At The Fair from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

10 Ways to Make Your Sick Child More Comfortable

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

We've all been there. Your child gets sick, and no matter how much you want to change that, you can't.

We can make them more comfortable, at least. Here are some of the things we're doing during our current bout of chicken pox to survive our week of quarantine in style

10. Hold a pajamas day. My kids cheered this morning when I announced that they could remain in their PJs all day. We usually have somewhere to be at some point during the day, and so they have to get dressed. Being in their PJs automatically makes them feel more relaxed.

9. Take a bubble bath. Your child's condition might mean a hot bath is best, or maybe a cool one could sooth a fever, but either way, being clean just makes everything better. It never hurts to have some bubbles or some water playtime, either.

8. Throw the family schedule out the window. Your kids might be ready to eat or sleep at different times. They might not be up for any schoolwork. It's okay - it's not forever.

7. Throw YOUR schedule out the window, too. When my kids are sick, I always feel as if I must do double-time to take care of the sick person AND keep up with my usual chores, but in reality, the only really important thing is the person. The dust or laundry can wait - chances are, it'll still be there when my child is well, but I only have this time to comfort them.

6. Play a game. Even though we spend most of our time at home, we don't get to play together as much as we'd like. This is a great time to remedy that when the sick one is up for it!

5. Make your own snow-cones. Right now my kids have incredibly sore throats, and it's changing their appetites. Since their tummies are steady, though, they can eat whatever they want. This is a great time to crush some ice, add some juice, and let the cool juice sooth the pain.

4. Break out that craft or project you've been putting off. When My Big Helper got the flu a few months ago, the first thing that she wanted to do was a new mosaic project. I wasn't sure she'd be able to handle being up yet, but she was determined to finish it. When she played out, we'd set it aside and pick it up later. You can do this same thing - if it's a big project that is wanted, try it out and set it aside as need be.

3. Go for some snuggle time. One of my kids is a snuggler and the other isn't, but when they're sick, they both want to settle into my lap and stay there. Set aside what you're doing and snuggle - it won't be long before they're back to normal, and they won't want any ,ore snuggle time. Take advantage of it.

2. Watch a special movie. It might be an old favorite or one from the to-be-watched list, but spread out a blanket and grab the remote. Movies, when chosen wisely, are great for escaping reality and making life feel fun.

1. Read together. Your kids might be able to read whatever they want, but they'll still appreciate snuggling close and listening to a favorite or new story.

What would you add to this list??

Deeanne Gist’s “It Happened at the Fair” iPad Giveaway and Live Webcast Event {5/22}!

2013-05-21T15:27:00.000-04:00

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

One "fair" winner will receive:

An iPad Mini
A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

GratiTuesday - Chicken Pox Craziness

2013-05-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

A few days after we returned from Pennsylvania, the kids began coughing in the middle of the night. During the day, it didn't seem like a very big deal - it's just a cough, right? But at one in the morning, when both kids were coughing and coughing, so very hard, I felt very helpless.

After hearing one wheeze, we dug out their inhalers, and they helped, but the coughing continued. My Little Man, who usually sleeps so well and long, has been awake late at night and up impossibly early, so I was excited yesterday when he slept in. Maybe he's finally getting better, I thought, and questioned my decision to take them to the doctor. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that I got derided for what was deemed a 'silly' visit.

Then My Big Helper saw squirrels heading into her squirrel mansion, and she came running to get me. As we sat on the couch together, watching a squirrel go in and out of his hole as if he were a kid caught in a revolving door, I noticed a few small spots on her cheek.

It didn't take much further investigation to find that her top half was covered with these strange red spots. Some raised, some not, some big, some small, they were everywhere - and I immediately called the doctor.

Surprisingly, we were able to get right in, and soon the doctor was walking through the door, asking what was wrong. I felt silly saying that both kids had bad coughs, especially when they didn't really appear to be having any problems, but something just didn't feel right.

It wasn't.

Those strange spots are the final manifestation of atypical chicken pox - yes, the CHICKEN POX. Who gets those anymore?

The kids have been vaccinated, and the doctor assured me that we should be in for a mild case. He explained that chicken pox is a respiratory virus, which explains the coughing - the kids have the blisters in their throats, which is making it harder to breathe.

Besides these very sore throats, they don't feel all that bad. They spent the afternoon playing in the playroom, doing crafts, painting together, and making plans for a movie - which they ran out of time to watch. They lost their spots, too - My Big Helper was spot-free by bedtime.

The spots have reappeared in new places this morning, and they're itchy, but judging from My Big Helper's current fascination with her squirrels and their house, I don't think it's bothering her too much. My Little Man woke up hours early coughing, but after a dose of medicine and some snuggle time, he's moved on to a stack of books.

As much as I hate to see the kids sick, and although I'm quite shocked at this diagnosis, I'm rather glad. This means that their allergies are not worse as I feared. This means that we have no new infections to further weaken their lungs. This means that it will run its course without major issues. This means that while life might be a bit hectic for the next few days, and while we might have to miss out on some playtime with friends while we're quarantined, we're still handling the current allergy issues well and will be able to be back outside soon.

Who knew the crazy old chicken pox could be such a good thing?

While I'm happy to have such a simple diagnosis, we do still have to stay inside for the next several days. What do your kids like to do when they're sick? I'd love to hear your ideas!

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

"Catch a Falling Star" by Beth K. Vogt

2013-05-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

What does a girl do when life doesn't go according to her plan?

At 36, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She's a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives-a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But the feeling of being "the kid never picked" looms large when romance continues to evade her and yet another one of her closest friends gets engaged. Are Kendall's dreams of having it all-a career, a husband, children-nothing more than childish wishing upon a star? Should she hold out for her elusive Plan A? Dust off Plan B? Or is it time to settle? God says he knows the plans he has for her-why can't Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo-both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of "flying a desk" are complicated by his parents' death-making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can God get his life back on track ... or has there been a divine plan all along?

Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn't just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your "wish I may, wish I might" dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

Catch A Falling Star is the very best kind of fairy tale - the kind that could be real. When my daughter was born, I saw princess decor everywhere and decided I didn't want her to think that her dreams would all fall in her lap. It rarely works that way. Happily-ever-afters require compromise and hard work and understanding, but above all, they require knowing that it's not our own plans that matter most, but God's, and He has a happy ending for everyone who trusts Him with it. That is the very best feature of this book: the coming to terms and reality of the happily-ever-after. This is what I want to teach my daughter.

I enjoyed the intertwining of the characters' stories, as well. From a teen, a divorced man, a single woman, and a mommy-wanna-be, the perspectives told were believable and varied. The way that their plots intersected so that each character learned from another and was able to be helpful was well planned and added a great layer of depth.

Catch A Falling Star isn't a fluffy fairy tale but a real-life romance full of dreams and trust. It should definitely go on your summer reading list.

To read other reviews on this bloggy tour,click here. You can purchase this book here.

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four, though she said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Her contemporary romance novel, "Wish You Were Here", debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and "Catch a Falling Star" releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren.

Find out more about Beth K. at http://bethvogt.com.

I received a free copy of Catch a Falling Star from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Menu Plan Monday - May 20, 2103

2013-05-20T07:48:00.000-04:00

What a crazy week it has been! We're heading into the homestretch now, though - we have few things on our calendar for this week, except for the end of our school year. We're planning to move slowly through this week and to enjoy lots of downtime. You?

Breakfast:
- scrambled eggs and cantaloupe

- fresh strawberries and yogurt with Cinnamon Almond Granola
- Applesauce muffins, fruit

- Blueberry Biscuits, fruit

Dinner:

- Cheesy Chicken Taquitos, salad
- meatloaf, baked potatoes, salad, applesauce
- tacos, Spanish rice, salad, fruit
- Barbecue chicken pizza, salad, strawberry shortcake
- grilled chicken salad, whole wheat bread, brownies

- breakfast for dinner
- leftovers

What are you cooking up this week?

For more Menu Plan Monday, visit OrgJunkie.

“Pastors’ Wives” iPad Mini Giveaway and Facebook Party with @LisaCullen! {5/23}

2013-05-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

An iPad Mini
A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

"Undeniably Yours" by Becky Wade

2013-05-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

When Meg Cole's father dies unexpectedly, she's forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of his empire. The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father's Thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo knows he ought to resent the woman who's determined to take from him the only job he ever wanted. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them and earn her love.

Just when Meg realizes she can no longer deny the depth of her feelings for Bo, their fragile bond is broken by a force from Meg's past. Can their relationship-and their belief that God can work through every circumstance-survive?

Undeniably Yours Book Trailer

I love the premise of this story. You can't go wrong with ranches and cowboys and love. It took me a while to really get into Undeniably Yours, though, and it took me equally long to figure out why. With a great plot, a well-written male lead, a thought-provoking faith lesson, I finally figured out why: Meg comes across as rather weak in the beginning of the story. There's a reason for this, and it's a good one, as part of the conflict is her pain after being romantically hurt in the past. In order to love Bo, she must trust God, forgive her ex, and try again, and that's never easy, but her coming-to-terms made parts of the story move slowly for me.

If you don't have that same strange pet peeve, you'll love this story. By the middle, when Meg was working hard to figure out how to move forward with her life and the non-emotional conflict was escalating, I definitely became more engaged with her story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen. You know that there must a be a great twist when the main character is an oil baron's daughter who doesn't want o be wealthy, and Wade did not disappoint.

As for Bo, he's a great male lead. He sets a great example of respect and honor, and to me, he's the very best kind of character - one whom you really want to ride down the road and meet for yourself.

I think a great sequel to this story would be to write about one of the women at the ranch - preferably Amber - and write in her love story. Showing how Meg and Bo were able to make a difference to her while painting her struggle to graduate, be a good mom, forgive Stephen for herself, and find her own to feet would make a great story.

What do you think, Ms. Wade??

You can read other reviews in this blog hop here, or click here to purchase your own copy.

Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas.

Visit her website at www.beckywade.com.

I received a free copy of Undeniably Yours from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

"Once Upon a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

2013-05-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation.

It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

Once Upon a Prince is the most romantic love story of the year! From a sun-kissed southern island to a regal European palace, not a single element of this story has been left bereft of Hauck's wash of love-colored paint. Susanna Truitt's situation, although funny as described, rings bleakly true, and too many of us will find something familiar in Prince Nathaniel's duty-bound story.

It is precisely that truth which makes the rest of this fantastic situation spellbinding. All of us, at one time or another, have dreamed of a royal wedding. We all want to be carried off into the sunset and live "happily ever after," yet we know that this isn't realistic.

Susanna's dreams, however, are in full color, especially after she visits Brighton Kingdom. The plot progression deepens the moral lesson and also ups the suspense factor. I couldn't wait to find out just how Susanna's lovelorn dilemma would reach resolution - I stayed up much too late to find out the answer. Hauck is a romantic master and, in my opinion, has the corner in this genre.

This is my favorite love story of 2013. My only hope is that Hauck writes the next one in this series quickly.

Once Upon a Prince, Book Trailer - Rachel Hauck

You can read other reviews on this blog hop here, or click here to purchase your own copy now.

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner "Sweet Caroline", and RITA Finalist "Love Starts With Elle", and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, "The Songbird Novels". She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets. Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor.

Find out more about Rachel at: http://RachelHauck.com

I received a free copy of Once Upon a Prince from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Win a “Date Night” Prize Pack from Deborah Raney and RSVP for her 5/30 Facebook Party!

2013-05-15T15:31:00.001-04:00

Deborah is celebrating with a fun "Date Night" Giveaway (win a $200 Visa Cash Card!) and an Author Chat Party on Facebook! {5/30}

One winner will receive:

A $200 Visa Cash Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one – your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 29th. Winner will be announced at the "The Face of the Earth" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 30th. Connect with Deborah for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deborah will also be sharing a sneak peek of her next book and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Face of the Earth and join Deborah on the evening of May 30th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 30th!

Inspired Wednesday - AIO Summer of Service Kick-Off! + Free Downloads!

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

For the past nine months I've been working with a kids' program at my church, helping to teach Beth Guckenberger's curriculum from Tales of the Not Forgotten. It's all about how God has not forgotten orphans around the world and how we can help not only orphans, but everyone around us.

This has really opened my eyes to the myriads of ways that even the smallest kids can be helpful.

My favorite thing about helping with this program has been seeing the kids really want to help others.

So imagine my excitement when I was asked to be a part of the Adventures in Odyssey's Summer of Service Kick-off! Not only is this program designed to encourage kids to begin serving in their communities, but there's also a challenge and a giveaway as part of this program. Here's how AIO describes it:

Join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!

Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit, Connie, Eugene, and the other loveable characters from Odyssey have shared countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas, books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids discover, imagine, and grow.

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it!

This all sounds like fun and games, and it can be, but serving others has more benefits than just the possibility of winning fun prizes. It can bond your family, mature your child, grow responsibility, help to mold them into caring adults, and build community. AIO says that:

Our culture puts an extravagant amount of energy into raising kids who will grow up to feel good about themselves. In schools, clubs, homes, and even at church, adults have made a decided effort to bolster children’s “self-esteem” –not by actually encouraging kids do something that’s worthwhile, but by simply telling them they are important and valuable.

At the turn of the century, researchers predicted that the next generation would respond to these efforts of raising self-esteem by being filled with optimism and civic duty. Unfortunately, recent research shows the opposite. Kids coming of age today are more self-centered, disrespectful of authority, and depressed than ever before.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood—which is the greatest gift any parent can bestow on their child.

You can find out even more at the Summer of Service Launch Party on May 22nd.

But wait! There's more! (I've always wanted to say that.)

You can download a free mp3 episode of the AIO A Call to Serve here.

Are you ready to get started? Download a free copy of service ideas for kids here.

How does your family serve others?

Last week Carlie at So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler shared a post about a great DVD-based art curriculum. We've been looking for one of these, and so it was especially great to read her review. To find out more, visit So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler - and Carlie, please visit our Inspired Wednesday page and take the "I was featured on ~~Washed Up~~ Inspired Wednesdays' button back with you.

GratiTuesday - Getting Muddy Together

2013-05-14T07:51:00.003-04:00

The weather has been totally goofy here lately. Even today, with a frost advisory this morning and 87 targeted for tomorrow, this is not really like May in the Carolinas.

That weird weather, along with a busier-than-usual spring schedule, has knocked my garden plans way off track.

We have a good-sized yard, but with old, tall trees, it's much too shady for a typical garden, so a few years ago my husband built me three tiered raised beds beside the carport. It's the sunniest place in the yard, it's out of the way, and it's easily accessible to water, making care of it simpler than anywhere else we could put it.

Each year we take a day and plant it, usually long before this.

This year, Saturday was the day. I bought several bags of soil and fertilizer in an attempt to strengthen the soil. While I'm thankful for my garden, the small space does not allow for much crop rotation or for lying fallow.

The best part of this was that everyone joined in to help. The kids quickly kicked off their shoes and climbed in, taking turns to dig holes and mix up the old and new soil. They happily dug holes and planted vegetables and herbs, relocated found earthworms to new homes where they could "do the most good." Even my husband pulled old plants, removed old ties (I'm terrible about cleaning out the old stuff when cold weather hits - too depressing), and mixed in the new soil.

We were even able to plant onions for once. As a kid I remember Dad getting them at a hardware store downtown, but I've never seen them here, and so our garden has been without onions since I moved here. One of the Amish stores that we hit up last week had them for sale, however, and the kids pointed them out eagerly (which is funny since they don't like onions). We bought a bagful and used the antique rake to make the holes the same way that I used to do with my dad.

It was such a fun afternoon - outside in the sunshine, warm temperatures, muddy feet, everyone with their own set of garden implements, happily running around and helping and working together. It reminded me of being very small and helping my parents plant our garden. I love that my own children are so excited to help me now.

I think that spring is a time of hope, and even more so a garden. It's a time to dream - of new life, of ripening fruits and vegetables, of gifts given and shared, of healthy food to feed your family. It's a time of promise - before droughts or blights or bug infestations hit, when everything is new and alive and green.

The beginning of summer gardens in the springtime is my very favorite time of year. This was the very best - when we could all get muddy together.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to link up your Inspired Wednesday post - and to enter my newest giveaway!

Menu Plan Monday - May 13, 2013

2013-05-13T11:38:00.000-04:00

It has really, really been a crazy few weeks, but we're back at home and I think I'm ready to be cooking again. Except for a few random meals last week, it's been a while since we've actually all been home to eat!

This week, we have several special events, including evening ones, and company for the weekend, as well as weather that's stretching from the 40s to near 90. I'm not really too sure how to plan for that, so here's a rough guess. We'll go from there.

Breakfast:
- scrambled eggs and cantaloupe

- fresh strawberries and yogurt with Cinnamon Almond Granola
- cinnamon rolls and strawberries

- Blueberry Biscuits

Dinner:

- Cheesy Chicken Taquitos, salad
- ham, browned potatoes, Mom's Baked Corn, applesauce
- ham and cheese calzones, salad, fruit
- sandwiches on the road
- chicken fajitas, salad, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

- Turkey breast, "Best Ever" Cheesy Grilled Potatoes, Guilty Good Green Beans, strawberries
- hamburgers, salad, potato chips, cookies

What are you cooking up this week?

For more Menu Plan Monday, visit OrgJunkie.

Field Work Friday - Wilbur Chocolate Factory

2013-05-10T16:16:00.003-04:00

We recently headed home to Pennsylvania to visit family. While there, we had a few educational adventures.

One of the very first places we ventured to when we hit Lancaster County was the Wilbur Chocolate Factory. My Nana has been wonderful this year about supporting our homeschooling efforts, and she planned all sorts of fun and educational things for us during our visit. The kids were excited to see a new chocolate locale with their great-grandmother.

The museum was small but full of chocolate making memorabilia from the past. With a gift shop in front and many displays of molds and machines all over, it was fascinating to see just what can be done with chocolate.

In the very back, in front of an impressive display of chocolate pots from around the world, ran a short documentary about how chocolate is made. As you can see, everyone enjoyed this.

The back wall was partially clear and looked into a kitchen, where viewers can watch chocolatiers make houses, high heels, or just about anything else out of chocolate - including fudge. It was fun to watch and see how skilled the women were with their handling of the chocolate - and to see just what they were able to make (seemed like everything).

Of course, no trip to a chocolate museum or factory would be complete without samples. These were available, but even before trying them out, My Little Man found something he just couldn't pass up - a gigantic chocolate dinosaur. He decided that it had his name on it, and he happily counted out part of the money he's been saving to purchase it.

Now that the dino has made it back to the South without melting into a blob, he happily rests beside My Little Man's place at the table. I wonder daily at his will power. If that dino were mine, he'd have been eaten long ago.

What about you? Can YOU leave chocolate alone?

"The Face of the Earth" by Deborah Raney

2013-05-09T20:17:00.002-04:00

When Mitchell Brannon's beloved wife of twenty years kisses him goodbye one autumn morning, he has little idea that his life is about to change forever. Mitch returns from work early that evening, surprised Jill's car isn't in the garage. Her conference in Kansas City is only a few hours' drive from their little town of Sylvia, Missouri. But her voice on the answering machine makes him smile. "Hey, babe, I'm just now checking out of the hotel, but I'll stop and pick up something for dinner. Love you."

Mitch sets the table with their best china and lights some candles, looking forward to their first weekend as empty nesters.

But at eight o'clock, the candles have burned to stubs and Jill still hasn't shown up. Mitch tries her cell phone only to get her voice mail over and over again. Their two college kids haven't heard from their mom either.

At midnight, Mitch's irritation turns to dread. And later, when the police and Missouri Highway Patrol have turned up nothing, the Kansas City hotel calls to say they've found property belonging to Jill in a hotel maid's possession.

Mitch enlists the help of their next-door neighbor, Jill's best friend, Shelley, and together they search for clues to Jill's disappearance. As days turn into weeks and weeks into months, Mitch and Shelley's friendship grows ever closer--and decidedly complicated with Jill as the tie that binds them together. Just when Shelley decides to finally reveal her feelings for Mitch, a clue to Jill's whereabouts is uncovered. But every lead seems to be a dead end, and Mitch wonders how he can honor the vows he made to a woman who has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.

You'll drop off The Face of the Earth the minute you pick up this book because you won't be able to put it down to do anything else until you finish it. Raney does a superb job of drawing the reader into the story from the very first sentence, and the likable characters make this heart-wrenching mystery your own. Unlike some other books I've read this year, however, the drama and sadness is not so intense as to make the book unbearable. Raney strikes just the right chord when painting emotional pictures of the limbo experienced when a loved one goes missing and the serenity one must project when around other people.

The only element I didn't like was a small piece of the romantic dance between Mitch and Shelley. At one point it felt as if they were having the same should we/shouldn't we conversation over and over; I understood their conundrum and wanted to find out the resolution already, but I understand why Raney wrote it as she did. Such a complex issue wouldn't be resolved overnight and would take time and repeated conversations to work through.

Raney ended the book perfectly. While perhaps other endings might be somewhat more realistic, nothing else could complete this work of romantic fiction with quite the same element of satisfaction.

This is one fascinating story.

To read other reviews in this blog hop, click here; or you can go here to purchase your own copy of this book now.

Deborah Raney is the award-winning author of several novels, including "A Nest of Sparrows" and the RITA award winning "Beneath a Southern Sky" and its sequel, "After the Rains". Deborah's first novel, "A Vow to Cherish", was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' highly acclaimed film of the same title, which in December 2004 aired on prime time network TV for the second time. Deb's novella, "Playing by Heart", was a National Readers Choice Award winner and a 2004 Christy Award finalist. Her novel for Howard/Simon & Schuster, "Yesterday's Embers", appeared on the ECPA Christian fiction bestseller list. Known for her sensitive portrayal of family struggles and relationships, Deb has also written nonfiction books and articles and often speaks at women's retreats and writers' conferences around the country. She and her husband, illustrator/author Ken Raney, have four children and make their home in Kansas.

I received a free copy of The Face of the Earth from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

MOTHER SHIP BY MELODY MURRAY

2013-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series—a nine-day celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writers (Tricia Goyer, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Beth Vogt, Lesli Westfall, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND . . . do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful handcrafted pearl necklace and a JOYN India bag. Enter at the bottom of this post. The contest runs 5/4-5/13, and the winner will be announced on 5/14. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info, subscribe to our blog, and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith to help support Pearl Girls™.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother Ship by Melody Murray

Mother Ship (N.) - a ship that serves or carries one or more smaller ships.

Raising two boys in India is quite nice, really. We have monkeys, scooters, plenty of dirt, and mountains. The challenges are comical. I found very quickly on that if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. It’s been an excellent motto for our three years thus far, one I learned shortly after our arrival here in June of 2010.

We’d been in India for just three days when I had my first major meltdown. Our two boys, ages three and four, were sitting in big plastic buckets in our smelly bathroom, covered with mosquito bites, jetlagged as can be. I was frantically pouring cold water over them, trying to scrub off the India grime that had caked on their scrawny little bodies. I was having to hold them like puppy dogs so they wouldn’t scurry out from underneath the cold water. It was a far cry from the sweet, warm, bubbly, happy bath time we’d experienced together for the past four years in the States! Talk about culture shock. They were in shock. I was in shock. I’m sure the neighbors were in shock, too. I’m not sure my boys have ever seen me scream, cry, and stomp that much. Thank God it is just a memory now.

Somehow, by God’s grace, we’ve figured out life here. It looks much different than I had ever thought it would look, especially as a mother. We don’t go to the library, make elaborate crafts, play T-ball, shop at Target, sing in church choir, or take family bike rides. I have had to redefine my ideal upbringing for my children and have had to let go of many expectations. But I’ve managed to grasp hold of a new set of dreams.

My children are global kids. They have an incredible adventure every day. They see the “majority world” firsthand. I think they are some of the most privileged kids I know. I’ve stopped feeling sorry for myself that my kids don’t get to go to ballgames or have a huge tree house or wear cute clothes. Why focus on what I think they’ve lost, only to lose sight of what they’re gaining?

My attitude shift didn’t come easily. I can be quite stubborn. I clung to what I knew and what I thought was “normal” and “right,” as all of us moms do. I’d cry after phone conversations with friends back home who had their children signed up for karate, soccer, and swim lessons, with loads of choices for good schools, churches, and neighborhoods. I had nothing of the sort available for my kids, and I felt bitter and resentful.

But then I slowly began to change. Slowly, after months of getting over culture shock and cold baths, we began to love this place and the people we were with. We began to know them, understand them, become like them. Our community here became our family. Just this week, I’ve been sick with an awful kidney infection, and my living room has been full of my Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian friends, bringing me food, rubbing my feet, playing with my children, washing my dishes. I’ve never experienced community in this way before. My boys are loved so well by so many. And they are learning how to love back, even when it’s not easy.

My attitude shift didn’t come quickly, but when it happened, it took a 180°. I realized how wrong I’d been. These people I live with—their kids don’t have organized sports, church choirs, or fancy vacations either. Their kids aren’t signed up for after-school activities and aren’t becoming multi-skilled elementary school prodigies. Yet, in spite of this, they are content. Like none I’ve ever seen. They love each other. Like none I’ve ever seen. They have very little, yet they have so very much.

In the western world of comparisons and endless striving, I believe we sometimes lose touch of the things we actually care most about. I know most of us moms actually don’t care whether our children are the best at T-ball or whether their crafts look better than the next kid’s. But I think we all care deeply that our kids are loved, and that they know how to love. We all have a common dream that our kids will grow up to be world-changers, to strive for what is right, to love the unloved, to see the world in a different way. These are the deepest dreams of moms. So let’s not forget that the most important things we can give our kids are not the things we can buy them or sign them up for. One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is to give them sails, let them explore new things, meet new people, and learn to make lasting change in this world.

So join me this Mother’s Day. Let’s all be “mother ships,” leading our kids to new adventures, new beginnings, new relationships. Let’s serve and carry our little ones to places they can only dream of, whether it be making dinner for a neighbor, smiling at the homeless man in front of the grocery store, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or moving to India. Let’s take them with us and teach them how to sail.

“A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” —Grace Murray Hopper

In June 2010, an opportunity arose to work with a small needy community in the Himalayas, so David and Melody Murray and their two young boys packed their bags and moved to Rajpur, North India. Mel has grown JOYN, fulfilling her passion to connect artisans with western markets. They now have a diverse and growing team of Americans, Australians, Indians, Tibetans and Nepalis working together to create a community that strives to take care of each other and bring opportunity to as many as they can. Visit her website for more information.

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MY FINAL WORDS TO MY MOTHER BY LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN

2013-05-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

My Final Words to My Mother By Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

The day had come.

My mother lay pressed against her pillow, her skin like baking paper, her limbs disposable chopsticks. She had not moved or spoken for days.

In those last days we rarely left her side, my three siblings and I. Between us we had eleven children, the youngest my newborn, whom we had baptized a week ago right here by my mother’s bedside. The children tumbled and danced around the hospice floor, admonished by us to keep quiet, keep quiet! They had already said their good-byes to Nana. Now it was our turn.

The hospice nurses had told us of the final signs. She will cease to wake, even briefly. Her fingers and toes will turn blue. Her breathing will grow shallow and ragged.

Then we heard it. My mother took a breath. That’s all it was—a sip of air. We knew it was time. We rushed around her, my siblings and I, and all together began to sob.

And this is what I said to my mother before she died: “I’ll be all right, Mommy. Don’t worry. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.”

Not “I love you.” Not “I’ll miss you.” Not “thank you for everything.” Why? I asked myself that night as I cradled my colicky newborn, both of us wailing. Why did I choose that moment to inform my mother of my own well-being? Why did I feel this was the very thing she needed to know as she drew her last breath?

It took me years as a parent to understand: As mothers, that is exactly what we want to know. We want to know our children are safe. We need to know they’ll be all right as they journey into the world without us by their sides.

I don’t know if my mother heard me. But if she did, I hope my final words eased her journey just a hair. That she believed and trusted in my well-being, and then let go.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is the author of Pastors’ Wives, a new novel from Penguin/Plume, and The Ordained, a 2013 CBS drama pilot. Previously, she was a staff writer for Time magazine. Readers can friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter @lisacullen, or visit her website at www.lisacullen.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life on the Road

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

There are seasons of life when you need to say 'no' to things that take you away from home.

There are other seasons that take you on the road.

For the past eleven days, we've been in one of those traveling seasons.

It feels like we've been everywhere, but more importantly, we've seen everyone.

We had the opportunity to see family members whom we rarely get the chance to see - and we were able to spend real quality time with them.

When you life 440 miles apart, that doesn't always happen, which has made this past week even more sweet.

We've made lots of memories, some of which we're eager to share, others which will carry over into our school time for the next few weeks, and all of which we'll carry for a lifetime.

What's a great memory you have with a loved one?

Last week Stephanie at Where He Leads, We Follow shared a post about a great DVD-based art curriculum. We've been looking for one of these, and so it was especially great to read her review. To find out more, visit Where He Leads, We Follow - and Stephanie, please visit our Inspired Wednesday page and take the "I was featured on ~~Washed Up~~ Inspired Wednesdays' button back with you.

THE PURSUIT OF IMPERFECTION BY BETH VOGT

2013-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

The Pursuit of Imperfection by Beth Vogt

In my early mommy-ing years, I was all about perfection. I wasn’t going to be just a good mom—oh, no. I grabbed the virtual performance bar and shoved it way out of my reach.

It didn’t take long for that bar to come crashing down on my head. Perfection was toppled by the harsh reality that, at times, I was an angry mom. I hit my knees and begged God for forgiveness, for patience, for the ability to love my children one day at a time . . . sometimes one hour at a time.

I embraced 1 Peter 4:8: Love covers a multitude of mistakes, even altering it a bit so that it met my need. My version of 1 Peter 4:8 became: Love covers a multitude of mommy-mistakes. There was no way I could pretend that I was perfect, but I could do everything possible so that my children knew that I loved them, despite my imperfections.

Fast forward through toddlers and teenagers to being the mother of a twenty-something son, two late-teen daughters, and one (surprise!) elementary-school-age daughter.

During lunch one day with Katie Beth and Amy, my two oldest daughters, Katie Beth looked at me and asked, “Do you want to know what the best thing was about you as a mom?”

Did I? How could I say no to an unexpected “her children will rise up and call her blessed” moment? I assured Katie Beth I absolutely wanted to know the best thing about me as a mom. She looked at me and said, “The best thing about you as a mom was that you weren’t perfect.”

Oh. I admit I expected something . . . more. I joked with my daughter, telling her I wished she’d told me this sooner, as I wasted too much time trying to be perfect. We all laughed and the conversation moved on.

A few weeks later as a prepared a talk on motherhood and perfection for a moms group, I asked Katie Beth, “Can you tell me again why not being perfect was the best thing about me as a mom?”

She emailed me a letter that read: So many kids grow up thinking their parents are up on this pedestal. They think their parents can do no wrong, but then when they fail at something or make a mistake . . . it can tend to devastate those kids. Also, it taught me that being a Christian does not equal perfection. So many people think because they are a Christian they have to be perfect, and I learned from you that, while you are a very loving mother, you are not perfect. It helps me know you don’t expect me to be perfect.

Our children don’t want perfect moms—but they do want to know we love them. And maybe by admitting we’re not perfect, our kids will avoid the perfectionist trap too.

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best is often behind the doors marked “Never.” After being a nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction, Beth has proudly authored two novels, Wish You Were Here and the newly released Catch a Falling Star. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF BY TRICIA GOYER

2013-05-06T22:41:00.000-04:00

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

History has a Way of Repeating Itself by Tricia Goyer

Forty years ago a single, young woman was about to give birth. She didn’t know how she could afford a child without her parents’ help. She hadn’t talked to her former boyfriend in months. She had no idea how to reach him, how to tell him she was having his child.

This young woman attended church some, yet her dialogue with God was stilted. How could God let this happen to her? What would her life be like now? A baby girl was born, and upon holding her child this young lady knew things would be okay. Perhaps this baby was a gift, not a burden as she supposed.

This woman raised her daughter the best she could, and while she wanted to give her child more than she had . . . history has a way of repeating itself. When the daughter became a young woman, she found herself in the same situation—living at home, pregnant and scared.

The daughter knew she could raise this child. After all, her mom had done it. But what would her life be like? How could God let this happen to her? If you haven’t guessed already. I was the daughter born to a single mom and as a teenager became a single mom myself. At age 17, God gave me a son. My boyfriend was out of the picture, and I faced raising a child alone with little education, no money and, maybe according to the world, little hope for my future.

Now if you take this story at face value, I am nothing more than a statistic. According to government research, most daughters of young mothers will be teen mothers themselves. They face lives of hardship, living on welfare for the most part — becoming a burden rather than an asset to society.

Yet, I am not a statistic. Why? Because God doesn’t do them.

As a 17-year-old pregnant teenager I prayed a simple prayer, “God, I have messed up my life big time. If you can do anything with it, please do.” I dedicated my life and my heart to him and things changed. I had hope in my heart and I started walking God’s way. God brought an amazing, Christian man into my life. John was a wonderful husband and a father to my son. When had a daughter and another one on the way, God did something else unexpected. He gave me the desire to write books.

This Mother’s Day, my heart is filled with thanksgiving. I’m thankful for my mother who chose life for me. I’m thankful that when I questioned my future, God gave me hope.

History has a way of repeating itself in families, but even more important that our history of mess-ups is God’s history of setting things right. God has a history of seeing something no one else does . . . like seeing a king in a shepherd boy named David, seeing an apostle in a young zealot named Paul, and seeing a mighty warrior in a frightened nobody named Gideon. God’s X-ray eyes see right through any outward characteristics or national statistics. His X-ray eyes scan down to the heart.

Where have you felt you’ve fallen short of God’s perfect plan? Trust that God’s dream is to turn a mess-up into a miracle. He’s a BIG God with BIG dreams. A God who has made an agreement with us that is eternal, final, and sealed. A God who is strong in our weakness. A God who sees the future, sees the past and has a perfect plan for me . . . and for you. It’s something we can all be thankful for.

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

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