Would you Go?

Ruth 1:16 “But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

Ruth intrigues me. She always has. She is one of my favorite Bible people. What kind of a woman would leave everything she ever knew to go with her mother-in-law, of all people, to live out the rest of her life.  This says a couple of things to me.

1. That Naomi must have been an awesome Mother-In-Law and cared for her daughter-in-laws very much.
2. Ruth was a very loyal and loving daughter-in-law.

Ruth also makes me think about myself. Would I be willing to give up everything I knew for the love of another?  I’ve often thought of this. But then I realize that God asks us to follow after Him everyday. He doesn’t always ask us to give up everything or everyone in our lives but there may come a time when it is necessary to make a choice like that. Would you be willing to do it?

It’s honestly hard to say, isn’t it? But think about it for a minute. Should you? Could you?  Would you? The first two I can answer for you. Yes you should and yes you could but that last question is the kicker. Would you? 

This question makes me think of the missionaries of the past and the ones that are serving today. They answered the questions all with a yes. They willingly gave up their lives so that they can serve the Lord somewhere else. Somewhere that they are being used to minister to those that need to know about Jesus and what he did for us.

Think about it pray about it. Would you go if God told you to go?  Would you give up everything just for Him?

Halloween Pics

I know its almost Thanksgiving and I am just now posting Halloween pics. I am trying to find my groove. Blogging and taking care of everything is hard. But I am determined to make sure I find at least one time during the week that I can write. But anyway, on to the subject at hand.

The girls decided on a theme this year. It wasn’t on purpose they just all wanted to be a character from Star Wars.

Drama Queen as a Jedi Padawan (aka Jedi in training)

Princess as Princess Leia

Boo as Queen Amidala

And all three together:

  

Blackberry Update

Well good news on the Blackberry front. I found the piece that needs to be replaced and it only cost me $5. Amazing huh. So as soon as the part arrives and it is replaced I will have my blackberry back again. I certainly do miss it. I can’t wait to have my contacts list back and to get rid of this cheap temporary phone. lol  Here is a pic of my blackberry at the moment.

Soon we shall be united once again.

Make Your Own Pizza Night

I decided to shake things up a bit at home and let the girls each make their own pizza. They each like a little something different so why not. Instead of buying pizza crusts we did mini pizza’s using English muffins. It was a version that my mother made for my sister and I when we were teens and I’m not sure where she got the idea from. But here is our version and the recipe.

Here is what you will need:

• English Muffins
• Spaghetti/Marinara sauce
• Toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, cheese, olives, or whatever you like)
• Baking sheet or stone.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut open the English muffins. Each one will make two mini pizza’s.
3. Spoon on the sauce.
4. Add your favorite toppings.
5. Put into the oven for about 10 minutes.
6. Enjoy.

Here are ours. Drama Queen is a very picky eater and doesn’t like the sauce so hers ends up being just English muffin and cheese. lol

Try it out and enjoy.

Ode to my Blackberry

Oh blackberry, what will I do without you.

You were there for my every call.

You brought a joy to my life through texting.

You kept my children’s pictures.

You had my high scores.

Without you life will not be the same.

You carried around my life.

My schedule was kept in your calendars memory.

You kept me on time.

My contacts were at the touch of a button.

When my hands were full I could tell you what I needed and you called the right person (most of the time).

OH blackberry I will miss you so.

Review: Limelight by Melody Carlson

Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.
Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

 

My Review:

At first I was a bit bored through the beginning of the book. For several reasons (1) The main character is in her 80’s and I just couldn’t connect to that age group, (2) The story moved really slow in the beginning, and (3) the main character was very stuck up and snobby. I just don’t like that character flaw. But as I pushed through you see the changes that this character makes.

She goes through some tough circumstances and as she reflects on her past and works through her present situation you see so much more. It was a good story once I got into it and I enjoyed it immensly. Melody has proven herself an excellent writer once again.

To purchase a copy of this book click on the cover image above.

*Book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review*

What Matter’s Most by Melody Carlson

Summary:

Maya’s Green Tip for the Day: Recycled fashion is one of the most fun ways to go green. A pair of jeans could be transformed into a denim skirt. A sweater into a vest. A bunch of old ties into a dress. A blanket into a poncho. Accessorize it in new way–with beads, buttons, appliqués, buckles, stencils, or ribbons…your imagination is only the limit. (65 words)

Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.
To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

Review:

I thought this was a cute story of a teenage girl. It is definitely geared for older teens. But it is something that I would love for my girls to read once they are in their older teen years. It talks about following after God’s will for your life and living in his perfect will. Not many books especially for teens talk about that. This one I enjoyed because it infused God’s word into the story. If you have older teens (15 and up) I think this would be a good fit for them.

To find out how to purchase this book click on the cover image above.

*Book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing*

Important Things

Recently my oldest daughter came up to me and said “mom you do some really important things.” I started thinking about what she said and she is right.

What she fails to realize is that the things that she thinks are important are not the important things that I really do. The most important thing I could ever do is raise my children to hear God’s voice, listen to what he says and follow after His will for their lives. It’s not all the writing that I do, its not the work around the house. Those things are not important at all if I am not teaching my children to follow after God.

The Bible says in Proverbs that we are to “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) If we teach our children how to walk in God’s will and how to pray and read the Word our children will grow up knowing how to live out their lives following after God. It’s amazing if you really think about it. It’s also a BIG responsibility that He has given to us. However, He has also prepared us for that job we just need to follow His will for our lives.

Review: Ted Dekker’s “Green”

At Last . . . The Circle Reborn

 

The story of how Thomas Hunter first entered the Black Forest and forever changed our history began at a time when armies were gathered for a final battle in the valley of Migdon. Green is a story of love, betrayal, and sweeping reversals set within the apocalypse. It is the beginning: the truth behind a saga that has captured the imagination of more than a million readers with the Books of History Chronicles.

 

But even more, Green brings full meaning to the Circle Series as a whole, reading as both prequel to Black and sequel to White, completing a full circle. This is Book Zero, the Circle Reborn, both the beginning and the end. The preferred starting point for new readers . . . and the perfect climax for the countless fans who’ve experienced Black, Red, and White.

As my husband is a huge Ted Dekker fan and I have a lot of reviews on my plate this month my husband read and reviewed this book for me.

Green is described as an ending and a beginning to the Circle Trilogy (Black, Red & White), and after reading it, I would lean more towards an ending. If you’ve read the Circle Trilogy, then this wraps up all the loose ends. If you haven’t, then read them first. I also recommend picking up Showdown by Ted as well; it will bring clarity for sure.

 

Green starts with both worlds of the Circle Trilogy going strong. On “past” Earth, 30 years have past and on “future” Earth, only 10. Thomas’ group; the Circle, are facing their toughest challenge ever; and it is not from the Horde. In the past, Kara and Monique struggle with the one obstacle that stumbles many, family.

 

Green is an edge of your seat ride. All of the characters who were present from White are back, and the introduction of new ones make for some fun, and sometimes scary, read. It’s Ted Dekker, he has the skill to take us from light to darkness, and drop us right back into the lap of God; and we enjoy the ride in between.

                                                                               ~Andy

 

To find out how to purchase a copy of Green click on the image of the book above.

*Book provided for review by Thomas Nelson*

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.
Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.
Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

Review:

This was a great book. Piper learns the importance of not running from her past. Being afraid of what people think is something many people struggle with yet they live with guilt over things because they never admit to their wrongdoings. Piper has to learn what was most important to her. Her image or living a life of honesty.

It was a fun read and the first book I’ve read from this author. I will definitely look into reading more of her books.

 

To find out how to purchase a copy of this book click on the image above.

*Book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.*