Book Review: The Healing Quilt by Wanda Brunstetter

Recently, I was invited to read and review Wanda Brunstetter's latest novel, The Healing Quilt.  I found it to be a quick and easy read, but interesting enough that I didn't want to put it down.  Of course, that seems to be my tendency when it comes to books...

I've not read any of the other Half-Stitched Quilting Club books by Brunstetter, but I didn't find that to be a problem as I easily settled into the lives of Emma and Lamar Miller, Amish snowbirds from Indiana who spent their winters in Florida {and, can I just pause for a minute to smile at that?  I'm from Indiana, and currently live in Florida, not too far from where the Millers call their winter home}.  

The Millers teach a quilting class that attracts a variety of people, each one bringing another layer to the overall story as they try to figure out life and work through their own tough circumstances.  I found the characters all to be very believable, and somehow they all fit into the pattern of the story, even though they were all quite different.  

The plot of the story was a bit predictable, but as I've already mentioned, it didn't stop me from finishing the entire book in a day's time.  I managed to also get laundry and dishes done, as well as cooking meals for my family.  Amazing!  I really enjoyed reading this- enough that I will read more of Brunstetter's work and see if my local library has any of the other Half-Stitched Quilting Club books!

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of The Healing Quilt by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Even if He does not...

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” {Daniel 3:16-18}

This past Sunday, we studied the beginning of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the blazing furnace.  As I reflected on this story prior to the sermon, the overriding theme from my memory that stood out to me was, "Yay! God did it!  Stupid Nebuchadnezzar threw them into a fire and they escaped, without injury- or even the smell of smoke.  Isn't it cool how God shows up in those circumstances?"

But this past Sunday, we didn't get that far.

This past Sunday, we stopped before the three amigos were thrown into the furnace. 

In case you don't know the background of the story, King Nebuchadnezzar created golden idols that he wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship "at the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music".  But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego loved God and refused to worship Nebby's idols.  The consequence for such disobedience was clearly described upfront- those who refused to bow would be thrown into a blazing furnace.  So picture a huge crowd of people, bowing and worshiping the idols, yet here stand these three men.  They refuse to bow.  And so, they face the consequence... the furnace.

Just before they are to be thrown in, Nebuchadnezzar gives them another opportunity to bow.  I mean, maybe they misunderstood or didn't take the cue from the multitudes.  But, no thanks, they say.  We won't bow.

Can you imagine what must be going through their minds?  They know they're doing the right thing, refusing to worship idols, but... they're human.  It's going to hurt to be burned alive.  Even if it's for God, and it's right, it's not going to be pleasant to watch your skin melt off.

Yet, they tell Nebuchadnezzar they won't bow.  What's more, they tell him that they don't even need to defend themselves to him because their God is able to deliver them from the fire.  And even if He does not, nothing changes.  They still won't bow.  They will still follow Him.

Even if He does not.

He is able, but that is no guarantee.  What if He doesn't want to?  What if His plans are different?  What if His glory is better achieved by not delivering us from our circumstances?  What if His story is better played out in our struggles than our victory?

What then?

Will I still love Him?  Will I still serve Him?  Will I still trust that His words are true?  Will I still believe that He. is. good.?

You see, I am in a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego place right now.  I have been trusting, believing, and waiting for God to answer a prayer for three and a half long years.  I know that He wants me to want Him more than I want His provision for my request.  And most days, I live there.  

But what if He never comes through?  

Yes, He is able.  

And yet, I might never "get what I want" from Him.

What then?  

After much wrestling and many tears, I have come to this conclusion:
God is able to answer my every prayer and heart's deepest longings, but even if He doesn't, I will still love Him, trust Him, and believe that He is good.

No matter what.

As I struggled through this, I came across this passage from a book I read a little over a year ago.  I think it speaks to this concept...

I’m not kidding when I say the ‘mess’ of American Christianity.  Prosperity teaching, this moralistic deism, business deal theology has soaked into the very fabric of Christianity somehow.  And... people believe that when bad things happen to them, that God is not keeping His end of the bargain.  That He is betraying them, screwing them over.  This Americanized God wants everyone to be wealthy, happy, prosperous, and well-tanned, and if you’ll just be good, then he’ll keep anything bad from happening to you.  He will make your business prosper.  Your kids will be healthy and cool and successful.  You’ll have designer clothes.  Everything will be comfortable and nice and peachy, your promised land will eventually come.  

But what if your promised land- whatever you think that means- doesn’t come?  What if your kids get sick?  What if you have a nightmare in your past that haunts you?  What if you lose your job?  What if your wife dies of cancer and all of the ‘promises’ come crashing around you?  What happens to you then?

I’ll tell you what happens- you get angry.  You get really bitter deep down.  You feel like you’ve been betrayed.  Like God hasn’t kept His end of the bargain.  That He’s a liar.  Maybe you walk away from your faith.  You didn’t get what you wanted- what you thought you deserved.  So God can’t be trusted, and you’re out.

But what if I told you God never said those things?  That there never was a business deal that would make your life perfect here on earth?  That, in fact, God says that things are going to be hard- really hard.  That there is going to be pain, hardship, suffering, death and sickness and loss.  That this is a desperately broken world because of sin.  That He has promised to restore all things, to wipe sin and death and tears from the world and create a new heaven and earth for those reconciled to Him.  But that time is not here yet! Heaven will never be fully on earth because this is still a busted, sinful place.

There is no quicker way to become angry and bitter than believing things about God that He has never said about Himself.  And what’s worse, when people do this, they are treating God like a genie in a bottle.  Three wishes and He gives you what you want.  It’s essentially turning God into a product.  The cosmic vending machine of the American dream.  A means to an end, a measly errand boy to fetch what you really want.

But He is not a personal magic genie to make you rich and successful.  He is not your rabbit’s foot or your good luck charm or the next product to get what you want in life.  He is God, and you’ve been taught to treat Him like a butler!  A self-help product to get you a better marriage, a better financial portfolio, or a more prosperous life.

And here is the saddest part:  not only are people trusting in lies that will leave them bitter and angry- they are looking right past the real thing to the fool’s gold.  They are missing the truth- You get God!  Don’t you see?  You get Him!  He is the promised land!  He is the reward!  He is the prize!  The giver that people prostitute is the gift!  You get Him... you get Him to be there with you when bad things happen.  You get His peace when you lose your job or someone gets really sick.  You get His presence- His presence that tells you no matter how bad things are, that He is there, that He knows, that He’s got you.  You get to hear Him say that He hates these effects of sin as much as you do, and that He is making all things new.  God offers you something better than that pipe dream- He offers you Himself.  His presence through everything.  There is no promised land without God- you would have every good thing that exists, but you’d still be miserable without Him.  

In the cross, God has proven once and for all that He is good and that He is for your good.  No circumstance of life can ever change that.  God’s goodness is not dependent on your circumstances, and faithfulness does not magically guarantee external blessings or an easy, comfortable life.  It may very well bring hardship and persecution- something the American church knows nothing about. Well-meaning, everyday people... are being misled by these false beliefs.  It’s an epidemic.  An epidemic.  The theology of suffering in most of American Christianity is pretty pathetic.


- Brandon Clements, Every Bush is Burning

Social Media and Parenting

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about social media and its effect on our lives.  I've come to the conclusion that it's a necessary evil- no matter how much you don't want to like it or choose not to participate in it, it is here.  And not only is it here in the sense that I can log onto Facebook and be filled in on the latest details in the lives of my 531 "friends", but it is also a part of the business world.  From the grocery store's Facebook page or app with coupons and recipes to restaurants rewarding customers who "check in" during lunch to the clothing posting special coupons *just* for its' Facebook fans, social media has permeated our entire culture.

"So what?" you might be thinking.  "What does it matter?" you might wonder.  Especially as a mom, I've been taken aback by the potential impact that all of this technology will undoubtedly have on our children.  As a recent CNN article states, "Children grow up learning that posting pictures of one's self and sharing personal information is typical. We've created a sense of normality about a world where what's private is public. The sense of being entitled to privacy has been devalued.  And our children will never have known a world without this sort of exposure. What does a worldview lacking an expectation of privacy mean for the rest of society?  The founders of our Constitution could not have imagined a democracy in which our physical movements are tracked by cell phones, our personal correspondence is scanned for key words by corporations and we willingly surrender our reading lists and fleeting private thoughts.  It's an arrangement we've made not just for ourselves but for our children, as well."

A couple of years ago, I found myself bombarded with posts on my Facebook news feed filled with complaints.  I remember thinking to myself, "Do these people not know the difference between a status update and a private journal?"  I mean, seriously, most of the people on your friends list don't care about the pimple on your nose, the traffic on the interstate, or the latest drama with your ex.  However, the complaints that stuck out to me were those about children.  Some moms seem to do nothing but gripe about the difficulty of being a parent.  Yes, of course, at first, I felt a sense of camaraderie toward friends who were up all night with a fussy baby or had to leave a restaurant with a too-hyper toddler.  We've all been there.  I think we can all agree that motherhood is not for sissies.  But how much complaining is too much?  How far is too far?  Is there a line out there that should never be crossed?

Yep.  Found it.  Enter the Tumblr, Reasons My Son is Crying.  At first, I laughed a bit.  I mean, what parent hasn't witnessed a meltdown over something we deem ridiculous or petty?  And yeah, we laugh, because often we find ourselves uncomfortable with the intensity of our child's emotions.  What do you do with a toddler who completely loses it because the sky is blue?  But then, I got really introspective for a moment... surely there have been moments when I have been really upset over something that my husband couldn't understand.  Surely I've cried over something that he thought was no big deal.  How would I feel, as a grown woman, if my husband took a picture of me in the depths of my emotions and started a public blog, "Reasons My Wife is Crying"?  And not only that, but tons of people started reading it and commenting about how ridiculous my feelings are?  And then, as if it couldn't get any worse, it "goes viral" and all of a sudden, my husband is being interviewed on Good Morning America, talking about the time I got really frustrated over a stain on my favorite shirt and bawled my eyes out?  How utterly humiliating would that be? 

I think we forget sometimes that our kids will grow up all too soon, and it won't be that long before they have their own Facebook accounts.  We don't think about how it would feel to read some of the things we've posted about them.  Imagine that your mom passes away, and as you're cleaning out her things, you discover an old journal.  You pull it out of the drawer, blow the dust off of the cover, and as you skim through the pages, you find that it is full of things she wrote when you were a child.  Desperate for a connection with your mom, knowing that you are deep in the trenches of motherhood yourself, you sit back and begin reading, page by page.  Only, instead of the endearing remarks about yourself as a baby, you find nothing but complaints.  Oh sure, there's the occasional, "My sweet baby smiled for the first time today," and the, "I love my baby so much," but the overwhelming tone of the entire journal is about how difficult you were as a child.  How many times she almost lost her mind.  How many times she almost walked away and never looked back.  Can you imagine the devastation?  Now, let's bring it full-circle.  Think about your child as a teenager, curious about what the earlier years were like, looking back through the archived status updates on your Facebook page and finding years of gripes and complaints about the difficulty of motherhood.  But remember- it's not a private journal.  It's a public record, posted for all the world to see.  Of course- maybe your settings are pretty private, but it's still been seen by all of your closest friends.  Pretty devastating to a teenager, don't you think?

Motherhood is hard.  Nothing can prepare you for how much it will stretch you.  You might grow up playing house, thinking about how blissful it will be to rock your babies to sleep and play with your toddlers, and take your preteen shopping.  And yes- it is all kinds of wonderful.  But it. is. hard.  The sleep deprivation alone is enough to make a sane woman mad... in fact, you suddenly understand why it's such a useful torture technique.  Here's the thing: if you're a mom, you get it.  You know.  It's not always sunshine and roses and ponies.  There are days when one of my biggest accomplishments is taking a shower and putting on 'real' clothes. Seriously, though- what have we {or our children} to gain by constantly complaining about it?  Venting is necessary, I've learned, and I encourage you to find a few close friends who welcome you to "let it all out".  But don't do it publicly.

By the time our children are old enough to understand, we've already told the world exactly who we think they are with all of our photos and anecdotes.  We unwittingly form shape opinions about them from those who are on our Facebook friends' list.  Do you really want future employers or friends' parents having a preconceived notion that your child is difficult or rebellious or disrespectful? 

After months of this rolling around in my brain, I made a commitment about my social media activity:  I will not publicly complain about my child.  Period.  Not only do I want to focus on the more positive aspects of my child's personality and the blessings of being his mother, but I have also learned a valuable lesson via social media.  Do not publicly begrudge or complain about something that others would give anything to have.  I have to be cautious not to go too far off topic here, because my thoughts could easily fill another blog post.  However, there are so many women who struggle with the heartbreaking pain of infertility, some publicly and some privately.  And, I can say from personal experience, until a woman has walked the path of infertility, it is impossible to understand the pain that is inflicted by seemingly innocent comments.  While I trust God completely with my body, my life, and my desire to have another child, the fact of the matter is that there are days when I feel like a failure because something that comes so easily to others is difficult for me.  I've also been on the side of the equation where I conceived a child without trying.  Prior to my current struggles, I made so many rude and careless comments and likely hurt so many feelings because it just never occurred to me to think about the feelings of other people who might be struggling with something that came so easily to me at one time.  No more.  I will speak with circumspection, which means that I tailor my words so that they are pleasing to the ears {or eyes, as the case may be} of those who hear {or read} them.

So, my challenge, for those who might read this post: Think carefully before you voice your complaints about your children.  In the best-case scenario, they won't even know to thank you for it one day.

Book Review: Afloat by Erin Healy

Erin Healy's "Afloat" is easily one of the best Christian fiction works I've read in a long time.  Reminiscent of Shaunti Feldhahn's fiction works, this novel does a tremendous job of taking a believable, "real life" story and mixing in supernatural elements throughout the plot.  The plot, in and of itself, is compelling- a cutting-edge housing development, located on the water, begins to literally fall apart as rain and flooding overtake the entire area.  A group of people, from contractors to investors to residents, finds themselves stranded on the island.  As you learn the stories of this motley crew, you are sucked into their world, plopped in the middle of their disaster, and eventually find yourself taking sides as they argue whether or not to leave the safety of the development.  But there is an underlying plot element that continues to rear its head throughout the story: first a child, then various adult characters come into contact with supernatural beings, who issue warnings and promises alike to guide the people through the disaster they face.  

I will say that this book took me a bit to completely get into.  At the beginning, I had a lot of "HUH?!" moments, but it didn't take long for the elements to come together in my mind, and quickly become a page-turner that kept me up way past my bedtime.  Healy has done such a great job with this novel that I was able to forgive the slow start.  By the end of the book, I was holding my breath and rooting for the characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested, and I am so grateful to Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Review: Stress Test by Richard Mabry

Once again, Richard Mabry has done a great job with a medical thriller that hooked me from the first few paragraphs.  Oftentimes, when starting a book, I have to read a couple of chapters before I can get "into" the story.  Not the case with Mabry's writings- and Stress Test is no exception!

The story begins by introducing the reader to Dr. Matt Newman, a likable, ordinary guy who is in the process of moving to the next stage of his life- a less-stressful job means finally moving forward in his current romantic relationship with a woman who might be "the one".  As Newman finishes up his last shift, he is abducted in the parking garage.  Knowing that the abductors intend to murder him, he risks everything to escape- a move that gains his freedom but results in a cat-and-mouse game which includes his being framed for murder.  He is connected with Sandra Murray, an attorney who willingly accepts the challenge to exonerate him from false charges.  

Throughout this fast-paced novel, I found myself feeling a connection to the characters.  It contains just enough medical jargon to be entirely believable {which should be expected when the author's name is followed by M.D., right?! ;)} and the description of legal proceedings was consistent and accurate.  Excellent job, Dr. Mabry!

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity from Thomas Nelson Publishing to read and review this book, as I have all of Mabry's previous writings.  I was not encouraged to write a positive review- in fact, honestly, I recommend it highly!

Book Review: A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl

I love a good murder mystery, and so when Thomas Nelson Publishing offered me an opportunity to read and review Lis Wiehl's "A Matter of Trust", I jumped at the opportunity.  I was quite pleased with the book, and feel certain I've found a new author to follow.

As you can read in the description, the book is about a prosecutor who faces the task of solving the murder of her closest friend- which she also 'witnessed' over the phone.  Mia Quinn is a likable, believable character who most people can relate to on at least one level.  I found myself getting so "into" the story that I experienced the emotional rollercoaster that Mia rode through the entire book.  

I was thankful to discover that "A Matter of Trust" is a series debut, because there are several characters and minor plot elements that are mostly well-developed, but not fully resolved in the course of this novel.  I felt as though I was missing part of the resolution- then I realized that it might be several books before I understand the introduction of some characters.  

Through the twists and turns of the plot, the "whodunit?" question that keeps circling, and the relatability of this young mom, recently widowed, who must keep too many plates spinning, Wiehl has written an excellent story that kept me interested from the first moments of reading.  I look forward to reading the rest of the Mia Quinn series! 

{Disclaimer: I was offered the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  Any opinions expressed in this review are mine, and not at all influenced by the publisher.}

Book Review: Prayers of a Stranger - Davis Bunn

As someone who has struggled with infertility issues, I was so very torn on whether or not to read and review this book when offered the opportunity by the publisher.  I knew that it had the potential to either wound my heart or heal it.  After a deep, shuddering breath, I opted to read it.  I'm glad that I did.  I have not suffered the loss of a child, but I know the heartache that comes from longing so deeply for a child and feeling like a failure when you cannot make it happen.

In this story, Amanda Vance struggles deeply after losing a child while pregnant.  She is so deeply affected by her loss that she can no longer work as a nurse with newborn babies.  She plods through life, but each day is a struggle.  Her relationship with her husband suffers as they both experience heart-wrenching grief, and no longer know how to relate to one another.  Then, one day, through a swirl of divinely-orchestrated circumstances, she is invited to travel to the Holy Land.  What happens there forever changes her perspective on God, on life, and on her struggles.  As she helps to heal a child in need, her heart begins a new stage of healing.

I highly recommend reading Davis Bunn's "Prayers of a Stranger"... no matter where you are in life, it will touch you.

{Disclaimer: This novel was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review; all opinions expressed herein are sincerely my own.} 

Book Review: Arms of Love by Kelly Long

I recently had the opportunity to review Kelly Long's Amish Beginnings novel, Arms of Love.  As I think I've recently mentioned, I have really enjoyed the Amish genre lately, and Ms. Long's book is no exception!  This was a really great story, and I found myself completely wrapped up in the plot, and feeling like I was a part of the characters' lives.  

Without any spoilers, I'll give a brief summary:  the book begins with main character Adam Wyse making a promise to his neighbor, who is great with child and feels that God has told her that she will not survive the birth of her fourth child.  This neighbor is also the mother of the young woman, Lena Yoder, who Adam loves dearly.  The promise he makes will break his heart as he faces tough decisions regarding his faith and the civil war.  Adam is a good man with a sincere heart who is often overlooked because of his intellectual brother, whose greatest desire is to become a bishop.  Revelations from not only Adam's past, but that of his father, will shape the eventual outcome of this story.

I was unfamiliar with Kelly Long before reading this book, but I'm so glad that I made the choice to read and review!  She's an excellent writer, and I am already looking at reading some of her other novels.  A great feature at the end of the story is a Reading Group Guide... whether or not I have the opportunity to read this with a group, I do plan on spending some time reviewing and answering the questions on my own.

Five star read- highly unpredictable, and highly recommended!  Thanks to the publisher for providing the book in exchange for my honest review!

Faith and Other Flat Tires - Andrea Palpant Dilley - A Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review Andrea Palpant Dilley's Faith and Other Flat Tires. The title causes the mind to wander a bit, and I suppose a prospective reader would assume the book was: 
 a- an atheistic view of why Christianity doesn't work 
or, 
b- the usual, expected, "I followed Jesus, this horrible event happened, I was mad at God, but now this good event has happened or this person has come into my life and therefore, I've come full circle and love Him more than ever."

Neither option sounds especially appealing to me. The first, because I do follow Jesus, and it does work. The second, because I know that not every follower's story wraps up so neatly with a bow on top. Life is messy and hard and doesn't always resolve in less than 400 pages. 

 I was pleasantly surprised to read this coming-of-age story that did not come full-circle. The author is by no means old, but has written this memoir of her life thus far. Her parents spent time as missionaries in Kenya, and the horrific experiences they witnessed are not lost on Andrea, even as a child. She lives her life, feeling like she does not fit in anywhere... that when she is in Kenya, she doesn't "belong", but when she returns to the States, she doesn't really feel that she belongs, because she has spent so much of her life out of the country. We travel with her from the point of childhood blind faith, through her teenage years and removing the "Jesus fish" from the back of her car, into adulthood, where she realizes that life is not like a Hallmark Channel movie. To expect things to be neat and orderly and sensible removes the humanity from life. Andrea deals with serious doubt, and at the end of the book, she still lacks answers. 

 I enjoyed reading this book, and {like most of her readers, I would imagine} found myself in the pages of the story. I caught glimpses of my life, and related to Andrea on many levels. I am typically not a memoir-reading kind of gal, but truly enjoyed the stories she included. I recommend this book for those seeking and doubting and lacking answers. Will it solve anything for you? Probably not. But, it will remind you that you are not alone.

Book Review: Faithful to Laura by Kathleen Fuller

I recently finished reading "Faithful to Laura" by Kathleen Fuller. I enjoy the Christian Amish/Mennonite genre, and so when I had the opportunity to read and review "Faithful to Laura", I willingly jumped at the chance! Fuller does not disappoint in this novel. To my knowledge, I've never read any of her writings previously, but I will keep my eye out for her books from now on. She has this great way of describing the characters, and you actually feel like you know them by the time you get halfway through the book. I adored the story of Sawyer and Laura, and how they find common ground to connect and form a relationship. Both come from outside the community, and struggle with fitting in for different reasons. They have lots of baggage, but once each can convince the other to trust, Sawyer and Laura find that they're not so different. One thing I appreciated about this novel was how respectful the author was of the characters' relationships with God. The Amish tend to have a quiet faith, from my understanding, and while Fuller certainly included plenty of tidbits and anecdotes about the character's spiritual lives, she didn't go overboard or attempt to proselytize in this story. {And, so that you understand my perspective, I am a follower of Jesus... I just get frustrated sometimes when authors make faith seem so simple and easy and concrete. It's not.} I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book, which was provided to me by the publisher. Any opinions expressed are my own, and I did not receive any compensation for this review.

The Choice - Robert Whitlow - A Review

Three or so years ago, when I first got an iPhone, I downloaded the Kindle app and set out to find free books that were actually GOOD. A challenge, for sure. After a good bit of searching, I found a free legal thriller {Christian genre} by Robert Whitlow. I read it in a day or two, and immediately set out to purchase the other two books in the series. It was SO good! Since that time, I peruse the free Christian fiction offerings to see if Whitlow has any new freebies, but have yet to find any others. Fast-forward to a few days ago- I was given the opportunity to read and review Whitlow's book, The Choice. Super psyched! It was a digital version, so I had immediate access to it, and managed to read it in three days. I adore Whitlow's writings, because it's deep, personal, and full of action. I always find a personal connection with the characters, and Sandy {the main character in The Choice} proved to be no exception. Whitlow is obviously no stranger to the legal world, as he is a practicing attorney in North Carolina. He infuses just the right amount of accurate information without overloading the reader with confusing legal jargon. I recommend The Choice without reservation. The only negative criticism I might offer is that the plot's a tad predictable... or perhaps I'm just intuitive? Either way, you'll find yourself hooked into the plot from the beginning, cheering for and crying with the characters, and before you know it, you'll be like me- on the search for another great read from Robert Whitlow. {This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a review. Any opinions expressed are original and my own.}

Outlive Your Life - Max Lucado - A Review

We only have one life to live. It's really sobering when you realize that we only get one chance at this life we've been given, and each decision you make on a daily basis is building the legacy you'll leave, piece by piece. I received a copy of Max Lucado's book, Outlive Your Life, to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishing. To be honest, it took a while to read the book, because I knew that I could fly through the book and not allow the content to penetrate my heart and life- but that's not what I wanted! I was determined to soak in every tidbit of theological truth, as well as each great story or anecdote that so perfectly helps me to apply the theological truths. It's so helpful to realize that God doesn't just call the extraordinary to do His work on Earth... in fact, if you follow Jesus, He will use you wherever you are for His purposes. God has planted you where you are purposefully, not arbitrarily. It's a good reminder to me that nothing in this life is without purpose. God uses all of it! This book follows the same general writing style that Lucado uses in all of his other books... it's a bit, errr, fluffy, if you will, but the fluff is not without purpose. If you're looking for highly intellectual, deeply theological writings, then Outlive Your Life probably isn't for you. But that doesn't mean that the book isn't good! We all have our preferences, and I know that even my own preferences vary from day to day. As the mother of a preschooler, I don't always have the time or mental capacity for a book that requires me to figure out word meanings as I read... this book is an easy read with tons to absorb and apply. In fact, I think I'll read it again...

Great Gifts *Giveaway Link*

I don't know about you, but I love finding *THE* perfect gift. However, I am not extremely successful an absolute failure at it... So, I generally resort to the practical and necessary. Not exciting, but hey- better than forgetting, right? I happened to stumble across a new blog this morning, because they're having a giveaway for a Linksys EA4500 wireless router. This would actually be not only a great Father's Day gift for my hubby, but also a necessary one. Our router has been acting up for a while now, causing annoyances all the time! He'd be thrilled, I'm sure... He is certainly a Geek Dad! :) If you'd like to enter to win the contest, you can do so right here! May the geekiest dad win!

choices do not always equal judgment

This morning I read a blog from one of my favorite mom bloggers, and it resonated with me on many levels.  The gist of the blog {in case you don't want to read the entire thing} was about the "trend of deriding those bloggers who write anything considered "alternative". They are accused of being holier-than-thou, of judging others, of making others feel bad about their lives, of presenting an impossible image, and above all, of pretending to have the perfect life".  


Wow.  After writing a blog about "mompetition" and some areas where I needed to be less competitive, I was accused of being judgmental and making them feel bad about their parenting choices.  In hindsight, though I wrote that blog with no intention of hurting feelings, I can see how the tone might have come across as haughty.  I shared some things that I'm passionate about, and how I need to be less judgmental about  my choices.  Yet, I was still accused of judging by saying I needed to judge less.  If you can possibly understand that, God bless you. {can you send me an email and explain it to me?}


You see, after years of community in an online group of friends {we connected on a parenting website when we were all pregnant with our first children}, I decided to be really transparent about an area where I was struggling.  Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the path that conversation would ultimately take.  To make a very long, emotionally damaging story short, several of the ladies {who I would've referred to as some of my closest friends, albeit only in the virtual world} began ripping me apart, limb from limb, accusing me of being judgmental and opinionated for sharing some of my choices {breastfeeding, choosing not to fully vaccinate, attachment parenting, not taking narcotic meds after a c-section because I didn't want to endanger my breastfeeding or bonding relationship with my newborn}.  One gal even went as far as to say that I was "without tact".  I was absolutely heartbroken, and it rocked me to the core of my being.  


In "real life", I had never been accused of being judgmental or opinionated.  I really contemplated why, and determined two things: one, the written word can often be read in a different tone than it was originally intended; and two, perhaps I feel a greater freedom to share about my decisions when I'm writing {not getting interrupted every two sentences is empowering! ha!}.  


I love what a commenter wrote on the original blog I mentioned.  She said that the "crunchy" life choices tend to be more research-based.  I'd never thought about it that way.  But yes- I do tons of research about practically every decision I make {from parenting to food purchases to laundry detergent}.  So, when I make a decision, I feel a great deal of certainty {granted, any decision as a mom is subject to change at any given moment!}.  Perhaps, then, when I share about a choice I've made, it comes across as being haughty or proud {in a negative way}, because I am so certain after doing hours of research.


We all have the privilege and responsibility of doing our own research and making our own decisions.  When reading about other people {especially other moms} and their choices, we would all do well {myself included} to refrain from assuming malicious intent.  So hard.


So, what about you?  Have you been accused of being judgmental when you share a decision?  Have you ever been in a situation where you were offended by someone else's certainty?

lessons from broccoli.

One of the many things that I love about Jesus is how He related to the people of His day using stories {we call them parables}.  He used the things of everyday life, such as farming, to help people relate to Biblical truth.  All throughout the Gospels {Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John}, we see Jesus speaking in story form.  I think we all could stand to learn from His easy, conversational way of relating to others... regardless of beliefs about spiritual matters.  Instead of attempting to work so many "churchy" words and phrases into our sentences, we would have greater influence if we were just... real.  Being salt and being light {what Jesus said we should be like in this world} is less about words and more about relationships.  The most effective way to share the love of Christ is organic... it's natural, it's based on building relationships with people.

I find that God speaks to me through stories.  He uses the simplest, most ordinary things to reinforce the truths that I've read in His Word.  In the stillness, in the chaos that is my life, in the midst of laundry and dishes and potty breaks, {even as I type this, I had to pause when I heard, "Mommy... I need to go potty!"}He speaks.  Today, I want to share with you how God used broccoli.

Several weeks ago, we decided to try growing broccoli.  Let me explain how our first attempt at container gardening was a complete flop didn't go exactly as we'd hoped.  We bought tons of containers, planted all kinds of things, watered and fed the plants as we were supposed to, and harvested a crop {i.e., 3} potatoes the size of marbles.  I'm pretty sure that one pest or another {I'm learning to LOATHE snails} gobbled up any hopes of other vegetables we'd hoped to eat from our garden.  So, I suppose you could say I/we were less than optimistic about the outcome of our little broccoli-planting venture.  

Within a week or ten days, our broccoli plant began to grow... bigger, and bigger, and bigger.  On our front porch is this huge, beautiful, healthy-looking broccoli plant.  There was only one small problem... despite its huge green leaves, it lacked one single head of broccoli.  Oh, it was beautiful, and it gave me hope that we would actually get to eat the fruits... er, vegetables, of our labor.  Walt has been faithfully watering the plant and watching after it, and while it appeared to be "working", without a head of broccoli, all of his work was in vain.  What's the use in putting hours into a vegetable plant that has only leaves and no vegetables?

About 19 months ago, we started asking God to grant a specific request for our family.  While I know that God has heard my request, He has not yet answered in the way I've expected.  I am thankful that the power of a prayer is in the One who hears it, not the one who says it.  Not a day has gone by that I haven't pleaded with God for this one thing.  During an especially meaningful time with God a couple of months ago, I felt Him whisper to my heart, "I want you to want Me most."  So, perhaps, He has not answered this prayer the way I'd hoped because He just wants my heart to be completely His, completely surrendered to whatever He wants for my life.  As I poured my heart out to a friend, she imparted a bit of wisdom that wasn't lost on me.  She said, "Perhaps this is the way you learn trust. Not saying it's easy. Nothing worth it ever is."

Yesterday morning, we woke up and were going about our normal routine when Walt {who I thought had already gone to work!} came into Caleb's room.  He handed me his phone, which had a picture on it, and said, "We have broccoli!" 

Lo and behold, our broccoli plant is starting to sprout heads of broccoli!  




Oh, no, they're not huge, and we definitely have a while before they're edible.  

But we. have. broccoli.  

That's the main point.

All of Walt's hard work, all of our waiting, is paying off.  

I was thinking about our impending broccoli success while unloading the dishwasher this afternoon, when God said to me, "You know this other thing that you've been asking Me about?"  


I dried off another cup... "mmhmm?"


"Give it time.  Give Me time.  Let Me work.  What I'm doing, it's far bigger, it's so much more than you can imagine, and it's going to take time.  Trust Me."


And, so I will.  Because He. is. good.

Believe it: I have all I need for today.  The needs of our day are great, but God is greater and we call Him providence because we believe: He always provides.  {And when God provides, He should be praised, and if God always provides, shouldn't praise always be on our lips?}

Ann Voskamp

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the sandpipers

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending some time at the beach with my family.  Literally.  Condo within spittin' distance of the Atlantic.  It was glorious.  


We collected shells {I smell some crafting fun in my near future}, watched surfers {who had some great waves, thanks to a passing hurricane}, played in the waves {when the rip current wasn't too ridiculously strong...}, ate at a couple of local restaurants {DaKine Diego's Insane Burritos. ridiculously good.}, and just enjoyed our time being together as a family.  


We are beach people, through and through.  There's just something calming about watching and listening to the waves.  It's almost hypnotizing.  My mom and I discussed the incredible amount of energy the ocean contains.  My heart kept singing, O Lord, my God... when I, in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made... Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee... How great Thou art...  Even Caleb has listened to the ocean on a sound machine all night, every night, since he was just weeks old.  We. Love. The. Beach.


And, in all honesty, who has been to the beach and NOT noticed the sandpipers, playing along the water's edge?  

 

(image courtesy National Geographic)

As the waves go out, they scurry as quickly as their little birdie legs will carry them, and they start searching in the sand for these little, itty bitty creatures that live in shells, as well as whatever other insects they can find and quickly eat.  The shell dwellers know the birds are coming, too, because as soon as they're exposed, they start trying to bury themselves in the sand and hide.  Burrowing deeply, I imagine them holding their breath until another wave comes to sweep them away from the danger of the sandpipers.

One morning, I awoke before everyone else {and let me clarify- that was literally one. morning.  My little alarm clock made sure everyone was up no later than 7am each day. Bless him.  How else would we have seen every sunrise?}.  I quickly made my way out to the back porch, overlooking the ocean.  I had just a few moments before the sun started to peek over the edge of the horizon, and there was this deep longing in my soul to spend those moments talking to my Creator.  The One who spoke everything {this magnificent ocean... this worn-out, weary mom... everything} into existence.  And, as our conversation ensued, I once again began to observe a sandpiper, running back and forth at water's edge.  Just like this one...

Surf Bird/Sandpiper dancing from Richard Smith Jr on Vimeo.




I noticed something about the sandpiper.  He never watched the water.  There was no challenge in moving at just the right time, it was all instinct.  He wasn't nervously watching the waves, trying to get it all right, worried that one would pull him under just as he was trying to grab a bite.  He never looked.  He just did what he was created to do, and trusted that he would be safe.  


I wondered, almost out loud, "How?  How does he know when the water is going to start rushing toward land?" And without missing a beat, the One I was conversing with spoke softly to my heart. "The sandpiper spends his life out here in the ocean... he immerses himself in the environment... everything he does revolves around this ocean.  That is why he doesn't even have to look."  I sucked in a breath, contemplating the depth of this realization.  As I exhaled, I heard Him say, "Daughter, immerse yourself in me, and you won't even have to look around you.  I am all you need."


... and He is.

a yummy right of passage...

Today, Caleb had his first donut!  Needless to say, he is a fan...  I mean, really, who can resist?


It went kind of like this...








Mmmmm... this is good! (of course, he immediately wanted to hold the donut and be in control...)

Hey- that was really good!  ummm... more?
(to which Mommy & Daddy said, "no way!")

Wait a minute... what is this STUFF all over my hands?

Obviously, donuts are not a frequent item in our house... but a much-enjoyed, rare treat- now, for all of us!

Willette's Joy of Love - Days 1 through 5

I have undertaken a month-long challenge by Willette Designs entitled, The Joy of Love.  In typical fashion, I am a few days behind...  Here are days one through five:

 Day 1: What They Do- our assignment was to capture our subject doing, simply, what they do.  We bought Caleb an amazing train table for Christmas, and he so enjoys driving his train around the tracks.  He's quite serious about it, in case you can't tell.

 Day 2: How They Look- our assignment was to capture the TRUE essence/expression/attitude/posture that SCREAMS your loved one!  This cheesy grin is just... Caleb.

 Day 3: Then & Now- our assignment was to capture the difference between how our loved one looked when we met him and how he looks now... to truly get the essence of the changes that have taken place.  One suggestion was to have the subject hold a picture of himself "then"... after several attempts and zero cooperation, I happened to snap this shot as he threw the "then" picture on the ground.  Little did I know how much I would LOVE it!

Day 4: What They Wear- the assignment for day 4 was to capture my subject's clothing, on or off of him.  These are Caleb's everyday K-Swiss sneakers.

Day 5: What You Love to Hate- the assignment? Capture something about your loved one that drives you NUTS... if not a physical characteristic, something that embodies the idea.  One thing that drives me bananas is Caleb's ability to completely tune. me. out. as if I'm not in the room.  This facial expression pretty much says it all. :)

(Big shout-out to my girl, Ree, The Pioneer Woman... my photos just wouldn't be the same without her PS Actions!)

Book Review & GIVEAWAY!: Love and Respect for a Lifetime

I recently received  a copy of Emerson Eggerich's Love and Respect for a Lifetime to review, and I immediately thought of some of our best friends, who are getting married at the end of the year.  Literally- the END of the year!  Their wedding is December 31st, and really, what better way to start out 2011 than as husband and wife?  I decided that, unless the book was horrifically awful, or I disagreed with some of the principles, they were going to receive my copy as a gift.  I'm happy to report that they'll be getting a copy!  

I originally thought this was going to be an actual book... you know, lots of paper pages covered in words?  It's not.  It's more of a gift book.  In fact, it would make a perfect coffee table book, because each page contains a tidbit from the original  Love and Respect book, and someone who just picked it up and read a page would still get good stuff out of it.  In fact, I can see how you would thumb through and be inspired to purchase Eggerich's original classic.  Anyhow, it's very attractive and would make a great wedding or anniversary gift... or perhaps for Valentine's Day, if your sweetheart is the book type!

Eggerich has been speaking about marriage and counseling couples for decades, and that is very evident as you glean from the wisdom contained in the pages of this book.  From observations he's made to stories from couples he has counseled, the reader is sure to find a new thought that can immediately be applied to any type of relationship.  Yes, the book is certainly geared toward married couples, but I feel sure that even a single person could gain a new perspective toward the opposite sex, and how to relate in non-romantic relationships. 

So, bottom-line, I recommend it.  In fact, I might pick up the original Love and Respect- I'm thankful for Eggerich's wisdom, and have already applied some of his principles to my marriage.  

Would YOU like to receive a copy of this book, too?  Well, guess what- you can!  The publisher accidentally shipped two copies for me to review, and I have been given the green light to give the extra copy away, here on my blog.  

To enter, simply comment on this post.  No complicated extra credit, though I'd be honored if you'd be my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.  I'll randomly choose a winner Friday, October 8th, sometime after noon.

I used a random name generator, and the winner is... Heather!  Congrats!  Keep your eyes open for a package from me!


Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.