Saturday, February 1, 2020
Monday, January 13, 2020
The Land Beneath Us
If you enjoy reading historical fiction, especially books about WWII, you might enjoy this story. The third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series, this one is again well researched.
I have loved every one of Ms. Sundin's books, but I found this one not among my favorites. With a slow moving start, the story had a little too much violence for me personally. The story behind the Paxton brothers and the anger it generated, gave Clay having a recurring dream concerning his own death. He struggles with forgiveness, yet in the end there is redemption and hope. It was sad to see so many thoughts of worthlessness and guilt in both Clay and Leah.
However Susan Sundin is an exceptional author, who has a keen eye on history and accuracy.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
A heart of wisdom
How do you get a heart of wisdom so as to know how best to live? The psalmist answers:
Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and withers. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:5, 6, 12)Numbering your days simply means remembering that your life is short and your dying will be soon. Great wisdom—great, life-revolutionizing wisdom—comes from periodically pondering these things.
(John Piper -I Have Kept The Faith)
Wishing you a very Happy and Blessed New Year!
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Carolina Breeze
Mia Emerson is a Hollywood star
caught in the middle of a scandal. As she tries to find a safe place to
weather out the storm, she finds herself at the Bluebell Inn. A place
that holds family history but should have been her honeymoon hideaway.
Broken hearted, she meets handsome innkeeper, Levi Bennett, who takes
her under his wing.
As Mia starts reading her grandmothers journal, she discovers a hidden
treasure. One that could be worth a fortune, helping the Bennetts dig
out from financial worries. But finding Carolina Breeze proves to be
harder than they thought.
This
was such a delightful story. The budding romance between Mia and Levi
is fraught with complexity at the differences in their lives. Levi's
sisters are a large part of the story line, and they play well into the
plot.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Friday, November 29, 2019
My soul waits
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more then watchmen wait for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Unconditionial love
I met her when I was first married. She was my husband's aunt and what
one might call, a real pistol. She was inquisitive, and honest. Boldly
honest.
She and her husband never had any children, but as the "great" aunt, she mothered all of her nieces and nephews. I can hardly remember a time when she did not light up a room she entered.
I lost my Mom when I was still in my twenties. Not having any siblings, it was a time that left me feeling very much alone. None of my friends had lost parents. Yet here I was, young and newly married, feeling a deep sense of loss in my life.
Five months after my Mom passed away, this aunt lost her own 91 year old mother. Her loss drew us together like a magnet. Three years later, when her own husband died, she showed her resilience during her time of deep loss. The bond between us grew even more.
What started as visits and spending time together, grew into a deep loving relationship. She became the "adopted" mother to me, and when my children came along, she became their "adopted" grandmother. She came to every family event. Never failed to send birthday and anniversary cards. We enjoyed going to lunch or just out for ice cream. Shopping excursions became a fun day. At Christmas, my kids would decorate her whole house. For twenty five years, she was a fixture in our lives.
As her health began to fail, it became necessary to move her into an assisted living facility. My children and I helped her downsize from her home to a little apartment. Then came the day when she could no longer live alone. A caregiver was hired to tend to her needs.Visits became more difficult.
When a stoke finally left her with little strength, it broke my heart to see her struggle. Dementia started creeping in. But she never forgot us. Her eyes would light up and a smile would shine on her face whenever we came to visit.
Through all the years, the one thing that radiated within her, was her unconditional love. It wasn't just with our family, she loved and cared for everyone that came within her radar. She took meals to lonely widows, even when she was a widow herself. She visited anyone who was sick. She was a party girl, and loved being included with family and friends. Everyone loved her as much as she loved them. At times she would tell me she didn't think she was very pretty. But in my eyes, she was beautiful. Her smile alone was like a ray of sunshine.
In all the years we shared together, I only heard her speak once of a person who had hurt her. But she never withheld her love.
We don't always seek out close friendships with people older than our peers. But my life has been richer for having experienced this kindred spirit. I learned so much from her and deeply miss our times together. She will be forever in my heart as an example of sharing unconditional love.
She and her husband never had any children, but as the "great" aunt, she mothered all of her nieces and nephews. I can hardly remember a time when she did not light up a room she entered.
I lost my Mom when I was still in my twenties. Not having any siblings, it was a time that left me feeling very much alone. None of my friends had lost parents. Yet here I was, young and newly married, feeling a deep sense of loss in my life.
Five months after my Mom passed away, this aunt lost her own 91 year old mother. Her loss drew us together like a magnet. Three years later, when her own husband died, she showed her resilience during her time of deep loss. The bond between us grew even more.
What started as visits and spending time together, grew into a deep loving relationship. She became the "adopted" mother to me, and when my children came along, she became their "adopted" grandmother. She came to every family event. Never failed to send birthday and anniversary cards. We enjoyed going to lunch or just out for ice cream. Shopping excursions became a fun day. At Christmas, my kids would decorate her whole house. For twenty five years, she was a fixture in our lives.
As her health began to fail, it became necessary to move her into an assisted living facility. My children and I helped her downsize from her home to a little apartment. Then came the day when she could no longer live alone. A caregiver was hired to tend to her needs.Visits became more difficult.
When a stoke finally left her with little strength, it broke my heart to see her struggle. Dementia started creeping in. But she never forgot us. Her eyes would light up and a smile would shine on her face whenever we came to visit.
Through all the years, the one thing that radiated within her, was her unconditional love. It wasn't just with our family, she loved and cared for everyone that came within her radar. She took meals to lonely widows, even when she was a widow herself. She visited anyone who was sick. She was a party girl, and loved being included with family and friends. Everyone loved her as much as she loved them. At times she would tell me she didn't think she was very pretty. But in my eyes, she was beautiful. Her smile alone was like a ray of sunshine.
In all the years we shared together, I only heard her speak once of a person who had hurt her. But she never withheld her love.
We don't always seek out close friendships with people older than our peers. But my life has been richer for having experienced this kindred spirit. I learned so much from her and deeply miss our times together. She will be forever in my heart as an example of sharing unconditional love.
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