Faithfully Uplifting

Billy Graham In Quotes
By: Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney

I would just like to start by saying that I don't usually read books on quotes, however I do enjoy Billy Graham so I decided to give this a try, and I really did enjoy it. It is so uplifting, and really gets you thinking. Plus we all love quotes, and it’s amazing how from a simple quote you can gain so much wisdom. Most of us even live by quotes.
This book is split up into topics, it covers just about everything and is Billy Grahams quotes on his take of bible verses, and what he believed. There is everything from addiction, anger, sadness, happiness, money, forgiveness, heaven, etc. PLUS all the topics are in alphabetical order so it is very easy to locate what you are searching for. And right now we are going through some difficult things and I found myself reading some of these quotes and they really were uplifting.
My husband couldn't wait to get his hands on this book when it came in the mail. He too read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I assume now it will become more of his book because as we speak he has it sitting on his bedside nightstand where he read some of the quotes before bed.
I think that people of all ages can gain wisdom and faith from this book. I especially think it would come in handy for a pastor when writing sermons or a church class to study together. This book is both thought provoking, and spiritually uplifting. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, and there is a quote in here for everyone. And what's really lovely about this book is that the pressure isn't on to read it cover to cover, but you can use it in your everyday life. It would be a good book to keep on your nightstand or on a coffee table and when you have some you time pick it up and read on whatever topic you want some wisdom on. There are also some great footprints in here as well. It is all in all very truthful, and inspirational.

DISCLAIMER: I was provided this book for free through Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. Opinions expressed are mine alone.

New Beginnings

Let me just begin by saying sorry for a long absence. Things have been super hectic for a long time and I hope and pray that they are finally going to simmer down. I have some upcoming reviews that should be coming soon. One is the quotes of Billy Graham and let me just say it is so uplifting! Anywho I am beat, today was my birthday and it was sure filled with some suprises and not drama free but I am thankful for this day and for all who shared it with me and for all the birthday wishes. God Bless.

It's The Bee's Knee's

Lilies In Moonlight
By: Allison Pittman
　

The Bee’s Knee’s

After reading this novel I can assure that Allison Pittman is now one of my favorite authors. I absolutely ADORED this book! Everything about this book is wonderful. The feel of the cover is just so velvety and soft that I had to double check sometimes that I was indeed holding a book! And the story is so fascinating and REAL that I felt as if I was there the entire time watching real occurrences unfold before my very eyes! It was just so beautifully written, delivered a great message, and I could NOT put it down. I found myself rushing through daily chores just to be able to read more of this novel! If this was a movie as well I would definitely be there opening day to see it, and it is such a great story that it would indeed make a terrific movie!

I think this book is so easy to relate to. Especially the main character Lilly Margolis. A flapper who rebels against her mother’s stern Christian ways and lack of love she finds herself in many different places following different men. Yearning for love she has hope in every relationship and throws caution to the wind taking up with them. Will she realize that God is the only one who’s love should matter? As a salesgirl for Dalliance Cosmetics Lilly finds herself at an immaculate rather high class home and meets the senile yet charming Betty Ruth Burnside. However finding that her mere watered down cosmetics are not good enough for the kind old woman Lilly rushes out expecting never to return. A rather unsavory friend Dina takes Lilly along to a party, and there Lilly has too much to drink and finds herself facedown in the backyard garden of millionaire Cullen Burnside and his senile mother. Lilly suffers from a sprained ankle and bruised body so the Burnside’s take her in and nurse her back to health. Finding love within the Burnside’s home Lilly is reluctant to leave. She becomes almost best friends with the senile Betty Ruth Burnside and gives the woman so much joy that she becomes indispensable to the Burnside household. But with Betty Ruth’s memory quickly faded her son and heir Cullen wonders just how long Betty Ruth will know Lilly. What if she wakes up one day and has no idea who Lilly is or where she came from? If that day comes will Lilly leave quietly and be able to let them go? And will Cullen himself be able to LET Lilly go?
 Every character in this book will touch your heart, even the very minor ones. I think there is a relatable character in this novel for everyone. There is just so much kindness, love, reality, etc in every character and setting. I was amazed and this is definitely one of the best written novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I HIGHLY recommend this book, and it is by far the BEST book I have read this year. I was so eager to find out the ending and yet reluctant for it to end! It is definitely going on my shelf of favorites, and I hope you’ll give it a chance as well. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Pick up your copy of this book today by VISITING THIS LINK<<<available in print or eBook

Disclaimer:Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Dangerously Courageous

Isabella
The Belle Of Ironwood
A Novel by: Andrea Wren

I must admit this novel came as a huge surprise to me. At first it was very slow and sort of boring, but then it really picked up. And once it picked up I was pleasantly surprised that I just DID NOT want to put it down! It is definitely a book that you want to give the chance even though it takes awhile to really pick up. You won’t regret it. This novel is definitely making a place on my bookshelf of favorites. Now there are some parts that I just did not understand or follow well. For instance there are parts that sort of just skip ahead without much warning, and then the main character finds herself reminiscing on times past and it sort of throws you back and forth. Usually I don’t like this, and find it a huge downer of any novel, but surprisingly when happening in this novel I didn’t find myself lost at all. It was really easy to understand what exactly was going on, and I didn’t feel like I was way off track. Once the novel picked up I was totally immersed. I dreaded putting it down, and looked forward to picking it back up again. There are many things one can gain from reading this wonderful debut novel: strength, courage, respect, perseverance, faith, etc. I think the author, Andrea Wren, did a wonderful job, and I am mightily surprised that this is her first novel. I look forward to any other novels she may write, and hope there are more in the future from her.

In this debut novel we follow Isabella Carbet from the age of fifteen throughout her entire life. Sent away by her parents in hope of protection in a drastically changing world and a better life her journey starts rather unfortunately when she is kidnapped and sold into slavery before she even really gets the chance to begin her life’s journey. Isabella becomes sold into slavery and experiences heart-wrenching hardships and misfortunes, as well as finds friendships and love that sustain her through terrible times. Persevering through what most believed the impossible Isabella doesn’t give up the hope or fight for freedom nor does she allow herself to be browbeaten into giving up her passion for teaching. At all costs she remains herself and lives life the best she can, carving out a life for herself. This book holds intrigue, romance, struggle, a great sense of history, courage, admiration, and you will literally feel as if you are right there with Isabella the entire journey. Due to Isabella’s suffering there is placed a generations long curse that needs to be lifted, and the journey to find those responsible and seek forgiveness is truly something to behold.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. All opinions expressed are mine alone.To purchase your copy of this book please visit this LINK

Summer Fun

We have been so busy with things. There are some super new developments that have taken place lately which has been the result of these late blog posts. I promise that will all change here in a couple weeks. A few at the most, and then I will be more current. I wish I could fill you in on all the details, but right now my husband is asking me to keep mum about it all.
I will state however that due to these recent changes that have thrown us off kilter I have not yet had my gallbladder ultrasound!

I know, I know, I have had it scheduled several times, but due to our life being so hectic right now we have had to postpone it and postpone it to the point where I called the doctor and said things are crazy right now I will just have to cancel it and come in sometime in July! They were not please, and I know it is so dangerous to let this go, but I don’t know what else to do. Things are happening beyond my control that I absolutely HAVE to deal with, but like I said before things are about to calm down, and then I will be taking it easy the rest of the summer.

I finally got a new suitable bathing suit. Let’s just say that after having two children my body is nothing like it use to be, and it is so hard to find a good bathing suit that I don‘t feel like a whale in! Don’t get me wrong, I love every stretch mark because it is the markings that showed my body grew and bore these two beautiful boys, and I have been trying to exercise more. I will be starting a new yoga exercise routine here in a few weeks, and I will weekly post how that is going so if you would like to give it a try after I start it (or before) feel free to join in as well as feel free to let me know and others of your progress.

Exercise can be strenuous and it can be so hard to get the time in to exercise when you have a household to keep up and two small children to take care of, and let’s not forget my little doggy. LOL. Sometimes it seems like I clean all day, cook, and by the time laundry is done, food has been consumed, house and dishes done, and the kids are bathed and put to bed I feel like I have run around the world and back and I just want to crash at the end of the day.

So yoga is both a stress reliever as well as a great way to stretch your muscles, get circulation flowing, and lose weight! Visit this link if you don’t believe me: (post link here). I’m sure it will back up my statement.
I have tried various diets, and they just don’t work. Or they start to work and then all of a sudden I find myself either back at my old weight or a little above it. Or I find myself starving, or I just can’t plain swallow the food because it’s so gross. So I am implementing yoga, and walking into my routine. I will of course try to watch the sweet stuff, but I won’t completely cut it out of my diet. Life is too short not to enjoy just a little bit. I will just watch the amounts of what I eat. I think it is all about serving size, not particularly WHAT you eat. Food is meant to be enjoyed, and I love cooking. So why cut out that delight in our lives? I especially love nothing more than my family sitting down at the table enjoying something I have prepared for them. It’s so rewarding.

So anyway after this chaotic period we will be going swimming and having family picnics. We also have TWO vacations planned this year! I can’t wait. Last year we didn’t do anything! I am so excited to have some summer fun, and just let all the frenzied stress go. It feels so good to just BE even if it’s only for a few hours a day. I want to enjoy this beautiful weather! LOL. Plus I haven’t got to spend any time with my best friend here recently, there have been some major new developments in her life as well. I miss her terribly, and can’t wait for the chance to catch up with her. She has been such a good friend, and so patient and understanding as to all the chaos in my life. I am so blessed to have her!

Anyway sorry for all the rambling. I just wanted to give my readers an explanation of my MIA blog status! I apologize so much, and thank you so much for sticking with me. I am blessed to have you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer. How are you spending it?
　

The Seraph Seal book review

The Seraph Seal
By: Leonard Sweet & Lori Wagner
　
Set in the year 2048, this is an apocalyptic book. It is all about the end times as well as what will lead up to it. As natural disasters start happening everywhere, as knowledge increases and technology becomes a sort of super technology, and strange unexplained occurrences happen at every turn, the end of times is very near.
Paul Binder finds a letter under very unfortunate circumstances addressed to him. He eventually is asked to review an ancient Syrian manuscript, and there he meets Angela Matthews Krall. Together they try to uncover the secrets of the manuscripts, and as they unfold answers they start to question their own faith in a time where not many people are left with faith. It all starts with a key, and ends with life changing discoveries. Will they be able to help humankind and our civilization as we know it?

MY THOUGHTS:
I liked this book. I was a little confused at parts, especially because there isn’t really just one main character or even two, but rather many. It sort of flits back and forth between all of the main characters, but at the same time once you get into the novel it isn’t hard to distinguish. I thought this book would be about the same as The DaVinci Code, but it was totally different. There are many notes, a reference key, as well as drawings that help greatly understand any confusing terms throughout the book. While I think that a person with a more academic background would enjoy this book more, I think anyone can enjoy it and take something away from the experience. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire book, and the extra keys in the back helped me along the parts I found difficult to understand. But I found this book all in all to be an eye opener. While I don’t believe the world will end on a specific date it will happen one day, and there are certain things in this novel that we already have present in our current time. But I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoy apocalyptic novels. It will keep you turning the pages, and there are many points in this novel where I found it hard to put down. While enjoying this book I also learned quite a bit, and I would recommend it if you are interested in this type of novel.


DISCLAIMER: I was provided this book for free through Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. Opinions expressed are mine alone.

Long Time No Blog

I'm sorry it has been awhile since I've blogged. I will try not to
take so long in the future. I have been battling gallbladder issues,
which I'm told is normal after your second child. I go for an
ultrasound tomorrow, and once the results reach my doctor we will go
from there. I already know they want me to have surgery, but it would
be great to find a way around that. What can I say other than I have
never had surgery and I'm a big chicken. Now that summer is here and
the weather is nice (when its not storming) we are all blossoming. I
have been walking trying to shed weight and its lovely to enjoy nature
and fresh air. I have sadly neglected my yard recently. I need to put
fresh mulch down around the patio, pull weeds, and plant more flowers.
Lowe's has a great selection. I will be buying a sprinkler for my son
this week. He is 3 and loves water. I can't wait to see his face when
we get it set up. Well I must get the laundry in from outside. I will
be posting again soon. Thanks for visiting! And God Bless.