Armed Forces Day!

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank US military members for their patriotic service in support of their country.

 

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days.
The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense of the USA.

TO ALL THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR SUPREME SACRIFICE!

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS,

For John, Mike, Tania, Gunny, Richard, Aaron, Limek, Phi and all the others...

BE SAFE!

(Source HERE)

Winners, Winners...

WINNERS, WINNERS...

It's always nice to announce a Giveaway result but it is even better when there is an opportunity to announce the name of two (2) giveaways winners!

Let's begin with...

For those of you who have not read the review (see HERE)!

So without further ado the winner of Can't Wait Willow's giveaway is...

JANICE at BLUEBELL WOODS!

May 10, 2013 at 5:50 PM

'Looks like a nice little book, thank you for entering me.'

CONGRATULATIONS JANICE! Christy delivers a great book to learn how to make the right choices and the illustrations are perfect for little ones, Janice!
I will contact you shortly to confirm this win! Thanks for entering! 

A heartfelt thank you to PROPELLER for the opportunity to pass on quality books!

Oh, I love to give things away!!

Next for 'Roses Have Thorns' (see review HERE)...

The winner is....

KAYLA RICE!

May 10, 2013 at 8:46 PM

'This looks very interesting. Would love to read this book.'

CONGRATULATIONS KAYLA! I hope you will enjoy reading Sandra's novel!

I will contact you to confirm your win shortly and thank you for entering!

Many thanks to Sandra Byrd and HOWARD BOOKS for this sweet opportunity!

Again thank you to everyone who entered the giveaways! There are many more opportunities in the future so check back!

In Retrospective...

This is a month for retrospect (maybe because it is a birthday month?) I wonder if I am the only one puzzled at how fast time goes...Friday seems to come right after Monday...What happened to the rest of the week? 

Making the most of life's blessings seems to be every body's goal (judging from the Time Management sundry available!) a lesson I learned as a child (I was raised by someone who grabbed life with both ends!) but whilst I am pretty good at it most of the time, the hours just fly by! Outch!

Oh well, since it is Friday, here is a recap of my week:
(Photos only, little wisdom to share, sorry!)
How did your week go?

Sunday

A stroll by the shipyard nearby...

Monday

Gulls here are rather large as you can tell!

Tuesday

 

A trip to the city yielded this intriguing sculpture!

Wednesday

Beachcombing, a great pastime after a stormy night...

Thursday

Trying a Coconut, Brown Sugar, Banana Bread recipe courtesy of lovely Joanne Bischof for those of you who would like to try it!

(Madelief, notice the Bavarian china cup and saucer, a Charity shoppe find! That makes 5 1/2 pieces!)

Friday

This is a Corgi full recovered and wishing to be noticed (as in play Frisbee please NOW)

Saturday will see the announcement of the Giveaways (HERE and HERE) winners!  You can still enter until Midnight!

It Is Finished by David Wilkerson, Book review

Publisher: Chosen Books; Reprint edition (April 1, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-0800795498

Synopsis:

Founder of Teen Challenge Shows How to Overcome Persistent Sins

This is David Wilkerson's capstone teaching, poured out from a heart that discovered the power God has given his people to triumph over sin. Through Wilkerson's expert ability to blend teaching with personal application, he shows that the key to defeating life-controlling habits is found in one thing: the new covenant God enacted with his people.

In today's era of pop psychology, most Christians battle temptation and sin through self-help techniques or gritty self-will. Even Wilkerson, through decades of ministry that led hundreds of thousands to salvation and deliverance, struggled to know true peace as he battled his own "besetting sins." Determined to find victory, Wilkerson came to grasp the stunning reality that the vast love of God provides the spiritual resources believers need to obey his every command.

Gathered from some of his most prominent sermons, this is one of Wilkerson's most powerful teachings--one that will redeem countless lives into the life-giving experience of purity.


My thoughts:


The legendary name of David Wilkerson brings to mind to most of us a well known book (later a 1970 movie) called The Cross and the Switchblade, it itself a recount of Wilkerson's early ministry amongst troubled teens and gang violence in the streets of New York . 

In 'It Is Finished', the late preacher's recalls perhaps his best known sermons about finding lasting victory over sin. Complete with extensive notes about the many misconceptions of the true meaning of the New Covenant, the book includes ample examples, discussions, answers and profound testimonies of the many reached out to by this believer in Christ. 

Wilkerson does not hide that he too struggled to understand the real message behind the words 'It Is Finished.' We say we believe but let's face it, we all feel our circumstances are 'different'.
Yet if we can accept our problem is not sin, but our lack of faith in God's covenant promises, we can go forward joyfully and prevail.

When Christ died on the cross, our sins were washed away but this does not mean we can go on and continue on our troubled path obviously. 
In Matthew 18:11 we read 'The Son of Man has come to save that which is lost.' The Lord is telling us we cannot save ourselves, our salvation depends entirely upon Him.

Wilkerson's words brings a clear message: 'Jesus made it easy for you. Simply place childlike trust in His finished work of the Cross. His covenant promises and provisions are found only there.'

As a student of His word, I do not always feel comfortable in revealing my own thoughts about redemption, but I can attest it gets easier when I just place my trust onto Him.

Well written and worth 5 stars, a great addition to any believer's library!



About the Author:

David Wilkerson (1931-2011) was the founder of Teen Challenge and World Challenge and founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. 

He authored more than thirty books, including the bestselling The Cross and the Switchblade and Knowing God by Name. He ministered to people worldwide and was still ministering on the day of his death. 

Visit his ministery website (HERE) to learn more!

 

I received this book from BETHANY HOUSE - CHOSEN BOOKS as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Courage To Change by Elizabeth Maddrey, Book review

Publisher: HopeSprings Books (April 3, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1938708138

Synopsis:
 

Book Two of the 'Grant Us Grace' Series. When Phil Reid became a Christian and stopped drinking, his hard-partying wife Brandi divorced him. Reeling and betrayed, he becomes convinced Christians should never remarry, and resolves to guard his heart. Allison Vasak has everything in her life under control, except for one thing. Her heart is irresistibly drawn to fellow attorney and coworker, Phil. 

Though she knows his history and believes that women should not initiate relationships, she longs to make her feelings known. As Phil and Allison work closely together to help a pregnant teen, Allison melts his defenses. But when Brandi discovers Phil's new relationship, she decides that though she doesn't want him, no one else can have him. Can Phil and Allison's love weather the chaos Brandi brings into their lives?

My thoughts:


In turn jocular and sedate, Elizabeth Maddrey's 'Courage to Change' provides  genuine entertainment for anyone looking for a good Christian novel to enjoy on long summer evenings. 

Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of book #2 in 'Grant Us Grace' series is the constancy of the author's faith when dealing with sensitive subjects, in this instance teen pregnancy, adoption as alternative to abortion or dealing with the aftermath of a nasty divorce. 
Never critical, Elizabeth Maddrey gives the impression of being a good listener, someone whom you would like to reach out to in times of self doubt!
Informative as well as discerning this is the sort of contemporary novel which would appeal to the younger crowd mostly yet I too found it consuming. 

As her main protagonists, Phil and Allison wins your heart by their sheer honesty and commitment to do the right thing despite obstacles. You cannot but wish to give each of them a nudge or two as they contemplate their own imperfections and the possibility of a future together but that's alright too. Phil's ex-wife however was decidedly not your atypical divorcee, at least I hope so! 

Maddrey's latest novel is well worth reading! 
4 Stars!

 

About the Author:

Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school, she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. 

When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity.

Visit her website (HERE).

 I received this book from BOOKCRASH as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Happy Mum's Day!

The measure of a good Mother...

 

They say the child chooses
the parent before
they are conceived

God gave me lists
of mother's names
and pictures of them too.

I looked and looked
they all looked the same
and then I saw you.

Who is this woman?
I asked the Lord
She looks quite nice to me.
You have chosen well my child.
And he spoke these words to me.

She is kind and gentle
and very wise
and she will hold you
close to her
when you cry.

Her eyes will shine
when you take your first step
and smile at your delight.

She will show her pride
when you succeed
and pick you up
when you fail.

She will work hard
to give you the best she can
and rock you to sleep with weary time worn hands.

She will shelter you
on stormy days
and dry your fears away.
She will bask with you
in sunshine on
sunny summer days.

And when you are grown
like you soon will be
She will still be there
To comfort thee.

I choose her.
I told the Lord
For none like her
I've seen before.

And the day came
when I was born.
I had chosen well
of this I'm sure.

I picked you
above the rest
and because I did
My life is blessed

(Source: Ode to Motherhood by F. Pilato)

HAPPY MUM'S DAY!

It Happened At The Fair by Deeanne Gist, Book review and GIVEAWAY

Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (April 30, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1451692372

Synopsis:

Gambling everything—including the family farm—Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the fair’s Machinery Hall 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?

My thoughts:


Most readers will agree, some books just stand out and this one is definitively ranking in the top ten of my list of most entertaining. A keeper and one I would suggest to anyone looking for a gift!
Deanne's vivavious description of a sweet romance amidst the 1893's World Fair was the perfect enticement for some 'me' time. I was totally immersed in her descriptive of this period  and credit the story of Della and Cullen with a few dreams of my own. Well done!

A perfect combination of historical facts and fiction, It Happened At The Fair reflects the wealth of love and care this author puts in her writing. It also brings to readers a marvelous fountain of information and even photos of this world event!
Whilst she has taken a few liberties, all clearly acknowledge in the afterword, the author was undoubtdedly as stimulated by the fair as I was when I first heard of it. As a cultural and social event, the world fair of 1893 was a tremendous influence on the 20th Century and a complete success. With 6.8 millions visitors in attendance, the exposition located on the shores of Lake Michigan provided a template for other events and changed America forever with its astonishing legacy. Nothing ever compared to it as it gave new perspectives for the world of commerce and technology.

Della and Cullen's story blends in this grandiose background yet gives an opportunity for readers to feel their touching romance. Obviously a true romantic at heart, Deanne describes Della's position as a teacher working with the Deaf at a time when too often a deaf person was ostrasized for signing. Cullen in turn is the  young farmer turned inventor who is struggling with a hearing loss. 

Deanne Gist proved to be a superb historical fiction writer which coupled with her discernebly romantical temperament, gives readers a captivating love story you will not want to miss! 

5 Stars!!

Note: Be sure to read the author's notes for additional information on the World's Columbian Exposition's  and (HERE) for its amazing legacy!

Landing page: 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/dgist

About the Author:

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.

Vist her website (HERE)

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!

 I received this book from LITFUSE as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.