When Sparrows Fall..

When widowed Miranda falls off of a cliff and winds up in the hospital, her long lost brother-in-law, Jack is called in to serve as temporary guardian to Miranda's six children, in the book, " When Sparrows Fall ", written by Meg Moseley, a first time author.

Jack, a college professor, soon learns the children have been homeschooled in a very strict, and fundemental household where anything " worldly" is not allowed.. Although the children's mother, Miranda, is a character with a mothers heart for her children, she struggles with her own faith, as she, and her fellow church members find themselves stuck in the selfish teachings of their pastor, who harbors secrets of his own.

While Jack, and Miranda differ in their ideas of child rearing, I was entertained in how each of the personalities of the children was so detailed. I found the strength of Miranda, in her faith journey, as well as in motherhood, and how it really " jelled" in seeing the kids the way I did in the story.
It was not the best book I have ever read, nor was it a page turner for me, having a few times, wanting to just not finish . But, I did continue on, and in some way, was glad I did. A first novel, in its shaky, and almost uncertainty, but an author, if given more time, and encouragement, will become one that captures hearts in future books.


I recieved this book as a free book review from the Blogger for Books free book program. I am under no obligation to post only a " good " review.

We Be Big.. The Mostly True Story...

The book, " We Be Big..the Mostly True story of how two kids from Calhoun county,Alabama became Rick & Bubba"
by Rick Burgess and Bill Bussey , is a story of two radio hots , and what
happened as they followed their faith in God, and their own instincts.

These two men are two of the most unlikely radio hosts, yet thousands upon thousands of faithful listeners, never miss their radio show.

Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey- affectionately knows as Rick and Bubba, play on radio stations from east to west, and everywhere in between. Being taken into their private lives of both laughter, and deep, deep sorrow , these two men bring listeners, and the reader, into their lives to experience events that will both cause us to laugh, to cry, and to appreciate their faith in God, and how they incorporate that into their radio show in an unassuming, but honest way.
BOth funny, and heart wrenching, this book is a personal story of these men who God has led on a journey that was both unplanned, and unexpected..
I really enjoyed reading about their humble beginnings, and thier journey as millions of people who listen each week,also enjoy.

This book is easy to read, yet not so easy to put down, as their gentle, and straight forward humor, and thoughts keep the reader entertained in every page.
I thought it would be more about their professional current life instead of their whole upbringing and childhood but for some reason, what was written added a depth to the stories that I have already heard, and therefore, was not all disappointed . A wonderful , uplifting, and fun book in my humble opinion.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze.com bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

One Log..at a Time

Life is a lot of work. Thinking right now about what it is that keeps me plugging along in life, when I want to sometimes just throw my hands in the air, and say" Enough's , enough!

But, I've come to a conclusion... It is as new, as it is old. It is as strong, as it is weak. And, it is as it was, last week, month, year - and that is Life is a heck of a lot of hard work!

Today, working with some scraps of fabric, in every color, shape, width or pattern, I began seeing how these very scraps in my scrap pile, are being utilized for a common goal - a King Sized Log Cabin Quilt. Seeing them all of a sudden be sewn to the next log, and the next, it makes my heart sad thinkiing that never again will I have them to look on, once I send off the quilt to the ones whom I am gifting it to.

But because of the desire to see them become beautiful in the setting in which I am using them , I began (a little reluctantly to be honest), to pull each one out into the open where I knew they would end up under my sewing machine needle , in which to add to the final product. for my friends once it is finally completed.

But you know what? Just as it is difficult to think of using all my fabric scraps, where I know there will not be more, I began thinking about something else - and that is, " Life is hard work" as a quilter. Having to decide what fabrics would suit the color scheme of any given pattern, or design, to thinking how much yardage would be needed to complete that pattern.. Some patterns being so intriquite, while others, like the ones I favor, are scrappy in nature, where rhyme nor reason, is not important to the completed quilt.

But, like life, the very key to enjoying the process of creating, is to know that each part of myself, as a quilter, is exactly where I want to be at any given time..

Every part of my thinking, or my attitude, or even my " vision" if you will, is important in the personal satisfaction that what my hands are doing with each piece of cut cloth, will be what my heart set out to accomplish when the project began.

Life is like a " box of chocolates ", as Tom Hank's character once said in the movie, Forrest Gump". "You never know what your'e going to get".. and for those of us who enjoy doing quilting projects that are scrappy in nature, or those projects called Mystery Quilts, that is exactly what this saying represents - the not knowing what the end result will be.

From the first single piece of fabric, to the last , a mystery begins to develop as you sew one piece to another, to another , all the while, never knowing where each fabric piece has been, or where is might end up. You never know the colors next to each other, until they are sewn. You might never know if points will be pointed, or seams alligned the same direction in a difficult pattern - yet as a quilter, we trust our instincts in doing what we think we are capable of doing .

Today, working with these scraps, pulling out the various lights, and darks to complete each " log" , it is becoming clear that the life of this quilt top is definitely something that will move the ones who will recieve it eventually.

It will move them in directions of wondering where , and why this project was even made for them, ( although they know it is coming, they just dont know the changes to it yet ). And hopefully they will see the heart of the quilter who made it , and the joy she's had in doing that so far.

My hope is that as they open up the box it will arrive in, they can see that each log, has been sewn with careful attention to being ' sewn' securely next to the next log. That with each piece added, a new memory was also added as I think about where that piece of fabric had been before I pulled it randomly from my scrap basket. Wondering just where each strip came from, and the places where it had traveled from origionally, and whether or not the origional owner of the scraps , had small blessings of encouragement added to their lives when they might have recieved them, as I have done.

You see, with a spirit of determination, for my friends, I continue adding log by log, to make a converging of memories.. Pressing on to complete this is becoming both tedius, yet so fulfilling because I know the end result will bless their lives, as it is mine in the making of it.
With each log added, it will become become, I hope, something to treasure for my friends. Something, that they will see as unique, just because of the various times, dates, and places where each piece of scrap origionated from. It will be, with the few changes I am making, a surprise. Just like our lives are sometimes surprised by blessings given to us from people that we might not know personally.

Life is like that.. its a surpise. Its an experience that in any given day, challenges come up, where decisions need to be made. Challenges come where choices are rejected, much like some of my fabric scraps are in this quilt project. But, like life, some challlenges, and experiences work out better than ever dreamed possible, because at the right time, and the right place, convergence happens.. ( remember that word from my last note? ) .. To come together, to make a final product, just as this pile is doing today -

So all that to say, each of this quilt top, scraps uniquely their own, will turn into something of a lasting memory for my friends. My blessing will be poured out, measured out, emptied out , as each scrap makes it way into the individual blocks that make up the " whole"

.. and for that, I am so excited to finally finish it when the time comes.. but , even though coming together is slow, I remind myself that Rome wasn't built in one day, nor was my patience as I have had to rip out scraps because I sewed them in the wrong light/ dark placement.. aww, such is the hard life of a weary quilter this afternoon.

Building a Cabin, log by log..

A friend of mine in Texas saw some of my quilt photos, and as we were talking about them, she made the comment about them being pretty. Now, if you have read the post I did about the Drive By Quilting with Ricky Tims a week or two ago, you know my " quilters self esteem " is sorely lacking at times.. So when I just blurted out to Lisa that I would love to make her/ her hubby a quilt, it just seemed so spontaneous , and I grew excited. Yes, a little hesitant at what I could do for their bed - later finding it to be KING sized bed. ( oh my!).. Anyway, the more she looked at my photos, the more I started wondering what am I going to make with what scraps I have here.. Came right down to it, I would do a Log Cabin quilt.. Simple.. not to.. I am directionally challenged with the whole 90 degree thing unless I am paying close attention to where I need to turn the fabric.. But, hey, doing pretty well, because I have a total of 5 already done today.. not bad for me at all!

Heres the first photo of the first log thats building a Home for Lisa, and her hubby Jeff... I will take a photo along the way possibly so you can see how scraps of fabric can build a home..

What?? Eat my Peas?

As a kid, I hated peas.. I heard " EAT YOUR PEAS" more often than I ever thought I would want to. Then my kids came along, and I heard myself saying, " Eat Your Peas ".. more often than they wanted to.

This short, and very delightful book, " a 3-minute forever book ", called " Eat Your Peas - Faithfully - Simple truths and Happy insights " with words written by Cheryl Karpen ,

really just brings out the best of a smile on a day that needs a pick me up.. This book, with close to 40 pages, is written in gentle, flowing typography, with brief, but poweful insights,and bible verses scattered on various pages.
This book helps to move someone from a doldrum sort of day, into a day where it's easier to see that " peas" are the better part of a dreary day, which when reading it in one sitting, gave me a pick me up simply by the gentle colors on the pages.

From the front cover, with its scroll work centered around the tiltle , to the inside pages, sprinkled with inspirational thoughts, a feeling good book is what you will find. Great for a special pick me up book for someone needing encouragement, or even a good , sit down book if you need a break from those dreaded " dreary days" where nothing seems to bring out a smile..

I recieved this book free from Thomas Nelson, Publising, as part of the Book Sneeze blogging program. I gave my honest review in participation.

The Bridge of Peace

In recieving the book, " The Bridge of Peace" written by author, Cindy Woodsmall, I looked forward to reading yet another fiction read with the Amish flavor, if you will. I have read others , not by this author, but similar " feel " to each story line.. Clean, captivating, and interesting in the useage of the english language, versus the Amish Language.

Never have read any of Cindy Woodsmall's writiing,this book grabbed my attention and can keep me spellbound throughout most of the book. Some of the characters tugged at my heart as I began " seeing " them in my minds eye :

Lena , an Amish schoolteacher who is having serious problems with a " scholar" as the Amish call their students. She faces struggles with this boy/ man whose respect is clearly not taught , and not shown to those in authority.

" Grey ", whose character is struggling in a troubled and loveless marriage, while Deborah grieves deeply over the pain filled desertion of the man she thought she loved.

Cara, whose life is being changed from the Englishscher point of view, to the Amish as she falls in love with a man whose life is much different than her own.

The Bridge of Peace is a book that in my thinking , incorporates events in life as an Amish person, but also as what we are called, " Englishers"..

The book touches on relationships gone sour, mental illness, and how it can keep someone in confusion. There are self esteem issues, and insecurities one feels as the result of one's physical appearance. This part of the book stood out more so for me, because I, too, have birthmarks, and physical scars that often times I try to hide behind. to be honest, reading of Lena's struggle, made me think just how often I do try to hide the scars I have, because I have not accepted them for what they are - Trophies of Grace, and Scars of Beauty.

I did feel parts of the story dragged whenever the focus was on Lena, which was odd as she was the focus of the book, itself.

This is one of those books that I had a hard time putting down , although the ending was as predictable in the Amish sense of the word.
It was still interesting to see how the characters played out in the end, though.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group through their blogging program. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own view of the book.

"A Conversation with God "

A Conversation with God ( for Women ) by author, Marcia Ford,
arrived in my mailbox, and eager to begin reading another new book, I settled into my chair, with this " pretty covered" book in hand. Knowing what the premise of the book was going to be, I did not expect it to be what it was - a book of questions, and answers in a personal, yet engaging format..

No stuffy preaching in answering the various questions, and topics that were lined up. Questions under each section which someone might ask if seeking answers to lifes " spiritual " thinking that we all , at one point in time, ask God.

Topics, such as God, Jesus, The Bible, Relationships .. areas of women's lives that sometimes might stump us ,in understanding the role God has in our lives as women, as well as our responses in how we understand them.

The thing that caught my attention , and remained as part of my attention was how the author used 55 questions in a personal format. Just as if I was sitting, and conversing with Jesus Himself. There were over 50 questions addressed in this well formatted book, and if I had to say one thing about it, I would say it would be a book for personal thoughts, and because of the outline in the back with the written out verses, those that might not pick up a bible, might tend to read the Word of God, even if it was in type..

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
A Conversation with God for Women allows readers a one-on-one dialogue with God, Jesus, and other important biblical characters as they respond to questions and concerns relevant to the Christian faith.