Countdown

Dancer Daughter has been counting down the days until she leaves for YWAM. I'm so excited for her. Sad for me, but excited for her. She'll have three months of training and then after a very short time home for Christmas, she'll fly off to another country to love on some children who are orphaned.

She has a blog and I thought I'd share it with you so you, too, can shoot up some prayers on her, the other missionaries, the staffs behalf, and for the people they will come in contact with during their months together. She'll update it when she is able during training and hopefully a few times during outreach. But, it depends if she has access to an internet cafe on outreach. Anyway....

Check out:
http://livingonlyforhim.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Secret Revealed...Jody's History-Making Moment

Secret #3: My participation in a history-making moment

I am so excited [eeee!!] to have the pleasure and honor of participating in author Jody Hedlund's Secrets Revealed tour. Read all the way to the bottom to see how YOU can win a free, signed copy of her latest book. Now, here's the kind, talented and beautiful Jody Hedlund...[insert thunderous applause here]  Winner has been announced....Congratulations Amy Campbell!!!

Author Jody Hedlund

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I don't have many claims to history (other than that I write historicals!).

But I can lay claim to participating in one important and exciting moment in history: I was in Berlin around the time when the Berlin Wall came down.

I even brought home a piece of the Wall.

I was visiting Germany after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in early 1990 with a group from college (which means I'm dating myself!).

Our group drove through what was then known as East Germany in order to reach Berlin. The entire area was still controlled by the Soviets, and we were unprepared for the poverty, the under-development, and the lack of modern conveniences.

The East German cars were identical, tiny, and looked like they were made out of cardboard. The buildings were old,  the stores nearly empty, and the toilet paper coarse (funny what leaves an impression—no pun intended!)

The Soviet soldiers patrolled the streets and borders. In fact no-man's land still existed between sections of the east and west Berlin Wall.

It was as if we'd been transported back fifty years into a war zone.

It was gray and dreary—almost like stepping into a black and white photo.

I could feel the sadness, the weight of despair, and the lack of hope that came from living behind walls.

From time to time, I pull out the broken, spray-painted portions of the Berlin Wall that I brought home those many years ago. I like to boast to my kids that "I was there" during that special time in history.

And those pieces of crumbling cement remind me all over again, that walls are oppressive. Whether those walls are built by a government, someone in authority over us, or even ourselves—walls keep us from moving forward and accomplishing our potential. [Whoa! Let's re-read this paragraph, shall we. I may need to write this down where I can see it. Every.single.day.]

We need to ask ourselves: What walls have we built in our lives? What walls have we allowed others to build around us? And what steps can we take to start knocking them down?

After all, we want to live freely, move forward, and accomplish all that we were made to do.

So, how about you? Have you (or someone in your family) ever been a part of a history-making moment? And what walls are holding you back from achieving your potential? 



 Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion
 "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the
lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . .
exciting and unpredictable to the very end."

To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. Leave a comment (along with your email address) to enter the drawing. Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends September 12, 2012 at 9 AM ET.  Winner will be notified immediately. 

Read what I thought about Jody's book here! Plus check out her first two books here and here.

For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.

Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.

Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you don't win the free book, run to your favorite book seller and purchase! You won't regret it.

 

Dance Away, Dear Daughter. Fly.

Our Dancer Daughter soon will dance away with the choreography of the Great Composer. He most certainly choreographs the music to which she dances. He has her heart. And, she is His. Each step, each movement is beautifully choreographed. She only needs obedience and quiet to hear His next wondrous step He has designed just for her.

Twelve days until she begins to fly on her own. She'll grow even deeper in love with the Lover of her soul. She'll yearn even more for His presence. She'll know what it is like to trust and rely on Him, and Him only...not the comfort of having mom and dad there to scoop her up. Knowing she can trust others even though others have hurt her in the past. Stretching beyond her limits to grasp ahold of the One who loves her most.

She'll love on children who are orphaned. Children will see Jesus through her love, caring, humor, laughter, and beautiful eyes. May she and they be a changed people.

Twelve days to hold my 'baby' and wonder how I can let her go. Twelve days to cry out to God to help me be strong as I let her go. Twelve days to wonder if I (we) have prepared her as we should. Twelve days to figure out how not to cry that ugly cry.

Twelve days of being proud of our 'little' girl. Twelve days to love her and help her. Twelve days to support and smile and laugh.

Dancer Daughter, you have become an amazing woman of God. We can't wait to see what He does through you.

XXOOXXOOXXOOXX

At Least Not Tonight

"Now, Oren, there's no need to kill him." She patted the man's arm. "At least not tonight."

"I agree." Connell said. "And really, I don't see that there's ever going to be a need to kill me."

Lily is a spunky 18 year-old who is searching for her sister in the newest novel by author Jody Hedlund, Unending Devotion. Connell is a 26 year-old man in charge of three lumber camps in northern Michigan who doesn't want to make waves because his father worked too hard building the business.

Lily seems to need someone to rescue her when she charges full steam ahead into situations. Her motto: act first, think later. And boy, oh boy, does her motto get her in trouble...multiple times. Lily is passionate about others, especially freeing girls enslaved in prostitution. Dangerous men threaten and if Lily makes the wrong move, she and others could get hurt or killed.

Connell wants to please his father, who owns the lumber camps, to the point of turning a blind eye to all the wrongs happening around him. Connell struggles to confront the truth in front of him. 

Connell and Lily are drawn to each other. But, will their different worlds collide and destroy, will there be harmony or cost them both everything?

Author Jody Hedlund has done it again. Hedlund draws the reader into the story in a way the reader feels as if she/he is in the midst of the action. Frame by frame the story is revealed. The characters come alive as you hold your breath as Lily and Connell are attacked. Feel the passion as they confront their feelings for one another. Strongly dislike those who try to hurt enslaved girls. Fall in love with Lily.

Connell and Lily's budding relationship will make you smile as they spar with one another using words of playfullness. Watch both of them grow, not only in maturity, but in their relationship with God.

Put this book at the top of your list of books to read this year! Or, better yet, skip on over to a seller of your choice and purchase Unending Devotion today.

Do you have a book group? Discussion guide is available here.

Well done, Jody, well done.

I'm looking forward in reading more books by the talented Jody Hedlund in the near future. Next April, A Noble Groom hits bookstores. I, for one, cannot wait to get my eyes on those pages!

I recieved Unending Devotion free from Bethany House Publishing. I am in no way obligated to write a complimentory review...only an honest review.



Don't forget to come back here on September 5th to see a secret revealed about author Jody Hedlund.

Breath Holding Moments

By now, I'm sure you've watched or heard about Aly Raisman's parents reactions during her Olympic gymnastics performance on the uneven bars. In case you missed it, watch and enjoy.

(I just discovered this video is no longer available. The International Olympic Committee has blocked the video on youtube due to copyrights. I guess this video may be some sort of breech of security, huh?! ;-P Sorry if you didn't get to see it. The parents are so into their child's performance they do not even know they are holding their breath and moving like they are on a roller coaster ride without being seat belted in!)



Yes, it is quite humorous. Yet, it got me thinking.

How many times have we, as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, held our breath while our child has performed? We squirm, inwardly groan or nervously tap our foot. We want our child to succeed in life in general.

Is it the same way with God? Is He holding his 'breath' as we go out into the world? Does He cheer when we accomplish something we only dreamed of doing?

And, dare I say, I bet He is shoutin' so loud He scares a few angels?! :)

God is our greatest and best cheerleader. Smiling down on each one of us. Throwing us a good measure of grace when needed. Picking us up when we fall. And, perhaps even crying all the while He is wiping our tears.

Smile and let your heart be filled with joy. God is smiling down on you!

The Bride Wore Blue Review

The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson is the third of four books in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series. (4th book due out in October)

The baby of the family, Vivian, makes her way from Maine to Cripple Creek to join her sisters. Adventures happen one after the other starting with a train robbery. Enter the sheriff, Carter. Carter clearly is smitten with Vivian but something in Vivian's past effects every relationship including her relationship with God.

It is a story of feeling unforgivable and how that not only affects Vivian, but, those around her. It is about forgiving herself as well as letting others forgive and love her.

The story is very predictable. I found myself guessing what was going to happen and it did. There weren't any surprises along the way for me. Just my humble opinion. However, it is a good, easy read and is well written.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for review purposes. I am not required to give a positive review, only an honest review.

Those Pesky Silks

It is that time of year when fresh sweet corn is just a slurp away. Well, normally. We've been hit hard by the drought that seems to be going around like the common cold.

A relative bought some at the grocery store since he can never pass up a good deal. If you cannot read between the lines, he overbought. So, we became recipients of eight ears of sweet corn two days before we were to leave on vacation. Great timing. Did you note the sarcasm in that last sentence? I didn't want to mess with corn even if it was for a meal in the midst of packing. My self-diagnoised, unmedicated ADD is funny that way.

I remembered seeing someone's pin on Pinterest on how to cook corn on the cob in the microwave. With the husk on. And, the silk still intact. Skreeech...back the truck up! I know, right?! This might be the answer to my laziness small dilema. I hate those pesky little silk strings. And, I've come to the conclusion the feeling is mutual.

After googling it since the person who originally pinned it didn't link to the post, but, only the blog site which is really quite annoying to me, I found a recipe. Sorry, no pictures since I was already lazy overwhelmed. But, it worked. Shockingly good when then corn isn't tough from being too old. I think we had maybe 2 ears that were tiny and tender...yum. Hmmm, sweet corn on sale and most of the corn is old...hmmmm.

The recipe I used was a combination of two recipes I read. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Fresh Corn on the Cob
(the microwave edition)
source: Cooks.com

Corn on the cob still in the husk and silk intact

Run each ear under water just to get the dirt/dust off the outside husks.

Place three to four ears (depends on size of microwave and your ears...the corn's ears, not yours...ewww...that would just be wrong in so many ways) on dampened paper towel(s). Turn ears (again, the corn's) over after 1/2 the cooking time.

1 ear: 1 1/2 min
2 ears: 3-4 min
3 ears: 5-6 min
4 ears: 7-8 min
(if you can fit more than four in your microwave, you're on your own with a cooking time!)

Using a hot pad/mitt, remove from microwave after the annoying beeping sound chimes. Either wrap the cooked ears in foil or put them in a pan and cover (that is what I did). Let stand for 5-ish (or less) min. With a knife, cut the a tiny portion of the bottom of the cob off. (makes husk removal so easy!)Remove husks and silk (it will slide off...seriously!) and serve with butter, salt and pepper.

Try it. Let me know if you like this method or the "watch-pot" boiling method.