These Are the Days of Elijah [Book In Review]

After reading this book, I can only give it 3 stars because I had a hard time finishing it. The book is not very long, but the author went in to varied detail about the life of Elijah. I’m not a person who enjoys every minute detail so I think that’s where this book lost it for me. The book describes the life of Elijah in chronological order based on all of the passages in the Bible pertaining to Elijah’s life. It seemed that the author did immense research concerning the culture of that time period and was well versed in Biblical knowledge. If you’re a Elijah fan, as my husband is, this is the book for you. I enjoyed the book overall, but the overwhelming details made it hard to get through to the end.

The Little Black Sweater

It seems to me that every time I have a dramatic, life shifting season, I buy a new black sweater.

I have the overly large black sweater I bought after Ashden was born. The kind you pull over your head to cover the lingering baby tummy and nursing faux pas. Those were the years I was in the trenches. Two babies in 16 months; no Grandma help in sight. My life was taking a hard left into a season of hiding. I lessened my social engagements and volunteer-edness and stayed at home in the secret place of mommy hood.

Birth Story {2nd addition}

Dear Ashden,

My sweet baby boy; as we waited in the living room for the line to show on the pregnancy test, it was decided that your Dad and sister would look at the test and deliver the results. I was much too nervous. You were a surprise from Heaven, a gift from above and I was a wreck. At that time in my life, I didn’t know how to take the present God had graciously gifted to me and unwrap it with care. I didn’t know how to receive good things from the Father; but I know now that the Father only gives good and perfect gifts.

A Wandering Heart

images Indecision is the most heated debate that happens within this little head of mine.

Right or Left God? Which way? Yes or no?

And it’s with this indecision that we get stuck. For 5  l.o.n.g. years I’ve been inquiring of the Lord. If you’ve been a part of our story at all, you’ve watched us and probably listened to these questions burn in our hearts. Thank you to those who have walked this l.o.n.g. road with us. Transition & change are both faithful companions by now. I must admit that the desire to settle has been a strong one. A pull at my heart for security, peace, roots. Who wants to wander the desert for 40 yrs? Certainly not me. Just ‘give me the map and I’ll follow’ I say.

Sign and Wonders and a Baptist Preacher

This book is a fantastic read for anyone interested in the supernatural. Chad Norris is a baptist preacher who comes to the table admitting he has been “skeptical” of signs and wonders. As he describes his testimony and journey into the world of the Kingdom, the reader gets the impact of just how far he has walked with the Father. Chad only describes God as loving, although he didn’t always feel that way about Him. He describes his approach and methods as gentle, and I appreciate that as a long time Christian. A fascinating read, if you enjoy auto biographies.

Learning To Love [Book In Review]

This book was rich in stories and real life examples of the work Heidi and Rolland Baker do in Mozambique, Africa. I have heard of these two missionaries in the past, and I was genuinely interested to read about their work in the “bush, bush.” There is no detail left unturned between these pages, which is fulfilling. I found myself asking questions about normal day to day activity, and then one by one those questions were answered throughout the book. You will feel like you really get to be a fly on the wall in the Baker’s lives.
As the founders of Iris ministries, the Bakers oversee many bases in the surrounding spaces of Mozambique and beyond. They give credit to all of the people who are on their teams and are very humble and generous. If you’ve ever wanted to become a missionary to the bush, bush, read this book!

Shattered (Alaskan Courage) [Book In Review]

This book has drama, suspense and romance intertwined through the storyline. The main characters are a tight knit family of young adults who have grown up supporting each other in the Alaskan mountains. After their brother, Reef, gets charged with murder, they seek to prove his innocence. As they hunt down clues to the victim’s past, the are unknowingly being tracked by the killer himself. A suspenseful read!
I enjoyed the Christian themes throughout the book, but one critique would be the over use of romance and physical attraction. The value of abstinence before marriage was upheld throughout the book, but I feel that the author could have drastically lowered the amount of sexual attraction between the two main characters. Otherwise, the book leaves me wanting to read the next in the sequel, if the author is so inclined to continue the series.

Outrageous Courage [Book In Review]


I really enjoyed this book! It is essentially a biography about Tracy, written and published by the authors. Tracy’s life is far from status quo as a single woman in love with Jesus. She follows him to the scariest places on Earth and her courage is energizing. She has overcome a lot of obstacles in her early childhood. The reader will enjoy this biography as a testimony of God’s goodness.

Word for the Year 2013

Last year I stumbled upon a blogger who had chosen a word for the year. I had never heard of such a thing, but I liked it. So I joined the club and chose a word. I had no idea the impact of just 1 word. Last year, the word was restore. It became a comfortable friend, an old shoe. I slipped it on and in every situation it seemed to fit. So as the year was drawing to a close, I knew I needed to pick a new word, but I didn’t want to. I had become so loyal, I couldn’t imagine any other word being any better. Why can’t I just stay here?

The Best of 2012

As the year comes to an end, I usually start to reflect on the highs and the lows. From my family to yours, thank you for coming back to read about our life and thank you for your love and support.

Favorite Discovery of 2012:
Ok, well it’s really just essential oil, nothing new there but I discovered a new use for it. When dropped into the toilet prior to (ahem, you know) going, the smell is masked and eradicated from the restroom. The drops are small enough to fit inside a purse and can be used in any toilet. We ended up giving these to most of the recipients on our gift list this year and I’ve had some good reviews.