A Vent Where I Whine A Little, And By A Little I Mean A Lot

I am cranky.

I say things in an ugly and sharp tone.

I snap at those I love.

I roll my eyes so much I give myself a headache.

I hate feeling like this.

I have so much to feel joyful about... yet I feel so cranky inside.

Can I vent?

Really? You don't mind?

Thanks.

I'm tired. I'm hungry all the time. My chest feels like it's on fire. I have periods of breathlessness that to hear me, you'd think I just ran up a flight of stairs. My nose bleeds every time I blow it. I get a lot of headaches. I have high blood pressure. I feel like a hippopotamus-cow-pig. My roots are showing. I hate winter and there is a huge storm coming that is going to dump 30cm of snow on us.

On a normal day it doesn't take much to make me cry. I cry at commercials, I cry when I'm tired, I cry right along with other people that are crying. I think I am single handedly keeping Kleenex in business. I cry because I feel so ungrateful. Then I cry because I just feel so darn blessed.

Right now I'm tucked into bed. It's 8:24pm and I'm hoping an earlier than usual night will help me to be more level tomorrow.

Ok - enough venting. GAH! Who wants to hear all that??

Ian has been working with Jordan and she knows almost the entire alphabet and her numbers up to 12. Not only does she recite them, she can recognize them written on their own.

I've told you many, many times before....she's brilliant. I think we can agree on who she takes after, can't we?

That's right, her father.

Tomorrow Sam and Julie get their report cards. I can't wait to see them because they're pretty brilliant you know. They also take after their father.

And Wednesday I have my big ultrasound to make sure everything looks good with Baby. I've requested that they note the gender and I look forward to sharing that with you.

Ok, I'm done. Time to take this crankasaurus to bed!

Book Review: Deeper Into The Word, Reflections On 100 Words From The New Testament

A Fresh Look at the Words Within the Word

Words matter. God cares about them and so should we. Going a little deeper into the Bible's words can make an old passage new again, enriching your understanding of God's message to his children. Why was this word chosen rather than that one? What does it imply in its original language that you can't see in English? And without knowing Greek, how can you learn to explore the details of God's Word for yourself?

Keri Wyatt Kent provides a fresh encounter with the most important words of the New Testament. Deeper Into the Word can be used as a daily devotional or as an easy-to-use reference tool. Either way, you'll find yourself excited by the wonders of God's amazing Word.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

To be honest, I never really wondered about the purpose of any particular word chosen in the bible. It was there and that was enough for me.

But when I was offered the opportunity to review this book I jumped at the chance and couldn't wait for it to arrive.

Keri Wyatt Kent shares the meanings and context of 100 words in such an easy to read way, with each chapter reading like a devotional.

Not only does it have a handy table of contents listing each word being studied, it also has an appendix of useful websites if you want to study the words and themes even deeper, a Greek index and a large notes section, citing her sources for even more knowledge.

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone who is curious about looking deeper into God's word. I will definitely be keeping this book with my bible so I can use it as a reference tool.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: Fatal Judgement

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the cold hearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

It's not often that I come across a book that I can lose myself in. I have a certain group of authors that I know will suck me right in to the story and Irene Hannon is definitely one of them.

I liked this book because it wasn't what I expected. I expected the character of Jake Taylor to be this macho jerk protecting Liz, a delicate, helpless woman. I was so wrong. Jake is hard working and tender, passionate about his work and those he protects. Liz is strong and intelligent, and carries such grief and guilt in her heart.

I was pleasantly surprised by well developed characters that were relatable and a natural and easy storyline.

I went into the book figuring that the two main characters were going to fall for each other, yet it was done in such a lovely way that it seemed so realistic. There was nothing sleazy or inappropriate about their growing relationship and I found that so refreshing.

I carted this book around with me to read at every opportunity: on my lunch break, waiting for my ride home at the end of the day, before bedtime. I liked it so much I felt a little let down when it was over. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished the book.

Do you ever get so caught up in a story like that? I don't often, but I did this time.

Suspense, drama, mystery and romance all wrapped up in one read. A great book to curl up with and lose yourself in on a wintry day!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Update

Hello!

I am having the best time with my Random Acts of Kindness birthday wish! It's taking me a lot longer than I ever imagined it would, and I just have to be ok with that. There's a lot going on and I only have so much time and energy to do stuff. When it comes to this I really, really don't want to rush it. So please bear with me and know that I'm not slacking off!

I will do one big blog post once I'm all done, and I'll be including all of yours at the same time. I have spent a few evenings in tears reading about what everyone has been doing.

Thank you so much for being a part of this.

Isn't kindness beautifully contagious??

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I'm tired of winter and being cold and all this snow. I am rapidly approaching my I'm So Fed Up With Winter Melt Down Day. Do you have a day like that? It usually hits me in February when I'm convinced that winter will go on forever and ever.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

My pregnancy seems to be going well so far. I feel movement just about every day now and that's so reassuring. I have an ultrasound booked for Feb 2nd, and I think I'm going to take the children out of school so they can come and see the baby too. We're going to try to find out the gender, so if I find out I'll let you know.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Being 40 doesn't suck like I thought it would. I actually feel rather relaxed and comfortable these days. I've been thinking a lot about things in the last couple of weeks, like how I view myself, what relationships are important to me, what brings stress to my life rather than joy... things like that. And I've decided I'm going to make some changes.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

My love affair with macaroni and cheese continues to burn brightly. I actually cooked some this morning before work so I could take some with me for lunch. I was one happy gal let me tell you.

I also love egg salad but I can't make it to save my life. My mom makes AWESOME egg salad but I hate to ask her to make it for me. But if she wanted to I wouldn't say no.

Ahem, Mom. Ahem.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Tonight is the finale of The Next Great Baker and we're all psyched to watch it together. It's really inspired Sam to try his hand at cake decorating and we've been enjoying his chocolate cakes immensely of late.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

And that's a wrap for today :-)

My Birthday Wish

Tomorrow is my 40th birthday.

40 is the new 30 you know.

At least that's what they say.

I long ago decided that I didn't want a party or gifts to celebrate this milestone.

Instead, I decided that I wanted to celebrate by doing 40 random acts of kindness for others in my community.

What's that? A great idea, you say?

I agree. But I can't take credit for it. This beauty of an idea came from the amazing Robyn at MixMingleGlow. She did 38 random acts of kindness to celebrate her 38th birthday last year and I fell in love with the idea.

The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful life and has given me so much more than I deserve.

I need to give back.

The thoughts of a huge party just seems so selfish to me in light of all that I have. I want to do something.

It will take me about a week to carry out all my plans and my beautiful family and I will be doing them together. I'll blog about it once I've completed all 40.

I have a birthday wish that I would truly love for you to be a part of.

Tomorrow, will you share in my birthday and do a random act of kindness for someone in your community? It doesn't have to be anything huge or expensive, just something kind for someone else.

Then.... will you tell me about it?

I'd love to add your acts of kindness to my blog post to share with everyone.

I believe that one act of kindness leaves beautiful ripples, and more people are blessed than just the original person. It pays itself forward.

I can't wait to see that happen. God's blessings flowing forward.

It will be beautiful.

National Delurker Day

Betcha you didn't know that today is Delurker Day, did ya? Well it is!

So, if you've come to visit me today, I would love for you to leave a comment telling me about yourself and how you've found my blog. Tell me something about you.

I'd love to come by your blog and say hello.

Thanks for playing :-)

Drive By Update

Lately I've been struggling with feelings of fear and anxiety, but I'm trying so hard to fight against it by praying about it and asking dear friends to pray alongside me.

I already feel so stretched with three children, I don't know how I'll handle four. I don't feel like I meet everyone's needs as it is, and soon we'll have another person to care for. To provide for. And I'll be 40 when this little one gets here.

Ian continues to work hard to find employment but hasn't hit anything yet. Thankfully his employment insurance was finally approved this week. I'm praying for the perfect Ian Job to present itself soon but in the meantime he's rockin' the stay at home dad gig.

I've been having some weird dreams lately. I get up about every two hours to go to the washroom and then my dream picks up right where I left off. Last night I was dreaming about seal clubbing. Awful, right? I know! When I came back to bed I told Ian about my dream and that I hoped it didn't continue. It did...sort of. Instead of dreaming about seal clubbing... I dreamed the seals were clubbing....you know, in a club.

Sam and Ian are away on retreat this weekend with the jr high youth group. They're heading a couple of hours north to do all sorts of outdoorsy stuff in the freezing cold. Not sure what I'm going to do with the girls but we always have a special time together.

Last night I had a prenatal appointment and it went well. I weigh 13 lbs less than when the specialist weighed me a couple of months ago. I heard the baby's heart beating and kicking at the doppler thingy. I'm measuring right on target. The only downside of the appointment was that my blood pressure is up a bit more and he's doubled my medication. I'm trying to stay as calm as I can about things, and Ian is taking wonderful care of me and ensuring that I'm resting as often as possible.

Sam has different names for the baby at this point. If it's just moving then he calls it Squirming Steve. If it's kicking, then it's Kicking Kevin.

My temp assignment continues to go well. I met with the VP of Finance today and after the meeting he told me I was doing "a fantastic job, just terrific". It made me feel really good about what I'm doing there.

Last night I went to my mom's for dinner. She made my favourite casserole and it was so nice to spend time with her, catching up. I miss seeing her.

I love maccaroni and cheese, and I could eat it every single day. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

And that concludes my update.

Bold Blogging

Have you heard of this style of blogging?

Bold.

What does that even mean?

I thought it meant blogging an opinion without fear of what readers would think. To use one's own blog as a platform for causes one supports or opinions one held.

Apparently I was wrong.

Bold blogging is about sharing anything and everything.

Recently I came across a few blogs that discussed details of their husband's sexual addictions.

Umm...what??

Did you know that potential employers are turning to Google and Facebook to gather info about possible employees? Imagine the information they'd uncover about these people, considering they are kind enough to use their real names - first and last - as they destroy their spouse's reputation.

Once something hits the internet it's there forever.

I've seen blogs where women complain bitterly about their children.

I don't understand this trend. I don't understand how one can basically bash their spouse or children for the entire world to read, and how that can be ok.

Do Ian and I have arguments? Of course we do! But I respect him enough not to slam him on my blog. And he respects me enough not to slam me on his. I don't ever speak poorly about him to friends either. What happens between us stays between us. Just as a marriage should be.

Do my kids bug me at times? Sure they do! And I bet I bug them too. But do I need to talk about them poorly on my blog? Or go on endlessly about how I need a break from them? Nope.

I don't understand this and it disturbs me on so many levels.

Our spouses and our children are God's most precious gifts to us. Shouldn't they be treated better than that?

How about blogging with integrity and authenticity? Wouldn't that make for a better blog?

Where do you stand on this issue? Am I just overreacting or is this trend ok by you? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Boy Or Girl?

When I was pregnant with Sam, I was often asked if I was hoping to have a boy or a girl.

I always answered that it didn't matter, all I wanted was a healthy baby.

When I was pregnant with Julie, I was regularly asked if I was hoping for a girl this time.

I always answered that it didn't matter, all I wanted was a healthy baby.

Years later, when I was pregnant with Jordan, I was asked about my gender preference over and over.

My answer was always the same: It didn't matter, I just wanted a healthy baby.

At church on Christmas Eve I was asked whether I was hoping for a boy or a girl.

I said I had no preference.

Then she said, "As long as it's healthy, right?"

I just smiled.

Healthy or not, perfect or not, we want this child. We will love whomever this little person turns out to be.

I pray daily that God will take my worries about this little one away from my heart, and to be able to enjoy this pregnancy and look forward to that beautiful day in June when I will see his or her precious face for the first time.

I'll be 40 when this baby is born. I know what the statistics are for certain disabilities in a baby born to a mother in my age group.

I'm no longer afraid. We weren't expecting this little one but God had a plan to bless us with this new life. Whatever is to come, He will prepare us.

For now.. I'm choosing to just feel thankful.

Christmas 2010

Another beautiful Christmas has come to an end.

Friday night we went to the children's service at our church and they told the Story of the Three Trees. I've heard the story before but it really touched me this time around. We all have goals and dreams for our lives but when they don't turn out like we expected we become so disappointed. But God will use our lives for His glory if only we let Him, and in ways bigger than we could ever imagine for ourselves.

Afterwards we went to my mother's for a fabulous ham dinner. I absolutely love being with my family. After dinner my mom gave the children a gift to open - new pjs! Ian started a fire in the fireplace and Sam and Julie took turns reading the Night Before Christmas.

When we came home, we made a big fuss about putting out milk and cookies for Santa. Sam and Jules know the truth about Santa and are loving being a whole part of it for her. Jordan carefully chose which cookies she was going to leave out, then she sat on my lap while we tracked Santa on the Norad site. When it was time for her to go to bed she blew kisses to Santa and told him to be safe.

Ian and I didn't exchange any gifts before bed this year. I was exhausted so I went up to bed early (as usual!) The children wanted to get up at 6am the next morning but I was able to talk them into 6:45am.

Ian had other plans. He blocked one of the clocks in our bedroom so I couldn't see the time and started bugging me to get up just before 6:30. I wouldn't, so he tortured me by singing Feliz Navidad over and over and over. I had to get up just to make it stop!

The children were spoiled again this year and it took them almost an hour and half to open all of their gifts. Our living room was a MESS! I was given such thoughtful gifts from Ian and the children. A couple of them made me cry!

We went to my mom's for 9am and opened gifts there then had my favourite breakfast ever, visited for a bit and then came home just after lunchtime for Jordan's nap. Ahem...and my nap.

We returned to my mom's for 4pm for hors d'oeuvres (is that how you spell that?) and dinner at 6pm - turkey, my favourite! I heard my mom call from the dining room, "we don't have enough room on the table for all of this food!" What a beautiful blessing to be able to say that. We stayed until almost 8:30 and came home to get Jordan to bed.

Today is Boxing Day. I don't know what the significance of Boxing Day is but there's some crazy shopping sales on that day. We went to Ian's parent's house for lunch and the children played outside in the subzero weather for almost an hour, tobogganing and snowboarding and playing with the dog next door. We left in the early afternoon and did some Boxing Day shopping on our way home.

And here I sit.... longing for bedtime. My own, that is, not the children's. ;-) It's been such a busy weekend, but I've loved every minute of it.

Today marks the beginning of my second trimester. One third of the way to Baby Day!

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas with the ones you love.

Be blessed!

Merry Christmas!

May you be surrounded by the ones you love on this most blessed day!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve!!

I am SO excited that today is Christmas Eve!!

My office closes at 2pm today and I can't wait!

Tonight we'll go to our church for the children's service and then to my mother's house for dinner with my whole family.

My aunt arrived on the 16th to celebrate with us and we're just so excited that she's here. My sister will be there too.

After dinner the children take turns reading Twas The Night Before Christmas and my mom gives them one gift to open. We head home, leave cookies and milk for Santa and I get all excited tracking Santa on the Norad site.

Once the children are in bed, Ian and I will sit in the dark looking at the lit Christmas tree. Then I usually cry because I love Christmas Eve so much. We exchange one gift as we have for the last 17 years then hit the sack.

Apparently we're getting up at 6am tomorrow morning to open our gifts. Sweet mercy! I think we'll head over to my Mom's for 9am, open gifts there then have the best breakfast ever. Can't wait!

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Christmas Week Already??

How is it that Christmas is this week??

I now officially have pre-Christmas anxiety because I'm not finished my shopping. I hate that I leave it to Christmas week every single year. Ian has been amazing as always and has bought all of the children's gifts. I picked out a couple of things for them last week but I still have a few other people to buy for.

What do you buy the man who has everything?? I always struggle with what to give Ian. I make him give me a list of the things he wants and where to buy them. I give him bonus points if he picks them up himself ;-)

You know the Gift Giving Gene that women have? I don't have it. I don't have the gift of looking at something and having a "Oh my gosh! So and So would LOVE this!!" moments. I need people to tell me what they want.

Are you a gift card person? I am. I love me a gift card. Some people think they're so impersonal but I think think they're great.

My dog smells so bad right now, but I don't have the strength to give him a bath. How can a dog that doesn't do anything other than sleep smell so bad? And he's on my couch so you know my couch is going to smell too. Oh but I love him.

Tomorrow I see my doctor for my monthly prenatal appointment and I can only imagine the weight I've gained in this first trimester. Did I tell you that I'm on medication for my blood pressure? I get pre-eclampsia in all of my pregnancies but only in the final days and I get induced. When I saw my doctor at my last appointment he was uncomfortable with how high my blood pressure was so he gave me a safe prescription. It's really helped with the tightness in my chest and shortness of breath.

Yesterday I started wondering if I've been drinking enough milk and in a panic had three glasses in a row. I'm not a big milk drinker so remembering to drink it every day is hard.

What else can I tell you? Hmm...

Jordan is saying new words every day and makes me laugh so much. Yesterday she wanted me to do something and I said no and she said "Peese?" and I said no again, and she said "oh come on!". She is a riot.

Julie and I have a mother/daughter shopping date on Tuesday night and we're both really looking forward to it. She's crocheting a scarf for Jordan. How sweet is that?

Sam went to the Christmas Banquet for the youth group last night and had a great time. I love that he's so comfortable there. He looked so hip in his outfit.

My temp assignment continues. I think I might be there until the end of February and possibly into March. There have been some bumps but I'm managing. Every morning, before I do anything else, I ask God to give me what I need for that day, and He does. I'm exhausted when I come home at night. It's a dark place to be and people aren't what they seem. I just do my thing and leave when it's time to go. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for the work.

That's about all the news I have to tell you at this point! Talk to you soon!

Update On Last Week's News

I have to begin this post with a big fat THANK YOU for all of your lovely comments on my last post announcing my pregnancy. I appreciate you so much.

I am now 12 weeks along and it still feels so surreal. But I'm excited.

I'm feeling pretty good :-) I don't feel nauseated as much anymore, although it does tend to hit me when I sneeze for some reason. I'm still very, very tired though, and some nights I'm in bed before my two year old! Ian has been wonderful to me, and has been very patient with my sleep/nap schedule and is holding down the fort in terms of meals and child care.

I'm not craving any one particular food. More like everything! We had KFC on Friday night and my kids thought they'd died and gone to Heaven. I haven't eaten KFC in YEARS because of a statement I once read put out by PETA. But Friday night I didn't want to think about my years long ban. I just wanted the Colonel's special recipe in mah belly. STAT! I'm also enjoying cucumbers with ranch dip. Oh, and pickle juice. Not so much the pickle part...mostly the juice.

I'd forgotten what early pregnancy was like. The multiple trips to the bathroom, the ravenous hunger that would hit me all of a sudden.... Many nights I have sat up in bed at 3am absolutely starving. And let's not forget the hormones! Laughing one minute, ready to rip someone's head off the next... then dissolving in a puddle of tears. I cry at everything . I just can't help it.

It took me a very long time to accept that we were having another child. It wasn't even on our radar when I started going to the specialist this Fall. The doctor sent me for a whole slew of bloodwork and at the very end tacked on a pregnancy test. I told him it wasn't necessary because my family doctor said I didn't ovulate anymore and couldn't get pregnant. I just about fainted when the nurse called with my results. But that's a story for another day.

I struggled with blogging about this because I know of so many people struggling to have their first child, and here I am having my fourth. I don't understand why life works that way, but my heart goes out to these women. I have never experienced their type of pain, but my heart hurts for them all the same.

That's a wrap for now.

Psst... I Wanna Tell You Something...

I love secrets.

If you tell me something I'll go into lockdown and keep your secret forever.

But one of my own secrets?

Well... I'm not so good at that.

Which is why it killed me to not blog about what's been going on with us.

There will be a new little one joining our family on or about June 25th.

Aside from being exhausted all of the time I'm feeling alright, and I seem to have made it past most of the morning sickness.

We've seen our little one on the ultrasound twice now, and he/she has a beautiful heartbeat.

So there you know. Now you know what's been going on with us and I can breathe a sigh of relief because I'm not keeping any more secrets.

:-)

5QF ~ December 3

I survived my first week at my new temp assignment. I'm doing collections for a cleaning company, and let me tell you... it's weird to be collecting on past due invoices while listening to Christmas music! Specifically Christmas Shoes...

I've been exhausted every night and therefore haven't spent much time with Ian or the children. This weekend they're away visiting my inlaws. I miss them.

The job is ok. A little boring but I'm grateful for the work. I'm not sure how long I'll be there though. The agency said a month, but the woman I report to said two months, then when she introduced me to the manager she said three months. Beats me.

I miss being at home. But Ian's here with Jordan, so that's good.

One of the things that's been going on here that I haven't felt ready to talk about is that Ian was laid off a few weeks ago. I haven't wanted to say anything because it's just such an awful situation. He is networking and has some really good contacts, and applies to several positions every day.

Anyway. Jordan loves having her dad around to play with all day, every day.

Tomorrow I'm going over to my mom's to visit and I can't wait :-)

I'm thankful for Mama M's Five Question Friday blog hop because otherwise it might be another week before I blog anything!



1. What's on the top of your holiday wish list and why?!

I can honestly say that I have everything I've ever wanted and more, and it's a beautiful place to be.

I am just looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and basking in the love we have for one another.

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?

My favourite childhood gift was the year of the Cabbage Patch Kids craze. I desperately wanted a Cabbage Patch doll and my mom got one for me. Her name is Lillian Paula and I thought I'd die from the excitement.

My favourite adult gift is the throw blanket Ian gave me two Christmases ago. It has the picture of our family woven on it and it just took my breath away when I saw it.

3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?

Content.

I have entered into each new phase of my life with such fear that I believe it's changed who God intended me to be. I wish I had rushed at each phase with excitement and been content in all circumstances.

I'm not giving up... I will be content some day!

4. When do you put up your tree?

I wanted to put it up on November 1st but Scrooge Ian said no. So he's going to put it up on Sunday, and then we'll go to my inlaws to pick up the children, have dinner, then come home early enough for them to decorate it. I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know how they're going to top last year's tree - it was perfect.

5. What is your favorite Holiday?

Easter. I love what it means to Christians and the hope it gives each one of us.

Alright friends...that's a wrap.

Head on over to Mama M's blog My Little Life to join in on the fun.

Have a great weekend :-)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go

Today was my first day at my new temp assignment. I'll be doing collections and billing, and whatever special projects they need me to help out with.

No, this isn't the hostile environment temp assignment. Thankfully I didn't get called back for that one! The agency called me mid-afternoon on Friday to ask if I'd like to go to this place and I said yes.

I went to bed last night at 8:30 so I'd be all rested and relaxed for today. However, my neighbour had her four thousand nephews over and they pounded up and down the stairs, opened and slammed the front door, and yelled on the front lawn...until 12:17 am.

Turns out that my friend Cindy works about five minutes away, so she met me at the Swiss Chalet and then proceeded to lead me all the way to my new job! She put the address into her GPS and took me right there. It's been awhile since I've driven in rush hour, and some dude cut right in front of me on the highway. Jerk!

Everyone I met was super nice to me which was a relief. People kept coming over to introduce themselves. I've done temp assignments at places where no one talks to the temp. This place makes me feel like one of their own.

The day was a bit dull with all the training, but I was able to get to some collection calls towards the end of the afternoon. It'll take a few days to really settle in, and then I hope the days fly by. I missed the children today.

So here it is, 7:15pm and this girl is ready for bed!

Hope everyone had a great day.

Book Review: The Waiting

She was waiting for love--and found it in the most unexpected place.

Jorie King's life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him.

But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with the promise of a fresh beginning--until their worlds are turned upside down.

With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengths, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren't as simple as they seem.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I fell in love with this book right from the first few pages.

Jorie is a schoolteacher, determined to teach her students everything they need to know to pass an important test in the Spring. She is in love with Ben, certain that once he returns home from the war he will be ready to marry her.

Caleb is a father, and raising his younger brother in the wake of his parents' deaths. He is a pillar in his community, looked up to and respected by all.

When tragedy befalls both Jorie and Caleb, they slowly begin to fall in love with one another. I found myself rooting for them, excited for their future. But just as they are set to begin a life together there is a shocking turn of events. I was quickly flipping the pages to see how the story would play out.

This is a gentle love story with the Amish life as a beautiful backdrop. I adore everything I have learned about the Amish, and am completely in love with their gentle and simple way of life.

The author is wonderfully gifted in how she creates realistic and likeable characters. Each character is developed so well that you can almost hear them when they speak, and picture them in real life. I love a book that sucks me in like this one did.

If you're looking for a great read, I can't recommend this one strongly enough. It's just lovely.

Book Review: More Glimpses Of Heaven

There is more to death than simply ceasing to live. In Glimpses of Heaven, retired hospice nurse Trudy Harris offered an intimate look at the final days and moments of terminally ill and dying people. Now she shares more of her stories and also stories from other medical and hospice professionals, allowing the veil to be drawn back on God's handiwork, while we are both living and dying.

If you have lost a loved one, are facing a terminal illness, or are simply curious about what happens when we pass from life to death, More Glimpses of Heaven offers you an even deeper insight into God's plan for our lives every day.

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I have always been curious about the end of life. I love to hear stories of things people see, or the sense of calm they feel as they reach the end of their life. It gives me such peace to know that they felt peace.

Each chapter is a story of its own, gently told by the hospice nurse that cared for that patient. Their love and care for each person was so evident as they helped them prepare for eternity.

I felt comforted reading these stories, that the peace that passes all understanding fills a person as they prepare to leave this life for the next.

If you are curious about this topic, this is a lovely book to read. May it give you the peace it gave me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends!

I hope you are surrounded by the ones you love today!