Finding Gratitude

I had a lovely massage this morning. It is one of the few things I do to treat myself but it's definitely something I look forward to. The gal I used to see left for bigger and better things and I really liked her, so I was more than a little sad about the whole thing. Perhaps my bar is really high, but I have had trouble finding a massage therapist that was a good fit. Fast forward, I've been going to Holly for about three months and she is amazing. She is a very intuitive therapist and I love her vibe.

We chatted for a bit about how important it is to look for the "silver lining," being grateful in all things. I think "reframing" is the current buzzword. It reminded me of something I first heard when Scott and I were a young married couple. It went something along the lines of 'I'm grateful for my husband's snoring, it means he is there beside me.' Now, I know there are different levels of snoring and that snoring can indicate health issues, but the thought behind it has really helped me reframe some of the little things. Don't get me wrong, there are still things I roll my eyes at or get frustrated by, but I've also learned to be able to laugh about them and to take the emotion out when it's an issue I want to talk about. It's taken a lot of years and a lot of practice but I am grateful for Scott's patience as I learn. Is there something you could reframe to find the gratitude? Here's to a grateful 2022! Sending positive energy to all my readers.

Goodbye 2021! Hello 2022!

 I've heard it said that the years go faster the older we are because they're an increasingly smaller percentage of our lifetime. For example, when you are ten years old, one year is roughly ten percent of your life. On the flip-side, at fifty years old, ten percent of our lives is roughly five years.

What's your take on why time seems to go faster? Is it the load of responsibility, our natural aging process that tends to slow us down so time appears to speed by, or something else?

The opportunities for growth are ever-present. Sometimes we drop the hammer on ourselves and learn valuable lessons, other times, we observe people doing the hammer-dropping and their subsequent response. Some sage advice given to me as a teenager was to observe and learn. I can't say I've always followed that advice, nevertheless, I absolutely agree with it. These challenges, I believe, segue us into an opportunity to lean as well as learn. Lean on our families, on each other, but especially on God. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding". God is so good. Even through our difficulties, He is there waiting for us to turn to Him, to rely on Him, to cast our burden at His feet.

I recently read a book by Kathryn Jenkins, Enduring with Grace and Strength. Wow. It is beautifully written and so inspiring. In talking about enduring some really tough things, she says, "He knows I can do it. More importantly, He needs me to know I can do it." That really struck me. God knows I can do all things through Christ but He needs me to know I can. What a great lesson. So many good nuggets of wisdom she has learned and shares with us in this short book. 

Looking forward, do you make new goals, resolutions, lists? I don't make resolutions anymore. I do try to make goals, but that is an ongoing thing. This year I tried a new thing. I picked a word that I wanted to represent the year for me. That word was Finish. Well. I did finish a few things. Not as many as I hoped, but as with many of us, my years started off great and trickled to barely tumbling over the finish line to 2022. My word for 2022 is Disciple. I'm hoping to grow in Christ's light and that includes reading the Old Testament. There are so many knowledgeable people offering resources for study so I'm really excited for this. Leave a comment and tell me one thing you want to accomplish in 2022 or maybe your word for the year. 

I pray that the year 2022 will hold bounteous blessings for you--however they may come.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions and comments are my own.

Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore

The story of Bob Inama, The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore, debuts on September 7 (tomorrow). It is an incredible story of one man's experience as a prisoner of the Germans during World War II.

Back of Book:

Based on a true story. Inspired by real events.

A riveting and emotionally-gripping novel of an American soldier working as a spy in Soviet-occupied East Germany and a West German woman secretly helping her countrymen escape from behind the Berlin Wall. 

In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Luisa Voigt lives in West Berlin, but her grandmother lives across the border and is now trapped inside the newly- isolated communist country of East Germany. Desperate to rescue her grandmother and aware of the many others whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help bring others through a makeshift, underground tunnel to West Germany. Their work is dangerous and not everyone will successfully escape or live to see freedom. 

Bob Inama was an outstanding university student, with plans to attend law school when he is drafted into the US Army. Stationed in West Germany, he is glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he does not get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob's special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany. His undercover job will give him access to government sites to map out strategic military targets. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and eventually Bob is caught and sent to a brutal East German prison. Interrogated and tortured daily, Bob clings to any hope he can find from the sunlight that marches across the wall of his prison to the one guard who secretly treats him with kindness to the thought of one day seeing Luisa again.

Author Heather B. Moore masterfully alternates the stories of Bob and Luisa, capturing the human drama unique to Cold War Germany as well as the courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

What others are saying:

Editor's Pick
Historical Novel Society

This outstanding novel is a harrowing account based aroun actual events in Bob Inama's life ... A timely and cautionary tale. My highest recommendation!

--Thomas J. Howley

And this:

My take: 

Wow! I can't wait to read this. Also Heather B. Moore will be in my town this week doing a signing and I will be there! Hooray!

BONUSES:

**Swag bundle

**Ebook only $5.99 this week! 

The publisher, Shadow Mountain has all the deets.

What books have influenced your view of the world?

Two Fun Children's Books by Valerie Ipson

Sweet Dreams, Princess

by Valerie Ipson

Back of the Book: 

How can Marcy go to sleep when there is nothing to dream about? 

Don’t worry, Mom has some ideas. (If only Marcy will listen to them.)

My Take: 

The graphics are so fun and full of emotions! I mean, who hasn't gone to be with that pouty face when we wanted to stay up? I think this is a great addition to night-time reading (or anytime, really, because it's full of imagination!).  

Next up is After Bedtime.

Back of the Book: 

Why do we have to go to bed and Mom and Dad get to stay up?

Jump into your jammies, find your favorite blankie and stuffed sleeping buddy, and join in the fun, or the indignation really, as brother and sister imagine everything they're missing because they have to go to bed. Will Mom and Dad eat all the brownies and ice cream? Do they play with all their toys?

My take: 

More great graphics by illustrator Kevin Mura. What a fun story about all the things kids think they're missing. A definite case of FOMO for these two.

Pick up these fun paperbacks at Amazon and snuggle up for a good read. 

Don't forget to follow author Valerie Ipson:

Amazon Author Page, Goodreads, and Facebook, and check out her website: http://valerieipson.com

Spiritual Resilience

I just finished reading Spiritual Resilience by Sharla Goettl. If you know me, you know that finishing ANY non-fiction book is a tremendous accomplishment. I'm fair at starting them, but somewhere around chapter four I ditch the book and move on.

I read this book in three days. Yeah, three days. I know, wow! Just wow. But this book took me on a journey. It was incredibly insightful (which I keep saying in all my reviews, but, truth darling!) and I feel I am changed by those insights. 

One thing she says, "The Lord truly makes sure that whatever information, knowledge, tools, or resources we need to accomplish his commandments will cross our path at the opportune moment." Is it not true? I have been preparing to teach a class to the women at church and so many times during my reading, I found things or inspirations that were applicable.

This is geared for adults helping youth, but it is definitely applicable to all generations. I highly recommend this book. 

*I received an ARC. My opinions are my own. And my opinion is you should get this book!

I Hated You First by Rachel John

 

I've dived into summer reading a little more enthusiastically than usual. I have started and not finished a few, but here are a couple I've really enjoyed:

I Hated You First by Rachel John

Back Cover:

Clay… My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It’s unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad’s the boss? Yeah, she’s so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts.

Lauren… I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It’s going on the list of things I’ve outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn’t matter that I’ve caught Clay looking at me like he’s a jewel thief and I’m a precious gem encased in glass. He’d never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad’s asked for Clay’s help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way. 

My Goodreads/Amazon review:

Seriously fun book. Quick, easy read. Loved the characters and their growth. Recommend and would read again.

*I received a reader copy. My review opinions are my own.

Second First Kiss by Jennifer Griffith

Back Cover:

A torching kiss on a long-ago high school dare just might flare up again.

Back in high school, Jasher Hotchkiss and Sage Everton shared one perfect kiss at a kissing booth. 

Now, they've both returned to their hometown of Mendon. Bachelor Jasher is there against his will as the reluctant new general surgeon. Widowed Sage is the hospital’s underappreciated nurse anesthetist. 

They see each other daily.

Neither has forgotten that mind-blowing kiss.

However, if Jasher is universally loathed by the town's citizens and Sage carries a potentially lethal dating curse, is there any chance at a second first kiss?

My Goodreads/Amazon review: I love books by Griffith. Fun, fluffy, and easy to read. This one was no different. Lots of swooney smooching and I liked the resolutions at the end. Recommend and would read again.

Baited by Roxanne McNeil

First, isn't this cover beautiful and intriguing? 

Second, my thoughts on the book:
Wow. It did take me a few chapters to get into this book, but then every time I had to put it down, I kept thinking about the characters and what they were going to do, how they were going to resolve things, and how things would play out in the end. I was not disappointed. I loved the bit of secrecy and why it was necessary and the challenges it brought because in the end, it really mattered. I loved Reylen's development and that she knew all things fishing--which I, personally, would probably take a pass on the cleaning part haha. 

Recommend!

**I received an ARC. The review is my own opinion.