Christmas

So.... How was everyone's Christmas?

I have to say that mine was half decent, but this year it has not felt like Christmas at all. It is the strangest thing! It makes someone begin to really think about it. Why does it not feel like Christmas? I had to think about this, and I just realized it now. It is because it is no longer about Christ.

Did any of you know the real meaning of Merry Christmas? It is so often misunderstood. So many believe it is about Santa Claus, or about some guy name Scrooge. And the worst part, they are now changing the holiday name. Look around, any store, they will say happy holidays. The signs say the same thing. The trees are called holiday trees, not Christmas trees, and why is that? They are trying to hide what Christmas is really about.

The real meaning of the phrase Merry Christmas means the joyful and anxious return of the savior of the world Jesus Christ. Not some story about wisemen and shepherds and a baby with animals, but the savior of the world. Yes that is a part of the story, but Jesus didn't come so we could say that there was a baby in a manger, he came so we could proclaim to the world that he had saved us through his death. The two parts of the story should be put together. Yes, each season has a specific reason for the celebration, and yes Christmas was about Jesus' birth, but I have even found for myself that I forget the ultimate reason and just say that he was a baby born from a virgin because God decided to send his son to earth. Now I am sorry, but that sounds ridiculous if you don't give the rest of the story.

Now I know that I just talked about not doing this already, but I am going to post the Christmas story according to Luke 2, and I want you to really think about it. I am 17 years old and I have grown up with this story. But I so often forget to really think about this story. Read and absorb. :D

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up form Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which  the Lord hath made known unto us". And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."  - Luke 2:1-20

Mine is the Night

Recently, for my daily devotions, I was studying Ruth, and I found it ironic that the day after I finished Ruth I picked up Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs. Those of you that have read it, you will understand what I am saying, and if you haven't I recommend that you read it.

Mine is the Night


A beautiful story of young widow returning home with her widowed mother-in-law and begging for assistance from family members from 10 years past. It is a story of hope and love and survival. When they arrive they find that even Anne has little money to live off of herself, let alone support two other people. It is not long after Elizabeth is forced to sew for money, that people begin to question Elizabeth's husband's past and shun her for it. Will Elizabeth's job be enough to support them, or will they be required to look for another higher paying job? When Elizabeth let's her heart get tangled, will anything come of it, or will it just be broken once again by one she loves? Join Liz Higgs on this journey of love and survival in Scotland, in a time of judgement and distrust.

Honestly, I could not put this book down, and if you have read the story of Ruth, you will understand the correspondence of Ruth and Elizabeth in the novel. I recommend that you read it and find out for yourself, but I give this book a 4 out of 5, so maybe it isn't such a bad read after all :)

Like Dandelion Dust

I just finished watching an absolutely amazing movie! The title is "Like Dandelion Dust". I don't know if any of you have seen the movie or read the book, but both are absolutely amazing.

It was jam packed with lots of scenes of frustration and tears and you could feel the tension and pain as two families struggled to keep their little boy. The question I kept asking myself is what would I do. At times you may be frustrated with the adopted family, wondering why they are doing the things they are doing, but somehow I could see what they were trying to do. I recommend you check this movie out. Honestly I cried through 3/4 of it and I am not a 'crier' by definition. The only thing I did not like was that God was not the center of the movie as he was in the book, but I guess you can't appease everyone.

Anyways. I just recommend that you check it out because it may change your life.

Busy

Have any of you ever noticed how busy life can get? Well, that happened to me recently. I just started going to Columbia Bible College, situated in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Now I have to say I am enjoying every single minute of it, but it leaves me with so little free time! I am hoping that I will be able to have some free time in the future, but as of now my schedule is pretty jam packed!

Since I am so busy, I haven't even read very many books! This has been one of the first times in my life where it takes me two weeks to finish a book! So shocking I know! But since I am reading so much for school, I don't think it counts. Something I have found invigorating is that I have started to read my bible more. I mean, yes I read it for devotions in the morning if I remembered, but now I am reading it by hunks and chapters! It is so interesting if you actually read it. I think it is just getting around the fact that there are so many books and pages to read that distract us.

How much do you read your bible? I have to admit, that before I came here my bible reading was pretty lacking. I would do my devoitiosn for like two weeks and then life would get in the way and I wouldn't do it again for a couple of weeks. This has been going on since forever. Even though I have such little time now, I am actually picking up my bible in anticipation for what God is going to teach me. Some of my friends can't understand how I can read a couple chapters for school every day and still want to my devotions as well. It is easy, God is teaching me. I don't want to read my bible because I have to for school, but because I genuinely want to. That is what is going on now.

I am a little sad that I have so little time to read novels, but I am finding that reading my bible is more satisfactory than the books. This doesn't mean that I am speaking against novels, because I love them! It is just that the Bible is the most important book and we can't ignore it because we want to read something else, even if we say it is ok because it is a Christian novel. It doesn't work that way. So I am challenging you, how many of you are actually reading your bible if you are a Christian? How many actually put time away in their day to focus on God and not on their family situation, or their job? It is important to get away sometimes, and I believe that when I do my devotions, my day seems brighter. I get less worried about what I am going through and just trust that God will bring it to pass. That doesn't mean that I don't think about it, or that I stop working towards solving the issue, but that I don't just rely on myself. That is way too draining and we weren't made to work like that.


So, how dusty is your bible??

Give-away

Once again K. Dawn Byrd is having a couple giveaways on her blog.

Below I have pasted a portion of the give-away facts on the books. I recommend you go check it out. Free books are not something you should turn down. Follow the link below to check out her blog:

http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/

Register to win a copy of Sam Batterman's "Maximal Reserve"

Title: Maximal Reserve
Publisher: Deep River

Cover blurb: WHAT IF OIL ISN’T SCARCE? A secret that can change the balance of the world’s power and finance in a moment is known by the most unlikely of people—and he’s only been employed for a week.

Philip Channing was just an ambitious college graduate who wanted to make his mark on the world. He didn’t know that mark would be the greatest oil discovery of all time—in the wrong place. Philip finds the largest oil reserve in history, a reserve that dwarfs the lucrative reserves in Saudi Arabia and threatens to change the world’s balance of power and wealth in favor of the most unlikely country of all.

But Phil isn’t the only one who’s discovered the reserve—and an alliance of crooked politicians and European terrorists will do anything to keep it secret.

Register to win a copy of Jayne Pearson Faulkner's "The Place of Belonging"

Title: The Place of Belonging
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: This elegantly written story is told from the eyes of a child of a single mother, set in the 1940's in Big Sky Montana. Humorous yet bracingly honest, The Place of Belonging stirs our basis feelings of wanting to belong somewhere and to someone. Beautifully and simply told, The Place of Belonging takes the reader on an uforgettable step back in time, a place many will recognize. [“This emotionally satisfying book reads like prose. It is one of the best books we have ever published, and certainly, that I have ever read.” Nancie Carmichael, DRB Publisher, and bestselling author. ]

Register to win a pdf copy of Marianne Evans' "Hearts Communion"

Title: Hearts Communion
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: Jeremy “JB” Edwards dreams of one thing: Having a loving wife and children of his own. Not a surprising ambition, since he was raised at the heart of a large, tight-knit family. Monica Kittelski spends her days at Sunny Horizons Daycare Center pouring her heart and faith into other people’s children. But Monica harbors one impossible dream: Having children of her own someday. JB and Monica seem the perfect match, but what will come of their electric, sassy relationship when Jeremy learns of Monica's infertility? Hopes and reality collide when they must confront the idea of finding God's plan and following His will when a dearest hope is destined to remain unfulfilled. Can these two loving, passionate hearts survive a communion of dreams and reality?

Surrender the Dawn by MaryLu Tyndall

I just finished reading and I am sitting here numb. With every book of MaryLu Tyndall's that is published, there seems to be a better story line, more defined characters, and more of a biblical pull. 

Luke and Cassandra are so much like me, and everyone else our there. They have flaws, but in the end they embrace those flaws and five them to God rather than use them as a barrier to stand in between us and a relationship. 

Whether the thought of someone we loved leaving, causing us to doubt in God, or our own failures staring us in the face, God shines through. We can all find forgiveness, no matter how bad our sins are. This was shown beautifully in this novel. 

The romance to me seemed real, I felt the connection. The pain they felt I could feel lashing through my chest. A stunning novel, one that I will read many times over.  

If any woman thinks that she won't fall for Luke Heaton it is Cassandra Channing. Little does she know that God is at work. When she is forced to see if she can find someone to be her privatere. Unfortutely, the only man willing to even listen to her is Luke. The town rogue. Luke desperately wants to please Cassandra and assist her family out of the situation that has befallen them. When he is forced to lie to protect the ones he loves most, will Cassandra find out and turn him away, or will she do everything she can to assist him. Read the newest Tyndall high seas novel, Surrender the Dawn, to find out what happens next.

Why!!??!!!?!

This summer I have been staying with my grandparents in Saskatchewan, helping them clean up the yard. It all started that I needed a job and they needed the help, so out I came. I have to say that I have had so much fun this summer, but it has also had some trying moments.

For example, my grandpa has Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. If any of you don't know what that means, well, in short form, you forget memories and you forget the purpose for something. People with dementia have problems with memories, perception, emotion issues, cognitive skills, and speech. The sad thing is, for both of these there is nothing that can be done to help, just wait and hope that the pills you are taking are helping.

Everyday I see him fall further and further down the rabbit hole. He wont know what some tool is for, or how to say something. Often times you are left standing there while he struggles with his words and you just want to push them out. Yesterday we were cleaning the garden and I was picking all of the Fat Hen, which is a weed that can reproduce off of a single leaf. My grandpa was attempting to assist me but he was trying to pull them out with a huge spade and was therefore loosing them and covering up other ones at the same time. It took half an hour to convince him to let me do it by myself, but then he insisted on helping me find them. He would point at the weeds and I would pull them out. Only he didn't know which ones were Fat Han. He has been weeding this particular weed since he was a little kid and at the age of 86 he didn't know which one it was. The day before this he said he was 96 and that his wife was 33, which is completely inaccurate.

The thing that saddens me the most is that he used to be so smart. My grandma cries a lot because she misses him. It almost never is him anymore.

I keep asking myself why him? Why should he be the one that looses almost everything he holds dear? It is almost never fair in life, and everyone knows that, but still we ask that most important question. Why. So often people wonder and wonder, and I think that to find the answer people have to turn to God for the answers. Yes bad things happen, but that doesn't mean that God caused them to happen, our bad choices did. When it wasn't our choices or even any one elses, it just shows the frailty of life. Our human bodies are not made to last forever, and this is due to our sin in the Garden of Eden. We are fragile. We break down. Just because someone gets a disease, doesn't mean that it is because they did something bad to deserve it. It could be caused by the bad air due to pollution, or just nature. God allows stuff to happen to teach us a lesson, but that doesn't mean that he wants us to get hurt.

He loves us dearly, and I have found that in the hardest trials, that the stories of Job and to Lamentations are a great help. They are the stories of sorrow and sadness. Of suffering and pain. There are in the bible for a reason. To give us hope, and to let us not feel like God is cruel or that it is all our fault. Lean on God, even in the hard times and you will find strength.


"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will rund and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." - Isaiah 40:31

REAL SEX the naked truth about chastity

I am sure that the title has already shocked many of you. That is what I wanted to do. Sex. In today's world it has become so impersonal and almost robotic. Anyone can have relations with someone else and it is not considered a big taboo. Does anyone else find this wrong?

I am currently reading a great non-fiction book by Lauren F. Winner. This is a very well written book. The title, REAL SEX captures readers eyes. How should sex be viewed, especially by Christians, and why should we wait? These questions are answered, and many more in the book. I recommend that you go to your library or local bookstore and check it out. You may be older, and you may be younger, but what you learn between the covers can help you understand those around you and allow you to be able to evangelize to others. It is so hard to explain why we don't have sex before marriage. The line, "Because God tells me not to," isn't good enough for others.

I sincerely believe that if you don't know how to talk about sex with others, or do not understand that sex is something to be cherished and saved for marriage, then read the book.

I give this book 4 stars.

Impersonal

Today I had to call my internet provider because our wireless internet was not working and I tried everything to fix it. Anyways, I sat on the phone for 50 minutes listening to elevator music and recorded voices and was reminded of how I live in a secular world. Not that having recorded voices is secular, but that it is so impersonal and there is no connection. I just had this feeling that God wants more from us than a recorded saying.

Our prayers are normally the exact same thing, and I have to admit that I am often repeating the same prayer. For example, when I pray for a meal I normally say, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this beautiful day and bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies... Amen." I may add some things like thanks for keeping family safe during travels or whatever, but still, it is like I am a robot, saying what I always say, in a recorded sequence.

When will we learn that God is there for us to talk to, to listen to, to love and care for. God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. He is in our lives whether we want him there or not, because he is our father. If you didn't want your parents in your lives, not wanting to remember them and memories with them, well you are out of luck. They raised you, hopefully, and no matter how hard you want to forget, they will always be there. What really bothers me is that we think we can do that to God. Forget him and what he has done for us. Maybe even imagine that he doesn't exist.

We are in his image, not some robots. We need to stop acting like it. We have a choice to follow him. God did not make us to not react or to not be able to choose or love. He made us like him, creative, unique, entrepreneurs. It is time to stop staring at the television screen and start making something useful of our lives.

Do you pray to God like he is really there? I often don't. I catch myself in the middle of a prayer sounding so monotone and rushing it just so I can get it over with. Don't do that! Pray like you mean it. Pray like it matters. Do you praise God? Do you thank Him for everything you have?

Like I said, we aren't robots, we have feelings, we have emotions. Time to start feeling them. React to life. Live life. God gave it to us for a reason, so it is time to stop sitting around. No more couch potato. Why are so many people more interested in going to the next hit movie than going to church? Why does no one pray anymore like they mean it, and not just asking God for something? Why are our lives considered landfills? We waste so much, destroying the earth and our bodies. Time to take a stand and realize that God wants us to live to our full potential.


"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." I Corinthians 9:24

Janet Nitsick, Bonnie Leon, and Gayle Ropers Giveaways

Check out K. Dawn Byrd's blog for a chance to win Wings of Promise, Seasons of the Soul, and Shadows in the Sand. There is also a link to go to the sister blog and win a tee shirt and novel. Go check it out! An amazing deel. This summer I have received over 15 books from entries that I have entered and won. That is a lot of money if you think about it. Get your chance to win these books.

Check out the website at http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/


Seasons of the Soul by Janet Nitsick

Cover blurb
 "'Help!' said the eyes of my husband, Paul, as he stared glassy-eyed at me. He was submerged in the deep end of the hotel's swimming pool. Quickly, I swam over to him ... to pull my oldest autistic son, Brad, off of him. ..." This begins one personal story presented in Seasons of the Soul, a 20-short-story collection written by Janet Syas Nitsick. Change is a fact of life, and that change is experienced through each person's own seasonal, spiritual journey. Janet and Paul's spiritual walk includes two autistic sons. Seasons of the Soul, an inspirational book ... will make readers laugh, smile, cry and know God heals the hurting soul.

Wings of Promise by Bonnie Leon

Cover blurb

 Her spunk has always gotten her through tough times. But does she have what it takes to go the distance?
Kate Evans may be a woman in a man’s profession, but as Alaskan bush pilots go, she is one of the best. If only her personal life wasn’t so complicated. Torn between her affection for fellow pilot Mike Conlin and doctor Paul Anderson, Kate longs for clarity in her heart. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, her mind may be made up for her.

Shadows in the Sand by Gayle Ropers

Cover blurb Carrie Carter’s small café in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals…although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.

When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries…and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all too present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink. She and Greg struggle with God’s help to find a way to keep the fragile relationship they’ve built from imploding under the weight of the baggage they both carry.

Check out the website at http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/

Blind Side by Catherine Coulter

With two cases to solve Catherine Coulter couldn't have made the novel more thrilling. Savich and Sherlock, an FBI couple known for their crime fighting skills, are called in to assist on the investigation of the deaths of 5 teachers in Washington. If a serial killer wasn't enough, Savich's best friend and former FBI agent, Miles Kettering, discovered that his son Sam was kidnapped and must race against time to save him before any harm can come to him. Katie Benedict, the local Sheriff in a small town in Tennessee finds Sam, but this case is long from over. With Sam's life hanging in the balance, there is nothing that they wouldn't do to stop the kidnappers from achieving their ultimate goal. The question is what is that goal and why?

Join Katie, Miles, Savich and Sherlock in their fight against evil. Who wants Sam and what are they going to do with him? There is only one way to find out.


I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It did seem a little long at the end, but hey, sometimes it seems that way. When you think it is all over, another twist falls into place and you must scramble through the mess to discover the truth behind the lies and deceit. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy thrillers and intrigue.

Marylu Tyndall Giveaway

I have the scoop!!

Go check out http://thesweetandthesassy.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/giveaway-2/ to enter in a chance to win the new book by MaryLu Tyndall "Surrender The Dawn".

This is a great chance, so just follow the steps and you are on your way to success!

Cookies

So I recently tried out a new recipe. Soooo gooood!

If anyone doesn't know I am allergic to gluten (wheat) and dairy.  My grandma found me this recipe and I tried it the other day. Let us just say that I ate 2 dozen cookies in two days. :P

If you don't want gluten free look at the bottom of the recipe and there is the alternative way to bake these deliciously scrumptious cookie. Enjoy!!

Ginger Molasses Cookies
For a soft chewy cookie make as directed, but if you want a crisper cookie, bake an additional two to four minutes.

1/2 c.    butter - 125 mL
1 c.       brown sugar, packed - 250 mL
1           large egg
1/4 c.    fancy molasses - 60mL
2 c.       quinoa flour - 500 mL (I used a mixture of gluten free flour, but you can do whatever)
2 tsp.    baking soda - 20 mL
1/2 tsp. salt - 2 mL
1 tsp.    ground ginger - 5mL
2 tsp.    ground cinnamon - 10 mL
1/2 tsp. ground cloves - 2 mL
1/4 c.    white sugar - 60 mL

Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C)

Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Beat in the egg and molasses. Set aside.

Mix the flour, baking soda, slat, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium bowl and blend well. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and mix to form a smooth dough.

Roll the dough into 1 1/2 - inch (4cm) balls. Place the white sugar in a shallow bowl and roll each ball to coat. Place two inches (5cm) apart on a baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven rack for eight to 10 minutes. Let them cool for one minute to set before relmoving them to cool completely on a cooling rack. The cookies should be puffy and slightly browned on the bottom when you remove htem form the pan.

Store for one week in a sealed container in the refrigerator or four weeks in the freezer.

For gluten free cookies only use gluten free flour. For a more traditional cookie use 1 c. gluten free flour and 1 c. all-purpose flour.

I got this recipe from Quinoa 365, The Everyday Superfood by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming

Bus ride!!!

So I went on a bus trip the other day to Calgary, Alberta and that was a 9 hour bus ride! I know that to be a good blogger I should post pictures, but I have a slight problem. I don't have a camera. So for now you are stuck with a couple pictures... sometimes. (this is where you laugh)

The whole reason for this trip was to help my grandparents. You see, my grandpa has vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. They live on a huge farm in Saskatchewan in a dinky town called Hepburn; 40 minutes out of Saskatoon. Otherwise fondly known as "THE CITY".

Now then, back to the recount. The bus was packed. Like I mean packed. They had to turn away people because there was no free seats. Everyone was hot and tired. It was not fun. I had the chance to sit beside a lovely lady by the name of Anne. She was older and really sweet. Kind of like a granny. Anyways, I found out that she loved to read, and was currently reading a novel

called "The Help". (I will give a review for it at the end of the post). I had read that book earlier in the year so we talked about it for half an hour, and that was an intriguing conversation. We had a lull in the talking, so I just sat there and stared out the window. We were passing through

the Rocky Mountains. GORGEOUS. That is all I can say. It is so beautiful that it takes your breath away.

The streams and rivers flowing down the mountain with stunning water falls. Greenery everywhere. The mist poring over the tips of the snowy peaks, billowing snow as it went. The glittering lakes as the sun shone down on them. I watched the passing scenery and was speechless. I had driven that road many times, but I don't think I ever took the time to actually enjoy. It was beautiful. Honestly, there aren't words to describe.

The rest of the trip was the same. I read some, but mostly I stared at the the living

surroundings. Everything seemed alive to me that day. Maybe it was because I was really paying attention, but it just seemed to all glow.

How much in our lives do we take for granted? How much do we not really pay attention to in our lives. Our time here on Earth is a gift from God. How much do we appreciate the beauty that he put here for us to enjoy???

It really bothers me when I think of non-Christians who say there is no evidence of a god. Look around you! Everywhere you look you can see something that God created with his own two hands. You just have to look. The birds and bugs. Each and every pine cone. Everything! Ever notice how everything just seems to work together. How could random chance make something that everything works in. The weather and plants. The animals and their diet. Everything works. How intricate each and every muscle is, how delicate each bone can be. If someone were to actually consider how everything works like the eyes and finger prints. No two alike. How can that be? Only God can be that creative. We were made in his image. I think that it is time that we start using what God has given us as a gift and use it for good. We look at the scenery or outside and complain about the weather, not praise a God that can control those things.

"Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing." - Isaiah 40:26

The Help Review

Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny. Three completely different women. They join together in 1962, a year of unrest between colors.

Skeeter is being pressured into marriage, but what she wants most is to be her own woman. Her maid went missing while she was at school, and is now considered an old maid at the age of twenty-two. Will she ever solve what happened while she was gone and do what she wants because she is a grown woman?

Aibileen has raised many children, 18 to be exact; only one of them with her heritage. Black. Can she raise herself up after her only son dies because no one would help him because he was a different race? She starts a new job raising another white girl, and becomes attached, but tries to keep it impersonal as she knows that she will once again leave another one of her surrogate children behind.

Minny. The sassiest woman in all of Mississippi. Aibileen's best friend is one good cook, but can't seem to mind her mouth as she soon looses another job. She finally finds a new position working for a new lady in town, someone who has no idea who she is hiring. Unfortunately this is not the only secret stirring up trouble in the home.

These three women are pitted together to complete an impossible task. Something that is putting their entire lives at risk. The only reason they are willing to risk it all is that they are sick of the lines that are drawn that define their town and times. They hold hands and cross that line together, in rebellion.

This book was thoroughly enjoyable. There are many books out there about racism, but none like this one. It is a fight for good against evil, and the truth comes out in ways the reader can not imagine. It is a large book, but one that flies through your fingers. You wont be able to put it down.

The Spring of the Tiger

The Spring of the Tiger - by Victoria Holt

The Ashington Pearls... Perfect beyond prince, for generations they have been the heritage of the Ashington family brides. When Sarah goes to Ceylon to claim her plantation inheritance, she cannot avoid hearing about the legends surrounding the pearls - legends of tragedy and death. And when she wears them, the stories come to life.

A series of strange and terrifying events make her mistrust even those closest to her; Clinton, her handsome but remote husband; Clytie, her lovely half-sister; Celia, her oldest friend. Someone is threatening her sanity, even her life...

This books is amazing!! There are no inconsistencies. I was caught up at the very beginning. Unfortunately, those that like an instant action book, they will be disappointed. Victoria Holt writes her novels a little more descriptive. She writes a background story.

The only thing that I did not like is that it took her longer than usual to explain the back. Either someone messed up or something. The last 1/4 of the book was the back cover description(seen above). They should have had a little bit of the beginning, and the middle in there. I like to look at the back and determine things from it, things underlying. Well, it was frustrating because I could not really apply the back page to the book until the end. Not very well done on the editors part if you ask me.

It is also in my belief that the title of the novel should be somehow included in the actual back cover, that way it makes it more interesting, even if the exact words aren't in it. This was held out and was a disappointment to me.

Other than those above things, this book was very intriguing. It kept me on my toes and made me appreciate the hard work it goes into writing a mystery novel.

Canada Day!!

As everyone that knows me, I am a true Canadian. I love Canada through and through. I have every Canadian holiday memorized and what it is for and every tid-bit of fact that there is to be found...

Ok, I lie. This is totally not me. Although I am a Canadian and I do love my country, I don't feel bound to it, or overly patriotic. This is extremely sad when I think about it, for people should be able to take pride in their country. But, since I am not like that, I am doomed to tell you the truth. I celebrated Canada day. This is shocking I know! On July 1st I went and saw the fireworks (but I shouldn't get ahead of myself). July 1st was a special day for me, and I will share why.

My friend had called me earlier in the week and asked if I could go to her house for a sleepover, for you see I was going to be leaving soon for work and then college. I immediately told her yes, blocking off everything else on the calender for that day (not that there was anything). It was supposed to be a simple party. Well that changed. When I arrived we just hung around, when they forced me to change into a dress, heels, and jewelry that they provided. I was a little bit flabbergasted, but I trusted them. I changed and fixed my makeup, a little unsure of what they were going to do to me. The three of us piled into the vehicle, and off we drove. Once in town we stopped at some random corner, and the two conferred with each other, acting like I couldn't hear them.

They were whispering...."which direction is it.""I don't know.""I don't either!"
Finally, they turned to me and were like... where is the Italian Kitchen (my favorite restaurant I might add). I pointed the right direction, after much laughing and off we went. (There is something you must know, when we go traveling down town, even in our dinky village, we get whistled at, honked at, etc. It can get down right annoying). When we walked inside I was so surprised. Three more of my friends were there waiting, making me even happier. Then they pulled something out... a crown. They put it on my head and said that this was a party for my grad. (I was very touched, for my graduation hadn't turned out how I had hoped and prayed. I graduated early, and caused a few controversies with the school and students :(.  )

We ate and laughed, and all the while were trying not to give away their big secret that they had. I was a little worried about what they had planned, but I still trusted them, because I knew they wouldn't do anything to hurt me. When it came time to pay the bill, they footed it, making me even more proud to call them my friends.

Off we walked, down the street and into the park. There was still evidence of the celebration that had taken place earlier that morning. Canada Day. I didn't go to the park earlier, making me feel even worse with the diminished pride in my country :P

We found the perfect spot and we took pictures, wishing the random people along the path to leave and stop starring at us. One guy called us princesses, but I was the only one wearing a crown, and it was from the dollar store. Shows how ridiculous people are! Although, I do have to say that we are one good looking group of girls!!

After pictures we went to the movie theater, a favorite place of mine if you must know. We were handed our 3D glasses, and my friend walked into the Cars 2 theater. At first I was like... ok. cool. But then my other friends were talking to each other, whispering. So I stood there waiting, wondering what they had up their sleeve. It seems they ended up tricking her and she had walked into the wrong theater. We walked out, me still in the dark and off we went to Transformers 3.

This showed me that we all make mistakes, even if we think we are in control, although this one wasn't that big of a mistake, and it was kinda funny. The movie was good for those that want to see it. A movie about loyalties and friendships. Keeping promises and trying to prove ourselves. Very well done. Afterwards we did our only Canadian celebration thing. We went to see the fireworks. Watching that was so nice. I love to hear the booms and pops. The colors dancing across the sky. GORGEOUS! The only word for it.

When we finally got back to the house, we were left with just the original three. We walked in and they told me they had one more surprise for me. I was made to go outside and they left me there in the dark. All of the sudden they came out and silly stringed me. (I was almost expecting worse, so I am glad that they didn't dunk me in water or something)

That was the end of my Canada Day celebration, and strangely I did feel a little patriotic after watching the fireworks. I realized that our country is doing everything it can to improve our lives, and the lives of those around us. Through international projects, or those at the home front, they are constantly going on peace keeping missions and trying to ensure that human rights are not violated. I could walk in the dark at night through town without worrying about being mugged or violated. This all got me thinking, and one more thing came into focus.

Through everything we go through, even when we are unsure of what is going to happen, God has a plan. He changes things that we originally thought was going to happen, and sometimes makes us uncomfortable, but he has a plan. When my friend went in the wrong theater I realized that God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't lead us the wrong way. He isn't human. It also came into focus that humans make mistakes, and that is ok. No matter how big or small the mistake, things will work themselves out, just like the mistake about the wrong theater.

We need to take pride in who we are and who God is. He is our leader, our fortress. He endeavers to constantly keep us safe, but through our own actions do we make it unsafe. He doesn't want us hurt, but when we stray off the path and do the wrong things then someone gets hurt, but it isn't through his doing.


"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Trust in God, he knows what is going on. Call to him, and he will answer. 

Professional Review

To those that read MaryLu Tyndall, her new book 'Surrender the Dawn' has been officially reviewed by Romantic Times. The review is great and makes the book seem that much more thrilling. Go check it out at MaryLu's blog...

http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-professional-review-of-surrender.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

This is a summary of what was stated:

Cassandra Channing will do everything within her power to support her family The only thing she can think of is hiring Luke Heaton as a privateer with the last of her money. She knows if he gets captured or the ship sinks, she is out of options and time. Luke has his own problems: the British are blackmailing him into selling his bounty to them. With war raging around them, Luke and Cassandra will have to work together to survive.

Giveaway!

Hey everyone. Award-winning author MaryLu Tyndall is giving away a free e-book for the first in the Surrender to Destiny series. I own this book, and I have to say that it is really good. It will be available on Kindle from June 1- July 31. This is a good author, so I recommend you try, just in case you win! Click on the picture, or follow the link: http://t.co/UW4mSHP




I failed to mention some important facts!!! This works for your Kindle, but if you don't have a kindle you can download a free computer version if you follow the link. It is simple and easy. Plus Amazon has a lot of free Kindle books that you can put on your computer Kindle and read. 

Cleaning House

I was cleaning the yard with my family today and I realized that even when things don't seem to be that dirty, when you polish it, it looks that much better. I live on a farm and I know that it isn't any excuse, buy our yard is ridiculously messy! We were pressure washing the driveway, and before hand I said to my parents that there was no need to do it because it wasn't that dirty. How wrong I was. We took away more than 6 wheel barrels full of dirt and sludge. SIX. Things usually end up being dirtier than they appear.

My family may be messy with how clean we keep our things, but I believe that there are worse things than a messy outside, and that is the inside. If we hide or keep something from others, we don't realize how dirty it is until we clean it up. Just like a window that is dirty, often times we don't notice how filthy it is until we clean it.

For example, I realized that recently I had been extremely short tempered with everyone around me, and I didn't even realize that I was. No matter what anyone at home did, I was not happy. I felt horrible inside, but I didn't know what was going on, so I just went on doing what I was doing. I went to church on Sunday morning, a bit miffed because I did not feel like going. I felt like it was a chore, too much effort than it was worth. The moment I walked in the church doors I was wishing I wasn't there, when suddenly it hit me. I didn't have to be there. I didn't have to do anything for the church. I did it because I wanted to. Those people inside the church did not deserve my horrible attitude. When worship started, the songs we sung were, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship" and "Jesus Messiah". Boy was I convicted.

I realized that everything I did was supposed to be for Jesus. The words,"He became sin /Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness/He humbled himself and carried the cross," hit me hard. Right then and there I asked God for forgiveness. 

It was in that moment that I realized that the reason why I had been so extremely rude lately was because I wasn't reading my Bible. I was stressed about final exams, keeping good grades, what I was going to do after graduation, and it caused me to falter. Inside I knew that I needed to read my Bible, so I felt guilty about what I wasn't doing. I am happy to say that I started to read my Bible, and the day seems brighter. It is strange how God works in miraculous ways. 

This same thing goes for secrets or things that you have hidden. When you try to hide something it just itches. I was recently at a friends house, and I touched poison ivy by mistake. When I didn't put something on it right away the marks grew and began to be itchy. The more I touched it, the more it hurt. This is the same as something you have hidden in your closet, something that you need to get out. When you don't fix the problem , you lie more, become moodier, and many times fall away from God. 

If you have something that you are hiding, don't hide it because in the dark it festers and grows until you don't even realize the main cause of the pain. 

"I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Trust everything with the Lord God, because he is the only one we can lean on. Don't try to hide something from him, because, well, he sees all!

On My Way Out

Today I found out that there was an opening in the bible school program that I want to get into and I realized once again God's power. I am signing up late and I wasn't sure on what would happen, and he pulled through. I know that sometimes he doesn't pull through in our prayers, or at least for what we are hoping, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love us. No matter what happens, He is like our father. When we wanted to do something when we were younger, our parents would try to prevent us from doing it, but often, we would have to learn the hard way.

I remember one story of my younger brother. He was 2 years old when we were living in Saskatchewan. We had an older style toaster oven that we had on a small table in the dining room. One night, after supper, he walked up to the toaster and twisted the knob that was on the front, inadvertently turning on the toaster. Next,  he pulled down the door and stuck his hands inside, exploring, like any good toddler would do. I was washing dishes in the Kitchen when I heard him yell and ran into the other room. He had gotten third degree burns on his palms of his hands because he placed his little hands on the burner. My parents had told him numerous times not to do that but he was a kid, and he didn't know better. 4 months later, after his hands had healed, he did it again, obviously not learning from the first time.

In our lives we are just like this. We feel like we should get what we want, and when God doesn't give us the answer we want we adventure out on our own, exploring. This, too often than not, causes us to get burned and we say, "Why God," when it was our fault in the first place. Other times it is others that sinned which causes our lives to be drastically changed. It isn't God's fault, but those around us. Satan uses these situations to get the better of situations. God isn't our piñata that we can hit around and eventually get candy from. He is like a parent, giving us some things, but keeping others away, trying to teach us right from wrong.

God doesn't always answer our prayers, sometimes he closes a door that we really wanted to be open. In Jeremiah it says that God has a plan for us, and it isn't to harm us. It is amazing to think that no matter what happens He knows what is going on.

I know in my life there has been many times where I wondered where God was in my life or what he was doing. One of my favorite poems, Footsteps in the Sand, says it all. The one line that says, "When you have only seen one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you," is my hope for the future. No matter what happens that hurts or makes us feel like there is no hope, is when God is there holding our hand.

If you feel like God has hurt you in a way that you can't be healed, you are wrong. God didn't hurt you. Either it was by your own doing, or the doing of others around you. God allows things to happen to teach us a lesson, but he doesn't cause it to happen. This concept has taken me years to understand, and I know have years to comprehend it even more. Life throws curve balls, and I think it is time that we leaned on God for guidance in deciding whether to swing or wait. If you swing too soon or too late, it is strike out, so wait for God and he will help you hit a home run, even if you don't feel him beside you guiding your hands.

Coming Soon

All those that love mystery and romance, suspense and intrigue. I have just the book for you!

Surrender the Dawn

This is a novel by MaryLu Tyndall. She is a Christian Historical Fiction Romance writer. Wow. That is one big mouthful. This novel is situated in Baltimore with Cassandra Channing. She is willing to to anything that she can to provide for her family, even if it means that she must hire the towns rogue as their own privateer. Luke Heaton is a man with a tortured past whom the British are blackmailing into selling supplies to their ships that are just off the coast. These two headstrong, troubled Americans will collide as they are drawn into danger, war, and romance. How long can they preserve their love for each other, and prevent any harm from befalling them when the British begin their assault on Fort McHenry.

MaryLu Tyndall is a Christy Award nominee author that would love for the chance to bring you on a stormy seafaring ride that will leave you clinging to the rail as the storm gathers momentum.

This novel will be released on August 1, 2011 by Barbour Books. You can buy it in the stores near you. She has other books published, and this is the third in the Surrender to Destiny series.  

If I were you, I would be taking a little trip to the nearest book store to buy MaryLu's newest novel.

The Beginning

Hey Y'all,

This is my first blog and hopefully you all like it! I have never blogged before, but I suppose it could be really interesting.

I will start with myself. I am 17 years old, in grade 11, and graduating. I really enjoy reading, something that I pretty much do constantly. I have 5 brothers and they are all lots of fun. 4 of them are single!! lol. Just Kidding!!

I live on a farm in British Columbia, which is on the west coast of Canada if any of you didn't know. We have 200 chickens and 3.3 acres. My mom loves to grow a large garden, and therefore we always have loads of yard work. With that comes the fresh fruits and vegetables though, something I don't mind.

I am in a play that is coming up and I am so nervous. See, I am a Christian and so the play is an outreach program. We are trying to influence those around us. It starts on Thursday, which is a little scary if you ask me.

Something I really despise about books is the fact that so many of them are the same. It is the same with movies as well. Often times, they forget the simplest things like the characters having to go the washroom or brushing their teeth. A writer could make many silly scenes if they would put in the simple things.

I don't know what else to write right now, so this is it for the first post of "Someday My Prince Will Come."