Stu from Something to Stu Over nominated me for this unique award and opportunity to answer some really intriguing questions. Thank you, Stu for the honor! You should check out Stu’s answers to Kristian’s questions. He has some great insight on life and its challenges.

The Award was created by Dear Kitty in 2004 with the concept of connecting worldwide blogs and bloggers to award their efforts and work within their written works.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Put the award logo on your blog.

2. Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.

3. Thank the person who nominated you, linking to their blog(s).

4. Nominate any number of bloggers you like, linking to their blog.

5. Let them know that you nominated them (by commenting on their blog, etc.)

6. Ask 7 questions for those you choose to participate.

Here are the questions posed by Stu:

1, What is the weirdest dream that you have ever had?

Unfortunately, I am one of those people who does not remember much of my dreams. I do recall part of a dream in which I was having a conversation with my mother and she was listening to me and hugged me. That was a weird dream because I was one of five kids in my household and my mom had very little time for me as she seemed to consider me a nuisance. I guess somewhere in there was some love for me.

2. If money were no object, where would your dream vacation be?

Spain! I have only been to Europe once (in 2007) and I toured Madrid and southern Spain. I would really like to see the northern part of Spain, especially Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela. I taught Spanish for almost four decades so my interest in the culture is a part of my heart.

3. How do you envision Heaven to be?

More wonderful than I could ever imagine! I will not have any pain or sorrow and I will get to see the prophets and apostles about whom I have read for years. It will sound funny to everyone, but I am looking forward to being totally whole, and for the first time in my life, I will be able to run! I was born with asthma which has limited my physical activity for my entire life. I want to run into the arms of our Savior and just bask in His love and acceptance!

4. Do you feel women are more spiritual than men? Why?

I do not feel that one gender is more spiritual than another. However, I do believe that some people demonstrate their “spirituality” more openly than others. For example, my husband and I were both baptized in the Holy Spirit shortly after our salvation. While I pray frequently in tongues and also have used spiritual gifts openly in the church, my husband prays quietly in his prayer language. His gift is as a leader, not necessarily one who speaks out in church. That does not make me more spiritual than he is; it makes us different. Both of us, I feel, are fulfilling our places in the church and in the body of Christ. Like the Bible says, not everyone can be the head or the hands; some of us have to be the big toe or the pinkie finger. No matter what we do in the Body of Christ in which God has placed us, we are important to that body and need to complete the function for which God put us there. God gives various gifts: teacher, apostle, prophets, gifts, etc. (I Corinthians 12:28). I don’t think gender is the deciding factor for spirituality; it is openness to God and being ready and able to be used by Him whenever He wants to use us.

5. If Jesus came back today to walk among us for a few months, how would the world treat Him?

Probably worse than He was treated during Biblical times because the sin is so rampant and He would not be able to tolerate it or be “politically correct” about it. I can imagine His being interviewed by all of the talk shows and being condemned much more quickly than the Crucifixion took place. I believe with all my heart that Jesus came to earth at just the right time and in just the right place.

6. What’s your least favorite thing about adulting?

Paying my bills and balancing my checking account.

7. When shopping and walking around with your head up, do you at least smile to those who are walking around you?

I try very hard to keep a smile on my face and to say encouraging words to others when I am out and about.

I am passing on this award to the following extraordinary bloggers. I hope that you will check out and consider following their blogs.

Not So Modern Girl

Riverside Peace

Bible Blogger Girl

Sunshiny SA Site

Parallax

Jackie

Sojourners On Earth

Here are my questions:

1. If you could time travel to any period in history, to where would you want to travel and why?

2. What is the one book that you have read that has most influenced your life?

3. What is one thing in your life that you would do differently if you could?

4. Who is the person who will miss you the most if you pass away?

5. Do you think that you have a purpose in your life? Have you discovered what it is and are you fulfilling it?

6. What is the most beautiful thing (not a person) that you have ever seen? Can you share a photo of it?

7. If you could be the leader of one country in the world, what country would you choose and why?

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog post and the award that it represents. Thanks again to Stu for the nomination! Blessings!

This is one of the first Scriptures that I memorized and that I took to heart. With all of our moves from one military base to another, I cried out a lot to God for some kind of stability, for a home for our children. I wanted to make memories as we stayed in one place. Alas, that was not to be! We never really stopped moving until all of the children were grown, with children of their own. It is a blessing to me that they are settled in one place and not moving every couple of years. Thus, I figure God granted that desire of my heart for my children to have stability in one place. God’s purpose for me was different. I moved and touched children’s lives wherever we went. In Arkansas, I spoke frequently with a young teen in my class who was pregnant for the fourth time. I showed her the simple math that having children was not the way to earn a living, a lie her mother had told her. In South Carolina, I got to talk a friend’s daughter into not having an abortion. In every place that I have been, I have tried to be the best witness that I can be of God’s goodness and His working His purpose in me. When others have stated that they couldn’t stand to be me, with all of my moves and no real place to call home, my reply is that I couldn’t either without God’s promises and grace. God isn’t finished with me yet. He is still working out His purpose in me.

When I become discouraged about my life today and all that is happening in it, God continues to remind me that He wants what is good for me. He is my shield, protecting me from the fiery darts of the enemy of my soul. He is the one who gently puts His hand under my chin and lifts my head so that I am looking up. After all, that is where my salvation is coming from, daily and ultimately. I pray that you know these Scriptural truths and that nothing will happen in your life today that you and God cannot handle together. Blessings!

This is the fifth book in the series and this one comes out on May 14, 2019. I strongly recommend that the books be read in order.

Here are the other books in the series, in their order of release.

I looked forward to this book as soon as I had completed the previous book in the series. I looked up the title of the upcoming book and put it on my TBR pile. When I was chosen to read an ARC, I was doing a happy dance for days! I cannot say enough about how fantastic the whole series is, and this final book brings everything and everyone together in one final explosive finale. I love the strong female character that is Jane Hawk, and I was delighted to find new characters who joined her as allies in this final installment. Vikram was hilarious in his assumptions that all he had to do was work on technology and he would be able to save Jane and defeat the evil Techno Arcadians. The villains were really wicked and determined in their quest to control the world. They were bad guys that you loved to hate. Travis, Jane’s innocent five year old son, is in danger again, and Bernie and Cornell play large roles once again in his life. Since elderly Bernie and OCD Cornell are such unlikely heroes, I loved them the more. There is just so much action happening in each chapter that it’s difficult to write a review that doesn’t give anything away and yet lets all of the readers know that this is one book that you will not want to miss! There are references to the previous books, so you could read this book as a stand alone, but you will not want to. Readers will want to start with Book One and end up with this one. I need to go back and read all of them again…I loved this series so much! I seriously doubt that author Dean Koontz will ever be able to write another series to enthrall and entertain me as this one did, but I look forward to his next book just because Jane Hawk was so absorbing and magnetic to me. An absolute must-read for fans of sci-fi, fantasy and excellent fiction!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Please note that this book has a LOT of violence in it, so it is not recommended for everyone. I would rate it for Mature Readers.

Being re-released in a new edition on April 30, 2019.

This book is one of the reasons that over four decades ago I decided to be a teacher because I wanted to make a difference like Ms. Barrett. The book is exactly the same as when I first read it…letters from Sylvia to her friend, notes to her colleagues, memos from the office and much more. What is most entertaining and what gives the most information about Calvin Coolidge High School are the short paragraphs that the students write in reply to a prompt from Ms. Barrett. They are extremely needy students who just want someone to care and that person comes in the form of a young and inexperienced Sylvia Barrett. Although Ms. Barrett is fictional, she represents every teacher who has tried and who continues to try to touch their students’ lives, to make the world a little bit better. I thoroughly enjoyed the book this second time and highly recommmend it to anyone who wants to see what a high school is like, with mountains of paperwork and little time to actually interact with the students, much less actually make a difference in ther lives. The most memorable character was Mr. Grayson, the disappearing custodian who tries to help out the students in his own way. The theme of the book seems to be to keep trying to help others because the small things you do will count in their lives someday. Loved it!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know that I am unequivocally pro-life. The recent laws being enacted and enforced in various states of the United States sicken me. Why do I care? Because God cares about all life, even the smallest ones.

Are not these innocent children being taken off to die? Their mothers are stumbling toward the slaughter of their innocent baby. I like the use of the word “stumbling” in this Bible version because that means that they are not walking with purpose, but instead they have stumbled off the path of truth and are stumbling towards the death of their child. It doesn’t work for me for people to pretend ignorance. Babies are dying? Oh, I didn’t know! Uh-huh. Look at any newspaper recently or listen to the radio or the TV news. For many weeks, abortion was once again front and center because those who believe in “choice” were up in arms that the new Supreme Court may just overturn the right of a woman to choose. My reply to that is, “What about the baby’s rights? It’s a baby, NOT a choice!” I am incensed at any government that would fund the murder of innocent babies under the guise of healthcare for women. Seriously!?! God sees what is happening, and He will not remain silent forever. So, here am I trying to persuade people who will not be persuaded that the word “fetus” is also a life. Life begins when the sperm meets the egg and conception takes place. Who makes this miracle happen? Our Creator God. True enough that not all pregnancies occur in the best of circumstances. Sometimes the timing is inconvenient; sometimes there was brutality involved. But the murder of an innocent life will not make life more convenient nor take away the memory of a violent physical attack. What may happen is that the person having the abortion will have memories for a long time of the procedure itself or the life that was wiped out. I don’t wish “unwanted pregnancies” on anyone, but I do know that the child that is in the womb did not choose to be unwanted or unplanned. When we were living in D.C., I was looking forward to returning to teaching since our two children were in school. I stayed home with them until they were ready to go to school at the same time as I did, so I was feeling happy to be free again at last. (Not that I minded staying home, but just that I really enjoyed teaching). Then, I got what I thought was a UTI…a lot of pain and running to the bathroom. Off I went to the base clinic to get a test for the UTI. Later that day I got a phone call congratulating me because I was pregnant. I cried for hours; I was totally inconsolable, but I did not once think of abortion as an option. This was a baby that my husband and I had created. Apparently, the pill I was on was not 100% effective and our youngest son was the result of its flaw. Then and now, I am thankful for our youngest; he is creative, thoughtful, highly intelligent and compassionate beyond belief. He and his wife have given us the darling two granddaughters that we visited last week. Abortion doesn’t just affect one generation; it has the possibility of affecting many. God knows that and wants us to make the right choice.

This is the end of the story for those who are evil and wicked. I am not saying that those who have an abortion fit into that category. God is the Judge, not me, thank goodness! But this is a warning that is Scriptural.

For those of you wanting or needing to read recent articles about abortion (so you can find out what lit my fire), here is a link to an article in the New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/08/us/abortion-laws.html

My prayer for each of you who follows me or reads my blog is that you will consider the consequences of choices and choose life! Not only that, let others know the reason for your choice. Stand firm for God and watch what changes can be made in this great nation. God bless you and God bless the United States of America!

I am one of those people who ride around neighborhoods that I would like to live in, enjoy seeing all of the lovely homes, and then by the end of the cruise, I am in a bad mood because I am comparing those homes to where I actually live and getting upset about my condition in life. God has dealt with me again and again about the sin of envy. I praise Him for His patience and mercy with me! I am learning the lesson, albeit slowly.

I am not trying to say that all of the people living in these beautiful homes are sinners, but probably some of them are, perhaps most of them. But their relationship with God is not my concern when it’s my own heart and envy that I have to deal with as I pass by in my car. I am getting better. Now I can see a beautiful home and note its nice features, wish I had such a home and move on without having it affect me mentally and emotionally for hours afterwards. So, that’s what I meant by saying that I am getting better.

But it’s not always physical things that I envy; sometimes what I desire and what makes me turn green inside is just something someone has that I don’t. Many times, it is what I think they may have, not necessarily the reality. For example, I had my book club at the library last night. We got to talking about grandchildren and one of the members said how lucky she feels to have her grandchildren live within a few miles of her. I could sense the hurt and anger starting to overwhelm me because of the distance from me to my beloved grandchildren. I silently asked for help to overcome my feelings and continued the conversation with this lovely lady. Come to find out, she does have two grandchildren who live out west, even more distant than mine and she only sees them maybe once a year. Sometimes, I find that I envy when I should be consoling instead. Thus, we compared distances and visits last night and I ended up about even. Nothing to be jealous about and much to be thankful for!

If I always had an attitude of fear, of reverence and awe, before the Lord, I don’t think that envy would keep rearing its ugly head. Now I recognize the sin for what it is and ask God to help me to be content where I am. He always comes through for me because He loves me and is willing to continue to teach me to be more like Him. After all, Jesus had no home here on earth. He was a wanderer, a missionary of the highest order sent from God to tell people about His Father’s great love and plan for forgiveness. I seek to be more like Him and hope that you do, too. Fear of the Lord is my 24/7 goal and I hope that is yours, too. I’m not there yet, but I am at least walking in the right direction, even if it means I have to do what I did last evening and stop, reflect, and listen carefully to God’s small voice inside me. Blessings as you continue on life’s journey today!

I remember when I was a teen that I just couldn’t wait to grow up, to be on my own and to make my own decisions. Do you all recall that time? Or maybe that’s where you are now. We want what we do not have, and I have found through the wisdom of years, it is also frequently what we do not need. What changes in our lives to make us more aware of what our needs and wants are and the difference between the two?

I did not discover a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ until I was twenty-one. I was already free from the “shackles” of my parents, those restrictions that I had tried to escape for so many years. Now that I was on my own, I often found myself wishing that I didn’t have the concerns and responsibilities of an adult. In other words, I wished to be a teen again. Then I met the Lord, and He has constantly shown me that where I am is just where I am meant to be. If He didn’t put me into the situation, then He will use it for my good and will help me to make my way through it. The truth is that the only thing worth living and working toward is salvation, helping others to know the Lord and His free gift that will guarantee them eternal life. Freedom does not mean living in your own house and paying your own bills, buying your own car and choosing your own meals. It means being free to serve and worship the Lord who created you.

It is difficult for me to imagine that there are people in the world who are not free to worship. But I get the emails; I watch and hear the news of persecution throughout the world. Nevertheless, God says that His Word will be preached to all. All people everywhere will have the opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel. They will also be able to know the Truth and to be set free.

My prayer for myself as well as for my readers is that I will continue to discover more of God’s truth and to share it with others who need it. I am not one to stand on a street corner and preach. That doesn’t seem to be my calling, thank goodness! I have always been shy, so it is hard for me to even talk to strangers, much less approach them and start telling them about Jesus. But I can do something and so can you. I can let someone get ahead of me in a long line, thus opening the door for a conversation about kindness and goodness and being able to tell them about the Lord and His sacrifice. I can do little things that don’t seem to be much, but I do them as the Lord leads and I have watched Him opening other doors for me to be able to speak about my relationship with the Lord. I want everyone to have the freedom in their lives that I have had since my twenties.

Yes, I was a dumb teen who wanted what I wanted when I wanted it. Then God got hold of my life and now my truth is that I want what He wants and in His timing. I hope that you have a firm grasp of that Truth and are continuing down the road of life with the firm conviction that you are on the path to Heaven. That path is not always an easy one or one that we would necessarily choose for ourselves. Sometimes, it isn’t the one that God would have chosen for us either. But due to our free will choices and those of others, we are set on a path. I am here to tell you from experience that whatever path you are on, God is there with you. He will walk it with you, all the way to the end of your journey. The rocky and dangerous paths may not have been His best choice for you; but you may find yourself there. Trust that His truth will bring you to the other side. Blessings!

He Didn’t Bring Us This Far to Leave Us by The Imperials

Although I am a fan of Joanne Fluke and cozy mysteryies, I must be honest and say that I have only read about ten of her Hannah Swenson mysteries. Having received this one from Netgalley, I was more than willing to delve into the intricacies of Hannah’s life in idyllic Lake Eden, Minnesota. From the beginning of the book, it was obvious that this was all about Hannah and her personal life and not so much about solving a mystery. In the other books that I have read, there is a dead body discovered early in the first few chapters and Hannah is immediately involved in finding the perpetrator. In this book, however, the murder doesn’t occur until the book is over three fourths of the way through. I didn’t really miss it though because I was caught up in finding out more about Hannah and how she was recovering from Ross’s deception. I was kind of prepared for the cliffhanger at the end, but this one was a doozy! This was a book to read and relax with, not necessarily one in which you strive to follow the clues and figure out the murderer, along with amateur sleuth Hannah. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially how the entire town rallied around Hannah and supported her through her personal crisis. Fans of Fluke may be slightly disappointed at the lack of mystery, but will be rewarded with loads of yummy recipes, complete with Hannah’s practical suggestions on how to make them just the way she does. Enjoyable and light reading!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Available now at your favorite bookseller!