A walk thru Belgium

 Bruge Belgium. 

My Corner of the World

Our World Tuesday

Skywatch Friday

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot

 

 A humbling look into the life of Betty Howard Elliot. It follows the letters and journals of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. From her humble beginnings to their first meeting and the wait of five years til they marry. Amazing people. You may have read and heard the stories, but this one goes deeper. It's their thoughts and deep convictions. Talk about sacrifice. Sacrifice upon sacrifice. They were truly called of God and ANSWERED! With their whole hearts and lives.

While many may scoff at their devotion, we look at their lives and see Jim and Elisabeth's deep desire to put God first. There is just some thing about a person who cares so much about the lost, to take the message of God's redeeming love to savages.

Ellen Vaughn writes about the turmoil and anxiousness of waiting on God's timing. About learning a language so foreign that it takes years to translate. About finding hope and direction after the bruising reality of grief. Ellen translates the words of two flawed mortal people, not to grant them sainthood, but to see them as they really were. Flesh and blood humans, with hopes and dreams, hurts and disappointments, joys and sorrows, isolation and loneliness.

Elisabeth was a prolific writer  She wrote about her time with the Waodani Indians, the very ones who killed her husband. She wrote over 20 books and was a speaker well into her seventies.  When she walked into the jungle with her 3 year old daughter, she didn't know what was ahead. Would the Stone Age people kill her too? She was ready to lay down her life because she believed she should obey the call of God, whatever the price.

A quote from Joni Eareckson Tata~

 Courage is rare. Good character, rarer. Moral purity feels arcane. Suffering should be mitigated at all costs. And if it cannot be avoided, it must be drugged, divorced, escaped from, or prayed away.

But Elisabeth left Joni with these words.

"Suffering is never for nothing."

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Nugget of History

On a trip up north, we visited the restored home of Lt. Col. J. Jones, built back in the 1700's.

Lt. Col. Jones was a personal escort to Martha Washington, our first Presidents First Lady, when she visited Pennsylvania.

This home is located in Morgantown, PA. 

It's always interesting to find historical landmarks whenever we travel.

My Corner of the World

Our World Tuesday

Skywatch Friday

A Portrait of Loyalty

A Portrait of Loyalty is the third book in the Codebreakers series.

Two Russian brothers, each on the opposite side of the war. A young English woman gifted in photography is key to creating propaganda by altering photos.

Lily Blackwell sees life behind the lens of her camera. She assists the British government with her talent.  Zivon Marin was a high ranking Russian linguist/cryptographer when he fled Russia and found work with Admiral Hall in Room 40.

Several of the characters from previous books made their appearance and it was nice to see them back to working for the greater good of England. There was one particular scene that brought tears to my eyes as the outbreak of the Flu of 1918 swept through London.

All in all, it was a sweet romance between Lily and Zivon. Roseanna White consistently researches her material and brings the book to life with intrigue and beauty.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love and a Little White LIe

When January Sanders applies for the temporary job at a large church her aunt attends, she has no intention to mention that she doesn't believe in God. What could it hurt?

January is a fascinating character. A bit confused, but interesting non the less. She has a photographic memory that sometimes can be more of a curse than a blessing. But she finds herself helping Ralph as his assistant until a permanent replacement can be found. Running from a failed relationship, Jan  finds she is drawn to Cameron. A multi-talented church musician, who catches her eye. Then there is Dillon. The brooding contractor who sees through Jan's brokenness. Even though he is dealing with his own.

This story has so many issues in so many levels that it draws you in. I love the compassion Jan feels for Sandra, and how she finds herself drawn to her. Her relationship with her mother is touching even though they have issues. As she navigates this lie, the picture gets bigger and bigger. Christians don't seem to follow the pattern she's been told her whole life. They are kind and caring and put themselves out there. There is a depth in the characters that you don't always find written in the pages.

Tammy Gray brought a level of faith that was easy to digest. Her way of walking Jan from agnosticism to an understanding of faith seemed to be explained in a believable way.  An excellent book that illustrates the struggles in life that we all face at one time or another.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lighthouse Landing

 What's at the end of this walkway?

 A cute little Lighthouse!

Lighthouse Landing at Land Between the Lakes, Grand Rivers KY.

 

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Our World Tuesday

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Sailing at Sunset

Sailing at Sunset is a delightful Hallmark Publishing romance.

Danae Danvers is being promoted to Chief Marketing Officer for Barton Boating Company. But there is a catch. She must pull her team to work together before her promotion is final. A week on one of their magnificent sailboats should prove her team leadership.

Josh Wheeler spent a lifetime climbing the corporate ladder. Only to lose at his marriage and planned out life. He leaves it all behind to sail in his renovated sailboat "Solitude".

Danae and Josh couldn't be more different. She lives her life by her organized planner, and he by the winds of the sails. Having been burned in the past, they each have no desire to get into the dating game. Yet they are drawn together during this retreat week.

Cindi Madsen has written a good clean contemporary romance. A great read for those who enjoy Hallmark movies.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.