A Night of Fun!

First of all, congratulations to this week's "Fall Friday" winner:

Hannah!

Be looking for my e-mail, Hannah, and I hope you enjoy the book!

Second, tonight is going to be a crazy, exciting night for me! First off, I'm going to Jamba Juice for the first time ever (I think!), which should hopefully be great. Then I'm headed to Awana for a harvest party with a special guest providing the entertainment: Dave the Horn Guy! Apparently, he was on America's Got Talent before, and I think he's kind of like a one-man band. Should be interesting, although I confess that I'm not sure which will be the most thrilling--listening to Dave the Horn Guy, or trying to keep a group of children with candy under control! ;)

After all that, boys from Davidson (the guys' dorm closest to my dorm, Balyo) might come trick-or-treating in our dorm, and then we could go trick-or-treating in their dorm if we want to. And finally, there will be a "Thriller" dance party in one of the other girls' dorms! What a night!

I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween night!

Oh, and two more housekeeping items:

• I would love to have you take a look at my latest "Sunday by the Sea" installment. I fear that posting too frequently might be a deterrent to going back and reading previous posts, but I hope you get a chance to check today's previous post out!

• I don't have a "Mondays for the Military" post prepared for tomorrow. I do have some wonderful events lined up for the future, though, including book reviews, giveaways, and more guest interviews (all pertaining to the military). You can check out some of the upcoming features on the "Mondays for the Military" page. Stay tuned!

Sunday by the Sea

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

It's a moving scene. A school of fish has just warned Dory to swim through the trench, not over it. And dear Dory, with her short-term memory loss, instantly forgets what it is they told her.

But then she and Marlin (the clown fish) approach the trench. It looks terrifying, dark and gloomy. As Marlin says: "It's got death written all over it."

But then a "little red flag" goes off in Dory's mind, and she tells Marlin she thinks they should swim through the trench. She tells him, "Trust me on this."

Marlin looks skeptical.

Dory clarifies, "Trust: it's what friends do."

A simple yet powerful statement. One which Marlin ignores, proceeding to distract Dory and get her to go over the trench.

For those of you who have seen Finding Nemo, you know what happens next. You remember the swarm of jellyfish above the trench, the race through the tentacles, and the scars on Dory's side. What seemed like a great decision to Marlin turned into a fearful ordeal.

How often do we experience the same? No, we most likely won't encounter a swarm of jellyfish, and we most likely won't get stung by tentacles. But we will suffer in other ways for not trusting our truest Friend of all.

Now, obviously this example from Finding Nemo cannot serve as a complete comparison, nor could anything or anyone in general compare to our God. However, I think there is a lot we can learn from Marlin's lesson.

Marlin is a fish that plays it safe. He's seen the evil in this life, having lost his wife and almost all of his children (except Nemo) to a hungry barracuda. And the last thing he wants is to put himself or Nemo into any dangerous situations. He chooses to rely on only himself, sure that he knows what's best and no one else can keep him or Nemo from harm. He refuses to trust the school teacher (Mr. Ray) in the beginning with Nemo's safety, and in this illustration he is refusing to trust Dory, no matter that she has shown herself to be a loyal, caring friend.

Our Lord has proven Himself to be the most loyal and the most caring friend we could ever hope for. When we choose to go our own way, believing we know what is best, we sin. We rebel against our God, and we fail to trust our Best Friend. And He bore the scars for our choices when He died on the cross.

Unlike Dory, Jesus died and rose again. He is God and He is omnipotent and completely righteous. He has offered us grace if we choose to believe in Him and the saving power of His sacrifice. And now through His mercy we can be close to Him; we can be friends with God.

Are you facing a trench right now that looks completely impassible? Trust God. If He guides you to that trench and you know He wants you to go through it, then believe that He knows best. Follow His lead and heed His words in Scripture.

Remember:
"Trust: it's what friends do."

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
~ Psalm 18:30

(Finding Nemo pictures are from the Pixar website.)

My Review of Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Here's a description of the book from Barbour Publishing:

"Aim for hours of reading pleasure with award-winning author Mary Connealy’s last book in the Sophie’s Daughters series. Mandy Gray, a wealthy sharpshooting widow, is content living in her mountain home and raising her young-uns alone. But how long can she protect herself when thieving outlaws have her surrounded? Rancher Tom Linscott can’t bear to see a defenseless woman in danger. Yet his rescue efforts end up bringing trouble right to her door. Now that they’re both trapped on Mandy’s Mountain, can they learn to live together—or will they die alone?"

My Rating: Spring

My Review:

One thing is for sure--Mary Connealy knows how to write a fast-paced and exciting Western romance! I sped through this book faster than if I was the one being chased by a group of ornery outlaws. And what a race to the finish it was!

After h ...more One thing is for sure--Mary Connealy knows how to write a fast-paced and exciting Western romance! I sped through this book faster than if I was the one being chased by a group of ornery outlaws. And what a race to the finish it was!

After having read the second book in this series, Wrangler in Petticoats, I confess that I did enjoy that one better. (I did not read the first book in the series.) I found that Sharpshooter in Petticoats was rather convoluted, which was both a good and bad thing. I loved getting to see so many of Connealy's other characters return to play a part and show support for their family and friends. But I also found that the situations were a little far-fetched, especially getting so many people together in so short an amount of time, with very little or any communication/planning amongst themselves. (Not that it wasn't fun, though!)

This was quite a hard journey to read about, as Mandy's story was very sad and full of pain. And I didn't really feel that I gained as much from this story as I did from Wrangler in Petticoats. The ending to this series was resolved rather interestingly, but it made me happy and I was glad I was able to see how Connealy dealt with all the crazy things going on in this family. This book might not have felt as moving to me nor quite as enjoyable as her other books I have read, but it was definitely an engaging read and one that answered a lot of questions raised in the second book in the series.

*With thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.*

Note: This book will be released January 2011.

Fall Friday (Movies and a Giveaway!)

Part of our family's fall festivities is to watch our favorite Halloween movies. And no, they are not Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Friday the 13th! I got to watch two of the following three with my parents when they came up to visit me. =)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Disney animated short about the story of Ichabod Crane is a classic! It is narrated by Bing Crosby, and the songs and clever telling of the story are so much fun. The superstitious nature of Ichabod Crane provides for a lot of laughs, but I can't say I blame him for being nervous with talk of the Headless Horseman! ;)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Who doesn't love this one? There's just something so sweet about Linus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang. I love all of the main Charlie Brown holiday movies, and this one has a lot of interesting story lines. This is another classic!

Here are several clips from the movie that I found on YouTube:



Halloween Haunts

I loved Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and all the original Disney characters as a child. This collection has three stories: one starring Mickey, Goofy, and Donald as ghost-busters; another starring Pluto and a bunch of cats; and the last starring Donald and his nephews. Lots of laughs in this one, too!

Now, I'm not saying I recommend these movies for everyone. Yes, they are all animated, but I know parents have to be careful when choosing what they should allow their young children to watch. However, I will say that I've watched these ones for years and I continue to enjoy them immensely. In my opinion, they sure beat any type of scary movie! ;)

Earlier in this post I mentioned that I watched two of the three of these recently. Leave a comment with your guess as to which one I didn't watch this year, and I'll draw a name out of those who guess correctly. The winner will receive my gently used copy of In Every Heartbeat! (You must leave your e-mail address in your comment and you must have a U.S. mailing address.) The winner will be announced Halloween night!

(The Legend of Sleepy Hollow picture is from this site, and the Halloween Haunts picture is from this site.)

CSN Stores: Review to Come!

I recently received an e-mail from Kate with CSN Stores, and I'm excited to say that I'm going to be reviewing one of their many products here on my blog! They have a lot to offer, anything from an end table to a bookcase (like the one Renee over at Black 'n Gold Girl's Bookspot reviewed for CSN back in July).

Now, I confess I already made up my mind what I think I'd like to review. And since most of my readers are women (and the men can use the review as a possible gift idea for the women in their lives!), I think a review of a pair of adorable heels is in order! ;)

So be on the lookout for my possible "shoe review" to come! (Aren't I a wonderful poet?)

My Review of Love's First Bloom

Here's a description of the book from Bethany House:

"She must conceal her past, her identity. What hope can there be for love?

Life changes drastically for Ruth Livingstone the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her under an assumed name to a small village in New Jersey. There she dutifully awaits his acquittal, certain that her father, Reverend Livingstone, soon will be cleared of the outrageous accusations against him.

When tragic events transpire, Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River—a place where she can find a measure of peace amid her growing heartache. It is also here that she meets Jake Spencer, a man who both frustrates and intrigues her. Fearful of the newspapermen intent on tracking her down and unsure of whom to trust, Ruth knows she must carefully maintain her identity as Widow Malloy. But as love begins to slowly bloom, can the tenuous affection growing between Ruth and Jake withstand the secrets that separate them?"

My Rating: Fall/Spring

My Review:

This book is slow to fully bloom, but the resulting flower is a lovely sight to see.

I confess that I was not fully drawn into the story right away, and it was hard for me to completely sympathize with Ruth because the situation seemed to be more the exception than the rule. That is to say, Ruth's plight was not one that most people could relate to, and the requests of her father seemed rather strange.

As for Jake, his first appearance suggests that he's had a "turn-around" in his life, but many of his actions throughout the book appear to be in conflict with a changed heart. It is as if he is seeking a second chance to appease his brother and further his career only, not a second chance to make better choices in general.

However, the plot is certainly creative, and once I sat down and really determined to read the book, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of many of the characters that began to emerge. I was also happy to discover plot twists and romantic tension that held my interest.

Yes, I was frustrated with the lies that kept engulfing the characters deeper into an unnecessary extent of turmoil. However, I was quite satisfied with the ending of the book, even if it did seem a bit too tidy for "real" life. I liked seeing how the author resolved the story, and I thought the final "chapter" was both clever and a good reminder. Overall, once the story pulled me in I found the journey to be enjoyable.

*With thanks to Jim Hart and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Revell Blog Tour: My Review of Emily's Chance

Here's a description of the book from Revell:

"Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?"

My Rating: Summer

My Review:

I was thrilled by how "real" this book was! The book was well-written and flowed really well. The feelings of the characters and the situations that arose felt very true to life, in my opinion, and the dialogue was engaging, witty, and just what the reader would expect to hear from these characters in these settings. The author even brought in cell phones and texting in such a cute and fun way!

The romance was very sweet, and the dilemma of having to choose between a career and love is something that I think many people can relate to. In this day and age, success (at least in the United States) is expected, and is defined by wealth and prestige. But this book challenges the reader to re-evaluate his or her definition of success, and to realize that we may be focusing on our own plans far more than we have sought God's plan.

Also, the other issues dealt with, such as reconciliation, courage, and understanding (as opposed to being judgmental) were very important and woven in well throughout the book. I was pleased with how the author captured modern life while also transporting the reader to a place that is far away from what most of us are familiar with. It was a great balance between ranches and bowling alleys, little museums and Cold Stone Creamery.

This book is a great, enjoyable read! The hero is both caring and strong (and quite handsome!), and sure to keep the reader turning those pages. The ending was just right, bringing both satisfaction and an interest to read more about the Callahans of Texas!

*With thanks to Revell Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

“Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”