The Heart Mender Review and Giveaway!

This love story seems so perfectly crafted that it can't be true.  The adventure and mystery of it are so gripping that it must be fiction.  However, the photographs of the artifacts found in the author's backyard are realistic, and the author's research and interviews with those having firsthand knowledge are believeable.  The author claims that it is "for the most part" true.  Oh, what a wonderful tale...

When I finished this book, I felt like crying.  I wasn't sad.  I wasn't emotional, in a Hallmark card commercial sort-of way.  I was just amazed.  A story of incredible circumstance unfolds as a wounded German soldier is found ashore on the Gulf Coast during the second World War.  The woman who finds him is in the midst of deep personal struggles.  Each has a staggering past that requires a choice between bitterness and forgiveness.  Their story is potentially life-changing for all who read it. 

It is the first book that I've read by Andy Andrews, but I can guarantee that it won't be the last.  His storytelling was magical, and I flew through the pages.  He also had to have a special divine leading to stumble upon this story in the way that he did. 

I was provided with a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson publishers to review as part of my participation in booksneeze.  They felt that this story needs to be told so widely that they sent me an extra copy to give away to a reader on my blog.  Leave a comment to this post by Wednesday May 5 at 9 pm CST in order to get a chance to win.  In your comment tell me what has been your favorite recent read.  (If  I don't know you personally and don't have your email address, you'll have to leave your email address in your comment to contact you if you win.) And, if you don't win, be sure to get your own copy of this book.  It will amaze and inspire you.

Music Therapy

The radio was playing while I was filling the dishwasher and Molly was playing with a book.  I didn't know what station I was listening to, when I heard a female voice singing about a hospital bed.  Molly started talking to me while I teared up.  I don't want to hear songs that cause grief to emerge, but I was straining to hear the words.  I heard some other lines about this world not being home and seeing God.  Molly was still chattering away while I cried.  The song ended, and I realized it was a country station.  I switched to a Christian station to continue my music therapy.

I grieve the most when I'm listening to music.  It is heart-wrenching and comforting at the same time.  I'm sure you can relate.  I worship God and fully experience pain and healing together.  Then I heard "Your Grace is Enough" by Chris Tomlin.  It reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:9,10:  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness... For when I am weak, then I am strong.  I have to hit the lowest of lows in order to heal and move on.  Thank you, God, for making me stronger through my weakness.

Then and Now At the Botanic Gardens

Running Away from the Mommies April 2009

Running Away from the Mommies April 2010

Then

Now

Out and About

Molly's favorite thing to do at the zoo.  She wants all birds to land on her finger, wherever we go.

Making lemonade is almost as much fun as drinking it!

A Little Science Ditty

As a Physics major, I was pretty excited to get the opportunity to review a biography of Isaac Newton for booksneeze.com. While I was very familiar with his famous three laws after having taught them to high school students for several years, I didn’t know much about his personality or life events. The author, Mitch Stokes, actually takes on the role of a teacher as he writes. He explains many physics concepts in a way that makes them understandable to non-scientists. He also engages the reader by giving fascinating details of the person of Isaac Newton. I came away from the book somewhat bewildered by the unique qualities he possessed. It is apparent that God gave him the abnormal ability to concentrate solely on his studies in order that he might formulate correct explanations about mysteries in creation. The amount he accomplished in his lifetime is incredible. Although this book is part of the Christian Encounters series, Newton’s faith is mentioned sparsely. The main focus was on his scientific accomplishments and interactions with his scholarly peers. During the latter years of his life, this interesting character even worked on busting rings of counterfeiters. Stokes’ account of Newton’s life is an enjoyable and informing read.

Oh, Really?

On the way to the grocery store the other day, I asked Molly what her favorite food is.  "Carrots," she replied.  "Vegetables... onions."  I repeated the question today at lunch.  "Chicken, green beans, smiley face fries, catsup," she answered, listing the foods she saw on her plate.  The "chicken" was actually a turkey hot dog.  Funny that she never requests vegetables, but it's popsicles that she begs for.

Molly has been imitating my speech lately. She sat in front of the computer and held up her index finger, "I'm just going to check one thing," she said. While I was squatting in the back yard working in the dirt, Molly came up behind me, "Come here, babe. Let me hold you." She wrapped her arms around me, "Let me give you a hug." She walked in the house from the yard last evening and announced to me and Nanna, "I'll be back in one minute."

Chillin' with Ella

Finishing the Chocolate Bunny from MaMere

See, Mary Lynn.  I hung them straight!

Finding Eggs

Now She's Smiling!

She hit the jackpot!

Clean, Clean, Clean!

Molly loves to help me clean.  She loves to use the washcloth and bucket of soapy water (I use all-natural cleaner) to wash the floor.  It gets pretty wet, but then I just go over it all with a mop.  It gets really clean this way.  She also likes to use a spray bottle with water and vinegar to spray the front of the dishwasher and then wipe it with papertowels.

We were in the gameroom at CiCi's recently.  One of the videogames had two guns attached to the front of it.  She picked up one and handed me the other.  "Clean with this one, mama," she instructed.  Oh, I  love her naiveté!

Do I Need to be Concerned...

that Molly's new favorite saying is, "My name's Molly Clara *******, and I promise!"  I have no idea where that one came from. 

She loves to use the restroom in public places.  I often try to gently support her midsection with my hand so she doesn't fall when perched atop the potty.  Being an independent two year-old, she protests this, so I discreetly remain close enough to catch her if she loses her balance.  After she finishes her business and it's my turn, she places her hand on the front of me and informs me, "I'll hold you!"  Thank Goodness!  I was concerned about falling in!

Butterflies

Cultivating Weeds

This is what our house looked like when we were buying it last summer.  Yes, it was a suburban jungle.  The shrubs were out of control!  Here's what it looks like now:

My mother-in-law put me to work digging out a border along the front and edging it with stones.  I love it!  However, if you look closely you'll notice that everything green in the yard is a weed and the golden parts are the grass.  I've been battling the weeds.  My brother spread corn gluten meal in the fall, and then I applied some poorly-timed weed and feed (just before the rain, not after).  I've battled a couple times with weed killer in the sprayer, which has actually had a noticeable effect- to me, anyway.  Next is another round of weed and feed.  I'm sorry for contributing to the pollutants in the water supply.  I would like to be more environmentally responsible... any suggestions for organic weed control???

Happy Saint Patty's Day

Here is our latest kitchen creation!  My first batch of cupcakes with MK.  We are invited to a playdate/dinner tomorrow night, and the host asked me to bring a St Patty's dessert.  I wanted to use just ingredients I had on hand, otherwise, I would have made my friend Katie's yummy creme de menthe bars.  (Speaking of Katie, I miss you.  Are you still in the blogosphere?)

I had a box of German chocolate cake mix, a canister of cream cheese frosting, eggs to use up, and an unopened cannister of green decorator sugar (with no red mate).  I made a little shamrock template on a paper plate that I then cutout with a utility knife.  I actually made three until I got the results I desired.  It was a little tricky because the template would stick too much to the frosting each time.  Maybe I'll put some butter on it next time to make it "nonstick".  The best part of the whole process is that Molly loves to put the muffin liners in the pans- something I find tedious.  So we make a good team.   Here she is "frosting" her own cupcake.  Cute!

An Easter Book for Your Little One

Read and Share: The Story of Easter by Gwen Ellis is a perfect way to teach the details of Jesus’ resurrection to your child. My daughter is 2 ½, and while it is a little too advanced for her, I think this book will be perfect next year. It would probably also be ideal for 7 or 8 year-old children to practice their reading. The book contains thirteen stories which are each a paragraph telling an event in the Easter story. A lot of detail and insight is included. The book describes how the curtain of the temple was torn upon Jesus’ death and now we all have access to the holy place, while previously it was only the priests. For each section, the scripture references are listed. The book remains true to scripture. The illustrations are fun to look at, and the stories are brief enough to hold the attention of readers.


The accompanying DVD contains six short Bible stories, including ones like Philip and Saul Becomes Paul- topics that aren’t widely available as children’s videos. The video contains simple animation and story-telling. It might be too slow-paced for some children, but as a mom, I prefer videos that aren’t over-stimulating! The disc also contains Coloring Pages and Wallpaper that can be utilized from your computer.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review as a part of booksneeze.com.

Follow Me

As I talk to you, my friends that read this blog, many of you will comment on something I've written about.  It is fun for me to know that you are reading and following my life!  Would you consider becoming a follower of this blog?  Just click on the link on the right-hand side.  It is quick and easy and would help me know who's reading!

Thanks!

On the Town with Ma Mere

We headed downtown with Ma Mere who's visiting from Michigan.  Molly did an awesome job keeping up as we went shopping!

I Loved This Book!

As a reviewer for BookSneeze.com, I received a complimentary copy of Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont. I have to say, I want to be Patsy’s friend! Actually, I feel like I am her friend! Her conversational style of writing is fun to read, and for the most part her humor is entertaining. Each chapter begins with a few words from a Proverb. She then draws wisdom from those words and invites the reader into her life journey as she illustrates and teaches with stories. Some chapters are entirely lighthearted- there’s a funny story about her being unable to find her sky-rise hotel twice when it was towering right behind her. However, I was amazed by the depths of her struggles as she also opened up about heartbreaks and inadequacies. The chapter ends with a list of questions to ponder- just like her writing some of her questions are airy and some heady and hearty. The scripture references that round out the chapters provide good spiritual snacking. As I read, I would often flip to the back cover to peer at the picture of the author. I was connecting so much with her heart in the book, I wanted to make a personal connection with her face, too. I loved this book even though it wouldn’t be one that I would normally pick up in the bookstore. I’m definitely going to lend this to friends and keep it close by to reread chapters meaningful to me.