CFBA Book Review

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Embrace Me
(Thomas Nelson March 4, 2008)
by
Lisa Samson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Samson is a Christy Award-winning author of 19 books, including the Women of the Faith Novel of the Year, Quaker Summer. Lisa has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks."


In Embrace Me, the latest novel by acclaimed author Lisa Samson, readers are privy to the realization that regardless of outward appearances…hideous, attractive, or even ordinary…persons are all looking for the same things: love, forgiveness, and redemption.

This story explores a world that is neither comfortable nor safe, a world that people like Valentine know all too well. Masterfully crafted by Samson and populated by her most compelling cast of characters yet. It is a tale of forgiveness that extends into all spheres of life: forgiving others, forgiving oneself, forgiving the past.

She lives in Lexinton, Kentucky, with her husband and three kids.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Biting and gentle, hard-edged and hopeful...a beautiful fable of love and power, hiding and seeking, woundedness and redemption.

When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattooed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster...and improbably close to grace.

Valentine, due to her own drastic self-disfigurement, ahs very few friends in this world and, it appears as if she may be destined to spend the rest of her life practically alone. But life gives her one good friend, Lella, whose own handicap puts her in the same freakish category as Valentine. As part of Roland's Wayfaring Marvel and Oddities Show, a traveling band of misfits, they seem to have found their niches in an often curiously cruel world.

Residing in a world where masks are mandatory, Valentine has a hard time removing hers, because of her disfigured face but more so because of her damaged soul. It is much easier for her to listen endlessly to different versions of a favorite song, Embraceable You, and escape reality. Yet, life has more in store for her when she meets Augustine, replete with the tattoos, dreadlocks, and his own secrets. With his arrival, Valentine's soul takes a turn.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

Sink Bath

This is what my mom and my daughter did this evening....Apparently Olivia was helping my mom wash the dishes...
And it turned into Olivia playing in the sink.
She had SO much fun.

Gotta love Grandma!

I love books

I put some new book reviews up on my other blog.

Just thought I would let you know.

Withdrawal

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about withdrawal.

I am in withdrawal.

From my antidepressant.

Over the past 3 weeks I have gone from 1 pill daily to 1/2 a pill daily to 1/2 pill every other day.

So basically I have a decent day every other day and on the no-pill day I am rather psychotic and emotional.

I'm really enjoying it (read heavy sarcasm).

Something to think about

Front Door Back Door Meme

Dlyn started this fun Photography Meme. Here are the rules:

1. Step out your front door and take a picture.
2. Step out your back door and take a picture.
3. Put them on your blog, along with the rules.
4. If there are things in the photos that you particularly like or dislike, you can point them out, or just explain what we are seeing. Maybe changes over the seasons or some junk in your neighbour's yard that drives you nuts.
5. Tag as many or few people as you like - preferably at least one though.
6. Do it again next month if you like.

So here is the view from my front door today:
Notice that the grass is starting to turn green and there is NO SNOW! This was the view from my front door on April 15...

Here is the view from my back door today:
It is a crazy windy day today and so all of our chairs are blown over and the kid's toys are everywhere but notice the small green bits of leaves starting on the trees! YAY!

And here was the view on April 15th...
We haven't planted our garden yet so it looks the same except no snow.

I will tag Imbeingheldhostage, Amanda at the Pheonix I Am, Colleen at The Pancake Chronicles, Tiffany at Tiffany's Time and Lori at Noggin Bits.

I took Owen with me to pick Aiden up from school today. We went a little early so Owen could play at the playground but it was CRAZY windy.


Isn't he lovely?

10 years ago

This is my husband and I 10 years ago while we were still dating. 1998. Canadian Bible College, Regina, Saskatchewan. Young. Relatively carefree. Cute hair and body still intact.

This is us last week. You see what 10 years, 3 children, 4 miscarriages, 60 pounds, 3 bouts of postpartum depression, and not sleeping through the night for 6 years in a row can do to you? Brutal.

But I love my husband more today than I loved him on that day 10 years ago. And hey, if we can survive the past 10 years love-intact then we can make it through the next bazillion no problem. We may not be as cute as we once were but we are altogether better people. There is nothing like parenthood to knock the selfishness right out of you!

I love you Doug.

Care Package

I have a wonderful beautiful friend named Amanda. We met in 1996 when we lived down the hall from each other in the dorm at Bible School. She is married to a wonderful man (also from Bible School) and they have three adorable children.

We lost touch for several years but recently "found" each other again through the gift of the internet. I love the internet.

If you read my post yesterday you all know that I have been in a rather less-than-perfect state of mind the past couple days. So about half an hour ago I was minding my own business cooking my kids scrambled eggs for lunch when my doorbell rings.

I THOUGHT it was another book to review for the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. BUT when I got to the door there was a lovely lady NOT dressed in the traditional delivery-woman apparel. She introduced herself as my dear friend Amanda's mother in law and hands me a beautifully decorated care package.

I stood in shock and asked her "what are you doing in my town????" No one ever just stops by our town. We live rather far off the beaten path! Apparently she has relatives here and when my dear Amanda heard that she would be in my town she sent me this beautiful care package.

Seems to me that God Himself is sending me a message saying "You aren't alone, I love you and you have friends who love you too. So stop whining."

Thank-you my sweet Amanda for the beautiful gift! I love you!

Go visit my friend Amanda's blog - One Day at a Time -and see her amazing weight loss and parenting journey. And also visit her husband's blog - A Disparate Man - and read some incredible writing.

CFBA Book Review

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Healing Promises
(Multnomah Publishers - April 15, 2008)
by
Amy Wallace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams, a homeschool mom, and a self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books, including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.







ABOUT THE BOOK

Facing a new threat.
When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.
Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.
As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

Anger

Sometimes I know exactly how to speak the thoughts in my heart. Sometimes I am a pretty decent communicator. Sometimes I can write rather eloquently and descriptively.

And sometimes I have no idea what I am thinking or how to express it.

This is one of those times.

My head feels absolutely FULL. So full that the thoughts are all running into each other like a room full of preschoolers hyped up on red kool-aid and refined sugar products.

Here is an example of my thought processes today:

Tonight is registration night for swimming lessons. I have to find the boys swimming report cards from last year to figure out what level to register them in this year. And money. I have to find some money. Last summer it was pretty cold the week of swimming lessons. And windy. It is windy today. But not as windy as a tornado. I can't believe there are places in the states that have had 900 tornadoes already this year! Scary. I haven't seen The Wizard of Oz in forever. Toto had an excellent song that I used to love- Africa. My friend Carl and his wife moved to Africa to work for a wonderful charity. They have three kids too. I wonder if Michelle is as stressed as I am today. I went to high school youth group with Carl. I never thought I would be where I am today back in high school. I was slim in high school. But I thought I was fat. Now I really AM fat. I had no idea what fat was. I wonder if I will be fat forever. Forever is a long time. Wouldn't it be cool if the rapture happened today and I never had to clean my house or try to find clothes that fit or listen to another tantrum ever again? I am going to be really disappointed if I don't get to sleep a LOT in heaven. If there even is a heaven. Maybe its more like a cosmic work camp of some sort. No. There is a heaven. I'm sure its very nice. I'm not feeling very nice today.

See. Very random. And all those thoughts happen in about 3 seconds.

Very hard to control such random thoughts.

And I feel angry.

My sons are grounded to their room this evening because they were so absolutely brutal to me today. I have been called names, yelled at, had stuff thrown at me, they hit each other, knocked their sister over, and been generally awful today. I don't know why. Just to make my day I'm sure. It's likely my fault. Or so I've been told anyway. You know the "they are probably just sensing how you are feeling and reacting to you" line of reasoning. Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better. I already know that everything is my fault, I don't need the reminder.

And as far as I can tell my feelings are not considered valid these days. And that also makes me angry.

And no, I do not have PMS.

It could be my hormones. It could be my thyroid. It could be all the medication switches in my body right now. Or maybe, just maybe, it is because I have some valid concerns that are being completely ignored and it is driving my insane.

Or maybe I am just overtired.

And I would just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that I write this blog for me. For my own personal outlet. If you don't like me or my blog you don't have to read it. Please refrain from giving me unhelpful advice such as "that is not how a pastor's wife should feel". I know that already. And yet, here I am. So what can you do.

Sincerely, Mayla

Popular fiction author Virginia Smith will be doing a blog tour May 12–16, 2008, to help promote her new book Sincerely, Mayla: A Novel.

Virginia Smith is a writer of humorous novels, a speaker, a snow skier, a motorcycle enthusiast, and an avid scuba diver. Since leaving her twenty-year profession as a corporate director, she has written numerous books, including her debut, Just As I Am (Kregel Publications, March 2006) and Stuck in the Middle (Revell, February 2008). An energetic speaker, she loves to exemplify God's truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, “Biblical Truth in Star Trek.”

In Sincerely, Mayla—the heartwarming sequel to Just As I Am—Mayla Strong’s life is starting to seem normal. She has been working at the same job for four years, living with a good friend, and enjoying a deep relationship with God. But when Mayla is suddenly laid off, she learns the hard way that things aren’t always what they seem. One disappointment after another drops into her lap: her budding relationship with her pastor, Paul, turns out to be less than she has hoped; her friend Stuart refuses to talk to her; and Lindsey—the younger sister of her late friend Alex—calls her in a panic looking for a place to stay.

Mayla decides to take advantage of her newfound “vacation time” and sets out for Florida. She hopes to spend a few quiet days visiting her aunt and grandmother, but one by one her problems catch up with her. Mayla comes face-to-face with the responsibilities and joys of friends and family. As Mayla tries to help her friends, she realizes that God has all the answers—the trick is letting go long enough to let Him prove it.

Current stops on the Sincerely, Mayla blog tour include:

• A Book Lover
• A Musing Mom Speaks
  
• A Peek At My Bookshelf
• Ausjenny
  
• Bibliophile's Retreat
• Blue Mountain Editorial Services
  
• Book Splurge
  
• Bookmark Cafe
• Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
• Christian Devotions
• Clear Shining After Rain
  
• Cornhusker Academy blog
• Craftie Ladies of Suspence
  
• Creative madness that makes me myself
• Dandelion Momma
  
• Edgy Inspirational Author (Michelle Sutton)
• Everything Moms
  
• Grace Lessons
• Great Reads from Jasmine
  
• Laura William's Musings
• Life in the Midst of Writing
  
• Lighthouse Academy
• Margot's Moments
  
• Michelle Sutton
• My Friend Amy
  
• Pix-N-Pens
• Ponderings from My Heart
  
• Rhonda's Writing Journey
• Relz Reviewz
• The Road I'm Traveling
  
• Sips 'n Cups Cafeteria
• So Many Books . . . So Little Time
  
• Tara's View of the World
• Window to My World
• The Write Message
  
• Writer's Corner
• www.cballan.wordpress.com

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What others are already saying about Sincerely, Mayla:

“Sincerely, Mayla is an honest book touching many issues young adults face today. Smith writes vibrant characters and tackles taboo subjects with grace and intelligence. She helps readers understand the beauty and complexity of every human being.”

—Mary E. DeMuth
Author, Watching the Tree Limbs

“If Mayla stole your heart in Just As I Am, she’ll own it in Sincerely, Mayla. Juggling unemployment, unrequited love, and shepherding a runaway teen takes hilarious and poignant turns in Mayla’s quirky hands. Throw in a visit to the grandmother she hasn’t seen in thirteen years, and readers will savor a rich dish of laughter, tears, and life-lessons sure to leave a permanent mark."

—Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Author of the To Catch a Thief series

“Virginia Smith has crafted another winning story with Sincerely, Mayla. Once again, Mayla Strong leads a cast of characters who will live in your heart long after the last page has been turned. Anyone who doubts that the Lord can use even the most unique among us will have a change of heart after reading this endearing novel.”

—Kathleen Y'Barbo
Author of Beloved Castaway and Louisiana Brides

“In Sincerely, Mayla, Virginia Smith gives a graphic depiction of hating the sin but loving the sinner, just the way Jesus would. In the process, Mayla develops a greater spiritual awareness of her own shortcomings. This is a book that all Christians should read.”

—Lena Nelson Dooley
Award-winning, best-selling author of Minnesota Brothers,
Carolina Carpenter Brides, and Montana Mistletoe.

“Becoming part of Mayla’s challenges, frustration, and resolutions totally grabbed my heart
. . . Mayla’s character is developed very realistically, as we experience her mind being transformed into a new creation.”

—Jacqui Markowski
Client Services, Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake

My Mother's Day

My sons gave me lovely mother's day gifts and my husband made us a yummy dinner. We even ate off of my good China that I inherited from my Grandma.

Aiden wore his pirate shirt to church today "special for mother's day"... I'm not sure why.

Aiden's gift was this lovely hot plate/tile with his handprint.
And on the back there was a poem . I read about 2 lines and started to cry. Seriously cry.
Those teachers sure know how to do a good mother's day gift!


Owen made me this super cute fridge magnet.
And he decorated a special mother's day cake for me! He was so proud!

Aiden decorated a cake for grandma too.
And here is my sweet mommy with my Olivia. Aren't they cute?I am so very thankful for my babies.