"Going South..." A Book Review

Several weeks ago I mentioned that I had received a couple of  "unexpected blessings" here totally out of the blue...and of course the first one you are all pretty aware of by now, in the little "personality" of Lily Grace. Her adventures have kept me so busy ever since her arrival that I barely had time to think about the second "unexpected blessing", which did arrive and has also been a great joy to me.  

However the second gift was in the form of a book, and due to so  many "adventures" in life in addition to those with Lily Grace, I was having a hard time sitting down and spending any time reading. But once I finally did, I was so glad I did.  Here is the book I am referring to:

I first learned about this book HERE, on Marcia's blog entitled "Marcia Moston, On a Write Journey Following God".  When she shared a bit about her latest book on her blog post, I was intrigued by it and truly wanted to read more.  Well, for some reason, after Marcia read my comment on her post, she decided to send me a copy of her book! I was so surprised and blessed beyond measure! When I finally made the time to sit down and read the book, I was even more blessed.  

Here is the gist of the story: 

Marcia Moston weaves a warm and fun story of what happens when she stepped away from the original plan to buy a sensible home way down south in South Carolina for her and her husband, (while he was still finishing up his work up north) and ends up with a fixer-upper that needs major renovation...much to her hubby's dismay. Thankfully he was a great sport and dove right in with the positive attitude of making lemonade out of the lemon...but this story goes so much deeper. It is a glimpse into how God also weaves a tangled mess of bad decisions, unexpected life events, sorrows and disappointments into a magnificent tapestry of lives filled with new hopes, restored purpose and fulfilled promises. This book took us so much deeper than what appeared on the surface and I came away with great comfort and hope for how God can work in my own tangled messes of life. Wonderful positive message of hope!

I guess this story really resonated with me because we have made many moves in our lives over the course of our 51+ years of marriage, and sometimes our best laid plans didn't always work out the way we thought they would. I could identify with Marcia's story on several levels...the moving part, the renovations, but also the deeper personal level of how God works in our lives when we make wrong moves, bad decisions, or when things happen in our family's lives beyond our control. I have also experienced disappointments, unexpected "house-guests", and sorrows beyond my ability to cope at times. But, like Marcia shares in her story, God doesn't give up on us because we make mistakes. He often takes our mistakes and turns them into victory and blessing. Her story is one of encouragement and hope, and I can honestly say, that is my story too.

I believe you would also enjoy "Going South with the God of Jacob's and My Mistakes".  Here is a link to it on Amazon.com in case you would like to "check it out" for yourself!

Thank you, Marcia, for sharing your story with me. I truly enjoyed this book...and now I need to go "check out" your other books as well!   

Final Summer Reading Book Review: REVELATION!

Hello dear friends...I know you've all been waiting for the final book review in the "Adventures in the Glade" series....REVELATION.

If you've been following along HERE, then you'll know that I've been reading through all six of Martha Jane Orlando's wonderful books in her two series:Which you can learn more about HERE on her website for The Glade Series and Adventures in the Glade Series.

So now we come to the final book...and I must say right up front, I hope and pray it is NOT the final book...because this book left me wanting more!  I am excited to say that Martha has just announced in her most recent blog post "Meditations of My Heart" (link to blog here) that she is going to be taking the next few weeks to pray about and seek God's direction for writing her next episode in this series...so I  ask you to pray along with me that the Lord will indeed give Martha the guidance she needs to embark on this next project...because once you read these books you will agree with me that there is still so much more to be written!!

Now back to REVELATION! Sorry I keep getting side-tracked!  First of all, I think I neglected to say in my last review on the preceding book, REDEMPTION, that I felt like in these last two books Martha had really stepped up the story a bit with the addition of new characters woven into the story...and a grander plot that would captivate adults as well as children and teens.  There is so much more intrigue and mystery being brought to the surface...and "revelations" being revealed that I never saw coming...which calls for deeper insight and speculation into how it will all finally come to a conclusion.

REVELATION intertwines romance, past secrets revealed, wild adventure...and that despicable Cousin Ronnie still out to wreak havoc on the magical, mysterious inhabitants of The Glade and their sacred land. Our hero Davy and his family have relationships restored and past hurts healed with happy endings and new beginnings.  Everyone seems to be seeing miracles in their lives...except for one...who still needs to get things right in his heart...

Let me leave you with some final words from one of  "The Old Ones, "Racer", Davy's best squirrel friend, when asked if he could give a "phrase or one word...that would inspire them to live the abundant life...", he declared:

"It's all about love and grace!"

Yes, that seems to be the answer to all of the questions....

So friends, until next time...and I pray there will be a next time...I leave you with these thoughts to ponder.

Galatians 1:12(NKJV)

 "For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."


P.S.  I hope you enjoyed hearing about these wonderful books...one more thing I wanted to add...I shared my copies of The Glade Series/Adventures in the Glade books with a dear friend, who was reading them with her adult daughter who had spent most of the last year in a hospital recuperating from some very serious physical issues.  My friend said that reading these books together brought such joy and hope back into her daughter's life...it was the first thing that had perked her up and gotten her interest in a very long time. Why? Probably because these little books have such profound truth and hope intertwined within a captivating, fun and magical story that one can't help but be caught up and taken to a place where our imaginations can actually bring us to a better place in our hearts and minds.  So, for this reason and so much more, I do hope our friend Martha will be able to continue this wonderful saga!

Racer is waving "bye" for now!

Great Summer Time Reading!

Well, as I promised in my recent post "So Excited To Receive A Gift" (Click HERE for that story),
I would be doing a review of the above book, A Trip, A Tryst and A Terror just as soon as I finished reading it.  I received this wonderful little book in the mail yesterday from my friend, Martha Jane Orlando, the author..., and I must tell you that once I picked it up and started reading I had a difficult time putting it back down!!

I set up a tray of tea and toast on the porch in the cool of the morning and sat and rocked and read until the sun moved around to this side of the house and I had to go back inside to cool off. I hated to stop reading long enough to fix lunch for myself and hubby...and then had to get right back to reading.

First, let me tell you that I thought this story was written just for children judging by the information on the back cover:

"Spending the summer at Grandpa Will's farm with his family is the last thing ten-year-old Davy Murray wants.  How will he survive without his friends, the pool and his computer?  There isn't even a television at Grandpa's house! Doesn't anyone see how miserable he will be?...But, then, Davy has a most surprising and unexpected encounter...one which will change his heart, and his world, forever..."

However, from the very first chapter I was captivated by this story and the interesting mysteries that and adventures that awaited Davy once he arrived at the old family homestead of his "step" great-grandfather, set in the midst of the mountains, woods and meadows of the Appalachian mountains. I found myself wishing I could go back there and spend the summer along with them...and recapture the memories of long-gone idyllic days spent on my grandfather's farm as a little girl...or perhaps even now as a grown woman still longing for such adventures.

There is something magical and mystical about this place, but all with a purpose to help young Davy come to a change of heart that is life-altering, perhaps even a "type" of salvation....but this particular story ends with a "bang"...and a scramble in my mind to hurry up and get the next book in the series to find out what happens next!!

I would highly recommend this book for children (ages 7-12)...great summer reading for kids, and also for Moms and Dads and Grandmas and Grandpas alike.  It would also be excellent reading for families who are struggling with "stepchild - stepparent" issues.   My only disappointment in the book is that it is just too short!!! (121 pages)  And I have to wait to get the next book in the series! Therefore, I would suggest you might want to order all three books in the series at once!  (More information about all of Martha Jane Orlando's books can be found HERE)

I thoroughly enjoyed this little book

and look forward to reading the sequel

Children in the Garden

(book 2)

and then of course the final episode

The Moment of Truth

(book 3)

Thank you, Martha Jane Orlando,

for giving me this opportunity to enjoy your most delightful stories!