Flower Friday: Impatiens

I snapped a photo of this gorgeous impatiens bloom in my neighbor's garden. Drawn to the gorgeous shade of pink, I admired the simple flower's beauty. Impatiens come in a rainbow of colors: pink, red, white, violet, coral and purple. Even though the plants do reseed, most folks plant them annually from nursery grown plants.  

Children's Book Review: Bible Gems to Remember Illustrated Bible: 52 Stories with Easy Bible Memory in 5 Words or Less by Robin Schmitt (Author), Kris Aro McLeod (Illustrator)

Book Description:

Scripture is filled with “gemstones”—concise statements of five words or less that hold great value, meaning, and power. Bible Gems to Remember Illustrated Bible, written by 

Robin Schmitt and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod, takes children through 52 stories from the Bible, each featuring a powerful gem from Scripture to memorize.

God can accomplish amazing things with just a few words. Imagine what he could do in the heart of a child who memorizes and meditates on these short “gems” of wisdom from the Bible.

Enhanced with beautiful gemstone illustrations throughout, the Bible Gems to Remember Illustrated Bible gives readers 52 powerful verses from Scripture—one for each week of the year—to read, reflect upon, and put into practice. By the end of the year, children will have learned more than 52 easy-to-memorize Scripture verses!

My Review:
Bible Gems to Remember is a lovely book filled with colorful illustrations. But more importantly, the book is full of wonderful short verses for little minds to learn and remember. The premise of the book will work well with small children. Read them the story, show them the pictures, then teach them the verses. This is the perfect Bible for little ones to discover God. This could be shared in Sunday School, home devotions, or one-on-one with your favorite child. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zonderkidz. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Just One More Time

seagulls

Children's Book Review: One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different by Linsey Davis, illustrated by Lucy Fleming

Book Description:

Linsey Davis, Emmy-winning correspondent for ABC News and author of The World Is Awake, brings us One Big Heart, A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different, a beautiful picture book that celebrates diversity as well as the things we all have in common.

From skin, hair, and eyes in a multitude of colors to different personalities and interests, God gave us all special traits and characteristics that make us uniquely ourselves. And we all have things in common too: like sharing fun and laughter on the playground, a sense of curiosity, big feelings, and so many other things that show how we are all more alike than we are different.

My Review:
The whimsical illustrations along with the beautiful rhyme create an easy to read aloud story that celebrates all children. Linsey Davis uses her words to teach children that they may be different, but God created them to be alike with a big heart to love each other. I love the colorful illustrations and the well-chosen words that encourage children to see the best in each other. This is a perfect read for preschool and Kindergarten. Or share this sweet story at home. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zonderkidz. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Suspense Fiction Review: Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris

Book Description:
Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

My Review:
Deadly Intentions is a tangle of good intention and deadly risk. Well written with great tension, I second guessed myself as I read and tried to decide who was good and who was evil. I like the character Caitlyn, she's brave even when she shouldn't be, and Josh is the perfect partner in this fast-paced, nail-biter. The romantic element in the story is perfectly paced. If you enjoy great suspense, you'll find it in Lisa Harris's books. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Historical Fiction Review: Thimbles and Threads: 4 Love Stories Are Quilted into Broken Lives by Mary Davis, Grace Hitchcock, Suzanne Norquist, Liz Tolsma

Book Description:

Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love?

Bygones by Mary Davis Texas, 1884
Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? 

The Bridal Shop by Grace Hitchcock
Charleston, South Carolina, June 1886
Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time.  Will the handsome groomsman be able to convince her to open her heart again and finish the quilt once intended for her father?

Mending Sarah’s Heart by Suzanne Norquist
Rockledge, Colorado, 1884
Sarah doesn’t need anyone, especially her dead husband’s partner. When she rejects her husband’s share of the mine, his partner Jack seeks to serve her through other means. But will his efforts only push her further away?

Binding Up Wounds by Liz Tolsma
Regent, Wisconsin, 1865
Melissa Bainbridge is a quirky designer of rag dolls who raises raccoons and never really fit into the small farming town. When Lance Witherspoon arrives in town to thank her for the Sanitary Commission quilt she made that saved his life, she is shocked to learn Lance is a Confederate. Can she and Lance confront the town’s prejudices – along with their own?

My Review:
I enjoyed these gentle stories set in the late 1800s. I'm fascinated with the art of sewing, and love that the women in the stories own businesses. Each author writes a beautiful story, giving the heroin strong faith and determination. The novellas are threaded together by stitches, yet each one is unique. I especially enjoyed Binding Up Wounds. Liz Tolsma did a beautiful job writing about the prejudice that remained after the Civil War and the hurt caused by people who judge. If you enjoy historical fiction, pick up a copy of Thimbles and Threads. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Joy in the Garden

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Flowers bring me joy. If you've checked out my Flower Friday posts, you know botanicals have played a part in my life since childhood. From the flower garden my mom nurtured to the row of irises (we called them flags) my dad planted, I've always enjoyed flowers. The whole process from sowing the seed or placing the baby plant in the ground to the photosynthesis in the leaves is nothing short of amazing.

My granddaughter Dilly and I planted zinnias, snapdragons, geraniums and a few other flowers in my tiny flower bed in May. As I walked by them this hot August morning I noticed how they had spread, like they lifted their arms toward the sun and stretched. The beautiful array of colors fills me with joy.

Jesus calls us to be a joyful people. Not just happy but filled with joy. In sadness, disappointment, distress, or frustration the joy of knowing my Savior loves me fills my heart with hope. Each time I look at the flowers in my little garden, I'm reminded of the everlasting joy of life with God.

At camp and vacation Bible school we sang a song:

I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart to stay.
-George W. Cooke (Public Domain)

As simple as the words are, they speak volumes. That joy that is a product of loving Jesus is in my heart to stay.

Do you know the joy Jesus gives?