Flower Friday: Sunflower

I am fascinated by the sunflower. This beauty grows anywhere from ten inches to ten feet tall. Several years ago, I planted seeds along the back wall of our home. Over the summer the seeds germinated and pushed through the soil. A huge sunflower head bloomed as the stem stretched taller than our one-story house. I'd not seen a sunflower so tall. 

My grandsons love to chomp on sunflower seeds during their baseball games, 

and I enjoy the seeds baked into bread. 

I love seeing sunflowers blooming along the highway and in the fields. 

Do you grow sunflowers?

Unfurl Your Wings

Olive and I were walking outside, 

and this lovely monarch landed on a zinnia in my garden. 

I love when God sends me a sign of beauty in my every day life. 

Click to Tweet #unfurlyourwings! 

Fiction Review: Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

Book Description:

Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, running from her family's ignominious past. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary in her rather unremarkable used bookstore just up the street from the marina in River City, Michigan. But the store is struggling and the past is hot on her heels.

When she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the long-lost summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. That book--a first edition Catcher in the Rye--is soon followed by the other books she shared with Peter nearly twenty years ago, with one arriving in the mail each day. But why would Peter be making contact after all these years? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again?

My Review:
Words Between Us is a coming of age story told from two perspectives. Robin's past and her present collide in this literary gem. Erin Bartels' literary prose wrap around the heart as she delves into the classics and their relationship with the reader. Part mystery, part romance, all fascinating. This story of redemption, realization and forgiveness is well written and worth the time to savor. Bartels' unique perspective and writing have a distinctive flair in the field of inspirational literature. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Come Unto Me

I am blessed to be part of a family with an amazing work ethic. 

People who work not only to provide, but to make life better for others. 

That includes my husband, thank you Tim for all you do 

which gives me the opportunity to be retired. 

God knows his people labor and need rest. 

He offers that rest to anyone who accepts him as King of their life. 

When my Feet Hit the Floor - I Gotta Try

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Mrs. Hatch printed the word 'try' on the over-sized sheet of writing paper. "What does it mean to try?" The students discussed with each other what they thought the word meant. The children piped up with answers like keep going, work harder, and don't give up. She shared with them that as long as they try their best, they are successful.

I like this quote she shared with the students, "It's okay to not know, but it's not okay to not try." Their young minds don't know everything, but they are in school to learn and to make an attempt at doing their best. As believers in Jesus, we don't know our whole story. God has a plan for our lives, one that affects other people. The Holy Spirit guides us even as we don't know the outcome. As followers Jesus asks us to try our best. He needs us to not give up. We don't know when Jesus will return to take us home, but we do know that he wants us to live each day for him.

When I've sinned, I need to repent. When I grow weary, I need to ask God for strength. When I get discouraged, I need to pray and read his word. I need to keep trying. Every day when my feet hit the floor, I need to give the day to God and ask him what he wants me to do. Notice I use the word need in each sentence. I may not want to do those things, but I need to. That's part of trying to do my best for Jesus.


Keep trying. Don't lose heart.

Click to Tweet #Dontloseheart

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.