Don't know much about history....

I like historical fiction. I like it because I can pretend it's educational! No, seriously, I like it because it personalizes history and opens my eyes to new perspectives on historical events. I also like it because it serves to introduce me to different events in history that I had never heard of or to which I had never assigned much significance before.

That is the case with The Veil, by Diane Noble that I completed recently. It is a fictionalized account of the events surrounding the Mountain Meadows massacre in Utah in the 1850s. Historical events are often tainted by subjective accounts and require scrutiny from multiple perspectives. This book did make me want to learn more about the events surrounding the massacre.

A shroud of secrecy cloaks a new nineteenth-century sect known simply as the Saints. But that veil is about to be drawn away. Amidst the majestic beauty of 1857 Utah, the members of one secluded religious group claim to want nothing more than to practice their beliefs without persecution. Yet among them are many who engage in secret vows and brutal acts of atonement…all in the name of God.

But one young woman, Hannah McClary, dares to question the truth behind the shroud. Soon Hannah and the young man she loves–Lucas Knight, who has been trained from childhood to kill on behalf of the Church–find themselves fighting for their very lives.

As a group of unwary pioneer families marches into Utah toward a tragic confrontation with the Saints at a place called Mountain Meadows, Hannah and Lucas are thrust into the most difficult conflict of all–a battle for truth and justice–even as they are learning for the first time about unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.…


Diane Noble is the author of eighteen books, including Heart of Glass and Phoebe, along with several novellas, devotionals, and nonfiction books for women. Diane is a two-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Media Excellence and was a recent double finalist for the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA Award.

You can purchase it at Random House's website.

The time just flies by....

Just earlier this week I told you how my baby turned two. Today, another of my darlings, Nini, turned 9! Yes, I said nine!

Nini is sensitive, compassionate and empathetic to others. She always considers others feelings. She is fun-loving, and always the first of my children to offer hugs when I am upset. She knows how to make me laugh!

She tells me she wants to be a missionary teacher. Her kind heart would suit that occupation, but who knows where God will lead her.

She loves nature. Bugs, dirt, plants, outside....

She is resourceful. She finds new uses for everyday objects and finds work-arounds for other "problems". It may not be the most direct way, but it does always work!

She is so beautiful from the inside out!



We love you Nini and are very proud of you!

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

I don't read fantasy, at least not since the fourth and fifth grade, when I read the "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" books. So, I wasn't sure what to expect when I was offered the opportunity to read The Vanishing Sculptor. I really enjoyed this book! For fantasy lovers, it has the magic, the dragons, and the mystery. What really made it stand out for me was the use of subtle metaphors to liken the elements of the story to our understanding of our Creator. It reminds me of C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in that respect. A well constructed fantasy tale on it's own, but so much more too!

Readers will meet Tipper, a young emerlindian who’s responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate during her sculptor father’s absence. Tipper soon discovers that her actions have unbalanced the whole foundation of her world, and she must act quickly to undo the calamitous threat. But how can she save her father and her world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions–including the nearly five-foot tall parrot Beccaroon–and eventually witnesses the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder. Through Tipper’s breathtaking story, readers will discover the beauty of knowing and serving God.

Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and eight novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles, a series which has sold more than a quarter million books to date. The winner of multiple awards, she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging young writers. Visit her online.



You can read more and purchase it at Random House's website.

My baby is 2!

I am a little late, but on Sunday my sweet Gigi turned 2! (and if you're lucky, she'll tell you!)

I am literally tongue-tied about what to say. She is our fourth baby. She came 9 years after the first child and 4 1/2 years after the third. I was done with diapers and potty training and almost had my third child in school. I was sleeping soundly through the night. I thought I was finished with all that goes along with babies!

Then, a little over two years ago, I found out Gigi was on the way! Hubby and I were happy and our kiddos were excited too! Our son even told us he had been praying for a baby sister, BEFORE we told him!

The last two years have held sleepless nights, diaper rashes, stomach viruses, ear infections, ear tubes and more. Potty training is on the horizon, too. Irregardless, the last two years have been AMAZING. The giggles, the laughter, the smiles, the hugs, the cuddles, the kisses, it is ALL worth it!

Gigi, we thank God for entrusting you to us! We can't wait to see what is in store for your life!

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

Sisterchick winner!

The Random number generator picked number 3, who was renee, who said -

"I'd like to read this and share it with my mom and sister afterwards.
Thanks for the giveaway."


Just a note to all those that have won in the last week or so, I will be mailing all the books later this week!

HA!

We woke up Saturday and told the boy we were going to a family reunion for grandma's family. He bacame very concerned and serious and asked, "Who died?"

Took all my effort to not die laughing.

I refuse to be stereotyped!

One of the tips people give on growing your blog and follower base is to specialize! Find a niche that you are good at and stick to it. But I guess I care more about blogging about what's going on, whether or not it fits into a specific niche or not. I suppose I could have 5 or six different blogs. A "mommy" blog to share news of the kiddos and to chronicle their growing up years. A craft blog to share my favorite projects. A blog to share favorite recipes. Another to vent! But, honestly I like having ONE place that shows all of it. It's kind of like showing you all the different things that make me who I am.....

We are all a sum of all our different parts, why shouldn't our blogs reflect that?