Romayne Ambrose Knutson

This is my Granpa Shorty on his 80th birthday two years ago.

Sadly, my Granpa went home to be with Jesus this past Sunday, March 21st at 4:15pm.

It is still hard to comprehend that he isn't here anymore. Even though we've been expecting his passing, due to severe health complications, it still hits you like a ton of bricks. No more stories to hear, no more smiles, no more hugs and kisses; however, I am extremely grateful for 35 years of memories of my Granpa!

He was such an amazing man. He worked hard, he played hard and he loved all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren...he wanted nothing but the best for all of us.

We will be having a memorial service to celebrate his life on April 17th in Colfax, WA. Please pray for my Granma Pat as she is having processing the loss of her beloved husband of nearly 60 years. Not only was she his better half but she has been his nurse and personal health care advocate during his illness. She learned how to work dialysis machines so they could have dialysis at home, she questioned doctors and nurses and went to bat at anything that might concern my Granpa and his care. She has family with her this week and probably next, and more family will stay with her during the week of the memorial service; however, I know she is hurting.

We are all comforted knowing that my Granpa was a Christian a believer in Jesus Christ as his savior; so right now he is in Heaven celebrating with his family that have gone before and probably taking a little fishing break!

Romayne Ambrose Knutson
January 24, 1928--March 21, 2010

Here Burns My Candle

**I apologize that I haven't even glanced at this book. Usually I read the books I am given for review; however, we've had a death in our family this week and I am trying to uphold my review obligations. Thank you**

SUMMARY:

A mother who cannot face her future.

A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

Author Bio:

LIZ CURTIS HIGGS is the author of twenty-seven books with three million copies in print, including: her best-selling historical novels, Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, Christy Award-winner Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes, a Christy Award finalist; My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland, an armchair travel guide to Galloway; and her contemporary novels, Mixed Signals, a Rita Award finalist, and Bookends, a Christy Award finalist. Visit the author’s extensive website at www.lizcurtishiggs.com.

**This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah**

I have an extra copy of this book to giveaway if you are interested! Please leave a comment of any kind on this post and I will draw a winner April 3rd via random.org. Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Teen Fiction Book Review

Do you have young pre-teens or teenagers at home looking for a good book to read? Do you want to give a great book, with good morals, to a young person as an encouraging gesture?

I have two books for you to check out!

The first is Raven's Ladder by Jeffry Overstreet.

Summary:

Following the beacon of Auralia’s colors and the footsteps of a mysterious dream-creature, King Cal-raven has discovered a destination for his weary crowd of refugees. It’s a city only imagined in legendary tales. And it gives him hope to establish New Abascar.

But when Cal-raven is waylaid by fortune hunters, his people become vulnerable to a danger more powerful than the prowling beastmen––House Bel Amica. In this oceanside kingdom of wealth, enchantment, and beauty, deceitful Seers are all too eager to ensnare House Abascar’s wandering throng.

Even worse, the Bel Amicans have discovered Auralia’s colors, and are twisting a language of faith into a lie of corruption and control. If there is any hope for the people of Abascar, it lies in the courage of Cyndere, daughter of Bel Amica’s queen; the strength of Jordam the beastman; and the fiery gifts of the ale boy, who is devising a rescue for prisoners of the savage Cent Regus beastmen. As his faith suffers one devastating blow after another, Cal-raven’s journey is a perilous climb from despair to a faint gleam of hope––the vision he sees in Auralia’s colors.

Author Bio:

Jeffrey Overstreet is the author of The Auralia Thread, the fantasy series which begins with Auralia’s Colors, a thrilling adventure twice-nominated for a Christy Award, and Cyndere’s Midnight. He is an award-winning film critic and columnist, his work appearing in many publications including Image, Paste, and Christianity Today. He is also the contributing editor for Seattle Pacific University’s Response magazine. Jeffrey writes in the coffee shops of Shoreline, Washington, with his wife, Anne.

The second book is Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black.

Summary:

Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.

While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out. She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

I loved this book!!! I would highly suggest you buying this book for any young person you have in your house or for a young person you know. I was greatly impressed with the way Chuck Black presented the gospel through a story line that will catch and keep the attention of young readers. It is the fourth book in the Black's Kingdom series and I am contemplating buying the first three so I can see what was happening in the beginning!

Author Bio:

Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of nine novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Tigger

Here's a bouncy little tigger to brighten your day!!! My niece Elliana!

Dancing With My Father

Let me tell you about one of my most precious memories of being in the presence of the Lord. I was in my early 20's and at church one night (this was during a revivial time at our church and we had meetings 3-5 nights a week). Usually I was up front worshipping or praying for people, but this particular night I was in the back room (just off the sanctuary) holding someone's baby. I was dancing around the room rocking the baby to sleep and instead it felt as if I were dancing with God my Father. I hadn't up to that point had a lot of one-on-one intimate times with God where I felt that I could tangibly feel Him surrounding me, hugging me and letting me know that I was His...it will be a night I remember forever.

This new book that I received from Waterbrook Multnomah to review peaked my interest just from the title Dancing with My Father. This is a great book where the author is helping us to understand where true joy comes from. It doesn't come from the things of the world (and that seems to be where all our expectations lay) but rather in delighting in the Lord as David did. Delighting in such an abandoned way that joy can't help but bubble up inside of us and express outwardly in dance! Through difficult circumstances, tragedy and even the daily grind women find it hard to give up on the world and let God have control of it all.

This is proving to be a powerful book. As I'm going through it I truly thought it would be a quick read; however, there are questions and reflections at the end of each chapter which make me think more in depth about what I am reading and how it is affecting my life! I am about half way through right now and diving in even more!

The author of this book is Sally Clarkson: She is a popular speaker, known across the nation and internationally for her work with women. She is the author of several books, including The Mission of Motherhood, The Ministry of Motherhood, and Seasons of a Mother’s Heart. She has worked in various ministries, including Campus Crusade for Christ. With her husband, Clay, she is cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries, which encourages and equips Christian parents. The Clarksons, parents of four, live near Colorado Springs, Colorado.


The other book I received was Mother Daughter Duet by Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum.

Book Summary:

When a daughter is born, her mother has a thousand hopes and dreams for her, especially that they will be best friends one day.

Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction
and frustration. But a harmonious relationship is possible.

Award-winning author Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali Plum, have been there and have discovered the keys to a healthy relationship. In Mother-Daughter Duet they share their story—each from her own perspective—in which they have experienced distance and tension, growth and challenge, and, ultimately, acceptance and harmony. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on several basic principles (letting go; listening; respect; setting boundaries; and more), Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms repair the breach so that daughters want to draw close.

The mother-daughter dynamic is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But mothers and daughters can achieve mutual respect and learn to celebrate their differences when they learn the two-part harmony of the mother-daughter duet.

Author Bios:

Cheri Fuller is a best-selling, award-winning author whose books have sold more than one million copies. She speaks to a wide range of women at women’s conferences and is a frequent guest on national radio and television programs.

Ali Plum is Cheri’s daughter, a writer and songwriter, a wife, and a mother to Noah and Luke. She and her mom have weathered the ups and downs of their relationship to find one of the most treasured, honest relationships of their lives. Ali has recorded background vocals for popular musicians, and Mother-Daughter Duet marks her debut into book publishing.

Would you like a copy of these two books? Well, I have a copy for you to read and enjoy! All you have to do is leave me a comment about your Mother, your Daughter or a special moment with the Lord! I will draw a name via random.org sometime on Sunday March 14th and will notify the person by email. Good Luck and Happy Reading!

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Here is something I've never really understood...why do Safeway bathrooms have Sharps Secure containers?

I completely understand that there are individuals who are diabetic and need to give themselves insulin; however, do you really think they are going to run into the Safeway bathroom and do it? Those bathrooms aren't the cleanest around!

Yes, they might be there for employees; however, as a former Safeway employee I know that there are restrooms in the employee lounge for their use!

I just thought it was kind of curious....

The Safe Sippy

My friend Holly has a daughter, Ellyson, for whom she bought the sippy cup below! It is a stainless steel sippy cup and is quite cute.

However, what made us laugh were the few words of caution and common sense that they included...so for your Friday amusement here they are:

* We shouldn't have to tell you this, but DO NOT MICROWAVE! Metal objects and microwaves don't mix. Bad things happen.

* Please don't use carbonated beverages. Carbonated liquids have lotws of bubbles that may cause the cup to leak. (The ones with sugar can also turn your 2 year old into a screaming banshee.)

* Not recommended for pulphy juices. Pulp can clog your no-spill valve, preventing your child from being able to draw liquid out. Thus, pulpy juices can result in sudden and spontaneous wailing.

* Cold liquids only. Hot liquids may cause burns. (We know we don't need to tell you this, but our lawyers made us do it.)

Did you get a chuckle? I did!