Bath Time

I went to my Grandma's house this weekend and scanned pictures all weekend! In total, I scanned over 650 pictures...pictures of old black and whites of family members I don't know and lots of pictures of us as kids!

Me and my sister Shannon sharing a tub outside!

Can't believe we were ever small enough to both of us in that tub!

What a cute tush that is!

Tampon Anyone?

Girls, we've all seen the tampon machines in any public bathroom that we've gone into (in fact there are a few arenas that I've been to that they have them sitting out free!) Can anyone tell me if they've actually purchased merchandise from one of these machines?

Here is my quirky thought for the day...

My work (which I suppose should remain anonymous...but hey, why? Babies/Toys R Us in Tukwila) just reopened its new store and this machine is in our womens' restroom. The thing that I don't get is why is it still EMPTY after five months of being open. The next thing I don't understand is why are companies still putting them in bathrooms? Do they really think that we don't carry female items in our purse?

I know...such a random thought/picture, but had to share with someone!

Way too HOT!!!

I am sitting here multi-tasking as usual....laptop out, tv on and a book nearby! Right now I'm watching The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

I just have to say that this man is just a wee bit hot!

However, no matter how hot Mr. Reynolds is...my all-time love is David Boreanaz, aka, Seeley Booth! YUMMY!

Um, do you forgive me?

Yes, I am a slacker!

I have come over to my blog throughout the last year and keep thinking to myself, "I really need to post something to my blog!" I had been so faithful in writing on my blog and sadly, I have let it go to the wayside the last year.

Do I have excuses? Nope! Not one! But do you forgive me anyway? I know that there is at least one person out there that reads this...so please forgive me! I promise to write a bit more faithfully this year.

So what have I been up to this year?

1. Still, and I mean still, looking for a full-time teaching position. Since last summer I probably sent out or filled out online applications for at least 50 openings. I even applied to the Houston, TX, school district...moving forward and even getting a phone interview with one school. I have had a few interviews during this school year for positions that I am not fully qualified for (but was favored with interviews anyway)....but did not get the jobs. I have been subbing frequently this year, but really need and want a full-time position! I know God called me to be a teacher and I know that he has the best job out there for me.

2. Church: I started attending Lifespring Foursquare Church a year ago and I am really liking it. It took me awhile getting into the groove and getting involved but I am slowly but surely getting more involved! I attend our young adult group (Converge) get togethers and try to make it to the events for women. It is a part hard making all activities as I am working a part-time retail position in order to make extra income.

3. Family: most of my family...meaning my two sisters and all their kids, live in Idaho Falls, ID which is a 15 hour drive from my house! My Dad and I made the trip over at Christmas time but holy camoly that is a freaking long drive! I do see my Dad every 4-5 weeks (should probably be more since he only lives 30 minutes from me!) and I need to see my Mom more (she only lives 3 hours away!). Still missing my Grandpa who passed away last March and visit with my Grandma on the phone frequently...I get to go see her in a few weeks!

4. Finances: Mine SUCK! Not having a full-time job right now has been very difficult. There have been weeks that I have very, very little in the checking account! The reason I even say anything is to let you know that I firmly believe that I serve Jehovah Jireh...which is God my Provider! He never lets me down...He never forsakes me and He always is watching out for me!

Even though this has been a very difficult year for me in regards to job and finances, and I have felt like I am being crushed and suffocating many, many times MY GOD WILL SEE ME THROUGH!!!

If you are facing circumstances that stretch your faith and you feel like there is no way to get out from underneath everything that is holding you down...please, please know that God loves you! He wants the best for you and He will help you succeed! Place Him first in your life and all the rest just falls into place!

Thanks for catching up with me and I promise to do better at keeping up with you all!

Blessings and Happy Second Week of February!

Family Pictures

Back in May, my Dad and I made a trip over to Idaho Falls, ID, to visit my two sisters and their families. I had been thinking about family pictures for a long (long, long) time and had actually planned them for a year ago Thanksgiving.

In my family you (meaning me!) just has to make things happen. So I scheduled the appointment, told everyone what to wear and made sure everyone made it the studio (yes, they were late!). My Dad was the worst one to drag his feet...he hates pictures. But he told me (and yes, I am quoting), "I am only doing this because I love you!"

So here are some of the shots from our pictures. I have individuals of all the kids, but need to rotate them before I can upload! We are missing one grandchild...Cassie wasn't with us! And Mom, I promise we will get some done with you in the near future!

Three Sisters!

Rachel (That's me! The older, bossy one!), Shannon (She's the middle child...sitting down) and Camille (Yes, she's the baby of the family!)

Dad (Art) and his girls!

Siefert-Ramirez Family

In the back (L to R) is Josh (20), Brittany (16) and Ernie

In the front (L to R) is Maddy (12), Shannon holding Jocelyn (1), Brandon (20) and Mason (7)

The whole family minus my Dad...Mason is looking a big manic!

The whole crew with Grandpa Art in the middle!

Dragness Family

Joe, Camille, Elliana (2) and Dajia (6)

Guitar Hero, Heroes

How does a family bond?

Well, of course, we play Guitar Hero!!

Poor Camille....looks like she is having fun, but really she was getting booed off the Guitar Hero stage.

Ever get booed by virtual fans off a virtual stage?

Look...even Elliana is getting into the act!


Josh is definitely one of the BEST! He just acts like it is nothing though...PUNK!

What?

Me, a Guitar Hero?

Nah!

But I definitely am hooked on this game!

Brittany's gettin' her groove on...

Maddy used to tell me all the time when she was little that she wanted to be a rock star!

I think she is on her way!

Mason is a SUPERSTAR!

Brandon is just as good as Josh!

These boys have been playing for years and probably know all the songs by heart and can play without even watching the screen.

Shannon plays it all cool!

She is really the Rock Star at heart...she just pretends she is playing for Metallica!

Guitar Hero Videos

When I was in Idaho a few weeks ago visiting my sisters I was introduced to Guitar Hero! Now I am familiar with Guitar Hero; however, I'm not a huge fan of video games, so I have never really played.

But whoa....

The kids got me hooked! I couldn't put the dumb guitar down! Even though I never really mastered much past the easy/medium stage it was a complete blast! I suppose if I were to ever buy myself a video game I would have to go with Guitar Hero!



Here I am rocking out! LOL! Really I didn't realize Brittany was even filming me...what I really like is the small snippet of Elly jamming out!



Don't BLINK!

Here is a few seconds of Brittany...it may be the only video you ever see of her...she is like an elusive pink unicorn only seen once in a blue moon on the fifth Sunday of the thirteenth month!

Suspense Book Review

Do you crave a good suspense book? How about a suspense with a touch of Christianity thrown in? I'm not usually a person who reads suspense books (although I have read some Peretti in the past that put shivers up my spine); however, right from the get go I was hooked on this book.

I was recently asked to review the book Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze and I was extremely pleased with this read. I really enjoyed the character development and the plot of the book. Ms. Hinze is an excellent writer and I think you will enjoy it as well.

Summary:

A mother who cannot face her future.
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

Author Bio:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

**This book was provided free of charge for review by WaterBrook Multnomah**

Would you like a copy of this book? I just happen to have an extra copy to give away! Just leave me a comment of any kind and I will enter you into the drawing. I will draw a winner via random.org next Friday April 23rd! Good Luck and Happy Reading!

This Little Prayer of Mine

Have you ever heard a small child pray? The wonder? The innocence they have when praying to God? I love listening to small voices pray for family, friends, animals and even for the things they want.

We all know how important it is for mamas, papas, aunties, uncles and grandparents (as well as friends) to teach young children to pray. In order for a child to grow in the way of the Lord they must first learn to pray.

Anthony DeStefano brings us this wonderful book called This Little Prayer of Mine which can be read to younger child while young readers can read it on their own. The prayers go from how the children feel at different times and places of their lives, what things they are thankful for, prayers that ask to be like God and how their futures are in the hands of God! The words are simple but straight to the heart! In addition to the beautiful prayers Mark Elliott brings us beautiful illustrations. I think that anyone would be excited to have this book sit on their shelf so that they can share it with the young person in their life!

Author Bio:

Anthony DeStefano is the author of The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven. He has received prestigious awards from religious organizations worldwide for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture.

Mark Elliott’s brilliant illustrations have appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s Princess Tales series. His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.

**This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group**

Would you like a copy of this book for your own bookshelf or for that special young someone in your life? I have an extra copy to giveaway! All you have to do is leave me a comment about a special young man or woman who would benefit from this book.

I will choose a winner via random.org on Sunday April 18th and will send the book out as soon as I get shipping info from the winner! Good Luck and Happy Reading!

It's OK Mom...

Let me tell you a story... (**Please do not take offense at anything you read...and if you do...don't read!**)

....A few nights ago my sister Shannon and her family were sitting down to dinner when they heard a loud knock on the door.

My sister told everybody not to answer the door as they don't know many people in their neighborhood. She also said that the only people that knock loudly at the front door are the Mormon neighbors, and she didn't feel like talking to them that particular night (honestly, she doesn't ever feel like talking to them...and they live in a town with a whole lot of Mormons!).

Again, another LOUD knock at the front door!!! My sister said, "Don't answer it!!"

However, y'all haven't met my six-year old nephew Mason.

Mason doesn't listen very well.

Mason is a highly energetic six-year old.

Again, a LOUD knock.

Then you hear Mason open the door and yell across the room..."It's OK Mom, it's not the Mormons!!!!"

OMG....(Oh My Gravy....according to my cutie patootie cowboys on Amazing Race)...how mortifying, but how freakin' hilarious! It happened to be somebody on personal business for my sister!

I bet that guy at the front door was laughing inside while trying to keep a straight face!

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!

Angels Book Review

Ever wonder about angels? I do!!! In fact, I have conversations with people about what they believe concerning angels. They are a fascinating subject that the Bible doesn't fully explain. I personally love that there are angels singing non-stop 24/7 around the throne of God! What a glorious sound that must be!! I can't wait to hear it when I get to Heaven.

I'm sure you have questions about angels.....who they are? how they help? and what the Bible reveals about these creations.

Dr. David Jeremiah has a book simply titled Angels out now for you to read! I think you will be enlightened...at the very least have one or two questions answered!

Would you like to not only read this book but own it? I have an extra copy to giveaway to one lucky reader.

Simply post a comment telling me your number one question or thought concerning angels. I will leave the contest open for one week (2/12) and choose a winner via random.org. Good luck and Happy Reading!

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

Camillisms...

My dear baby sister has a disease....

it is called open mouth, insert foot disease; otherwise known as talk before thinking disease!

Fortunately, this disease isn't too serious yet. The prognosis is good for a full recovery; however, there are some side effects.

One of those side effects manifested last weekend when we drove to Eastern Washington to our Grandparents house for my Grandpa's 82nd birthday!

Here is a little background info:

• My Grandma is 77
• My Grandma is #11 of 13 children
• My Grandma moved from the Dakotas to Rathdrum, Idaho as a young child
• My Grandma was raised in a small cabin with no running water or electricity

Flash forward to last weekend:

My Grandma was given a painting of her family cabin and property (I think one of her brother's wives painted it and it was given to her when someone passed away) and she was showing it to Camille. As Camille is looking at it she comments (Rachel paraphased), "Grandma, where is the covered wagon that you all rode in?"

O.M.G.

My Grandma whipped around and said, "Camille, how old do you think I am?"

My poor sister!

I believe she was properly mortified!

In her defense she was thinking of all the bullet points that I listed above and thought that given the circumstances there would be no money for things such as cars, etc and that there was no other way to travel than a covered wagon!

Do you have this disease?

Do you know others that have this disease?

I find it can be quite amusing to watch the situations that individuals who have this disease can get into and how they try to get themselves out of said situations!

Tea with Hezbollah Book Review

Tea with Hezbollah is a great book and a great insight into events going on in the Middle East. Not very many individuals are willing to take a trip into such a controversial region of the world as the Middle East is right now. In fact, many of us would like to simply forget that the US even has issues with the Middle East....if we forget about it, it might go away. However, that is not the case and this book is an excellent book for us to open our eyes and see that there are individuals there that need our love and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Summary:

Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.

Author Bios:

Ted Dekker is the author of many nationally bestselling novels, including Bone Man’s Daughters, The Circle Trilogy, Thr3e, and House, which was coauthored by Frank Peretti. His unique style of storytelling has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Visit him at TedDekker.com.


Carl Medearis is the founder and president of International Initiatives, LLC, an organization that promotes cultural, educational, and commercial exchange between the East and the West. He is an advisor on Arab affairs to the members of the U.S. Congress and leaders in international business.

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

Are you interested in reading this book? I have a copy just for you!!! All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post. I will leave the contest open until next Saturday February 6th at 5pm (or thereabouts) and will choose the winner via random.org. Good luck and Happy Reading!!