So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
That Certain Summer
By Irene Hannon
New Contemporary Romance by Two-Time RITA Award-Winning Author
With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, celebrated author Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven and the complicated process of finding love.
Karen and Val are family – yet they’re anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town – and had a secret to keep – so coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.
Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their own relationship and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each sister learn how to forgive, how to let go and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?
ISLAND BREEZES
Two very different sisters, a divorce, a teenage girl, a working mom, low self esteem and a heartbreaking secret.
Then there’s the manipulative mother who plays one daughter against the other. When the mother has a stroke, both daughters have to be there to help with her care.
This book is about those sisters rediscovering each other and building a relationship.
Toss in a couple hunks, a disabled teen, an adorable five-year-old and you have a story that will both break your heart and warm it. Yes, you will need that box of tissues to get through this book.
***A special thank you to Donna Hausler for providing a review copy.***
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its “Top 10 Inspirational Fiction” list for 2011. She lives in Saint Louis, Missouri.
For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.
Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
First posted December 21, 2009
All stops pulled with ramming this health care bill through by Christmas. Gotta make the promises look better before the year is over.
Business as usual. Pork is buying the votes. An article in The New York Times today tells the story of the hidden pork that is pushing through Obamacare.
Is this version of the health care bill worth pushing through? That’s something every voter should research and decide for himself. Do you know what’s in this bill?
Update: Nancy Pelosi said that we had to pass this bill so we’d know what is in it. Well, they passed it, we know some of what’s in it and a whole bunch of us do not like what’s in it. No wonder she kept it secret. I’m sure a lot of people who voted for it, would have thought twice about voting for it if they had actually read the bill.
First posted October 10, 2009
The 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
While returning from my trip to the mainland yesterday, I kept hearing about Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. At first I thought it was just some kind of hoax, but had to accept that it was indeed true. The one thing most people were in agreement on was the fact that they couldn’t figure out why he was the recipient. Past recipients have included
They all worked to advance peace. Even our peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter, earned his Nobel honorably. Where does Obama fit into this group?
The Nobel Peace Prize was once a prestigious award. The prestige began wearing off when Al Gore, “inventor of the Internet” and creator of both convenient and inconvenient lies came out as a Nobel award winner. I guess he maybe brought peace among the proponents of the global warming theory. Is global warming the reason why our country had snow in June and is going to have record cold temperatures this winter?
One thing to take into consideration is the fact that the nominations for this prize closed after Obama had been in office only two weeks. Who nominated him and why did they think he was going to turn into a peacemaker some day? Some day isn’t what it’s all about, people.
Everyone is wondering what rationale was used. Alfred Nobel’s will stated that the Peace Prize should be awarded “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
If you want to find out more about these Nobel Prizes and the previous winners you can start here while we wait for Obama to do something, anything, to earn this once prestigious award.
Update: I still don’t see what he’s done to promote peace. We’re now involved in more wars as well as encouraging wars.
A Heartbeat Away
By S. Dionne Moore
When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.
Her mother’s mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt’s message to its greatest test—but can betrayal be forgiven?
ISLAND BREEZES
There was nothing civil about the civil war. Beth found that out as she helped her grandmother nurse wounded soldiers.
The blood, the pain, the stench all worked to discourage her as she worked tirelessly. Joe, her first patient, was able to provide a bit of a balance.
Beth and Joe’s friendship strengthened, but could she actually let her feeling grow for a southerner?
Then there’s the injury which left her with a permanent limp. It was enough for a man to turn away from her and now she’s locked away all hope for a life with a husband and children.
Joe is also struggling with his life threatening injury, as well. He is determined to find out why his brother Ben was murdered.
Throughout this book S. Dionne Moore gives us an authentic view of the inside of the civil war. I’m looking forward to more books by her.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Dionne Moore is a historical romance author who resides in South Central PA with her family, surrounded by the beautiful Cumberland Valley and lots of fun, historically rich locations. She is a weekly contributor to “The Borrowed Book”, a blog for book-lovers and “Cozy Mystery Magazine”, for all things cozy mystery.
First posted August 14, 2009
The title is what it is. More thoughts.
Never measure your self-worth from the opinion of others.
Smiles are free.
I feel like a fish. We all need to be in school with each other.
A hero is one who can hang on one minute longer.
I can change any thought that hurts.
Believe in yourself. Someone has to make the first move.
It’s never too late to be what you might have been.
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.
Understanding each other is the first step to getting along. Getting along is the second step to getting well.
Happiness is to get help, to get well, to get out.
I don’t know if any of the quotes can be attributed to someone else. I just know that the patients here wrote them down as a thought for the day. Some of them are very astute.
First posted August 12, 2009
It’s actually not an asylum. That just was a catchy title. These thoughts were written by mental health clients in my crisis stabilization unit. One of my techs found a small box with cards of thoughts for the day. I don’t know how many years these have been around here. This box was found pushed back into a corner. Some of these writings are very insightful. Here’s a sampling:
Life is like riding a bike – if you don’t keep pedaling, you fall over.
One learns in life to keep silent and draw one’s own confusions.
If you want to get along in life, you first must realize that the world largely consists of other people.
Hugs are better than Drugs. Kisses are cool, too.
My illness is only part of my total being.
Winners make commitments. Losers make promises.
Pretend you are a rubber band and bounce back!
Don’t be surprised at where you find wisdom. It’s everywhere. I’ll share more thoughts with you later.
First posted June 25, 2009
Today the entertainment world said goodbye to Farrah Fawcett, one of Charlie’s Angels, and Michael Jackson, king of pop. 50 year old Michael Jackson died this afternoon of cardiac arrest. 62 year old Farrah died this morning following a three year battle with cancer.
I’ve followed Michael’s career from the time he sang with the Jackson 5 as a child. He started with his first performance at the Apollo Theater at the age of nine. Then a memorable album and video, Thriller, propelled him forward, and he grew into The Man in the Mirror.
Michael brought us groundbreaking videos, a sequined glove and the moon walk. Michael was not just a singer. He was a very talented performer who sang, wrote, danced and acted. He was also a man of compassion. He, along with Lionel Richie, wrote the lyrics for We Are the World.
Farrah will be remembered most for her Charlie’s Angel role of Jill Munroe, and the distinctive hair style that came to be known as “the Farrah.” Farrah’s acting career neither started nor ended with that role, but 29 episodes made sure we would always think of her as an “angel.”
These two each were a “one of a kind.” They will be missed.
Update: Has it really been nearly five years?
Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013)
I love this episode where Edith finally tells Archie to stifle.
First posted June 19, 2009
April 15, 2009, the Lubbock TEA Party was held. It took two months for me to discover Dr. Donald May, who delivered an outstanding speech on the courthouse steps in Lubbock. His masterful delivery dominated the event. As usual, the news media didn’t bother to include this. It’s been much too long since we’ve had objective reporting of the news. Now we get it slanted or colored by opinion.
Because many of you may not have heard of this gentleman either, I’m including his speech in it’s entirety.
Ladies and gentlemen, This is a Time For Courage.
We are gathered here today on the Plains of West Texas in common purpose. We are here to remind our government that this is our country, We the People are still in charge, and our government is still our servant and not our master.
Our Nation’s founding document is The Declaration of Independence. It tells us that our rights come from God and not from a small group of Elite men and women.
Our Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” Our Constitution was written for ordinary Americans like you and me. Our Constitution protects us from our government and from the politicians.
Our President has complained that our Constitution gives ordinary people too much protection.
He has ridiculed us for the high value we place on our Bibles, our guns, our personal property, and our Liberty. He tells us we do not deserve to keep the money we have earned.
We are told freedom has not worked. Personal responsibility, free enterprise, and Liberty have not been effective. Our government will now make more of our decisions for us.
Other than our military, I can think of not one government agency I have ever found to be helpful.
And speaking of our military, how about those Navy Seals blowing the heads off those three terrorist pirates? Don’t you just wish our entire government would function with such efficiency, professionalism, and courage?
We watch in disbelief as our beloved United States is weakened economically, militarily, and morally by a Radical President and his eager accomplices.
What has taken generations to build is systematically destroyed and replaced with the same Socialist Evil that brought poverty, destruction, and despair to untold hundreds of millions.
The problems we face today have occurred because we have not defended our Nation from Socialism. For too long we have allowed the wrong people to make the worst possible decisions.
The Bible warns us of class hatred. The Radical leadership of our government daily fans the evil flames of class envy.
Our European and Canadian friends beg us to not make the same Socialist mistakes they did.
The President of the European Union warned our President that his Socialist economic plans are taking the World down the “road to Hell.”
The path to power for Socialists includes taking God and guns from the citizens. Without spiritual and physical protection, people cannot defend themselves and their Liberty. They soon become slaves.
We are angered that our President apologizes for the exceptionalism and heroism of the United States of America. We are deeply troubled he told others the United States is not a Christian nation.
We are angered that we have been called cowards and racists because we oppose Socialism. Socialism is not racial. Socialism is an equal opportunity destroyer.
We are angered that a recent Department of Homeland Security report has singled out our military men and women who are returning home as being radical threats.
The report also characterizes you and me as right-wing extremists and radicals because we favor smaller government and lower taxes.
You and I are average citizens who believe just like most of our fellow Americans. We want our government to leave us alone and to keep its hands off our money, our religion, or guns, our private property, and our lives.
We demand that our government stop spending money it does not have.
Stop confiscating our money and private property.
Stop printing money.
Stop subsidizing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the other failed financial institutions and companies.
Mr. President, stop appointing tax cheats to positions of power and influence.
Mr. President, secure our borders.
Mr. President, do not divert money from our missile defense, F-22 Raptors, and other vital military equipment. This gives encouragement, aid, and comfort to our enemies. Protecting us is your number one job.
Mr. President, do not give voting rights to millions of illegal aliens and felons. You have no more right to create new voters for your benefit than you do to use our money to buy the 2010 and 2012 Elections.
We gather peacefully here today because there is a growing concern for what our government is doing to us and to our future. We fear for the very survival of our Republic.
Yet there is much to make us hopeful and to fill our hearts with optimism and courage. This is still our country!
The Constitution of the Unites States belongs to We the People. Our Constitution still protects us from our government.
Call every possible elected official, including our President, Vice President, and the Speaker of the House.
Demand that they stop stealing our money and giving it to ACORN and their other political supporters in order to buy votes.
Call Senators Cornyn and Hutchison, and Representative Neugebauer. Thank them. Urge them to do much more. Remind them now is a time for action and not for campaigning.
Volunteer to work on our 2010 Census. Confront ACORN. Keep our Census honest. We must not allow our President to take control of our Census for his political advantage.
We must replace as much of our Far Left Congress as possible in 2010. Get involved. Do not let the ACORN control our 2010 Election.
Talk with someone every day who does not understand our nation’s history and our great heritage. Tell them why the United States is a good and prosperous nation. It still remains that brightly lit city on the hill. It still is the best hope for all mankind.
Talk with all of the young people you can find. They are our future. Many do not understand what they have and that their future is being destroyed.
Encourage your elected State officials to pass legislation that will protect us from our Federal government. Governor Rick Perry and others are doing that right now for Texas. Thank them and pray for them.
This is a time for strong peaceful action. Let us pray that We the People can quickly return our government to its Constitutional responsibilities.
Our President and Congress were elected to be our servants and not our masters.
May God help our President and Congress to quickly realize the error of their ways and stop their reckless and unwarranted spending, cut our taxes, and reduce the size of our Federal bureaucracy.
If they do not, may God grant us the courage and determination to vote them out of power next year.
May God richly bless and protect each of you, and our Constitution, as together we pursue Liberty!
Delivered at the Lubbock, Texas, TEA Party
Tax Day, 15 April 2009
Update: Just change the dates in the message. It’s still relevant today.
