Counting Our Blessings - Link Up!

God is SO good. I've had such an amazing week - full of refreshing and fellowship! I'm definitely counting my blessings - and I hope you will, too!

81.  I went to my church's women's conference on Friday and Saturday and I can't believe how incredible it was! I learned SO much!! The teacher was Carol Wild who is the leader of the Women's Ministry at Calvary Chapel in Merritt Island, FL. I was furiously writing down so much the whole time she was speaking! They gave us a book to take notes in and I filled the whole thing up! She taught on Psalms 46 and it was just amazing the depth that we got into this Scripture. I came away from this Conference so refreshed, joyous and knowing that I had a deeper understanding of our Lord and His Word. Here is a video of Carol from the Women's Retreat at her church. I highly recommend that you watch it when you have time. You'll just be so blessed! By the way, she is the blond lady with the British accent. :)

2012 Fall Women's Retreat - Overview - Carol Wild from Calvary Chapel Merritt Island on Vimeo.
82. I ran into an acquaintance at the Conference that I have known for quite a while, but not well. She and I decided to sit together and it was so wonderful getting to know her better! We giggled and cried and just totally knit our hearts together! We also found out while she was at the conference that she will be moving closer to me, so that was a total blessing, too!

83.  My oldest son had his last day of his Fire Academy for the local Fire Department on Sunday. We were invited to a picnic and then to watch them to a drill for us to see. It was so impressive and I am so incredibly proud of my son! He has worked so hard and it's so exciting to see him pursuing his dream and succeeding! Here's a picture of him and me just before the drill. It was really, really windy out there, as you can tell from my hair!

This is his helmet

Here he is after the drill in front of one of the trucks

Being there was such a blessing and I'm over-whelmed with emotion!

84.  I'm blessed that I am going to be able to have some time off now. I'm really looking forward to starting my new Bible studies and spending a lot of time in study. I'm also looking forward to more reading time, more crochet and knitting time, as well as other artistic fun! I'm really needing to take this time and I'm so blessed that I can actually do this.

85.  I was able to buy some books at the Women's Conference (no, I didn't need more books! lol) by John MacArthur, Anne Graham Lotz, as well as others. The Women's Ministry leader had these books available at cost for us, so that was such a blessing!! There were a couple others I would have liked to have had, but she is going to have them available at the office, so I can get them later on.

Just a total blessed week!! What were your blessings this week? Please share on the inLinkz below (I'm using a new linking tool that I think you'll like better!) I love to read about your blessings and, of course, would love to read your comments, too!

Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Catch A Falling Star

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At 36, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She's a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives-a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But the feeling of being "the kid never picked" looms large when romance continues to evade her and yet another one of her closest friends gets engaged. Are Kendall's dreams of having it all-a career, a husband, children-nothing more than childish wishing upon a star? Should she hold out for her elusive Plan A? Dust off Plan B? Or is it time to settle? God says he knows the plans he has for her-why can't Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo-both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of "flying a desk" are complicated by his parents' death-making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can God get his life back on track ... or has there been a divine plan all along?
Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn't just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your "wish I may, wish I might" dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

I

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four, though she said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Her contemporary romance novel, "Wish You Were Here", debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and "Catch a Falling Star" releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. 

Find out more about Beth K. at http://bethvogt.com

MY REVIEW:

 

I really enjoyed this book. The romance between two mature people was really good and a refreshing change from the twenty-something romances we usually read. 

Dr. Kendall is a successful doctor helping children with severe allergies and asthma. While this is fulfilling, she realizes that she would like to have more of a personal life and find that romance she has never found. Griffin is a pilot who has been grounded and the reluctant guardian of his younger brother when his parents unexpectedly die.

Kendall and Griffin find themselves thrown together when Ian has an allergic at the restaurant where Kendall is dining. They don't connect at all right away and the only thing that brings them together is Ian. Griffin was actually hard for me to  like. His disappointment in being grounded made him difficult and it came through in his personality in the book. 

This was not your typical romance. There was a lot of depth to the story like as well as the characters. I was also pleasantly surprised by how we see Griffin develop. I also enjoyed the sub-plot with other characters in the book, too. It really added to the whole story.

You'll enjoy this book, I'm sure! I really like the age of the characters finding romance and I loved the story because it wasn't simplistic. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

 

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group

You can read more reviews of this book HERE

You can purchase this book HERE

Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Undeniably Yours

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Meg Cole's father dies unexpectedly, she's forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of his empire. The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father's Thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo knows he ought to resent the woman who's determined to take from him the only job he ever wanted. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them and earn her love.

Just when Meg realizes she can no longer deny the depth of her feelings for Bo, their fragile bond is broken by a force from Meg's past. Can their relationship-and their belief that God can work through every circumstance-survive?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas.

Visit her website at www.beckywade.com

MY REVIEW:

Another sweet romance that is perfect for a summer/beach read. Meg and Bo will capture your hearts. I especially loved Bo - he was self-assured, strong, and kind. This strength really helped Meg as she struggled with panic attacks and anxiety after her divorce and the death of her father. This relationship reminded me of the strength that the Lord gives us and His calm in the storm.

It's also great seeing Meg's faith grow stronger and stronger and her inner dialogue as she searches for strength from the Lord. It was wonderful seeing her grow from a anxious young woman to a woman fully relying on the Lord. I also liked how we see her trust in Bo develop, too.

Meg is thrown into a situation that makes her uncomfortable and Bo is in a situation that is his dream and he's content. It's interesting to see these two come together in the same situation and how they each view it differently. Watching Meg grow as a person and a Christian is truly a delight. 

I truly enjoyed Becky's writing and this story was just a joy to read. You truly will learn to care about the characters in this book and heave a huge sigh of contentment at the end of the story.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group

You can read more review of this book HERE

You can purchase this book HERE



Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Once Upon A Prince

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Royal Wedding Series Book One

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation.

It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

http://youtu.be/eJ2pAIhrYvI

Meet Rachel:

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner "Sweet Caroline", and RITA Finalist "Love Starts With Elle", and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, "The Songbird Novels". She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets. Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor.

Find out more about Rachel at: http://RachelHauck.com

MY REVIEW:

This was an incredibly sweet romance with characters that I really liked and was rooting for. Yes, the plot was typical, but isn't that why we love a good romance? This book is definitely falling into that "fairy tale" category that us girls just love. 

I loved how Nate took his duties seriously and yet he was very kind and sweet. Susanna was also very likeable, even though she tended to want to control everything - I believe a lot of this was due to her fiance breaking her heart. We can sympathize with her and her hurt. 

I loved how this book emphasized that God has a great plan for our life than we can imagine if we will just relax and trust in Him. In this case, a true fairy tale come to life. 

I really enjoyed this book and it would be the perfect summer reading book!!

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group

You can read more reviews for this book HERE

You can purchase this book HERE

Blessings - Julie

Keep Calm & Trust God

I used to be an emotional bundle of nerves. This happens when you feel condemned by those that are supposed to love you. I was a woman that internalized everything and then my mind and body paid for it. I finally realized, when I had cancer, that I needed to make changes in who I allowed around me, if possible. I had the tendency to chose the same type of people over and over again, those who would abuse me emotionally.

It didn't happen over night, but slowly over the past few years, I've gotten wiser about who I allow to be in my inner-circle. I've also learned to have boundaries with those people in my life that I can't just "cut-out" of my life (most of these people are family members).  I think family members are the hardest, both in dealing with, and enforcing boundaries to. When you start making changes in your life, expect resistance. People don't like when you start changing, especially for the better. It will make them angry and they will try and trip you up. Just keep on going forward with God's help!

God has helped me so much in this area. Through His Word, I'm getting stronger Spiritually, which in turn makes me stronger emotionally. Where I would be devastated, playing over and over in my mind the words said, now I'm able to let it go within a day. Believe me, this is huge. I could replay things said to me twenty years ago over and over for days before, and enjoy wallowing in it. However, all this does is destroy our self esteem and give the enemy a foothold in our mind!

This year, I asked God to help me with a stronghold that was causing me distress. This stronghold was that if someone really hurt me, I would just eliminate them from my life. Period. I needed to learn to love people, maybe at arms length, but to love them as God loves them. He has worked miracles in my life on this! I have learned to be more discerning when it comes to choosing friends but then I've also learned to continue to love those that hurt me. I love them as God loves them but then I establish boundaries. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of boundaries!! Especially, if you're like a person like me - a "people pleaser".

The biggest issue where God has worked is keeping me calm. I am able to let this stuff go and remain calm knowing that God is in control and is working things out in His perfect way. He sees us when we get hurt and we can rest assured that He cares deeply when we hurt. It all really does work out perfectly if we will just rest in Him and allow Him to work everything together in our life. I've learned to keep focusing on my goals, not get side-tracked because I know that I'm not in control of the stuff I can't control anyway! I can only control me and how I react to things.

Keep Calm and Trust God - Keep On Keeping On!

God bless you - Julie