Grave Consequences is a book that will sweep you into the world of the uber-rich during the Gilded Age. I felt like I became the silent member of a group of Americans on their Grand Tour of Europe. The book is a sweeping continuation of the series and one that left me dying for the next installment…enough so I’ve been …
Monday Meditations: The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock
Yesterday our pastor taught another sermon in his series The Crux. It’s been a great set of thought-provoking sermons as we lead up to the moment in time when the Cross transformed from a sign of contempt and justice to one of grace and mercy. (You can watch the great trailer here) Yesterday Pastor Ted talked about the two houses …
Building Our Faith…
God has been challenging me for a little over a year to stretch my vision. Today I wanted to share a short clip with you that highlights how God builds and stretches our faith. Mark Batterson’s book the Circle Maker is a great book to read if you want to have your faith and vision exploded. And be challenged to …
Review: the Scent of Rain
Daphne Sweeten left Paris―and a job she loved―to marry the man of her dreams in the U.S. But when he stands her up on their wedding day, she’s left reeling and senseless. Literally. She’s been trained as a perfume creator and now her sense of smell has disappeared along with her fiancé. She has to figure out why her nose isn’t …
Show v. Tell: 4 Tips from Author Jordyn Redwood
Today I’m delighted to have Jordyn Redwood join me with a guest post on how to write show v. tell. As you’ll see below, this is something I believe she did with excellence in her new novel Poison. It’s also why I asked her if she’d like to write a post to share. Without further ado, here’s Jordyn: Because the …
Monday Meditations: The Crux of the Issue
Easter is only a few weeks away…and our pastor has been delivering a series of sermons on the Cross — how it is the crux of our lives. This week I’ve been thinking about how the Cross really is the point where everything is exchanged: Our sin is exchanged for God’s grace Jesus’ death is exchanged for our eternal life. …
Homeschooling Tips: to Test or not to Test
This week students across Indiana are taking the ISTEPS. This week, my children are taking the Iowa Basics. Indiana does not require testing for homeschooled children, so why are we doing it? I don’t believe the point of education is to test my children. However, I do believe that testing them periodically (about every two years) provides me with a …
Moonlight Masquerade Review
Julie Klassen turned me into a Regency fan — I discovered I loved the time of Jane Austen’s England, but alas Julie only writes one book a year. With Moonlight Masquerade, Ruth Axtell joins this time period…and does so with an eye on the details that I was transported into this tale of impossible love and forbidden longing. Take a …
More of You, Lord
This morning I wanted to share a couple things that are bubbling in my spirit. I seem to be in a season where God is challenging me to dare to ask more of Him. And it’s a season where the thought wearies me. How terrible is that? God dares me to ask for more. And all I can think is “God, …
Great Foreign Language Tool
Every once in awhile I stumble on an app that is worth it’s weight in gold. And sometimes they’re free! Today I want to introduce you to one that I am thrilled with. It’s perfect for people who want to pick up a foreign language or brush up dusty skills. Maybe you’ve heard of it: Duolingo. It’s a free app …