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Life is full of harsh realities. It’s hard to understand why when tragedy strikes, but sometimes the greatest stories arise from tragedy. Song of Renewal, by Emily Sue Harvey, is a complicated story, not one that is read lightly.
Liza and Garrison are raising their teenage daughter, Angel…..basically coasting through life. On the outside, they look like they’re the perfect family with no worries, no problems. On the inside, though, Liza and Garrison’s marriage is struggling. Neither one are truly happy, and even Angel is starting to take the weight of the world on her shoulders as she longs to please her mother, whether it be by sticking it out in ballet or denying herself the food and nutrition she needs….mainly out of fear of what her mother might think.
One night, Angel is involved in a tragic accident, which leaves her boyfriend dead and she in a coma. It’s not even certain whether Angel will survive throughout most of the book; complications arise, and danger is ever near. The story weaves in and out of Garrison’s, Liza’s, and even Angel’s perspectives. Liza and Garrison’s love is still there; it’s apparent in the different flashbacks they both experience when certain memories are triggered. Will they be able to rekindle their love, their passion, and their commitment to each other, even in the face of such uncertainties with Angel?
You can purchase Song of Renewal for $16.95 from Amazon, also available at Barnes & Noble, etc. You can also find it for $7.99 in e-book form. It’s a thought-provoking, emotional story that is definitely worth picking up.
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, free of charge, from the publisher, for the purposes of this review.)
Last night we needed an easy meal….something quick….something that could be cooked up in a hurry. I decided yesterday morning that I’d make tomato soup and grilled cheese. Now, you might think grilled cheese….big deal. ‘Cause that’s probably what I’d think too. However, this grilled cheese, although it may look ordinary, is in no way ordinary. There is more than meets the eye.This recipe is kid-approved, dad-approved, and mom-approved (meaning it’s quick, tasty, & makes everyone happy).
Ultimate Grilled Cheese
2 slices of bread
Real butter
1 slice American cheese
2 slivers Cheddar cheese
1 slice Monterey Jack cheese
1 tbsp barbecue sauce
Butter one side of each slice of bread (this pretty much goes without saying, but buttered sides will go on the outside when cooking). Add your cheese, and spiral on the barbecue sauce. Cook on griddle until both sides are browned well & cheese is melted. Then serve with tomato soup or maybe even salad for a healthy twist.
This sandwich certainly isn’t the healthiest meal, but it’s a nice treat, and the family is sure to love it!:) Enjoy!
The last couple of weeks have really just been a whirlwind. I’m sorry to have missed last week with a new giveaway linky….hoping you’ll stick around and link up today! I was going through some old bookmarks today, and I found a few homeschool sites for another mom who is considering homeschooling her high-school age son this next year. So, I thought I’d share these links in this edition of Time Out Tuesdays. Enjoy!
If you’re thinking about homeschooling, this is a great site to start browsing around on, Beginning Homeschooling.
Looking for affordable activities, unit studies, etc.? Your kids will get excited over the variety of subject matter found on CurrClick’s website.
Looking for a great homeschool blog? You’ll find a ton of blogs, written by homeschool families, over at Homeschool Blogger.
Most homeschool families know this organization well, but just in case you might be a newbie, check out HSLDA to find out more about the homeschool laws in your state. Stay informed!
This is one of my favorite sites, especially for support and encouragement, The Homeschool Lounge.
The Life Ready Woman, written by Shaunti Feldhahn & Robert Lewis, is a guide for moms that helps them with Thriving in a Do-It-All World. Lately, I’ve personally been so overwhelmed by everything that at times, things aren’t getting done because I just can’t handle it all. There’s too much going on at once. We moms have a hard time understanding that we can’t do it all; we need the guidance of our Heavenly Father to even make it through one hour, let alone a whole week.
In this book Shaunti really examines what the Bible says about our lives as women and the responsibilities we have both toward our God and our families. She examines women and their roles throughout history, as well as myths and things we tend to take to heart. She examines all of this from a Godly perspective, really digging into Scripture to guide us along with her, in a totally non-threatening, non-judgmental way.
One reason I really like this book is that it’s written partially by Shaunti, a woman who struggled with the juggling act herself. I like that she’s been where I’m at….she’s lived this balancing act called motherhood. I also like that she makes the tips and guidance she gives very easy to apply to your own life by giving hands-on things we can do to examine our own situations, our own lives.
Are you a ‘Doing it all’ or ‘Do what matters’ woman?
Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today’s fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives — but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.
Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God’s best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a LifeReady Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.
God has given every wonderfully unique woman different skills and abilities, different desires, and different temperaments — and every woman around the planet and through the ages is certainly living in different circumstances. But no matter what a woman’s life looks like, the Bible says that God has an individual mission and plan that He’s carefully designed for each of us. And He wants us to find it. Starting January 2011, The Life Ready Woman and the Life Ready Woman Video Series will help every wonderfully unique woman to thrive as she identifies and courageously pursues God’s unique design and callings for her. LifeReady Woman puts you on a roadmap to make decisions that will lead to relief, delight, and fulfillment instead of regret.
About Shaunti Feldhahn:
Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.
About MomLife Today:
At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.
Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!
We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? www.momlifetoday.com
In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!
Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!
Weekend To Remember Get-Aways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:
2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)
5 The Life Ready Woman books. (Book will go to 5 people.)
To enter click one of the icons below then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.
MomLife Today provides encouragement, advice and resources to help YOU with your daily Momlife! Because…every MOMent counts!
I’m also giving away a copy of this book! You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Monday, March 14. This giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada. Good luck, and have a wonderful day!
Visit Mom Life Today, and leave a comment on one of their posts.
Follow Real Heart Prints, or subscribe to my posts.
Liza and Garrison are raising their teenage daughter, Angel…..basically coasting through life. On the outside, they look like they’re the perfect family with no worries, no problems. On the inside, though, Liza and Garrison’s marriage is struggling. Neither one are truly happy, and even Angel is starting to take the weight of the world on her shoulders as she longs to please her mother, whether it be by sticking it out in ballet or denying herself the food and nutrition she needs….mainly out of fear of what her mother might think.
, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!
