Stained Glass Windows by Patsy Clairmont

Stained Glass Hearts
by Patsy Clairmont
ISBN: 978-0849948268
$10.98 Hardback (Amazon)

About the Book:
Much like stained glass, life's broken pieces become the prism through which God's grace shines most brightly and beautifully.

Comparing people to stained glass windows, Patsy Clairmont explains the power of God to restore and redeem that which seems devastated beyond repair, and she does so with the quick wit and deep insight of someone who has been there. And back. Themes of art and creativity are woven together with stories from Patsy's own life. And special features include quotes, suggested scripture readings, sample prayers, and recommended music.

With candor tempered by wind-whipped wisdom. Patsy provides a new lens through which to view our lives. Stained Glass Hearts is a perspective that gives us the chance to see our potential for color, sparkle and great purpose through the grace of God.

My thoughts:
I won tickets to the Women of Faith conference this year and I was excited to see that Patsy Clairmont was the main speaker on Friday. In the past I've never gotten a lot out of the WOF conferences but this year with all of it's upheaval and frustrations I think it was made for me. It was a "God Thing".

One of the sections in her book is a bulleted section that I would like to call:
"Choose Gratitude". I'm not going to add the whole thing here due to copyright reasons & you'll get more out of it if you read it yourself but here is the gist:

A Chinese proverb says, "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come." How do you keep a green tree in your heart?
~ Choose Gratitude: We can in the midst of pain thank God for who he is. In return we begin to let go of our perceived rights and rest more fully in his care. (paraphrased)
~ Choose Gratitude: Actively being grateful is a conscious choice at first, then with ongoing attentiveness, a habit.
~ Choose Gratitude: Gratitude thaws hearts, keeps life in perspective and our demands under control ~ and it protects us from our self-serving tendencies.

All throughout Stained Glass Windows you'll find little treasures like the one I just shared on gratitude. You'll find suggested pieces of art where you can take in the fullness of God's creation, his love and care for us. You'll find pieces of music to touch your heart, little prayers to help you rest in God and poems and scriptures to strengthen your courage.

If you know someone that can use courage or strength you might consider offering Stained Glass Windows to them. It would make a wonderful gift that they can read when they need a hug or an encouraging word when they are down.

Learn More:
www.PatsyClairmont.com


I received a copy of Stained Glass Windows from BookSneeze to review. I wasn't asked to write a positive review & no money exchanged hands. My words are my own.

A Gentle Thief ~ Book Tour & Review

A Gentle Thief
by Amanda Dickson
ISBN: 978-1466304277
Published by:
Kindle Edition: $9.99

About the Book:
Maddie Johnson loved Shakespeare. Unlike everybody else she knew growing up, she seemed to understand him, enjoy him, more with every reading. It was partly because of this love that she drove from her home in rural Pennsylvania to college at Southern Utah University, home every summer to the Utah Shakespearean Festival. It was partly that, and partly the desire to get as far away as possible. Maddie thought being in Utah would help her forget, that the stark beauty of the scenery and the power of the metaphor would be enough to clear her. They weren’t.

In her freshman year, she met and, after graduation, married a much older man, Robert Able, the first person Maddie had ever known who understood her love of Shakespeare.

At 21, Maddie felt too young to be married. At 23, she felt too young to be divorced. Maddie was found dead on New Year’s Day, clutching a gun to her chest. Everyone assumed she committed suicide. Everyone except her father.

A Gentle Thief is Maddie’s story, and that of her father and the young attorney he hires who becomes devoted to him and the truth of his cause.

My Thoughts:
An engrossing story that moves fast and keeps the reader involved and unwilling to put the book down. It's the story of 2 women ~ one murdered in 1984 and the other a woman just beginning a new career with a case that could easily make or break her future.

Madeline is a young woman who has known upheaval and abuse her entire life. Her mother was abusive to her father and when they divorced Maddie spent time between to homes. She was very close to her father and they each supported and encouraged each other over the years while her mother and his wife tore him down every chance she got.

Marrying at a young age and divorced 2 years later, Madeline is found one day by her neighbor who claims that she committed suicide. The gun is found in her hands, she has obviously been cleaned up and the bedding has been changed thereby destroying evidence. The police and the investigators completely botch the case, evidence goes missing and her father spends the next 20 years trying to get the authorities to change her cause of death from suicide to murder. And then Sophie Brownlie enters the picture as a fresh from law school lawyer who is assigned the case to see if it has merit....

A Gentle Thief reminded me of Conspiracy Brief (with Julia Roberts) - the atmosphere is similar with the legal speech, the mystery surrounding the death of Maddie, the fast moving pace as the story builds and then heads toward it's conclusion.

A very long book at over 500 pages you can purchase it on Kindle or purchase the paperback copy. It's a great story and well worth purchasing the $17.99 paperback - you'll definitely want it in your home library. My only thought is that at $18 the book should of been a hardback book not a paperback. It's a great read for a cold snowy day and if you have a fire going it only adds to the atmosphere as you read.

A Gentle Thief is a book nearly 20 years in the making, inspired by a case the author worked on while a lawyer. She is the mother of Aiden (4) and Ethan (6) and the step-mother of Laurel (22), Ashley (21) and Cameron (18) and currently is not only an author but also a radio announcer for www.ksl.com and the host of "A Woman's View". When she isn't at home caring for her family or on the radio you may be able to find her in front of an audience - Amanda speaks to all kinds of businesses, women's groups, governmental groups, gatherings of every size and scope on the topics of joy in work, team building, change, friendship, hope, finding untapped energy and every variation on those themes imaginable.  She would be delighted to speak to your group if the opportunity should ever arise.

Amanda's Website
Amanda's Blog
Amanda's facebook page


You can learn more about A Gentle Thief on the MediaGuests.net website during the blog tour in November and December.


I received a copy of the ebook to review. I was not required to post a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks to MediaGuests.net and Amanda Dickson for sharing a great book!


Follow along:

Ways to Give with The Open Door Mission (or one near you)

 


There are so many people around the world with needs and it seems like Christmas is when we (as a community) notice and want to try to help. Whether it's by donating a check, giving coats, gloves and mittens or joining in with the Angel Tree Ministry or a Holiday Toy Drive there are so many ways we can give.

You can donate your time by baking cookies, serving meals, sorting clothes, offering to tutor kids and more. The Open Door Mission (Omaha, NE) is preparing to provide gifts for more than 6,000 boys and girls this Christmas Season through Project Santa - A drive-thruChristmas. Parents of homeless and needy childrenwill be coming to sign up to receive a bag of toys for their child so on Christmas Morning there will be something under the tree.

Here is how you can help make Christmas special for a little boy or girl. Would you consider having a toy drive at your place of work, school, or even Church. Open Door Mission will provide a collection box for you to place to be filled. All you have to do is click on "Schedule a Toy Drive" and we will get a box to you.

You can also help Open Door Mission sort and bag toys. As all these toys come in from area drive we need volunteers to help sort them and then get they ready to go into age and gender appropriate bags. Open Door Mission's warehouse looks like "Santa's little workshop" Just click on "Bag toys" and sign up to make a difference today.

There is only 66 days until Christmas!

Holiday Caroling Party ~ Recipe Exchange

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

GivingNSharing is participating in the 2nd annual Caroling Party Blog Hop and I decided at the last minute to include this blog in the hop. I have several favorite cookie recipes but my all time favorite for Christmas baking is Grandma's Salted Nut Rolls.  YUM!

Usually I only make 1 pan of these - I could easily eat the whole pan. They are so good. I've seen the recipe where the crust is made using a cake mix and it's very good - but this version is still my favorite. 

Salted Nut Rolls

1 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cups brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 egg yolks

Combine and press in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Turn off the oven. Immediately sprinkle 3 cups miniature marshmallows over the crust. Return to the oven for 1 minute (do not let these warm longer - the crust will get extremely hard and the marshmallows chewy).

Topping:

2/3 cup white corn syrup

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter

1 package peanut butter chips

Heat until melted and then stir in: 

2 cups Rice Krispies

2 cups salted peanuts

(Note: I like to combine the Rice Krispies and peanuts before melting the topping). Pour over crust and let set over night if possible. It's important that these cool and set completely.

These can be baked in advance and frozen if you want to bake them ahead and then cut into 1" pieces. They are a hit for cookie exchanges too. =D Enjoy!



Hellmann's is on a mission...

Hellmann's is doing a Turkey Challenge:
The makers of Hellmann's and Bobby Flay are on a mission to help moms re-think main dish meals and leftovers by offering easy, delicious recipes that are great for the busy holiday season, such as Turkey Casserole.


Here's an Easy Tweet:
LUV holiday turkey dishes? Enter the @Hellmanns #TurkeyChallenge for a chance to win a $250 grocery GC! http://bit.ly/TrkyChlng @familyliteracy


Do you have a favorite Turkey dish ? I love Turkey Soup, Turkey & Noodles, Turkey Pot Pie and just picking Turkey off the bone and eating it. I just posted a wonderful Chicken Pot Pie on Holiday Traditions that you might enjoy, just change the Chicken to Turkey. - Click Here


Much thanks to One2One Network & Hellmanns for sponsoring this contest. I am entering a contest for a $50 GC - I only post about products I believe in and have personally used. This review and giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Common English Bible ~ Review & Giveaway

Common English Bible
ISBN: 9781609260163
$29.95

The Common English Bible is a new translation focused on making the Bible easier to understand for the average worshipper. It's perfect for New Christians, anyone that is searching for answers and even kids who may be reluctant to read their Bibles because "they can't understand it".

When I first received my copy of this new Bible I loved the "look" of the Bible. The cover doesn't feel cheap like many of the "leather look" covers do. It's very soft, almost like suede to the touch. The text is very small and I was wishing I had asked for a large print (available March 2012) as I'm finding I'm having more trouble with the small prints these days. At less than 1" this bible isn't heavy like many of the Study Bibles are and at 5 3/8 x 8 3/8 it's small enough to fit in a purse or briefcase to take with you.

Written as an inter-denominational Bible it was translated by 122 biblical scholars from 22 faith traditions and in addition members of 77 reading groups from congregations throughout North America reviewed and responded to early drafts of the translation. The key goal is make the Bible accessible to a broad range of readers: children, youth, new Christians and to enhance worship and personal Bible Study.

The only thing I missed was the lack of a concordance and cross-referencing. There are footnotes at the bottom of the page (kept at a bare minimum) and these are used to explain WHY they choose to translate a word in the way they did.

The next few months I will be participating in a book tour to introduce this new Bible to readers. I will admit I am partial to either the Ryrie Study Bible, the Life Application Bible or the Induction Study Bible. I prefer The New International Version as I find it very easy to understand and I love the concordances, maps and historical notes in the books. I'll be using these versions in addition to my Precepts Bible Studies as I get to know this new version and I hope it doesn't get to confusing for you as I do. (Actually hopefully I won't get confused - I'm not really strong with  theology and explaining what I believe.) At one time I dreamed of being an archeologist so I love the history and archeological studies that have been conducted and I think that's why I enjoy those other versions so much.

You can learn more about the Common English Bible online at: http://www.commonenglishbible.com . You'll learn about how it was translated, why the need was felt for a bible that everyone could understand and more.

Read a passage

You can order online at Amazon or at the Common English Bible website. There are many different styles (paperback, leather, hardback) and if you'd like small New Testaments to hand out as gifts those are $1.99 on the website. They also have community packs of the small bibles available. These make nice little gifts for the homeless, those displaced due to storms (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) who lost their own Bibles and haven't gotten a new one yet, or children for memory work.

Thanksgiving Week - Giving Thanks

Give Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (CEB):  ⁸ “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make his deeds known to all people! ⁹ Sing to God, sing praises to him; dwell on all his wondrous works!” Common English Bible (CEB)

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it giving Thanks? Is it Rejoicing in what God has given you? Is it remembering the good times & the BAD? With the economy like it is things are tight for all of us, even those that have both parents (or one) working. But, it's still doable and that's thanks to God's provisions. It may not seem like He has his hand in it - but He does.


It's the groceries that He provides - or the extra large crop in the garden.
It's the gas in the car that seems to last longer than usual.
It's the surprise check that comes in the mail earlier than you were expecting.
It's the ability to make something out of nothing - can you sew? can you bake the world's best cookies? can you draw?


The last year has been tough for me. Many of you know that. But God has provided mystery shops and payment from one in particular who is very timely. God has provided health insurance for part time hours. God has given me reprieve from the terrible migraines I've been getting this past year and I could go on...


1st Chronicles 16: 34 Give thanks to the LORD because He is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” (CEB)


Is there a way to Give Thanks other than prayer?
I was reading an article today about Thanksgiving in Times of Tribulation and there were a few parts that stood out to me. Click here to read it. You might find it interesting too.


We can Sing Praises to God - We can give GLORY to God by praising him. 



We can give GLORY to God by praising him. 
a. We are designed to show “the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus” Eph 2:7 (CEB)


I want to continue the thought with Eph 2:10 (CEB): ...we are God's accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. (Doesn't it make sense that we can show praise to God by doing good things and we give Glory to God when we do?)


"What does it mean when it is said that the heavens declare the glory of God? 
The heavens declare that God is perfect. The heavens manifest His wisdom, His power, and His purpose in designing all creation for an intelligent end. The heavens are manifesting the glory of God in the sense that they reveal what God is and what He can do." Ps 19:1-2**  


b) When I yield MY Life to God and SEEK to serve Him, I am glorifying Him - MY life and testimony is an example of what the GRACE of God can do for us.




The next few months I will be sharing thoughts and verses from the new Common English Bible which has just been published. I'm excited to see this new Bible and see the difference a word or passage makes. I have a precept by precept Bible (Kay Arthur 'precepts ministry') that I will be using together with the CEB Bible to compare the meanings of words and passages. I'm looking forward to having a Bible that is in today's language and written to understand easily. I also want to compare it with a Ryrie Bible which has been my favorite translation for years. 


**(I like this version of this verse - it's elegant and so descriptive of HOW the heavens declare the glory of God, so I left it as is from the article.)


Your Thoughts:
Do you have a favorite translation? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about Thankfulness and what God has done for you that has been most meaningful to you this year.

Book Review ~ The Gray Wolf Throne

The Gray Wolf Throne
by Cinda Williams Chima
A Seven Realms Series book, Book 3
Published by Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 978-1423118251
517 pages, Age 17+
$12.10 Amazon (Hardback), $9.89 (Kindle)

About the book:

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen. 


Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.


The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.






My thoughts:
The Gray Wolf Throne is Book 3 in the best selling Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima. Full of action, great passages of description, intrigue, mystery and storytelling this book will catch your attention and imagination and keep you up to the end of the book (literally, I was up until 6 am reading this one).

The book opens with our heroine Raisa waiting at an inn for Amon her bodyguard to arrive to help her get home safely. Her mother is estranged and about to appoint Raisa's younger sister as the Princess Heir to the throne. If her mother dies before Raisa comes home Melanie will become the Princess Heir and eventually the queen. It's a race back to the castle before it's too late.

Amazon has this book set for kids age 12+. Personally I feel this book is for older kids. There are subjects and themes that are not suitable for younger teens. There are some pretty graphic murder scenes and a very light "love" scene although nothing occurs and the Princess and the boy separate upon being interrupted after some heavy petting and clawing at each other. There is also mention of women or "blue bloods" coming to the streets for one thing (I'll let you figure out what that is - I don't think kids would get it - but the innuendo is definitely there).

I would strongly suggest that you read this book before leaving it around for your kids to pick up. I purposely didn't put this book on Classic Children's Books due to the above reasons. I haven't read the first 2 books yet so I don't know if the "romantic" scenes are the same in those - I'm almost sure the battle/murder scenes are there though from what is talked about in Book 3.

Outstanding book - not for kids under 16-17 probably. I really liked the book personally (as an adult) and would love to read the other two books. Hopefully I'll be able to find them.

The Gray Wolf Throne - Click here to read chapter 1 (pdf file).

Visit Cinda's FB Page and Blog to learn when new books and events come up!

Book Launch announcement - The Good Fight

The Good Fight
by Shawna K Williams
Kindle edition $5.99

About the book:

Roger Talbot's life is defined by his devotion to public service. Having just successfully prosecuted a brutal murder case, Roger turns his attention to discovering the shady dealings of Niles Parker -- the town's former mayor, Roger's old boss and the father of the woman Roger almost married.

Pennye Carrington ran away from Port Delamar with plans never to return. However, learning that her brother had murdered a family member of a famous movie star changed those plans. Pennye comes back with the hope of bringing stability to a family in disarray, but facing the torment of her childhood may be more than she can handle.

Roger's mission to bring down Niles Parker and Pennye's desire to keep her brothers out of trouble create a middle ground, where two people who couldn't be further apart, embark on a danger-filled journey of discovery to find themselves and each other.

 
Book Launch Announcement:

To celebrate the release of her Romantic Suspense novel, "The Good Fight", Shawna Williams is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, and a Kindle (or an equal value Amazon gift card - winner's choice. :-)It all ends December 7th, so head on over to her blog, My Father's Oldsmobile, The giveaway is going on at http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/2011/10/kindle-giveaway-with-new-book-release.html

 

 

Blog Hops I'm in:

Thirsty Thursday

 

The best thing since....

Catalog Choice has come up with the next best thing since the "No Call" program went into effect several years ago. They've come up with a way for you to stop the numerous phone books, the multitudes of credit card offers, the flyers, circulars and ads that come your way courtesy of the US Mail Service & the companies they work with.

I've just signed up and requested two phone book companies here in Omaha to "Stop Mail" on their phone books. (We have 3 companies - why do I need 3-4 phone books a year? I'm single - no one but me reads them!)
 
I really don't get much else in the mail - except an occasional CC offer and that stupid "your car warranty is about to run out" card that I've been getting since I bought my car 6 years ago. Next time I get either of those I'm definitely putting a "Stop Mail" request up!

(Personally, I don't have enough junk mail to purchase the envelopes. I'll just go online and put a Stop Mail request up. But I could see how helpful they would be to someone who gets TONS of junk mail - and/or is too busy to take care of putting up their requests and following through. Fantastic idea!)

Press release:

Catalog Choice Launches New Service to

Combat Increasing USPS Junk Mail

BERKELEY, CALIF. (November 8, 2011)—As the U.S. Postal Service aggressively seeks to increase direct advertising mailings, Catalog Choice—the leader in mail efficiency—is working to help consumers combat the impending tidal wave of junk mail. The Berkeley-based non-profit today launched MailStop™ Envelopes—the first in a line of premium services set to roll out this fall.   

Users can purchase MailStop™ Envelopes for $6.75 each, fill them with up to 15 mailing labels from unwanted mail and send the envelopes back to Catalog Choice. Their staff will then scan the labels, fulfill the opt-out requests and record the transaction in customers’ secure accounts. Companies have 90 days to honor requests before formal complaints are filed and then submitted to the FTC. Customers can use the envelopes to opt-out of any unwanted mail including catalogs, donation requests, circulars and coupon mailers, as well as phone books. The envelopes are available for purchase at www.catalogchoice.org and can also be gifted to friends and family.

Catalog Choice has been testing the MailStop™ Envelopes with customers for the past several months. Brad Barrish, one such customer, said, “Catalog Choice is a no-brainer for anyone who is tired of receiving so many catalogs in their mailbox and just doesn't have the time to write letters and follow up with the companies sending them. At $6.75 an envelope, it's hard to find an excuse not to participate. Thanks so much for such a compelling and easy way for people to opt out of junk mail.” 

“MailStop™ Envelopes enable individuals to stop unwanted mail seconds after they pull it out of the mailbox,” said Chuck Teller, Executive Director, Catalog Choice.  “Since the beginning, Catalog Choice has empowered people to take control of their mailboxes. MailStop™ Envelopes offers another way to improve the relevance of mail for consumers, reduce mailing costs for businesses and garbage disposal costs for cities and counties. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

MailStop™ Envelopes is the offline version of Catalog Choice’s online service, which allows consumers to control who can send them unsolicited mail. In recent months, Catalog Choice has also partnered with communities across the country including Chicago, Ill.; Seattle, Wash; San Jose, Calif. and Kansas City, Mo.-Kan to provide localized mail preference programs for their residents.

About Catalog Choice

Founded in 2007 to provide consumers greater control over the marketing materials that enter their mailboxes, Catalog Choice is the world’s largest preference and privacy portal with more than 1.4 million consumer members and 4,100 direct marketing companies.  By reducing unnecessary mail and phone books, Catalog Choice’s free and low-cost services reduce deforestation, greenhouse gases, solid waste and water consumption. Catalog Choice, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, Calif., is supported by grants from the Overbrook Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Merck Family Fund and Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, as well as donations from members.