I'll Be Gone For Awhile

We are doing a Forty Days of Focus at our local church and then corporately across the whole Church of God movement. We are being encouraged to fast (in whichever way we feel God is leading) and then we have a reading that encourages us to focus each day on prayer and moving closer to God. We are specifically praying that 10,000 souls will be saved during this 40 days.

I have chosen to fast from all social media during the next 40 days. Sometimes I feel like I spend too much time here and on FB and not enough time with God. I believe taking the next 40 days and spending extra time with God will help me grow closer to Him. I've spent a couple weeks wrestling with this decision because I hate to leave here that long, but I really feel this is God's leading and I'm going to be obedient.

I will fulfill my obligations to the publishing companies I review for and do the reviews I've committed to, but otherwise I won't be back here until Easter weekend. If you need me for any reason, you can e-mail me at tckk1957 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

See you in 40 days.

Wednesday Hodgepodge and Photo-a-Day Challenge - Day 22 "where you work"

1. February 22nd is National Be Humble Day...what makes you proud? What keeps you humble?
My family makes me proud and keeps me humble.

2. Where is the catch-all (aka dumping ground) in your house? 

 The Kitchen Counter

3. Do you make it a point to visit State/National Parks when you travel or even in your own hometown? What's your favorite?
Sometimes we do.  My favorite is the Smoky Mountain National Park.

4. How would you define honor?

maybe integrity?

5. Angel's food or Devil's food-which cake do you prefer?
I like both, but prefer Devil's food (duh?? chocolate)

6. What's the most recent road trip you've taken? Where did you go and how many hours did you spend in the car? Do you like to zoom to your destination without stopping or leisurely wind your way there with stops along the way? What is your car snack of choice?

We went to Indiana on Saturday and Kentucky on Monday.  Just short leisurely road trips.  No snacks in the car right now as we are dieting.  But trail mix is a favorite. 

7. Recent headlines told how a preschool child in NC had their packed lunch from home taken away and a school lunch substituted by a school inspector who deemed the homemade lunch unhealthy. Reportedly the parent was then billed for the school lunch (chicken nugget meal) although an update to the story says the parent was not billed. The inspector was conducting a routine inspection of the classroom-he/she was not there solely to peek in the lunchboxes. The packed lunch contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple juice box, a bag of chips, and a banana. You can read the story here. Your thoughts?

I think the government sticks there hands in where they don't belong sometimes.  But I really don't know enough about this situation to comment too much.  But come on...chicken nuggets are healthier than a turkey and cheese sandwich...I don't think so!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 I'll use this to do the Photo Challenge I'm participating in.  Today's prompt is "where you work"

I've worked in this building for the past 35 years. My office is the window just to the right of the door. Oh and I have to be honest, I didn't take this picture.  I got it at work.  It's actually from a few years ago.  See, there I go, cheating again.  haha

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 21 "a fave photo of you"

The prompt for day 21 is "a fave photo of you".

I love this picture of the girls and I at Downtown Disney from almost 8 years ago.

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 20 "handwriting"

The prompt for today is "handwriting". Now, I have to admit I mostly print, and rarely do cursive. However here's a list I was working on yesterday of the names of the women who are planning to attend our Bible study starting in a couple of weeks. As you can see I did some cursive and some printing. Wow! What a mess. But remember, this was just a quick list so I could figure out how many study guides to order.

I have to say I can't wait to start our Bible Study and get to spend time with all these ladies!  Most I know, but some I don't yet.  In faith, I'm going to order a couple extra books, hoping God will send us some more to study with.  We're going to do Beth Moore's study "To Live Is Christ."

Have a great day!

Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love

Book Description

She’s a beautiful young widow. He’s a Southern gentleman with a thirst for adventure. Both need a place to call home.

After losing her husband in the Civil War, Carrie Daly is scared she will never have the family she longs for. Eligible bachelors are scarce in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, but Carrie Daly has found love. Not the weak-in-the-knees kind, but something practical. Still, she isn't quite ready to set a wedding date with Nate Chastain.

Griff Rutledge is a former member of Charleston society, but has been estranged from his family for years. He’s determined to remain unattached, never settling in one place for too long. But when asked to train a Thoroughbred for an upcoming race in Hickory Ridge, he decides to stay awhile.

Despite objections from the townsfolk, and her fear that true happiness has eluded her, Carrie is drawn to Griff's kindness and charm. It will take a leap of faith for them to open their hearts and claim God's promise to trade beauty for ashes.

My Thoughts
Living in the depression after the Civil War must have been so terrible.  This book shows how it affected the people of the small town of Hickory Ridge.  They had almost nothing, but still found ways to be happy and they were always there to help each other.  That's probably some of my favorite parts of this book.  The heroine, Carrie Daly, was a woman with dreams, but no money.  However, she did the best she could with what she had.  She also learned that sometimes you have to lay down your pride and accept help from others.  Griff Rutledge, the male lead, reminds me a little of Rhett Butler.  This is a really good book about a tough time in our country's history.  Hope if you read it, you enjoy it as much as I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”