A mysterious murder. A dark intruder. A family full of secrets. The foggy shores of England. The gold mines of Africa. A treasure map. Diamonds. Intrigue. Deception. Love. If any of those things interest you, then pick up Yesterday’s Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin. And enjoy a good read!

Ride an adventure in old west America. Breanna, a nurse, joins a wagon train with the mysterious John Stranger, the man who loves her. But as she journeys further west, her sister in California endures trials of her owns as her husband’s shell-shock from the Civil War grows worse. Read the stories of God’s faithfulness to both sister in Al Lacy’s Faithful Heart.

Interested in these books? Find them here:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307458759

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422729

These books were provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Today this little girl is turning....seven?


Last night, the Walker and Wilkins families helped me and Seth Wilkins (who turned 2) celebrate our birthdays. After we blew the candles out on the lovely snowman cake Allyson had made, Violet turned to me and said,

"Miss Melissa, I know that you turned seven years old. I counted the candles. You are seven!"

Who says my birth certificate must be correct in declaring me 30?

I'm not going to argue with the candles on a cake!
Or a 4-year-old!

It's late Saturday evening, and I'm tired after a busy week and a wonderful weekend. But off the top of my head, I thought I'd just list a few things I realized I have missed about New Hampshire:

• Allyson, Caleb, Violet, Seth and now Silas
  
• Snow
• Mountains and rolling hills
• Trees - forests of them!
• Big, old colonial houses
• Old churches
• Winding, bumpy roads
• Vanity plates (like RUKDNME)
• The kids I taught
• Ice cream
• Frozen lakes and rivers
• New England blue skies
• Little villages
• ....and all of this again a hundred times over

And things I don't miss so much but make New Hampshire what it is:

• Red Sox and Patriots coats, hats, shirts, etc.
• A pharmacy on every corner
• The funny accent
  

This weekend I went to the shoe store to purchase a new pair of tennis shoes. While there, a young boy about 7 or 8 years old was following his mother around and talking non-stop. He told her how much he liked the news shoes he carried in his hand. He wondered aloud why it took her so long to find a pair of shoes when he found his so easily. He remarked about how many sandles were on display compared to boots. Then he added,

"Of course, it is summer longer than it is winter."

I laughed. That, my young boy, depends upon where you live.

For in Texas, it is certainly summer longer than any other season.

But in New Hampshire, it is winter. For those living there, they might not think that very grand. But I never minded it - and for someone who has received but a grand total of a few weeks of winter scattered here and there, I am very ready to enjoy it. So tomorrow morning, that is where I am headed. I can't wait!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words cannot express my ecstasy today - except maybe to say it feels like home. For Texas has been hit with snow. It started about five this morning and they say it will continue until midnight. Snow - glorious snow!!!!! It is so lovely, so awesome, so wonderful. I sit inside and watch it fall, feeling as if I live inside a snowglobe. I ran around outside, laughed, threw snowballs and built a snowman. Best of all, I am reminded of how clean my Savior washes me from my sins.

Me and my snowman-in-the-making.

My snowman. He is happy because it is snowing!!!!!


Grandpa's house.


The neighborhood.

Isn't it beyond words amazing?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

Happy 22nd Birthday, Sally!

Angels

I have only to glance around my grandfather's house to see angels. My grandmother collected them - little ones, tall ones, beautiful ones, cute ones. But not one like you find described in the book of Ezekiel with four faces and six wings. Wouldn't you like to see someone make a figurine of that?

Angels are mysterious creatures in so many ways because Scripture tells us so little about the legions of them God has within His command. Yet when we do see them, they amaze us. Whether they are foretelling the future to Daniel, proclaiming the birth of the Messiah or guarding the entry to Eden; these creatures are far beyond human imagination. We are so very different from them. But as we are all created by God, surely there is something we can learn from them.

In his book Angels, Dr. David Jeremiah takes us on a tour through the Scriptures and the angels within those divine pages. Much can be learned from these created beings, but the most important of all? The worship of God. It is their duty. It is our duty. So let us follow their example and glorify our God.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Interested in learning more about angels? Click here: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422699&ref=externallink_mlt_Angels_sec_1208_01

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today is Groundhog Day. As I kid, I remember thinking that a neat little holiday - watching big rodents jump out of their holes to see their shadows. Of course, I always imagined them more cartoon like - Disneyish - with clothes and a cute straw hat.

We all know the routine, although I tend to forget from year to year which way it goes. If he sees his shadow does that mean spring is on its way or there are six more weeks of winter? It's the latter. Although, if you want to know the truth there is always six more weeks of winter from February 2. How is that? Well, the spring equinox is exactly six week from February 2.

So, how did Groundhog Day come about? Well, it has its roots in the old holiday known as Candlemas. On this day in nations like England and Scotland, people would go out and see if the sun was shining or not. If it was, there were six more weeks of winter coming. If not, spring was on its way. The Germans (who apparently can't see the sky through the trees - and, yes, I am part German) would watch their hedgehogs come out from their dens. If the hedgehogs saw their shadows, they darted back into their holes and six more weeks of winter could be expected. If not, spring would soon come. Upon moving to Pennsylvania, the Germans had to make do with what animals the New World provided. Hence, the change to the groundhog (or woodchuck).

Today, the Germans still celebrate this grand holiday all over Pennsylvania and other locations throughout America and Canada. There are Groundhog Lodges that throw big parties (and I mean BIG - think thousands of guests). Some even go so far as to speaking German only. If you speak English, you have to pay a penalty.

None of the celebrations are so famous as Punxsutawny, PA where the celebrated Punxsutawny Phil lives. This ancient groundhog is cared for by the "Inner Circle" who can be spotted in a crowd by their tuxedos and top hats. Every February, they take Phil from his home at the Punxsutawny library (where he lives with his "wife" Phyllis) to his burrow Gobbler's Knob. At sunrise he makes his grand entrance, looks for his shadow, is probably scared by the crowd of tuxes and top hats, and darts back into his hole. The tuxes and top hats then start speaking "Groundhogese" to one another (and I am NOT making this up - google it or check out www.groundhog.org). Thankfully, they interpret their findings in English to the world. Newspapers, the internet and, as of this year, even a text is sent to the world at large whether we have winter for six more weeks or not. Phil is returned safely to his wife and more-or-less undisturbed for another year. The only exception is during the summer when he is fed "Groundhog Punch". This is what has enabled him to live for 120 years, whereas common groundhogs live only for 6 to 10.

So, how accurate is the reading of Phil? Well, the "Inner Circle" claims 100%. The weather bureau claims about 39%. As for the other famous groundhogs that are watched around the nation, it differs. Today, 9 out of 14 say we will have an early spring. The other 5 - including Phil - say to expect six more weeks of winter.

Of course, if you're in Texas with me winter never even started...