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?!?!?!?!?!?!??!