Book Review and a Free Book up for grabs!

I received the novel Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf (2013) from Worthy Publishing and I was asked to give an honest review and be a part of their blog tour.

This is the first book that I have read by Joan Wolf and it was a pleasure to read. Daughter of Jerusalem is a fictionalized account of Mary Magdalene taken from the various accounts in the New Testament. Joan has created a complex intelligent, independent and engaging character. Though the culture and setting of the story reflect the Jewish and Roman lifestyle of the first century in Galilee the aspirations and struggles of Mary easily resonate with modern readers in this account. Mary's early life, family, friends and love, her marriage, affair are clearly fictional but plausible. Her aspirations, challenges and failures are similar to our own. She found in Jesus forgiveness, love and a purpose. This novel reminded me that the Bible is about how Jesus interacted with ordinary people. That His story and our stories connect so that there can be transformation and new stories. This novel challenged me to reflect on my journey of life and faith. I highly recommend it.

Worthy Publishing has also provided me with an extra copy of the novel to give away to a reader of this blog. If you would like a copy please let me know in your comments. I will choose one of you on Wednesday, July 24th and ask for your address so that I may mail it to you. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!

Book Reviews and a contest for a free book

Although I am an avid reader, it took a few months after my initial illness to return to reading. ( you can begin to realize how ill I was....) I was also committed to teaching 2 online courses for Queen's University - Teaching Reading Part One and Teaching Special Education Part One which consumed my mental capacities. After the courses were done we worked hard to completely move all of our belongings and thoroughly clean our family home as it was sold. This was where we raised our 5 sons so the rooms held many memories - echoes of stories told, conversations, homework, sibling arguments, games played, times with friends and major milestones. For my husband it was a letting go and goodbye to his labour of love. He designed, framed, and finished this home. We are so thankful to have a home here in Griffith where we can enjoy gardening, making maple syrup, hunting and most of all time with family and friends.

I have been reading and hope to post more regularly some book reviews/suggestions. A publisher graciously offered me a book to review and a copy to give away to one of you (see netgalley.com and worthy publishing). The review will be posted tomorrow so you need to contact me by Monday, July 21 and I will choose one of you to send the book to.

Tomorrow's book review: Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf (2013) Worthy Publishing.

Enjoying the warmth of summer

I have not posted since February....at that time I was looking forward to our holiday in Florida and an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate in the warmth of the sunny south. I ended up in the hospital in Florida instead of beside the pool and on the beach. Life looks different from a bed and incapacity. Thanks to insurance I was able to be taken care of in a great hospital, D.P. Philips Hospital in Orlando, be medivacced home in a jet and then spend a few days in an Ottawa hospital. It has been a long time recovering my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy. I am so grateful that my mom and dad were able to come and help from Vancouver Island. My mom cooked almost every meal for 3 weeks during our busy maple syrup season. During the 2 weekends that she was here we had more than 12 people in our house...busy times! I was always able to go into my room and shut the door for rest. It is only as I look back that I realize how ill I was.
"My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness." We had been discussing in our women's study group becoming a woman of grace. It always amazes me that the words/thoughts that I am led to meditate,consider and reflect on somehow are prophetic or relate directly to my future/current life experiences. So when I sought grace, I ended up with weakness. When I have sought patience I often encountered trials. When I want to learn more about love and forgiveness I encounter difficult people and situations. God's truths are meant to be experienced not only read.

It is very hot today. I went out to pick some peas and beans from the garden. Often the topic of conversation is the weather - too cold, too wet, too dry, too hot etc and we gravitate to complaints. Let us be thankful! I am thankful for the warmth. I could not enjoy heat and swimming in Florida, but I can go down to the river and find rest and peace here, now. The flowers are blooming. It amazes me to see the variety of flowers - daisies, clover, alfalfa, milkweed, lilies, roses, and many others (though I do not know their names) blooming profusely not only in gardens, but along the roadsides and streams and in meadows and fields. We bloom even when it seems no one appreciates our efforts, our stories, our lives.

Keep blooming today...you will attract others, your Father will enjoy your beauty. Fruit comes after the blossoms. As I picked the beans I saw many more blossoms on the plants. When the fruit is picked there is more energy to produce more fruit. Have a great day!