Wordless Wednesday - No Words Needed!

Book Review - "Perfect Stranger"

These are two FABULOUS books! They were quick and easy to read but lots of good "stuff" in them. I read these books both in one day, with all the interuptions of my kiddos. I love the ease of conversations in them and also very modern. I am hoping the auther, David Gregory (see bio below), is going to have a sequel to these called "A Life with a Perfect Stranger" and write about Mattie's sister....I will be the first to sign up to review that book!!! I recommend these books for EVERYONE!

Dan read them too - He loved the fact that everything is explained so well, that it isn't religion but a relationship...

Summary Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:
You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth. The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched. The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.………….."You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."………….As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.

Summary Day with a Perfect Stranger:
What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself? When her husband comes home with a far fetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through. On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment. As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?


Author Bio:
David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now devotes himself to writing full time.

For More Information:
To learn more about or purchase these books at RandomHouse.com:
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger
Day with a Perfect Stranger


Win One:
You can win a copy of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by simply leaving a comment here. You need not be a blogger to win. Giveaway will end on March 15th.

Time is Flying By!

Where did this week go?? I tell you, I think that every year time goes by faster! It is already March - though I am glad it is almost spring...

We have been busy this last week - though when I think about it now I can't remember much of what we did - just that we were busy. One thing I do want to share though is a video of the boys singing Karaoke. Dan sang "Hey, Good Looking" for karaoke a couple of months ago and so I found that ringtone and put it on my cell for when he calls. The boys have taken to singing that - as I mentioned in last friday's post. My friend Jean recorded their singing it and put it on YouTube... Here is the link to the video of them singing... I guess when Charlie is done singing he don't mess around!

Here are some pics from that night...it was lots of fun because there were more people there and so a wider range of songs...along with my K and the soon to be Grandma!

It is also interesting to see the places your children will get into....

Book Review: The Echo Within and Giveaway

Book Summary:

The Echo Within is a profoundly affecting, honest look at the myriad ways we are drawn into our life’s best work.
Written out of his own lifelong search for and response to the calling voice of God, Robert Benson recounts his discovery of the meaning of vocation, work, and purpose through the ups and downs inherent in family life, professional choice, and spiritual experience. With clarity and insight, and in the elegant prose for which he is known, he gently invites and encourages readers to find such deep truths for their lives as well. In particular, he illuminates the way for readers to explore:

· ways to sense the Holy in our pursuits, both in the pursuits themselves and within ourselves.
· how to fall into our vocation and chart a course toward it at the same time.
· how to love the work we do, and the process of doing it.

For anyone beginning a new career or sensing a needed change in their life or wrestling with a transition suddenly thrust upon them, Robert Benson delivers wisdom, humor, and heart in what he’s learned about listening for The Echo Within—and how it can help us discover our calling.

Author Bio:
Robert Benson has written more than a dozen books about the discovery of the sacred in the midst of our ordinary lives, including Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, Home By Another Way, and Digging In. His work has been critically acclaimed in a wide range of publications from The New York Times and USA Today to Spirituality & Health and The Benedictine Review. He is an alumnus of The Upper Room’s Academy for Spiritual Formation and was recently named a Living Spiritual Teacher by SpiritualityandPractice.com. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

This was a very interesting book - not that I am in the process of changing or looking for my calling but I think that a lot can be learned from reading a book. It is always interesting to see how others handle different experiences in life and see how I would have done or what I would have done differently. You can purchase the book online at these great stores:
- http://www.amazon.com/
- http://www.christianbook.com/
- http://www.familychristian.com/

The great people over at Multnomah Books, a division of Random House, have also given me two of these books to giveaway...so if you would like to win one of the wonderful books - just leave a comment and good luck!

Friday Funnies...

I need to start writing down more of the funnies that the boys say during the week...The other day C said something funny but I couldn't write it down at that moment - got distracted and now I can't for the life of me remember what it was but at the time I thought..."There is a Friday Funny!"

They have been singing, "Hey, Good Looking" by Hank Williams, SR. I think that is the name of the song anyway... Dan sang it for Karaoke one night and everyone thought he sounded great so I found the ringtone and downloaded it so that when he calls my cell that song plays. Well, the boys have both been singing it too. It is so cute to see their different styles of singing...D makes it sound more like a ballad and C definately has more of the twangy, country sound. C also does a little Elvis-like move as he is singing... I need to get a video of it and I would post it here but I am on slow-mow dial up and it would take FFFOOORRREEEVVVEEERRR!

So, until we get faster internet...here is something to laugh at....

Aloha Friday #2

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on An Island Life's site. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends! You DO NOT have to be a blogger to make comments or to visit other blogs that are participating!!

My question this week is:

How do you potty train a three year old boy that does not want to be potty trained??? ANY help will be useful....Thank you!

Review: Outlaw Marshall by Al & Joanna Lacy

This was a very good book, the first of the new series Return of the Stranger. It was one that I had to force myself to put down to get things done. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series and will have to go back and read the books of the first series Journeys of the Stranger Series and the Angel of Mercy Series, although this is not necessary to understand this series. The authors did a great job of making sure that you did not have to read the first series to enjoy this one. But I feel captivated to read more about the main characters of John and Breanna Brockman.

Here is some more info about the book:
A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose. John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ.

A new man and a fast draw, Whip becomes Brockman’s deputy. Life is still fast and dangerous, and there’s a pretty lady Whip would like to get to know better too. Before he admits his love, Whip is shot in a bank robbery. Survival looks slim until he awakens to hear his lady confess her love. Weeks later, they are married.

Readers who are familiar with the Journeys of the Stranger and Angel of Mercy series reunite with well-loved characters John and Breanna Brockman. Western history buffs will enjoy a wholesome, fast-paced story where the Gospel is presented clearly. Christian readers will learn how to lean on the Lord in times of trial and non-Christians will have the opportunity to make Christ their Savior.

About The Authors:
Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies.

Published by: WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.