Category: Blog

RISE UP!

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

-2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“Beloved, the enemy has opposed you strongly because he is afraid of you. You have giftings and talents that he does not want you to use. He has tried to silence you, because I have given you important things to say. He tried to strip you of your authority to keep you down and low.

Rise up! Take your place as my Beloved Princess. No more hiding in the shadows, no more second-guessing yourself or the dreams that I’ve given you. I am with you, I am for you. I am greater than your enemy. Stand firm and fight!”

COME TO ME

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“

-Matthew 11:28

“Beloved, what are you going to do about where you are right now?  Will you allow bitterness to consume you, or will you let go and forgive? The enemy is out to steal your joy. He wants to break you and make you give up.

But I am with you, everywhere you walk. Everywhere you step I am there. I have seen the crushing that has taken place in your heart. I am your Comforter. I am your Healer. I will take you by the hand and draw you out of the pit you have fallen into, and I will restore your Joy.”

BY THE HAND

I will take you by the hand, and lead you.

You will go further and higher

Than you’ve ever gone before.

I will take you by the heart.

I will be gentle, my Beloved.

Will you make room for me?

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“Be still and know that I am God.”

“Beloved, ask me for your heart’s desire. I love to hear you ask! I never get tired of hearing your prayers when they come from a heart that is sincere. I will bless you more than you could ever ask or imagine. Yes, I will bless you with your heart’s desire.”

TRUST

“Beloved, I have a special plan for your life. And now that you are free from so many things that were holding you back, I am just beginning to unfold that plan. Trust me to work out the timing. My ways are always perfect, my timing is always perfect.

            There will be seasons when you feel discouraged, but keep your focus on me. Always on me. Not on the circumstances themselves. Remind yourself of the great and wonderful things I have already done for you! Do not allow yourself to become distracted by the little things, but look beyond all that and seek my face. If you seek me, you will find me. If you seek me with all your heart.

            Hold steady. Be strong and courageous, for I am with you wherever you go. If you walk in my ways your soul will be satisfied. But be careful, do not allow pride to get a foothold.”

Today it’s not hard to capture the beauty of a fresh start. Our family is camping at a lake with good fishing, frogs and turtles to the kids to find, and lovely pine trees all around. It is lush and green and filled with life. (And not a few mosquitos!)

There are many distractions in our lives that take our eyes off the nature around us. But stopping and making a point to look at the beauty of this world is so refreshing! It can remind us what real peace and contentment feels like. It can give us a new perspective on our lives. Out in nature, sometimes big problems can feel very small.

Here’s a poem that speaks about seeing each day as a new gift, filled with hope.

A gift of a new day,

Unlived, untried, ready to be opened.

A new day with surprising miracles;

With love to be given,

Kindness to be shared

And peace to be enjoyed.

A gift of a new day,

God’s gift to us.

Let us receive it with joy

And live in expectation.

(Author unknown)

I hope to live my life with eyes wide open to the beauty of nature around me — the littlest things can make the biggest impact on me. When I see an eagle flying high in the sky, I am reminded that I can rise above my circumstances and find a new perspective.

I hope you, too, can find refreshment in nature today. Take a look at how amazing God’s creation is! The best part is, it is free for anyone who has eyes to see it.

It wasn’t hard for my 10-year-old daughter to come up with some favorite book suggestions… she is an amazing reader! She has been known to devour whole series in a week’s time.

Keep in mind, my daughter LOVES horses and dogs. Consequently, most of these books involve horses or dogs, in some way. If your daughter isn’t into animals, you may want to give one or two of these books a try anyway. You never know when your child’s tastes might change – especially if the story is exciting and engaging enough to capture their imagination. If your daughter does love animals, she’s in for a real treat with these books. And most of them are great for boys, too.

#1- SURVIVORS Series, by Erin Hunter

When my daughter discovered this action-packed animal fantasy series, she was immediately hooked. The story is written from Lucky’s (a dog) point of view, which helps readers see the world through the eyes of dogs. Lucky is a Lone Dog, roaming the city streets and depending on his instincts. Then the Big Growl hits—a devastating earthquake that changes Lucky’s world forever. For the first time, he must team up with a Pack, a group of former Leashed Dogs who have been separated from their owners. There are six books in the series, you can find them here. Erin Hunter has also written the bestselling Warriors and Seekers series.

#2- Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell

This beautifully written novel is about Karana, an Indian girl who, according to history, in the early 1800s spent eighteen years alone on an island. This is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache. Her survival on such a desolate spot was amazing, but Karana also had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. Her quiet bravery and strength was inspiring to my daughter. A wonderful story for any young girl to read. You can find it here.

#3- Dog Diaries #1: Elska, by Kate Klimo

My daughter loves to read adventure stories about animals, and this series based on true dog stories or on true-to-life situations, is one of her favorites because they are told from a dog’s point of view. Focusing on a different breed for each book, your daughter can learn a lot about dogs and the amazing things they can do. You can find them here. There is also a companion series called Horse Diaries, written by Catherine Hapka and other various authors. Each is written about a different horse breed, from the horse’s point of view. You can find the first book here.

#4- Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry

For two years the Phantom—the wildest mare on Assateague Island—had escaped capture, but this year will be different. Paul and Maureen have their hearts set on owning her, and they work hard to earn the money to buy her at the yearly Pony Penning Day. But everyone is in for a surprise, for Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both the Phantom and Misty? A wonderful, timeless story. Find it here.

#5- Rescue on the Oregon Trail (Ranger in Time #1), by Kate Messner

The Ranger in Time series are fun stories about Ranger, a time-traveling golden retriever who has a nose for trouble…and always saves the day!  In this first book Ranger, who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott, and helps him save his sister’s life as they travel west on the Oregon Trail. Every story is set in a different place and time, and girls will learn some history along with the adventure. Find the first book here.

#6- Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse (Book #1), by Ellen F. Field

This award winning book introduces readers to Heather Richardson, a horse-loving youngster who dreams of a beautiful black Morgan Horse, who is in danger and she needs to save him. Then she discovers the horse is real, and with encouragement from Blackjack’s owner, she learns to ride and show while bonding with the horse. “But when tragedy strikes and Blackjack falls into the hands of a cruel trainer, Heather must find a way to get her beloved horse back before it is too late…” (Amazon) My daughter requested the entire series for her birthday!  You can find the first book here.

#7- Woof: A Bowser and Birdie Novel, by Spencer Quinn

Bowser, a handsome and only slightly slobbery dog, and his owner Birdie Gaux, have a mystery to solve. Her grammy’s stuffed prize marlin has been stolen, and it’s up to Bowser to protect Birdie when danger comes calling. This dog knows it up to him to sic ’em! Set in a small town in the Louisiana Swamp, these stories are fun and lots of laughs for girls (and boys) of all ages. The audiobooks are especially fun to listen to! Find all 3 books in the series here.

#8- Tornado, by Betsy Byars

When a tornado appears in the distance, Pete, the farmhand gathers everyone into the storm cellar. As they wait for the storm to pass, he tells the family a story about a dog who was dropped down by a tornado when Pete was a boy. This was no ordinary dog—he played card tricks, saved a turtle′s life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. They named him Tornado. The relationship and loyalty between a boy and his dog makes for a wonderful story. My daughter chose this for a book report, she enjoyed it so much. Find it here.

9) Race the Wild #1: Rain Forest Relay, by Kristin Earhart

When Russell entered the race, he knew it was going to be a wild ride, but nothing could prepared him or his treatmates for what they would find: raging rapids, poisonous venom, sneaky competitors who will do anything to win, and more! Find the first book here. “…action-packed adventure series is bursting with totally true facts about wild and wonderful creatures, dangerous habitats, maps, and more!” (Amazon)

#10- The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz

This book is an invaluable manual for everything that girls need to know. Whatever your daughters’ personality or temperament (mine is a little tomboy), this book is an invitation to adventure for every kind of girl. From female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, and the perfect cartwheel, to the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. You can find it here.

When I thought about putting together a list of favorite books for boys my son’s age, I realized my best resource for suggestions would be… my 12-year-old son!

Once upon a time, he didn’t like to read much. I had to bait him into it with exciting incentives, rewards and very thin books with more pictures than words. All this in hopes that he would actually read an entire book. And now? Now I find him staying up late to read “Just one more chapter, mom!” He reads in the car, on his bed, and for hours on the sofa (instead of doing his chores). He reads adventure stories, survival stories, mystery stories, comics and minecraft stories. He LOVES to read!  How did this happen?  Well, I’d say time and patience. A little maturity. And many trips to the library to find just the right kind of stories that he will actually WANT to read.

If you have a son who is around the ages of 8-12, who doesn’t like to read, take heart. He may still turn out to be a lover of books with encouragement, incentive and some amazing stories that capture his imagination.

Here are my son’s top 10 picks. (At least the ones he and I could think of. I’m sure there are many more we forgot about). I hope you will check these out and maybe your boys will enjoy them, too.

#1 – I SURVIVED series, by Lauren Tarshis

This series has over 15 books in it, each one about a real exciting and terrifying event in history that features an unforgettable heroic kid, surviving against all odds. These books can be found at your local library, or here. Three of my son’s favorite titles from this series are: I Survived: The Shark Attack’s of 1916, I Survived: The Sinking of The Titanic 1912, and I Survived: The Joplin Tornado 2011.

#2- Storm Runners, by Roland Smith

This is an edge-of-your-seat thrilling adventure series with lots of action and great characters. My kids really enjoyed listening to the audio books on the drive to school. The series includes three books, you can find them at your local library, or find them online here.

#3- Herobrine’s Revenge (A Gameknight999 Adventure) by Mark Cheverton

My son loves to play Minecraft on his iPad, so when he discovered there were also books about Minecraft adventures, he was thrilled! His favorite series is: Herobrine’s Revenge. These books are called “Unofficial Minecrafters Adventures”. There are three books in this series, but Mark Cheverton has written many other minecraft adventure stories. (By the way, he has a very cool website for kids and adults. You can check it out here). Find his books at any library, or online here.  My son also loves the book: Zombies Attack!: Rise of the Warlords Book 1. These are great fun for kids who love Minecraft!

#4- Stranded, by Jeff Probst

When my son picked this book up, he couldn’t put it down! The plot is about a family vacation that becomes a game of survival. There’s a massive storm, four shipwrecked kids alone on a rocky jungle island, and no adults…. Can they make it home alive?  This book is full of excitement and danger. Boys will love it! There are three books in the original Stranded series, and three more in the Stranded: Shadow Island series. Find them online here.

#5- Dog Tags series, by C. Alexander London

This series of four stand-alone books each explore the bond between soldier and his dog in times of war. My son found these very inspiring; each book is filled with action and heroic characters, and the dogs they work with. I love the themes of loyalty and bravery. Great series for boys of all ages. Find here.

 #6- Peter and the Star Catchers, by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

If you are a fan of Peter Pan, you will love these fast-paced fantasy-adventure stories. We stumbled upon this series through Audible a few months ago, and began listening to the audiobook version. Jim Dale, the narrator, is one of the best you will ever hear. Hilarious! More than once we ended up sitting in our car in the driveway, held captive by the story, unable to turn it off.  Everyone enjoys this series, (including mom and dad). I love the authors’ take on his origin, and how they reveal the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan. So far, there are four books in the series. You can find the first book here. And the audiobook here.

#7- My Father’s Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett

In this wonderful, imaginative adventure story, a young boy, Elmer Elevator, runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon. My son appreciated the humor in the story, and the creativity of the main character.  You can find the book here.

 #8- Voyage with the Vikings (Imagination Station Books), by Paul McCusker & Marianne Hering

When Patrick and Beth visit their friend Mr. Whittaker, a kind but mysterious inventor, he sends them back in time through his Imagination Station. The cousins travel to various lands and times, trying to follow clues and solve the mysteries. Similar to The Magic Treehouse stories, but written from a Christian perspective, these action-packed adventures are meant to inspire kids’ imaginations. My son (and daughter) loved all 17+ of these books. You can find them here.

#9- The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Conn & Hal Iggulden

This bestselling book is perfect for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses and paper airplanes, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is. It’s full of all kinds of information that a boy will find fun and useful. Also a good book to get a reluctant reader interested in reading. As a mom, I love the themes of hard work, perseverance and humility. Find your copy here.

#10- The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury,by Bill Watterson

Bill Watterson is the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, one of the most popular and well-regarded cartoon strips of the twentieth century.  When my husband first pulled his old comic books out, my son couldn’t get enough of them. Calvin, the six-year-old dirty trickster and master of indignation and his warm, cuddly sidekick Hobbes, (a philosophical tiger), have one crazy adventure after another. Boys of all ages will appreciate the antics of this unlikely duo. 

Let’s be real. Some days are just plain hard. There’s no other way to say it. Between work, chores, kids, husband, carpooling, laundry, errands, shopping, phone calls, etc., things can get crazy and overwhelming. That’s when I reach for an encouraging word to remind me what’s important in life. Or call a good friend to help me laugh about my struggles! Either one can help me refocus and keep moving forward.

So, I figured today is as good as any to post some of my favorite inspiring quotes and proverbs. I hope you read this when you’re in need of a little encouragement.

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tunes without words,

And never stops at all.

                                         -Emily Dickinson

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  -Plato

“Make each day your masterpiece.”  -John Wooden

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that an airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”  -Henry Ford

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”       -Wayne Gretzky

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.”                -Thomas Edison

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” -Thomas Edison

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”  -Pablo Picasso

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” —Attributed to Albert Einstein

“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”   -Proverb

“A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way.”  -Mark Twain

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  -Abraham Lincoln

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”         -Dalai Lama XIV

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.”         – Helen Keller 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  -Proverb 4:23 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”      -Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”          – Jane Goodall

“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.” – Maya Angelou

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” – Nora Ephron

I am a sucker for a good prairie romance novel. My favorites feature characters I can root for, who are genuine and flawed but always find a way to pull through and love wins out in the end. Surprisingly, it’s hard to find a good wholesome prairie romance these days. It maybe a nitch market, but I think more women would enjoy reading this type of novel if they knew about it.

So here is a list of my favorite prairie romance series, and the authors who write them. I’d love to hear if you find a personal favorite among them. Get ready to curl up with a cozy blanket, (and maybe a piece of chocolate or two?) and let yourself get caught up in a story of love in another place and time….

Love Comes Softly Series (8 books)

Janette Oke

This series was first introduced in 1979, and has become a beloved classic in the inspirational prairie romance fiction category. Many readers over the years have laughed and wept and rejoiced with Marty and Clark Davis whose tragic circustances threw them together on the frontier prairies of the 1800s. More than one million copies of Love Comes Softly have been sold, and the novel was transformed into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Since the success of her first novel, Janette Oke has written many more prairie romance novels, all of which became best sellers. Some of her other series include When Calls The Heart (Canadian West), and The Tender Years (A Prairie Legacy). I personally own many of her books, and hope to share them with my daughter someday.  You can find out more about Janette here.

Nebraska Legacy Series (4 books)

Diann Mills

You will enjoy this fascinating collection of four stories involving American settlers who become husbands in the most unusual of circumstances. Gabe Hunters leaves Philadelphia and his book studies to answer an ad for a husband and father on a Nebraska farm…Riley O’Conner’s marriage proposal is a woman’s ticket out of jail…The scout Painted Hands marries a young woman-for propriety’s sake-on the Oregon Trail…Caleb Windsor attempts to waylay his twin’s outlaw lifestyle by arranging a marriage for his brother. Sound interesting? You can find Nebraska Legacy here.

A Clearing in the Wild (Change and Cherish Historical Series, Book 1)

Jane Kirkpatrick

Jane has written several trilogies about the settlement of Oregon, this one set in the early 1850s. Young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of Bethel colony, a religious community in Missouri that is determined to remain untainted by the concerns of the world. A passionate and independent thinker, she resents the limitations placed on women. Eventually Emma and her husband, Christian, are sent out with a group to scout a new location in the northwest for the colony to live. Along the way, Emma learns that her passionate nature can be her greatest strength — if she can harness it effectively.

The author’s compelling descriptions, lovely way of writing and knowledge about the history of the Northwest, provide for a wonderful reading experience. You can find a copy of the first book in the series here.

Prairie Rose (A Town Called Hope Series)

Catherine Palmer

With vivid descriptions and a fast-paced story line, this inspiring series set in post-Civil War Kansas, is the creation of best-selling inspirational romance writer Catherine Palmer. Impulsive nineteen-year-old Rosie Mills takes a job caring for the young son of widowed homesteader Seth Hunter in order to escape the orphanage in which she was raised. Together Rosie and Seth must face the struggles of prairie life, and face the one man who threatens to destroy their happiness. This trilogy will satisfy readers who desire biblical values in a wholesome romance. You can find the first book here.

If you enjoy these series, you might want to check out some additional authors… Below are my suggestions. Happy reading!

The Lightkeeper’s Daughter (Mercy Falls Series, #1) by Colleen Coble

A Lady of High Regard (Ladies of Liberty series, #1) by Tracie Peterson

Beloved (Where The Heart Lives series) by Robin Lee Hatcher