What We Did Today

Since Mike had the day away from the office, due to MLK day, we went to the park!  We stopped by Sonic on the way to take advantage of Happy Hour.

JennaBeth quickly met a little friend.  He was so sweet with her.  JennaBeth has been deathly afraid of the swinging bridge and hasn't gone near it any time we have been at the park, but due to her new little friend's help...

it's her favorite thing to play on now!

She also likes the slide...

Bentley has mastered climbing the rock wall and going down the opposite side once he gets to the top.

And of course, he loves jumping off everything in site...

I was even able to convince Cecily to let me take a picture of her.  She doesn't like me to do that very much, but I whined a little bit and it worked!

I just happen to think she is beautiful!  Don't you agree?  And if you don't, please don't tell me, because then we might have to fight!

The swings were popular today!  JennaBeth kept clicking her feet together (like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz) trying to make her swing go faster and higher!

The afternoon was nice - sunny with a cool breeze blowing.  The park was full of kids playing.  JennaBeth played her little self silly tired.  This is what we found shortly after she left the dinner table...

Blessings,
Jennifer

Wayward Son

 

The first novel in a series, the Wayward Son propels the reader back in time - all the way back to the days of Cain and Abel - and sends the reader on an epic adventure through the flood of Noah's time, through Egypt, Greece, China and Rome.  And it all begins with a powerful tremor that unearths an ancient secret buried in a fortified observatory buried near Italy's Mt. Vesuvius.  

You can go HERE to read the prologue and the first 12 chapters.  But, beware...you will be ordering the book!

The Wayward Son is a masterful blend of suspense, history, modern day drama and a very unique and fictionalized twist on the story of Cain from the Bible.  Pollack, Alves, and Loftus (the authors) do an amazing job of making you feel as if you are standing before the 30 feet high bronze doors with Amanda as she attempts to decipher the the combination of pictograms and texts written in Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Chinese and Hebrew.  When the doors open...well, you'll just have to read to find out!

The story does go back and forth between modern-day and the past; however, the writing is so well done that you just keep turning pages!  I thought the publishing move to have the typeset of the chapters covering modern day and chapters covering past events different was genius.  I can't wait to read the next installment of this series.

You can order the book by going HERE or from Amazon.com by going HERE.

Wayward Son was provided to me by Glass Road Publications for the purpose of review.

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

Moments of Truth

Moments of Truth:  Unleashing God's Word One Day at a Time is a collection of devotions that offer biblical teaching, scripture, and prayer to match the annual happenings of the calendar and give daily truths from a foremost biblical scholar and author.
Christianity starts with a life-changing encounter with Christ. But then what? From the beautiful moment of salvation to the dying breath, a powerful life in Christ depends on one thing: being in continual relationship with the Father. But does that relationship deliver only encouragement? Or does it offer instruction, reshaping, and revitalization?
In this unique daily devotional, renowned teacher and Bible scholar John MacArthur offers readers truths that will not only inspire them day-by-day but also will give them digestible nuggets of biblical wisdom.
Moments of Truth is designed to meet readers right where they are each day. Entries are intentionally arranged to match the highlights of the calendar year, such as Christmas, Easter, Tax Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Back-to-School, and everything in between. This book recasts the role of faith in readers' lives by matching God’s truth with the daily realities we all face. It is only by seeing life through our relationship with the Father that we will access and experience the spiritual depths he designed us for.

I really liked how this devotional was organized:  Each month addresses a particular "topic".

• January - Beginnings
• February - Love
• March - The Cross and Easter
• April - Growing As A Christian
• May - Parenting
• June - Marriage
• July - Freedom, America, Leadership, and War
• August - The End-times and other Important Doctrines
• September - Work
• October - Sin, Evil and Temptation
• November - Money, Giving, Discipline, and Self-Control
• December - Jesus' Birth and Life

Each day MacArthur presents the reader with a passage of scripture (usually one verse), a short devotional thought (one page) and a probing question at the end for personal reflection/application.  Each days devotional thought is an excerpt from one of MacArthur's many published books such as Slave, A Tale of Two Sons, Twelve Extraordinary Women, The Murder of Jesus, Can God Bless America? and The Vanishing Conscience.

MacArthur is pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church, president of Master's College and Seminary and president of Grace to You, the ministry that produces the internationally syndicated radio program Grace to You. 





Moments of Truth can be ordered at Amazon.com by going HERE.

I was sent a copy of Moments of Truth by Thomas Nelson for the purpose of review.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Our Trip Home for the Holidays: Part Two

Yesterday I posted a little about our family's trip home to AL and MS to visit family.  I'm finishing that post today mostly in pictures. 

After visiting with my dad and step-mom at my brother's house, we went over to my grandmother's house to visit with my mom's side of the family.  This was the first time in quite a while that I got to see many of my cousins and their families and my aunts and uncles.  It was a big crowd of folks in a very tiny house, but we had a really good time.  It brought back memories of when I was a little girl and we would spend Christmas Eve over at Mamaw's house.

While we were all there, my grandmother got a very special phone call from my cousin John Skinner who is serving in Afghanistan right now.  He was able to get access to a sat-phone and call her and his mother, my aunt Gatha.

That was a really special treat for them, plus we got to all tell him Merry Christmas!

My grandfather passed away some years ago from cancer, so it's been my grandmother by herself.  I was so thankful for our time with her that evening.  She looked the best I've seen her look in a long time.  I was anxious to get the picture above with her and my three kiddos to mark the occasion.

We spent the next couple of days in Meridian at my mom and step-dad's home.  My nephew Ryan is living with them now and Bentley loved spending time with him.  Although, I think JennaBeth gave him a run for his money.  Ryan was really sweet with her.  One evening my brother and his family came over and Jason fried some fish.  It was good to get that time with him.  We haven't been able to do that in the past.

The Girls:  JennaBeth, Cecily, Jordan (Jason's little girl)

Ryan, Granny, Cecily, JennaBeth, Jordan, Bentley

Ryan and Cecily (They were born two days apart in December 1997)

Bentley teaching Jordan the mechanics of Wii bowling.

JennaBeth doesn't miss out on anything!

Silly girls trying to eat their apples with a spoon!

A pooped out Granny and little girl!

I think Ryan was probably a little tired after we left!  My two little ones gave him a run for his money and they had a good time doing it:

JennaBeth loves her "Ry-ann"

On Friday afternoon, we went on to Alabama to spend the weekend and NewYear's with Mike's folks in Silas, AL.  Friday evening we got to spend just a couple of hours with his brother Bill and his family.

That's Mike's brother Bill (we'll excuse the Alabama shirt!), Mike's dad and Mike.  We didn't get to see Mike's younger brother Kenny this year due to his work schedule.  Later that evening, the kids enjoyed opening up their gifts from Mamaw Judy and Papaw Sonny:

JennaBeth even had fun picking up her wrapping paper:

Mike's parent's place is in the country...I mean the no cell phone signal kind of country!  It did not bother me one bit.  It is nice every once in a while to be away from all the hustle and bustle of things and just enjoy the people around you.  I've always enjoyed visiting them and enjoying the quiet and beauty of God's creation.  The kids really have fun with lots of countryside to explore and run around in:

On New Year's Eve every year, Mike's parents' church have a singing to "sing out the old and sing in the new".  We went and enjoyed being around some of the people who encouraged Mike in his developing singing abilities and his call to the ministry.  He sang with an older couple who had a part in encouraging his calling:

(Mike with Claude and Glinny Wimberley)

JennaBeth singing along with Daddy.

The next day Mike had the opportunity to sing at a church in Gilbertown, AL where one of his ministry/singing mentors is Minister of Music.  On the following Monday, we were able to visit a little while with Mike's sister Abby and two of her children, Morgan and Adam.  Now, Adam is a very tall boy.  When they came into the house JennaBeth was terrified of Adam.  She wouldn't have anything to do with him at first.  When Adam knelt down to try and talk to her, something clicked and he was her best friend for the rest of the time they were there!

 Adam and JennaBeth on their walk.

Abby and Mike

The drive back home to Florida on Tuesday was pretty uneventful until the last 300 miles.  By that time JennaBeth had had enough of the car seat and not being able to move around!  An offer of pizza for supper was the only thing that calmed her down long enough for us to get the rest of the way home!  Thank you Lord for pizza!!!!

Last Thursday morning, when it was time for big brother to go back to school, little sister did not want him to go!  Don't you love those little pink slippers?

Blessings,
Jennifer

Yep, It's Still Up!

My Christmas Tree is STILL up!  And I'm really late telling everyone, but

Happy New Year!!!

Our family traveled back home to MS and AL the week after Christmas to visit our families there.  We drove 870 miles the day after Christmas to visit in MS first.  We enjoyed getting to spend a little time with everyone!  On our way up, we made our now traditional stop at the "chocolate store"...

Everyone got to pick out there favorite treat...it's a wonder we had any gas money left to continue on with the drive home!

We were able to purchase a used van this past year, which made our trip with these three a whole lot easier...

Everyone had their own little space and the trip was much smoother.  Our littlest one even did well, until the last 300 miles left coming home, when various and sundry items were being hurled from the back seat!

On Tuesday, our family spent part of the day at my brother's home visiting him, his little girl Jordan (in the picture above with JennaBeth) my sister and her family and my dad and step-mom.  My brother Jason and his wife Julie have a beautiful home.  Don't you just love her tree and her "cross wall"?

And of course my brother, evermore the hunter, hung these while we were there...

All the kids had a good time playing and visiting.  We were even able to get a good picture with everyone of them in it and looking at the camera...

JennaBeth had the best time playing with all her cousins.  She especially took to Jordan who is four, but is a teenie little thing.  I think JB thought she was just as old and as big a girl as Jordan...

The make-up corner in Jordan's room was a really popular hang-out spot...

But don't be fooled for one minute...JennaBeth didn't stay there long.  When she discovered there were things to do outside, she was on a mission to be out there in the middle of it all riding her cousin's scooter with the help of her Uncle Jason...

and then moving onto bigger things like Uncle Jason's four wheeler...

Bentley also got a turn with the four wheeler...

I have really missed my family these past few months!  It did my heart good to get to see everyone.  Here I am with my baby brother and sister...

And bless his poor heart, he's always been in the middle...

and we've given him some hard times!  But we love our brother!

Here we are with our daddy.  We only get to see each other once a year.  We live in Florida, my brother works in Chattanooga, TN and my sister lives in Brandon, MS.  Our time together over the holidays was a special gift!

Come back tomorrow and I'll share about the rest of our week's visit home!

Blessings,
Jennifer