Book Review: An Amish Love by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long.

An Amish Love, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville,2010, is a collection of three short novels. Their titles are: A Marriage of the Heart, by Kelly Long; What the Heart Sees, by Kathleen Fuller; and Healing Hearts, by Beth Wiseman. Each novella portrays its characters genuinely and personably. The Amish setting creates a delightful, wholesome read, as always. Throughout all three stories, the message of forgiveness by the grace of God is clear. The characters in An Amish Love struggle with their own sins and with losses through the sins of others against them. As the reader sees the characters seek God's help in repentance and forginevess, he is encouraged to do the same in his own life. As he reads about the forgiveness and restoration that God brings to the characters in An Amish Love, he is given hope that God will do the same thing in his or her own life. Each novella portrays its main characters at different stages of life: a young married couple, single young men and women, and an older married couple.
The love of the characters for one another is undergirded by God's love for each of them as they see their human love for one another tried by different circumstances, showing the reader that when our human capacity to love is not enough, God's love will prevail. An Amis Love was provided to me free for review purposes and I have received no other compensation for this review.

God's Protection

We are always thankful to God for all he has blessed us with, but this Thanksgiving we have an extra-special reason to be thankful. On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Al had a heart attack. We did not realize that he was having a heart attack until we got to the emergency room, where they took him in right away. When the cardiologist came to talk to me before he put the stent in Al's artery, he said, "This was not a small heart attack; this was a BIG one. He's lucky to be alive." After quickly explaining the risks involved and the procedure he would be doing, he left. I had been a little scared before, but at this point, I was terrified. Since I was all alone in the waiting room, I knelt down by one of the chairs and through tears, pleaded with God not to take Al from us. then I called Caroline on Al's cellphone, told her what was going on, and said, "Drop Janet and Erin at church and get down here with my cellphone. Then I called the church to ask them to pray. I thought of asking the secretary to send someone from the church to be with us, but I was too timid. However, I did not have to ask her. She sent someone anyway.... Erin's best friend and her dad! They arrived shortly after Caroline, Janet, and Erin did. I also called Gail, who said she'd be there as soon as her shift ended in an hour, and Missy, who cut her visit with her best friend short and drove all the way from Boston to be with us. I had called Dave and Becca earlier to ask for prayer, and after we got to the hospital I called them again to update them. They got there later that evening. Meanwhile, Al was praying as the doctor was inserting the stent and Becca was praying, along with their church and ours. A couple of hours after Erin's friend and her dad arrived, (during which time they comforted us, made us laugh, and assisted us with some logistics), The doctor returned to say that the procedure had gone well. He said we could see him in an hour or so, and that it was a miracle that Al was still alive. I was a little concerned about what it would be like to see him after the surgery, as I'm not used to seeing my dynamic husband in a hospital bed, especially with tubes and wires attached to him. But when we went into his room, he was awake and talking with us.... even making wisecracks with us! I said "Thank You, Lord: he's still the same Al!" Missy had already arrived in his room and while they were alone, Al told her how God had spared his life and given him His peace when he prayed. Missy cried when she heard that. I know the Lord is using this trial to touch the hearts of Missy and Gail. I saw Gail become very soft-hearted as well.We also got to share the Gospel with Gail's boyfriend, as well as with one of Al's nurses. What amazed me the most, besides the miracle of God's protection of my husband, was the outpouring of love, prayer, and support extended to us. Because of friends and family in other states, we had not only our own church praying for us, but various churches across the country! When I got home from the hospital each night, I would listen to phone messages and read Facebook messages of encouragement and support, and it would make me cry. How beautiful to see the "consolation of the Holy Spirit" working through the body of Christ! Also comforting was having Dave, Becca, and Noelle there Sunday night into Monday. Dave and Becca were able to bring Noelle into the hospital on Monday to see her Nono, as she calls her Grandpa. "Baby cuddle therapy" is a wonderful thing.... and Noelle was doing the same thing for her grandpa as Becca did for HER grandmother when Al's mother had cancer. Al was discharged from the hospital the day before Thanksgiving, and needless to say we had a beautiful and precious Thanksgiving as a family! So far he is recovering well. I am so thankful that God spared his life, and for the prayers of the saints!

Reflections, continued

However I also know......
........that my job is helping my kids with school tuitions
........ that there are souls at work that The Lord wants me to witness to
........ that if I did not work at all I would probably go stir crazy with my kids all in school
........ that if my kids were still small I would not do half the things I listed in my previous post because I'd be too busy
......... and that while I was glad for the opportunity to be home with my kids, I took it somewhat for granted (but I wouldn't have traded it for anything!)
Most of all, I know that "My times are in Thy hand"(Psalm 31:15a) and that God will take care of my work situation, my schedule, and my family! Praise Him for His faithfulness!

Reflections, Continued

More importantly, it's what I'm missing because of work that really bothers me sometimes. If I were a stay-at-home mom, I would.......
..... stay up later with my family at night, knowing that once Erin was safely dropped off to her carpool I could get a nap.
..... get my house clean and organized.
..... not have the mental exercise of "who's getting who where, and who's picking up who when" because I would be doing the chauffeuring.
..... work in my garden more
..... be guaranteed time with my family during the holidays
..... take off to PA to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter
..... go to ALL my kids' sports and school events
..... play my guitar more
..... participate more freely in the activities of our church
..... travel with my husband on occasion when he goes on his business trips

Reflections

Sometimes I wish I were a stay-at home mom again. Work has been stressful lately. It can get "fast and furious" in an eyeblink, and it is too easy to make mistakes. I know God is in control, and I do trust him, but I must admit to getting frustrated and discouraged at times. In addition, it is VERY difficult to get the time off (even unpaid time) that I need to be with my family over the holidays. I've thought of looking for another job, but haven't found anything that would work for me just yet. Also, I would lose vacation and personal time, which at this point is desperately needed for various family things. And would it be any better elsewhere? Furthermore, I don't like interviews or walking into a situation where I don't know anyone.
Don't get me wrong. There are many aspects of my job that I do enjoy, such as the interaction with my customers and coworkers. I DON'T enjoy making mistakes despite my best efforts, nor policies that make it difficult for me to spend time with my family when I need to and/or they need me to. I DON't enjoy having to be up by 5am during the school year no matter WHAT time I work that day or what time I went to bed the night before. I DON'T enjoy worrying about whether or not I'm going to get in trouble for yet another mistake, some of which are beyond my control.

Book Review: The Nativity Collection by Robert J. Morgan

The Nativity Collection comprises six short stories by Robert J. Morgan. The book is published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010. Each story involves a family's experiences at Christmas, and a Nativity scene that plays a significant part in the story. From the family who changes their Christmas plans to give an elderly woman a family celebration, to the grandfather and grandson who burn the figures of their cherished Nativity scene to survive a howling blizzard, to the story of "Sugarplum", Morgan's stories will uplift and entertain his readers. Each story reminds us of our God Who gave His beloved Son so that we might be freed from our sins and restored to fellowship with God the Father. The Nativity Collection was illustrated by Koechel Peterson Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The illustrations are full of exquisite detail, light, and joy. The Nativity Collection would make great reading alone with a cup of tea or cocoa, or aloud with the entire family gathered in the living room. This book will add a festive and reflective touch to any one's Christmas celebration. The Nativity Collection was provided to me for review at no charge by Thomas Nelson, Inc. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and I have received no other compensation for reviewing this book.

My Birthday!

My birthday this year was a blessed time. It was on Saturday, September 25. Al had asked me what I wanted to do, and I said that I either wanted us all to go out to Old Country Buffet, or the two of us to go out to Chili's, or to have Caroline, Janet, and Erin cook dinner at home for us. I left it to him to decide which of those options he would pick. Meanwhile, he asked me to write down a few things I would like, and Janet asked me what I wanted as well. One of the things I mentioned was a nice spring/fall jacket. When I shared this with Janet, she said "Oh, we're gonna have FUN with this!" So she went with Al to help him shop the night before.
While on my last break at work on Saturday, I got a text from Al saying that he and I would go out to eat, followed by birthday cake at home with the girls. I got home from work, showered and changed, and Al and I got in the car. I was expecting him to go to Chilis in Windsor, but he turned towards Enfield. I thought he might have decided to go to Olive Garden, but then he "missed" the turnoff to Enfield. Then I knew he was going to surprise me. We went to Carabba's in Riverdale, Mass! It's a really nice Italian restaurant, and it was delicious. We went home and had cake. When I opened my present, it was..... a peacoat and scarf! Gail and Missy couldn't come, so Gail and her boyfriend, John, came the next day. Gail brought a bouquet of one dozen pink roses, and a beautiful card. Well, I put the roses in water, set the card on the halfwall in the living room, and we ate dinner. Gail and John had already eaten, but Gail did have a piece of cake. While I was putting things away, I picked up the envelope Gail's card had come in. I saw something blue in it and thought it was a picture. When I pulled it out, it was a gift card to Red Lobster! Caroline gave me a charm for my bracelet that the girls had given me for Mother's Day. Missy invited me to her apartment on Tuesday night and made a birthday dinner of chili and cupcakes for me. I was so blessed by all of their thoughtfulness and the unexpected surprises! Now it's two weeks later and Al and I are planning to use that gift certificate as soon as he gets home!