Book Review - Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason

I'd like to recommend a book I read over the Easter weekend. It was called Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason. It is book one of a series called Women of Justice.

The book has a good story; teenage girls go missing and the bodies of some have been found. The FBI and detectives work together to find out who did it before more girls wind up dead or go missing.

I enjoyed the characters in the book - detective Connor Wolfe and his daughter Jenna, Special Agent Samantha Cash and her sister Jamie who has a story all her own. The book held my attention. At first I didn't think it was a book that would hold my attention because I thought that I had discovered the plot of the story in the first two chapters. That was not the case, the story continued to unfold and the epilogue leaves you with a cliff hanger that makes me want to read book two of this series. I liked the fact that even though the book did not use blood and gore to describe the story - there was still a sense of suspense and that kept me reading to the end. Along with the suspense and mystery, there was a struggling family relationship story and a romanic story line that was not over done!

A very enjoyable read and I will look for this author in the future!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Second Coming of Jesus

By the title of my post you might think that I am going to write something theological and deep but no....read on!
I went to Hampden tonight for youth groups - Junior and Senior. They are to be commended for continuing to invest in their young people! A small community with very little for young people to do - no mall, no movie theatre, no sports facility, etc. There is a youth group every week between TSA and the Pentecost.
For the Junior group, I did the Easter story as a devotional. I had four eggs; one had a cross in it, another 3 nails, another a stone and the last one nothing. The kids were very attentive and answered my questions throughout the story. Following the devotion, one child said that God has promised us that there would never be a flood again. There were some blank looks from some children so I had to tell the Noah's Ark story in a nutshell. After that, another little boy piped up and said in his best Newfie accent - "my Pop told me 'dat one day Jesus is coming back to pick us up!" And He is! I thought it was the cutest thing I have ever heard! I can't get that thought out of my mind! Whether or not that's what his pop actually said or that was his paraphrase I don't know!
My encouragement to you is: Get ready to be picked up!!

Creative Days!

I love being creative! Since moving in July I have had more time to be creative. Both in my present ministry through creative worship and other programming plus in my own personal time! I started a card making class and these cards were for the beginner February class.

A couple of years ago I took a course. In that course we were asked to describe our ideal day. I said that my ideal day would be working at a Michael's Arts and Crafts Store. The facilitator asked if I was able to be creative in my work or in my personal time. At that time, my job was very administrative and I didn't have a lot of personal time. She encouraged me to find an outlet for my creative side. When being creative is a part of who you are - there is something missing if you don't have that outlet. Now that I have it - I realize how much I missed being creative!

Card #1 - You're so kind stamp by Stampin Up

Card #2 - Happiness Always stamp by Stampin Up

Card #3 - Happy Birthday stamp by Stampin Up and Car Stamp by Stampin Bella

Card #4 - You're never more than a thought away stamp by Stampin Up.

My Niece - the Skier!

My niece has just turned 12! My brother has had her on skis since she was 18 months old! It's certainly paying off! She joined the racing team this year and has been winning lots of medals! She won 3 silver and 2 bronze recently! And....she has been selected to ski in the Whistler Cup in April! She told me that the Alpine Ski team wasn't very good in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics so her goal is to ski in the 2018 Winter Olympics (I'll have to check out where it is going to be)! At this rate - she may very well achieve that goal! I will have to start saving now - I wonder if Petro Canada will still help family members to get to the games!!! All I can say is Go Chiara Go! Reach for the sky!

H1N1 & Remembering

Finally after two weeks, I am feeling better! At 44, I can say that the past two weeks have been the worst sickness I have ever experienced! No energy, sleeping lots, no appetite, a terrible cough, anxiety when nighttime came because I knew I would not be able to sleep and so on.....

When I think of what today stands for - I have so much to be thankful for! Freedom and peace! H1N1 is really small compared to what soldiers from our country are doing in Afghanistan and what others sacrificed in years past! We will remember them!

Fresh Eyes

Today it was beautiful in the Humber Valley! Sunny and crisp! I took a few minutes to take some pictures of the beautiful scenery that surrounds me. It seems I am looking at it with fresh eyes this year! I have been away for four years and even though I lived in northern Ontario for two years the falls colours there do not compare! Maybe I am a little bias! These pics were taken within five minutes of where I live! I am blessed!

Top Ten Reasons for Being Thankful!

On the eve of this Thanksgiving weekend I thought I would post my top ten reasons to be thankful! I have many more......

I am thankful for:

1. The fact that I am a child of God.
2. My parents and other extended family.
3. The way God has directed my life.
4. The opportunities I have had in ministry through The Salvation Army.
5. where I am living!!! Woo Hoo!!!
6. So many friends and those who will talk on the phone for an hour or two or more at times! It's a support network across the miles in most cases!
7. People who have been a great influence on me.
8. Creativity in leisure and in ministry.
9. Authors who write great books that I love to read.
10. The drive between Corner Brook and Pasadena in the fall - the Humber Valley is just alive with colour!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!