Sarai Book Review...and then some.

Have you ever felt like God was taking…well….too long fulfilling His promises to you? How about feeling ‘old’ every time you look at your children and see them growing faster and faster before your very eyes? Join me in a reading journey through the book, “Sarai” written by Jill Eillen Smith, and experience the trials that build character, strength, patience, and joy, as well as endurance, faith, and a relationship with God who indeed keeps His promises. Through “Sarai” we learn that there are consequences for the decisions we make, good or bad, and although God is a God of mercy, He will let us learn lessons the hard way sometimes.
Sarai was the most beautiful woman in her city. Abram was blessed, until they discovered her barrenness. It would seem her beauty would be the only thing Sarai had going for her, even through the years that aged her and her husband, Abram. Didn’t God promise Sarai and her husband a son? Did God not say to her husband, “I will make you a great nation.”? Sarai wished for the faith her husband had, but her time had run out. Children would not be born to a barren womb, and most definitely not to one that no longer had life within.
Sarai’s love for Abram pushed her into difficult decisions, ones that she knew she should not make, yet felt compelled to do so. Unable to wait any longer for the promise that God had made to Abram, Sarai gave to her husband her maid, Hagar, in hopes that the promised son would come by way of their union.
Imagine the struggle Sarai faced every day, looking into the eyes of the servant girl who carried the baby Sarai longed for many, many years. With the pregnancy came the resentment of Hagar toward her mistress. Sarai knew she had made a mistake, but her realization had come too late. Regardless, God did fulfill His promise to Abram and Sarai, giving them a son of their blood together, and Abram did become the father of a great nation, two of them, in fact. But the promise did not come without consequences. Sarai had to live with her choices for the rest of her life, as did her people for many generations to come.
Is the story of Sarai a sad one? No. Sarai’s story is victorious. Her story is also full of many lessons learned. There is a little of Sarai in every woman: Beauty, strength, loyalty, and some old fashion determination. Sarai just teaches us women today that we also need to have some humility, and give it to God’s hands, our struggles, trials, anger, jealousy, and idle time. Hopefully none of us will have to be 90 when we see God’s promises given to us, or when we finally learn our lessons in life, but take to heart Sarai, her life, her testimony, and her legacy.
Sarai is one of many books in the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and I will be getting my hands on the other books as soon as possible!
I actually got this book on amazon.com for free on my Kindle app on my phone. I am so glad I downloaded it, and I look forward to the other books I have on my Kindle now, waiting to be read!

We the Parents

Are you a parent? Do you proclaim to the world, that “Yes, I have children, and being a parent is just the most awesome thing!”? Or do you avoid conversation involving parenting and children? I am a parent. I have done both of the above things. I have days when I feel like SuperMom and I can conquer the world of parenting. Then I also have days when I want to “go on strike” as I like to tell my own mother from time to time. Being a parent is often referred to as a full time job. I like to view it as a full time adventure. Parents will encounter and endure things that “jobs” do not offer.


We the parents are BLESSED, stressed, sometimes oppressed, depressed, feel possessed and badly dressed. We are criticized, demonized, gossiped about, compared to, contrasted, put down, lifted up, encouraged, discouraged, and the subject of conversation from here to yonder in the minds and mouths of countless people. We’ve been picked on, peed on, pooped on, puked on, snotted on, sneezed on, held close, and stomped on by our children from their infancy into the later years of childhood. 


It’s an amazing thing, the impact children have on our lives. From infancy when they capture our hearts, melting us with those wide, amazingly innocent and pure eyes, through the first years of childhood when they pull heart strings, and occasionally cause a little break in our hearts here and there. As parents, we understand the importance of developing the good in our “babies” and encouraging them to continue to do good things. I smile with hope for my boys’ future every time I see them sharing with each other, or other children, with smiles on their faces, wanting to make each other happy. I even catch myself saying, “Let’s keep it that way for the rest of our lives, shall we?”


This is where the reality comes in. We are parents. We are guides. These children who have our hearts in their hands, also have US in their sights…and are following our examples from day to day, wanting to make us happy, firmly believing that if they behave as we do, they will succeed in making us happy. Rules in the house matter, yes. But do we follow our own rules? Yes, there are differences between adults and children in many areas…but behavior is not one of them. Behavior is an external influence, and one of the biggest factors in childhood development. As parents, it is our duty to lead by example, and by example we can either create role models for other children to follow in the future, or role monsters for children in the future to run from!


Are we being examples? Are we doing something FOR our children or TO our children? Do we lift them up? Do we tear them down? Do we encourage or discourage? Are we paying enough attention to our babies, or are we ignoring them, depriving them of the parental love and relationship they will truly need to get through their lives from this point forward? Are we showing our children (mini me’s) the adventures life has to offer them? Our imaginations have not dwindled in our adulthood, they simply altered a bit. Let’s feed the creativity and genuineness in ourselves that our children display outwardly in their youth.


Life is an adventure. Parenting is a part of life, and our children are our fellow travelers in this adventure. New to this road of life, they need to be instructed and directed, but not discouraged from traveling it all the way to the end. One day our children will walk beside us, leading their own children on the road of life. What kind of leaders are we creating? I want my future leaders to have integrity, the trust of their peers, and kindness. I want them to be just, fair, and unbiased. So now, as a parent, I must look at myself. The mirror image of me is what my children will be. Do I like it?


Being peed on and puked on in their infancy is something many laugh at and call cute and funny. Being trumped by something blunt, profound, and blatantly honest, yet cute by them in their early youth is also something said to be cute and funny. Having your heart strings popped by the first hurtful words out of their mouths…this is the beginning of the real adventure. The rain forest is full of surprises every day, some amazing, some deadly. Such is the life of a parent. Take it in stride, find support and be supportive, and most of all, continue to lead. Why? This is just half the fun!

To Have and To Hold Review

After the War Between the States, and the death of her grandmother, Audrey Cunningham left Pennsylvania with her father to return to the southern home where he was raised. She hoped that the move would improve her father’s declining health, and that they would be able to live in peace. Unfortunately, after they arrived on Bridal Veil Island, Georgia, Audrey and her father learned of the terrible news that they would be losing their happy home due to back taxes that they could not afford to pay. In order to save their little piece of heaven, Audrey’s father allowed wealthy investors to come and build a resort on the island.

Audrey was perfectly fine with the arrangement until she learned who the foreman in charge of the project would be. Marshall Graham was the son of the man Audrey blamed for the poor health her father was now enduring. How could this man be invited, by her father of all people, to not only join but head up the building of the resort?!

Marshall finds himself drawn to this woman who, for some reason, has a grudge against him. When her father asks him to care for her on his deathbed, Marshall agrees and grants the man his dying wish. When the resort construction becomes a target of sabotage and destruction, Marshall finds his promise put to the task. Can he protect her when the danger is possibly as close to her as the boarders within her own house??

Enter the land of Post War Southern life, and feel the passion, adventure, and enjoy the various, and even comical, personalities brought to life in this wonderful book, “To Have and to Hold” It will be a permanent addition to my ever-growing collection of great reads!

Given to me by Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of review.

A Time To Grow...

I endured, and survived, my first winter season in central California! Yay me! And now, we get to enjoy springtime as a family, in a new house, a new chapter in an exciting life together!

At school last month, the kids’ teachers gave them some seeds to plant in class. At the end of the week Titus and Angel got to bring their little planter cups home. As it would be with small children and fragile things, one plant did not get a chance to grow as it was flooded and picked at by small fingers, and the other plant was pulled out of its little cup by even smaller fingers, and I now have two disappointed children. Now, that being said, we are going to make use of our new, good sized, front yard and buy some seeds for all of the kids to plant, in a location out of reach of pets and small fingers unless strictly supervised. The back yard serves as the “playground” for my little crew, but the front yard would be the perfect haven for young plants started by my little gardeners.

Titus is thrilled!! I can’t wait to see his face when he plants his seed and covers it, waters it, and eventually witnesses the plant breaking through the ground and opening up that first time! Yes, I will be taking pictures of the process and posting them, you can count on that!

One thing that comes to mind when I think about their excitement in this little spring/summer adventure is the parallel we have going on here. Just as my babies are watching their little seeds grow with excitement and great care towards them, I am excited to see my children growing each day, and caring for them. And as each seed that they plant produces something different, none the same, this is how it is with my children. Each one is different, unique in their own way.

And….since my kids aren’t too keen on the idea of drinking water by itself, I am definitely using this as my opportunity to teach them the importance of water, and its life-giving qualities and other wonderful uses. If they see their plants grow and produce beauty and color from water (what my dad likes to call ‘sky-juice’), they will be more enthusiastic about giving their own bodies that nourishment. We shall see…

But oh the joy I get every day, watching my children experience joy in their little adventures! Smiles and laughter are the payment for time well spent to see them happy. And these are just a few of my favorite things. <3

Something "write" from the heart...

(This was my first blog post on my previous blog….and I wanted to share it again, as it is something very close to my heart. Although it was written for the benefit of a few, I hope it blesses others as they read it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to record it…because it is a song.)

I wanted my first blog to be of something inspirational. Here it is:

This is a poem I wrote a few months ago for a friend who's daughter was fighting cancer.

As Spring gives way to Summer,

Flowers bloom in brilliant color,

And the Sun beams bright from heaven above.

In the shade under Summer’s tree,

I think of all He’s done for me,

And I am so thankful for His love.

As Summer fades into Fall,

Words cannot describe all,

The beauty that covers the land.

And as I sit under Autumn’s tree,

I think of all He’s done for me,

And I’m thankful He holds me in His hand.

The Autumn breeze becomes Winter’s wind,

The days grow short and quickly end,

And I wonder what the future may bring.

But as I gaze out at Winter's tree,

I remember all He’s done for me,

And in this darkness He gives me strength to sing.

Then the Winter snow becomes Springtime rain,

And life returns to everything,

And the Sun dries Winter’s tears from my face.

Now I dance around Springtime’s tree,

Thanking God for all He’s done for me,

Knowing I would not be here, but for His grace.

Even when the Seasons change,

God will always be the same,

And no matter what trials come my way,

I can just lean on the rugged tree,

Where He bled and died for me,

And I know He hears me when I pray.

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall,

When it seems you life’s gone wrong,

It can end well, just watch and see.

Come with me to the rugged cross,

Where he heals the sick and saves the lost,

He can break your chains and set you free.

Here, at the foot of Season’s Tree.

Ahh the married life! I am one happy mother!!! Not only did I FINALLY get to marry the man of my dreams, rescuer of my heart (and sanity), but we got a house, got to go have the wedding in the presence of family and friends, and get away for a while…all in the same month! Yeah baby!!

For those of my readers close to me, you understand my joy and happiness at this moment in my life. And Sean and I thank you all very much for your thoughts, prayers, and other support!

I sit here and smile as I reflect on the day we married…

February 18, 2012. Family Fiesta at the McConnell Ranch. The day began hectic and only got worse as we drew closer to the time for our vows. Exactly one hour before we were to marry, I was running through the KY Oaks Mall trying to find shoes to go with my wedding dress!! I recall phoning my mother to vent my frustration, and was set back when I was met with a calm voice on the other end of the conversation! She was totally relaxed, back at home, with unfinished food, falling a bit behind here and there, but not at all worried…totally unlike my mother when guests are arriving moments away! I ran frantically up and down the mall, looking for that “perfect” pair of shoes…and at the moment we were walking toward the exit, just feet away from the door, I turned and saw them! In the window of the shoe store I had failed to look in, calling my name from the other side of the glass, were the exact pair of shoes I envisioned on my feet when I would be saying my vows! I had already bought one pair at another store, and they were already returned in my mind! Haha!

We get the shoes (for half the price they were advertised for!!! Yay!!!), and race to my parents’ house to get ready. Yeah, it’s about 4:20 now, and the wedding was set to start at 5:00pm. Sean’s fine…I’m a wreck…and when we arrive at my parents’ house everyone there (a lot of people were already there!) were also “fine”.

I got ready as fast as I could, Sean got ready as fast as he could, and we literally met in the middle of the house with my beloved grandpa to become husband and wife.

Now, as my brother would describe the wedding itself… “the kiss and the prayer were longer than the actual ceremony!” Which is totally true! I told Mom to ask Grandpa if he could find the shortest, legal, ceremony in his little black book, and he literally did! It was priceless! Every second I cherish, and will cherish for the rest of my life. <3

I am blessed, truly, and am so thankful for what I have! In all my stress recently, and the pressures I have been bending under, I have joy in the reflection of life and love, and another memory to add to my favorite things. <3

Welcome to my new blog!!! I will be moving my other blog posts from my old blog and transferring them to this one, so it will be a busy week for "My Favorite Things" as I get that all done! <3
It's a new life, I have a new name, and I'm moving forward into new things!! I welcome you all to embark on this exciting adventure with me, and together may we enjoy this unpredictable ride called "Life"!!


BECCA MINNICK