Time Out for Romance

“The Fiddler,” by Beverly Lewis is a sweet story about the chance meeting between a young, beautiful Englisher  woman and a handsome, charming Amishman.  Having lost her way in a rain storm, followed by a flat tire, and no cell phone service, Amelia Devries began to feel frantic, thinking she would probably have to spend the night in her car and wait for daylight before she could look for help.  As she sat staring out in the blackness, she caught a small glimmer of light in the distance and thought she saw a faint outline of a cabin in the clearing.  Making up her mind to check out the cabin, she got out of the car and sloshed through the water and mud to the cabin. 

When Michael Hostetler opened the cabin door, he was definitely surprised to find a beautiful, but wet and bedraggled, young woman standing in his door way.  When he found his voice, he invited her in, showing every kindness by providing a towel, some dry clothes, and a hot cup of tea.  Surprisingly, they felt quite at ease with one another and soon were sharing stories about their very different backgrounds.  Interestingly, they found that they had one thing in common – they were both trying to leave a life that was planned by others, definitely not what each personally longed for.  During the months that follow, Michael and Amelia develop a deep friendship with an undercurrent of romantic interest and an unexpected longing to spend time together.  They find that they share many of the same personal troubles.  As they continue to share their problems, trying to help each other find solutions, their budding romance is also challenged by many cultural obstacles.

Actually I prefer to read action and suspense novels, but once in a while it’s very relaxing to read a slow-paced book that’s almost like a fairy tale.   It was very interesting to read about the Amish and learn that living an Amish Plain life is not always as happy and peaceful as it’s made out to be. 

This is the first book I’ve read by Beverly Lewis.  Although I probably won’t have time to read many of her books, I would recommend it to those who like to read love stories.

*This book was received free through Bethany House Book Reviewers in exchange for my unbiased review.

Best Fishes for Birthday Wishes

During our church stamping get-togethers, I've had several gals ask how I figure out how I'm going to make a card.  So I decided to share with you my thought process when setting about to make a card -- it's actually probably fairly similar to what you do yourself.  I'd be interested in knowing how you work it out.  Needing a masculine birthday card, I started browsing through all my stash to see what I could pull together.  One of the things I love to do is pull out the possible stamps that I could use and then start the process of coordinating the matching scrapbook papers, card stock colors, and embellishments.  But not too many options or I'll feel overwhelmed.  Once I get everything laid out and look it over, most of the time a design just pops out at me.  On this particular card, I selected 3 or 4 fish stamps and 3 or 4 sentiments, then found several patterns of scrapbook paper that would coordinate with the fish stamps.  Next I pulled out several colored sheets of card stock that would coordinate with the card stock.  Having it all spread out before me, I find it really easy to decide which combination to use.  This card was perfect for my pastor as he loves to fish.

Card Front

Card Inside

This next card is one I made for some friends who just bought and moved into a different house after spending about 35 years in their first home.  The house stamp is one of the first Denami stamps I bought in 2000.  It's one of those stamps that I can't let go of but rarely use.  Funny how we can get so sentimental about our stamps. 

Now that I've had a break, rested and cooled off, I'm ready to go back to the flower beds and work another hour in some shaded areas.  The temp is in the 90's, but it's just too beautiful to stay inside.  Hope you're having a great weekend.  May the Lord bless you all with His quiet presence.

Annie

FEARLESS, by Eric Blehm

Saying that this book deeply impacted me seems like hardly enough to cover the range of emotions I experienced while reading it. This is the true life story of Adam Brown, who was a Navy SEAL operator serving in Afghanistan with the elite DEVGRU team, otherwise known as SEAL Team Six - the group that took out Osama bin Laden. He was an extraordinary man of faith, love, kindness, courage, compassion, and bravery. He was a man who gave his all for God, family, his SEAL Team brotherhood, friends, and country. Although I knew how the story would end, I really couldn't bring myself to believe it. Adam was shot down while on his last team mission in Afghanistan.

As he was growing up, Adam wanted nothing more than to be the best that he could be at whatever he did. When he became a teenager, his goal was to wear his high school’s football jersey, even though he was undersized. With gritty determination, Adam accomplished everything he set his mind to. After his high school years, Adam fell in with the wrong crowd and soon found himself in a downward spiral of destruction. His recovery began when he gave his life to Jesus. He stayed on the road to recovery because of his unshakable faith in God, the love of his wife Kelly, his family, and his newly determined goal – to become the best of the best – a U.S. Navy SEAL.

This was my first look into the world of Navy Seals. I was absolutely fascinated. The applicants are well screened to even get a foot in the door. The men who do get accepted begin a strenuous, dangerous program of training. Only a small percentage reaches the next tier. Adam's goal was to reach the top tier – DEVGRU – Naval Special Warfare Development Group. The DEVGRU SEALs are “one of the United States’ premier Special Missions Units, capable of executing top-secret missions anywhere in the world.” Adam pushed on with great courage and determination. With his unflagging faith in God, he overcame every obstacle - a crushed leg, almost losing all the fingers on one hand, blinded in his right eye which eventually had to be removed, arthritis, back problems, constant pain. The training never stops. Once a Seal begins missions, most of his time between missions is spent in more training. That's why they are the best of the best.

The author Eric Blehm interviewed ten of the men from SEAL Team SIX. Seven of those men “. . . were locked and loaded on a CH-47 helicopter that was approaching a landing zone in Wardak Province when an insurgent-fired rocket-propelled grenade struck the aft rotor blade, causing the CH-47 to crash into a dry creek bed and explode. Everyone on board was killed: thirty U.S. forces and seven Afghan soldiers.”

In disbelief the author said, “Never could I have imagined that nearly every SEAL I’d visited with and spoken to about Adam Brown would perish in the single worst loss-of-life incident in Naval Special Warfare history.”

As he did everything in life, Adam Brown carried out his last mission fearlessly. He is truly an American Hero. He is truly an American to be proud of. My heart is broken for what he and so many others have sacrificed for me. My heart weeps for the families left behind who also sacrificed for me.

May the Lord bless and protect all our soldiers.

Annie