Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER:

I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
Readers, Please research and use wisdom before buying

Saturday, July 29, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on North Cascades & Glacier National Parks!

Good Morning from Story City, Iowa!

Well we're on our way home. We left MN yesterday, passing through Duluth and St. Paul on our way out of the state. Today we'll travel as far a Fayetteville, AR then tomorrow, we'll go the final distance home. My scheduled guest couldn't make it today, so I'll be sharing a few pics from North Cascades and Glacier National Park.

Although not as vast or majestic as Mt. Rainier, North Cascades has it's own surprises. Snow covered peaks and Diablo Lake
 


On the 15th we left Washington behind and traveled to Montana, spending the night in Idaho. We visited Glacier National Park on the 16th and let me tell you, this place was packed! If you ever go, check out the Red Bus Tours and schedule one. These buses stop at all the great viewpoints and give you plenty time to take pictures. We didn't know this so we missed out on a lot. However, we did see a few Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep at Logan's Pass.

 

We hiked in the snow to see Hidden Lake and drove to the Southeast side and saw Running Eagle Falls





Visiting National Parks is a wonderful experience but sometimes you run into a beautiful sight on the road.... We saw this Blackfoot Native American park and stopped to take a couple of pics...

 

That's all I have time for today. Next time we'll travel to North Dakota and Minnesota, but until then, if you want to catch up on the entire trip you can start at the beginning (TX), and follow us to NMAZ and California (CA #2) and from there to Redwoods and Crater Lake and check out Thursday's post on Mt. Rainier and Olympic! 

Until next time, take care and God Bless!
PamT

Thursday, July 27, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts West Coast Vacation Mt. Rainier & Olympic National Parks

Good Morning from Grand Marais, MN!

Well, we are on the very last leg of our West Coast Vacation trip. We arrived here yesterday. This morning we're taking a ferry out of Grand Portage to Isle Royale National Park which is actually on the Michigan side of Lake Superior. I'll share pics from here later but now we're talking about 2 of the 3 national parks in Washington....Mt. Rainier and Olympic.

We arrived in Packwood, WA on July 6th and actually had a view of the mountain from our RV site! The pic I took in no way does this lovely mountain justice, but here are a couple for you....One is off Reflection Lakes....


I tell you, if you only have the opportunity to visit one place in WA, make it Mt. Rainier!

One thing I found endearing about Packwood is that elk could be seen walking through town and in the campground. I'm used to seeing deer out and about in Bandera, but never thought I'd see elk the same way!

 



Another lovely surprise was a roadside Prayer Park associated with the Presbyterian Church!


We left Packwood on the 9th and traveled NW to Pt. Angeles, WA and Olympic National Park where we got a glimpse of snow on the highest peaks and Sol Duc Falls.... 

As majestic as Olympic was, it paled in comparison to Rainier, but I'm grateful to have seen God's handiwork in these two national parks.

Next week we'll visit North Cascades (still in WA) and Glacier in MT. Until then, if you want to catch up on the entire trip you can start at the beginning (TX), and follow us to NMAZ and California (CA #2) and from there to Redwoods and Crater Lake!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures guest post by Darcy Flynn!

Good Morning!

Well, we were supposed to be on the road to Grand Marais, MN but we couldn't get on the ferry to Isle Royale until Thursday...so we're leaving Kabetogama (Voyageurs National Park) tomorrow and will spend an extra night in Grand Marais before heading back home to Louisiana. Whew! just explaining that one wore me out LOL! Anyway, I'll be sharing more vacation memories on Thursday but meanwhile, please help me welcome Darcy Flynn back to our blog with her brand new release, Eagle Eye!

Take it away Darcy.....

In my sweet romance, Like No Other Series, my heroines are experts in the areas of either fashion or health and beauty. And because they work with teenage girls, they share practical ways to manage these things on a budget. They teach each girl to treasure her own uniqueness, telling them they are truly, one of a kind and like no other.
Speaking of health and beauty… As I contemplated what treasure to write about, so many special people and things came to mind. But, instead of a favorite pet, hobby, trip or person, I decided to be super practical and share a kitchen treasure - my NutriBullet. Weird, I know, but stay with me. The health benefits of using such a tool are amazing. This little Magic Bullet changed the way I eat. I found it the perfect tool for healthy eating and weight loss.
The NutriBullet is a nutrient extractor, not a blender. This link, https://www.nutribullet.com will tell you everything you need to know about the product. It’s one of the easiest and most efficient kitchen tools I’ve ever used. I’ve had mine now for over two years and have used it almost daily during that time period.
After a recent “big” birthday, I was hit with the reality of the brevity of life - the perfect motivation to invest in this wonderful kitchen tool. Years ago when I was in my mid-twenties, my husband and I attended a Christian conference where the reverend Billy Graham was the keynote speaker. I can’t tell you what he spoke about that night, but I’ll never forget him standing at the podium and saying something like this… “I cannot believe I’m sixty-three years old and how quickly my life has gone by. I’m surprised by the brevity of life.”
I recall his words as if I’d heard them yesterday. They were that powerful and sobering to me. Even though I was a young twenty something, I knew he was right. I knew if I lived long enough, that day would come for me, as well.
The bible refers to our life span as a vapor or a blade of grass or a flower that is here one day and then withers.
As I contemplated entering the last third of my life, I took stock of my physical appearance, my excess weight, lethargy that hit each day around three p.m. and my joint pain upon waking. If you’re over fifty or sixty, you get the picture.
Was this the way I really wanted to live out my days? I knew I had a lot of control over these physical ailments. Question was…what would I actually do about them?
One of the greatest gifts from God is our ability to choose. I could decide to make a change or live tired and achy the rest of my days on earth.
In my research a natural medicine doctor asked, “Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?”
Yes!
So, after many weeks of reading, asking questions, and researching everything regarding living a healthier lifestyle, I decided to commit to 21 days of deliberate, focused, healthy eating. As part of that plan, I decided to implement a green smoothie diet. - two smoothies a day and a sensible dinner at night.
Enter my NutriBullet – a product by Magic Bullet. They make different sizes and types. Here’s the link to the one like mine. https://www.target.com/p/nutribullet-by-magic-bullet-8pc-set/-/A-14588965
The great thing about green smoothies is you can throw in just about anything. There are tons of green smoothie recipe books online. Google to your hearts content. In the meantime, I’ve included a simple recipe here.
Darcy’s Easy Green Smoothie
A bit of shaved ice. Optional. (This makes it extra cold)
1 c. of filtered water (can substitute coconut water)
A handful of fresh greens (like kale, spinach, broccoli, celery, etc. Can be mixed or used separately)
Add ½ banana and ½ cup of frozen or fresh berries
1 scoop of plant-based protein powder (for added protein)– I use Vanilla flavored for this recipe. 
1 tsp of ground Flax seed (available at all health food stores, like Whole Foods and online)
1 tsp of healthy fat (coconut oil, or ½ avocado, or flax oil)
1 packet of stevia (a natural sweetener) At first the greens will seem bitter - the stevia will lesson that.
Blend until smooth. Sip and enjoy.
Scripture says, without a vision, the people perish. So, I gave myself a vision of the person I wanted to become. Today, the picture I hold in my mind is of a thinner, pain free, energetic and lovely woman who will live out her days in joy.
Oh wow, Darcy! I love that smoothie...gonna have to try it myself! I normally drink a smoothie for brunch then eat a sensible dinner...I've also found that if you eat all of your calories within an 8 hr. period (10-6 or 11-7) you can lose a little weight. The premise behind this is that it takes your body 16 hours to digest the food....My kids turned me on to this and I must say, it did work. Anyway, thank for sharing your treasure with us! Now tell us a little about your new book....
EAGLE EYELIKE NO OTHER – BOOK 2 
I had so much fun linking Jillian Jeffrey, a character from my first book, Keeper of My Heart, with the second book in my Like No Other Series. My readers wanted Jill’s story told and I’m happy they insisted. 
Blurb: Could one little mistake derail everything she’s worked for?
Undercover journalist, Cameron Phillips, is known for his forthright exposé articles uncovering scandals of New York City’s rich and famous. Using the pseudonym Eagle Eye to hide his identity, he is free to wield his finger pointing, no-holds-barred articles at leisure.
Jillian Jeffrey, teen fashion industry’s latest darling, has a heart for the less fortunate. Her goal is to raise enough money for fashion icon Anna Delany’s, Like No Other charity foundation. The donation will not only keep the charity afloat, but will place Jill in the running for a coveted position on LNO’s board of directors.
In a moment of weakness, at the charity gala, Jill reluctantly accepts a bet from her ex-boyfriend and uses a homeless man to raise twenty thousand dollars. Unknown to Jill, the homeless guy is the cynical, undercover journalist, and Jill has just become his latest exposé target.
In a twist of fate, Cameron is soon hired to shadow Jill as she volunteers with the charity. Shorthaired and clean-shaven, he looks nothing like the bearded, disheveled man Jill had encountered the night of the gala. During their time together, he not only discovers the noble reason behind the bet, but witnesses first hand his article’s negative impact on her business. Faced with the prospect of losing her, will Cameron come up with an antidote for Eagle Eye’s toxic exposé before Jill loses everything she’s worked for? 
Sounds like another winner, Darcy! Good luck and God's blessings with it. LOVE your cover btw!! 
Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.
Darcy lives with her husband and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.
Although, published in the Christian non-fiction market under her real name, Joy Griffin Dent, it was the empty nest that turned her to writing romantic fiction. Proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
To follow or find out more about Darcy check out the links below.

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You can purchase Eagle Eye at Amazon, B&N and iTunes. Read Darcy's previous posts Here and Here.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

Saturday, July 22, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Judy Ann Davis & Four White Roses!

Good Morning!

Well, we are leaving North Dakota heading to Minnesota for the last leg of our West Coast Vacation before going home. I've loved this so much I do believe I could do it full time! But enough about me. 

Today's guest has visited before; on May 18 and June 13th so please welcome Judy Ann Davis back with her latest release, Four White Roses!

 Can a wily old ghost help two fractured hearts find love? 

When widower Rich Redman returns to Pennsylvania with his young daughter to sell his deceased grandmother’s house, he discovers Grandmother Gertie’s final request was for him to find a missing relative and a stash of WWI jewels.

Torrie Larson, single mom, is trying to make her landscape center and flower arranging business succeed while attempting to save the lineage of a rare white rose brought from Austria in the 1900's.

Together, the rich Texas lawyer and poor landscape owner team up to rescue the last rose and fulfill a dead woman’s wishes. But in their search to discover answers to the mysteries plaguing them, will Rich and Torrie also discover love in each other’s arms? Or will a meddling ghost, a pompous banker, and an elusive stray cat get in their way?

EXCERPT 
When Torrie stepped up to grab the notes from Rich’s hand, he scooped her into his arms and, without warning, planted a light kiss squarely in the center of her forehead, oblivious to the dirt on her face from working at the landscape center. Before she could react, he shoved the notes and phone in her hand, spun her around, and nudged her toward the steps. “Now go pluck the local flowers and bamboozle all those poor unsuspecting customers. I have work to do.” He smiled an arresting smile.
“Bamboozle?” She turned toward him and gave him a perplexed look. Seriously? Isn’t that a word to better describe your occupation, counselor?” Forcing herself to suppress a grin, she clambered down the steps and called over her shoulder, “Don’t forget to feed the cat. Have Lulu teach you.”
She slid into the driver’s seat and tossed the phone and notes onto the passenger seat. But before she could pull away from Gertie’s house, her phone rang. This time it wasn’t her usual ringtone. Rich Redman had changed her tune from I Love the Flower Girl to the Yellow Rose of Texas.
“The audacity of that man! What a blockhead,” she sputtered aloud. How dare he toy with her ringtone? Her mother had suggested the 60’s song when she first started floral arranging at the landscape center. She reached for the phone and answered more sharply than she normally would, “What? What do you want now, Richard Lee Redman? I’m driving. I can’t talk.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and Torrie hoped he wasn’t going to say you—or his Friday outing with her was going down the drain.
Instead, he merely said in his low and sensual voice, “You know you have dirt on your face, don’t you?”
Torrie hung up on him.


Buy Links:


Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career.

Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines and anthologies, and have received numerous awards.

When Judy Ann is not behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are
few.

She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and divides her time between Central Pennsylvania and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Visit her on:
Facebook: Judy Ann Davis Author
Twitter: JudyAnnDavis4
Author Page:
Goodreads:


Sounds like a great book, Judy Ann! Good luck and God's blessings with it.

Thanks for popping by, Friends. I hope you'll visit each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT 

Thursday, July 20, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts with Nikola Dimitrov

Good Morning!

Well I'm leaving Montana today headed to North Dakota. I'll be sharing more west coast vacation memories next week, but meanwhile, please welcome Nikola Dimitrov back to share some thoughts with us....

There are 4 Messianic "proof" miracles that Jesus did, which created an unusual uproar among the religious leaders. The Messianic proof miracles are those miracles Jesus did, that the religious system believed only the Messiah could do - these were "special miracles", and Jesus knew that, so, by doing them, He proved to them He was the Messiah:

1). Raised a man from the dead after 4 days (John 11:38-44).
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

The religious old covenant system had a belief that a body could be raised from the dead UP TO 3 days after death, because the spirit lingers around the body, but on the 4th day, only the Messiah could do such a miracle. Jesus did this, and the religious leaders got so mad that they plotted to kill Lazarus (again!).

2). Heal a man born blind (John 9:1-12).
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

The old covenant religious system had a belief that if someone is born with a disease or deformation, that God would not heal that person. The child was believed to be the result of the sins of the parents. Jesus healed the man, and the religious leaders became enraged, and excommunicated the man from their synagogue! The man later found Jesus in secret and learned what had happened. Only the Messiah could heal a man born blind.

3). Healed leprosy (Luke 17). Under the old covenant, a Jew had never been healed of leprosy, according to Luke 4:27. Naaman, a Syrian was healed of leprosy when he dipped 7 times in the Jordan river, at the instruction of Elisha the prophet. Jesus told 10 leprous Jews to go show themselves to the priests and offer the required sacrifice (according to Leviticus 14). Now, we do not know the rest of the story, of what happened when or even if they went and showed themselves to the priests. In this story, one of them returned to worship Jesus and give glory to God, and Jesus stated that all 10 had been healed. Only the Messiah could have done such a miracle of healing of leprosy, not using Leviticus 14, but demonstrating the power of God. Jesus was confronting a system that was dying, and showing them a new and better (living) way.

4). Cast a demon from a man who was deaf and dumb (Matthew 9:32-34 and Luke 11:14).
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

The Pharisees cast out demons by demanding the demon’s name. Well, if the man cannot hear or talk, then they cannot get the name from him. Only the Messiah could do such a miracle. Rather than admit He must have been the Messiah, they insulted Him by saying He cast out devils by the Prince of Devils. Hence, the blasphemy against the Spirit.

- - - - - -

For more about the way Jesus did things, please order a copy of The Four in One Gospel of Jesus - which shows each of the stories of Jesus in their fullness and in chronological order. For more information, please visit: www.thefourinonegospelofjesus.com  Watch the video HERE.

About the Author: In 1992 Nikola Dimitrov experienced a miraculous conversion, receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Since 1995 he has been a full-time minister of the Gospel, serving as pastor, Bible teacher, preacher, and Christian educator. He started his first church in 1994, which is still standing today, and in 1998 he began his traveling ministry. Nikola is currently pastoring several church groups in Bourgas, Bulgaria and is frequently sought out as a speaker around the country. He also serves as a Bible teacher at the Apostolic Kingdom Institute in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

As editor-in-chief of Vetil Media Ministry, Nikola has translated and published more than thirty books into Bulgarian, as well as writing some himself. He then encourages his congregations to take responsibility in word and deed toward that end. As a translator, Nikola has also produced and distributed around the nation nearly 1000 Bulgarian versions of audio and video teachings by famous foreign preachers and teachers.

As part of a charity in Bulgaria, along with other volunteers, Nikola takes care of needy people from the minorities, distributing clothes, food, medicine, and school materials to children.

Nikola is married to Helen, and they have two lovely young-adult daughters, Annie (which means grace) and Mikaela (which means who is like God?). Both are part of Nikola and Helen’s ministry, serving in the area of music.



Tuesday, July 18, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures Redwoods & Crater Lake National Parks!

Good Morning from Montana!

Saturday we put Washington behind us, spent the night in Idaho and traveled to Kalispell, MT to visit Glacier National Park. I'll be sharing details on that later, but today I'm sharing Redwoods National Park in California and Crater Lake in Oregon.

Redwoods is beautiful with forests filled with giant trees (we saw the famous drive-through tree) and places along the Pacific coast to visit....We also saw the elegant Roosevelt Elk!

  

We left California and drove to Oregon on July 3rd and let me tell you, these pictures of Crater Lake do NOT do this gorgeous body of water justice! If you can only put 1 National Park on your bucket list, make it this one!


Next week I'll share Mt. Rainier, Olympic and Cascades National Parks (WA) with you, meanwhile if you're just now joining me and want to catch up, you can start at the beginning (TX), and follow us to NM, AZ and California (CA #2).

I hope you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless!
PamT

PS: for more great info on Oregon, check out the 7 Most Beautiful Hikes in Oregon.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on All In For Love box set!

Good Morning!

Well, we're leaving WA this morning to spend 1 night in Idaho before heading to Glacier National Park in Montana. I'll be sharing more West Coast Vacation memories on Tuesday, but if you'd like to catch up, check out post #1, #2, #3, #4 & #5.

Meanwhile, please check out this anthology: All In For Love.....

Six award-winning authors bring you six *sweet to sensual* romances filled with suspense, thrills and maybe even a ghost or two—for less than the price of a cup of coffee—99 cents!

Welcome to La Bonne Chance Resort & Casino!

With thousands of people passing through the casino’s doors on a daily basis, it’s no surprise that a variety of lives and loves are on the line there. It’s said that you’re more likely to lose your heart at La Bonne Chance than a hand of poker. Whether you are the Director of Casino Operations or the guy who created its software, a jilted bride or a black jack dealer, a past guest’s ghost or a sous chef--when it comes to love, the stakes are high.

Thank goodness what happens at La Bonne Chance, doesn’t always stay at La Bonne Chance….

Ready to roll the dice?

An Inn Decent Proposal, Sharon Buchbinder
Can an hotelier with a past and a chef with a future revive the grand dame in a neglected old inn?

Perfect Odds, Lashanta Charles
When a jilted bride meets the man of her dreams, will she embrace the new plan, or cling stubbornly to the old one?

A Ghost To Die For, Keta Diablo
She didn't believe in ghosts...until one showed up in her room.

Raising Kane, Kat Henry Doran
Funny how a night in jail will change a woman's outlook on life.

For Money Or Love, Margo Hoornstra
She's the one woman he can't afford to lose.

Take A Chance On Me, M.J. Schiller
Who do you count on when the chips are down?


Links


Giveaway
To add to the fun, we are giving away one gambling themed handmade item to ONE lucky commenter who will be selected by a Random Number Generator. 


Wow...sounds like a great anthology!

Hope you enjoyed today's guests and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Thursday, July 13, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts West Coast Vacation Memories #5

Good Morning from Concrete, WA,

Well, we will be leaving WA on Saturday after visiting Mt. Rainier, Olympic and Cascades National Parks! I'll be sharing those memories with you soon, but as promised last Tuesday, today I'm sharing more of our California trip with you.

We spent 4 days in Yosemite National Park. This place is packed with people and filled with mountains, waterfalls and wildlife. One of the most impressive sights is the Upper and Lower falls. There's also a pretty little church in the park.




When we left Yosemite, we stopped in Placerville to visit one of my honey's friends and made a quick trip to South Lake Tahoe.... The lake was beautiful but way too commercialized for me.


After our visit to Placerville, we had 2 more national parks in CA to see, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwoods.

Lassen was absolutely beautiful. A lot of it was still closed off due to record snow fall this past winter but we saw enough to be satisfied with the trip. Along with the raw beauty of the volcano, there are places where hot, bubbling pots of green, slimy, sulphur boil up from the ground....UGH! 


It is amazing to find one extreme or another on the same mountain.

Next week I'll share the last National Park we visited in California along with the one in Oregon we saw so I hope you drop by for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

If you're just now joining me, check out the first 3 West Coast Vacation Memories posts Here, Here and Here!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures with Theresa Lynn Hall @theresalynnhall

Good Morning!

Well, we've made it to Port Angeles, WA and visiting Olympic National Park. Next stop will be Concrete & Cascade Ntl. Pk then on to Montana. I'll be sharing another west coast vacation post on Thursday, meanwhile, please welcome Theresa Lynn Hall back to our blog with something she treasures!

 A Special Treasure

I never thought much of time when I was younger. Twenty years away seemed like an abstract amount of time. I was living minute to minute. It felt like I had all the time in the world before twenty years would come to pass. Looking back, I’m grateful for my ignorance. If I had only known how quickly it would go by I would been sad.
My oldest son is now twenty-one and is a police officer. My youngest graduates next year and is planning a future in the military. My babies. My little boys. Had I known then what I know now I would have fretted over every single day that passed, knowing it was going to fly by and one day be only a memory. I guess it's a good thing our kids keep us so busy. We don't think about them growing up and moving on. Time has become precious to me now and I think I grow more sentimental the older I get. Not just about time or memories, but also about things.
I know all moms are sentimental about things their kids give them. I have a cedar chest full of school papers, pictures, baby clothes and who knows what else from the years when my boys were growing up. Each and every memento means the world to me, but there’s one special gift that my kids gave me when they were young that touched my heart—an engraved locket with the single word “MOM” on the front of it. They begged my mother to find this for them so they could give it to me. I’m not sure where they had seen it or how they knew exactly what they wanted, but my mother searched high and low for this particular locket until she finally found it. What an awesome grandma! Ironically, I hardly ever wear it because I’m so afraid of losing it! It means the world to me and I treasure it more than any other necklace I own.
Now that my boys are grown, I look at the little things like a locket, an “I love you, Mom” note in big chunky handwriting, a picture they drew me, and I wonder where the time went. How did they grow up so fast? How did twenty years pass in a blink? I just don’t know. Now that they’re grown, and taking on jobs of brave men in a dangerous world, I pray for their safety and God’s protection over them. They will probably never know how much I will always treasure the little “Mom” locket they gave me so many years ago, or know how much I love them until they have children of their own.
God says that we are chosen by Him, his special treasure. I don’t see myself as a treasure. How could God treasure a sinner like myself? Still, He does. And I am so blessed to know He sees past all of my sins and has chosen me as His treasure.
Deuteronomy 7:6  For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
What a wonderful gift, Theresa and definitely something to treasure! Thanks for sharing with us.
Theresa is an award-winning author of Christian Fiction. A native Texan, she loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old fashioned Southern values. She’s an elementary teacher and mom to two boys—the oldest being in law enforcement, which comes in handy when she’s researching.

When she’s not teaching kids or writing, she loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline. Someday she plans to seek help for her chocolate addiction, but she’s just not ready yet. She loves to hear from readers and can be found at www.theresalynnhall.com

Find and follow her on FacebookTwitter (@theresalynnhall) and Pinterest!
Her new book, Ransom in Rio can be found at Pelican Book Group and at Amazon!

Thanks again Theresa! Good luck and God's blessings with your new release!

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.


Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, July 8, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton & Building Benjamin

Hello from Packwood, WA!

It'll be a month tomorrow that I started my west coast vacation. You can see where we've been so far by visiting these four posts: #1, #2, #3, #4. I'll be sharing more with you next week.

Meanwhile, Pelican Book Group author, Barbara M Britton is in the spotlight with her newest novel, Building Benjamin. This is Barbara's first visit to my blog so please give her a great big warm welcome!

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. 

Barb’s debut novel, “Providence: Hannah’s Journey,” released in October of 2016 from Harbourlight Books and kicked off her Tribes of Israel series. Her second book, “Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey,” released in April of 2017. Her Biblical fiction series will continue in November with the release of “Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.” 

Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.


You can find out more about Barb on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, or visit her website.

So very nice of you to drop by Barbara! Tell us more about Building Benjamin....

(fiction from Judges 19-21)

Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot.

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

Excerpt:

Eliab uncoiled the rope. “Isa tended my father’s flocks with my brother, Joshua. His word is trustworthy.”

“Must you bind my hands?” Her wrists ached at the thought of the prickly cords.

“You fled from me into the cave. Do I have your word that you will not run from me again?”

 Should she vow submission to Eliab? What if she had the opportunity to escape? Were they near the border? Near the lands of the tribe of Benjamin? Or still in the land of Ephraim?

Eliab grabbed her hand and tugged her close.

“Wait.” Should she agree? Her confidence began to crumble. “What did I do wrong? Would you not have gone off to help Isa if you thought he were in trouble?”

“Yes, I would have gone.” He snapped the rope and removed the gag from his satchel.

Saliva pooled in her mouth. She would not be bound like an untamed animal. Not again.

“I will not run away.” She spat out the words as if spitting sand from her mouth. “Do not bind me.”

She punched Eliab’s chest. He did not move. Not one step.  

He caught her arm, encircled her waist, and lifted her onto the mule.

“Rest, Naomi. You are a tower of stones. The mule listens to one master.” Eliab’s arms closed around her, holding her next to his body. His tunic wasn’t the most comfortable bed, but his body was warm, and up until this point, he had not harmed her.

She prayed her father would find her before Eliab desired a union and made her his wife.

Wow, Barbara! Great excerpt. I wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your series. Where can we get them?

Building Benjamin as well as, Providence: Hannah's Journey can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes&Noble or your favorite book retailer. 

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT