I'm new to Dee Henderson and this first book, Threads of Suspicion" was enjoyable. It's a crime mystery and the second book in a series called "An Evie Blackwell Cold Case." The story focuses on Evie Blackwell and her new partner David Marshal as they work two seemingly unrelated missing persons cold cases. There's some nice twists and it's a clean story. 

Here's what I liked: it's clean. No sex or language or details of gore. The characters have faith relationship with Jesus and encourage each other. The story moved along and there were some good twists. The characters were likable and I was drawn in  pretty quickly. 

Here's what I didn't like: it felt formulaic. A little too much telling about and not enough showing us what was happening. It was written third person which makes it hard to really get into the characters. I liked them but I didn't feel I knew them. Subplots came and went and didn't connect or end sensibly. There were some annoying and distracting grammatical errors and date issues. The timeline didn't stay in tact.

But, overall, I liked the book and will suggest it to my book club.

We've all been shaken by life's storms. We've all received news we didn't want, didn't expect. We've all said, "Okay, God, what's going on here?"

So has Tim Tebow. And in fact, he tells us the whole story in his new book, Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms. 

I'm a football fan plus I'm a homeschool mom. Tebow was homeschooled and a football player. So, I was drawn to this book. And as I've already said, we all face storms. We all question our purpose, we all wonder who we are from time to time. 

In Shaken, Tebow tells us how his short-lived football career didn't line up with his dreams and desires of being an NFL quarterback. He describes how discouraging and life-shaking being cut from the teams he thought would be a part of his future. He shows us how quickly life can change from being on top, making touchdowns to being on the bottom, getting cut. 

You don't have to be a football fan to appreciate the stories. I immediately thought of the times in my life when I felt rejected, or had a door slammed shut in my face. And though the circumstances are different, the feelings are the same. I too wondered "why, God?" And I questioned God's purpose for allowing me to walk through a door just to be tossed out the window. I battled with not understanding my purpose nor my identity. Just like Tebow does in this book. 

And then he brings us back around, reminding us that he is a child of God and so are we. And that God's purpose for our lives often does't look like we thought it would. Sometimes we have to feel the rejection man doles out in order to find the acceptance he offers.

Part biography, part self-help, part inspirational, Shaken is a great read for anyone questioning their worth, their purpose and God's plan. 

If you want a sweet and easy read, check out Tapestry of Secrets by Sarah Loudin Thomas. I was drawn to the story because it's about a young woman and her grandmother whose had a stroke. If you know anything about me, you know that I was very close to my grandmother and she too had a stroke when I was young. 

Thomas weaves a delightful, somewhat suspenseful story about traditions, family secrets, faith and restoration. 

Though the plot was a little obvious and drawn-out, it was still a pleasurable read and the characters are memorable. 

In the spirit of easy summer reading, here's another light read you may be interested in this summer. "Sea Rose Lane" by Irene Hannon is the second book in the Hope Harbor series. 

The book, though not my idea of good fiction, is good enough for a light read. The author paints a beautiful setting as an Oregon coast village with charming characters and enchanting scenery. The plot itself is predictable and yawn-inducing, but the characters are real and likable. 

​If a vacation to the coast isn't in your summer itinerary, pick up a copy of this book instead. It's almost as good as the real thing.

From the Publisher:
After a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the town where he grew up--only to discover that his childhood home is being transformed into a bed & breakfast. Instead of plotting his next career move in peace, he's constantly distracted by noise, chaos--and BJ Stevens, the attractive but prickly blonde architect and construction chief who's invaded the house with her motley crew. 
As for BJ, her client's son might be handsome, but after a disastrous romance, dating isn't high on her agenda. Yet when they join forces to create a program for Hope Harbor seniors, might they also find healing, hope, and a new beginning themselves? 
Three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon takes readers back to Hope Harbor for a new season of charm, romance, and second chances

It's summertime which means it's the season of fun, easy reads. If that's what you're into, then you should check out "Fading Starlight" by Kathryn Cushman.

The story follows a fashion intern whose fledgling career has taken an unexpected tumble. The book's slow start then gives way to the real fun: vintage Hollywood and a bit of intrigue. It's not a gripping tale, but it's enjoyable and makes for great summer reading by the pool.

The characters aren't well developed and the story line is kind of hard to follow, but if you're looking for some PG-rated fiction, this might be a good choice for your summer reading.
​
From the Publisher:
A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour

Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging--a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she's surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood who lives in the nearby mansion. 

Kendall Joiner wants Lauren's help uncovering the old woman's secrets. In return, she'll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren's tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I am aware of Romania's communist history. But, I've never truly understood its horrible, terrifying effect on Christians until I read "Saving My Assassin" by Virginia Prodan.

A memoir of her own life experience growing up in Romania, the book tells Prodan's story of shame, exclusion, neglect, abuse all at the hand of her family and also the story of her capture and torture by Ceaucsescu's forces. She was the mis-fit, odd-man-out in her family, and a modern day Cinderella, left to care for the home at only 6-years-old while her siblings and parents vacationed. Yet, God used those experiences to shape her into a formidable woman of faith though she was tiny in stature. 

Against all odds, Prodan becomes an attorney and defends Christians and churches against the persecution of the communists. Doing so makes her a target and she faces capture, torture, and house arrest. The story is true, though you'll hardly believe it. 

Yet, God is with her at every step. And she emerges from martyrdom as a hero of our faith. 

Every American should read this memoir, especially those who have little or no familiarity with the horrors of communist Romania. The personal tale of one woman's fight against and victory over evil will open your eyes to the truth that we are only free in Christ.

I was provided a copy of this book for the purpose of this unbiased review.

From the Publisher:
​“I should be dead. Buried in an unmarked grave in Romania. Obviously, I am not. God had other plans.”

At just under five feet tall, Virginia Prodan was no match for the towering 6' 10" gun-wielding assassin the Romanian government sent to her office to take her life. It was not the first time her life had been threatened―nor would it be the last.

As a young attorney under Nicolae Ceausescu’s brutal communist regime, Virginia had spent her entire life searching for the truth. When she finally found it in the pages of the most forbidden book in all of Romania, Virginia accepted the divine call to defend fellow followers of Christ against unjust persecution in an otherwise ungodly land.

For this act of treason, she was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, placed under house arrest, and came within seconds of being executed under the orders of Ceausescu himself. How Virginia not only managed to elude her enemies time and again, but how she also helped expose the appalling secret that would ultimately lead to the demise of Ceausescu’s evil empire is one of the most extraordinary stories ever told.

A must-read for all generations, Saving My Assassin is the unforgettable account of one woman’s search for truth, her defiance in the face of evil, and a surprise encounter that proves without a shadow of a doubt that nothing is impossible with God.

Pressing Pause is a wonderful break in my hectic days. It's literally a reset button, a pause button, a moment to rest, refocus and catch my breath. Authors Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwank have done a beautiful job providing bite-sized excerpts that easily fit into the brief, brief moments in between domestic duties. 

Each of the thoughtfully written devotions offer grace, mercy and rejuvenation. They quickly and succinctly point a tired heart to the rest only moments with Jesus can provide. And each entry includes a reflection question and a chance to respond. It is encouraged that you respond in written form, as in a journal, but sometimes life starts playing again and there's only enough time to reflect mentally. Yet, the grace is rich and there is no shame for the mom who barely has enough time to read each devotion.

I love that I can read it and get a dose of Jesus' love, mercy and strength in the midst of the chaos. And since it is short and sweet, I am not encumbered by guilt or schedules. Further, the thoughts stay with me all day long and lead me into deeper reflection and reading. 

If you're looking for an easy, quick way to add a little more Jesus to your day, this book is for you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

From the Publisher:
ou’re busy and tired and craving peace—and you’re not alone.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom who has a list of seventeen errands to do between dropping the kids off and picking them up, or the working mom who’s day job is just as tough as your mom job, or the brand new mama who is experiencing the pain and joy of motherhood for the very first time—Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments Where Moms Can Meet with Jesus is for you.
These 100 devotions for moms focus on moving from just making it through to making a real difference and not losing yourself along the way.
In order to have this seismic shift in perspective, a mom needs to drink deep from the well of God’s word each day, filling her spiritual reservoir enough to then pour out into the lives of her husband, children, and others with whom her life naturally intersects. This can only be done with regular times spent alone with God, drawing on His power, ingesting His word, and learning to love and serve more like His Son.
Sound like a tall order? A time commitment you just can’t handle? These simple, accessible devotions offer you a brief moment of respite in your busy day, taking just enough time to center your heart and mind on what God has for you as His beloved daughter. Press pause on the chaos and find your rest.

This particular day, we'd swam outside the shelter of the cove to snorkel along the rocks and coral reef. The water was warm, deep and clear. Out here, away from the shore break, the waves rolled gently as we swam among the fish. On another trip to this same beach, we'd seen a honu (turtle) swimming along the edge of the cove! 

Soon it was time to go back ashore, so my sister and I followed my dad back into the cove. As we got past the break, we noticed a ruckus just ahead of us near the rocks. My dad, who was once a lifeguard and swimming coach, realized someone was struggling and rushed ahead of us to help. He found a woman, a bit older than he, thrashing about struggling to swim. Apparently they'd swam too far so she was tired and the waves were making it hard for her to swim ashore though she was already in water shallow enough to touch the bottom. 

I watched as my dad talked to her, gently helping her to safety. And I wondered, "why doesn't she put her feet down and stand up?" But she was overwhelmed, tired and panicking. It can be hard to catch your breath, and gain your footing when you're in the ocean. And she needed someone strong, calm and sure to tell her "put your feet down." Once in the capable care of my dad, that's what she did, and he walked her ashore. 

Recently, that story came to mind again as I thought about the tumultuous current, battering waves and overwhelming exhaustion of daily life. How many times have I gone too far, done too much and left myself exhausted? How many times have you been tossed by bad news, thrown for a loop by something unexpected? How often do we get utterly overwhelmed by the chaos of life? 

"...the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:6

It's just easy to be trapped in despair, fear, shame, busy-ness, grief, anger, and/or guilt as it is to be trapped in the waves along Hawaii's coast. And it's dangerous because it leaves us susceptible to the enemy who would love to see us give up and drown. He hopes that each wave will leave us a little weaker, a little more confused and a little more stuck there in our deathtrap. 

But, so often, the answer is to put down your feet and stand. Stand on the truth that Christ died and set you free. Stand on the truth that you are a child of God. Stand on the truth that in Christ you have victory over the enemy and all his schemes. Just stand!

"And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today." Exodus 14:13
 
Moses knew that the people would be afraid. He knew they would experience the feeling of being afraid. But what he's saying here is something like don't cower in fear, don't wallow in it, don't get lost in it. Then he says "stand firm." To me, he's saying, "Stop wrestling in the waves of fear/guilt/shame/busy-ness, and stand up." Just stand up, already. 

Standing takes presence of mind. It requires recognizing that we are thrashing or wallowing, struggling against the waves or sinking into the abyss. Standing means giving up the fight and letting God pull you to your feet. He's calmed the seas, He can calm the waves threatening to overtake you. He's conquered death, He can conquer whatever is holding you in the grave. Just put your feet down and stand up on His truth.

"So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you." James 4:7

The internet of the 21st century is creepy.  With all the tracking apps and spyware, it's easy to feel creeped out by technology. I do, at least. I mean, seriously, a week or so ago, I sat down and planned an imaginary vacation. This is something I do from time to time. Pick a place, usually somewhere tropical, and pretend I'm going on vacation there. I look for flights, hotels, restaurants, you name it. And I plan the whole thing as if it were going to really happen. 

Anyhow, back to my point. The creepy internet. 

So I did this very dream vacation planning thing and then pretty soon ads for my selected spot were popping up everywhere. I first noticed that Orbitz was emailing me hotel suggestions and cheaper flights for said dream vacation. Then in the margins of my Facebook feed there were ads. Soon I noticed that the creepiness was infesting every digital device I own because guess what, they're all linked through my Google+ account. 

Is nothing sacred anymore? I can't even plan a pretend vacation without the marketing spies stalking me at every turn. What has this world come to?

And then, this nugget of truth popped into my brain: my heart is like my social media newsfeed. 

Yes, that's right. I said it. My heart is like my newsfeed. 

You see, that which I put into my heart is what comes to mind repeatedly. That which I dwell on is what comes out of my mouth. The things I read pop up into my thoughts at the oddest times. Songs? They do it too. Photos and other images are even worse. And the more I ruminate on these things the more they manifest themselves in the newsfeed of my heart. 

This can be good. But often it is just bad. Especially if you're an anxious sort with a touch of OCD like I am. Oh come on, who am I kidding? I'm a control freak, type A worry-wart. There. I said it. And so this kind of marinating is really bad for my outlook and even worse for my soul. 

You see, it's that age old truth of garbage in, garbage out. If I obsess over the number on the scale, or the way that mom homeschools her kid, or how badly I messed up yesterday, that is what is going to come out in my life. Worry, obsession, poor self-esteem, competition, envy, lack of self-worth. And pretty soon I'm going to be googling how to fix it. This only makes the cycle more detrimental because now I'm not only obsessed that something is wrong, I"m hell-bent on fixing it. 

But, if GIGO is true, then good stuff in, good stuff out must also be true. 

So if I can somehow stop myself, breathe and then redirect my thoughts to something else, I might just be able to stop the vicious cycle. If I can just grab hold of the reins, tell the enemy to take a hike and focus on all the good stuff God is doing, maybe, just maybe that good stuff will actually come out in my life. 

That's what I'm working on these days. I'm tired of the enemy's spies stalking me, lurking around corners, studying my weaknesses and then laying tripwires in front of me. I'm tired of being trapped in an endless newsfeed of "I'm not good enough" or "If only I" and "But look at her" or "Why did this happen to me?" 

It has to stop. Today. Right now.

Today, I cancel my subscription to the devil's newsfeed. I'm not going to lend an ear or type into google any crazy idea the enemy puts into my head. No more walks down memory lane, listening to his revisionist history and misinterpretation of events.

Today, I'm going to stop reading his blog.

Today I'm going to remove his spyware from my heart and turn my focus elsewhere. 

Today, I start filling the newsfeed of my heart with God's truth, with things that turn my eyes to him and fill my heart with love and gratitude. That might mean literally unsubscribing to some social media things. It might mean listening only to worship music. I know it means spending a lot more time praying and a lot less time obsessing, analyzing and processing.

Yes, today's the day my newsfeed reflects who I am in Christ not who the devil wants me to be. 
​

During the summer of my middle school years, I was on the swim team at our local tennis club.  I was a strong swimmer, but not especially fast and certainly not fast enough to ever place or earn a ribbon. My talent, if you will, was holding my breath.  I could easily swim the length of the Olympic size pool on just a breath or two.  And I remember shocking the judges and coaches at my first swim meet because I swam the entire distance without taking a breath at all. 

In the second summer of my illustrious swimming career, my parents signed us up for a skills workshop with Coach Sarah. We stood along the wall of the free swimming area and followed the instructions Coach gave us. After one of my drills, I returned to the wall and she crouched down and asked me, "Don't you know how to breathe?"

I'm certain I giggled and probably thought inside my head, "duh, of course I do." She continued a brief lecture about how important it is to breathe and that I need to do it more. And then, exasperated, she said this, "Even right now as I'm standing here talking to you, you're not breathing. Not through your mouth at least, you're just calmly breathing through your nose." She must have gone on to say that in exercise it is important to fully oxygenate our bodies by breathing through our mouths, because, well, that's what stuck with me 20-something years later. 

The thing is, I still hold my breath. All. The. Time. 

When we were first married, I spooked my husband more than once because he thought I'd died in my sleep. Turns out I just breathe very slowly and quietly while sleeping. Supposedly this kind of breathing has something to do with being a swimmer as my dad, a former swim coach, used to scare my mom with the same inconspicuous breathing.

I wish I could tell you that this is just a physical anomaly, something I can't really control. But I don't think it is. I think I hold my breath because I'm preoccupied, too busy or just waiting for something. I catch myself not breathing a lot. And then,I breathe out in heavy, labored, usually loud sighs. 

Even as I write this now, I have to remind myself to breathe. 

And so, as I ended 2015, I started thinking about my word for 2016. I prayed and asked God to reveal to me the word that encapsulated the one thing I could do in 2016 to change my life. And very quickly, breathe entered my mind. And as if it were a gasp of fresh air itself, I inhaled and felt at peace. 

See, I'm not good at slowing down. And I often rush through tasks, events and even life. All the while I'm holding my breath. And in doing so, I miss out on so much living, and essentially on thriving. Breathing is, of course, a top priority of thriving. One cannot thrive if one cannot breathe. Friends, I haven't thrived in years. Nor have I truly breathed. 

It's not easy to find Scripture that fully embraces what  this word breathe means to me. But here's what I've gotten so far, tell me what you think:
   He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen 2:7 ... 
   ...Breath came into them and they lived and stood upon their feet. Ezekiel 37:10

See how those go together so well? God gave us breath of life and when His breath came into them, they lived. Of course that second part has hidden meaning to me because it says they stood upon their feet. Well, if you remember, back in 2014,standing was a bit of a challenge. 

I don't know exactly where breathe will take me in 2016. But I'm starting at the beginning. I can't fully breathe, I can't fully live, I can't thrive unless I let the Creator breathe life into me. And for now, that's enough.