time....

Time just doesn't stop.

Today reading about a friend entering heaven and being made whole again was hard. Not for her though. She was ready.

And time keeps going.

Thursday holding a friend as she sobbed with sadness and grief because she received the police report from when her 3 year old son tragically died eight months ago. She wasn't ready.

Yet time keeps ticking on.

As one friend said yesterday, "There's no second chances with death. That's it. No do overs. It's just so final."

Makes me realize how short life is. So many times we get second chances. And thirds and fourths. And 100th's.

So what do you do with your second chances? Make the most of them? Brush them aside? Or both?

One day we won't have any do overs left.

Seize the day. Enjoy your kids. Love your spouse. Keep asking God those questions (He doesn't mind). Enjoy life. Talk things out. Don't fear. Hug your friends. Kiss your kids. Savor flavors. Smell a flower. Heighten your senses. Tune in to your emotions. Grow. Give. Love. Learn. Challenge.

We're given a short time on this earth.

Live it authentically.

Live it to it's fullest.

It's the only chance we have to live.

review of Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review.

Emily's Chance is the second book in The Callahan's of Texas Series. Here is a brief description of the book:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing historical society will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator.

This wasn't one of my favorites. It was hard to get into and I waited and waited for something to happen. Then the book ended. I'm sure it wasn't meant to be a cliff hanger book, but there just wasn't anything gripping.

The book cover kind of hindered the story. Being called Emily's Chance, but with a picture of a guy. A bit confusing and a turn off. I tend to be drawn toward books without pictures of actual people on the front as I want to form my own picture in my head.


Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dolly

I knew the day would come, but I was hoping it wouldn't come so soon.




Dolly has been officially been declared an "end of the bed" toy.







Dolly has been a mainstay at the head of the bed since day one. She was a gift from her Uncle John and Aunt Crystal on the day our baby girl was born.





She has had flying privileges on the airplane flying between Michigan and Washington.










She has been strapped to the backpack on camping trips in Michigan and Washington. She's always packed on short overnight trips. She has always been the side kick.








Not only has Dolly been put aside, the Polly's are heading to the attic as well as their doll house. "I think I'm too old for these now" was the comment.

It's seriously like Toy Story, but in real life and I know the 3rd edition will be here in the blink of an eye.

It's hard watching your baby girl grow up. I don't want her to. I always want to feel her little hand in mind while out and about. To hear her "I love you's" and feel her little arms around my waist no matter where we're at. To see her skip along with nary a care in the world. But I want her to experience so much in life. But I don't want her to have to deal with the harshness and hurtfulness in the world. I want to keep her tender heart safe and protected from all that's out there.

So if you have a baby girl of your own, enjoy and cherish her. She's a rare gem that is so worth investing in. There will come a Toy Story day for you too. Mine consisted of sadness and celebration mixed into one. And a splash of thankfulness too that I get to be the one to live life with and love a Beautiful Woman. Also known as Alina Carlen.

Review of Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them.

This is book #2 in the Women of Justice Series. I really enjoyed the first one in the series and the second book was just as good. At times it was a bit squeemish for me, but if you like crime stories, then this is the book for you. A bit predictable with the story line and I knew instantly who the "bad guy" was, but the unexpected twist at the end was perfectly timed and caught the reader off guard.

Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she has made a life for herself—though one that is haunted by memories of her terrifying past.

She finally lets herself get close to a man, FBI agent Dakota Richards, when signs start appearing that point to one frightening fact—her attacker is back and ready to finish the job he started all those year ago. Can she escape his grasp a second time?

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Review of The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review.

"A multifaceted story about complex people living the simple life, The Waiting is the second book in the Lancaster County Secrets series. Readers will find themselves transported into the world of the Amish and deeply invested in these wonderful characters."

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and looked forward to reading the second. With a complete different set of characters, this book did not disappoint. Again, simple story line, great writing with little twists here and there. A predictable ending, but good none the less.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.