Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

Let me introduce you to a wonderful book for any mother seeking to find God in the everyday moments of motherhood: In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible. Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child. In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognize the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind. Read an excerpt: http://triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/...

Tricia Goyer has become one of my favorite writers. Her series, Heather Creek , by Guideposts, has continued to capture my heart with the story of the reality of growing teenagers crashing into a life with grandparents and a sleepy farm town. Tricia's characters jump to life off the pages of the book and each individual's personality connects with my own inner challenges. Emily and her wishes to be loved, Charlotte and her insecurity about parenting, and Sam's adolescent angst to find his true identity and place of belonging in the world. The story is authentic and the challenges are just like the ones each of face in daily life. Every Sunrise is the third in this series with new twists and turns and changes for this family to face together. Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father,...

Heather Creek Farm.... Sounds like a marvelous place to raise three kids, doesn't it? But these kids have lost their mother and are learning a new life with their grandparents far from their metropolitan life. Tricia Goyer leads us through their lives as they learn and grow through this experience... Blog Tour Contest: Since Sweet September is all about family, Tricia wants to meet yours. Leave a comment on the Tricia’s blog tour post ( http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2008/09/sweet-september-blog-tour.html ) sharing who your favorite family member is and why and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win William-Sonoma’s Pumpkin Harvest Loaf Pan & Quick Bread Set. (I’ve attached a photo. It’s super cute…and would be great for fall treats!) About the book: Harvest time at Heather Creek Farm is an exciting time, but the kids don't seem to be getting into the spirit. One day while he's wandering through the fields, Christopher stumbles across an old piece of metal buried in...

Joanna Weaver has captured the attention of many women with her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World . Her book has been re-released in a beautiful hardback format in celebration of its tenth anniversary. Here's a synopsis of this powerful book: An invitation for every woman who’s ever felt she isn’t godly enough, isn’t loving enough, isn’t doing enough. The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet…but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him…yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then comes Jesus, into the midst of your busy life, to extend the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters from Bethany. Tenderly, he invites you to choose “the better part”–a joyful life of intimacy with him that flows naturally into loving service. With her fresh ap...

Suzanne Woods Fisher’s just-released historical novel Copper Fire , is the sequel to the three-time award-winning Copper Star, a World War II love story inspired by true events. A wife and mother, Fisher lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The best thing about being a writer, she feels, is that all of life becomes material for writing. It’s all grit for the oyster. Here's a little interview with the author, Suzanne: Q: Tell us about Copper Fire. SWF: Copper Fire is the sequel to Copper Star, picking right up at the very end of World War II. On a summer day in 1945, my main character, Louisa, receives a telegram from the International Red Cross Tracing Service. She discovers that her cousin, Elisabeth, has just been released from Dachau. Louisa is determined to go to Germany to get Elisabeth…and that’s where the story begins. (Tell me your interest isn't piqued??? I can't wait to read it!) Q: Tell us a little about you! SWF: ...

Tricia Goyer is at it again. She has kept us on the edge of our seats through two dynamic novels chronicling the American involvement in the Spanish Civil War (pre-World War II days). The third book in the Spanish war series, A Whisper of Freedom , is now available. In this sequel, the main characters carry a truckload of gold artifacts and the dreams of an even greater treasure hunt. The pursuit of treasure leads them each down different paths, into caves, into France, or into South America. Could the gold save the Spanish people from the devastation of war? The story is engaging and full of twists and unexpected turns. I hope you take the time to read it! But, as I was reading about these characters and all that gold, I was wondering how a treasure so immense would affect me. Join me by participating in the following meme. 1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!) I would nervous having so much gold. It would too easy for it to become ...

Last weekend we celebrated a birthday around here - the biggest kid in the house just got a little bigger. She's a whole seven years old (and she has seven teeth growing into the gaps in her mouth too). Seven is her magic number, I guess. So, do you know what she wanted for her birthday? Diaries. The locking kind - where little girls can keep their super secret stuff. Since she got three, she ought to be busier writing than her mother! But I don't think she has anything too secretive to hide away in there. Not yet at least. When she turns ten I'll have to find the key to that diary to keep up on her life. Just kidding. I won't need the key. No, I wouldn't invade her privacy (maybe). :) Now, in addition to the diaries, she got some of her favorite books: Junie B. Jones But did you know there's a Christian rival to Junie B? I had no idea and now my daughter and I are totally hooked. The first book we looked at was about Meghan Rose and her diary ! How's that ...