Book Review: The Good Book

This book review is being given in exchange for a copy of the book and a small monetary stipend. All opinions are my own.

The Good Book by Paul S. Williamson is an interesting interpretive reading of the Gospel accounts and the Acts of the Apostles. Paul Williamson graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA and an MD. He also holds an MA, and a PhD in Biblical Studies and Languages from the Catholic University of America. After translating the entire New Testament from Greek after graduate school and with his blend of degrees in chemistry, medicine, language and the Bible, Paul felt uniquely qualified to write a Biblical account in easy to read, modern day language specifically geared toward those who find reading the scriptures a daunting and confusing task.

Rather than following the traditional forms of the Bible we currently have, or a chronological form, Williamson arranges his book starting with a in depth introduction on reading the New Testament, followed by Conversations with Jesus, covering many of the important interactions between Jesus and people like the religious elite - Pharisees and Sadducees, the rich young ruler, the woman at the well, Nicodemus, his own disciples and more. He writes out the passages where these conversations are found and includes references to all the Gospel accounts. I like this detail, as it then allows me to look up the various verses in the translation of the Bible I desire for my own study.

Williamson follows this chapter on Jesus’ conversations with a chapter on Jesus background, going into the details surrounding God’s choosing of Mary as Jesus mother, how Joseph was convinced in a dream to take Mary as his wife, where he was born, shepherds, the wise men and other points including Jesus’ early foray’s into the Temple.

The chapters that follow look specifically at Jesus miracles, the Sermon on the Mount, teaching through the Parables, the disciples, why and how Jesus died, his resurrection, and then closes the book with a look at the early church through the Acts of the Apostles.

Paul Williamson does an excellent job of adding his interpretations of the passages he presents in a way that reinforces his learning and knowledge, but enables the reader to understand and learn from them. He is not overly wordy, but also gives enough information to make important points and observations from the scripture.

I think I would have liked this book better if Paul had arranged it more in keeping with the actual Bible itself. I think he should have talked about Jesus background first, followed by the disciples, the sermon on the mount, conversations, miracles and so on. I think this arrangement would make more sense to the trained and the untrained reader and creates a flow that allows the reader to move along easily as they read.

That being said, I would still recommend this book as a resource, especially for someone who is looking at studying the Bible, or leading others in Bible study. It would serve as a reference that would allow looking things up with ease. For example if you are teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, you could go to that chapter in Paul’s book. If you wanted to discuss a particular interaction or miracle, you could reference those chapters quickly.

I think The Good Book would be beneficial book to have in a church library, as a Christian leader’s personal resource, or for someone who is interested in a different way to study God’s word.

Book Review: Bringing Heaven Here

(This book review is being done in exchange for a copy of the book. No money exchanged hands for this review, and all opinions are my own.)

Have you ever experienced a time where you were struggling and feeling really discouraged, only to have God step in like a light breeze on a spring day? I experienced just that when I began to read, Bringing Heaven Here by Brad Gray and Brad Nelson. (Published by W. Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, 2025.) When I signed up to review this book about the Lord’s Prayer, I had no idea how much depth there was to this seemingly simple prayer Jesus prayed. I signed up out of curiosity and perhaps because I felt a tug at my heart saying, “This is something important for you to really understand.”

Most people who identify as Christian know the Lord’s Prayer and can recite it from memory. Even if they haven’t memorized it, they know it is something of importance to the church for nothing more than the reason that Jesus was the one who prayed it. I am not sure how many understand the significance of this prayer and the importance of delving into the cultural and historical context of the words and phrases that Jesus used. It is with this in mind that Brad and Brad wrote the book.

The book is laid out in phrases. For example the first two chapters are devoted to the phrase, Our Father. Each author then takes a chapter to discuss different aspects of what the phrase meant to the audience that Jesus was teaching it too, in other words his own disciples and the Jewish people who were listening to him speak. The following image gives you an idea of what each chapter looks like according to the table of contents.

In Chapter 1, Strong Enough for the Weight of Life, the authors write of this book:

“ It offers not just clarity but courage. Not just comfort but calling. In a noisy, disorienting world it will show you how the Lord’s Prayer can recenter your life around what matters most.
If you’ve felt like your faith can’t bear the weight of your real life, if you’ve ever wanted to start over with God but didn’t know how, if you’re hungry for something deeper than performance, more grounded than hype, and more human than reliegious cliches, this book was written for you”

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 9

After experiencing the death of my mother on Christmas, traveling, helping my brothers and family plan and implement her funeral, traveling home, having both my spouse and I get the Flu (which took us several weeks to fully recover from), and then on February 11th having the university where my spouse taught for nearly 37 years announce its closure at the end of this semester, I can tell you I needed something to remind me that God was in it. By the end of Chapter 2, I knew God, in His amazing love and knowledge of me, brought this book along at just the right moment.

“There was a time I simply believed that God was love. But now, I experience him as a Rescuer, crashing into my pain and lifting me from the things that hold me back. He wants the exact same things for you, right now, with whatever pain you’re holding or whatever barrier you are stuck against.””

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 23

Brad Gray and Brad Nelson use easy to read language as they walk us through the context of each phrase explaining why Jesus chose those words, and yes they explain the Hebrew and the Greek as needed. Jesus knew what these phrases would mean to his audience and the importance of Israel’s history pertaining to each phrase. After they have established context, the authors show how these phrases pertain to us as believers in Christ.

These are just a few of the things I was reminded of as I read about each phrase:

Our Father - He is the Father who hears, rescues and makes himself known. He is also the the Father that enters into the times between times; the wandering in the wilderness times; the time between what was and what will be, inviting us into intimacy during the span of delay.

“Part of the genius of the Lord’s Prayer is that it summons us to resist the lie that ‘nothing’s happening’ by daily reminding ourselves of the truth that God is a loving Father who is leading us somewhere good. Even when we can’t see it.”

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 32

In the Heavens - Our Father sits above it all. He is the God of the heavens where the birds fly. He is the God of the heavens where the stars and planets hang. He is the God of the heaven where he is King and Lord. When I keep this idea in mind, I know that there is nothing he does not see and care about. He is also the Father who comes to us in the enchanted moments and brings heaven to earth. It’s those moments we remember his compassion and mercy.

“Praying ‘Our Father in the heavens’ invites us to live with the conviction that the heavenly, unseen realm is as real and present as the air we breath—that every place can become holy ground if only we have eyes to see it.””

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 56

Holy Be Your Name - Holiness is not about turning God into who I think he should be, but reorienting my life around his person and character. My response to his holiness should be one of fear (terror), awe and reverent respect. It also is meant to transform me from being a slave to sin and selfishness into a representative of the freedom I have in him.

“...God’s holiness isn’t dangerous because he’s volatile or reckless or cruel. It’s dangerous because we’re fragile. His greatness and power don’t diminish to fit our expectations. He comes as he is: pure, radiant and blazing.”

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 69

Your Kingdom Come - I was created to be God’s representative and to co-rule with him as a queen through worship, and service. His kingdom isn’t some far off, heavenly realm it is “the rule and reign of God advancing here on earth, bringing healing and wholeness by pushing out the chaos.” (Bringing Heaven Here - p. 100.) I am able to look at my life as a ministry of Jesus, not because of who I am, but because of who he is.

“This is how the kingdom comes: not all at once, but in small, faithful choices to live differently. Little by little, your kingdom will reflect more of heaven’s priorities, proving that the gospel really is good news for the world.”

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 114

Daily Bread - I will experience Christ’s sufficiency as I surrender to him. The idea of just enough keeps me dependent on him. Christ is our real contentment.

“Contentment is the posture of heart that says, I don’t need more to be at peace. It’s one of the most powerful antidotes to the when-then thinking that fuels our scarcity-induced anxiety.”

— Bringing Heaven Here - p. 131

As I read on about Forgive us Our Debts, Lead us Not into Temptation, and Deliver us from Evil I was amazed at the depth of understanding these two authors had and how praying this prayer on a regular basis with these truths in mind will change our lives. Brad and Brad also include a wealth of quotes from both secular and Christian authors supplying a hefty list of end notes at the back of the book. Many of whom would be other good sources to read.

I think Bringing Heaven Here is a book every Christian, from pastors and ministry leaders to parents, to business leaders, to government officials, to married couples, to aging seniors should own and read more than once. This is a book you will want to hang on to and read again and again.

Also check out this trailer for The Lord’s Prayer video which is streaming on Angel.

Book Review: The Weight of Mercy

(This book review is being given in exchange for a copy of the book and small monetary stipend. All opinions are my own.)

When life becomes too difficult, I often turn to books to take my mind off my own circumstances. I read lots of non-fiction Christian books, and I have read my fair share of novels written by secular authors. I used to be in a book club with our daughters back in our home schooling days, and we also used numerous literature based curriculums for history, and other subjects like geography. I have read historical fiction, romance, science fiction, and mystery, but my all time favorite has been fantasy. I particularly enjoy faith based books where I don’t have to worry about explicit sex or language. When I read the synopsis for Weight of Mercy (Book 1 of The Chasm Cycle) by Nigel Poh, I was intrigued, so I signed up to do a review. I was not disappointed.

In this alternate historical time period we step into a fantastical world that is somehow both strange and familiar. The year is 1305 AD. The world has changed due to “The Chasms — fissures that birthed a tide of demons…” leaving “…the Holy Roman Empire in ruins and the Kingdom of France a scattered memory. Much of what should be has vanished, replaced by things that shouldn’t exist…” (p. 5, The Weight of Mercy). We see eras trickling together, and timelines upended.

Poh builds a world using a cast of characters; ones we cheer for and ones we want to see vanquished; but all who are part of humanity. In a world that is overrun by demonic entities and powers, humanity is what binds them together. It is in this combined humanity we are immediately introduced to Lord Stephern, a knight of the Church, serious, quiet, but a man with deep principles and faith; his fellow soldier Sir Bessian, a man of humor, and strength; and Captain Dosh, a ranking member of the Crown and commander of Lady Horst’s guards.

Weaving the workings of the Church with the undercurrents of political power mongering, we are drawn into the society of Clairval, home to one of the citadels of the church housing a training ground for new paladins, a great hall able to seat 1,000, an armory stocked with normal and blessed weapons, and several libraries where military strategy and church doctrine are stored. It is in this city where much of Poh’s story unfolds.

As this drama continues a dark weight descends throughout the land. There are skirmishes with otherworldly beasts like ghouls, vampires, massive demonic bears, and revenants, the living armor of knights long dead. The hefty hand of evil shows up all over the city in the form of chanting children drawing strange patterns in the dirt; fists fights between friends, and even a young woman who throws herself off a building. We see our heroes suffering through hunger, wounds, wrongful imprisonment, attempts on their lives, and the pain of seeing their own friends die. However, they know the God of the universe is in it. This faith and the willingness to be humbled in His service is what eventually helps to bring light back into the darkness.

This book was an unexpected treat. It combines fantasy, historically accurate details, exciting battles, close friendships, political intrigue and faith in a tale that moved me from fear, to laughter to tears. If you are a person of faith, and love to read historical fiction, and fantasy combined, The Weight of Mercy is for you. I loved how the author was able to create a feeling of investment in me, the reader from page one. Poh has a talent for description, dialogue, and character building that is so important in any novel, but particularly in the complex layers of the fantasy genre.

I am lookin forward to the next book in The Chasm Cycle.

Book Review: You Always Belong

The following book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. No money was exchanged for this review.

Today I am reviewing a children’s book by Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jeremy Vuolo, with illustrations by Sara Romero called You Always Belong: Knowing God’s Love & Finding Your Place. This is a Zonderkids publication; a subsidiary of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Every single one of us wants to belong. Children, especially, are susceptible to all manner of messages in the world about identity and community. This book, in easy to read, poetic text with beautiful pictures does a wonderful job reminding young ones who they are in God’s eyes, and why they always have a place in God’s world.

The pictures by illustrator and artist, Sara Romero are colorful, whimsical and fun. She has a way drawing the reader through with each beautiful scene, and creates understanding of the text even with the little ones who can’t read on their own.

The text and the illustrations create a warm imaginative space where children can feel embraced by the message of God’s love and plan for them. I especially love the “refrain” repeated often throughout the book.

“You were made to be part of God’s story,
A beautiful note in his song.
So let his light shine as you walk through the world,
And remember you always belong.”

— You Always Belong

Jinger and Jeremy encourage children 4 and up to see the beauty in God’s creation, especially in who God created them to be. In a simple, but compelling manner they talk about things children experience like being left out, being laughed at, feeling alone, and even peer pressure. They give sound advice to stay true to who God wants them to be and to treat others with kindness and care.

I think this the perfect book to add to your children’s book collection. I think it would be a great read before bed time so that as they fall asleep they are encouraged by the message of God’s unconditional love, as well as the messages of self-discipline, obedience, and character building.

You Always Belong by Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jeremy Vuolo would be a great gift for a child, but also a good book for a church library, children’s Sunday School class, or at the home of a grandparent or other relative. Just click on the link to purchase.

Book Review: True Light by Berhanu Aberra Tadesse

This book review is begin given in exchange for a copy of the book and a small monetary stipend. All opinions are my own.

Berhanu Aberra Tadesse has had an interesting faith journey. Born in Ethiopia he attended Ethiopia Aviation University earning his associates in aviation maintenance. At the age of 25 Berhanu began to search for the meaning behind our existence, answers to his endless questions about life and an end to the ever present confusion he felt. By 28 he immersed himself in books and teachings by numerous authors and authorities. Many of those teachings deepened his understanding of life, but they still felt incomplete.

“I appreciated their discussions about spirituality, interconnectedness, and universal wholeness, but I could not accept the idea that I am a God...I eventually decided to begin reading the Bible, as friends and peers suggested that if I approached the throne of god and prayed for true understanding, He would reveal it to me.”

— True Light p. 29

Berhanu took the advice of his friends and prayed for God to show him if he was the one true God. On that same day, he felt compelled to open the Bible to a random spot and this is the first verse he read.

“5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”

— Deuteronomy 6:5 (World English Bible)

Berhanu described the experience in this way.

“I was astonished at the notion that God truly communicated with me. I cannot explain how, but deep within me, I knew and believed unequivocally that it was God speaking to me.”

— True Light p. 30

True Light is what followed Tadesse’s struggle over a period of years to give his life completely over to Jesus. The book is the cumulation of how Berhanu came to understand the importance of maturity in Christ. Through scripture, personal insight, philosophical underpinnings, and descriptive text Bernahu shares a deep dive into life after we accept Christ.

Berhanu also discusses the problems, not just in our own country, but the whole world with division and lack of unity. He intimates that true unity will only be found in Christ and in the Kingdom of God, and it is only in maturing as a Christ follower that we begin to come in to our true selves; who God desires us to be.

The book is divided into five parts: Part One - True Light - speaking to truth, and understanding the state of our hearts, wills and minds; Part Two - Unity is Found Solely in Christ - the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives; Part Three - The Kingdom of God - covering concepts of our Christian walk such as righteousness, peace, power, love, self-discipline, and gratitude; Part Four - Entering the Kingdom of God - a look at dualism and how it affects our lives through choices like humility vs pride, love vs selfishness, and embracing a mind of unconditional love; Part 5 - Enjoying the Kingdom of God - finding believer’s rest in Christ, spiritual warfare and putting on the new man.

My personal take on True Light is that it is a good resource for any Christian to read and even to keep in their personal library. I am planning on going through it again with a highlighter in hand. I do want to point out that the book, at this point is self published, and there are a number of printing mistakes where words are not divided correctly. In addition there were a few spots where I thought quotation marks were needed. I also would have liked if the author would have given a little more thought to chapter divisions and length. It could have been streamlined with a few simple changes.

However, I do believe this is a valuable book to have in your personal library, especially in this day and age when unity is such a hard thing to find. True Light gives each of us as Christ followers a review of what is really important in our faith, and reminds us that maturity in Christ is essential for becoming a believer who not only experiences the richness of God’s blessings, but is also able to be used by Him to influence others towards His Kingdom.

Book Review: The Wonders of the First Christmas by Andy McGuire

I was given the opportunity to review a children’s book, and since I have a four year old grandson, I opted in. This is not a paid review. The book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review posted on my blog and on my social media accounts.

Christmas is now right around the corner, and the month of December will fly by as we add in the sweet sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the season. I have always been a fan of Christmas media in the form of books and movies. I have a bin in my house that is just filled with holiday books, including Halloween, and Easter, but mostly Christmas.

The Wonders of the First Christmas by Andy McGuire is a beautiful book revolving around the birth of Jesus. Andy doesn’t just tell the typical Christmas story, he includes all sorts of interesting details about the culture and the times surrounding Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Son of God.

Throughout the book, the author includes short paragraphs inset on the picturesque story pages that give information about the Hebrew and Roman culture of the time, as well as interesting facts about words used in the Biblical text, and details about materials used by the Romans to build roads and cities.

Andy McGuire’s book includes beautiful pictures, illustrated by Andy himself, readable text, interesting historical facts, a map, and a bibliography of the sources he used for his details.

“Andy McGuire is the author and/or illustrator of eighteen books ranging from picture books to middle grade fiction....his nature illustrations have been included in The World Book Student Encyclopedia....”

— Author flap on book jacket - The Wonders of the First Christmas by Andy McGuire

The Wonders of the First Christmas is the perfect Advent/Christmas book addition for families with young children ages 4-8. This is also great for grandparents to read to their grandchildren during the Christmas season. This book could also be used by churches in their children’s ministry programs.

If you are interested in adding this beautiful, Biblically based, easy to read book to your children’s Christmas story collection just click on the link to purchase.

Have a great day!

Book Review: The Ghost You Can't See

(This is a paid book review. I was gifted the book and a small monetary payment in exchange for an honest review.)

Lucy and her best friend Schuyler, are ghost hunters. Not only that, but they fight daemons too. In fact, they have been fighting spirit beings ever since Lucy was given an old trunk full of odds and ends at a flea market by a strange old man named Iam Reynard. The odds and ends in that old trunk turned out to be magical tools and weapons for seeing ghosts and creatures who have come into the physical world to do harm.

The Ghost You Can’t See, is the third installment of the Issachar Gatekeeper series by L.G. Nixon. As the story unfolds we find Lucy Hornberger, her mom, and her grandmother preparing for the grand opening of their new home and business, Carriage House Bed and Breakfast. Using many of the antiques they inherited from great-aunt Isabel, their new home is decorated with a charm and uniqueness that makes it perfect for housing future guests and travelers. Lucy is still uncertain about sharing her home with strangers, but she is trying to get used to the idea for her mom’s sake.

Lucy, and Schuyler once again find themselves encountering the dark forces of Darnathian, a being who once inhabited the realm of the High King of Ascalon, but who rebelled against him. Taking numerous of his own followers with him, his purpose is to get rid of the High King and obliterate Ascalon. Planet Earth has become a battle zone, and Darnathian’s dark minions, at the behest of their master, are constantly trying to cause problems which keep Lucy, Schuyler and their friend Paul looking for trouble around every corner.

In this book we see the opening of another portal, battles in the underworld and one of their toughest assignments yet, Mathias Sasson. Mathias and his mom and dad are the bed and breakfast’s first guests. His father’s job is taking them to Lucy’s hometown of Grand River Valley, and with their house already sold they need a place to stay until they can find a new home. Mathias is not happy about any of it, and Darnathian decides to monopolize on Mathias’ already dark attitude.

With the return of past characters and the introduction of new ones L.G. Nixon, once again, writes a page turning tale, that leaves the reader wanting to know more. Watching each difficulty Lucy and her friends encounter, we see them grow, becoming braver, but also more humble, realizing battles in the unseen realm are not won just by a warrior’s skill with the right weapons, but by his or her understanding and relationship with the High King.

This series of books is perfect for teens and young adults who like a story that combines mystery, intrigue, action, and feel good moments. These stories are spooky, but not the stuff of nightmares, and for someone like me, who is older, they are a nice break from the divisive, negative content filling up our news, and social media feeds. Written with a Biblical foundation, and with the perfect blend of tension and resolution, The Issachar Gatekeeper series has been a delight to read. I am looking forward to more from L.G. Nixon.

If you are a Christian and are not sure if these are appropriate books to read check out L.G. Nixon’s note here.

Book Review: The Ghost Writer

(This is a paid book review. I was gifted the book and a small monetary payment in exchange for an honest review.)

“ Darnathian cupped his hands together. When he opened them again a glowing orb sat in his palm. A smile spread across his face as he studied the colors within the circle.
‘Mene ru’ach tsava yara,’ he uttered and tossed the orb at the boy. It exploded over the bed, and diamond-like dust settled on the boy. The particles sank into his pores, luminescing under his skin before the light disappeared completely.”

— The Ghost Writer p. 16

Thus, begins the second installment of three in the the teen/young adult Issachar Gatekeeper series by L.G. Nixon. You can see my review of the first book, The Ghost of Darwin Stewart here.

Lucy Hornberger and her best friend Schuyler Williams are more mature and a little older since their introduction to the reality of a spiritual world by Iam Reynard, a flea market vendor, who ends up selling Lucy an old trunk full of ancient, otherworldly artifacts. Lucy has been chosen by Iam, who is really the High King of Ascalon. These old items end up being tools and weapons for fighting ghosts, daemons and other dark entities from the spirit world. The two friends learn how to wield the weapons through trial and error, Iam’s help and the support of Bill and Vivian McGoo, who turn out to be more than just good neighbors.

Another academic year has commenced and the teen girls find themselves battling numerous ghosts in their school, causing all sorts of damage which Lucy get’s blamed for. In addition, Lucy’s mom looses her aunt and might also lose her job creating addition stress and difficulties at home. What Lucy and Schuyler don’t realize is the difficulties are just beginning.

The hauntings become more frequent, and with each encounter, battle and vanquishing the girls learn these ghosts are not specifically trying to obtain the ancient Spectrescope she uses to see them, but are somehow connected to several people in their school. The mystery is who, and why is it happening.

Throughout the book we see Lucy growing, not just in her compassion for others, but in her love for the High King. She helps her mom as she maneuver’s her impending job loss by making meals, and taking on tutoring at school to help earn money. She also learns the importance of orison (prayer), and abnegation (self-sacrifice). Lucy helps Schuyler gain the seal of the High King, and helps break the curse another friend is under. Even after a terrible personal loss, Lucy learns the High King and His son Ishi, are always there for her.

L.G. Nixon weaves an interesting tale of mystery, friendship, and resilience while threading the truth of the Bible and the reality of the spiritual world throughout. She also uses the realities of the difficulties of life to show how God is for us, not against us, and how He always provides just what we need. Through ghostly details, lighthearted moments and the comfort of food, family and friendships we are ushered through the story, leaving us anxious for the final installment in the series.

Right now L.G. Nixon is running a special on her website where you get all three books in the series plus and additional book free. Click on the following link to purchase.

To learn more about the author follow this link to view her podcast appearances. You can also read more about her thoughts on Christians reading ghost stories here.

If you are looking for a fun story with mystery, ghosts, fearsome daemon creatures, otherworldly battles, and real world struggles this series is perfect to take along on vacation, or give as a gift to your daughters, granddaughters or nieces. With strong female characters, clean dialogue and action, the Issachar Gatekeeper series is a must read.

Book Review: The Good for Nothing Puddle

This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review and posting on my blog and social media. No money exchanged hands for this book.

The Good for Nothing Puddle by Jana Jackson, and illustrated by Abby Jartos is a story of loss, the subsequent grief over that loss and the lessons learned through that loss. It is written for children ages 4 to 8, although I found it quite apropos for adults as well.

I thought it would be fun to take a few pictures of my three year old grandson and I reading the book together, but he would not stand for it…he wouldn’t sit for it either! Ha, ha. However, I did read the book to him and he seemed quite engaged, especially since the girl in the story looses her balloon, one of my grandson’s favorite things. In fact, he has his own story of a lost balloon that he and I experienced together on a very windy day, so I am pretty sure he could relate, even at that young age to the loss the girl feels. In addition, my grandson experienced the loss of a dearly loved pet, a large dog named Beatrice, just this past year.

This is a lovely book, with beautiful illustrations and short, easy to read sentences that will hold a young child’s attention. The content is easily understood, especially by children who are a little older, and the pictures perfectly illustrate the emotions that surround a loss, whether it be a balloon, a toy, a pet or a person. I love the facial expressions and body language that Abby Jartos uses to help convey feelings associated with grief.

In a realistic way Jana Jackson leads us through the stages associated with grief, and includes how we often try to hide it by throwing ourselves into activities, or by disguising it behind a happy facade.

In addition, she shows how in our grief we try to bargain with God to make the pain go away.

Through well positioned words, easily understood sentences and beautiful illustrations Jana and Abby convey the difficult reality of grief, but as the story unfolds we are led through three encounters the girl has with a puppy, a farmer and another child who benefit from her “good for nothing puddle.”

I love how this simple children’s book relates the heaviness of loss, but leaves us with an undeniable feeling of hope. We all want to know that our pain counts for something and this shows how something as difficult as grief can be a help to others along the way. It also reminds us that over time, grief will lessen in intensity and from it beautiful things can bloom.

I would definitely recommend The Good for Nothing Puddle for any parent, grandparent, therapist, or church library. It is well written, beautifully illustrated and brings light into the darkness of loss.

If you are interested in hearing more from the author and the illustrator here is an interview with them both - Carrie On with Jana Jackson and Abby Jartos.

Book Review: The Ghost of Darwin Stewart

I decided to move this book review over to my Fluff page since it is not a Bible study or Christian self-help book. This is the first fiction book I have done a review on. Once again, this was presented to me by FrontGate Media. I was gifted the book and will receive a small monetary reimbursement for my time.

The Ghost of Darwin Stewart is the first in a three part mystery fantasy series called the Issachar Gatekeeper by L. G. Nixon, and is published by Fitting Words. You can learn more about the author on her website - L. G. Nixon. The intended audience for this book includes teens and young adults. The Ghost of Darwin Stewart is both a mystery and a ghost story written with a Biblical foundation.

Lucy Hornberger and her bestie Schuyler Williams are looking forward to a fun filled, sun soaked summer, completely unaware that both of their lives are about to change in ways they never would have imagined. Unbeknownst to them the forces of good and evil are about to drop right into Lucy’s lap and they will both play an integral part in a battle that has waged for centuries.

We meet Lucy and her single mom at a flea market where Lucy is perusing the wares at a vendor’s booth. Lucy finds an old looking magnifying glass along with a few other items in a trunk. When she looks through the glass she is terrified to see a world of dark spirits swirling and following people. She is mesmerized by it, until one of the hooded beings turns and points his boney finger directly at her.

Lucy learns from the vendor, whose name she finds out later is Iam, that the magnifying glass is actually an ancient tool and it has chosen her to wield its power. Lucy is skeptical, but within the trunk is a bracelet that she knows would be a perfect present for Schuyler’s birthday. The trunk and all its contents, both visible and hidden, including the Spectrescope, end up going home with Lucy. Thus begins an adventure for her and Schuyler that keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what happens.

The girls meet creatures who were present at the foundation of the world from Malpar, the bird-like Hayyothalan, to the Irredaemon, a fallen angel that poses as the ghost Darwin Stewart. All of them want to take the Spectrescope away from Lucy to give to their Master, Darnathian whose ultimate goal is to find The Life Tree and become more powerful than the High King of Ascalon.

Lucy and Schuyler learn to use the weapons and tools contained in the trunk and together work against, not only the evil that Darnathian unleashes upon them, but the frustration and misunderstanding of their parents. Will they be able to close the portal that allows the creatures to transverse back and forth between worlds before the evil steals the Spectrescope from Lucy? You’ll have to read the book to find that out.

When I first started reading the book, like Lucy, I was skeptical. L. G. Nixon does a good job of exploring the idea of the existence of ghosts, and what that looks like for us as Christians. You can read more about her thoughts and hear her interviews by clicking on the link. I personally agree with her in that Satan and his demons can pose as otherworldly entities, and in today’s world can appear to be “good'“. The Bible tells us that Satan himself poses as an angle of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:12-15), but we know his motives are only evil and meant for the downfall of God’s people and His creation.

The Ghost of Darwin Stewart is a great book, especially for young to middle aged teen girls. It reinforces the ideas that girls can be smart, brave and extremely strong even when they face criticism, false accusations, and evil itself. It provides heroines who are real and who struggle to grow up while still being under the headship of their parents. They are not perfect and that makes them easier to relate to. The book is free of bad language, innuendo or sex.

I do feel that due to the innocent nature of the main characters that this might not be as appealing to young adults. Let’s face it, we live in a world where 12 year olds can get an abortion. I appreciate that Nixon may have geared it towards young adults because of the horror aspect to it. However, having seen plenty of horror movies back in the day, I think this is mild by today’s standards. That being said, I strongly recommend The Ghost of Darwin Stewart for teens, especially those who like a mystery with lots of action and plenty of ethereal vibes. I also recommend this series for anyone who likes a good, clean read where good overcomes evil. I will definitely be investing in the other two books soon.

Travel Log - Oxford and St. Michaels, MD

After our three night stay in Gettysburg, my husband and I decided to head into Maryland. My husband and I have both been in Baltimore, when he had a conference to attend. Obviously, that is only one little piece of this state, which surrounds a good chunk of the Chesapeake Bay. It was the Bay that we were interested in seeing, but we weren’t sure where to go. We stopped at a the Maryland Welcome Center and were helped by a very friendly lady who gave us brochures on places she recommended that weren’t overly touristy.

After stopping at Fredrick Coffee Company & Cafe in Fredrick, MD, we decided to spend two nights near there, getting ourselves oriented and taking one day to totally chill out in our hotel room other than running out for food. When looking for places to stay near St. Michael, which our Welcome Center lady recommended, I came across an Airbnb in Oxford, MD called The Sandaway Suites & Beach. They had a small room available and it was half the usual rate, which was much more than we typically spend for a room. My guess is after the holiday weekend, they were glad to fill the rooms, so we grabbed it for two nights.

I didn’t take any outfit shots in Fredrick, but the day we traveled to Oxford, I kept it very simple. A pair of dark wash ankle pants rolled up, my Keds sneakers, a new tee from JC Penney and a fun necklace that I found thrifting made up this easy travel outfit. The cute tee has bees on it. I should have taken some close up shots, but I was lucky to remember taking pictures at all. Ha, ha.

This was in the lobby area of the actual Inn. The check in office was actually in a different building, so when you entered this building it was quiet and just off to one side was a doorway into a library where Mark and I ate our breakfast each morning. Sorry my pictures are less than stellar quality. Phones take much better pictures than they used to, but they are not perfect.

This was a the view from the main porch of the Inn.

This was the view from the other porch…yes there were two porches!

Sunset views.

After a night of sleep we spent the one full day we had in the Oxford area to take a ferry boat ride and explore the town of St. Michaels. For this day, I wanted to look like a tourist, so I wore my Christopher and Banks cabana pants. I got these just for our trip. I simply paired them with a white tee. I would have worn sandals, but knew we would be doing a lot of walking so opted, once again for my Keds.

Here we are on the ferry.

While we were in St. Michaels we visited the Maritime Museum. We saw boat building in process, a lighthouse and lots of boats, both pleasure sail types and work boats from the past. They even had a photo exhibit on women’s involvement in many aspects of sailing, fishing, crabbing and other industries of the sea.

This was the boat that Captain John Smith, of Pocahontas fame, used to explore the Chesapeake Bay area.

Of course, we had to get pictures of fashion back in the day. Believe me, this was as close to a swim suit as I got on this vacation. Ha, ha.

How do you like these prints ladies? This was the up and coming fashion for summer quite a few years before I was even born.

This is one of the reasons it is fun to explore museums, old towns and take a closer look at our history. There are just so many interesting tidbits out there that we know nothing about, until we start to look.

When we were done with the museum we ate at this restaurant, The Crab Claw, that was right on the water. It was delicious! Mark and I split a sampler platter with shrimp, scallops and fish and also ordered some oysters. Yummy! Sorry, I forgot to take pictures, because I was so busy eating. Ha, ha.

These last pictures are from the day we left. I wanted to get a few more pictures of this beautiful place we stayed and, of course, an outfit shot or two.

I need both the porch and the swing, or as my husband calls it, a butt hammock!

Good-bye Sandaway, we will miss you.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of our travels. This was not a sponsored post. I am simply sharing our adventures and have included links, so you can do your own exploring. I know my husband and I have cherished the information people have given us over the years of great places to go on vacation and they were always right.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Travel Log - Gettysburg, PA

With my husband and I taking a vacation for the last few days, I thought it would be fun to do a few Travel Log posts, like I have done in the past. Both my husband and I love to travel. We like to “get out of Dodge”, so to speak. We like to see new places and try new things, but we also like to revisit places we have been before. A number of years ago we passed through Gettysburg, PA on our way home from a conference. We spent one night so we didn’t have much time, but we saw enough to know that we wanted to come back. This time we spent three nights and were able to see and experience so much more.

For my first day of travel this is what I was wearing.

I apologize for my crummy selfie photo taking. I always seems to focus more on the selfie stick than the outfit, I am taking a picture of. Ha, ha. I really need more practice, but time is forever chasing me down like some sort of spectral wraith reminding me, I will never have enough of it.

The outfit was meant to be comfortable and easy, which it was. It was starting to warm up, so I knew I wanted something that would be warm enough, without being to warm. Both my top and the sweater were recent thrift finds. The jeans are a brand called Angel that Kohl’s carries. They are extremely comfortable as they have that perfect bit of stretch, but still hold their shape well. Here is a skinny pair, and here are a boot cut pair.

This is the outfit I wore, the first full day we were in Gettysburg. I got this skirt at JC Penney just before our trip and I love it. It is stretchy, swingy, tiered for extra room and comfort and you don’t need a slip underneath. I thought it would look pretty with yellow, so I grabbed this thrifted tee, which I used before in my Pantone Spring/Summer series. I added my blue, fringe necklace, my blue Keds, and my white jean jacket.

This little shop in Gettysburg makes and sells, period clothing. Most of the clothes are geared towards the mid 1800’s or the time of the Civil War. Think Scarlet O’ Hara with her big hooped skirts and fitted bodices. That is exactly the styles they sell. They also sell men’s period wear as well. I wish I could have taken pictures, but they had a no picture policy. It would have been fun to try things on and model them for a photo shoot. Ha, ha. The pieces were beautiful and they also sold, bonnets, hair pieces, jewelry and other period type accessories. If you are interested you can visit their website.

This was my next outfit. On this day we spent time hiking around a few specific battle sights from the Battle at Gettysburg, like Devil’s Den and Little Round Top, and we also did a two hour horse tour, so I wanted to be comfortable, but also covered, from the sun and from bugs. This plaid top and the blue tank underneath were also recent acquisitions from Penney’s. They were having good sales that day I went and i had a coupon. My Christopher and Banks jeans are some of my faves, although most of them are stating to look worn, so I thought they would be good for the horsey ride. You can see my blue fringe necklace made another appearance. Who says you can’t look stylish when you are riding a horse.

The next picture is Little Round Top. It doesn’t look like much, but it was one of the decisive parts of the battle that day. If you haven’t see the Gettysburg movie with Jeff Daniels as Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, it is a must see!

The group that we did the horse tour with was Horse Tours of Gettysburg. I had been wanting to do this tour since we first passed through Gettysburg, 13 years ago. I love horses and horseback riding, but have never had the money to own my own or take lessons. When I was younger, I had a friend down the street that had horses and she would let me get on them once in a while. Also, when my girls were young, my older daughter had the same bug for horses I did, so we were able to find someone with horses that gave her that exposure. Of course, I went along too. Ha, ha. A horse ride and a bit of history? Sounds like a win, win situation and it was. I would recommend this for anyone, especially families. The licensed tour guide gave such good, detailed and interesting information about what events led up to the war, the actual battle and the aftermath of all that fighting. It was excellent. And yes, my butt hurt when I was done, but it was worth it.

Here I am on Dixie.

Here is my hubby on his handsome boy, Patriot. We both thought it was funny that he had the Union horse and I had the Confederate. Sounds a bit like our marriage at times. Ha, ha.

Finally, on the day we left Gettysburg, I wore this outfit. This fun sleeveless top was a find at the end of the season last year from H&M. They have such fun prints and unique pieces that I have to go in there every once in a while, just to see what’s new. However, I do have to try things on, because often times what looks great on the rack looks silly on me and other times, I’ll try something really different and it’ll be perfect. The distressed, jeans were a Kohl’s clearance find and the suede oxfords are older from DSW. Here is a fun blue pair, an espadrille version, and a leopard print.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the first part of our vacay. We have a few more days left and are spending the last two nights in Oxford, MD. I hope to have enough pictures to do another post on Thursday. Until then, I hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a good start.

Thank you for your support. I would love to hear if you have any plans for the summer to travel, or garden, or just chill. Let me know in the comments section below.

Have a great Tuesday.

Thinking About Graduation? Try Basic Invite.

I was recently contacted by a company called Basic Invite, inquiring as to whether I would be interested in doing a collaboration. This is a sponsored post. Though Basic Invite provided the images and gave tips on what to include in this post, all opinions are my own.

I have always loved stationary. Being a writer I love paper, journals, pens, pencils and anything else to do with writing. I enjoy picking out cards for people when they have a birthday. I also used to buy various whimsical stationary to send letters to friends and family when I was away at college. Unfortunately, like many people I have bought into the quick pace of our chaotic lifestyles and resort to text messages, Facebook birthday greetings and emails to convey thoughts and express sentiments. However, there are still occasions where an email just won’t due. Weddings, funerals and at this time of year graduations all require a more thoughtful approach than a text or a Facebook invite.

When I began looking over what Basic Invite offers, I was impressed by their selection. For this post, I want to focus on graduation invites, since that season is upon us. Graduations from high school, and college are fast approaching, with a few having already taken place. Basic Invite has plenty of options to choose from, such as, graduation photo party invites, customized graduation invites, or you can create graduation invitations online.

Here are a few samples of the types of graduation invites you can get.

What makes Basic Invite stand out from other stationary retailers? Here are a few specifics.

Color Choice - Basic Invite offers over 180 color options. With their online instant previews you can design your invite and change colors instantly, so you get the exact color option you want.

Custom Samples - You can design, order and receive a sample of your invite so you are sure of the paper quality and style before you complete your order.

Over 40 Colors of Envelopes - With all the colors of invites you have the option of over 40 colors of envelopes. I could see myself, having so much fun matching invites and envelopes. Ha, ha.

Address Capturing Services - This service allows you to share a link on various forms of social media to request friends and family’s addresses which are then saved in your account. When you make your invitation you can select which people you want to send them too. Recipient address printing is done at no additional cost.

Foil - Foil options in gold, silver and rose gold give you further options in both raised and flat designs.

In addition to graduation invites here are some of the other options available for weddings, baby showers, birthdays and even holiday parties.

Basic invite offers other services as well, including free websites for setting up and organizing your wedding, or birthday invites. rsvp’s and more. They also offer business cards, stationary and notecards as well as thank you notes. If you are looking for invitations, thank you notes, business cards or other stationary, and you want loads of color options and styles, be sure to check out Basic Invite.

All photos of samples in this post were provided by Basic Invite.

Summertime Travels - Hikes, Rainy Days and Legos

Believe it or not, I do not have an outfit post ready for today. I have been extremely unmotivated to take pictures and my daughter and I have another photo session scheduled, but not in time for my usual Tuesday fashion post, so I do apologize for my laziness. I've already succumbed to the lazy days of summer, even though it is still spring. Ha!

Instead I thought I would write a post on traveling. My husband and I both like to travel and if you have followed my blog from the beginning you have seen me do several posts on our travels to Florida, our attempt to go to Maine last spring and a few other short trips here and there. A few weeks ago, we were able to travel back to my hubby's old stomping ground in Wisconsin. 

I was first to drive. Here my hubby is pumping gas. 

Wisconsin is a beautiful state, full of gorgeous state parks, awe inspiring bluffs, rivers and lakes, and rolling hills interspersed with working farms and polka dotted with beef and dairy cows. Wisconsin is a large state, so we kept our travels limited to the lower one third of the state. Most of our time was spent in or around Madison, which is where the state capitol is. Mad City is a thriving, growing university town, full of interesting hang outs, shopping and one of a kind restaurants.

Our first night we spent north of Madison in a little community called DeForest. We were planning to travel further north to a beautiful state park the next day called Devils Lake. The fact that I was going to be apart from my seven year old Grandson for ten days, meant that we both were going to have a little separation anxiety. He still had school during the week, but I told him to pick out a few of his legos and they would travel with me. I assured him I would be sending pictures. 

The "guys" calling for room service.

The next day was bright and sunny. I donned clothes that would be comfortable and easy to hike in. This was my outfit, but I exchanged the Keds for my hiking boots before we took our walk. This fun pair of jeans are Rock & Republic brand, which I got at Kohl's. They have a nice stretch and I love the zippered cuffs at the ankle. 

We drove the forty-five minutes north and found that most of the state of Wisconsin was hanging out at the park! We ate a picnic lunch and then proceeded to hike one of our favorite trails. 

Minions love bananas!

Here are some photos from our hike. 

At the top of the lake.

The guys wanted to hike too.

I love trees, especially with this back drop.

Another view of the Lake

Even the guys were pooped after the hike.

They slept good that night.

As you can see, this is a favorite spot of my husbands and of mine as well. He has fond memories of hiking some of these same trails with extended family members from when he was young. We were able to bring our own family here nine years ago when we all got together to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.

The next two days it rained, and it rained and it rained. Needless to say the guys started getting stir crazy. 

I'll continue this on a different occasion, so you can see more of the guys' adventure and more of our vacations pictures. 

Are you taking a vacation this summer? Where are you going? What are your favorite places to visit when you want to relax and have fun? I'd love to hear you thoughts. Leave me a comment or two.

Check back on Thursday, when I will have a fashion post on my Old Becomes New column.

Throwback Thursday - College Days Musings

It is fun once in a while to think about days gone by. Whether it be high school or college, we all have memories both good and bad about those years. I thought it would be fun to just reminisce about those years I spent in college. Enjoy this walk down memory lane.

My college days were like so many young people's, a mixture of fun, frustration and figuring out what exactly it was that I wanted to do when I grew up. I spent a year and half at a four year Christian college named Houghton, that had an extension campus near where I lived. Not having the resources for an expensive education far away and not wanting to go into debt, I thought living at home and commuting a perfect way to get my college education. I started out as an education major.

I commuted the 40 minute trek from my parent's home to the campus numerous times per week through fair weather and foul. Believe me, Buffalo winters can be pretty foul. I remember one particularly nasty winter storm that I drove home through where it was not only furiously snowing, but it was accompanied by resounding drum rolls of thunder and electric flashes of lightening. It was an apocalyptic adventure maneuvering back roads all the way home. I thank God for the safe travels. 

Pixabay

Commuting also provided ample opportunities for car break downs and flat tires. My father, an airplane mechanic, had taught me well. While he rescued me for actual break downs, he had taught me how to change a flat, which I did so at least two different times. The joys of driving old cars.

It was about a year in at Houghton, when I realized I really wanted to go to the foreign mission field and serve God in that capacity. I started looking at schools and ended up at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. 

Pixabay

Chicago is an amazing city and what better place to go to college. From the late night walks down Rush street, day time strolls to the Museum of Science and Industry or a run down to Moody Church, the city was full of opportunity. It was also full of great food. Many of the eateries I frequented are no longer around, but Giordanos, my favorite, still causes my hubby and I to stop when traveling through the Windy City. 

My three year stay in Chicago (Moody was a three year program at the time, but has since changed to a fully accredited four year college) was not without difficulties and homesickness. The first few weeks were torture as this country girl had never lived in a big city before. I felt like a tiny bug in a huge universe of concrete and people I didn't even know. Eventually, I made friends and had some wonderful times. 

When I think about what I might have done differently there are three things that came to mind.

1. Enjoy the moments more. Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about the future that we aren't able to enjoy the present. 

2. Be a bit more disciplined. This was true both in diet and exercise as well as financially. While Moody was not a tuition driven school, I still had the expense of room and board. There were semesters I fell short in getting things paid off, even with my parents pitching in and my working several part time jobs. However, I loved to eat out and do things off campus and that cost money.

3. Make every year count. By the time I became a senior, I had fallen in love with the man who is now my hubby. I spent a lot of hours pining away, wishing we were together, rather than enjoying and focusing that last year. 

I have many good memories of those early years and they helped to shape and make me into the person I am today.

Celebrating the 4th and a Break!

Happy 4th of July everyone. I just wanted to leave a quick note to let you know that I am out of town celebrating with family. I also felt a need to take a little time away from the blog and get some rest and refreshment. I'm sure you all understand those feelings of needing to recharge and refocus. So, my wish for you on this 4th of July is that you find time to take care of yourself in the midst of family get togethers, picnics and fireworks. 

Scroll down for images that remind me of the 4th of July:

Stylin' Granny Mama will be back on track next week. Until then, have a great holiday!!

All images downloaded from Pixabay. 

Celebrating One Year in the Red!

Yesterday, February 2nd was my one year anniversary for Stylin' Granny Mama. Whoo, hoo. I have come a long way from when I started out. I decided to celebrate today, Friday to coincide with National Wear Red Day. This day was set apart to raise awareness that heart disease and related illnesses such as stroke, are the number one killer of women. Here is a short article by the American Heart Association, Behind National Wear Red Day. 

Pixabay

I have learned so much over the last year and there are a few special souls I would like to thank. First of all my daughters Rebecca and Rachel. Rebecca was the driving force behind my starting this blog and my photographer. She is the one who manages the design of my blog. She also helped my husband pick out a nice camera and is attempting to teach me things about taking pictures. Rachel is my make up guru. She became interested in make up when she was a teenager. She was a key component in a once local photographer's senior session themed shoots. She did a beautiful job making pretty high school gals look like glamorous models. Even though she only does make up as a side business now, she keeps current on all sorts of make up and knows how to make a person look amazing. You can check out both of these talented girls at their sites: Rebecca Trumbull Photography and Rachel Christensen Instagram. 

There are many other people I could thank too, My husband Mark, for bearing with me for all the hours I spend on the computer. My extended family for all their kind words and support. And It wouldn't be a blog without my subscribers and viewers. I also want to give a shout out to all the other beautiful bloggers that have been a source of encouragement and inspiration over the year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Today, I thought I would post an outfit in honor of my 1 year anniversary and in honor of National Wear Red Day.

I'm hanging out at home this morning, but I am also meeting a friend for lunch, so I opted for warm and casual. I started with my red and navy plaid shirt and my Rock and Republic jeans. 

I added a navy fringe necklace, red faux leather jacket and my new SO lace up ankle boots from Kohl's. For this look I left the shirt hang out to create a more casual look. 

Another possible way to style this look is to do a half tuck on the shirt and cuff the pants.

Here is a close up of the boots. I really like the gold rivets and the taupe color of this recent purchase. 

Now I am thinking about the future. As women, who are more susceptible to heart disease and stroke, we definitely need to be thinking about what we can do now, to take care of our heart and arteries. Exercise, eating better and reducing stress are all areas in my life that need some tweaking. How about you? Is there a history of heart disease or stroke in your family? What actions are you taking now, to give your heart a better chance? 

I am also thinking about the future of my blog. A blog's life depends on subscribers and views. If you want to make a living at blogging then you also need to investigate how to transform your blog into a business. For now, I want to continue to work on the content of my blog. I am still developing as a writer and as a women who knows and understands clothing, fabrics and accessories and how they can be combined to make us look and feel beautiful. Networking and collaborations are also a big part of getting a blog out there. This month I will be doing my first collaboration with another wonderful blogger, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. 

My heart of hearts is in the written word. I love to write. I love to imagine. I love to inform. I am hoping with my blog this year to write posts that not only look pretty, but give my readers something to chew on, whether it be about faith or about fashion. 

I hope that those of you who subscribe will continue to support my efforts and if you know someone who might benefit from Stylin' Granny Mama's wisdom or wit, that you will pass along the link. 

Thanks again and have a great weekend! 

Pixabay

Travel Log - Post 4

After five nights of camping under breezy, tropical, star-filled skies we packed up our tent and gear and headed north. We made a few of our favorite stops along the way. 

Frenchy's Salt Water Cafe is one of our favorite places to visit when we are in the Clearwater area. This "burger" is a deep fried filet of grouper and there is nothing quite like it! This is not the sandwich you want to eat if you are on a diet. Ha, ha. My hubby had to order deep fried oysters as well.

Instead of exploring the shops of Clearwater Beach, we moved further up Route 19 to Tarpon Springs. This little town has the flavor of a true fishing village. These fishing docks specialize in harvesting sponges. They even have a museum with a movie that gives information on how the sponge industry got started. We stopped in a few of the shops, where I bought a few gifts for family members then we got dessert at one of the Greek bakeries. Yummy!

This was my casual outfit for the day. I love the lose and comfy feel of the boyfriend jeans. I topped the jeans with a navy and white striped top. The tank top stripes go horizontal across the chest and vertical from the waist down. It's a fun look and even though the bottom flares out it still looks slimming because of the stripe direction in the right places. I wore my white fly away cardi when in the air conditioning.  Also, it helped to cover up my nasty, bright red bite marks. You can see them somewhat on my legs and lower arms. 

Here you can see the top a little better. I added some navy accessories and navy Keds for comfort while we were walking through the shops in Tarpon Springs.

Hopefully, now that we are no longer camping with the bugs, my bites will start to heal and my body will no longer be polka dotted. I love polka dots, but not on my skin! 

Have a great day.

Click on the links to see my travels from the start:

Travel Log - Post 1, Travel Log - Post 2, Travel Log - Post 3

Travel Log - Post 1

I thought I would change things up a bit, here on the fluff page and talk about travel. The hubs and I love to travel and even though we haven't had unlimited resources over the years we have been as far west as San Diego, CA; out east to NYC; down south to N. Carolina, S. Carolina and Florida and across the "big pond" to England. We are already talking about going back to explore Scotland!

Traffic can become a real problem if you drive for travel. Yesterday we were stuck in a traffic jam! It took us one hour and fifteen minutes to go four miles! Ugg. I was ready to jump out of the car and start doing laps, to try to get my steps in! But I was driving at the time, so I don't think that would have worked. While we were driving we were going past a construction zone. I don't know if you have noticed, but some of those orange barrels have lost weight. 

We affectionately call construction around Toledo, "orange barrel season"! You know there is fall, winter, spring and "orange barrel season". These things I was looking at yesterday were not barrels, they were more like stalagmites! Yes that's right! Stalagmites! Those things in caves that sort of look like cones that grow up from the floor. Except these were orange and white stripes. I'd say they'd be stylin' if they were black and white stripes or navy and white stripes, but no! The highway companies did not ask me what colors to make the barrels. 

Anyway, here is my travel outfit for yesterday:

I wore my Rock and Republic jeans from Kohl's as they are most comfy, but still hold their shape. An eyelet peasant blouse with a hint of peach and the open weave short sleeve sweater. I also had on my leopard flats that I bought at Christopher and Banks. Layers are great for travel because you can take them off and put them on as needed. I also wore a tassel necklace inspired by Jodie at Jodie's Touch of Style. And yes I do have a bag clip on my sweater. Trying to remember last minute things to pack! Ha, ha.

I hope to post again, some where along the way! Check back next week for more.

My Favorite Memorials - The Lincoln Memorial

I really like the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Funny thing, I've never been to Washington and I have never seen the Lincoln Memorial in the flesh, or should I say in the stone! However, I have seen plenty of pictures, not only of the building, but of the man himself sitting in his great white marble chair.

Wikipedia - Public Domain

There are several things that charm me about this memorial. The building itself is stylized as a Greek temple. I love the clean look of the white colonnade surrounding the exterior walls. The position of the building on the green and at the one end of the reflecting pool also adds to its beauty. Having never been there, I can only imagine, that like the Mt. Rushmore Memorial it is much better in person.

Another thing I like about this memorial is the sculpture of our 16th President. I absolutely love this photo taken by Jeff Kubina. See his link below the picture.

Photo Credit Jeff Kubina

The sculpture was designed by Daniel Chester French and sculpted by the Piccirilli Brothers. I love the facial expression, the weathered hands and the wrinkles in his clothing. He really looks as though he could stand up and start reciting the Gettysburg Address. The designer and the sculptors did a marvelous job showing the weight this man was under in his lifetime.

I also chose this memorial as a favorite because of the man himself, Abraham Lincoln. He is by far one of my favorite presidents. The things that he accomplished in his lifetime are phenomenal and I believe he was a man of deep and thoughtful character. There have been more recent findings that suggest that he struggled with depression. I think to myself, how could a man not struggle with depression who was leading a nation engaged in civil war and who had lost three of this four children. However, even in his states of melancholy he led our nation through a war and ended slavery. If you have never seen the movie Lincoln with Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field, by all means do! It does a great job of capturing the man and the times.

The final reason I like the Lincoln Memorial is that it stands in Washington, DC. Having that memorial there stands as a reminder to every president since 1922, that this was a man who had a standard that should be strived after. I wonder how often our leaders look out from Capital Hill and see that Memorial and remember. Isn't that what memorials are for?