Book Review! Departures!

Departures by Robin Jones Gunn

I have enjoyed all of this author's book and this was no exception! The story of these girls was great and the writing draws you in with each word! I would reccomend reading the Cristy Miller and Sierra Jensen series before reading this, so that you don't confuse yourself with the events that take place in the book! A great book for teen/preteen girls!

The Bridge of Peace book review

The Bridge of Peace review

Book by: Cindy Woodsmall

Review by:Faith K.

I have always had such an interest in the Amish. This book does do them justice, but I suggest that you read some background info on the Amish and why they live like they do so you don't get confused while reading it. At times, the book was a little confusing, but for the most part I was able to understand what was happening in the story. Once you start this book I'm sure you will not be able to put it down!! There is alot of suspense throughout the book, and the conclusion of the book leaves you satisfied and happy. I highly recommend this! It's a great read and I think everyone who reads it will enjoy it!

Sweet Seasons Series book review!

Sweet Seasons Series review

By: Mary B.

Everyone has favorite seasons. Some people prefer the warmth of summer and the break from school. Others get excited for fall. The beautiful leaves and the anticipation of change. But what about learning to appreciate each season for what it has to offer? And learning to love each different season of life? This is what Candace Thompson is learning in the Sweet Seasons series. Decribed on the back as "alternative, God-honoring chick lit" that's really what they are. They are addicitive! I couldn't put them down. Maybe the story is slightly too idealistic. Yeah, life doesn't always work out as perfect as it does in this book. But it's a must read! The crazy insanity that almost seems impossible will you keep you on the edge of your seat! And there's life lessons to learn here too.

New Styles for Spring- Part one

New Styles for Spring- Part one

By Sarah Anne B.

New Styles For spring - Part One

As you see spring approaching, you may begin to wonder, "What styles will be in and what should I wear?" But fear not, for I bring to you the new fashions that will be seen everywhere, and if you don't see them, take my advice and start a new trend. Believe me, you can't be too embarrassed (this coming from the girl that wore a sewing tape measure as a scarf to church one time because I thought it would catch on. Needless to say, it didn't.) I can answer your dilemma in three parts: florals, army, and cowgirl.

o  Florals

Florals can be worn any way and in any style. Just make sure you don't wear a floral cardigan with 3 rings with huge flowers on them and clogs with a big ole rose on the top. Good judgment is necessary here. Here are a few examples of the correct usage of the floral:

Here is a cute pink top with a quaint rose on the front. With maybe a silver chain necklace with a matching silver chain bracelet, the flower would really pop.

This cute cardi is a different approach to the floral. It's a pattern, not a pin and it pops quite a bit more. The green cami under it is a beautiful choice that accentuates ONLY ONE part of the flower. Going overboard is not going to be attractive here, ladies. A long necklace with a pendant would be cute to complete this look.

These adorable earrings caught my eye. They have the right amount of flowers, neutral colors, and pretty orange to make them pop.

Of course, these bangles caught my eye. These pretty silver flowers come together and contrast with each other to create a pretty, classy look. If you know me, you know my saying, "Keep it classy!" This bracelet definitely accomplishes this task.

And last, but surely not least, for these cute florals, are the shoes. These wedged sandals are perfect for a party at the beach or maybe a ladies tea at your church. With a cute sundress, these shoes are sure to be the life of whatever part you're headed to.

Thoughts of a hopeless romantic! ♥

Thoughts of a hopeless romantic! ♥

By April W.

Everyone has one guilty pleasure. I have many. But I think my biggest is a bowl of Lucky Charms, no milk. I don't know why but it always gets me. I love them. So I have made my choice on what to do when Valentine's Day rolls around. I am going to curl up under a nice warm and fuzzy quilted blanket with about the most unhealthy meal I could choose (Lucky Charms and Hot Chocolate with extra marshmallows) and my favourite chick flick, Ella Enchanted.

You want to know something weird about me? I have my entire wedding planned out. Yes, that is what I just wrote. I have my entire wedding planned out. Most find me weird because of that. I tell them and then add that there is still one little detail that I have to think over. They always look at me for a second before they say anything. They always ask what part. I always answer, "The Guy" They seem to understand after that.

Thinking about that little quirk of my personality makes me think about my future. I wonder who I'll marry. It says in the bible that we are God's brides. We are married to him and He loves us more than we could ever know. So this Valentine's Day I think I will try writing a Valentine's card. No, make that two. One for my husband in Heaven and one for the man down here on Earth who will one day love me. I'll just have to give it to him on our wedding night. God will get his the day that I go up to spend my honeymoon with him.

April

The Greatest Love Story of All Time!

The Greatest Love Story of All Time!

By Mary B.

For Valentines i'm reviewing a story you all have heard of. It's the greatest love story OF ALL TIME! And guess what? You are a part of this story! And best of all, it's more than just a story, it's a reality. You are loved more than anything else on this earth. You are loved so much, someone died for you! His name was Jesus. He hung on a cross. Nails pierced his hands and feet. He was whipped and ridiculed, all for you, because He LOVED you! And even more amazing, He came back to life! He rose from the dead. And He still loves you even though he went through great pain and suffering. Even though you mess up fifty times a day. Even though you sometimes don't read His word or talk to Him, He loves you. So this Valentines Day, while the world is busy celebrating love between people, why don't you take even just five minutes to tell God how much you love Him! Write Him a song or poem, pray, find someway to express to Him that above all else you desire Him!

Matthew 27:11-66
 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
   “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
  When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
  Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.  At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.  So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”  For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
  While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
  “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
   “Barabbas,” they answered.
  “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
   They all answered, “Crucify him!”
  “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
   But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
  When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
  All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
  Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

  Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.  They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,  and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.  They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.  After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

  As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.  They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.  When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.  Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
  Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”  In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

  From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
  When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
  Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.  The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split  and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
  When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
  Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.  Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The Burial of Jesus

  As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

  The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.  “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’  So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
  “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Bible Verse of the Week

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.--1 Peter 3:3-4

My thought: The world values fancy clothes and makeup. God sees beauty based on the conditon of our spirit!