Reading, Writing & Pondering

  After enjoying the first book in the Suitcase Sisters series, I eagerly awaited the second book, Gelato at the Villa by Robin Jones Gunn.  Gelato at the Villa takes readers on a trip to Italy with friends Grace and Claire. The ladies start out in Venice, and then travel to two other places in Northern Italy. I especially enjoyed traveling along and seeing the sights through their eyes. Gunn brings all of the locations to life through her rich descriptions of the countryside, the restaurants, the food, the gardens and the historical buildings. I did feel like I was there along with the main characters in the book. Grace and Claire also have some of their own struggles, like most people do in real life. Grace works in a job that isn't very satisfying for a demanding boss who isn't very nice to work for. She struggles to know what she should do in her situation--stay in the position or leave and do something else. She also struggles with some fears that she needs to let go of...

    Are you interested in owning a piece of Biblical history?  Temple Mount Soil Necklaces are a beautiful way to help you own a piece of history from the time of Jesus. The Mission We’re here to help preserve and understand the history of the Temple Mount, a site that’s important to both Jews and Christians. By creating a sustainable way to support the Temple Mount Sifting Project, we’re keeping this work alive. The Approach In 1999, tons of soil were unexpectedly removed from the Temple Mount—something that will never happen again. This soil is full of history, with artifacts from the time of the First and Second Temples. We make it available in a way that honors its significance and helps fund ongoing research. The Opportunity For the first time, anyone can own a small piece of this history—not just as a keepsake, but as a real connection to the biblical past. It’s a way to hold history in your hands, strengthen your faith, and support the preservation of t...

  Slow Burn: The Work and Wonder of the Wait by DawnChere Wilkerson is a book that I think we could all read and learn from. Life definitely includes a lot of waiting for one thing or another. We don’t ever graduate from waiting. After one prayer is answered, a new one begins, putting us back in the “space between.” Are you hoping for an illness to subside, a job to open up, a relationship to develop, or some other heartfelt transformation? This slow burn is the human experience—and the greatest invitation to become intimately acquainted with a faithful God. Waiting is hard, but it’s not a punishment; it’s a process. God is not delaying; He’s developing. He is not leaving you; He’s loving you. He’s saying,  Come closer. Let me lead you into wonder and show you how you can live wholeheartedly right here, right now. DawnCheré Wilkerson will speak strength to your soul and give you tools to live confident that God is working more powerfully than you know; wrestle with t...

  Brave the Page: How Writing Our Hard Stories Brings Healing and Wholeness by Megan Febuary released on June 3, 2025. I just started this book and am looking forward to learning how the writing process can help heal my own hard stories. When you’ve endured a traumatic experience or loss, it can feel like your mind, body, and spirit have been hijacked. Frightening, negative, or depressive thoughts intrude out of nowhere. Muscles tighten, teeth grind. Your sense of self-worth plummets. Amid all the swirling chaos, you may even question your faith and the goodness of God as you long for peace, wholeness, and holy calm. One of the best and most effective weapons against the turmoil and pain you feel is quite possibly within arm’s reach right now. It’s waiting in your desk drawer, in your car’s glovebox, at the bottom of your purse. It’s a pen. And if you wield it with courage, it can open the door to freedom. Weaving personal storytelling with research-based insights, gent...