Highland Crossings

About the Book:  An heirloom brooch unites the lives and loves of four women in historic North Carolina. Seona flees Scotland with the brooch in tow hoping to find peace before her past is revealed. Fiona tries to recover the heirloom but ends up on the whipping block—with her rescuer a man she’s not sure she can trust. Seren sells the brooch but soon regrets giving up something so precious for what could be a hopeless dream. Brynna seeks to reclaim the stolen brooch but risks losing something even more valuable in the process. Will God’s path become clear in a new world? 

My Thoughts:  All four of the novellas were wonderful.  I loved traveling with the heirloom brooch down amongst several generations.  I loved the the Gaelic flair and the Scottish and Early American charm of each story.

In the novella Healer of My Heart by Pamela Griffin - we meet Seona, accused of being a thief.  Our first heroine is a medical healer and vows to protect a priceless family heirloom and she stowaway about the "Thistle" enroute to America.  It is there that she encounters Colin Campbell. When they reach the colonies, Colin and Evan's cousin Isabel invites Seona to stay with them and Isabel quickly feels a bonding with her. Seona who is on run for her life feels she cannot trust anyone. But can she trust Colin with her life and her heart?  You be the judge of that.
The second novella Printed on My Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes  is about Fiona, who has been unable to secure her keep. She finds herself an indentured servent to kindhearted town printer and his family.  Owain and his sister, Bronwen offer Fiona a job to save her from further punishment. Fiona is in search of the brooch and her sister Murday.  Will God help her find the brooch and her sister?
My favorite of the four novellas, if I had to chose one would be Sugarplum Hearts by Gina Welborn.  Our heroine here is  Seren Cardew, who is trying to sell her candies and confections. Finley Sinclair, a broker, is looking for clients and hoping for a position with Overton Shippers.  Seren Cardew, creator of luscious candies and confectionaries is searching for a way to market them. Finley offers her a business proposal that will benefit the both of them. When someone sabotages her wares they are left with little clues. In wake of the discovery the community comes together before. But what is lost can it be found again?
The last book is Hearts Inheritance by Jennifer Hudson Taylor.  This novella introduces us to Bynna Sinclair lover, of historical things and a lady who does not take to change lightly. Niall Cameron has come upon an inheritance left to him by his uncle, and is insistant upon change for the better. The two always seem to share a difference of opinion. Sometimes misunderstandings bring about bitterness. Even in the most desparate of lives the Lord can bring repair and healing to any situation of the heart.
Each author added her own personal touch to four well woven progressive story lines. These can be read in one sitting or broken up into more. I personally did not want to put the book down.   I found the overall message inspiring and would recommend this book to others

Disclaimer:  I received this book as part of a blogger review program.  The opinions are 100% my own and I was not paid to read or review this book.  I would love to than Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to do this.

I'm Already Taken

When you were a child was there someone in your life you swore you were going to grow up and marry?  There was in mine.  My parents had some dear friends, Jimmy and Judy and he looked just like Jim Reeves(country balladeer) to me.  I loved this man.  He would play guitar and sing to me....and let me sing with him and when I was 7 I swore my love to Jimmy and told him that when I grew up I was going to marry him.  He hugged me and told me that he was already taken.  He and Judy had been married nearly 20 years at that time.  By the time I was dating age I had lost track of Jimmy and his wife Judy had passed away.  I never even gave my pledge a second thought.  I dated boys near my age and married when I was nearly 21.  At the age of 40 I found out that Jimmy lived in Murphy, NC and the knowledge of his whereabouts brought back some really tender memories....but my life was so busy at the time that I just could not manage the 8 hour drive to see him again.  My parents did.  They drove to Murphy on a clear Saturday and had a wonderful time reliving old memories with a man I adored as a child. I got his address when they returned and wrote him a letter telling him about my life.  I never heard back from him.   He died shortly after that.  On Saturday, when Frank and I were enroute to Montgomery for my class I had turned the radio to the Country station and the first song to come on was one called, "I'm Already Taken" by Steve Warniner  There on the interstate between Auburn and Montgomery I felt my heart tighten as the sweet memory of Jimmy came flooding from out of nowhere.  I cried quietly to myself where I was sitting and when the song was over and my tears had dried I told Frank about this man.  My first and only childhood crush.  It was a sweet memory.  Have you ever experienced a time when you felt something special for someone like this?  I would love to hear your story.

Project 365 - Week 6

Well it is Saturday night and week 6 is under my belt.  My 50mm lens arrived today and I am excited about trying it out next week.  I tried some different shots this week and used some different ISO's.  Several have already posted over at Sara's blog so head on over there and check out everyone's offerings.  Here is my weeks presentation and I hope you enjoy them.

Sunday, February 5th

I had class at Calloway today.  The first three pictures are from the Sibbley Center.  The frog shot is practicing blurring the background in a portrait.  I didn't want to take a picture of a person at the moment...I was loving on the little frog.  The stained glass window and cross were from the chapel.

  After class I headed back to Rock Mills and went to a baby shower for one of the young ladies from our church.  She got a lot of nice things and I got a new dip recipe.  I box of confetti cake mix (dry) to 1 large cool whip.  Setve with vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or animal crackers.  It was delish.

Monday, February 6th

Full moon on a hazy night with some clouds rolling by.  It won't be as good as Dr. M on Bug's blog I can assure you.

Tuesday, February 7th

Today, I visited Mrs. Jean's yard and took some shots of her lovely flowers.  Tonight there was a harvest moon and it was gorgeous but all the power lines kept getting in my way.  Oh well!

Wednesday, January 8th

Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye.  There were at least four and twenty blackbirds in the tree out in my yard.  When I took the camera out the birds began to fly so there were just a couple left to make a blackbird pie.

Thursday, February 9th

I found a hidden chimney today on my way home from work.  It was hidden back in an area several hundred yards from the main road on some posted land where they had been doing some burning so it was hazy.

Friday, February 10th

I followed this almost all the way home.  Stuff was dropping off and the smell of diesel fuel was nauseating.  I snapped it out the window of my car.  Do you think my window needs cleaning?

Saturday, February 11th

One of the horses in the pasture next to my house.  The glow on his belly and around his neck are actually hairs that were being hit by the sun that was setting.  This has been a painful process that I actually started on Saturday night but did not finish up until this morning.  The internet is not being my friend.  Uploading was a pain....and to be honest I am glad I am finally finished.  Have a great week and happy shooting!

A Conversation With God

My cousin Donna had a post this morning on her facebook that was a mock conversation with God  and as I read it....to laugh, I found myself rather shaken because this really could have been my own personal conversation with God on any given day this week...or any week.  I have heard myself utter some of these in the car on Hwy 22 when I am headed home....and it made me a bit ashamed.  So, since it made me ashamed...and you know the old adage, "Misery loves company," I thought I would see if it touches any of you....and thanks Donna for the morning wake up call.

"Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?

GOD: Sure.

Me: Promise you won't get mad?

GOD: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

GOD: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

GOD: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

GOD: Okay....

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

GOD: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went de...ad, just as I picked up a call

GOD: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?"  (Sound familiar? ) Oh, you may not have had this exact conversation but at some time in your life you have probably had a similar one.)

The response to all the complaints was what took my breath:

"GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh...
GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road
Me (ashamed): ............

GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work

Me (embarrassed): Oh.....

GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered
Me (softly): I see God

GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm sorry God.
GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad
Me: I WILL trust you God
GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.
GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.
I hope you have a wonderful Friday!  Be blessed and be safe!
Scriptural References: II Samuel 22:31, Proverbs 3:5, Hebrews 2:13

Thyroid Cancer Warning

Are you aware that thyroid cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers among women?  I wasn't....but  on  Wednesday I happened to watch Dr. Oz.  I never do that but, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women, thyroid cancer. It was a very interesting program and  he mentioned  that the increase could possibly be related to the use of dental x-rays and mammograms(something I have done at least once a year).  He demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around  your neck. Many dentists don't bother to use it. Also, there is something called a "thyroid guard" for use during mammograms.  The program upset me enough that I went online and researched tyroid cancer and if you are interested click here to go to a site and learn all about it.Then, this morning I checked my emails and I had received an email from a friend and she said that by  coincidence, she had her yearly mammogram yesterday. She felt a little    silly, but she asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. She asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer: "I don't know. You  have to ask for it." Well, if she hadn't seen the show,  how would she have known to ask?   I didn't know a thyroid guard even existed until yesterday myself.  This is something we  need to pass on to our daughters, nieces, mothers and all our female friends!! I thought it was important enough to let my blogger buddies know and hopefully you will tell the women in your life. 

Hodgepodge with Love - Vol 65

Yep, if you are looking at the Hodge Podge button this must be Wednesday and time for answers to some really insightful questions courtesy of Joyce at From This Side of the Pond  Want to see everyone's answers then head over to Joyce's blog and check them out.  Hey...you can even join in and be part of this fun neme.  We would love to have you...and the more the merrier.  So here are my answers to the questions of the week.

1. What is something you are loving right now?   I know you really can't love inanimate things....but I am loving taking pictures with my camera.  It is not the top of the line but it suits me just fine.  I am loving living in Rock Mills and my Rock Mills family.  I am loving my sweet husband Frank and my kids.  Life is good and I am truly blessed.

2. Paris, Venice, New York, and Rome are considered four of the most romantic cities in the world. Which one would you most like to visit?  I have been to all four.  I loved Rome....I loved Venice....and I loved New York....Paris, was not on my top ten list.  If I could go back to one...it would have to be Venice or Rome.

3. Are you a romantic?  I am a hopeless romantic. I love it all...candles, music, stars...I mean come on...you are talking to a girl that got her marriage proposal as fireworks lit up the night sky from a man on a knee at the back of the stage she was singing on.  It does not get much more romantic than that.

4. What's your favorite love story made for the Big Screen? Sleepless in Seattle or City of Angels.

5. Everyone loves Pooh bear and friends...which character are you most like and why? Click here for help in answering this question.   The 100 Acre Woods Test says I am Kanga and I can see that.  She tends to take on the mothering role and that is what I do.  I love to entertain....but want to be the one cooking and hosting. 

6. What's the best chocolate something you've ever eaten?  Hummmm....that is a tough one.  Triple Chocolate Hot Fudge Cake from Gedneys in Roanoke.  They plate it elegantly and it takes wonderful.  My international choice would be Kinder Eggs (or any other chocolate from Germany)....not bought here.  Toblerones here and Toblerones from Germany taste entirely different.  There is something special about European chocolates.

7. Share a favorite quote about love. Roy Croft - "I love you , not only for what you are, But for what I am when I am with you." 

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Today is National Kite Flying Day and one of my favorite Disney movies is Mary Poppins....so, if you want to get the feeling of flying a kite with me then click here and enjoy yourself today. It does not even matter what the weather is like where you are.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Momma Memories

Many years ago, when Kat was sixish and her friend, Jill was fiveish Deborah(Jill's mom) and I went shopping at Dillards.  It is a high end place to shop....you know...the kind of place that actually fits your bras for you.  Anyway, Deborah and I were shopping for some lingerie for a lingerie shower when I turned around and discovered that the girls were not with us.  Without panicking I walked to the last place we had been(two rows over) and there they were....sitting on the floor in front of a tri-fold mirror....with the cones of a bra on their heads.  The funny thing was that they had wrapped the bra around both their heads and hooked it under their chins.  This was one of those Kodak moments....and it was way before cell phones with cameras....so the vision is permanently etched in my head...and it was priceless.  Kat is now in her 30's, lives with her husband two hours away from me....yet, when I want to get a warm fuzzy feeling, or need a Kat hug, I think about moments like this and it makes me smile.  Do you have moments like these that are special memories of your children?  Care to share?