Kate sucked in her breath as she stared at the charred shell of the administration building where she had once worked. The three-story building now looked like a pile of charcoal sticks. She glanced over at Patrick, who was busy talking with the police chief. Walking forward, she ducked under the crime scene tape, took a couple of steps, and peered down. She shivered. She could see straight down into the tunnel, full of debris and a thin layer of snow.
“Thank you, God,” she breathed under her breath. God had saved her that night. It also seemed he had heard her prayer and sent someone who had believed her. Didn’t she owe God a lot for just those two things?
“What are you doing? Get out of there!”
Kate turned toward the voice and saw a man in his mid-twenties with sandy brown hair and a day or two worth of facial hair growth. His brown eyes challenged her as he adjusted his felt hat.
“Are you deaf? I said get out of there!”
Kate turned toward the sound of crunching snow and was relieved to see Patrick jogging toward her.
“It’s okay, Thomas,” Patrick said, addressing the newcomer.
Thomas pointed to Kate, his nostrils flaring. “Okay? Look what side of the tape she is on, Patrick!”
Patrick opened his mouth but Kate interrupted him. “I came to see how extensive the damage was.” Kate looked around as if to prove her point. “What did they use? C-4?”
Thomas got in Patrick’s face and poked his chest. “Don’t tell her anything. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I get your drift,” Patrick said, taking a step back.
Kate ducked back under the tape and moved toward the two arguing men. “Why can’t you tell me what kind of explosives were used? If you could just give me the chemical analysis, I could figure it out for myself.”
Patrick’s eyes glanced between Thomas and Kate, as if trying to figure out who he was going to please.
Kate looked past him toward the science building, and her eyebrows knit together. “That is odd.”
Patrick turned his gaze toward the building. “What is it?”
“Two different explosives were used,” Kate stated matter-of-factly.
Thomas folded his arms across his chest. “How do you know that?”
Kate took a couple of steps toward the chemistry building. Its windows were blown out and some of the outside was scorched, but it still stood. “It doesn’t take an explosives expert to tell you that the explosives used in the chemistry lab were different than the other two buildings. I mean, look! The administration building and the lecture hall were completely destroyed and yet the chemistry building is still standing. From the outside one might think there had just been a fire, not a bomb.”
“It could be just that the firefighters got to that building a lot sooner. Are you sure you are innocent?”
Kate turned to Thomas and crossed her arms. “I am a chemical engineering major, with explosives training from the U.S. Military. Who are you?”
Patrick stepped between them. “Thomas, this is Kate Mayfield. Kate, this is Thomas Jefferson, a coworker.”
Thomas extended his hand but directed his words at Patrick. “Coworker? I’m his superior. A fact he would do well to remember.”
“Thomas Jefferson?” Kate raised her eyebrows.
“Yes, I am a descendant of Thomas Jefferson, the president.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Thomas, superior of the lowly Patrick.”
“Great, another sarcastic quick-wit,” Thomas said, rolling his eyes. “Just what I need in my life.”

A writer was not my first career choice. Wife and mom was my first and still a dear dream, but in my early teens, I decided to I wanted to be a nurse. I liked to write, but it wasn't until my late teens, and with a lot of tears, I realized that I would never be able to handle a nursing job, much less college. It was then that writing became my focus.

Here we are, ten years later and I'm healthier than I was then, probably healthier than I've been in my whole life. Yet. I'm still not a very strong person physically. A have a lot of pollen allergies, and I don't have the same amount of energy that my siblings do.

Why am I going on about this? Well, because when I'm physically at a low, often that causes me also to struggle emotionally. Physical and emotional wellness are often more tied together than we think. Girls especially understand the swells of emotion that rise even from normal ups and downs. Recently, ragweed has caused me to be at a physical low, and discouragement has seeped in.

I've especially felt discouraged in my writing. I feel like I'm putting in a lot of effort with not a lot to show for it. Yesterday, I woke up crunching numbers in my head. I spent my time working fending off a headache. I came home and sat down to write and questioned why I was even doing it. Why did I bother to write when I didn't feel like it? Maybe it was time I treated my writing more like a hobby and less like a job.

Even as the thoughts were swirling in my head, I knew that they weren't healthy thoughts. It was my tiredness, my discouragement taking at best, the enemy whispering his lies at worst. I stopped, prayed, and then turned up the music as I started typing away at a book. A song came up fairly soon and I had to stop and let it wash over me.

Eeek!!! I'm so excited, how about you? J. Grace Pennington, Rebekah Jones, Kate Willis and I each have written a novella for this collection. Each novella is based loosely on an old novel, with a character who loves that book! Trust me, this is going to be an amazing collection. As I've watched these novella's take shape, it's increased my excitement! The stories are:

Molly and Anna by Sarah Holman
Gingerbread Treasures by Rebekah Jones
Sylvie of Amber Apartments by J. Grace Pennington
Love, Jem by Kate Willis

Now, there is one thing that you should know about this collection, It's only going to be available for a limited time. Starting next month, it will be available for preorder and it will be available through December. So, make sure to be ready to get it! You can add it to your Goodreads to-read list now. Click HERE.

Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Hardcover | Audiobook

This is not going to be one of my normal book reviews because this was not a normal book. This was a book that God brought along just when I needed it. I’m twenty-nine years old and my life is nothing like I thought it would be at this point. That isn’t to say I don’t love my life. I am so grateful for where I am and what God has allowed me to do. However, though the spirit is willing, my flesh is weak. This last week, discouragement has been pulling at me.

So many people, with the best of intentions, have questioned my choices in life. They ask questions that make me wonder if I missed something. After all, what if I am doing something to scare off the guys? What if I do need to get a real job? I’m still living at home, what happens if my parents die? You get the idea, I’ve been doubting just about everything. On top of that, this week as been pretty stressful.

I came home from work to find this book had been delivered. Having a million things that needed my attention, I sat on my bed and read the whole book. Now, I feel like crying, I probably will as I finish writing this review. The words of this book washed over me, lapped around my heart and soaked into my dry soul. I can, and do, trust God to write my story.

Many well-meaning people don’t and won’t agree with the choices that God has called me to make. The story He is writing in my life is not going to look like the American dream, it isn’t going to reflect my hopes because I have trusted Him to do something better, and that is never, ever a mistake.

This book touches on many aspects of life that we struggle to trust God with. Each chapter shares personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Here is my testimony (the shortened version):

I’ve always wanted to be a wife a mom. I’ve also felt God’s call to write. I published my first book when I was twenty-one and God has used my books to impact lives. In the last few years, I’ve gone through some very serious bouts of discouragement. Being in your late twenties and never having a guy shown any interest has taken its toll on my perception of my value. God used some wonderful people in my life to help me refocus my vision to where it should have been: on Him and what value He places on me.

This summer, my sales have dropped to almost nothing. Now, they’ve never been amazing, but that’s been okay with me. However, while it isn’t about the money, an author does like to make some right? I’m still struggling to trust that no matter what the numbers say, I’m to follow Christ’s call. This reminds me I can trust Him no matter what.

The biggest struggle I face has been a life long one. I’ve struggled with fatigue since my childhood. In my teens, it was debilitating. It slowly, and for no apparent reason, started getting better in my twenties. Yet, I still battle all the time with having the energy to accomplish what needs to get done. I don’t have answers for why I don’t think I ever will.

However, this book reminded me that I can trust God to use that part of the story for good. He wrote that plot twist into my life before the creation of the world. He knew exactly where it would take me and where it will continue to
take me.

My dear friend, if you are struggling to trust God with your story, you are not alone. I highly recommend this book to you. I pray it will bless your heart as it did mine.

I received this book from Moody Publishers for the purpose of writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All the thoughts expressed are my own. 

For this month, you can donate Revive Our Hearts and get the book as a thank you. If you would like to support this ministry and get this amazing book, click HERE

Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback 
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 13 and up

I picked up this second book right after I read the first one. One of the things that I’m coming to really like about this series is that each story is connected with the next. Not just with the characters, but there is a flow. Don’t read them out of order, or you’ll be confused about some things.

This book was a lot of fun, from the makeover to a poor girl finding herself in the midst of a bunch of reach people, and (of course) more code names. Fun is just the best way to describe this series. I sit through these books grinning like an idiot and laughing out loud.

 Emily is very down to earth character. I think a lot of us can relate to her. She’s pretty normal and gets nervous and makes mistakes, like any of us would if we were thrown into things like she has. Her money issues are also a welcome and refreshing change for all the books where I’ve been like: “Well, that’s nice that you always have money to do things like that. In the real world…”

This picks up right where the last one left off and pulls us into a new case and a fun setting. The bad guy (code name Gremlin) is trying to sell secrets to foreign agents. There was enough suspense and guesswork that I wanted to find out the end, but not so much to give me bad feelings or nightmares. Have I mentioned how perfect I think these stories are?

If you enjoy comedy, light suspense, realistic characters, and all-around fun reads, you need this series.

On to the next story!

Social media didn't blow up earlier this year when Bill Emmons died. There's a good reason for that, very few people knew him. He was a man who had been a faithful Christian since his youth and when he died, the church down the street from us was full of lives he had touched, including my family.

"Ladies and gentleman, Today marks another faithful year for Pastor Jon. He has been faithful to his wife, a good dad, and preached the word of God boldly. Wow, I see this moment has gone viral already on social media."

Yeah, this moment never happened. The three pastors that are at my church, including Pastor Jon, quietly live a life of faithful service to the church and his family. Very few social media posts include any mention of the pastors

Recently, a big name pastor that my generation adored announced he was leaving his wife and faith. I've seen so many posts about the topic and it made me said. It made me sad for the guy, but more it made me sad at all the attention we give to the big failures and how little attention we give to the faithfulness of others.

Don't get me wrong, I think when big names fail, it is an incredible opportunity for the church to shine. Also, when some big-name fails, there is a need to process it. It isn't easy when a hero lets you down. In fact, I think all of us have put someone or another on a pedestal and then watched them topple, it isn't easy. In fact, if you are struggling with that, can I recommend a song to you? It's part of a kids show, but it's powerful. Click HERE and start at 6:36.
It's easy to see the bad in the world. It seems like bad news travels fast, but people don't celebrate the good news or faithful service. A big name teacher who I loved was separated from her husband, it was big news. When God worked a miracle and her husband's heart and they were reconciled? I didn't find out for a few months because the same friends who had been sharing about her heartbreak didn't mention the joyful news.

My dear fellow Christians, this shouldn't be. Yes, there is a lot wrong in the world and even in our church. Why even the church that I love has issues (I mean, they let people like me in so...). It's easy to focus on the fact that the music is too loud, the pastor to the singles doesn't really get stuff because he was married right out of college or find out a member fell through the cracks. It's easy to see those things and not focus on some of the amazing things that are going on like the consistently good sermons, the servant hearts of those around me, or the daily acts of service that are going on in our church.

With people, it's easy to see their problems. But right at this moment, can we celebrate the quiet lives of faithfulness all around us? Bill lived a very quiet life, yet at his funeral, story after story was shared about how he encouraged and built up those around him faithfully. One of them was my younger sister. During a tough time in her life, she took a weekly bike ride down to the church where Bill always had a hug and positive words to say to her.

Bill loved the Lord and that showed up in everything he did. He was one of the first people to welcome us to the neighborhood. He lent us tools, helped us find the best places to go for things in town, and told us Holman kids how proud he was that we were walking with Jesus.

How about the pastoral team at my church? Jon, Bart, and Aaron are following God and faithfully serve the church. Not a lot of people know about them because, well, they haven't done anything bad to attract attention. I'm grateful for that. I thank God for them and pray for them to continue in faithfulness.

Comment with some of the people who you want to celebrate for their faithfulness!