When things get hard, most of us want to run the other way. I mean, honestly, who wants to watch a family be torn apart after the suicide of of one of the children? Who wants to listen to a friend talk about depression so deep that self harm sounds like a good option to them? Wouldn't be easier to step back when that friends, sibling runs away from home? After all, God will take care of them.

I want to tell you a secret about me. I naturally want to run for pain not only in myself but in others. When I see someone I care about hurting physically or emotionally, it pains me too. I sometimes even can physically hurt for them. I used to want to be as far from the pain as I could get, but as usual, God has had other plans.

This week, I am spending time with a dear friend who is really struggling. Her health is not great, and she is so tired in every respect. It is hard to watch a young woman who is one of the strongest people I know so week and dependant. Is hard to keep reminding her of the same things over and over again. However, I noticed a change in me: I wasn't even trying to run from the pain.

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Age Appropriate For: 15 and up (romance and mild violence)
Best for Ages: 15 and up
Description: The future stretches out in front of Sarah Dobbs like the pure blue Texas sky. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom, Austin Canfield, a man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar. But there is one problem--he has died. And Sarah cannot go back East. 
As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother, Clay, struggles with his own muddled plans. Though he dislikes working on the family ranch and longs for a different life, Clay is driven to avenge his brother's death. But something between them is growing and neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit it.

Have you ever gone through a time where you felt you couldn’t find a decent book to read? Well, that has been me this year when it comes to fiction. It seems that most of the fiction I have read has turned out to either be just okay, or something I downright dislike. This book was a good book I read in the middle of some not so great ones.

Set in Texas (near San Antonio) in the 1800’s, this book was off to a good start. I am partial to books set in my home state, and this one did a good job of catching some of the Texas flavor without going overboard.

The main character was a strong woman who was still very womanly. Her love for her sister, and determination to provide her with a better life, was so beautiful. She faces so many challenges right off the bat, and she keeps going and trying to make her sister’s life and the lives of the town members better.

The main guy, while I was confused and didn’t like him as much as first, grew on me. I liked how he wanted to make sure that (name) was taken care of, even though he wasn’t sure about her. He was a man of honor, even if he struggled with unforgiveness and resentment.

There were two things that confused me about this book and detracted a little from my overall feelings about it. While Austin is dead, I was confused about him. On the one hand, he was a strong Christian and on the other hand was getting into trouble because of his temper. The things people said about him sometimes were conflicting. I don’t want to give anything away, but who wrote the letters and why confused me.

The mystery that surrounds some of the strange events going on confused me, even though the author had laid clues toward the beginning of the book. The solution was one I felt I should have guessed, but took me by surprise. For me, that is a good feeling.

The romance was sweet, predictable, and nothing that would make anyone blush. Unlike some of the books I have read this year, the romance was God-honoring and without improper elements. The message of forgiveness and trusting God was well done and not over-powering.

I recommend this book to those who like historical fiction, sweet romance, and stories that keep you guessing.

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Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 10-18
Description: Rose Campbell, tired and ill, has come to live at "The Aunt Hill" after the death of her beloved father. Six aunts fussing and fretting over her are bad enough, but what is a quiet 13-year-old girl to do with seven boisterous boy cousins?

Some of my favorite memories of my early teen years were the hours that I spent reading Little Women with my sisters. We read the whole book together over a few months, sitting outside in the woods, each with a different project. Alcott always makes me think of those happy times, and makes me feel nostalgic.

My younger sisters have read many more Alcott books then I have, and I got to hear all about their favorites. The book I heard them gush the most about was Eight Cousins, so I decided to read it this year. I am so glad I did.

While I think that this book can be enjoyed by all ages, it was written for the young. It is a wonderful adventure of a little girl and her cousins, they type of story I would have devoured as a child. There is no-romance, and there are good lessons and interesting characters.

Rose was such an endearing character, and I loved how she saw her faults and worked hard to fight against them. I also loved how her Uncle worked so hard to do what was best for her, even if it was against the fashion.

The setting, though it was written in the backdrop of the 1800’s, is not very hard to imagine it taking place in our own time. Alcott had a timeless way of writing and a way of capturing the troubles of the old and young alike in a way that makes it never feel old.

I highly recommend this to girls who love old books, non-romantic stories, and books that feel real.

As it is Saint Patty's day, I think it is only fair that we talk about my favorite Patrick.


How do you think he got his nickname? Tell me in the comments below.

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Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 12 - 25
Description: On the verge of adult life, Chris Rivera is eager to get started on his career as a director of Christian movies. But he’ll have to do it without his best friend Ben, who has traded childhood toys for law books... and a very pretty study partner. 
Meanwhile, Jessie is getting a lot of attention from conservative neighbor John and trendy friend Galen – each of whom, for drastically different reasons, seems a little too good to be true. 
In the face of hard questions and big temptations, how do you know which choice is right? And where do you get the courage to make it?

So many books about homeschoolers either can come across as either well-intentioned books that lean toward legalism, or sound like homeschoolers gone wild now that they are ‘free’. Flight School was, in my opinion, the best book I have read about taking the next step after homeschool in a realistic yet God-honoring way. It avoids sounding legalistic (and even addresses legalism), shows some of the honest challenges, and has characters that do their best to live godly lives.

This book deeply touched me, because I could see myself reflected in some of the characters and their decisions. One example of that is the challenge they face to do what is right as they head out into the world. Each of the Rivera kids face something different, but each of them come to a point where they have to make a choice to do what they want or follow what God has called them to. There were a couple of points I was holding my breath, wondering if they would make the right choice.

The story flowed so well that I didn’t want to put it down. I can see how McIntire has grown as a writer. While this book was not an action book, the emotions of the characters kept me flipping pages. It is one of those books with enough diversity in characters that everyone who reads it will probably see themselves reflected in one or more of the people and situations.

I highly recommend this book to homeschool graduates, those how love faith-building stories, and those who enjoy contemporary books.

She is suffering from extreme fatigue and a host of other systems. The doctors say she will get better, but it will take a long time.

She has been diagnosed with several things, but the labels only begin to tell the story. She lives in daily pain that most of us can only begin to imagine.

She doesn’t like it, but she struggles with depression and anxiety. People tell her they know how she feels, but she knows they don’t.

These are examples of chronic illness. I have several friends who suffer in different ways, in fact each of the examples above. However, I am finding that few people really know how to help them. They say things they think will help, never realizing that they are hurting them.  This week, I would like to share 10 things you can do to help that friend.

1. Don’t give up on them. They are going to have a lot of friends who drift away from them because their illness, don’t be one of them. You might find it discouraging that they are not making progress and the friendship is strained, but remember, they are having a much harder time then you.

2. Send them reminders that you care. A note, email, or a small gift means the world and can make a dark day bright. It doesn’t have to be big, long, poetic, or expensive. They just need to know that you care.

3. Visit them. So maybe it isn’t fun to hang around them like it used to be, but they need you now more than ever. Sit on the couch and watch a movie with them. Tell them about your life, tell a joke, and just let them know that you’re physically there.

4. Speak to them as if they were normal. While they may not be up to a long visit, talk about normal things with them. If you are unsure if they would like a topic in their present state, ask them if they are interested in talking about (fill in the blank).

5. Remind them of God’s truth. I am not talking just about the sweet promises. I am talking about reminding them that God will never leave them. They may be struggling with believing a lie (like they are not valuable anymore) or worrying about things. Remind them of what the Bible says in a gentle way.

6. Allow them to change. Your friend make take up new interests and lose others. Allow them to change. It can be hard, but give them the room to change.

7. Tell them that you are not going anywhere. Of course, if you say this, you have to mean it. They need to hear that someone is not going to give up on them and will stick around. Will you be that person?

8. Make them laugh. Laughter is great medicine. Tell them a joke, bring over a silly movie, whatever you know that will make them smile.

9. Be real with them. Don’t think that you can no longer tell them about your life because they are having a hard time. Sometimes, the best gift you can give them is to not treat them any differently.

10. Pray for them. They need it! They need prayers for strength, peace, and so much more. Lift them up in prayer.

I hope you have enjoyed this audiobook, I know I have. If you have enjoyed it, leave a message here for Rose and I will make sure she sees it.