10 years

Memorial Day is a time that I always remember my grandpa. He would sit in his chair in his living room and listen to patriotic music at crazy levels. He was the most patriotic person I've ever known, and he taught me to respect the flag, this country, and the people who have fought and given their lives for it- and the ones that put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. It's also a time that leaves me thinking. I couldn't let this month pass by without contemplating a lot that's been on my mind since I realized what this year is for me: my 10 year anniversary.

For what, you might ask? Well, sit back and I'll tell you:
10 years ago at this time I was lying in a hospital, dying.

I have Addison's Disease. That's just a fancy way of saying that I have a problem with my adrenal glands; they don't function at all on their own. I take medication to help them along, but when it's not treated or it's not diagnosed? It's fatal. Addison's is a very rare disease, which means that if you're not looking for it, it can be missed. The symptoms are clear: I was exhausted; could barely stand for more than a few minutes without feeling like I would pass out; I barely ate anything, and when I did I couldn't keep it down; I was a strange greenish color (which on most people would look tan, but I don't actually tan); and the knuckles on my hands were discolored. The doctors that I went to had no idea what was wrong with me.

This is where Memorial Day weekend comes in.

After attending the annual picnic our old church had and me getting sick there, my parents took me to a doctor at a nearby hospital. She told my parents that she was going to send us for blood work, and if I got sick again to come back- she'd admit me so she could do some tests. 

Lo and behold, I got sick in the waiting room at the blood test lab. 

Fast forward a couple of hours, and I'm lying in an examining room going in and out of consciousness. My dad left the room to pray in the waiting room; it was as he was doing so that our pastor and 2 men from our old church appeared and began to pray with him. My mom stayed in the room with me, where we sang hymns and quoted Scripture. Somewhere in the midst of this, my vision began to double. That's the last thing I really remember before waking up with a bunch of people around me.

From what my mom told me, I went unconscious. My blood pressure had dropped to insanely low levels, and at one point there were far too many doctors in the room to count. This was when another doctor came in; he was an endocrinologist, and believed that I had something called Addison's. He gave me an IV with cortisone, and by the time that my dad came back from the waiting room, I was awake and sipping water.

So there you have it. I take medication three times a day, but I'm truly grateful to be alive. God saved my life that day; I had always known that He was real, but through that trial, He showed me just how real, powerful, and mighty He is.

You see, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the Lord. He worked a miracle in my life 10 years ago, and since then has never ceased to amaze me. I still have no idea what He wants me to do with my life, but I hold onto the promise that He isn't finished with me yet. I've laughed, cried, stressed, doubted, feared, and grown weary countless times since then, but I know that He's never left my side- and that's what's helped me through everything.

To God be the glory!

"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.'" ~Isaiah 43:1-3a

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." ~1 Timothy 1:17


God bless. and happy Memorial Day!

Elyssa =)

Check out this great giveaway!

Hi, all!

So it's been a while again, but today I wanted to share with you a really awesome giveaway going on over at this blog. Jody Hedlund's books are amazing, and if you haven't read any of them, you should definitely check them out!

Here's the link:

http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2014/07/captured-by-love-by-jody-hedlund-review.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChatWithVera+%28Chat+With+Vera%29

God bless,

Elyssa =)

Caught in the Middle

 

About the Book:

She wants the Freedom of the open plains.
He wants the prestige of a successful career.
Neither is ready for what comes instead. 

The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring life's next victory to Nicholas Lovelace. Instead, it gets held up by robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected- Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.

Anne's been hiding away as a buffalo hunter. She's only in town to find their runaway cook, but the woman flees- leaving Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person Anne knows in town, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.

But being in town means acting and dressing for polite society- and it's not going well for Anne. Meanwhile, Nick's work is bringing new pressures, and being seen with a rough-around-the-edges woman isn't helping his reputation. Caught between their own dreams, a deepening relationship, and others' expectations, can the pair find their way to love?

My Review:

Anne Tillerton has been a bit of a mystery since she was first introduced in Sixty Acres and A Bride. In that book, she is portrayed as quiet and- according to her husband, who later is killed by her in self-defense and to save Rosa Garner- a bit of a recluse. In Love in the Balance, Anne has left her dresses behind her and is clothed like a man- and thrown into jail after being accused of murder. In this book, Anne is back in action- but much more vulnerable than ever before. After surviving the cruel abuse her husband put her through for so long, she wants nothing to do with men or even dresses. All she wants is to be left alone so she can hunt.

Nick has also been a bit of a mystery as well; he is seen as happy-go-lucky, and very good-natured. And while he is still just that, he is so much more. Nick is a man who is looking to be successful, but also to find the woman who can make him happy. When he and Anne cross paths, he is more than a little intrigued with the woman who saves his life on the train. And when he offers to help her if ever the need arises, he never expects that she will follow through- until one day when she shows up at his office with a baby in tow.

Each of Regina's books has had their moments of fun and seriousness, and I think that this had to be the most fun out of all of them! Although I have a special fondness for the other couples, I found that Anne and Nick were so much fun to watch spar. Watching Nick interact with little Sammy was so adorable, and seeing the way that Anne dealt with the baby's mischief brought countless smiles to my face. It was great watching these two grow so much throughout the book; Anne, as she struggled with her past and trusting Nick, and Nick as he learned to accept that following God didn't always mean an easy road of having things happen the way he wanted them to.

With action, humor, touching moments, and a satisfying end, this is another great read that I'd highly recommend. Great job, Regina!

God bless,

Elyssa =)

*I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review. 

Love in the Balance

About the book:

Molly Lovelace dreams of being a society lead in 1879 Lockhart, Texas, but being smitten with handsome wrangler Bailey Garner doesn't seem the quickest route. If only he would settle down so he could support a family.

Bailey imagines doing great things for God, but his greatest obstacle is Molly. As long as he thought they'd be married, he excused their stolen kisses, but when she keeps refusing, he vows to earn her love. In town, he tries his hand at several different trades, but everywhere he turns he runs into the mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont. No surprise that Molly's always making calf eyes at the wealthy adventurer.

As pressure from Molly's parents grows she is forced into a hasty decision. Had she weighed all her options and will she find love in the balance?

My review:

I'll be honest and admit that I read this book before Sixty Acres and A Bride, so I got to know Molly after her infatuation with Bailey's older cousin, Weston. In the first book, Molly's main goal was to gain Weston's attention. In this one, she is more intent on getting Weston's cousin, Bailey, to marry her. He really wants to, but there's a problem: he can't support a wife, and Molly's parents won't approve. To top it off, Molly keeps on pressuring him into finding the right job so that they can tie the knot.

Watching Molly and Bailey struggle with their feelings, thoughts, doubts, and situations was amusing, touching, and frustrating. There were times that I ached for Bailey as he dealt with Molly's situation; you could see his struggle, and how he longed to please God in everything that he did. He had such a heart for God that I couldn't help but grow attached to him. And Molly... well, her character is equally frustrating, if not more so. But I promise, by the end of the book, you'll be rooting for her as a very crazy twist and a seemingly impossible situation plays out!

With equal parts of smiles and seriousness, this is a book that deals with the struggles of trusting the Lord no matter the situation- even if that means letting go of something or someone you've been holding onto for so long. Definitely a fun book!

God bless,

Elyssa =)

*This book is from my personal library

Sixty Acres and A Bride

Hi, all!

This year, due to my love for reading, I decided that I might branch out a little and do some book influencing. When the opportunity arose for me to influence Regina Jennings' latest book, I decided that I'd take the chance. I had read her first two books in the series last year, but decided that I would reread them before I jumped into Caught in the Middle. That in turn led me to my decision to write reviews for each of the books. So on that note, I bring you my review for Sixty Acres and A Bride, the first in The Ladies of Caldwell County series. Hope you enjoy!

About the book: 

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to Texas and the family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have only three months to pay. 

Though facing eviction, Rosa can't keep herself from falling in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. Learning the American customs is not easy, however, and this beautiful young widow can't help but catch wandering eyes. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, to what lengths will Rosa go to save her future? 

My review: 

Rosa wants nothing but to be free from her past. She thinks that moving back to Texas with her mother-in-law will help her to be able to move on from the death of her husband and the painful memories it brings. Weston's past is filled with regrets. He thinks that burying himself in running his ranch will help squelch his own painful memories of his wife's death. Rosa is a new Christian striving to please God. Weston is angry at God and can't seem to understand why He would love someone like Weston.

When I first saw this book, I was intrigued by the cover and the fact that this is a more modern telling of the book of Ruth. When I first read it, I enjoyed it. When I read it a second time, I found myself liking it even more! I loved watching Rosa and Weston's stories unfold. All Rosa wanted was to fit in, to belong with her new family, and to be loved. All Weston wants is to protect his family- Rosa included. These two are from completely different worlds, and yet while watching their stories unfold, I saw how similar they were. Both were struggling with pasts they wanted to forget. Both wanted to love and be loved. And both longed to feel forgiven and whole in Christ.

This was a great read, and one that I would definitely recommend! Along with Weston and Rosa, there's a cast of characters who will leave you chuckling, smiling, and even a bit frustrated. But I promise, by the end of the book, you'll want the second one close by!

God bless,

Elyssa =)

*This book was from my own library

Sanctus Real - Promises

Hello, everyone!

Sorry I've been a little slow in the blogging world, but I'm really going to try this year to bring you some book reviews (I've got a LOT of books I'm looking forward to this year), some great songs, and encouraging posts. =)

I know that we're coming into February already, but I thought that it would be a good time to share something that I've been thinking about a lot lately: God's promises. You know those times in your life when you're really down, have no idea what to do, or are so confused you can't think straight? Well, those are the times that we need to remind ourselves that we need to keep our minds off of whatever situations we might be dealing with, and instead, focus on God. Whatever the situation, it will seem much less impossible.

The reason?

God is in control!

No matter what, He won't leave or forsake us, and He won't make us deal with life alone. He's right there and promises that it will all work out.

Which leads me to this song.

When I first heard this, I instantly fell in love with it. It's a great reminder of how mighty and awesome of a God we serve- a God who is faithful and constant.

So whatever you might be going through, I encourage you to listen to this song. Remember to hold tight to God's promises, and to keep your eyes on Him!

Enjoy!

Elyssa =)



Sometimes it's hard to keep believing in what you can't see
That everything happens for a reason even the worst life brings
If you're reaching for an answer and you don't know what to pray
Just open up the pages, let His Word be your strength

And hold on to the promises (hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (all right)
Jesus is alive, so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

And all things work for the good of those who love God
He holds back nothing that will heal you, not even His own son
His love is everlasting, His faithfulness unending
Oh, if God is for us who can be against us
So, if you feel weak

Just hold on to the promises (hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (all right)
Jesus is alive, so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Neither life nor death could separate us
From the eternal love of our God who saves us

Neither life nor death could separate us
From the eternal love of our God who saves us

Just hold on to the promises (hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (all right)
Jesus is alive, so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Just hold on to the promises (hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (all right)
Jesus is alive, so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Neither life nor death could separate us
From the eternal love of our God who saves us

Time for getting in the Christmas spirit!

Are you getting ready for Christmas? Well, here's a really great book from an amazing author that will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit! Julie Lessman is having a contest on her blog where you can get a character named after you or a loved one in her next book! So don't be shy, go on and check out the giveaway and watch the video while you're at it. Handsome rogues vying for the attention of a beautiful young woman, a Christmas play, and one amazing story that will leave you wanting to read more of Julie's books. What more could you ask for? ;)
Hope you enjoy!

God bless,

Elyssa =)

http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots1/2013/11/8/friday-november-8-2013.html