Gravel Road Musings

Our Family Picture:  January, 2014  Dear Nicole, You came too soon and so you couldn't stay and we miss you so much.  At 23 weeks and 1 day, you just were too tiny and your body had endured so much--the infection would have made it so hard for you to fight against all the odds you had against you.  Because of those odds,  your daddy and I decided to let you go and be with Jesus--we didn't want to watch you struggle down here.  Very likely, you would have had to struggle your whole life with the effects of being born too soon.  We couldn't stand the thought of watching that and so we let you go.                                                                                                       ...

After everything that has happened in the past 2 weeks, this feels a bit frivolous, but I do enjoy my free books and so I will continue writing my book reviews. This book was given to me by Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reading it and writing a review on my view of the book. Prepared for a Purpose by Antoinette Tuff and Alex Tresniowski This was a good book--it was the story of how Antoinette was able to deal calmly with a gunman and avert a school shooting in Albany Georgia last August 20, 2013. The authors knew how to hold you in suspense.  Every chapter talked a little about the gunman and what he was doing and then it would backtrack in to Antoinette's life and talk about  how her experiences shaped who she was and how it allowed her to stand calmly in the face of death. She had had a hard life--homeless at times; a dad who really didn't like her at all as a young person.  She had a baby out of wedlock with the man who would later become her hu...

In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo...

This is another book review.  This book was given to my by Bethany House Publishers to read for reviewing purposes. In many ways, this book review is appropriate after my last post.  This past year feels like it was a pilgrimage for me, at times, at least.  It was a journey through uncharted waters and as I look ahead to 2014, I realize that the uncharted waters are continuing and they look a little turbulent at times, but if I can remember some of the lessons I learned and that stuck out to me in this book, it should help. Lynn Austin took a trip to the Holy Lands and visited many of the same places Jesus would have been when He was on earth.  She took this trip at a time in her life when she felt dry, empty and barren.  Her children had all left home and I think she was longing for purpose and meaning and was coming up empty.  So her and her husband went on this tour group and with each place visited she has uses the stories that happened there and...