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...

Tomorrow is December 21.  That date will always mark our firstborn's homegoing! Two poems mark a little of how I felt/feel over the past year.  Let's start there! Little One Loved Little one loved,   we wanted you so very much, even though we never touched      your tender skin,      or held your hand. You were in our hearts,      little one loved. Little one loved,   We never saw your tiny form, and never held you, small and warm,      within our arms,      safe from all harm. But you were our child,       little one loved. Little one loved,   but loved by god far more than we, and so He took you home to be      with Him to stay.      You went away and left us grieving here,        little one loved. Little one loved,   we wish you could have stayed with us, but God is asking for our t...

I felt like it was time to post something other than just book reviews, but now I am not entirely sure what to say.  I thought the title Critical Reaction does elicit an interesting line of thoughts. Does anyone want to say what there first thoughts are when thinking of that combination of words? Do you zero in on the critical part and think someone is being critical of the reaction of someone else? Or do you think of the reaction word first and think that the way you respond in the given circumstance is extremely critical? What kind of reaction do you feel when you hear the following news bulletins? --30-100% horse meat found in some kind of lasagna that Aldi's sells.  They buy it from someplace in France who was advertising beef and putting horse meat in instead.  Who's gonna know?  It seems the manufacturers might be passing the buck to the stores by saying they were putting pressure on them to lower their prices. --Parents charged with murder after foll...

Yes, I know another book review.  This book was given to me by Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of writing a review about it. Critical Reaction by Todd Johnson was not a book I would have normally picked up to read.  I picked it because, of course, I didn't want a month to slip by that I didn't try to get a book to review.  If you love mystery and intrigue than you would like this book. D and I both read it and for a bit on Sunday evening, I was reading it aloud so we could both know what was going on as I had caught up to where he was at.  He then finished the book while I did the responsible thing and went to bed.  I quickly finished it the next morning before going to work. The plot is based on a nuclear plant in the desert that had an explosion.  One of the guys hurt in the explosion was trying to sue, but it seemed like a lost cause, but of course, throughout the book, they were able to gather enough evidence to win the trial in the ...