Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy

 

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy, a new novel by Janice Lynn, was such a delightful and heartwarming story.

Sophie Davis finds a journal in a box of donated books at her church. The journal is the writing from someone in the military. She sets out to discover who it belongs to.

Cole Aaron, a local firefighter, is a Marine who moves to Pine Hill Kentucky hoping to put his past behind him. He's written his deepest secrets about things that happened when he served. When he discovers that Sophie has read his journal, he tells her to throw it away. He wants nothing to do with Sophie, or her pity. But they end up volunteering together for the toy drive. Which throws them together. As Sophie gets to know Cole, she wants to make a Quilt of Valor for him. He refuses as he feels unworthy.

As only Hallmark can do, this story will definitely put you in the mood for Christmas.  The ending is so incredibly touching. I loved how Janice Lynn wrote such compassion about the many hurts associated with finding peace after going through the horrors of war.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Wordless Wednesday

Chevron quilt

I watched a Youtube on making a Chevron quilt.  The demo was using a Layer Cake, but I thought I would try to make my own with 6" squares.

I picked out an assortment of fabrics.  Plus white background fabric.

Cut 6" strips and then again into 6" squares.

 

Pair up a white square with one of the color fabric squares.  Sew all the way around.

With your trusty rotary, cut the sewn square in an X.

Press your seams to the dark fabric.

 

Line up the Chevrons and start sewing the blocks together.

 

I will work on these blocks and see how large this quilt will turn out.  I cut two yards of white background, and various amounts of the red and blue.  

Happy Quilting!

Quilt show

So we are all missing quilt shows this year. Let's take a virtual walk.

 

Quilt Fever | A 2020 SXSW Documentary Short

Wordless Wednesday

The Kissing Tree

 

Enchanting. Delightful. A sweet book en-capsuling four novellas. Each written by award winning authors.

The Kissing Tree takes you through post civil war to modern age in Oak Springs Texas.

Broken Limbs, Mended Fences begins with a young girl carving her initials in a grand Live Oak, wishing for her first kiss.

Inn For A Surprise walks a young woman building a lover's retreat. When her fathers business associate blocks her every move, how do they collaborate to make the plans a success?

From Roots to Sky, a WWII airman heads to Texas to meet his fallen friends sister. Why has he come all this way when his plan was to travel to NY?

Heartwood. Fighting to keep the town's century old landmark, proves to be more heart wrenching then expected.

Regina Jennings, Karen Witemeyer, Amanda Dykes and Nicole Deese each brings a lovely story that starts and ends with the Kissing Tree. The stories flowed smoothly from generation to generation. I totally enjoyed each set of romances, as they were tastefully written.  These ladies know their craft and I would give them a 5+

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Anchor Man

"Now this is the commandment, the statues and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it. that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statures and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. " Deuteronomy 6: 1-2

Recently I listened to a message on the radio as I was driving. It was about the Anchor Man. The more I listened to this program, I was hearing about my Anchor Man.

My admiration goes beyond understanding. I've seen this walked out in the life of my own Anchor Man. A man of integrity and honesty and faithfulness.

God always has His men. He always has a remnant of faithful men who love God and are anchored on Jesus Christ.

An Anchor man is a man who will have no other gods before them.

Men who will not make graven images. They love the Lord their God with all of their heart, soul and mind.

Men who will not take the Lord's name in vain.

Men who are motivated to work, but not so much that they won't take one day of rest.

Men who honor their fathers and mothers, and help care for them.

Men who will not murder or have murderous thoughts.

Men who will not steal things, whether it is possessions or someone's character.

Men who will not bear false witness.

Men who are a one-woman man.

Men who do not covet but are content and thankful for the blessings God has given them.

I am thankful for the covenant relationship I have with my Anchor Man. I have been blessed to learn from this man who places Christ first in his life every single day.

And today I am wishing my Anchor Man a Happy Birthday!