Let it be done onto me according to thy word...

Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. I have always counted strongly on Mary's intercession and on feast days like today's I know her intercession is particularly powerful. But tonight during Mass I was reminded that while I know of her powerful intercession I need to remind myself that like Mary it is more important to surrender myself to God's will no matter what. It is only in surrendering that the purpose of my life will be fulfilled for as the Archangel Gabriel says' nothing is impossible for God.
        If you are looking for some books to give as Christmas gifts I have a few recommendations. For families there is always the classic, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which I read every year. If someone you know has a quirky sense of humour I enjoy the book Boo Humbug by Rene Gutteridge. For the Tolkien fan check out Letters from Father Christmas which include letter written by Tolkien to his children every Christmas full of stories and pictures.
                                                       May you continue to have a blessed Advent,
                                                                                 Nina

Honesty is always the best policy

Hi all,
      I just finished a book called The Girl from the Train, by Irma Joubert. It was originally written in Afrikaans. It tells the story of Gretl and her journey from a train bound for a concentration camp to life in South Africa. Her story has many turns as she moves from a Jewish ghetto, to Poland and a convent school, and finally to Protestant South Africa. As a young girl of 6 she meets Jacob takes responsiblity for her welfare bringing her to live with his family. Eventually his family can no longer keep her and Jacob hears of South Africans looking for pure Aryan orphans to adopt. Jacob tells her to not talk about her Jewish roots, being Polish, or the Catholic religion which had become a major part of her life during her time in Poland so she would be considered for the program. Since Gretl's father was an SS Officer and she was baptized in the Protestant church so she becomes eligible for the program. This secrecy becomes an essential part of her life as she hears about the Catholic threat and the Red threat two things that would be associated with her because she was coming from Poland. All these things affect her life and relationships as her story continues.
         I would recommend this book as not only is it a good read but it is very respectful of the Catholic faith.  I was saddened to learn about the call for pure Aryan orphans as they were still clinging to the Third Reichs idea of racial purity. I also learned more about communist Poland which was something I did not know much about.  I hope you all have a good start to the Advent season.
                                                                   Have a good read,
                                                                                 Nina

I feel like Snow White...

In the early hours of this morning I woke to a little squirrel running around my room. I was able to get help from the others to take care of it and am currently washing all my sheets because the squirrel crawled across my bed. This is the third random creature I have found in my room in the last few months. First I had a bat, then a frog, and now a squirrel. So it seems I have the Snow White syndrome.
    On a side note those with ereaders or ereader apps have a couple of good books they can get for free. Several are the first in the series like, With Every Letter, by Sarah Sundin, which I have written about previously. A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr that has several Catholic elements in the book. The Centurion's Wife, by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, looks at early Christianity right after Christ's resurrection definitely has a protestant lean but is still good. When the Smoke Clears, by Lynette Eason a good romantic suspense novel.  Lynn Austin's book, A Candle in the Darkness, about the southerner who joins the abolitionist movement during the Civil War. Janette Oke's book, Once Upon a Summer, the first in the seasons of the heart series is also free. Beverly Lewis also offers The Thorn, the first book the Rose Trilogy for free.
                                                                      Have a good read, Nina

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."George Santayana
     I know it has been quite some time since I last wrote and today I want to share a good book that I recently read.
               Maggie Bright, by Tracy Groot gives a bit of history lesson about Dunkirk with a lots of intrigue with a little bit of romance. The story follows Murray Vance, Jamie Elliot, Clare Childs, and William Percy as their lives intersect around a boat named Maggie Bright and a secret package that could shed light on Nazi plans for racial cleansing. This book is currently available as an ebook for $2.99. I would highly recommend it as I could not put it down after I started it.
                                                              Have a good read,
                                                                             Nina

For such a time as this...

Today, all over the world Jewish people will celebrate the feast of Purim in honor of Haman's plot against the Jewish people being foiled by Esther. Reading over the book of Esther this morning I came across a particular passage in which Esther is telling Mordecai the dangers she would be facing by approaching the King uninvited. Mordecai in response says "For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a times as this?' (Esther 13:14).  I had never noticed before Mordecai's assurance that God would rescue the Jewish people regardless of what Esther did but if she did not her family's name would be erased. For the Jewish people the continuation of family and a name with the death of a family name there is no one left to remember it and it disappears from the Earth.  This passage also reminds me that I have been placed on this Earth at this time and place for a reason.  My faith journey must include me seeking God's will in where I am right now and not just in the future.
                                                                              Have a Happy Purim,
                                                                                                   Nina

Happy Ash Wednesday!!

Happy Ash Wednesday to you all. It is the start of another Lenten season. I always find it amazing how the Ash Wednesday fast always brings my attention to food and how I treat it. I am not a regular eater and often I might eat less then what the Lenten fast requires yet today I am constantly craving food and have a strong desire to eat. Yet I will survive on this little food and be thankful for every bite.
   In addition, today I would like to talk about the monthly magazine the Magnificat which includes all the daily readings as well as essays on the readings and other appropriate topics.  I have found it very helpful in my faith life and would highly recommend it.
                                                           Have a great and prayerful day,
                                                                                        Nina
     

The Month of Love

With Valentine's Day coming up we are inundated with messages of romance, relationships, and "love".  The worlds versions of love includes jewelery, nice restaurants, flowers and romance. As a Catholic I find this view of love one dimensional. While its nice it does not necessarily show love. For me human love needs to echo God's love for us. In your relationship how are you showing God's sacrificial love to strangers, friends, family, spouses, or significant other? For some fun Valentine's Day reading check out Denise Hunter's Barefoot Summer which is a free ebook today.
                                                            Have a good read,
                                                                                Nina

The truth will out

       In the Bible we have so many verses that deal with the importance of the truth and the fact that everything will come to light one day. In When Mercy Rains by Kim Vogel Sawyer a family is torn apart by lies.  Suzanne Zimmerman has long been estranged from her mother and family after being sent of in the night to cover an out of wedlock pregnancy.  Twenty years later Suzanne is summoned back home and the tension created by lies and bitterness have only grown stronger. The story is told from four different points of view Suzanne Zimmerman, her daughter Alexa, her mother Abigail, and Paul the boy who fathered her child. All four of them learn the value of the truth and the importance of grace and mercy as they seek to untangle the web of lies.  This story gave me much food for thought and the importance of truth and transparency in my own life.
                                     Have a good read,
                                                     Nina

Pray for the Unborn and all those affected by abortion!!!

Today on the 42nd anniversary of the Roe vs Wade we gather together in prayer and fasting in an effort to end abortion. I would like to share some books that are very appropriate for what we are praying for today.  unPlanned by Abby Johnson tells the story of her journey from Planned Parenthoom worker to prolife activist. The first chapter is not for everyone as it does describe an actual abortion procedure which Abby witnessed first hand.  On the fiction side you have The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers which chronicles the effect of abortion on multiple generations.  In All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner Ivy and Nick's marriage is on the rocks and the effects of a long ago abortion are still felt. If you or someone you know has had an abortion there is help available through Project Rachel. Check our their website http://hopeafterabortion.com/
                                                               Have a prayerful day,
                                                                                Nina

Ps: Irene Hannon's One Perfect Spring is available as an ebook for $1.99 today!!

Free ebooks continued..

Happy Sunday everyone,
   It is the last day of the Christmas season, welcome ordinary time! Here are a few more books to add to your ereader. Many of these books are the first in the series which is one way to check out a series with no money committed.
                   Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
                         An young southern woman balances working toward the end of slavery in the
                           South despite her family's pro-slavery leanings. Another good book by Lynn Austin
                            one of my favorite historical authors.

                             To Close to Home by Lynette Eason
                                The first book in suspense trilogy Woman of Justice series.
             
                             Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater
                                  A young woman returns to her family's ranch with her young son and runs
                                     into her first love.
                                Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz
                                        This is the first book in the Ballantyne Legacy series.

                                  The Rose Legacy  by Kristen Heitzmann
                                      A historical book from a contemporary author I have enjoyed.
                                  The Covenant by Beverly Lewis
                                       The first book in another great series by Beverly Lewis.


                                                                         Have a great read, Nina
         
                                             

New books for a New Year..

Happy New Year everyone,
    There are a lot of free ebooks available right now and I would like to share with you the one's that are worth getting. You should be able to go to your preferred ebook store and check these out.
                    Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney
                      If you like cozy mysteries check out this book with features a young woman
                      who  suddenly finds herself working for her Uncles private detective agency after
                       losing her job.
                     Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann
                         It has been  a while since I have read this book but I enjoyed the series and it falls
                         into the suspense category.
                     To Have and to Hold by Tracie Peterson
                           One of Tracie Peterson's Bridal Veil series. If you like historical fiction you might
                           to check out this book.
                     Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong
                            A decent contemporary novel.
                     The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis
                          The first in a series by the originator of Amish fiction. I have always enjoyed
                                    her books.
                    A Daughter's Inheritance by Tracie Peterson
                          A story set on The Thousand Islands on the St Lawrence. Another good historical
                                  series.
                    Fatal Judgement by Irene Hannon
                          A good suspense author remeniscent of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series.
                       Once Upon a Summer by Janette Oke
                           If you enjoyed the Love Come Softly series check this other series by
                              Janette Oke out.
                         Matter of Trust  by Lis Wiehl
                                I would classify this book as a mystery thriller.
                          A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
                               One of the few mainstream Christian books that features Catholics. This is
                                   definitely in the romance category.
                          Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden
                                A historical romance that is set during the Chicago fire.
                                                          List to be continued...
                Check out Christianbook.com  under ebooks for a full list.
                                                                       Have a good read, Nina