Book Review: The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover

I don’t usually use the phrase “This book is a must-read…” because I think that the only “must-read” for Christians is the Bible.  Every thing else is a matter of opinion and preference.  But for church planting wives, I’m going to break my own rule and say that this book is a MUST-READ (there, I even used capital letters to show that I mean it).

In The Church Planting Wife ~ Help and Hope for Her Heart, Christine Hoover provides an honest look at what it’s like to be the wife of a church planting pastor, a life that is filled with both joys and challenges.   She openly confesses her own fears and insecurities… which sound a lot like mine.  The solution?  She continually points her readers to Christ as the source of strength, confidence and provision.

Christine also addresses the primary source of trouble for church planting wives: our own hearts. She knows the temptations and tendencies that are common to church planting, and addresses them with good counsel and scripture.

My husband planted a church in the Midwest almost 15 years ago, and we have been here ever since. This week we announced to our beloved church that we are leaving to go plant a new church in another state.  So many of the emotions I had years ago have resurfaced… excitement and worry, anticipation and trepidation.  This book came along at exactly the right time in my life.

I highly recommend this book, particularly the paper version.  I first read this on my Kindle, but soon realized that I needed to underline, highlight and reread it, so I purchased the book. I'll be going through it much more slowly the second time.

I had not previously heard of the website which apparently launched the book: Grace Covers Me.  This is another resource I will be treasuring in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you Christine Hoover for sharing your heart with us that ours might be shaped to fulfill God’s purpose for us as church planting wives.

*I was provided with an e-book for review from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Downton Abbey Finale - I'm still recovering (SPOILER ALERT!)

SPOILER ALERT WARNING: Do NOT keep reading if you have not yet seen the Season 3 Finale!

It's taken me nearly a week, and I'm not really over the shock it. I was still reeling from the loss of Sybil.  How in the world will Mary go on without Matthew when they were so completely and madly in love? How can they let that sweet little newborn grow up without a father?  How did I ever get so involved in a TV show that I care this much? None of it makes any sense!!


While I wish I could declare that I'm done and I just won't put up with any more of this emotional blackmail, it would be a false threat.  Of course I'm going to tune in again and see what happens next season.  I LOVE this show!

Even though I hated the ending we were given, there were a number of things I did love about the last episode:
* Scotland.  That castle. The highland scenery. Bagpipes as alarm clocks in the morning.  I love all things Scottish, so I thought it was great that the whole clan went on a field trip there.

* Mrs. Patmore.  I couldn't stand the creepy guy who was courting her, but it was fun to watch her in the spotlight with a twinkle in her eye. And it only took her a single episode to realize that he was NOT Prince Charming.

*Granny.  She is my favorite character anyway, and it broke my heart watching her grieve for the past few episodes. So it was fun to see her back in form with her charming barbs and quips.  Maggie Smith rocks.

I could go on about the elements I didn't like (can you say "Edna"?) but I'll quit now. I fully intend to buy the Season 3 DVD, watch the whole thing and get mad all over again.

Bluebirds!

After a nice Florida break from the cold and snow, we returned to our winter wonderland. Mid-February is the time of year when I begin to wonder if spring is ever going to arrive. And then.... a sign of of hope arrives...yesterday, the surprise was bluebirds at our feeder!

Aren't they beautiful?

So there it is.  Proof that spring is on the way.  I'll be watching and waiting for a robin next.
:)

Save the Turtle!

Happy Valentines Day!  This post has absolutely nothing to do with Valentines Day, but I felt I needed to say that anyway.

We recently took a break from the Red Farmhouse, which was surrounded by a blanket of snow, to go visit my Mom in Florida. There was no snow there. It was warm. And sunny. We went to the beach every day, usually in the morning to walk and hunt for seashells.

On one afternoon, my son Daniel (my Critter-loving Biology Boy) was alone at the beach when he came across a sea turtle floundering in the water near the shore.

This poor little guy was so weak, he couldn't even roll over when the waves knocked him on his back.  So my son called me and asked what he should do?
After a quick search on the web, and a few phone calls, I located the Marine Lab that was responsible for turtle rescues in that area.  They asked Daniel to stay with the turtle until help could arrive, keeping it on the shore, and keeping it wet. So my wonderful kid babysat that turtle for about 90 minutes. (Awww...)

A crowd gathered.  People were giving all kinds of differing opinions about what he should do, some even suggesting it was illegal to touch the turtle.  But Daniel just politely replied that he was doing as he had been told.  I was able to get there just ahead of the rescue crew.  They showed up on two four-wheelers: 2 volunteers and one Marine Biologist named Marcus.  Marcus assured Daniel that he had done exactly the right thing.

They identified the turtle as a critically endangered species known as Kemps Ridley.  A local phenomenon called Red Tide was causing distress in the turtle population.  They thought the turtle had a good chance of survival after some rehab at a marine lab.
They wrapped the turtle up in a damp towel and took off on their beach quads.

We left the beach hoping that "our" turtle would be OK.  The man at the parking ramp said that he heard the turtle had died while they were transporting it. I hope he was wrong, but even if he was right, I'm proud of Daniel's effort to save an endangered animal. 

This was actually not our first involvement in a sea turtle rescue effort, but I'll save that story for another time...

Book Review - The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

The Tutor's Daughter is a winner! Great writing, great story.  Read on...

MY REVIEW:
I am a fan of Jane Austen and especially of Pride and Prejudice.  And I love the PBS series Downton Abbey, with all the intricacies of the class distinctions in days gone by.  So this new book by Julie Klassen was right up my alley.

When Emma Smallwood and her father move to a sprawling manor on the cliffs of Cornwall so he can be a tutor to twin teenage boys, Emma finds herself back in the company of their two older brothers  (who were previously students of her father). As she tries to decide how she feels about each of these young men, strange things begin to happen in the house, and even in her own sleeping quarters.  Annoyed, and eventually alarmed, Emma is constantly trying to guess who may be at the bottom of it, until everything reaches a climax and the puzzle is finally pieced together.

I really loved this book. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Emma is a sympathetic character. I liked her wit, humility and inner strength, even though her faith in God had seriously wavered after the death of her mother. The suspense in this story was much more intense than I had expected.... I thought her biggest dilemma might be much more trivial than what actually unfolded - that was a nice surprise.  Without spoiling anything, I can truly say that this book had my heart racing in some places, and in others I wanted to shout out loud at some of the characters.

This is the first time I have read anything by Julie Klassen, but fortunately, she has written a number of other books that I can now go back and enjoy! I highly recommend The Tutor's Daughter  to anyone who enjoys Regency novels. The writing is exceptional, and the story is one I will be thinking about for a long time to come.

Publisher's blurb about the book:

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her...

When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?

Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast--a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions--where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits.

About the Author:

Photo Credit: © Ginger Murray Photography

Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyreand Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com