"The Bachelor Spy: A Freddie and Grace Mystery", Volume 5 will be on tour with Celebrate Lit from July 30th through August 12. I had the pleasure of reading a copy that was provided by Celebrate Lit for my later review.
You won't want to miss this wonderfully written adventurous mystery!
Luke 12:27 (NIV), "Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
Now that we are in the month of July, the year is half over. As you go through your days, reflect on what the last six months have held for you and what the next six months might bring.
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) tells us, "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."
Here are a few questions to consider as you visit the last six months of this year......
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that who so ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
1 Do you have a relationship with the Lord? If you do, is your relationship a strong one, or are there areas you might want to strengthen? If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, how is your life going right now? Jesus doesn't take the hurt away, but He sure makes it better for you to travel the heartaches of life with Him, rather than without Him. Consider asking Jesus to come live in your heart by admitting you're a sinner and repent, ask Jesus us forgive you, and invite him to lift you up out of the earthly pit of the world to live within you.
Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
2 Have you set goals for the year? Have you accomplished what you set out to do? If you have met the goals you have set, consider making a new goal(s) for the rest of the year.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
3 How are your relationships with your friends, family, and community? Are those relationships healthy and thriving or are they fractured? Are any of these relationship's in need of healing and repair? Or maybe you have been busy and you might want to strengthen a few relationships; get in touch with those people again.
3 John 1:2, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
4 How is your health - physically, mentally/emotionally, and spiritually? Do you get your wellness exams regularly to ward off health problems? In our hurried world, do you take time for yourself and be still - to listen and hear the Lord speaking to you? Do you take time to enjoy nature and being outdoors and enjoy what you love to do?
1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributed them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord."
5 Are you using your spiritual gifts given to you from the Lord? Do you know what special gifts God has bestowed upon you? Everyone has special gifts the Lord has given, and we are to use them to help others, serve in all ways to fulfill the purpose in which they are given.
I hope these questions will help you reminisce about the last six months of 2026 and you can celebrate what you have accomplished. Hopefully, your year is going well and remember that we all experience heartache, disappointments, and problems. But it's much easier to get through it all when we are walking with the Lord.
I wish you many blessings through the next six months of 2026. Christmas will be here before we know it!
It was a typical Ozark summer evening with the air muggy and hot.
"I'm so mad because you hit a rock and it broke the bedroom window!" he grumbled, giving her a daggered look. His speech was littered with foul-mouthed words.
With a downturned mouth, she said nothing, pushing away the tears as the accusing words stabbed at her; those words sank into her and settled deep. Heaviness overcame her again and she felt the pull of sleepiness.
The air in the stifling trailer was dry and stale from her husband's bickering. She made a mental note to later turn on the little box fan to help the air conditioning circulate the air better.
"You know rocks fall out of those gravel flower beds, I can't help it if the mower flings them all over!" She finally pushed the defending words at him.
"You just need to be more careful! It's funny because I can mow and never hit a rock! You know those rocks are there in the yard, don't run over them!" he yelled, his fists tight with rage, his cold eyes now ablaze. "Now I've got to fix the window!" Again a string of foul words followed his stomping down the hallway of the single-wide trailer, at the sound of the slamming door she was alone.
Closing her eyes she withdrew from the situation and snuggled into the fuzzy lap blanket as melancholy crawled over her. The weight of depression, humiliation, and disappointment squeezed her heart. She had to do better! Next time she mowed, she would keep an eye out and be sure and not hit any rocks. Maybe she should just stop mowing. When that thought struck her, she immediately retaliated with, No! I love mowing, it's a time of peace and tranquility and it brings me happiness.
She had homework to do and an assignment was due on Sunday, but instead the fuzzy blanket drew her into the safe sleep she craved and she closed her brown eyes longing for the escape that a nap provided.
###
That story is true.
What struck me wasn't the broken window. Windows can be repaired. What troubled me was the damage
done to a human heart. The accusation was absurd. No one intentionally runs over rocks with a lawn mower to break a bedroom window. Yet the criticism landed exactly where criticism often lands—deep inside the spirit of the person hearing it.
Psalm 55:21 describes such words well: "His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords."
Words have power. They can encourage, heal, and build up. They can also wound, discourage, and tear down.
I remember what happened after hearing that conversation. Whenever I walked through the yard, I
found myself looking for stray rocks and tossing them back into the flower beds. I didn't want her
to accidentally hit one while mowing and have to endure another round of criticism. She loved mowing
my yard, I would try to help by making sure those stray rocks stayed out of the grass.
That's how much I wanted to protect her.
The longer I reflected on that moment, the more I realized that controlling, complaining, and critical
people often do more damage than they realize. A controlling person can drain the life from a relationship. Instead of creating an atmosphere of trust, they create an atmosphere of fear. Instead of offering grace, they demand perfection. Instead of building confidence, they slowly chip away at it.
The person on the receiving end begins to question everything:
Was that my fault?
Should I have done better?
Maybe I shouldn't do it at all.
What begins as criticism can eventually become discouragement. What begins as complaining can become
contempt. What begins as control can become emotional bondage.
The Bible teaches a different way. In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-control."
Notice that Scripture calls us to control ourselves, not other people. Romans 14:10 also reminds us: "Why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt?"
God calls His children to speak with kindness, patience, humility, and grace. None of us are perfect
We all make mistakes. We all break a few "windows" along the way.
The question is not whether people will fail. The question is how we will respond when they do. Will we wound with our words, or will we extend grace? Will we criticize, complain, and control? Or will we love as Christ loves us?
The Golden Rule remains as true today as it was when Jesus spoke it: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
May we be known not for the Three C's—controlling, complaining, and critical—but for three better
qualities: compassion, encouragement, and Christlike love.
If you like small town contemporary romance with a unique cast of characters with their own style of kookiness, a touch of mystery, a sweet little girl, and an adorable dog named Bryon (Lord Byron), then you'll love Tina Radcliffe's first book in the Aspen Creek, Colorado series.
The Sheriff's Secret Past is sprinkled with lots of humor and highlighted by a sweet little girl and a precious pup named Bryon who comes into the heroine's life at the perfect moment.
Emily Taylor returns to Aspen Creek, Colorado; she is the "Spunky Kid" archetype heroine who is determined to bring back to life her newly bought newspaper business. Chase Taylor, the Aspen Creek sheriff is surprised to see Emily and he's immediately wary of her "nose for news" because he is harboring a secret - one that can make or break his career.
The characters who populate Aspen Creek are very unique and kooky, who will steal you heart and make you turn the pages of the story. You'll laugh at the Soul Sisters group of ladies and they will definitely warm your heart! At the end I didn't want to say goodbye and close the book.
I do hope Tina Radcliffe has in mind to write some of the other characters' stories, such as Harley's, Moss', and Hope's. On page 127 in the paperback book the conversation between Chase and Murphy will have you rolling with laughter.
This is an adorable romantic story and I want to read more stories from Aspen Creek! Check out Tina Radcliffe's website for Vintage recipes from the Soul Sisters and lots of news about the next books coming out in the Aspen Creek series......
I was gifted a print copy from Ms. Radcliffe and this review is my own thoughts. I highly recommend this story...Emily and Chase, the heroine and hero, are meant to be together and their story, as well as the other cast of characters, will stay with you long after you close the book!
Being naturally curious, I snapped a few photos of the surprisingly large seed heads. I was tempted to step through the weeds and pick one of the puffballs to bring home, but the thought of chiggers and ticks lurking in the grass changed my mind.
Later, I researched my discovery and learned that these fascinating plants are called Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius), though many people simply refer to them as Giant Dandelions. They are actually wildflowers, although they lack the bright colors we typically associate with wildflowers such as red, purple, white. pink, or blue.
Western Salsify thrives in disturbed areas, including railroad crossings, roadside ditches, fields, and meadows. Its yellow flowers resemble common dandelions but can be three to five times larger. They can be the size of golf balls to softballs! One of the most interesting facts about this plant is that its flowers open and close with the sun before they go to seed. Even more surprising, the shoots, roots, leaves, and flowers are all edible.
Like many gardeners and homeowners, we often think of dandelions as weeds and a nuisance in our lawns and gardens. Yet there are also people who intentionally grow and harvest them because every part of the plant is edible and rich in vitamins A, C, and K.
If you'd like to try dandelions as part of your diet, the roots can be scrubbed, roasted, and used as a coffee substitute. I've heard about folks using all kinds of roots to make substitute coffee in long ago days. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as greens. Flower buds may be sautéed in butter or olive oil with onions for a tasty side dish. And those bright yellow blossoms? Many people describe them as having a sweet, honey-like flavor that adds color and interest to an ordinary salad.
Of course, if you decide to forage for dandelions, be sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. As with any wild food, wash them thoroughly before eating to remove dirt and insects.
Who knew that those giant puffballs growing along a Missouri roadside could be both beautiful and useful? Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are waiting quietly beside the road or growing in unexpected places, reminding us that nature still has plenty of surprises left to share.
And perhaps God tucked these giant wildflowers along the roadside to remind us that even the things we overlook can have unexpected value.
For more information and recipes, visit these helpful resources:
• Treehugger: "10 Ways to Eat Dandelions"
• FoodPrint: "How to Eat Dandelions"
The month of June starts the season of outdoor activities and what's more fun than having a backyard BBQ or picnic in the park? Here are a few interesting vintage recipes I want to share with you. Notice the splatters on the old recipe cards from the cooks using them on the countertop as they made their goodies.....The recipes were loved and used over and over. I hope you enjoy reading the old recipes and maybe trying many of them out!
