Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

A Robertson Family Christmas {Book Review + Giveaway}

A Robertson Family Christmas
by Miss Kay Robertson
About the book:

Hunter Clarke wanted one thing for Christmas: to spend it with his dad and his brother. He misses being included in any guy trips since his parents divorced and he went to live with his mom. So he’s less than happy when his mother tells him that he won a contest to spend Christmas in West Monroe, Louisiana, with a family named the Robertsons. For some reason, they’re supposed to be a big deal. How did he win a contest he didn’t enter? Besides, he’s never heard of them and sure doesn’t want to spend Christmas in a swamp with a bunch of strangers. 

Korie Robertson is excited to open her heart and home to Hunter and show him what the Christmas season looks like for the Robertson family. And like it or not, Hunter experiences it firsthand. From duck-hunting disasters with the bearded guys, to learning to cook with Miss Kay, Hunter quickly discovers what it’s like to live with this boisterous, yet loving family. Putting on his headphones and ignoring them is not an option. Before long, Hunter begins to let his guard down. But with Christmas and the end of his trip fast approaching, will it be too little, too late? Or will Hunter be open to the greatest gift of all?

We are Duck Dynasty lovers here in the household.  There aren’t that many shows that promote faith and prayer and when we find one that does, we become faithful viewers.  I knew I would love to read this book and especially now, when we’re not quite yet in Christmas season but we can see it down the road.

I loved this book from start to finish.  I honestly couldn’t put it down, what a great read it was!  Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas with the Robertsons?  Have you ever wondered what their holidays look like?    Not only will you get a peek into this great Christian family, this work of fiction gives us a glimpse into the Robertson family traditions that we all wouldn’t mind partaking of.

Miss Kay Robertson has gifted her readers with a beautiful story of a loud, loving, family that shares a few days with a “city boy” and teaches him it’s all right to make mistakes and show emotions.  This book is truly a blessing to read. The humor and the family dynamics are outstanding. Hunter goes back to Chicago a different person; one that is aware of the love of his mother and especially of the love of Jesus Christ.

I’m so super excited to announce that I am giving one copy of A Robertson Family Christmas to one lucky winner !! Woo! Enter below…

Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Singing Hymns Through Tears

As a young girl, I can remember standing beside my parents every Sunday in church and waiting impatiently to sing a hymn. Singing was always my favorite part of the service. The song leader would announce the hymn number and I would quickly grab my hymnal and stand, always being one of the first ones up. As soon as the hymn would start, my Dad’s voice could plainly be heard above the rest of the congregation. When he would start singing, I would stand a little taller. I was so proud of my Dad’s singing voice, his ability to harmonize easily and his knowledge of virtually every verse of every hymn.

As I got older, my love of this Sunday morning moment never changed. If there was a Sunday my Dad had to work, I would still stand tall and proud, doing my part. My Dad taught me how to harmonize, how to pull the melodies from the music and how to hear the piano over everyone’s voices.

I also took piano lessons for many years when I was young. I was lucky enough to have a piano teacher that was also a Christian, so many of my weekly lessons were learning to play hymns. I can assure you there were many a night spent around the piano (not always willingly on my part), playing hymns with my Dad singing melody and me singing harmony. I can remember the neighbors saying how they enjoyed sitting on their porches in the summer listening to us. And Sunday mornings when the song leader would call out a hymn that I KNEW we had practiced at home, I would do a little victory dance inside. I would stand up and sing beside my Dad as loud as I could.

Over the years my Dads hearing has decreased to the point now where he watches church services at home and doesn’t attend the Sunday services. This had never really affected me Easter a few years ago. The song leader announced the hymn, He Arose. I stood to sing and suddenly was overwhelmed with sadness.

I sang every hymn that Easter Sunday through tears. My husband saw me crying and asked what was wrong {which only makes me cry harder}. I couldn’t even really explain it to him without it coming out all jumbled. I was basically, in that single moment, slapped in the face with the reality that my life is changing. The “old days” are just that, the old days. They aren’t my reality anymore. I will never again stand beside my Dad in church and harmonize. It’s my time to make those memories with my littles.

It still makes me sad and most Sundays, at one point or another, I’m singing a hymn through my tears.

A Proverbs 31 Woman {Week 2}

I sure hope you’re enjoying this journey through Proverbs 31 as much as I am. I’m super excited to continue this week with one of my fav topics, marriage. Let’s take a look at the next two verses.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 
Proverbs 31:11-12

So the absolute first attribute we see of this woman is that her husband has full trust in her.  I think the King James Version is beautiful, it says The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  So not only does he trust her with his money, his children and basically his life…he also trusts her with his heart.  Oh trust, can’t we all agree that is such a crucial part of marriage!  Being trustworthy is such a blessing to your husband. How do we become more trustworthy? By mirroring God.

I was intrigued by the KJV version and what no need of spoil meant, so I dug a little deeper.  Basically, he knows that his trust is not misplaced.  He knows his wife would not do him wrong, ever.  Which ties directly into the next verse.

She brings him good, not harm, ALL the days of her life.  It doesn’t say she only is good to him when she feels he deserves it.  All the days of her life y’all.  Every single one!  In our world, 50% of all marriages end in divorce. But for the Proverbs 31 woman, she is in it for the long haul. For better, for worse…for richer, for poorer…in sickness and in health…all the days of her life. She remains faithfully at his side. And he has confidence that she will always be there.  

This beautiful lady strives oh-so-hard to make her home a haven of joy and happiness for her husband to return home to at the end of the day.  There is a quote by Martin Luther that I love…let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave. That quote is a perfect example of a Proverbs 31 wife. 

She doesn’t love her husband with conditions and she doesn’t hold grudges.  How many of us can say that? Surely not this strong-headed girl. Forgiving love is a love that is securely rooted in God’s love for us. God wants our love to be sweet, soft-hearted and lovely. He wants it overflowing with forgiveness. By offering forgiveness, we are offering the grace that God has given us. The Proverbs 31 wife doesn’t cling to prior offenses, tucking them in her pocket to use later. She wipes the slate clean as soon as the offense happens. She knows that will not only set her husband free, but her as well.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13

Don’t forget to stop back next Sunday as we take a look at more virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman.