Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

Let’s Pretend We’re Normal {Book Review}

Let’s Pretend We’re Normal:
Adventures in Rediscovering How to Be a Family 
by Tricia Lott Williford
About the book:

“Mr Responsible died, suddenly and tragically. He was sick for only twelve hours. … A thief named sepsis stole his breath and his heartbeat, and his spirit slipped right through Curly Girl’s fingers, even as she tried to save him on the floor of their bedroom only two days before Christmas.”

Two years ago, I read Tricias book And Life Comes Back. In that book, her grief was raw and tangible, I felt as if I was there experiencing it with her. Many times the tears were running down my face. Her strength is so evident in her words. Every page shined with the evidence of her rock solid faith.

I knew this book would be equally as good, and it was.

I fully expected the story to be of how Tricia and her two young sons got back on their feet after her husband’s death to be such a sad one. But it wasn’t.

What we see is a mother trying to explain to two little boys where God is in all this.  Many times I tried to put myself naively in her shoes, wondering if I would have the strength that she exhibits.  The three of them worked together through the different stages of grief.  If I am ever in the position she is in, I pray I have the strength and grace that she does.

One thing that Tricia is so good at is humor.  And thank goodness for that!  I’m an emotional girl, so the humor gave my tears a little time to dry.  It’s humor that so, so many of us can relate to!  Don’t get me wrong, there was lots heart tugging as well.
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

Forgiven {Book Review}

Forgiven
The Amish School Shooting, a Mother’s Love, and a Story of Remarkable Grace
by Terri Roberts
About the book:

Who would have believed all the beauty God would create over the nine years since that awful day. On October 2, 2006, a gunman entered an Amish one-room schoolhouse, shooting ten girls, killing five, then finally taking his own life. This is his mother’s story. Not only did she lose her precious son through suicide, but she also lost her understanding of him as an honorable man. Her community and the world experienced trauma that no family or community should ever have to face.

But this is, surprisingly, a story of hope and joy–of God revealing his grace in unexpected places. Today Terri lives in harmony with the Amish and has built lasting relationships that go beyond what anyone could have thought possible. From the grace that the Amish showed Terri’s family from day one, to the visits and ongoing care Terri has given to the victims and their families, no one could have foreseen the love and community that have been forged from the fires of tragedy.

Let Terri’s story inspire and encourage you as you discover the wonder of forgiveness
and the power of God to bring beauty from ashes.

A few years ago, I read a book written by Marie Monville. She was the wife of Charlie Roberts, the man who committed a brutal massacre at an Amish schoolhouse.  This book is written by his mother.

Terri shares about what happened on the day of the shooting and how it affected her, her family and the Amish community which they lived.

What still astounds me is how the Amish families quickly forgave the Roberts family. I read it in the first book and I watched it in Amish Grace, the movie about this shooting. They didn’t blame them for what their son had done, instead they extended grace to them nearly immediately.

What happened after the funerals and as time went on was just as incredible. The families continued to reach out and open their homes to the Roberts family. The Roberts family continued to check in on the families, and became friends (and even family) with them.

This story will absolutely touch your heart and will be one you won’t soon forget. This is an amazing read, I highly recommend it!

This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House in return for my honest review. The opinions i have expressed are my own.

The Day Is Finally Here

We are leaving for our vaca! I cannot wait to spend an entire week with my loves. I have big plans of laying on the beach daily, shark free please. I can’t wait to do my morning devotions while sitting by the ocean watching the sun rise. And walking the boardwalk every evening, while enjoying super yummy food. I’m not taking my laptop along, so no pics this year until we get back. I made the executive decision that this is a fam vacation to spend time together, technology free. Although I’m sure there will be an Instagram pic here or there!

PS…what I won’t be doing this vaca is riding those willy nilly bikes that you can rent on the boardwalk in the early morning.  I had a bad experience with those when I was little.  I may or may not have knocked down a little Chinese man.  And peddled away quickly while he yelled at me in a different language.  No desire to go through that again.  None.