Presidents Day 2017

February 20, 2017 is Presidents Day. As usual, I typed it in a search engine to pull up quotes, stories, etc. that might be appropriate. Mostly I have pulled up stories of how it really is about celebrating George Washington's birthday. The following in the International Business Times sums it as well as any: "The holiday was originally established to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, but now it always takes place on the third Monday in February, so it acts as a combo celebration for Washington, Abraham Lincoln and any other presidents you like."

I am tired of the #notmypresident and the idea of celebrating the "presidents you like." We have ONE president. Did I like the vision that President Obama had for America? Absolutely not! But I respected the office of The President of the United States and I prayed for him regularly. I am sure I probably said & posted things from time to time, but blasting him and being disrespectful was not the focal part of my day. Nor did I blindly believe every negative (or positive) thing I read without more research from a variety of sources. When he made a huge error in judgement, I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt...unless, of course, it became a pattern.

Donald Trump was not even in my top 10 choices of the original pack of Republicans who were running. But it came down to a choice between a man whom I felt would take wise counsel and a power-hungry person who had a casual disregard for national security and not much more regard for human life, particularly the unborn. I voted for the only one my conscience would allow, and not voting was a choice I could not make as opposed as I am to H. Clinton.

However, if she had won, she would have been my President. I would have prayed for her leadership decisions---and hoped she would not destroy our country. We have survived other presidents who were unfit for office.

Our nation is currently in a state of turmoil like I have never seen. Journalist integrity has been replaced by those who wish to sway the nation rather than inform. People are rioting, demolishing property, marching for/against causes they don't seem to understand themselves with protesters who are often vulgar and profane, spreading lies, and letting hatred rule their lives. Even some of those who are in tentative agreement with opposing views are being openly mocked if they don't agree 100%. I confess that early Trump supporters were one of the main reasons I continued to think poorly of him.

Despite what many in the press and on social media would have you believe, Donald Trump IS The President of the United States. He fairly won the election and has set out to fulfill the promises he made. Am I going to be happy with every decision he makes? I seriously doubt it. But, despite my initial doubts, I am going to support him. My prayer is that I can find a way not to let my bitterness toward rioters, protesters, and marchers get out of hand. I have tried to listen to their point of view, but it always ends in anger, and despair for my country and her people. We need to learn to compromise, seek truth, and turn to God. This century has us on a path to ruin. It may have started with attacks from other nations, but we are now set to self-destruct. It is not too late. 

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." - Psalm 33:12

"However, if that nation I have made an announcement about turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it." - Jeremiah 18:8

When We Last Spoke by Marci Henna

Humor, heartbreak, and triumph are served with whipped cream and lots of local nuts in this heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and forgiveness in Fireside, Texas.

Meet Juliet Cranbourne, local radio personality and owner of a whimsical kitchen gadget store, and her sister Evangeline, a fruit tree geneticist who works for Oregon State University.

When a rift due to their orphaned past affects their sisterhood, Juliet convinces Evangeline to come home for Christmas and choose headstones to honor grandparents Walt (a tenderhearted, good looking rancher) and Ruby (a blue-ribbon fiddler, fabulous cook, and expert in the art of making family feel loved). 

As they cruise through Fireside in Ruby's Thunderbird, Juliet hopes that healing memories will somehow smooth rough roads ahead.

Does the tremendous love that marked Walt and Ruby's lives still have the power to renew their sisterhood and help them find their place in the world? (from the back cover)

My Review: "When We Last Spoke" is well-written, but I think my expectations were too high. I normally love fiction set in the South with quirky characters and a humorous way of viewing life that can also illuminate a hidden truth. While quirkiness and humor is a part of this book, something just did not quite resonate with me. Some of the actions of characters did not always seem to ring true and there were times characters would teeter into 'beyond the grave' experiences that I was not comfortable with entirely. There are books that allow one to immerse themselves into a story and the fictional people begin to feel like familiar friends, but this did not happen with any of these. Sometimes it just seemed like there was more effort made to make everyone quirky and less on making them well-developed people. I left the book knowing a little more about them, but we were still strangers.

On the other hand, the possibility of a movie being in development does intrigue me. The possibility of seeing more life breathed into each one may make them more multi-dimensional for me. And, I plan on reading the book again at another time. I have had books that could not capture my full attention during the first reading that would suddenly "click" with me when I would try again later. I certainly see that potential with this author, and her talent is evident. I would suggest her to friends looking for a new author to read.

I did receive a copy of this book at no cost to myself from FlyBy Promotions. 

Social Corner:

Fireside Novels on Facebook@MarciHenna on Twitter
When We Last Spoke on GoodReads
FiresideTexas.com 
Buy:                                                                                           

WWLS Softcover  

WWLS Kindle 

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful book about hugs, imagining the different ways to give or receive a hug through delightful rhymes and entertaining illustrations by Tim Warnes. 

Whether it’s a wriggly, wiggly bug hug, an enthusiastic knock over chairs dog hug, or a big bear, leaving you gasping for air, hug---this book is a lot of fun to read and have a special time of hugs and fun before bedtime.

This is a special book that both entertains and lets a child feel safe, secure, and well loved. This is a ZonderKidz hardcover book, recommended for children between 4 and 8, but toddlers will enjoy it too---especially all of the hugs! It encourages interaction between parent (or grandparent) and child, and gives the child an opportunity to burn off a little energy before settling down to sleep. 

With Valentine's Day approaching, this would be a perfect gift for your special little Valentine.

Official Website -  http://bit.ly/2eBPnU6

Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/ZonderkidzTwitter -  https://twitter.com/Zonderkidz

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

GIVEAWAY: All entries must be made No Later Than February 7, 2017. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. The winner is subject to eligibility verification.