Picture a Day - Roses in Springtime

Shortly before we moved from California in 2014, my husband Chris took me to the Huntington Library.  I had never been there, but he had some good memories going there when he was young.  

The gardens at the Huntington Library were truly among the most beautiful I've ever seen, especially the roses. 

Picture a Day - Back Bay View

This picture was taken at one of my favorite places, Back Bay Inn in Los Osos, CA.  It's one of the many beautiful views from this hidden gem of a hotel.  When you check in, you can feel your stress melting away.  

Picture a Day - Wild Yarrow

The yarrow in our garden is one of my favorite plants.  In the wild, it's just as pretty.

Picture a Day - Oreo Cows

While the picture is not great...the subjects are pretty cool.  We were traveling down the highway in the Hill Country, at a pretty good clip, when what to my wondering eyes should appear...Oreo Cows!  Who knew?  Never heard of them before, but they are pretty catchy.

Picture a Day - Old Rusty Car

Last December, we went on a road trip into states I had never been to.  This rusty old car was by the roadside in Arkansas.  Love the colors and the home behind it...kind of captures some of the sights we saw along the way.    

Picture a Day - Country Roads

I love driving down old country roads.  You never know what you will happen upon.  We came across this interesting scene in Ennis, TX during bluebonnet season last year. 

Picture a Day - The Old Barn

What is it about an old barn that catches my eye?  If I had my druthers, I'd probably stop at everyone I pass and take pictures.  

Love the weathered wood and the metal roofing that's rusting set against the gray winter sky.

First Timothy – Becoming a Good Minister of Christ Jesus – by Gregory Brown – A Timely Word and Study for Today

Pastor Gregory Brown presented me with the opportunity to read his most recent Bible study, the Bible Teacher’s Guide in the book of First Timothy – Becoming a Good Minister of Christ Jesus.

Once again, Pastor Brown has done an excellent and thorough job of expositional teaching of the Bible.  Going verse by verse, he helps the reader/student to understand Scripture in context.  He uses Scripture to interpret Scripture.

He’s deals straight with the truth and the Bible is the standard by which he measures truth or falsehood and right and wrong.  It’s clear he desires that the church be equipped to know and teach God’s Word and live it out in their daily lives.  He asks hard questions, challenges Christians to examine themselves and be serious about their faith. 

I found the questions throughout the book to be challenging, sobering and very convicting.  He doesn’t shy away from dealing with topics that are controversial in today’s culture.  He uses Scripture, Old Testament and New Testament, to back up his assertions and interpretations. 

First Timothy – Becoming a Good Minister of Christ Jesus by Pastor Gregory Brown is an excellent book and resource for Bible study.  It would be a great help to prepare someone who is going to be leading a study, or for group or individual study.

I highly recommend Pastor Gregory Brown’s newest Bible study, First Timothy – Becoming a Good Minister of Christ Jesus. 

An Unexpected Journey

The day our family grew by one

So very unexpected, certainly not planned

Not pregnant, but it’s every bit as exciting

We thought we would welcome into our home

For a few weeks one summer

An orphan from a land far away

Little did we know

Our hearts would be knit together as one

Our children would embrace this precious child

This little one had a hard beginning

While still so young, was now alone

But LORD willing, not for long

Far too soon the day would come

When we had to send this young one back

This child whom we’ve come to love

What better way to celebrate and remember

Than a picnic, together as a family

On a beautiful warm summer day

Of course, we took pictures to remember

When we beheld the photos in our hands

We knew, this child was meant to become our own

Sadly, the day came for a tearful goodbye

We embraced, declared our love

Made promises to write and stay in touch

Thus, our unexpected journey began

Covered with prayer

Dependent upon the wisdom and guidance of God

We will rely on the support of family and friends

The loving care of our dear church family

As we walk the path of adoption, one step at a time

Seemingly endless paperwork to be completed

Funds to save and raise

To make what seems impossible happen

We will watch and pray

Delays may come

But our hearts will remain full of hope

Dependent upon God

Who goes before us

For His heart is close to the orphan

by Susan Bunts Wachtel

August 2, 2017

Have you ever heard a story and felt inspired and moved by what God was doing?  This poem was inspired by a story I recently read.  While I don’t know the all the details about what the family has experienced, I rejoice at the work the LORD is doing to give a precious orphan a family and change a life forever for good. 

Picture a Day - Sunshine and Flowers

Recently, Chris and I had the opportunity to visit Fredericksburg, Texas.  One of our favorite places was the Wildseed Farms.  We walked their fields and the glory of God was on display in His creation.  I think God must love colors and variety as seen in nature.  

We purchased some sunflower seeds, tropical milkweed and cosmos to try at home.  Many of the seeds have come up and are starting to bud and bloom.  Looking forward to spreading the seeds in our flowerbeds next spring. 

Now when I think of the Hill Country of Texas, I remember the beautiful town of Fredericksburg.  

Shattered - Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign – Informative and Intriguing – A Must Read for Political Junkies

I’m not a Hillary Clinton fan, but after hearing authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes interviewed about their book Shattered – Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign, I knew I wanted to read this book. 

After following the crazy 2016 Presidential election, with all the twists and turns that left heads spinning, I couldn’t resist learning about Hillary’s campaign from those who knew her best.  How is it that this woman, who spent her lifetime striving for the opportunity to be the first woman President, lost and had to watch her dream slip through her fingers once again?  Only to have the most unlikely candidate, President Donald J. Trump, win the election? 

The authors were given unprecedented access to the Clinton campaign and people at all levels.  As a result, readers are given insight into the actions and decisions Hillary and her campaign workers made.  Shattered is not light reading.  Even though I was familiar with events in this book, I found it interesting because I was seeing the events through the eyes of Hillary and her people. 

One can’t help but wonder if the campaign had been run different, would we now have Hillary Clinton as President?  How did the people who were guarded, controlling and on a personal power trip effect Hillary’s campaign?  Were they there to help Hillary win or to try and ensure they had a job in the next administration?  If Hillary had been open to honest criticism instead of surrounding herself with yes men and women would she have run a more effective strategic campaign?  Why did Hillary rely on her people to put into words why she was running for President?  Why couldn’t she say it in her own words?  If Hillary had been humble, took responsibility for her own bad decisions and genuinely apologized would it have positively impacted her campaign? 

The 2016 Presidential election was a circus and Hillary’s campaign was surprisingly ineffectively run.  This book provides some insight into the key players that impacted this election and Hillary’s campaign.  There were a couple of scenes in this book that helped me to see Hillary in a more personal light and I felt some compassion for her.  I didn’t expect that. 

I thought authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes did a good job in staying out of the story and instead reflect Hillary, her key players and the campaign as it unfolded.  I tried to figure out their own political leanings.  They are definitely not Trump supporters.  Based on their respect and reverential manner in how they wrote about President Obama, I believe they are likely liberals.  I couldn’t really tell if they were Hillary fans.  If so they weren’t afraid to honestly and accurately portray Hillary and her supporters. 

Shattered – Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign gives keen insight into Hillary’s campaign and the one of the craziest elections in recent years.  It also helps readers to see where the continued all-out attack on President Trump started and the ongoing narrative that is currently unfolding in newspapers and the media today. 

I would like to thank Blogging for Books and the Crown Publishing Group for the opportunity to read Shattered – Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign.  This was an excellent book and it accurately captures Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the surprising upset.  I found it informative and recommend it to folks, both conservative and liberal, who want to better understand the 2016 Presidential election.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.