Scripture and a Snapshot - Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

~Romans 5:1-2, 5~

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©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Wordless Wednesday - Icy Bridge

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

This post will be linked at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea Scribbles.

Pictorial Tuesday

 

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What I'm Reading - January 11, 2021

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I don't manage to post that often. I aim to post and link about once a month, although I sometimes link up my monthly summary as well. 

I have been having trouble with the book covers linked to Amazon not showing properly. If anyone knows why this might be happening, feel free to comment with suggestions to fix it.

I finished reading . . . 

Everyday Confetti by Karen Ehman & Glynnis Whitwer - A little book with suggestions and encouragement to make memories and celebrate everyday special occasions with your family. (Read my full review HERE)

The Christmas Bargain by Shanna Hatfield - Luke Granger agrees to a marriage of convenience to rescue Philamena from her father's home, and it turns out to be a beneficial arrangement for both of them. (Read my full review HERE)

Silas Marner by George Eliot - A reclusive weaver finds new meaning in life when he takes in a young orphan. I finished reading some time ago but hadn't posted my review as of my last update. (You can now find that review HERE)

I'm currently reading . . .

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber - Verity and Sydney stumble upon a suspicious death at her aunt's estate and they speculate whether it could be related to other activities or to their ongoing pursuit of the traitorous Lord Ardmore.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - This is what my Lit class has been reading, and we'll be wrapping it up this week. Hopefully I'll be able to write my summary in a timely manner!

 

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking - this is the first book I started working on for my January online book club. Our theme is winter.

 

Messiah: Biblical Retellings by C.A. Gray - A collection of short stories retelling the miracles of Jesus.

Timeless Treasure by MaryLu Tyndall - The only possessions Lexie has of her mother's are an old coin and some letters, and they lead her to a connection with a professor as they search for a pirate's treasure.

Next on the stack... 

How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen

Hygge: A Celebration of Simple Pleasures. Living the Danish Way by Charlotte Abrahams

When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas

What I'm Highlighting . . . Along with a few blogging friends, I'm participating in an Online Book Club that will be a little different. Instead of all reading the same title, we'll be reading books that have a theme in common. That way readers of all ages, homeschoolers or not, can participate. Our theme for January is Winter. Stop by Homeschool Coffee Break to find out more.

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Wordless Wednesday posts

Share Four Somethings - December 2020

Monthly Bookshelf Review - December 2020

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Online Book Club - January Theme: Winter

December Photo Album

Online Book Club - Wrapping Up December: Celebrations

Happy Boxing Day 2020

Twenty-Six Lists - Holiday Traditions

Five Minute Friday - Conclude

Coffee Break Reading List (December 15, 2020)

What are you reading?

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Christmas Bargain

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The Christmas Bargain by Shanna Hatfield - Banker Luke Granger has been trying to get a local farmer to make payments on his loans for awhile, and is always met with excuses. Finally the derelict farmer makes Luke an odd offer - he could take his daughter Philamena as payment. Luke is shocked and wants nothing to do with this arrangement, but the farmer claims he'll send  the young woman to a house of ill repute in town so Luke finds himself intervening. He knew he had to rescue Philamena from her drunken father's abuse but wasn't sure what to do next. Since her mother's death, Philamena has been subject to her father's drunken rages and neglect, but the kindness of the cowboy banker gives her new hope. 

Luke takes Philamena to his friends, pastor Chauncy and his wife Abby, and agrees to Chauncy's suggestion that they marry. That way Philamena can live at Luke's house, and if the arrangement doesn't suit them by Christmas, they can have the marriage annulled. Philamena also agrees to this marriage of convenience and is determined to work hard so that Luke will have his money's worth since she is the payment. She's surprised when Luke pays for an entire new wardrobe for her, and treats her with such kindness and respect.

The arranged marriage gives Luke and Filly - as she is soon nicknamed - the chance to develop a friendship, and it's not long before their feelings grow much deeper. 

In many ways, the storyline is very predictable, and a variation on a mail-order bride story. The relationship between Luke and Filly moves from stranger to trust and friendship very quickly, especially given the years of neglect and loneliness that Filly has to overcome. Her sudden transformation from silent, downtrodden victim to warm, gracious beauty is a little hard to believe. Still, overall, just like the subtitle suggests, this is a sweet and clean romance. Reasonably well-written, nice, but nothing spectacular or memorable. It's the first of a series of holiday romances all set in the same small town, but I don't feel any compelling interest to read the rest of them.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Every Thought

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

~II Corinthians 10:3-5~

These are very uncertain days. There is a lot going on, there are heated voices, and there are conflicting claims and views all around us. Whatever we do, if we are believers in Christ, we must submit our own thoughts and decisions to HIS authority. We must trust in our God and we must obey his Word. We must look to him in prayer in everything or we risk being confused and distracted by the arguments and pretensions of the world. 

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©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Everyday Confetti

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Everyday Confetti by Karen Ehman & Glynnis Whitwer - Beyond birthdays and Christmas, there are many occasions that call for celebration in our families. Some moms love planning elaborate birthday parties, but that's not everyone's style. For many families, smaller everyday celebrations offer more chances to make memories for kids, and may even become family traditions.

If you need ideas for the kinds of things you can celebrate, and how to mark achievements or special days on the calendar in affordable ways, this little guidebook has those ideas. In addition to some different ideas for birthdays and achievements, there are ideas for many other occasions throughout the calendar year. There are plenty of recipes included as well. 

The book is organized into two parts. The first is Everyday Celebrations and focuses on ways to honour achievements like work or school milestones, or even character development achievements. These are also celebrations of birthdays, spiritual milestones, and special family occasions. Not all family members live close by, so suggestions for staying connected and for reaching out to others are part of this section as well.

In Part Two, Holidays through the Year, there are ideas for celebrating seasons and the special days that we might find on our calendars. There are fresh takes on the well-known holidays like Valentines Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving; and some days that are just for fun like Backwards Day or Best Friends Day. The majority of the celebration ideas are activities that are geared towards families with younger children, but there are some suggestions to get teens involved. I did notice that although Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day are specifically mentioned and there are references to acknowledging 'our neighbors to the south', the authors did not even one time make reference to the neighbors to the north. Surely Canada Day or the Canadian date for Thanksgiving could have been highlighted as well, and since the authors are from Michigan (at least one is, if I remember correctly), I was surprised and rather disappointed at this omission. 

Overall, if you have young children and would like ideas to celebrate everyday joys and make memories, this little guidebook has plenty to get you started and will inspire you to come up with new traditions and fun to bring your family together.

Since my kids are all grown up and my only grandchild (so far!) doesn't live nearby, a lot in this book didn't apply to me in a way. But it was still very encouraging because I've tried to be intentional about finding delight in the everyday and marking all kinds of special occasions. The china should be used more often than just Easter and Thanksgiving! I especially appreciated ideas like writing personal notes or letters of encouragement to others on each of the forty days of Lent, or using the twelve days of Christmas to bless others who may be facing a particularly challenging holiday season.

 

This review originally appeared on Homeschool Coffee Break as part of the Online Book Club for December 2020

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Light of the World

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel."

~Luke 2:25-32~

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

~John 8:12~

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles; and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.