Every Bend in the River : Book Review

 As a book reviewer, I have been in hiatus for a while. However, a new book caught my attention and begged to be read and reviewed.  A Bend In The River, by Emerson Ford  soon to be available on September 29, 2005 through Storm Publishing was well worth my time.  I received access to this book through NetGalley in exchange for this review.

A Bend In The River is a historical fiction set in the late 1700's during the French and Indian War and subsequently entering the American revolutionary war.  It centers around the main characters, Rosanna Waters and Callum Stewart. Rosanna is a wild and impetuous  imp of a girl, wanting to follow her twin brother Philemon in all things fun, as she shuns her mother's desires to make a lady of her. Callum is an indentured servant as an orphaned child, sent to America after his prison release following the Scottish rebellion in 1745.  Both characters are followed throughout their growing into adulthood while  surviving the wilds of a young country facing hardships and war. 

As an avid reader of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, I appreciated the style of writing and historical details that went into this novel. It was well written with a strong voice and a knack for storytelling that captivated this reader. The dialogue used highlighted the character's personalities without becoming over done with the "brogue" of the Scottish language or colloquialism of a young girl like Rosanna. The dates included to set up the historical references were accurate and enhanced the story further. There were enough references to the past to peak my interest and encourage me to want to know more about the time period and setting.  Cameo appearances or mentions of actual historical figures such as  General Washington and Alexander Hamilton gave the book just the right amount of "spice" for any historical fiction buffs, without overpowering the story of the two main characters.  

I would highly recommend taking the time to read, A Bend In The River by Emerson Ford.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This Was a Special Moment: Conscious Joy

     I have found that I really enjoy Instagram more and more.  I particularly love my quirky algorithm.  It seems to me that each person's algorithm on social media is actually a rather accurate definition of one's personality.   Mine is peppered with cute animal videos, particularly cats.  It also includes recipes,  adorable children, catchy ear worms (trending songs and tunes), and my favorite- spiritual posts.  The Christian messages and teachings generally make my day and give me focus. 

I recently found a video in my feed that featured an older woman discussing with her family the importance of recognizing special moments. 

I was impressed with the gentle reminder of what is important in life. Cherishing special moments.  Everyday activities that just happen and can so easily be missed without conscious attention being made.  Since watching this video, I have noticed many special moments.  

We, as a society, put so much effort into big events, and then share those with others in person and on social media.  Events like weddings, vacations, birthdays and anniversaries.  Yet what about the acts like sharing a funny event that happened during the course of a day.  Playing a board game together, reading a book to a young child, or sharing a bible study with a group of friends.  That's a special moment, and one to be noticed when it happens.  

In the video, the woman stated that when she experiences these moments, she calls attention to her family or friends with her and says, "This is a special moment." It highlights the delights being shared and brings it to everyone's attention.  I would like to embrace this practice.  I have been doing it myself, but perhaps I need to call it to attention of others when it happens.  

Just a few of my most recent special moments include, strolling through a field of sunflowers with my daughters as we discovered bees busily gathering pollen on their legs so thick they looked as though they were wearing pantaloons.  That's a special moment.

Holding a dear friend's three month old baby daughter and hearing the small nursing sounds as she drank a bottle. While also admiring her tiny painted toenails, courtesy of her big sister's request. That's a special moment.

Hugging a huge sequoia tree while on vacation in California, hugging it just because I could and  because it smelled so wonderful of fragrant bark and sunshine.  This is a special moment.

I encourage everyone to begin to look for and enjoy the special moments in our everyday lives.  It's more than smelling the roses, it's coating ourselves in the sweetness of even the most mundane happenings simply because we are a part of God's perfect creation and are blessed to be in this world together.  

Here is the link to the original post:   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNY42X7yU3y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

God Bless and Hugs for your day!

God's Plan is Humbling!

 Yesterday I had an experience that made me think about my life in a different perspective.  I think that as we grow older we tend to do more introspection and examine the events in our lives through various filters.  If you have read this blog in the past, you are aware that my faith in Christ is an important part of my life and how I try to live each day.  

When reading the bible, the more study and application one does, the more interconnections within the pages are found.  Prophesy from the old testament is revealed as events in the new testament.  The genealogy of Jesus dates back throughout the old testament -  so many areas are interwoven together. 

What I found myself marveling at yesterday is how one experience in life truly prepares us for how we approach and live future happenings; even though we probably have no clue why we are placed in the original event and it's purpose is not clear until much later in our life.  Yet when it does reveal its purpose, the connection is transforming and faith affirming.

To set the scene, I must first explain.  I am a person who has never fully settled into any one job as a career.  I actually sat down this morning and counted how many jobs or positions I have held that I was paid for my work; and the number is 17! In my 60 years of life I have worked 17 various jobs that I got a paycheck.  Everything from dental assistant to retail salesperson, to receptionist, tospecial education paraprofessional to Targeted assistance/ESOL instructor to SAT test scorer and most recently I am finishing credentials for water aerobics instructor.  Obviously, there are multitudes in between these listed but I just hit the highlights.  😊

I have never understood why I couldn't pick one career, settle in and do it long term. I am just always wanting to learn something new, try something different, and when approached with a new challenge I think, "Yeah, I could do that."  But I have wondered why God put me in all these situations.  I grasped a small window of His will yesterday. 

As I listed, one job (my first job actually while I was still in high school) was as a dental assistant for a local dentist in my hometown.  I originally was hired to do mailing of billing and make patient reminder calls.  Over time I was assimilated into the practice as a chair assistant, which was a stressful position for me at such a young age. (I was 16-17 at the time.) I saw and assisted many procedures from fillings, to extractions, root canals - most general dentistry.  I'm not one to really want to see those things, but I did it anyway.  I have always wondered why God put me in that job, that place in time.  Especially since it gags me.  😕

Now, jump forward to my 60 year old self yesterday.  I volunteer at various events now that I am retired from school. This weekend I donated my time at KMOM (Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic).  I worked the teeth brushing station where patients brushed their teeth prior to medical screening, I was a runner of paperwork from patient exit to coding, and I did a brief stint in sterilization.  No big deal. Not much blood and pain.  That was until the last two hours of my shift yesterday.  

One of my friends who works the event to organize volunteer placements came to get me.  She had a patient in extractions that was having severe panic attacks. She had a history of abuse and was having all her teeth removed due to infection and decay. She needed a comforter...she needed me.  I didn't exactly know what I was getting into, didn't know about all the extractions, I just knew someone needed me and I could do that, I could be there.  After I stepped into the area I saw what was going on. there were patients all around with dentists and assistants doing emergency dental procedures, like an emergency room for dental care.  I went in, introduced myself and  held her hands, encouraged her courage in the situation to get treatment and care for herself, and silently prayed as she cried. As the doctors worked as efficiently as possible to deaden her gums and remove all her damaged teeth I saw all the trauma and suturing, just as I had when I was 16 years old in a local dental practice. 

The woman was able to finish her procedure, and I stayed with her until she left with her friend.  It was excruciating for her.  It was emotionally difficult for me. But I know God put me in that place, at that time for this specific purpose.  Had I not had the experiences that I did early in life, I would not have been able to be there for her yesterday. I would most likely have fainted. It was rough. 

Right after she left, I took a break and thought about all that had happened. I am still humbled that God would choose me to be there for her.  To witness  to her while she was in recovery that I had silently prayed for her during the procedure. (She said she felt the prayers.) 🙏💗 And that God would have planned this all out more than 40 years from the time I was a teen until I was a retired 60 year old woman.  

Just as the bible is all interconnected throughout its pages, so are our lives.  My thoughts I want to leave with you reader are...don't discount the trials and challenges given in this lifetime we are allotted.  You never know how or when they will be used for good. 

Prayers for you all!