Roses Of Inspiration #39

Happy Autumn, sweet friends!
Oh, the joy of beautiful fall days.

Thank you for joining Roses of Inspiration this week-
it's truly a delight and blessing to have you here.
I appreciate each and every one of you
and I always anticiapte visiting your lovely blogs.

Let's start with some beautiful features.

Roses of Inspiration Features. . .

If you were featured than please feel free to take the "I was featured" button.

Simply copy the HTML code and paste it onto your blog.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/6d8b180b-b3b8-4065-9986-dcccb5a9f70e_zpsc65070e5.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please do not pin from my site!

Go to the original source and pin from there IF it is okay with the blog owner!

. . . { Autumn Inspiration } . . .

Thrifty Rebel Vintage

shared a darling fall wreath made with an old wheel.

. . . { Baking Inspiration } . . .

Beatrice Euphemie Vintage Cottage Style

shared a delicious recipe for blackberry squares.

. . . { Crochet Inspiration } . . .

Hobby Loes

showed us this darling blanket which she crocheted.

The little teddy faces are adorable!

. . . { Quilt Inspiration } . . .

Kira Bee

showed us her beautiful antique quilt - my, what a treasure!

. . . { Spiritual Inspiration } . . .

In the Quiet Woods

shared a beautiful reminder that we are not alone

and that God is always with us.

It was simple yet meaningful.

. . . { Cooking Inspiration } . . .

Heaven is Smiling Above

shared a tasty recipe for a 4 star seasoned Casserole.

I am featuring this recipe because I made it last week

and it was absolutely delicious!

I did only one thing differently. . .

I used grouse instead of chicken 

and I cooked it all day in the crockpot so that it was extra tender.

If you are new to our party than here are the basics. . .

{ 1 }

You can link up anything that your heart desires. . .
{please keep it family friendly}

crafting - recipes - encouragement

Scripture - devotionals - photography

healthy living - gardening - home living

sewing - crochet/knitting - fashion

beauty - tea time - home decor 
and even giveaways.

{ 2 }

You can link up as many posts as you want

and they can be posts you have written today, last week, last month, or last year.

{ 3 }
There will be fun giveaways throughout the year.

I will simply add up the amount of people who participated in one of the link ups,
write the numbers down on paper and draw the number of the winner.
So if you link-up more than one post you will have a greater chance of winning.
These giveaways will be random
so you never know which link up I will choose for a giveaway.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Below is a button available for your sidebar
to let others know about Roses of Inspiration.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/eca034cc-886a-4d9a-8e02-3a4f5bc60e74_zps45b994ad.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please take a few minutes to visit at least two blogs. . .
everyone loves a visit and comments.
I look forward to seeing what you share
and I will be around to visit throughout the week.
Have fun, sweet friends, and enjoy your day!

We Plow The Fields, And Scatter

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness,

in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven,

and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

- Acts 14:17 -

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,

but it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand;

He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,

the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,

the seed-time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food;

no gifts have see to offer, for all Thy love imparts,

but that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Chorus

All good gifts around us are sent from heav'n above;

then thank the Lord, O thank Lord for all His love.

- Matthias Claudius -

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

- Isaiah 55:10, 11 -

There is always a waiting time between the planting of the seed

and the gathering of the fruit or grain.

This is true in spiritual matters as well.

God often has to give us a waiting period for the full bloom of the Spirit's fruit

to be produced in our lives.

- Amazing Grace - Kenneth W. Osbeck -

Let s not forget about the spiritual harvest in our lives.

Have a lovely and blessed Lord's Day.

Sharing with: 

A Reluctant Bride - Book Review

She never wanted to marry.

He hopes to make amends for past wrongs.

Can love find a way to heal both of their hearts?

Sadie Shrock swore she would never marry.

All of her other Amish friends could court and marry-

she was content to manage the family business 

and eventually take it over when her parents are ready to retire.

But all of that changes when a reckless driver kills both of her parents

and seriously injures her younger sister.

With mounting hospital bills adding to the pile of debt her parents left behind,

Sadie is left with no choice: she must marry.

And not just any man - the man who saw her at her weakest and walked away.

Aden knows what his brother did to Sadie years ago was inexcusable.

And every day since that incident, Aden has lived with the guilt for now intervening sooner.

When he is faced with the chance to protect Sadie once again,

he can't let her down - even if it means living with the scorn 

of the woman he loves for the rest of his life.

Working alongside Aden at the store,

Sadie realizes he isn't the same boy who once betrayed her.

Just when Sadie starts to let her guard down 

and perhaps develop feelings for her new husband, dangerous secrets are revealed.

Now everything Sadie has worked o hard to protect is threatened,

and she must find a way to save her family - and herself.

My Thoughts

A Reluctant Bride is book one in the Birch Creek Series.

My mind is running in several different directions right now 

as I write this review simply because I have lots to say.

Let's start with the characters. . .

I'm going to begin with my favorite character and that is Aden.

He is portrayed as a "weakling" during the first part of the book,

but later learns to take a stand for what he believes in and for those he loves.

His character is truly wonderful and he made his way into my heart in no time.

As he tries to make amends with Sadie for something that took place when they were teenagers

by showering her with love, kindness, gentleness, and goodness.

He sees only her and her needs and with God's help he tries to do all he can

to make her life more beautiful and special.

It was a delight to see Aden grow into a man of integrity

especially after everything he faced with his family-

a family that has many dark secrets.

As for Sadie, well, she was interesting.

Sol, Aden's older brother, did something to Sadie when she was sixteen,

something that left her scarred and bitter.

Aden was nearby and could have stopped his brother, or so she thought,

which caused her to hate him as much as Sol.

Years later Sadie still holds a grudge against the two brothers,

but when circumstances push Sadie and Aden together

she must learn to forgive and when she finds out why Aden didn't step in to "save" her

she is left with shock and a touch of tenderness and compassion towards him

that she strives to keep at bay.

I understand that Sadie was hurt and terrified by what took place,

but she holds onto bitterness during most of the book 

and at times she was quite frustrating to me.

I felt like she wasn't willing to see the good in Aden

simply because she was too caught up in herself and her pain.

She wasn't willing to go to the Lord with her concern or fear

and it ate her alive until she broke.

The characters are Amish and I always love a good Amish story,

but I felt the author made the characters too "worldly."

If you have read any Amish books than you will understand what I'm saying.

It just seemed like the characters in this book did and said some things

that a "typical" Amish character would not do or say.

It threw me off a little bit.

A Reluctant Bride is a touching story about hope and forgiveness.

I was reminded that no one's life is perfect,

but that God can make something beautiful out of the broken

if that person is willing to let go and let God.

There is also drama, romance, and mystery weaved throughout the pages of this novel.

I would give this book 3.5 stars.

 ** I was given a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers

and the Fiction Guild Team for an honest review. 

All thoughts are my own and no other compensation was received. **

The Mistress Of Tall Acre - Book Review

There can be only one Mistress

of Tall Acre.

The American Revolution is finally over

and Sophie Menzies is starved for good news.

When her nearest neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy,

finally comes home to Tall Acre, she hopes it is a sign of better days to come.

But the general is now a widower with a small daughter

in desperate need of a mother.

Nearly destitute, Sophie agrees to marry Seamus 

and become the mistress of Tall Acre in what seems a safe, sensible arrangement.

But when a woman from the general's past returns without warning,

the ties that bind this fledgling family together will be strained to the utmost. 

When all is said and done, who will be the rightful mistress of Tall Acre?

Triumph and tragedy, loyalty and betrayal-

you will find it all in the rich pages of this newest novel 

from the talented pen of Laura Frantz.

My Thoughts

Laura Frantz has done it again - she has written a phenomenal story

that is heartwarming and captivating.

From the moment you meet Sophie 

you will fall in love with her precious character.

Her life has been far from easy 

yet through the struggles and heartaches she leans upon the Lord for strength.

She faces uncertainty in her future, but with the help of her Heavenly Father 

she rises above the circumstances and faces them with courage and grace.

And when you meet General Seamus Ogilvy, well. . .

your heart will most definitely fall for him just like mine did.

He is a man of integrity and strength. . .he is a hero.

But he is also wounded, physically and emotionally.

His days of healing aren't always easy 

for him or those around him. . .

The story of Sophie and the General is precious

and will have you up reading late at night to see how their feelings develop.

You will be on the edge of your seat to see what happens 

to the rightful mistress of Tall Acre.

There are a few twists and turns that I did not see coming

which is exactly what I love and look for in a book.

Plus, the history that Laura Frantz adds to her stories 

is eye-opening and well-researched

which makes for interesting and beautiful reading material.

The Mistress of Tall Acre is a story well-written by the talented Laura Frantz

and I would definitely recommend this book.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Revell Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the author of several books,
including The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little
The Colonel's Lady, and the Ballantyne Legacy series.
She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net

The Memory Weaver - Book Review

Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage

by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847.

Now a mother of two, Eliza faces a new kind of dislocation;

her impulsive husband wants to make a new start in another territory,

which will mean leaving her beloved home and her mother's grave-

and returning to the land of her captivity.

Haunted by memories and hounded by struggle,

Eliza longs to know how her mother dealt with the trauma of their ordeal.

As she searches the pages of her mother's diary,

Eliza is stunned to find that her own recollections tell only part of the story.

Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times

bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick's latest literary journey into the past,

where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope

inside every pioneering woman's heart.

Get swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us

and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past.

My Thoughts

When it comes to a novel written by Jane Kirkpatrick

I know I will get rich history that has been researched and well-presented.

The story is of Eliza Spalding Warren,

a woman that was taken hostage by the Indians when she was only a child.

She saw and endured things that changed her life forever

yet also shaped her into a strong and kind woman.

After being returned to her family Eliza still faces heartache and struggles.

Her loving mother passed away when Eliza was young and she is left with her father,

a man that shows no emotion and is hard on his children.

Eliza runs off with Andrew Warren and marries him only to infuriate her father

causing him to say she is dead to him.

Her husband isn't always easy either. . .

Even as Eliza faces the trials that come her way

she keeps her heart and mind focused upon the Lord,

trusting Him in and for all things.

She is kind, loving, and gentle and she continually pours these beautiful traits

upon those that hurt her the most - she is a precious and godly example.

She takes what comes at her and she makes the most of life.

I enjoyed this book, but I also found it a little difficult to read

simply because the story was slow and I found I could only handle a few chapters at a time.

I will say that Jane Kirkpatrick writes in a beautiful way - 

it's almost poetical at times.

All-in-all I would give this book 3.5 stars.

The history is rich and well-portrayed, 

but the story itself was just too slow with not enough to keep my attention.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Revell Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author
Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York-Times and CBA bestselling author
of twenty-seven books, including A Light in the Wilderness
and A Sweetness to the Soul,
which won the coveted Wrangle Award from the Western Heritage Center.
Her books have been awarded the WILLA Literary Award
and Carol Award for the Historical Fictionand have been finalists for many others.
Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry.
Learn more at www.jkbooks.com

Meet Heather. . .A Mesothelioma Survivor

Good morning, dear friends!

Today I am sharing a post that is not my usual craft, recipe, or tea post.

Today's post is far more important and precious. . .

it is a post about a woman who beat the odds against Mesothelioma cancer.

That woman is Heather Von St. James.

First of all, mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer 

that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

Every year around 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

On average, they are given 10 months to live. . .

When I read Heather's story I was greatly touched.

You see, she was exposed to asbestos through her father's job.

Her dad worked in construction

and he would come home covered in the drywall dust

that he had scraped off the walls.

Thinking nothing of it Heather would slip on her father's jacket

{which was covered in the drywall dust}

and wear it while working outside around their home.

She and her parents had no idea that the jacket was full of asbestos.

Heather and her husband found out they were expecting a precious child

after seven years of marriage.

Heather had her little girl and three months after the birth 

she was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

A few facts about asbestos. . .

Asbestos is banned in 60 countries, but not in the USA or Canada.

Roughly 30 million pounds are still used each year.

Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye.

Even more than 30 years after the peak of its use,

asbestos exposure is still the number one cause

of occupational cancer in the USA.

Asbestos can still be found in many homes, schools,

and commercial or industrial buildings.

Asbestos was once used in more than 3,000 consumer products

including household items such as toasters and hair dryers-

some of which may still be in use.

Heather was given only 15 months to live. . .

it has been 9 years since then and she is cancer-free.

Heather is a fighter. . .she is a survivor.

To Heather there was no other option than living through it. . .

and she beat the odds!

Where the is HOPE there is a WAY.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day is this Saturday, September 26th.

Let's spread the word, sweet friends.

Remember what I mentioned. . .

Every year around 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

On average, they are given 10 months to live.

That's 300 days.

7,200 hours.

Now imagine what 7,200 voices could do.

7,200 people spreading awareness.

7,200 people sharing a simple message that could save lives.

Be one of those 7,200.

Connect with Heather via:

Twitter

Facebook

G+

Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog

Mesothelioma - Heathers Story

* * * * * * * * * *

Hugs and blessings to you, dear friends.

Have a beautiful and blessed day!

Roses Of Inspiration #38

Welcome to another Roses of Inspiration!
As always, it's a joy and pleasure to have you here.
I am thankful for each one of you
and I appreciate the time you take to join the party each week.

Fall is in the air and there were many delightful posts
from last week relating to autumn so I hope you enjoy the "fallish" features.

Let's start with some beautiful features.

Roses of Inspiration Features. . .

If you were featured than please feel free to take the "I was featured" button.

Simply copy the HTML code and paste it onto your blog.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/6d8b180b-b3b8-4065-9986-dcccb5a9f70e_zpsc65070e5.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please do not pin from my site!

Go to the original source and pin from there IF it is okay with the blog owner!

. . . { Autumn Inspiration } . . .

Chemistry Cachet

shared a tasty salted caramel apple shake.

Penny's Vintage Home

shared these darling pumpkins made from shower poufs.

What a clever and inspirational idea!

Southern DayDreams

showed us her lovely pillows made from Dollar Store kitchen towels.

Quaker Hill Farm

shared a delicious apple dumpling recipe.

Debbie-Dabble

showed us how to make pumpkin out of toilet paper.

AppleApricot

shared a stunning lace heart - don't you love the autumn details?!

If you are new to our party than here are the basics. . .

{ 1 }

You can link up anything that your heart desires. . .
{please keep it family friendly}

crafting - recipes - encouragement

Scripture - devotionals - photography

healthy living - gardening - home living

sewing - crochet/knitting - fashion

beauty - tea time - home decor 
and even giveaways.

{ 2 }

You can link up as many posts as you want

and they can be posts you have written today, last week, last month, or last year.

{ 3 }
There will be fun giveaways throughout the year.

I will simply add up the amount of people who participated in one of the link ups,
write the numbers down on paper and draw the number of the winner.
So if you link-up more than one post you will have a greater chance of winning.
These giveaways will be random
so you never know which link up I will choose for a giveaway.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Below is a button available for your sidebar
to let others know about Roses of Inspiration.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/eca034cc-886a-4d9a-8e02-3a4f5bc60e74_zps45b994ad.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please take a few minutes to visit at least two blogs. . .
everyone loves a visit and comments.
I look forward to seeing what you share
and I will be around to visit throughout the week.
Have fun, sweet friends, and enjoy your day!

* * * * * * * * * *

New handmade items available at
Rose Petal Blessings.

Plus a bunch of items just went ON SALE :)
Stop by for a little peek, sweet friends.

And did I mention there are autumn items available. . .

Praise Ye The Lord, The Almighty

 Praise ye the LORD.

Sing unto the LORD a new song.

- Psalm 149:1 -

Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Join me in glad adoration!

Praise ye the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been

Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise ye the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,

Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee;

How oft in grief hath not He brought thee relief,

Spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Praise ye the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come with praises before Him!

Let the Amen sound from His people again:

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

- Joachim Neander -

Let every thing that hath breath 

praise the LORD.

Praise ye the LORD.

- Psalm 150:6 -

Have a beautiful and blessed Lord's Day,

dear friends!

Creation Health Devotional For Women - Book Review

The CREATION Health Devotional for Women 

is designed to help you along your life journey 

through the power of simple stories. 

Each story addresses some aspect of healthy living 

from a mind/body/spirit perspective. 

You'll find stories about living life to the full 

no matter what circumstances come your way. 

You'll be inspired by many Aha, God, I see what you mean, type of moments. 

You'll see how encounters of the most unexpected kind

can change our lives and the lives of others. 

You'll meet women who have faced difficulties 

such as chronic illness, sudden loss, disaster 

those events that only faith can carry us through 

and that only God has the power to transform into good. 

You'll also find lessons from nature. 

Illustrations of how God can touch us through the lilies of the field, 

the beauty of a sunset, or a hushed walk down a forest trail. 

Then there are the times God inspires us through people. 

Maybe it happens over a shared cup of tea, a meaningful conversation with a friend, 

or a quiet moment with a loved one. 

Through shared stories we often see how God orchestrates the events of our lives 

for our instruction, encouragement, and enjoyment. 

This devotional is for any woman at any stage in life 

that enjoys inspirational stories of women across the country, 

who found hope and strength through guidance from God and the power of prayer.

My Thoughts

This book is written by several women and from the very first page 
I was drawn in as I read about the true life stories of these ladies.
Some may share an experience they personally had or
you may read of one of the ladies ministering to someone
and that someone will share his/her life changing moment.

Throughout the book I found I had tears in my eyes
as I read how the Lord works in beautiful and mysterious ways.
From a precious lady who loses her husband and son-in-law
to a mother-in-law whose last words to her daughter-in-law are,
"Goodnight, sweet thing."
And to an African American woman who ends up helping 
the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan during his last days on earth
you will find encouragement and blessing,
You may even be able to relate to a story or two
and find healing and strength from the words and real-life situation.

I have always been drawn to the older hymns
because many of the songs were written by someone
that went through trials and tribulation -
difficult times that caused the author to look fully to the Lord for direction and healing.
I have always appreciated these life stories and the fact that these hymn authors
rested in Jesus Christ and poured the words out onto paper for our encouragement.
I find this book is the same with the life stories of very real people.
There is something that blesses the heart to read of another person
who has pulled through a trial with God's help.

I most certainly recommend this book!
It's the perfect little book to enjoy while having a little break in the afternoon
as the short, but powerful stories go straight to your heart
giving you much to think on.

*** I received this book free from the publisher
in exchange for an honest review.
I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts are my own! ***

Please visit creationhealth.com
for more information on this book and others.

Many thanks to Creation Health for giving me the privilege 
of reading and reviewing this book.

The One Year Home & Garden Devotions - Book Review

Renovating a home and caring for the land around it

can bring a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction

to the one who is completing the work.

But even more important are the spiritual lessons 

that can be gleaned while undertaking these projects.

The One Year Home and Garden Devotions offers 

an encouraging, applicable, sometimes humorous, 

and always personal word each day for contemporary women

of all ages who delight in enhancing their homes.

Sandra offers personal life lessons in a transparent style

that will encourage women to see the beauty in themselves

and the world around them.

My Thoughts

The One Year Home and Garden Devotion book

is a lovely devotional for women who enjoy tidying up their home

and refreshing their lives - spiritually and physically.

Each month begins with a helpful tip or recipe for the home such as

Cordon Rose Cheesecake, Scented Linen Water, and Heavenly Scented Sea Salts.

The devotions start out with something concerning the home or garden such as

Fresh Flowers, Light Breezes, Washcloths, and Treasured Recipes

and from these topics the author shares how we can apply God's Word

and truths to our every day lives.

While the devotions were good and encouraging

I felt some of them could have had more depth 

for spiritual growth and instruction.

Overall, I would recommend this devotional

and I give it 4 stars.

I have included a small part of today's devotion 

which is one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Mold grows in the dark.

In order to get rid of the mold, we not only have to dry things up,

we have to lighten them up too.

There is mold in our lives, too.

The parts of us that we don't want to grow,

that aren't healthy, that we believe to be ugly - well, they thrive in the dark.

We keep secret the things we consider to be shameful about ourselves.

The truth is that light heals, light strengthens, light brings life.

{September 18th }

*** I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review ***

Find out more about the lovely author 

by visiting her website or her Facebook page:

Sandra Byrd

Sandra Byrd Facebook.

Many thanks to the author for allowing me to read and review

The One Year Home and Garden Devotions.