Random 5 Friday (Thinking back to April 2015)

It's Random 5 Friday, where you share 5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

1. ONE YEAR AGO tomorrow, I received the BEST HUG EVER!!!

2. My son graduated from the USAF BMT (Basic Military Training).

3. A trainee has earned the right to be called Airman when the Airman's Coin is placed in his/her hand. In this photo, my son is receiving his coin from MTI Severance. Watching these young men and women (especially your own), who have trained long and grueling hours, take their oath to serve our country faithfully and with integrity-- it brings you to tears.

4. The men and women who have trained and encouraged and shaped our sons and daughters into future Airman are called MTI's (Military Training Instructors) and they are a force to be reckoned with! But all of them that we spoke to that day were kind and encouraging. I appreciate their hard work in taking raw recruits and making them into some of the finest our country has to offer.

5. My son 'coined' me after his graduation. He said he couldn't have done any of it without my support. Can you say more tears?!

I wrote him every single day he was at BMT, telling him how proud we all are of him, encouraging him to hang in there, that the best was yet to come. And of course telling him how much Moma loves him!

~I AM a proud Air Force MOM~

but I guess you figured that out by now ;) 

God bless our military

and

God Bless America!

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Interview & Giveaway ~ Pepper Basham, author of A Twist of Faith

 UPDATE: Giveaway ended - WINNER is Ceil Ryan!

Welcome, Pepper! Rebecca and I are delighted to have the opportunity to share with our readers a little about you and your new contemporary story, A Twist of Faith.

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey.

Well, I come from a long line of Appalachian storytellers, so I grew up listening to my Granny give oral history back 5 or 6 generations. I think that was one of my early influences, but I do believe it is a God-given desire. I still have my first ‘long’ story I wrote when I was 10 years old but my mom says I was telling/writing stories years before that one.

And since I’ve kind of lived in a little ‘fairytale’, with a brain-full of stories since then, I finally started writing them down in novel format. It’s been a long journey, but I’ve met some of my favorite people along the way.

My favorite part of my life, besides my faith, is my family. I’m the wife of a music minister and mother of five amazing kiddos. Oh my goodness, I have some of the coolest kids and I love learning with them and from them. I’m also a speech-language pathologist with a specialty area in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

What do you think makes a good story?

Strong characters striving to grow through hardship in a story that ends with hope. (Basically) Good writing, plausibility, and all those other wonderful writing tools frame the skeleton of that statement, but at the heart it’s about characters who grow from one place to another in such a way it moves us – and in the stories I like to read, gives us hope. 

Where is your favorite place to write?

I love writing snuggled up on the red couch in our den, with a blanket over my lap, hot tea by my side, and my laptop. Mind you, this ‘place’ doesn’t happen until LAAATE at night, but for the 20-30 minutes I have it, I enjoy it.

What’s the one food item you can’t live without?

Chocolate. In any form. But dark chocolate is my favorite.

Are you a flip flop or barefoot kind of gal?

NO FLIP FLOPS. Yuck. My toes cannot handle them! I’ll go barefoot. 


Where can readers connect with you online?

Website www.pepperdbasham.com,

Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pepper-D-Basham

Twitter at https://twitter.com/pepperbasham

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pepperbasham/

Thanks for being here, Pepper! I can’t wait to read your book. I know Rebecca highly recommends all your books. :-)

And Thank You, Rebecca, for contacting Pepper about the interview & giveaway! 
 

Okay, Y’all! Pepper has graciously offered to give away an e-copy of her book, A Twist of Faith, to one of our blog followers. Just answer the following question:  What classic story would you like to see retold in a contemporary setting? Also, don’t forget to leave an email address in the following format – you[at]here[dot]com -- so I can contact you in case you are the winner! Ends April 19th!!!

Random 5 Friday

To participate in R5F, just make a blog post and share 5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever! Then link up at A Rural Journal.

Here's my 5--

1. The photo above has been posted on the blog before but this past weekend my husband had an 8x10 printed out and framed for his office. Be still my heart!

2. 100 Years of Langley happens this month and I'm stoked! Can't wait to see up close and personal the airplanes the USAF will be showing off. The sounds of freedom fly over our home daily!!!

3. I didn't get a lightening photo last week. We only had high winds and rain. Phooey!

4. This moma isn't ready to not be 'first in your affections'. Do you know where the reference comes from?

5. Goodwill had an explosion of amazing art on Saturday!

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Thanks again, Nancy, for starting R5F back up.

   Hope y'all have a great weekend!    

Review ~ New Beginnings: A 31-Day Devotional Journey: a LifeSword Devotional by Cathy Bryant

Published January 3rd 2016 by WordVessel Press

We all experience times of fresh starts and new beginnings, times that tend to counting our God-given blessings and making goals and plans. The 31-day devotional journey is intended to guide us through verses of how God makes all things new, the beginnings of the Bible, and goal-setting done through faith in Him.

Join us for the journey as we explore such topics as:

-God-given fresh starts
-The new song of praise in our hearts for Him
-The endings that accompany new beginnings
-How fear of God is a beginning
-Renewed spirits, youth, mind, and strength
-Restoration
-Revival (brought back to life)
-Letting go of the past
-Looking forward to what's coming for believers
-The real "new and improved"
-Out with the old, in with the new
-Life, better and forever
-Daily renewal
-New creation
-Cooperating with God
-Forward movement
-Standing up under the load while running the race
-Keeping our eyes on the prize
-Following in His steps
-A believer's main goal
-Goals and action plans
-Committing plans to God
-In step with the Spirit
-Wisdom and guidance for the journey
-God's faithfulness 

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My Thoughts  

When choosing a devotional to use during my daily Bible study, I look for one that has substance, or what Scripture refers to as meat. I can tell you that Cathy Bryant’s New Beginnings fits the bill. Each one gave me something to chew on and ponder which led me to deeper study of God’s Word. 

The devotions are simple in layout but filled with truths that will help you grow as a Christian as you study your Bible and seek God’s guidance in how to live a holy life. 

I can highly recommend A 31-Day Devotional Journey.

I want to thank the author for sending me an electronic copy of the book for review purposes. No compensation has been received.

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About Cathy

Cathy Bryant is an Amazon bestselling Christian author of both  fiction and non-fiction. Her first novel Texas Roads was a 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis contest finalist. The fourth book in the series Pilgrimage of Promise was nominated by readers for the 2013 Grace Award. Since her first book, she has added five more stand-alone books to the beloved Miller’s Creek novels, with another due to release Spring 2016. Readers compare Cathy’s novels to those of Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks, and Miller’s Creek to Mayberry, only Texas-style.

In addition to the novels, Cathy’s written four devotional books (two in collaboration with other Christian writers), two Bible studies, and a Christmas novella. All her books and collections are rated at 4.5 stars or higher on Amazon.

She released four new titles in 2015, including Crossroads (April 2015), Believe & Know (April 2015), Miller’s Creek Collection 2 (October 2015), and Pieces On Earth (November 2015). So far in 2016, she’s released two monthly devotionals, New Beginnings (January 2016) and The Power of Godly Influence (February 2016), as well as Miller’s Creek Truth Collection (January 2016), a novel and Bible study digital bundle.

When she’s not writing, Cathy enjoys rummaging through thrift stores, romping in the great outdoors, and especially spending time with her family. You’ll often find her up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her minister husband of almost thirty-five years. You can find out more about Cathy and her books at http://www.CatBryant.com.

Readers can also connect with her at the following places online:

| Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | Goodreads |

 

Random 5 Friday

WooHoo!!! I didn't know Nancy @ A Rural Journal had revived R5F until this morning. I'm so excited to participate in this meme again. It's always such fun!!! All you have to do is share  

5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

So here goes...

1. I love watching the sun rise each day, even on mornings like today. It was partly cloudy and the color palette was soft and inviting.

2.  There is nothing more soothing to my soul than hearing the waves coming onshore.

3. I would live here forever but I have to admit I don't like sand.

4. We aren't allowed pets in our condo.  Here's a little secret...I have a Beta fish :-)

5. I'm hoping for some super big thunderstorms later today. I want to practice trying to catch a bolt of lightening on film.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

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