Sunday Scripture

John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 

Valentine's Day

Valentine Delivery

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Celebrate with a story.

The third novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Lance Nelson delivers flowers every Valentine's Day. This year, he decides to show the woman he's secretly loved all his life exactly how he feels, creating a unique bouquet especially for her.

This Valentine's Day, Sharon Kelly decides to stop waiting for someone to send her what she wants and orders a bouquet of flowers for herself. She might as well arrange for her secret crush to deliver them.

God works in mysterious ways to provide the way to Happily Ever After, even when His children stand in their own way...

http://www.amazon.com/Valentine-Delivery-Holiday-Laurel-Hawkes-ebook/dp/B00IGVA8SY/ref=sr_1_3 

 

If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

All four novellas published in 2014 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_6
 

Thankful Thursday

Visit with my sister 

Church worship with fellow believers

Opportunities to serve others

Lovely lunch with a church sister

Luau with community friends

Lovely weather for walking 

God's grace

for King + Country - Ever and Ever Before

https://youtu.be/L0LisSmS3Ew?si=yQ5Ya2bcT00dkPMo 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Quote

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this for me. 

Sunday Scripture

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

Saturday Links

Christians Read shared Learning to Rest, so simple to understand:

https://christians-read.com/2026/01/15/learning-to-rest/ 

Gary Fultz - Photographs To Make Us Better

https://garyfultz.com/2026/01/15/photography-made-better/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

Fidelity's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 5) by Arlene James Christian romance. Unfaithful Matt is quite a change from honorable Charlie. Arlene doesn't sanitize the sin but creates stories that reflect the variations people spin on sin and how Jesus covers it all if we give ourselves to Him. 

A Courageous Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 6) by Arlene James Christian romance. More of the wonder and power of repentance. 

A Love Song in Quarantine (Hobby Run series Book 7) by Arlene James Christian romance. Most of the romance novels avoided the quarantine of 2020. I thought Arlene managed to depict the situations without diving into politics. 

The Liar's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 8) by Arlene James Christian romance. Includes a brief description of an assault, for those who are sensitive to those topics. Again, I love how the Christians are imperfect and trying their best, and the precious journey of unbeliever to believer. 

A Forbidden Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 9) by Arlene James Christian romance. Delves into the world of seeking guidance from anyone or anything but God. If it isn't God, it's the adversary, and the adversary will gladly pretend to be God and send minions to deceive any unwilling to look only to God. 

The Sinner's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 10) by Arlene James Christian romance. The adversary has convinced the world that chastity is old fashioned, silly, nothing. However, it's one of the Ten Commandments, Commandments created by God to help us find the deepest, richest joy in life. We break ourselves against the Commandments. Blessedly, Jesus came to take upon Himself our sins. Sad to see the end of the series.

 

Thankful Thursday

 Worship with fellow believers

Service opportunities

Leaving the door open in the afternoons

Favorite books 

Butterflies visiting my lantana bush

Doing the things you don't want to do because they need to be done. 

God's grace

Gentri - All Is Well featuring American Boys Chorus

https://youtu.be/2K0eU1Jj3uQ?si=PbQUc5NoZooc8Z0A 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

God's infinite vision embraces the smallest details. 

~ Big Sky Buckeye 

https://bigskybuckeye.com/2026/01/09/from-my-journal-1-9-4/ 

 

Sunday Scripture

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

Saturday Links

Robert Hansen, over at My God, My Music, My Life, shares an important observation: 

https://mygodmymusicmylife.com/2026/01/05/even-the-heroes/ 

Denise Balog has started a gardening blog; this is the first post: 

https://twelveleavesgardennursery.com/2026/01/25/a-taste-of-spring/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

A Familiar Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 1) by Arlene James Christian romance. I was given the books available in paperback for Christmas. Of course, I have to re-read the whole series. This is only available in eformat, at this time.

A Hero's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 2) by Arlene James Christian romance. Surviving abuse and trauma is courageous. Learning to love and embrace life, with God's help, is powerful. This is only available in eformat, at this time.

The Healer's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 3) by Arlene James Christian romance. What a blessing that Jesus offers repentance to everyone, and we can start clean. This is the first of the 10 books in the series available in paperback.

Honor's Love Song (Hobby Run series Book 4) by Arlene James Christian romance. In this series, Arlene tackles one of the most serious sins, breaking the law of chastity. God doesn't measure one sin better or worse than another. Sin is sin. However, the reason sins of a sexual nature are more grievous is because we are demeaning, degrading, trivializing, mocking God's gift of the power of creation to His children. It is meant to make a husband and wife one flesh and to bring children into the world. Anything else is reducing creation to a nothing moment of pleasure or a way to control, humiliate, reduce someone else. The adversary encourages making common the power and beauty God created. It breaks God's heart. It is for this and every other sin that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. It is because of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, that it is possible to place all sin in the passed and start over new and clean.

Point of clarification: Abuse survivors do not need to repent of what was done to them. The Atonement is for them as much as anyone but through grieving and forgiving - not giving the abuser absolution but the abused giving the anger and bitterness and hurt and humiliation to Jesus. Let Jesus carry the load; it's too heavy for us.

 

Thankful Thursday

Midweek Gospel study with friends 

Service opportunities

Church with family

Family waffle brunch

Warm and cozy fireplace 

Trimmed bushes 

Sweet neighbor shared grapefruit and a lemon

Gorgeous sunrise

Warm enough to open the door in the afternoon

Grill night with a friend 

God's grace

The Piano Guys - River Flows In You 

https://youtu.be/zA7vvxDRNlg?si=E3U_A0rFnzFf5www 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this for me.

Sunday Scripture

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 

 

Saturday Links

Christian Fiction Girl shares book reviews and on Sunday A Sabbath Meditation:   

https://christianfictiongirl.blog/a-sabbath-meditation-7/ 

I find encouragement in the courageous struggle of others to be better. From David's Daily Dose - From Struggle to Strength: Finding Faith in Healing 

https://davidsdailydose.org/2026/01/03/7788/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

Chocolate Cake Day is coming, on Tuesday.

Celebrate with a story. 

Chocolate Cake for Two

The second novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Freed, after being wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Henry Weaver needs a fresh start. The "Help Wanted" sign in the cupcake shop window couldn't possibly be the answer to his prayer.

Holiday Sweets, a specialty cupcake shop, is Annie Sweet's heritage. Everything would be perfect if only she could find competent help. An ultimatum demands Annie make a painful decision.

Choosing God is rarely the easy way, and sometimes the way to Happily Ever After appears impossible...

http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cake-Two-Holiday-USA-ebook/dp/B00HYLK0P8/ref=sr_1_1

 If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

All four novellas published in 2014 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_6

 

Thankful Thursday

Gospel study with friends

Beautiful weather

Leaving the door open in the afternoons

Warm and cozy fireplace for late night and early morning chilliness

Inspiring books 

Visiting with friends 

God's Grace

The Piano Guys - Unsung Hero 

https://youtu.be/BowtsAf3N5U?si=6jUvja-M_buKAzLt 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, 

but as discharging a debt of gratitude. 

~ William Wilberforce 

 

Sunday Scripture

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Saturday Links

After discovering the Cowboy Channel, found this on YouTube by accident and made me laugh: 

https://youtu.be/T6YnchLbVXw?si=t-oFKjPAlI41zuyl 

Another Denise Balog post sharing poetry, scripture, and pictures of Israel:

https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/2025/12/15/unshakable-rock/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon's story of Americans who pledge to ask themselves, before they do anything, "What would Jesus do?" and then do it. An opportunity for self-reflection and recommit myself to following their example in following Him.  

 

Thankful Thursday

Service opportunities

Worshiping with other Believers

Re-reading favorite books

Blessed rain 

Volunteer alyssum in bloom 

Butterfly enjoying my lantana  

Warm and cozy fireplace

Warm enough in the afternoons to open the front door 

God's grace

for King and Country - World on Fire - ASL version

 https://youtu.be/OIEd3E1DvUc?si=X0hoEi_J1A7ZjxJO

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

What the adversary meant for harm, God will turn for my good because the Great I Am is able to create beauty from ashes. Jesus defeated the adversary for Himself when the deceiver thought to tempt Him. Jesus defeated the adversary for all of us when He suffered in Gethsemane, died on Calvary, and rose from the dead. If I am asked to walk through trials and turmoil, I know God is with me. He is able to deliver me. If He does not, He has a different purpose for me that requires I align my will to His. He is good, and just, and merciful. I am His child, and He loves me. He is trustworthy.

 

Sunday Scripture

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

 

Saturday Links

Over at Meeting Jesus with Donna Stearns, she shared sweet encouragement:

https://believe4147.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/a-writers-heart-praying-for-one/ 

My God My Music My Life shared Packing Christmas Away:

https://mygodmymusicmylife.com/2026/01/03/packing-christmas-away/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

The Best Laid Plans (A Huntresses Novella) by Sarah M. Eden Regency romance. While this is listed as a stand alone story, it includes characters from other series. It was a fun read. Now I want to read the other series. Well played, Sarah M. Eden. Well played. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Blessed rain 

Fresh scent of cut grass 

Church

Opportunities to serve and help others

Warm and cozy fireplace 

Soft blankets

Favorite books 

Knowing God is mindful of me 

Visiting a dear friend

Blessed rain, again

God's grace

The Piano Guys - Love Me Like I Am

https://youtu.be/Kn9mCwezTGU?si=bOkYPTB29RO_Z7QX 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

"'Come as you are,' a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, 'Don’t plan to stay as you are.'" 

- Jeffrey R. Holland 

 

Sunday Scripture

Psalm 9:1 (To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.) I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

 

Saturday Links

Sandra J's Photography shared Wide Lens info, exploring the camera, even the phone camera:

https://intothelightadventures.com/wide-angle-lenses/ 

I always enjoy an occasional dose of horses, like The Backyard Horse Blog:

https://thebackyardhorseblog.com/2025/12/08/snow-days-2/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

A Wager on Love (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Donna Hatch Regency romance. Sweet story.

The Final Wager (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Heather B. Moore Regency romance. Nail-biting to the end.

An Improbable Wager (Wedding Wagers Timeless Regency Collection Book 11) by Michele Paige Holmes Regency romance. Loved this charming story. Keeper. 

 

Happy New Year 2026

Happy New Year

Visiting with friends and family

Worshiping with fellow believers

Pretty enough to open the door in the afternoons

Fun

Beauty

New books 

God's grace

Donny Osmond - Any Dream Will Do

https://youtu.be/z5Lg4trPUJc?si=myju-hqBKIQ_sISV