The Talens' Tales

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When a terrible scourge is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red rope. Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will cause Grace to question everything she has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth? I was curious how a book with multiple authors would be, but it was great! I would be so interested to know how the writing process was for this father daughter team. The story was great! Captivating and page-turning. It had echos of The Handmaid's Tale  and other books about super legalistic societies. But when you add the dash of Dekker's supe...

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret.  At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body. Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret. This was a really fast read for me. I thought the crime part was really interesting and had a lot of complex layers. I appreciate the subtle nods to the faith of the characters and that it wasn't over the top or too preachy. And I thought it was wonderful to have a focus on mental illness and the stigma that is a part of it in our society. Ultimately there was a little too much romance and not quite enough s...

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Its message? Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the harbor village on the coast of Maine, and he sets his callused hands to work. Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when GrandBob, the man who gave her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is the one in need of help. But what greets her is a mystery: a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Memories of stone ruins on a nearby island ignite a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers. Together with the handsome and enigmatic town postman, Annie uncovers the story layer by layer, yearning to resurrect the hope GrandBob once held so dear and to know the truth behind the chasm in her f...

Nothing gets our attention like an unmade decision:  Should I accept the new position? Which schooling choice is best for my kids? How can I support my aging parents?  When we have a decision to make and the answer isn't clear, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction.  If you have trouble making decisions, because of either chronic hesitation you've always lived with or a more recent onset of decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing. Whether you're in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create space for your soul to breathe so you can live life with God at a gentl...

 Mataya had a great 6th birthday last week. She designed her cake and I executed her ideas as best I could. Mataya asked for a heart on her cake with smaller hearts on the side and light blue writing. She got lots of lovely gifts this year and has been enjoying all of them! Tante Reina came by on the day before her birthday and had some fun gifts for Mataya as well.

What is your favorite color? Pink What is your favorite toy? Lego What is your favorite food? Buns What is your favorite tv show? Paw Patrol What is your favorite outfit? a dress with leggings and no socks What is your favorite game? Sequence What is your favorite animal? Kitten What is your favorite song? "Every Move I Make" What is your favorite book? Elephant and Piggie Who is your best friend? Breanne, Molly, Lily and Marielle What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with the kittens What is your favorite drink?   Juice What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Charlie, the alpaca What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Grilled Cheese and Jello What do you want to be when you grow up? Mom

I love my people and they did a great job showing their love to me on Sunday.  Breakfast in bed. I forgot to take a picture until I was mostly finished with my cereal. Gifts that were made in school and my requests of a new cookbook and mesh produce bags. And Mataya also did a little questionnaire and drew a picture of me at school. It is pretty fantastic!