, a novel by Susan May Warren. Oh, this was a good one! I actually got caught up in it the night I picked it up, and when Paul woke up after 1 a.m. and I was still reading, he was not exactly thrilled with me. It's a love story, but you could tell that from the cover art, right? This book makes me smile just trying to describe it. The characters are strong, vivid people you can easily imagine. The tension of knowing that Eden and Jace are going to end up together, but not seeing how it's going to happen because they're so different and don't like each other at all makes the story suspenseful.
Parts of it are sad, parts of it are funny, but all in all, this was a great read for a cold winter's day, since it's centered around the world of hockey.
You know how sometimes you get the same "theme" or message from several different sources in your life? Call it the Law of Attraction, or God trying to get your attention, or whatever you want, but here again, I find myself picking up the theme, Why do bad things happen to good people? I liked the conversation between Jace and Eden's dad, John, where he talks about blessings from ashes and discovering what was seeded in the fire. (If you're interested, there actually are certain trees that only sprout after a fire, learn why here.)
This book will make you smile. It may make you cry. And hopefully, it will make you register to be an organ donor. I know Sam and Maddy's story made me want to double check my license for that telltale pink dot.
I loved the way there were several different threads going within the story line. I felt made the book more multifaceted. This was a worthwhile read, and I'll be looking for more books by Susan May Warren next time we make it to the library.
Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of her newest Christiansen Family novel, It Had To Be You, with a $100 Visa cash card giveaway and offering readers a free book club kit.
One winner will receive:
- $100 Visa cash card
- Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren
I just read your post on China Adopt Talk and and know how easily a difficult situation can drive one over the edge. I wonder about that with my child, if there is meaning to it all? I can say my situation is a cake walk compared to yours, but still I don't get what Gods angle is, but I have learned a lot having my new child here. It's brought about many changes in my heart and a deep desire to make some radical changes that I have been putting off. Whether we ultimately will be successful with our child, well only time will tell, but I would bet to say, you have learned SO much, even as a very seasoned Mom, having Luke. Far as dissolving an adoption, Its a hard decision, but if you ever decide to go down that road, don't feel guilty about it! Preparation doesn't always mean a happy ending. I had one lady I called for info on my child, chide me online behind my back, later, because I should know everything she knew as if as a first time adopter, I shouldn't be worried about info that I received. With those very Un-Christian like behaviors, it's no wonder so many people have to keep their struggles hidden for fear of being attacked by the very group of people, who SHOULD understand! Just know, whatever you decide to do, do what's right for your family. Committing to love a child forever, shouldn't be a life sentence where everyone you love is affected in a negative way. While Luke deserves a family, your family also NEEDS you!!! If you can't cope, in your heart feel its wrong to continue, then thats ok. Theres no shame in knowing your limits and accepting that and it's up to us and our Spouses to make the best decision we can, under very difficult circumstances! Just don't go over that edge, choose to take care of you, YOU matter!!!! :-)
ReplyDeletePraying for God to give you peace and understanding!
I so appreciate your prayers! I'm glad things are going better with your dd, and I hope she continues to progress and make breakthroughs.
DeleteWe are taking it day by day and doing the best we can for our new daughter. We ended in home services as My gut instinct was to do things outside the home and so far after just 3 weeks, just doing speech only, she is doing well. My hubby takes her 2 times a week and stays with her, the place that is working with her, the lady has worked with adopted, autistic, SN kids for 30 years and is very experienced. While our girl has tons of babbling and many sounds, and just 2-3 words, she is being taught speech and sign together. We also worked with her and taught her 2-3 signs, but already she has picked up about 3 more from speech class! We are trying to teach her things at home too and she is making progress, but slowly, but everyone is super excited here to learn sign language. I know a bit from my youth too so that helps! :-) We are also pleased to see our girl come home from speech class, engaged, calm, content and happy. It's been so good for her and hard to believe she's only gone to about 6 classes to date, so we are hopeful. She had even been surprising us lately, she is interested in playing in her home rice box and actually digging and touching the rice on.her.own....yay...she leaned over today and gave my husband his very first hug, totally shocked us, and we were told by the speech teacher that IF she had autism truly, that she has fabulous coping skills ( makes an occasional face and stims with hands) other then that, she does pretty good! All favorable comments, so we continue to pray and hope, even if it's small progress, it's something! We tell ourselves daily, to keep going till God tells us to quit and hope that he never asks us to stop and that she continues to thrive here. It hasn't be super hard in some ways, because SHE is easy overall, her personality is a tiny bit challenging, she is not aggressive at all, doesn't hit, bite, etc, EVER, but she is determined, strong, and gets frustrated, not huge things but at times, adorable as she is, in our family of sweet, easygoing, lovable people, it's at times, sad, because we all want to love on her, and she's just not there yet! But she is extremely social and loves to play simple things, so we try to do our best and pray she comes more out of the world we feel she may have just created, but only time will tell. At times, we notice she will look at each and everyone of us and we can see the wheels turning in her brain, as if with a smile, she thinks, do I belong to them? I will take whatever language she chooses, because all I long to see is what she has to say and waiting not so patiently, LOL for the day that she gets that she has a family!!! And just holding on to Gods promise, to work all things out for good, and work on believing in that promise! LOL Will keep praying for you all and wish the best for both our families, just keep the faith!
DeleteIt sounds like she's making good progress and you guys are finding your groove. :) I'm so glad to hear it!
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