Finding Contentment

Book Review: Sweet Caroline

I loved this book! It's not always easy to tell a real Christian from someone who makes you think they are a Christian - or at least has Christian values - and this book illustrates that fact. And although the ending was wrapped up tightly, I was suprised that I still liked the ending. Things can still work out great even if they don't work out like you expected.

When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order.

Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.

Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.

But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

Book Review: The Perfect Life

I wasn't really happy with the ending of this book. I won't give the ending away, but suffice it to say that I like my books all tied up in a nice, happy ending. This book alluded to a happy ending, but it just seemed to end kind of abruptly. Still, The Perfect Life would probably be a good read for any Christian woman who has ever suspected her husband of infidelity.

Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.

She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.

Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?

Good-Bye, Big Mama

  Big Mama as a chick. She is the one in the corner.

After nearly a year of owning our flock of six backyard chickens, we have lost one.

Some of you may remember last August when I posted about Big Mama and how she had been attacked by our black Lab. We nursed her her back to health slowly but surely until she was as good as new as far as we could see. Then we painstakingly introduced her back into the flock, letting her spend time with the other chickens each day until they accepted her again.

Big Mama as a young pullet.

As you can imagine, Big Mama became one of our favorites. A few days ago, we went to feed and water the chickens only to notice that something was wrong with her. She had an egg hanging outside her vent, in what appeared to be a bloody membrane of some sort. I put gloves on and tried to remove the egg, but it wouldn't budge.

I decided to try and find a veterinarian who would see chickens. Because I lived in a city, albeit a small one, I found only one vet who would see any kind of farm-type animal. But when I called to see if they would see my chicken, they acted like I was crazy. I guess most people think chickens aren’t really worth the time and money involved in veterinarian care.

I then called an older man from my church who has a chicken farm. I described her condition and he immediately told me she had had a "blowout." There was no fixing it, he said.

I went online and googled "chicken blowout," and discovered it was technically called a prolapsed oviduct. Apparently, it happens when the egg is too big for that particular chicken to lay. The only solution I found was to push the oviduct back into the chicken, put some Preparation H on it, and hope for the best. But I couldn't get the egg to come out. And I couldn't very well push the entire egg back up into her and leave it there. The other chickens were already starting to peck at her, and I read that they would eventually cause her intestines to fall out.

It was with a heavy heart that my husband and I drove to a family-run hardware store and purchased a hatchet. Mercifully, Hubby did what he had to while I went about my business inside the house. We couldn't quite bring ourselves to process and eat her, so we buried her.

Big Mama as an adult hen.

The children cried, but I think this was really a good lesson for us all. We are working to become self-sufficient homesteaders, with hopes of moving to a large piece of land in the countryside in the next few years. We have come a long way in the year since we made this decision, but if God decides to eventually bless us with our dream of a country farm, we will have to get used to things happening with the animals sometimes.

Still, we will always remember Big Mama.

I've been poisoned!

I don't think I've ever itched this bad in my life. I itch so bad that my skin burns. And did I mention I am starting to look like a leper?

More than a week ago my husband and I decided to cut down some vines that grew along the back line of our property. The vines were mostly kudzu, with a little poison something-or-other mixed in. We knew this. But we knew it is winter and there isn't a speck on green on the vines - just dead twigs and branches. I also knew that I have always been immune to poison-whatevers. They have never affected me.

So I happily started chopping away with the hedge clippers for about an hour. I chopped mercilessly, willing those vines to die. Those vines took revenge.

I ended up with one spot of poison on my wrist, and still I wasn't concerned. Now, a week and a half later, my arms are covered in it. From finger tips to upper arms, I have oozing bumps and rashes everywhere. This morning I noticed it had started to spread to my legs.

I have tried hydrocortisone cream and lavender essential oil (which stops the itch on our mosquito bites). Neither one worked. I woke up miserable this morning. As soon as the pharmacy opens, I am going to get some calamine lotion.

And never again will I attempt to cut down those vines, which I'm sure will grow back. They can have that back property line - I will stay respectfully away.

Truffles By the Sea

In Truffles By the Sea Gaby has one of those periods of time in her life when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. But through it all, she relies heavily on God (and a little on chocolate truffles).

I normally would rather read historical fiction than contemporary fiction. But I loved “Truffles By the Sea.” Gaby’s story inspired me – there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

If you read Julie's first book, Chocolate Beach, then you might remember Gaby as Bri’s dramatic, lovesick best friend. Unfortunately, things get worse—much worse—for her before they get…well, best not to give it away.

Sometimes all a girl has left is chocolate...

Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it’s time to turn things around.

So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: “Be gullible no more!” With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby’s motto and fledgling faith are put to the test.

Can a young woman prone to disaster in both work and love finally find happily ever after?

Author Julie Carobini is giving away a copy of Truffles by the Sea AND and a 1/2 lb. box of yummy truffles to three CBA blog tour readers. This could be you!
Just drop by Julie's blog no later than Friday, March 7 and leave a comment and a way to contact you if you win!

Julie Carobini is an award-winning writer whose stories often spotlight her family, the sea, and God's timely work in the lives of those around her. She lives with her husband, Dan, and their three children in Ventura Beach, California.