Roadblocks

There’s nothing more frustrating than an unexpected detour, especially if you’re pressed for time. It may only take you off the path by a few blocks or it could be several miles. I’m guilty of turning down the wrong road and reaching a dead end. When you’re in the country, there’s not always a yellow warning sign.

What about our path in life? The road we travel to our goals and dreams. Perhaps an unfamiliar area God has led us to. Sometimes we hit road blocks here, too. When this happens, we’re so inclined to think that Satan is resisting our progress, doing everything he can to make us trip and stumble. But what if Satan isn't the one at work? 

What if it’s God?

Numbers 22 is the account of Balak’s fear against the Israelites because of their large population. He heard what the Israelites had done to the Amorites, and worried they would capture, slay, and take over Moab as well. That fear propelled Balak to send for Balaam--a sorcerer known for his effective curses and blessings--in hopes that Balaam would curse the Israelites. But God told Balaam not to go, so Balaam refused Balak. But Balak didn’t give up easily. He pursued Balaam’s help again, promising riches and status. Though God had already told Balaam not to go, this time he went. 

While traveling with the princes of Moab, Balaam’s donkey started misbehaving. First, the animal refused to stay on the path, then he crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall, and, when all else failed, the donkey laid down. This angered Balaam. He struck the donkey and threatened to kill it. Offended by this action after all his years of faithful service, the donkey asked Balaam why he was being abusive.

Instead of running away screaming because his donkey spoke, Balaam answered. Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path, sword drawn. 

Click to tweet: Roadblocks--who's at work, Satan or God?

It wasn’t Satan blocking Balaam’s path, it was the hand of God. You see, Balaam thought if he traveled to Moab and told Balak in person that he refused to curse the Israelites it would be okay. Except God had already told him not to go. The angel on the road was not only sent there to protect the Israelites, but God was also protecting Balaam from falling into temptation. Now the story goes on, but I won’t touch on that today.  

As we travel this road God put us on, it’s easy to convince ourselves we know how to make the right choices on our own without His guidance, even if done subconsciously. And sometimes we misinterpret God’s voice.

So the next time you hit a roadblock, stop and consider it might not be Satan fighting against you, but it might be God trying to keep you from detouring to a place you don’t really want to go. 


~photo credit: digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

Book #5 in the Alaskan Courage series

Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now paired together on Yancey's search-and-rescue canine unit, they begin to put aside old arguments as they come to see each other in a different light. Then a call comes in from the Iditarod that will push them to their limits. 

Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing. Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. In order to save her, the man must use his knowledge as a mechanical engineer to do the kidnapper's bidding or she will die. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life, but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.


Publisher: Bethany House, 2015
Cover Design: Paul Higdon with Koechel Peterson & Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota/Gregory Rohm


My Review

As if fighting for your life while attempting to save the life of your loved one taken hostage isn't bad enough, add extreme below-zero temperatures, waist-high snow, rugged terrain, and a conspiracy that could devastate thousands, and you've got Sabotaged. This high-stakes, edge-of-you-seat novel will transport you to Alaska with Reef McKenna and Kirra Jacobs, two SAR (search-and-rescue) workers for the Iditarod race. Their past antagonistic relationship blossoms into attraction as Reef helps Kirra track her uncle, Frank, an experienced musher who's mysteriously disappeared from the race. As they close in on her uncle's trail, they discover Kirra's cousin, Meg, has been kidnapped, and neither family member will survive unless Frank unleashes a disaster that will cripple the frozen North. 

This is the first book I've read of Dani Pettrey's and it won't be my last. The insightful dialogue and tight writing had me turning the pages to find the next clue. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Alaskan Courage series. 

I give this book 5 stars!

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Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the ALASKAN COURAGE romantic suspense series, which includes her best-selling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and new release, Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Reader's Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and

Christian Retailing's Best Award, among others.

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her character's faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson. You can find her online at www.danipettrey.com. 

300 FREE eBooks!

That's right! My publisher, Pelican Book Group, is offering 300 eBooks absolutely FREE during Lent! No strings attached.

Simply put the eBooks you want in your "shopping cart," and it's $0 at checkout!

All genres of books. Lots of great titles. This is a great opportunity to fill your eReader or tablet with clean, entertaining stories.

Looking for new authors? Here's your chance to try them for FREE!



Did I mention FREE yet?

To browse the catalog of FREE titles, click here.

If you love Christmas-themed romances, download my novellas Bright Copper Kettles and Silver White Winters for FREE!

Hurry! This promotion ends 4/2/15.

Happy reading!

Farmhouse Corn Chowder

This is my go-to recipe when my family needs something warm and filling in their bellies on a cold night. I apologize that the accompanying picture doesn't do this delicious soup justice. Try it out. It's sure to become one of your favorites too.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

4 slices of bacon, chopped

1 onion, chopped

4 to 5 ears of corn, or a 10oz, bag of frozen corn

1 lb. small potatoes, chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. paprika

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 quart chicken stock

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

*If I need to cut my prep-time, I'll use frozen and chopped veggies from the grocery store (onion, corn, square potatoes, and bell pepper).


Click to Tweet: Farmhouse Corn Chowder #recipe. Warm and filling on a cold night!


Recipe
Heat the olive oil in a medium stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon to the hot oil and cook until crisp at the edges. Add the onions, corn, potatoes, and bell pepper as you get them chopped. Add the bay leaf and paprika. Stir and cook 7-8 minutes until veggies begin to soften. Sprinkle the flour around the pot, and stir and cook for 1 minute, then stir in the stock and bring it up to a bubble. When it thickens up a bit, stir in the milk and cream and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and discard the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper or hot sauce. Great paired with a fresh, crispy bread such as French bread or sourdough.

Cast Iron--How to Protect and Maintain Your Cookware

Image by fanpop.com

As a transplant--this is my husband's term for a city-born person gone country--I was raised eating foods cooked in aluminum, stainless steel, and Teflon coated cookware. Not that these items are reserved just for city folk, but they were what I was familiar with. My husband, however, was raised on a small farm and was no stranger to cast iron. So four years ago, when he brought home a cast iron skillet he'd purchased at an auction, I didn't know what to do.
     
I stared at the slight rust on the handle, the black coating, and bit of grime on the bottom and sides and curled my lip. I knew that cast iron, like stoneware, couldn't be washed in hot, soapy water so.... Ew!

"I got it for a dollar," my husband said proudly. "It's a Griswold, and it's pretty old."
"Yes. I can see that." I love all things antique and vintage the same as he does, but did I want to cook in something I couldn't wash? No.
     
Every day he'd come home from work, smell dinner on the stove, and ask if I'd used my new-old skillet yet. "Not yet, but I will." Eventually.
     
I think more than anything, I was afraid of the unknown. At the time, we had satellite television and the Hallmark channel played around the clock (well, until all the guys got home anyway). I got hooked on Mad Hungry, a cooking show hosted by Lucinda Scala Quinn. She has three boys too and can relate to the exhaustion of a mother who's constantly trying to fill their bottomless bellies! Finally, an ally.
     
A few weeks after my hubby's proud purchase, Lucinda hosted an episode dedicated to properly seasoning, cleaning, and caring for cast iron cookware. Be brave, I told myself. Give it a try. Using her instructions, the skillet transformed into a rust-free, grime-free, shiny black beauty. The more I cooked in it, the more the fear subsided. Now, cast iron is my go-to choice for cookware. Over the last few years, I've collected many sizes of skillets, and sometimes I even bake in them.
     
In fact, I'm so obsessed with cast iron that my initial reaction to the scene in the Disney's Tangled when the hero and heroine meet for the first time was, "Ooh, I wonder if that's a Griswold number seven."
     
I'd like to use this post to inform others of the joys of cast iron, not only to clean and maintain your already existing cookware, but also to ease the fears of anyone else who might be apprehensive. I hope you find these links helpful:

Clean and Refurbish Cast Iron
A great article from HobbyFarms.com that gives step-by-step instructions on how to burn off baked-on mess, how to remove rust, season, and maintain your cast iron cookware.


Martha Stewart--How to Season Old and New Cast Iron
This great YouTube video instructs on how to properly wash and season new and old cast iron cookware, brought to you by the knowledgeable Martha Stewart.

Cast Iron 101
Basic tips and techniques from FrugalLivingNW.com


I prefer to clean my pans using the oil/coarse salt method, but it may not be for everyone. For more information on cast iron cookware, including sizes, availability, and uses, visit Lodge website.

______________________________________________

Candice Sue Patterson is the author of Bright Copper Kettles and Silver White Winters. She lives on a hobby farm with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she's not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or working in the vegetable garden, she's working on a new story. Candice writes inspirational contemporary romance. Visit her website for more information. Follow Candice on Facebook and Twitter!

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help. 

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. 

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress. From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?


Author: Elizabeth Camden (Dorothy Mays) 
Publisher: Bethany House, 2015
Cover Design: Jennifer Parker
Cover Photography: Mike Habermann Photography, LLC


My Review
This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Camden, and I've found a new favorite author! Her captivating storyline and attention to detail had me struggling to put the book down at night to sleep. I can't wait to read more books by this author.

The story opens in Washington, D.C, 1897, with a humorous scene in the Library of Congress where Anna O'Brien works as a librarian in the map room. An ordinary day quickly turns into a strange encounter with a handsome congressman Luke Callahan from Maine. His goal is to demote the Speaker of the House, who blocks Luke's advances at every turn. He suspects foul play and enlists the research abilities of the spunky librarian, Anna, to help him with his plan. Her goal is to find the real reason her father's ship went down fifteen years ago, and why the Navy is covering it up. It's a tough time for a single, female librarian, and her prying into the military--and her time spent with the congressman--could cost her her job. Will she risk it all, or choose to live a quiet life in the map room forever? 

I loved the setting and the rich history of Washington, D.C. the author uses in this book. I gave Beyond All Dreams 5 stars! 

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Elizabeth Camden is the award-winning author of six books, including Against the Tide, a winner of a RITA Award, Christy Award, and Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives with her husband in Florida and is a research librarian by day while scribbling away on her next novel by night. Visit her website at www.elizabethcamden.com.

A Child's Perception

This picture was drawn by my four year old son in his Sunday school class. The lesson was about John the Baptist, baptizing Jesus. Afterward, he was asked to draw the scene. Apparently, he thinks John baptized using a dunk tank. 

I chuckled about this all afternoon. I love how his little mind works. When something isn't clear or he doesn't understand, he computes it into something he's familiar with.

This drawing is one of many in my keeper pile.