Review of The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

This nugget of a children’s book par excellence is a must read for children of all ages! In a true story of three prominent men is the recurring theme that anyone can make a difference in this world by their actions! The story begins with a little boy named Norman playing in the corn fields around home, and dreaming of feeding all the hungry people of the world. That dream became a reality later in life, exemplifying that something extraordinary can come out of the ordinary.

As a youngster Henry was fascinated with plants. Growing up he realized that God can use the simple things in life, like plants, to teach valuable lessons. One of his professor father’s students named George believed in Henry, saying “…Remember, Henry, God made you to make a difference. And I believe you will.” Henry ultimately became a very famous United States elected official.

George was the third little boy in this book. His parents died when he was young. One day George began carving a crutch for a friend with a crippled ankle. Observing his dedication to the task, his adopted mother said, “I bet your friend will be mighty grateful for that crutch. You know, George, little things can make a big difference. Everything we do matters. Every action you take, even small things, can change the world.” George became a famous teacher and inventor of many useful items, some of which are still being used today.

Three young inquisitive boys pursued their dreams. Each had people who believed in them and encouraged them to be all they could be. Those boys grew up impacting our world in positive ways. Just as a pebble thrown on the water creates ripples, so each person’s choices, attitudes and actions affect those around them.

Andy Andrews is a uniquely gifted writer enticing young and old alike to read and re-read the story. Preschoolers will hear it as a good story; elementary children will enjoy the storyline as entertainment while learning important history lessons. Parents, even grandparents, may use the book as an opportunity to teach significant life principles while sharing from their own personal experiences.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review
bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 :
“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson

From exposure of the hidden hurts of her heart to the response of a redemptive and righteous God, Anne Jackson shares the worn and sometimes tattered tapestry of her life. In an artistically creative way she offers a platform where others expose the demons in their own closets. In Permission to Speak Freely Anne shares the cyclical pattern of shame, guilt and fear she experienced in taking the risk of being totally transparent and brutally honest with others living in bondage to their own secret shame.

In the messiness of life growing up, Anne felt trapped by those vulnerable places of the soul where she safely kept her deepest and darkest secrets tucked away, fearing judgment and rejection if she was ever found out. In this, her latest book, Anne vividly depicts, through personal stories and applications, how she confronts the darkness of her sin and allows the light of God’s forgiveness and grace to bring healing and victory to her life!

She also candidly discusses how “the church”, designed by God as a hospital for the hurting and a safe haven of rest and redemption for everyone, is often a place of judgment and exclusivity. The broken need to be fixed, and Anne offers insight into effective ways the body of Christ can bring hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless, without pretense or mockery. Permission to Speak Freely is a timeless and treasured gift that you will want to read time and again, and that you will likely share with others in your concentric circle of concern that need to hear how a messy life can become a message of hope and joy!

Disclosure of Material Connection:

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review

bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in

accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 :

“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Life and Legacy

What is the value of life…and what will my legacy be when my earthly life is over?

I’ve pondered both questions the last 4 months, as we have buried 2 of my favorite people in the world. Alzheimer’s robbed my Aunt Bibbie, once a concert pianist, of the ability to think, speak, feed herself, and for the last 2 ½ years of her life, the ability to even walk! My “twin” cousin, Susan (their daughter) was an attorney in Orlando, FL. Her eldest brother died in 1981 and her younger brother died about 2-years ago, leaving her my aunt and uncle’s only living child they had. When Alzheimer’s reared its ugly head, Susan moved her parents to Orlando, sold her home and purchased another with them, gave up her law practice and cared full time for them. Aunt Bibbie’s eternal homegoing occurred in April of this year.

By the time Aunt Bibbie died, Uncle Jerry was several years into Alzheimer’s, also. A former Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, this once-in-control-domineering man slipped into full dependency for bathing, eating, dressing…anything that required small or large motor coordination. His mind was also robbed of the ability to think, reason, or remember with a few exceptions. For example, when I drove my mother to my aunt’s funeral in Mississippi, he knew my Mom but had no idea who I was. In fact, Susan shared that he rarely knew who she was. Sadly~ perhaps, and perhaps not~ he did not even seem to comprehend that his “Babe” (mu Aunt Bibbie) had passed away.

On August 10, 2010 Uncle Jerry peacefully breathed his last earthly breath in a Hospice Center in Orlando, Florida. My mom and Susan had just left his room to eat, when they received the call that he had died. Susan lost both parents within 4 months of one another and both brothers preceded her in death! We had a small, but lovely, memorial service in Franklin, KY., where most of the relatives reside. Many cousins, aunts and uncles came whom we had not seen for 20+ years. One brought photo albums filled with pictures of my Mom as a young lady, my grandmother, even photos of Susan and me as babies. It was a small family reunion, of sorts, and a blessed event. Susan’s nephew, David, played the bagpipes at the beginning and end of the service, wearing Uncle Jerry’s full kilt regalia. His last name (my mother’s maiden name) was Gregory, of the clan Gregor of Scotland. Many sweet memories of Uncle Jerry were shared.

My mom and my cousin had written a piece for the pastor to read, briefly summarizing Uncle Jerry’s life in the military, as a husband and a dad, as he had never met my aunt and uncle. The pastor did a marvelous job of sharing the importance of being prepared for eternity NOW! But here’s what struck me: When he finished reading it he said he felt like he did know my uncle. He sensed love, admiration and respect from people of all walks of life for Uncle Jerry. Then he said something to the effect of “I don’t know where he was spiritually; nothing was mentioned in the piece I read”…and suddenly, in my mind’s eye, I saw the dash between his date of birth and date of death, and I wondered where eternity will be for him. Oh, I hope and pray it is in Heaven with my aunt; that’s what my heart wants to believe. Yet, I never heard him talk about God or his salvation. Perhaps it was a very private matter to him…perhaps it wasn’t until he was put in the hospice facility and my mom sat by his bedside reading some of the Bible to him and talking to him about Jesus (even though he did not seem to be cognizant)…truth is, I am not sure.

This I DO know: he was a wonderful man (not perfect), but wonderful…he served our country well and for a long time…he loved his wife and children AND his extended family…all of that is a part of his legacy, all a part of the dash between birth and death. Yet, those accomplishments, those endearments, those good qualities of life are not what gets anyone to Heaven. It is only by a willful decision on the part of each individual to invite Christ into his/her life to be his/her Savior and Lord, relinquishing control to the Heavenly Father, asking for forgiveness of sins and accepting the power of the Holy Spirit within to guide him/her into all righteousness that a person’s salvation is granted and secure and that he/she is heaven bound! It is the one decision that no one can make for another person! It has to come from within and be between a person and the Lord!

So, I ask you—are you prepared? (You may not be “ready”, as in a hurry to get there), but are you prepared? And what will be said of the dash on your headstone between the date of birth and the date of death? It is never too late to change the course…it’s up to you!

Please visit here to read Linda Ellis’ poem entitled “The Dash”

A vacation from my vacation?

Every year since I was born (with one exception) my parents have taken our family (now 15 of us) on an annual vacation. It is the highlight of our year! We have been to Florida numerous times, out west ending in California, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Hawaii; we’ve been on a Caribbean cruise and a Hawaiian cruise; we’ve been to Acapulco many times…We work at least one jigsaw puzzle (someone always manages to “hide” one piece), sunbathe, swim, read, play board games, play Rummy and/or Gin, tell jokes, shop… It is time alone and lots of time together. What a blessed gift my parents have given us~ not so much in where we have gone but in the being together! We spend quality time in the quantity of time away from the routine normalcy of life! No bills to pay! Fewer meals to prepare! No unsolicited phone calls! No house cleaning! No errand running! Little, if any, washing of clothes! Just pure l-a-z-y rest and relaxation! So why is it, then, that often when we return I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation? Could it be a big does of reality hits me and I realize I am back to grocery shopping, meal preparing, house cleaning, errand running, bill paying, clothes washing…my “nor*mal” life? What is “normal”? “Nor” means “not” and “mal” means “bad”….so, then, my NORMAL life is “not bad”! So perhaps my “normal life” is my vacation from the annual vacation; and maybe the annual vacation is vacation from my normal life? This is so confusing, I’m even confused! Just enjoy some photos, then…

Blessed yet stressed…and then some!

Haven’t blogged in a long while for various and sundry reasons, most of which I will not bore you with. I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic; home for 2 ½ days; then on family vacation (all 15 of us!) to West Palm Beach; home and preparing for school to begin on the 17th; my dear Uncle is at the point of death in Florida…stressed, yet blessed!

Have you ever been to the point of desiring to blog, having many things to say, yet the creativity ebbs and flows…and at times seems to have disappeared?! Well, that’s me of late! I coulda, shoulda, oughta, wanna…but it just doesn’t happen! I cannot even really honestly say, “I’m back!” ‘cuz I don’t know if this is the beginning of more regular blogging or if this is merely a dash between moments! Please stay tuned, and see what happens…

Returning for the 8th year in a row to Santiago, Dominican Republic with a team of 27 folks from our church was nothing short of a HUGE blessing! I am “at home” in the DR; a big part of my heart stays there each time I leave; and I am in utter awe at the goodness of our Lord for and with the Dominican people! His Word is going forth in word and deed in that place~ we proclaim His goodness in going and serving them and they proclaim His goodness in the way they live their lives with the joy of the Lord oozing from their pores! To serve alongside, worship with, and “do life” with those of differing skin tones, different cultural styles, different socio-economic levels is but a glimpse of what Heaven will be…and it blesses me to the very core of my being!










Our day to de-brief and re-group for our return back to the States was spent at the beach. In spite of heavy rain showers, we shopped, snorkeled, sunbathed, and reflected on our week of team building and community sharing. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!





Tomorrow: Family vacation

Book Review of same kind of different As me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

(This book is a must read for everyone! Please get your copy now!!!)


What could possibly bind a slave of modern day and an international art dealer~polar opposites in socio-economic status and race~together in a lifelong friendship of unconditional love? A woman with big ideas and dreams and gusto to match! Deborah Hall, wife of a wealthy upscale art dealer, was the glue that bound Denver and “Mr. Ron” Hall together in a most touching story of forgiveness, healing and love! In her life and in her death, Deborah determines to break down racial barriers and to unite people from all walks of life in peace. This story, written from the personal experience and perspective of both Ron Hall and Denver Moore, is filled with opposed themes that parallel life across America today~ rich vs. poor, single vs. married, black vs. white, life in upper class society vs. homelessness. Because of the determination and grit of Deborah Hall in bringing her husband alongside her valiant efforts to change the stigma associated with homelessness, lives are radically changed from a destination of poverty to a life of hope, power and abiding love! This compelling true story created a tension within my soul leaving me no choice but to find personal application. I laughed; I cried; I pitied and rejoiced; and by the close of the book I determined to not let this book just be a good read; rather, I must see others less fortunate that me through the eyes of God, and treat them as I want to be treated. same kind of different As me renewed my confidence in the American spirit of life, liberty and love for all mankind. It motivated me to see the needs in my own community and to determine to do my part to break down racial walls. From a plantation in Louisiana to a Hollywood home and New York art gallery, friendship between the forgotten and the affluent is formed by the power of God and the relentless faith and love of one woman! Not only do I recommend that everyone read this book, I feel it should be required reading in schools all across America (if not the world) as a testimony of the existence of racism and the potential for peace if racism were eradicated!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review
bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 :
“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Making a comeback...

...real soon! Been on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and cannot wait to blog about it! Stay tuned....