Savor the Differences

“EweNika says the shepherd will open the pasture gate soon.”

“Remember the taste of grass?”

“Do I ever!” Tap lifted her top lip and sucked the damp air deep into her lungs. “I can almost taste it already.”

Twinkle jerked her head up, ears swiveling toward the farmhouse. Tap took a step forward and watched the shepherd walk around the corner of the barn. Alerted by their actions, the older ewes raced across the paddock, flinging mud in all directions and bawling to be released onto the first grass of spring.

Twinkle and Tap hung back and watched as the shepherd opened the pasture gate and leaned on the gatepost. EweNika sprinted through the opening, the rest of the flock flowing behind her like sand through an hourglass. The young sisters came through last, saving their strongest burst of energy to plunge past the shepherd. Wool bouncing against their backs, they skidded to a halt in unison.

Tap ripped up a mouthful of the vibrant green shoots and squeezed her eyes shut, chewing slowly. Twinkle grabbed three bites before stopping to chew.

“Why are you eating so slowly?” Twinkle mumbled around the juicy greens in her mouth.

“I want to savor each bite.”

“It is a taste worth savoring.” Tap’s eyes popped open at EweNika’s deep voice.

“Why doesn’t the grass taste this good all year?” Twinkle asked around a fresh mouthful.

“If it did, we would grow bored with it and long for something else,” EweNika said.

“Impossible,” Tap said, “I could never grow tired of this.”

“Isn’t that what you said last fall when the shepherd brought in the hay?” Twinkle asked, her eyes living up to her name. “And just yesterday you were complaining it tasted like dust and mouse droppings.”

“I suppose, but hay isn’t spring grass.”

“It doesn’t matter what it is,” EweNika said, “we need change and variety to teach us to savor the differences. The Creator knew this and gave us many good things, each in their own season.”

“Well this is my favorite season and I’m going to savor each bite,” Twinkle said, sucking a bit of juice into her windpipe which set off a spate of coughing until her eyes watered.

“You can’t savor while you gulp,” Tap said with a nod of her head. “Slow down if you want to savor it.”

“Your sister is quite right,” EweNika said as she stepped away from the sisters. Over her shoulder she added one parting comment, “Slow down and savor the good things in life. You can’t enjoy what you rush past.”

The girls watched the wise old ewe amble off and looked at each other before emitting a sheepish giggle and plunging their noses back into the rich spring offering.




This post is part of Christian Writers’ March Blog Chain on the topic, “Savor.” Check out the other Blog Chain posts by clicking the links right.

Elizabeth of Saginaw Bay

Elizabeth of Saginaw Bay by Donna Winters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Elizabeth doesn't find what she expects when she steps off the boat into Michigan's wilderness.  Tricked by her husband's uncle, they've invested all they own to purchase a lot in town - only to find it's still forest and the town doesn't exist yet.  Forced to be pioneers, Elizabeth and her husband struggle to adapt and carve out a life in the wilderness. 

Tension keeps the reader turning each page.  Elizabeth is a likeable and realistic character, an intriguing mixture of spunky and loyal. The characters she meets in her new home are diverse and interesting as well, pioneers and Indians alike.  Another intriguing read from Michigan's past by Donna Winters. 

A wonderful story for adults, but also very suitable for 'tweens and teens. 

Founding Brothers

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Good insights into the lives of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Without the recommendation of my son, I never would have gotten through the first chapter. If you can survive the author's lengthy explanation of why he wrote this book, the rest is much more readable. The final chapters, which delve into complex relationship between Adams and Jefferson, are the best part of the book. While most of this story is well known, Joseph Ellis brings out nuances of their relationship by reprinting excerpts from their private letters. That alone makes it worth the read.

The Radiance

The Radiance by John Robinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book landed on top of my "to read" pile since it comes from one of my favorite authors.  I was not disappointed! 

John Robinson is a master at creating characters who walk right off the page.  In "The Radiance", it's Travis Walker.  He's as straight-arrow-honest and loaded with integrity as any hero you'd want to meet.  Except he's not a hero. He's the neighbor next door, the guy down the road, the fellow at the gas station who holds the door for you.  His claim to fame and the basis for this story is his brother, one of the movers and shakers in a high-rise tower where he pulls the strings that make the world go 'round.  Until that world is rocked on its foundation, then he needs his brother.

Intelligence doesn't change human nature.  Decisions that will impact the entire planet come down to a matter of choice.  The ending of "The Radiance" leaves me hoping Mr. Robinson has a sequel behind his belt.

If you're looking for a high-brow, urban thriller... this isn't it.  If you're looking for a slice of America, served up with a side order of cheese grits and topped off with a wedge of apple pie... this one is for you!

Play It Again - Released!

Tracy Krauss, author of ‘edgy inspirational fiction’, is launching her book PLAY IT AGAIN on Feb. 21. You can help her achieve ‘best seller’ status by purchasing the book at amazon.com TODAY – and receive all kinds of cool free gifts while you’re at it!

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Landing Page on Tracy’s Website

2. Buy the book at amazon.

3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the form with your name, email and purchase number

It’s that easy! You’ll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want.

About the book:

An unlikely duo meet in Play It Again, a story of love, life and faith. Sparks fly when an ex-rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music. Play It Again is the much anticipated prequel to Tracy’s debut novel And the Beat Goes On. Find out where Mark Graham’s journey began in this, the story of his parents.

What others are saying about PLAY IT AGAIN:

“This is one of the best contemporary novels I've read all year. . . Not only was it well-written, but it was edgy in that the story dared to be honest. . . I can see this touching a lot of people who have thought about God but have been afraid to move forward.”

- Michelle Sutton, author of more than a dozen inspirational novels

“This book is hot property, and grabs your interest from page one.”

- Yvonne Pat Wright, author of From Spice to Eternity

Author bio:

Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher by profession, and a prolific author, artist, playwright and director by choice. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English – all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. Her first two books were both nominated for the ‘Indie Excellence Book Awards’ for religious fiction in 2011. 

 

FREE STUFF:

Here’s just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:

- An e-copy of Lisa Lickel’s award winning novel Meander Scar

- Sample chapters from The Promise of Deer Run by Elaine Cooper, Warring Spirits by April Gardner, and The Right Person by Stacy Padula

- Beautiful downloadable art cards by author and artist Brenda Hendricks

- A free subscription to ‘PixApple’

- Your copy of Frazzled No More by Shelley Hitz

- A cool ‘Daily Scheduler’ developed by author Janalyn Voigt

- And much more!

All if you buy your copy of PLAY IT AGAIN at amazon.com on Feb. 21! All links will be operational on the ‘Landing Page’ at www.tracykrauss.com/

DISCLAIMER: This ‘Best Seller book launch’ has been coordinated with the help of the ‘John 3:16 Marketing Network’ and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com

Talking with God

Talking with God by Henry J. Baron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Henry Baron has gathered together a collection of his powerful and poetic writings on topics we deal with throughout the year.  Follow the book through the seasons, holidays, and trials of life.  This is not a book to sit down and read straight through. It's a book to dawdle over, sip on, and savor.  The language is lyrical in a way that even a non-poetic person (such as myself) can understand and appreciate.  Every entry is a gateway to deepening our understand of our world and our Lord.  I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews

Jewel of Persia

Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I stayed up reading way too late last night to finish this book. Wow! What a wonderful job of storytelling. It started a little slow, but picked up steam and never looked back. Roseanna White did a masterful job of weaving fact and fiction into a believable, engaging tale that was too good to put down. I started recommending it to others when I was less than half was into it!

This is the story of Queen Esther's fictional best friend, Kasia. Through her eyes we experience the royal court of Xerxes, with all its intrigue and dangers. We watch young Esther become a woman, we come to know and love Mordecai, and we witness the downfall of Amestris, known by her Hebrew name, Vashti, in the Book of Esther. We see the underside of lift at court, grittiness under the glory.

I highly recommend this book for older teens and up. It deals tastefully with the issues of infidelity, immorality, and harem life. It is historically accurate with issues such as executions and warfare without being overly gruesome.