by Jocelyn on June 18, 2013
If you’re still adding titles to your summer reading list, why not take a look at the Christy Award finalists for some ideas? Named for Catherine Marshall’s classic novel, Christy, the Christy Awards honor excellence in Christian fiction in several categories. Do you prefer romance? Historical? Suspense? Find three good suggestions for each one of these categories and more in the complete list of Christy Award finalists here.
Because my own novel, Wedded to War, is a finalist in two categories, I am offering a give-away to celebrate! The items in the gift package are all favorites of Wedded to War’s main character, Charlotte Waverly: an Austrian table cloth, tea, and Crabtree & Evelyn products. Enter the give-away over here.
Some of you already know that I write fiction in addition to nonfiction for military wives. But for those who have never heard of my Heroines Behind the Line series, I invite you to take a peek at the book trailers below for just a taste of the first two books in the series.
Wedded to War Trailer from River North Fiction on Vimeo.
Widow of Gettysburg from River North Fiction on Vimeo.
Happy Reading! And remember to enter the give-away at this link!
by Jocelyn on June 14, 2013
by Kathy Guzzo
After Flag Day last year, I was thinking about what the flag represents not just to Americans as a whole, but to me as an individual. Four words immediately came to mind; strength, unity, liberty (freedom) and of course hope. America’s 200 plus years are described in those four words, and we would not be the country we are if we took away even one of them.Later reflecting on those same thoughts, my mind went a different direction. I changed the focus of those four words from being what our Flag represents to our country, to seeing how those same four words represent who and what our Heavenly Father is to us, Think about it:
Strength: Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
Unity: Romans 15:5
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.” [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on June 6, 2013
Today is the 69th anniversary of D-Day! In honor of this momentous day, Donna Tallman is sharing the following with us:
“D-Day? Dunno.” the teen answered.
“Seriously? You’ve never heard of D-Day?”
I was stunned. How can a kid grow up in America, attend school in this country, watch Saving Private Ryan, and not know what D-Day is? There were no words coming through my mouth even though my patriotic zealot brain wanted to pitch a star-spangled hissy fit. How could she not know that sixty-eight years ago on June 6th, 1944, the future of the world teetered on the Allies’ success at Normandy? The future of the world…her world!
It was the same feeling of incredulity I had in 1983 the day I heard James Watt, former secretary of the Interior under President Ronald Reagan, say he had never heard of the Beach Boys when he banned them from playing at the annual July 4th celebration in Washington, D.C. I thought he was kidding. I don’t even think it was possible to turn a radio on in the sixties and not hear the Beach Boys. They were everywhere. Even today, some thirty-plus years past their heyday, the Beach Boys are still American icons and they are still on the radio. How could he not know who they were?!
“Nope, never heard of D-Day,” she had said.
Well, have a seat. Allow me to introduce you to D-Day…the day U.S. and Allied forces invaded Europe at Normandy, inaugurating the ultimate battle to expel Adolf Hitler and his Third Reich from France during World War II. It was and still remains one of the most significant, and triumphant days in World War II. My son, Bryant, describes D-Day as, “The reminder that the success or failure of a civilization can be contingent upon one single event.” World War II was that war, and D-Day was that event in Europe.
Continue reading and find out why D-Day still matters on Donna’s blog here.
by Jocelyn on June 3, 2013
Today I’m so excited to announce the official release of a brand new book that is sure to make a difference in your life. Honored to Serve: Guidance and Encouragement for Military Families in Transition, by Lt. Col. Tony Monetti (USAF, Retired) & Penny Monetti. This veteran military couple brought you Called to Serve in 2011–read about that book here.
Deployment into active duty and re-entrance into civilian life can be challenging transitions for military families. In this compact but powerful volume, the Monettis offer words of encouragement through personal stories, a sense of humor, and biblical truths. You’ll find tools to help them deal with transition issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), financial hardships, wounded relationships, and more. Written from the perspectives of both a military service person and a spouse, this insightful book not only offers encouragement to military families, but also includes suggestions on how others can provide support through church and community programs. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on May 27, 2013
Thanks to Benita Koeman of OperationWeAreHere.com for introducing me to his very moving Memorial Day video, honoring our veterans past and present. I was crying by the end of it! So worth watching, and sharing.
Please share if you like this.
Benita has put together a great page of Memorial Day resources here. Please check it out.
by Jocelyn on May 27, 2013
Guest post by Linda Montgomery, the editor of ExcellentorPraiseworthy.org
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. — Psalm 139:7-10
For me, the story of “Taps” is a local story because I live close to where it was composed. I could easily drive to Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, where there is a monument marking the “birthplace” of Taps. Tour guides will tell you that the haunting 24-note bugle call is actually a revision of a French call to signal to the troops the end of the day and “lights out.” The story goes like this: [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on May 26, 2013
A knock at the door early one January morning in 1943, brought Thomas Sullivan face-to-face with three men in naval dress uniforms.
“Which one?” Thomas asked.
“I’m sorry,” replied one of them. “All five.” [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on May 25, 2013
by Donna Tallman
Gently and quietly he clicks the door shut on his sedan so that even the breeze is unruffled. He deliberately walks toward the oldest row of graves in Section 60. His perfect posture looks military-trained, while the lines on his face mark him Vietnam era. Always focused forward, the eyes of the man in his sixties hone in on one of the markers at the far end. Finally, he reaches the right one and slowly kneels in the grass. The grieving father bows his head.
Some have said that hospital waiting rooms are the great equalizers of life – that injury and sickness recognize no social class, no ethnic divide, and no age category. All are equally at risk. Cemeteries are even more equalizing than waiting rooms. None recovers here.
The father does not tarry long at his son’s grave. He’s not really here to visit him. Instead, he has come to care for the living. While no one else dares interrupt a widow’s vigil out of respect for her grief, the father does. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on May 24, 2013
by Donna Tallman
Step by determined step I walk on through Arlington Cemetery. A car passes on my left, then another and another. The procession of mourners drives by in slow motion making its way to the grave site. A color guard stands at attention near a freshly dug grave. A bugler waits for his call, and a squad of seven riflemen stands across the field for their moment of tribute. Cicadas hum just below the surface of unspeakable grief.
I hurry under a tree, not suitably dressed for a funeral nor invited by the family; but here by circumstance in my nation’s field of honor. He is my soldier. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on May 10, 2013
I hope you have all had a wonderful Military Spouse Appreciation Day! I have absolutely loved reading through all your comments on the give-away post, and wish I had time to respond to each one of you individually. Your words have been so encouraging to me, and it certainly warms my heart to hear that the Faith Deployed ministry has encouraged you.
Now, for the winners:
Gift Pack #1 goes to:
Marissa Maweu
Heather Kidd
Heather Taylor
*Yes, I found three sets of this package to give away instead of just one. Yippee!
Gift Pack #2 goes to:
Kendra
Congratulations ladies! Please email me your mailing addresses so I can ship the books to you! jocelyn@jocelyngreen.com
