Audra Jennings

There. That's all the Halloween spirit I can put forth. What's do you call the Scrooge or Grinch of Halloween? I had a few of these left, by the way, because I made more to have stock last weekend, then didn't get to do the event because of the flooding.  I'll just throw in that the festival still has not responded to me. The president of the chamber of commerce told me she thought all was great and that she spent $800 with the vendors that were there. That just really ticked me off. (She didn't get the point that many vendors didn't show up because they couldn't, not a as decision.) Anyway, that's beside the point. I'm not a Halloween person. It's not some big religious objection. It's may be that as a kid, we maybe went trick or treating at 5 houses, and my mom only bought me one costume that I remember wearing in both kindergarten and first grade. Strawberry Shortcake. Today, I went along with the fact Mom wanted to go over to C...

You remember how I keep posting pictures of all the bags of yarn I've bought. I can't exactly say I've made a dent in using it all, but I do have a stockpile of product started. I don' think you can really tell how many headbands/ear warmers are in the picture below. I couldn't keep up last year, so I'm ready this year. Now for it to get cold.

Murder-mystery and Gothic literature fans will love the newest addition to Dorothy Love’s lineup,  A Respectable Actress .  Accused of the shooting death of her leading man on the stage of Savannah’s Southern Palace theater, famed actress India Hartley is sequestered at Indigo Point, the St Simons Island home of her defense attorney Philip Sinclair. As Philip works to clear her name India discovers that he is hiding a startling secret of his own. One that may well hold the key to her freedom. {MORE ABOUT  A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS } (Thomas Nelson, October 2015) When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself. India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on...

The dream world and the waking world bleed into each other when a rift is formed between the two in the third installment,  The War for the Waking World , of Wayne Thomas Batson’s Dreamtreaders trilogy.  It’s up to Archer and his fellow Dreamtreaders to race to reverse the rift before too much damage is done and to battle Archer’s ex-best friend, Kara, who sits on the throne of the Nightmare Lord. Kara is building an army of her own. Will Archer be strong enough to stand against her? {MORE ABOUT  THE WAR FOR THE WAKING WORLD } (Thomas Nelson, October 2015) Would you be willing to fight for your dreams? Fifteen-year-old Archer Keaton has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a Dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord who dwells beyond the Slumber Gate. But as Archer’s dreams become more dangerous and threatening, so too does his waking life. In this fast-paced c...

Ten-year-old orphan Mu thinks he’s unwanted and unloved—but everything changes the day he meets a chameleon in J.A. Myhre’s  A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest .  Together they will embark on a quest, and what a quest it turns out to be! Mu faces danger and finds unexpected allies as they journey through a fascinating and ever-changing landscape. Don’t miss this page-turning children’s action and adventure story set in a fictional African land! {MORE ABOUT  A CHAMELEON, A BOY, AND A QUEST } (New Growth Press, October 2015) A Boy Named Mu, an African Journey, and You Mu, a ten-year-old orphan, has lived his entire life in the heart of Africa. For as long as he can remember he has served in the household of a great-uncle where he is unloved and ignored. In his drudgery-filled life, Mu has little hope of happiness, and little hope that anything will ever change. But one day, everything does change. On his way to draw water one morning, Mu...

What if the main character in our life story isn’t us, but it is the God who became like us and is now with us? Don’t miss this new 52-week devotional by Kristen Hatton called  Get Your Story Straight .  Divided into three parts, each section progressively explores the idea that the whole Bible is the unfolding story of Jesus. Through this grid, who Jesus is and why we need him will shape your understanding of freedom and grace and how you grow to be like him. This yearlong study for teenagers and young adults is designed for individual devotional times, but a small group discussion guided by a mentor would help participants to absorb and live out the truths of each week’s teaching. {MORE ABOUT  GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT } (New Growth Press, October 2015) What’s your story? We all tell stories to each other–stories about what happened when we were kids, stories about last night, and stories where we dream about the future. Some stories are funny, some are amaz...

Oh How I Love Jesus By Frederick Whitfield - Public Domain There is a Name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; It sounds like music in my ear, The sweetest Name on earth. Refrain: Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me! It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free; It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea. It tells me of a Father’s smile Beaming upon His child; It cheers me through this little while, Through desert, waste, and wild. It tells me what my Father hath In store for every day, And though I tread a darksome path, Yields sunshine all the way. It tells of One whose loving heart Can feel my deepest woe; Who in each sorrow bears a part That none can bear below. It bids my trembling heart rejoice; It dries each rising tear; It tells me, in a “st...

After going to the Texas Country Reporter Festival in Waxahachie for years, this year, I was so excited to be going this year as a vendor. We paid the big booth fee knowing how many people come. Huge for us. We ended up with a white tent, a requirement. Were all set and ready to go. I even ordered a pair of rain shoes because I hate my feet getting wet. Thankfully it was my within my last week of Amazon Prime so that I could get them right away. Then came Hurricane Patricia with a big helping of my awful luck. The biggest hurricane ever recorded in the western hemisphere pushed rain right over our area of Texas. As of this morning, Corsicana had gotten 18 inches of rain. It rained all day long yesterday. All night long. Cars were stuck on the interstate highway at 2 PM yesterday and some of them were stuck all night. Yesterday, the highway was closed and open and closed, then closed both directions north and south of town. We knew we couldn't get up there last night to set ...

Things ain't nobody got time for... this much rain. The creek that is full right there in the picture looked like a raging river.

What does friendship look like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry—and even cancer? Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn teamed up to write  Just Show Up , a story of their close friendship and walk through Kara's battle with terminal cancer.  Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up. Celebrate the gift of friendship with a Tried & True Friendship giveaway—a prize for you and for a friend!   One grand prize winner will receive: A copy of  Just Show Up Two Ombre Layer Necklaces —one for you and one for a friend Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 23rd.  The winner will be announced October 26th on Jill's blog . Is one of your friends going thro...

  Part 2 of an interview with Jim Burns and Jeremy Lee, Authors of Pass It On: Building a Legacy of Faith for Your Children through Practical and Memorable Experiences Click here to read the full interview. Parents often experience a "freak out" moment when they realize their children's view of God will primarily come from what they learn at home. Most parents spend more time helping their kids succeed at academics or athletics than infusing shared spiritual experiences into the rhythm of everyday family life. While the idea of strategically passing down our faith can seem intimidating, the annual Rites of Passage Experiences contained in Pass It On (David C Cook/ September 1, 2015 /ISBN: 978-1434709073/ $15.99) , make it easy for families to celebrate milestones from kindergarten through high school graduation. Q: Why do you think some parents place more emphasis on grades or athletics than spiritual development? Burns: I think parents do want t...

Children can understand the deep truths of the Bible Theology comes to life in this new book from acclaimed children’s author Marty Machowski Theology is brought to life for young people in the new book The Ology ( New Growth Press / October 19 , 2015/ISBN: 9781942572282 /$ 29 .99 ) , penned by celebrated children’s author Marty Machowski , with stunning illustrations by Andy McGuire. The Ology is the first of its kind — a systematic theology book designed specifically for young people between the ages of 6 and 12. One might think the topic is too complicated for young minds, but Machowski disagrees. “It sounds more complicated than it really is. Theology is just the study of God, and systematic is simply study in a logical, organized way. We teach kids about God, one step at a time. We start at the beginning with God, who created the world, and end with the promise that Jesus is returning again.” The book begins with a tale sure to draw in every young mind: In t...