Audra Jennings

While on a scavenging trip with her father, Amy is accidentally trapped in New Lithisle in Rondi Bauer Olson's All Things Now Living . At first her only goal is to escape, but when she meets Daniel, a New Lithisle boy, she begins to question how less-than-human the people of New Lithisle are. Amy’s feelings grow even more conflicted when she learns she didn’t end up in New Lithisle by mistake. Her father is secretly a sympathizer. Time is running short and Amy has to decide if she will bring the computer program her father wrote to his contact or save herself. Installing the program could prevent the dome’s collapse, but if Amy doesn’t find her father’s contact in time, she’ll die, along with everyone else. Stay up all night reading this thrilling new book from Rondi and enter to win a Kindle Fire!   One grand prize winner will receive: A copy of  All Things Now Living A Kindle Fire Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends o...

New book traces God’s perfect promises for toddlers and preschoolers In today’s world where the word promise doesn’t hold the value that it used to, we still encourage our children early on to learn what a promise is, and more importantly, what it means to keep one. While all promises have value, the promises God makes to his people are more valuable than anyone could ever think of or imagine—and our God always keeps his promises. In The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible (November 13, 2017/New Growth Press),  Jared Kennedy traces the perfect promises of God through fifty-two Old and New Testament stories, retelling them in simple and compelling ways with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. Each gospel-centered story highlights God’s tale of redemption through Jesus and the unexpected and surprising ways that God’s grace and mercy are revealed throughout the Bible.    “While there are a number of preschool and children’s story Bibles from a gospel-cent...

The holiday season is the perfect time to settle in for a cozy night of reading! Phyllis Clark Nichols’  Christmas at Grey Sage  takes place in the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe at the Grey Sage Inn.  The sprawling inn becomes close quarters as stranded guests discover this Christmas won’t be the relaxed vacation they expected because of an usual snowstorm. Tension and fear mount as the storm worsens, and Silas, a retired doctor, is called away in the middle of the night to care for a neighbor. The snow and stress unlocks tongues–and in the unexpected conversation that follows, secrets and pasts are revealed, and hearts are healed. In the midst of snowdrifts and fireside conversations, of tales of days gone by, the warmth of Christmas brings a renewed hope as these trapped strangers become friends—proof again that the joy, hope, peace, and love of Christmas can be experienced no matter where you are. {MORE ABOUT  CHRISTMAS AT GRE...

My whole life is work and craft projects. That's it. Keeps me out of trouble and productive, I suppose. I've been making sports balls for days on end, but last week I did the writing for these signs for a wedding. They turned out great. If you know anyone who needs something like this, I'll take orders and do requests during the off season which starts January 1. Actually, let's make it February 1 because I plan to hibernate in January.

I didn't get my videos recorded right this month to have one of my current kids this week. I've been off whack in about every area of life this month. So, it's time for a flashback. These kids have grown so much in the past two years! The Twelve Sons of Jacob Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.  Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin, These are the sons of Jacob.

Still no signs of Christmas around here. At least not outside of the craft room where there could be signs of Christmas May - December. That doesn't count. That's just the norm. Here's what I did instead of decorating my Christmas tree today. I have a couple more soccer balls done without the writing finished. Soccer balls and volleyballs take the longest to plot out and do. I hate doing soccer balls. I get out my protractor and everything. I'm hoping the basketballs, softballs, baseballs and hockey puck go a lot faster. 

There is more than one reason why I may not get my Christmas tree up this year. Mainly... The Crafty Dad and Daughter still has three events over the next two weekends. Two events are next weekend, and I have to split stock. One of the events is supposed to be the largest (or one of the largest) in the DFW area. I'm trying to make enough stuff to be covered for the last three. Here's what I did today instead of putting up a Christmas tree:

Happy Thanksgiving! As is the norm, a day and a half went into cooking a meal eaten in about 30 minutes. I'd like to add that I'm a pretty good cook for only cooking once a year. Ok, so that's not exactly true, but possibly close. I have no photos to document it either. I should have taken a picture of my chocolate pecan pie like my brother did the coconut pie he and his wife made. Or maybe she made it. Not really sure, but they were bragging on their pies earlier in the week when we went out for chili the other night. Anyway, I found a recipe one time for an Eagle Brand Milk pecan pie. I wanted to fix it, but the only can of Eagle Brand Milk mom had was chocolate (and past its best by date to be honest). We decided to put it in instead and see how it turned out. It turned out awesome. Now, we'll not be able to recreate it because the chocolate was a limited edition and is not currently available. I just looked it up on their website. Nope. Not there. They...

After nearly a decade of being apart, tragedy brings together Hadley and Monroe. Take a break from the holiday busyness and settle in for a story of young love lost and second chances in Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall’s  The Gift of Christmas Past .  Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family. Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all? {MORE ABOUT  THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PAST } (Woodsmall Press, October 2017) Arson wasn’t the only fire that ignited between them. Promises shattered. Lies spoken. She was arrested. He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents. Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire. Yea...

Part 1 of an interview with Melissa Spoelstra, Author of Total Christmas Makeover     As Melissa Spoelstra studied the Book of Numbers while writing her Bible study on the topic, she noticed three elements included in the festivities and began thinking about how she could apply them to her personal Christmas celebrations. She shares those revelations with readers in her latest book, Total Christmas Makeover (Abingdon Press). In fact, Spoelstra devotes a section of the book to each of the elements: • Ritual: Special activities out of the ordinary routine were planned to help remember what God has done. • Relationships: Time spent together preparing special foods, eating, gathering in holy assembly, and explaining traditions to children. • Rest: Regular work set aside for planned times of celebration and rest from activity to allow for reflection on God. “A total Christmas makeover doesn’t mean scrapping all your holiday traditions or adding ten more t...

Part 1 of an interview with Nancy LeSourd, Publisher of Gilead Publishing’s Evergreen Farm imprint about Catherine Marshall’s Christy Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. One such book is Catherine Marshall’s Christy , originally released in 1967 and now celebrating its 50 th anniversary with the release of a new hardcover edition and its first-ever release as an e-book from Evergreen Farm, an imprint of Gilead Publishing. Based on Marshall’s mother’s life, the story of Christy is one of determination, devotion and commitment to making a difference in the world. Marshall’s best seller tells the story of nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston who moves from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1912 and finds herself in Cutter Gap, a Smoky Mountain community that feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions and century-old traditions. Christy str...

Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up I’m all wrapped up, I’m all tied up, I’m all tangled up in Jesus. I’m all wrapped up, I’m all tied up, I’m all tangled up in God. I’m all wrapped up, All tied up, All tangled up in Jesus. I’m all wrapped up, tied up, tangled up in God. Repeat, faster each time

Through texts and online messages, I've had people ask how my birthday was. Well, it was a typical fall Saturday for me.  The Crafty Dad and Daughter on the road again, this time in Sachse! This was our 7th event in 8 weeks. We're off this coming weekend, then have three more over the next two weekends to have 10 in 10 weeks. At least it's been a really good fall for us. I'm ready to sleep in January!

After a whistleblower in the pharmaceutical cover-up case dies, attorney Kate Sullivan knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits. Get ready to stay up way past your bedtime turning the pages to find out what happens next in Rachel Dylan’s new legal thriller,  Deadly Proof .  Trying to forget the past, former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower’s allegation. He also soon finds himself falling for the passionate and earnest young lawyer. As the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything—even murder—to keep the case from going to trial. Enter to win a copy of  Deadly Proof . Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced December 7 on the  Litfuse blog ! {MORE ABOUT  DEADLY PROOF } (Bethany House, September 2017) Riveting new series offers legal suspense with a romantic twist In the ...