Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for October 7th, 2009

I know it’s been forever since I wrote something other than a book review! I’ve been spending a lot of time ducking the curveballs that life keeps throwing at me. About a month ago, I mentioned the first curveball – divorce.

Well, the second curveball happened on September 15 in the form of a car accident that totaled my car. My little 1999 Ford Escort was hit / side-swiped by a Dodge Durango. Needless to say, my driver’s side doors didn’t fair very well against the Durango. Thankfully, I was in much better shape than my car and only had an itty-bitty cut on my leg from the shattered glass. (Seriously, I’ve had worse scratches from my cats!)

Through this accident, I’ve been so blessed by my friends. One friend is letting me borrow his car during the week since he works out of town from Monday-Saturday. Another friend went with me to check out a used car – I can drive ‘em, but I don’t know what’s under the hood! And other friends are calling me with information on cars for sale.

But all of that stuff – checking out cars, calling owners, test driving, etc. – is soooo time consuming. Just when I think I’m going to have a couple of hours to do something, another used car pops up and off I go to look at that one.

Even though I gripe occasionally about having to find another car, I really believe my car accident was a blessing in disguise. Within the week before the accident, I was asking God how I was going to afford to replace my car. The car was getting to the point that I was going to have to put some money into it or find a different one. I was starting to stress about it simply because the whole husband leaving situation left me with only a few pennies, nothing that I could afford a different vehicle with or even major repairs.

Then the accident happened. I almost did a happy Snoopy dance when the insurance adjuster told me that I’d get clean retail value for my car, which was over twice the amount I would’ve received if I had sold it or traded it in prior to the accident!

And, if you are wondering if guardian angels still exist, I’m here today as a testament that they do. I believe with all my heart that angels were using every ounce of their strength to protect me the evening of the car accident. You see, the accident happened on a curve at the top of a hill, and I was on the side of the road that had the drop-off. A couple of days after the accident, I drove past the same spot, and my heart stopped. I could feel my heart lodged in my throat as I calculated how much space I had had on the road shoulder. My passenger side front tire was just a mere inch or two from going over the edge. (In case you’re wondering, West Virginia doesn’t really believe in guard rails.) If God’s angels were off duty that evening, my car with me in it would’ve rolled 75-100 feet or so down the steep hill and landed in a creek. Praise the Lord that He knows when the sparrow falls!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family’s income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr. Elizabeth.

Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he’s never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her.

Astrid is attracted to him, and when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. She learns he’s left town–again. Believing Joshua no longer loves her, Astrid makes an impetuous, heart-wrenching decision.

Will she regret the choice she’s made? Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Measure of Mercy, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve not read this book mainly because I haven’t received my copy yet. So when I receive my copy and have an opportunity to read it, I’ll add a new review!

I read a contemporary book by author Lauraine Snelling earlier this year and enjoyed it immensely. I’m excited to try some of her historical fiction writing. Lauraine has been publishing books since 1982 and has about sixty books in print. Her books have been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German. You can visit her website by clicking here.

A Measure of Mercy is book #1 in the Home to Blessing series. Book #2, No Distance Too Far, is due out in April 2010.

Added review (2.8.2010) – I enjoyed this book to a certain extent. I loved the premise – back in 1903, a young female, Astrid, learns how to be a doctor from her sister-in-law, the local town doctor. Astrid struggles with leaving her home to attend medical school, plus she feels burdened to think about serving God as a doctor in Africa. Add to the mess a new love interest, and Astrid’s life becomes quite complicated. The part I struggled with was the plethora of characters, most with foreign names. I realize most were related to Astrid, but I felt rather confused after awhile. However, don’t ignore this book because of that! There’s some great message in it and I’m looking forward to the next book and finding out how the cliffhanger ending turns out!!!