12 Days of Christmas... 2020?

Hello, lovely souls! 

I hope you’re all doing well and hanging in there as we welcome in the holiday season at the close of a long, tiresome, worrisome year. 

This hasn’t been the best year for many of us. Between a pandemic, civil and political unrest, and a wacked-out election (for my US homies, anyway). Due majorly to this fact plus a hectic schedule, I’ve been debating lately whether or not we should have the 12 Days of Christmas blog party again this year. 

And God promptly smacked me upside the head for continuing down this thought-track. 

“You’re not going to celebrate the birth of my Son because it’s inconvenient for you? You’re skipping the Christmas festivities you love so much because you ‘just don’t feel like it’?” 

(Talk about a dose of humility.) 

And then He proceeded to knock all other possible excuses out from under me. Work? The business I work at closes for the season a few days before the party begins. No reasoning there. School? I have finals the first two days of the parties, but that’s not a legitimate excuse. Even professional-procrastinators like me study before the day of the test...usually. 

All that to say... 

We're doing this. I got over myself. It’s happening—assuming at least a few of y’all are game. (Can’t do it all by my lonesome… that would be boring... I asked on Instagram the other day and got an almost 100% positive response, so like... where y'all at...) 

But hey! The party will run December 14th through the 25th, just like it was every year since 2015. (Please don't go back at look at our sad beginnings—I cringe just thinking about it.) Sixth year in a row, woot woot! I'm excited. :P 

If you're interested in joining, we would LOVE to have you. Legit all you've got to do to get involved is 1) email/message/comment and let me know you want to take part and 2) start planning/prepping your posts. This is later than I used to start planning, but we still have like 26 days, so we totally got this. 

Back to what I said about Instagram—if you have social media but not a blog and still want to participate, you're totally welcome. Just message me or something so we can work out details and figure out the best way for me to direct readers to your content.

I'll be posting every morning through the 12 consecutive days, and you're all welcome to post as many or as few times as you like. Remember that this is about Christmas, but beyond that, you can post whatever Christmasyness you want... If you need inspiration, you can find all the previous 12DoC posts here or a list of popular ideas for post topics in the past here. 

So uh,... yeah, I think that's all I need to say right now. Any questions?

who's in?!

Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle | release

Annddddd I'm back. With the other Veterans Day indie release. I love this spirit of patriotism we've got going on around here. Stinkin' amazing. ;)  

My friend Kassie's newest novel is centered around PTSD. These stories matter SO much. And I have total confidence that this gal has poured her whole heart into this story, and it'll rock your world. So, uh, go get it and read it, mmkay? 

(I'm not very far into it and my heart is already breaking. Accepting chocolate donations. </3 ) 

"...he said all I ask is that you don't forget, 'cause the war's not over when the fighting ends..." 

Synopsis

He left his entire world in Iraq. So why did the war follow him home?

Harley Keane and his best friend Nigel were just kids when 9/11 rocked their world and changed their lives forever. When they're finally old enough to join the Army, all their childhood dreams seem about to come true. But war wasn't supposed to be like this. A kid's dream isn't supposed to become a living nightmare. Fellow soldiers aren't supposed to bleed out in front of your eyes.

Back home, safe and unwounded, Harley feels anything but. Why would God spare him when so many others were taken? Why won't the nightmares stop, even when he's awake? And how long can he hide the truth that threatens everything he has left? When Harley's invisible scars refuse to stay hidden, will he let anyone close enough to help? And how do you go on with life when "okay" isn't okay at all?

Author Bio

Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e. debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unexpectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing at SoldierGirlStories.com.

Kindle + Paperback + Goodreads + Soldier Girl Stories

have you read anything by Kassie Angle?!

UNTITLED by Jesseca Wheaton | review + release

Hello, lovelies! My bestie is releasing her heartbreakingly beautiful WWII novella today and I'm sharing my review as a stop on the blog tour. And, ya know, it is Veterans Day, so like... how fitting. Utterly perfect. Stinkin' love it. 

About the Book

Okinawa, 1945

Two brothers. Two Separate Paths.

A Navy corpsman assigned to the Marines, Jess Walker’s world is shaken as he struggles to aid the men around him. But the battlefield isn’t his hardest challenge. The nagging memory of how he lost his brother weighs on him, serving as a constant reminder of his failure. War has no mercy for anyone and Jess isn’t sure he can survive the war inside. As his world comes crashing down around him, he struggles to believe there is a future beyond the pain. 

Clay Walker has moved on from the life he once lived. A successful Marine pilot, he wants nothing to do with his family and the God he left behind. Japan is on the brink of surrender when his unit is shipped off to Okinawa, and it’s there that Clay is forced to realize his past is not as deeply buried as he thought. Faced with heavy losses and questions without answers, Clay has a choice to make. Is he willing to step back and let God take the controls? Or is it too late for a second chance? 

As WWII rages, the two brothers must face their demons — or be lost to the burning world around them.

Releasing today, November 11th!

GOODREADS + AMAZON

oh, my heart... 

Review

~ five shimmering stars ~ 

So, I knew going in that this book was totally going to wreck me. And it did. Repeatedly. I finished it late one night, my eyes all puffy and swollen, my heart heavy and aching. 

It's not an easy story. It's not pretty and gentle. It's raw and real. It's painful and heavy. It's war without blinders or filtering. It's loving and caring even when it hurts, it's brotherhood no matter what. 

I loved all the fellows so much. I loved Jess for his heart to heal, his willingness to serve, and his longing for restoration with his brother. I loved Clay for his cockiness—because under it all, he cared just as much, only struggled to show it. I loved Ivan for his convictions, his easygoing-ness. I loved Rhett for his faithfulness to friendship, his care and compassion. 

The PTSD rep is on track and incredibly—stinkin' incredibly—done. Not all scars are visible. But in any war, there are no unwounded soldiers. </3  And can we just talk about how the homosexuality aspect was written from a Christian perspective and handled SO well? 

Reasons you shouldn't read this book? Um, there...isn't any... If war violence bothers you, you might want to steer clear. Otherwise, read it. We don't have nearly enough WWII books about the war in the Pacific, much less one of this magnitude. 

So do yourself a favor and read it. Let the charming fellows draw you in and the painful story seep into your heart. And remember what Veterans Day is really all about. 

Remember the untitled ones. <3

About the Author

Jesseca is a daughter, sister, and a child of God. When she’s not busy at her full time job as a first responder, her days are spent reading, spending time with siblings, watching movies that make her cry, and playing piano. Oh, and writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home.

Blog + Goodreads

My sweet friend Angela is hosting the blog tour and you can find her posts here and Jesseca's post here!

have YOU read Untitled?! 

Hope & Peace for Election Day.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

// john 14:27 kjv

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.

// daniel 2:20-21 kjv

Regardless of the outcome of today's elections... 

... spreading the Gospel and loving people like Jesus does is still our greatest tasks on this earth. 

... God is still on the throne

... the tomb is still empty 

... He is still in control of every.single.thing. 

... Place your trust in the One who sees and knows all. 

Will thou not revive us again? that thy people may rejoice in Thee? 

Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.  

I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints.  

Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land.  

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good;  

Righteousness shall go before Him; and shall set us in the way of His steps. 

// psalm 85

big hugs <3