{ Where Hope Begins by Catherine West - TLC Book Tour }

 

About Where Hope Begins

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 22, 2018)
Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .
Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.
But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.
Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.

Purchase Links

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Catherine West

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017 and Where Hope Begins releases in May 2018. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com.

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 My Thoughts:

This was not an easy book to read. 

I started the story feeling like I wasn't being captivated by any of it, the characters, the setting and the story in itself.   As often happens with some of my favorite books, the beginning seems to try and steer me in a different direction, but when I persevere, I'm often finding myself loving the story and happy that I didn't give up in any way.

The topics this story focuses on, are also not an easy thing to get through, but I believe that God places certain topics, stories, testimonies, movies or people in our path, at the time we need them the most.  It is in these instances that we end up learning the biggest lessons in our lives.

Savannah is a woman broken, a woman with incredible grief and hurt.  She is running from God, running from the pain of past incidents and trying to escape it all in her parent's home.

What she ends up doing, is learning to have a semi amicable relationship with her estranged husband, facing all her past demons and above all learning to love herself.

The book deals with some pretty deep and serious issues, like depression and anxiety, grief and hurt and adultery.

That may deter you from reading the book, but please don't let it because the story ends up developing such an amazing character in Savannah, but also teaching us, the readers, a thing or two about life and the way to face it in a faith filled and open hearted way.

Beautiful story.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 06/25/2018 }

Good morning friends, hope you all had a good weekend.

Mine was good but tiring, I feel like I've been on the run since Friday morning and have yet to really relax, sleep in, enjoy my weekend etc.

I want to start by thanking you all for the continuous prayers for Nick, he is doing SO much better, it warms my heart to see the changes already happening in him.  :)

Saturday we dropped off my Jasmine at the airport, she flew to Michigan to visit her boyfriend and his family for the next few weeks.  I hate having to kiss and hug her goodbye and I always feel like I'm going to start crying.  Oh goodness, momma's life right?     

The weather.....It's been pretty hot still, but thankfully we got a nice storm last night and it's cooled things down a lot.

Right now I am....I am watching some vlogs on the TV, while I type up this post.  Just finished my coffee and I'm still in my pajamas as well, but it's not even 8AM so I'm not worried about needing to rush and change out of them.

Thinking....About what all I need to do this week.  We are more than likely leaving for San Diego.  My poor niece is so miserable at this point.  She is 39 weeks pregnant and is swollen, sore, in a lot of pain and to top it off she has also developed the pregnancy rash called Puppp which is absolutely horrible to deal with.  She is a centimeter and a half dilated and 50% effaced so we are hoping and praying for things to move along this week, so she can find some relief.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Something fun or interesting that happened....Hubby and I have been wanting to go to church for a while, and we moved here to Texas 3 years ago, with the intention of finding a church to join.  You know how it goes though, time flies and then you and end up not doing it.  But I felt such a strong urge to go to church this weekend, and so Sunday the hubby and I went to a church just up the street from us.  They were very friendly, we enjoyed being there, but it's a very small church and not many young people around, and we are mainly looking for a church with a youth group that we can get my son into.  We plan on visiting a few more around here, until we find one we like.

On my reading pile.... The summer list, the review is later than planned because there was a delay in the receiving the books.

On my TV.....Vlogs at the moment, and the World Cup starting at 9am.  Portugal play at 1pm and it's a pretty important game, they need to win to be able to proceed to the next phase.  

On the menu for this week....

Monday - Chili Dogs

Tuesday - Hamburger Helper, Cauliflower with Cheese sauce

Wednesday - Tacos with Spanish Rice

Thursday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Friday - Pizza

Saturday -

Sunday -

On my to do list....
Iron and put laundry away
Clean and tidy up house
Start packing for San Diego

In the craft basket....Nothing at the moment.

Looking forward to this week....Hoping to make it to San Diego and have a baby girl to love on and take lots of pictures of.

Looking around the house....I have my essential oil diffuser going at the moment, it smells amazing in here.  I also have the air conditioner turned off (I turn it off every morning and only turn it back on later in the afternoon if it's too hot to handle), the back screen door is open and so is the front door.  The house just needs a bit of tidying as it was a bit of a flurry of chaos getting my daughter off for her trip.






On this day in 2006 - How does that saying go?
On this day in 2007 -
On this day in 2008 -
On this day in 2009 - Slow Cooking Thursday
On this day in 2010 -
 On this day in 2011 - 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband
On this day in 2012 -  Day 27
On this day in 2013 - Moving - Day One
On this day in 2014 -
On this day in 2015 - My Wednesday
On this day in 2016 -
On this day in 2017 - Fairy Gardens

{ Thank you for the prayers }

Good morning everyone :)

I just wanted to come in real quick and thank you all for the prayers, the advice and the support you've shown me here on the blog, on Facebook, Instagram and even private messages.

The past few days have been extremely difficult for us and our son.

I don't want to talk too much about it, for various reasons, but mainly because I don't want to expose too much on here in regards to my son, he is 15 and he does deserve some privacy.

I will say that after going through this with my daughter, it's easier to understand the process, it's easier to understand what he's going through and we've learned how to talk to him, and how not to approach this subject.  It also helps that Jasmine is able to relate to what he's feeling and is also able to help us understand where he is coming from.

When you have a child that is showing signs of depression, that tells you that they feel insignificant or worthless, there is a trigger that happens inside us.  I want so much to drill into him that all of those things are not true, but what I believe and what he feels, are two very different things.

Anyway, all of your prayers, along with all the prayers he has been receiving and the church lists he's been added to, prayer chains and so forth, are starting to show in his behavior.

One thing we learned was not to push too much or constantly hammer on things, he talks to us when he is ready and that has been really good to see.  He is opening up, he is expressing his feelings, he is wanting to spend more time with the family, he is out of his room for hours at a time where before we could not get him out of there for longer than it took for him to eat dinner.

We still have a very long process ahead, but we've all pulled together as a family and we've told him as well that we will ALL get through this together, just like we did with Jasmine.

At first I asked "why me again?  I went through it with Jasmine, why do I have to go through this with Nicholas?".

But I am no longer thinking that way, I'm praying for my son, I'm praying for me for wisdom, to know how to approach him, to know the right words to use when talking to him, to be patient, to have strength and more than anything, for the Lord to work in my son's heart to show him that he is an important part of this family and very much loved.

So, thank you all for helping me through this process.  I will try to keep you updated on what is going on, and any day now, Tiffany will be having her baby so we will be headed to San Diego, so I'll definitely be blogging more from there and sharing photos etc.  Nick is coming with me, he has agreed to go and I think it will be a wonderful change of scenery for him.

So often with teens just a change of place and change in routine, helps them so much.  I'm hoping this trip is what he needs to start feeling somewhat better.

Lord, I pray Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over my son. Keep evil far from him, and help him to trust You as his refuge and strength. I pray You will guard his mind from harmful instruction, and grant him discernment to recognize truth. I pray You will make him strong and courageous in the presence of danger, recognizing that You have overcome and will set right all injustice and wrong one day. Help him to find rest in Your shadow, as he lives in the spiritual shelter You provide for him. Let him know that the only safe place is in Jesus.  Amen!

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 06/18/2018 }

Good morning everyone, hope you're all having a good Monday morning so far.

I'm doing ok.  We have some family issues going on, this time with Nicholas and I really need some prayers for my son.  I don't want to go into details but he seems to be suffering from depression as well and I'm extremely worried about him at this point.

Having gone through a horrid ordeal with Jasmine's depression and anxiety, it seems that the past is repeating itself and I'm at a loss.  We just need a lot of prayers right now.   

The weather.....It's been pretty hot but looks like we'll be in the lower 90's this week, with possibly a thunderstorm midweek.  

Right now I am....Have the World Cup soccer on the TV, have laundry going and I'm trying to get this post up for you all.

Thinking....About what is going on with my son.  We are trying to help him through this and will do whatever we need to.  It's so hard when they're 15 years old, the hormones are raging and there's so much going on in their heads.  He is very withdrawn, doesn't want to get out of his room or do anything, it's almost a daily fight with him.  Friends, I'm honestly terrified at this point.

On my reading pile.... The summer list.  The review will be up this Wednesday.         
 
On my TV.....The World Cup and that's pretty much it for the next month.

On the menu for this week....

Monday - Chipotle Burrito Bowls

Tuesday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Fries

Wednesday - Spaghetti with garlic bread

Thursday - Chicken Pie, Salad

Friday - Vegan Burgers, Onion Rings

Saturday - Pizza

Sunday - Leftovers

On my to do list....

Finish all the laundry
Carpet clean
Going with my sister in law to a doctor's appointment
Start packing for San Diego

In the craft basket....Nothing at the moment.

Looking forward to this week....Nothing really, and I'm sorry if I seem a bit off today, I'm just so stressed, anxious and worried.  We're dealing with some serious issues and I am struggling to keep myself calm and cool headed through it all.  


Looking around the house....It's clean and I don't need to do much, which is a good thing because I got no sleep last night and I'm absolutely exhausted this morning.

From the camera....
My big boy Marley.

{ Slow and steady }

3

A few days ago I was out back and kept wondering why one of my flower hanging baskets was looking so bare.  Where was it all going and why did it look so messy in there, like it had been ripped at with bare hands.

Few hours later, I realized exactly what had been happening.  See the bird above?  It had been flying back and forth between my basket and the tree about 20 feet from our back door.

It wasn't rushing, it wasn't fluttering about in a hurry, it was just content slowly picking at the moss, flying back to build it's nest and then returning.  This went on for a couple of days, same thing, over and over and over, and you know what?  It took quite a while for it to be happy with the amount of moss it needed, but it got done, at a slow and steady pace.

A few days later I was in the backyard watering my plants, when I saw this guy slowly making it's way through my grass.

I have no idea where it came from or where it went after it made it's way through the long yard, but I have no doubt that he got to where he wanted to go.

And so, I've kind of been doing the same the past few days.  For some reason I've always been the kind of person to get things done quickly and efficiently, even folding laundry I always feel like I'm quickly doing it.

The other day I deliberately took my time folding the clothes as I removed them from the dryer.  One piece at a time, slowly, folding, not rushing and at first I felt so weird but I continued to deliberately move slower and what I found is that I actually enjoyed the process a lot more.

I honestly think at lot of our daily stresses are self imposed, and I'm speaking for myself here, I would never dream to presume what others are thinking or feeling.

So slow and steady is going to be implemented more often, especially on the days that I have no outside appointments or commitments.

On this day in 2006 - Tackle it Tuesday
On this day in 2007 -
On this day in 2008 -
On this day in 2009 - I believe I watch too much TV
On this day in 2010 -
On this day in 2011 - 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband  - Day 13
On this day in 2012 - Day 15
On this day in 2013 - Back in Time
On this day in 2014 -
On this day in 2015 -
On this day in 2016 - Happy Homemaker Monday
On this day in 2017 -