Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 94

Our Christmas

Christmas has come and gone but my heart is still celebrating the moments. Here are a few treasured memories from our 2013 Christmas holiday season.
A beautiful pink poinsettia to decorate our home
A Christmas tea party with our daughters, my mom, and grandma.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our church
Our new little Christmas elf with her loving family.
Reading a new book with Grandpa
Emma's new baby doll. May God bless you and yours in the New Year.

Book Preview ~ All in Good Time

All in Good Time by Maureen Lang


Dessa Caldwell has a dream: to open Pierson House, a refuge for former prostitutes in Denver’s roughest neighborhood. But after exhausting all charitable donations, Dessa still needs a loan, and nearly every bank in town has turned her down. Her last hope hinges on the owner of Hawkins National Bank.

Henry Hawkins has a secret: though he owns the most successful bank in town, his initial capital came from three successful raids on Wells Fargo coaches. Now he’s the most eligible bachelor in Denver, but to protect his criminal past, he’s built a fortress around his heart. Not even the boldest matchmaking mother can tempt him . . . until the day Dessa Caldwell ventures into his bank requesting a loan.

Though he’s certain her proposal is a bad investment, Henry is drawn to Dessa’s passion. But that same passion drives her to make rash decisions about Pierson House . . . and about whom she can trust. One man might hold the key to the future of her mission—but he also threatens to bring Henry’s darkest secrets to light. As the walls around their hearts begin to crumble, Henry and Dessa must choose between their plans and God’s, between safety and love. Buy the book HERE. 

Maureen Lang has been writing stories since the age of ten, when she figured out a way to
write the stories she feels like reading. Since then she's become the award-winning author of over a dozen published novels. In the last ten years her faith has directed her to write stories that reflect Christian hope and traditional values. She's also been an active member of the disability community since her oldest son was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic form of mental retardation. Maureen loves going on research trips to get a feel for the settings of her novels, and lives in the Chicago area with her husband, children, and lovable Labrador Retriever. Visit her on the web at www.maureenlang.com

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. I hope that you've had a very Merry Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year! 


Blueberry Sourdough Pancakes
Snicker Fudge
Cranberry Pound Cake

A Great and Mighty Wonder

Christmas is here! May you and your family have a blessed Christ-filled day.
A Great and Mighty Wonder
A great and mighty wonder, A full and holy cure:The Virgin bears the Infant With virgin honor pure!Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!"
The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high,And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky.Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!"
While thus they sing your Monarch, Those bright angelic bands,Rejoice, ye values and mountains, Ye oceans, clap your hands.Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!"
Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored,The Infant born in Bethl'em, The Savior and the Lord.Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!"
And idol forms shall perish, And error shall decay,And Christ shall wield His scepter, Our Lord and God for aye.Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!"

Book Preview ~ A Merry Humbug Christmas

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

 In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future. Buy the book HERE. 

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Learn more about Sandra HERE. 

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Are you doing lots of baking for Christmas? Share with us here.
Company Potatoes
Poppy Seed Bread

Slow Cooker Holiday Ham

Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People

As we continue into our third week of Advent, here is another favorite hymn to share with you. I pray that this busy time of year is filled with devotion and moments of peace. 
Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People
Comfort, comfort, ye My people, Speak ye peace thus saith our God;Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them;Tell her that her sins I cover And her warfare now is over.
Yea, her sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed;All that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed.She hath suffered many a day, Now her griefs have passed away;God will change her pining sadness Into ever springing gladness. 
Hark, the Herald's voice is crying In the dessert far and near,Bidding all men to repentance Since the Kingdom now is here.Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way;Let the valleys rise to meet Him And the hills bow down to greet Him.
Make ye straight what long was crooked, Make the rougher places plain;Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits His holy reign.For the glory of the Lord Now o'er earth is shed abroad,And all flesh shall see the token That His Word is never broken.

Book Preview ~ Trouble in Store

Trouble in Store by Carol Cox

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.

The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.

But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way? Buy the book HERE.

Native Arizonan Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than 25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. A pastor's wife and homeschooling mom, she makes her home with her husband and daughter in a remote spot in northern Arizona, where the deer and the antelope really do play--within view of the family's front porch. Learn more at www.authorcarolcox.com.

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Enjoy your weekend! 

Country Blueberry Pie
Cherry Cheese Loaves
Swedish Sugar Cookies

Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come

I'm so behind . . . it's already the second week in Advent, and I'm just now getting to this post. Last year I shared a few of my favorite Advent hymns with you. I thought I'd do so again this year, in hopes they might help prepare you for the celebration of Christ's birth. 
Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come
Come, Thou precious Ransom, come, Only Hope for sinful mortals! Come, O Savior of the world! Open are to Thee all portals.Come, Thy beauty let us see; Anxiously we wait for Thee.
Enter now my waiting heart, Glorious King and Lord most holy.Dwell in me and ne'er depart, Tho' I am but poor and lowly.Ah, what riches will be mine When Thou art my Guest Divine!
My hosannas and my palms Graciously receive, I pray Thee;Evermore, as best I can, Savior, I will homage pay Thee,And in faith I will embrace, Lord, Thy merit thro' Thy grace.
Hail, hosanna, David's Son! Help, Lord, hear our supplication!Let Thy kingdom, scepter, crown, Bring us blessing and salvation.That forever we may sing: Hail, hosanna! to our King.