Can we ever really leave our past behind? From an early age, Caitlin O'Reilly was taught by her father to strive for nothing short of perfection. Growing up in a small town in the North of Ireland, she tries to live up to his expectations, and when she goes to university and falls in love for the first time, she thinks everything really is perfect. Until one day when the town, her love and her family, are completely destroyed. Ten years later, Caitlin has created a new life for herself in Melbourne, leaving her past and her family firmly behind. But when she meets Matthew and finds herself falling in love again, what happened in Ireland is suddenly closer and more relevant than ever, unearthing all the hurts and betrayals and secrets she has tried so hard to bury. As Caitlin's life reaches another crisis point, it seems that there is nothing she can do to keep her past and her present from colliding... This is an emotionally gripping story about love, forgiveness and less-than-perfect families.
What can the Bible’s most flawed men and women reveal about who God is and how he reaches out to less-than-perfect people? In Less Than Perfect, bestselling author Ann Spangler takes us beyond cardboard cutouts of 38 biblical characters to show us how these were real individuals who had dreams, temptations, and weaknesses just like us. Whether considering the murderous Herodias, the scheming Jacob, or the doubting Sarah, Spangler approaches both familiar and lesser known characters with fresh eyes. We meet each of these individuals again as if for the first time as Spangler offers a dramatic retelling of their lives, insight into the historical and cultural context of their time, and key takeaway points for our lives today. Each chapter includes questions for discussion or reflection, making Less Than Perfect ideal for individual or group Bible study. Entertaining, informative, and inspirational, Less Than Perfect gives you a big picture view of the Bible even as it takes you into the hearts and minds of people with struggles just like yours. As you learn more about the individuals who are part of your spiritual family tree, you’ll discover why God loves to use imperfect people to tell his perfect story of redemption.
At seventeen, Miranda Braxton shocked the world by eloping with her brother's tutor. Now a wiser and widowed lady, she returns to Carnwood—and finds herself engaged in a battle of wits with the new earl. Kit Alstone, Earl of Carnwood, grew up on the streets. His gentlemanly demeanor conceals an adventurer's heart. Miranda's bravery and beauty would tempt a saint—and Kit is far from that. Soon Kit begins to wonder if a scandalous lord might ask for nothing better than a less than perfect countess!
During Beth Stedman's formative years in the late 1940s and early 1950s, she wonders if the families depicted on the weekly television shows-Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show-existed in real life. The fathers in the sitcoms had good-paying jobs. The mothers stayed home and vacuumed in dresses and high heels. The brothers and sisters were respectful and obedient. They lived in perfect harmony in perfect houses in perfect suburbs. Once she was old enough to visit friends, she realized that other families do, in fact, resemble those blissful television portrayals. But hers certainly doesn't. Growing up in her deranged East Coast household, Beth feels like an outsider-but a grateful outsider because her family is riddled with alcoholism, poverty, and an abundance of insanity. Beth has her defenses, though: her faith, a positive attitude, and a penchant for putting a comedic spin on life. She also harbors a secret escape plan and, eventually, the knowledge as to why she has always been the black sheep of the family. Beth survives a deadbeat dad, a defeated mom, an overindulged sister, and a villainous brother to demonstrate that the School of Hard Knocks doesn't have to ruin you for life. If fact, it can almost guarantee success.
"Fourteen-year-old Annie Howard is determined to help her father embrace life once again as the Cold War grips the nation. In the midst of her efforts, she meets and befriends two refugees from Holland, and comes to see the world differently and understand a bit about the nature of sacrifice"--
The lone survivor of a tragic car accident, Elona has since been a recluse, with the exception of her parents. Though her memory is fogged, she is finally in a place where she can begin to piece together her life again. She felt that moving miles away from home would help her do that. She thought she was prepared for anything...until she met him. Michael is a young man with a rough past, a past that's left him pained and broken. He shoulder's the guilt of his former circumstances. He's accepted that he will never find someone deserving. Then he lays eyes on her and his whole life suddenly changes. Will Elona be able to love, after she's lost so much? Can Michael move past the pain enshrouding him? To get through tragedy they must feel the pain, but getting through the pain will be tragic.
I was sleeping, and awoke to my father standing in the doorway. "Dad what are you doing here?" He replied, "Pat, the man upstairs let me come down and talk to you." I said, Dad, you are looking real good. Heaven must agree with you." He smiled. It took many tears after my Father's death to see him smile at me in my heart the way I saw it that night in the dream. You see, I lived a life that was, to say the least, Less Than Perfect. We all feel this way at one time or another. No big deal, right? Well, not in my case. See, I had a soul sickness. It was like a cancer eating at my insides, and it affected every part of my life, along with everybody that was a part of it.
So you got the guy on the big white horse, and the beautiful little mermaids, and the picket fence, and your life isn’ t . . . perfect in every imaginable way? You’re not alone. In 1997, Gabrielle Reece married the man of her dreams—professional surfer Laird Hamilton—in a flawless Hawaiian ceremony. Naturally, the couple filed for divorce four years later. In the end they worked it out, but not without the ups and downs, minor hiccups, and major setbacks that beset every modern family. With hilarious stories, wise insights, and concrete takeaways on topics ranging from navigating relationship issues to aging gracefully to getting smart about food, My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper is the brutally honest, wickedly funny, and deeply helpful portrait of the humor, grace, and humility it takes to survive the happily ever after.
Yes, there are times when it’s appropriate to reason with your child, to patiently and eloquently explain why he or she needs to do as you ask. You might present convincing arguments like “Because it makes you strong”; “Because it will keep you safe”; “Because it’s good for you”; “Because it’s bad for you.” But there are times when the only thing that really makes sense is . . . “Because I said so!!” This book is a hilarious, honest romp through motherhood—the joys, the sleeplessness, the frazzled days, the unending carpooling, the in-house refereeing, the dieting (yeah, right), the worrying—and did we say, the joy? Here’s what some of that joy looks like—with excerpts straight from the book: • I tried to do the Buns of Steel video, but quickly realized that it wasn’t intended for people who have buns of pudding. • I felt like my head might explode. I kind of hoped it would so I could take a nice, peaceful ambulance ride out of there. • I was a little at a loss. I mean, those parenting books don’t tell you how to break up a fight over an imaginary friend. • Moms aren’t allowed to get sick more than one day a year. Single moms aren’t allowed to get sick ever. • Before you have children you can’t imagine yourself saying things like “Don’t put chocolate milk in your pants,” “Take the hot dog out of your nose,” or “Because I said so!” If you’re a mom-to-be or a mom in the trenches, you’ll love knowing that you’re not the only one out there who sometimes just figures it out as you go along—and sometimes can’t figure it out at all. But in the end, Dawn has these words of encouragement just for you: “Enjoy this time. Even when they make you crazy, these are the best days of your life.” And they really are, aren’t they?