I jumped at the chance.
When I began reading Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan, I was prepared to be emotional since my own husband had just deployed to Afghanistan. What I wasn't prepared for was to get teary eyed while reading every single story. The layout of the book is different than any I had ever read before but I found it quite enjoyable. Each story is titled with a day from Day 1 all the way to Day 365. I found it nearly impossible to put down but if you're looking for a quick shot of faith and inspiration everyday but are limited with your time, the 365 day format is great.
The stories of faith, struggle, perseverance, and miracles told by not only deployed soldiers and veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD, but also by parents and siblings of soldiers, chaplains, military wives, and widows were touching and full of conviction. Being able to read first hand accounts helped to give me a bit of peace and comfort knowing that so many other people have done what my husband is doing and they all came out stronger for it. Also being able to read accounts from missionaries to the Middle East and organizers of humanitarian efforts in addition to every other perspective that was offered, made the reading diverse and interesting in the sense of being able to see everything from several different perspectives.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to not only soldiers and their family members but to anyone. It obviously focuses on stories from people who have been a part of and witnessed war in one way or another but the strength and blinding faith that is offered in each story would be beneficial to anybody. What I found the most inspiring were the stories told by people who had previously not known God or had lost their faith somewhere in their life and the rediscovery and eye opening knowledge that God was very aware of them and their situation, is what gave me chills and made my heart burn with my own personal love and conviction of God and His goodness.
Now for those of you Lovelies who were paying attention and noticed that I said Jocelyn Green offered me TWO autographed copies of this fabulous book, its about to pay off. I am obviously keeping one but the other is going to be up for grabs! That's right, its giveaway time again. It's going to be simple. Leave a comment telling me why you want this book and you're entered! Short and sweet right? Also be sure to check out the links at the beginning of this because both of her books are fabulous and the website is phenomenally rich in its resources. Pass along the word too! Anyone is eligible for this giveaway and it closes on November 13th at Midnight PST.
15 comments:
I would love to get this for so many reasons! I would definitely read it and pass it on to another military spouse, though, so I wouldn't REALLY be winning it! I think the reason it appeals to me the most is that I've always believed, but never really knew God until right before Frank and I met. I was going through withdrawl (you know why, Mrs. S) and I swear, I WAS NOT alone in that room. I knew, at that moment, that I had never been alone and will never be alone. My faith was tested while Frank was deployed, but for the first time in my life, it grow immensely and I've never been the same. I'd love to read other stories about women finding their faith in tough times!
I would like to win this book simply because, as of lately, I have been trying to find God again. When I was younger, he was like Santa Claus. As I grew up, in a very mildly religious family (church on easter sunday and that's it for the year) I began to doubt. If my family didn't find it important to go to church, why should I? Now, I feel so distant from God and know that life with Him in it would be much better. I haven't been able to find the best way to go about finding Him and reassuring myself that he makes his presence known, even if it's not to me. I think this book may help. I would like to trust in Him to take care of my hubby while he's deployed. And until I find Him again, I think I will unfortunately be skeptical about leaving it all up to God. I know that this isn't supposed to be stated when trying to win something, but I will most likely buy this book if I don't win it anyway, it just may take me a little while. Thanks for the book review, it sounds great.
I would like this book because, as Jessica stated above, I have a complicated relationship with God. We go in and out, we're off and on. Recently I read a book series titled "Mark of the Lion" and the books provided a shot of inspiration, and renewed my faith and my relationship with God. I believe that this book could do the same. Not only for me but for the other Mil SO's with deployed lovies I would pass it on to. I wouldn't hog it all for myself :)
And my fiance is deploying very very soon, January to be exact. I am scared shitless of being without him for seven months. I am scared for him, for myself, and for our relationship. I don't know what this deployment may do to him. What it has the potential to do. Having a guide book of sorts would be "muy bueno" during this time period in my life.
Thank you for the review, if I don't win my happy little butt is on its way to buy a copy :)
Just like Jessica and Marine's girl, I would like to win because I need to be God-inspired again. True, I'm also already scared to death about my husband's next deployment, and it would be nice to feel reassured about it, but just to read about God working in real lives is much needed.
Sounds like such a good book! I love finding stories that encourage, and uplift others. Just stumbled on your blog today!
this sounds like a really good book. if i dont win it, i think i'll probably buy it. is it the kind of book that would be good for them to read out in afghan.? if so, i'd read it and send it to jon in his christmas package. hopefully to give him a little boost me up. thanks for the chance.:)
I would love to win a copy of this book to keep my spirits up. We are in such a huge transitional time in our life [training, moving over the ocean, training, deployment] it would be great for me to have something to fall back on for little bursts of uplifting stories, especially on all those lonely nights... in a brand new place =/
I would love to be able to read a book like this. My fiance did 2 tours in Iraq and sometimes the smallest things still bother him. I really wish I could understand what he went through and understand how he is feeling. I have several friends who have fiances/husbands/brothers/dads in the armed forces and I definitely think that this would be a good book to pass on to them once I read it because I do not think it is a book to keep to yourself because I think so many people could be helped if they could understand what is going on in their significant other's head before/after/during deployment(s). I wish that I could have known my fiance while he went through his deployments because I think I could understand more of what he went through, but alas I did not. I feel so lost when he starts talking about the little things, but I never really get a clear picture of what he went through. I really think this book will help me with that. I may end up keeping it and just buying additional copies to hand to friends in need, because I really think that it would help me understand my fiance.
I would love love love to have the chance to win this book! The format sounds wonderful and I really think that it would help me to better understand my husband and maybe get more understanding on what goes on in my own thoughts about it all as well. This sounds like an amazing read!
Sounds like an amazing book!! I would cry through the whole thing I am sure...
I would love to be considered to get this book. My husband is leaving for marine boot camp in a few months, and my husband wants to be a marine because of his dad. My father in law lost his eye sight in the vietnam war, and has so much pride for the marines, that he doesn't even celebrate his own birthday, only the marines birthday. I want to better understand why there is soooo much love and pride for not only the people in the marines, but for everyone in the armed forces. I have a lot of patriotism, but I don't completely understand it yet. My husband is the first one on both sides of my family that will be joining, and I am super proud of him, and soooo nervous at the same time. I want to know everything will be alright, and get to know some of these experiences before he leaves so I can be better prepared! Thanks for this opportunity. Love ya girly!
Monica
I would love love this. Im towards the end of the deployement and I need a little pick me up and see what other soldiers and familys have had to go through. Something to keep my mind off things!
Oh Where to Even BEGIN as to why I'd love the opportunity to read and own such a Great Book! I've already read Faith and Deployed. My husband's about to deploy on our first deployment in the first week of January. From how you describe Battelfield, it's exactly something I would read and truely enjoy as it would show me to think in different ways and remind me to be thankful for all that we have, and to be there for my husband when he has his down days. Thank you for the opportunity!
I actually have added this book to my reading list! Being truly committed to God this entire deployment, I would love to see it from someone else's perspective on how they got through it! :) Thanks for offering the opportunity :) <3
B's deployments have shaped who he is and I always welcome the opportunity to read more about life there.
Post a Comment