Katherine Paterson had this vision years ago of a little girl standing in the middle of the road with a T-shirt that says “I heart Jesus” on and she is bawling as she watches a car go down the street and turn the corner. Sometimes books come to you as an image like that. And that was how the book Birdie’s Bargain started.

Katherine believes it’s her job to write the book as well and honestly as she can and then it’s the readers privilege to take from the book whatever s/he would like to or needs. Readers are truly the ones that bring the books to life. It’s the author’s willingness to dive deep into their own heart that invites the reader to reach into their heart to make a truly meaningful connection.

Birdie has questions for God. For starters, why couldn’t God roll history back to September 10, 2001, and fix things—so the next day was an ordinary sunny day and not the devastating lead-in to two wars? Daddy has already been to Iraq twice. Now he’s going again, and Birdie is sure he’ll die. At the very least, she won’t see him again for a year, and everything will not be OK. (Why do grown-ups lie?)

Katherine Paterson is a two-time winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, has written more than thirty books, including Bridge to Terabithia and My Brigadista Year. A recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and a former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, she lives in Montpelier, Vermont.

Listeners, if you would like to see more of what Katherine is up to, check out her website here or connect with her on social media via Facebook. Don’t forget to get a copy of Birdie’s Bargain here.

Today, five lucky listeners will get a chance to win a free copy of Birdie’s Bargain! Simply like, comment, and share this podcast to be entered for a chance to win.

Resource Recon with Kayla and Amanda K.

This week’s featured blog is titled, “Emotional Labor of Being a Military Spouse” by Anna Larson:

A few years ago, I read an article about emotional labor. The author described her experience of asking for one simple gift for Mother’s Day. She wanted someone to deep clean her home. Her husband waited until the last minute, then decided it was too expensive. In addition, he couldn’t find a cleaning service for the day he wanted, so instead, he “cleaned” the bathrooms leaving her to watch their children destroy the rest of the house.

He thought he gave her the gift she wanted.

Emotional labor was originally coined for responsibilities in the workplace but has morphed into other meanings, including the toll of daily tasks and responsibilities placed on the primary caregiver or one who handles the domestic activities. These tasks are undervalued or unrecognized as carrying much importance, but if overlooked can cause ripples of chaos and disorganization in our lives.

Empowerment Patrol Report with Amanda B.

Today we are showcasing Army Wife Network’s Everyday Empowerment recipient, Sharita Knobloch:

Sharita has been married to her beloved infantryman husband Brandon for over 10 years.  The joys and challenges of this milspouse life ignited her faith on a deep level, so she