At Home in His Heart (21 page)

Dear Reader,

I hope you’ve enjoyed your return visit to mountain country, Canyon Springs, Arizona! There’s nothing more magical than a high-country summer day, with the scent of sun-warmed or rain-washed ponderosa pine permeating the air, bluer than blue skies and evenings so cool you’d better bring a jacket!

I have to admit that when I was “introduced” to heroine Sandi Bradshaw and her deceased husband’s best friend, Bryce Harding, I wondered how on earth these two lonely, stubborn people could ever find a happily-ever-after with each other.

But Matthew 19:26 says “With God all things are possible.” Which is something we need to keep in mind when situations and challenges in our own lives appear daunting and dreams far away. Does that verse mean we’ll always get our own way, that we’ll get everything in life we want? No, but it does mean that if we put our trust in God, He will be right there to forgive, encourage, comfort and give us the strength to get through whatever we may face.

This past year has been a special one for me—liberally peppered with encouraging reader letters (thank you!) and the news that my very first book,
Dreaming of Home,
won several prestigious contests!

I hope
At Home in His Heart
touched
your
heart. I love to hear from readers, so please contact me via email at [email protected] or c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broad way, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279. Please also visit my website at www.glynnakaye.com—and stop in at www.seekerville.blogspot.com and www.loveinspiredauthors.com to meet and greet my writer friends!

Glynna Kaye

1. Bryce Harding tried to talk his buddy out of marrying Sandi Bradshaw. How did his background and his relationships with his mother and LeAnne color his thoughts and determination?

2. Since her husband’s death, Sandi has allowed her mother-in-law to become more involved in her life than is healthy for either of them. Can you understand how that might happen? Why is it so important to Sandi to win her mother-in-law’s favor? Have you ever allowed yourself to become more focused on pleasing a person than pleasing God?

3. For years Sandi secretly regretted her last words to her husband. Why do you think it is so hard for her to accept God’s forgiveness? Have you ever said or done something that you’ve been unwilling to forgive yourself for, even though the Bible clearly states that if you ask Him for forgiveness, you
are
forgiven?

4. When his best buddy died, Bryce determined he didn’t want to live the rest of his life with regrets. So why does he feel guilty when he begins to take serious notice of Sandi?

5. Gina takes a shine to “Uncle Bryce” at their first meeting, much to Sandi’s chagrin. What is it about him that Gina quickly recognizes but that Sandi is unwilling to acknowledge? How can a child sometimes see clearly things that an adult cannot?

6. Bryce refers to himself as New Bryce and Old Bryce. Why do you think he feels vulnerable at the thought of joining a Bible study? How might he benefit from meeting with other men?

7. Sandi says she has no intention of remarrying—and she’s serious. What is it about Bryce that causes her to reconsider opening her heart? How is he different from her husband? How are they alike?

8. Bryce is devastated when he realizes his earlier perceptions of Sandi were based on erroneous assumptions. Have you ever made negative assumptions about someone and later had your eyes opened to the truth that you judged them wrongly? How did that affect you? What actions did you take—or do you still need to take?

9. Sandi keeps herself busy—seldom allowing time for reflection or doing anything special for herself. How does that help her cope with being a widow and single mom? How has it harmed her?

10. Because of his background, Bryce struggles with the concept of mutual submission in marriage. Where do you see evidence that he begins to understand the true intention of God’s plan? That it’s not about who’s the boss, but about caring more for someone else than you do yourself?

11. Sandi recognizes her earlier immaturity in the way she treated her husband. How did her fear for his safety, her loneliness and having a sick child push her to react the way she did? Her husband loved her, but how might he have better helped her deal with his absence? How might a stronger relationship with God have helped her cope?

12. Due to the hoopla accompanying the newspaper photo, an uncertainty with their budding relationship quickly develops between Sandi and Bryce. Both are hurt but feel they’re doing the other a favor by backing off. What in their backgrounds contributed to this abrupt decision? How might they have better communicated?

13. Bryce tells Sandi she’s given the museum and the dreamed-of veterans exhibit first place in her life. Do you agree—or not? Why is it so hard for her to set aside the past so she can move into the future? Do you believe in the coming years that Sandi’s involvement in the museum will be a healthier one? Why or why not?

14. Sandi comes to realize that LeAnne’s opposition to Bryce has more to do with LeAnne’s own insecurities and loneliness than it does with Bryce himself. How might Sandi help her mother-in-law and herself transition to a healthier, more balanced relationship?

15. Given their backgrounds, experiences and beliefs about themselves, what challenges do you think Sandi and Bryce will encounter in the future as they grow and mature in their life together?

ISBN: 9781408951385

At Home in his Heart

© Glynna Kaye Sirpless 2011

First Published in Great Britain in 2011
Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

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