Review & Giveaway – Because He Loved: A Story Of Hope
Because He Loved: A Story of Hope is the sad but beautiful real life story of God giving beauty for ashes in the life of Lacey Vasquez. Lacey, a native Hawaiian, had seen her fair share of soldiers coming and going from her island. Many of her friends had dated and married soldiers; and Lacey, who at the time was studying at Hawaii Pacific University, had decided that marrying a military man was not for her. She saw the heart ache her friend went through having a long distance relationship, and she wanted no part of it.
Then entered Stephen Morris, a Texan with a smile like the sun and a heart after Jesus. Lacey knew right away there was something different with this man, who was a United States Marine. Lacey decided to go where her heart was leading her, and it was with Stephen. After a beautiful courtship, the two of them knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.
On September 11, 2006, Lacey and Stephen said good-bye as he left on his second deployment to Iraq; not knowing this good-bye was forever. Throughout the next 3 months there were letters, phone calls, and emails exchanged, letting one another know of the love they had for each other and for God. Then on December 24, 2006, Stephen was killed by an IED. This took Lacey on an unexpected journey to Texas to meet, for the first time, Stephen’s parents and family, taking her on a course of pain and healing that would be some of the most challenging days of her life.
The rest of Lacey’s story is one of healing, hope, and restoration. A story that I know you will love to read as it will give you a greater perspective to appreciate the life you have in the here and now. Lacey’s story is one that depicts the true meaning of allowing Jesus to be the Lord of your life and giving all things to Him. Lacey has a gift for weaving words together to tell an already beautiful story – that much more beautifully.
You can win a copy of Because He Loved: A Story of Hope simply by leaving a comment below telling me why you would like to win. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email (please be sure to provide your email when prompted). Winner will be announced (right here below the contest rules) and contacted on Friday, February 3, 2012.
THE WINNER IS: Kelly B.
You can visit Lacey and learn more about her story on Facebook.
Carlie is a blessed, stay-at-home, homeschoolin’ mama to her 3 precious gifts she calls “children”. She is a proud Army wife married to the love of her life, Michael, for over 11 years. In her free time she enjoys anything to do with Jesus, family, reading, writing, singing, teaching, and being outdoors.
You can find out more about her faith and family at her blog:
So You Call Yourself A Homeschooler?
I think that i would be able to continue on my path of healing with a copy of your book. over the past two years my husband did many things that really hurt. i went through a lot of emotional abuse and some verbal. i loved him so much that i was determined to stay and try and make it work. just recently, after deploying to afghanistan, my husband has an eye opening and he realized how much he put me through over the past two years. he has been making changes in his life. i am working on trust and forgetting. this is not an easy road.
I did not know this would be published for everyone to read; I apologize. I don’t want everyone to have my telephone number. I am sorry.
After many years of being far away from a relationship with Christ, I just recently was baptized and have just been growing ever since. Christian military wives helps me do just that! I have been reading my bible and also participating in Bible studies and devotionals. Any book I can get my hands in to help me grow is amazing! I am currently reading ‘One Thousand Gifts’ thanks to your review- I just had to buy myself a copy!
I would be grateful for the opportunity to win this book and share it with my friend who still struggles with the loss of her husband 3 years ago.
I would like to win because it looks like a great book about hope in the midst of trying circumstances …… my heart is tired some days
I would love to win this book for many reasons. I am a rape survivor as of July 12th, 2004 and have gone through the trial, sentencing, and aftermath with God’s arms wrapped around me. I have been struggling a little bit lately- (I wish I could explain things in person, it is so much easier than writing)… I attend Liberty University (the largest Christian University in America), and one of the classes I am in is, “Crisis 304, Combat trauma & PTSD”. I honestly, wholeheartedly, could use the hope and help right now. My husband has served twice in Iraq and has chronic PTSD, I feel like I have lost part of my husband. I could use prayer too, please.
As an EOD wife of an AF member, we are aware of the possibility that our husbands could go off on a deployment and not return. In the past year we have had this happen 8 different times. One of these times happened to my friend. She said goodbye to her husband in May and he was gone by the end of June.
I would love to win this book so I could give it to her. She still struggles some days more than others but she is by far the strongest woman I know.
Her faith in GOD and his plan for her life is a real testament to the strength he gives us to deal with anything.
I work on a military base and am married to a military man. As I meet and work with a variety of spouses in various situations, I am continuosly amazed at the strength and faith many have. I admit, I have been blessed over the years with my husband safely returning but I know others who have not. Winning a copy of this book will provide me some insight as to what some of these spouses have experienced and more importantly, allow me to pass on the book to those who are struggling and need some comfort.