{"id":2847,"date":"2009-09-28T01:39:47","date_gmt":"2009-09-28T06:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=2847"},"modified":"2009-09-27T21:40:37","modified_gmt":"2009-09-28T02:40:37","slug":"three-weddings-a-bar-mitzvah-by-melody-carlson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=2847","title":{"rendered":"Three Weddings & a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n
Melody Carlson <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Three Weddings & a Bar Mitzvah<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

David C. Cook (2009)<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Melody Carlson has published more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with many on best-seller lists. Several books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including the Gold Medallion and the RITA Award. She and her husband live in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and have two grown sons.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.
\n
\n<\/code>
\n<\/code><\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah, by Melody Carlson<\/a> from David C. Cook<\/a> on Vimeo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $14.99
\nFormat: Paperback
\nNumber of Pages: 320
\nVendor: David C. Cook (2009)
\nISBN: 1589191080
\nISBN-13: 9781589191082<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Megan Abernathy<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, then, how does the second Saturday in June look?\u201d Anna asked her housemates.<\/p>\n

Megan frowned down at her date book spread open on the dining room table. She and Anna had been trying to nail a date for Lelani and Gil’s wedding. Megan had already been the spoiler of the first weekend of June, but she’d already promised her mom that she’d go to a family reunion in Washington. Now it seemed she was about to mess things up again. \u201cI’m sorry,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I promised Marcus I’d go to his sister’s wedding. It’s been scheduled for almost a year now, and it’s the second Saturday too. But maybe I can get out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani just shook her head as she quietly rocked Emma in her arms, pacing back and forth between the living room and dining room. The baby was teething and fussy and overdue for her afternoon nap. Megan wasn’t sure if Lelani’s frustrated expression was a result of wedding planning or her baby’s mood.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it possible you could do both weddings in one day?\u201d Anna asked Megan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might work.\u201d Megan picked up her datebook and followed Lelani into the living room, where she continued to rock Emma.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr we could look at the third weekend in June,\u201d Anna called from the dining room.<\/p>\n

\u201cShhh.\u201d Megan held a forefinger over her lips to signal Anna that Emma was finally about to nod off. Megan waited and watched as Emma’s eyes fluttered closed and Lelani gently eased the limp baby down into the playpen set up in a corner of the living room. Lelani pushed a dark lock of hair away from Emma’s forehead, tucked a fuzzy pink blanket over her, then finally stood up straight and sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like she’s down for the count,\u201d Megan whispered.<\/p>\n

Lelani nodded. \u201cNow, where were we with dates?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you still want to go with the second Saturday,\u201d Megan spoke quietly, \u201cAnna just suggested that it might be possible for me to attend two weddings in one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s a lot to ask of you,\u201d Lelani said as they returned to the dining room, where Anna and Kendall were waiting expectantly with the calendar in the middle of the table and opened to June.<\/p>\n

Megan shrugged as she pulled out a chair. \u201cIt’s your wedding, Lelani. You should have it the way you want it. I just want to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna pointed to the second Saturday. \u201cOkay, this is the date in question. Is it doable or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani sat down and sighed. \u201cI’m willing to schedule my wedding so that it’s not a conflict with the other one. I mean, if it can even be done. Mostly I just wanted to wait until I finished spring term.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time is Marcus’s sister’s wedding?\u201d asked Anna.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not positive, but I think he said it was in the evening.\u201d She reached for her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you want a sunset wedding,\u201d Kendall reminded Lelani.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s true.\u201d Anna nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I also want Megan to be there,\u201d Lelani pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be helpful, since she’s your maid of honor,\u201d said Anna.<\/p>\n

Megan tried not to bristle at the tone of Anna’s voice. She knew that Anna had been put a little out of sorts by Lelani’s choice–especially considering that Anna was the sister of the groom–but to be fair, Megan was a lot closer to Lelani than Anna was. And at least they were all going to be in the wedding.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me ask Marcus about the time,\u201d Megan said as she pressed his speed-dial number and waited. \u201cHey, Marcus,\u201d she said when he finally answered. \u201cWe’re having a scheduling problem here. Do you know what time Hannah’s wedding is going to be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the evening, I think,\u201d Marcus said. \u201cDo you need the exact time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that’s good enough.\u201d Megan gave Lelani a disappointed look. \u201cI’ll talk to you later, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re not thinking of bailing on me, are you?\u201d He sounded genuinely worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but we’re trying to pin down a time and date for Lelani.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just that I really want my family to meet you, Megan. I mean all of my family. And I want you to meet them too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, and I plan to go with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks. So, I’ll see you around six thirty tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s right.\u201d Megan told him good-bye, then turned to Lelani with a sigh. \u201cI’m sorry,\u201d she told her. \u201cThat wedding’s at night too. Maybe I should blow off my family reunion so that you–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Anna pointed to the calendar. \u201cI just realized that the first Saturday in June is also my mother’s birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d Kendall shrugged. \u201cWhat’s wrong with that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan laughed. \u201cThink about it, Kendall, how would you like to share your wedding anniversary with your mother-in-law’s birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kendall grinned. \u201cOh, yeah. Maybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a Sunday wedding?\u201d suggested Megan.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday?\u201d Lelani’s brow creased slightly as she weighed this.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday might make it easier to book the location,\u201d Kendall said. \u201cI mean, since most weddings are usually on Saturdays, and June is a pretty busy wedding month.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s true,\u201d agreed Megan.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you gotta admit that this is short notice for planning a wedding,\u201d added Kendall. \u201cSome people say you should start planning your wedding a whole year ahead of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarcus’s sister has been planning her wedding for more than a year,\u201d Megan admitted. \u201cMarcus says that Hannah is going to be a candidate for the Bridezillas show if she doesn’t lighten up.\u201d<\/p>\n

They all laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there’s no way Gil and I are going to spend a year planning a wedding.\u201d Lelani shook her head. \u201cThat’s fine for some people, but we’re more interested in our marriage than we are in our wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear you.\u201d Kendall laughed and patted her slightly rounded belly. She was in her fifth month of the pregnancy. They all knew that she and her Maui man, Killiki, were corresponding regularly, but despite Kendall’s high hopes there’d been no proposal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really don’t see why it should take a year to plan a wedding,\u201d Megan admitted. \u201cI think that’s just the wedding industry’s way of lining their pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo how much planning time do you have now anyway?\u201d Kendall asked Lelani. \u201cLike three months?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even.\u201d Lelani flipped the calendar pages back. \u201cIt’s barely two now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is why we need to nail this date today,\u201d Megan said. \u201cEven though it’s a small wedding–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that remains to be seen,\u201d Anna reminded her. \u201cMy mother’s list keeps growing and growing and growing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think it might be easier to just elope,\u201d Lelani reminded them. \u201cI told Gil that I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that would be brilliant.\u201d Anna firmly shook her head. \u201cYou can just imagine how absolutely thrilled Mom would be about that little idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani smiled. \u201cI actually thought she’d be relieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might’ve been true a few months ago. But Mom’s changing.\u201d Anna poked Lelani in the arm. \u201cIn fact, I’m starting to feel jealous. I think she likes you better than me now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani giggled. \u201cIn your dreams, Anna. Your mother just puts up with me so she can have access to Emma.\u201d<\/p>\n

They all laughed about that. Everyone knew that Mrs. Mendez was crazy about her soon-to-be granddaughter. Already she’d bought Emma all kinds of clothes and toys and seemed totally intent on spoiling the child rotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of Emma\u201d–Kendall shook her finger–\u201cMrs. Mendez is certain that she’s supposed to have her on Monday. But I thought it was my day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not sure,\u201d Lelani admitted. \u201cBut I’ll call and find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while you’ve got Granny on the line,\u201d continued Kendall, \u201ctell her that I do know how to change diapers properly. One more diaper lecture and I might just tape a Pamper over that big mouth of hers. Sheesh!\u201d<\/p>\n

They all laughed again. Since coming home from Maui, Kendall had been complaining about how Mrs. Mendez always seemed to find fault with Kendall’s childcare abilities. In fact, Mrs. Mendez had spent the first week \u201cteaching\u201d Kendall the \u201cproper\u201d way to do almost everything.<\/p>\n

To be fair, Megan didn’t blame the older woman. Megan had been a little worried about Kendall too. But to everyone’s surprise, Kendall turned out to be rather maternal. Whether it had to do with her own pregnancy or a hidden talent, Megan couldn’t decide, but Kendall’s skill had been a huge relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, back to the wedding date,\u201d said Lelani.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d agreed Megan. \u201cWhat about earlier on Saturday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no,\u201d Anna said. \u201cI just remembered that I promised Edmond I’d go to his brother’s bar mitzvah on that same day–I think it’s in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cEdmond’s brother?\u201d Megan frowned. \u201cI thought he was an only child. And since when is he Jewish?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, his mom remarried,\u201d Anna told her. \u201cAnd Philip Goldstein, her new husband, is Jewish, and he has a son named Ben whose bar mitzvah is that Saturday.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI’m sorry, Lelani.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Saturday morning is kaput,\u201d Megan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Lelani wanted a sunset wedding anyway,\u201d Anna repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why can’t you have a sunset wedding on Sunday?\u201d Kendall suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s an idea.\u201d Megan turned back to Lelani. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani nodded. \u201cI think that could work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd here’s another idea!\u201d Anna exclaimed. \u201cIf the wedding was on Sunday night, you could probably have the reception in the restaurant afterward. I’m guessing it would be late by the time the wedding was over, and Sunday’s not exactly a busy night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani looked hopeful. \u201cDo you think your parents would mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMind? Are you kidding? That’s what my mother lives for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we still don’t have a place picked for the wedding,\u201d Megan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have several outdoor locations in mind. I’ll start checking on them tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ll have to pray that it doesn’t rain.\u201d Megan penned ‘Lelani and Gil’s Wedding’ in her date book, then closed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould there be a backup plan?\u201d asked Anna. \u201cI’m sure my parents could have the wedding at their house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr here,\u201d suggested Kendall. \u201cYou can use this house if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna frowned. \u201cIt’s kind of small, don’t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it’s sweet of Kendall to offer.\u201d Lelani smiled at Kendall.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can imagine a bride coming down those stairs,\u201d Kendall nodded toward the staircase. \u201cI mean, if it was a small wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll keep it in mind,\u201d Lelani told her. \u201cAnd your parents’ house too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might be tricky getting a church reserved on a Sunday night,\u201d Megan looked at the clock. \u201cAnd speaking of that, I better get ready. Marcus is picking me up for the evening service in about fifteen minutes.\u201d She turned back to Lelani. \u201cDon’t worry. I’ve got my to-do list and I’ll start checking on some of this stuff tomorrow. My mom will want to help with the flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my aunt wants to make the cake,\u201d Anna reminded them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like you’re in good hands,\u201d Kendall sad a bit wistfully. \u201cI wonder how it would go if I was planning my wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’d be in good hands too,\u201d Lelani assured her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, let’s start going over that guest list,\u201d Anna said as Megan stood up. \u201cThe sooner we get it finished, the less chance my mother will have of adding to it.\u201d Megan was relieved that Anna had offered to handle the invitations. She could have them printed at the publishing company for a fraction of the price that a regular printer would charge, and hopefully she’d get them sent out in the next couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

As Megan changed from her weekend sweats into something presentable, she wondered what would happen with Lelani’s parents when it was time for the big event. Although her dad had promised to come and was already committed to paying Lelani’s tuition to finish med school, Lelani’s mom was still giving Lelani the cold shoulder. Make that the ice shoulder. For a woman who lived in the tropics, Mrs. Porter was about as chilly as they come. Still, Lelani had friends to lean on. Maybe that was better than family at times.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour prince is here,\u201d Kendall called into Megan’s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d Megan was looking for her other loafer and thinking it was time to organize her closet again. \u201cTell him I’m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Megan came out, Marcus was in the dining room, chatting with her housemates like one of the family. He was teasing Anna for having her hair in curlers, then joking with Kendall about whether her Maui man had called her today.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Kendall told him with a little frown. \u201cBut don’t forget the time-zone thing. It’s earlier there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of time zones,\u201d Lelani said to Marcus. \u201cDid I hear you’re actually thinking about going to Africa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marcus grinned and nodded. \u201cYeah, Greg Mercer, this guy at our church, is trying to put together a mission trip to Zambia. I might go too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, that’s a long ways away.\u201d Kendall turned to Megan. \u201cHow do you feel about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan shrugged as she pulled on her denim jacket. \u201cI think it’s cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you coming with us to church tonight, Kendall?\u201d Marcus asked. \u201cGreg is going to show a video about Zambia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry to miss that,\u201d Kendall told him. \u201cBut Killiki is supposed to call.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReady to roll?\u201d Megan nodded up to the clock.<\/p>\n

He grinned at her. \u201cYep.\u201d But before they went out, he turned around. \u201cThat is, unless anyone else wants to come tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lelani and Anna thanked him but said they had plans. Even so, Megan was glad he’d asked. It was nice when Kendall came with them occasionally. And Lelani had come once too. Really, it seemed that God was at work at 86 Bloomberg Place. Things had changed a lot since last fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo are you nervous?\u201d Marcus asked as he drove toward the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cNervous?\u201d Megan frowned. \u201cAbout church?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. The big interview.\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan slapped her forehead. \u201cWow, I temporarily forgot. We were so obsessed with Lelani’s wedding today, trying to make lists, plan everything, and settle the date \u2026 I put the interview totally out of my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, it won’t be out of your mind by Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo \u2026 are you nervous?\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan considered this. It would be her first interview for a teaching job. And it was a little unsettling. \u201cThe truth is, I don’t think I have a chance at the job,\u201d she admitted. \u201cAnd, yes, I’m nervous. Thanks for reminding me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. Why don’t you think you’ll get the job?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I don’t have any actual teaching experience.\u201d She wanted to add duh, but thought it sounded a little juvenile.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone has to start somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut starting in middle school, just a couple of months before the school year ends? Don’t you think they’ll want someone who knows what they’re doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless they want someone who’s enthusiastic and energetic and smart and creative and who likes kids and had lots of great new ideas and–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, any chance you could do the interview in my place?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCross-dress and pretend I’m you?\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed. \u201cFunny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust have confidence, Megan. Believe in yourself and make them believe too. You’d be great as a middle-school teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes you so sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I remember middle school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd most of my teachers were old and dull and boring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I would’ve loved having someone like you for a teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cYeah. If I was thirteen, I’d probably sit right in the front row and think about how hot you were, and then I’d start fantasizing about–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarcus Barrett, you’re pathetic.\u201d Just the same, she laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I say? I’m just a normal, warm-blooded, American kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a break!\u201d She punched him in the arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that your phone?\u201d he asked as he was parking outside of the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, a good reminder to turn it off.\u201d She pulled it out to see it was Kendall. Megan hoped nothing was wrong. \u201cHey, Kendall,\u201d she said as Marcus set the parking brake. \u201cWhat’s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess what?\u201d shrieked Kendall.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea what, but it sounds like good news.\u201d She stepped out of the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cKilliki just called.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he asked me to marry him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan raised her eyebrows and looked at Marcus as he came around to meet her. \u201cAnd you said yes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course! Do you think I’m crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Not at all. Congratulations, Kendall. I mean, I guess that’s what you say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo now we have two weddings to plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan blinked. She walked with Marcus toward the church entry. \u201cOh, yeah, I guess we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I’m getting married in June too!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s great, Kendall. I’m really, really happy for you. And Killiki seems like a great guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is! Anyway, we just looked at the calendar again. And we finally figured that I should just get married the same day as Lelani, only I’ll get married in the morning. That way we’ll all be able to go to both weddings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, the same day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOtherwise, you’ll be at your reunion or Marcus’s sister’s wedding. Or Anna will be at the bar mitzvah. Or Lelani and Gil will be on their honeymoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that’s right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I want all of you there!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I suppose that makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’ll be busy, but fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely.\u201d Then Megan thanked Kendall for telling her, and they said good-bye. Megan closed her phone and just shook her head. \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKendall’s getting married?\u201d asked Marcus as he held the church door open for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Can you believe it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd her wedding will be the same weekend as your sister’s and the same day as Lelani’s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marcus held up three fingers and wore a perplexed expression. \u201cThree weddings in one weekend? That’s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d Megan nodded. \u201cThree weddings and a bar mitzvah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d Marcus looked confused, but they were in the sanctuary, and Megan knew she’d have to explain later.<\/p>\n

\u00a92009 Cook Communications Ministries. Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.<\/p><\/div>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/strong>
\nAlthough I reviewed the first book in the 86 Bloomberg Place<\/strong><\/em> series over a year ago, I missed the two following books and was just a little lost when I began reading Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah<\/a>. Fortunately there were sufficient details given for me to quickly catch up with the characters well enough to understand the plot.<\/p>\n

In this final installment, the girls of Bloomberg Place are frantically trying to plan two weddings in June without conflicting with other previous plans that include another wedding and a bar mitzvah. Complicating matters are an interfering mother and future mother-in-law, romantic misunderstandings, job stress, and the death of a family member. Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah<\/a> neatly wrapped up the series with a look at the positive changes that had taken place in each character and the close ties that had knit them together as a family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-chick-lit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2847"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2847"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2854,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2847\/revisions\/2854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}