Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury

Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury - 326 pages

 Against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children – especially since she is unable to have children of her own. The only problem is Marcus Dillinger, the Major League Baseball player she was never meant to fall in love with. But neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine’s other friends – Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson – know just how serious her heart condition is.

  Still, Marcus suspects something isn’t right. After months of silence, a divinely timed letter from Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, as Sami and Tyler prepare to marry, the group receives shocking news that changes everyone’s plans.

  The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith.

Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury

Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury - 316 pages


Growing up in a comfortable home, Mary Catherine wanted for nothing. Though she loves her wealthy parents, their lifestyle never appealed to her. Instead, Mary Catherine pursues meaning through charity work, giving away a part of herself but never giving away her heart.

Mary Catherine lives in Los Angeles with her roommate, Sami, and volunteers at a local youth center with coach Tyler Ames and LA Dodger Marcus Dillinger. Despite Mary Catherine’s intention to stay single, she finds herself drawing close to Marcus, and their budding romance offers an exciting life she never dreamed of. That is, until she receives devastating news from her doctor. News that alters her future and forces her to make a rash decision.

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis with Beth Clark

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis with Beth Clark-280 pages

My mom read this book and recommended it (and actually left her copy for me to read last time she visited). I wanted to read it for last month's memoirs and biographies challenge, but didn't get around to it, so I decided to read it this month. I really liked reading this book and didn't want to put it down. It has really changed my outlook on life and what it means to do missions work and to truly do what God has called us to do. Katie Davis leaves everything behind in the U.S. and moves to Uganda shortly after graduating high school. She ends up adopting several young Ugandan girls and sponsoring hundreds to go to school and get proper health care and such. She creates a non-profit organization called Amazima (which means truth in Luganda) Ministries to help sponsor even more kids to get an education and live "better" lives. Throughout her time in Uganda she her faith is tested and stretched and God blesses her immensely and touched many Ugandan lives through her. Overall, I could not put this book down and recommend it to anyone interested in missions work of any kind, here and/or abroad. It has really opened my eyes and changed my outlook on what living in "third world" countries is really like and what God has called us to do.

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis -- 288 pages

Katie had her life planned out, complete with college aspirations and a boyfriend whom she loved, but her world was rocked during a week-long trip to Uganda. After that week, she decided to spend a year in Uganda before college, before resuming normal life. She never went back to normal life.
Today, Katie runs the non-profit organization she started, "Amazima", which sponsors children in poverty, and she is also mother to no less than thirteen young girls while taking care of hundreds more. Her heart and hands are full and overflowing.
This book isn't professionally written, but the story speaks for itself and I was overjoyed to read about such a young woman fully devoting her life to God.