Catching up is hard to do!

Well, I haven't been on here much over the past week or two...so much has been going on and I've gotten lazy. ;( So, I am going to offer you a brief overview of our weeks of late.

Starting with last week....
We had 2 games last week that both went really well. B seems to be improving with every game and we keep seeing more and more that he's 'getting'. It's nice to see. I told T that he would most likely have it all down pat by the last game and then forget it for next year! LOL But that's okay.

C has been the big cheerleader on the sidelines and has found himself a little friend to play with during the games. The other night, T and I ended up being a maypole that they ran around the entire hour! :)

Last weekend, we finally got the house sprayed by the Bug Guy! :) So very happy about that....I'm sick of seeing spiders in my house!

Sunday, we were invited to lunch after services at the Veterans Home with one of our Veterans and his daughter. He's such a sweet man....I'm truly in awe of him. We found out he was in the navy when he served our country...T and I both thought he was army for some reason. -shrug- After lunch, they gave us a tour of the Veterans Home and it is really nice....our veterans are totally deserving! B and Mr. R played a game of Connect Four and B really REALLY enjoyed that. After we got home, we all crashed for a couple hours before returning back for services that night.

This week brought an evening of rest on Monday (whew) and then a game on Tuesday. B made us so proud....he caught a grounder while he was playing shortstop and ran to second base with the ball to get the player out! He was so proud of himself...kept giving up thumbs up after that! LOL

Tonights game was rained out (and we were supposed to be the ones with snacks!) and B is pretty bummed. I can't say I am though....we're tired and all need our rest. Besides, the garden has needed the rain!

This weekend, I have Friendship Sisters on Saturday and then nothing else for a few days. WOW! :) We will begin the prep for going to OK for the wedding, but that will be done starting Monday....I just can't think of it now! LOL

Update, Wednesday June 20

Well, I haven't posted in a while so I'm just going to give a quick update on what's been happening. Oy, what a few days it's been!

Last weekend, we set off for Salem on Friday evening and got half way there, about to meet up with mom and dad for the remainder of the trip, and the van starts acting weird. Again. So T and Dad decide to drive it around and after doing so, decide we shouldn't take it any further on the trip and we're going back home for the other car. So we get home, sleep, and get up the next morning and drive back to Salem. Well, this week, T drove it around to get it to do the weirdness again and then took it to the dealer to show it to them. Again. This time, they actually get to see what it's doing and they determine (after no computer diagnosing shows up) that it's the fuel pump. So we're scheduled to have the fuel pump changed this week. My only problem with that is that the last car we had the fuel pump go out on (the Lumina) it just DIED. All of a sudden, no warning. And from my understanding, that is what fuel pumps do. They just die. So, since this one has been acting up off and on for over a month, I'm not so convinced it's the fuel pump. But it's covered under the warranty so we'll let them change it and if it acts up again, they can go from there.

B had another T-ball game Monday night. He is doing very well in batting and running, but he needs to work on his fielding. He will stand in the position the coach tells him to and not run for the ball when it's close ot him. He will just watch it roll or bounce right past him! Sometimes it's funny...but it's also frustrating. He says he knows he can go get it, but chooses not to. I dunno.

The Bug Guy is coming this weekend (finally!). So we're going to finally be rid of most of these pesky spiders and critters that keep bugging us! I can't wait. So sick of getting bit....

So much laundry to do right now and no energy to do it. I need to get things cleaned up before the bug guy comes...so he can get to the walls and baseboards. Guess I better get going! LOL

Kid's Day?

Last night I was talking with the boys when they layed down for bed and I was reminding them that Father's Day was this Sunday. They just looked at me and asked, "What's Father's Day?" hehe I reminded them of Mother's Day just a month ago when they had gotten me a butcher block for MD and my birthday. I said, "So now it will be Father's Day."

C pipes up and says, "So does that mean that next it will be Kid's Day?"

LOL You gotta love the way their brains work!

Million Dollar Dilemma

Million Dollar Dilemma

by Judy Baer

ISBN: 978-0373785483

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself with several million dollars? Would you spend it? Would you give it back? This is exactly the position Cassia has found herself in...and she has no idea what to do. Her neighbor, Adam Cavanaugh, who is a jounalist for human rights, befriends her and finds in Cassia a reprieve from his most recent assignment...the death of children in Burundi. He starts out writing about Cassia in hopes of using his proceeds to help the children, but doesn't feel right doing it behind her back--regardless of the reason. He also doesn't expect to fall in love with Cassia in the process.

Cassia, on the otehr hand is working on her own feelings: about the money, about the men in her life, about evertyhing. What should she do with any of it? She keeps trying to give it to God, but keeps taking it back away from Him! Then she finds out the truth about Adam and she just gets even more confused.

Suddenly it all comes into focus and Cassia realizes what she must do: with the money and with the men!

Reunion Weekend

We got in last night from our reunion in West Plains (my mom's side of the family) and it was quite a weekend. We were late getting started on Friday, so we didn't get down there until after 5, and had to eat lunch on the way...we just grabbed Hardees.

When we got to the hotel (Best Western) we discovered that the girl who took our reservations for us made them for NEXT weekend! And they were full with queen size beds. So we debated on going somewhere else, but T went to talk to the lady and said we'd take the rooms with king size beds, but since it was their mistake he didn't think we should have to pay the $10 per night for the roll-away bed. She called the manager and he agreed....we'd get it for free! :) Made me happy!

Well, we hadn't been there 30 minutes in the hotel, when B started throwing up. He had had a time in the car where he felt carsick, but was able to keep it down (which was a first for him) and we figured it was just the 'after' stuff of holding it all in. Well, about 30 minutes after that, he did it again. So we figured he had something.... We were supposed to eat dinner with my cousin and her family, so C and I went over there and T and B stayed at the hotel. C kept saying he didn't want to eat, but I figured he just wanted to play so I let him. Well, we went to WM after we left their house to get B some 7-up, and we hadn't got back to the hotel for 15 minutes when C started throwing up! OY!

So they continued to throw up most of the night.....B's last one was at 2 AM and C's last one was at 3:30....at which time, B was up saying he felt so much better and was ready to eat! LOL So we went back to bed and slept till 8, when Grandma took them for breakfast and let us rest a bit more.

Then when I got up, I started feeling really sick to my stomach and ended up with diarrhea (I know, TMI...sorry) all day and ended up sleeping most of the day. By lunch, we went to Quiznos, cuz I thought if I ate something maybe I would feel better....nope. The boys and I couldn't eat...so that was wasted money, since we didn't have anywhere to put the food in the hotel. Then that night we went to Ryan's to eat for supper (I had actually woke up from a nap feeling better) and discovered that they don't do just a soup and salad bar (cuz all I wanted was soup) so we had to pay full price for the buffet and only eat soup! :( Well, we were pretty much done in for by the evening, but went to my great-aunt's house to see the family for just a bit. We were all able to sleep the night through and I woke up the next morning HUNGRY! but still sorta queasy. We went to church with my cousin and visited with family after that, but left mid afternoon cuz we were so tired from it all, we just wanted to go home.

We're assuming that we just had a touch of food-poisoning from Hardess (gag) and all, but it was just a REALLY bad time to get sick! I am wondering though if I actually had an actual flu since mine has sorta continued until today. But I guess we'll never really know! It just seems that every time we go to West Plains we end up sick (one time, T got the flu, one time is was fevers, and now this!)...so we're wondering how often we want to make that trip?? LOL

Hope you all had a much better weeekend that we did! :)

First Ball game

Well, we had the first T-Ball game last night and it was so much fun! B had a blast and I think the kids did too.... Well, the parents may have enjoyed the entertainment a bit more than the kids, but that is to be expected. A couple of the kids ran to third instead of first when they hit the ball, some of them spent their time digging in the dirt, and a couple were really on the ball (no pun intended) and played really well. B got to bat 2 times and made it to the base both times, but the second time it was the end of the inning, so he made it to the base and then had to come in and get his glove.

He was so excited to go and was wound up for about 2 hours after the game. We have another game Thursday night and he's already talking about it. So much fun! Will upload pics later.....

A Time to Dance

A Time to Dance
by Karen Kingsbury
Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-1595541871

Abby and John Reynolds have decided to divorce and end their twenty-plus-year marriage. But just as they are getting ready to break the news to their children, their oldest daughter, Nicole, shares the news that she's getting married. After finding out this exciting news, Abby and John decide to wait until after the wedding to tell the kids, but that means 6 more months of arguing and fighting.

Abby thinks it's all John's fault, and anyone who has been married knows that NO fight is all one persons' fault. It takes two to argue. But John has tried to talk to Abby and explain things to her and she just won't listen, so he blames her. Will they ever figure out a way to talk it out? Will they ever find A Time to Dance again?

Email Experiment

I recently sent out an email in order to conduct an email experiment for this summer. I asked all people that I sent the email to to send it on to their friends asking them to send an email to a specified address with their name and location. I want to be able to see where all an email goes when it gets forwarded in cyberspace. So far I have reached across the United States and into Canada! In less than 4 days! That is so awesome to me! I will continue keeping track of this for a few weeks and see how far it goes. I will report back here some of my findings and will also be emailing back the original 'friends' who have helped me with the results...so many want to know.

This was based on the email that was going around about a student whose teacher had them do this as an assignment...but that was proved by Snopes to be false/fake. So I wanted to see exactly what would happen if I actually did what the fake email said.

We shall see! If you're interested in helping, let me know!

Company's A'Comin...

Well, tonight is the last practice for T-ball and the first game is next Tuesday. I can't wait to see an actual game with the kids playing. :) It will be so cute!

But for the weekend, we have company coming to watch B's practice and spend a couple days with us. The boys are so excited! They have been helping me clean house all day today begging me for a time when they will get here. I simply don't know an exact time. But it will be before supper.

Things are going well...we all seem to be staying healthy. Oops..did I just really say that? I normally jinx myself when I say that! LOL

Till later...

The Basement...

Well, yesterday being a holiday, we decided to work! LOL We spend the entire day in our basement cleaning and organizing. We discovered that we have WAY too much junk and have just been accumulating stuff for the last 10 years. A great majority of the things down there are going to be going to Goodwill in a short time. I can't wait! :)

I worried about having teh boys down there with us, cuz I knew we would be sorting through a bunch of old toys. I figured they would want to pull back out anything we put inthe 'give away' pile. And they did. But not too bad. I have to say, they did pretty good. I think we only ended up with about 5 little toys back upstairs that were designated for Goodwill. Howver, I don't htink they realize completely all the things we'll be getting rid of . But not to worry...when things get taken down there, they will not be a part of it! :)

We even found some things that we have no idea how they got down there.... One was a Brand New box of ice cream cones...unopened. !!!! I have NOT a clue as to how they got there, but there there were. We also found a TON of homeschooling art supplies, that, thankfully, I haven't re-bought cuz I didn't know their location. It's amazing what happens when things get clean! LOL

Now, we can see the basement floor! Now, we can find our exercise equipment! Now, we can possibly have school in the basement and be able to spread out a bit more! I am so excited!

Revealed

Revealed (Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 2)

by Tamera Alexander

ISBN 978-0764201097

Amazon.com

Tamera Alexander

Annabelle McCutchens - formerly Annabelle Grayson, who worked in a brothel - is on her way with her new husband to Idaho territory, where a new farm awaits them. But Jonathan becomes ill a short way into the journey, and dies on the prairie. Annie returns home to receive help from Pastor Carlson in order to complete her trip. Little did she know, Jonathan's estranged brother, Matthew Taylor, would be the one to apply for the job. Matthew believe Annabelle hasn't truly changed and feels she's responsible for his brother's death. But over the course of their journey, he sees Annie for what she truly is: a loving and caring person with a good heart and someone who didn't choose her former way of life. By the time they reach Idaho, Matthew and Annabelle grow to love and depend on each other. But it has only happened after their true hearts have been Revealed.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was a great second to the first of Tamera's, Rekindled. She has beautifully wrapped the characters from the other book into this one, while at the same time allowing each book to stand on its own. Alexander is well on her way to having a great career writing Christian fiction...these books are wonderful. I can't wait to get to read the third in the set (due out next month....) Remembered.

Something That Lasts

Something That Lasts

James David Jordan

ISBN 159145428X

Amazon.com

James David Jordan

After Reverend David Parst is accused of infidelity, the man who accused him kills himself outside the church building. David's son, Jack, and wife Sarah, leave him and David is left to deal with the repercussions of his actions. Sarah remains calm and peaceful through it all, but jack gets bitter and can't bring himself to forgive his father. Years later, it's Jacks wife that helps bridge the gap that has spanned 3 generations to create Something That Lasts in the family.

An okay book.....

This Heavy Silence

This Heavy Silence

by Nicole Mazzarella

ISBN 1557254257

Amazon.com

Nicole Mazzarella

As a reclusive farmer, Dottie can't figure out why Zela (her oldest and dearest friend) has left Mattie in her care. Dottie is not motherly. Dottie is not friendly. Dottie is not open. Yet for some reason, Zela thought she was the right person. After Mattie comes of age, she leaves the farm declaring she doesn't want to become like Dottie. Slowly Dottie admits her wrongs and does what is best for Mattie - and what Zela would have wanted all along.

I really did NOT enjoy this book. :( It ended VERY abruptly and left many loose ends....and was somewhat hard to follow in the process. Not recommended.....

Levi's Will

Levi's Will

W. Dale Cramer

Bethany House Publishers

ISBN 0764229958

Amazon.com

Dale Cramer

Will McGruder has been called home for his father's funeral. So with Riley - Will's oldest son - he returns home. But while they are there, the memories come flooding back...

After his sins have been exposed and he's been banned from his Amish church and family, Will Mullet runs away and changes his name to Will McGruder. Will joins the military and goes to fight overseas in order to serve his country, but memories from his past continue to follow him. Will marries and has children, and when he reaches the date when he can no longer be charged with fraud, he tells his wife of his true past. She then demands that he give up his military service. As their children grow, so does the distance between Will and Helen. Slowly, Will comes to terms with his past and receives forgiveness from his father and family. But most importantly Will reconciles with God and learns to let go of the pain and bitterness he's held onto for all these years.

A great read!!

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

by Beverly and David Lewis

ISBN 0764225103

Amazon.com

Beverly Lewis

Reviewed for Armchair Interviews

She has the perfect life: a beautiful house on the water, a loving husband, and her painting. And after spending years looking over her shoulder, Mellie thinks she’s finally safe. But then that perfect world is shattered when she’s out with a friend and spots “that face,” Mellie knows she has to run. Leaving her house and husband behind, Mellie finds herself in Amish country—at the home of Lela Deninger, a single, Amish woman with a room to rent. Mellie’s husband is truly lost without her and can’t figure out why she left. With the help of a close friend, he discovers that he is closer to the answer than he realizes. As Mellie waits with Lela for a phone call that will tell her what to do, she finds herself connecting with God in a way she never thought possible. Then when she finds out a depressing truth about her husband, Mellie realizes her true Sanctuary is in the Lord.

I truly enjoyed this book and read it with ease. Lewis has a wonderful way of drawing the reader in and holding their attention!

The author was born in the heart of Amish country—Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She didn’t start writing about that area until her children were in middle school,with her first book published in 1993.

New York Times bestseller Beverly Lewis is a very prolific writer. Once again she has taken her enthusiastic fans deep into the world of the Amish. Her adult fiction includes: Annie’s People series, Abram’s Daughters series, The Heritage of Lancaster County series The Postcard/The Crossroad series plus her youth fiction, The Cul-de-Sac Kids series, Girls Only (GO!) series, ages 8-13 and Holly’s Heart series and Summerhill Secrets series ages 11-14.

Armchair Interviews says: Beverly Lewis does it again.

A part of yesterday I forgot....

T reminded me last night when we went to bed about this part...

When we got to the dealership, they were asking what was wrong and getting our information. So T deferred to me since I was the one driving. So I proceed to tell what happened and give our home phone number as a contact. T says, "Better give you my cell as well since you'll need to call me to tell me what's wrong with it..." and he proceeds to rattle off his cell number. So, then the guy looks at him and says, "So are you her dad, then?" We just bust out laughing...and said, "no, husband." He apologized and we just told him we laughed cuz it's been about 6 years since we had that happen to us!

I told T last night that that was like the cherry on top of the sundae for my day....just finished the bad day off correctly.

LOL

Waaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Okay, that is me crying and whining about my horrible day! LOL On the way home from PE, we had JUST gotten on the interstate and my van just wouldn't speed up. I'm meaning....it wouldn't go above 40 MPH. !!!! So I pulled over rather than get hit on the interstate and by the time I got my phone out and called T, I had a light flashing at me. I looked it up in the manual and it informed me that meant something is wrong with the power train....which is most likely the transmission. AAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHAHH~ This is the SECOND van we've had this trouble with! Then as we were getting the boys transferred over to T's car (once he and the tow truck got there), T just got covered in TICKS! As we were driving to the dealership, I found one crawling in his HAIR! LOL Oh, gravy, what a day. I thank the Lord that we were all kept safe on the side of the highway, though. HE protected us. I was abit frustrated that 2 state patrols passed us right by and didn't even stop!!! What are they there for anyway??? Sorry, guess I'm still a bit miffed....

So, now we're eating a rushed dinner cuz we have T-ball practice tonight. And the boys and I are extremely cranky after being stuck in the van for an hour and a half while cars whizzed by us. Bless them, they did really well...they only complained for about half the time we wre in the van! LOL

And on top of it all, the Ford dealership here says they can't even touch it until the end of next week...that's how backed up that are! SO, we're down to one car for a while.... Thank goodness we paid the extra money to have the extended bumper to bumper warranty on the van...this will cover it! :)

So, anyone got any cheese to go with my whine??? :)

A New American Idol! Jordin Sparks!!!

I am SOO excited that Jordin won! :) A young (17-year-old) girl from a small town has gone big and done it well! Congratualtions to Jordin and her family! Read about Jordin.

My only complaint about last night was that the show went over by about 10 minutes so my DVR did NOT get all of the show. I didn't even get to see Jordin win!!! I had to read it online. So agravating! Bad American Idol! Get your timing fixed!

What a weekend!

Well, we got the garden planted and then some! On Saturday morning we got around after breakfast and worked outside for a while. I repotted all of my mosquito plants and repotted the geranium B gave me for Mother's Day. We also hung my ivy so it would quit creeping across the porch! LOL Then we planted the garden (6 tomatoe plants, several green beans, and lots of onions). Only 4 or the tomatoe plants ended up in the garden, the other two got planted in pots. We'll see how they do.

That evening I went to a wedding shower for a friend who's getting married on Memorial weekend. It was great fun and we all embarrassed her a little! :)

We also found out that an elder at the Salem congregation passed away on Friday. Terry is wanting to go to the funeral, so we'll see what we can work out.

Let's wait and see what happens the rest of the week....

Happy Monday...

Having another blah day. :( We had a great (but busy) weekend in Salem. After playing at D's in her creek (while we got covered with ticks!) and then playing in her pool, we went to the wild game dinner at church. Yum! :)

On Sunday, we celebrated B's birthday with the family there and had a blast! Of course, he made out like a bandit getting presents, cards, and money!

I don't have much to say right now...I'm sorta in a funk. Not really wanting to talk with anyone.....

Guess I'll go clean some house.

Another day...

B has been very cranky and whiny the last couple of days. He just keeps having meltdowns and it really frustrates me. I'm in a funk too, as I am hormonal! (I know...TMI) But this morning, he was stepping on things and I had to keep telling him to stop. I finally had enough and kinda griped at him about being selfish and only doing what HE wanted to do and not thinking of others. He just started crying and said, "Why are you being so mean to me?" I finally got him to tell me why he was acting the way he was and he said he just didn't feel good and was tired. So we cuddled a bit and I explained to him that if he didn't feel good then he still didn't have any excuse to disobey the rules and act badly. I asked him where he didn't feel good and asked if he'd be willing to eat an early lunch and have a nap today. He actually said he would nap. Now, for him to say this, I KNOW he's not feeling well. Hmmm.....

I will be going to a stamping party tonight...can't wait. I always enjoy that sort of thing. I have much to do before then....more folding laundry, more schooling (reading on the couch since we're not feeling well), and straightening up.

That's it for today...will be doing a book review later and get it posted.

The Sweetest Sound....

Is a baby laughing. Check out this video! :)

Laughing Man

Turn up the volume and be patient. It looks dumb, but it absolutely hilarious! You will NOT be able to keep from laughing!

Norah's Ark

Norah's Ark
by Judy Baer
ISBN 978-0373785667
Amazon.com







I absolutely loved this book by Judy Baer. Norah has a special love for animals and humans alike...especially those in need of her assitance. So she has her own business, Norah's Ark, a petshop where she arranges the adoption of animals of all kinds. Working on a quiet street that leads to a lake, Norah loves her quiet neighborhood. Having friends is only a part of the charm offered by this quiet street. She also has wonderful places to shop.

Bentley, Norah's skittish dog, loves his human and intuitively knows her needs. But Officer Nick doesn't like Bentley so much...but Norah likes Nick. So what will Bentley do? How can he help his human get connected with this skittish cop?

A wonderful book on love, forgiveness, misunderstandings, and grace. Another great novel by Baer!

Okay....

That didn't work as well as I wanted it to. BUT! I have figuerd out how to add my WL and my Books I've Read list on here, so I'm happy.

Off to eat some breakfast and then go outside and paint C's desk for him. :) Maybe we'll do some school outside too.

Testing....

to see if this HTML code works. I found a way to get my PBS (Paperback Swap) Wish List here. Let's see if it works....

School is going better

We have been having some trouble in the last few weeks with B not wanting to do school and compalining that he 'hates' math and such. We finally figured out that he wasn't happy with the type of math we were doing (black and white worksheets) AND that he wasn't happy with where he was positioned in the schoolroom (facing a wall, away from me). So, we rearranged, got rid of the desks and had them facing me at the computer desk. Things were still a bit rough for the first few days, but they got better rapidly.

Then last Saturday, we went to a school sale and found some desks for sale ($5 each!) and have them in place of the table we were using. It's amazing what that does! Now we just have to get the right chairs (one that does NOT swivel, please!) and we'll be all set for a while.

We'll be doing school all through the summer since we missed so much time last winter being sick. But I'm not going to be really rigid with it. We're just gonna work a little each day and take field trips when we want to. LOL

Happy Feet

Happy Feet
Starring: Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Elijah Wood
Amazon.com

After reading all of the reviews I could find, both good and bad, we finally had a chance to watch Happy Feet. We had originally said we wouldn't let the boys watch it at all, but then decided they could watch it after us, and only if we thought it was okay. I had heard so many negatives about the movie from Plugged In Online and really didn't want my boys watching that. They see these things on cartoon movies and think it's okay and that it's 'cute'. That is what the movie people WANT us to believe...they are trying to trick our children, and I will not let them trick mine. Plus, I had heard so many friends and relatives say how cute the movie was and encouraged me to let my children watch it. I didn't want to be bullied, though, and stood my ground. Many people thought I was being a prude in not allowing my children to watch it. Oh well.

We finally decided that we would watch it with the boys so that we could immediately address anything that came up. Well, let me just tell you: it was one of the stupidest movies I have ever seen. The dancing was cool, yes. But the music was TOO MUCH...sexual inuendos and sexual songs included. But there were just too many songs for our liking, and frankly for our boys' liking. C fell asleep half way through it. That's how bored he was! LOL

It teaches a good moral about acceptance and being nice to those who are different from us, but the "aliens are taking all our fish" got on my nerves after a while. I got sorta sick of the agenda that was being forced on us.

What I was really suprised about was that B was able to pick out the bad stuff for himself. He kept asking, "Is that bad?" "Oh, they shouldn't say that!" Or, "That wasn't nice." I was proud that he knew the difference.

All in all, it wasn't a BAD movie...just not one we want in our house. It was dumb and we don't want to subject ourselves to it again. If the boys watch it at someone's house, I have no problems with it. We just won't be watching it at ours anymore.

The Dr. is in

Last week, one afternoon, I had the privilege of being a patient in my own house. B decided he would be a doctor and I would be the patient. He started out by tapping my knees with his hammer. Well, one of them wouldn't 'bounce'. So he told me I needed to lay down and he'd have to do surgery. He proceeded to tell me that I had a bubble that kept bouncing between my knee and my ankle. So he 'cut' my leg open and removed the bubble and then smoothed my skin back out to heal, with a rolling pin! LOL

Then my other leg wasn't 'bouncing' right and only my foot was twitching. So he determined that my 'apprentisement' was blocking something and had to be fixed. While he 'fixed' me, I was trying to figure out what an apprentisement was. I finally figured it out: My nephew had just (that week) had to have an emergency appendectomy and he was confusing that with the word advertisement. SO! I got that all worked out and I was healed.

But during the process, of course C wants to get involved. So B tells him he can be the nurse. While B was working on my legs, C worked on my head and arms. (Apparently, I was one messed up patient!) Well, B went looking for something, a tool of some sort to work on me with, and couldn't find it. He finally discovered that C had it...and said, "Those nurses! Always using us doctors' tools and trying to be like us!" LOL I just about cracked up!

Apparently they did a good job on me....I haven't had to be seen by the dr since that day! :)

When the Bluebonnets Come

When the Bluebonnets Come
by John Dwyer
ISBN: 978-0976822417
Amazon.com
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews

Katie Shanahan loves her daddy, Ethan. Ethan is the pastor of one of the many churches in Cotton Patch, Texas and is fighting the coming of a 'family entertainment complex'...also known as a gambling and horse-racing complex. Churches are burned and people are hurt. Money seems to be driving force.
Katie shows us the way events occurred from her point of view as an 8-year-old child. Sometimes her knowledge is firsthand, sometimes it is what she figures happened. But the end result is the same: her daddy isn't happy with the situation, the town, or the people, and he struggles to find peace through it all. Katie sees how all men fail and fall and make mistakes, and how the same men can make restitution for those mistakes. God is there for all of them and offers grace to repentant hearts. Ethan Shanahan included.

Hearts are softened by the one man who stood up to the rich men--and for what was right. Ethan never wavered, but was gentle in his argument against the new complex. Finally everyone involved sees the light and has a change of heart. In the end, Katie is still living on the family farm with her children, riding horses and showing them the bluebonnets of Texas.

I struggled with this book for several reasons. I find it hard to believe the view of a child seeing or knowing so many conversations. There was so much assumption on her part about what took place that it makes the truth of the story almost unbelievable. Also, it was hard to have a male author writing from the perspective of a little girl. However, the story itself was great.

One of the best things emphasized through the book was that Katie was homeschooled, which is just not seen in many fiction books these days. My favorite line in the book is something Katie said, "When I make it to the upper sanctuary, one of the first things I'm gonna ask God is why He only let me figure out so many things later when I could've used them earlier."

Armchair Interviews says: It is very clear that the point Dwyer makes here is to learn from life's lesson and accept God's grace.

Courage the Monkey

Courage the Monkey
by Mark Jordan
ISBN: 978-0971701373
Amazon.com
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews

On the very tip of a mountain lives Jonathan the spider monkey. As Jonathan eagerly awaits his special birthday (special because he will get to climb his first tree), he becomes very afraid when he sees how big his tree will be. All the monkeys made fun of him because he was the first monkey to ever be afraid of climbing a tree. Jonathan had a wonderful brother, David, who kept encouraging him, telling him he could do it. But still Jonathan was afraid. He began to seclude himself and not play with friends. He told himself that one day, he would climb a tree.

That one day came sooner than he wanted. While resting in the grass one day, Jonathan heard a cry for help. It was David. He had fallen and landed on a ledge of the mountain. Jonathan wanted to help his brother, but was scared. After mustering all of his strength, Jonathan was able to climb a nearby tree and save his brother! All the other spider monkey's cheered as they saw this. Soon after they renamed Jonathan "Courage" because of the courage he showed that day.
I loved this book! After reading it to my two boys, we discussed what courage was and how we can encourage each other to do things we're afraid of doing. They told me I had to keep this book forever so they could read it again and again!

Mark Jordan has done a wonderful job capturing with words and pictures a character trait that many parents want instilled in their children.

Armchair Interviews says: What a great message for children.

Precious Memories

I fell in love all over again with my boys today. I pulled down a box of pictures, that need to be scrabooked, with the job of pulling out C's. (I have to start on his baby book...he's already 4 and we have nothing to show him on his birthday...and he ALWAYS asks!) Well, I started flying through pictures and found some of a vacation, some of another vacation, and some of family. Then I found the envelope that contained the boys. I put all of B's back and pulled out C's, knowing they would contain several shots of B as well.

I saw some of him as a baby. I saw some of him crawling. Then I found the pack that I had taken (as I did with B) at 6 months...in Black and White. I practically cried! They were so precious and there is so much more visibility with Black and White photo's. Then I moved on to the pack that had the delivery and hospital photos. I cried all over again remembering the emotions that were swirling through me that morning.

The boys walked in at that point and asked what I was looking at. So I invited them over by me and showed the all the photos and explained what was what and who was where in each one. It was so precious to hear their squeals of delight when they saw themselves as babies, or laughing when they saw themselves doing something silly (like eating birthday cake and having it ALL OVER!).

My boys are so precious to me. I may get mad at them and they may drive me crazy, but I love them dearly. Flipping through these pictures simply reminded me how much. I'm so thankful for the chance to put these memories in a permanant form and be able to look at them from time to time.

All is well

We got C's blood work results and all levels are well within normal. We (of course) were particularly interested in the iron levels and he is on the high side of normal with that. So Praise GOD! :)

We just need to work on more sleep and a daily vitamin (which I confess, I haven't been diligent in giving them. I'm sure there are minerals and things they're not getting that they need....so now they will get them!)

Thanks for the thoughts!

Use your own band-aids!

Oh my goodness.... :( What a bad and emotional day yesterday was. About 430, C comes to me asking me to take his band-aids off...they were annoying him. But I looked at them and could tell they were practically glued to the skin, so I told him we'd wait till after dinner to do them. Well, I hadn't counted on what happened during the evening and us not getting to eat until 8 PM. But that is what happened. We did some schoolroom rearranging and that took a couple hours...so eating dinner came late.

So after dinner, I go back to work on the schoolroom and Terry works on C's band aids. All I hear was screaming and crying from that room. :( Terry was using a wet rag to moisten the area and try to ease them off. But they were literally pulling his skin. After 45 minutes he finally got the first one off. Then he had to start the other arm, which seemed to be stuck worse. There was actually a welt on his skin from where the band aid had been. We used aloe vera gel to help get it all smushy, but that didn't work. I don't have any baby oil, and Terry didn't want to mess with butter or canola oil. So, we just kept working on C's arms. After about an hour and a half, we were able to just get them off. C was so exhausted from crying and exhausted from the day yesterday that he conked out soon after.

SO! Lesson learned: WE NEED TO TAKE OUR OWN BAND-AIDS FROM NOW ON! The ones I have just fall off in a couple hours. I just don't understand why they don't use a 'nicer' band-aid on kids. Plus, with C (who hates any type of picking-contact like trimming nails, hair cuts, etc) this just made his whole day that much worse. For most of us that would be a 1 or a 2, for C it is a 9 or 10. He is just ultra sensitive to that sort of thing.

But he hadn't been down long (maybe a couple hours) and he woke up last night in a night terror. It didn't last long, (we've learned how to help him through them) and I was able to get them back to bed.

We still haven't heard from the lab about the results. I hope we hear soon. I'm so impatient! LOL

Blood work

Over the past few weeks, we've been noticing that C has been really tired all the time. He's been falling asleep in the early evening and just gets tired really easy. We have tried getting him more sleep and rest, but it still seems to be an issue. We thought maybe we'd have him tested again for anemia. I knew it would be an issue with him so we didn't tell him until this morning. What a tense morning! He fretted all morning about it, especially cuz I kept telling him to go drink water (to help hydrate his veins and make it easier). Well, we got there (terry was with us) and B and I waited in the waiting room. C and Terry went in to the lab area. As soon as they started, I could hear C screaming and crying. I was so upset. I tried to get in the door and they had it locked!!! So I waited by the door until he calmed down a bit and then knocked on the door. The tech that let me in told me the flow stopped and they'd have to go again on the other arm to get it all.

Well, before we had gotten there this morning, C told me he didn't want to lay down on their bed so I told him we'd see if he could sit up. Well, for the first part they did it sitting up. But for the second stick they were gonna have to have him lay down. His little face was so pitiful....he just cried the entire time we pushed him to a laying-down position on the bed. He screamed bloody-murder the moment they put the rubber tourniquet on his arm. And then screamed more when they actually stuck him. They were able to get the blood they needed, but by then I was crying too. C was practically hysterical and actually told the lady he didn't like her! LOL (I know, not nice, but can you blame him??)

After that, we went and ate lunch and C got to pick the place (Chinese, of course!). While there, I asked Terry if it bothered him as much as it did me? and he said, yes. He's just able to hide it better than me. I can handle the blood, the needle, and all that. I just can't handle the helpless feeling I get when I can't help my baby. I have to make him stay there and practically be tortured by those needles. I know it is for his own health and good, but it still breaks me every time we have to do this. :( I told Terry that if the results of these tests require more tests, I will ask them to give us a sedative or relaxer or something to help calm C's nerves before hand. There is no reason to have to put a child through that. (He's even a hard enough stick that the girls at Children's hospital in St. Louis had a hard time getting blood from him 2 years ago.)

Hopefully we'll get the results in a day or so. One of the tests had to be sent off, so it could take a couple days. I hate the waiting! :)

The Dark Room

The Dark Room by Minette Walters
Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-0-307-27709-1
Review for Armchair Interviews
4 Stars out of 5

Jinx Kingsley wakes up in a strange room only to be told that she’s been in a head-on collision (with a concrete pole, no less) and is now in a hospital. Apparently, they say, she tried to commit suicide. But Jinx doesn’t believe this. She doesn’t remember anything, but simply can’t make herself believe that she is the type to kill herself. Even though her best friend and her fiancé just ran off together is no reason to off herself. She was happy about it! Wasn’t she??

But then the police come to question her and she finds out that her two friends are now dead…and the police suspect her or someone in her family. How can Jinx clear her name when she can’t remember anything? All she knows is this sense of panic and fear. Who could have done this? Who would want to set her up? Can she figure it out before it’s too late? Dr. Alan Protheroe is at the clinic with Jinx and works to help her regain her memory. But in the process, an attempt is made on his life as well and he realizes just how serious this situation is. Can he protect Jinx? He knows she didn’t do it, but can he figure out who did? There has to be more to this than meets the eye.

Minette Walters does a great job of twisting the tale to keep the reader from figuring out the real killer.

Little Earthquakes

Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-1-4165-2863-0

Jennifer Weiner has done it again with another great novel! Four women are bonded together by their pregnancies and birthing experiences, and continue their friendship during the hard months after. Ayinde deals with a cheating husband while Kelly's husband lost his job and refuses to get another one. Becky has a mother-in-law that just won't quit and a husband who won't stand up to his mother. Through all of this, there is Lia. A woman from Hollywood who follows Becky around, Lia eventually learns to deal with the death of her 10-week old son, Caleb.

Can these women be true friends? Can they get through their problems? Follow them all as they discover their own indivual crises that present themselves as Little Earthquakes.

@ Home for the Holidays

@ Home for the Holidays
by Meredith Efken
Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-0-373-78570-4

Rosalyn finally gets her due in this second installment of an email-based book. Dulcie, Zelia, Jocelyn, Rosalyn, and Veronica all deal with family, husbands, the holidays, and much more. Their connection is an email group called SAHM I Am. A few of the ladies have a subgroup called Green Eggs and Ham where they go to vent about Rosalyn. But Rosalyn's life isn't all she makes it out to be...her house isn't always perfect and her children need therapy. What's so wrong with admitting the truth? Well, with Veronica's (her sister) help, she does. She is able to humble herself and ask for prayers.

A wonderful and easy read by Efken! :)

The White Cascade

The White Cascade by Gary Krist
Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-0805077056
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews
Rating 3 Stars out of 5


Long before cell phones, before airplanes, or before cars were the common mode of transportation, even before Titanic, there was the great avalanche of 1910 in Wellington, Washington.

Gary Krist takes you on an incredible historical journey of the facts leading up to the avalanche: the weather involved, the men who made the decisions, and the passengers on the train. Each area is crucial to the ending of this tragic event in our American history. Krist is able to tell the story truthfully while being able to make it read like a storybook. The characters come to life on the page and their struggles and feelings are felt by the reader.

The weather had a great deal to do with the deaths of nearly 100 people that day, but certainly responsibility also falls on the superintendent of the Wellington area, James O'Neil. Although all court decisions deemed him free of any wrongdoing, it becomes very clear that O'Neil ignored the passengers on the train that was hovering over a 1,000- foot drop. Granted he was working to clear the tracks and never rested for days at a time, but he failed to meet the basic need of his charges: reassurance.

However, it was very clear by the end of the lawsuits that the railroad had learned its lesson about building track on or around mountains. They found new ways to rebuild the track with less risk to passengers, and also built structures as a means for shelter for the trains during snow season.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It's not one that I would typically pick up and read but I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn about this point in history. Gary Krist pulled me in and held my attention the entire time. I especially enjoyed reading his personal notes from his research, which are included at the end of The White Cascade.

Armchair Interviews says: Kudos to Gary Krist on a job well done!

Author's Web site: http://home.att.net/~gkrist

WOW! It's spring!

Well, I have been stuck in the house for over a week now....10 days to be exact! I hadn't realized how long it had been since I'd been out of the house or had driven a car until today when I had to go get some medicine. We've had sickness here (from fevers to coughing and back) and we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But when I went out today...Oh, WOW! It is SPRING! The grass was so beautifully green, there were flowers everywhere and the dogwoods are in full bloom! The temperature was about 76 degrees, there was a gentle breeze, and the sun was shining. Absolutely beautiful!

It was so nice to be reminded of God's handiwork and to know that the world changes constantly, with or without me! ;)

Here's to spring, good weather, and playing outside!

How does Kellie Pickler use her money?

Some may have seen the American Idol show last week when Kellie Pickler made a guest appearance and sang her song. Ryan Seacrest asked her what she'd been spending her money on and she said, "Mostly shoes." Then the camera panned down to her shoes. WELL! It was clearly obvious that she spent her money on MORE than shoes....she had some sort of 'surgery' to enhance her physical appearance...if YKWIM.


I made the mistake of commenting on this in front of my kids (we were all sitting around watching AI) and B asked "What did she spend her money on mom?" I hemmed and hawed for a second and said, "Well, just a surgery to make herself more pretty to some people." Terry said, "Your momma doesn't need that does she...she's got us, right?" And B replied, "Yeah she already had her 2 surgeries to get us!" He was speaking of my C-sections, but it works for me!

My Baby is growing up!

Friday night while eating, B bit his tongue. Well, I thought he did. He came to me crying and holding his mouth and since he bites his tonue all the time, I assumed that is what happened. Well....I calmed him down and told him to swallow his food so he wouldn't choke. Then I told him to sit up so I could look at his tongue. He said, "It wasn't my tongue."

When I asked him what it was, he kinda wiggled his mouth around and said, "This," and spits out a tooth! LOL

It was his first tooth and we didn't even know it was loose. He must have just bit down the right way (or wrong way!) and out it popped. He was a bit scared at first and then I told him about the tooth fairy bringing money for the tooth. That certainly brightened his evening!

But then he asked me, "Mom, is the tooth fairy really real, or do the Mom's and Dad's just do it?"

Love this Cartoon

Thanks to a friend who thought I would enjoy this!

Mentos and Diet Coke

I know we've all seen this, but my family just loves it! :) We goof with this throughout the summer and try to not to get sticky in the process. I'm sure Mentos sales went UP after this, cuz before we couldn't find them anywhere and now they are all over the place! :)

Here are two great video clips:

Extreme Diet Coke Mentos

Ellen Mentos

Enjoy!

The Stork Reality

The Stork Reality by Melena Lott
ISBN: 0-8439-5725-5
Amazon

Malena Lott does a really good job of describing what really happens during pregnancy. It was very true to life and it caused me to remember my days of being pregnant...I was thinking, "Oh, yeah, I remember that!" throughout the entire book. Taylor is constantly battling within herself the idea of staying home after the birth or going back to work. It really proves interesting how Lott handles this very hot topic with many people...she finds a very happy medium that would satisfy most people. And, Taylor goes through labor the 'natural' way....no drugs! I thought it was really interesting that she chose to use this idea for the book...most women would opt for the medication. :) A nice change of pace!

Painting with Oils

We began the process of painting last week. I decided to go ahead and use oils for a couple reasons. One, that is what I use so I'm familiar with it. But most importantly, two, oils stay wet and allow you to blend and mix for a bit which I thought would be helpful. We LOVE Bob Ross and watch his show every week. That is actually where the inspiration to paint on canvas started with B. Well, before we actually started painting we reviewed by watching one of the Joy of Painting shows and focusing on technique. Here are some snapshots of them working and the final works of art.

Ransomed Dreams

Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace
CBD.com (Released 4-19-07, pre-order now!)
ISBN: 978-1-59052-747-4
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews
Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Ransomed Dreams immediately throws us into a tragic scene of death – I had tears just reading the prologue! But quickly, Amy Wallace created a guide-book of sorts to moving on with life. Gracie is moving on after the death of her entire family at the hands of a drunk driver; Steven is moving on after the ‘death’ of his marriage when Angela walked out 5 years ago. Each of them have to deal with the lies they have told themselves all these years – the lies that held them ransomed and kept them from moving on and truly living their lives. Slowly they move towards each other during this process. While they are trying to work through their issues, Steven and Gracie are faced with the twisted minds of two criminals who are also figuring out how to move on with their own lives.

Wallace does a fantastic job of keeping it real. While this book is a fiction and romance book, bad things happen in this book, just as in the real world. The characters offer great examples of how you can wrestle with your beliefs and question why bad things happen without letting it consume you. And the friends/family of these people show how being the gentle voice of reason and a constant spiritual support can bring comfort and help to those who are struggling in their faith. My favorite part was when Gracie is thinking of her parents’ home, she equates the feeling of peace and comfort she receives from this place with chocolate. She calls it: “Heart-chocolate. …what her parents provided without even trying. A safe place. Kind words. Gentle hugs. Happy memories. Hope. The kind of chocolate nourishment that didn’t line her hips and thighs.”

An excellent book and an easy read! I’m ready to read the next in this series about Clint and Sara!

Armchair Interviews says: An excellent book and an easy read.
Author's Web site: http://www.amywallace.com

More Pox!

Well, B now has the chicken Pox! :) He woke up with these 'bumps' on his forehead and asked me to look at them. I did and realized what they were and so I checked his trunk area. Sure enough.....POX! LOL Oh well, at least now we have them out of the way for both boys.

But, it messed up our Valentine's Party for our homeschool group. :( That's a bummer, but we'll survive!

Petticoat Ranch

Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy
CBD.com
ISBN: 9781597896474

I absolutely loved this book! Mary Connealy is a very gifted writer both in her use of words and her understanding of human nature...men and women! I laughed, I cried, I was scared...all at different times and sometimes within the same page!

Sophie has basically been living on her own her entire married life. When her husband, Cliff, went to war she took care of herself and her girls. Then when he came back from the war, he was a different person and again, she had to care for her family. She did the 'womans' work and the 'mans' work. Then Cliff was unlawfully hung and she was truly alone with her girls.

Then Clay comes along and she feels she must help him...and then he 'tricks' her into marrying him. Sophie and Clay learn what it's like to mesh to stubborn heads and learn quickly what true give and take is all about.

One thing I truly love about this book, is about the time when you think most people would end the story, Mary continues and tells us even more. What a treat! We get more story and more laughter.

The Break-Up

The Break-Up
Starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn

This movie was rated PG-13, and I personally would have rated it R, simply for use of language. Vaughn's character had a horrible potty mouth and used profanity constantly where it was not needed. (But let's face it...when is profanity really needed?) The story was wonderful and truly funny at times, but it made me mad at the end....no true love, romantic ending here! Only break-up and moving on. How unromantic! LOL I know they have to make movies in Hollywood where the story doesn't come out nicely, but the majority of us in life see enough sadness and heartache that we want the movie to have a happily-ever-after ending.

I like Jennifer Aniston, but I wouldn't watch this movie again.

Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5

The Illusionist

The Illusionist
starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel

WOW! This was an awesome movie. And not one I would probably have picked for myself to watch! (A good friend brought movies over.) It started out a bit slow and took a while to get going. And although we did figure out the ending before we actually got to the end, it was still a fascinating story. And the good guys win in the end, which makes it even better! LOL

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Lady in the Water

The Lady in the Water

This movie if SOOOO stupid! We really thought when watching it that it would be a sort of spooky/thriller type of movie and we actually laughed through most of it! There were parts that made us jump simply because it startled us, but for the most part, we predicted what was going to happen.

And the little wolf/dog creature? Reminded me of the wolf creature from The Neverending Story when I was a kid...they even had some of the same type of scenes, with the creature having red eyes and breathing on a pane of glass. Dumb!

Very poor score: Waste of money, 1/2 star out of 5

It's February!

I can't believe it's February! Wow, where did January go??

We are still working on keeping things clean right now and have (for the moment) postponed anymore decluttering. If I can just keep things clean, keep school progress going, and continue to do the everyday running that has to be done, I think I will be doing good.

We had snow (finally!) but it didn't last long. I really wish we could have a good couple feet of snow so the kids can go out and play...and I can make snow ice cream! LOL Haven't had that in years!

Off to make some lunch and get the little ones down for naps....

An Issue of Modesty

On Saturday, we had such great weather that we decided to wash the van as a family. When we were finished the boys played in their pool till supper time. While they were playing in the pool, someone came to mow the lawn for the house across the street (it is vacant and was being auctioned on Sunday, so they wanted the lawn to look nice.). The girl who came over to do this was wearing a very skimpy bikini top and very very short shorts.

The boys continued to play for the first half hour she was there mowing...she was in their back yard where we couldn't see her. Then she came to the front of the house about the time the boys were getting out of the pool. Brent came over and was sitting in his chair drying off and was watching this lady mow.

He looked at me and (very quietly) asked, "Mom, why is she outside without very many clothes on?"

I explained to him about the word modesty and what it means to be modest and how dressing modestly makes people more comfortable and dressing immodestly makes then uncomfortable.

He says, "She shouldn't be out of her house with only a bra on...she needs to wear a shirt too! Maybe she forgot to get dressed?"

Out of the mouths of babes!

Sonic Commercial Spoof!

I love this commercial spoof about Sonic! It's hilarious and I hope you enjoy it too! (I found this when I was looking for one of Sonic's commercials online after seeing it on TV.)

Sonic

Slowly, but surely

Well, we've got the stuff that has been purged so far taken to the basement. I haven't gotten much cleaning done this week (purging cleaning) as we've been focusing more on schoolwork, which is good. I hope to get back into doing more cleaning of closets and drawers next week, but we'll just have to see how the chicken pox goes!

My next order of cleaning is the front closet. It HAS to be dejunked! LOL Next after that will be my kitchen drawers. Then the boys' closet and then mine. Hopefully after that, I'll be done for a while. My pantry definitely needs some dejunking and some organizing, but it's just too cold out there to stand for that long! :) I barely can stand it to do the laundry.

Oy, laundry! I have not been doing well with my laundry and I will have to do better. Acts of service are T's love language and I really am trying to learn it! I want to do better for him and be a better homemaker, but it's hard! I get so distracted and really have to work hard at keeping on target. (I think that is my biggest issue....I'm beginning to think I have adult ADD sometimes! LOL)

Well, off to see what I can make for supper (was gonna grocery shop today, but there's snow on the ground. Plus with the pox, we can't go out!) and to fold some laundry.

Murmur to self:
I have to do better, I have to do better, I have to do better...

We've Got the Pox!

Well, we've got the Chicken Pox! We've been exposed from the kids at church but both boys have had the vaccine, which I see now is useless! :) C started getting spots last night and has several more this morning. Bless his poor heart, he even has one in his ear! We're putting a cream on it to help with the itching, but he still seems really cranky...which I don't blame him!

B has been praying to not get the pox and I hope he doesn't. He will be the one that is more miserable (and more miserable to live with) with the pox. :)

More later!

Thine the Amen

A series of essays by various authors
ISBN: 978-1932688115
Amazon
Reviewed for ArmchairInterviews

A collection of essays written for the music student or someone who simply loves the history of music in the Lutheran church, Thine the Amen is full of fascinating and educational information. Up to 16 authors are included in this book from Editor Carlos Messerli all the way to Paul Westermeyer and Paul Bouman. All authors give wonderful history lessons behind the music used currently in the Lutheran church, as well as many other denominations, and insight as to what the composers were thinking and feeling during their times of writing. Martin Marty states it well in the foreword, “…it occurred to me that what the readers hold in their hands is not so much a book as a reference library. …not so much to be read as to be used.”

The book is divided into three parts. Part I covers music in the Lutheran Heritage, dating all the way back into the 1500’s. Part II discusses Musical Heritage and Worship in the 21st Century, dealing with choirs, children’s songs, the idea of music being music and not having doctrinal themes, and how passion for music creates new life. A particular essay in this section is a letter written by Paul Bouman to a new church choir director. He offers advice on how to pick music for the choir, how to get the best from the choir while also enjoying the music himself, and finally offers 30 pieces of music that were special to him. Part III is a special essay written by Steven Wente on “The Life and Works of Carl Schalk” whom the book honors.

One thing that I learned from this book was the J.S. Bach composed and wrote music for the Lutheran church. I did not realize that Bach wrote religious music!! One quote I liked from Bach was, “With devotional music God is always present in his grace.”

Armchair Interviews says: Great for music students or those who love to learn about music.

The Potluck Club

by Linda Evans Shephard and Eva Marie Everson
ISBN: 978-0800759841
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


How do you find true friendship that will go the mile? It all starts with recipes and a meal. The Potluck Club meets once a month, for food, fellowship and prayer. What started out with an underlying gossip tone soon turns into a fight for true spirituality for all involved. Evie soon discovers she might have a scandal on her hands. Lisa Leann is trying to take over to soothe her own lonliness. Goldie has to deal with her marriage, which has been failing since the beginning. Donna is bitter about her life. Lizzie is happily married, but has her own secrets. And Vonnie is hiding the biggest secret of all. These women have more to pray about than they ever bargained for when starting this club. But most of all they learn the true meaning of prayer and a healthy relationship with their Heavenly Father. These ladies struggle and deal with life issues, grace, forgiveness, love, and humor, and share their recipes with us along the way!

The Potluck Club is a book I truly cherished. So much of it involved issues that I could relate to, thus causing me to cry or laugh right along with them. The conversations seemed a bit stiff and mechanical, instead of real life talk, but it did not take anything from the story itself. I am thoroughly anticipating the next installment of The Potluck Club and the recipes that will come with it!

Armchair Interviews says: Readers will anticipate the next installment of The Potluck Club and the recipes that will come with it!

The Only Pure Thing

by Patrick Hyde
ISBN: 978-0931761614
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


Set in Washington D.C., we’re immediately taken into the life of lawyer Stuart Clay as he takes on a new murder case and his client, Cleveland Barnes, is a homeless street person accused of murder. What is the deal with Cleveland Barnes? And what is his connection to the mafia? Clay works day and night to find the clues and evidence to free his client and ends up stumbling onto more than he bargained for. Working with his private investigator, Cyndi, Clay unearths details involving several different parties, from mafia ties to Mexican leaders. After a couple of days and a couple more murders, Clay gets his client released…but only to discover another twist! Clay suddenly finds himself tied up somewhere facing the real murderer. Can he figure it all out before he gets himself killed?

I absolutely loved this book! Mystery/crime isn’t normally my genre of choice, but this one had me from the beginning. Hyde jumps right into the story and takes the reader on many different paths to figure out the storyline. I was amazed that the entire book covered only 4 days! So much happened in that 4 days, though, that it made the book very enjoyable. There was a lot of legal jargon that could have been left out, but it was easy enough to skim over without losing anything in the story. Hyde has a knack for being descriptive without being gory, which I appreciated. The murder scenes were told in a way that the reader definitely gets the picture, but isn’t grossed out. Character Stuart Clay is definitely a person I would come back to revisit and reread!

Armchair Interviews says: Good, good read.
Author's Web site: http://www.patrickhyde.com

Shoot From the Lip

by Leann Sweeney
ISBN: 978-0451220172
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


Shoot From the Lip is number 4 in the Yellow Rose Mystery series of books, and you wouldn’t even know you missed anything! Leann Sweeney does a wonderful job capturing the reader from the very beginning and keeping them till the very end. Shoot From the Lip is full of emotions! Anger, sadness, fear, happiness, laughter, joy, and tears…they are all there, and you will feel them along with the characters in this book!

Abby Rose finds herself wrapped in another adoption mystery that has more twists than a pretzel, and she organizes her life around her newest client, Emma Lopez. Emma, the strong sister who has raised her brothers and sister, now leans on Abby as she is plastered across the newspapers and TV because of a mysterious body found under her house. But what will happen when Abby learns that by helping Emma, she has also seriously involved her own family? And what about Jeff, Abby’s boyfriend? Will he be able to help her figure out this mystery? Abby, the police, and the rest of the crew, do a fantastic job of narrowing down the suspects and bringing the guilty one to justice.

I truly enjoyed this book by Ms. Sweeney. There were many times I kept telling myself, “One more chapter, one more chapter…” and then an hour and a half later put the book down! It drew me in and had me almost from the first page. I actually thought I had the mystery figured out, and WHAM! She surprised me with the ending! I would be truly happy to read another of the Yellow Rose Mystery series books. A pleasure!

Armchair Interviews says: This book's a pleasure!

Men Under Construction

by Bob Barnes
ISBN: 978-0736917193
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


In this wonderful devotional book for men, Bob Barnes is able to capture the need men have for living Godly lives, while also maintaining their be-the-tough-man mental state. With simple topics like Remember the Morning Watch, to deeper more internal topics like Anger Management, this book is designed to cover one 2-3 page lesson each day and the reader is able to jump around in the book as he needs. At the end of each lesson, there is a prayer to be prayed to the Lord, an action to be taken by the reader, and daily wisdom for the reader to ponder. Filled with scriptures, quotes and simple stories, this book will help anyone willing to open their mind and heart to the subject matter.

Armchair Interviews says: Filled with scriptures, quotes and simple stories, this book will help anyone willing to open their mind and heart to the subject matter.

Love, Magic, and Mudpies

by Dr. Bernie Siegel
ISBN: 978-1594865541
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


Siegel offers a simple, easy-to-read book for parents on raising children to feel loved. Divided into eight parts, we’re shown how to create family values, show love, be comedians, get creative, use the three R’s, work through rocky roads, encourage a child’s soul, and care for ourselves as well. Each section is then divided into topics—short, two-paged devotional-type messages, starting with a famous quote and ending with a gray box entitled “How to Make the Magic” which offers tips on how to incorporate that topic into your life. This book could easily be a daily reading for a parent, with over 100 topics to work through over the course of a few months.

I really enjoyed working through this book and trying some of the tips and tricks within my own family. I especially like this particular line in the book: “The key ingredient…is love. You cannot consume too much love nor become deficient by giving too much away. …If love makes the bricks out of which you build your life, laughter and humor are the mortar.” Everything in our parenting boils down to love…our discipline, our laughter, and our friendships with our children. How we treat them is how we show our love to and for them. By following the vast array of advice from this book, any parent…any family…would benefit greatly. It’s a nice little handbook for great parenting!

Armchair Interviews says: It's a nice little handbook for great parenting!
Author's Web site: http://www.berniesiegelmd.com

In Every Flower

by Patti Hill
ISBN: 978-0764229398
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


In her third book in the Garden Gate Series, Patti Hill again does a marvelous job capturing the readers’ attention and keeping it till the very end! We enter on the tail end of Mibby’s honeymoon to new husband, Larry, and meander through the crazy journey of blending families. Ky is a teenager, missing his father, and lashing out at all new circumstances, ends up getting himself in trouble. Mibby and Larry find themselves on opposite sides of almost every issue, from Larry’s imposing mother to how to handle Ky’s rebellious attitude. And during all of this, Mibby is finding her first husband, Scott, at every turn…his chair, the flowers he bought her, and Andrea, his daughter from a previous marriage. Mibby again finds strength in her dear friends and in the gardens she tends on a daily basis. She also learns to let go of Scott and relish in the special relationship she has with Larry.

In Every Flower followed the pattern of the first two Garden Gate books: I couldn’t put it down! There are so many ways I connected with Mibby and how she was feeling and dealing with Larry and Ky. What will happen to Mibby, Larry, Ky, Andrea, and Blink in the next Garden Gate book??? Praises to Patti Hill for wrapping us in her wonderful writings!

Armchair Interviews says: Praises to Patti Hill for wrapping us in her wonderful writings!

Dr John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple

ISBN: 978-0446694384
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


In Dr. Lee’s final writing before his death in 2003, he collaborates with Virginia Hopkins on a book to give a simplistic approach to hormone balance. The writers start out by giving the reader a basic lesson in hormones: which ones are present, how they work, and what happens when they aren’t working properly. Next, they delve into symptoms of the person with imbalanced hormones followed by testing for hormone imbalance, and finally instruction on using natural hormone replacement therapy. There are a variety of ways to balance your hormones. The writer’s devote several chapters to the individual hormones and their function in the body and the proper ratios of these hormones in relation to each other.

This book would be a perfect place to start for a woman of any age, from child-bearing years all the way through menopause. The best way to determine your need is the symptoms guide, which will allow you to see if you fall into any of the categories that could be benefited by natural hormones. There is so much to be gleaned from Dr. Lee’s books and more people need to know of the natural methods he advocated. I was truly fascinated by the information given in this book, and plan to follow up on it by reading one of Dr. Lee’s other books, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About PreMenopause.

Armchair Interviews says: This book would be a perfect place to start for a woman of any age, from childbearing years all the way through menopause.

A Line Between Friends

by Michele VanOrt Cozzens
ISBN: 978-1932172263
Amazon
Reviewed for Armchair Interviews


Noelle begins the story by telling us about sending Christmas cards out, and a specific one she received from her long-time friend, Joel. Joel has asked her to no longer contact him. The tale unfolds as we are pushed back to their days of high school (where they met) and college. Noelle tries to figure out why Joel would ask her to stop writing to him…after all; they’re just friends, right? Well, we soon see that Joel has a very special place in his heart for Noelle, and he compares every other woman to her. They both date other people and they go their separate ways, but they always end up back with each other. While making friends, moving all over the country, and marrying other people, Joel and Noelle are able to remain friends although many years prior they ‘crossed the line of friendship’, they now had a sexual relationship as well. Noelle’s reaction to Joel’s request for her to no longer contact him is to write a book about their relationship. She becomes famous for this book, and Joel never speaks to her again.

Cozzens’ first book reminds me of a popular teen soap opera show of the nineties…Dawson’s Creek. Two childhood friends who one day cross ‘the line’ and then struggle to have relationships that aren’t compared to their first love. In the end one of them moves on and the other makes a bunch of money exploiting the relationship. It’s your typical ‘friends grow up and grow apart’ story-line and was very easy to read. There is a lot of history in this novel. The time frame goes back to 1977, so there is a lot of political issues and legal issues that are dealt with, along with personal struggles by each of the characters. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorite novels of the year, I can only hope that my first novel is this good!

Armchair Interview says: Good title to attract readers.

A new leaf?

One whole week of cleaning and purging and we're on our way! Hopefully I will be able to keep it this way, but it is lots of work! LOL B empties the dishwasher now every morning...and he's good at it. Of course, he doesn't do the plates/bowls (which he can't reach) or the knives, but everything else he puts away. It's nice to have an empty dishwasher each morning!

C picks up the dirty laundry around the house (what is it about boys that they just drop things where they take them off??) and the trash/junk/empty cups in the bathrom.

It is amazing how much different the house looks with just that little bit of picking up! LOL And since B got his own vaccum cleaner for Christmas, he vaccum's almost every day! And he even vaccum's things that I don't vaccum very often...the couches, under the beds, etc. It's nice! And they have found things we thought were lost forever in the process. LOL

My goal now (for the next few weeks anyway) is to continue doing this and create habits with the few things we've started. Then I will add more stuff (for a few weeks) and create more habits. It's a long process. It didn't get this way over night, and it won't fix itself over night.

Street-Racing in my Kitchen!

While waiting for dinner to finish cooking, I sat down to look through that days' mail. The boys were just playing with their cars (from the Cars movie) and began running them on the kitchen floor. Well, this progressed into racing with the cars. The started at one side of the kitchen and raced the cars individually across the floor to see which one could be 'zoomed' the farthest. The would see who won, then crab crawl (don't ask me why they did it that way) across the floor to the other side and start the whole process over again in the reverse direction! They were laughing and screaming and having a grand time! For the next 45 minutes this continued and when I called them for supper they didn't want to stop. Unfortunately, one of the 10-12 cars they were using went really crazy and drove under the oven! (Of course, it was the cars fault, not theirs! LOL).

Catching up...

I haven't posted here in a while (because of troubles with the site loading and locking up) and want to come back, since it really seems to be the most user friendly! :)

I will be posting regularly again soon (hopefully) so that friends and family can see what is going on with us!

More later!