Plugging along

>> Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Rain was the theme of the day, and it was COLD. A friend in New York, and a friend in New Hampshire BOTH said they had some snow!!! Crazy I tell you!

The girls had a playdate today. It was my girls, BFF's girls, and two other set's of twins, 8 girls roughly the same age, plus BFF's boys, all at the same time. Due to the weather though, they could only be outside a very short time.

I worked this evening, and started reading a new book by Beverly Lewis. I'm liking it very much. I'm glad I chose to read it.

Reading Challenge Update and my current books

>> Sunday, April 25, 2010

I just added a couple of challenges to my 2010 Reading Challenges. Since I have gotten so very addicted to several sets of book series, these particular challenges made sense. I added the "First in a Series Challenge" for reading the first book in the series. The next is the "2nd Challenge" which is for reading the second book in a series or reading a second book by an author. And lastly, I added the "Finish the Series Challenge" which is for reading ALL the books in a series, whether that is 2, 3 or 20 books.

I am currently reading the "Yada Yada Prayer Group" and will shortly be done with it. I have 2 more books currently checked out from the Library: Divine, by Karen Kingsbury, and The Parting, by Beverly Lewis. I have requested 2 more from the library: Fahrenheit 451 and Charlotte's Web.

For my birthday I received a couple of gift cards, both of which I used to purchase books. I am now waiting to read them. The Confident Woman, by Joyce Myer; Rebecca's Promise, Rebecca's Return, and Rebecca's Choice, all by Jerry Eicher; and Take One, Take Two, and Take Three, all by Karen Kingsbury. I also still have and am waiting to read A Rather Charming Invitation, by C A Belmond, and Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers.

If you think I have a LOT of books picked out, it's because I do! I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading, and these reading challenges have REALLY helped me regain my sense of love for the written word.

My week

>> Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Haven't got a ton to blog about this week. We are getting over some kind of bug here at home. EVERYONE is starting to feel better. YAY!!

I'm reading a great book, but it's taking me a bit longer than most my books do. It's American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld. I'm a little less than half way through it. By definition, it is a chunkster (450 pages at regular size print, this is over 550!). It's not my usual style, but I'm still quite into it. :)

My birthday is Friday and I've already recieved a few cards, my parents sent me a gift card to Barnes and Noble YAY! I placed an order today! LOL I probably would have waited, but BFF got a 50% off one item coupon code in her Email this morning, so it seemed to make sense. I ended up ordering 4 books, a trilogy that sounded interesting and a book by Joyce Myer's that also sounded interesting. I only ended up paying $8.40 of my own money. I like that :) Free shipping too!!! hehe

I was scheduled to only work 23 hours this week, which was kind of a bummer after several weeks of 28-30 hour work weeks. But this morning my manager called and asked if I had requested tomorrow off. I told her No, just to work after 2 instead of the morning. She was very happy, she needs coverage tomorrow! WOOHOO!! I get to work a 28 hour week now!!!

So my week is going pretty well. :)

Reading Challenge: Mid April Review

>> Sunday, April 18, 2010

Just a quick summary of how much I've done and how much I have to go:

The 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge
My first goal: 50 books.
Longer term goal: 100 books.
Currently finished: 16
32% completed

Christian Non-Fiction Challenge
Goal: 10 books
Currently finished: 0
On March 6th I made the decision to put this challenge aside, I MAY come back to it.
0% completed

The Colorful Reading Challenge
Goal: 9 books
Currently finished: 2 books
22% completed

The Chunkster Challenge-COMPLETED
Goal: 3 books
Currently finished: 3 books
100% completed-my first completed challenge

100+ Reading Challenge
Goal: 100 books
Currently finished: 18 books
18% completed

Buy One and Read it in 2010
Goal: 12 books
Currently finished: 2 books
16% completed

New-To-Me Christian Author Challenge
Goal: 20 AUTHORS
Currently finished: 3 Authors
15% completed

451 Challenge
Goal: 7 books
Currently finished: 2 books
28% completed

I'm getting there!

Reading Challenge Book Reviews Week Ending April 17, 2010

>> Saturday, April 17, 2010

Shades of Blue, by Karen Kingsbury
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, Color Challenge

A wonderful stand alone book in true Karen Kingsbury fashion.

A book about lost love, lost innocence, and the struggle to forgive.

Emma and Brad USED to be the hottest thing, til one day they made a big mistake. They made bad choices to go along with it, and then Brad walked away from Emma. Nine years later, only 6 weeks before his wedding to Laura, he suddenly cannot get it out of his mind. He finally talks to his dad who tells him what he needs to do.

So, risking his future with Laura, he goes in search of Emma to talk to her, tell her he's sorry, and hope for forgiveness.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I cried, I laughed, I felt like I was LIVING it at times. I read through it quite quickly and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction.

A Company of Swans, by Eva Ibbotson
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library

A HUGE departure from my 7 book run of Karen Kingsbury books!! A Company of Swans is actually listed as Young Adult Fiction, but I found it to be just as challenging to read at times as many of my adult books!

Set in the early 1900's, it is about a young dancer who has been almost held captive by a domineering father and overly frugal aunt. She is invited to join a Russian ballet company on a tour in Brazil. But her father and aunt will not hear of it. In a desperate attempt to live a life of her own, she runs away to join the company. It is weeks before they figure it out and she is halfway across the Atlantic Ocean.

She grows as both a person and a dancer while crossing the Atlantic and while in Brazil. She meets Rom and gradually falls in love. Unfortunately, her family has figured out where she is, and send the man they wanted her to marry to "rescue" her and return her to England. When he first arrives he is prepared to take her, but then through some careful manipulation, believes her to actually be more carefully guarded and chaperoned than she was in England. Then through ONE minor mistake, he changes his mind, and attempts to abduct her. He fails, and abducts another dancer on accident, but he is unaware until he is too far away to stop.

Meanwhile she was rescued at the same time by Rom, who has decided he wishes to marry her. He guards her carefully, and ensures she is safe. But when the company is preparing to leave for Europe, she goes to say good bye, when she returns, she finds an old flame of Rom's there. Without waiting for further word from him, she disappears, and returns to England with the company, intending to go on to Russia with them. But the old flame cables her family and tells them when and where to find her, and she is taken away into THEIR captivity.

After weeks of captivity, Rom finally has found her and poses as the doctor who is supposed to come and see her and determine if she needs to be institutionalized. She is carried out by him, still posing as the doctor. He barges in on her father while he is lecturing at the university. Rom demands that her father sign the papers allowing Rom to marry her. In the end, she is rescued, loved, and happy.

It was an absolutely beautiful book, and as I said earlier, quite a challenge at times to read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading!


Reading Challenge Book Reviews Week Ending April 10, 2010

>> Saturday, April 10, 2010

Remember, by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, Chunkster (593 pages Large Print)

This is the second book in the Redemption series, which is the first of three series of the Baxter family. This book takes place during the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Both Ashley and Kari find themselves falling in love with men who are in New York in the days following.

Meanwhile, their brother Luke, heartbroken and confused over his girlfriend's sudden silence after the loss of her father in the fall of the World Trade Center, begins to question everything he ever knew. Before long he becomes a person NONE of his family recognizes. It doesn't even seem that HE recognizes himself.

As with all the Baxter books, I loved it, and I can't wait to pour myself into the next one! :)

Return, by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library

This is the third book in the Redemption series. Have I mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE this series?? :)

In this book, Ashley and Landon grow closer together, and Ashley makes her break taking her paintings to New York. Until she receives some difficult news about her health, news that may change her life.

Kari and Ryan grow ever closer, until Ryan at last proposes, something they have been destined for most of their lives.

The most exciting part of all though is that Luke finds out about Regean and their son, and has to decide what he wants to do.

Moving on to book #4 now :)

Rejoice, by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, Chunkster (530 pages Large Print)

This is book number 4 in the Redemption Series, the first of 3 series based on the Baxter family.

The main focus of this book is on the eldest daughter of the Baxter family, Brooke, and her daughter Hayley's drowning. No aspect of it is left unturned. Her medical concerns and conditions, and how it effects Brooke and Peter's marriage.

Also at play is the ongoing relationship between Ashley and Landon, and Ashley's medical status. She continues to push Landon away from her in the interest of protecting him. But no matter how hard she pushes him away, he insists on loving her, and being a part of her life. Gradually he breaks down her walls, just in time for an incredible revelation!

And I've already begun book #5! LOL

Reunion, by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, Chunkster (575 pages Large Print)

This is the fifth and final book in the Redemption Series, the first of three series about the Baxter family.

In this book the family matriarch, Elizabeth discovers that her cancer has come back, and is very aggressive. Will this be the end for her? She also continues to ponder the question of what happened to her firstborn, the son born to her and John, out of wedlock, that she was forced to give up for adoption. For thirty-five years she has wondered about him. And he has wondered about her.

One of the biggest events for the Baxter family occurs in the midst of all this though. Ashley and Landon are FINALLY getting married, the last Baxter sister!

It is a bittersweet ending to a series that has been incredible. As you can see from my week's reviews, I was so drawn to these books I plowed through just over 2000 pages in less than a week!!! I will be reading a couple other books this week before I order in the first couple of books in Karen Kingsbury's second Baxter series, the Firstborn Series. It's been an amazing ride even to THIS point!!

Bible in 90 Days July 2010

>> Monday, April 5, 2010

I will be finishing up my course of reading the Bible soon I hope, it certainly has taken me more than 90 days, but I am just glad that I am staying the course and finishing.

I am SO excited though about the fact that Amy at Mom's Toolbox is doing another round of Bible in 90 Days starting July 5th. You can read all about it HERE!

I hope some of my readers will join me in reading through the Bible in 90 Days. I know that what I have done already has certainly excited me and made me eager to learn more and read the bible more. I hope it could do the same for you!

And the Red Sox...

>> Sunday, April 4, 2010

Beat the Yankees.. 9 to 7! :) Way to go boys!

B90, Day 47: Watching My Words

Scripture: Proverbs 26:20

Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.

Observation: Just as you must continue to feed a fire with wood, you have to feed a quarrel with gossip. So to put out either, just stop feeding them!

Application: Sometimes I have a bad habit of speaking in a gossiping manner that can truly hurt people. This verse is a reminder to me that if I don't want to be talked about that way, that I need to be cautious in what I am saying about others. To sure sure I am not fanning the fires of gossip.

Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, help me to remember that my words have an effect far beyond just me. Help me to think before I speak and to be sure that what I am saying is meant to be spoken aloud.

Happy Easter

Resurrection Morning, what a wonderful reminder today of how much Jesus loves ME. He died on the cross that I may live and my sins could be forgiven. And on Resurrection Morning He ROSE!!! How AMAZING is God??

This morning, we enjoyed celebrating this amazing event with our children by making Resurrection rolls. It's a great object lesson for the children to remember how Christ was prepared for the tomb, put into the tomb, and rose on Resurrection morning leaving nothing but his burial shrouds behind. The girls had a great time putting "Jesus" (the marshmellows) in the "oils" (butter) and spices (cinnamon sugar) and then wrapping him in his shrouds (rolls). Then they watched as an adult put them in the "tomb" (oven) and when we look in the "tomb" "Jesus" is gone (melted away) and just the "shrouds" remain.

It was a BEAUTIFUL warm day, and the kids were all able to enjoy it. :)

Take me out to the Ballgame!

Happy Opening Weekend!!! I am VERY excited to be watching the Boston Red Sox play their season opener against the New York Yankees. GO RED SOX!! :)

Reading Challenge Book Reviews Week Ending April 3, 2010

>> Saturday, April 3, 2010

Sunset, by Karen Kingsbury
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library

This was the fourth book in the last Baxter series by Karen Kingsbury. And WOW it was a tear jerker. In every respect it was actually the culmination of a series of 14 books. The author tied up all the loose ends of the various characters in this book. No easy task to do as these characters have evolved and grown over the course of 14 books. (only a handful of which I've read!)

This book sees John and Elaine marry, Katy and Ashley both have babies, and Bailey discovers an amazing truth about where her heart truly lies. I spent a good amount of time tearing up while reading this book! But it was worth it!

A GOREGOUS Sabbath and Bible Marking Seminar

Today was such an incredibly beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, warm day. It was incredible. I mean WOW! It was so nice today. Such a great Sabbath!

Church was wonderful. It was the three adults first time attending ADULT Sabbath School!! :) Now that the girls have promoted into the Kindergarten class we are able to leave them in their class and we do not have to remain just outside the room. It's so nice!! I'm really excited to be able to actually DO the Sabbath School now.

We also decided that it is time for the girls to sit in the sanctuary again. We've attempted it before, but had to make too many trips to the potty, etc. But we KNOW they are able to make it much longer now, so we made the choice that it is time. They did GREAT! We had them in there through children's story and then we took them out for a quick snack and potty trip, then back in where they did fine the rest of the service.

BFF and I stayed after potluck tonight for a Bible Marking Seminar. I have been looking forward to this for several weeks, so far it is NOT disappointing. :) I need to make the effort to MAKE time in my busy days to work on the chain marking though.

Well, it's nearly Sunday, I need to get some sleep. I hope you all have a very Happy Easter tomorrow!! :)

B90, Day 46: Discipline

Message I wrote on March 11, 2009, after Bug's surgery date was changed AGAIN:

Oh Heavenly Father, you have quite a sense of humor don't you? I told you I hate waiting, so now I don't have to wait... Monday God??? Barely 4 days to prepare? Her dad gets no notice to get up here. You really do have a sense of humor!! Less time to wait and worry, right? Thank you, I think! Now to find her some slippers and be ready, I put it all in your hands God.

Message I wrote today:

I haven't read ANY of my B90 since March 9th, close to one full month. I know to many people this would appear to be a failure. I considered it an essential, though extremely unintended, break. With everything happening with Bug, I was just too busy to give it the attention it deserved, to absorb it the way I should. This is not to say I was without God's word! I just wasn't doing B90.

Now that the worst of the storm has past and my life feels mostly back to normal, I am going to try to finish this round of B90, before going on and doing the July round of B90 through Mom's Toolbox again. I think next time though I will actually but the B90 Bible. As much as I thought it an unnecessary added expense, I do find myself sometimes distracted by the added markings in MY Bible.

But I ramble!! I thank God for keeping this goal in my heart and on my mind. And with His help I know I will finish in due time!!

Day 46:
Scripture: Proverbs 12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

Observation: It is only through discipline that you can gain knowledge, so if you are undisciplined, and do not like being corrected, you will not gain knowledge and thus will be "stupid."

Application: It takes true character to realize that accepting correction is actually a personal strength and that by doing so, you will gain knowledge.

Those people who do not have the strength of character and discipline to accept correction, will never understand knowledge, therefore, they could never LOVE knowledge.

I truly love this proverb. It reminds me of my time in the Army, and how through correction and learning the art of discipline I became a better person, period. Not just a better soldier, but a better person. For God, for my future children, for my friends, for myself.

I find it somewhat ironic that it is in TODAY'S reading that I would find this verse. That today when I recommit myself to being disciplined enough to finish the reading I started to gain knowledge from the Bible, that I find THIS verse!

Prayer:Father in Heaven, Thank you so very much for showing me how to love discipline and knowledge, and how to see that the two go together. It is an amazing relationship between them. One that I believe has enable me to become closer to you. I hope I can pass on this very important lesson you gave me to my daughters.

And we are out

>> Thursday, April 1, 2010

We were discharged this evening, they cannot figure it out at all. So they discharged us and said to come back if it happens again.

Back in the Hospital

Bug had an incident yesterday and we are back in the hospital. She had an MRI last night and the good news is they didn't rush her into surgery or straight to the ICU! Instead she was admitted to the neurology floor for monitoring.

We definitely are asking for prayers as the doctors try to get to the bottom of what happened instead of settling for "she seems fine now."

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