If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Pages

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

Back Cover:   Mercy Land has made some unexpected choices for a young woman in the 1930s. The sheltered daughter of a traveling preacher, she chooses to leave her rural community to move to nearby Bay City on the warm, gulf-waters of southern Alabama. There she finds a job at the local paper and spends seven years making herself indispensible to old Doc Philips, the publisher and editor. Then she gets a frantic call at dawn—it’s the biggest news story of her life, and she can’t print a word of it.
Doc has come into possession of a curious book that maps the lives of everyone in Bay City—decisions they’ve made in the past, and how those choices affect the future. Mercy and Doc are consumed by the mystery locked between the pages—Doc because he hopes to right a very old wrong, and Mercy because she wants to fulfill the book’s strange purpose. But when a mysterious stranger shows up, Mercy begins to understand she may have to choose between love and loneliness . . . or good and evil . . . for the rest of her life. 

Author Bio:  RIVER JORDAN began her writing career as a playwright with the Loblolly Theatre group. She teaches and speaks nationwide on ‘The Power of Story’, is a monthly contributor to the southern authors’ collective A Good Blog is Hard To Find, and produces and hosts the weekly radio program CLEARSTORY with River Jordan, in Nashville, where she and her husband live. She is the author of Saints in Limbo and this is her fourth novel. 

My Thoughts:   This is a really good book.  I have to say it was not at all what I expected, but it grabbed my attention and my imagination right from the beginning and I was hooked and had to find out what was going to happen.  I love it when a book can do that.  Right up until the very end I was never sure what was going to happen next.  I think the main message of the book is that our lives are all interwoven together and that the choices and decisions we make can and do affect those around us.  If you get the chance, I would definitely recommend reading this book.

FTC disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Press.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

I've Been Tagged!

Fringe Girl from the Domestic Fringe tagged me in a blog game.

According to the rules, I have 8 questions to answer and I must tag 8 people.  So here goes.

1. What is one food you detest?

liver - nastiest stuff in the world.  My mom used to make us kids eat it when we were little, but she'd make herself something else to eat.  She claims her mom used to get on her and tell her she needed to make it for us so she did.  All I know is I hated it and I hope to never eat again in my life.  Hubby likes it, but he has to go to a restaurant if he wants to eat it!  lol

2. What is your perfect day?

Just a day when I'm free to do anything I want.

3. If you could take a vacation next week, where would you go.

Disney World!

4. What are your five favorite blogs?


I like so many. I mean take a look at how many are in my sidebar.  If I didn't like them they wouldn't be there. How do I narrow it down?  Okay, I pick these, but I love the rest of them too.

College Stew
The Domestic Fringe
Mocha with Linda
Knit by God's Hand
Make Music from Your Heart to the Lord

5. What are your thoughts on Facebook?

I like it.  It's fun catching up on people (friends and family) that I haven't seen in years.

6. Are your parent’s technological goobers like mine?

Mom used to have a lot of fun on the computer, but she doesn't see well enough any more and dad is very proud of the fact that he knows nothing about computers.  So they are not into technology that much, but there isn't much of anything else they can't do or accomplish!

7. If you had to choose between losing 15 pounds forever OR having perfect skin, but putting on 15 pounds permanently…what would it be?


Hey, I've been fat this long, why not a little longer.  haha  I've already put in an order for a size 6 body in heaven.  lol

8. What is your best recipe?

I'm not much of a cook, but I do okay with lasagna.  Just check out the Betty Crocker cook book for the lasagna recipe there.  Been making it for over 20 years.  The family loves it.

Okay now for the tagging people. 

Heavenly Humor
Patiently Waiting
He & Me + 3
Playing with the Paulsons
Knit by God's Hand
College Stew
Goose Hill Farm
Fresh Oil Today

If I didn't tag you and you want to play, please do!  And if I did tag you and you don't want to play, that's ok.  I promise I won't get my feelings hurt. 

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Still House Pond by Jan Watson

Still House Pond


Back Cover:  Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins.  Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home and help.  When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go.

Copper isn't quite ready to let her young daughter travel all the way to Lexington by herself, but she reluctantly agrees to let Lilly go.  When Copper and her husband John hear news that Lilly's train crashed, they rush to find out if their daughter is injured--or even alive.

Author:  Jan Watson

Jan Watson won the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for her first novel, Troublesome Creek. Her other awards include a nomination for the Kentucky Literary Award in 2006 and second place in the 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Willow Springs and Torrent Falls are the sequels to Troublesome Creek. Jan was a registered nurse for 25 years at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She incorporated her nursing experience in the hospital's mother/baby unit into her novels. Jan resides in Kentucky.

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed this book. There were several main characters besides the ones listed on the back cover.  There is Manda, who had a very interesting story line and also Remy was a rather intriguing character.  But my favorite character was Copper, who is Lilly's mother.  I liked reading about her medical adventures as she assisted with the birthing of babies and other emergencies too.  She got into some very interesting situations.  I just really liked her personality and the way she handled things. Lilly was a very sweet girl and also very resourceful.  I must say I was rather surprised by some of the twists in the storyline.  It definitely turns some turns I didn't expect, but they were very good.

FTC disclaimer: This book was provided for review by the Tyndale House Publishers.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

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

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

WaterBrook Press (October 5, 2010)
***Special thanks to Ashley Boyer and Staci Carmichael of Waterbrook Multnomah for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Expertly weaving together fantasy, romance and Biblical truths, Donita K. Paul penned the best-selling, fan-favorite DragonKeeper Chronicles series. After retiring early from teaching, she began a second career as an award-winning author and loves serving as a mentor for new writers of all ages. And when she’s not putting pen to paper, Donita makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys spending time with her grandsons, cooking, beading, stamping, and knitting.


Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (October 5, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307458997
ISBN-13: 978-0307458995

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:



Christmas. Cora had been trying to catch it for four years. She scurried down the sidewalk, thankful that streetlights and brightly lit storefronts counteracted the gloom of early nightfall. Somewhere, sometime, she’d get a hold of how to celebrate Christmas. Maybe even tonight.

With snowflakes sticking to her black coat, Christmas lights blinking around shop windows, and incessant bells jingling, Cora should have felt some holiday cheer.

And she did.

Really.

Just not much.

At least she was on a Christmas errand this very minute. One present for a member of the family. Shouldn’t that count for a bit of credit in the Christmas-spirit department?

Cora planned out her Christmas gift giving in a reasonable manner. The execution of her purchasing schedule gave her a great deal of satisfaction. Tonight’s quest was a book for Uncle Eric—something about knights and castles, sword fights, shining armor, and all that.

One or two gifts purchased each week from Labor Day until December 15, and her obligations were discharged efficiently, economically, and without the excruciating last-minute frenzy that descended upon other people…like her three sisters, her mother, her grandmother, her aunts.

Cora refused to behave like her female relatives and had decided not to emulate the male side of the family either. The men didn’t buy gifts. They sometimes exchanged bottles from the liquor store, but more often they drank the spirits themselves.

Her adult ambition had been to develop her own traditions for the season, ones that sprouted from the Christianity she’d discovered in college. The right way to celebrate the birth of Christ. She avoided the chaos that could choke Christmas. Oh dear. Judgmental again. At least now she recognized when she slipped.

She glanced around Sage Street. Not too many shoppers. The quaint old shops were decked out for the holidays, but not with LED bulbs and inflated cartoon figures.

Since discovering Christianity, she’d been confused about the trappings of Christmas—the gift giving, the nativity scenes, the carols, even the Christmas tree. Every year she tried to acquire some historical background on the festivities. She was learning. She had hope. But she hadn’t wrapped her head around all the traditions yet.

The worst part was shopping.

Frenzy undid her. Order sustained her. And that was a good reason to steer clear of any commercialized holiday rush. She’d rather screw red light bulbs into plastic reindeer faces than push through a crowd of shoppers.

Cora examined the paper in her hand and compared it to the address above the nearest shop. Number 483 on the paper and 527 on the building. Close.

When she’d found the bookstore online, she had been amazed that a row of old-fashioned retailers still existed a few blocks from the high-rise office building where she worked. Truthfully, it was more like the bookstore found her. Every time she opened her browser, and on every site she visited, the ad for the old-fashioned new- and used-book store showed up in a banner or sidebar. She’d asked around, but none of her co-workers patronized the Sage Street Shopping District.

“Sounds like a derelict area to me,” said Meg, the receptionist. “Sage Street is near the old railroad station, isn’t it? The one they decided was historic so they wouldn’t tear it down, even though it’s empty and an eyesore?”

An odd desire to explore something other than the mall near her apartment seized Cora. “I’m going to check it out.”

Jake, the security guard, frowned at her. “Take a cab. You don’t want to be out too late over there.”

Cora walked. The brisk air strengthened her lungs, right? The exercise pumped her blood, right? A cab would cost three, maybe four dollars, right?

An old man, sitting on the stoop of a door marked 503, nodded at her. She smiled, and he winked as he gave her a toothless grin. Startled, she quickened her pace and gladly joined the four other pedestrians waiting at the corner for the light to change.

Number 497 emblazoned the window of an ancient shoe store on the opposite corner. She marched on. In this block she’d find the book and check another item off her Christmas list.

Finally! “Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad, Books,” Cora read the sign aloud and then grasped the shiny knob. It didn’t turn. She frowned. Stuck? Locked? The lights were on. She pressed her face against the glass. A man sat at the counter. Reading. How appropriate.

Cora wrenched the knob. A gust of wind pushed with her against the door, and she blew into the room. She stumbled and straightened, and before she could grab the door and close it properly, it swung closed, without the loud bang she expected.

“I don’t like loud noises,” the man said without looking up from his book.

“Neither do I,” said Cora.

He nodded over his book. With one gnarled finger, he pushed his glasses back up his nose.

Must be an interesting book. Cora took a quick look around. The place could use stronger lights. She glanced back at the clerk. His bright lamp cast him and his book in a golden glow.

Should she peruse the stacks or ask?

She decided to browse. She started to enter the aisle between two towering bookcases.

“Not there,” said the old man.

“I beg your pardon?” said Cora.

“How-to books. How to fix a leaky faucet. How to build a bridge. How to mulch tomatoes. How to sing opera. How-to books. You don’t need to know any of that, do you?”

“No.”

“Wrong aisle, then.” He placed the heavy volume on the counter and leaned over it, apparently absorbed once more.

Cora took a step toward him. “I think I saw a movie like this once.”

His head jerked up, his scowl heavier. He glared over the top of his glasses at the books on the shelves as if they had suddenly moved or spoken or turned bright orange.

“A movie? Here? I suppose you mean the backdrop of a bookstore. Not so unusual.” He arched an eyebrow. “You’ve Got Mail and 84 Charing Cross Road.”

“I meant the dialogue. You spoke as if you knew what I needed.”

He hunched his shoulders. The dark suspenders stretched across the faded blue of his shirt. “Reading customers. Been in the business a long time.”

“I’m looking for a book for my uncle. He likes castles, knights, tales of adventure. That sort of thing.”

He sighed, closed his book, and tapped its cover. “This is it.” He stood as Cora came to the desk. “Do you want me to wrap it and send it? We have the service. My grandson’s idea.”

Cora schooled her face and her voice. One of the things she excelled in was not showing her exasperation. She’d been trained by a dysfunctional family, and that had its benefits. She knew how to take guff and not give it back. Maintaining a calm attitude was a good job skill.

She tried a friendly smile and addressed the salesclerk.

“I want to look at it first and find out how much it costs.”

“It’s the book you want, and the price is eleven dollars and thirteen cents.”

Cora rubbed her hand over the cover. It looked and felt like leather, old leather, but in good repair. The book must be ancient.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Which?” the old man barked.

“Which what?”

“Which part of the statement am I sure about? It doesn’t matter because I’m sure about both.”

Cora felt her armor of detachment suffer a dent. The man was impossible. She could probably order a book online and get it wrapped and delivered right to her uncle with less aggravation. But dollar signs blinked in neon red in her mind as she thought how much that would cost. No need to be hasty.

Curtain rings rattled on a rod, and Cora looked up to see a younger version of the curmudgeon step into the area behind the counter.

The younger man smiled. He had the same small, wiry build as the older version, but his smile was warm and genuine. He looked to be about fifty, but his hair was still black, as black as the old man’s hair was white. He stretched out his hand, and Cora shook it.

“I’m Bill Wizbotterdad. This is my granddad, William Wizbotterdad.”

“Let me guess. Your father is named Will?”

Bill grinned, obviously pleased she’d caught on quickly. “Willie Wizbotterdad. He’s off in Europe collecting rare books.”

“He’s not!” said the elder shop owner.

“He is.” Bill cast his granddad a worried look.

“That’s just the reason he gave for not being here.” William shook his head and leaned across the counter. “He doesn’t like Christmas. We have a special job to do at Christmas, and he doesn’t like people and dancing and matrimony.”

Bill put his arm around his grandfather and pulled him back. He let go of his granddad and spun the book on the scarred wooden counter so that Cora could read the contents. “Take a look.” He opened the cover and flipped through the pages. “Colored illustrations.”

A rattling of the door knob was followed by the sound of a shoulder thudding against the wood. Cora turned to see the door fly open with a tall man attached to it. The stranger brushed snow from his sleeves, then looked up at the two shop owners. Cora caught them giving each other a smug smile, a wink, and a nod of the head.

Odd. Lots of oddness in this shop.

She liked the book, and she wanted to leave before more snow accumulated on the streets. Yet something peculiar about this shop and the two men made her curious. Part of her longed to linger. However, smart girls trusted their instincts and didn’t hang around places that oozed mystery. She didn’t feel threatened, just intrigued. But getting to know the peculiar booksellers better was the last thing she wanted, right? She needed to get home and be done with this Christmas shopping business. “I’ll take the book.”

The newcomer stomped his feet on the mat by the door, then took off his hat.

Cora did a double take. “Mr. Derrick!”

He cocked his head and scrunched his face. “Do I know you?” The man was handsome, even wearing that comical lost expression. “Excuse me. Have we met?”

“We work in the same office.”

He studied her a moment, and a look of recognition lifted the frown. “Third desk on the right.” He hesitated, then snapped his fingers. “Cora Crowden.”

“Crowder.”

He jammed his hand in his pocket, moving his jacket aside. His tie hung loosely around his neck. She’d never seen him looking relaxed. The office clerks called him Serious Simon Derrick.

“I drew your name,” she said.

He looked puzzled.

“For the gift exchange. Tomorrow night. Office party.”

“Oh. Of course.” He nodded. “I drew Mrs. Hudson. She’s going to retire, and I heard her say she wanted to redecorate on a shoestring.”

“That’s Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Hudson is taking leave to be with her daughter, who is giving birth to triplets.”

He frowned and began looking at the books.

“You won’t be there, will you?” Cora asked.

“At the party? No, I never come.”

“I know. I mean, I’ve worked at Sorenby’s for five years, and you’ve never been there.”

The puzzled expression returned to Serious Simon’s face. He glanced to the side. “I’m looking for the how-to section.”

Cora grinned. “On your left. Second aisle.”

He turned to stare at her, and she pointed to the shelves Mr. Wizbotterdad had not let her examine. Mr. Derrick took a step in that direction.

Cora looked back at the shop owners and caught them leaning back in identical postures, grins on their faces, and arms crossed over their chests.

Bill jerked away from the wall, grabbed her book, rummaged below the counter, and brought out a bag. He slid the book inside, then looked at her. “You didn’t want the book wrapped and delivered?”

“No, I’ll just pay for it now.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to look around some more?” asked Bill.

“Right,” said William. “No hurry. Look around. Browse. You might find something you like.”

Bill elbowed William.

Simon Derrick had disappeared between the stacks.

William nodded toward the how-to books. “Get a book. We have a copy of How to Choose Gifts for Ungrateful Relatives. Third from the bottom shelf, second case from the wall.”

The statement earned him a “shh” from his grandson.

Cora shifted her attention to the man from her office and walked a few paces to peek around the shelves. “Mr. Derrick, I’m getting ready to leave. If you’re not coming to the party, may I just leave the gift on your desk tomorrow?”

He glanced at her before concentrating again on the many books. “That’s fine. Nice to see you, Miss Crowden.”

“Crowder,” she corrected, but he didn’t answer.

She went to the counter and paid. Mr. Derrick grunted when she said good-bye at the door.

“Come back again,” said Bill.

“Yes,” said William. “We have all your heart’s desires.”

Bill elbowed him, and Cora escaped into the blustering weather.

She hiked back to the office building. Snow sprayed her with tiny crystals, and the sharp wind nipped her nose. Inside the parking garage, warm air helped her thaw a bit as she walked to the spot she leased by the month. It would be a long ride home on slippery roads. But once she arrived, there would be no one there to interrupt her plans. She got in the car, turned the key, pushed the gearshift into reverse, looked over her shoulder, and backed out of her space.

She would get the gift ready to mail off and address a few cards in the quiet of her living room. There would be no yelling. That’s what she liked about living states away from her family. No one would ambush her with complaints and arguments when she walked through the door.

Except Skippy. Skippy waited. One fat, getting fatter, cat to talk to. She did complain at times about her mistress being gone too long, about her dinner being late, about things Cora could not fathom. But Cora never felt condemned by Skippy, just prodded a little.

_

Once inside her second-floor apartment, she pulled off her gloves, blew her nose, and went looking for Skippy.

The cat was not behind the curtain, sitting on the window seat, staring at falling snow. Not in her closet, curled up in a boot she’d knocked over. Not in the linen closet, sleeping on clean towels. She wasn’t in any of her favorite spots. Cora looked around and saw the paper bag that, this morning, had been filled with wadded scraps of Christmas paper. Balls of pretty paper and bits of ribbon littered the floor. There. Cora bent over and spied her calico cat in the bag.

“Did you have fun, Skippy?”

The cat rolled on her back and batted the top of the paper bag. Skippy then jumped from her cave and padded after Cora, as her owner headed for the bedroom.

Thirty minutes later, Cora sat at the dining room table in her cozy pink robe that enveloped her from neck to ankles. She stirred a bowl of soup and eyed the fifteen packages she’d wrapped earlier in the week. Two more sat waiting for their ribbons.

These would cost a lot less to send if some of these people were on speaking terms. She could box them together and ship them off in large boxes.

She spooned chicken and rice into her mouth and swallowed.

The soup was a tad too hot. She kept stirring.

She could send one package with seven gifts inside to Grandma Peterson, who could dispense them to her side of the family. She could send three to Aunt Carol.

She took another sip. Cooler.

Aunt Carol could keep her gift and give two to her kids. She could send five to her mom…

Cora grimaced. She had three much older sisters and one younger. “If Mom were on speaking terms with my sisters, that would help.”

She eyed Skippy, who had lifted a rear leg to clean between her back toes. “You don’t care, do you? Well, I’m trying to. And I think I’m doing a pretty good job with this Christmas thing.”

She reached over and flipped the switch on her radio. A Christmas carol poured out and jarred her nerves. She really should think about Christmas and not who received the presents. Better to think “my uncle” than “Joe, that bar bum and pool shark.”

She finished her dinner, watching her cat wash her front paws.

“You and I need to play. You’re”—she paused as Skippy turned

a meaningful glare at her—“getting a bit rotund, dear kitty.”

Skippy sneezed and commenced licking her chest.

After dinner, Cora curled up on the couch with her Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad bag. Skippy came to investigate the rattling paper.

Uncle Eric. Uncle Eric used to recite “You Are Old, Father William.” He said it was about a knight. But Cora wasn’t so sure. She dredged up memories from college English. The poem was by Lewis Carroll, who was really named Dodson, Dogson, Dodgson, or something.

“He wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” she said. “There’s a cat in the story, but not as fine a cat as you. He smiles too much.”

Skippy gave her a squint-eyed look.

Cora eased the leather-bound book out of the bag. “The William I met at the bookstore qualifies for at least ancient.”

She put the book in her lap and ran her fingers over the embossed title: How the Knights Found Their Ladies.

She might have been hasty. She didn’t know if Uncle Eric would like this. She hefted the book, guessing its weight to be around four pounds. She should have found a lighter gift. This would cost a fortune to mail.

Skippy sniffed at the binding, feline curiosity piqued. Cora stroked her fur and pushed her back. She opened the book to have a peek inside. A piece of thick paper fell out. Skippy pounced on it as it twirled to the floor.

“What is it, kitty? A bookmark?” She slipped it out from between Skippy’s paws, then turned the rectangle over in her hands. Not a bookmark. A ticket.


Admit one to the Wizards’ Christmas Ball

Costumes required

Dinner and Dancing

and your Destiny


Never heard of it. She tucked the ticket in between the pages and continued to flip through the book, stopping to read an occasional paragraph.

This book wasn’t for Uncle Eric at all. It was not a history, it was a story. Kind of romantic too. Definitely not Uncle Eric’s preferred reading.

Skippy curled against her thigh and purred.

“You know what, cat? I’m going to keep it.”

Skippy made her approval known by stretching her neck up and rubbing her chin on the edge of the leather cover. Cora put the book on the sofa and picked up Skippy for a cuddle. The cat squirmed out of her arms, batted at the ticket sticking out of the pages, and scampered off.

“I love you too,” called Cora.

She pulled the ticket out and read it again: Wizards’ Christmas Ball. She turned out the light and headed for bed. But as she got ready, her eye caught the computer on her desk. Maybe she could find a bit more information.

My Thoughts:  This is a really fun book.  Caught my attention completely from beginning to end.  There are all kinds of strange things going on and its fun just imagining something like this happening.  The story is very magical and intriguing and I wish I could go to Sage Street.  Now I'm in the mood for Christmas and maybe even a kitten.  Makes me want to find and read another book by Donita K. Paul.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Storms - Does Jesus Care?

So many times in life we go through deep, dark storms.  We seem to be living in one of those times now in my family with illness and other things going on.  But this past week, these 2 songs have given me so much encouragement.  Just to know that I'm standing in the hollow of His hand and that He will take care of us has lifted my spirits many times.




I pray that if there are storms in your life right now, these songs may encourage you as they have me Because I KNOW BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF DOUBT THAT JESUS DOES CARE!!!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Project 365


Here are my pictures for the week and I hope you enjoy and I hope you'll join Sara and all the participants in Project 365.  It's never too late to start.  Click here.


Sunday - We saw the Good Year Blimp on Sunday on the way home from church.  I stopped in the middle of a country road and it flew right over us.  So cool.  Kerri took the picture below of it.
Monday - Lunch at Logan's Roadhouse - Yummy!
Thursday - See the little rainbow in the sky - If you've been around my blog very long, you'll know I love taking pictures of the sky.  I'm always looking up!
Friday - here's another sky shot.  I was driving home from work and saw this beautiful sky.  I turned into a church parking lot and took this picture.
Saturday - The below pictures are from the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky. I only show just a couple, but if you ever get the chance to go, it's well worth it.




Saturday, October 16, 2010

God's Grace

I hope you will enjoy this video of Luci Swindoll as much as I do and I hope it encourages you in your life.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

SkyWatch Friday

Click here to join in all the fun of Sky Watch Friday and view photos of beautiful skies from all over the world.

Grabbed this photo on the way into work this morning.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Project 365


Okay, so I pretty much epically failed on Project 365 this week.  I didn't take a single picture until Saturday, and I'm a day late making my post.  But anyway I took a bunch of pictures Saturday, so I thought I'd at least post several of them.  If you want to join in, click here.





First thing this morning we went to do some work at the church and Kerri came in and said there were some hot air balloons outside, so she got my camera and took some pictures.  This one shows just how close they really were.  That's the corner of the church in the picture.



This is at a park in Wilmington where we found our first geocache of the day.  This was a really beautiful park.



Here we are on a trail at Cowan Lake State Park.  If you look closely you can see the lake peeking through the trees.



Here's a little white wooley worm we say on the trail.



These two pictures are of Cowan Lake.  It was such a beautiful day there and as you can see the leaves are starting to change a little more.


Thursday, October 7, 2010

SkyWatch Friday


Click here to join in on the fun of SkyWatch Friday and see photos of beautiful skies from all around the world.

I took this photo back in August while out in my back yard.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Random Dozen

Click here to go join Linda for some Random Dozen Fun

1. From "Men Are Dumb ....": If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be?
 I can't think of a single thing...well at least not that I want to share here.

2. From Pam of "Alert And Oriented x 4": Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer's remorse?
My Croc Mary Janes.  Uglier than all get out, but oh so comfortable.  lol

3. From Susanne of "Living to Tell the Story": Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced.
Now that I'm over 50 they are all special, because I'm just glad to still be alive.

4. From Lori of "Just me and My Life": If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be?
Rocky Road, because it has nuts and I'm pretty nutty and because it has marshmallow and sometimes I'm sweet (don't ask my kids) and it has chocolate ice cream and that's just my favorite.

5. Cindy Swanson of "Notes in the Key of Life" asks: Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing?
I wouldn't say I've ever had a crush on him, but it sure doesn't hurt my feelings to spend 2 hours looking at Pierce Brosnan in a movie. And since hubby loves James Bond movies, it's all good.  We're both happy!  hahaha

6. Jill from "Jill Boyd's Place" inquires: Glasses or braces--if you had to wear one, which would it be?
Glasses

7. Nel from "Fasteneau Facts" asks: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Where I live right now but I'd want a vacation home near the ocean!

8. Thena from "Patiently Waiting" wants to know: If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?
A two week all expenses paid trip to Disney World!

9. From "Life Through Bifocals," LynnMarie asks: What is your favorite birthday meal?
Steak and Baked Potato from Outback or Shrimp and Baked Potato from Red Lobster

10. Debby at "Just Breathe" checks in with: Do you still send hand-written thank you notes?
Yes I do.

11. Linda from "Mocha with Linda" poses this question: What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do?
Lead a woman's Bible Study Group.

12. Jewel, my homegirl from Indiana who writes at "Musings from the World of Jewel," is very insistent that we answer this: Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?
Ronald Reagan - because I think he was a great president too.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Project 365

Click here to go join Sara in the fun of Project 365.  This week I'm doing 2 weeks in one.  I only got a couple pictures the first week so I'm just combining them.

Sunday, September 19 - Thomas the Train was in town

Friday, September 24th - Can you see the bee covered in pollen inside this flower?

Saturday, September 25th - Applefest was in town.  I worked 8 hrs. overtime this day to help out with the extra calls because of all the extra people in town.  It was a beautiful day and the crowds were huge.
 Here's a picture from my car on the way showing the set-up work going on.
 I got to see these 2 alpacas later that day.  Aren't they adorable?  They are mother and child and they are so very, very soft.



Sunday, September 26th - we had such beautiful skies this evening
 Here's another shot.

Monday, September 27th - sending a care package to Kelli!

Tuesday, September 28th - I saw this little squirrel playing around the parking lot where I park for work.

 Thursday - September 30th - We went and saw the Return of Nannie McPhee - cute movie and Kerri and I were the only ones in the theater - we still clapped when it was over even though we were by ourselves.  lol

Saturday, October 2nd - we went out driving and Geo-caching.  We were way out in the country as you can tell by this photo
 This is a path we walked looking for a geo-cache.  However, about 15 minutes in on the walk we came to a fence and the gate was closed - probably for the winter, so we never found this one.  It was still a beautiful walk and we saw 2 deer while we were out there too.  This is at Stonelick State Park and so is the lake in the picture below.
 The trees are beginning to change colors around here now.  It had just begun raining shortly before I took this picture.

Hope everyone has a great week.