Oh The Games People Play Now,

Nope, this blog has nothing to do with that song, but now it is stuck inside my head.

It's hot, can't go outside,

don't feel like crafting,

and I"m bored with Facebook

and

Gardening Groups.

So

I've been surfing,

yes, that is what I said

Surfing...

I go to Blogs,

then choose one of their

Featured blogs

go to that one,

then choose one of their

featured blogs, and

just see how many

Interesting posts

I can find.

Most are pretty interesting,

but a few are

Amazing.

Every once in awhile, I run across one that

is just plain

AWESOME,

those I try to go back to occasionally.

The pictures are my own, not taken from other's blogs
And really have nothing to do with anything I posted,
Just thought they'd liven up things.
The dog is my sisters, his name is Manfred, he was 5 or 6 weeks old, he is now 3 years old, and is a handful.

Friday, and the countdown has begun..

This may be a rambling post, so stick with me.

School starts in 23 days for all the grandkids.

I discovered this on Tuesday, when I talked to one of the teachers from Jd's school.

Only one groaned when they found out, and think his was just his natural reaction to anything.

We've been having VBS at our church this week.  I volunteered to do sign-ins, I think it is about the easiest job there.  Once we get them signed in, I'm done, the rest of the night, someone else gets to see their smiling faces.  Tonight is the program, then tomorrow night, there will be a group there doing a puppet show for kids of all ages.

**

HOT HOT HOT

And I don't mean Hot Pink

100 degree + for the next few days.

That seems to be what I've heard since the middle of June.

Right now, I have the door open, to watch the

and these

I have 2 or 3 pair of Mourning Doves, and then there is at least a pair of Ringed Neck Doves.

I love watching them, and they have gotten to where they don't fly as quickly, when I am outside.

Guess they know where the food is coming from these days.

But now it is time to shut the door, turn on the AC and

watch this

Flashes and blurs

This is Petey, my grandson's dog, I'm dog setting while they are on vacation.

He weighs 11 pounds

*

He loves to tease

*

Flash who is a good 75 pounds larger. 

Flash isn't quite sure what Petey is

and

why

he gets

in his face,

At first, Flash would chase him, but after a few trips

where all he saw was a blur darting away

and there was no way that he was going to catch

Petey, he kind of lays back

until the

aggrivating little upstart

getsto be too much, then

off he goes,

but

Petey is halfway around the house, by that time.

So Flash comes back to the porch,

and waits for the aggrivation to go back in the house,

so he can chase the

dragonfly.

2 more flower pictures, to go with yesterday's canna

This is the ony hybiscus that I have, and it usually blooms

but this year it is a little less showy, because of the heat and dry weather.

also, my Black Iris didn't bloom, though they are still alive.

Hollyhock that came up volunteer beside the big flower pot.

I used to have a 'black one' but it didn't live but one year, guess I babied it too much.

I don't have a green thumb where flowers are concerned.

One year, when youngest daughter was about 3 or 4, her older sister

and I planted lots of seed while she napped.

Of course, when she woke, we were in trouble, so I took some old seed

dug a hole, and let her 'plant' flowers.

Every seed she planted must have come up,

and very few of the ones we planted

did. 

We ended up transplanting some of hers to our 'garden' to have flowers there.

Canna is in the earlier post.

Canna Bloom

I seldom get a photo that I'm really excited about, my photography skills are mostly point and shoot.

But this particular Canna just jumped out of the page when I put it on the computer album.

I didn't even notice that it had droplets of water on it, until I had it made into a post card to send to our library, for a youth program.

HuhOOOOOOOOOO Poor widdle puddy tat.....

I have several half wild cats around here, they show up for dinner, but don't try and touch them.  Biting or scratching will be the sign they want down. 
Today, while I was feeding them, I noticed one looked a bit strange, his tail was a bit short, like about 2 inches.  On closer inspection (from 6 or 8 ft away) I could see that the 'bone' was still there, about the size of a large needle, but the hair and skin was completely gone.  So, I have a Red Tabby Puddy Tat with a short tail, who won't let me get hold of him to doctor.  I am wondering what he got his tail caught in, but guess I'll never know.
I'll try and get a photo of it, soon, but not making any promises. Why do mom cats keep kittens away from us, until they are too old to tame? 

" Princess Planks"

Not to be outdone

the "Princess'
 asked for her own set of planks to build with, so poppy went to the shop, followed by 3 little tag-alongs

and they came back in about 30 minutes with

not 50

not 70

not 90

not 100

but

109

planks for her.

She had brought her 'paint' so she could

mark her

set, and the

boys couldn't

'accidentally borrow' any of them.

so we painted a spot on every single one.
And then she went to work.

After  a couple of collapses
of her taller creations

 she finally settled on

building a garage

And what fun is it, to build it

if

with

the

wave

of

your

hand,

it doesn't do this...

So simple, and yet so much fun!

A few days ago, while on vacation, my 11 year old grandson found something he couldn't live without. 

Keva Planks 

   They are apparently the new 'Lincoln Log'.

Anyway he had a hankering for a set, but 100 planks =  $50.00. He showed up yesterday morning, and asked poppy if he could make him something similar, so he and poppy went to the wood working shop, and started measuring. In about 1 hr, they had made 71 pine planks out of scrap lumber. Of course when 8 year old grandson showed up yesterday afternoon, he fell in love too. So now they are down in the shop,making more.  I think they've made 68 more already today.

Add Grave Digger and a couple of other monstor trucks

and you can see

how much fun 2 boys can have

with simple pieces of wood.

Who says they need expensive toys.

And they store in a small space, since they are all exactly alike.

The other good thing about this little project, poppy is showing the kids how

they don't have to spend money to have what they want all the time.

That homemade works

and they had the opportunity build something themselves.

Next project is some bird houses

for them to paint and hang.

this tower is

4 ft 10 inches tall.

Camera fun

A few days ago, I was looking for something in the discard bin, and came across a piece of 3 inch pipe that I'd tried to form into a mold.  That one didn't work out, but the next one did.

Anyway, I was just thinking it would make a good practice piece for a bird feeder that i had in mind.

Off

to the drill press I go, then down to the scrap wood

bin at the shop. 

I also grabbed the base of an old fan that no longer works,

and made a stand.As U can see, the

First

bird doesn't have wings.

He visits every day, now, eating what I've scraped off the ground from the wasteful birds at the other feeder.

Our yard has a little color this year.

Though it was supposed to be lavender instead of

bright pink.

And here are two of my silly kitties

who love Cantaloupe.

I used to carry it out to the garden and

drop it in the compost heap, but

now I take a pan, put it out for the kitties

and no, they are not hungry, they just like cantaloupe.

They won't touch watermelon.

But some of the others will.

Happy Independence Day, America

Have a Happy and Safe

July 4th,

and as you enjoy your day,

Please say a prayer and a

Thank You to all the

many young men who are

away from home at this time

trying to keep our country safe.

*

Yesterday,

for a little while, I got to spend some time

with a young man, who I've known since his birth

He has served 11 years in our military.

He's spent at least 3 different tours of duty

in Afghanistan and Iraq and leaves again

in November for another tour.

His lovely wife is expecting twins

about the time he deploys.

So pray for them both, as

he serves our country,

and also for those that

serve by staying behind and

holding down the home front

while their loved ones

are away.

BEYOND ALL MEASURE by Dorothy Love

A Hickory Ridge Romance
published by Thomas Nelson Publishing

Ada Wentworth, born in Boston, is heading to Hickory Ridge Tennessee to be a companion for Miss Lillian, an elderly woman.  She is slightly bitter, her father has died, leaving her penniless, after paing her fiance to break off their engagement.

Met at the train station by Wyatt Caldwell, who will deliver her to her new job with his aunt.  But  before they hardly get out of town, they get in a disagreement, and she decides to walk.

Once she meets Miss Lillian, she wonders if she will manage to last until she makes enough money to find a different position.  When Miss Lillian's hat needs repair, she uses the talents taught her by her mother, who was a hat maker. And before long, she is making hats for other ladies in the community, until Wyatt tells her he is paying her to take care of his Aunt, not run a business.  He doesn't realize that he is barely paying her enough to survive.

Will they ever see each other as a person, or will he always see her as Northerner, from Boston?  Will she ever see him as anything but her employer?  What will happen to her, if Miss Lillian passes away, how will she survive?

A very interesting book, not just a 'romance novel',  I think the author has succeeded in making what would be a time worn 'story', very different.

I received this book to read and review from Booksneeze.  I received no other compensation.  I am  not required to give a positive review.

Petit Jean Meats: 4th of July Giveaway

Petit Jean Meats: 4th of July Giveaway: "Would you like to host the perfect 4 th of July get-together? Petit Jean Meats can help. We are giving away a 4 th of July prize pack cons..."

Announcement

Ive made a decision to limit my book reviewing to no more than 3 books a month,  for the foreseeable future.  In the past year, I've reviewed almost anything that was offered, and I'm going to be much more picky in my choices from now until at least this winter,  when I'm suffering from cabin fever.  I'm not yet getting 'burnout' but at times I do feel overwhelmed, when I have 4 or 5 books that are waiting to be read and reviewed, and some of them have a posting date that is speeding toward me like a firecracker on the 4th of July..

I love reading, I also love reviewing books, so don't give up on me, if I don't post something new quite as often. 

HOW HUGE THE NIGHT by Heather Munn & Lydia Munn

This book really caught my attention. It is the story of war, and how it affects many different young people, who aren't quite adult enough to fight, but are old enough to know what war is about.

Julien is unhappy, he didn't want to move from Paris France, where his friends were, to the little town in Southern France where his father was born. He knows no one there, and can't understand why his father insisted they move.
Benjamin, a young Jewish boy, doesn't want to be there, he wants to stay with his parents in Paris, and go to school, but his parents insist he live with the Losier family to be safe from the Nazis..

Nina and Gustov, who left home when their father passed away.  They are trying to follow his instructions on how to get to France so they will be safe.  Nina cuts her hair, and dresses as a boy, trying to hide, but she is scared, hungry, and almost dead when  finally arriving in Tanieux.

It isn't a light read, it is very realistic, and very well written. I really feel that the authors knew of what they were telling, their research was very authentic, and I give them high marks for making the book something that they can be very proud to have their name on the cover.

I recieved this book from Kregel Publications to read and review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I am not required to give a favorable review.

link to christian books reviews
http://www.christianbook.com/how-huge-the-night/heather-munn/9780825433108/pd/433108?item_code=WW&netp_id=856137&event=ESRCN&show_all_cr=1#customer_reviews

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

Published by Thomas Nelson

Susannah, the daughter of a vet,  is headed to the Dakota territory to meet Jesse Mason,a man she has never met, but married, before she left Detroit.  He is the brother of the pastor of their church, and he has asked his brother to find him a wife, to help him on his farm.

Upon arrival, she discovers she will be living in a small sod house, barely large enough for the necessary things to survive.  Her husband is surprised at her small stature, but when his ox is having problems with delivering her calf, he finds his wife is much more suited to farm life than he suspects.  Her vet training by helping her father saves the mother and the calves.

When grasshoppers eat most of their crops, Jesse decides to leave Susannah to teach the local children in the settlement, while he goes to make some money to help them survive the coming winter.   When he doesn't return, and there is no way for Susannah to get in touch with him to tell him she is pregnant, she survives on potatoes for most of the winter, sharing with others the use of her soddy, and trading vet duties to settlers for taking care of the animals.

Meanwhile Jesse is in an Indian village recovering from almost drowning, with no way of knowing if Susannah is alive, or even still in the Dakota Territory.

This is a very interesting book, one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about life before modern times.  Personally, this is my favorit era to read about.

I recieved a copy of this book, free, to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

Annabelle Tyler was married for her small inheritance, then her new husband took the money, disappeared, divorced her and married a wealthier woman.  Since she could no longer teach, since the town new she was divorced, she gets on the stage and heads to Philadelphia to apply for a job in a candy shop.  On the way, the stage is held up, her meager funds were stolen, and she is handcuffed to Harrison Graymoor, a wealthy
bachelor, with a reputation for being fast and loose with young women.  When discovered, a day or so later, the sheriff insists that Graymoor marry the young woman to protect her reputation.

When they finally reach Philadelphia, Harrison has no intention of telling anyone he is married, and they plan to get an annulment.  But according to law, they can't get the annulment, so his lawyer concocts a way to get a divorce in another state.  They move into the 'country estate' where Irene, the housekeeper takes Annabelle under her wing, and Annabelle teaches her to read recipes so dessert isn't always Apple Pie.

Annabelle has never gotten around to telling her new husband that she was married and divorced, imagine her surprise when at a party, she comes face to face with her former husband, who decides to blackmail her for funds so he can divorce his wife,  and move south with his on money.

I loved this book, it is set in the early 1830s which to me is a very interesting period in American history.
This is the 2nd of Delia Parr's books I have read, and she is an excellent writer, which makes her books a page turner.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review.  No other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own, I'm not required to give a positive review.

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

"The Miracle of Mercy Land"
Published by Waterbrook press


As she works for Doc Phillips at the local paper, Mercy Land does what is necessary to become indispensable. Then, early one morning, Mercy gets information about a huge story, the biggest she has ever worked on, but she can't print any of it. Mysterious things start happening like: Mercy meeting a man named John Quincy in her dreams (will he help or hinder her), a book floats in the window onto Doc's desk, words are constantly moving on the pages, and Mercy and Doc can see lives when their hands enter the book. What is this book and how can it change lives? Why are Doc and Mercy involved an how will their livesbe changed? Will Mercy's past come back to haunt or help her? This book can definitely make the reader think about the choices he/she makes.

This book was a different genre for me. Normally I don't pick up books with a mystical theme, but this one was different. The characters and story line kept me interested and I wanted to know how the story would be resolved. I recommend it to anyone who wants an adventure in reading.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I'm not required to give a favorable review.

A First for me

I've done lots of flowers in the past 9 or so years, but I've never made a bridal bouquet.

My niece is getting married, a simple civil ceremony

and she didn't intend to spring for a bouquet.
I told her that a bride needed a keepsake from her wedding, and

I'd make her a bouquet.

Here is the unfinished product.

I'll add ribbons and some other stuff to it.

Now to get someone to help me bake and decorate a

wedding cake..

Here is the finished product,

I'll iron and curl the pink ribbon before

I give it to her

Desert Gift by Sally John

Imagine you are a national expert giving advice on keeping marriages alive. That is Jillian Galloway's  profession.She has a national radio program counseling couples how to communicate and not miss the tell-tale signs of a problem in their marriage. 

She has just published her first book, and has a book tour lined up.  The bags are packed, she and her husband are supposed to fly out in just a few hours.  Then Jack, her husband of over 24 years tells her he isn't going with her, instead he is staying in Chicago, and wants a divorce.  This is her first indication that there is a problem in her marriage.  She can't cancel the trip, so there is nothing to do but get into the cab, and head west.


Desert Gift is well-written and draws you into their world as it is  turned upside down. Can they follow
the plan that Jill has always thought would work, and will it work for them?  Or will Jack get the divorce, and move forward without her?

This book is well written, and draws you into the story quickly.
I received an advance copy of this book to read and review, from Tyndale publishers.  No other compensation was given.
All opinions expressed her are my own, and I'm not required to give a 'positive' review.

Another Thrifty Floral

I'm trying to use up some of the older floral stems I had in stock.

The container came from Dollar Tree...my favorite location to find thrifty things.

I had the large yellow sunflower left from another arrangement, so no cost there. 

Taking everything into consideration, I'm guessing that I have about $7 or $8 invested in this.

I'm ging to put it on my aunt's grave next Sunday.



Thrifty floral tutorial

If you know me, you know I'm 'Thrifty'.

No, I didn't say cheap, I said Thrifty, lol.

I ran out of baskets to do my florals in, because I sold more than

I expected this year.

I needed a couple of

arrangments for the cemetery,

and it is an 80 mile round trip to pick up more baskets.

So

I started thinking, what am I gonna do?

Then I spot a coffee can

And being a thrifty person, I grabbed it,

washed and cut the bottom out of it

and peeled the label off

Then I put it ove my styrofoam

and pushed

until it cut the circle out

perfect fit, a touch of glue around the foam

and it won't budge

I start in the back, gluing each stem in, extending the ones

that need to be taller.

Finished product, except for the ribbons to cover the can.

And with the ribbon and bow.

 

For this tutorial, I used a 13 ounce can, but some of the other ones,

I've used the larger cans.

THE DMZ by Jeanette Windle

Published by KREGEL Publications
512 pages

Julie Baker was born in Columbia, to American Missionary parents, and raised in that country until her parents died of cholera when she was about 16.  She then went to live with her godfather, Norm Hutchins, and went to college, majoring in Journalism, then going to work for him at Our Earth, an environmental magazine.
Julie had always said she would never return to Columbia, but when the opportunity arose to go for a short tour of the area where she was raised, with other reporters, she convinced  Hutchins that she was the one to go.  Shortly after her arrival, she slipped away to go see the graves of her parents, which she had never seen, and another reporter, Tim McAdams, followed her into the night. Before they could return  to the compound, they were surrounded by and kidnapped, taken deep into the jungles. Julie was accused of beinga spy, and threatened.  Anytime anyone may have found them, they were moved, and then Tim McAdams was taken to a different location.

This book is wonderful, I could not put it down.  It has suspense by the truckload, and the characters seem so real that you feel you know them.

PROMISES TO KEEP by Ann Tatlock

Published by Bethany House
a division of Baker Publishing

Set in the 1960s. 
When Janis Anthony packs up and leaves her abusive husband, Alan, she moves to Mills River and buys a house, near her father.  Her three children have differing views of the seperation.  Wally, her oldest, at 17, was the son of her first husband, who died when he was very young.  He disliked Alan and was happy to be away from the man who beat his mother.  Roz, 11, was hoping her father would change, and they could all be back together. The youngest, Valerie, was too young to remember much.
Shortly after they moved into their house, the previous owner, Tilly, shows up on their doorstep, and before long, she's moved back into her house, with the new occupants. She takes over cooking and childcare, while Janis works.
Roz makes friends with another girl, Mara, and they both are hoping to see their fathers soon.  Mara finally goes to Chicago with her grandparents and meets her father, but Roz, when she finds that her father is now in Mills River, tells no one.  Will keeping this a secret put her family back together as she hopes?  Or will it put them all in danger? 

This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It is well written, suspenseful at times, and doesn't sugarcoat family issues. Very realistic.

REGGIE by Reggie Dabbs with John Driver

REGGIE
You can't change your past, but you can change your future
Thomas Nelson publishing

Born to a 16 year old teenage mother, who already had 3 other children, he was adopted and raised by his mother's high school English teacher and her husband, as their own child.  He was about 7 or 8 when he found he was not their birth child.  Reggie now goes to schools all over, telling young people that they are worthy of love, and that they are important to him. He tells them they can call him Daddy, that he cares for them, and is there for them.  He tells his story, and tells them that YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR PAST, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR FUTURE.  There is no telling how many lives this man has saved, with his ministry to these kids.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone, especially teachers and pastors, who deal with kids who need some self esteem. 
I was given this book to read and review by BookSneeze, no other compensation was given.  I'm not required to give a favorable review

.http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/review.aspx?reviewid=1632562

THE FIRST ESCAPE, the Dopple Ganger Chronicles by G P Taylor

http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/review.aspx?reviewid=1632554

Tynedale House Publishers

This book, while not my normal reading, is an interesting book for the age group for which it was written. I am thinking my 11 year old grandson will love the style of the writing, and the cartoon like pages that are interspursed through the book. Living in an Orphan's Home, Isambard Dunstans School for Wayward Children, 14 year old twins, Sadie and Saskia Dopple get into all kinds of trouble, but when Saskia gets adopted, and has to leave her sister, things go from bad to worse. Sadie, and Erik, a former thief, escape the home, and go looking for Saskia, and are pursued by a gang of enemies.

I was send a free copy of this book, to read and review.  No other compensation was given.  I am not required to give a favorable review.

I Won I Won!!! (not a book review)

I went to the mailbox today, and had a package...I was kind of expecting a package, a dress I ordered last week, but when I picked this up to get it out of the mailbox, I realized that it was either the heaviest dress I'd ever lifted, or it was something else.  Sure enough, it was not my dress, and when I saw who sent it, my wonderful Sister in Christ, I had to laugh, it is EASTER so what could it be!  Nothing less that an Easter Egg, 14 ounces of pure Heaven (Chocolate Fudge)  and it's mine, all mine.
Thank you Sis, I did have to offer to share a little of it because hubby was standing there when I opened the box.

Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

This book is scheduled for release about April 1, 2011
Published by B&H Publishing Group, Nashville TN

Marianna Sommer is 18, her birth date is the same date as the death of 2 of her sisters, when their buggy was hit by an 18 wheeler. Raised Amish, she's always known about her sisters deaths and feels as if she doesn't quite replace them, so she has been a dutiful, and industrious daughter her whole life. She plans to join the church in the fall, and hopefully marry Aaron Zook.

Her older brother, Levi, has left the Amish life, and works and lives in a community nearby, to the shame of his family. When a younger brother mentions that he will go live with Levi, when he reaches the age of Rumschpringe, Abe, their father starts talking of moving to Montana, with the family.

Marianna at first plans to stay in Indiana, but when her father tells her that her mother is expecting another child, and will need her, she agrees to go with them, for 6 months, to help until the baby is born. They pack their belongings, including the quilt that she plans to give Aaron, when it is finished, and board a train to Montana.
The Amish community is quite small, and things are very different for Marianna, and the whole family. She meets Ben on their arrival, who is not Amish, so she tries to keep him at arms length. Before long, she decides to finish her quilt, and sell it to get the money to go back to Indiana, before she becomes to attracted to Ben.

This is a very good book, not like most Amish stories, that I have read. I liked that it tests the boundaries and asks why things are the way they are. Tricia Goyer has done an excellent job of writing, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review.  No other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

PARADISE VALLEY Dale Cramer

Historical Fiction
Bethany House
a division of Baker Publishing

5 stars

A must read for anyone who likes Amish novels, Historical Fiction, or just a book that you don't want to put down. Dale Cramer has done a wonderful job of weaving a real incident that happened in the 1920s, into a story that is very intriguing.   I would never have known this book was written by a man, had I not read his notes after I finished reading the whole book.

In 1922 Ohio, when Caleb Bender and 4 others in his Amish community were arrested for not sending their younger children to the public schools, he started thinking about what he could do to get his family and friends out of this mess in which they'd found themselves involved.
Seeing a flyer about fertile land in the mountains of Mexico, he starts investigating, and soon decides that he will go, with his family, to check things out, and if it turns out to be land they can farm, the rest will follow over the next year or so.
This is the story of that move, and the year they are there alone, learning to farm this new land, and to communicate in the new language of the people they've chosen to live among
Family of Caleb and Martha Bender:
 Barbara, 11,
Leah, 13
 Rachel, 16, had to leave behind the boy she loves, Jake Weaver,
 hoping he'll follow in the next year.
Mariam, the 18 year old, fears that she won't find a husband already, and what are her chances in the wilds south of the border.
Emma, newlywed, and her husband, Levi, are looking forward to the move, to help hide their secret.
Aaron, 21, unmarried.
Lizzie, 23, remains behind with her husband and 3 children.
Mary, 24, and Husband Ezra, with their 2 sons.
Ada, 27, unmarried, and mentally challenged.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review.  No other compensation was given.  I am not required to write a positive review.

PLAIN PROPOSAL by Beth Wiseman

Plain Proposal
A Daughters of the Promise Novel
by Beth Wiseman
Best Selling Author of Plain Perfect
Published by Thomas Nelson


Miriam Raber was in her rumschpringe, the Amish running around period, before joining the church.
She is in love with Saul Fisher, and has been for years.  She hopes to join the church, marry Saul, and raise a family in the community where she grew up.

Saul though he loves Miriam, has other plans, he wants to move away from Paradise and become a chef.
He has a secret that he doesn't dare share with anyone else in the community, only he and his two younger brothers know this secret.  He tells Miriam that he is leaving Paradise, and she should forget him. She vows to follow him, wherever he leads.  Will she follow him, or will she join the church and marry someone else?  What will it do to her parents, if she leaves?

Miriam's cousin, Shelby, comes to visit, for the summer.  Her parents have divorced, and felt that Shelby should be somewhere else while they try to get her life straightened out.  Shelby isn't Amish, so the life she is thrown into, is completely different from anything she's ever seen. 

This book is different than any other Amish story I've read.  A lot of twists, and everything doesn't work out like most would.  I really enjoyed the book, and would think that anyone who likes Amish stories would also enjoy it.

I recieved a copy of this book to read and review, from Thomas Nelson, through their BookSneeze program.  I recieved no other compensation, and I was not required to give a favorable review.

Tricia Goyer video about latest book, Beside Still Waters

I have read and reviewed this book on this blog, and I highly recommend it.
Jettie

Winner announced

Honeysmom

entry #7 is the winner

of the book

'Save the Date'

by

Jenny B Jones

Thanks for all who entered

and please enter again, when I have

another book to give away.

New Book Giveaway 'Save the Date' by Jenny B. Jones: CLOSED

And the winner is:
Entry #7
Honeysmom!
Contact me with your mailing address,
and I'll get the book out this week.
Thanks to all who entered,
and I'll be hosting another book give away
when one of the publishers sends me an extra book!

 

I recieved 2 copies of this book, with no instructions

as to what I should do with the extra.

So, I've decided to offer it to my blog readers.

It is funny, very entertaining, and you can find my

review here

http://jettiesramblings.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

*to enter, please leave a comment on this post*

I'll draw for the winner on 3-21-2011

at

6:00pm

and the winner will be announced on this post.

Jettie

BOOK GIVEAWAY Winner named

If you entered the book giveaway, please check the post for the name of the winner.

I will be giving another book away in about 2 weeks, so if you didn't win this one, please check back to enter the next one.

THE PROMISE OF AN ANGEL by Ruth Reid

The Promise of an Angel, by Ruth Reid
A Heaven on Earth Novel
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishing
Release date June 11, 2011

At 19, Judith Fischer loves children, and entertains them with stories  whenever she gets the chance.  She hopes to join the church, marry and have lots of children of her own, hopefully with Levi Plank, a young man in the Amish community where she was raised. 
When her young brother, Samuel, falls from the barn roof, Judith finds a large Englischer man hovering over him, and believes she has seen an angel.   Samuel, severely injured, will never walk again, according to the doctors.  Again, Judith sees and talks to the Angel, Tobias, who tells her he is sent from God, and that Samuel's steps are numbered by God.
When Judith tells about seeing an Angel, the whole community thinks she has lost it, and only Andrew Lapp, Levi's cousin and the Bishop's son, listens to her.   Before long, Judith finds herself with very few friends, and about to be forced to go live with family in Ohio, for continuing to believe that Tobia is an Angel,, after being told not to talk about this subject any more.

 This is Ruth Reid's first published book, and she has done an outstanding job of making the characters believable and come alive.  From the first page to the very end, it is a book that will hold your attention.  I hope that she continues to write more novels in this genre.

I recieved a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  I was not required to write a favorable review.

PUJOLS More than the Game by S. Lamb and T. Ellsworth

PUJOLS
More than the Game
by Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth
Published by Thomas Nelson

Albert Pujols and his wife, DeeDee, are amazing people which this book definitely shows.  They display their faith in God in many ways, always witnessing, in the way they live, and act, for Him.

With the statistics Pujols has, he could quit playing baseball right now, and still be in the record books for the rest of time.  He works hard to display his God Given talent, never letting up on practice just because he is tired.

I loved this book, it shows how, even when you are on top, you can be a Nice Guy.
I did think that the statistics were a bit much, but once I got past those, I cruised right through the rest, enjoying every paragraph.

I think anyone who loves sports, especially baseball, or just the St. Louis Cardinals would enjoy this book, and be amazed at the talent this young man has, and what he has accomplished.

I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze, to read and review. No other compensation was given.
I'm not required to give a favorable review.

Book Giveaway closed AND THE WINNER IS

Heather

at the Picket Fence.

Thanks to all who entered.

I'll have another give away in a couple of weeks, so please check back.

Jettie

I recieved a copy of the Life Ready Woman, Thriving in a Do-It-All World, by Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Lewis, to give to one of my blog readers.

If you would like to enter

please put your first name, or your blog name and your email address in this form

 jettieatpoptartdotcom

in a comment at the bottom of this post.

On Friday, March 4th, I'll draw the winner, and email you for your mailing address.

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Louis

 Do you ever wonder how you can do everything and do it well? Does it seem like it's hard to be a modern woman and still live life from a biblical perspective?   Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Lewis address the issues that modern woman face; issues that are completely different than those our female ancestors faced. With so many opportunities available to woman today, we can do almost anything we want. But, we need to be sure we are following the plan God has provided each of us. This book  reminds us that you can never really "have it all" - something will suffer. Most women are torn between jobs and family.  The authors are careful to include information for woman at all stages of life from single to widowed and make sure to give examples for these different stages.
 I would recommend this book to every woman, it is a book that should be reread occasionally, to keep it fresh in your mind what Gods plan is for you.

I recieved a copy of this book to read and review.  No other compensation was given, all opinions expressed here are my own

The Bridge of Peace, by Cindy Woodsmall

I'd never had the opportunity to read any of the books by Cindy Woodsmall, so I didn't have any idea on what to expect. I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to find that she is an excellent writer. Her story flows from one person to another very well, with it all intertwining into a wonderfully beautiful story that leaves you glad you took the time to read it.
This book is 2nd in Ada's House series, and takes up where The Hope of Refuge ends. I see there is also another book coming out this fall and I plan on reading the whole series.

If you enjoy a good book, you won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  I was not required to give a favorable review.

The Real Skinny on Losing it, by Michelle McKinney Hammond

True Confessions and Devine Revelations of a former Yo-Yo Dieter
Tyndale House Publishers


I enjoyed the way the author, Michelle McKinney Hammond, made the book interesting, and the way she explained her struggle with weight and why she felt that women have the problem. I did feel that she kept the writing light, and made you feel she was right there with you on the yo-yo diet wagon. Her "Keeping it Real" comments were exceptionally right on target.

 I received a copy of this book from Tyndale to read and review. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

ADVENTURES IN BOOGABOOGA LAND By Richard Milner

Published by Thomas Nelson
There are 3 episodes on this DVD
Approximately 45 minutes total.

The Episodes are: 
                           1.  Squid Sushi loses his Marbles, 'The lost Pearl', Mathew 13:45-46
                           2. Wally the Waiter, 'The Soil and the Seeds'  Matthew 13:24-30
                           3. The Flaming Monkey, 'The Wedding Banquet'  Matthew 22:2-14

I shared the viewing of this dvd with my almost 8 year old granddaughter. 
They are cute stories, and my granddaugher enjoyed them a lot, we sat through the whole thing twice.

I received a copy of this DVD from BookSneeze to watch and review.  No other compensation was given.
The opinions expressed here are my own.

SAVE THE DATE by Jenny B Jones

Thomas Nelson Publishing

Lucy Wiltshire runs a non profit home for girls that have 'aged out' of the child welfare system, but still need help and support.  When her funding is cut, she starts trying to find some way to keep Saving Grace, the home she runs, open.  In steps Alex Sinclair, who is running for congress, and needs to tone down his playboy image.  He makes Lucy an offer, pretend to be his girlfriend, and then his fiance, to help him win the election, and he will give her a donation to keep the house open and a deed to the property.
Lucy isn't your typical southern charm school girl, she's not afraid to get dirty, tell people her opinion, and she doesn't necessarily want to be paraded on the arm of a former football star turned politician.  When her apartment gets flooded, and she is hounded by reporters,  she ends up at the home of a friend of Alex's, Clair Deveraux, former first lady of South Carolina.  Clair is intent on making a 'lady' out of once homeless Lucy.

This book is hilarious, Lucy gets into more 'fixes' than is almost humanly possible.  Alex is always pulling her out of one thing after another. Jenny B. Jones has me laughing loudly with some of these episodes.

I received this book to read and review from BookSneeze.  I received no other compensation, all opinions are my own.

INDIVISIBLE by Kristen Heitzmann

INDIVISIBLE by Kristen Heitzmann
Published by WaterBrook Press

This book is very complex, winding through the lives of all the characters, delving into their phobias and issues. I think anyone who enjoy a good mystery, romance, or a little scare, in their books, will enjoy this book, it held my interest from page one, down to the last paragraph.


Jonah Westfall is the police chief of a small town, where his father had been police chief before him.
He's trying to overcome the memories of a very bad childhood, at the hands of that same father.
And he's also trying to get past the mess he and Tia, the sister of his former fiance, had made of
things, several years ago.
Tia runs her mother's candle shop, and lives in the family home, that the rest of the family abandoned 9 years previous, to go with her sister, Reba, to Arizona.  Tia has never understood her parent's disinterest in her, and her life, treating her as something unwanted.
Piper  rents Tia's extra room, and works for Sarge at the bakery.  She's tired of the vagabond life her family lives, and is looking to put down roots.
Liz is a vet, and has bought the local clinic, which had been closed for awhile.
Miles, an inventor, has many issues, concerning hi size and fear of touching.
These are the main characters in the book, which has several other characters and sub plots. 

This is an author that I'll be reading more of her writing, very soon.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Press to read and review.  No other compensation received.  All opinions expressed here are my own, and I do not give positive reviews to books that I don't enjoy.

UNTO THE HILLS by Billy Graham

UNTO THE HILLS
A Daily Devotional
by
Billy Graham
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers

This is an updated version of the book reissued on the 25th anniversary of the original.  There is a devotional
devoted to each day of the year, with a Bible verse at the top and a short prayer at the end of each.  I think this is the best way to understand some of the Bible, for those of us who need to delve more deeply into the word of God, but don't take the time to read daily.  I am really enjoying the devotionals, and his Preface, he says he never picks up the book without thinking of his late wife, Ruth, and knows that soon, they will be reunited, but until then, he is dedicating the book to her memory.


I have a very hefty respect for Dr. Graham, so when I got a chance to review this book, I jumped at it.  I seldom reread a book, but this one will stay by my chair, as it seems to touch on many subjects, I can read it and understand his explainations in just a few minutes time.  And with the verse at the top of the page, if you want to go more in depth, you have a location to start reading.

I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze to read and review.  I recieved no other compensation for my review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

COMING BACK STRONGER by Drew Brees with Chris Fabry

A Memoir
Coming back Stronger
Unleashing the hidden power of Adversity
By Drew Brees with Chris Fabry
Forward by Mark Brunell

First off, let me say, I'm not a big football fan, and I don't watch too many professional sports. I've never been enamored with the glamour and hype that seems to draw a lot of people to read or make heros out of athletes.  So you probably ask why I signed up to read and review this book. I didn't intend to, and passed it by a couple of times, but I kept coming back, and it was still available.  I think it was meant to be, that I read it.
Drew Brees really pretty much tells how it was, from high school and college sports, to being drafted into professional football.  It can be, and many times is, a hard life, no matter what the pay.  How injuries and bad seasons can effect even the most dedicated player.  How he had to work to recover from a bad shoulder seperation, and what it was like, the year after Katrina hit New Orleans, for the people there, the team with a new coach, and never having won a championship.  And then you fast forward to the 2009-10 season, when they managed to pull out a Super Bowl Victory, losing his mother just before that season started.

So you say you aren't a sports fan?  Read this book, you may not be a sports fan when you finish it, but you will have a lot of respect for a Quarterback named Drew Brees

I recieved a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers to read and review.  I recieved no other compensation for this review.  All opinions expressed here are my own, whether favorable or unfavorable.

AN AMISH LOVE by Wiseman/Fuller/Long

Published by Thomas Nelson Publishing

This is 3 Novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long
All three stories are stand alone, but they all happen in the town of Paradise.



Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long
Abigail Kaufman was raised by her father, after her mother's death.  She felt unloved, and was looking for a way out of the Amish community.  Joseph Lambert was looking to come back tot he Amish ways, after living  the Englisch way for a few years.  Suddenly, they find themselves married, without ever really knowing each other.  And, to Abigail's dismay, instead of leaving the Amish life, Joseph wants to embrace it...Will they grow together, or be pushed farther apart?

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller
Ellie Chupp lost her sight in the accident that took her friend, Caroline's, life.  Caroline's fiance, Christopher Miller, leaves the community, and is gone for 5 years. Ellie's fiance had left her shortly after he discovered she would be blind the rest of her life.  Christopher returns, finds his sister is marrying the boy who had been driving the car, the day of the accident.  He wants her to break the engagement, because of his loss.  Will he succeed, or will he discover the truth of that day 5 years ago?

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman
After their children were all grown, Naaman Lapp walked away from his wife, Levina, and was gone for almost a year.  He returns, and Levina is unsure of his intentions, even when he says he is home to stay.
Then word comes that a sheriff from Ohio, where Naaman had been living at his cousins, has shown up in the community of Paradise, and is looking for Naaman.   What has Naaman done during the time he was gone, to have the law looking for him?

All three of these stories are really well written, and enjoyable.  I think that anyone who likes Amish writing will be happy with it.  It gives you a chance to check the different writing styles of these three authors.  I have a favorite, but I'm not saying which, as everyone should draw their own conclusions.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishing.  I received no other compensation.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

A RUSH OF WINGS By Kristen Heitzmann

Bethany House Publishers

Noelle St Claire, the daughter of a prominent lawyer, is on the run, but she isn't sure who or what she is running from, she only knows she has to hide.  She places a cryptic call to her father, and, paying cash for tickets, ends up in Juniper Falls, a tourist town in the Rocky Mountains.  When she can find no place to rent,  the man at the general store recommends she check with Rick Spencer, who owns a couple of cabins a little further up the road. 
Morgan, Rick's brother, is very attracted to Noelle, but she only offers him a small part of her friendship. 
Rick, who owns the ranch, trains and raises horses, and Noelle wants to help him train a particular horse, Destiny.   When fall arrives, and everyone leaves for the winter, Rick tells her that she can no longer stay there, it wouldn't look right. 

For 381 gripping pages, you learn, as Noelle discovers, the reason for her fear and her weird dreams.  Will she learn the full reason, and be able to move forward with her life?

I read a lot of books, and I know a great book when I read it, this book is a great book. at least 5 stars...
I recieved a free copy of this book to read and review from Bethany House, I received no other compensation for my review.  I am not required to give a favorable review, and all opinions expressed here are my own.

UNDER THE OVERPASS by Mike Yankoski

Under the Overpass, a journey of Faith on the streets of America
Foreword by Fancis Chan
This is the Updated and Expanded edition.

Multnomah Books

Have you ever wondered how it would be to be homeless in America?  To wander the streets, trying to live day to day?  To find safe places to rest your head, when you are exhausted, and need to sleep? 

In 2003, Mike Yankoski got the idea to see how life was on the streets, and finally convinced his parents, and a few others that he was serious about finding out.  Sam Purvis accompanied him on this 5 month trek into what some would call the underbelly of humanity. They took no money, just a couple of guitars, a couple of sleeping bags purchased from thrift stores and a backpack each.   They lived in 6 different cities in the 5 months they were homeless.  They ate, slept, and lived just as the other homeless people did, even resorting to eating other peoples left food, and sometimes out of trash cans.  They panhandled, playing their guitars for whatever people would give, to survive.  They played Christian music, and talked to the other homeless about Christ.  They visited many churches, and sometimes the 'welcome' they received wasn't exactly what they expected.  Even to being asked to leave by several.

I'd say this book tells it pretty much how it really is for the homeless.  Mike did leave out the profanity but he stated that it was to save our eyes, not that it wasn't abundant.

This book got me to thinking, why do we think we need more and more and more 'stuff'?  Is it really necessary to accumulate all these possessions?  Do they really make us happy?  To me the answer was an unequivocal No, they are like a saddle on our back. 

The most compelling sentence in the whole book, for me,  "We are responsible to help others toward hope in Jesus' name.  But we are not responsible for their choices."
A 5 Star book all the way.