February 10 on 10

We were on a roll.

Attended church every Sunday this year.

I blew it today and slept in.

I felt so guilty when Mandy told me it was too bad we missed church.

She was right.

Ruby is holding her own. (thank you for the prayers)

She sleeps at the end of our bed and her snoring is quite soothing.

It's better than ocean waves or rain.

Valentine's decor is in the house!

This is one my favorite pictures of my girls together.

It's Halloween but the theme I see is love.

A treasure trove of VHS cassettes were discovered in our attic.

(thanks, sweetie)

Katie has never seen The Little Mermaid?

This needs to be remedied- quickly.

Sister Schubert for breakfast.

Someday I may try the Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls but this is sooooo much easier.

Have a glice day.

(Laughed so hard I could barely breathe.  Watch JB's face at 3:58!)

My cutie loves to craft.

Knew those extra sequins would be put to some good use.;)

Sweet pea comes everywhere with us now.

Have to keep an eye on her.

Mandy took this to the movies with a friend.

I was one happy girl when she came back with extras!

Fajitas for dinner.

Ole!

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska Review and BOOK GIVEAWAY!

**And the winners are Amy and Tristan!  Congratulations, ladies!**  

My Thoughts:

Like many little girls, I grew up hoping someday to be rich and famous.  Oh, to be a beautiful actress or lead the thrilling life of a musician!  What could be better?  And then I grew up and discovered that the famous pay a large price for stardom.  Ginny Marshall is on the verge of having all her dreams come true in Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska.  The reality of this puts her into panic mode and she struggles to reassess what she really desires out of life.  Only Brett Miller, her ex-fiance, can set things straight for her but she ran off after he proposed to her years ago.  What is it that Ginny is so afraid of?  The answers can only be found in her troubled past...

I really enjoyed reading Love Finds You in Glacier Bay.  Tricia Goyer & Ocienna Fleiss begin by sharing the history of Glacier Bay and it's fascinating!  They traveled there together to get the true flavor of this unique and charming town in Alaska.  I do believe that the gorgeous scenery and friendly people may actually make up for the limited wi-fi access!:)  My favorite character was the independent and tenacious Grandma Ethel.  Her one track mind (to find her grandson's true love) moves the story along at a pleasant pace and when she shares a package of old love letters with Ginny I wasn't able to put the book down!  It's endearing how a love story from the past combined with a present day romance are woven together so perfectly to heal the broken heart of a child.

The main characters, Ginny and Brett, are beyond cute- they are believable.  They are quite attracted to each other and occasionally battle with "self-control".  You know what I mean!  There is mention of playing chess outside so the neighbors can keep an eye on them and also a time or two that Brett struggles to be in the same room with Ginny.  Romantic- yes!  Tricia and Ocienna have done an amazing job delivering a refreshingly "clean" love story (with plenty of passion!) with a definite focus on God.

*Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska!!!*  (I'll randomly select a winner on Saturday, February 16th)

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests—her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town’s colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA’s pressures.

In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children’s governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover—as Ellie did—that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

Pre-order a copy here.

{MORE ABOUT TRICIA GOYER}

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.

In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

{MORE ABOUT OCIEANNA FLEISS}

Ocieanna Fleiss is a published author and editor. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area.

Find out more about Ocieanna athttp://ocieanna.com/.









Celebrate with Tricia and Ocieanna by entering their "Glacier Bay" Giveaway and RSVPing for their Facebook Party on Feb. 12th!







One fortunate winner will receive:




• A gorgeous handmade “Glacier Bay” bracelet


• A handmade cowl in "Glacier Bay" blues and greens


• A bottle of custom-made "Glacier Bay" sparkle polish in blue


• Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss and their two other “Love Finds You” titles {Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington}


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the "Glacier Bay" Author Chat Party on February 12th. Connect with authors Tricia and Ocieanna, get a sneak peek of their new book projects, try your hand at the Alaska trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways—gift certificates, books, and more!



So grab your copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and join Tricia and Ocieanna on the evening of February 12th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)








Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!




*I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Spasiba

It's 12:42 AM and I'm up with my sweet puggy baby, Ruby.  Best dog in the world.  We adopted her almost 3 years ago- at the age of (approx.) 9 years.  I never thought to ask her age when planning a home visit, I only knew that we had fallen in love with her.

Senior Pugs are amazing little balls of love.  

Sadly, Ruby is in the midst of heart failure & kidney failure and to add to the vicious cocktail she has a collapsed trachea.  She coughs and struggles to breathe and my heart aches for her.

Ruby is resting comfortably at the moment, so I thought I'd show you pictures from Katie's Nutcracker performance.  Only 2 months late.  It's still winter.:)

Spasiba means "thank you" in Russian.  The dancers only spoke Russian but it was beyond cool to hear their accents.  It's not a particularly warm language but one spoken with authority and purpose.  It could be a bit intimidating.

The dancers were charming and friendly even with the language barrier.  My heart went out to them since they were so far from home during Christmas.

The night before the final performance, Katie and I went home and baked. and baked some more. And a bit more.  We wanted to show the dancers we were so thankful for them.  You can do that without speaking.:)

Loaded up with cookies, cupcakes, breads, granola and the knowledge of a new word (spasiba) we went in search of the dancers.

We passed costumes.  We carefully checked dressing rooms.  Didn't want any unwelcome surprises.

Then we found them!  All the children cheered, "Spasiba!" and the dancers clapped for them.:)  It was lovely to watch and see smiles all around.

The lady in pink was the "Mom" of some of the dancers during the party scene.  She came out in search of the children and asked for a picture.  What lovely young lady.  My daughter was beyond charmed.

It was such an amazing experience being on the same stage with such talented dancers! The bridging of two countries and cultures was the cherry on top.:)

Off to check on little Miss Ruby and maybe even get a bit of sleep.  Night night.

be our guest

My high school was considered the "rich" school.  The "snob" school.  I had no idea.

You see, my parents weren't rich and I was not a snob.  

On several occasions I met kids from other schools and they told me that my school had quite a reputation.  The students they had met were unfriendly, to say the least.

I went out of my way to remedy this situation.  I was going to change the school's reputation- single-handedly!

Of course this was impossible, but I still wanted people to see that one bad (or several) apple didn't mean that the whole barrel was rotten.

Consider this, as you start your week.  *If you are a Christian- what if you are the only Christian that the people at work, in your neighborhood, at school, etc. come in contact with?*

Are you representing God in the best way? 

I know that I fail sometimes.

Being a citizen of heaven is a privilege.  Be aware that people are always watching.

I have some dear friends that have been deeply hurt by Christians.  The damage is difficult to undo.

It's not our job to candy coat the truth and the truth can be extremely hard to hear sometimes.  Of course, "playing Christian" on Sundays is not cool, either.  Being a hypocrite is a huge turn-off and I believe that's why a lot of people sign off from church.

These are words to guide us...  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Phillippians 1:27 

None of us are perfect and Christians will be judged by others.  

Represent the Lord to the best of your ability.  Don't let God get a "bad reputation".  Let His light shine!

Where Treasure Hides- Gone With the Wind meets World War II!

My Thoughts:

Gone with the Wind meets World War II and the thrilling, and often heartbreaking Where Treasure Hides comes to life.  This historical fiction, written by Johnnie Alexander Donley, took my breath away!  It begins as a lighthearted love story but quickly gains momentum and drama, action, suspense and tragedy become key players.  Alison Schuyler's life is devoted to art as a tragic family secret prevents her from falling in love.  When she meets Ian, a British officer, she dares to dream of a life of happiness.  Tragedy strikes as the Nazis begin to invade Austria and Ian becomes a POW while fighting in France.  Has the Schuyler family curse struck again?

I didn't want to stop reading this book.  So I didn't.  It followed me on my vacation- on the plane, at the hotel, and even deep into the night.  Priceless art is hidden in a deserted bunker, people are taken away in the night never to be seen again, children are orphaned without a second thought, and I was there the whole time- safe in my chair.  Where Treasure Hides is filled with World War II tragedy, desperation, fear and intrigue.  It also highlights the bravery and heroic actions of those people who were courageous enough to do the right thing despite the danger.

When I finished Where Treasure Hides, I almost felt like I'd seen a movie.  Johnnie Alexander Donley writes with such detailed imagery that I was exhausted!  Crying one minute and rejoicing in the next- there was no time for napping in this tale.   The highs and lows in the bok are just like a true war story. There are no guarantees for a happy ending but you feel beyond satisfied on the last page.  The author brings history to life along with delightful (and sometimes frightening) characters.  I'm placing Johnnie Alexander Donley on my life of favorite authors and cannot wait for her next masterpiece to hit the book stores.

 Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

*I was given a copy of Where Treasure Hides from Tyndale in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Secretly Smitten is Perfectly Delightful!

My Thoughts:

Let me begin by saying that I was smitten with this book cover!  After opening the book, I fell in love with the town of Smitten, Vermont as well as the people.  Secretly Smitten is a beautifully written love story (created by 4 different authors who are real life best friends!) detailing the lives of a mother and her daughters.  The book contains 4 stories that are knitted together in the sweetest of ways- with love.  Secretly Smitten begins with a mystery and a love story from the past.  Anna, Tess, Zoe and Clare Thomas are enchanting and lovable but nowhere near perfect.  Delving into history and memories, the women hope to uncover information about a pair of dog tags found in their grandmother's attic.  What they discover may bring happiness but what if  heartache occurs instead?

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Anna, Tess, Zoe and Clare Thomas.  Their stories are unique and heartwarming but also filled with real life frustrations and worries.  God is who they turn to when frustrated/upset and I found this truly refreshing.  Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerback, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter have created a delightful patchwork of characters that made me laugh and even cry!  I was drawn to Tess most of all as I saw much of myself in her.  She's insecure about her looks, is overly sensitive at times and a bit "chubby".:)  She also loves books and has a big heart (Does Colleen Coble read my blog??- lol!)  I think her story was my favorite, although each one was wonderful.  The sisters are as different as the colors of the rainbow and yet they all shine in their own way.  Secretly Smitten is a series I highly recommend.  Run out and treat yourself to a copy!

Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.

Purchase a copy here.

The "gals" are celebrating the release of Secretly Smitten with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don't miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.

*I was given a copy of Secretly Smitten by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Abel's Field review and GIVEAWAY!

The winner is Debbie!  Congratulations!!



Abel's Field is a winner of a movie.  It's a film that will make you think and laugh and boy did it make me cry.  The main character, Seth McArdle, is a bit of a modern day Job.  And Abel, well, I'll let you decide which biblical character he is at the end of the movie.:)  (Don't want to list an spoilers here!)  Seth carries the weight of the world on his shoulders while attending high school, working 2 (soon to be 3) jobs all the while raising his twin 7 year old sisters.  Their mother has passed away and their Dad is nowhere to be found.  The football team bullies him daily, his home is soon to be sold in a public auction, and he's tempted to commit a crime out of desperation. Seth feels that God no longer cares about him.  So many of us have been there.  But all is not lost...

Every day most of us get up and try to accomplish everything by ourselves.  At what point do you call out to God for help?  Abel's Field has heart, and you'll find yourself smiling quite a bit through the tears.  I watched it with my 15 year old daughter and we both agreed that it was a great movie.  There's action, drama, even a touch of romance.  There's also prayer (rarely seen in movies today) and gut wrenching moments of desperation.   Sometimes God helps us in the most unexpected ways.  And that's all I'm going to say except- you're going to want to watch this movie.:)

About Abel's Field

Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle (Samuel Davis) faces enormous pressure as he strives to support his little sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying of the football team. But fighting back only finds him singled out for punishment and assigned to an after-school work detail under the supervision of the reserved groundskeeper, Abel (SOUL SURFER’S Kevin Sorbo). Much to his surprise, Seth discovers that Abel may be the only one who truly understands his struggles. As dark times lure Seth toward desperate measures, the reluctant Abel may be the one person who can point him back toward the light.

Website: http://www.abelsfield.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbelsField

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbelsField

Abel's Field is being released on January 22nd and FlyBy Promotions is generously giving a copy of it to one of my readers!  Leave a comment on this post if you'd like to be entered to win!  I'll choose a winner on Friday, February 1st!

*I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*