Nutcracker

Maggie was in her first nutcracker this year. She has been taking ballet since she was five. But this is her first big performance. Maggie played a mouse this year. She didn't want the part originally because Maggie said that the mice were bad. But she ended up loving her part. I am sure she will have great memories for the rest of her life. Those memories are so worth the time and effort on our part.

Good Night

I had a good night with Maggie tonight. We went to the annual GA sleepover. It was fun getting together with old friends and meeting some that were new. We did not stay over because neither Maggie nor I do well spending the night somewhere other than at home. Plus Maggie is in the nutcracker so she needs to be well rested for practice. I look forward to spending more time doing mother daughter things with Maggie now that she is getting older.

Halloween

We had such a fun time tonight. We went trick or treating with Maggie and Brendan. Maggie of course was a fairy ballerina. She loves for her daddy to put on her makeup. Brendan was a Zombie killer. Brendan was very set on coming up with his own costume this year. Brendan hardly ever comes up with his own ideas. So I let him go as what he wanted. Afterward we went to Taco Bell. Then we went to Krispy Kreme . Krispy Kreme was giving away free donuts to kids in costumes. Soon the kids will be too old to go anymore. Jacob did not want to participate this year. He wanted to just stay home.

A Whisper of Peace

A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer is another classic romance story. This story takes place in Alaska. Half Indian Lizzie Dawson is having a hard time finding her place in the world. She is rejected by Father. Lizzie's mother is banned from the Indian tribe for marrying a white man. Therefore Lizzie is also banned. Clay Selby and his step sister Vivian have come to Alaska to tell the Indians about Christ. This book tells about reconciliation and forgiveness. It also tells what happens to a person's life when they accept Christ's gift of Salvation.
I really enjoyed this story. I could hardly put it down. It kept my interest the whole book. This will be a book I would read again and again. I hope to read more by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Hidden Affections

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr is a classic romance story. It starts out with the two main characters being forced into marriage. Annabelle Tyler is already a divorcee which was a badge of shame in the 1800. Harrison Graymoore is the most eligible bachelor in Philidelphia. Harrison is being accused of sleeping with Annabelle before marriage. Even though both parties have protested their innocence.
This book grabs your attention right from the start. I spent a lot of late nights enjoying this book. I normally do not like romances but this was one I really enjoyed.

Pattern of Wounds

Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand was a book I was given to read and review. I have to be totally honest. I could not get into this book for the life of me. I tried two different times. The main issue is the book jumps around too much. I felt like I was always missing something. It was a book where I had to keep going back and forth to try to get the facts straight in my head. I normally am a mystery kind of girl but I just did not get this book at all. I might try to read it again at some later time.

Life

I have been reflecting a lot on life. How quickly life can pass. I don't know what tomorrow holds. The sudden death of a friend recently shows I have no guarantees. God has a plan for my life. When I have done all that He has planned then God will take me home. In the meantime I need to be grateful for every day God gives me with my family. I don't need to worry so much about bills, house work, or things in general. I need to make the most of my life by enjoying my family, church and friends. I want to leave a legacy when God calls for me. I want my life to be a testimony that God is always good. This song reminds me of how much God cares for me.

Fun Date Night

David and I went on a great date tonight. We went to the first things first great date night. It was a lot of fun. The highlight of the night was Marriage speaker Mark Gungor. He was so funny. I haven't laughed so hard in so long. It was so good to remember why I am married. Also to be thankful for the husband God has blessed me with.

News

Well Micah has finally got to come home since the end of April. It feels weird having four kids under our roof. He has matured so much. It is really hard for me to relate to him now. They grow so fast. He will be leaving to go to Korea for two years. Micah will not be allowed to come home for that whole time. I know I will have to rely on God to give me strength. I will miss him so much. I am sure he will be changed a lot. I can't hardly bear the thought.

2nd week of School

We just finished our second week of school. So far everything is going pretty well. It started a little crazy our first day of school but everything seems to be falling in place. We are spending the month of August with a fairly light schedule.
Our morning routine starts with all of us eating breakfast and having Bible together. Our day just starts better if we put God first. Afterward we do chores. Then we work on school work. Maggie is becoming mostly independent. So I am able to focus on other things more. The boys for the most part are independent. I am trying to focus on reading a chapter from a book to everyone at lunchtime. We are usually done with school by 1:30. The kids do whatever they like in the afternoon. I have been getting a lot of sewing projects done.
Hopefully this will continue to be a fantastic year.

Paradise Valley

I wanted to tell about a great book that I read by Dale Cramer. It is called Paradise
Valley. It is published by Bethany House. It is the first in the series.

Paradise Valley starts out in 1921 in Ohio. The Amish are under persecution for their beliefs. This book is about a family who moves to a different country. So that they can believe how they feel God wants them to believe. Paradise Valley tells about different members of the family and how they each cope with problems that come their way. This book is also about standing up for what is right even if it seems like everybody else is against your family and beliefs.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me interested right from the beginning to the end. I hope to read more in this series.

Arms That Hold The Universe

I love this song. It helps me remember whatever I or my family is going through God is always there. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

A Book Review

Promises to Keep is a fiction book by Ann Tatlock. It is about coming of age and working through difficult circumstances. Promises to Keep was written in 2011 and was published by Bethany House Publishers. You can buy it at your local book store for 14.99.
Promises to Keep is set in a small midwestern town. The story starts right away capturing the readers attention. There is a lot of suspense through out the whole book. It is a page turner that has a reader asking for more. The book is about a family going through a hard time. It tells about how God brings circumstances and friends in families lives to make them stronger.
I enjoyed this book right from the start. Ann Tatlock has once again written a book that puts a person right in the middle of the story. I found myself enjoying this book so much that I didn't want to put it down. I would highly recommend this book for young and old alike. It is a book that I think everyone could relate too.

Under His Wings

I have been going through a lot lately. I feel like I am alone in this world a lot. But this song reminds me that I am never alone. Christ has me sheltered under His wings. I love this song.

New Post

I have needed to write for a long time. I just never seem to have the time. I am always so busy. By 3:00 every day I am so tired. I just feel like I cannot move. David is such a big help to me. He will come home and make dinner without complaining. I have a tendency to focus on his bad qualities instead of focusing on his good. David has more good qualities than bad. Why do we as humans always look more on the bad than the good? I am so guilty of this.
We had a "Sabbath" week off school. It was not restful at all. Every day we seemed to be doing something. I will start back to school on Tuesday. We will have only 11 more weeks after that. I already have our curriculum for next year. I always get excited when I buy new books. If only the kids were as enthused as me. I hope to get more blogging done this year.