"God Made Your Body" & "How God Makes Babies" by Jim Burns

I am SO excited to share these books with Jenny and David over the next couple of years (one - "God Made Your Body" - is geared towards 3-5yo and the other - "How God Makes Babies" - is for 6-9yo).  These books are FULL of colorful photographs and illustrations, as well as well-written information.
These books are part of a homebased sex education series "Pure Foundations" that help parents start to talk to their kids about making God-honoring decisions regarding their bodies, their self-image, and their relationships.  What a great way to teach your child the basics with fun to read and look at books!

I'll be using the book "God Made Your Body" in our homeschooling curriculum later this school year.  We'll be doing a unit on the body this Spring, and I'm looking forward to being able to incorporate this book into our curriculum.

Thank you, SO much, to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with these books to review!  Grab your copy at your local bookseller starting October 8th!

See you on Thursday...

I may be slightly AWOL or MIA this week, as I have another busy week ahead of me - at least through Wednesday. 

I'm still trying to recover from last week, & I have additional activities scheduled for both tomorrow & Wednesday - watching a soccer game (though I think we'll probably only show up for the last half or so - two little kids at a soccer game by myself does NOT equal ease) & David's one year check-up at the doctor's office.  (That's right... yesterday was Little Man's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!) 

So all that on top of my normal activities Mon-Wed (school two mornings, library for Story Time, errands, Bible study prep and teaching, etc).

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  Well, if I can't (which I probably can't), I know Who can!!  It's times like these that I'm glad I have strength that is not my own!

All that to say, if I don't have too much to say this week, it's probably due to all of the above.  Not to worry.  I'm still alive and kicking (I hope - but if not I'm in a MUCH better place!!). 

I'll be back sometime towards the end of the week, if not before then. Until then, enjoy the book reviews and read a book or two!

"A Slow Burn", by Mary DeMuth

This book is the second in the "Defiance Texas Triology" by Mary DeMuth.  Though it stands alone, it left me wanting to read the first and third books in the series.

Mary's storytelling is incredible!  When I first starting reading this book, I thought "this isn't my style - I'm going to have a hard time with this one", but next thing I knew, I was so caught up in the story that I was already to chapter 4.

The town of Defiance, TX, has just experienced the tragedy of a young girl gone missing.  Her mother is a drug/alcohol addict who is barely making ends meet.  When the news comes that the girl, Daisy, has been found dead, her mother, Emory, quickly succomes to the voices in her head that are out to destroy her.  Hixon, a black man raised in the white world, has been given an assignment from God to woo and marry Emory, in spite of the walls she has put around her heart.

This is a story of pain and forgiveness, mercy and heartache.  Each reader can identify with one of the characters in some way or another.  Each character seems to be a part of your life.


Disclaimer: I don't agree with all of the doctrine/theology that is found throughout the pages of this book, but taking into account that it is a work of fiction, and that God can manifest Himself to different people in different ways, I was able to look past my doctrinal/theological differences and let myself enjoy being sucked into the story.


This book is available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Zondervan Publishing.  Thanks to Zondervan for providing me with a free copy to review!

Be sure to check out the other bloggers participating in this tour!
A Musing Mom Speaks
A Sandy Path Book Reviews
A Writer’s Journey
Adventures of the Duncan Six
AP Free Writing 101
Arkansas Dreams
Aspire2 Blog
Awesome God…Ordinary Girl
Be Your Best Mom
Beams of Light Ministries
Bell Whistle Moon
Blog Tour Spot
Bluebonnet in the Snow
Book Nook Club
Caregiving and Beyond
Carla’s Writing Cafe
Carly Bird’s Home
Carma’s Window
Cheaper by the Half Dozen
Cindy’s Stamping and Reviews
Communicating the Vision
CommuniKate
Critty Joy
Declaring His Marvelous Work
Drive Home Productions
Faith…Creativity…Life
Fiction for the Restless Reader
Fictionary
First Impressions
Five Bazillion and One
Fresh Brewed Writer
Gatorskunz and Mudcats
Heading Home
His Reading List
i don’t believe in grammar
J’s Spot
Joy in the Journey
Karen R. Evans
Kristin Early
L’Chaim
Latte with Me
Lit Fuse
Literary Fangirl Book Reviews
Luxury Reading
Merrie Destefano
Mocha with Linda
Moments with MarLo
Musings by Lynn
Musings of Edwina
My Alabaster Box
My Life Message
Net’s Book Notes
Niki Nowell
One Desert Rose
Paper Bridges
Pollywog Creek
Ranunculus Turtle
Real Hurts, Real Hope
Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Refresh My Soul
Restore
Scraps and Snippets
Sheila Deeth
Sherri Woodbridge
Sky-High View
Snapshot’s Photoblog
Surviving the Chaos
The 160-acre Woods
The Character Therapist
The Gospel Writer
The Harrison Kaleidoscope
The Heart of Writing
The View from Here
This That and The Other
To Be Beautiful
Unreasonable Grace
Walking Daily
Word Vessel
Write 2 Ignite
Write on the Knows
Writer’s Wanderings
Writing to the heart of the matter

"A Taste of Fame" & "Potluck Club Cookbook", by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson

"A Taste of Fame" is book two in a series of novels about the ladies of "The Potluck Catering Club". Shepherd and Everson mix up a group of six ladies who originally came together to form a prayer club and have now (accidentally) taken their catering onto the big screen.

Each chapter in the book is written from a different character's POV. Each character has a unique background story that is expertly woven throughout, as well as the uniqueness she brings to the collective whole of the group.

The ladies of the Potluck Catering Club have found themselves tied into a contract forcing them to appear on a reality TV show - The Greatest Party Showdown - in New York City. Each of them (including the three guys that also managed to get roped in) have their own reasons for not wanting to go, but with the big picture in mind (raising enough money to save their church from bankruptcy), they choose to trust God for the outcome, knowing that He will bring to pass whatever He has planned for each of them.

As they find themselves moving farther and farther into the competition, they run into fiasco after fiasco. Through the humor, the tears, the fears, and learning to trust God with the little things as well as the big things, the ladies of the Potluck Catering Club will grab your heart and you will want them to cater your next big party!

Not only does this book include a great story, but it also comes with some great recipes that the ladies used throughout the story!

"The Potluck Club Cookbook" is full of easy and yummy recipes that are great for getting together with friends and family. From the back of the cookbook: "Potlucks make sharing good, home-cooked food with family and friends simple and easy. Start with a few (or a lot of) guests, bring delicious dishes to share, and mix with love. A proven recipe for success... From salads to casseroles to slow-cooker delights, there's something for everyone, even if you're watching your waistline... These great potluck ideas not only save you money, they also help you build memories to last a lifetime." I can't wait to try some of the yummy dishes inside and share them with family and friends!

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Feedback Friday

For my devotional reading, I've been reading through Purpose Driven Life.  Today was Day 13.  This quote stuck with me, and I thought I'd share it with you:

The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, and we often do that.  We sing "Onward, Christians Soldiers" on Sunday, then go AWOL on Monday.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

"Love Has a Face", by Michele Perry

When Bethany House Publishers contacted me with the opportunity to review this book for them, I knew I had a lot of books on my plate, but it looked really good. 

I want to give you a glimpse of what you will see when you pick up this amazing book for yourself.  The following is an excerpt from the back cover:

Born without her left hip and leg, Michele Perry is no stranger to seeming impossibilities. So when she arrived in war-torn southern Sudan, with little more than faith in God's promises, she did what everyone told her was crazy: She opened a home for orphaned children in guerilla warfare territory.

With a deft pen, she recounts unforgettable stories of life in the bush - stories that capture the stark realities of caring for more than one hundred little lives in the middle of a war zone - and of the love and mercy of God she's found there.

Captivatingly honest, Michele takes you through her own life as well.  From the slums of India to war-ravaged Africa, you will be swept away by her story of hope and the supernatural power of God in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

Since I knew I was going to be overwhelmed with the other books I'd already agreed to read and review, I asked my husband if he'd be willing to read it and review it this month, and he agreed.  (I'm looking forward to reading it once things slow down around here based on his recommendation!)  The following is his review of the book:

Simply told, yet powerfully impacting story of God at work in the African county of Sudan.  Michele is a living example of 1 Cor. 13 in every way, and her selflessness has allowed the Holy Spirit to accomplish the most amazing works in her and through her to the lives of dozens of African children and adults.  This book will give you a much clearer picture of God's loves and its far-reaching affects.  You will be encouraged and inspired by reading it.

Be sure to pick this amazing book from Bethany House Publishers up at your favorite bookseller!

Goals Update...

Have you ever noticed that getting up before 9am really changes the whole pace of your day (versus getting up after 9am)?  I'm beginning to see a pattern. 

I've been keeping track of certain "goals" on a daily basis for the past month and a half now.  Each day, I check off whether or not I've worked on my Bible memory, had my quiet time, spent time in prayer, blogged, exercised, and done double-crunches.  I also record the time I got out of bed (not the time I actually woke up, because there is usually a decent difference) and my weight each morning.  I wanted to have a visual for each of these "goals" I have - I wanted to be able to see progress over time. 

By recording these "goals", I've noticed some patterns:

• Sundays are the hardest day to have a quiet time, prayer time, and work on my Bible memory.
• When I'm "home" (in Michigan), I tend to put on about 5 extra pounds from all the food we eat while we're there!
• I haven't exercised in over a month (at least not based on the description on my "goal" checklist) or done any double-crunches.  (My stomach is definitely showing the slack from that.)
• I've managed to get into a good rhythm for my QT, prayer time, Bible memory, and blogging.  These things have become habits that are being done almost every day.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to work exercising back into my daily routine over the next few weeks/months as I get a regular routine established for each day in my week.  It's definitely nice to have a "routine" again!

Q4U:  Do you keep track of any "goals" on a daily/weekly basis?  What "goals" are you working on right now?  Do you thrive on routines or do they become too monotonous and cause you to wander from them?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on any/all of this!

Praying for naps...

I really don't have anything to say today.  I'm tired.  My kids are refusing to take naps for the second day in a row (although David finally fell asleep when I moved Jenny to the pack'n'play in our room).  And I have to have enough energy to go teach Bible study in two hours.  Right now I feel like I'm going to cry (but don't worry - I don't actually know how to cry).  I think I'm about to break my "no caffeine today" goal.  I really need something to perk me up.  I was thinking about running to Taco Bell on my way to Bible study for a big Mountain Dew, but it's not exactly on the way to church.  Maybe I'll stop at the Shell station (since it is on the way) and get something from their fountain pop machine.

I'm excited about Bible study tonight.  I'm hoping to do some "hands on" teaching (using the whiteboard, if I can find markers and if somebody hasn't removed it), and I'm excited to see how it goes.  I spent most of the afternoon/evening yesterday working on my lesson plan.  I ended up just typing it in "paper format", which ended up being seven pages long, in order to make sense of everything I'd discovered while studying the two verses we're talking about tonight.  Hopefully my teaching method will work and we'll be able to have a good discussion about these verses and the applications to our lives.  I'm not sure if I'm going to use this method every week, since most weeks we'll be looking at larger chunks of Colossians (we're following the break up of Colossians in Be Complete, doing one chapter from the book each week), but I'm excited about teaching in this manner tonight!

Since Jenny is still not sleeping, I think I'm going to go ahead and get her bath done so she can eat supper before we leave in a little over an hour.  I think we're probably having cereal again... we tend to eat a LOT of cereal in our house!

It's just random today...

I'm getting ready to sit down and type out my lesson plan for Bible study tomorrow night, but my brain is super cluttered, so my concentration level is less than ideal.  Thus, I decided to let it ooze for a bit...

BO#1: Haha... that's really funny... brain ooze is abrieviated "BO"... too funny.

BO#2: I really shouldn't have had that Mountain Dew while I was rewatching last night's Gossip Girl a little while ago.  My head is feeling the effects.

BO#3: Both kids actually did a GREAT job of sitting still, being quiet, and listening at Story Time today.  I think the fact that they were both semi-tired helped!

BO#4: I feel sorry for anybody who gets in line behind me at the supermarket (does anybody actually call them this anymore?  does anybody remember that AWESOME game show "Supermarket Sweep?") or CVS.  At the grocery store, I tend to have somewhere between 3 and 7 transactions, thanks to WIC for breaking up all my "freebies" for the month into a bazillion checks/vouchers.  And at CVS, I tend to have 1-2 transactions, but usually end up needing rainchecks for whatever they don't have in stock.  Being the person holding up the line has really changed my outlook on people who take forever when they're checking out.  I still, however, have little understanding for cashiers who just take forever because they have nowhere to be.

BO#5: My brain clutter is all over the place today.  It's been awhile since I've felt this random!

BO#6: It dawned on me about 20 minutes ago that it is Tuesday afternoon.  That means tomorrow night is Bible study, and I have to have a lesson plan ready to go.  While I have my studying done, and my outline prepared, I have had "type BS lesson plan" on my "to-do" list for three days now.  I probably should get it done TODAY, so I don't have to try to fit it in with school and life tomorrow!

BO#7: I picked up a couple books about pumpkins and fall at the library today.  I didn't have any books in my school plans this week, but Jenny really likes to read together, so I thought it would be fun to have books that went along with our science topic for the week - assuming we actually get to science tomorrow (we didn't make it there yesterday).

BO#8: Today is the first day of Fall.  However, it's a muggy 80 degrees (or at least that was the projected high when I checked this morning) outside.  Where's my cooler weather?  I want my sweatshirts and sweaters and jeans!!

BO#9: When your child is still a few days away from turning one, it's probably not a good idea to try to feed him eggs, when you know you shouldn't feed them to him til he's one.  Yeah... I felt like a pretty crappy mommy when he broke out in hives.  Hopefully it's just a "I'm not one yet, so don't give me eggs yet" deal, not a true allergy.  I already have one allergy to deal with (Jenny & PB - though we're hoping it's the same kind of deal).  I feel bad for moms who have to deal allergies.

BO#10: Man, we're already at 10 and I feel like I'm just getting started!  Don't worry, I won't go on forever.  After all, I do need to get my lesson plans typed out at some point, right?!

BO#11: My friend Erin came over yesterday afternoon, and we had a good time hanging out.  Jenny LOVES "Miss Erin" - she was definitely on "somebody's here and I'm going to show off" mode yesterday afternoon for awhile!  I'm looking forward to getting to know Erin (and her husband) better over the next few months - we decided we're going to be intentional in our relationship with them - working to get to know each other on a deeper level.

BO#12: I probably should call it quits now, since I'm starting to have to let my brain pause between oozes and so that I don't totally bore you to tears.  Leave me your BO in the comments (or feel free to email me, too)!  I can't wait to read it!

Grab my blog button!!

I've created a blog button (over on my side bar)... let me know if you grab it! :)

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Life might slow down...

... then again, probably not!

Last week was a crazy busy week, and then we all got sick on top of everything else, so Thursday through Saturday, life was pretty much at a stand still.  We didn't leave the house the whole time J was off, even though we made plans each day to go run our errands and whatnot.  We really didn't miss much.  Other than Kids Market.  But, oh well... there's always Goodwill or Our Father's House if I need to buy play clothes or other stuff for the kiddos.  (Plus, we have Kohls and JCPenney here in town, so I can always hit up their clearance areas, if/when I ever get the gumption to shop.)

Yesterday, the kiddos and I went to church in the AM.  Right as the closing prayer was taking place, they must have opened the sanctuary doors, because all of a sudden we heard "MAMA!!!  MAMA!!!!"  My friend sitting next to me (yes, I have a friend at church!!) turned to me when the prayer was done and said: "That was David, wasn't it?!"  Yes, my son decided at that point that it was time to go.  He was done in the nursery, and he wanted his Mama.  Up til that point, he hadn't even been fussy.  Gotta love a kid with a good sense of timing.  I think he's going to be a pastor when he grows up - this is the second time in three weeks that he's had something to say while church is going on!  (He decided to "share" during our church service at the campground over Labor Day - the only time he really "talked" all weekend!)

After church, we ran to Walmart to exchange our DVD player.  We had bought an upconvert DVD player back in July, and when we got home last weekend, it wouldn't turn on anymore.  (I think David may have done something to cause this - he likes to touch electronics when we're not close enough to stop him.)  So, the kids and I took it back to Walmart and then ran through the school stuff clearance aisle, since I've been looking for a new binder to keep my life in order.  I found a nice Five Star binder (with pencil pouch included!!) on clearance for $5.  (Had I gone on Thursday or Friday, like I'd originally intended, I could have gotten it for $3, since I had a $2 off coupon, but it expired on Friday.)  I also picked up a clipboard for $1 (normally $3) for J for his work truck - he'd been looking for one awhile back - and my weekly newspapers.  They tried to charge me two extra dollars (plus tax) for the DVD player when I went to check out.  They had increased the price two whole dollars since we'd purchased ours.  I didn't go for that.  I made the cashier correct the difference (thankfully I'd totalled my bill before checking out, or I'd never have noticed!!) since I had done an exchange, and walked out having only spent $7.  (And didn't even have to "pay" for that, since we had a gift card!!)

I decided on the way home that I didn't feel like making myself lunch, but I was pretty hungry, so I ran through the McDonald's drive-thru for a $3 Double Cheeseburger Meal.  Yummy!  (Ketchup only on the burger.)  Then I made Jenny a jelly sandwich, gave David some milk (I'm working on transitioning him from formula to milk since he'll be ONE YEAR OLD on Sunday, so he's getting 1/2 and 1/2), and ate my lunch.  While the kiddos took naps, I decided to give HSM3 a second chance.  I had only seen it once, and I was VERY tired (it was late at night), and I wasn't all that impressed.  I'm glad I watched it again - it was definitely worth a second chance!  I had to laugh at myself a couple of times throughout the movie, though, as I was definitely getting way too "in to the movie" - grinning ear-to-ear when something happy happened, getting excited when Troy & Gabriella kissed, wanting to clap when a big event happened, etc.  It's probably a good thing I was sitting alone in my living room while watching it!

Today was the start of our second week of school.  Feel free to read about it on our school blog.

Q4U:  I need ideas of topics to write about.  I'm sure you all don't want a recap of my week every post - I don't really want to write a recap of my week for every post!  Leave me suggestions and ideas for topics or questions you have for me.  I'll try to do some brainstorming, and we'll see if I can't get at least one unique random post each week (though I'd like to have 3-4 each week).  Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!

"If God is Good", by Randy Alcorn

This is a book every library should have on its shelves.  This is a GREAT reference book when you are going through difficult times (or are counseling someone going through difficult times). 

(Excerpt from the back cover): "In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God - Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering?  And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist? ... Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical perspective to the issues these important questions raise... Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all."

This book is thoroughly researched, and Alcorn continually takes the reader back to the truths of Scripture as he addresses the issue of suffering and evil in the face of an all-loving God.  If you find yourself questioning the existence of God, grab a copy of this book from Multnomah Books at your local bookseller, and read for yourself the proof that God is good and that He does exist.

"An Eye for An Eye", by Irene Hannon

This book is the second in a series by Irene Hannon, "Heroes of Quantico".  However, even as part of a series, this book stands alone and is a story that will draw you in from the first chapter.

I have to laugh at the comment on the back cover from Dee Henderson: "I found someone who writes romantic suspense better than I do."  Before reading this book, and then again as I was reading it, I was continually reminded of the similarities to Dee Henderson's books (which I love).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and at times I even forgot that I was reading it in order to write a review on it!  It was a quick and easy read, but full of suspense, love, and intrigue.

The main characters, Mark and Emily, are reunited after twenty years of silence, but under less than ideal circumstances.  One of them is the target of a killer, but which one is unknown.  As they search for clues to the killer, their romance from their teen years is once again fresh in each of their minds.  Will they find the killer before he succeeds in killing?  Will they pick up where they left off 20 years ago?  Will Mark turn back to God?

Be sure to pick up this book and find out the answers!

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

"Have a New Husband by Friday", by Dr. Kevin Leman

Disclaimer: This is a book I'd like to recommend, but parts of it make it difficult for me to do so.  While the majority of the content is great, there are some things that really go against what I believe to be Biblically sound.

The major aspects of the book include great advice about changing how you view and treat your husband, to best show your need for, respect of, and desire to fulfill him.  According to Dr. Leman, when your husband feels needed, respected, and fulfilled, he will be the "perfect husband".  And getting him to that point, assuming he's a "normal" male, is easy enough to do "by Friday".

Take this book, along with your Bible, and have a better marriage in just five days.  I look forward to trying some of these methods in my marriage.  I've seen it work in the past.  When I change how I act, think, and interact with my husband, he in turn changes how he acts, thinks, and interacts with me.  Let's open the lines of communication with our husbands, using Dr. Leman's suggestions and have "new" husbands by the end of the week!

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

"The Carousel Painter", by Judith Miller

I really enjoyed this easy and quick read.  Judith Miller is quickly becoming a "go-to" author of mine.  She did not disappoint with this newest release!

One of the things I like about Judith Miller is her attention to detail without bogging her reader down in the details.  Her research into the time period shows in her writing, yet her style allows the reader to continue in the story without feeling like he/she is missing something if he/she doesn't take the time to read every word.  It makes for a very enjoyable read.

The story in "The Carousel Painter" is that of a 'poor' woman who is friends with a 'well-to-do' society gal whose father owns a carousel factory.  Carrie (the 'poor' woman) is able to attain a job at the all-men factory, much to the chagrin of the other employees and their spouses.  Even the factory manager, Josef, seems to question her abilities at first.  Throughout the story, trouble arises, and time and time again, Carrie finds her pride getting the better of her.

Pick this book from Bethany House Publishers up at your local bookseller to read a great historical fiction romance with underlying truths from God's Word!

"Fields of Grace", by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This book has a unique and cute story line, but I had a hard time getting into the book.  I'm not sure what my problem with it was.  I think I mostly struggled with the style of writing, not the story itself.

The story starts with a Mennonite family in Russia, who finds themselves in a situation where they are needing to move to America immediately.  Trouble ensues during their travels, and they find themselves in Kansas in a situation that they hadn't expected.  Friendships, romances, and trust in God all find their place in this story.

Sawyer writes from her own family's experiences as she weaves this story about Eli and Lillian.  She brings real life to the characters, as she tells their story in her own unique way.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction and enjoy learning about the Mennonite people and their faith, you will want to pick up this book from Bethany House Publishers.

MIA explained...

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.  I've been a little bit busy, and I haven't really been online all that much. 

Monday and Wednesday, we had school. 

Tuesday was Story Time at the Library, and we ran errands afterwards (made $4 at WAGS!!). 

Wednesday night was Bible study and Cubbies at Church. 

Yesterday, I spent a couple hours working on next week's Bible study lesson, played with the kids, read some of my books that need to be reviewed for next week's blog tours, etc. 

Here's a view of my desk while I'm studying for Bible study...

I tend to have at least 4-5 books/Bibles open at once, along with all my notes.

Here's the results of about two hours worth of studying...

I am really enjoying using my rusty Bible study skills again.  I got to phrase a passage yesterday, and I had to get out an example from Homiletics to remember how to do it.  Thankfully, J was able to confirm that I had done it right!

Today, we're headed out to return/exchange our DVD player we got a month and a half ago from Walmart.  We came home on Sunday night and it wouldn't turn on anymore.  I'm also planning to return to WAGS (they have a bunch of deals this week).

Tomorrow is Kids Market.  I didn't realize until 11:20am that I had to have my stuff to them by 12pm today.  So, I won't be selling anything this time around, but we'll be hitting up the sale tomorrow to buy some needed items for Jenny for this winter/fall.  Tomorrow night, I'm headed to a scrapbooking party at a friend's house after the kiddos are in bed.

I'll try to post more next week... I'm just not opinionated at the moment.

Dear Walmart...

I'd like to take a few moments to share with you some thoughts I have.

First, I'd like to say that your price matching guarantee is great, but since your cashiers hardly know how to deal with a coupon, I have very little faith in their ability to properly ring up my items, thus I would rather make a separate trip to the other store in order to get my items at the correct price.

Secondly, the above mentioned cashiers really could use some better training.  It's not their fault that they don't know how to ring items up and use coupons to discount your customers.  In fact, there are a few that actually know what they are doing (my guess is that they were shoppers before they were cashiers).  You'll notice these are the cashiers I make a beeline for when I'm ready to check out, even if their line is to the back of the store.

Thirdly, if you really want to compete with your competitors, you should consider implementing a double-coupon policy (up to $1.00 would be ideal, but I'd even settle for $.50) & accepting competitors coupons.  If you did these things, I might actually do the majority of my shopping in your store.  As it is right now, I can get infinitely better deals at your competitors' stores, and thus you are my last choice for a shopping stop.

Finally, if you would not mind, I'd like "reward" for my invaluable input in regards to your store.  I'd say a $50 gift card would be appropriate (though I'd not turn down a $25 gift card, nor a $500 gift card).

Thank you for your time today,
A skeptical customer who'd like to get to know you better

Random Ramblings, volume "I don't know how many..."

RR#1 - Today was Jenny's first day of "school".  I actually managed to get out of bed before 7am this morning and was ready to go before my anticipated starting time of 9am.  Feel free to visit our "homeschooling blog" to see pictures of our first day!

RR#2 - Today is the first of "first"s this week.  School today, 2s Story Time tomorrow, Cubbies and Bible Study on Wednesday.  That all combined with Kids' Market and a scrapbooking party on Saturday looks like a pretty full week!

RR#3 - I have a TON of couponing to catch up on - I haven't updated my database in over two weeks, PLUS I picked up two papers yesterday at the gas station, and found 21 extra Red Plum inserts sitting on top of them.  So, I have a bit of catching up to do.  I think Heather might get some extra inserts in the mail this week - if I remember to go to the post office.

RR#4 - I'm finally back to having an "errand" day during the week.  Since we hit up the library on Tuesday mornings (due to 2s Story Time), I'll be running all my errands on Tuesdays again.  CVS, WAGS, Owens, etc.  It's an all morning adventure!

RR#5 - Our pool is getting put away for the year.  I think we used it less than 10 times total.  It was just not a hot summer.  (And then, when it finally got hot, we were in the middle of trying to clean it and then had to wait for our landlord to put in a new spigot.)  Hopefully we'll be able to get more use out of it next year - the kids will be older and more likely to use it, I'm hoping.  At least we didn't waste a bunch of money on chemicals and whatnot this year.

RR#6 - I've been going through "Purpose Driven Life" in my devotional times lately, and I'm really enjoying the challenges at the end of each chapter.  It's definitely been helping (along with the completion of my previous devotional "Praying for Purpose for Women") me to start to see and understand my current purpose and what I'm supposed to be doing right now.  I was struggling to find meaning in the every day while I was home with the kids all day.  I'm a person who needs to be able to see tangible results in order to feel like I'm getting anything done, and being "Mommy" doesn't usually come with the tangibles.  I'm starting to be able to "measure" my "productivity" in ways other than just "tangibles".

RR#7 - I'm really enjoying my "new job".  It's a perfect fit for me.  It allows me to plan and organize, using my internet search skills, without taking a lot of brain power, allowing me to work on it sporadically and during my "down time".  It's nice being able to feel like I'm "contributing" again, even if it is only $30/wk right now!

I think I'm going to leave you with just 7 thoughts today.  After all, 7 is the "number of completion" in the Bible.  Time to get off the computer and read a book!

"Silent Savior", by A.J. Gregory

A.J. Gregory has written a book based on her own personal experiences of times in her life when God has been "silent". 

(From the back of the book:) There are times in our lives when it's not just hard to hear God - it's impossible.  We've all been there. Knowing on some deeper level that God is present no matter how things look, but still feeling the trickle of doubt.  And wondering why the God whose faithfulness is never supposed to fail seems to be turning a giant deaf ear toward us.  It's not always like this, but silent seasons are common in the life of any believer... In Silent Savior, A.J. Gregory navigates that labyrinth of sorrow, pain, angst, and doubt on the way to a soul-deep recognition of God's infinite faithfulness and perpetual, if sometimes silent, presence.  And she encourages you to keep believing he's there even when that silence seems deafening.

Gregory uses Scripture and experience (both her own and that of others) to point readers to the truth that God is always there, even when we can't hear Him.  One of the points that sticks out the most from this book is her take on the story of Job.  Even though Job has all but lost hope that God will ever answer him, he never stops talking to God.  He might be screaming and yelling and completely off-base, but he was still trusting that God was there, even when God wasn't talking back.  We need to have faith like Job, faith that keeps us coming back to God, even when we can't hear Him.

"You Were Born for This", by Bruce Wilkinson & David Kopp

His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.

Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.”

In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a “Delivery Guy” from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.

You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and I expect to!”

One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.

Click here to see what Bruce has to say...

I haven't had a chance to read this book yet, but I look forward to reading it soon!

Friday Festivities...

Okay, so I didn't spend all afternoon on my laptop yesterday on the way to MI sharing all my opinions with you. You can thank me for it later. Actually, as we were leaving town, we stopped at McDonalds and I gave my opinion to J. Let's just say it wasn't exactly a respectful opinion, and I spent a good portion of the next few minutes taking back my opinion. Oops. And just after I had stood on my "respect your husband" soapbox that morning. Today has been another opinion filled day, though on a much less volatile scale. I think all that Gilmore Girls on the way to MI (in lieu of the blogging) was probably a good thing.

I'm not sure why I'm so opinionated. I just seem to have an opinion on everything all of a sudden. And, no, Brent, I don't plan to get political. I just seem to want to comment on all the blog posts I read lately. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get through all of them the last couple of days.

Anyways. We're in MI now. Obviously. We spent last night with my in-laws - we took them to Bob Evans for my MIL's birthday. Today, we visited my friend Heather (and her family), went to lunch with my grandparents, and now I'm laying on my parents' couch waiting for my mom to get home so we can take them to Don Pablo's for her her birthday. Tomorrow, the kids and I are driving to IN (about 30 mins from where we live) to watch my sister play tennis while my dad and J golf. Then my parents (and sister and her bf) are going to keep the kids for the night while J and I have a night to ourselves.

Well, I guess my brain isn't really wanting to ooze right now. Sorry for the lack of substance. Have a great weekend!

Something's in the air...

I am feeling EXTREMELY opinionated today... something MUST be in the air. And, we're leaving in less than two hours to head to MI. And I'm still in my PJs. So, all that to say: I'm not going to be blogging on here for the time being. I'll try to put my time in the car later to good use and blog on the 2.5 hour ride (I'll upload my thoughts when we get to MI later). Maybe by then my opinions will have calmed a bit. Otherwise, I might have LOTS of blog posts prepared for the weeks to come. What's up with all this opinionation today? It's insane!

Q4U: What are you feeling strongly about today??

"That Certain Spark", by Cathy Marie Hake

This is a difficult book to write a review for. I didn't hate it. But I didn't love it, either. Honestly. The story line was cute and fun. It was an "easy read". But the style just didn't work for me.

The story is about a pair of twins - one male and one female - who are both doctors - he's a vet and she's a people doctor. They move from Chicago to Texas in the late 1800s, and she is NOT what the town was expecting. They were expecting a man to be their new town doctor. Her first patient, one of the town's blacksmiths, is one of her first critics, but he can't deny that she saved his life. Owing her his life, he takes up the responsibility of escorting her to her various house calls and quickly becomes her closest friend in town. When trouble arises, he's there to "save her", even when she wishes he wouldn't.

Like I said before, the story line is cute. The style of the book, however, seems choppy and yet not broken up enough. There is a lot of dialogue, and at times I found myself lost as to whether the scene had changed or not. If you're looking for a funny and cute historical fiction read with some pointed Biblical truths strung throughout, then you'll probably enjoy this book. I won't be rushing out to find other books by this particular author, but if another of her books crosses my path, I won't not read it either. Just my honest take on it.

Is it Wednesday already?!?!

I can't believe the week's almost over - literally, since our "weekend" starts on Thursdays again! (Although, since J has been on vacation all week, with the exception of today, I guess our "normal" schedule will technically start back up on Monday - since he's taking Sunday off, too.)

Tomorrow, we re-pack our bags and head to Michigan for another weekend. This one should be slightly less involved as far as the packing goes, though. We're headed to J's parents house tomorrow night to celebrate his mom's birthday with them.

Then Friday, I'm hoping to catch up with Heather (maybe??) before heading to BC to celebrate my mom's birthday that night.

Saturday, J is golfing with my dad and a bunch of guys from my parent's church (my home church) while the kids and I drive to IN (that's right - drive to MI, just to visit IN while we're there!) to watch my sister play tennis at Huntington University.

Saturday night (probably around halftime of the Michigan/Notre Dame game - we live/eat/breathe Michigan football around our house), J and I have reservations for a jacuzzi/king-sized bed room at a hotel in Marshall. We're planning to leave the kiddos with my parents for the night. We'll probably hit up Red Lobster in BC and maybe a movie(??) before enjoying a night away!

Sunday, we'll rejoin my family at church, followed by a birthday dinner for my mom and aunt at Lone Star with my extended family. Then, we'll reload our kids and stuff at my parents' house and head home for IN.

Monday starts school!! Tuesday starts story time at the library!! Wednesday starts Cubbies (for Jenny) and Bible study (I'm teaching - ahhh!!!) at church!!

It's going to be a CRAZY busy month for us!! Especially since Little Man turns ONE YEAR OLD on the 27th!! Throw in a birthday party for him, Kids' Market on the 14th, a scrapbooking party on the 14th, David's 1 year check-up at the end of the month, a stack of books needing to be read and reviewed, and my new job (which I'm loving, btw) on top of everything else, and I'm going to need all the Supernatural Strength I can get! Thankfully, I know the Source!!

I spent an hour or so this morning reading the first part of Colossians (the focus of the Bible study I'll be teaching this Fall) and starting to go over the text. I am SO excited about the reminder that Christ is ENOUGH!! We're using Warren Wiersbe's "Be Complete" as our study guide, and I love the emphasis on our completeness in Christ. Nothing else can be added to make us any more complete. He is the Source of Life and the Sustainer of Life!! I LOVE it!!! This study is going to be HUGE in my life this Fall - especially in all the busyness - a constant reminder that HE is ALL I need & that I NEED Him!!

So this post was literally ALL over the place, but that's where my brain is. I could probably keep writing for hours on end right now (partially in thanks to my Excedrin and Ghirardelli I just consumed), but I don't really want to put you through all of that. So, I think I'm going to grab one of the books I need to read for next week and hit the couch.

Q4U: What do you need to hear on a regular basis in regards to Christ being ENOUGH? Do you know Christ? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? If not, EMAIL ME!!! I'd love to share Him with you!!

Try-to-keep-up Tuesday...

We're home. I've discovered (although I'm pretty sure I probably knew this before and just chose to ignore the fact) that outings such as camping with two kids (or camping at all) take a LOT of work for the few short days/hours of enjoyment that they bring. But, all that to say, I enjoyed myself, and I will definitely be camping again "soon". (Probably not this year, since it's already mid-September and this is a CRAZY month.)

Yesterday, we got home about 2pm (I think), and began the unpacking process. I crashed on the couch around 4pm, after having unpacked and put away everything (J started laundry for me). By the time I went to bed last night at 10:30pm (after a much needed shower), I had the final load (of 5) in the dryer, and all the others folded and put away.

Today has been a "catch up on technology" day. It's amazing how quickly things get backed up when you've been "tech-free" for a whole weekend! Prior to this morning, my last encounter with the internet was on Friday afternoon at Burger King in South Haven, MI, when I logged onto their WiFi to submit my weekly invoice. (I had totally forgotten it was due Monday at 12pm, and I knew I wouldn't be home in time to submit it.) I think I'm finally all "caught up" with my technology-based updates (emails, FB, blog posts, Twitter, etc), once I'm done updating this blog!

Tomorrow is going to be a day full of errands and last-minute planning. We take off again on Thursday to head back up to Michigan for the weekend - both moms have birthdays this weekend. Since we start school on Monday, I have to finalize our first week of lesson plans and get the books I need for Monday from the library. I also start teaching the Ladies' Fall Bible study at Church next Wednesday, so I need to work on my first week's lesson, as well as putting together an outline for the ladies for the study (what we'll be covering each week). I'll probably throw a CVS and WAGS trip into the mix for tomorrow, as well.

J is competing in Chicago tomorrow for work. His company is a nationwide company, and he is competing in their "Jeopardy" tournament for the local group (Chicagoland/Lake Area). If he does well, he'll get selected to compete in Boston in November. He's been studying all day to learn some of the material that is past his current training level. I think he's looking forward to the competition tomorrow, and he is hoping to make it to the "all-stars" that are going to compete in Boston in November. Go J!!

All this "trying-to-keep-up" today has made today FLY by! I can't believe it's already 5:30pm! I should probably figure out what we're going to have for supper... maybe some leftover campfire stew! Yummy!!!

Q4U: What's on your agenda this week? What new activities are you getting started with this Fall?

"Fearless" by Max Lucado

"Imagine Your Life Without Fear"... the subtitle for this book says it all. Max Lucado uses countless truths from Scripture to point his readers to the source of all life - fearless life - Jesus Christ. This book is a MUCH needed resource for life today. Each chapter in this book addresses the question "Why Are We Afraid?" and points us back to the truths of the Scriptures that tell us that we don't need to be afraid.

The easy-reading style of this book makes it an enjoyable and fast read. Max's style hits to the heart of every reader. He speaks to each reader individually as he addresses what we are all afraid of: not mattering, disappointing God, running out, not protecting our kids, overwhelming challenges, worst-case scenarios, violence, life's final moments, what's next, that God is not real, and more. No matter what you might be afraid of, Max reminds us that there is Someone bigger than all of it, and He is ready to take your hand and bring you through it all.

One of my favorite stories/examples from this book is in Chapter 4. Max tells the story of a father who was watching his six year old frantically trying to get out the door in time for the bus and fall into hysterics because she couldn't get her shoelaces tied. The whole time, the father was standing right there willing to help. The little girl was so caught up in her situation that she forgot to look up and ask for help. So often this is the case for each of us - we get so caught up in the fear of the moment that we forget to look up and ask God, our Father, for help. In the story, Max tells how the father stepped in and helped his daughter through the issue, just as God often does for us.

If I could describe this book in one short sentence, I'd say that "this book is full of Scriptural truths put together in an EXTREMELY relevant format for TODAY for each of us."

"Fools Rush In", by Janice Thompson

You will roll on the floor laughing. Or at least laugh out loud. This book is HILARIOUS!

The Rossi family is an "upper class" Italian family uprooted from Italy (older generation) and New Jersey to Galveston Island, Texas. I kept picturing "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" with all the crazy characters in the Rossi family in this book. Add to the mix the Neeley family from the heart of Texas, and you have the wildest and liveliest bunch of characters I've seen in a LONG time!

This book is a fun and easy read. Though parts of the writing were a little choppy, the story moved from page to page, and I didn't want to put it down. Challenge after crazy challenge pops up in this cute story, and it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud.

Bella Rossi has recently been handed over the family's wedding planning business. However, she decides to kick things up a notch and turns the wedding planning business into a destination themed wedding locale. Her first themed wedding is a Texas hoe-down, and Bella has never truly listened to a country song in her life. (Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were the sound tracks she'd grown up on.) Finding herself in a pinch for a Deejay, she overhears a stranger mention something about a D.J. while on his cell phone. She hounds the stranger for said D.J.'s number and ends up with a handful of handsome cowboy who knows nothing about deejaying - his name is D.J. Neeley.

"Fools Rush In" will keep you laughing and will bring you back for more. This is the first book of "Weddings by Bella", a new series by Janice Thompson. Look for this book from Revell in your favorite book store or local library.

The Weekend is Calling...

Well, since I'm once again procrastinating on my packing for this weekend, I figure I'm probably not going to have a lot of time to write you all a bunch of posts to read while I'm gone (since I'm doubting I'll have internet access, though I might) tonight since I'll probably be up LATE trying to finish all the packing.

We found out today that we are able to leave EARLIER than we had originally thought. The plan WAS that the kids and I would leave Warsaw at 2:30pm in order to pick up J in Mishawaka at 3:45pm when he got off work. However, when he got home today, he said they are getting released early tomorrow (but getting a full day's pay!!) and he will be done at 12pm instead. SO, that means the kids and I will be leaving around 10:30am tomorrow, meaning my van has to be pretty much packed and ready to go TONIGHT as I probably won't have a whole lot of time to get anything done in the morning. (We don't usually get up much before 9am - at least not if I have a choice in the matter.) So, my late night tonight will be spent throwing last minute things in bags, totes, etc, rather than letting my brain ooze all over the blogosphere.

Right now my house is full of piles. Piles of laundry that need to be folded, put away, packed, etc. Piles of dishes and food items that are going to go to Muskegon with us tomorrow. Piles of camping gear waiting to be packed into the van. Piles of toiletries - I pulled out a bunch of travel sized ones this morning - and towels and other bathroom odds and ends. Piles of my clothes that are going, waiting to find a home in a bag or box or whatever I decide to pack them in.

My brain is constantly adding things to the list of things that need to be packed. I'm not sure, however, that all those things are being added to my actual list, thus I'll probably forget a bunch. Thankfully, the campground is in a major city area, with Walmart and Target just around the corner. (I almost thought about taking all my coupons with me and a list so I could go to Target and get lots of great deals - then I decided I'll just stick around the campground for the weekend.) I think I should probably add my Bible and stuff to the actual list, otherwise it won't make it from the counter to the car (since it sits on the counter all the time - easy devo access in the mornings). We've been known to leave them behind before since they're not out of place when they're on the counter.

Okay... since it's 5:40pm, I should probably think about feeding my family and getting on the ball with the packing stuff. Especially for my kids, since they have neither one napped at all today, and thus will be going to bed "early".

Q4U: Do you procrastinate? Do you do better when you start packing for major trips earlier? Or, are you like me where you make lots of lists, then worry about the packing all at the end? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :) See you Tuesday, if not before!

Whimsical Wednesday...

Do you like the alliterative titles? I'm not sure if I like them, but I do like to have "catchy" titles, so maybe they work... ?? We'll see what I think come this time next week - if I even remember having this conversation with myself/you all.

Anyways... I decided to forgo David's morning nap this morning, since he hasn't been taking as good of an afternoon nap - and I would MUCH rather have both kids down at the same time each day - and Jenny naps in the afternoon (if she naps at all). It seems to have worked, as they both fell asleep this afternoon without too much fuss. I heard them talking quietly for about the first half hour after I put them down, then when I checked on them about an hour after they went down, I had two soundly (well, as soundly as they sleep) sleeping children!! Jenny just woke up to go potty, so I let her out and closed the door, hoping David will go back to sleep for a bit longer... here's to hoping!

I think I'm going to spend some time with Jenny this afternoon - working on some stuff to get her ready for school in a couple of weeks. We haven't had any real "learning time" lately since I've been busy trying to get some other stuff done around here. I think she and I will read together for a bit and work on her writing until David wakes up for good.

I have to run to Owens at some point today - we're almost out of milk and I need to pick up some last minute supplies (milk, formula, and chocolate) for our camping trip this weekend. I think I'm probably going to run to CVS and WAGS while I'm out to get some "steals", too. Plus, we have to stop and pick up a fridge/cooler to take with us - it plugs into the car/outlet - so we can keep our perishables cold!

Tomorrow is going to be the crazy packing day - last minute laundry, piles everywhere, and general organized chaos. I'm hoping to have everything "packed" by the end of the day tomorrow so all I have to do on Friday is throw last minute essentials (every day needs, etc) together and put everything in the van.

Meanwhile, I have one more book to read - and it's a nonfiction book, which means it's going to take more brain power than a fiction book - so I should probably work on that tonight... the post isn't til Tuesday, so I could take it with me if I don't finish it before we leave, but I'd MUCH rather have it done and reviewed before we leave so I don't have to think about it while we're gone.

When we get back on Monday, we'll have two days at home before we turn around and head back up to Michigan on Thursday to celebrate our Moms' birthdays - J's mom's birthday is on Thursday and my mom's birthday is Friday. Then, our travels will be over for a couple of weeks. The next two weekends will be full of Kids Market (9/19) and David's birthday party (9/26 - actually birthday is 9/27).

Well, David is crying and Jenny needs clean pants (I think hers didn't make it all the way down when she used the bathroom a few minutes ago), so I should probably get off the computer and tend to my kids.

Q4U: What's your favorite candy? (Random, I know. But isn't that the idea?)

Tuesday Trends...

I don't know. I was trying to come up with a "catchy" title for the post without really having any direction to go with the post other than to enlighten you all as to my absence over the past couple of days. (Just realized I'm dictating aloud as I type this - not quite sure why. Do you know, Mom?)

Anyways... all that to say, life has been a bit crazy, busy, etc over the past couple of days (as you might have guessed if you read my post from Saturday).

Sunday, I taught my last Sunday School class of the summer (I was just the summer sub), I made a LONG announcement in church about the upcoming women's retreat and our fall ladies' Bible study, we went to lunch with our friends Andrew & Erin & Adrian at Taco Bell, ran some errands (recycling, Menards, Owens), and I don't really remember much after that. I know we had ham for dinner (we finally cooked our "Easter" ham - I had purchased it in anticipation of having J's family all here for Easter, but we all ended up in GR instead) and we watched Big Brother.

Monday, I called the doctor as soon as I got up to get an appointment so I could get some drugs to get rid of this nasty poison ivy. (The first batch is almost healed, but I was starting to break out again in MUCH larger sections of my body.) I got the kids and myself up and around, and we headed for the doctors, made a major stop at Aldi (my pantry and fridge finally have food again), and stopped at the bread store for Monday Madness ($.65/loaf on Mondays). I had a webinar last night for my new job - which I'm going to LOVE - and I finished up my first project for them and sent it off shortly after the webinar was over.

Today, we have just been hanging out. David and I both napped this morning, I did laundry (kids' clothes/bedding - David had taken off his poopy diaper this morning - and our bedding - to rid of ooze stains from the poison ivy), and Jenny played and watched some TV. The kiddos are supposed to be napping now, but I think they've decided to veto afternoon naps - it's been a few days since they've either one had a good one.

I have two books to finish before we leave this weekend, since their book tours/publication dates are the beginning of next week. I want to get them read and reviewed (actually have three reviews to do, but I'm done with one book already) and scheduled to post before we leave on Friday.

We're leaving around 2:30 on Friday afternoon, picking J up in Mishawaka on the way (to save two hours of travel time) and should be at the campground sometime around supper time. I think my sister and her boyfriend are going to stay with us Sunday night and hang out on Monday at the beach with us. We're definitely looking forward to our trip!

Q4U: What are your plans for the upcoming holiday weekend? Any ideas for weekend posts? I'd love to keep you entertained over the weekend, so if you have any ideas for posts that you'd like to see, let me know and I'll try to get them written and scheduled before we leave on Friday (along with everything else on my agenda) since I'm not sure if we'll have any internet access over the weekend.