Hope Unleashed by Andy Hawthorne

Book info:

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764486
ISBN-13: 978-1434764485

Synopsis:

Hope Unleashed challenges Christians to evangelize their communities through unashamed proclamation of the gospel and bold community action projects to reach the poor.

Committed to bringing the Christian message to youth in his hometown of Manchester, England, Andy Hawthorne was shocked when a missions partner told him he shouldn’t just preach the gospel but also engage in community projects. What has washing someone’s car got to do with the gospel?The idea worked, and today Hawthorne’s Message Trust has been praised internationally for bringing hope and change to the roughest, poorest neighborhoods of Manchester.

Written in a warm, passionate, nonreligious style, Hope Unleashed is filled with moving true stories as well as practical ideas and strategies for Christian mission based on Word and deed.

My Opinion:

This is one of my greatest struggles. Spreading the Gospel.

You want a moving book that will make you rethink your life lived? This is it. Any of can reach others...even if just by washing someones car. Small things that we'll think no one will notice...why bother... can really make a big difference in sharing God's love.

Some of these stories and me laughing, asking "Why didn't I think of that?", and others had me bawling with tissue box in hand. It is a great read on how we can back up or talk with a simple walk and back it up with Random acts of kindness.

This book definitely gave me hope that I can still make a difference.

4.5 stars for self revelation and simplicity

IBW Interactive Books Review and Giveaway

Thanks to the wonderful (and patient) Mary at IBW I have had the opportunity to review some amazing interactive home based learning books.

IBW Books are a wonderful tool that combines print reading, activity, and interactive animated web scenes. Your child reads a page in the book and is given a specific website link. Your child goes to this web link and watches a web scene with 2D and 3D animation. Then you repeat. Each book has anywhere from 6 to 10 web scenes.

The web scenes are really cool. The animation adds so much dimension to the story and helps draw the children into the story keeping them interested and anxious for more.

IBW offers several series:

Busy Preschoolers, which teaches 105 learning skills, including reading readiness, listening and sequencing, motor skills, and social-emotional development.

KA Readers entertain beginning readers with word-pattern-based storylines that build upon phonics-based reading instruction. English and Spanish text, along with ESL lessons and activities, support English Language Learners in development of vocabulary and comprehension.

Earth Academy 7 storylines follow the adventures of three space-alien exchange students as they attend school on Earth. Every book is new exploration of Earth's science and history from a space alien point of view!

The Ghost Hunter follows two teenagers as they solve the mysteries haunting the dead. Seeing ghosts is the easy part. Seeing the world from the perspective of the long departed is a bit more challenging.

Many of you know that I have a nine year old daughter with A.D.D and dyslexia. She has a terrible time reading, and well, it is torture for her. She hates reading. When she started the KA Readers books, I was nervous to say the least. They were challenging for her, definitely not too easy, yet not to hard. By the time we got to the end of the first page and watched the web scene, she was hooked. She read through those books like I have never seen in my life. She loved them. T tried to get me to let her watch the web scenes first, but I did not give into the pressure. She still reads them several times a week.

I was very impressed with how well my children loved the books. The Busy Preschoolers books are exceptional. Not only do they include web scenes that my 4 year old loved, but the also include fun activities to do with the children. I feel being actively involved in learning is very important. You aren't just helping them read. You are having fun, while teaching how enjoyable reading really is.

You can also get all of the stories in Spanish.

Most of their books usually run from 50% to 75% off so you can always get a great deal!

Wait, there's more. I was really impressed with the company. You can sell the books! You also get immediate profit. You don't have to wait for a check from the company. You get your money when you make the sell.

If you are not a homeschooler, that's okay! Your school can make money! They do fundraising. Your PTA/ School would receive an immediate, in-hand profit of $2 to $5 for each book sold. Instead of making just pennies on an item, your PTA will make a 40% profit margin on every sale, which means fewer individual sales needed to reach a campaign goal! Awesome! This company is very versatile.

Want to Win! I am so excited about this....

IBW is offering will offer ONE winner a CHOICE of one of TWO IBW Book prizes:

The Busy Preschooler’s Guide to Learning – fun activities built around the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door. Check out the webscene for the Letter A activity. Don't forget to use the English/Spanish drop-down menu for questions to help further your child's learning. Then, follow the ABC-TRACE-123 activity link at the bottom of the page to click and drag the animal icons to practice handwriting! www.busypreschoolers.com/a

OR

THREE (3) KA Readers – beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child’s reading and comprehension. The pop-up words in the webscene act like animated flashcards to reinforce the words just read. You can watch sample webscenes from three different KA Reader books here www.ka-reader.com/9-3/ and here www.ka-reader.com/8-4/ and also here www.ka-reader.com/6-3/.

Okay, so here are the rules. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. No P.O. boxes please. Contest will run from 09/29/09 until October 9th, 2009. A winner will be chosen by random.org. Please leave an email address with your comments so I can contact you. The winner will have 2 day to contact me, or I will chose another winner.

Main entry:

Visit the IBW website and leave a comment here telling me what you love about it.

Extra entires:

Follow Me here

Follow on twitter and retweet @abookishmom

Blog it and link back here and to IBW

Grab my button and post it on your side bar.

Tell all of your friends in an email and Cc it to me abookishmom@ yahoo. com

Tons of ways to win........Go for it guys!

The Buzzards are Crcling, but God's Not Finished with Me Yet by: Stan Toler

Book info:

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434765946
ISBN-13: 978-1434765949

Synopsis:

On the landscape of life, buzzards are inevitable; those events and situations that circle us, eyeing us as prey. No matter what form these buzzards take, the pain is universal.

Here Toler takes a lighthearted look at some of life's more serious subjects. Drawing from his own personal struggles, Toler shares encouragement for tough times. This delightful collection of stories and life lessons will help readers find hope, joy, and peace, even in life's difficult moments.

My Opinion:

Pretty funny. I love "self help" books and Christian books and this one is great. Usually, some self help books can get a little....boring. The Buzzards are.... kept me laughing the entire time. It was a breath of fresh air among boring stuffy books.

Mr. Toler uses great personal experiences and biblical stories to explain some great topics such as letting go, God's timing, and issues that hinder healing. With titles like "What i a nice girl like you doing in a crisis like this?" (story of my life!) How can you not enjoy it! I really enjoyed the section on surviving lean and mean times. Those have abounded here.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it is a great addition to any reading list.

5 stars for relation to my life and hilarity!

Quote Me....

I was just browsing through Youtube... with halloween coming up it is a great place to get makeup how to's.

Kandee has a great but long(25 min) video up on how to do your makeup and hair like Posion Ivy From Batman (as played by Uma Thurman). She is ating so goofy on the video...When she get's to the how to part she is explaining how to do the hair.. It's only a couple of minutes into the video.... She says, and I quote...

"I happen to have a basket of fake lemons in my kitchen, I don't know why"

Funniest thing I have heard today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o9HZRnRl4U&feature=popular

She really gets into the makeup step by step and it is a really cool video to watch if you have time..

Have I ever told you about my obsession? It is A Bookish Obsession, so to speak... I am obsessed with Alive in Wonderland. Anything.... Alice in Wonderland from Disney to Emily... From toys to clothes to books... First of all...

The Looking Glass Wars Book 3: ArchEnemy is releasing in October. I have my copy preordered from Amazon....!!!!! Books 1 and 2 were FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! I can not wait for book 3... If anyone has an autographed copy of Seeing Red (book 2) they want to give me... That would be fantastic.... ( I know, I am Shameless)

Tim Burton has an adaptation releasing in 2011 starring (you guessed it) Johnny Depp.. Now, I love JD as much as the next Pirate fan, but his take on Willy Wonka RUINED that movie Gene Wilder is the man! I thought the remake created a vacuum (sucked). Needless to say, I am not looking forward to it, but I will still watch it at least once. Tim Burton needs to get more friends... I a tired of seeing the same actors in his movies no matter how much I love them... Boring....

I am in love with hypnogaga's song: Looking Glass. Be for warned, It is a little heavy metal so turn your speakers down if you listen to the video. If you don't listen, I understand.... I LOVE IT! You can buy the CD soundtrack for the looking glass wars books from the Website...

My new puppy....

This is my new puppy..Lilly (Liliana Emilia). Doesn't she look like an ewok! I'm just sayin'!

Bosco needed a girlfriend because, quite frankly, I am tired of throwing away stuffed animals. He's "lonely". Oh, and I wanted a puppy...

She is a full blooded and registered shih tzu. Lilly decided to make her bed, even though she has a new one, out of my quilting fluff..

She goes everywhere with me, and Bosco is so jealous! He won't be in a few months when she gets older... He loves her though.. the bound through the house together and through the yard....playing...

now, if we can just get the housebreaking down pat...she'll be all set.

When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton

Book Info:

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Philomel (June 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399251898
ISBN-13: 978-0399251894

Synopsis:

Jimmy lives in Rowlesburg, West Virginia, during the 1940s. He does all the things boys do in the small mountain town: plays a mean game of football, pulls the unforgettable Halloween prank with his friends in “the Platoon,” and promises to head off into the woods on the first day of hunting season— no matter what. He also knows his father belongs to a secret society, and is determined to uncover the mysteries behind it! But it is a midnight encounter with a train that shows Jimmy the man his father really is.

My Opinion:

I love YA Books and this one is no exception. I love it! When the Whistle blows is a wonderful coming of age story of a boy in the late 30's and 40's.

We follow Jimmy as he grows up in Rowlesburg, and dreams to work on the railroad as all the men in his family have done. From general mischeif, to football, and searching for "the Society", Jimmy is into it all.

I had to favorite parts... I loved when Jimmy and the boys were plotting revenge against his brothers friend and they accidentally toatled the cop car. When the "society" boraded up the school with rail road ties so noone could go to school on the first day of hunting season, well, that was great!

It is a great book and I would let all of my kiddos read it. There might be one curse word in it, but other than that it is a great story.

5 stars
You can visit the website here and
Purchase the book through amazon.com

99 cent deals At Children's Place... Wont last long.

The Children’s Place has matchable shorts, tanks and tees for boys and girls marked down to only 99¢ ea!

Use code NEXTJ78 to get an additional 10% off your purchase which bring these down to only 89¢ ea! Shipping is a flat $5 no matter what you buy. If you are a perks place member you can use your points too! Also sign up here to shop through ebates for an extra 3% back!

Thanks My Litter of Six!

Review and Giveaway: Spice up Your Life (the flexitarian way) by Bindu Grandhi

Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.; 1 edition (July 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599552736
ISBN-13: 978-1599552736

About the Author:

BINDU GRANDHI developed a passion for flavorful flexitarian cooking in her early 20s. Her knowledge of good health and nutrition comes from her mother, Vasantha Prasad, author of Indian Vegetarian Cooking from an American Kitchen (Random House) and her father, Balasa L. Prasad, a physician and author of Stop Overeating For Good (Avery). In her first cookbook, Bindu touts the health benefits of eating a flexitarian diet comprised primarily of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, spices, fruits, and nuts, with an occasional serving of chicken and fish. She believes that eating a tasty and satisfying nutritional meal is exactly what our minds crave and our bodies need. She earned an MBA from New York University and has 10 years of corporate experience. She works part-time and lives with her family in Westchester County, New York

Synopsis:

Too often we are forced to sacrifice taste for healthier fare. With these low-fat recipes rich with savory spices, bland health food is a thing of the past. Focusing primarily on fruits, grains, and vegetables with selected protein, these dishes will have you enjoying each meal without the guilt! From appetizers and sauces to main dishes and desserts, every meal is covered in this instructional, step-by-step cookbook. Kick it up a notch and add a little spice to your cooking with Spice up your Life!

My Opinion:

When I review a cook book, you can be guaranteed that I will try at least half of the recipes before I post it. I have had this cookbook since the middle of August, and have tried almost all of the recipes. Let's start at the beginning.....

First off, this book has a wonderful Tools, Tips, and Techniques section that introduced me to a few things that I didn't know. It gave a great "keep your kitchen stocked with" section which was very helpful. I think the "What's Good for You" section was my favorite. I learned so much from it. It covers foods from Almonds to Yogurt and why they are beneficial to us. Did you know that Dill prevents bacterial overgrowth? Neither did I..... Now you do.

Now for the food.... Wow, Yummy! I am by no means a picky eater. My children, however, are a horse of a different color. I have a 9 year old daughter that I have to spoon feed her veggies or she will not eat them. Every dinner is a battle. She has been like that since about 3 years old. I am not joking one bit. She is impossible. My children (including my 9 year old) cleaned their plates almost every time.

Everything was so rich flavorful! I am not such a fan of spicy foods, but everything came out perfectly. There is even a part in the tips section that tells you what to do if you need to omit a type pepper from a dish so it will still taste balanced.

Most of the dishes are made with sauces that are just wonderful. The dishes are so easy to prepare. It was few and far between that I spent more than 30 minutes in the kitchen. All of the dishes were fairly simple to make.

My family enjoyed every dish I made from sides to breads or beverages. Our favorites were the Broccoli Soup, parathas, spicy beets and rice (which had an amazing color!), Pistachio Chicken, and the Mango Swirl Smoothie. That is just a few of the dishes that we LOVED! I will be using this cookbook time and time again.

With that being said, there is 1 thing I didn't care for.

I am a very messy cook. When I am done in the kitchen, it can be compared to a war zone. The book is a paperback. I prefer a hardback due to my throwing and dripping of mixture and sauces and spilling everything I touch at least twice. Coordination is not my strong point in the kitchen.

That is it.. That was my only problems with the book. It is a great cook book to have on hand and definitely has some impressive recipes.

You can buy it from Barnes and Noble or Amazon. You can also check out the website for yummy recipes and more info!

Would you like to win a copy?

Then you are in luck. Mrs. Grandhi has offered !!!2 autographed copies!!! for my lucky readers! U.S. only. No PO Boxes please! 2 winners will be chosen by random.org and notified. YAY! Giveaway will run from Sept. 18, 2009 till I decide its over. (probably around 2 weeks, maybe a little less)

Here is how you enter: Main entry: Must be done before extra entries count)

Please visit the Website. Come back here and leave a comment with something you like. It can be a sample recipe, one of the other books advertised...something.... (Please leave an email addy with your comments so I can contact the winner.)

Extra Entries: (Leave a separate comment for each please)

Follow my blog or subscribe

Follow me on twitter

Blog and link back to both websites

Vote for me on bizymoms.com

That's it. Good Luck Guys!

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort; 1 edition (June 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599552353
ISBN-13: 978-1599552354

Synopsis:

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. With the murderer on the loose, the police desperately look for any clues to lead to his identy. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist in a nearby hospital is also in a desperate search to find the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings s devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope. When these two situations converge, they set off an alarming chain of events. In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.

My Opinion:

I must admit, this book was shocking. I haven't read many books about the murder of a young child. It kept my attention the entire time without my wanting to skip around. Any novel that can cature my attention is worth.

I throughly enjoyed the thrilling ride. Grandhi did an excellent job of transitioning between the POV's of the killer and then his intended victim. The characters were excellent, although I must admit, I didn't care for Agent Bines at all. I hated the flirting between her and Dr. Gram, and was relieved that nothing became of it. Very happy when she went home...

The on thing I absolutely love about the book.... I am almost positive that There is NOT ONE curse word.... I can't remember reading one. I hate it when authors cram their books with trashy talk.. For me, it really takes away from the book. Yay! happy dance!

I didn't really care for the ending. It felt rushed to me. While it was a good read, I don't like to feel as though I am being rushed to the end.

All in all, it was a good first novel. I can't wait to see another one from him. 3.5 stars.

The Fifty Dollar Challenge: Albertsons, Target, and the Discount Bakery

I spent a lot today... I went over $50 at Albertsons My total was $66.31 for all of this. They had so many great deals this week I planned to go over... but I didn't go over by much.

Here's the breakdown:

86 items for (after q's) $66.51 = 77 cents an item.

4 twin packs of Suddenly Salad 2 for $4 -4 .40 cents off 1 q's

12 Boxes General Mills cereal (on sale 1.88/box) So many different Q's its not funny and - 2 $2/5 q's

4 loaves bread 88 cents ea.

4 pks. hot dog buns 88 cents ea.

4 pks bar s hot dogs 88 cents ea.

10 large cans Pillsbury biscuits 99 cents ea. - 5 $1/2 q's ($4.95)

2 apple juices 99 cents ea.

2 planters peanuts (in the glass jar that usually run 3 to 4 dollars) 99 cents ea.

1 Capri Sun on sale for 99 cents. -$1 on 1 q

15 boxes hamburger or chicken helper 88 cents ea -5 .75/3 q's

4 Marie Calander Meals (on sale 2 for $5) -2 $1/1 q's and 1 $1/2 q's

4 Healthy Chioce meals (on slae 2 for $5) -2 $2/1 q's and 1 $1/1 q

4 totinos pizza rolls 88 cents ea. - 2 .55/1 q's

5 boxes betty crocker scalloped potatoes 88 cents ea. -5 .40/1 q's! they wee 48 cents ea!

1 lunchable $1 - 1$1/1 Q free!

1 Kraft singles 24 pk (reg $3.49) 99 cents -1 $1/1 Q free!

1 Oscar Meyer Deli shaved ham (reg. $4.49) 99 cents - 1 $1/1 q free!

6 Banquet meals 88 cents ea. -1 $1 /6 q

Jack Links Buffalo Chick jerky bites (reg. $5. 59)-1 Free Q FREE!

2 Propel Vitamin waters (reg $1.49) .39 cents ea.

I think I got it all.... lol So that is:

$88.13 in great deal savings

$51.04 in MfG Q's

$5.42 in store doubled q's.

Total savings: $144.59 My personal Best....

This is what I got at The Bakery Thrift Shop:

Everything freezes well so we will have snacks for a good while.

The Donuts were 3 for $1!!!!! Yay! a great after school snack..... Cupcakes were 99 cents ea. Cinnamon bread (The hubs loves that stuff.. yick). Bagels, you guessed it, 99 cents ea.

They are chillin in my freezer with the donuts! I am about to sneak a cup cake.. The cracker packs were $1 ea. and the cookies were 99 cents.

I was $10.24 oop

I thought that was steep, but the hubs was so good while shopping today.. I rewarded him. lol.

4 boxes Fiber One cereal @ 2.50 ea. - a bunch of q's and stacked with 4 $1/1 Target q's

6 boxes Fiber One chewy granola bars @ 2.50 - a bunch of q's

2 candles total 6.74 for both - $5 in q's

6 cereal cups 95 cents ea. - 6 95 cent cereal q's 9 (They were all free)

Healthy choice mixer (reg $3) - 1 $2/1 Q

Got back $10 in gift cards oop 10.52

I don't even know how to title this post.

I put my kids in the bed @ 9.pm. The are supposed to go to bed and lay under the covers and go to sleep... This is what I just found.... it is 9:40 p.m.

Apparently Drama Queen A couldn't make it... I found her in her toy box, fast asleep...

Moments like these....

News

just had 2 root canals and crown... Taking a pill and going to bed. See you guys tomorrow for the $50 challenge... I am really excited about this weeks.

Review: The Wheel of Darkness by Preston and Child

Synopsis

FBI Special Agent Pendergast is taking a break from work to take Constance on a whirlwind Grand Tour, hoping to give her closure and a sense of the world that she's missed. They head to Tibet, where Pendergast intensively trained in martial arts and spiritual studies. At a remote monastery, they learn that a rare and dangerous artifact the monks have been guarding for generations has been mysteriously stolen. As a favor, Pendergast agrees to track and recover the relic. A twisting trail of bloodshed leads Pendergast and Constance to the maiden voyage of the Britannia, the world's largest and most luxurious ocean liner—-and to an Atlantic crossing

fraught with terror.

My opinion:

After reading Cemetery Dance (which I loved) I was excited to get this new at Walgreens for 5.99.

I am absolutely smitten with Agent Pendergast. BOOK CRUSH! I love the Pendergast novels! I am dying to get my hands on the Diogenes Trilogy: Something happend before this book and it was big! I must know!

So Let's get into the book.. Monks, an oceanliner, stolen treasures....What could go wrong!? Apparently a lot. No one can get a break. Aloysius Pendergast can't catch a break. He and his ward are off to the tibetian mountains to learn from monks, when they are told of an artifact that is stolen. This isn't just any artifact. It is the one meant to purge the earth of all evil when the world becomes too wicked. We might need to get that one back ASAP!

Following the trail of a clever theif turned psychotic murderer Pendergast ends up on the Most luxorius Ocean liner's maiden voyage... and what a voyage it will be.

Lots of Murder follows including a little sex and a few vulgarities. Not a book to be left in reach of anyone below the age of 13. 15 if you are overprotective like I am.

There were a few things I didn't care for. It got too supernautral for me. I love novels that have supernatural elements, but I feel this story took it too far too fast. I think it would have been better to weave it into the entire story instead of dropping it in half way to have an out.

The Murder was great... I have to admit, I was shocked twice in this book. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was WRONG! It is very few and far between that happens. The ending of the book was a total shocker for me! Maybe because I haven't read those Diogenes books... so now I must!

3.3 Stars! Borrow it is you can, but still great to buy if you can get it cheap.

You can read a sample Here!

I have been featured!

Hey Everyone.

A great honor was bestowed upon this Bookish Mom 2 days ago!

I was contacted by the amazing Zulaifa form Bizymoms.com. She informed me that bizymoms.com loves my blog and wanted to feature me! SO COOL! You can now find my blog over there, and you can vote on your favorite posts. Please feel free to sop by and vote for my blog. If I get enough votes, My blog will be featured on the City (nearest to me)website. I am very excited.

So please, feel free to check it out cast a vote, and see all of the other great blogs you can find.

She's just like me....

Had to post quickly about a game my kids were playing.... Restaurant.

Here is how the conversation went down....

Xanman in a horrible fake accent: Would you like Shrimp?

Angel T: Yes

XanMan: Would you like it shogun style? (the fancy schmany hibachi table shows)

Angel T: Yes, please.

XanMan: Would you like fried rice with your shrimp?

(and I swear, without missing a beat,)

Angel T: Only if it comes with it, not if it costs extra!

* I have never been so proud or laughed so hard in my life... Not everyone can instill frugality in their children's imagination.

Happy Labor Day!

My next to last giveaway will end tonight. Be sure to get your entries in.

I hope everyone is having a great Labor day! We are (and when I saw me I mean my hubby) finishing up the replacement of our upstairs celing. It had those old tiles and they all decided to fall down a few weeks ago... Ill take pics when we are finished. It was relatively inexpensive. It think it will turn out great. Mad props to my mom for the inexpensive ideas...she watches HGTV!

I still have one giveaway left and am Super excited about it!

Right now I am in the middle of Wheel of Darkness by preston and Child. Since reading (or listening) to Cemetery Dance (awesome) They are now on top of my reading list. Also, you can expect a review on The Knight by Steven James... The Pawn and The Rook were awesome! I should be finishd with it by the end of the week.

No $50 challenge last week. I did get a fairly good deal, but didn't take a pic and had to much on my plate to post. I am very excited by the Q's this month and hope Albertson's will have super great deals to match! I am also considering trying my hand at Walgreen's. I am up there a lot anyways.

I will probably post about it on Friday or Saturday. I have a big dental appointment @ 8 a.m on thursday..... I think he will be overhauling 3 of my teeth! UGH! No pics will be posted! lol! Please pray for that.

I will be joining my Church's study on Esther... I heart Esther. If you have never watched One Night WIth the King.. It is just wonderful. One of My Faves! You can get it from Amazon for as cheap as $5!

It's not my fault....

Day before yesterday, I read a post that just made my stomach turn... It just made me sick to my stomach. I can not even describe... Well, that is all I will say.

I will not link to it because I don't think that would be fair to the poster, and I would not feel right about doing it.

You might have read my post a few back about my reply to the anti-working mom post. Well, another post was published that said....and I am NOT kidding.... That if a woman is in an abusive relationship/marriage, that it is her own fault and what she deserved because she didn't pray about it and marry who God had planned for her.

Pick your jaws up off the floor.... I know! First of all let me say:

God's ways are not our ways. His perfect plan may be something we hate and can't understand, but it will work out. With that being said... everything that happens to us is for 3 reasons

1. to draw us closer to God
2. To make us stronger in life and our Faith
3. so we can be a light for others we will come across who will or are going through the same thing.

So many of us do pray about who we marry. We marry God's gift for us, and guess what... He is perfect, wonderful, and amazing... Then the honeymoon ends. Men and women both can turn abusive or unfaithful and their spouses are blindsided. We have no clue. I would never marry an abusive man if I had a clue he was abusive. WHO WOULD.... I do happen to know more than a few unlucky girls who husbands turned abusive and controlling after they were married...some a few months later and some a few years.

Let me share a few verses:

James 1: 12-15

12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

I'll say it again. James is my absolute favorite book in the bible. It touches on so many subjects and topics that I can learn from. It has stepped all over my toes more than a few times.

We got a "New" to us car...

It s amazing to me how God really works things out....

Wednesday evening, on my hubs way home, our 1975 Chevy Sliverado decided to pour out oil water and overheat.... This Truck was my grandpas... I begged my gran for it after he passed on. In 2006 she gave it to me. It is very special to me and holds so many memories.

This truck is how my hubs makes it to work every morning. We have no idea what is wrong with it. Hopefully it is the heads and seal. it will cost $125 to get the heads ground down and then for the seals and how ever long it takes him to take it apart and fix it. If that is what is wrong... That is where we are starting...

Even though I love that truck, it gets 8 miles a gallon. Nope, not a typo... 8 miles per gallon....! We spend aprox. $200 on gas every 2 weeks for it alone.

Well, Now I had to figure out how we were going to get him to work... I was hoping that we could borrow a car for a week so I called my mom. She has an older car that gets great gas milage. It is a '95 Hyundai Elantra Gls... I know a '95 is kinda old, but it has 80,000 miles. My 2005 Dodge grand caravan that we bought used now has 102,000 miles on it.

The car was owned by my grandparents and is really great condition. Plus my mom had just put $1400 into it. Well, they decided to let us buy it. Why am I excited? Because it gets 30+ miles a gallon.. compared to 8 that is terriffic! So I am really excited. Today we rolled down the windows and opened the sunroof and drove that sucker home. We had to drive 2 hours to get it. They met us half way. My mom even loves me so much that she is letting me have a payment plan. Thank goodness... she will probably charge me interest... Im not kidding...

Everything works.... From the A/C to the Wipers.. The engine is great. The tires are new.... It is a good little car and will serve our purpose nicely. I am sure the hubs will love driving something that doesn't make him reek of gas exhaust and has AC and a working radio...

God really worked that one out... I think it is so amazing how he works things ahead of time and blesses us all the time. I stand truly amazed at his Mercy and Grace!

Perfect Piece by Rebecca Seitz

Synopsis:

Perfect Piece is a perfectly conceived conclusion to the charming Sisters, Ink series of novels for women. At the heart of each story are four unlikely sisters, each separately adopted into the home of Marilyn and Jack Sinclair where they still meet as adults in their late mother’s attic to work on scrapbook projects and work through life together.

The Sinclair sisterhood is about to be rocked from its foundation when Meg—the bedrock sibling most like Momma—collapses with a brain tumor. Surgery removes the invading mass but leaves a sister full of mood swings, depression, anger, and bitterness. Tandy, Kendra, and Joy struggle to find a trace of their formerly happy sister, who always pointed them to life’s positives. Meg’s husband, Jamison, struggles even more. With no idea how to handle the new, unimproved person inhabiting his wife’s body, he finds it too easy to seek solace in the clever conversation of another woman. What none of them realize is that the wisdom they need is already at hand; available.

My Opinion:

First of all! I absolutely love the Sister's Ink novels. They are wonderful. Each novel deals with a different life situations. I can identify with each novel so well. I absolutely love how "the sisters" can work together to solve any problem. Emotional affairs are a real thing and there are so many people that get caught up in them... As a matter of a fact, that is how a lot of affairs starts out...good conversation. Been there...Lived through that.

I love how Picture Perfect (as well as the other novels) include a relationship with God. With out Him we can't solve anything permanetly. These novels do such a great job of showing this. This book is of course on of my Faves. 5 Stars! All of them are so great. I am so glad that this is the last book. Another great series I recommend is the Yada Yada Prayer Group series...

A few of my favorite verses

I must admit, I love Bibles, Study Bibles, Devotionals, Concordances,A to z guides to the Bible. I have qutie an exhaustive collection.

Did you know that there is one unforgivable sin listed in the bible?

Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation

My absolute Fave verse in the Bible: King James Version.

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles ( i like this one because I have such a problem controlling my own tounge sometimes...)

I LOVE the Book of James. It is my favorite book.... You want to be humbled? read it. I get so much out of this book every time I read it.

Proverbs 24:26 Every man that answereth right words, giveth a kiss on the lips (An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips... remember your fist kiss? I do... that is how precious honsety is)

Don't forget... The Bible states that the Men should brew the coffee every morning for the wives...
HEBREWS (hahahahah) just kidding.

Here's to the working Moms...

I have to tell you guys.. I read a post that peeved me a little. Now, I am not by any means upset with the poster.. It is her opinion. It is a great opinion! Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I am very passionate about working mom's. You can read the anti working mom post here on Mrs. Tami's blog. Let me say, Tami didn't write this. It was written by life in a shoe.

I am absolutely 100% for staying at home if you can (physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally). If you are going to do nothing but yell and scream at your kids, belittle them, ignore them, let a sibling deal with them.... get a job and save everyone the abuse and stress.

Some people should just not stay at home. Not everyone is made for it. If it is not your cup of tea that is fine... Working is fine too.... It depends on your life, your options, and how God leads us.

I didn't use to be a stay at home mom. As little as 6 years ago, I was married to a man who decided to cheat on me and leave me with 2 kids and 1 on the way. I worked as hard as I could. I didn't have a tv or phone...no not even a cell phone. I lived in government housing in a 1 bedroom apt. my rent was $106 a month and I still bounced checks on rent. My electricity was turned off more than once (they kick you out for that if they catch it). I drove a 1987 buick sommerset that had a cracked block, overheated, and the window didn't roll up.

I lived off TEA, foodstamps, medicaid, and unemployment (I DID have a job the whole time. You can get unemployment while working if in college for approved careers Nursing is one of them). I put myself through Nursing School (LPN) working 40 hrs a week and going to school from 8 am to 5 pm. I had government paid daycare, and after school my dad and step mom would pick the kids up from daycare and shool and take them to my grans who watched them untill I got home from work. I went back to work after only 1 week of maternity leave after my last girl was born...at a pizza place. So many nights, dinner was pizza that was made wrong that the boss let me have for free. Or cheese sticks! I love cheese sticks!)

My kids never had new clothes... I never bought them any. My parents did or they got hand me downs from my cousins and nephews . I was not above putting my girls in boys clothing.. It is what I had.

My kids were never in sports or lessons of any kind... there was No Money. Half the time my 75 year old grand ma paid my bills so I could afford gas to work and school... Oh btw My school was paid for by a Pell Grant. Completely free. Yes, all that hard work... Then I met my Wonderful Hubby. I met him while I was married, and didn't know it. I managed a Subway and he was a regular customer. Foot Long Ham and Swiss on Wheat with all the veggies.

I cried for 3 weeks straight after I found out my hubby was cheating and he left ( told him to leave). At work in between customers.... at home.. in the car... I flirted with Chris.... Then after our 2nd date, I decided to try to make things work with my X. Let me tell you... When God is finished with a relationship it is over... No amount of making it work will work with happy results.... The only thing that worked left me pregnant and alone.... I called chris.... He still wanted to date me. Even with 2 kids and one on the way!

I got divorced.... and a year and a half later... Chris and I got married. He got a job in texas at an army base, and we are ok. I can stay at home. I have a tv with Dish network, and Karate lessons. A gym membership and personal trainer (those are free though). I have a nice van and a broken truck) but I think it can be fixed.... I have video games...My kids wear Name brand clothing now... Almost everything I buy is from the children's place. From their sale rack which I refuse to spend $3+ on a single item and couple that with coupons and perk place reward points. I happen to love thrift stores too. I usually spend around $1 per item from TCP.

God has blessed me with an amazing husband and an amazing life. I didn't choose to stay at home. It chose me... with 5 kids even if I worked... we couldn't afford the after school care.... that stuff is expensive. 700 a month for all the kids. I am not trying to bragg about what I have at all... I know God has blessed me and I am in Awe of his Grace and Love. I am saying... I struggled.... I worked.... There was a time when I didn't even see my kids for more than 2 hours that they were awake. Not everyone chooses to be a working mom... I don't know nyone who chose it.... I had nothing.... not even a tv and vcr...yes vcr...

With that being said... Here a few things we really have to think about

Who will pay your burial when you die?
Can you afford life insurance or will you leave your kids with nothing?
What happens when you are too old to work? Do you have a retirment? The Social Secutiry is quickly running dry...... I fully expect it to be gone when I am ready to retire?
What happens if you have to have a life saving surgery? or medications everymonth that cost $600 and you are too young for medicare?
What will happen to the kids (minors) if you die tomorrow and you don't have all of your socail security credits? They wont ever see a dime...neither will your spouse wich will make things that much more difficult on them.

I think everyone who can work should at least until the fulfill all of ther socail security credits. I have all of mine in, and if I die.... at least that money can help out. We have more than just now to think about.

So, Here's to all of the working Mom's out there. The one's that want to and don't! The one's that do it to provide a better life for their kids and help their hubbys out. All the while, taking care of the house, bills, kids (and hubs) cooking and grocery shopping while clipping coupons! I am proud of you! I look up to you and I pray God blesses you for all of your hard work.

How in the world did I get soooo....

Busy?

Seriously, All of my kiddos are now in school (thank you Jesus above) . I was doubting my sanity for a while. I swear to you I have not been home since they started school! I am not even slightly kidding. Okay here is the 2 week rundown.

Monday (first day of school the 24th): I ran around...due to sudden freedom! Found out gym on depot is free. Sent hubby after paperwork Cleaned Van while in town Karate at night

Tuesday: Angel T Dr. App. on new med for A.D.D, Concerta: hubby had to get pass card for me to get on base for gym

Wednesday: Xan MAn Dr. Appointment.. Hubby still getting pass for me on depot.

Thursday: Had to go to depot to fill out form have pic taken for id and copy of drivers lic. Offered first born...they refused...darn. Karate at night

Friday: Went to gym, grocery shopping ( lady impressed by coupon binder)
yay me.

Saturday: Worked on celing Went to gym

Sunday: Got all Boards put up.. now just have to putty, sand, and pant with 4 coats of paint yippie. bought fish tank and fish

Monday: Hubby sick, took hubby and dog to town got both flea dipped and groomed... just kidding... just the dog got groomed.. still had the hubby dipped...jk. bought rocks and "sunken ship" for tank. gimme a break!

Tuesday: Went to gym met with free personal trainer. ( I love Army bases) Had Dr app for parent confrence on Angel T's A.D.D. Dr. canceled...... stayed at home and played video games afte reading 1 book. ahhhhh nice!

Wed. Had to get new tires on van with oil change wipers air filter.... 3 hours at walmart waiting... Then they over charged me had to make 2 trips to get it fixed...shoot me! Never going to WM for car services again. Went to Church for the first time in 8 or 9 months...

Thursday: (today) Got kids up at 6am rushed hubs to work Xan Mans dr appontment...
picked hubs up ate dairy queen... it was well deserved! let the hubs take kids to karate.

I am really quite exhausted... I need a break form having a break.. Guess what happened this morning... Our truch... The one the hubs drives to work Broke. Like spewing oils and water... overheating broke... I have no idea what we will do. Pray that God will reveal something to us and give us the wisdom to make the right choices. We can't afford a "new car" will still owe 8000+ on the van and can not take on a new payment with all of the Dr bills.... I still owe almost $500 on T's EEG.

UGH! When it rains. I think I can walk the kids to and from school, but we have to cross a very busy highway which makes me very nervous, but at least the hubs will be able to get to work... they frown upon those who don't show up and want to still be paid. Go figure... I still have a couple of Giveaways to post and ....... a bunch of reviews..... I am so far behnd...

I didn't intentionally meanto negelect you guys.. forgive me...

MEGA GIVEAWAY! 5 winners each!

Ha HA! Bet you thought I forgot about the last giveaway! I DIDN'T! I have just been insanely busy.... INSANELY BUSY. I am about to post on that... but for now...

Open to Us and Canada residents only. Giveaway will end Monday Sept 7 2009. I will eventually email the winners.. it is a lot faster if the winners email me when posted. A LOT faster. I am a habitual procrastinater. 5 Winners each!

Leave one entry per book you would like to win. only 1 entry per book please... please leave an email addy.

winners! Tons of them!

Zhu Zhu Pet Winner:
Jami!




The Gloves off giveaway:
Divorce Party
Pam

MONK goes to
BINGO

Hope of Refuge
LoveMy2Dogs

Sweetgum Ladies...
SUE

The Wham Bam Thank Ya Ma'am free for All

Undone~ Pricilla

Trust Me~ MoziEsmé

You were Born for This~ Catts99

Lose the Diet~ Laura

Remember US addresses only people! I am shipping these. They will go out Friday the 11th... is next friday the 11th?