Thankful Thursday

Are you shocked I am starting off with being thankful for a book? Of course you aren't.....but I must say that this evening this has been the perfect book. The wittiness...yes...it surpasses my own. Here I am...Alone in my living room in yes the night owl zone otherwise known as 2am....laughing right out loud because the author described an Amish salve as smelling like "the inside of the ton-ton from the Start Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back."  Bwa ha ha ha! oh how I wish I had thought to say that first. Or later when she was describing how men and women give directions. She said "Men give street names, direction, mileage, and everything short of GPS coordinates. Women tell you to turn left at the second garden gnome." And see now my husband is laughing as he reads this because that is so me.....This enjoyable book had been a very nice start to four....FOUR...days off. So much so I just popped over to Amazon and found a used copy of book 2 for a mere $4 and it is headed this way. You know so I won't be in danger of running out of things to read.....

I am also so thankful for

• I made it thru the day and got all my work done so I can be off tomorrow
• I survived kids hope bowling
• That I realized that it's ok that I bowled a um......28......cause bowling is just not one of monogirl's gifts. If you need something cooked, scrapbooked, crafted, drawn, sung, typed, crocheted or hugged.....well then I'm your girl. Bowling not so much. Even though my little friend took it upon herself to get me a pink ball.....is that not the cutest?
• A hug and new closeness from my kids hope friend
• Books
• Days off
• Dates night at the drive in
• The steaks we bought to grill on memorial day
• Friend's prayers and support
• Scarves in my hair
• Blogging
• Miss Sophie
• A husband who gets groceries
• Ok and a husband who gets me
• The McDonalds lady telling me I looked pretty today
• Sunday naps 
• Our wedding anniversary coming up soon
• Fresh strawberries
• Sandals
• Chicken salad sandwiches
• Old photos
• Scripture
• Beach time starting
• New pedal pushers
• Painting water color pics
• My BFF
• That it's 3:45am and I don't even have to care because I don't have to be anywhere or do anything tomorrow.....or should I say later today?

And for now I bid you goodnight.....or good morning if you are an early riser! Ha 

Blessings!

Ten on Tuesday

 1 Yes it's strawberry season in southern Indiana. Aren't they beautiful?  And the taste...yum.  So good. We got these Sunday at a nearby orchard. Yes. The same one that has the wonderful apples and peaches. We will be returning to purchase a whole flat. We plan to make ourselves some strawberry freezer jam like Darrel's mom used to make. Good stuff.

2)Date night. It was awesome. We headed to the drive in. We plopped down our eight bucks each for a ticket. We brought a yummy pizza with us. And a good time was had by all. The movies were Godzilla and Transcendence. Both really good. It was also the perfect weather night with my favorite sweater and blanket. Perfect evening.

3) Um apparently I have just a book or two checked out from the library. Ya think? I went to return a book and pick up one on hold. I left with that one plus several more and already had several at home. So many books so little time. It's there a job where I can read 24/7? Cause sign me up for that.

4) Did you notice I finally got those two book reviews done that I've been promising you like forever? You are welcome. Of course as soon as I got those done I headed right over to net galley and got like five more. I'm beginning to worry I'm headed for some kind of book intervention.....is there a twelve step program for book addiction? Please don't sign me up....not wanting a cure.

5) Yesterday I got to play music teacher for a few minutes. It was very fun. A little person at church needed help with her piano practice. We got to do c notes and d notes. I got to tell her about half notes and quarter notes. We even got to number our fingers and then wiggle certain numbers when they were called out. See...all those years in band and those early organ lessons paid off.

6) 2 new pairs of pedal pushers arrived in the mail today.  However for height challenged monogirl.....pedal pushers is  code for "these will really be Capri pants on you"  Best way monogirl has discovered to obtain petite length Capris. Monogirl is smart like that.

7) The husband is currently out painting more ceiling boards. We have made it across the living room at this point and yes perhaps we will actually get across the dining room now and then finally get to see the other new light in place. Hallelujah and praise the Lord on that one.

8) Four day weekend coming up. Well it is for me since I switched my day off from Thursday to Friday. We have a family thing to take care of some things for Darrel's mom but am hoping to also have some time for reading, crocheting and scrapping. Oh. And I am thinking the beach opens too. Wahoo!

9) Miss Sophie's latest thing is to get right up in your face and give you a little head but with her cute little pink nose. Yes she is just that cute that I actually find this endearing. Can you blame me? I think not.

10) And now it is time for Dancing with the Stars finale so I bid you goodnight as I must go so I can root for Candace!

Blessings.

The Outcast

Yes... two reviews in one evening.  It's a Monday Miracle.  Are you still with me?  Awesome... Because I am excited to tell you about another wonderful book! 

Book review for The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim.  Publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, June 21, 2013.  401 pages. 

Here is a summary from the publisher:
Raised in an Old Order Mennonite community, Rachel Stoltzfus is a strong-willed single woman, content living apart from mainstream society until whispers stir the moment her belly swells with new life. Refusing to repent and name the partner in her sin, Rachel feels the wrath of the religious sect as she is shunned by those she loves most. She is eventually coerced into leaving by her brother-in-law, the bishop.

But secrets run deep in this cloistered community, and the bishop is hiding some of his own, threatening his conscience and his very soul. When the life of Rachel's baby is at stake, however, choices must be made that will bring the darkness to light, forever changing the lives of those who call Copper Creek home.

This book has been described as "A modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter."  I would agree with that description, but I found it to be so much more!  This was my first experience reading Jolina Petersheim and I was impressed with her writing style and her story.  I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Yes... once again this is Amish Fiction, but it is much more because it is told from a very different perspective.  There was the perspective of Rachel, the single mother and then there is also Amos... the very recently deceased Father of the Bishop in the story.  And yes, I said deceased.  His perspective is told from the other side of the grave as he enters his eternal rest in Heaven.  At first I thought this would be odd.... but it actually really added to the story and I loved the wisdom in what Amos shared. 

There are many issues to grapple with in this book.  Amish life, childhood cancer,  sin, scandal, betrayal, forgiveness, and so much more.  They are all addressed and I found the resolution to each very satisfying! It keeps you reading to find out the answers to all of these dilemmas not to mention wanting to know WHO is the baby's Father?

You will love the strength of Rachel, yet perhaps find yourself frustrated with her.  You will love the bond between Rachel and her sister Leah, yet also be disappointed in that relationship at the same time.  You will likely find yourself angry with Tobias, yet you will also come to understand him. You will find yourself happy, frustrated and yes... there could be a few tears shed. 

This book also ends with a wonderful twist that I didn't see coming.  Read it!  You will find yourself, like me looking forward to Jolina's newest book, The Midwife which was just released last week. 

I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of Tyndale House via Netgalley 

Fearless Hope

Yes, I have actually arrived to do a book review.  I know... I've been promising like forever.... do I earn any points for finally following thru?  Either way... lets get to it!

Book review for Fearless Hope by Serena B. Miller.  Publisher Howard Books, April 8, 2014, 385 pages.

Here is a book summary from the publisher:

When an Amish woman falls for the New York crime writer who buys her family farm, she must decide whether to follow the longings of her heart or the rules of her faith.

When Hope Yoder loses her husband, she is left trying to support her two small children—and one on the way—however she can. She ends up taking a job as a part-time housekeeper for the Englisch man who has bought the farm that once belonged to her family.

Logan Parker is a bestselling crime fiction writer from New York City who accompanies his fiancée on a trip to Holmes County, Ohio, but the trip takes a strange turn when he sees an Amish farmhouse for sale. Intrigued by a strong sense of familiarity, he enters the house and is overcome with a feeling of deep peace. He’s never been to Ohio before, but something in this house feels right, and he purchases the farm to use as a retreat. Something about the peacefulness of the house frees him from the crippling writer’s block that threatens to ruin his career, and something about the quiet Amish woman who comes to clean his home makes him less and less excited about returning to New York and the woman he is supposed to marry.

Slowly, Logan and Hope are drawn together, and when they discover that they share a strange past, they must decide how that affects their future. Will Hope overcome her fear of embracing love again?

Ok.  Is it enough to just tell you I adored this book?  Actually I adored this whole series.  Adored.  Seriously.  This is book 3 in a series.  I was so blessed to receive the first book, An Uncommon Grace last year for judging in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards.  I had gotten away from reading (which I LOVE) and had forgotten my love for Christian Fiction.  As soon as I picked up An Uncommon Grace and started reading I was sucked into the Amish World and honestly?  Over a year later?  Have not wanted to leave and have read everything Amish Fiction I can get my hands on.  However the three books in this series by Serena B. Miller?  By FAR my fav.  Love love love how the author mixes the world of the "English" and Amish.  Love that they are Amish stories yet there is still so much action, suspense, romance, you name it.  Love that there are overlapping characters in each book, enough that you get to visit with and enjoy your old friends, yet, if you were unaware the books are part of a series, you could still read and enjoy  as a stand alone novel.  But trust me... don't miss a one.  They are that good. 

In Fearless Hope I loved the strength, perseverance and "hope" in Hope's character.  See... she had the perfect name.  She goes thru the loss of her husband and has to figure out how to go on and support her children and her home.  I also was totally in love with Logan.  It was great seeing inside the mind  of a writer.  I totally connected with how he found such peace and retreat in the old farm house in the Amish Community.  And most of all?  LOVED loved loved the twist near the end and how it all comes together.... which I am so tempted to discuss with you but I will be a good girl and not ruin it for you.  Just read, read, read, so you can find out why the house, the area, the people "feel right" to Logan. 

READ this book.  Read book one, An Uncommon Grace.  Read book 2 Hidden Mercies.  You will not be sorry and perhaps you will be sucked into the simple life of the Amish world right along with me.  You won't be sorry! I mean in book one alone, right from the start there is a robbery, a murder, a woman in labor and lions and tigers and bears... oh my!  You won't be able to read fast enough to find out why all those things are happening either.... right on thru the end of book 3, Fearless Hope.  Get yourself a copy today! 

I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of Howard Books via Netgalley 

Thankful Thursday

 















Feeling thankful for Kids Hope yesterday.  Lately I am seeing that my little friend and I have broken thru some barriers.  It warms my heart and makes me even more thankful for the time I get to spend with her.  Yesterday she wanted to paint!  Well sign me up for that because I am way better at painting than basketball.... ha!  I wish I could show you the picture I have of her painting and creating, but I want to protect her privacy so here is a pic of my art work.  She liked my picture and got to keep it, I of course liked hers and I have 3 masterpieces to add to my scrapbook! Color me happy about that!

I am also feeling pretty thankful today for....

• Being in a mood to clean! Yes I know you don't have to be in the mood to do it, but it's oh so helpful when you are!
• the drive in finally has new movies!  Date night here we come.
• scrapbooking!  Artwork!  Painting yesterday reminded me how much I love and need to create stuff! God just wired me that way.
• He also wired me for order.... which I am happy is finding its way to my house!
• Library books!  Yes. Again.
• shelter from all this rain we've been getting!
• chicken and noodles cause that is what's for supper today
• sleeping in on a cold rainy day
• texting!  It helps with my job and all the people I need to contact for various reasons.
• Date Night!  Always always date night. 
• Bacon.... we bought some last week and had us some bacon filled waffles for breakfast on Saturday.  YUM
• Mother's day gifts from my sweet friend Ashly and notes from kind friends
• Miss Sophie and how affectionate and cuddly she is.
• My husband and how hard he works to take care of us
• Getting up on time for Kids Hope when I don't remember hearing the alarm!
• scriptures that comfort me
• God's patience
• good friends
• Cuddling on the couch with my husband
• hugs
• time to read
• our new living room/dinning room and light at the end of the tunnel about getting done!
• my cross necklace.  Darrel gave it to me for an anniversary years ago and it will always be one of my favs.
• time at home.  I love home.
• a husband that cooks and does it well!
• my job. love my job.
• La Carreta! 
• a working wash machine!
• holding my husband's hand
• old journals
• marriage

And that cleaning I mentioned calls.... so I shall leave you for now.  Hoping I can be back this weekend sometime with planner updates or book reviews I need to get done.  Maybe there is hope I can get to at least one of those things?  Ha!  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) Is this not the coolest pendant?  My sweet "honorary" daughter Ashly gave it to me for Mother's Day... .which in my book is one of the kindest things ever.  This is made by a company called Compelling Creations.  I had never heard of them before but apparently it's Christian designed jewelery and you can have home parties for it, like Tupperware, or it looks like you can buy online.  My piece here is for Psalm 46:10. Looks like most of the pieces have a verse and there are even charms and stuff with verses on them.  LOVE this and the meaning behind this piece and am definitely needing to check this out better!

2) If you are an Amish loving reader like me, I discovered this site... via Facebook I think?  Who knows.  Anyway, Amish Wisdom has some cool articles and of course book info. not to mention a great book giveaway going on right now that you might want to sign up for! 

3) Read this in a Max Lucado devotional today e-mailed to me from a nice man from church who sends the staff devotions each day.  It read: David declares in Psalm 23:2, “He leads me beside the still waters.” He leads me! God isn’t behind me, yelling, “Go!” He’s ahead of me bidding, “Come!” He leads us. He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it. Hebrews 4:16 says, “We will find grace to help us when we need it!”  Isn't that good?  Something really hit me today thinking about the difference between he LEADS me and not Him behind me yelling Go! He leads me.  He is showing the way.  He has already been thru wherever He is sending me.  He's got it covered.  SO need to remember that. 


4) Last night Darrel was working on a deadline for work, using his laptop on his um... lap.  See how that works?  Well Miss Sophie generally likes to lay in his lap so she kept walking over there trying to step on the computer and inch her way across.  Finally she decided she would just get as close as she could and laid herself down on his arm.... He was thinking this was not very conducive to working on his deadline. 

5) In Date Night news, this past week was spent at this new and exciting place.... Are you believing that?  Cause um nope... Monogirl was at home.  Guess what though?  We love home.  We had a wonderful cuddly evening watching movies and enjoying our pizza and bread sticks (a minute ago it said bread stick...as in one.. making it sound like we both gnawed on one...ha!) and I think there was Reese's somewhere in there too.  We also had popcorn now that we got a new box.  Last box?  Was Pop Secret Movie Theatre Butter but um that is NOT what it tasted like.  It was sweet.  Isn't Kettle Corn sweet?  We did not like it... and no we do not like Kettle Corn.  We are thinking perhaps our box/packages were mislabeled?  Anyway date night movie time is much more fun when one has good popcorn.

6) This was my other Mother's Day gift from Ashly.  I know.... I told you she was the sweetest right?  The little flower pot there looks like a giant tea cup.  Very cute!  Loved that she thought of me.  It was a true blessing.  I also received three very kind messages from friends telling me Happy Mom's Day and they were thinking of me on what they knew could at times be a difficult day.  Love good friends and I pray God blesses you like you blessed me.

7) In book news, last night I stayed up... yes a little too long to finish Promise of an Angel.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars and YES I had to stay up because I had to know if Judith and Andrew were going to get things worked out and if Samuel was going to be able to walk.  When you only have less than an hour to finish a book (according to the little person who lives inside my Kindle and calculates these things) well how is one supposed to go to sleep and not just finish and learn all the answers?  Apparently I am not capable of such a thing.  You are shocked aren't you.  I am now reading book 2 in that series... of course I am, and it is called Brush of Angels Wings.  I also walked out of the library today with 4 more books to read you know because the 500 or so on my Kindle just aren't enough....

8) OK why do the iPhone people give me this short little charging cable that I continue to pull out of the socket because its not long enough so then my phone is NOT charging when I think it is charging?  Do they think I have patience or something?  Someone please tell me these come in a longer size... and do not cost a million dollars and as long as I am asking for stuff can it come in pink please?

9) If you are a Christian Fiction lover like me did you know you can go to amazon, search for Christian Fiction under books, and then sort by publication date and you will see all the books yet to come out this year and on into next year?  LOVING that... and how did I not know this sooner??

10) OK.... WHY would you throw away the box with the cooking instructions on it and put the bag in the freezer without saving the instruction part or writing it on the bag?  Why?  My husband did this to me so he could fit the bag in the freezer better.... can I understand this?  Yes.  Do I understand throwing my instructions away um no.  My OCDness self is trying to figure out why one would do this and since his only answer it he doesn't know why.... see this is not helping me.  I might have to give him a small whack on the back of the head..... yes... it's probably an impatient monogirl kind of thing.  Good thing he gets that huh?  New Rule at Monogirl's house.... throw the instructions away and it will not go well with you.... bwa ha ha ha.... Cause I am just that big and bad.  You are picturing it now aren't you... ha! 

And whew... finally made it to 10.  Was getting worried for a minute there.  But now? Now I must bid you goodnight!  Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Silly as it may seem.... I was thankful for a bowl of fruit today.  ha. 

Thankful because I was wanting fruit, thankful we had it in the fridge, thankful that it was good and yes.... still thankful that it looked pretty.  Maybe I'm weird that way

And since I'm in a thankful mood.... why not list some other things to be thankful for right? Like... .

• finding a few "questions" books online and loading them to my Kindle.  I want to use them for time in the car, on trips, or maybe even do a few over dinner on date night.  I never never never want to stop learning about my husband and doing all I can to continue to grow and stay close. 
• feeling less tired today
• actually realizing I was feeling happy today! 
• date night dinner last week from the Italian Beef place. YUM
• thankful that I finished my most recent book which puts me at 33 out of 100 read towards this year's goal!  Very fun.
• beautiful warm sunny weather which means lots of sandals!
• singing with Darrel in church this past week.  LOVE doing that.
• watching TV together.  We especially love watching Survivor together on Wednesday nights.
• new library books sitting next to me
• a wonderful Kids Hope visit this week and an even more wonderful comment from my little girl's teacher to me.
• being able to help a church friend out on a brochure doing things I enjoy
• my planner because it's been getting me into my scrap space more and that makes me want more scrapbooking
• 2 cute new dresses
• my sweet husband who works 9 hour+ days and then comes home and works on the house.  He is amazing.
• friend's prayers
• God's patience
• getting thru a difficult (for me) Sunday school lesson well.  All the credit to God.
• a fresh supply of bath & body works hand soaps and shower gels.  LOVE
• Little containers of Haagen Dazs in the freezer
• memories of my Dad taking me to the library when I was a kid
• beautiful flowering trees
• driving with the sunroof open!
• 3 mos. of the Hallmark Movie Channel.  I had heard some good things about it.  I had heard there were some Amish book movies on it.  We didn't have it.  My husband called Directv to inquire about it and although it is not part of our package, we get to the "HD" channel package to try for 3 mos and yes... I was happy about that.
• that the ceiling repair is almost done!

And I could keep going... but then I'd be missing the Hallmark movie that just started... and no one wants that.  Hope your week has been good!  See you back here soon!  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) So Natl. Scrapbook Day has come and gone.  Did anyone participate?  Yes... you saw my hand go up there.  I actually did participate and here is proof that I made an actual layout.  Did I only get one done? Yes... I am a slow scrapper remember?  Did I have fun?  Yes.  And really if time would have permitted I wanted to keep going!  Just might keep going to.  Imagine that... a scrapbooker actually scrapbooking.  What a concept. 

2) Stopped at the library today to return a book which of course means I left with 2 books and a DVD.  The DVD is um... an Amish movie.  Shocking right?  And yes, of course I visited the new book section and of course left with one of those too. 

3) Last week when Darrel got home from work he said he heard a little voice coming from next door and the little boy that lives there said "Hi Neighbor!"  to him.  Now how cute is that? 

4) Monogirl is currently taking a muscle relaxer for a muscle she injured in her lower back.  Coughing... sneezing.... moving wrong... OUCH.  The muscle relaxer is helping... however Monogirl combined with a muscle relaxer?  Not a good idea.  Takes trying to function at full capacity to a whole other level....

5) During laundry day last week the washer decided to break down while it was full of water and clothes... it always happens then right?  Smart husband jumped online with an idea about what he thought was wrong, found an answer to try, and with the simple act of pushing a little lid button thingy down... got it to work and finish.  Then he found the replacement part for $6.88 on Amazon.  I am thinking this was a much better plan of action then probably $150 for a service call. 

6) I have been invited to attend square dancing class in the morning.  My Kids Hope friend sent me a text tonight and asked if we could go to class tomorrow so I could see her dance.  I was happy about that and I must say I think that's the best invitation I've had in some time. 

7) Charles Martin has a new book coming out Sept 2nd!  A Life Intercepted.  Cannot wait... cause he is my FAV author and I think it was most kind of him to be so nice to me and release a new book at the beginning of my vacation.  Don't I feel special.

8) Have you seen these cute teacher appreciation ideas that Heidi Swapp posted?  I love that butterfly.  She and her team always come up with the cutest stuff. 

9) Last week for date night we watched the movie Labor Day.  Have you seen it?  Josh Brolin is in it and OK... if you are old like me... could he look anymore like his Dad?  Goodness... I'm like well there's Dr Kiley from Marcus Welby MD.... remember that show?  Please someone tell me I'm not the only one....

10) Currently Darrel is working on the ceiling again and Miss Sophie is following him around... back and forth... crying for him to pick her up.  He picks her up and pets her... puts her down and then we repeat the process.  She doesn't like him one bit.... can you blame her? 

Hope you are having a good week!  Planning to be back on Thursday, if not before so hope to see you then!  Blessings!