Pages That Might or Might Not Be of Interest to You!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Yeah, I got nuthin'

Last week our youngest had a stomach bug.  Eeewww.

This week, we have had one pitfall after another.  On Monday several things happened, but the worst was our car dying.  We had just been on a field trip and then I went to pick up our tickets for the Michael Bulbe concert(woohoo!) and we were almost home.  At a busy corner near our house, the car sputtered and died.  ugh  I tried to do the little trick that Steven showed me and nothing was happening.  As the cars started piling up behind us, they started honking.

The more they honked, the more frantic I became.  After almost ten minutes, it still wasn't starting.  I called Steven and he tried to talk me thorugh the little trick.  Nothing.  More honking with rude gestures thrown in.  The girls are starting to get hot and cranky.  I start crying.  Not because I was scared; but because I was powerless to do anything about the situation and crying was all I could do.

We continued to sit there and wait while Steven left work to come rescue us.  Finally an older gentleman came over and offered to push us out of the intersection.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that I didn't think he would be able to; I was just grateful that someone cared enough to offer.  As he started pushing, another younger guy came and helped.  They pushed us across the intersection to the far curb and left.  After a few minutes the police showed up. 

Niiice.

He asked if help was coming and if they could start the car.  If not, you need to have it towed.  Like I couldn't figure that one out.  Sorry, I was getting a little surly by this point.  Steven finally showed up after we had been sitting in the hot car for more than 40 minutes and we poured out of the car like roaches running from the light.  The van was towed to the mechanics.

I then was allowed to ride my bike to soccer practice with two of the girls.  On the way the 8yo crashed and flew over her handle bars.  She wasn't hurt; I'm not sure how.  We made it home without an incident.  whew!

Tuesday we were stuck at home, no car, and our youngest was still acting punky.  She wasn't eating and drinking very little.  She needed some hydrating fluid.  hmmm  It looked like I would be walking to the store.  No problem except she didn't want me to leave, she wanted held, and the older kids wanted to come with me.  We walked and I carried the 40something pound child the whole way there and back. 

That night the 12yo started complaining of stomach cramps and a few hours later was kneeling before the porcelain throne.  Super.

Meanwhile at supper, we were eating supper because I had ruined the potatoes I was cooking.  They were intended for Cheesey Potato Soup and I cooked them so long they were pulvarized.  :(  Steven graciously stopped for pizza w/o asking any questions.  So anyway, I was eating pizza when I bit down and felt a sharp pain and then a wierd empty feeling along my gumline.  I carefully moved my food around and discovered that I had broken a molar.  I snapped it clean off up to the gumline.  My tooth was just gone; at least half of it anyway.  It started hurting and I started getting cranky.

I called our dentist office to find out that they were already closed for the day and the next day they were closed as well.  It just gets better and better.  That night my mouth was hurting and our oldest was moaning in her sleep from stomach cramps.  Good times.

Steven woke me up at 6am, I had finally gotten to sleep around 2:30am, so I could take him to work.  The dentist let me come in in the afternoon and temporarily fixed my tooth.  I get a crown on Friday. 

And it's only Wednesday!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

An Absence So Great Blog Tour and GIVE AWAY!!!

An Absence So Great
by Jane Kirkpatrick

Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams


While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.


Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.


With the sickness in my house lately, I haven't been able to really sit down and read this book.  I am in the fourth chapter and enjoying it.  I find myself being drawn in to the story and am curious about the characters.  I like the style of writing and love the old pictures scattered throughout with the background stories told with them. 


This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

RandomHouse.com:



http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816


Now, I am seriously enjoying giving away books on my blog!  lol  It is so much fun.  So...I have a copy of this book to give away.  Just leave a comment and I will draw a name on Sunday the 5th. 

Monday, March 29, 2010

AND THE WINNER IS...

THE WINNER OF HERE BURNS MY CANDLE IS...SHERI!!!



How Do You...

handle it when a truly non-competitve child wants to play a competitive sport?  We have one.  It's tough.  She is 8yo and just about the most sensitive soul I have ever met.  She is compassionate, giving to a fault, thoughtful, loving, gentle, sweet, funny, quirky, sharp as a tack, and couldn't care less about winning a soccer game.  The problem?  Well, she wants to play soccer.  She's on a team at AYSO, which is good because they are a non-competitive league (supposedly); BUT her team wants to win. 

This child has been known to do cartwheels in the goaly box and just watch the other kids fight over the ball.  Seriously.  She will just watch the kids and the ball go right past her and just watch.  It is a little frustrating!  I am not terribly competitve, I like to win but if I don't, okay no biggie. 

With the kids the thing I care more about is if they are playing their hardest.  Doing their best.  I do not like to see my children out there giving only half an effort.   Play hard or go home.  Right?

Well, I can't do this with this child.  The pushing and jostling of soccer makes her cry.   She takes it as a personal attack against and it hurts her feelings! lol  She thinks they are being mean to take the ball from her.  I have tried to explain that that is the point of the game.  She just looks at me and says, "They do all that just to get a ball?"  I didn't know what else to say!

We are taking the approach of Toughen up a  little.  Be a little more aggressive.  Fight for what you have.  Don't give up so easily.  I don't know how else to say, Quit being a baby!  roflol  I'm not completely serious, but I kind of am.  She needs to toughen up a little or the world is going to eat her alive.


Friday, March 26, 2010

Catching up on pics

My new coffee maker!  I got this for my birthday and let me tell you, it gets a workout everyday!  heehee





My mom's dog, Bailey...she is a beast!  An absolutely adorable, fluffy, beast.  :-D





She really wanted to go on the field trip, but soon tuckered out.  :(




Sweetness...




Gettin' her game face on!




Up close and personal.  Can you see the cut in the corner of her eye?  She got it at soccer practice when she took a ball in the face.  lol


I have more pics, of course, and will try and finish putting more pics on later this weekend.


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Oh No Not Again

Well, last week I was feeling sick.  Nothing too bad, just a cold.  I ignored it.  I wanted at least one week that we didn't go to the doctor.  Seriously. 

It was a mistake.  By the time Tuesday, this week, came around I was done for.  I finally went to the doctor to find out that I have bronchitis, again.  :(  So not cool. 

I got a shot and more antibiotics and a firm warning to call if I start feeling this coming on again.  Evidently my immune system isn't what it should be.  Really?  Who knew?

On top of that, our youngest was compaining on Tuesday night about a tummy ache.  She fell asleep on the couch and about an hour later threw up in her sleep.  Lovely.  I hopped up and started talking to her and she started wretching again.  Her eyes were closed and she was trying to go back to sleep  LAYING DOWN IN THE VOMIT!  Okay, I don't do vomit.  No, really that is Steven's job.  I clean up the kid and comfort them.  Steven cleans up the, um, stuff.  But, as luck would have it, I was alone.  Steven and the older girls were at BSF.  So what did I do?  I started yelling at our 5yo.  Yeah, not one of my finest mommy moments.  But, she would wake up.  She was completely out of it. 

I was holding a limp 5yo that was wretching her guts up, literally.  Luckily I had made a barf bag and had it at the ready.  It wasn't too much of a help when her noodly body convulsed and the stuff missed the sack, twice.  When she finally woke up, she looked up at me and smiled.  Ugh talk about guilt crashing down on you!

I got the mess cleaned up just in time to help her again.  She threw up every thirty minutes all night long.  It was not fun.  Bless her hear, after she had been at it for a few hours, I was comforting her and she looked up at me and smiled so sweetly.  She never complained or cried.  It was pretty pitiful. 

She didn't eat or drink much until today.  We knew she was feeling better when she wanted to get up and dance to the music on a commercial!

Hopefully spring will bring less germs.


Monday, March 22, 2010

Here Burns My Candle Blog Tour and GIVE AWAY!

Yes, I have another book to giveaway!  I am soo excited about this one, too.  But first...

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

A mother who cannot face her future.

A daughter who cannot escape her past.


Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland , Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.




My Opinion:

I loved this book!  Oh my goodness.  I couldna' put it doon!  The characters were enthralling and the storyline beautiful and heartwrenching.  I was hooked from the first page and was crying on the last.  I have long been a fan of Liz Curtis Higgs' work and was not disappointed by this one. 

I had so much fun reading the Scottish words sprinkled throughout and would try to guess them based on their context.  Sometimes I was right and sometimes not!  When I wasn't sure, there was a Scottish Glossary in the back for help.  I have been using Scottish words for the last week and giggling each and every time.  :)  These characters have become dear and my only complaint is that I have to wait until 2011 to find out what happens to them.  Let me tell you, that will be a long wait!

If you like Historical Fiction, I highly recommend this book.  AND  I am gladly giving a copy away to one lucky person.  If you want this book, just leave a comment and you will be entered.  I will draw a name on Sunday.  Good luck!

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070015

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.



Sunday, March 21, 2010

AND THE WINNER IS...

THE WINNER OF START HERE IS....

LEAT/KERRI!!

Send me your address and I will get the book in the mail. 


Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Eyes Have It

Taking all four kids to the eye doctor all at the same time is an adventure.  Now, I have great kids; but sitting quietly in a waiting room for who knows how long would try anyone's patience. 

I amde sure that they all had their schoolwork with them so there was plenty of busy work. 

Thankfully, there wasn't much of a wait until they started calling our names.  One by one they went back for the pre-tests.  When our youngest came back, she declared "That was easy!"  lol 

Then they called my oldest and the lady told me that I didn't need to come back with her.  hmm  Really?  Wth all four kids needing exams, I thought they would take us all together.  I let her go, but was uneasy with it.

Now, she is twelve so she is old enough to handle it by herself and I love our doctor so there is no worry there.  But, I knew that her eyes had gotten worse and I needed to ehar what he was going to say.  I sat there half on my chair and half off trying to decide what to do, when my 10yodd said that I had better make a decision quickly.

Thenk, another person was called.  It was a teenage girl.  As she was walking back my 10yo said, "See her mom is going with her."  Nice. 

I got up and away we all went.

It was as I suspected, her eyes are worse.  New glasses. 

The youngest was next and it was a riot.  She's 5.  She just learned how to read.  So...instead of saying what letter she saw she sounded them out!  lol It was hilarious.  Our doctor took it in stride.  :)  Her eyes are normal for her age and considering that she was blind when she was born-it's amazing.

Next was the 8yodd.  Her eyes are perfect!  She takes after me.  No, seriously; my eyes are great. 

Last but not least was our 10yodd.  She had a lazy eye until she was about 3 and has had problems with her eyes tracking together.  She has bi-focals and has almost no depth perception.  She struggles with reading, but it's getting better.  Her eyes did not get any worse!  Yay!  What a blessing for her.  We were also told that she could be done with the bi-focals in a few years.  :)  Smiles were had all around.

Our hour and a half in the office wasn't so bad; but by the time we were done, I was too.  Someday, it won't be like that and I will only have a few left at home and I will long for the days of busyness and chaos.  Remind me, will ya?


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Today...

My birthday started out great!  The girls made me breakfast in bed!  They got up on their own and made me breakfast.  It consisted of an egg, two slices of bacon, and two pieces of toast with butter and jelly.  and a large glass o forange juice.  Yummo!

Then, they dragged me to the kitchen to see my bday present...A NEW COFFEE MAKER!!!  It is a thing of beautie.  I took pictures of it and will post them later.  :)

I feel loved.


Monday, March 15, 2010

Start Here Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY!!

At the age of eighteen, Alex and Brett Harris wrote Do Hard Things—and launched a movement that would change a generation. Young people around the world were ready to be inspired, ready to move beyond complacency, ready to rebel against society’s low expectations.


Now the highly anticipated companion book, Start Here, answers the questions Alex and Brett have received from thousands of teens on their worldwide conference tour and popular online community: How do I get started? What hard things does God want me to do? How do I keep from getting discouraged or burned out? What is the best way to inspire others?

Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide for young people who are ready to take the next step and blast past apathy. Let the rebelution continue.

Author Bio:
Alex and Brett Harris are the coauthors of the best-selling book Do Hard Things, which they wrote at age eighteen. Today the twins speak regularly to audiences of thousands on The Rebelution Tour, maintain a hugely popular online presence through their blog, TheRebelution.com, and have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and in the New York Times. Raised in Portland , Oregon , the brothers currently attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia



My Opinion:

I haven't read Do Hard Things.  It has been suggested to me and I intend to, someday!  If this book is any indication, I will enjoy it. 

I enjoyed this book.  It is simplisticly written with tons of ideas and real life experiences for young people to relate to.  They take the idea of doing something for God and make it doable.  The chapters march through a progression of topics that take the reader on the journey of discovering for themselves the passion of following God. 

In the back of the book they have a chapter entitled '100 Hard Things'  which are examples of things that other teens have done and could help spur you on to find your own Hard Things to do.  There are also Discussion Questions that would make this book a great Bible Study/Discussion Group. 

I would recommend this book and will have my daughters read it in a few years. 

I have one copy to give away.  If you would like to win it, just leave a comment.  :)  I will draw the winner on Sunday the 21st.


http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422705&ref=externallink_mlt_starthere_sec_0127_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.


Sunday, March 14, 2010

A Lazy Sunday

We had nothing to do today.  Okay, well Steven sang at church, but the rest of us didn't get of our nighties until noon!  When Steven got home, he and I left for a date of sorts.  We went to Wal-Mart for some shopping and ate at Subway!  lol 

Next we went to Lowe's and picked out a DISHWASHER!!!  I am so excited about this.  Can you tell?       :-D  We have been w/o a dishwasher for longer than I care to remember.  The girls and I have have been doing dishes by hand at least three times a day and let me tell you, it's getting old!  Granted the girls do most of the dishes during the week, it just gets old having dishes on the counter-clean or dirty.

So, we should be getting it installed sometime this week.  I will absoltely post pictures of the newest addition to the family as soon as it arrives.



Saturday, March 13, 2010

Funny stuff

Today during our youngest's soccer game, our team was ahead.  They were playing well(for 5yos!) and were having a ball.  They took the ball away from the other team and started back toward their goal.  Bean(our youngest) got the ball and was dribbling it all the way.  She was out ahead of everyone and in the clear for another goal.  She got down their and it looked like she was going to square up on the goal.  The other kids were trailing behind and were catching up with her. 

She turned toward the goal and then...

She turned around and started dribbling AWAY FROM THE GOAL!!  She was going in the wrong direction.  She was controlling the ball very well and all the other little girls were following her.  She made a WIDE ARC around the field and finally started back toward the right goal.  With all the kids following her!

She was completely controlling the ball. And smiling the whole way!

After all that, she made it back down to the goal and MISSED!!!

It was soo funny.  Seriously I think it was one of the funniest things I have seen in a while!

I love watching 5yos play soccer!

AAAGGGHHHH!!!!!

SOCCER SEASON IS UPON US!!  LET THE GAMES BEGIN.  :-D


Thursday, March 11, 2010

Way too cool!

About a week and a half ago, my 8yodd was sitting with my 5yodd and they were whispering.  I couldn't tell what it was but they are constant playmates and so I didn't think anything about it.  Later that evening, I heard a little more of what they were doing.  

It made me cry.

"An 'a' makes an 'ah' sound, 'e' makes 'eh'..."  and so it went.  Then, I heard words being sounded out.  "D-o-g, says Dog."

Our 8yo was being very patient and sweet.  Eventually she came over to me and asked me to write a bunch of three letter words that she could teach the 5yo.  I didn't think too much of it.  They were 'playing' school and it was cute!

Fast forward to the next week in school.  I am helping the 5yo with her schoolwork and she starts sounding out words. 

She was reading and understanding them!  Then she found a Dr. Seuss book and wanted to read it.  I didn't have enough time to sit with her for very long, but I thought we could at least get started.

(I don't have a ton of patience for new readers sounding out the same word 500 times in a sitting!)

From the first page, I was astounded.  Not only was she sounding them out-she was understanding what she was reading. 

It was amazing!  I am so proud of our newest reader and I am proud of our 8yo.  She is so patient and loving with a servant's heart. 

Did I mention that I love homeschooling?  ;-)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lady Carliss Book Tour

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue:
Chuck Black

From the back of the book:


Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue .


While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out. She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.


My Opinion:

I love this book! Of course, I love all the books by Chuck Black that I’ve read. I enjoy his writing style and the way he crafts his stories. We devoured the Kingdom Series and this one will be no different.

This is the fourth book in The Knights of Arrethtrae Series, but I had no trouble getting into it and understanding it. It is somewhat of a stand-alone book, but still continuing an intricate story. It is exciting from the Introduction all the way through to the end. The characters were interesting and I cared about them and what happened to them.

As in the Kingdom Series, there is a point to the story. Whether it is an allegorical telling of the Bible or an object lesson, these are stories that I would be glad to let my children read. In fact, when this book came in the mail my twelve year old daughter snatched it up and read it three times through before bed! She raved about the story and begged us to order the first three in the series.

At the end of the book, the author has included discussion questions to help the reader understand the symbolism and meaning in the book and get the full benefit of the story. The questions are designed to help you dig deeper and uncover the hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

We bought the entire Kingdom Series in book form and audio CD and have listened to them as a family. I am sure that we will do the same with these. I highly recommend this book, this series and this author.





This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421272


Monday, March 8, 2010

WARNING: Rant, Rage, Whatever You Want to Call It

I am frustrated.  What is wrong with people?  Does no one think it necessary to follow the rules?  The laws? 

Does anyone else see the red sign with white letters that says STOP?  Or is that sign for everybody except them?  I mean really.  Do they think that everyone else has to obey the laws and that somehow they are magically exempt?  No, I know...they are just better than everyone else; that's why they don't have to obey the laws.  Maybe the laws only apply if someone is there to see you do it.  Kind of like that tree in the forest.

I was driving home from the store and almost from the instant that I pulled out of the parking spot people were being rude.  It started with the guy that was driving down the middle of the parking lot.  He left almost no room for oncoming traffic and then got mad when people couldn't go by him.

Then, I was trying to drive down a ONE WAY part of the parking lot and someone decided to go the wrong way.  They were coming straight at me.  There was no where for me to go.  I was going the correct way and the person doing the wrong thing FLIPPED ME OFF!  They also were yelling obsenities at us.  Seriously?  Why am I the one being berated?  I wasn't the one in the wrong.

Next, as I was finally leaving the parking lot the person in front of me got up to the stop sign and just rolled right through it.  ????

Obviously I have misinterpreted the signs that I am seeing and only thought that I had to obey them.  So I did something that I shouldn't have.

On our street there are no street markings-no dividing lines.  As a car approached me that was driving in the middle of the street, I decided to not move over and let them do whatever they wanted.  I drove in the middle of the street, as well. 

I figured that if they could do whatever, so could I.  The look on their face was priceless.  They were incredulous that I was driving in the middle of the road.  The shock of what I was doing was evident by their expression and yet I was only doing what they were doing.  Why is it so shocking and bad when I was doing it and yet it was okay for them?

I am happy to say that the other car moved and so did I; albeit ever so slightly and only enough for each car to pass w/o hitting the other one.

Not one of my better moments in life.  There are others that are worse than this, but we won't talk about them!

It is sad when a society is more concerned about doing and gettting what ever they want regardless of how it affects anyone else.  The stop sign is there for a reason.  You don't have to like it, you don't even have to agree with it; but you should obey it. 

Because it's the right thing to do.  It helps protect everyone.  It shows concern for others. 

Okay, I'm done.  For now anyway.  I guess I am just tired of people being selfish and rude.  Back to your regularly scheduled nice family blog.  ;-)


Saturday, March 6, 2010

Menu

I have tried to plan out the next week and a half with a menu...we'll see how it goes!


Sunday-Cheesy, Creamy, Ham and Potato Soup
Monday-Creamy Fettucini Alfredo
Tuesday-Meatloaf
Wednesday-Leftovers
Thursday-Grilled Italian Chicken
Friday-Meat Pizza
Saturday-Eat Out
Sunday-Broccoli Cheese Soup
Monday-Crockpot Cheeseburger Sandwiches
Tuesday-Plantation Supper
Wednesday-Leftovers

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Catching up...

This picture is from our last snow.  It was just enough to leave evidence of the cardinals that yell at us when we don't put out bird seed for them!





Can you hear the giant sucking sound coming from the children in this house??  heehee




Our field trip to Cici's was great!  We got to make pizza and they gave them worksheets to do.  :)






At the end of the day, Maggie is just a big baby!   She didn't even ask to get up on the couch, she just climbed up there with us and made herself at home.



Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mother-Daugher Duet Blog Tour

Mother –Daughter Duet

Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum

From the back of the book?

When your daughter was born, you had a thousand hopes and dreams for her…including that one day you’d be best friends.
    But as life unfolds, even the best intentions go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. Thankfully, a harmonious relationship with your daughter is possible.
   Written by a mother and daughter who have successfully navigated the minefield from distance and tension to acceptance and friendship, Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms open wide the door of communication so that daughters want to walk through it. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on proven principles, each chapter offers timeless wisdom as well as a daughter’s perspective. Often these principles apply to daughters-in-law as well.
   The relationship between mothers and daughters is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But you can have the loving, authentic bond you always dreamed of-when you learn the mother-daughter duet.


My opinion:

With four daughters, I am all about this book! From the time they were born, I have told them that I was not their friend and couldn’t be until they were adults. I didn’t think about how to make that happen, I just thought that it would. That it would be the inevitable result of being a family.
   Don’t laugh too hard at me; I am still a young mother! I love my daughters and can’t wait to be friends with them and now I am glad to have this book to help navigate those waters. I know that a book won’t fix something or make the transition completely without troubles, but at least it’s something. Right? Of course right!
  I like that this book has both perspectives in it; the mother’s and the daughter’s. It’s helpful and I can so relate to both of them. Personal stories and practical advice are offered throughout this book and are relatable and timely. This is a book that I will pull out many times in the years to come. I would recommend this book to anyone with daughters or daughters-in-law. :)



This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421623

Dancing with My Father Blog Tour

Dancing with My Father
Sally Clarkson

From the back of the book:


Do you sometimes feel victimized by circumstances? Are you overwhelmed by weariness, fear, or discouragement? Do you wonder, Where can I go to claim the promise of Jesus that my joy could be made full?
   When trusted author and mentor Sally Clarkson noticed a lack of joy in her own life, she realized how easy it can be, especially for women with overloaded to-do lists, to feel weighed down by drudgery and disappointment. But rather than slogging through her days, Sally wanted to know the delight of God’s presence. She began prayerfully exploring how to cultivate deep-rooted joy even into the midst of difficult seasons.
   In this warm and wise book, she invites you to experience for yourself what happens when you trust God to lead you into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose.
    Weaving biblical insights with real-life stories that reflect every Crhsitian woman’s deepest longings, Dancing with My Father reveals how any woman, in any circumstance, can daily live in beauty and grace, joy and peace.


My opinion:

It just didn’t speak to me, is that okay to admit? I appreciated the author’s style of writing and I enjoyed the stories and examples throughout the book, it’s just not where I am right now. Maybe it’s because I am in my own rebellion at the moment, I don’t know. I did like that she has questions at the end of each chapter for the reader to go deeper and discover more of what the Bible has to say.

With chapters that are titled, “The Search for Joy in a Less-Than-Perfect World”, “Dancing Through the Twists and Turns of Life”, and “Listening for the Music of God’s Voice”; I know that I will revisit this book and it will speak to me. The author gives sound Biblical advice in a practical and applicable way. I would recommend this book and will read it again, soon.



This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457066

Unexpected Results

I have Hypoparathyroidism.  It's a big name that means low calcium.  It's somewhat complicated and simple all at the same time.  It's painful and requires a lot of medicine everyday.  :(

And that's where the rub came in.  I got sick of taking all those pills.

Yes, I know that there are people that take more than I do and for more serious diseases.  But, for me, I was sick of it.  It got to the point that I would gag every time a pill was put into my mouth.

This disease is not one that there isn't any cure for or any other treatment other than pills.  Nice.

So, what did I do?

I quit taking my meds. 

In October.

I didn't really tell anyone, I just did it.  It was is childish and rebellious.  I did it anyway.

There is no good reason, I was just having a pity party.  Okay, an extended one!  But, after a few weeks of not having to take 24+ pills a day, it was bliss.  I was only taking my thyroid meds and it was almost like I was a normal person. 

So, I kept on not taking my meds.

The symptoms started slowly and were manageable and didn't progress too far, so I kept on with my rebellion.  I tried to take in more calcium in my foods and just revelled in not swallowing all those pills.

In January, I had my blood tested because the symptoms were becoming more pronounced and the results were what I expected.  Low.  The calcium levels were 7.2 and they should be over 8.5.  It wasn't as low as I have been (6.2), but low enough to cause concern.

Still, no meds.  Still in rebellion.

Last week, I went to the doc for a sinus infection and told him what I had been doing or not doing and he had a different reaction than I thought he would.  He understood.  He wasn't happy, but he understood.

We did another blood test.

I got the results on Monday when I took in our 8yo, who is sick, and we are all stunned.

My calcium levels ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE LAST MONTH!!!  They are still low, 7.2, but they haven't changed.

OH MY WORD!

My doctor could only say that maybe what I was doing with my diet was working.  That and maybe we were getting our miracle. 

He did caution me that I would probably never be w/o meds, but if I could manage with taking less, that would be a bonus.  Now, the question is can I function at this level.  The muscle spasms are pretty constant and they hurt.  I also am tired most of the time.  Is it a trade-off I'm willing to make?  I don't know. 

I agreed to take two calcium pills and two vit. D a day to see if that would raise my levels or not. 

Either way, God is giving me peace and bringing me out of my rebellion.