Homeschool and Family

Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:36:00 +0000

I feel the Lord leading me to write down my blessings so what better place to do so than here on my {almost extinct / needing to be resurrected} blog? :)

A few days ago we were in a financial panic. Well, I was. No one else seemed to be concerned about it. Back story - we've been through and taught Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University so we know what works. We just end up back at square one so many times.

Anyway, as I was scheduling all the bills for the month, I was right at $1,000.00 short in order to NOT pay interest on the one credit card we use for all monthly expenses such as food, gasoline, etc. I posted on Facebook the need and the next day (after being sad all that day - even lying on the couch and being all moody - funny how whiny we can become when things don't go our way) I felt the Lord lead me to sell some stuff. (Dave Ramsey would be proud to hear me say that.) So I did. I sold a few items. My son had owed me some money for auto insurance and rent and he paid that. My daughter bought supper for the family. The mailman delivered a $400 check from Costco. I deposited my work income. All of that left us $150 short. God was so good to provide this much. I didn't think He would care to provide the rest but boy was I wrong. One of our daughters had enough money left over from her expenses to pay the remaining $150. (She had owed us for past car expenses we had covered for her.) Now, for the month of March, all of my bills will be paid.

I cannot tell you how happy I am. God has ALWAYS provided for us. He has ALWAYS been with us. And get this - HE CARES! Not that working gains us favor with Him, but I did as He led and I even went and picked up an application for an additional part-time job. Since then, I've received a lead on a better job opportunity so I applied there instead. We'll see if anything comes from it. However, even if it doesn't, I know He is going to provide.

I leave you with 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I'm baaaackkkkk

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 19:38:00 +0000

Not sure for how long but for now, I'm here. :) We just celebrated a lovely Christmas at home with my kids, in-laws, and grandsons. Ate too much food, buy hey! It's ok. :) There's always tomorrow. :)

Whispers On The Prairie

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 16:15:00 +0000

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Vickie McDonough

and the book:

Whispers On The Prairie
(Pioneer Promises Volume 1)

Whitaker House (June 17, 2013)

***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of twenty-six books and novellas. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, she served as treasurer of the organization for three years and also was treasurer for her local chapter. Vickie lives with her husband, Robert, in Oklahoma. They have four grown sons and one daughter-in-law, and are grandparents to a precocious seven-year-old girl. When she isn’t writing, Vickie enjoys reading, shopping for antiques, watching movies, and traveling. Pioneer Promises Book Two, Call of the Prairie, is set for release in January 2014.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The last thing Sarah Marshall wanted was to leave Chicago and travel the dusty Santa Fe Trail, but when her uncle demands she help her feeble aunt, she can’t refuse. Her aunt had taken Sarah in after her parents died. She becomes stranded at the Harper Stage Stop in Kansas, one of the first stops on Santa Fe Trail, and her presence causes a stir. Ethan Harper’s well-ordered life is thrown into turmoil with his two brothers and every unmarried male in the county lining up to woo Miss Sarah whom Ethan views as an uppity city girl. Is it because she’s the wrong woman for his brother—or the right one for himself?

Product Details:
List Price: $8.76
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (June 17, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603748415
ISBN-13: 978-1603748414

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

March 1870

Chicago

The toddler’s whimpers rose to an ear-splitting scream as the little girl pushed against the chest of the woman holding her captive.

“Here, let me have her, Abigail.” Sarah Marshall reached for Mary, and her friend handed over the fussy child. The girl persisted in her cries, so Sarah crooned to her, swaying in time to a waltz playing in her mind as she rubbed circles on the toddler’s back.

“I don’t see how you can have such patience with her. That obstinate child cries more than all the others in this orphanage combined.” Abigail bent down and reached for a handsome three-year-old boy, who came rushing toward her with a big smile that showed his dimples. “Personally,” Abigail raised her voice over Mary’s ruckus, “I prefer the quiet ones.”

Sarah smiled. “I prefer the needy ones.” She leaned her cheek against Mary’s head. “All is well, little one. All is well.”

After a few more minutes, the wails finally subsided, and the girl began to relax. She sniffled, her whole body shaking as she finally fell into an exhausted sleep.

“Poor little one.” Sarah’s heart nearly broke for the child, recently orphaned by the death of her mother. At least, at such a young age, she stood a chance to adapt more easily than Sarah had when her parents died. Though the accident that claimed their lives had happened over a decade ago, she still missed her father’s big smile and her mother’s comforting arms.

“You’ll make a good mother one day.” Mrs. Rayburn leaned against the door frame, looking tired. “Are you sure you don’t want to move in here?”

Sarah smiled. “If my aunt was in better health, you know I would take you up on your offer. And I do hope to be a mother someday. If I’m good, as you say, it will be only because I learned from the best.”

Mrs. Rayburn swiped her hand in the air, but Sarah could tell the comment pleased her. If not for the generous care of the well-to-do widow, the six orphaned children who resided under her roof would most likely still be out on the cold Chicago streets, begging for scraps to eat, working for some cruel taskmaster—or worse.

Abigail glided to the center of the bedroom that had been converted into a nursery, holding Tommy on her hip, and pretended to dance with him. “Sarah may take a giant step in the direction of motherhood this very night.”

“Abigail!” Heat marched across Sarah’s cheeks as she thought of Walt and how he’d hinted at proposing—again—at her birthday dinner tonight. “I don’t want that news getting out.”

“Why not?” Abigail spun the boy in a circle, eliciting a giggle. “You aren’t going to turn the poor fellow down again, are you?”

Sarah glared at her best friend, wishing she would learn when to hush. She hoisted Mary higher on her chest and carried her to the adjoining bedroom. Stopping beside Mary’s bed, she rocked the girl from side to side to make sure she was asleep. Though she would never admit it to Abigail, the toddler’s wails did grate on her nerves from time to time, especially when she hadn’t slept well the night before. Holding her breath, she lowered Mary into her bed and then pulled the small quilt over her.

Sarah kept her hand ready to pat Mary’s back, should she stir. Thankfully, she didn’t. Straightening, Sarah checked on the two napping babies. She then tiptoed across the big room to adjust the blanket covering Ian, the six-month-old whose father had deposited him on Mrs. Rayburn’s doorstep last fall. The poor man had lost his wife and couldn’t care for an infant. Sarah’s heart ached for each one of the youngsters. She knew how hard life could be without parents. Still, she counted herself among the lucky ones—she’d been taken in by family, though she hadn’t lived in a house as fine as Mrs. Rayburn’s mansion.

Bending, Sarah filled her apron skirt with rag dolls, balls, and other toys, then deposited them in the toy basket as the mantel clock in the parlor chimed two o’clock. She tiptoed out of the nursery and back into the playroom.

“Time for you girls to head home.” Mrs. Rayburn crossed the room and clapped her hands. “Tommy, would you like to hear a story?”

The three-year-old lunged into the older woman’s arms. She hugged him and then set him down. “My, but you’re getting heavy.”

“Too much porridge, I imagine.” Grinning, Sarah turned to Abigail. “Are you leaving now, too?”

“Yes, Papa is sending his driver for me. See you tomorrow, Mrs. Rayburn.” Abigail waved good-bye as she walked from the room. She stopped in the doorway and faced Sarah. “Do you want a ride to your uncle’s shop?”

“Thank you, but I’ll walk.”

Tommy ran out of the nursery, lifted his little hand, and waved. Mrs. Rayburn followed him into the upstairs parlor and took hold of his hand. “I don’t know how I’d manage without you girls and your friends who volunteer in the evenings. I fear I’m getting too old to manage so many young children.”

Mrs. Rayburn had said the same thing for the past two years, and yet she hadn’t turned Mary away when a neighbor had brought her last week. Still, Sarah couldn’t help wondering if the day would come when the kind woman would feel it necessary to close her door to the orphans. What would happen to them then?

She and Abigail donned their cloaks and left the warmth of the cozy home behind as they stepped out into the blustery chill of March. The gusty wind off Lake Michigan whipped at Sarah’s skirts, and the gloomy sky released a light drizzle. Abigail’s driver stepped out from under the shelter of a nearby tree and opened the door of her carriage.

“Are you sure you won’t let us give you a ride? It’s a miserable day to be out.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I’m headed home, anyway, and that’s the opposite direction for you.”

“So, you’re not clerking for your uncle this afternoon?” Abigail accepted her driver’s hand and climbed into the buggy. “How did you get out of doing that?” She sat, leaning toward Sarah, her eyebrows lifted.

“I’m going home to help Aunt Emma get things ready for my birthday dinner.” Sarah turned so the wind was at her back and wrapped her fist around the edges of her cloak to hold it closed. “You’re still coming tonight?”

Abigail nodded, grinning. “I wouldn’t miss seeing Walt propose again. I don’t know why you don’t just accept. Your uncle will probably throw you out one of these days, and then where will you be?” She motioned to her driver, who closed the door and scurried up to his seat.

Sarah walked quickly toward State Street. She hadn’t missed how Abigail had poked her with her barbed comment about her uncle casting her out. That very possibility had been in the back of her mind. Uncle Harvey had barely tolerated her presence all these years. He’d never wanted children and wasn’t happy when his wife’s only sister died, leaving behind a daughter. It was a miracle the stingy man had agreed to let her live with them in the first place.

She blew out a sigh of relief at the sight of the horse-drawn trolley, just a block away. Hurrying to the middle of the street, she waited until it drew near, then grabbed the rail and stepped aboard. The sides of the carriage blocked the wind, to a degree, but the chilly air still seeped inside, bringing with it the aromas of baking bread and roasting meat.

The rain picked up, and she was glad she’d decided not to walk home. She stared out the window at the Chicago city streets, teeming with horses and buggies, fancy carriages, freight wagons, and even a man pulling a handcart. Busy people bustled up and down the boardwalks. She loved this town and hoped never to have to leave it.

If she married Walt, most likely she wouldn’t. Yet she struggled with the notion of being his wife. He was a good friend, yes, and she’d hate to disappoint him. Still, shouldn’t a woman have stronger feelings than friendship for the man she married?

Her uncle would be beside himself if she turned Walt down again. Maybe she should just say yes this time. At least then she’d be assured of having a home of her own—and of freeing herself from the heavy sense of owing her uncle. One would think the hours she’d spent doing chores in his home and clerking at his watch repair shop would be sufficient to cover any debt she owed, but she could never do enough to please Uncle Harvey. Still, she was grateful to have lived in his home these last twelve years. She should be satisfied and not wish for more.

And yet she did. She longed to marry a man who made her laugh like her papa had, one whose broad shoulders were strong enough to protect her. But she hadn’t yet met that man. Maybe she never would. Maybe she needed to give up on wishing and just be satisfied with Walt.

*****

Sarah sat back and rested her hands in her lap, smiling in satisfaction with the meal. She stole a glance at the sideboard loaded with food she’d helped her aunt and the cook prepare—roast leg of mutton and currant jelly, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, fried parsnips, and glazed carrots. Just the thought of it all made her stomach ache, and they had not even served dessert yet.

Walt wagged a finger at the servant standing at attention.

The servant hurried to the table from his post in the corner of the room. “Sir?”

“Bring me some more of those parsnips.”

Sarah winced at his commanding tone, then looked to the head of the table. Uncle Harvey was seated next to a stranger—Mr. Gibbons—who’d appeared at the door just before they’d sat down to dinner. The two were having a private discussion, but Sarah had overheard enough to know it was about the benefits of living on the western frontier. She couldn’t imagine what anyone found interesting about the untamed prairie, with its wild Indians and abundance of dust.

At the other end of the table, Lizzie Monahan and Betty Phillips engaged her aunt in a lively chat about the latest styles in fashion, while Abigail sat infatuated with Howard Shibley, Walt’s best friend, who babbled on about a recent report that the population of Chicago had reached 300,000. Sarah nearly rolled her eyes.

“What was that look for?” Walt dabbed his lips with his napkin.

Sarah leaned closer to him, so not to be heard. “If Howard has any hope of winning Abigail’s heart, he should find a more interesting topic of conversation.”

“I doubt romance has even entered his mind.”

“Obviously.” Sarah shook her head.

Walt rested his chin in his palm and caught her gaze, his hazel eyes gleaming. His ash-blond hair had been slicked down and combed back from his forehead. “Speaking of romance, are you ever going to agree to marry me?”

She sucked in a sharp breath and glanced around the table once more. Nobody cast an odd look her way, so she assumed that no one had overheard the oh-so-unromantic proposal. She had pretty much made up her mind to say yes, but his casual manner of asking made her want to shake her head. Schooling her features and straightening her posture, she replied. “I don’t know.”

Walt blinked, obviously taken aback. Seconds later, he scowled, then glanced across the room and motioned to the servant again. The man rushed to his side. “I seem to be out of parsnips again.”

Why couldn’t Walt have just kept quiet? She liked him well enough, but his frequent proposals were producing the opposite of their intended effect; they made her more inclined to avoid him than marry him. She snuck a glance at Abigail, still trying so hard to get Howard to notice her, while the man, clearly oblivious, just kept spouting his knowledge.

Sarah peeked at Walt again. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but he wasn’t ugly, either. He would be a good provider, being the sole heir to his father’s shoe factory, but she had a feeling that life with him would be just as boring as their evenings together. She wanted to marry—to finally be free from her uncle’s overpowering presence and stern glare—but she wanted a man who thought she was the only woman in the world for him. Yes, Walt seemed to feel that way, but something held her back. Was there something wrong with her?

An hour later, she stood at the door to see Walt on his way. Everyone else had already gone.

Walt hung his head and twisted his hat in his hands. “I…uh, won’t ask you again.” He lifted his gaze to hers, pain evident in his eyes.

She’d hurt him, and that was the last thing she’d wanted to do.

“I’m twenty-nine, Sarah. I’m ready to marry and start a family. I need to know if there’s any hope that you’ll say yes one day.”

“And I just turned nineteen—today.”

He closed his eyes and exhaled a heavy sigh. “All right. I’ll give you a few more months to make up your mind.”

Sarah bristled. What if she still didn’t have an answer? “And then?”

He stared at her with a serious, no-nonsense expression she’d never seen before. “And then I’ll be forced to look elsewhere. I mean to be married before I turn thirty.” He slapped his hat on his head and stepped out into the blustery evening wind.

She watched him jog down the steps with more purpose than usual. He wanted to get away from her, and that was just fine, as far as she was concerned. She shut the door. Some birthday party that had been.

The sound of raised voices drew her to the parlor. Her aunt and uncle rarely argued, mainly because Aunt Emma’s chronic illness made her too weary to fuss over trifles.

“Harvey, please. You can’t be serious about this.”

Sarah held her breath, all manner of ideas racing through her mind.

“You might as well come in here, Sarah. I know you’re out there.”

She jumped at her uncle’s stern command and was tempted to slither away, but her curiosity forced her to do as bidden. “I was just saying good night to Walt,” she explained as she entered the room.

“Sit down. I have something to tell you.”

Aunt Emma didn’t look up from the sofa but anxiously wrung her hands.

Sarah sat next to her and laid a steadying hand over her aunt’s.

Her uncle paced in front of the fireplace, where a cozy blaze heated the front half of the room. Still, a shiver clawed its way down Sarah’s spine. Whatever news she was about to hear, it wouldn’t be good, from the looks of it.

Uncle Harvey stopped in front of the hearth, rested one hand atop the mantel, and stared into the flames. “You met Gibbons tonight.” He straightened and stared at her, an unreadable expression in his brown eyes. “He’s a wagon master. Been leading wagon trains down the Santa Fe Trail for the past twenty years.”

Sarah’s thoughts whirled. Again she wondered about her uncle’s interest in such a rugged man as Mr. Gibbons. He hadn’t even worn proper attire for a dinner party.

“Oh, dear. Oh, dear.” Aunt Emma fanned her face. “I fear I’m not feeling well.”

Sarah’s uncle narrowed his gaze at his wife. “You may be dismissed as soon as I’m done.”

Aunt Emma gave him a meek nod, keeping her head down.

Uncle Harvey cleared his throat, drawing Sarah’s gaze again. “The truth of the matter is that my brother has written me from Kansas City to inform me that he’s moving his family to the New Mexico Territory, by way of the Santa Fe Trail.”

“New Mexico?” Sarah pressed her lips closed, knowing her uncle wouldn’t appreciate her outburst. She sidled a glance at her aunt. Why was she so distraught? Turning her attention back to her uncle, she voiced the question that wouldn’t go away. “Why would your brother want to move to such an uncivilized place?”

Uncle Harvey’s nostrils flared, and Aunt Emma uttered a pitiful moan.

“Because there is great opportunity there,” her uncle insisted. “Bob says that one day, the New Mexico Territory will become a state. He has been to Santa Fe and plans to return to open a mercantile there.”

Sarah blinked as she absorbed the information. The truth finally dawned, and she gasped, staring wide-eyed at her uncle. “Surely, you don’t mean to go there, too.”

He lifted his chin, revealing his wrinkled, white neck from its hiding place beneath his beard. “I most certainly do. Chicago has dozens of watchmakers. According to Bob, Santa Fe doesn’t have a single one. I plan to set up shop next to his store. We’ll build a door between the two, so that we can assist each other when things get busy.”

Sarah could see her well-ordered life spiraling out of control. She’d already lost her parents. How could she stand to lose Aunt Emma, too? Sarah stood and started pacing the room. “You already have as much business as you can handle. And how could you expect Aunt Emma to endure such a difficult trip?”

“I’ve talked to the doctor, and he says the warmer climate will be much better for her. Lydia will be there to take care of her if she falls ill.”

Falls ill? Didn’t he realize his wife was nearly always unwell? She’d been sickly ever since she’d survived a bout of scarlet fever a year before Sarah had come to live with them. The sickness had left her frail and had robbed her of her hearing in her right ear.

Sarah doubted Aunt Emma could survive such a rugged journey. “Won’t you reconsider, Uncle?”

He shook his head. “My mind is made up.”

“And what about me?” Could she stay in this big house alone? He’d always expected her to pay her own way, and she could hardly afford a place as nice as this two-story brownstone.

He shrugged. “I expect you to marry Walt, and then you’ll be his responsibility. I’ve already sold the house, so you can’t stay here.”

Her aunt gasped and stood. “How could you do such a thing without consulting me?”

Sarah’s heart ached for her aunt. How could Uncle Harvey be so insensitive?

“Now, Emma. It’s my place to make such decisions. You’ll see once we arrive in Santa Fe that this move was for the best.”

Emma screeched a heart-wrenching sob and ran from the room, her dark green silk dress swishing loudly.

Sarah had never once stood up to her intimidating uncle before. This time, concern for her aunt stiffened her spine, and she turned on him. “How could you be so selfish? Such a trip will probably kill Aunt Emma! Is that what you want?”

His nostrils flared. “She is no concern of yours.” He walked to the dark window and stared out through the panes. “I never wanted you to come here, you know. I never wanted children. They’re nothing but a nuisance. I will concede that you’ve been good for Emma, but she needs to learn to get along without you.” He turned back to her, his eyes narrowed. “Marry Walt. He’s a decent fellow.”

She’d always known her uncle hadn’t wanted her, but hearing the words spoken out loud pained her as badly as if she’d been stabbed in the heart. Out of respect for her aunt, she didn’t lash out at him as she wanted to. “I’m not ready to marry yet.” Uncle Harvey may have housed her all these years, but that didn’t give him the right to force her to wed a man she didn’t love. “I…I can find a boardinghouse to stay in.”

He smirked. “And how do you intend to pay for it?”

A wave of panic washed over her. She had a few coins her aunt had given her—nowhere near enough to live on, even for a short time. “I’ll find another job. Since I’ve worked for you for so long, I’ve honed my office skills and have plenty of experience.”

“Hmpf. What employer would hire a female clerk when he can so easily find a man to do the task?”

Sarah dropped back onto the sofa, realizing the truth of his statement. What would she do? Where would she live? How could she manage without her aunt’s loving guidance? The last time she’d felt as empty and confused as she did now was when she’d learned that her parents had died.

Quick footsteps sounded outside the room, and Sarah and her uncle both looked to the door. Her aunt had returned, her eyes damp, her face red and splotchy. With a trembling hand, she held a handkerchief below her nose. Sarah longed to embrace her aunt, but she would wait until her uncle left them alone.

“I see it’s too late to change your mind,” she said, her voice quavering. “You’ve wounded me deeply, Harvey. I hope you know that.”

He started toward her, his expression softening, and took her hands. “Haven’t I always taken care of you, darling? Have you ever lacked for anything?”

Her aunt didn’t respond, but Sarah could tell by her expression that she didn’t share her husband’s perspective. Steeling her gaze, Emma stared up at him with rare determination in her eyes. “I won’t go without Sarah.”

“What?” Sarah and her uncle exclaimed at once.

“I won’t go unless she goes, too.” Emma hiked her chin.

Sarah didn’t know what to say. This was the first time she had seen Aunt Emma stand up to her husband, and she couldn’t bear to tell her that her efforts were wasted. But the last thing Sarah cared to do was leave Chicago and travel on a wagon train to Santa Fe.

Even marriage to Walt would be preferable to that.

Pampered Chef :)

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Sun, 26 May 2013 13:01:00 +0000

I am so glad to be a Pampered Chef consultant!! I love these products and meeting new people! Cooking has become more fun and fast! If you'd like to host a party for me (you can do one from anywhere in the U.S.!!) please message me. :) If you'd like to earn some extra $$$, I can tell you all about it. Visit my site to learn more. :)

We're running a special until the end of May but look at what all YOU can get:

Magazines.com Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:31:00 +0000

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I was given the opportunity to get a magazine subscription for free from Magazines.com. Right now they are presenting great deals for Mother's Day. You can order anything from crafty magazines, to food, to home decor and then some.

Click here to check out the titles, here to view their Facebook page, and follow @magazines on Twitter.

I chose Paula Deen and I am looking forward to sampling her recipes. If you'd like to win a free* or discounted* subscription to a magazine of your choice (from the Mother's Day titles), leave me a comment below with your email address. Winner will be chosen by Random.org on Sunday, just for Mother's Day. :) *Winner will receive $10 off their order.

Ordering was super easy. I had to talk to customer service and someone actually answered the phone, so no automated system here. :) Customer Service was super nice and helpful and my issue was resolved quickly and painlessly. Now, go write that comment so you can win. :)

Great Movie!!!

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:18:00 +0000

Ok. I think most Christian movies are kinda cheesy but this one was well written, well acted, and kept our attention throughout!

This Is Our Time is a movie produced by Pure Flix and it is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 16th. If you'd like to get your hands on this, I'll have a giveaway somewhere in this post so keep reading. :)

Of course you'd like to know more about this movie. So, let me tell you. It is the story of five friends who graduate and set out to make a difference in the world for God but tragedy strikes. Their lives aren't as planned out as they had thought. Their faith is tested. They have to make decisions they didn't know they'd have to make because of the things that happened in their lives.

I will admit, I cried more than once watching this film. Maybe that's why I liked it so much. The characters are true to life people with real drama, real decisions to make. Oh, it's also Dove Family Approved.

We give it two thumbs up! Links: Movie, Trailer, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My New Job

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:46:00 +0000

I am now an Independent Consultant for The Pampered Chef! I'm so excited. Visit my website here and my facebook page here. I decided to enter this adventure with my eyes wide open and see where it takes me. My goal is to pay off my Camaro early and to stock my kitchen, of course. :) If you'd love to host a party for me or be on my team, get with me. I'd love to share the lovely perks about this business with you!!

Janet's Planet DVD Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:43:00 +0000

I received Janet's Planet DVD "Microgravity" from Propeller in order to review. Janet Ivey really loves talking about gravity and microgravity (Zero G) and it shows in this DVD. You will be introduced to Henry Cavendish, Sir Isaac Newton, and Galileo in this 37 minute presentation. The section showing what happens to water at Zero G is really neat. Janet really explains gravity and microgravity in a way that most people can understand.

If you want to learn more about gravity and microgravity, I highly recommend this DVD. Click the following links to learn more and/or follow: Janet's Planet, Facebook, and Twitter. At Janet's Planet, you can play a game similar to Jeopardy, look at photos, create your own planet, and more. There's even a cool parent / teacher section. Go check it out!

I will say that the first copy I received was broken in half so I requested a new one. The company quickly replaced my DVD and I appreciate that.

From Janet Ivey

“For the past decade, science education has been my passion and America’s children have been my inspiration. It is incredible to see how excited children can become about the world around them when the information is presented in an accessible and fun way. That is the mission of Janet’s Planet, and I look forward to continuing to support better science education in the years to come.”

Veggietales: The Little House That Stood DVD Review AND Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

VeggieTales - a name that our family has loved for many years. Some of our favorite songs can be viewed on Silly Songs with Larry. Well, now there's a new DVD and it's named "VeggieTales: The Little House That Stood".

This family friendly DVD is about the Three Little Pigs looking to build new houses. They meet three builders. One builder builds his houses on the firm foundation using plans from the Master Builder's Handbook whereas the other two don't care about the foundation. Which builder will the Three Little Pigs choose? When the storm comes, what will happen?

As usual, this is a cute little movie. The new Silly Song, "Happy Tooth Day" wasn't as funny as some of the past songs but it was ok. All in all, we enjoyed watching it and encourage you to get one for yourself.

If you'd like to watch the trailer, click here. To visit the VeggieTales website, click here. If you'd like some cute coloring pages, click here.

Now, if you'd like to win your own copy of this adorable DVD, enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one ore more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Tutor's Daughter Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:45:00 +0000

I just completed reading The Tutor's Daughter written by Julie Klassen and published by BethanyHouse.

This historical fiction is about Emma Smallwood, the young adult daughter of widowed John Smallwood, a tutor for young men, and Henry and Phillip Weston, older sons of Sir Giles Weston who attended Mr. Smallwood's boarding school in their younger years.

Emma and her father go live in the home of Sir Giles and Lady Weston at Ebbington Manor to tutor the Weston's younger sons, Rowan and Julian. Phillip is away at university and Henry is in charge of his father's books. Apparently Emma and John arrive at an inconvenient time and feel the tension and see the people whispering.

The Weston family has a secret and don't want anyone outside of their immediate family to know about it. Unfortunately for them, Emma discovers their secret.

This book has mystery, suspense, interesting historical data, and romance all in one. I really enjoyed reading this book including the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. All comments are my own and no other compensation was received.

She's Gone Again and Another's About To Fly

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:58:00 +0000

Natalie is in Nicaragua yet again. I am so proud of her! She's gone down this time to help another ministry in Managua, the big city. She is thankful that it's not as hot as she was afraid it was going to be and she's super excited that they have heated showers. :) It's funny how little things like that make such a big difference in our world. We definitely take heated shower water for granted here in the States.

Courtney is moving out in one week and one day. I'm proud of her too! She got hired on at a Chick-fil-A in Longview with higher pay, promise of 40 hour work-weeks, and promises of promotion quickly. She will be living with her grandparents until she can save up for an apartment, which she's hoping to accomplish within a couple of months. She's still looking for someone to foster her dog, Benny, but if she is facing putting him in a shelter, we'll let him stay here until she or we find someone to take him as a foster. He is a good dog, just big. And inside. I'm glad he's housebroken. :) Anyone local want to babysit for a month? It would be like a little visit from a sweet, loving dog. :) May resort to bribery.... ;)

Gazpacho

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:09:00 +0000

Gazpacho sounds like something you'd say when someone sneezes. :) It's actually a cold soup. I've never eaten it before today so I don't have anything to compare it to. BUT, I will tell you about it anyway. In the book I'm reviewing, Raw Food for Dummies, the recipe for Gazpacho calls for tomatoes, celery, cucumber, lemon juice, EVOO, salt, pepper, green onion, and avocado. I like all of those ingredients except celery but I included it just so I could be fair to the recipe.

After I diced everything I could, I pulverized all but the onion and avocado. You're only supposed to pulverize half of it but since I don't like celery, I just did it all. Then I added in the avocado and onion. I actually used chives so I guess I did cheat on the ingredients just a little. I also splurged at Sprouts today and bought some Himalayan salt just to see what the big hoopla is over this. (For the record, it tastes like salt but it's pretty and pink.)

Anyway, the soup isn't bad. I'm not a big cold soup fan but for variety, I may add this to my monthly plan. It does have texture to it, so I guess if you want it super smooth, you'd need to strain it. It doesn't bother me, unless I get a chunk of celery, then I might have a problem.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:48:00 +0000

I made some yummy sun-dried tomatoes tonight and they are awesome! I had a case of romas that needed to be cooked so I made them into these and also made some salsa. Tomorrow I need to see what I'm going to put them into. Pasta would be good but I can't have pasta yet so maybe it will be good with Quinoa. Excited to find out. :

Nutritional Yeast?

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:31:00 +0000

While doing some research on vegetarianism, looking for recipes mainly, I ran across the term "Nutritional Yeast" or "nooch" which is weird but oh well. You ever hear of it? If so, what brand do you like the most? All of these recipes I'm running across are making me want to eat them and overeating, even if it's on veggies, isn't a good idea. :/

Courting Cate Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:41:00 +0000

Courting Cate is a book written by Leslie Gould and published by BethanyHouse. This book is about Cate Miller, an Amish young woman in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and Pete Treger, a newcomer to Paradise.

Cate's mother passed away shortly after her sister, Betsy, was born. She took over the job of raising her and basically let her childhood slip away. Their father passed an edict that stated Betsy couldn't court or marry until Cate had done so. This put a ton of pressure on Cate because she was content to remain unmarried. However, once Betsy received some disturbing news, Cate went into action and married quickly to help her precious sister. Pete happens to be the guy who gets to wed Cate and the story continues with some life lessons Cate has to learn.

I liked this book and encourage you to pick it up if you are given the opportunity.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Detox & Raw Vegan Round 2

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:19:00 +0000

<This was supposed to post yesterday, Tuesday, but I forgot to publish it so it's a day off. >

Last time I did a detox (it was also the first time I've ever done one), I joined a group of people and followed along. Well, my mom and I got together and decided we really needed to eat healthier so let's try this way of eating one more time and see if it sticks. My older son and a couple of my friends decided they wanted to join in as well even though they'll not be doing the same things at the same time. I say the more the merrier. :)

So today is my first day on the detox. I choose to eat apples only. I'm also trying my best to drink my water but that's not as easy to do. I think knowing that I have to do it makes it not as easy. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it going.

What I've noticed so far today is that I have had no heartburn (YAY!) and I haven't been tired. I have been grumpy though. :/ We'll see how the rest of the week goes. :)

Bethany's Neuro Visit

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

We took Bethany to her neurologist today for a check up. The doctor wants us to take her in for a 23 hour VEEG (Video EEG). We're all in agreement. So, the scheduler at the hospital will be calling us shortly to schedule her visit. Why the VEEG? Well, she hasn't had any noticeable seizures but we want to see what her brain is doing off meds. She hasn't had a non-medicated EEG since she was 8 months old. Anyway, we suspect spikes and the EEG will let us see if she is or isn't. One huge positive is that we were in and out of there within 40 minutes. Sure beats the doctor being over an hour late to our appointed time. First morning appointments are the way to go!!

After the visit we went to IHOP. The cheesecake pancakes are great. :)

Have a blessed day!!

....Not To Be...That Is The Answer

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:46:00 +0000

Well. Not sure how to start this blog post off but I'll just jump into it and rip it off like a bandaid stuck to your skin: we are NOT adopting Calli. <GASP!> "What happened?" "Why?" - two questions we've heard over and over. Figured it would be better if I just said it all here and got it over with. So, she chose to go back to her biological mom and step-dad, that's what happened. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because she finally got what she wanted with her boyfriend and in September, they'll be parents. Maybe her family supports her getting married to the bum boyfriend. I don't know. What I do know is that when she told us about the pregnancy on Friday night / Saturday morning, she said again she wanted us to adopt her and that she was glad the baby would be a part of a family that loved her/him and she (Calli) wouldn't have to worry about the baby being around crazy people. Then, a little more than 12 hours later, her bio mom, step-dad, and the bf's mom showed up at our doorstep. When Calli's phone rang (we were sitting on the couch) she held it out to me and was shaking saying it was Angie (bio mom) on the phone and what should she do. I told her to answer it or not but that was her choice. If we did nothing else for Calli, we know she now knows she has a choice in her life. She didn't answer the phone but the doorbell rang and there they were.

It wasn't pretty. As a matter of fact, it got ugly. I know I smacked the bf's mom's hands off of Calli (or so I was told - I was too mad to remember) and then yelled at her to get off my property, but she was literally pulling Calli down the driveway. No one else tried to protect Calli. Just me. Sad, huh? You would have thought Angie would have told Marlene to back off. She is such a busybody and troublemaker. Anyway, Angie was saying she wanted to just hug her baby and blah-blah-blah and they wanted to talk in the car. So, they did. For about 30 minutes or so. I don't know how long it was actually but that seems to be about right. Anyway, Calli got out of the car and came to me and said that "I'll come back to visit." So, we knew the answer. She chose to go back to the home that hurt her, deserted her, and pushed her away. That is her choice. Hope she's happy with her decision.

She came by on Sunday to pick up her things. What's ironic is that she wanted her stuff to be put outside. It was like they were afraid we were going to kidnap her and change her mind about going back to Angie's. Really? Really??? Calli knows us and yet it only took a little amount of time for them to convince her we were not who she knows us to be. Ridiculous. We are guilty of one thing: loving a young lady who had slept in her car and was not going back "home". We gave her a roof over her head, food, Tom even fixed her heater in her car, laughter, security, and love.

So, now that she's gone what next? Well, we've had all kinds of emotions running wild. Anger, frustration, sadness, questioning - would we do anything different? / did we do enough? The answer is easy. We did what God wanted us to do and we'd do it again if given the opportunity because it's not about us. It's about Christ.

Life...

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:11:00 +0000

My mom and step-dad are coming into town today. They are staying with my oldest daughter (their oldest grandchild), son-in-law, and grandson. I'll get to hang out with my mama tomorrow and am so excited. :) I was going to go to breakfast with them but I have to pick up my Bountiful Basket and the timing on that just won't mesh. Unless, of course, we can meet early in the morning. At any rate, I guess I should plan on what to serve for a late lunch. I'm sure there will be some domino game going on tomorrow and it's always fun to snack while playing games. We can get pretty competitive so it will be exciting. I can see chips flying in the air as we speak. :)

I rearranged my furniture in the living room today. For some reason, it looks emptier so we'll see if I like it.

I finished reading an awesome Christian historical fiction book last night. To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander. It is a long read but well worth it. I loved the characters. I now have about 3 more review books to tackle. I must admit that since I received my 10" tablet, I have been doing more reading on it than hard copy books, which is odd for me. I usually don't like ebooks. I'm learning to love them. :)

Today my 20 year old daughter's boyfriend is coming over to cook for her. I'm ready to see what he's going to create and if I can sneak any samples. :)

It's going to be a good weekend but next weekend is going to be super busy. Hopefully this Saturday will drag by because I do enjoy a good, lazy day. :)

Hope you have a blessed weekend!!

Chicken Tacos...It's What's For Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Today I visited with my oldest daughter and my awesome grandson. He's so precious. I love it when he calls me Nammy. I'm actually supposed to be Grammy but oh well. I'll take it. :)

Anyway, it was time for me to leave and I knew I needed to stop by Kroger to get something to fix for supper. I just didn't know what to fix. Nothing sounded good. So, Hannah suggested I get a rotisserie chicken and some flour tortillas to make chicken tacos. Hmmm. Sounds good. So, I went to the store and bought two chickens (I'm feeding 8 people tonight so I figured I might need two) and fresh flour tortillas.

I have now shredded the chicken. I will warm up the awesome pinto beans we had the other night so we will have a side dish. I already have lettuce and sour cream. Sounds yummy, huh?

One thing I decided to do after I was deboning the chicken was to make a stock from the bones so I saved them and will work on that tomorrow. Tonight I'm going to help my hubby with a project at church so I don't have time to cook it tonight. We'll see how that works. Hope it's not a waste.

Anyway, here's a photo of my shredded chicken and the bag it came in in case you wanted to try it yourself.

Bon appetit!

To Facebook or not to Facebook...That is the question

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:05:00 +0000

Well, I have completed step one of my three step process of eliminating Facebook from my life. GASP! Did I really just write that?! Why yes, yes, I did. And you know what? It's actually a good thing. Step one was to delete the FB app from my mobile phone. Easy enough. Just drag and drop it into my trash can from the home page. Step two is to delete it from my tablet and step three will be to delete it from my laptop. Can I do it? I honestly don't know. It has been great keeping up with my kids and my friends but I really don't like all the other drama it brings into my life. Maybe I will just delete everyone except for my family. That way I can still see my awesome grandson and what my kids are up to. :) I shall have to think about this decision.

White Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:51:00 +0000

It was an amazing sight. Snow falling softly to the ground on Christmas Day. The flakes started out small, then were huge. They weather quickly turned from nice, soft flakes falling, to blizzard like conditions. The wind was blowing, the flakes were swirling. It was beautiful. And cold. Brrrr. The kids immediately went outside to place a few bowls on top of cars to collect snow for us to make snow ice cream. I had no idea we'd get enough snow for their treat but boy did we!

The kids played in the coldness. They made snowmen and women. They had a blast. I, on the other hand, stayed inside where it was nice and warm. :) Although I love the snow, I love to be warm better. :)

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

Now, for the snow ice cream recipe:

1. Collect a bunch of fresh snow by placing large bowls on top of non-moving vehicles. Do NOT gather snow off the ground. You never know if Fido has been by.
2. Pour 1 tsp of vanilla extract into your snow bowl.
3. Add one can of sweetened condensed milk and stir.
4. Eat. :)

Now, I've been asked "How much snow?" Well, there's not a specific amount here. I mix mine in an old Tupperware cake lid. (Google "Vintage Tupperware Gold Cake Carrier" and mine is the round one.) You can add more snow if you want. The less snow the sweeter the ice cream but the more snow the happier the kids. :) I like the snow with a slight sweet taste.

The Reunion by Rachael McIntire Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:48:00 +0000

I just read a fairly short story and wanted to tell you about it. The Reunion is about two families who each adopt daughters and the lives they live. One is raised in a Christian home, the other in a home where Jesus was never mentioned. One part really caught my attention. When one of the girls wants to give something away to someone less fortunate, instead of her mother agreeing, she encourages prayer before doing so, noting that "not all seemingly good ideas are God's ideas." How true that statement is but we can be quick to act at times and not seek God's answer first.

This is a great book to read with your kids. Although no questions are included, the short chapters bring up enough topics you'll have plenty to discuss. There are a total of 127 pages of story and can easily be read in an hour or two.

To receive $2 off of your $9.99 copy, include the code REVIEW-TINA. This code is good until the end of February 2013 for $2 off but will work indefinitely for $1 off after that date. Click here to go to the order page.

I received this book for free from Elisha Press in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received or expected.

Christmas Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:51:00 +0000

We were given these cute blocks a long time ago and since we've added a new addition, we had to make one more. :) Thanks to Hobby Lobby for having the supplies on hand, I think Calli's came out looking like the others! We also added Andrew & Carson under Hannah's. What do you think?

Belonging & Betrayal - two books by Robin Lee Hatcher Review

noreply@blogger.com (~Tina) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:58:00 +0000

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first book in Where The Heart Lives series. The story takes place in the early 1880's. The second book, Betrayal, is in my hands as well but I haven't read it yet. It takes place in the late 1890's. After I do read it, I will update this blog post because I also have additional copies to give away!! Whoo hoo!

When Felicia was a young girl, her mother died, her father was no where around, and so she, her younger sister and older brother were placed in "Dr. Cray's Asylum for Little Wanderers" in Chicago, Illinois. From there, they are put on a train and end up separated as different families at different train stops take them in.

Felicia ends up with the Kristoffersen family. They don't treat her badly but they don't shower her with love either. After they die she finds out from a cousin that they never did adopt her so she is now free to leave but also has to have a way to support herself.

She moves to Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, to take on a teaching position. Here she meets a new friend, Mrs. Kathleen Summerville, a widow who lives with her two children and her overbearing, controlling, mother-in-law. She also meets her landlord, Mr. Colin Murphy and his daughter Charity. Colin is widowed as well. Colin and Kathleen are a good match for each other - if you consider convenience a "good match."

The story is mainly about Felicia, Colin, and Kathleen, but Oscar Jacobson comes into the picture and what he does is awesome!

Stay tuned for book two....

Ok. I'm back to give you the run down on Betrayal. This story is all about Felicia's brother, Hugh Brennan, and his life after he came to know the Lord. It does have some flashbacks but for the most part it deals with his current life. Also of importance is Julia Grace, a widow with her own issues. She is a rancher and Hugh, a drifter, shows up in time to help her with a few chores until she sells some cattle. Now this story was more focused on these two than I preferred, but it was a good read. If you like reading Christian fiction, I would imagine you'd like reading these books, so feel free to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway below. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received these books for free from Zondervan. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received or expected.