Jendi's Journal - Wit & Wisdom from my Journey through Womanhood

Sewing Is A Top Priority This Week

Jendi — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:05:32 +0000

I seem to go in spurts with my sewing. I’ll sew every day for days and then not sew at all for months. It probably has something to do with the fact that I like to make new things instead of mend old things. Unfortunately, my children now have a pile of clothes that needs mended, and my husband has a couple pair of pants that need hemmed. Fortunately I have a new project that needs done. I’ve told myself that I have to do some mending before I start the new project. The old work before play philosophy.

The other thing that stops me is the fact that the top of my sewing desk has a flat surface. In our house empty flat surfaces are rarer than a snowman in July. This morning I got my timer, told myself, “I can do anything for 15 minutes,” and cleaned off my sewing desk.

I tried to actually put everything away and not just pile it somewhere else. I tried to stay focused although I did answer a schooling question, get out a work paper, and pick up some things from another room on my way through. I stayed focused for the most part. The picture above is exactly what it looked like when my timer went off after 15 minutes. Flylady would be proud of me; I even dressed to shoes before I started.

Next I got out the sewing machine and some [that's just some] of the mending that needs done. See what I mean about flat surfaces?! I did my 15 minutes of work and now I’m doing my 15 minutes of computer time.

The other incentive for cleaning it off was so I would have post material to link to 5 Minutes for Mom Tackle it Tuesday. I’m hoping to tackle the mending later today.

Have you tackled anything this week? Anything you need to tackle? Is your mending all done? Wait, if it is I don’t want to know about it.

------------- Sewing Is A Top Priority This Week is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig

Jendi — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:32:59 +0000

I really enjoyed reading the book Dead Reckoning. You know I don’t say that very often about a book. This is Ronie Kendig’s debut novel and I’ve noticed that debut novels are usually among the best of an author’s work. Maybe it’s because of the fact that a ton of people want to be published and the author has got to work hard and be great to get through all the steps until they are published. Whatever the reason, I think Ronie Kendig did a great job.

There are CIA agents and terrorists, Christians and Muslims, love and hate, India and Paris, and much more. Shiloh Blake is a great heroine. She’s smart, but not unbelievably so. She makes mistakes and is willing to learn. The hero, Reece Jaxon aka Brutus, is what a hero should be. Sometimes he seemed a bit too good to be true, but that’s what we want in a hero, right? It was suspenseful without twisting my insides into knots; unpredictable without being confusing, and points to God at just the right moments. I loved the touches of advanced technology – like Reece’s motorcycle helmet – set against the huts and alleys of India.

Here is the backcover copy:

Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life. When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life.

When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, Who is he? And how is he always one step ahead? Is the man trailing her an enemy or a protector sent by her CIA father?

Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become involved in her father’s web of intrigue and mystery? Will she reconcile with her past and with him? Will she allow God to help her throught this ordeal of danger, mistrust and uncertainty?

You can find out more information at the author’s site. You can read the first chapter at Where the Story Begins. Published by Abingdon Press.

This book was sent to me through Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for the book tour. The words are fully my own and I have no affiliate links in this post.

------------- Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Sunday Poem ~ The Boomerang

Jendi — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:18:19 +0000

One unkind word in the early morn will poison the thoughts for the day;
One unkind look to one we love will take all the sunshine away.
And twice all the sunshine we take away
From the lives of others at early day
We steal from ourselves the whole day long,.
And we lose the beauty of earth’s glad song.

One little smile when things go wrong will drive off many a frown;
One pleasant look, though the thoughts do rage, will put the tempter down.
And twice all the pleasure that we give out,
At the time when we are most tempted to pout,
Will sweeten our lives like a breath of May,
And the sun will shine through the whole glad day.

by Carrie May Nichols

------------- Sunday Poem ~ The Boomerang is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Susan May Warren Is An Amazing Author

Jendi — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:15:36 +0000

I loved the fun cozy mysteries that she wrote withheroine PJ Sugar. Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren is totally different! I am truly amazed at how well she writes in different styles.

It was definitely not a happy, fluff book. It is an intense story that shows the rougher side of life. It starts with murders, goes to seedy mafia business; then broken hearts, war, and undercover deceit.

The underlying spiritual lesson is God’s ability to forgive and help us forgive. It is clearly demonstrated by one of the main characters. The story show the bad sides of many people, and the ability for God to deliver.

I would not want to be the heroine of this book. I was so sad and hurt for Sofia, although I did love the story of her song.

The book is broken into three parts. I was glad since that enabled me to lay it down so I could switch the laundry. It was nice to have the breaks, but even nicer that she did not backtrack in the story when she switched views. The breaks/viewpoint switches were not confusing and I did not feel like I was missing anything.

I do not recommend this book for young girls.

Here is the backcover copy:

Sophie Frangos is torn between the love of two men and the promise that binds them all together. Markos Stavros loves Sophie from afar while battling his thirst for vengeance and his hunger for honor. Dino, his quiet and intelligent brother, simply wants to forget the horror that drove them from their Greek island home to start a new life in America. One of these “sons of thunder” offers a future she longs for, the other—the past she lost.

From the sultry Chicago jazz clubs of the roaring twenties to the World War II battlefields of Europe to a final showdown in a Greek island village, they’ll discover betrayal, sacrifice, and finally redemption. Most of all, when Sophie is forced to make her choice, she’ll learn that God honors the promises made by the Sons of Thunder.

You can find out more information at the Brother’s in Arms site. Published by Summerside Press.

This book was sent to me through Litfuse for the book tour. The words are fully my own and the link to Amazon is my affiliate link.

------------- Susan May Warren Is An Amazing Author is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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His First Knife

Jendi — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:53:02 +0000

During our first visit to Cabela’s we let each of the kids pick out one thing that cost $5.00 or less and we bought it for them. Our 7 year old son was very excited to get his first six-in-one tool that included….drum roll please…a knife!

Of course I lectured him about the knife – probably way too much, but I’m a mother. My husband said a very terse statement and that was that. Something like…use that knife anywhere you’re not supposed to and you’ll wish you were dead. Not really the dead part – just pretty close to that.

We still had several hours to ride home and our son really – really – wanted to use his tools. The flashlight was fun to use, but there’s not much need of a screwdriver or pliers while driving down the road.

For the next week he had it on his belt and was quick on the draw – except it was so tight I had to help him pull out the “needed” tool. He even used pliers to open his empty juice box! He regularly asked me if I needed anything cut, but I didn’t because….I got my own in pink.

So, does anybody else carry a knife in their purse?

------------- His First Knife is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Puppies Chew Everything!

Jendi — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:33:26 +0000

And here’s the 10 month old culprit on the last patch of snow:

For more pictures visit the main site or 5 Minutes for Mom.

------------- Puppies Chew Everything! is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Building A Snowman For Family Time

Jendi — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:49:43 +0000

I believe that family time is important. Sometimes we are so busy and worn out that movie time is family time. It’s okay, but there’s no interaction during movie time – know what I mean? In the following video I show you the time when we purposely went outside together to get wet and cold have fun in the snow.

This post is linked to Tuesdays Unwrapped.

------------- Building A Snowman For Family Time is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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How Hard Do You Work?

Jendi — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:47:07 +0000

I’ll be totally honest and say that some weeks I just get by. I do what has to be done – the homeschooling, the dishes, the laundry – but nothing extra. Those weeks I’m usually lagging behind. I upped my game last week. I worked hard. I even exercised 3 times! I’m not saying that my house is spotless. I’m saying that I’m pleased with what I was able to get done last week. I put on my shoes every day [like Flylady says] and I worked. I’m hoping to get a lot done this week as well.

How did you do last week?

Some key things that helped me get work done:

Reading my Bible. Starting my day the right way.
Getting dressed to shoes every day.
Having some fun time. I do better when I take some time to read, or do something just because I like to do it.
Fresh air and sunshine. Taking the dog out for just 15 minutes helped me feel more energetic.
Using my mother-in-law’s dishwasher. Those dishes surely do drag me down! Sometimes it feels like I’m cheating by taking my dishes up to her dishwasher, but my husband doesn’t mind and it helps me get my sink shiny.
My timer. I’d be lost without it.
A list of goals for the whole week. This regularly changes – some weeks I do great with a list, and some weeks it depresses me. Sometimes I use daily lists; other times weekly.
Sheer determination and the right attitude.
Having my kids help. Those pulling-my-hair-out training sessions are starting to pay off a little bit.
Chocolate

What helps you?

This post is linked to OhAmanda’s Top Ten Tuesday.

------------- How Hard Do You Work? is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Sunday Poem ~ Reach Out

Jendi — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:42:56 +0000

In everyone’s life there comes a time
when our faith is put to the test,
and we feel that we’re losing touch with God,
though we’re doing our very best.

It may seem that the world is against us,
and there’s no one around to care,
but if we just “reach out” we’ll find
that God is always there.

If we let Him know that we need Him,
and our faith is very strong –
He’ll wipe away the cares of the day,
and fill our hearts with His song.

For He is the light in the darkness,
our pillar to lean upon,
And He’ll give us the strength and courage
we’ll need to carry on.

by Doris A. Orth

------------- Sunday Poem ~ Reach Out is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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My Children Have Trouble With Names

Jendi — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:05:10 +0000

During our 2010 trip to Nashville I introduced the kids to an old television series of Zorro. [Yes, I'm one of those bad mothers that lets their children watch DVDs during a trip.] They loved Zorro, but couldn’t seem to remember how to say his name. It ranged from Zor-roy and Zoy-ro to Zoo-ro and Zor-roo. They would actually correct each other with another wrong pronunciation! I’d just roll my eyes at my husband. He’d pick them up and roll them back.

Their latest name problem has been with another movie. They had started watching it at their Grandma’s and finished it at home thanks to Netflix. Then they went back and excitedly told her that they got to finish watching Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. You know – the movie with the flying car!

At least they remember to call my Mommy! Although sometimes I wish they’d forget.

------------- My Children Have Trouble With Names is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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