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

Video From MckMama

Jendi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:13:36 +0000

This “vacation” I’ve been lousy with many normal vacation things. I had good intentions to have the kids send postcards…totally forgot. I brought along school reading books and math facts…totally forgot.

I do have awesome stories about the Blissdom Conference. I do have a big list of improvements for this site and Simple Vlogging Tips.

I did get a video for my friend. She doesn’t have a blog -- she’d rather take pictures than write -- but she reads MckMama and other great blogs [like this one ]. She rallied our church to pray for Stellan. She kept us updated and activated the prayer chain at crucial times. She has never had the chance to meet MckMama, but I did since MckMama was one of the keynote speakers at Blissdom.

So Terri, this video is for you. It was dark and noisy, but she was busy and I got what I could. I hope you can meet her in real life someday.

------------- Video From MckMama is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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I’m Beguiled By Beguiled

Jendi — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:46:53 +0000

First I have to say that I’m not finished with this book. I know that for a good review I’m supposed to have it finished and let it sit for a bit before I review it. I’m 3/4 of the way through and typing fast so that I can go back to reading. Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand was a great diversion in the truck as we traveled the highways through Ohio; from the first page I was captivated.

I have read all of Deanne Gist’s books because the story lines are so interesting. Most of the stories just rated a “it was okay” when I passed them on. [A Bride in the Bargain was an exception - loved that one.] I’ve never read anything by J. Mark Bertrand, but I’m loving the pairing of the two styles [romance and suspense] in Beguiled.

I was a bit unsure about the hero, Logan Woods, but he’s growing on me. I love the rollerblading, hard-working, dog-loving, smart, yet naive heroine – Rylee Monroe. There’s a great supporting cast in Rylee’s neighbor and Logan’s parents. The city of Charleston itself is like another character in the book – and the book is better for it. There’s an irritating police detective, and a bad guy that I haven’t been able to figure out yet – so that’s it for now!

Here’s the backcover copy:

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her… Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

You can find out more information at the author’s sites p Gist and Bertrand. You can read the first chapter at Where the Story Begins.

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.

------------- I’m Beguiled By Beguiled is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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My Number One Tip For Taking Kids On Vacation

Jendi — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:53:32 +0000

There’s lots of tips I can think of for vacationing with small children, but this is the one that has helped us the most.

Try to stay on their normal schedule.

If you try to get them to bed, get them up, and feed them at their normal times it helps things go better. It gives them a point of reference and normalcy when everything around them is different.

We go so far as to try to be resting during their nap time. I know that it’s not always possible, but we try. We’ve found that it makes the rest of the day more enjoyable if we are busy during the same times we would be busy if we were home. It’s always tempting to try to squeeze in as many activities as possible since we’re “out and about.” That’s when meltdowns start occurring – from the kids and from me.

Why am I bringing this up now? We’re setting out tonight. I want to let you know that I’m not sure how often I’ll be updating till I get back home. I’m sure I’ll throw a couple in, but what and when is an unknown. So hang in there – I’ll be back to normal next week [if I've ever been classified as normal].

------------- My Number One Tip For Taking Kids On Vacation is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Sunday Poem ~ Point of View

Jendi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:14:28 +0000

I’ve heard it said it all depends
Upon your point of view,
The happiness you get from life,
And how things look to you.
And the longer that I’m living,
I’ve really come to see,
That this is just as true a fact,
As anything could be.

If you always look for sorrow,
Then you’ll have it seven-fold,
If you go in search of rainbows,
You will find a pot of gold.
If you have no time for dreaming,
The days are dark and grey,
But with a little bit of hope,
Your troubles slip away.

Don’t waste your time in sighing,
When the world is full of song,
Don’t live among the shadows,
That is not where you belong.
Lift your face and feel the sunlight,
Smell the flowers in teh wood,
And be grateful you are living,
…And know that God is good.

by Grace E. Easley

------------- Sunday Poem ~ Point of View is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Becca By The Book

Jendi — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:39:49 +0000

Unfortunately I have not been able to read this book so I can’t give you my spectacular critique. [ha-ha] I can tell you that it has a slow start, but maybe it just feels so slow because my life is going so fast right now. I can also tell you that it’s starting to pick up, that it’s full of book quotes and references [which I love], and that I picked it because I had read her previous book about Getaway Girl Paige.

Here’s the info on Becca By The Book by Laura Jenson Walker.

Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver…

At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.

And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.

This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.

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

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.

------------- Becca By The Book is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Too Busy For Children?

Jendi — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:09:54 +0000

My husband gently reminded me of a fact that I often forget: What good is it to get extra things for the children if I lose the time spent with them? The time to teach, train, and love them.

A lot of ladies talk about balance. How to balance our lives. How to get everything done. How to organize. How to clean. While I agree that all those things are good I use a different word. I think we should prioritize.

A mentor of mine said, “What you focus on will grow.” She was referring to online business, but I think it can apply to my children also.

Remember - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World.

------------- Too Busy For Children? is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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New Bowl From ConAgra

Jendi — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:02:37 +0000

This year all the Blissdom conference attendees are getting a package from the sponsors before the conference. I think it’s a great idea! ConAgra Foods sent us what you see in the pictures. Thank you ConAgra! I had no idea all those brands were from the same company.

It was a cheddar popcorn from Redenbacher’s and it was gone in less than 45 minutes.

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

------------- New Bowl From ConAgra is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Who Will Let The Dog Out?

Jendi — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:44:01 +0000

We have a crate for our puppy and it certainly gives me peace of mind when we are away from home. The peace, however, stops when we are driving in the driveway as all three children start asking to be the one to let Thunder out. Actually, I had to work on them only starting when we got to the driveway. It was at the point that as soon as the dog was in the crate they started asking to let him out – and we hadn’t even left the house yet!

For a while I tried to make sure that they rotated, but I got tired of trying to remember who did it last time and all that baloney. Besides, that turned into a whole session of arguing about who really did it last time, and the time before while the poor dog is sitting in the cage waiting for them to decide who let him out last time!

This morning our five year old came to me and our three year old went to Daddy to ask to let him out. Each of us said yes without knowing the other child was asking. The three year old came crying to me because she didn’t get to open the cage. Yoy!

Why don’t they have this enthusiasm for cleaning up toys? Imagine..
“Mommy can I clean up the toys?
No mommy, she did it last time. It’s my turn to clean up the toys.
But he did it two times before and I only did it once.
I want to clean up the toys. When is it my turn?”

Yea… nice dream.

------------- Who Will Let The Dog Out? is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Please Vote For My Niece!

Jendi — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:49:55 +0000

My niece – my eldest sister’s 11 year old – is a finalist in the 5 Minutes for Mom Yoplait Drawing Contest! Isn’t that exciting!?

Since she is a finalist she needs lots of votes. Would you please help? Go to this page and vote for number 12. Scroll down past the pictures for the poll. Make sure you check number 12 titled “From Weak to Strong.” You don’t have to register, give your name, or do anything but a few clicks of your mouse.

They have homeschooled my niece since kindergarten and this would be a tremendous blessing to them if they win the $1000. So please go vot e for number 12 and tell your friends! Thank you so much! My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, my brother-in-law thanks you, my niece thanks you…

------------- Please Vote For My Niece! is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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Sunday Poem ~ God Bless You

Jendi — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:19:45 +0000

I seek in prayerful words, dear friend,
My heart’s true wish to send you,
That you may know that, far or near,
My loving thoughts attend you.

I cannot find a truer word,
Nor better to address you;
Nor song, nor poem have I heard
Is sweeter than God bless you!

God bless you! So I’ve wished you all
Of brightness life possesses;
For can there any joy at all
Be yours unless God blesses?

God bless you! So I breathe a charm
Lest grief’s dark night oppress you,
For how can sorrow bring you harm
If ’tis God’s way to bless you?

And so, “through all thy days
May shadows touch thee never-”
But this alone – God bless thee-
Then art thou safe forever.

Author Unknown

------------- Sunday Poem ~ God Bless You is from: Jendi's Journal.com

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