#FamilyofJesus

Will be here July 1st

Coming Soon, Look for the book July 1st.  #familyofjesus

Family Of Jesus coming soon

#familyofjesus

"Like the family of Jesus, you are not forgotten. He has plans and purpose for your life. He looks your way."

Coming Soon

You have a family. You have a story. Jesus did too.

Looking forward to my copy of this book #FamilyOfJesus

Something new

I have been selected to be part of the Launch Team for Karen Kingsbury's newest venture The Family of Jesus.  Looking forward to this and also to the release. #FamilyofJesus

The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer

This book starts off kind of slow with two "strange" women examining the wool at a vendor's booth in the market place.  Instead they are actually 2 men that are disguised and having a cryptic discussion about the stars and what will happen in the near future including finding someone that is now a man and has a secret that can either hinder or help their cause.  The book then moves to the next chapter where we meet Thomas who has been hidden in a abbey for many years.  At first he was hidden their with his nursemaid Sarah (his mom) but then she dies and the monks make him their slave.  Thomas is expected to wait on the 4 monks, including feeding them, cleaning up after them and all sorts of other jobs.  He is given no love and really feels that he has been denied much in his childhood.  Thomas plainly remembers his mom teaching him a secret when he was much younger, but sadly she died before she could finish teaching him everything he needed to know.  Thomas decides that it is time he leaves to fulfill his destiny.  He is planning on escaping that night while the Monks are asleep, but then they do something that gives him the perfect opportunity to not only escape, but to get money and provisions for a 10 day journey.  Thomas leaves knowing only that he is to rescue a knight from the gallows, he is to proceed to a place called Magnus, where he is to conquer the king of that region based on a legend that has been passed down for years.
As Thomas begins his travels to the city of Magnus he is joined by 3 very different people.  The Knight Templar (William) that Thomas has freed from the gallows, Little John a pickpocket and Isabelle a mute and deaf girl.  Thomas ended up saving both of them when he saved the knight.  He is then told that he is to travel with all 3 of them not just the knight to the city of Magnus and that by having the others along it will ensure their safe travels to Magnus.

Sadly both sides know what Thomas is up to and are after him.  The one side is worried that the other has gotten a hold of him and that he is now working for the wrong side.  The wrong side is convinced that it won't be hard at all to turn Thomas to their side or to kill him.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read.  Towards the beginning however I had trouble keeping track of who was on what side and who was who.  Thinking that a small family tree type of chart or listing of characters at the beginning of the book may have helped.  By the end of the book I was into the characters and couldn't wait to find out what happened.  This book does have one of my pet peeves in a book.  I hate when the book ends with more questions than answers and then you have to wait many months for the sequel to be released.  Needless to say I will be watching closing for the second book in this series to be released next year.  I gave it 4 out of 5 stars as a 5 star book is one that I can't put down and will stay up until all hours of the morning reading the book.

I received a copy of this book to review from WaterBrook Multnoham Publishing Group, but the opinions expressed are my own.

The Orphan King

This book starts off kind of slow with two "strange" women examining the wool at a vendor's booth in the market place. Instead they are actually 2 men that are disguised and having a cryptic discussion about the stars and what will happen in the near future including finding someone that is now a man and has a secret that can either hinder or help their cause. The book then moves to the next chapter where we meet Thomas who has been hidden in a abbey for many years. At first he was hidden their with his nursemaid Sarah (his mom) but then she dies and the monks make him their slave. Thomas is expected to wait on the 4 monks, including feeding them, cleaning up after them and all sorts of other jobs. He is given no love and really feels that he has been denied much in his childhood. Thomas plainly remembers his mom teaching him a secret when he was much younger, but sadly she died before she could finish teaching him everything he needed to know. Thomas decides that it is time he leaves to fulfill his destiny. He is planning on escaping that night while the Monks are asleep, but then they do something that gives him the perfect opportunity to not only escape, but to get money and provisions for a 10 day journey. Thomas leaves knowing only that he is to rescue a knight from the gallows, he is to proceed to a place called Magnus, where he is to conquer the king of that region based on a legend that has been passed down for years.
As Thomas begins his travels to the city of Magnus he is joined by 3 very different people. The Knight Templar (William) that Thomas has freed from the gallows, Little John a pickpocket and Isabelle a mute and deaf girl. Thomas ended up saving both of them when he saved the knight. He is then told that he is to travel with all 3 of them not just the knight to the city of Magnus and that by having the others along it will ensure their safe travels to Magnus.

Sadly both sides know what Thomas is up to and are after him. The one side is worried that the other has gotten a hold of him and that he is now working for the wrong side. The wrong side is convinced that it won't be hard at all to turn Thomas to their side or to kill him.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read. Towards the beginning however I had trouble keeping track of who was on what side and who was who. Thinking that a small family tree type of chart or listing of characters at the beginning of the book may have helped. By the end of the book I was into the characters and couldn't wait to find out what happened. This book does have one of my pet peeves in a book. I hate when the book ends with more questions than answers and then you have to wait many months for the sequel to be released. Needless to say I will be watching closing for the second book in this series to be released next year. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars as a 5 star book is one that I can't put down and will stay up until all hours of the morning reading the book.

I received a copy of this book to review from WaterBrook Multnoham Publishing Group, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Where the Lilacs Still Bloom

German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eight-grade education and a burning desire to create something beautiful.  What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth century expectations for a simple housewife.

Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden; and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus.  In a time of practicality, can one person‘s simple gifts of beauty make a difference?  Based on the life of Hulda Klager, Where the Lilacs Still Bloom is a story of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds and the power of a generous heart.

I was given the privilege of reviewing this book by Jane Kirkpatrick.  The book is easy to read and has an interesting story line.  At first it gets confusing as a few chapters are written about different people, but by the end of the book you are able to see how they are all intertwined and part of Hulda’s success.  While the book is considered to be Historical Fiction, from what I was able to discover, the Lilac Lady Hulda Klager, did exist with many of the dates and events from her life being fairly accurate. 

While I enjoyed this book, I am only going to give it 2 stars.  A 5 star book is a book, that I can’t put down and must finish reading right away, and then feel a sense of loss once I am done reading it.  This book didn’t keep me up at night, there was no great sense of urgency to finish reading the book, nor was there a sense of disappointment or loss once I finished reading the book.  

For more information or to read the first chapter go here  Read Chapter One

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

For awhile now I have been a fan of Amish fiction, having read many different authors within this genre.  When given the chance to read and review Cindy Woodsmall's book The Scent of Cheery Blossoms, I jumped at the chance.  I received my review copy yesterday.  It probably came a day or two earlier, but I was  away at a conference.  Anyway, I couldn't wait to start reading this book last night.

Annie Martin comes from a troubled Old Order Mennonite family.  Her father had left the family about 10 years earlier.  Annie doesn't understand her mom and seems to always be fighting with her mom.  She dreams about her grandfather's cherry orchard.  Finally her mom tells her to go to her grandfathers (daadi) home until the mother is ready for Annie to come home. After arriving at her Daadi's home, she heads over to help the neighbors (old order Amish). Annie ends up helping the Zook's at the diner they run, but that her Daadi Moses owns. While helping at the diner Annie is able to renew her friendship with one of the Zook boys Aden.

The family is struggling to handle the work load at the diner as one of the boys Roman has left for a week in an effort to help his uncle fix the generator.  Roman always loved working with mechanical things and the family is hoping that this will help him heal mentally after the accident 5 years ago that left him partially paralyzed.

While Annie is pitching in at the diner she is able to work with Aden.  Annie and Aden have been friends for a long time but now that they are working side by side their friendship seems to grow into something more.  Both Annie and Aden know that this is wrong and will never work.  Both are baptized members of their respective religions.   Annie's daadi Moses discovers this friendship and is determined to put a stop to it.  So much so that he threatens the Zooks, telling them that if Aden doesn't break off this relationship that he will pull out of the partnership with the diner.  This will cause severe problems for the Zooks.   As Old Order Amish, they are not allowed to have electricity.  Without electricity, the health department will shut the diner down.

I would give this book 4 stars out of 5.

This was a quick and easy read, but didn't have the draw necessary to keep me awake at night.  I enjoyed the different plot lines. Besides the main story line between Aden and Annie, there is also tension between Aden and his twin brother Roman, and also the tension within Roman at not being whole after the accident 5 years ago.

His Princess: Love Letters from Your King

 It's hard to look at our lives and think of ourselves as royalty. But the truth is, God is our King and we are chosen by Him. As your soul soaks in these love letters from your King, be affirmed of who you are, why you are here, and how much you are loved.

This is the perfect devotional book.  Small enough to fit into a purse or a coat pocket.  You can easily take this book with you where ever you go.  The book is divided into short readings centered around a verse.  The verse and the readings are designed to remind you just how much The King loves his Princess and wants what is best for her.  There are 91 short little devotionals in this book.  The devotionals are written as a love letter, always ending with a love from your King.

I really enjoyed these short little reads, often finding myself reading more than one at a time.  Quite often the topic seemed to really hit a spot, often just want I needed to hear at that moment.  I will be picking this little book up many times to re-read the little gems included in this book.


I received a copy for review, but the opinion is mine.

Senior Night already

Seems like just yesterday that Sarah made the freshman cheer squad and was modeling her uniform for the first time. At this point we were looking forward to our first day of high school and couldn't wait to embark on her final 4 years of school.  Fast Forward a few years.  Last night, we celebrated senior night.  They honored the 5 senior cheerleaders (two of which have been with Sarah all 4 years)  and thanked them for their service to the school.  

Congrats Sarah , you have turned into a wonderful young women and dad and I are very proud of you.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Saw this on another blog and knew that I wanted to share this with everyone.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down;
Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild,
While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child;

The children were nestled, each snug in their beds,
The grown-ups wouldn't bother, there's no room they said;
When even the innkeeper sent them away,
Joseph was wondering, where they would stay;
He thought of the caves in the side of the hills,
Lets go there said Mary, it's silent and still;

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go;
And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,
Our Savior was born on that first Christmas Day!

The Father was watching in heaven above,
He sent for His angels, His couriers of love;
More rapid than eagles God's bright angels came;
Rejoicing and eager as each heard his name;

Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael,
Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel;
Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,
Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give;

The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night,
And saw in the heavens and unearthly light;
The Angels assured them, they'd nothing to fear,
It's Christmas they said, the Savior is here!

They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door,
Till Mary invited them in to adore;
He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet,
Never did the Shepherds see a baby so sweet!

He spoke not a word, but the shepherds all knew,
He was telling them secrets and blessing them too;
Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day;

Mary heard them exclaim as they walked up the hill,
Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will!

By: Sister St. Thomas, B.N.D. de N

Life is flying by....

Life just seems to be flying by at a much faster rate this year.  The past ten days are a good example.  During this time many things happened that showed that my girls are growing up. 
On October 7th we started off with Senior night for Both Band and Football. Senior Night is the last home game of the season and the seniors are always honored as it is the last time they will perform on the home field. The night started off with the band and a small reception for Seniors and their parents

After the band reception was over we went back out for the football game.  The parents of the senior members of the football team, cheerleaders, cross country and boys golf were to meet at the west end of the field  before the varsity game.  At this point all of the players were introduced as they walked to midfield on the track with their parents.

After the game the seniors line up at one end of the field and walk the field for one last time while the underclassman are applauding them for their years of service.

 thanks to a friend for a few of these pictures.  My picture taker was crying so hard that she couldn't get a clear shot

So that was my first night of the 10 days, just a few days after this, Sarah had her birthday and is now an adult.  So funny to think that my child is grown up.

I ended the 10 days with yet one more activity that showed that my girls are growing up.  Kristen was the acolyte at church for the first time.  She did a great job.  It seemed so strange to sit by myself and not have to remind a child to be quiet or pay attention. 

5QF 7-29-11

Yep, once again I am running a tad bit late with this.  How in the world am I going to stay on top of it when school starts. 

1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay?

Might be kind of fun to do, especially if I could lose enough weight to get down to what I wore when we got married.  Of course if I could do that then any celebration would be worth it.
2. What sound/s annoy you the most?

Fingernails on a chalkboard.  Oh how I hate that sound.  Sends shivers down my back.  Thankfully anymore most classrooms have a white board in them.  So much nicer, plus there is no chalk dust.
3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?

Since I have 2 girls, 2 fur babies that were girls and no boys, I would have to say all girls.  I am not sure what I would have done with a boy.
4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?

it really depends on the type of alternative medicine.  Some of the alternatives are very successful, but some of them in my opinion may be a hoax.  You really need to look into what you are putting your trust into and make sure that it is legitimate.

5. Would you take a family members children and raise them if they needed it?
Of course, they are family after all.

7-22-11 5QF

It is time for another 5 question Friday and I am actually on time for a change


1. If your husband had the BIG V and you got pregnant what would your first reaction be? For the dudes, what would your first reaction be if your wife told you she was pregnant after the Big V?


I would probably be in shock and then want a test done to make sure that the process hadn't reversed itself.  I do know someone who became pregnant after her husband had the big V.  After testing, they discovered that the process had reversed itself on him.

2. Best memory about this summer so far.

I was able to go to the Model Schools Conference this year.  What a great and exciting time.  I learned so much and was refreshed.
3. How often do you change your sheets? Your kids sheets?

I am ashamed to actually admit this, but we change at least every season, and then only as necessary. 

4. Having just gone through TSA, would you rather have a full-body scan or a pat-down?

Full body scan.  I just went through the system and didn't find the process that bad.
5. Since it is fair time...what's your favorite fair (county or state) memory?
Now this one is easy.  We just ended our county fair and the best memory for this year is my youngest daughter earned reserve champion junior exhibitor, in other words out of all of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade 4-H members in the county she had the 2nd highest point total of all of them. 

A late 5QF, but so busy with the fair

So I have been so busy with the fair this week and prep stuff for the fair, that I am off by 2 days.  This years fair has been so full of ups and downs.  Good things happen only to get disappointed with something else, or thanks to all of us being ill we ended up forgetting important things like judges comment sheets.  However, there have been a few good things as well, including a surprise award this morning. I will post more about it tonight or tomorrow along with the pictures from the fair.  Another thing that happened at the fair is that I finally upgraded the phone plan so I know have a smart phone.  Still trying to learn how to use it however.  Haven't got it all figured out yet.

Well on to this weeks questions
1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)?


Good question.  Since I have never been in this situation it is hard to tell what I would do.  I do have a friend whose husband was cheating on her and then got the other person pregnant so I know how bad that hurt her.  I guess I would hope that I would tell this person, but also be able to find a way to do it as gently as possible.
2. Soda in a can or a bottle?

I will take my pop any way that I can get it, however, I have really been trying to cut down on the amount of pop I drink and instead drink more water.  Sometimes however (like at the county fair where there is a heat advisory) it is really difficult to do.  I do kind of miss the old glass bottles that pop came in, compared to the new plastic versions.
3. What do you wash first, hair or body?

I start first with my body, then move to my face and finally my hair. 
4. What advice would you give to any new mama?

First off, don't worry about the house, sleep when the baby sleeps and second, do not make night time changes and feedings a fun time.  Keep the house quiet, be very business like with the little one.  He or she will soon learn that it is more fun to be awake during the day and sleep during the night.  Also, don't bring the baby into bed with you no matter how easy it is. 

5. What is your best hangover remedy?

No idea, never been drunk or in need of one, but I have heard that coffee works.  And I will never forget watching the old Little House on the Prairie movie, where Pa keeps dunking Mr. Edwards in the water to bring him out of it. 

Another 5 question Friday

I don't know if anyone is really reading these, but the questions are making me think and I am having fun with them.

1. Do you think cursive writing is overrated? (Schools in Indiana have now voted to take teaching cursive writing out of their curriculum.)

With the advent of computers and most students having to do their work on a computer I would have to say that yes, cursive writing is sadly on its way out.  With that being said I will admit that as a teacher I prefer to have students turn in work that was done on the computer. It is so much easier to read than some of their handwriting and this way there can be no discussions that the word was spelled wrong.

2. Do you still use a pocket calendar or notepad or do you keep your info on your smart phone?
Since I don't have a smart phone, I use the calendar on my email system to record everything.  This is so easy to do and I can find something in a minute or two. 
3. What 3 things would you save if your house was burning down? (family & pets are already safe)
The first thing that I would go for is all of my pictures.  So many cute and adorable family pictures including family members that I never knew, but I would hate to lose them.
The second thing would probably be the computers, because anymore it seems like so much data is stored on them.
While there are many other things that I could grab at that point I am thinking everything else would be replaceable, or at least easier to replace and wouldn't matter as much.
4. Country Mouse or City Mouse, err Person?
I grew up in a town, but am proud of my families farm background.  I spend many days on the family farms as a kid and have fond memories of most of it (except for gathering eggs) and feel sad that my children will never experience this kind of life. 
5. If you could pick ANY reality show to go on, which would you pick?
None, I think that they are stupid, but I did hear of one that has been proposed (tongue in cheek).  Something like this I would support.  I am not sure that the general business person in the United States really knows what it is like in the classroom setting.  Now don't get me wrong I love teaching and my students, just getting tired of teachers getting all of the blame.  I don't want a lot of bad comments because of this, yes, I know that there are bad teachers out there, I have had them, my kids have had them, and yes I may have even worked with some of them at one point, but I just spent last week with over 7000 highly committed teachers and educators learning all of the new things and ways to get every student involved. 

I have received this in many emails. 
Next Season on Survivor….
Have you heard about the next planned “Survivor” show? Three businessmen and three businesswomen will be dropped in an elementary school classroom for 1 school year. Each business person will be provided with a copy of his/her school district’s curriculum, and a class of 20-25 students.
Each class will have a minimum of five learning-disabled children, three with A.D.D., one gifted child, and two who speak limited English. Three students will be labeled with severe behavior problems.
Each business person must complete lesson plans at least 3 days in advance, with annotations for curriculum objectives and modify, organize, or create their materials accordingly. They will be required to teach students, handle misconduct, implement technology, document attendance, write referrals, correct homework, make bulletin boards, compute grades, complete report cards, document benchmarks, communicate with parents, and arrange parent conferences. They must also stand in their doorway between class changes to monitor the hallways.
In addition, they will complete fire drills, tornado drills, and [Code Red] drills for shooting attacks each month.
They must attend workshops, faculty meetings,and attend curriculum development meetings. They must also tutor students who are behind and strive to get their 2 non-English speaking children proficient enough to take the state’s standardized tests. If they are sick or having a bad day they must not let it show.
Each day they must incorporate reading, writing, math, science, and social studies into the program. They must maintain discipline and provide an educationally stimulating environment to motivate students at all times. If all students do not wish to cooperate, work, or learn, the teacher will be held responsible.

The business people will only have access to the public golf course on the weekends, but with their new salary, they may not be able to afford it. There will be no access to vendors who want to take them out to lunch, and lunch will be limited to thirty minutes, which is not counted as part of their work day. The business people will be permitted to use a student restroom, as long as another survival candidate can supervise their class.
If the copier is operable, they may make copies of necessary materials before, or after, school. However, they cannot surpass their monthly limit of copies.The business people must continually advance their education, at their expense, and on their own time.
The winner of this Season of Survivor will be allowed to return to their job!

5QF a little late

Because I was gone this week, went to a totally awesome conference.  The Model Schools Conference, learned so much, met some neat people, and hope to go again, I am late getting this weeks 5 question Friday done.  I am way behind on my blogs and am playing catchup. 

Here are this weeks questions

1. If you had the opportunity to bungee jump, would you?


Are you kidding?  I value my life.  There is NO way you are going to tie some elastic band around my ankle and convince me to jump from some really high spot. 

2. Would you rather go to the movie theater or to the drive-in? 

I actually went to a drive in once when I was very little.  Saw Bedknobs and Broomsticks and then fell asleep during some movie about monkeys.  I don't remember much else about it, except that mom popped a bunch of popcorn.  I might be willing to go to a drive-in again if the conditions were right. 
3. Do you have your groceries delivered?

No, I am not even sure if that is an option where I live.  Even if it was, I don't think I would get them delievered as I actually enjoy grocery shopping.  Of course, the girls are old enough to stay at home, so I either get to go by myself or with the hubby.  I find it to be a relaxing time with no arguing.
4. Eyebrows: Do you wax, thread, pluck, or stay au naturel?

I go au naturel.  Not really much of a makeup person
5. Would the people you went to high school with be surprised by your life today?

Possibly, I was kind of quiet in high school.  I am still kind of quiet but get out more and am involved in several things.

5QF 6-24-11

1. What is your current favorite tv show?

I can honestly say that I don't have any current favorite tv shows.  I am not really impressed with  the new shows, but do enjoy watching some of the older ones that are rerunning on a couple of the older channels.  We are enjoying Everyone Loves Raymond, The Nanny, Bewitched, Cosby Show, Our House and Highway To Heaven.  Why can't they put on more family friendly shows?
2. What's the worst haircut you ever got?
I honestly can't think of anything for this question.  Of course, I can say that I don't like my hair and would love to find something new that also looks nice, but is easy to care for.  I don't want to take the time to use a curling iron.
3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing?Boy I must live a really dull life, because I can't think of an answer to this question either.  Don't recall doing anything that was considered "cool" or that I thought I was cool for.  Of course I do remember being afraid to do much because of the fear I had of my dad and how he would disciple. 
4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips?
Get activity tickets and spend time at your local high school and their athletic and activity events.  Many schools now have a family pass, then the entire family can get in to most events.  Much cheaper than professional sporting events or the theater and concerts.  Plus the kids really do a great job and need the encouragement.  Just make sure that you feed the kiddo's before hand and then set a limit on concession stand food, or bring in your own snacks.
5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly?
I would if it was for a vacation and we were going to take our time and do some sightseeing.  Many landmarks, historical places, and other things I would love to see and expose my children to.  If I had to be someplace for a meeting and didn't have time to spend, then yes, I would fly.

5QF 6-17-11

Before I start with today's post, a simple shout out to my Husband of 22 years.  Thanks for the past 22 years.

Now on to the topic at hand

1. What is your favorite summer time activity? 

 I guess I would have to say county fair and when we can make it The Iowa State Fair.  I have been going to the county fair since I was a little tyke, then became involved in 4-H which meant going to the fair for the full 10 days.  Now my girls are involved in 4-H, I am a leader, and am also on the Creative Arts committee.

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

My husband does the laundry and he likes Era, so that is what I stick with.

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

My girls say it needs to be fajitas.  When I make them I prepare both steak and chicken, plus a vegie side that includes sweet peppers (as many different colors as I can get), onions, and tomatoes.  My youngest surprised us and loves just having the vegetable fajita.  I would say anything that is done on the grill so it doesn't heat up the house.

4. Do you have any talents?

I use to play the clarinet and alto clarinet in band.  Now my oldest plays my clarinet.  I enjoy sewing, but wouldn't say that I am an expert at it.

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

Since I teach high school and have a high school student in my house, but a middle school student in my house, I would say that I would love to be an expert on dealing with teenagers.