The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh ~ Book Review

Isadora Bentley is facing her thirtieth birthday alone by choice.  Deciding she will celebrate with a good feed of junk food she heads to the grocery store.  While at the till, she sees a magazine featuring an article entitled "Thirty One Ways to Be Happy".  Being decidedly unhappy, on a whim Isadora tosses the magazine onto the pile.  After all maybe, just maybe, her quiet, organized, lonely life might need a boost.  After reading the article and being quite skeptical of both the author and the suggestions, the university researcher in Isadora decides to make a secret research project out of the whole thing to prove both the article and it's author false.  As she takes on the different steps outlined in the article and it brings her into contact with a host of characters that seem to have the happiness that eludes her and want to prove her wrong,  Isadora finds that maybe there may be something to this ridiculous list after all, if only she could open herself to it.  

I loved this story.  I was immediately caught up into Isadora's world where she had built a wall around herself to protect her heart both professionally and personally as she was previously very hurt in both areas of her life.  Her determination to prove it all wrong leads to some really hilarious and heartfelt moments throughout the story.  I found myself laughing and shedding tears for her throughout.  Her character caused me as the reader to have someone to really root for hoping she would find happiness somewhere out of the list. The author did a good job of moving the story along and letting the reader into all the confusing emotions Isadora was going through in her journey.   The humor is witty and yet there were many deep  and smart moments that causes the reader to pause and think.  It was a sweet, enlightening and fun read.

Rating:  10/10

Friday's Fave Five #810

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  It's already the 1st day of November!  Where did October go?   It's now time to take a moment and look back over your week and find some blessings to take note of that God has brought into your life.  Please join us as we intentionally develop a life of gratitude.  

~ Yummy Treat ~  people were really talking this up on my local C0stco fb group.  It piqued my curiosity so I nabbed a bag.  Worth it.

Hawaiian Host

Strawberries & Cream White Chocolate Macadamia Nuts

~ great study and discussion ~ in our ladies bible study group we are each taking a turn in leading the evening.  We can pick the topic and do it how we want.  All that to say that this week's leader really nailed it with what I needed reminding of.  It was such a good lesson and discussion afterwards.  I got a lot out of that evening.  

~ quieter day today ~ after a busy day with toddlers and preschoolers yesterday, and kids wound up with Hall*ween, I'm thankful today I will only have half the kids here today.  I'm looking forward to a group of 3 arriving soon that get along well and a day toned down a bit.  

~ laugh until you cry ~ my neighbor, who also has a home based childcare, and I had a good belly laugh over the fence this week.  It's a blessing to have someone who knows exactly what you are going through  and can totally relate.  In telling her about the stress of having one's hubby trying to take a group picture with myself and  6 kids under the age of 5, in costumes no less and one child who hates getting his picture taken,  she already knew exactly what I was talking about.  As I showed her the 50 shots he took (I'm not even kidding.  He was snapping away hoping one would turn out).  We were laughing till we cried at the ones where I was trying to direct the shot while being in the shot and the face of frustration and tense smiles on my face in some of them.  And after that many pics were there any where every child was looking at the camera and actually smiling?  Of course not.  So now I have 50 pics to try and decide which to keep and which to dump.  And well, that in itself stress me out.  But I'm definitely going to keep the ones we were  laughing till we cried over.  It wasn't funny at the time it was happening but looking at the pics it's absolutely hilarious.  

~ horchata ~ the Mexican drink made from rice, sugar, milk and cinnamon is a favorite treat.  The Mexican restaurant we love makes the best and it's a lovely treat to have once in awhile.  I really need to learn to make it myself.  Anyone ever try to make it?

What were you're favorite blessings this week?

Friday's Fave Five #809

UPDATE:  MR. LINKY NOW WORKING!!

Hello and welcome once again to Friday's Fave Five.  Another week of developing our hearts to look automatically for blessing in our lives no matter the circumstances swirling around us.  And then we take the next step and be thankful and grateful for them.  Please join us as we share 5 of the blessings from the last week.  

~ Operation Christmas Child kick off ~ Sunday was the big kickoff to our church participating in and packing the shoebox gifts.  I always get nervous.  I've been doing this many, many years and it's always a bit nerve wracking trying to think of a different way of saying basically the same thing.  I don't have a lot of time alloted to me to make the announcement so I feel what I say has to make an impact.  But God led and it went well.  Every single box got taken and I actually had to get more from the city's collection center to put out for this Sunday in case someone who wanted one didn't get a box.  Thankful that our church members have giving hearts and have supported this for so many years.  

~ garden winter prep ~ on the weekend the weather was nice enough that I could get outside and start prepping the flower beds for winter.  I trimmed most of the perennials back and dug out most of the annuals out of both the planters and the beds.  I only have the front step planters left and the silvia which is still beautiful in spite of it having snowed one day this week.  They will come out this weekend.  Then I'll mulch where I have to to protect some of those perennials from the cold winter.  Thankful I was able to get the bulk of that workload done and I didn't get caught with a huge fall snow storm where I wouldn't have been able to clean it up before winter.  

~ gorgeous fall walk ~ the weekend before last we went on walk to one of my favorite viewpoints  overlooking my favorite are of the city.  Though a bit breezy it was still a gorgeous day and it felt great to be out in the fresh fall air.  I'm thankful for nice walking areas in the city and a body that still gets around and for all my senses that can enjoy a beautiful walk on a beautiful day.  

~ a good night's sleep ~ for whatever reason the week before I was waking up quite a bit during the night or not falling asleep fast enough or just not getting under enough to get a good rest.  After days of this I was getting pretty tired.  But the first night that my sleep rhythm got back to normal was absolute heaven.  Thankful for good sleep so that my body and mind can repair and recharge.

~ evening with friends ~ Monday evening I met up with the two friends with whom I formally had been doing bible study with.  One of them I had been doing study with for a couple of years when we both had felt in kind of limbo because of things going on in our lives.  The other lady joined us about 9 months ago.  This summer both my friend and I had felt that come September we needed to connect back into a group at our own churches. We said at that point that we shouldn't lose touch and I'm thankful that we made a point of getting together.  Though I'm enjoying my new study and the challenges it brings, I miss these two friends and the time we spent learning the Word and having great discussions together.  

What blessings were you grateful for this week?

A Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry ~ Book Review

Gideon Quidley, an eccentric millionaire, feels he is being led by God to hide his earthly treasures in the hills of West Virginia with the only clues being bible verses.  Deep down he hopes it will cause his selfish grown son to get into the Word but who is very angry with his father for not just naming him the heir to the treasure.  People have always tried to find the treasure with no luck so far.  But when a couple of radio show hosts from a small town called Emmaus give out the latest clue kind of tongue in cheek, it sets off a string of events that no one could have predicted.  As the usual treasure hunters descend upon the small town, a local pastor and estranged friend of one of the hosts goes missing looking for the treasure.  TD andWaite, the radio hosts, feel responsible and are drawn into the hunt so that they can find the pastor.  It is the last thing either wants to do.  Waite is trying to keep the radio station from shutting down and is busy with his radio program that ministers to the community and TD just wants to win the heart of the junkyard owner who is taking care of her nephew who has had problems in the past.  But now the priority is trying to figure out where the pastor thought the treasure was so that they can find he pastor.  As time is not on their side, will they be able right the mistakes of teasing the locals with the clues and find the pastor or the treasure?

I really enjoyed this story.  It has a great cast of characters who all have faults and pasts they are trying to forget or hide.  The author brings them together with the treasure hunt being the common ground. But there is so much more to the story than a treasure hunt.  It's got twists and turns one doesn't see coming and the hardships of life the characters face are relatable.   Though a tad slow in the parts that described the workings of radio station the knowledge does lay the ground work for things coming up in the story.  It's a touching, well written story that kept me engaged throughout.

I rated it a 9.5/10

Friday's Fave Five #808

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This is the place to take a pause from our busy and ordinary everyday lives and look back over the week to notice those things that bring blessing to to days.  It doesn't have to be something big and obvious, most likely it will not be.  But in developing the habit of noticing our blessings no matter what we are going through helps us to maintain perspective.  When we're in the thick of it blessings can escape us and life looks darker and harder.  By choosing to notice blessings from God, and taking the time to be thankful for them, it will help to carry us when days are tougher.  Please join us.

~ Thanksgiving ~ I love the Thanksgiving holiday.  It doesn't have the crazy commercialism of Christmas (though don't get me wrong, I love Christmas too).  In Canada, Thanksgiving is far enough away from Christmas that we can really focus on what this day is meant to be.  I love the gathering of family and friends, the traditional and sometimes not so traditional foods, the thanksgiving for all those blessings being forefront.  

~ safe travels ~ because all my kids travel to come see us I'm always so very thankful for the safe travels of all of them.  Whether it's the two hour drive two of them do or the 6+ hour drive the third one has to do, I'm so thankful when they come walking in the door safe and sound or when I get that txt saying they made it home.

~ helping hands ~ this Sunday will be the kick off to Operation Christmas Child at our church.  This year I put out the call for help to my ladie's bible study to come a half hour early to study to help me put the boxes together.  With 7 of us there we were able to snap all the boxes together in that short time and started our bible study right one time.  So thankful for willing hearts and hands.  It would have taken me a couple of hours to do it myself.

~ volunteer shift confirmed ~ our requested shift at the Operation Christmas Child processing center was confirmed and I'm so excited.  Plans are afoot for our weekend in Calgary where the center is.  I love participating in every step of the shoebox journey.  

~ pizza party with Mom ~ this year my sis and I decided that this time for Thanksgiving instead of having both our families all at the same time to dinner with Mom we would break it up into two groups.  Mom is 92 and sometimes when we are all there the conversation swirls around her instead of her being a participant and we wondered if it would just be too exhausting for her.  Everything just all depends on how she is feeling that particular day.  So we thought less people at once might make it easier on her and it would give her two visits instead of one.  Saturday was my family's day to visit and we decided to take in pizza.  She was so happy.  She visited so much more with less people and she loved the pizza.  Monday my sister's family took in a Turkey dinner casserole which I heard was delicious too.  So I think we made a good decision. 

 

~ helpful hubby ~ once again I am so thankful for Hubby's helpfulness.  My car had a recall on it to fix some minor issue, I can't even remember what it was, but he was the one who took the car to the appt and picked it up again for me when it was done.  Takes so much pressure off.  When you have a home based child care it is so difficult to make it anywhere for these kinds of appointments because the hours are longer than a lot of businesses.  

What blessings are you thankful for this week?

Friday's Fave Five #807

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  I wasn't able to get my post together on time for first thing this morning but I will jump in as soon as I can. Meanwhile here's Mr. Linky and you all can get the party started!  See you soon.

Whew finally made it to make a post for FFF.  I hope you're week has gone well.  I had several things crop up on the weekend and with a houseful coming this week to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving I was not able to get on the computer and read posts from last week and leave comments.  I may be late now because of life happening but I don't want to totally miss being grateful for the good things God has brought into my life this last week.  So here we are with five of the favorites:

~ Northern Lights ~ as everyone knows it's been quite a show going on all week in the northern skies.  I haven't seen any out my windows as some have but there have been so many from the city posting al over face book that I finally got out the door last night, drove out of town aways (along with hundreds of others who had the same idea; oh the traffic!!) and tried to spot them myself.  Unfortunately, I was in between the shows to the naked eye but I got some pics that the camera picked up.  Might take the visiting fam a bit farther out and try again tonight.  There were some pretty spetacular pictures coming from our area of the pinks and purples and some pretty incredible swirling images so I really want to see those.  

~ missionary visit at church ~ On Sunday the missionary couple who's ministry to the Philippines that our church helps support were visiting today.  I always love listening to them and hearing of the great things God is doing in their country especially amongst the street children to whom they minister.  

~ falling leaves ~ fall is my favorite time of year and the leaves here are not only turning color but are starting to fall.  I love the sound and smell as I walk through them so I've been getting out after work to take my furry friend for his walk.  Total stress relief.

~ beautiful sunshine ~ tough it has been cooler this week the sun has been out and no wind!!  I love the warmth of the sun breaking through the crisp coolness of the fall air.

~ airing out of bedding ~ putting out the blankets and pillows to hang over the deck and absorb some of that lovely fall air always makes crawling under them at night so nice.  It reminds me of when Mom used to hang all her laundry before the electric dryer days.  Brings back nice memories of childhood and the love and care she showed us in all her work.  

What have been your favorite blessings for the week?

It's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend so I want to wish all my Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend! 

Friday's Fave Five #806

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  We're taking an intentional pause in our week to look back and take note of the blessing in our lives.  Building a habit of realizing our blessings and being thankful for them when times are good will help us in those harder times of life. Please join us in our journey.  

~ text and pic from a former dayhome little ~  after mentioning in the last FFF post about a lovely phone call from a former little friend, I received a txt this week from a former family that moved away last spring.  It's funny, I'd been thinking a lot about their little guy, whom I adored, wondering how he had made the adjustment.  I got a txt and pic of him starting his first day of preschool.  Mom says he looks at the photo album I gave him on his last day all the time and talks about us.  So nice to hear he is doing well.  I sure miss him.  

~ comfort food & childhood memories ~ fall brings with it the anticipation of comfort foods.  One of them was a childhood favorite, a Hungarian dish which translated is Plum Balls.   My Mom would make the best.  Her dough was always tender and just the right amount of dumpling around the plum perfectly spiced with sugar and cinnamon.   Is it a dessert?  Or a meal?  I'd eat them whenever.  As with any authentic dish, it takes time and effort to make and I've only tried a few times over the years.  I gave it another shot last week.  While not as "perfect" as my mom's, the balls were misshapen, the dough too thick in parts, but the flavors were there and I enjoyed everyone.  I took Mom some too and she was thrilled to have eaten something she hasn't had in years. 

~ lunch with friends ~ Sunday we met with good friends after our respective church services were over for lunch.  It was so nice to visit with them again after the busy summer and get all caught up.  I'm thankful for the opportunity and for their friendship.

~ that first sip of coffee in the morning ~ I'm not the best early morning person to begin with but this past few weeks getting up in the dark has been brutal.  What a blessing it is to find that hot cup of fresh coffee all ready and waiting for me on the counter courtesy of my wonderful hubby.  He watches the clock for my wake up time and has it all ready and waiting.  

~ anticipation ~ the boxes and supplies have been ordered, the kick off Sunday date booked with church office and my slot at the warehouse requested for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox campaign 2024.  It's my absolute favorite ministry to support and every year I can't wait.   If you've been reading here for anytime you know my love of OCC all these years culminating in a trip with them to Costa Rica to hand out shoeboxes to the children.  Such a rewarding and life changing experience for both the children and for me.  If you need more info here are the two links:

           Operation Christmas Child Canada

          Operation Christmas Child US

What have been your favorite blessings for the week?