Friday's Fave Five#159

Friday's Fave Day!  Welcome to looking back over the week and finding things that have blessed your life, big or small.  It's been a busy week for me but that doesn't mean there weren't blessings to be found.  So here we go with my favorites from the week, in no particular order:

1.  Hugs from little arms.  What a pick me up to have a little day home person wrap their little preschool arms around my neck.  That's what makes my job worthwhile.

2.  Fall scented candles in a cute fall themed holder.  My favorite scent is "Leaves" from Slatkin & Co.  though why it's called Leaves I'm not sure as my whole family thinks it smells like apples.  :v)  So you know I had to look it up and here's what the Bath & Body Works website says:  "Autumnal notes of golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apple are paired with toasted cinnamon stick, mulled cider spices and freshly harvested red berries."   Whatever it is, it's awesome.  And you can smell it even when it's not burning.  An awesome candle.


3.  A spur of the moment trip to my oldest daughter.  A crazy long drive for one short weekend, but it was fun.  The weather was gorgeous.


4.  Peach-blueberry pie.  Oh my goodness.  I could have sat and eaten the whole thing by myself.  But I was a good girl and shared.


5.  I just can't not put this picture in my faves cause it makes me smile.  Tell me what pet isn't cute as all get out when they squish themselves into something that looks too small and promptly go straight to sleep.

What have your favorite blessings been this week?  What has uplifted you, made you smile, took you mind off your struggles if even for a moment?  Share in a post and link on up so that we can come and visit you.  If you don't have a blog feel free to answer in the comments.  Guidelines are here if you've never read them.

Welcome to fall in Southern Alberta.  

Woke up this morning to -3*C.  

That's 26*F.  

brrr! 

 Tomorrow the daytime temp is predicted to be 29*C.  

That would be 84*F. 

 Mr. Weatherman obviously can't seem to let summer go is trying to drag her into fall.

FIR '011 Question #1

All through the Fall Into Reading Challenge, Katrina, our hostess, will be asking an optional weekly question about reading.  Why is she doing this you ask?  Well in her words:

"Why am I doing this? Well, for one thing, I love reading and talking about reading with others. And for another, I thought it would be a great way to keep Fall Into Reading participants connected throughout the course of the challenge. Finally, I posted reading questions during Fall Into Reading 2010 and everyone seemed to really enjoy them. So let’s do it again!"


Sounds good to me!  So here is this first week's question:

How much do book reviews influence your decision to acquire and/or read a book?


I love reading book reviews.  As far as their influence goes, it depends on who is reviewing the book.  I don't put a lot of thought towards the reviews by newspapers, authors or other reviewers that are actually written on the book cover.  I don't know why, I just never have. Maybe because they are all raving reviews that I figure are there to sell the book.   I like the reviews of the average reader.  If it comes from a source I trust such as favorite bloggers or someone I know personally, I'm more likely to listen to their opinion.  I always keep in mind, though, that we all have our tastes in types of stories and styles of writing.  For example, what my friend usually really loves is spiritual toned thrillers and mysteries, and what she would highly recommend and review well is usually something that is not on my radar as far as wanted reading goes and my daughter would probably not pick up any sort of historical romance no matter what raving review it got from anybody. Reviews are more a tool for me to find out in a little more detail what the story is about and if that book actually piques my interest.  I like to read several reviews on any title to get a balance of thought and opinion.

So do reviews influence what you buy or read?

Book Tour ~ Sifted

"Sifted" by Rick Lawrence



Publisher's Summary: 
Worn down by the troubles in your life?  Overwhelmed by piled-up problems?  Worried about others who are hurting?  In his book, Sifted: God’s Scandalous Response to Satan’s Outrageous Demand, Rick Lawrence offers fresh biblical perspective on pain, based on a single Scripture snapshot: Luke 22:31-32. 

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  These two simple verses from Luke’s account of the Last Supper launch a profound exploration of the meaning of trouble in a Christian’s life.  Suffering is inevitable, and if we’re honest, the explanations commonly offered often just don’t hold up or help very much.  But Jesus’ perfect metaphor of sifting provides fresh perspective on why we suffer and what the sifting process can reveal in our lives.

Peter was to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and finally separated from his false identity.  Satan was the one causing it, but Jesus would allow it.  Lawrence’s verse-by-verse exploration offers insight, comfort, challenge, and a call to greater intimacy with the God who allows our pain because He wants us to know who we really are and what we can become.

If we believe that Christians are still sifted today, why do we so often judge those who are experiencing hardships?  They must have done something wrong.  God must be punishing them.  But suffering is inevitable, whether it comes in the form of life-shifting catastrophe or the drip-drip-dripping of daily troubles.  Sifted will encourage those who are facing trouble now and those who will face it in the future.  It will encourage us to see our pain as a means to greater knowledge and intimacy with Christ.  Lawrence offers a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully comforting exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows our troubles, and the incredible beauty the process of sifting can reveal in us.

About the Author:

Rick Lawrence has been editor of GROUP Magazine, the world’s most widely read resource for Christian youth leaders, for 23 years and is the co-leader of The Simply Youth Ministry Conference.  In his role as “Youth Ministry Champion” at Group Publishing, he leads the organization’s expeditionary efforts to challenge, encourage, and equip youth pastors.  Lawrence has authored hundreds of magazine articles and is the author, co-author, or editor of 31 books, including JCQ’s: 150 Jesus-Centered Discussion Questions, Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry, and the adult/teenager small-group curricula Make Their Day and Ten Tough Things.  He’s a consultant to national research organizations and a frequent conference and workshop speaker.  Lawrence and his wife, Beverly Rose, live with their two daughters in Denver, CO.

My Thoughts:

 This is the kind of book that is going to take a second look on my part when I can take my time and use it as a study, not when I'm trying to finish it quickly for a book review.  It is definitely a subject worth studying and the author takes us through step by step, breaking down Luke 22: 31-32, section by section.  I really liked that format as each thing Jesus said in those couple of sentences is looked at and explored in detail.  I did find the book a bit of a tough go in the very beginning because I had to get used to the author's writing style, which goes from teaching to using story examples very frequently, sometimes with several examples for the point he is trying to make.  Nothing wrong with that, it's just not my particular favorite.  It's a tough subject and one I think we have to face our own resistance to and I think the author dealt with it well, exploring the sifting using scripture throughout and examples from his own life.  While some of the thoughts and teaching in the first half are challenging, they are definitely worth exploring and the second half of the book is full of hope and encouragement.   

Thanks to B&B Media group for providing a free copy for review and my honest opinions.  All opinions expressed are my own.

You can purchase Sifted here and here 

Friday's Fave Five #158

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five everyone!  It's a place to share our blessings from our week.  Take a look back over the week, whether it was good or bad, and look for those moments that bought joy.

1.  Inspirational Movies such as "Gifted Hands".  I knew about Dr. Ben Carson after seeing him do several interviews years ago but hadn't realized they had done a movie about his life and work.  An amazing man, with a deep faith in God, who just happens to be the world's best pediatric neurosurgeon.  His story is absolutely inspiring as he was bullied as a child and thought himself as stupid as a youngster, always receiving failing grades.  Cuba Gooding Jr. is one of my favorite actors and he played the doctor wonderfully which was just icing on the cake for this movie for me. It's a great show to watch with your preteens and teens.   Now I, of course, want to read his book.


2.  Gold Kiwi.   From New Zealand.  Gold flesh, not as fuzzy, super sweet and more of a delicate taste than regular kiwi, it is absolutely yummy.  But at twice the price of the regular, it was a once in a blue moon treat.

3.  Touring the showhomes.  It's a tradition, every year my friend and I pick a night or two during the fall 2 week showhome tours, jump in one of our vehicles, grab a Starbucks and head off to look at some amazing homes.  Everything from high end, upgraded everything, million dollar executive homes to regular family homes.  It's a fun way to spend an evening doing something we both like, and it's free.  I decided I really like medium brown maple kitchen cabinets,  curved staircases, and I really hate the super upraised sinks (I'm talking a good 6 or more inches, I have visions of knocking my teeth out on the edge of them when I would sleepily bend over to wash my face in the morning) which seem to be all the rage this year.  It's fun to look at the "in" colors, the new gadgets, the designs, and all the "newness" but at the end of the day, I am thankful for my home that I get to come home to.

4.  The Sing Off started it's new season.  Love this show!  I've always loved accapella and harmony and this competition brings the most amazing talented singers.  I cannot believe they don't use one instrument and it's all voices.  It makes me wish I could sing.  Even a little bit.

5.  It's Friday.  It's soon the weekend.  Yup, I like that.

What are your favorites from the week?  Look for the blessings and share them with us.

Fall Into Reading 2011

It's here.  Fall Into Reading 2011 is kicking off.  Tomorrow is the official kickoff day over at Callapider Days but I've put mine up today because tomorrow is Friday Fave Five day.  (Everyone is welcome to come back here for that and please join in for that too if you'd like!)  So this fall I had a really tough time deciding.  Too many books I want to read and not enough time in the day.  I made sure to pick some for each category I seem to draw my books from:  review books, browsing the library shelves books, "my shelves" from the library website books (where books that I want to read are listed), my overflowing book basket, recommendations from other bloggers and friends.  I added one more that I thought I could comfortably do to challenge myself so we'll see what happens with that.  In no particular reading order, ta daaaa, here's my list:

1.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by  Rebecca Skloot.    From "my shelves" at my library's website.  
" Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells-taken without her knowledge in 1951-became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. Henrietta's cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can't afford health insurance. This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew. 


2.  Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Webb Hart.    Review Book.  
"At last, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living the life they’ve dreamed of. Two self-described “small town bumpkins” from Round O, South Carolina, they made a small fortune selling the little gems of lowcountry real estate Jackson inherited and now they are living in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, carefully working their way up the social ladder in hopes of meeting their ultimate goal:  to give their three daughters the life they themselves never had.  But the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn’s childhood seems to be trying to get her attention in clear and unusual ways.   So clear and strange she can no longer deny it.  When Mary Lynn prays for Jackson to open his mind and heart to God, her prayers are answered beyond her wildest imaginings.  Now Jackson’s dramatic conversion (which includes street witnessing, giving away a lot of money, and inviting poor, desperate and marginalized people into their home) is threatening their social status as well as their family mission statement.  Is she willing to go along with him? What would it be like to go “all out” for God?  Jackson, a sharp and focused Type A man, is unafraid and willing to go all the way.  Mary Lynn has her doubts.


3.  Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.  From the book basket.  Heard lots of good things about this one.  
"The title expresses a radical thought for today's marriages! Chapter by chapter, discover how marriage works to develop Christlike character - forgiveness, love, respect, perseverance - in each of you. This book will enrich your marriage in unexpected ways. A Focus on the Family recommendation."

4.  Possession by Rene Gutteridge.  From the book basket.  "Police detective Vance Graegan quits the force in an attempt to save his marriage. During his family's cross-country relocation, the movers hold his belongings for ransom. He's determined not to let this stunt ruin his family's new beginning, but soon everything begins to unravel in the hands of Vance's past. Will a little boy's innocent faith bring the hope they desperately need?"


5.  The Bait of Satan by John Bevere.  Study Group book.  
"Are you ensnared by bitterness, seized by anger, held captive by resentment because someone has offended you? Bevere shows you how to escape Satan's grip, avoid a victim mentality, practice forgiveness, experience reconciliation, and remain free in Christ."


6.  Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart.   A library find. 
 "It is 1936 and Kate Merritt, the middle child of Victor and Nadine, works hard to keep her family together. Her father slowly slips into alcoholism and his business suffers during the Great Depression. As her mother tries to come to grips with their situation and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to it, it is Kate who must shoulder the emotional load. Who could imagine that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what the Merritts need?  In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times."


7.  The Wishing Trees by John Shors.  A library find. 
 "Almost a year after the death of his wife, Kate, former high-tech executive Ian finds a letter that will change his life. It contains Kate’s final wish – a plea for him to take their ten-year-old daughter, Mattie, on a trip across Asia, through all the countries they had planned to visit to celebrate their fifteenth anniversary.Eager to honor the wife and mother they loved, Ian and Mattie embark on an epic journey that retraces the early days of Ian’s relationship with Kate. Along the way, Ian and Mattie leave paper “wishes” in ancient trees as symbols of their connection to Kate and their dreams for the future. Through incredible landscapes and inspiring people, Ian and Mattie are greeted with miracles large and small. And as they celebrate what Kate meant to them, they begin to find their way back to each other, discovering that healing is possible and that love endures – lessons that Kate hoped to show them all along."

8.  How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal.  A library find.

In a novel as warm and embracing as a family kitchen, Barbara O’Neal explores the poignant, sometimes complex relationships between mothers and daughters-and the healing magic of homemade bread.   Professional baker Ramona Gallagher is a master of an art that has sustained her through the most turbulent times, including a baby at fifteen and an endless family feud. But now Ramona’s bakery threatens to crumble around her. Literally. She’s one water-heater disaster away from losing her grandmother’s rambling Victorian and everything she’s worked so hard to build. When Ramona’s soldier son-in-law is wounded in Afghanistan, her daughter, Sophia, races overseas to be at his side, leaving Ramona as the only suitable guardian for Sophia’s thirteen-year-old stepdaughter, Katie. Heartbroken, Katie feels that she’s being dumped again-this time on the doorstep of a woman out of practice with mothering. Ramona relies upon a special set of tools-patience, persistence, and the reliability of a good recipe-when rebellious Katie arrives. And as she relives her own history of difficult choices, Ramona shares her love of baking with the troubled girl. Slowly, Katie begins to find self-acceptance and a place to call home. And when a man from her past returns to offer a second chance at love, Ramona discovers that even the best recipe tastes better when you add time, care, and a few secret ingredients of your own.

9.  The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  From the book basket.

" Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964,The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come."

10.  The Orchard by Jeffrey Stepakoff.  A library find.  

"The passionate new novel by the author of FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA. Grace Lyndon is a rising ingenue in the world of perfumes and flavors; a stiletto-wearing, work-a-holic in Atlanta, she develops aromas and tastes to enthrall the senses. Dylan Jackson is a widowed single father whose heart and hands have been calloused in the fields of his North Georgia apple farm. When Grace happens to taste an apple picked from Dylan’s trees, it changes both their lives forever.  Determined to track down the apple’s origin, Grace sets off in the middle of the night where she finds not only a beautiful mountain orchard in the clouds, but the mysterious man who owns it. In Stepakoff’s heartbreaking eloquence, their sudden yet undeniable attraction is threatened—leaving readers with a momentous finale that proves Jeffrey Stepakoff is a master craftsman of the heart." 


11.  Faithful by Kim Cash Tate.   A blog find from Barbara.
"Cydney Sanders thought she knew God's plan for her life. She'd marry, have kids, and then snap her body back into shape by doing Tae Bo. But she's celebrating her fortieth birthday as the maid of honor at her little sister's wedding...and still single. Now her life is suddenly complicated by the best man. He's the opposite of what she wants in a husband...and yet, he keeps defying her expectations. Starting with a lavendar rose--symbolizing enchantment--each rose he sends her reflects his growing love for her.  Cydney's best friend Dana appears to have the perfect marriage--until she discovers her husband's affair and her world goes into a tailspin. Then there is Phyllis--who is out of hope and out of prayers after asking God for six long years to help her husband find faith. When she runs into an old friend who is the Christian man she longs for, she's faced with an overwhelming choice.

Life-long friends with life-altering struggles. Will they trust God's faithfulness...and find strength to be faithful to Him?"

There we have it.  What are you reading this fall?

Quick, which is your favorite style?

Some people are so creative.

The Brain, It's Always Running

What is it about the weekends that seem to make them disappear so quickly?  And what about the week makes it seem so long before the next weekend shows up?  I've been thinking a lot lately about making my days count.  A huge subject to tackle, at least in my life.  Sometimes I think I just chug along, going from one thing to the next, without really being present.  There is a lot going on right now, a lot on my plate again and I catch myself not being in the moment.  I'm going through the motions but my mind is elsewhere. On that book I need to finish for a review, on those list of people that need phoning, on the fact that I keep forgetting to get in touch with my Dad until it's well past his bedtime. Etc., etc.   And on and on it goes.   It's no wonder the days drag on and I couldn't tell you what was going on.

So I gave myself a good talking to this weekend.  It's September now and no more lazy, hazy days of summer excuses.  I need to pull up my bootstraps and start to live my days a little more intentionally.  More purposefully. Now that doesn't mean that I'm going to start filling up and scheduling my every waking moment with things to do.  But it does mean that when I am in the midst of something, I'm going to make a point of focusing rather than multi tasking on the fly.

To do that I've bought myself a pretty little journal at a discount store and I'm leaving it open on the counter.  If I think of something, I'm jotting it down right away, getting it out of my head, and then getting back on task, back into the moment.  It's going to serve as a brain dump, if you will, so that I can get the clutter out of my head, and just be.  Then when whatever is in the moment is done, and I have a minute I can go look and take that next moment to call my dad, to sit with my girl, to read that chapter without a bunch of other stuff swirling and colliding in my brain.

Hopefully this will help to get rid of the tyranny of the urgent and the undone and cause me to just abide in what God has given me for that moment.  How do you guys live purposefully and in your moments?

Friday's Fave Five #157

Hi everyone!  It's time for Friday's Fave Five!  Join in as we look back over the week and find some favorite uplifting things and then share them.  Guidelines for posting are here.

1.  Starbucks tradition with my youngest.  Once a month my youngest and I have massage appointments to help with our individual back issues.  We pass a Starbucks on the way home and we've started stopping after our appointment for a treat.  It's a great one on one Mother/Daughter time.

2.  And speaking of Starbucks, Pumpkin Spice latte is back.  Yum.

3.  Homemade chicken noodle soup.  Because it was so darn cool this last week, a bowl of soup sounded good.  I looove homemade chicken noodle soup.  It's total comfort food to me and reminds me of my childhood and my mom.  Perfect for a cold end of summer day.

4.  Long Bike rides ending with an ice cream treat.   Hubby and I took advantage of a nice morning and went for a long bike ride together.  We love doing this.  And he treated me to a Marble Slab treat. Usually I order a apple & spice ice cream with graham cracker stir in.  Tastes like apple pie ala mode.  I just love it so never change but this time I thought I'd live on the edge and I tried a Lemon Custard ice cream.  Oh, my.  So good.  Dietetic?  No.  Delicious.  Absolutely.

5.  Making my list and checking it twice.  No, not a Christmas list, but my  reading list for this event coming next week.  You might as well stamp "nerd" across my forehead but I find it so much fun searching out and choosing which books to set as my goals for this reading challenge.  Digging through my book basket, browsing the library, checking the bookstore.  So much fun.  I think I've pretty much got it set.  Just have to do my post, finish up the last of my summer reading this weekend and I'm ready to roll!

What have been your favorite uplifting moments from the last week.  Share with us in a post and don't forget to sign up on Mr. Linky linking to your specific FFF post please.  It makes it easier for those coming to visit you to go directly to your post.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Book Tour ~ Cherished

"Cherished" by Kim Cash Tate


Publisher's Summary:

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  Kim Cash Tate explores Psalm 103:12 as she takes her readers down the path to God’s forgiveness and reconciliation in her newest novel, Cherished.  Readers will discover that God can still use them in spite of their worst choices.  And He doesn’t just forgive them, but they are truly cherished!

Tate’s story will show her readers how God can bring beauty from ashes.  She has a unique way of weaving her characters’ lives together, leading back to one great point—God’s tremendous mercy and grace.  In the words of one of her characters, “I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I felt like it would take a while to work my way back into God’s good graces, but it was like…”—she flung wide her arms—“…He just embraced me.”  We too can be embraced by the same great love when we learn that true forgiveness for ALL of our sins is right before us. 

Growing up in Saint Louis, Kelli London dreamed of becoming a songwriter and glorifying God with her songs of praise.  But after falling into sin, she walks away from her dreams.  Heather Anderson’s life has spun out of control—first an affair with a married man and then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band.  Broken and alone, she discovers the only one who can save her.  Brian Howard grew up as a science geek.  But after making the worst mistake of his life after high school, he finds forgiveness in Christ and is being led down a completely different path.  Now he must choose whether to continue pursuing his PhD in biochemistry or to become a full time Christian rapper.  

My Thoughts:

While the book started off a touch slow for me it really started to draw me once the character of Kelli moves back to Saint Louis and all the characters start coming into play in the story.  It really is a story that really points out how God cherishes us and wants to forgive us. It really brings home that no matter what we have done, what wrong choices we have made,  God is ready and waiting to forgive and wants us to repent so that He can start healing our hearts and bring us into the life He wants for us.   I really liked how the author did not just make a pat story where everything goes just fine for everyone once they've repented but that the characters did have some tough stuff to deal with even after they had repented and turned to God as did the characters who had to deal with the fall out of someone else's sins.  It showed how each  had to turn to God for grace to walk through it.  Granted it did seem to all wrap up nicely by the end but in reality the novel would have to be a huge tome if that part of the story is dragged out. 

The story also made me think of the church's reactions (read:  my reactions) to others and forgiveness.   It brought up some interesting aspects and made me really look into my own heart.  Why do we find it hard sometimes to forgive people their sins even when we believe in God's forgiveness and we, ourselves, have been forgiven?  When more than one person is involved in the sin, why do we sometimes receive one person back "into the fold" but still hold it above the other person's head?  Why if we believe that" God throws our sins as far as the east is from the west" do we find it hard to forgive ourselves or others?  And why do we make ourselves and others keep "paying" for it?

All in all, I thought it was a great story that made me think, and when a novel can entertain me and yet cause me to think and search my own heart, that makes it a very worthwhile read. 

Thanks to the B&B Media Group for providing the book free for my review.  All the opinions expressed are my own.

You can purchase Cherished here and here.

Friday's Fave Five #156

Welcome everyone to Friday's Fave Five.  Are you ready to look for your blessings from the last week?  Then please share 5 good things from your week with us.  I know not every week is the same and some weeks are just darn difficult.  That is the beauty of this exercise.  It makes us pause and look and sift through all the hard stuff and find those things that been good in our lives.  I encourage you to give it a try whether your having a good week and it's easy or whether you're having a tough one and you have to go digging.

Personally I've had a really busy week, not bad but just really busy.  So I haven't really paid attention and just let blessings go right by without really taking pause to notice them.  I'm glad that this is forcing me to slow down and reflect.

1.  Easy transitions.  Last week I said goodbye to a beloved 3 year old in the dayhome as she goes to spend a wonderful year at home with her mom and new sibling.  And a new little one has started this week.  Sometimes these weeks can be very stressful, both on child, parent and on me, the child care giver.  But this little fella has transitioned well, with only one little incident of clinging and crying that only lasted a few minutes.  That is remarkable and I am so thankful.  He's fitting in very nicely and his smile just lights up the room.

2.  Easy returns.  I love a store that makes returns easy.  I had bought towels at the beginning of July and I think I even mentioned "new towels" as one of my faves back then.  Well those lovely towels turned not so lovely when they wouldn't stop throwing fluff even after 4 or 5 washings.  Drying off with them was not nice.  They took them back no problem even though it's been 2 months and past their exchange policy and gave me a gift card in equal value.  Which was just fine with me because I still needed towels so bought another brand that is much better, thank you very much.

3.  Easy going family.  Like I said, it's been a busy week and I'm so grateful for my family being easy going about it this week.  They've pitched in when I've had to rush out the door in the evening and that really takes a load off, let me tell you.

4. Easy Sunday lunch.  The Sunday School had a kick off fundraiser at church right after service.  A hot dog lunch with all sorts of toppings and fixings was yummy.  My whole family loves hot dogs and I didn't have to cook and we helped out the Sunday School.  Win, win if you ask me!

5.  Easy mornings.  This has been the first week back to school and college and so far the mornings have gone fairly smoothly.  My kids are not little anymore but that doesn't mean there is not going to be bumps and glitches with getting out the door in the mornings.  Other than a small timing issue with the bathroom amongst three of us one day, it's gone not too bad.  A fairly stress free morning is definitely a blessing around here!

What are your favorites from the week?  Share them in a post and link on up.  Please link to your specific post and not your home page.  If you're not sure how to do that drop me an email and I'll try to help ya out.  Otherwise, have a great weekend everyone!

Yesterday morning:

6*C  (43*F)

Brrr.

Yesterday afternoon:

34*C  (93.2*F)

Okay, I'm melting now.

The same all week.
It hasn't been this hot all summer.
Or this cool.

Now tell me, how on earth does one dress for this in the morning.

And Speaking of Books

This was a great summer of reading for me.  So far, I've been able to finish nine books in total and hopefully will be adding one more before the official first day of summer.  I've reviewed some of them on this site (here, here,  here , here, and finally, here) for you, but I've gotten a touch behind so for the review of the following, you can scroll down to their respective numbers on my book blog located here under the 2011 reviews.

#25

 #26

                               

#27

#28

I really tried to read a variety of stuff this summer.  Nothing too terribly heavy, as it is summer after all.  But looking back over the list, I see that I have 5 out of the nine books that could fit into the historical fiction category.  Oh well.  They were at different time periods and about totally different subjects, so I guess I'll let myself off the hook for that.  Kinda, sorta.  :v)

Now my mind is already starting to play with this coming up in the fall.  

There are just so many books I want to read.  And I can't stay off my library's website and add more to my "For Later" shelves.  Decisions, decisions.  Not to mention the fact that my own book basket in my closet is totally overflowing.  I can't seem to stay away from library's book sales, either, it seems. Or their shelves.   Or the bookstore.  Ahhh, it's an addiction, I tell ya.  But a good one.  Right?  Hello?  But I have a plan for the upcoming challenge for choosing my books.  I'll share that when the Fall Into Reading post goes up.  But I'm curious.  How do you choose your books you want to read?  Do you go to book sites?  Or are you a shelf browser?  Do you randomly buy books, trade books, borrow books or are you deliberate?  If you have overflowing piles how do you choose which ones to read at the that time?  Enquiring minds want to know.

 

Friday's Fave Five #155

Hi everyone!  It's Friday.  It's Five Fave time.  Join in as we look back over the week and find blessings, obvious or hidden, and share our 5 favorites.


1.  First corn of the season.  Peaches and Cream.  Tender.  Flavorful.  Dripping butter and salt.  Been waiting all summer for that perfect bite.

2.  Bacon and watermelon.  I know.  Your going "What???  She's really gone and fallen off her rocker now."  But seriously, it's delicious.  I discovered it accidentally snitching food off the counter as I cooked. My grandma used to eat watermelon with bread.  But I never could get that.  I wonder what she'd think of watermelon with bacon.   It's really true, everything's better with bacon.  Even watermelon, apparently.

3.  Wings to go.  There's a new takeout restaurant in town and they are all about wings.  They have about 15 flavors of wet wings and 5 dry flavors.  They are sooo good.  I tried the Sweet Chili Heat and hubby, who likes things plain, just had, you guessed it, the plain ones.  Next up to try will be the dill pickle.  Yummy.

4.  Tomatoes.  Fresh from the fields.  When we were in the Okanagon Valley we bought a case of tomatoes and we've been enjoying them daily.  There are so full of flavor compared to store bought.  I might take the last half dozen or so and make homemade spaghetti sauce as per my youngest's request.

I just realized this whole post has been about food.  LOL.  I guess it's been a week of good eats around here so I will continue the theme with:

5.  Plumots.  Aka pluots.   Never heard of them before?  Neither had I but boy I'm glad I bought them.  They were so juicy and sweet.  They had a very different spotted exterior and ruby red interior.  Never seen anything like it.  I found a good picture and write up on them here.  Designer fruit?  Who knew it could be so good.

What were your favorites this week?  Big or small does not matter.  Obvious or you had to really search for them?  Whichever way it is a good exercise to look for good things in our week.  If you've done a post please link on up so we can come and visit and enjoy your blessings with you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

First Day Insanity

Well that was interesting.  You'd think with all the years of having kids in school I'd be a little more prepared for the first day of school.  And the funny thing, I don't even have to do anything anymore because my last is in grade 12, but somehow that didn't make for any less of a crazy, hectic morning.  And I totally missed getting the first day of school picture .  Now I'll have to cheat and do it when she gets home.

It always takes us awhile to get into some kind of workable routine where my family can get out the door all the while the dayhome kids are arriving.  It's quite the craziness, as my family is trying to reach for shoes and coats while the dayhome parents are trying to get those items off their kids and hung up and invariable my family gets blocked in on the driveway and there's this big juggling act going on with kids and cars and parents.  It's quite the circus in my tiny little entryway.  And all the while I'm trying to smile and not stress that everyone gets where they need to get on time.  Yikes.

But here's to a new year now underway.