Changes (again!)

***There was a problem viewing the pictures before so I have tried to copy them in a different way this time!***

I have been very slow to update my blog, what with the water "issues" in our old house right before the move. Here's a collage of photos to show the basement in the middle of the demolition process. They essentially ripped out a section of the walls (which were ugly panelling anyways), tore out cupboards (aka the bar), and although I don't have pictures of the completed demos they also took out the shower as well. The new owners should be able to proceed with their repairs very shortly, once the construction estimate is finished.

Here's another collage of our old house. We sure grew to love this house. It was open and very spacious and it also had LOTS of built in storage (most of which I thought I would never use... and now I miss SO MUCH). The day we moved into this house was the day that Brie started walking on her own. Definitely lots of good memories in here, right from the very first day. It's always difficult to walk away from those memories but I am so very thankful for our camcorder to help us remember.

Some pictures are before packing and some are after. It's amazing how quickly our contents were reduced to boxes. There was some stress as the packers came a day earlier than anticipated but it all worked out alright in the end.

And now for our new home. As of today we have been here for 2 weeks already. We have already done some painting (there was WAY too much of that mustard color, including on the ceilings!) and made some smaller purchases in order to make this space our own. I will show the "after" photos another time, but for now you can see what it looked like on the day we moved in.

We are beginning to make this our home and I absolutely love the bright open concept that we get to enjoy here, especially the brand new kitchen! The girls are really enjoying their bunkbed and sharing a room with each other. We also bought them a trampoline on the weekend, to replace their old swingset which we sold before we moved. It has been a big hit!

A Hopeful Heart

Can she turn her second-best chance into a golden opportunity?

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher--or the wife of one. But will Tressa have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the passel of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once--and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When trouble strikes, will Abel risk his life--and his heart--to help this eastern girl?

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren. She invites you to visit her Web site atwww.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.


My Review:  This was a good book to read on yet another rainy cloudy day. I enjoyed seeing these women become hardworking and knowledgeable about all aspects of ranching.   I also appreciated the tension between the main characters as they fought their initial attraction to each other based on their preconceived notions.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

Momology

Your go-to book for successful mothering

Mothering is part art, part science, and always a work in progress! Backed by more than thirty years of research-based ministry at MOPS International, Momology is designed to help you be the unique mother God created you to be--because better moms make a better world.

Shelly Radic is Chief of Staff at MOPS International, author of The Birthday Book, and a regular contributor to MOPS publications. Her writing is informed by her education, mothering her four children, and twenty years of MOPS experience. She lives in Colorado.

My Review:  This book was chock full of good advice and research related to parenting in the 21st century.  It emphasizes the importance of having a network of friends that are dealing with similar situations in their own parenting lives.  Several times it refers to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), which is an international organization that has established "mom" groups all over, however I believe that it is mostly a US program.  That being said, this book was really important for me to read right now as I prepare to leave my friends and start over in a new town where I don't know anyone.  It would be easy to hide in the security of my home and feel like a victim of this move at times.  However it is also my responsibility to get out there and meet people.  This book encouraged me to get "out there" and start establishing some friendships, at the park, the church or wherever... before a sense of isolation sets in.  It's for my own wellbeing, but it will also help me to be a better mom by having those supports.

You can also check out the Mom-ology website, beginning on July 1st!  

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

A Tailor-Made Bride

When a dressmaker who values beauty tangles with a liveryman who condemns vanity, the sparks begin to fly!

Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.

Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?

When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?

Karen Witemeyer holds a master's degree in psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and the Abilene Writers Guild. She has published fiction in Focus on the Family's children's magazine, and has written several articles for online publications and anthologies. A Tailor-Made Bride is her first novel. Karen lives in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.Visit Karen's Web site atwww.karenwitemeyer.com 

My Review:  I always enjoy fiction when the main character is a strong successful woman and this book is no exception.  I was cheering for Hannah as she set out to establish her dressmaking business in a new town, despite the complications that arose along the way.  The dynamics between the characters was also very entertaining.  This book was fairly predictable but in a good way, and I am looking forward to more books by Karen Witemeyer as this was her first novel.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

Out of the Spin Cycle

Following Jesus shouldn't be just one more thing to do

Motherhood sometimes feels like a list of expectations. You may be busy or even overwhelmed. But you are also strong and brilliant. And here's a secret: a lot of those things on your list of expectations are things Jesus never expected you to do on your own.

In Out of the Spin Cycle, author and speaker Jen Hatmaker takes the words and deeds of Jesus, adds the humor of a young mom's life, and offers messages of grace and encouragement. Covering areas such as worry, marriage, priorities, money, and the comparison trap, this dynamic Bible teacher brings Jesus's message alive in short, to-the-point devotionals for your busy life. This is a devotional for you--the woman inside the mom--the Bible student, the learner, the world-changer.

So put aside that to-do list for a moment and discover the ways Jesus can lighten your mother load.



Jen Hatmaker is the author of seven books and Bible studies, including A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study. With a heart for the women of her generation, she speaks at retreats and conferences around the country. Jen and her husband, Brandon, reside in Texas with their three children, and lead the ministry work at Austin New Church.

My Review:  I enjoyed this lighthearted devotional book.  The author had an excellent mix of humor and seriousness in each of the 40 devotions.  It didn't require a huge time commitment to sit down and absorb what was written, and it also didn't have a really heavy reflection aspect to it.  There were a few questions to consider but nothing that couldn't be accomplished in a short amount of time. I was encouraged by reading this.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

New Hairdo

So I got a new 'do today.

I was tired of my current hairstyle and wanted something fun, although I wasn't sure what.

My hairdresser was excited!

She suggested this new style, and although it will take a little getting used to, I think I like it!

I haven't had bangs for a very long time.

 We also got rid of my highlights, and added some blonde color midway.

That part I'm not so sure about.  

My family is not too sure about this new 'do.  

Brie just said, "It's different".

Ella said, "It's pretty" (albeit with some hesitation).

and John...not a big fan, but he is fairly resistant to change.  

Hmm...

What do you think?  

(By the way I was lazy and took the photos using my Macbook camera.  This is where I do my schoolwork outside, sitting on my wonderful *sigh* deck swing.)

The Mailbox

The Mailbox
by:  Marybeth Whalen


Centered on a real landmark on the coast of North Carolina, The Mailbox blends intriguing folklore and true faith with raw contemporary issues that affect every woman.

When Lindsey Adams first visits the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, she has no idea that twenty years later she will still be visiting the mailbox-still pouring out her heart in letters that summarize the best and worst parts of her life.

Returning to Sunset for her first vacation since her husband left her, Lindsey struggles to put her sorrow into words. Memories surface of her first love, Campbell-and the rejection that followed. When Campbell reappears in her life, Lindsey must decide whether to trust in love again or guard herself from greater pain. The Mailbox is a rich novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances.


My Review:  I really enjoyed this book.  It had a great storyline and although I could easily predict aspects of the ending, I was still surprised by some details as well.  The characters were also very realistic, not all perfectly put together.  I really like that this story is based on a real mailbox that is visited frequently by people who are writing to the Kindred Spirit.

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review on behalf of TBB Media and David C Cook***