Venting

Stupid prof tonight.

She cancelled class last week.

Then tonight she wanted to do one hour of "group discussion" to summarize the chapters that we have gone through already.

One. Hour.

Need I remind you that I am taking this televised class by MYSELF?

The prof had an audio-bridge planned, but the Department of Highways was on there instead, and she had no backup plan other than to summarize something my ourselves.

For one hour.

I struggled to get to class on time after my busy day of picking up Ella from preschool, picking up our sitter from high school and then picking up Brie at the elementary school.

I already had a busy day of halloween treat bags for the kids to take to school, and trying to work on my essays that are due next week.

Then it was lunch prep, pick up Brie from school, eat and drive her back.

Then I took Ella to preschool for her halloween party.

Then I picked Brie back up to go to piano lessons. Brie absolutely hates to miss any school so then I have to drive her back before I return for my own lesson.

Then I had to stop at the store for about 10 minutes before I began picking up the kids. AGAIN.

*SIGH*

I am tired.

My house is not very clean, but I have no time to clean it.

John is home tomorrow.

Hurry up dear!

That's Too Much, Bob!

Do you ever have one of those days or weeks?

It just feels overwhelming and/or impossible?

I thought I was doing not too bad...

Getting over a bad cold, but I got to sleep in until 9 am this morning.

Yes.

Nine in the morning!

John is away all week so I had pleaded with the girls to have mercy on me last night.

It apparently worked. I was rather shocked!

For the last few days I have not been able to do any schoolwork since my brain was a big mushy pile because of this cold/flu stuff.

Now that I am recovering though, I have 2 big essays due next week. I am only half done one of them and have not started the other.

Agh!

And then to top it all off tonight on my way home from class...

I discovered that I had a flat tire.

Actually not exactly a flat tire.

More like a tire that was cracked in a few places.

????

So I

s l o w l y

drove home and called some friends.

Because John is away this week.

Typical!

I remember a few years ago when he was away on some training and the ceiling started to leak.

Good times, people.

Good times.

Let's just hope that is all.

(By the way, my title is a reference to The Price Is Right, for those who are curious)

Double Cross: a review

From Suicide to Sacrifice

In James David Jordan’s new thriller, Double Cross,

an ex-Secret Service agent deals with the truth about her past

“The day my mother came back into my life began with a low December fog and a suicide.” So begins James David Jordan’s latest novel, Double Cross, which follows the exploits of Taylor Pasbury, a young ex-Secret Service agent with a checkered past and a penchant for finding trouble. Even as a high school kid, Taylor knew she was not like most other girls. Raised by her father, a retired Special Forces officer, she learned to camp, shoot, and most of all, take care of herself. Now a young adult, Pasbury opens her own security agency and finds herself in the middle of a mysterious case full of danger and intrigue.

When the top assistant of her former client turns up dead, all signs point to embezzlement and suicide. But in the world of Taylor Pasbury, nothing is as it seems. A trail of clues leads to Taylor’s mother, who abandoned her when she was nine. What begins as a suicide investigation becomes a personal quest to find the truth about her past.

Double Cross is an action-packed story that provides thrilling twists and turns as well as a thought-provoking look at the personal and spiritual struggles of characters who are as complex as they are flawed. Ultimately, it’s a story of self-examination that describes Taylor’s journey toward the conclusion that some sacrifices can never be earned.

James David Jordan is a successful business attorney in Dallas, Texas, and was named by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the most influential leaders in that legal community. Jordan followed his aspirations of becoming an author, taking five years to create his first book, Something That Lasts, which was well-received by both critics and the public. His second book, Forsaken, won the Reader’s Choice award from RelzReviews and The Suspense Zone.

Jordan writes with a commitment to tell page-turning stories that challenge readers to explore and grow in their faith. With gripping authenticity, Jordan examines subjects of family and faith and skillfully draws readers into the crisis faced by Taylor Pasbury. Along the way, readers will find ample opportunity to re-assess their own life situations and wrestle with their own thoughts about forgiveness and grace.

Double Cross by James David Jordan

B&H Publishing Group October 2009

ISBN: 978-08054-4754-5/softcover/302 pages/$14.99

www.jamesdavidjordan.com

My Review:

This book quickly captured my attention and I didn't want to put it down. I love the main character Taylor, who is far from perfect and yet so very likeable. (go figure!) The storyline was gripping and action-packed. "Double Cross" is book two in a series, but I found it very easy to follow without having read book one first. I am an instant fan of James David Jordan and will be on the lookout for more of his books to come!

The Last Word: A Review

The Last Word

In her second installment of the Sophie Trace Trilogy, Kathy Herman rolls

Henderson, Kingsbury, and Blackstock into one with both suspense and spirituality

Heart-pounding suspense meets heart-challenging truth as best-selling author Kathy Herman returns to Sophie Trace in her new page-turner, The Last Word (David C Cook, October 2009). Based on Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the gentile,” Herman’s second installment in the Sophie Trace series triumphantly demonstrates God’s miraculous ability to heal the broken.

This theme comes to life in Vanessa Jessup, a twenty-year-old college student who becomes pregnant while having a secret love affair with her psychology professor and has to make a choice: either end the pregnancy or end the relationship. The biblical truths she learned growing up prompt her to choose life and to go home to the refuge of her parents’ counsel and a right relationship with God.

When Vanessa arrives home, her mother, Sophie Trace Police Chief Brill Jessup, is stunned to see that she’s pregnant—and by one of her professors. While Brill is glad her middle daughter rejected the father’s abortion ultimatum, she’s also hurt that Vanessa ignored her upbringing and angry that the professor has disappeared without as much as a nickel of child support.

But that’s not all Brill’s got on her plate. One of her detectives has been killed, and the attacker has threatened to come for her next. When a second cop is wounded, public criticism mounts as Brill attempts to stay alive long enough to catch the perp. And she’s trying to find the deadbeat dad as Vanessa struggles to make decisions about her future.

In spite of Brill’s best efforts to stay safe, the murderer finally kidnaps and threatens to kill her and then commit suicide. As her life hangs in the balance, Brill becomes concerned that her attacker is about to die and is not saved and refuses to be silenced in her witness of God’s love for him. In a show of grace under pressure and fierce determination, Brill will manage to have the last word, even if it kills her.

Author Bio: Best-selling suspense novelist Kathy Herman has written fifteen novels, including CBA bestsellers The Real Enemy, Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden, since retiring from her family’s Christian bookstore business. Kathy and her husband, Paul, have three grown children and five grandchildren and live in Tyler, Texas.

The Last Word Book 2: Sophie Trace Trilogy by Kathy Herman

David C Cook/October 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6785-1/390 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com www.kathyherman.com

My Review: I am a big Kathy Herman fan. I own several of her books, including Book One in the the Sophie Trace series, "The Real Enemy". So when I was offered the chance to review Book Two, I was very excited! This book, "The Last Word" does not disappoint. It is suspenseful and edgy with a great dimension of faith as well. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Fun Theory

I just watched a great video from "The Fun Theory".

Essentially it is an experiment to see how many more people will use the stairs instead of an escalator if the stairs are "fun".

Just goes to show that music is indeed good for everyone!

A couple of other good videos to watch on The Fun Theory too!

Green: A Review

Green
Book Zero: The Beginning and the End
By Ted Dekker

Reviewer's Guide

Be sure to check out Ted Dekker's Green Website for Downloads, Videos and More!

Book Description

At Last . . . The Circle Reborn

The story of how Thomas Hunter first entered the Black Forest and forever changed our history began at a time when armies were gathered for a final battle in the valley of Migdon. Green is a story of love, betrayal, and sweeping reversals set within the apocalypse. It is the beginning: the truth behind a saga that has captured the imagination of more than a million readers with the Books of History Chronicles.

But even more, Green brings full meaning to the Circle Series as a whole, reading as both prequel to Black and sequel to White, completing a full circle. This is Book Zero, the Circle Reborn, both the beginning and the end. The preferred starting point for new readers . . . and the perfect climax for the countless fans who’ve experienced Black, Red, and White.

My Review:

I have mixed feelings about this book. I was a huge fan of the original Circle series and couldn't read those books fast enough. Then Ted Dekker started referring to the Circle in all of his books, and I sort of lost interest. I'm not a fan of popular authors compromising their initial story (in this case, a trilogy), and later on adding additional books. I've seen it before and the quality tends to decline. But I did want to be fair to Green and give it a try, despite my initial reservations.

The book is described to be either the beginning or the end of the original "Black", "Red" and "White" trilogy. I honestly don't think that newcomers to this series would understand the concept of Green if they tried it first, but it does work well for a new ending to the story for those of us who are already familiar with the characters and plot. It took me a while to get involved in the story, but I did find that as the plot thickened, my interest in the story grew. I enjoyed the ending and its symbolic reference to the Circle. Overall it was a decent read. I don't think it completely changed my mind and won me over, but I did enjoy the book.

Snow

Well unfortunately we got snow this week. But the girls have had a great time playing outside.

I can't seem to organize the photos the way I would like today, so you will just have to take them as they are...even if it is out of order!

Happy thanksgiving everyone.

This weekend I am thankful for:

• My husband who cares deeply for me and our girls that he takes out on 'dates'
• My precious girls, they are loud and moody but oh how I love them so
• Great friends, the ones that I can be real with
• Encouraging family
• That I am able to go to school, and that I'm actually doing well! (I know I shouldn't be so surprised with myself....that will be a work in progress)
• A great community to live in
• Heating, although expensive it is effective
• Learning how to play the piano and still loving it a year later