Day 30 - One Thing You're Excited For

Day 30 - One Thing You're Excited For

Just one?!  I'm excited for Christmas coming up; for our cruise (just Nathan and I) in February which, this year, will include cruising out of Orlando/Port Canaveral, then renting a convertible to drive down to Fort Lauderdale to watch the Jets play the Panthers; as well as our family trip to Florida in late March/early April.

Day 29 - 21st birthday

Day 29 - The Night of Your 21st Birthday

Well, that was pretty long ago, and not a memorable one that I can recall.  I would have been married without kids so I'm assuming Nathan and I went out for dinner - but we weren't going to The Keg yet then, so I don't know where we would've gone.

Day 28 - Words

Day 28 - The Word or Phrase You Use Constantly

This is probably easier to do for someone else than yourself.  I can't really think of something I say constantly - other than maybe "Love you, babe" to my girls and "Love you, buddy" to my son.

Day 27 - What You Wore Today

Day 27 - What You Wore Today

Today was a day off of school for the kids, followed by hockey practices in the evening and a get-together for Emma with her youth friends.

So, I wore my exercise clothes until I finally got around to exercising, and then yoga pants with an UA shirt after that.  

Day 26 - Ex

Day 26 - Things You'd Say to an Ex


This is sort of a weird one.  I don't think of my exes, and don't really have anything to say to them, other than that I hope they have a relationship with Jesus and wish them the best.

Day 25 - Weird Traits

Day 25 - Four Weird Traits I have

Hmmm, I'm not sure I have 4 weird traits. Maybe my laugh is weird.  I'll go with 4 flaws instead.

I procrastinate in certain areas.
I'm very often late by a few minutes.
I can be impatient and easily irritated.
I can be proud.

Good thing He's not finished with me yet!

Book Review: A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

About the Book: When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father's death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah's Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night's performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best---and handsomest---lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can't go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip's dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1MUVRqX

My Thoughts:  I don't know much about the theatre or life of an actress, other than to know it has not always been a respectable form of employment.

Unfortunately, this book just didn't hold my attention.  I'm hard pressed to say what exactly it was, but I just was not captivated by the storyline.  It took me much longer to read this book than normal because I kept putting it down and forgetting about it.  

I enjoyed the mystery portion of this book more than the romantic subplot which seemed a bit forced or an odd fit.  

Other than that, I can't put my finger on anything "wrong" with the book, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.

Day 24 - Something I Miss

Day 24 - Something I Miss

I wouldn't necessarily turn back time if I could, but there are many things I miss.

I miss my dad.
I miss being pregnant (not the being sick part though).
I miss feeling the kick of a baby in my womb, knowing the miracle of life is growing inside me.
I miss snuggling babies and smelling their unique scent.
I miss holding a sleeping child.
I miss first steps.
I miss mispronounced words.

And right now, I miss summer :)

Odyssey Adventure Club - Give the gift that lasts all year!

 

What’s on your children’s Christmas wish list? As excited as they might be about that new toy, as every parent knows, the thrill of the gift will eventually wear off. Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey have created the perfect gift for those who want to give their children or grandchildren a present that will provide year-round fun with eternal impact.

The Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) offers families 24/7 access to 25 years’ worth of Adventures in Odyssey (AIO) episodes in a safe online environment where children can explore and learn. Christmas really is the perfect time to tap into your children’s imagination while infusing faith and fun into their day . . . and every day of the year.

To celebrate the holidays this year, the OAC is offering free content for everyone, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:



• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas. 
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users. 
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes. 
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month. 
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

In keeping with AIO’s rich heritage of teaching children about biblical principles — such as the importance of giving — a portion of each OAC membership benefits Focus on the Family partner organizations. Here are a couple of examples of what has been accomplished through Odyssey Adventure Club members:

• Carry the Cure received a sound system they needed to provide after-school programs to children in Alaska. 
• Mission Aviation Fellowship has been able to provide health vaccines to 65,000 children. 

The Odyssey Adventure Club wants to reach beyond fleeting entertainment this Christmas, partnering with parents in helping their kids grow deep in faith and find their place in God’s story.

Speaking of the holidays, you can prepare for Christmas with Thriving Family's 2015 Advent Activity Calendar — Tales of Christmas Past: 25 Inspiring true stories of the season. Assemble a beautifully designed Advent poster to help your kids focus on Christ this Christmas. Then read Scripture passages and stories that relate to individual flaps on the poster. You can also create easy-to-fold booklets for each story. Get more information about this year's free Advent calendar at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent, or sign up to download it.


To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Day 23 - Family

Day 23 - A Family Member you Dislike

Ha ha - as if I'm answering that one!

I love my family.  Obviously, I love Nathan and the kids.  But the rest of my immediate family and Nathan's, I mean.  Many of us are very different from each other, and some of us have extremely different points of view about many things, including faith.  But even though I may disagree with them, and continue to pray for them to see the truth - particularly for them to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, who He is, and what He has done for them - I still love them.