Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

Lonestar Angel is an excellent book!  I rate it 5 stars!
This book is an excellent story of love, loss, and learning to trust.
The book begins 5 years ago when Eden and Clay Larson's baby was stolen and never found.  Eden blamed herself and Clay buried himself in his work.  Their young marriage ended, or so Eden thought.
Eden moved to Indiana and is moving on with her life.  She has found her faith, and met a nice,christian man that she plans to marry.  During an evening out, Clay interrupts their dinner with some shocking news.  1.  They're still married, and 2.  Clay never gave up searching for their daughter Brianna, and now believes he has found her, in Texas.
Eden and Clay go to Texas to a youth ranch where they believe their daughter is.  They work as counselors at the youth ranch for the children.  In doing this, they discover so much about themselves, their families, all the while trying to determine which of the 4 little girls is their Brianna.  Danger is close at hand as the couple rediscovers their love for each other.  They are up against snakes, storms, fire, and kidnapping.
In the end, they discover the truth about that horrible day 5 years ago, and their real daughter.  How can they turn their backs on the 4 girls they have grown to love?
Read this wonderful story to find out.
I couldn't put this book down.  My only issue with this book is that I want to read the rest of the series, and that I have been introduced to an amazing new Christian author!  

Disclaimer:  I received this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my honest opinions.  

Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

This book was a fun book to sit down and read.
The story begins with Bridget, a widow who has lost trust in God.  After being a widow for 4 years, her family thinks it is time for her to move on.  They need her help in selling the large family estate.  Bridget is an Eco-friendly nursery owner, who cares very much about the future of the family estate, and doesn't want to see it sold to the highest bidder to be made into single family homes.  She takes on this challenge, and has sought out J.C. Dirks as the developer with a good reputation for his green developments.  After meeting, she is hopeful for the sale.  J.C. comes to look at the estate.  Meanwhile, Bridget's father introduces her to his friend's son who is also interested in purchasing the estate, and maybe a relationship with Bridget.  Being a widow, Bridget has been out of the dating scene but she finds herself with 2 potential buyers for the estate, and 2 potential relationships.
Both Bridget, J.C. Dirk, and Caleb have to let go of their pasts, in order to move on to the future.  In this process, 2of the characters find themselves back in the church.
Read the book to find out who wins the purchase of the estate and who wins Bridget's heart.

Disclaimer:  I received this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my honest opinions.  

1st Snow of the season

The kids are enjoying the first snowfall of the season. They are so excited to play in the snow.  The temperature is in the 20's and there is little wind - which makes it perfect for playing outside.  

Fall Sunday Afternoon

After church this morning, we went to enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon outdoors.  We roasted hot dogs and had lots of good salads for lunch.  Then we went on a hike.  What a beautiful day.

Trent with some of the kids...

 Allyson and Mom

Caden

 My beautiful kids

Hailey, Caden, Allyson, Carly, Hannah

 The hiking group

 3 generations - Dave, Jesse, Chase

Pumpkins

The kids had pumpkin day at school on Friday.  This was the treat that Allyson and I made for her to share with her class.  

There were enough for everyone in the class and even a couple extra so both kids could enjoy one as an after school snack.  

Happy 80th Birthday!

My grandpa celebrated his 80th birthday this week.  We helped him celebrate with an open house on Sunday afternoon.  Lots of family and friends came to wish him birthday wishes.

Campground Trick or Treating

The first weekend in October, we went to the campground to trick or treat.  The weather was warm and the kids had fun.  

 Uncle Dan dressed up as "Phil" from the movie Hangover.  He borrowed Allyson's tiger to complete his costume.  

 Allyson, Carly, Elsie

Broc, Caden and Eli trick or treating

 Eli and Caden

The Crossing - Book Review

The Crossing by Serita Jakes

This book was a book that had me interested within the first chapter.  It kept me intrigued until the very end, and trying to guess the conclusion.  

This is a not what I would call a traditional christian fiction book.  I would certainly recommend this book for more mature readers.  The characters in this story deal with some real issues, including anger, drunkenness, depression, greed, adultery, abuse, and many more.  

A high school cheerleader, Claudia was riding the team bus home after a Friday night football game.  While at a railroad crossing, a masked gunman comes onto the bus and murders the bus driver, the cheerleading coach, injures one of the football players.  

Fast forward ten years, and the murder is unsolved.  With the help of Officer Casio Hightower,  the football player who survived being shot that dreadful night, Victor Campbell, Claudia's husband, sets out to solve this mystery and help put the demons and nightmares to rest.  Claudia suffers from PTSD from this incident where her best friend dies and Claudia is there to not only witness, but sit by her side through her last breaths.  

As the story unfolds, and the investigation of what happened at the railroad crossing ten years before continues, each character has their own "crossing" to deal with.  Will they be able to find the truth of that night, and more importantly find the truth of Christ?  

I look forward to reading more books by Serita Jakes.  

Disclaimer:  I received this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my honest opinions.  

The Baker's Wife - Book Review

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

This book was a great read.  I love books that have some suspense, mystery, and a christian theme, and this book had all three.

The book begins with a pastor, Geoff and his wife, Audrey doing the Lord's work.  On Geoff's day off, they bake bread together,  and then Audrey delivers a loaf of bread to the individuals she feels the Lord has placed on her heart to visit and pray about.  

When a scandal forces the pastor leave the church, this husband and wife duo open a bakery.  During a foggy, early morning drive to the bakery, Audrey's car hits a scooter belonging to Julie, a teacher in town, and the police detective (Jack's) wife.  Jack is a council member of the church where Geoff is the former pastor. There is no body to be found, but lots of blood.  The police detective blames Audrey.   Jack searches to find out what happened to his missing wife, with little evidence.  Convinced he is doing God's work, Jack takes the bakery, with those inside, hostage.  He makes an impossible request, for Audrey to bring his wife to him, or he will kill her husband and son, held hostage in the bakery.  Audrey must work together with an ex-con and a unbelieving teen, to unravel the mystery of where Julie is and convince Jack of the truth before he does something to hurt her family.  

Audrey tries her best to follow God's guidance to help her loved ones held hostage in the bakery.

Healy covers many different issues including...loss, acceptance, love, and forgiveness.  I enjoyed this book because it had a great story, kept me coming back to the very end, and challenged the reader to define a sincere christian life.    

Disclaimer:  I received this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my honest opinions.  

Teddy Bear Day

Today for school, the kids had Teddy Bear day.  They were asked to dress in bear colors, or wear something with a bear on it.  They also got to bring along a stuffed bear to school.

 Allyson was so excited to wear her hat to school.  

I have the privilege of being a room mom for Caden's class this year.  The room mom's get to help out with treats for the kids.  I found a stack-able bear cookie cutter and knew I wanted to make these for the class.  They turned out pretty cute - and yummy too!  

Moments to Remeber

Occasionally, in the morning while waiting for the bus, the kids are eating their breakfast, and get out their books to read.  I snapped this picture the other day, and just love looking at it.
Caden was helping Allyson read her book.  Such a sweet moment.

School Pictures

School picture day was a couple weeks ago, but I wanted to share the snapshots I took of the kids before they went to school that morning.

 Allyson didn't want anything to do with taking pictures, so this was the best I got.  

Warm Fall Days

We are enjoying the warm Fall days.  I found bubbles on clearance, so for $3 - we have had hours of bubble fun.  

Mercy Come Morning

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren is an excellent story about a daughter (Krista) who holds so many memories of her childhood, with most of them being of her mother's struggles with the Alzheimer's disease.  Krista grew up not knowing her dad, and having to be the "adult" at a young age when her mother was incapable of this role.  Krista has a great job, has her mother in a "first class nursing home", and feels like her life is going good.  Then she gets a call from Dane, an old friend and manager of the nursing home that her mother isn't well.  Krista comes back home and is forced to deal with some feelings and emotions that have been stored away for a long time.  While facing the fact that her mother only has a short time to live, she begins to better understand through a journal from her mother, just how much different things were when seeing them through her mom's perspective.  I love how this book talks about issues of Alzheimers from a daughters view and about the trials she faced growing up with an ill mother.  As a nurse, I also enjoyed the glimpse into the "first class nursing home" that seemed to give excellent care for Alzeimher's patients and the part of the book that talked about the special Christmas room.   

I received this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my own honest opinions.   

One Call Away by Brenda Warner

One Call Away by Brenda Warner 

I was a bit skeptical when I first received this book, as it is not my typical reading preference (I'm not a sports fanatic) .  I was pleasantly surprised when I began.  I literally couldn't put this book down.  I loved the story contained within the pages of this book.  It was so easy to get caught up in the book, and then I would pause and recall that this is someone's REAL life!  The emotions that Brenda writes about from her own life drew me in and kept me awake until late hours of the night reading.  Brenda seems so real and personable.  I enjoyed reading about her family growing up, the trials and triumphs she faced as a marine, a wife, a mother, a nurse, and a wife to a professional football player.  The examples shared of how she struggled with being in the spotlight along with , or because of her husband, where great reminders of how we as Christians are also judged by others just because of who we "belong" to.  

This book reminds us that we should faithfully answer the call, even when it may be difficult.  

I want to close with a quote from this book that I hope all readers will remember and ponder.  

"God was - and is - bigger than all of my questions.  And he is with me, even when the questions remain."

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that asks.  There is something for everyone on the pages of this fantastic book.  

Disclaimer: I received the book mentioned above for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All views expressed are my own honest opinions. 

Mini Photo Session

I have been wanting to get some pictures taken of my kids, and so this past week, I got that accomplished.  Here are a few I want to share...

The kids and I both had fun shooting the pictures, and enjoying the beautiful gardens. 

Happy 60th Anniversary!

July 27, my grandparents celebrated 60 years of marriage.  The following weekend, most of the family was able to help them celebrate.  What an awesome witness to God's love and faithfulness to witness 4 generations of family in one place.

Grandpa and Grandma with grand and great grand kids

Our family

There was a bouncy house for entertainment for the kids.  Even Uncle Milt had fun in it.

 Tessa, Hailey, Allyson, Hannah, Ashley

Blake loved fishing for prizes

The Chocolate Diaries - Book Review

The Chocolate Diaries - Secrets for a Sweeter Journey on the Rocky Road of Life.
I enjoyed reading this faith-based, positive and uplifting book.  Karen Scalf Linamen takes personal experiences and compiles them in to 15 stories of women's journeys through life - the good and the bad.  I enjoyed how the author compares these trials and events in life to chocolate.  The book also includes recipes for some sweet treats.  This book is like sitting down with a girlfriend for a cup of coffee.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Happy Anniversary

Today we have been married for 12 years!  

What a lot of growing and learning we have done in the past 12 years.  Thanks for being a great husband and father.  Can't wait to see what God has planned for us.

Training Wheels

Allyson doesn't love riding her bike, but is getting better.  As the kids ride their bikes a couple days a week in town to the pool and library, they have been getting lots of practice.   Allyson still has her training wheels on, but has come home frustrated because the kids will tell her she needs to ride faster, or she is sick of the squeaking of her wheels.
When I pick up the kids, they always run outside ahead of me to ride a loop on their bikes.  This day was no different, except Allyson was so proud and wanted me to watch - she could ride her bike without it squeaking.
One training wheel was loose, and flipped up, and she really only used the other one while turning (for security).

I took the loose training wheel off, and she has been riding with only one on for the past week.  I think it's about time to take the other off - and she can ride on 2 wheels.
This is the girl that threw her bike down on the side of the bike trail last summer during a bike ride, and was so upset because she didn't want to ride, she was ready to give up riding bike forever, and leave her bike there.
I am so proud of her and her learning to ride bike.  (A little peer pressure from brother and friends goes a long way!)

Pool Fun

The kids go to the pool a couple times a week this summer with their "daycare".  They ride their bikes to the pool with a group of kids and have so much fun.  

Friends and Fun

 Caden and Sophie - we love this dog!

Allyson and Danika - they love to play together - but only see each other when we get together with Doni's family.

 Caden and Cody

 Cool fireworks

Good friends