4th of July

This year, my 4th of July started out bright and early.  I traveled about 30 minutes to a neighboring town to run in a 5k road race.  My friend from work ran along with me.  

We did great - by great I mean we finished the race and only walked for a little bit in the 3rd mile.  Our finishing time was 36 minutes 19 seconds.  

Next, I went home, showered, and Grandpa Wayne took the kids to a spot near our house to fish.  

 4th of July was hot, but being by the water to fish was fun!  

Caden and Dad waiting for a bite.

Allyson caught one!  She loves to show off that she can hold the fish by herself.

 Look at the expression on his face - this is one of the bigger ones we caught.  

 Holding the fish by himself - showing off the size.

Allyson is working on taking out the hook by herself. 

We have quite the little fishers on our hands.  They love going to this spot, as there isn't much waiting, you put your worm on, cast off, and within a short time, you have a bite.  Such fun!   

Sibling Love

They really do love each other!  

Water Fun

Caden had a friend over for the afternoon, and they kept busy playing outside with water and playing Wii!  

The boys played very well together and were good sports to let Allyson in on some of the fun.  

Summer Ball

This Summer, Allyson played girls softball and Caden played Boys baseball.  

I love this picture.  It shows her true feelings of the game.  (* note shoe untied and visiting with the coach*)

 Allyson's softball team

Caden batting...

 Caden as catcher...

 Caden's baseball team.  

Renaissance Wedding

Broc's sister got married in early June.  The wedding had a renaissance theme, and guests were invited to dress accordingly.  

The kids were asked to be in the wedding.  

 Our family - all dressed up

Grandma Mary and the kids

Submerged by Dani Pettrey

Submergerd by Dani Pettrey (Alaskan Courage Book 1)

WOW!  This book was a spectacular read from page 1!  I loved how I was able to follow the story line, easily, while the book held my interest all the way to the last page.  I love a good romantic suspense book.  Add to that Christian Fiction, and this book is the perfect combination of my favorites. 

Baily Craig returns to her home town in Alaska after vowing to never return.  She has a past she has moved away from, and has changed her life around for the better.  Baily thinks the people that knew her in Alaska  still think of her past.  Forced to return to her home town in Alaska after her aunt dies,  Baily has no choice but to face some of the people in her past.  She only hopes to face them quickly, tie up some loose ends with the death, and get back to her normal life.  

While in Alaska, some mysterious things happen, that Baily learns the death of her aunt may not be so accidental.  When Baily was younger, she and her aunt Agnes enjoyed studying Russian history.  Aunt Agnes taught Baily many things about this history during the time Baily lived with her.  

One particular person that Baily is fearful to face while back in Alaska is her ex-boyfriend Cole.  After overcoming that fear, Baily and Cole find a way to work together.  With Cole's expertise in diving, and Baily's knowledge in Russian history, the two become forced to work together to  find out more information about the death of her aunt, and how the other mysterious things are related.  

I can not wait for book 2 to read more of this series!  

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman is an excellent read.  It is a story about family and some real issues that families can face.  This story is about a married couple Brad and Darlene and their 3 growing kids.  They have recently moved from the city to a small town and are living in a house that Darlene grew up in.  Darlene has been a stay at home mom for years.  After their family's move, she begins to question her stay at home mom role.  Her husband has a successful job and is about to make partner.  The kids seem to be adjusting as well as can be expected to their new school. 

Darlene decides to take a job outside the home at a small school working with special needs children.  Darlene's job has her working one on one with a special needs girl.  She loves the improvements she sees in the girl, and this makes her feel successful and needed in her new job.  

Meanwhile at home, life is always interesting.  Brad and Darlene's son has a new girlfriend.  Grace, their middle daughter doesn't like to cause problems, but has made a new friend whose choice of clothing is not what Darlene would like their daughter to dress like.  Add to this - their neighbor next door, Layla, is a movie star.  As Darlene and  Layla become friends, Darlene finds opportunities to witness to Layla about God and His love.   

Darlene's job pulls her away from her family for an evening event.  Layla and Darlene go to the event for the school together and meet up with the father of the special needs girl that Darlene works with.  

Through the course of the story, Darlene and this girl's father find themselves together at different times.  

Without giving away some of the surprise turns in this story, I do want to mention that I found it very interesting and certainly planned by God that Layla and Darlene become friends.  Each woman has the opportunity to witness to the other in their time of need.  

I would highly recommend this book for a great, quick read.  

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  

I Love You To God And Back

I Love You To God And Back by Amanda Lamb

This book is about a mother and her 6 year old daughter.  Together they set a goal to record their nightly prayers for 100 prayers.  What begins as short, struggling, impatient prayers, both mother and daughter soon find that they enjoy this time spent together.  

As with any new goal, or habit, things are difficult and you struggle to keep doing it at first.  After you have started, you wonder what you did before.  This is the same in this book with the prayers.  

The mother is a full time working mom, and the daughter a social and busy 6 year old.  Despite interruptions from a sibling, and the tiredness of the day, this pair find a way to meet their goal.  

They begin with recording the prayers, and later mom turns them into a book.  What a precious gift to give your child.  1) a prayer journal, and 2) time spent with your child.

Through out this book, the little girl, Chloe has lots to pray for.  Sometimes the prayer time is silly, sometimes serious.  Through some patience and a new found appreciation for what God is showing her through Chloe, this mother shares her insights on the prayers, and what she is learning through this experience.  

I thought this was a good read.  It certainly shares that prayers don't have to be well versed, or even lengthy, but rather from the heart.  

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  

Poppies

I have noticed the last couple days on my drive to work, that near our house, there is a patch of beautiful poppies blooming.  Amongst the green grass, there is this patch of bright orange.  I decided to take the kids with me this afternoon to go take a closer look.  Such pretty flowers - so delicate and blowing in the wind - just a perfect reminder of God's handiwork.  

I took the opportunity to take a few pictures, and even handed the camera off to my kids so I could get in a couple shots.  I couldn't resist making a scrapbook layout with these photos!  It has been awhile since I have taken the time to make a layout, and I am very pleased with the way this one turned out - reminds me that I need to take that time more frequently!  I will hopefully soon get a layout posted with some of the photos I took of Caden - of course he didn't want much to do with the flowers, but I still got a few fun shots to work with. 

All products used in the layout are by Mye De Leon.   

Zoo Class Trip

This past Friday, I had the privilege of helping chaperon the 1st grade class trip to the zoo.  First we stopped at the park for class pictures and lunch.  Here is Caden's class.  Hopefully someone will share Allyson's class picture.  :)

 After the pictures were done, there was a little time to play... this doesn't give a good idea, but it was so neat to see this mountain of green.  

Allyson and her friend Kryn

Then it was off to the zoo for more fun.  Here is a picture of the group of boys that Julie and I explored the zoo with.  They did so well.  

Logan, Derek, Tate, Caden, Leyton, Eli, Trevor

A pretty bird - in the flamingo cage

The boys had fun checking the sights on the map after we visited each one.  

A couple more animals - giraffes

 A peacock - so pretty.