I held a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to a wonderful Etsy site called UrbanWalls here.
I used random.org to pick a winner and it chose…
….number 54 which was Whitney over at BliggityBloggityBoo with the comment: “pinned!”
Congrats!
If you didn’t win, I’ll be having more giveaways in the future!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
God Loves Broken People
About the Book: When the glass house Sheila lived in for many years came crashing to the ground, she began a new life outside the safety of those walls. No...it did not feel good or safe, but it did feel true. In twelve stirring, insightful, and revealing chapters, Sheila Walsh shows how personal brokenness can open doors of intimacy with Jesus Christ that might not ever open in any other way. At the end of the book there is a free, in-depth Bible study for individuals and small groups included.
About the Author: Sheila Walsh consistently writes books that speak from her heart for the hearts of so many that need an encouraging word. Want to know more about her? Want to see her live? Visit her website by clicking here. I've heard Sheila Walsh speak and sing a number of times in and out of the Women of Faith environment and felt myself drawn to her pleading Scottish voice. Even from the very beginning of the book, I could hear her quiet soothing voice speaking each word just to me. Walsh talks on a level that is so personal that you can't help but like her and wish she was a friend you were having coffee with. She expresses in the beginning, “ that if there was only one book she could write in her lifetime, it would be this book.”
My Thoughts: As I began reading Sheila Walsh's new book God Loves Broken People it came to me immediately that she was talking directly to me. Her words grabbed me, especially with the description of what a Shepard must do for a "bummer" lamb, the one who is not accepted by his mama. Having experienced huge pain and many catastrophic events in my life I was certain that this book was written specifically for me. I have had many times I have felt like I was unworthy and did not deserve God's love. I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with trust, love or acceptance. This book is filled with hope and written by a world class story-teller.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com, a book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
F is For Forests
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F is For Forest
My adventure today is about the F word and takes me into the forests of the United States. I have been through some lovely ones. Live near a couple and have some very special favorites.
I live right on the outskirts of Talladega National Forest and I love to take rides through it when the weather is gorgeous.Nestled in the Talledega Forest is the highest point in Alabama, Mt Cheaha State Park. You can camp, hike, enjoy the view in the splendor of the picture below. As you can tell...fall is my favorite time of the year.
The state of Maine for me is a state of mind. My best friend Mary's sister, Noel, lives there and Noel and Jerry invited me to come and experience fall in Maine with MM one year. I fell in love with the place, the views, the people. Maine was lovely. We spent several days driving around through the forests and by the seashore. I don't know which one I loved the best.
On the Great Northwest Adventure Kat and I took with Amanda and her family we saw many forests. The Sequoia one was glorious.
Day Three In Hawaii: Majestic Tour Around Oahu
He looked Hawaiian so we thought he’d have an Hawaiian name.
His name was Shannon O’Brien.
Our tour guide, by the way.
He explained that there aren’t a lot of 100% Hawaiians left and that his father is Irish.
He was a fantastic tour guide. Tom and I decided to take a Majestic Tour around Oahu from E Noa Tours. It took you to a number of places.
Our first stop was Hanauma Bay. It was gorgeous. The next time we go to Hawaii, we’ll spend a day there.
I mean, look:
There were a lot of chickens there.
Chickens run wild in Hawaii. Some would be crowing while others would be staring at you, hoping you’d feed it.
We didn’t.
I did have my picture with the chickens though. They made me giggle.
I tried to get a good shot of me in front of Hanauma Bay.
It didn’t go well.
Tom took this picture of me:
I swear, I wasn’t on my phone the whole time. I was enjoying Hawaii! I had just taken a picture of Hanauma Bay and posted it on Facebook.
After that, we stopped off at the From Here To Eternity beach. Remember the scene where the couple are making out and a wave comes over them. It looks all romantic but you know the chick is like, “Ahh! Water in my baahoohoo!” and the dude is like, “Sand in my butt!”
This area also was where Journey 2 was filmed, plus the Mermaid Cove in Pirates of the Caribbean.
In this area water was supposed to spit out or something. Tom wanted to stand there until he got a photo of the water spitting out. This was the best one he got:
Then we drove and stopped at another point. I can’t remember what this is called.
And we had our picture in front of mountains:
The tour guide was nice and would take your photo. He was like, “Turn and stare into the distance!”
We did, but soon after he took the picture I got the giggles.
It was off to the Byodo-In Temple next. Monks frequent here. We did not see a monk.
We did see a gong that you were allowed to…well, gong.
It was a beautiful area.
And there were fishies!
The tour guide bought some food and was like, “Want to feed some birds?”
I agreed nervously. I was worried that a bird might A) peck my fingers off or B) take a dump on my hand.
Then Tom said he’d do it. First, a tiny bird partook.
And then..
Gigantic pigeon wanted in on the action. (He’s like, “I dare you to tell me know. I’ll poop all over you.”)
The pigeon scared away the tiny bird and would not leave until he ate every morsel of food.
The black swans came over to say hello.
“Have any food for us?”
Uh. No.
Like I said, it was a beautiful area. I can see why the monks like it.
We drove past more pretty sites:
We stopped off for lunch at a place called Crouching Lion or something like that. The food was pretty good, but expensive. Granted, most stuff in Hawaii IS expensive.
Below the restaurant they had a chocolate store. I bought these:
So yes. I did suck on some chocolate salty balls. (Five points if you are now singing the song from South Park..)
Part B of this trip will come Monday. I have so many pictures to go through! Monday will discuss when we stopped off at Waimea Valley, which is gorgeous, but you had to walk. A lot. To get to a waterfall.
I wanted to die.
(Okay, so the walk was only 1.5 miles, but still..)
His name was Shannon O’Brien.
Our tour guide, by the way.
He explained that there aren’t a lot of 100% Hawaiians left and that his father is Irish.
He was a fantastic tour guide. Tom and I decided to take a Majestic Tour around Oahu from E Noa Tours. It took you to a number of places.
Our first stop was Hanauma Bay. It was gorgeous. The next time we go to Hawaii, we’ll spend a day there.
I mean, look:
There were a lot of chickens there.
Chickens run wild in Hawaii. Some would be crowing while others would be staring at you, hoping you’d feed it.
We didn’t.
I did have my picture with the chickens though. They made me giggle.
I tried to get a good shot of me in front of Hanauma Bay.
It didn’t go well.
Tom took this picture of me:
I swear, I wasn’t on my phone the whole time. I was enjoying Hawaii! I had just taken a picture of Hanauma Bay and posted it on Facebook.
After that, we stopped off at the From Here To Eternity beach. Remember the scene where the couple are making out and a wave comes over them. It looks all romantic but you know the chick is like, “Ahh! Water in my baahoohoo!” and the dude is like, “Sand in my butt!”
This area also was where Journey 2 was filmed, plus the Mermaid Cove in Pirates of the Caribbean.
In this area water was supposed to spit out or something. Tom wanted to stand there until he got a photo of the water spitting out. This was the best one he got:
Then we drove and stopped at another point. I can’t remember what this is called.
And we had our picture in front of mountains:
The tour guide was nice and would take your photo. He was like, “Turn and stare into the distance!”
We did, but soon after he took the picture I got the giggles.
It was off to the Byodo-In Temple next. Monks frequent here. We did not see a monk.
We did see a gong that you were allowed to…well, gong.
It was a beautiful area.
And there were fishies!
The tour guide bought some food and was like, “Want to feed some birds?”
I agreed nervously. I was worried that a bird might A) peck my fingers off or B) take a dump on my hand.
Then Tom said he’d do it. First, a tiny bird partook.
And then..
Gigantic pigeon wanted in on the action. (He’s like, “I dare you to tell me know. I’ll poop all over you.”)
The pigeon scared away the tiny bird and would not leave until he ate every morsel of food.
The black swans came over to say hello.
“Have any food for us?”
Uh. No.
Like I said, it was a beautiful area. I can see why the monks like it.
We drove past more pretty sites:
We stopped off for lunch at a place called Crouching Lion or something like that. The food was pretty good, but expensive. Granted, most stuff in Hawaii IS expensive.
Below the restaurant they had a chocolate store. I bought these:
So yes. I did suck on some chocolate salty balls. (Five points if you are now singing the song from South Park..)
Part B of this trip will come Monday. I have so many pictures to go through! Monday will discuss when we stopped off at Waimea Valley, which is gorgeous, but you had to walk. A lot. To get to a waterfall.
I wanted to die.
(Okay, so the walk was only 1.5 miles, but still..)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Simon and the Easter Miracle Book Review
About The Book: Simon and the Easter Miracle: A Traditional Tale for Easter is a story that begins with Simon, the Cyrene, a simple farmer going to Jerusalem to sell wine, bread, and eggs. His trip to market coincides with day that Jesus was being led to his crucifixion. As Simon nears town he sees a crowd of people yelling out, “Crucify him!” A Centurian orders Simon to help carry Jesus' cross and with that one act, Simon's life changes forever!
My Thoughts About The Book: The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! The story is not the real story we grew up with as children. The story seems to focus on eggs and it seems that the miracle has nothing to do with Him (Jesus). If you are looking for a book that is beautifully illustrated and is full of old world charm then this is the book for you. If you want a book that teaches your children something about Jesus and the events of Easter then this book is not for you.
About the Author: Mary Joslin is the author of the book, "Simon and the Easter Miracle." The illustrator is Anna Luraschi.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
E is for Everglades
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E is for Everglades
As a Florida native one of my most favorite places in the world....full of adventure is the Everglades. It is south of Lake Okeechobee and reaches to the Keys. It is a mighty wonder that nature has made and full of mystery, excitement, fear, and beauty. If you have never been to the Everglades believe me it is worth the trip. My dad took me into the Everglades many times on airboat rides and as a student in Elementary school we studied the Seminoles who fled into the Glades to avoid being sent to Oklahoma. Also when I was a child our neighbor, Scott, ran a guide service in the glades. He had airboats and mud buggies and would take people out for fishing trips, hunting trips, sightseeing trips - day or overnight. My favorite Scott story happened right after he got a brand new, expensive airboat. He took a group of hunters from up North for a weekend hunting trip. It was good pay and he was excited about the job. Well....they had been out pretty much all day looking for wild animals when they passed under a tree and an unexpected guest dropped in. Yep...a snake joined the men in the boat....and without thinking one of the guys took his rifle and killed the snake.....he also blew a hole in the bottom of the boat. For the next 12 hours the men all clung to the ladder of the captains chair because the boat sunk....and there are huge alligators in the Glades. Scott of course kept the chair. Believe me that was one expensive trip for the snake slayer. He ended up buying Scott another new boat. The beauty of the Glades is wild and even today it is still one of my favorite places in Florida.
Tomorrow I can't wait to share my F place with you. I hope you will love it as much as I do. My thirty days of alphabet will all deal with adventures I have had in all my travels. maybe my pieces will spark some curiosity in you and you will join me in my explorations. Have a wonderful day!
Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Airlines Charging For Everything
Every Thursday I'll be posting about something that annoys me. Sometimes you might not agree with what I rant about but everyone is different. Venting helps.
----------
So when Tom and I flew to Hawaii, we did so on American Airlines.
Here’s what I like about American Airlines: they give 3 bags free for military members. This meant we didn’t have to fork over $25 for the one we checked in.
Here’s what we didn’t like about American Airlines: they wanted you to pay for a lot of stuff on board.
Look, I get that airlines aren’t doing well. Rising fuel costs have hit them hard. I get rising fuel costs. We had to fill up my husband’s truck the other day and I wanted to cry and throw things.
But.
Charging for EARPHONES?
I remember when they used to pass them out. For FREE. And they were the nice ones. Now they want 2 bucks for the ear bud kind that hurts my ears. Then they’re like, “And feel free to keep them after!” Well, you bet I will! I paid for them!
Needless to say, we didn’t buy earphones. I had stuffed a pair of mine in my backpack so we shared those.
The flight was 8 hours. Back in the day when airlines were nice, they would feed you. Granted, the food wasn’t always the best but it was something.
Now they try to sell you snacks and sandwiches. And it’s not decent prices either. Eight bucks for a sandwich.
No, thank you.
You get a free drink and that’s it. Soon you’ll have to pay for that drink, I’m sure.
The movies on the airline used to be movies that were still in theaters. Now they are movies that are already out on DVD.
Flying is not what it used to be.
(Remember when people actually dressed up when they flew??)
(Well. I wasn’t alive when that happened. But I’ve seen it in movies and shows.)
(And I’m glad people can no longer smoke on planes. Yuck.)
I doubt airlines are going to get any better. In fact, they seem to be sliding downhill.
Unless you can afford first class. Then you get fed. And served champagne. And you probably get free earphones.
As it is, we can’t afford first class.
So we’ll be the ones in coach with a bag full of snacks because we refuse to fork over eight bucks for a sandwich.
----------
So when Tom and I flew to Hawaii, we did so on American Airlines.
Here’s what I like about American Airlines: they give 3 bags free for military members. This meant we didn’t have to fork over $25 for the one we checked in.
Here’s what we didn’t like about American Airlines: they wanted you to pay for a lot of stuff on board.
Look, I get that airlines aren’t doing well. Rising fuel costs have hit them hard. I get rising fuel costs. We had to fill up my husband’s truck the other day and I wanted to cry and throw things.
But.
Charging for EARPHONES?
I remember when they used to pass them out. For FREE. And they were the nice ones. Now they want 2 bucks for the ear bud kind that hurts my ears. Then they’re like, “And feel free to keep them after!” Well, you bet I will! I paid for them!
Needless to say, we didn’t buy earphones. I had stuffed a pair of mine in my backpack so we shared those.
The flight was 8 hours. Back in the day when airlines were nice, they would feed you. Granted, the food wasn’t always the best but it was something.
Now they try to sell you snacks and sandwiches. And it’s not decent prices either. Eight bucks for a sandwich.
No, thank you.
You get a free drink and that’s it. Soon you’ll have to pay for that drink, I’m sure.
The movies on the airline used to be movies that were still in theaters. Now they are movies that are already out on DVD.
Flying is not what it used to be.
(Remember when people actually dressed up when they flew??)
(Well. I wasn’t alive when that happened. But I’ve seen it in movies and shows.)
(And I’m glad people can no longer smoke on planes. Yuck.)
I doubt airlines are going to get any better. In fact, they seem to be sliding downhill.
Unless you can afford first class. Then you get fed. And served champagne. And you probably get free earphones.
As it is, we can’t afford first class.
So we’ll be the ones in coach with a bag full of snacks because we refuse to fork over eight bucks for a sandwich.
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