Book Trio Review

This time around I was given the opportunity to review three books from Multonmah Random House.

The first is Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh. I'm the middle of this book and I am really enjoying it. It is about a small town girl who moved to LA and is called back to her hometown to see to family matters. Along the way she has changed her name in order to not be connected to her hometown family; however, she is learning how important family (and God) really are! On top of it she is falling for the gardener for her Uncle's estate while trying to remain focused on the good and proper man she has picked out for her life!

The only thing that I don't like is that it is written from the main character's perspective so we are going from her thoughts in the first person to dialogue constantly, and I'm just not a big fan of first person writing. Although this isn't as difficult to follow as others I've read.

The second book is What Matters Most (Diary of A Teenage Girl) by Melody Carlson. This book is about 16 year-old Maya who has a lot of decisions on her plate and a lot of "stuff" going on in life...graduate school early? dealing with her ex-boyfriend, the cheerleader that is antagonizing her and the biggest problem? Figuring out what to do when her mother is released from prison and wants Maya to come live with her!

And last, but not least, Limelight by Melody Carlson. Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.

Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

All are great reads...book one up and enjoy today!

**Disclaimer: All books were given, free of charge, by Multonmah Random House book company for the express purpose of reviewing the books. I was not compensated in anyway for these reviews.**

Pumpkin Patch

A few weekends ago we decided to head to the Pumpkin Patch. We ended up going to the Thomason Family Farm in Enumclaw. They were a great place for kids to play and they were a lot cheaper than the other farms in the area!
My niece Dajia is on the left, Ellyson is in the middle and her big brother Carter is on the right.

That blur of pink you see flying in the air is Dajia jumping from the top into a huge mass of corn kernels. The kids were able to slide down the slides or just jump in!! Fun times; but man do you get dusty!

I needed a little potty break! :)

Dajia was standing on her tiptoes to take this picture!

Ellyson makes a cute little piggie!

Ride 'em Cowgirl!!

She was fascinated with this horse and tried so hard to rope the baby calf!

Hanging around waiting for the tractor ride to start!

There they go...off with one of the farmers! Taking a little ride around the farm!

Me and Holly

Ellyson, Dajia and Carter!

Sadly my camera died before we took actual pumpkin pictures. However, Holly took some for us....but they are still on her camera!!

I went the BANG route...

I just love it when my sister looks at me and says, "I'm coming over to cut and color your hair!"

I say I Love It with just a bit of sarcasm in my voice because leading up to her stating she is coming over is weeks of her running her fingers through my hair and looking at me with a strange look! I know I don't live up to her expectations of how I do my hair after she cuts it each time, but I'm so low maintenance that bobby pins are my best friend!

I don't usually tell or ask how I want it cut...she just has at it and does what she wants. This time when we looked in the mirror I did ask that she go a bit shorter on top and actually give me bangs (who knows...if there is no hair to put in bobby pins maybe I'll actually "do it" every morning!!).

So after last nights cut this is what I got...

Shorter...

Blonder...

Bangs!!

I like it!

I actually did my hair this morning. And I'll probably do it again tomorrow...and possibly the day after!

The only problem I foresee in the future is that I was planning to rat my hair out for Halloween; however, I don't have much hair left to do that to!! That's alright...small price to pay for a FREE cut and color!

Thanks Camille....Job Well Done!!

Extraordinary Book Review

No, the review isn't extraordinary (although it might be!)...the title of my new book is Extraordinary by John Bevere.

Summary:

There’s a question that troubles many believers: “Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn’t Jesus promise that?”

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of “the ordinary.” They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments—the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God’s incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the “extra” to “ordinary.”

Author Bio:

John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.

You can also purchase this book online at Random House

A visit to the Dr.

I haven't been feeling good for close to two weeks now and I'm tired of it!! It started with a cold about two weeks ago; including: sore throat, hurting ears, nasal drainage, etc. That all went away in a few days but left a nasty cough. I have to say I wasn't surprised that a cough appeared as I am very susceptible to bronchial problems and have been my whole life.

A few days ago I noticed additional symptoms that weren't related but pointed to a UTI or bladder infection. Now, I have never had a UTI/Bladder or Kidney infection in all my life. So I kind of ignored those symptoms for a few days.

However, today I decided to go to the walk-in clinic and see what was going on! I have a low grade fever, upper respiratory infection (which the doctor just called the "Puyallup Crud") and my first ever UTI!

Yeah!

How exciting!

NOT!!

Although I do have to say the front desk was very efficient, I didn't have to wait very long (not usually the case at the walk-in clinic) and the doctor was nice and actually examined different things (I have gone in before and just had them talk to me, look in my ears and listen to my chest then say, "Yep, you have a problem"...duh George!).

Have to go pick up my prescription in a bit...hopefully I'll feel better in a few days!

If God is Good

by Randy Alcorn

Summary:

Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.

In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?

These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.

In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise.

Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear.

As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.

Author Bio:

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries and a bestselling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written eighteen nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and four grandsons.

Are you interested in reading this book? You can purchase it from Random House!

Wickedly Fantastic!!!

To finish up my birthday week, my Mom and I went to see Wicked at the Paramount in Seattle! I have been waiting forever to see this musical...

If you haven't read the book you need to...

...then you need to go see the musical.

I'm telling you, you will never watch the Wizard of Oz the same way again!

Something Wicked this way comes....

The Paramount Theater!

We had great seats down on the floor and I was riveted the entire two hours and forty-five minutes!!

And before the show?

We had dinner at the Melting Pot. If you aren't familiar with the Melting Pot it is a fondue restaurant where a full dinner consists of a cheese fondue appetizer (with bread, apples and veggies), a salad, the main entree (chicken, different types of steak, shrimp, ravioli, sausage) cooked in broth, and dessert...we had bananas foster (white chocolate with bananas flambeed at the table). It takes at least two hours to eat and it is fan-freaking-tastic!!!

All in all...a great evening. Thanks Mom for coming with me!

Opening Day of the Fair

My sister Camille, nieces Dajia and Elly and their cousins Darin and Natalie all went to the opening day of the fair with me! It was packed, it was hot and yet we had a ton of fun! I will be going back this week before the fair is over!!

This is a view overlooking the fair from the Sky Ride which goes from one end of the fair to the other

Me in the Sky Ride!!

Dajia

Natalie!

She was actually able to find Camille down in the crowd! And amazingly enough...Camille knew which car we were in! She wasn't able to ride because she had a stroller with two little ones, so they walked across and met us on the other side.

The girls were allowed to go on just a few rides (they are simply expensive) and since Natalie was too short to ride the Gondola Ferris Wheel they chose to ride the Giant Slide!

Here is Natalie sticking her landing!

Dajia thought the slide was fantastic!

Here they are in front of the Mama pig and her piglets!

Elliana...cutie patootie

You definitely can't go to the fair without having some cotton candy!! Yummy!!

Just outside the grandstand, where the rodeo was held, they had a big Brahma Bull for people to visit with!

Dajia and Natalie are four days apart (Natalie is actually older); however, Dajia is just tall, tall, tall! If you saw them together you'd think Dajia was at least six months (or more) older than Natalie.

We all had a tons of fun...but really?

Can you go to the fair and NOT have fun?

I think NOT!!!

Puyallup Fair Parade

The first day of the Puyallup Fair always opens with a cattle drive and parade leading to the Fair!

Holly brought her Grandpa Al to watch the parade with us...

He is the older gentleman in the middle with the white shirt and hat...

This picture cracks me up!

I was trying to get Al's attention and waved at him; however, the guy in front of him must have thought I was waving at him because he (and Al) both waved back to me!!!

Holly and I saw our good friend Jen and her little girl Ava so we sat with them to watch the parade! The main draw of the parade is the cattle drive (the rodeo is the opening activity in the Grandstand before all the concerts)

Later that day I found out that a few of these cows diverted from their pre-determined parade route. As they were clip-clopping down the street a few of them decided to detour into a gas station for a snack! LOL

A wrangler on a horse actually rode in after them to herd them out...

nothing like a little excitement to start the day!We had an Elvis impersonator, uni-cycling, juggler to keep us amused!

My alma mater...Sumner High School (Go Spartans!) High School Marching Band

There were also wagons, carriages, military men and other marching bands leading the way to the Fair. After the parade you were able to get in free to the Fair for the first couple of hours. My sister Camille and I took advantage of the free admission!

Fishing

I went fishing with my Dad a few weeks ago out on Puget Sound and was expecting big things; however, I went home empty handed...I guess that is the life of a fisherman! LOL!!

We were fishing for Silvers...which means you put your line in the water sink it down towards the bottom and then troll the waters looking for a fish to bite your line!

A few times my Dad pulled the lines to check them and a few tiny fish (2 inches or so) were stuck on the hooks; consequently, the big ones we wanted weren't biting...little suckers!

This is a shot of my Dad's fish finder...

It's kind of cool...shows you the depth, how fast you are going and some other things! Those little fish symbols are actually fish!

WOW!!!

Look at all the FISH!!!

Sadly, these weren't silvers but rather pinkies...and we weren't fishing for those....my Dad doesn't really like how they taste.

He did spend about 20 minutes fishing for these just so I could possibly take a fish home...yet, nothing!

That's ok...it's good just to spend time with my Dad!