Book Review

Kaleidoscope: Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light
By: Patsy Clairmont

This book was such an easy red. It's great for anyone who would like to see how Proverb works in their own lives. Patsy takes examples from her own life with wit and wisdom and applies the powerful messages of scripture. This is helpful for anyone who has trouble applying scriptures into their own everyday lives.

After I read the book I passed is along to a friend who read it and had the same response. It is a small book that can easily be read in one sitting and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.

66 Love Letters

66 Love Letters is the first book that I have reviewed for Book Sneeze. The book was amazing. I've read the bible many times in my life, or should I say that I have tried to read the bible many times in my life. I have never been able to get past many of the verse because of the language and wording. I've even tried different versions of the bible to no avail. I have found myself waking through the pages and scanning different verse trying to find meaning.

I think many people are like me. 66 letters takes each book of the bible and presents it as an intimate conversation with God. The writer has taken common questions that you would ask of each book and has answered them by using God's word. For example in the Fortieth Love Letter the writer has read the book of Matthew and asks God if he should forget everything that he has learned in the past, he should forget about each verse as being a separate lesson but now learn the bible as a whole. The answer is received in the form of conversation from God.

The book is an intimate conversation. You are walked through each book as a letter that was written specifically to the reader. It offers a greater understanding of the books of the bible. I would recommend this book to anyone who has difficulty understanding the Word. It is an excellent bible companion.

Writing

It's been a long time since I've updated my blog.

Because I write everyday it gets difficult to write for leisure sometimes.

I really want to get back to that though because it is enjoyable. It's what I started out doing.

I also want to work on my book and other extra writing.

I have several projects in the works that I'm excited about.

So...join me.

Sarah Strohmeyer

Ok, so even as a writer I do not have this long list of writer's that I am partial to. I have my favorite's (John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks) and usually devour every book that they write as soon as it hits the shelf, and if I get word of another author I may try them.

There are several authors that, while I have read some of their books and like them, they are not ones that I consistently look for and seek out.

Well, a few days ago I got this........



OMG.......can you say LOVE her???? Sarah Strohmeyer is now one of my TOP favorites.

I ordered her book from Amazon. Someone had told me about her and I really was looking for someone new to read. So I bought this book. I waited a few days to pick it up and when I did, I could NOT put it down.

From the minute you start reading, all housework goes to pot, children are starving and animals are being neglected, husband complains and.....well, you get the picture.

She's so funny. She's like the best friend that you wish you had. One of those writers who you'd love to meet for coffee.

So anyway, after that one I rushed out today and got....








We are going to the beach in less than 2 weeks and I had intended to get every single book that she had written, sit on the beach and read. They only had the three Bubbles books. I reeeeeeally wanted the new book The Penny Pincher's Club. but they didn't have a copy. :(



They told me they had sold the last one a few days before and they could order it. (That's a good sign right? They can't keep her in stock) So I perused the shelves and bought the only three books they had of her. I didn't want to wait a few days to start reading. (Yes she's that good)!!

So anyway, I may order the new one from Amazon. And while I had PLANNED on taking these to the beach, I know I'll end up stealing a read tonight on one of them which means I'll have it finished by tomorrow and with that vicious cycle I will again have nothing to read for the beach. Unless.....of course Amazon will hurry up their deliveries and I get it by next Friday. (Oh pray....)

So anyway, I don't normally strongly recommend anyone cause everyone has their own tastes but seriously, if you are female....you will LOVE Sarah Strohmeyer. I did read the Cinderella Pact will be a lifetime movie in 2010. So now ladies...Lifetime movie....really??? Who doesn't like a good lifetime movie? Buy her books. Go now. Don't wait.

Why are you still reading?

Go now!!!! I hear they are flying off the shelves. :-)

C'MON Chipper Jones!!!!

Gooooooooo Chipper. You can do it!!!!

So proud!!!!

3 more!! Knock em out and break that record!!!!

Maggie's Day

I used to blog a lot more than I do not. Once I started writing it's become increasing more difficult to write in my spare time. I find this incredibly sad because I love writing blogs and I've had no time for my book. I like creative writing so much more than what I've been doing but this blog doesn't exactly pay me so....

Today was a Maggie day. It seems everyone in our family (kid wise) has their on thing. Allison had gymnastics and went to band (which she's quite good at both). Graham has skateboarding and plays baseball and Julianna is going to play basketball. That left Maggie with nothing. I wasn't worried quite yet cause she's only 7 but I felt like she truly needed to be involved in something since she is homeschooling.

She gets plenty of play time with other children since our street is packed with em and she loves Miranda and Cole and then she goes to children's church on Wednesdays so she has plenty of play time with other children she just needed an activity.

We tried dance. She went two lessons of ballet and HATED it. We went to Saul's on the square and she picked our her shoes and tights and leotard and got this cute little ballet bag. That's about as far as it went. The first day she clung to me and didn't want to do anything. Finally, I had to force her to finish up the month that we paid for. She said she wanted to cheer and then decided she didn't. There was just nothing that interested her.

Miranda told her about taking horseback lessons. She started as Western but is doing English this year. This peaked Maggie's interest. Maggie is my animal lover. She loves bugs and all kinds of critters. Kinda reminds me of how Ellie May Clampett from the Beverly hillbillies was. She loves em all. She'll cry when you squish a bug. She likes to save em.

So I start looking around. Miranda takes from a place ...I won't plug the name because from what I've heard it's not the best place to take your child if you want "real" lessons. They are cheap but your child works with a group. There is no one on one. They get a different horse each week etc....

I searched the internet and found Garland Farms. Then the more research I did, the more I liked. Ashley Marascalco...doctor Marascalco's daughter would be her teacher. So last week we went to visit. Maggie decided it was what she wanted to do. She was a little afraid ....ok a lot afraid, of the horses, so I wasn't sure how she would do.

Today we went back. Ashley taught Maggie how to tack the horse and let her walk her to the arena. Her horse is a beautiful Hanoverian. Her name is.........Maggie :-]

Maggie did excellent. Ashley taught her how to sit up straight and tall and taught her how to make the horse turn. It was awesome seeing her control that big horse all by herself.

She walked Maggie back to the barn and got her settled back in.

Maggie cried when we left. She didn't want to leave.

My Maggie has found her thing. I'm so happy for her :] My little equestrian.

Congrats to my baby boy

Graham made the travel team that he tried out for. They are currently number one in the state.

GREAT JOB Graham!!!!

The First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for my babies, minus Maggie. (She starts next Monday). I was OK at first, then excited for them, then sad and now.....as Maggie lays on the couch watching Dora and I am going to write a bit, while it looks like she may go back to sleep, I'm kinda melancholy.

I'm not sure what to feel. Part of me wants to cry. Part of me knows that this is just part of growing up. Part of me is very happy to see my babies grow everyday and get older, wiser, stronger and more independant. It's nice to see them successful. But they ARE my babies.

I read the other day, I was reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult and the attorney, who's name is Campbell, made a comment about his dog. He said, "Another great thing about dogs is that they sever ties with their mothers when they are little". At first I thought that was a funny thing then today, I remembered that and it made me sad.

I mean, as mother's we care, we worry, we care for the sick, we help with homework and study for tests. We mend clothes and wash bookbags, fix lunches, pack snacks, organize class parties and scrape unidentifiable food out from under the bed. Then we won't mention the projects that we find out about the night before and pull an all nighter trying to make a volcano out of toothpicks and string or an electric engine out of rubber bands and coat hangers.

This is love. The unconditional love that only a mother can have for her child. The inseparable bond that begins when we first hear..."You are pregnant" until we draw our last breath.

My babies, my sweet babies. I hope you all have a great day today. I hope today brings you nothing but happiness and new friendships, success and great teachers, classes you love and the beginning of a great school year.

I love you my babies.....more than life itself!


Mom

I changed my mind

Ok...I know that I said I really am dreading the kids going back to school.

I lied.

Well it wasn't really a lie until this morning. So last night I decide it's time to start going to bed like it will be for school...or at least earlier than the night owl hours they have been keeping this summer. So by 9:30 all the sugarplums were nestled in bed.

Hubby fell asleep on the couch and I was alone.....

alooooooooooone..........like really alone.

Allison usually keeps me company but she was not here and I had finished up my writing for the day. OOooo today's articles were good ones: testicular cancer, pirate bedroom ideas, arthritis treatments, neopet siggy ideas and many other countless reasearch topics that took roughly 30 minutes.

Yes, I get paid for this people.

I digress.

So I'm sitting here and decide to watch Lost (yes I know I'm off topic but bare with me I'm on a roll). I watch a few episodes and then I get to one that BREAKS my heart. probably so far my favorite episode but nevertheless, I sit here worried about my favorite character. Yes....precious Sawyer. So in this eipsode, the "Others" (da da daaaaaaaa....creepy music) have decided to teach Sawyer a lesson and make it so he will behave. (This is Season 3 episode....can't remember, maybe 4 or 5) You know what they do to loveable Mr. Charismatic Sawyer??? They install a pacemaker in him that will cause his heart to explode if his pulse goes above 140. Kinda like a rev limiter for you heart. So if he gets worked up about anything ....

BOOM!!!

Only, not really. He sees Kate changing clothes and his pulse goes up and he dumps water over his head. He gets beat up and doesn't fight back (Kate tells him she loves him). Then he is drug up a mountain with the others and his pulse starts racing. Then the stupid dude Ben tells him that they really didn't install the pacemaker. :( They just wanted him to think they did so he would behave. They also showed him that he isn't still on "the" island but yet it's next door neighbor and there is no where to run. My poor Sawyer. I didn't watch another episode cause by now I had watched about 4 hours of lost and it was past 1AM.

OK....so back to the kids and school. This morning they got up during my peace and solitude time when I get most of my writing done because of course, they went to bed early so they get up early. I do think that as soon as their feet hit the floor they started fighting. UGGGH!!!! It's been this way ALL DAY LONG. One battle after another and quite frankly I'm stressed.

School starts in 11 days and while my little Maggie will be homeschooled she is SO easy to handle when she's alone. And I've already got a schedule planned.

I get up get everyone out the door and Maggie and I will do her school. She will be done around lunch so I will feed her and then write. I need to write about 5 hours a day to pay bills and have money left...about $1000 a week. I'll work a couple of hours, Julianna will come home, help her with homework.....ok so the details are boring. Bottom line, when they go to bed I'll spend a few more hours writing and do my classes and all should be good. Tuesdays I will not write, I will instead have a class that I must log on for from 5:30 to 8:30. I will probably take another day off but I'm not sure when. Probably on Sunday, maybe Monday.

I get sidetracked so easily. I started out telling you how horrible awful the kids were and I'm into schedules for Fall. It's 4:30 and I'm fixing barbque chicken for dinner. hubby will be home soon and I need to finish writing.

Payday tomorrow :-) Tax free weekend this weekend. Life is good!

Sadness

I miss my Alli........

Seriously.

Then today, I was waiting on her to call and she never called.

I go to call her cell and our phone isn't working.

I get my cell and the battery is dead.

So I plug up my battery and wait. Then the phone rings and it's someone for Julianna. What was up with that? Why was our phone not working. Tonight I notice that there had been a break in at a local pharmacy and the phone lines had been cut so we were without a phone during that time. :( :(

I never heard from Allison. So I'm assuming she tried to call when the phone was not working and I'm so sad. :(

I miss her!!

Tuesday

Even as an adult, the end of Summer is a sad time. Open house is next week for both Middle School and Elementary School, High School doesn't have open house. So basically the kiddos have this week left. Where did the Summer go? It's gone. It's supposed to rain all week so there won't be much time left for getting in the pool or riding bikes, playing at friends. :(

Maggie doesn't start until the 17th so she keep saying "Ha Ha...,you guys go back next week and I don't". Course she won't be singing when they get out a week earlier than she does.

And that's another thing. I'm getting scared of the whole home school idea. What if I can't do this? I mean, what if I don't get her caught up? :( Worries.

Allison is at band camp. I miss her. I miss her so much. I knew I would miss her but last night I was filled with this great sadness because she wasn't here. I couldn't get her off my mind. I won't see her for another 4 days :(

Oh and we saw Shawn Mullins last Saturday. YAY!!! I actually talked Brook into going. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Shawn! He's jsut as amazing as he was in College...no I take that back he's much MORE amazing.





So now we have tickets to see Shawn on August 19th. I'm so excited. Can't wait.

Will post more amazingness as I get it.

Tonight's dinner......Sausage biscuits and scrambled eggs :-)

So very happy

So very happy today. I could add a list of reasons why but I won't.

Let's just say that today is a very good day and leave it at that. :-)

Shawn Mullins

So yesterday was Shawn's concert in town. I wanted so bad to go. Had planned on it all week long. Was truly looking forward to it. Wanted to say hi to a long ago friend.

When I went to North Georgia College, what seems like many moons ago in the early 1990's, way before marriage and children and responsibility, I had a group of friends that were important to me. We hung out together, frequented a little sticky dive bar called Beauregard's and one of these friends was a musician. His name was Shawn. Very down to earth, good heart, sweet soul, kinda quiet and mysterious in that musician kinda way. He gave me his Cassette tape (not a CD but a Cassette) that he had produced himself. It was simply titled "Shawn Mullins".

It was then that I was introduced to his talented vocal stylings.

I remember blaring my stereo in the dorm with this music. Everyone knew him around campus. He was just an awesome guy and everyone liked that tape.

I remember walking across the campus, up the hill, usually drinking before we got there. Going into this little hole in the wall place. Tiny place, dirty, sticky floors, wobbly tables. There MAY have been 6 tables at most but I remember about 4.

It was always dark, always a couple of older locals, mostly us college kids. Shawn's friends.

He'd play on a stool in the corner. He was awesome.

The nights were always awesome.

My friend.

Gosh I haven't seen him in forever. Sadly, I had almost forgot about those times until about a week ago I saw he was going to be in town and something hit me. I missed those days. I missed his laugh. I missed his music. (He's so much better live than on CD).

We would go. I would say hi. See what he's up to. So excited.

Brook fell asleep. i tried to get him up yesterday. He had taken Graham to the skatepark, came home and I TOLD him not to go to sleep. He wouldn't get up.

Honestly. I don't think he wanted me to go. I TRULY think he felt threatened.

I started to go alone.

But didn't.

So now today, I'm so absorbed with opportunities lost. I should have went last night. I should have seen him. Life is too short and this is not happening again.

If it were HIM and something he wanted to do....there would have been no question.

From now on. I vow to live. No more opportunities lost.

I miss those days of Beau's. Not the drinking but the friendship. The fun. Why can't I have that now?

So anyway, today....I'm working, listening to Shawn on CD. Wishing for time to go back.

Won't happen, I know. But it will go forward and I'm not missing anything anymore. Even if I have to go it alone........

Thursday

Thursdays are good days. They are the days my pay drops. Amazing to me how I've changed my thinking. For example a few months ago, a $300 check at the time was great. This week I feel like I had a bad week and my check is $465. I didn't write much. i only wrote about 10 hours. I didn't do what I should have but review times were so bad because of 4th of July. This week I will buckle down and work my fanny off.

Went to Harry potter the other night with Alli. I was so tired but the movie was pretty good. There were some slow moments but now I don't have to read the book. I should watch the other movies to catch myself up. Now I can just skip the boring number 3 and read the last book. Of course, the book is always better than the movies for me cause I like using my own imagination to bring up images for the story line. I don't know. There are still so many books I want to read this Summer and Summer is almost gone :(

Was really disappointed with Maggie's Dr visit. I feel like he didn't really tell me anything. Don't know what to do now. :(

Cleaned out the pool yesterday and it's supposed to rain. Sigh.....and Maggie is sitting behind me saying over and over....Momma look...then two seconds later...."Look"...."look"....."look". She's doing dressup dolls on the computer and she wants me to see EACH AND EVERY CHANGE that she makes. Not so bad the first 3000 times but an hour later...I'm going insane.

Summer mornings

Yesterday I did something crazy. I know you will all think I'm nuts but I did it.

Yep! I went to Wal-mart. No that isn't the crazy part though it was pretty stupid considering it was a Sunday afternoon but no, that wasn't my crazy. Wanna know what I did? Well I'm gonna tell ya.

I bought school supplies. Can you even believe it's time? Wal-mart is having a huge sale and I thought it would be a good idea to go and get the sale stuff that was on my list. Crayons and glue for a quarter, rulers for ten cents, markers for a dollar. I left with over $30 worth of stuff and got maybe a third of Graham and Julianna's list.

Haven't started Allison's.

Even though Maggie will be home schooled I got a few things for her. She will need them and I do not want her to feel left out. I got her the thick markers, a pencil box, glue sticks etc. Oh my mom got this cute magnetic calendar dry erase board so that I can write her schedule for each month as I get it and we will know what is ahead of us.

The reading competition seems to have lapsed. Allison, of course, will win. I really need to MAKE Julianna read because she has a reading list, she did well at the beginning of the Summer and kinda fizzled. Today I'm gonna sit and let Maggie read to me. I want her to win that second place prize. She's close.

Speaking of little Loo. She had her well child exam and her Dr. referred us to a specialist for her possible LD. We have an appointment on Wednesday. He said he would ask us some questions and ask her some and get her to take a few little tests. Then we'll go back to her Dr. and together, the two of them, are supposed to figure out if she in fact has developmental delays or if it is a learning disability. I just want to get it straightened out for her. This is all new to me. Honestly I'm shocked that it's one my children. Now, I don't want that to sound bad. What I mean by that is you go through the "Why me?" stage. Well that is where I am. First I blamed everyone, past teachers particularly, then I blamed myself, a LOT. Now I'm over that. It is what it is and Maggie is just special.

We will get her through this. She can learn and she wants to learn, we just have to find out how she learns best.

Again it could simply be maturity issues. We will find out soon.

Allison begins band camp next week. Graham was going to baseball camp with Chipper this week but he gets immunizations on Tuesday, camp starts Wednesday...not such a good idea.

Gosh, is Summer over? Allison gets back from band camp on August 1st, she will have practice three days a week after that. School starts August 10th. Maggie starts August 17th. I start August 30th. Wow. Where did time go? :[

Time to work. Oh how I love to waste time but I have articles to write.

Supposed to storm some more today. I welcome the storms. C'mon rain.

Saturday

Ok, so I failed miserably on the challenge yesterday. I was supposed to "buy my spouse something thoughtful to show I was thinking of them." I didn't.

Why?

I didn't go anywhere yesterday. I was pretty much home bound. So i think I'm exempt, nevertheless I will have to do that challenge again.

Michael Jackson....

I know everyone is discussing his death and it's everywhere but I want to add my two cents. I too, was one of the people who believed he was guilty when he was tried for molesting that 11 year old boy. I think he was a very sick man. Then today, this morning, I was watching some of his old videos and had a change of heart. Well kinda.

I think Michael was still very childlike. The way he did things. He truly was eccentric. He had the neverland ranch which was an amusement park. He didn't want to get old. Who does?

At this point in time though, he has passed away. I still hear all these people bashing him and calling him a molester. He's gone people. He's can't defend himself. Can't we allow the man to rest in peace?

it's just wrong to talk about the dead that way.

They said he had a cardiologist with him at all times and that he was taking a LOT of medications for pain. Sound like another overdose or maybe the drugs brought on the attack. It's almost like he knew.

He went from being the King of Pop in the 80's to becoming eerily introverted. He changed and I'm wondering if maybe we didn't change him.

While I'm not really the authority to speculate, I think he probably died a sad man. Have you seen a lot of his pictures towards the end? He didn't seem very happy. Which, he had lost everything. Went bankrupt, they took his beloved home.

I think we should allow him to rest in peace. Stop the bashing. He WAS great at one time. Let's allow that legacy to survive and forget about his bad. Don't we all go through them? Is he not entitled? And aside from teh obvious, we really don't know what happened.

He did try to hide from the media and they sought him out.

Regardless of your personal feelings of his allegations, does all that really and truly matter now? He's gone. It's over. Let him go. And his children. They lost their dad. Is anyone wondering how they feel right now? Especially if they see all of this hate that is driected towards him. Think of how your own children would feel if you had just died and people were saying horrible things. It's awful.


Rest in peace Michael.

Day 2

OK, yesterdays challenge was easy peasy. My husband came home from work and was so tired and not feeling good he went to bed. I told him I hoped he felt better and pretty much left him alone. Then late last night I got sick. He left this morning before I got up. Today's challenge was to show an act of kindness and not say anything negative again. I've discovered that I do this on a normal basis. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I continued on...I washed his shoes, called the Dr for him, fixed his dinner. I don't really have anything negative to say. So now what? How can it be a challenge when I haven't changed anything? This is life. Maybe this book is for people in worse shape than us?

Nevertheless I'm on to day three.

The Love Dare

I decided to start the Love Dare Book today. I went yesterday and got it at Books A Million. Today is the first challenge. You are supposed to avoid saying anything negative to your spouse. For me, today will not be hard because he works all day. by the time he gets home I'm tired from the kids and as he takes over with them, I'm writing. After I finish up my work for the day I will watch an episode or two or Lost.

Also, by the time he gets home I've missed him being here so it's easy to remain positive. I'm sure the Dares will get harder. I expect them to. I plan on tracking my progress here. So if check back if you want to see our Love Dare Journey.

Rants and Raves and hot summer days and Alaska

Rants...

I hate mosquitos, my feet getting dirty, mean people who don't take the time to understand me, the state of the economy, puppet liberals, TV commercials, laundry, steak (gross) and feeling misunderstood and alone.

Raves....

I love my children most of all. They are great people. I love thunderstorms, the show Lost, writing, frozen fruit, long showers, a good book and honesty.

Hot Summer Days....

Welcome to the Sunny State of Georgia. It hit nearly 100 degrees today and it's only June. UGGH. I hate Summer. I love Fall and I love Spring. I love temperatures that hover around 60-70. I hate sitting and sweating when you are doing nothing at all.

Oh....I'm moving to Alaska.

Headaches

I've had a headache for the past two days now. I've taken everything. I know it's sinuses. Last night I went to bed thinking I'd wake up and it would be gone.

I was wrong.

So now I'm battling it again. I'll have to break down and take something for allergies. I just have no desire to sleep right now.

The headache has won.

Anyway, we drained the pool yesterday. I had seriously been considering this anyway but I guess me, by myself, made the solid decision. Because we waited forever last year and didn't cover it, didn't winterize it...it was literally a swamp when we finally did put the cover on. So this Summer when the cover came off....

there was the swamp again.

I should have taken a picture but believe me, you didn't want to see it. I'm surprised there wasn't something dead in the bottom. Or worse, something living.

So anyway, it took all day yesterday to drain it, scrub it. Then of course it's taken forever to fill it. Going on a full day now and it is still not full. Joy.
But we have the solar cover on and in spite of the sub zero hose temps, the kids want to get in today. It's supposed to be 90 so I seriously wish they would leave the cover on today and get in tomorrow. Give it a chance to get somewhat warm...uh....at least non-freezing. It will be a week before I get in I'm sure.

You know me, my bath water could scald meat. I like my showers steamy. The cold does nothing for me. Even in 90 degree temps.

Ok, so I know this isn't the most interesting post. Sorry, it's the migraine.

It's now 10 am. Maggie just got up. Allison is up. (I can tell from the loud music that is coming from her room). Graham is asleep on the couch. Julianna is still upstairs asleep and Brook is still in bed. I guess I will feed my little one and then write a bit.

Sundays......ahhhhhhhh relaxing.