Wordless Wednesday

Preserving Your Harvest

The most challenging part about gardening for me is preserving what we grow. We try to eat as much as we can within days of it being harvested, I'm the only one who eats tomatoes so we have way more than I can eat before they start to spoil. The hubby and the Lil' Princess aren't fond of tomato sauces, though I can get the hubby to eat tomato-based soups from time to time.

Canning is one method I've used to preserve my vegetables. One year, I made so many bread and butter pickles I had a few jars to donate to the church's annual bake sale. There are other methods which will help you enjoy your harvest for a long time after the growing season is over. This article shares links to 30 blogs that have tips for preserving summer fruits and vegetables. The one I am most excited about is the low-sugar options.

What have you done to preserve your harvest? Is there one method that has been more successful than others?

Teaser Tuesdays - July 30th

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The men's anger swirled, mingling with the coal dust, settling on Lilly like poison. She knew the superstition about a woman in the mine bringing bad luck, but didn't they realize their bad luck had already come about?

~ Location 232 of 4087, Skip Rick Shallows by Jan Watson

You've Got Mail Monday

It was a busy weekend followed by a busy start to my week. We celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday on Saturday. I worked in the garden on Sunday planting second season vegetables, taking in some of the earlier harvest, and restaking the tomato plants that have grown like gangbusters this year.

This week, the Lil' Princess has soccer camp and the Lil' Diva is making up two days of golf camp she missed because of last week's rain. I have a couple of hours to myself while I wait for the inspector to come check out the new roof. Yep, the house needed a new roof. We had hail damage from the 2011 tornado.

This is a picture close to completion. We changed from a drab black and brown colored shingle to a reddish brown called Burnt Sienna. Love the new look.

There's so much that needs doing around the homestead right now, I'm not sure how we'll pay for it all. We're not handy people, so we have to hire out to accomplish almost everything.

Okay, now on to the mail. I was able to plant the second season vegetables because Burpee® shipped the beets and salad greens I ordered. They arrived on Wednesday. As I mentioned, the tomatoes are growing like crazy. I've never had such tall tomato plants. The pumpkins are doing well and so are the watermelons. It looks like the leaves are picking up that Powdery Mildew disease. I have to see if I can get rid of it. I cut off the infected leaves--not sure if I should have, I'm learning as I go--but just learned I should not water them at night because the humidity makes the condition worse. I'll see if I can save them. Next year, I'll plant them in a different location and water at a separate time. We've had several green beans and potatoes so far, and my crop of onions came out great. I replanted lettuce and carrots, so hopefully they will come up with the beets and the salad greens.

My latest issue of All You arrived this week. The August issue talks about spending less on everything: groceries, beauty items, and Back-to-school. They have chicken recipes in this one, which is good because we eat a lot of chicken. I'm also drawn to the "easy organizing ideas."

We received a catalog from dElia's and it has a 20% off entire purchase coupon on the cover. The prices look good and the styles seem to be what the Lil' Diva would like. Maybe I'll get her some school clothes from there. The other item in the mailbox this week was the Olympia Sports catalog. We get the Lil' Princess' sports equipment there. Sometimes we visit Dick's Sporting Goods, but Olympia is closer and the staff is great. Olympia is also offering 20% off entire purchase (including sale and clearance items). It might be time for a new pair of cleats before fall soccer kicks off.

That's it for today. Hope you have a great week.

Bloggers Share Natural Remedies for Headaches

I've been plagued by headaches most of my life. As a preteen, my migraines were so severe they required medication. In the past, I was selected as a participant in a medical study on how certain ingredients in medication impacted headaches. Even now, when I get too stressed out a headache is often my first symptom.

This article contains links to 18 blogs describing natural remedies for headaches. As our family has become more careful of what we eat and drink, I've been more open to trying natural remedies first. We still have some medicine in the house, but if we can find effective natural treatments, I feel like I am doing a better job taking care of the family.

Tips from Bloggers on Helping Kids Through a Move

A failed business followed by my parents' bankruptcy filing led to us moving out of the only home I had known for the first 12 years of my life. When my mother died two years later, we were forced to move again, this time to an apartment my father could afford on a single income. We would move another time when my father remarried.

I remember how tough it was leaving all those places, so when I was a single parent I tried to make each move a bit easier. I'm not sure if I was successful, but my son doesn't seem the worse for wear because we lived in a variety of places. Even in the late 80s and into the 90s we didn't seek as many resources for helping kids as we do now. The Internet certainly has made life easier.

"21 Blogs with Insightful Tips for Helping Kids Through a Move" shares links to numerous articles on how you can help your child through a move, whether it be across town or across the country.

Thursday Books: The Man Who Was Thursday by Gilbert K. Chesterton

British writer GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON (1874-1936) expounded prolifically about his wide-ranging philosophies-he is impossible to categorize as "liberal" or "conservative," for instance-across a wide variety of avenues: he was a literary critic, historian, playwright, novelist, columnist, and poet. His witty, humorous style earned him the title of the "prince of paradox," and his works-80 books and nearly 4,000 essays-remain among the most beloved in the English language Considered by many readers to be his best work, this 1908 novel is an outrageous satire about a club of gentlemen in London at the turn of the 20th century who have vowed to destroy the world. Subtitled "A Nightmare," and bursting with Chesterton's trademark wit and abundant in surprising metaphors about religion, nature, and human civilization itself, it is a philosophical and ironic wonder, a delight to read and an even greater delight to ponder.

Paperback: 136 pages
Publisher: Watchmaker Publishing (April 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781603863308
ISBN-13: 978-1603863308
ASIN: 1603863303

Wordless Wednesday

Untangling Doll Hair Without Ripping It Out

Don't you wish all your child's dolls would stay just as beautiful as these two? Not happening. Kids play with their dolls. The clothes get dirty or misplaced and the hair ends up being styled and restyled so many times it ends up looking like a bird's nest. I don't mind as much when it comes to cheaper dolls, but the American Girl® dolls they own cost $100 each. Yes, you can pay American Girl to fix the dolls' hair, but that's an additional expense.

This article shares a method on how you can untangle doll hair without ripping it all out. I'm going to try it. What's the worst that can happen? It doesn't work and the doll's hair is still a mess.

Teaser Tuesdays - July 23rd

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

A brief hint of remorse came over Reuben. Had he stooped so low that he was selling his sister for money?

~ Location 172 of 5014 from A Heart Renewed (Prescott Pioneers #2) by Karen Baney

Vacation Rentals and Kids: 10 Things to Look for in a Rental Home When Traveling with Kids

We're lucky to have a friend who owns a house on the Outer Banks. He sends a list each year of what our accommodations include (in case there have been any changes since last year) and also a list of nearby attractions and recommended places to eat. Granted, that area of the Outer Banks is like a second home to us now and we're familiar with everything, but when we were new to the area and when the girls were younger, these things were very important to us.

"10 Things to Look for in a Vacation Rental When Traveling with Kids" is a helpful article for those traveling with kids and planning to rent a vacation home. For me, the most important items are: a functional kitchen, ample sleeping space, multiple bathrooms (especially when vacationing at the beach), and laundry facilities.

The rental companies I've worked with in the past provide ample lists of amenities on their websites or in catalogs, but if you're unsure about anything, ask before you put down your deposit.

CFBA: Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingHarvest of GoldRiver North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2013)
byTessa Afshar



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.



ABOUT THE BOOK

The scribe Sarah married Darius, and at times she feels as if she has married the Persian aristocracy, too. There is another point she did not count on in her marriage-Sarah has grown to love her husband. Sarah has wealth, property, honor, and power, but her husband's love still seems unattainable.

Although his mother was an Israelite, Darius remains skeptical that his Jewish wife is the right choice for him, particularly when she conspires with her cousin Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ordered to assist in the effort, the couple begins a journey to the homeland of his mother's people. Will the road filled with danger, conflict, and surprising memories, help Darius to see the hand of God at work in his life-and even in his marriage?

A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success, will lead to an unlikely bounty.


If you'd like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Gold, go HERE.

You've Got Mail Monday

The Lil' Diva starts golf camp today. She had her first golf lesson with her dad last Monday, and since this is the only sport other than cheerleading she has expressed an interest in, I thought it would be good to sign her up for a camp this summer.

The post office finally delivered all our accumulated mail from vacation. Less than I expected, but filled with catalogs from L.L. Bean, One Hanes Place, Land's End, Gardener's Supply Company (they have a Hot Summer Sale going on), and the birthday catalog from Oriental Trading.

My July/August edition of the AAA Times was in our mailbox. The headlines read, "10 great spots to set up camp" and "Theme parks add new attractions." There was also this neat little newspaper type magazine titled Articles from Old News.  It says it covers historical topics ranging in time from the fifth century B.C. to the 1960s. Sounds right up my alley, but not sure how it was sent to me.  A six issue subscription is only $17 so I might give it a try.

The only book that arrived was Traveling for Love by Becky Due. I'm reviewing it Wednesday at The Book Connection.

That's it for this week's edition of You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a great week.

Talking to Pre-Teens About Having a Healthy Body Image

I feel very blessed. The Lil' Diva is in that awkward adolescent stage. She's trapped in between wanting to grow up and sometimes still being a little kid. Her face is breaking out. She's got braces. Her body is developing into a woman and she's got a lot of changes going on all at once. But so far she is handling it well. She remains confident and secure in who she is.

One of the keys to making a successful transition from child to young adult is the ability to talk to your parents or guardians about everything that is happening. Having gone through it myself, I know it's not easy. Thankfully, the Lil' Diva and I have always been open with each other, even during those moments we don't like what the other person is saying.

"How to Talk to Pre-Teens About Having a Healthy Body Image" is a great article that helps you get the discussion going with your pre-teen. Boys and girls alike struggle with these issues and it's helpful to know you're not alone. One other thing I would add to this list is talking to your pre-teen about their friends. If they have friends who are always bringing them down, even if it's just teasing, that can hamper your son or daughter developing a healthy body image.

Teaching Kids How to Save Money

Teaching kids about saving money and responsible spending is one of the most important things a parent can do. We all need to learn early on that just because we want something doesn't mean we can afford it. One of our daughters is an impulse shopper. The other would rather watch her money grow in her bank account. It makes for some interesting shopping trips and vacations. And lest you be fooled that the one who likes to watch her money grow is easier to manage, let me assure you that she would much rather figure out a way to get her parents to buy the things she wants instead of taking money from her own account.

"Teaching Your Kids How to Save Money" is an article that includes several great tips on how you can teach your kids to save money and spend responsibly. We've used some of these tips in our home, especially the one about giving kids independence over their spending decisions. That one tip alone has helped to curb some impulse shopping.

Book Review: God's Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality by Darlene Laney

This special program has been designed for pre-teens and teens to help them transform their minds, and thereby, transform their lives. Focusing on inner beauty that comes from being “skillfully formed” and “wonderfully made,” this program helps young women think positive, discusses self-esteem, and teaches basic etiquette and beauty tips.

I can’t say I’ve ever read a book like God’s Special Forces before. In some ways it’s deep; using Scripture, devotionals, and definitions to truly transform a young woman’s perception of herself. I loved the focus on how God “made everything beautiful for its own time.” During the years when girls are trying to hard to fit in, I feel this is especially important. The discussion on what a young woman can learn about value from the Proverbs 31 woman was very interesting. And the book retains a Christian perspective no matter what topic is being discussed.

From a “charm” perspective, the program dives into best hair styles to match the shape of your face; diet and exercise; how to sit, stand, and walk properly; beauty tips like caring for your skin; fashion advice and etiquette pointers. While some of these tips seemed outdated, like tucking a sugar wrapper under your saucer (What pre-teen or teenaged person cares about paper on the table?) or making sure your leg wear matches your outfit (The style I’m seeing these days is mismatched leg wear and the mixing of different patterns–if they use leg wear at all.), I still feel it’s important to provide this audience with the basics so as they mature they’ll have a good foundation.

God’s Special Forces is filled with numerous exercises and quizzes that will be popular with pre-teens and teens. My girls (11 and 9) found some of them a bit embarrassing, but the author admitted some of them might feel awkward at first. The ones I liked best were the exercise that got the girls thinking about what messages they received about themselves from their favorite books, magazines, and television programs and the My Style Quiz.

I’m glad my girls and I got a chance to go through this together. I feel pre-teens will get more out of the program if they go through it with their mother or other female role model. Teens will be fine working independently.

Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Halo Publishing International (January 31, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612441262
ISBN-13: 978-1612441269

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I was not compensated for in any way.

Sunscreen or Sunblock? What's the Difference?

What's the difference between sunscreen and sunblock? And which product is best for me and my family? I sure didn't know until I checked out this article.  With as hot as it has been around here lately, it's a good thing this article came my way.

I was surprised that sunblock is considered more effective than sunscreen when used correctly. I usually look for the SPF rating, which sunblock doesn't have, so I used to avoid it. Learn something new every day.

Making Your Own Beauty Products

Have you seen the prices of beauty products lately? Between the Lil' Diva and me we spend $200 every three months on products to keep our skin looking health. And that will only increase as the Lil' Princess gets older and has her own beauty concerns.

Here is an article titled, "30 of the Best Blogs Containing Recipes to Make Your Own Beauty Products," which includes links to numerous blogs with recipes to make your own shampoos, conditioners, body scrubs, face masks, lip balms and lotions. I'm really excited to see this, as I'm eager to try some of these out and save some money.

Have you ever made any of these products yourself? How did they turn out?

Instructions on How to Make Your Own Laundry Aids

As I've mentioned from time to time, our family is working--ever so slowly--toward becoming more self-sustaining. Between unknown products in our foods to the sheer cost of running a household, we're looking for ways to live cleaner, better, and cheaper.

This article provides more than 20 links to blogs with recipes and instructions on how to make your own laundry aids: detergent, stain remover, and dryer sheets.

As for the crazy picture above, that's the Lil' Diva at around 14 months old. This is one of my favorite photos of her and I've been waiting for the right moment to use it. When our son was little, my hubby kindly (not really) taught him this horrible habit of screaming at the top of his lungs when the hubby counted to three. No matter what was going on, my hubby would suddenly put up his hand, silently mouthing 1, 2, 3 as he lifted each finger. At the end of three, my son would screech like his life depended upon it. That was just one of the sweet things my son passed along to his little sister, which, you are seeing the results of in that photo.

Kindle Fire Giveaway - Summer 2013

I visited Tribute Books Reviews and Giveaways today and discovered this great multi-author, multi-blogger Kindle Fire Summer giveaway. The winner will have a choice of the following:

7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

OR

$199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

OR

$199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire. Sponsor a future Kindle Fire Giveaway by signing up HERE. Ends 8/15/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors and bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep Those Pests Away From Your Picnic

Nothing can ruin a picnic faster than annoying pests. Around here it's the mosquitoes that get you. With wetlands close by, we've had to be creative and diligent when entertaining outdoors. But even the local park has its share of critters I would rather not share my food with.


"10 Ways to Keep Bugs Out of Your Picnic Food" provides some nifty ideas on keeping those pests away. I'm ready to try a few of them myself.

How To Boost Investigative Skills in School-Aged Children

Why is the sky blue? What causes earthquakes? Does a leaf breath?

Children are born curious. As parents, we encourage our children to learn about the world around them. The Lil' Diva has always been interested in science. At a very young age she was mixing ingredients to see what they created--which was usually a gross, ugly-colored mess (LOL!). She enjoys planting a garden each year  and seeing what develops and how the weather impacts what grows.

The article, "10 Science Projects to Boost Investigative Skills in School-Aged Children" provides several easy ways you can keep your children curious enough to investigate the world around them.

Teaser Tuesdays - July 16th

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

When everyone piles on expectations, rules, plans for the future and college, part of Buffy balks. A voice inside screams for comfort, for fun, for a chance to lash out.

~ Page 82, Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel

You've Got Mail Monday

It's Monday. The sun is shining for the memorial service of our dear friend, Dianne, who passed away last week. It was touching to see so many friends turn out for the wake last night. We waited in line for two and a half hours. Dianne always had a smile on her face. She greeted you with that smile and a hug. I never heard an unkind word cross her lips. She will be greatly missed.

The post office hasn't delivered all our accumulated mail yet, so I don't have much to report for this week. They did, however, deliver Saturday's mail, which included a Justice® catalog just in time for back to school clothes shopping, and the August FrontGate catalog. Love their outdoor furniture, but won't spend that type of money on something that is going to get rained on.

Also from our mail carrier came Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell. I won this during his virtual book tour. It sounded amazing and the cover art has to be seen up close. It's gorgeous. Can't wait to dig into this one.

That's it for this edition of You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a blessed week.

CFBA: In Golden Splendor by Michael Reynolds

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingIn Golden Splendor• B&H Books (July 15, 2013)
byMichael Reynolds



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Irish immigrant Seamus Hanley is a lost soul, haunted by his past as a U.S. Army deserter and living alone in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in 1849. But after witnessing a deadly stage coach crash, he finds purpose in the scattered wreckage -- a letter with a picture of a beautiful and captivating woman named Ashlyn living in San Francisco at the height of the Gold Rush.

Moved by her written plea for help, he abandons all and sets out on an epic journey across the wild and picturesque American frontier. While being pursued by those who want to hang him, Seamus encounters fascinating characters including a young Pauite Indian who makes the ultimate sacrifice in helping Seamus to cross the snowy Yosemite Valley.

Battered but changed for the better, Seamus reaches San Francisco on Christmas Eve as the city burns in the tragic fire of 1849. But there is little time for rest, as an even greater, more harrowing adventure involving Ashlyn is about to begin.

If you would like to read the first chapter of In Golden Splendor, go HERE

And, We're Back!

North Carolina was wonderful. Though we had more rain than usual, the family still managed to have a nice time. We went to the beach, ate some great food, and finally took the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island, where we walked around the village area. We stopped by the Ocracoke Preservation Museum, checked out the British Cemetery, enjoyed ice cream at The Slushy Stand, and visited the Books to Be Red bookstore. If you're on the island, you really need to check out this neat bookstore. It's much larger than it looks from the outside and has a slew of interesting titles and gift items, as it shares space with Deepwater Pottery.

I picked up a journal for each of the girls and treated myself to Portsmouth Divided: Portsmouth Island and the Civil War by James E. White, III. This is just one of a series of books the author has written about Portsmouth.

We had never been to Ocracoke in all the years we've vacationed on the Outer Banks, so this was a nice day trip. Next time we go, we'll rent a golf cart to travel around. The island isn't very large and it's much more peaceful than Kill Devil Hills, where we stay on the mainland. I would love to visit one time with just the hubby and take the boat out to Portsmouth.

In addition to this day trip, we visited Manteo a few times. The first was to take in the fireworks on July 4th, but toward the end of our first week we stopped at the Island Gallery Christmas Shop, which is probably my favorite place on the Outer Banks. I usually buy myself a new Christmas ornament, but this year books were on my mind. At a 60% discount I picked up a copy of Tom Wolfe: A Writer's Life edited by Ted Mitchell. I recently heard of this book, even though it was released in 1999. It was a recommendation, so I figured I would check it out. The editor is an authority on Tom Wolfe.

As for books from my TBR Pile, I reviewed Anasazi Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke here on July 1st. I also started The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner, and I am almost done with Strong Rain Falling by Jon Land.

Series Spotlight: The Sugar Creek Gang Series, Volumes 1-6 by Paul Hutchens

Sugar Creek, Indiana. Once your 8- to 11-year-olds join in the faith-building adventures of Bill Collins and the rest of the gang, they'll discover that Sugar Creek is anything but a quiet little town. This 6-book set includes The Swamp Robber, The Killer Bear, The Winter Rescue, The Lost Campers, The Chicago Adventure, and The Secret Hideout.

In The Swamp Robber, the Sugar Creek Gang discovers a "disguise" hidden in a old tree. Does it belong to the bank robber hiding in the swamp? A mysterious map hidden near the tree proves to be even more exciting than the disguise. Before the adventure ends, the gang encounters the robber, helps Bill Collins welcome a new baby sister, and saves the victim of a black widow spider bite. Join the gang as they learn the lesson of "sowing and reaping".

In The Killer Bear, "Circus" Brown's father makes a life-changing decision at a revival meeting. Will he be able to stay on the narrow path? Back in the woods, the mean Till boys and the Sugar Creek Gang wrestle over a patch of wild strawberries. This leads to an encounter with an angry black bear. Join the gang as they learn to apply the lesson of forgiving seventy times seven in the face of great danger.

In The Winter Rescue, the last swim of the summer ends miserably for the Sugar Creek Gang when someone steals Little Jim's pet baby bear. The search for the missing bear cub takes the gang through the woods to Old Man Paddler's cabin. When winter arrives, the boys return to the cabin, where they receive a startlingsurprise. Join the gang as they discover the power of prayer.

In The Lost Campers, Bill Collins and Little Jim survive a wild ride on the flooded Sugar Creek thanks to the acrobatic efforts of their friend "Circus". When summer arrives, the gang heads to Pass Lake, Minnesota, for a camping trip. There they discover a railroad coach in the middle of a forest without any tracks, and an honest-to-goodness American Indian with beads and a war bonnet. Join the gang as the experience the meaning of being saved, both physically and spiritually.

In The Chicago Adventure, the Sugar Creek Gang's adventure to Chicago is full of ups and downs. It starts with an airplane ride over a storm. The adventure includes museum visits, rescue mission ministry, performing on the radio at Moody Bible Institute, and an elevated train ride. A fight between Jim and Bob Till lands one of them in the hospital in critical condition. Join the Gang as they learn again that the only way to heaven is through Jesus.

In The Secret Hideout, "Poetry" brings his muddy lamb into Miss Lilly's classroom, and chaos breaks out. The gang later discovers a mysterious cave with a hidden passage near the cemetery. When they spend the night in the cave, they are frightened by two very different visitors dressed in white. Could they be ghosts? Join the gang as Poetry's pet lamb provides a helpful explanation of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep.

Format: Paperback
Vendor: Moody Publishers
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: 0802469949
ISBN-13: 9780802469946

PURCHASE AT CHRISTIANBOOK!

Broken Hearts

While on vacation, we received news that a member of our church family suffered a stroke. Dianne, a wife and mother of three children, was called home to her Creator yesterday. Our hearts are broken over the sudden loss of our dear friend. I hope you'll join us in praying for her family as they cope with this unexpected loss.

Vacation Rant - Trash on the Beach

I don't consider myself an ardent environmentalist, but I don't like litter either. It makes no sense to me when there are multiple trash receptacles on the beach why people have to leave their trash hanging around.

The other night, the family and I went for a late night walk on the beach in Kill Devil Hills. What was supposed to be a leisurely trip to find seashells became a pick up the trash trip for me as I followed along scooping up bottle caps, fireworks trash (they are illegal here, by the way), shoe laces, plastic wrappers, and more.

One of the reasons we've come to the Outer Banks each year for more than a decade is because of their beautiful beaches. I hope visitors to the Outer Banks will respect its beauty and keep the beaches clean.

Book Spotlight: The Boy and the Ocean by Max Lucado

Best-selling author Lucado invites your children to celebrate creation and how it reflects the never-ending love of God! Filled with beautiful illustrations and easy-to-read text, this charming tale about a boy, his parents, and the wonder of the ocean will take your kids on an unforgettable journey of discovery and thanksgiving.

Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Crossway (March 31, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1433539314
ISBN-13: 978-1433539312

PURCHASE AT CHRISTIANBOOK OR AMAZON!

Book Spotlight: Seven Men and The Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

In Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known—but not well understood—Christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel.

Written in a beautiful and engaging style, Seven Men addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man today, at a time when media and popular culture present images of masculinity that are not the picture presented in Scripture and historic civil life. What does it take to be a true exemplar as a father, brother, husband, leader, coach, counselor, change agent, and wise man? What does it mean to stand for honesty, courage, and charity, especially at times when the culture and the world run counter to those values?

Each of the seven biographies represents the life of a man who experienced the struggles and challenges to be strong in the face of forces and circumstances that would have destroyed the resolve of lesser men. Each of the seven men profiled—George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II, and Charles Colson—call the reader to a more elevated walk and lifestyle, one that embodies the gospel in the world around us.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595554696
ISBN-13: 978-1595554697

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You've Got Mail Mondays

I know it's You've Got Mail Monday, but I'm not sure what the postman brought because I'm not home today. I'm hoping Traveling for Love by Becky Due, which I am supposed to review at The Book Connection later this month.

I'm sure there will be a host of catalogs and junk mail to plow through, too.

Can't wait to see how the garden has fared while we're in North Carolina. I haven't asked the house sitters how things are going during the heat wave. I hate bad news, so if the garden is suffering, I would rather wait to find out. I transplanted the Lil' Princess' cabbage in the garden before we left. It had been growing in a container, but grew too large for it. Hopefully it's done well in its new home.

Finally, we received news that one of our friends suffered a stroke over the weekend. She is currently in stable, but we're not sure of how much damage there has been or what her road to recovery looks like. We would appreciate prayers on Dianne's behalf. She is a wife and mother of three children, so her family will need a great deal of strength as she recovers.

Hope you have a great week.

CFBA: Grounded by Neta and Dave Jackson

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingGroundedWorthy Publishing (May 7, 2013)
byNeta and Dave Jackson



ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

As a husband/wife writing team, we are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together we are the authors or coauthors of over 120 books. (You can see our Publication Record by clicking HERE.) In addition to writing several books about Christian community, we have been privileged to coauthor numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

But over the years the we have especially enjoyed writing for children and young people! This includes our award-winning TRAILBLAZER series, historical fiction about great Christian heroes and heroines for young people ages 8-12, and the four-volume HERO TALES: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Great Christians, and the companion book, Heroes in Black History.

Somewhere along the way, our own children grew up! Son Julian is Director of Experience Design for the Alder Planetarium in Chicago where he “provides the experience of exploring space” for visitors. He has two sons, Liam Isaac and Elijah David. Daughter Rachel graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and after working in the field of rape-crisis prevention went on to earn a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. She is now a counselor at “Uni High School” in Champaign, Illinois. She is the loving mother of Havah Noelle (our first grandchild!) and Noah Zion, our youngest grandchild. The Jackson family also includes a Cambodian foster daughter, Samen Sang, who has four children.

We live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years we were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. We are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.




ABOUT THE BOOK

...But Hope May Be Just Across the Street


Grace Meredith is a beloved contemporary Christian recording artist whose career--and personal life--hits unexpected turbulence. She feels grounded--in more ways than one.

Grace s fiancé, bothered by her outspoken stance on purity and her near-constant travel, has broken off their relationship. Exhausted and unable to continue her current concert schedule, Grace returns home to Chicago, where she is soon stranded in a major snowstorm. Facing new questions about her future and her faith, Grace finds herself connecting for the first time with the residents of her neighborhood. What she discovers in these unexpected relationships could change everything.

Welcome to the Neighborhood
The first in the Windy City Neighbors series, Grounded is an uplifting, contemporary story about ordinary people wrestling with the spiritual and practical issues of real life. The series employs the innovative storytelling technique of parallel novels, each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters lives become intertwined and affect one another. Grounded welcomes you to Beecham Street--a typical, isolated American neighborhood that might just be a place of hope.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Grounded, go Here.

Book Spotlight: Unglued:by Lysa TerKeurst

God gave us emotions to experience life, not destroy it! Lysa TerKeurst admits that she, like most women, has had experiences where others bump into her happy and she comes emotionally unglued. We stuff, we explode, or we react somewhere in between. What do we do with these raw emotions? Is it really possible to make emotions work for us instead of against us? Yes, and in her usual inspiring and practical way, Lysa will show you how. Filled with gut-honest personal examples and biblical teaching, Unglued will equip you to: Know with confidence how to resolve conflict in your important relationships. Find peace in your most difficult relationships as you learn to be honest but kind when offended. Identify what type of reactor you are and how to significantly improve your communication. Respond with no regrets by managing your tendencies to stuff, explode, or react somewhere in between. Gain a deep sense of calm by responding to situations out of your control without acting out of control.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (August 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310332796
ISBN-13: 978-0310332794

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Diary of a Busy Mom - Menopause

Why didn’t someone warn me that menopause stinks? Women spend their adult lives looking forward to the time they don’t have to deal with pads and tampons. At least I did. But I would gladly choose one week of discomfort to days filled with multiple hot flashes, belly fat, and needing to sleep with a fan six inches from my head each night.

In addition to the obvious physical symptoms, I find coping with the fact I can never bear children again kind of depressing. Not that I was desperate to have more children, but at least before this year I had a choice in the matter.

I’m not sure why menopause has come upon me so early. Next Friday I’ll celebrate my 45^th birthday, but many of my friends who are around my age or older still have their periods. I’m not sure I’m ready for this stage of my life.

Fourth of July Crafts for Kids

Check out the coloring pages, crafts, games and more to help kids celebrate the Fourth of July featured at DLTK's Crafts for Kids: http://www.dltk-kids.com/usa/

CFBA: Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingWidow of GettysburgRiver North; New Edition edition (April 12, 2013)byJocelyn Green



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart.

While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.

In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it?

Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Widow of Gettysburg, go HERE.

Book Spotlight: Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits by Joyce Meyer

From nail biting to cell phone addiction, procrastination to overspending, bad habits seem to outnumber the good ones. Unfortunately, we pay a price for bad habits that outweighs the immediate gratification that they bring.

In this book, Joyce Meyer starts by examining the nature of habits. The first habit - and most important one to have - is the God Habit. By making it a habit to start your day by reading the Bible and communing with God, asking for His help in your efforts and His strength and sustenance, the stage is set for overcoming the habits you want to break and establishing new ones in their place.

She then explores how to break bad habits by examining the destructive negative behavior patterns.

The author moves on to discuss fourteen good habits and devotes a chapter to each. By the end of the chapter, the reader has a specific roadmap to follow until the behavior has become automatic (the definition of a habit). It's like following a GPS to get you to a new place. After traveling the same route several times, the GPS isn't needed for you to find your destination. The 'habit' of following the right route is ingrained.

Among the habits discussed are:
The God Habit
The Habit of Being Decisive
The Health Habit
The Happy Habit
The Habit of Faith
The Habit of Excellence
The Habit of Being Responsible
The Generosity Habit
The Hurry Habit
The Discipline Habit
The Confidence Habit

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (April 2, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455517380
ISBN-13: 978-1455517381

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27 Blogs With Ideas on How to Teach Kids Time

I am not a creative person. Well, that's not entirely true. I'm creative when it comes to writing, but I don't always feel like the most imaginative teacher of my kids or Sunday school students. That's why I rely on finding neat online resources to help.

Here you'll find "27 Blogs with Methods to Teach Your Child How to Tell Time," an article that shares links to activities and crafts designed to help teach your child how to tell time. Feel free to let me know if you've tried any of these before and how they've worked for you.