Monday, September 29, 2014

CBD Freebie: Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling





Proud of Their Heritage and Sustained by Their Faith, They Came to Tame a New Land

She had promised herself that once they left the fjords of Norway, she would not look back. After three long years of scrimping and saving to buy tickets for their passage to America, Roald and Ingeborg Bjorklund, along with their son, Thorliff, finally arrive at the docks of New York City. It was the promise of free land that fed their dream and lured them from their beloved home high above the fjords of Norway in 1880. Together with Roald's brother Carl and his family, they will build a good life in a new land that promises untold wealth and vast farmsteads for their children. As they join the throngs of countless immigrants passing through Castle Garden, they soon discover that nothing is as they had envisioned it. Appalled by the horrid stories of fellow immigrants bilked of all their money and forced to live in squalid living conditions, the Bjorklunds continue their long journey by train as far as Grand Forks. From there a covered wagon takes them into Dakota Territory, where they settle on the banks of the Red River. But there was no way for them to foresee the price they will have to pay to wrest a living from the indomitable land. The virgin prairie refuses to yield its treasure without a struggle. Will they be strong enough to overcome the hardships of that first winter?


Format: DRM Protected ePub
Vendor: Bethany House
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 9781441203182
ISBN-13: 9781441203182
Availability: In Stock
Series: Red River of the North

PURCHASE HERE!

Lauraine Snelling is an award winning author of over 30 books, both fiction and non fiction for adults and young adults. She has two horse series for young teen girls, the GOLDEN FILLY SERIES which is completed and HIGH HURDLES. Lauraine is also the author of the popular RED RIVER OF THE NORTH series set in North Dakota in the past part of the 19th century. The Bjorklund brothers bring their families from Norway to begin a new life on the land they will turn from prairie to fertile farms.

Besides writing both books and articles, Lauraine teaches at writer's conferences across the country and has an active speaking career. She and husband Wayne have two grown sons, four grand dogs and live in the country where Lauraine can garden, sew, do crafts, cross stitch, enjoy her birds and eventually have a horse again.


Mailbox Monday - September 29

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm a bit crazy. In addition to all that is going on in our daily lives, I decided to sign up for two online courses through Canvas Network. They are both Laura Ingalls Wilder related courses. I'll have a chance to re-read some of the Little House books and also read a book I bought a while ago, Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer's Life by Pamela Smith Hill.

In other book news, I received Strong Darkness in the mail last week. This is the latest Caitlin Strong novel by Jon Land.


Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong returns in her most thrilling adventure yet

1883: Texas Ranger William Ray Strong teams up with Judge Roy Bean to track down the Old West’s first serial killer, who’s stitching a trail of death along the railroad lines slicing their way through Texas.

The Present: Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong finds herself pursuing another serial killer whose methods are eerily similar to the one pursued by her great-grandfather almost a century-and-a-half before.

But that’s just the beginning of her problems. The son of her boyfriend is nearly beaten to death at Brown University. The investigation leads back to Texas and to the Chinese high-tech company awarded the contract to build the US’s 5G network. Li Zhen, the company’s founder, counts that as the greatest achievement of his career, but it hides his true motivations—nothing less than China’s total domination of the United States.

His plan is backed by elements of the Chinese underworld. Up against an army at Li’s disposal, Caitlin blazes a violent trail across country and continent in search of secrets hidden in the past, but it’s a secret from the present that holds the key. Darkness is coming, and only Caitlin Strong can find the light before it’s too late.

This will be the second Caitlin Strong book I've read and the third one by Land. I hope to get to it in November.

What did you receive last week?

Friday, September 26, 2014

The Friday 56 - Week 196

Welcome to Week 196!

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post to the Linky at Freda's Voice. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.





The thunderous rapids ahead grew louder by the second. By now, they had traveled over twelve miles down the river with no foreseeable way out.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Now Available: Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Giveaway Info Included)


Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos, too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

Join bestselling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721934
ISBN-13: 978-0800721930

Purchase here!

Enter to win a “Christmas Rose” iPad bundle and sign up to host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch in November. Instructions on how to enter the giveaway or host a brunch can be found below.

TWO grand prize winners will receive:
  • An iPad
  • A Rose-patterned iPad case
  • A Rose-patterned phone case (for any model phone)
  • A Christmas wreath
  • A set of Christmas hand-towels
  • Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Five second place winners will receive:
  • Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Enter today by visiting the author's website at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/contest/. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 28th. All winners will be announced September 29th at the author's blog.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Mailbox Monday - September 22




Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy Monday everyone. I received a nice surprise last week in my mailbox. I had pre-ordered My Prairie Cookbook months ago. It arrived in a box underneath a new apple parer-corer that I purchased and I didn't even know it was there until I bothered removing the contents of the box several days later.



In My Prairie Cookbook, Melissa Gilbert, star of Little House on the Prairie, offers fans comforting family recipes and childhood favorites. From prairie breakfasts and picnic lunches to treats inspired by Nellie’s restaurant, the 80 simple and delicious dishes—crispy fried chicken, pot roasts, corn bread, apple pie, and more—present Bonnet Heads (die-hard Little House fans) with the chance to eat like the Ingalls family.

Gilbert’s personal recollections and memorabilia, including behind-the-scenes stories, anecdotes, and more than 75 treasured scrapbook images, accompany the recipes. With answers to the most-asked questions from fans—on topics including the biggest bloopers, on-set romances, and what Michael Landon was really like—My Prairie Cookbook is a cherished memento for Little House fans and fans of simple prairie cooking alike.

I also received the following unsolicited book. I hope I get to read it soon. It sounds like a good one.


After the Affair of the Clockwork Scarab, Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes are eager to help Princess Alix with a new case. Seventeen-year-old Willa Aston is obsessed with spiritual mediums, convinced she is speaking with her mother from beyond the grave. What seems like a case of spiritualist fraud quickly devolves into something far more menacing: someone is trying to make Willa "appear lunatic," using an innocent-looking spiritglass to control her. The list of clues piles up: an unexpected murder, a gang of pickpockets, and the return of vampires to London. But are these events connected? As Uncle Sherlock would say, "there are no coincidences." It will take all of Mina's wit and Evaline's muscle to keep London's sinister underground at bay.

I downloaded this freebie on the 18th. Looks like it's $9.99 now.


Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?

With heart-pounding romance, intense family drama, and emotional twists and turns, A Love Surrendered is everything Julie Lessman's many fans have been waiting for.

What did you find in your mailbox?

CFBA: Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Hidden in the Stars
Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014)
by
Robin Caroll




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?




ABOUT THE BOOK


Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.




Friday, September 19, 2014

The Friday 56 - Week 195

Welcome to Week 195!

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post to the Linky at Freda's Voice. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.





When they came downstairs a little while later, they were giggling like two teenagers who had snuck into their parents' liquor cabinet. 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Coming Soon!: Deceived by Irene Hannon


For three years, Kate Marshall has been grieving the loss of her husband and their four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on an escalator in the mall, she is convinced it is the son she thought was dead. With police skeptical of her story, she turns to private investigator Connor Sullivan. The former Secret Service agent is dubious but agrees to investigate. Digging into the case he discovers that the incident may have been no accident at all. But if Kate's son is alive, someone is intent on keeping him hidden--and may be willing to go to lethal lengths to protect a sinister secret.

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 336
Vendor: Revell
Publication Date: 2014
Dimensions: 8.50 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 080072125X
ISBN-13: 9780800721251


Coming October 7th! Pre-order here!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

CFBA: The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead
David C. Cook (September 1, 2014)
by
Diane Noble




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning novelist Diane Noble writes stories that tap into the secrets of the heart.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She recently finished writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one, The Sister Wife, and book 2, The Betrayal, which are published by Harper Collins/Avon Inspire, are now in bookstores.

Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.




ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor

El Littllefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead, go HERE




Wordless Wednesday


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Book Spotlight: The River by Beverly Lewis


Formerly Amish, Tilly Lantz Barrows and her younger sister Ruth Lantz find themselves plagued by the memories of their family's trauma when they return to Eden Valley for their parents' landmark wedding anniversary. Each woman carries a burden of past guilt, unknown to the other, along with unresolved relationships with their six married brothers...and aging parents. Headstrong Tilly urged Ruth to flee the People as well, welcoming her into the fancy English world. Neither had joined the Amish church. Tilly has since married and is the mother of identical twin girls. But Ruth remains single, still smarting from a failed courtship with her first beau. When she sees Will Kauffman again, old feelings resurface, leaving her to ponder anew how things might be different had she stayed in Lancaster County.

Meanwhile, Tilly is faced with a life-altering discovery that calls everything she knows into question. As past meets present, Tilly and Ruth struggle to find redemption and embrace acceptance. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can't undo?

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 352
Vendor: Bethany House
Publication Date: 2014
Dimensions: 8.50 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 0764212451
ISBN-13: 9780764212451

Purchase here!

Christmas Comes Early Giveaway!



It's been too long since we've had a giveaway, so I decided to have Christmas come a little early this year. You have a chance to win a ton of free books for the little ones on your Christmas list. 

Here are the books I'm giving away to one lucky winner! This is close to $170 worth of FREE books!

Books by Liesbet Slegers:
springsummerteachersmeow
vroom2look bunnyme and my day me and my seasons





Books by Guido Van Genechten:

odd one out 1odd one out 2kai



Books by Anita Bijesterbosch and France Quatromme and  Parastou Haghi

hatlullaby



Terms and conditions:
  • By entering, you confirm you are 18 years of age or older.
  • Contest open to residents of the United States only with a U.S. mailing address.
  • Contest runs from 9/16/14 - 9/30/14.
  • One winner will be selected from eligible entries.
  • Winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected.
  • Prize will be shipped via U.S.P.S.
  • This blog and its sponsors are not responsible for items lost or damaged in shipment.
  • VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Enter using the link to the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 15, 2014

Mailbox Monday - September 15




Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Work has been keeping me busy. I am participating in this great peak performer class that I have some homework for, in addition to my showings and other fun things. I'm loving it and kicking myself for not getting into the real estate business sooner.

The Lil' Princess has started soccer and violin. She wants to pick up band this year, too. We'll see how it goes. If her grades go down she will need to drop something. She and the Lil' Diva have also started dance for the year. They picked up ballet in addition to tap and hip-hop. At least they won't be bored.

I received two books last week that I had requested for review.


Is the land of Asia a mystery to your kids? Do they know who lives there? Do they know how to pray for them? Asia is home to more than fifty countries and territories and roughly three-fifths of the world’s population. Could you use some help introducing your family to this vast land? This sixteen-week course presents a brief picture of six nations. It is by no means all encompassing. Its purpose is to introduce your students to the people of Asia, share their stories, and spark curiosity.

I pray that the course does much more than that, however. I pray that through meeting just a few of our brothers and sisters who live in cities and villages with names that are hard to pronounce that your children feel more connected with those who are suffering for their faith in Christ. Through stories and activities, we’ll meet the people of Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Iran, and Vietnam. We’ll get to know the children of these lands and hear about their experiences. Most of all, we’ll pray for them and their families. Won’t you join us?

This book is designed with children ages 8-12 in mind but can easily be used with older students as well.


Yell and Shout, Cry and Pout: A Kid's Guide to Feelings is an essential guidebook for adults in helping children identify and understand their emotions. Each of the eight emotions is clearly defined thorough vignettes and illustrations, keeping both adult and child captivated, thus creating an opportune time for discussion. By recognizing that all humans experience these emotions throughout their lives, the book provides a true sense of comfort. Emotions are not to be shunned, but rather embraced and explained to provide a positive development environment for all children.

The next few came together unsolicited from the publisher. I'm not going to review them, but I'll probably make mention of them at my kid's book blog. This author is one of my favorites for preschool books.


Is bunny playing on the swings all by himself? And who is gliding down the slide? This playful, interactive book offers a surprise on every page, inviting children to slide the flap to look at a whole new picture. A delightful little book in which toddlers can look and move to find the hidden pictures at the playground.



Is the pilot flying all alone in his plane? And will the fast car win the race? A delightful little book in which toddlers can look and move to find the hidden pictures. The unique extending system in this playful, interactive book offers a surprise on every page, inviting children to slide the flap to look at a whole new picture.


It’s a nice day today. I put on my bib and eat breakfast. Yummy. Then I go and play. I also take a bath today. I wash myself and play with my boat. Then it’s time for bed. An ideal book for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to learn all about what happens in a day.


How fun the four seasons are! In winter I love to play in the snow and in spring beautiful blossoms grow on the trees. In summer the sun shines nice and warm and in fall I love to jump in the puddles. Everything about the seasons of the year that toddlers and preschoolers would want to (and need to) know. Filled with recognizable pictures, these books stimulate the language development of young children. Printed on thick and sturdy paper, with round corners and a soft quilted cover, it makes a sturdy and delightful gift.

I picked up this Kindle freebie for myself too.


Some men don't realize the right woman is the one they aren't pursuing....

As soon as Sally Larson meets Rick Johnson, she knows he's the one for her. The catch? He's interested in her friend, Ethel Mae. But Sally has a plan. With Ethel Mae's help, she convinces Rick that the only way he'll get Ethel Mae is to make her jealous. So he agrees to pretend to be interested in Sally in order to get Ethel Mae's attention.

But Rick has a trick or two up his sleeve, and Sally just might find that the one playing cat is really the mouse.

What did you mailbox look like this week?

P.S. Look for a huge kid's picture book giveaway tomorrow!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Book Spotlight: Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke


Married to an SS officer, Kristine Schlick fears her husband views their deaf daughter, Amelie, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline. In a cryptic letter, she begs her friend Rachel Kramer for help. Needing connections to the Resistance, Rachel turns to Jason Young---an American journalist and unlikely ally. Together, can they save Amelie?

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 400
Vendor: Tyndale House
Publication Date: 2014
Dimensions: 8.25 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 1414383223
ISBN-13: 9781414383224

Purchase here!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Book Spotlight: The Snows by K.M. Daughters


A UNIVERSAL SIGN WILL APPEAR PRECEDING THE APPEARANCE OF GOD. A PERMANENT SIGN WILL REMAIN – WONDROUS AND INEXPLICABLE ON EARTHLY TERMS The world's reckoning with God is imminent. Anna Babic Robbins, a Marian visionary from the remote Adriatic village, Valselo, is entrusted with the mission of delivering a parchment that documents unprecedented future events to a Chicago parish priest. The priest is charged with "shepherding" mankind to fulfill God's plan. Four devoted friends since grammar school at the Chicago suburban St. Mary Academy, the “Belles of St. Mary’s”: Bernadette O’Neal, a local television journalist on the Now Chicago show, married to an atheist; Tina Hernandez, a teacher at the women’s high school alma mater, married to a former teacher falsely accused of child molestation; Marlo Waters, a single supermodel; and Laci Marshall, the CFO for a non-profit organization engaged to a homicide detective, visit Las Vegas for Laci’s lavish bachelorette party when the universal sign appears. When God speaks, He whispers in the form of a seven-day, worldwide, impossible snowfall. The women and their loved ones witness the spectacle of the permanent sign, join humanity in facing judgment “before the throne” immediately after the sign appears, and grapple with how best to alter their lives before it’s too late after a preview of final judgment. WHEN GIVEN BY THE CREATOR HIMSELF, WILL THE HUMAN RACE TAKE THE SECOND CHANCE?

Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: K.M. Daughters (August 21, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0990691101
ISBN-13: 978-0990691105





"Every story we have told has led us to this book…THE SNOWS."


K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare nee Lynch. The author name is dedicated to the memory of their parents, Katherine and Michael, the "K" and "M" in K.M. Daughters. Inspired by their father who wrote children's books for them when they were small and their mother's love of romance novels, K.M. Daughters was "born" in 2005 at a Romance Writers of America national conference when the sisters plotted their first manuscript. K.M. Daughters has written eleven award-winning novels that have garnered rave reviews. The Sullivan Boys Series: AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS, BEYOND THE CODE OF CONDUCT, CAPTURING KARMA, ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND LAW, IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME. The Adriatic prequel and sequel: JEWEL OF THE ADRIATIC, ROSE OF THE ADRIATIC. Gospa Journey novellas: LEFT AT THE ALTAR, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, RESURRECTED LOVE.


Social Media links: Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KM-Daughters/254548634579413

Bargain Kindle: Mysterious Ways by Terry Burns


When Amos Taylor steals a parson’s clothes, he thinks he’s found the ideal disguise to hide his life of crime — until an old blind man enters his life with a little trick up his own sleeve. Before long, the disguise is working too well and the local residents start expecting Amos to actually serve as their preacher!

When revival breaks out in the small Texas town, Amos’s payoff is bigger than he could have dared imagine — proving, indeed, that the Lord works in Mysterious Ways.

File Size: 465 KB
Print Length: 256 pages
Publisher: Lone Mesa Publisher (August 2, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00MD6XU8S

Purchase here!

Tips for Saving Time in the Kitchen



Now that I am back to work, I find juggling everything a bit stressful at times. One thing I really miss is planning out my meals and being able to easily accomplish grocery shopping. I don't want to sacrifice healthy meals for our family even if I'm not spending as much time at home. Here are a few links with time saving tips for the kitchen:

Eating Well offers their "Best Time-Saving Ingredients & Cooking Tips" at http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_techniques/kitchen_tips_techniques/how_to_save_time_time_saving_ingredients

At HowStuffWorks, you can find these "10 Time-saving Tips in the Kitchen" at http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/10-time-saving-tips-in-the-kitchen.htm

Lifehacker shares "20+ Time-Saving Cooking Tips from Chefs and Food Experts" at http://lifehacker.com/20-time-saving-cooking-tips-from-chefs-and-food-exper-1503379557

Finally, This Mama Loves features this article with "Time saving tips for kitchen cleanup" at http://www.thismamaloves.com/time-saving-tips-kitchen-cleanup/  I'm a big clean as I go kind of person.

What is your favorite way to save time in the kitchen?

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

In the News - No Homework Policy



I'm a day late with this, but I found such an interesting topic on a local news website that I didn't want to forget it.

According to this article by Juli Mcdonald from WWLP, some schools across the United States are experimenting with a no homework policy. Many families in these districts are seeking more family time without the text books. The article also cites a recent NBC poll that states 80 percent of those surveyed felt students were assigned too much homework.

If you have children in school, on average how much homework do they have each night? I have to admit to seeing a lessening of homework over the past year for our girls. I'm certainly not complaining. Getting kids to do homework can be quite a battle--especially this time of year when the weather is still nice and they would rather be outside hanging with friends. My girls probably spend 20 - 30 minutes on homework each night.

Would you support a no homework policy in your school district?

CFBA: Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Thief of Glory
WaterBrook Press (August 19, 2014)
by
Sigmund Brouwer




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of nearly thirty novels, with close to 4 million books in print. Based on his inspiration for Thief of Glory, which Sigmund wrote as a way to learn and honor the his parent’s stories, especially of his father’s boyhood in a Japanese concentration camp, Sigmund leads The Chapters of Our Lives memoir seminars across the United States and Canada. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan and has two daughters.






ABOUT THE BOOK



A boy coming of age in a time of war…

the love that inspires him to survive.


For ten year-old Jeremiah Prins, the life of privilege as the son of a school headmaster in the Dutch East Indies comes crashing to a halt in 1942 after the Japanese Imperialist invasion of the Southeast Pacific. Jeremiah takes on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings when his father and older stepbrothers are separated from the rest of the family, and he is surprised by what life in the camp reveals about a woman he barely knows—his frail, troubled mother.

Amidst starvation, brutality, sacrifice and generosity, Jeremiah draws on all of his courage and cunning to fill in the gap for his mother. Life in the camps is made more tolerable as Jeremiah’s boyhood infatuation with his close friend Laura deepens into a friendship from which they both draw strength.


When the darkest sides of humanity threaten to overwhelm Jeremiah and Laura, they reach for God’s light and grace, shining through his people. Time and war will test their fortitude and the only thing that will bring them safely to the other side is the most enduring bond of all.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Thief of Glory, go HERE.