Mailbox Monday - July 6

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.

Good morning from the Outer Banks. I hope you had a nice weekend. This is the second week of our vacation. I didn't get to the bookstore in Manteo yet, but I am looking forward to going today. Here are some photos from this past week.

Puzzle time

The Christmas Shop in Manteo

Theo getting ready for the beach

July 4 on the beach in Kill Devil Hills

I should have a book waiting for me in the pile of mail when I get home on Saturday. I also downloaded these two this weekend.

What arrived in your mailbox last week? 

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #12

 

It's Independence Day in America. A sad day this year. So much of the focus is on what divides us. So many lives, actions, and happenings politicized for the benefit of one party or another. Add to that the many who have lost loved ones this year and are still not able to grieve normally or gather with family and friends due to the current circumstances. All this is so distancing.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed, not all parties agreed; yet they worked together for the common good. Maybe we should watch the movie Independence Day with Will Smith and Bill Pullman to remember we are better when we all pull together. That seems so silly to say, but we really need to give more attention to having compassion for each other, helping each other, and remembering how great America is.

We were blessed to be able to vacation this year, but even we are staying closer to the vacation home than in other years. When we go out, everyone has masks on. Some restaurants have not survived the pandemic or are working at reduced capacity per restrictions or with reduced hours because of travel restrictions leading to no international work staff. Think of how those international students who planned to spend their summers working here are feeling, too. What has this pandemic cost them?

As things open up, some states are experiencing new spikes in cases. An end to this situation seems far away. A vaccine trial has been delayed. Maybe a pause or a push back in re-opening is on the horizon.

I'm okay with adjusting to this new normal, but my heart yearns to see forgiveness, compassion, and peace reign. Little acts of kindness mean so much--like the car full of teenagers who paid $5 toward our Dairy Queen bill yesterday simply because I let them into the drive thru line. I pray we can move forward as a country to a better place.


Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

~ 1 Peter 3:8-9

Mailbox Monday - June 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.

It is the last Monday before vacation. Yee-haw!!!! Theo is ready.

I hope you had a nice weekend. We celebrated by visiting friends and spending dinner out with the kids.

My mailbox held one book for review this week.

I also received this one in my Inbox. It's a short story that I should be able to polish off while we are away.

I picked up this Kindle freebie on June 19.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? Anything fun you would like to share?

Task it Tuesday - June 16

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. This will be my busiest week of the month. In addition to the Realtor Week of Advocacy in Massachusetts, I have numerous other appointments--personal and professional. It always gets hectic this time of year. I am going to do my best to take Saturday off. I haven't even thought about what to get my husband for Father's Day.

Here is my list for the week

1. Bible reading
2. Realtor Week of Advocacy (Mon - Wed)
3. Meal planning (done)
4. Editing more of The Sisterhood 
5. Blogging (scheduled)
6. Doctor appointments (Mon, Fri)
7. Clean bonus room (definitely not this week, but needs to stay on the list)
8. Get books together for vacation (done)
9. Start packing 

What does your list look like this week? 

Mailbox Monday - June 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.

I am getting closer and closer to seeing a mailbox in the sand. We leave at the end of the month for North Carolina. I can't wait! Even though I am sure I will have to work while I am there, the change of scenery and of pace will be welcomed by all of us.

The Lil' Diva found a new job and is reconsidering her future college plans if she is forced to take online classes in the fall. The Lil' Princess is enjoying some much deserved time off after an intense school year; though she is looking forward to going back in the fall and seeing all her friends again. They both miss dance.

My mailbox last week held a little surprise I had forgotten about it.

I will be reviewing this one. It is coming along to North Carolina. 

What presents did you find in your mailbox? What is on you summer TBR list? 

Task It Tuesday - June 18

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I am at the point of crying mercy. My list only grows. It's like I can't check anything off it.

Okay, enough whining. Life is good, and though I am not accomplishing what I want all the time, I am still managing to get a lot done and still enjoy life.

Here is my list for the week:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Beta read a manuscript - 80% done
• Edit the next chapter of a manuscript for the publisher 
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Make lists for vacation
• Workout - Friday (I am doing stretches while cooking these days, so at least that is better than nothing)
• Start bringing up things from the basement for vacation
• Weed the garden

Mailbox Monday - Aug 13

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.

The Outer Banks has been very much on my mind this week, so the beach mailbox is back. We're already planning next year's vacation. I would actually love to go down in December if we could do it cheaply enough. Since the Lil' Princess will have several weeks off around Christmas, it would be a perfect time for us to get away. Guess we will have to wait and see what the Lil' Diva's work schedule looks like.

Speaking of the Lil' Diva--she turned 17 this weekend. There are days I wish I could turn back time and make her 5 again. She's already looking forward to college next year.

Here is what my mail carrier dropped off to me this week.

I've read the other books in the series and loved them. This will be a new author to me, so I hope I'll enjoy this installment of The Daughters of the Mayflower as well.

This is a poetry collection that I'll be reviewing at The Book Connection next week. 

This is another poetry collection with beautiful artwork. I think I'm reviewing this one in September. 

I'll be in Devens for a strategic planning event today, so I might be late visiting your blogs. I hope you'll share your mailbox with us. Have a blessed week.

Mailbox Monday - July 9

In honor of our vacation, I'm sharing the Wrightsville Beach mailbox. To read its story click here.

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.

This is our final Monday on the Outer Banks. Though we only have a few days left, we plan to make the most of it. Tropical Storm Chris is limiting any swimming--and probably will for most of the week. No loss to me, as I don't swim. It is a bummer for the kids and the hubby. At least yesterday evening when we visited the sand didn't blast you in the face like the day before.

When we are here, we like to support as many local businesses as we can. The girls enjoy visiting downtown Manteo and the first Friday of every month from April through November is First Friday, where they have local musicians and activities and the stores are open later. We stopped by Downtown Books and I choose these two novels that are tie-ins to the story of the Lost Colony. 

Rose Payne is heartbroken when her secret betrothal to a duke's son results in public scandal and her dismissal from her position as a clerk in his noble household. Desperate for work, she signs up for a risky colonial venture and sails for the New World, vowing never again to fall for a wealthy gentleman.

Sailing home after a diplomatic tour in London, Chief Manteo is bewitched by the intelligent, fiery-haired, working class girl and determined to overcome her distrust of men. A titled and powerful man on two continents, he is everything she thinks she isn't looking for. But a man in his position never backs down from a challenge. He contrives a daring plan to win her heart -- a plan he prays will protect her from a conspiracy involving murder, blood money, and a terrifying betrayal aboard their fleet of ships.

Jane Mannering can shoot an arrow and handle a knife as well as any Englishman. But she's no match for the red-painted Native American warriors who ambush their Colonial caravan the moment she and her friends reach the shores of Virginia. When Chief Wanchese shows up at the Great Trading Path to view the human spoils of the raid, Jane is shaken to learn their greatest enemy wants her for himself. It's a pity he's the only man on two continents who has ever stirred her heart, because capturing his is definitely not part of her escape plan!

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week. Feel free to share what was in your mailbox.