And The Winner Is....

... B. Meandering.

Thank you all for entering.

She said in her comment that it sounds like a book lovers dream. She's right. And it is really easy to sign up. All you have to do is follow this link and you could be on your way to getting free books to review, too!

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews (and a giveaway)

The Heart Mender is historical fiction set both in WWII and the present day. There are essentially three main characters; a young American widow, a German soldier, and the author who is uncovering the story in the present day. It has both a touch of romance and a touch of suspense but neither is in overwhelming proportions. It is also a story of forgiveness and faith, family and friendship. I didn't want to put the book down, it was so interesting. It begins when the author goes on a quest to uncover the truth about a relatively unknown part of American history. He is surprised and intrigued along the way and does a fabulous job of pulling the reader into his quest. The story he weaves about the other characters keeps the reader interested until the last page. It is one of the best novels I have read in years.

Thomas Nelson Publishers gives the books I review here to me for free. This time, they were generous enough to give me two copies so that I could host a giveaway for you, my readers. If this sounds like a book you would like to read, leave a comment here before midnight on Tuesday and I will choose a winner on Wednesday.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Snapshot Saturday

June 05, 2010

When we got home from the trip, the girls needed some time to play and cool off, so we went to the splash pad.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

• the girls
• grocery stores
• the garden
• my car
• my church
• friends
• the library
• ice skating
• splash pads
• medicine
• telephones
• sunshine
• shade trees
• air conditioning
• singing songs
• milk
• quick dinners
• dressers
• desks

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

July 2005

If you would like to join me and do a Snapshot Saturday of your own, just paste the link below somewhere in your post and let me know in the comments so I can stop by your blog to see it, please. :)

<a href="http://abitmorethanajournal.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" style="WIDTH: 225px; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="Snaphot Saturday" width="317" src="http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww238/stephifr/color.jpg" height="213" /></a>

This Morning

I couldn't run this morning. The aches and pains were just too much. So I walked instead. I walked past a park and decided to stop a minute and swing, to add to the cardio workout for the morning. It was fun. Until it wasn't. A simple glance to the side and I panicked. There was no one around. I saw the brick buildings of the bathrooms. Those same buildings that are built around the country and haven't changed in thirty years. And I panicked. I could not stop the swing fast enough.  I couldn't get away from the park and the memory fast enough. 

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for the ability and opportunity to run. I am thankful for TatorTot's presence in my life. I am thankful for Butterfly and FigNewTon. I am thankful for book club and swimming pools. I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for sunshine and air conditioning. I am thankful for church. I am thankful for the zoo. I am thankful for splash pads. I am thankful for paint and creativity. I am thankful for grace.

What are you thankful for today?

Blogging

I am apparently taking an unplanned blogging break. I had no intention of not blogging for these last few weeks and I don't know when I will become consistent with anything more than the weekly posts again. Life has just been full. There are pictures to post and adventures to record, but at the end of the day, blogging is the last thing on my mind. We have been going and doing some, but we have also been just being at home. We have rearranged and repainted the girls' room and I am slowly reorganizing the rest of the house. FigNewTon still has school projects to finish for the year as well as preparing for Fine Arts coming up in August. Butterfly is completing her school hours. Overall she is doing well. There has been no recent progress, but neither have there been any setbacks. TatorTot is adjusting well. She fits into our family like a missing piece of the puzzle. Life is good.

Snapshot Saturday

June 5, 2010

If you would like to join me and do a Snapshot Saturday of your own, just paste the link below somewhere in your post and let me know in the comments so I can stop by your blog to see it, please. :)

<a href="http://abitmorethanajournal.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" style="WIDTH: 225px; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="Snaphot Saturday" width="317" src="http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww238/stephifr/color.jpg" height="213" /></a>

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"In order to learn the most important lessons of life, one must each day surmount a fear."

Ben Okri

"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering."

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

• I am thankful that this week is almost over. A friend commented that I blog more when I am on vacation. She is right. We have had 12 appointments this week and that is not very many more than average. When we are away from home, we don't have all of the appointments to go to.
• That said, I am thankful for doctors.
• I am thankful for my car and for a safe trip.
• I am thankful that all three girls are settling in to daily life.
• I am thankful for grocery stores, restaraunts, gas stations, and rest stops.
• I am thankful for sunshine. I am thankful for air conditioning.
• I am thankful for the camera, to record our adventures and to occupy children in the car.
• I am thankful for splash pads and ice rinks, ferris wheels and fudge.

What are you thankful for today?

Home Sweet Home

Snapshot Saturday

Happy Birthday, Mrs.R! I hope you have a great day.

If you would like to join me and do a Snapshot Saturday of your own, just paste the link below somewhere in your post and let me know in the comments so I can stop by your blog to see it, please. :)

<a href="http://abitmorethanajournal.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" style="WIDTH: 225px; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="Snaphot Saturday" width="317" src="http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww238/stephifr/color.jpg" height="213" /></a>

Headed Home

In a few minutes, we will begin the long drive back to NE. Please pray that I will be alert and we will be safe as we travel. Also pray for the girls that they find things to occupy themselves during the car ride so it doesn't seem so long. We should arrive home late tomorrow.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?
air conditioning, bottles of water, children, computer, daylight, email, energy, friends, glass figurines, hugs, ice cream, just hanging out, kindness, love, making memories, maps, nature, opportunities, prayer, quiet moments, rest, sunshine, talking, telephones, time, understanding, vacation, visits, weather forecasts, extra blankets
What are you thankful for today?

Tour Of Helen

Yesterday, we went on a walking tour of Helen with Mrs.R.

The girls had much more fun than they expected.

They especially enjoyed watching something being made in the glass-blowing store. Mrs.R bought each of us a trinket to take home from there.

When we needed a break or to cool off, we would relax under the bridge and watch the river.

Wonderful Weekend

Early Saturday morning, we drove about five hours further south to visit a friend. When I think about the reality that this is only the second time I have met her face to face and the first time I met her husband, I am amazed that spending time just chatting and hanging out feels so natural, as if we have been friends for years. In reality, I only started reading her blog last fall. And yet, spending time with her is like coming home. The adults were so busy talking, that we hardly stopped to take pictures of the kids playing, but there are a few.

I got to see her garden and the wonderfully organized school closet. We rode in her new car on the way to church. We talked about school, family, and faith. Basically, we talked about all the things that typically fill her blog. Knowing her face to face comes easier because she is the same in person as she is online, only better because we can't hug through the blog. Thanks, Bethany, for opening your heart and your home to me. I cherish our friendship and am looking forward to the next time we meet face to face.

Empty

Today is the day for the one word blog carnival I have recently been participating in. The word for today is emptiness. The truth is, I have nothing profound to write because I am empty. I have poured everything out until I am not sure there is anything left. Although this feels like a bad thing, I know it is not. It is at the times when I am empty that God fills me up. He surprises me with His provision of strength and joy in ways that I can not comprehend just like He did this day and so many, many times in the past. Fill me up, Lord, fill me up; for I am truly empty.