Feel Good Friday & {this moment} ~ 2/17/12

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or 2, or 3) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

************************

"Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things."

1.  Kaylee had her very first Valentine's Dance with a date (Sam)!

2.  Laken has her very first loose tooth!

3.  Shopping on Saturday with Kaylee!
4.  Reading the wonderful Valetine's card Doug picked for me!
5.  Watching the red tulips Doug got me open and bloom!

Daily Tune ~ "Suitcases" by Dara Maclean

Lovin' this song!!!



Enjoy!

Book Review: "The Desires of Her Heart" by Lyn Cote

(Check out my new/old book review format.  Lots more fun than a run-of-the mill review so I decided to go back.)

Texas Star of Destiny Book 1

Book Description:

 A New Orleans lady and a half-breed frontiersman become unlikely allies as they travel the wilds of texas. — In 1821, when circumstances make it impossible for her to remain in New Orleans, Dorritt and her family head west to join Stephen Austin's settlement and recoup their fortune in Texas.

Quinn is a man of the frontier who has made a name for himself as a peerless scout. But as he and Dorritt's party begin a grueling trek across untamed Texas, the success of their journey is in grave doubt. Mexico has broken with the Spanish Crown, and armies from both countries—plus marauding Comanches—roam the pine forests and prairies. And one of the party is plotting destruction.


Now, with their lives joined in a virgin land fraught with peril, can Dorritt and Quinn put all their trust in God and receive the desires of their hearts? 


My Overall Feeling of the Book:
Although it took me over a week to make it through the book, it wasn't because it wasn't very interesting.  It really was but life keep getting in the way.  I really liked the setting and time period and definitely the main characters.

My Favorite Character:
Dorritt, the leading lady.  She had such a strong faith and determination.

My Favorite Scene:
When Dorritt gives Quinn a chance to profess his love and he refuses.  Such ANGST!!!

My Favorite Sentence:
"The two Mexican foot soldiers each picked Kilbride up under a shoulder and dragged him out."  ( finally!)

It Woud Have Been Better If:
I was a little thrown off by the name Dorritt.  I wasn't sure how to say it in my head and it just doesn't flow for me.  I looked it up on http://www.babynames.com/ and apparently it is a diminutive form of Dorothy and there is even a Charles Dickens novel titled "Little Dorrit."  I wonder how the author chose this name for the leading lady?

I Would Recommend This Book To:
Historical romance readers, Texans, those who love the history of the Alamo, older sisters with pampered younger sisters.  Anyone who enjoys a good story.
Book 2 is waiting for me my shelf.  It will be my next read!

Daily Tune ~ "Free" by Dara Maclean

My newest CD is by Dara Maclean.  I love the soulfulness of the entire CD.  Here is one of the songs.



Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "Valentine" by Martina McBride

This was our wedding song.  We were married in September but our first "communication, per se" was a e-valentine that Doug sent me.  My heart about beat out of my chest!



Enjoy!

Teaser Tuesday ~ 2/14/12

Still on the same book but this teaser is a good one for Valentine's Day!

~She came willingly and was soft within his arms as he had imagined.  At first, all he could do was process the sensation of her resting against him.  The feeling went to his head like too much sun.~



"The Desires of Her Heart"
Texas Star of Destiny Book 1
by Lyn Cote
page 162

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 &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 2/12/12

Memory Verse ~ 2/12/12-2/18/12

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." 

Ephesians 2: 8-9

(First Place 4 Health, "Living for Christ", Week 3)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

Daily Tune ~ "Good Morning" by Mandisa

Boy, do I need this song this morning!




Enjoy!

Teaser Tuesday ~ 2/7/12

~Hours passed, and then she found him.  He lay facedown on the sand.  So still.  The river turned sharply inward here, forming an eddy, or pool.~



"The Desires of Her Heart"
Texas Star of Destiny Book 1
by Lyn Cote
page 61

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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Daily Tune ~ "Yours Forever" by Dara Maclean

This is a new artist for me.  What do you think?




Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes

I love Blake Shelton's version of this song.  I don't know who recorded it first but I just heard Dave Barnes sing it on KLOVE. 

No matter who sings it, this is a great song!



Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "Come to Me" by Jamie Grace

One more from Jamie Grace for the week.  I hope you've enjoyed Jamie's music this week.  I especially like this song.  Really pay attention to the words.  The music is great too!



Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "You Lead" by Jamie Grace

If you haven't noticed, this is Jamie Grace week here on my blog, unofficially anyway.  I'm loving her CD and listen over and over until my hubby gets sick of it :)

Here's today's installment:



Enjoy!

Book Review: "For Pete's Sake" by Linda Windsor

(Check out my new/old book review format.  Lots more fun than a run-of-the mill review so I decided to go back.)

The Piper Cove Chronicles Book 2

 

Book Description:

 

Ellen isn't sure true love exists. That is until she landscapes the estate of the widower next door, Adrian Sinclair. Adrian has it all -- at least on the surface. A successful businessman, he's engaged to a beautiful woman and he'll soon have a stepmom for his troubled son, Pete. Yet from the moment Ellen rescues a stranded Adrian on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down. With his business under investigation for espionage and his son pushing for the tomboy next door as his new mom, Adrian's facade of happiness shatters.

As Ellen and Pete bond, she realizes that Adrian is about to marry the wrong woman. Despite her resolve to remain “neighbors only,” Ellen is drawn to Adrian. But how can she be the one when he's engaged to a sophisticated beauty who is everything Ellen isn't?

As Ellen's three best friends step in to help her navigate this uncharted territory, Ellen must ask herself whether she's ready to risk the heart that she's always held close. Will Ellen trust that God brought this family into her life for a reason? Or will fear cause her to turn away from God's plan and her one true chance at love?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:
A great read.  Completely enjoyable.

My Favorite Character:
Definitely Ellen, the main character.

My Favorite Scene:
When Ellen passes Adian's 'Vette on her Hog and nods her head :)

My Favorite Sentence:
"A ballerina squared off in a fisted martial arts stance against Venus the Valkyrie might have been hilarious in any other circumstance."

It Woud Have Been Better If:
The next book in the series would be available.  From what I can tell it hasn't been published.  Book 1 was great though.

I Would Recommend This Book To:
Harley-loving-botanists, those with match-making mamas, tomboys who dress up as ballerinas for Halloween.  Any inspirational chick-lit, romance reader who loves a guy with a brogue :)

Can't wait for Book 3!

Word-Filled Wednesday ~ 2/1/12

  

Daily Tune ~ "Show Jesus" by Jamie Grace

Here is another great song from my new Jamie Grace CD.



Enjoy!

Teaser Tuesday ~ "For Pete's Sake" by Linda Windsor

Ellen cast a landscaper's eye from the water's view of the Victorian gingerbread trim adorning the Sinclair hom.  Nestled among verdant oak from which the lawn terraced down to the water, it was nothing short of elegant.



"For Pete's Sake"
by Linda Windsor
page 106

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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Update on Blog and Meds

I thought I'd write a post updating everyone on what is going on in my life right now.

First, I'm doing well.  Just wanted to set everyone's mind at ease :)

I'm trying to figure out what direction I want to take my blog.  I've decided to keep my (semi) Daily Tune, because I enjoy sharing these with you.  I hope you also enjoy them.

I'll be keeping my Scripture Memory Verse on Sundays, hopefully Wordfilled Wednesday and {this moment}/Feel Good Friday.  Other than that I think I might let myself go freestyle.

I'll add recipes when I try a great one, I'll add book reviews when I actually get a book read, and new craft creations as I make them.

I'll see how this works for a while.

On another front, I am in the midst of a planned med change.  It is going fairly well due in part to the fact that I was in a good place to start, I believe anyway.

We had added Abilify to my Lexapro/Klonopin regiment to get me through the Christmas season but the Abilify is just way too expensive if another SSRI will do the trick.

I called my Dr. to get the process started when I was ready.  At first he suggested Zoloft which I declined.  It was the very first SSRI I had tried and I have lots of very bad memories of that time.  Bad connotations.

So, I have started weaning off the Lexapro and started taking Paxil.  I was a bit surprised that the Dr. wanted me to try Paxil.  I was expecting him to suggest one of the newer SSRI/SSNRI meds.  So far, so good, though!

I thought I'd have more withdrawal/starting up symptoms but it has been fairly smooth so far.  (I probably shouldn't write that!)  I've been getting a slight headache in the afternoon to which I'm attributing to the weaning of the Lexapro.  Thursday will be my first day completely of the Lex and at a 20mg dose of Paxil.  I wanted to experiment and do it sooner to see what would happen but sanity prevailed and I decided that it wouldn't be a good idea.

Well, that is all for this post.  Let me know what you think about my blog changes and med changes. 

Changes, changes, changes.  Let us pray they are all changes for the better!

Have a great Monday!  I'm going yarn shopping so I now I will!

Daily Tune ~ "God Girl" by Jamie Grace

I'm loving my new CD by Jamie Grace.  This is one of my favorite songs on the CD.




Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "Healer" by Kari Jobe

I just heard about this song for the first time this morning when my alarm went off for me to get up.  Kari Jobe was a guest on KLOVE and was talking about all the feedback she has gotten from this song so I had to look it up. 

Great Song!






Enjoy.

{this moment} & Feel Good Friday ~ 1/27/12

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or 2, or 3) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

************************

"Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things."

1.  The family cleaned the Family Room!

2.  Getting caught up on the laundry for a few hours!

3.  Laken's total cuteness in pigtails!

4.  Kaylee got straight A's again this nine weeks!

5.  Buying some cute little outfits for my cousin Steph's baby!

On the Hunt

I'm revamping my blogging schedule.  So please be patient.

Tuesday are the day that I would like to post a new recipe that I have tried the week before.

Right now I don't really have any that are calling to me to make.

So, today, I am on the hunt for delicious looking, sounding, tasting recipes.

I'm off to check out lots of blogs and blog hops.  I might be stopping by yours!

Have a great Tuesday!

TSMSS ~ Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Have a blessed weekend!

Facebook Friends

I'm going to be moving my Daily Tune over to my facebook page.

I'll also be asking a Daily Question to get some discussion going.

Come on over and "friend" me on Facebook.

Click here:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=525013668

I think that will take you to my profile page.

Hope to see you over there!

Daily Tune ~ "Cowboy, Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks

This was my very favorite song back in the day.  I played this CD over and over when Doug and I were dating.  Man, does it take me back...



Enjoy.

Daily Tune ~ "I am Blessed"

This song is dedicated to my good friend and Titus 2 mentor.  :) 

You know who you are!  Love you!





Enjoy!

Psalm Study 2012 ~ Chapter 3

Trusting God for a  Better Tomorrow
Week 3, Psalm 3

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 LORD, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!


2 Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.”[b]


3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.


4 I call out to the LORD,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.


5 I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.


6 I will not fear though tens of thousands

assail me on every side.


7 Arise, LORD!

Deliver me, my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teeth of the wicked.


8 From the LORD comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.



 
 

If you would like to join in, sign up for Wendy's email list and you will receive a daily email with the assignment for that day.

Have a great week!

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 1/15/12

Memory Verse ~ 1/15/12-1/21/12

"Be devoted to on another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves." 

Romans 12:10

(First Place 4 Health, "Better Together", Week 10)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

"Lead Me to the Cross" by Chris and Conrad

Enjoy!

Daily Tune ~ "Let Them Be Little" by Lonestar

I definitely need to remember this song after the night we had.



Enjoy!