Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon ~ 7/1-7/7

The Summer Lovin’ Readathon is a week-long readathon event hosted by seven independent bloggers! (Oh, Chrys!, Tumbling Books, Effortlessly Reading, Love Life Read, Shelf Addiction, Read Sleep Repeat, and Reviewing Wonderland) 

Spend the week reading at your own pace, when and how you want too. There will be daily challenges for awesome prizes and opportunities to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs. 

As if that weren’t enough – the week will end with a 24-hr marathon readathon! Twitter parties, mini-challenges, games, prizes given EVERY HOUR, and more chances to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs. 

Sign-ups will be open through July 6th. I’m in, are you?!

MY GOALS:

1.  Read every day.

2.  Participate in the daily challenges.

3.  Finish 5 books.

MY BOOKS:

1.  Keeping Guard by Christy Barritt ~ 7/4/13

2.  Seaside Reunion by Irene Hannon ~ 7/1/13

3.  Seaside Blessings by Irene Hannon ~ 7/1/13

4.  The Runaway Bride by Noelle Marchand ~ 7/3/13

5.  The Baby Quilt by Joyce Livingston~ 7/4/13 
Extra:  Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills ~ 7/7/13

(I picked fairly short books to read as my husband is on vacation this week and I don't know how much time I'll have to read each day.)

DAY ONE CHALLENGES

About me:

I'm from Southern Pennsylvania and live in my hometown.  I am a SAHM with two daughters, ages 12 and 6.  I have been married to my husband for almost 13 years.  I enjoy a variety of genres but read mostly Christian/Inspirational books with a few mainstream thrown in upon occasion.  My love of reading started when I was fairly young and lived in the country.  Summers were spent reading book after book and making trip after trip to the library.

Teaser Tidbit

I'm currently reading Seaside Blessings by Irene Hannon



"Kristen Andrews eyed the laden skies over the gray Pacific Ocean as she maneuvered her rental car around yet another curve on cliff-hugging Highway 101.  Wasn't California supposed to be sunny and warm?"

Page 7

DAY TWO CHALLENGES

What is a summer must-read?



This book was AMAZING!


DAY THREE CHALLENGES

Who is my absolute favorite fictional character?



I absolutely loved Belle Tanner in "The Husband Tree" by Mary Connealy.  She is a tough, take-no-crap, kinda lady.  This book was so fun to read :)


DAY FOUR CHALLENGES

Share a book that really pulled on your heart strings:



Once again, I have to go with "My Stubborn Heart".  This book was amazing in so many ways.  The leading man has so much angst and pain.  The author describes his hurt and I can just picture the pain in his eyes.  The leading lady is determined to befriend him no matter how many times he pushes her away.  Wonderful, awesome, amazing book!


DAY FIVE CHALLENGES

Share your progress.  What are you plans for the rest of the RAT.

I finished ALL of my goal books!  You can see above that I've added on an "Extra" and will see if I can get that one read as well.  It is "Pursuit of Justice" by DiAnn Mills and is a longer, full length novel.  Wish me luck!

Spiritual Sunday ~ Words to Speak ~ 6/30/13

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And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20

Have a blessed week!

     

High Five for Friday ~ 6/28/13

Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  This week was our family camp meeting and Church camp for the kids.  I loved seeing how much the kids have grown over a year's time :)

2.  Watching a water balloon fight :)

3.  Seeing the kids at camp make new friends :)

4.  Getting to see my friends that I haven't seen since last year's camp :)

5.  Coming home and hoping to get the house straightened back up today :)

What made you smile this week?

Now and Forever ~ 6/27/13

Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.
Jude 24-25

Lord, I just want to tell you how much I love You, how grateful I am that You have taken me into Your care.  Ever since I've entrusted myself to You, You've kept me from becoming entangled in the kinds of things that would bring me to ruin.  You fill my heart and mind with peace as I stay close to You.  It's a miracle of Your grace that I am standing tall today, lifting my praise to you from a heart full of love.

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay in invincible summer." --Albert Camus

Excerpt from:  A Woman's Daily Prayer Book

Chats on the Porch ~ Dream Jobs ~ 6/25/13

This week's questions are:


1. Do you enjoy grocery shopping?

I enjoy the shopping aspect but DO NOT enjoy the lugging of the bags from the car to the house and then putting everything away. ;(

2. Are you following any particular news stories?

Not really.  I try to stay away from watching the news.  It is so depressing most of the time.  My mom, however, is a news junkie.  So, I find out from her if anything important is going on.

3. How do you feel about all of the technology we have today? Is it too much, just right, or not enough?

I think it is just right but sometimes can be used too much.  I think there must be a balance.  I don't like when people walk through life (literally) with their nose stuck in their phone, ipod, etc.

4. On a scale of 1-10(1 being the least) how much do you worry?

When I have episodes of anxiety, that would be a 10!  lol  But I try not to worry.  In general, I'd say maybe a 4-5.

5. Without any of your responsibilities or concern with how you would accomplish this, what would your three dream jobs be?

1.  Owner of a B&B
2.  House-sitter anywhere interesting
3.  SAHM (hey, I am that!)

Let's chat and get to know one another!

Listicle ~ Summer ~ 6/24/13

"10 Things Summer"

1.  Flip Flops

2.  Sand between my toes

3.  Sleeping in

4.  Staying up late reading

5.  Chlorine

6.  Fishing

7.  Camping

8.  Smores

9.  Sweat

10.  Air-conditioning :)

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Happy Monday!

Homemaker Monday ~ 6/24/13

Come join Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

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The Weather...

Currently 69F at 8am.  Today has a forecast high of 88F with a chance of thunderstorms.  Right now, though, the sun is shining beautifully :)

Right Now I Am...

Getting my youngest ready for her first day of summer camp.  This week the camp is about Computers.

Thinking...

About my oldest daughter who is at Church Camp this week.

On My Reading Pile...

I finished Becky Wade's first book, My Stubborn Heart, last night and LOVED it.  I'm hoping for this book to be just as great a read :)

On My TV...

On my DVR, waiting for me to watch it :)

What I Found While Surfing the Net...

I love baked good made with zucchini!  I can't wait for our garden to produce enough to start baking with.  Click on the picture to go to the recipe.

On the Menu This Week...

Monday:  Roast Beef, Scalloped Potatoes, Broccoli, Apples
Tuesday:  Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Grapes, Green Beans
Wednesday: Soup, Sandwich, Apples
Thursday:  Chicken gravy and biscuits, corn, oranges
Friday:  Pizza
Saturday:  Out
Sunday:  Fellowship

On My To Do List...

I have dirty laundry and dishes up to my eyeballs to get through today and tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

In the Craft Basket...

We got a huge etsy order this weekend.  The first item I'll be working on is a Lagoon Pod.

Looking Forward To This Week...

I'm looking forward to having some quiet time to myself this week.  See above mentioned summer camps :)

Looking Around the House...

I see the progress that I can make today on the weekend clutter.

From the Camera...

My cousin, Eric, taking his twins (my honorary nephews) on their first fishing day :)

On My Prayer List...

Kaylee and her friends at camp, summer safety for all and prayers of thanks for our refinancing.

Bible Verse, Devotional...

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways." 2 Thess 3:16

Spiritual Sunday ~ That's How You Forgive ~ 6/23/13

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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
James 3:17

Have a blessed week!

     

My Weekly Bookishness ~ 6/22/13

All things bookish from the past week :)

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What I'm Reading:





What I Read:

 

What I'll Read Next:





Books new to my TBR pile:

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday hosted this month by Dolce Bellezza , The Sunday Post, The Sunday Salon and Showcase Sunday.


Lovely reading!

High Five for Friday ~ 6/21/13

Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  Saturday afternoon we had a fellowship picnic at Shawnee Lake.  We fished, swam and generally had a great time just being together.

2.  Dex came for a while and did his very first fishing :)

3.  Laken caught the first fish of the day :)

4.  The pool is warming up and we've all been swimming.  Kaylee and her friends have been in just about every day.  Yesterday, I had 6 kids at our house.  It was a hoping place :)

5.  We are closing on our consolidation loan this afternoon.  Our first payment won't be due until August, so no house payment for July!  whoohoooo!  :))

What made you smile this week?

Seeing Him ~ 6/20/13

Blessed are those who have not seen 
and yet have come to believe.
John 20:29

Lord, how blessed we are to be able to see you all around us and to sense your presence within us.  Even though we can't see you in the same way we might see a friend or a neighbor, we see you in your Word and in all that is good and true in the world around us.  Thank you, Lord, for making yourself available to us.

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Excerpt from:  A Woman's Daily Prayer Book

Hodgepodge ~ Randomness ~ 6/19/13

Joyce's Hodgepodgey Questions:

Joyce is on vacation this week so I thought I'd just tell you some random things about me.

1.  I've been a SAHM for about 10 years.

2.  I've been married to my husband, Doug, for 13 years come September 17th.

3.  I have two daughters.  Kaylee is 12 and Laken is 6.

4.  We live in a small town.  It is actually where Doug and I both grew up and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

5.  My parents are retired and busier than ever!  They are very involved in our lives and I am so lucky to have them.

6.  I have 3 honorary nephews.  Dex is my cousin Steph's 1-year-old.  Chase and Connor are my cousin Eric's 3-month-old twins.  Love them all!

7. I have one brother, Danny, who lives just across town.  He is the most generous person I know.

8.  I've dealt with anxiety/depression since my first pregnancy.  Truthfully, I think I always have to some degree but those pregnancy hormones brought it out full force.  I still take meds and I'm OK with that.

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Let's get hodgepodgey!

Chats on the Porch ~ 6/18/13

This week's questions are:

1. Is there a friend or relative who has been on your mind a lot lately?

My BFF's birthday is coming up soon and I haven't gotten to spend any quality time with her for quite a while.  I hope to take her out for a "Girl's Day" for her birthday.

2. Do you sunburn?

Yes!  In fact, my shoulders are a bit crunchy right now from our picnic outing over the weekend.

3. If you were visiting my farm for a week (or weekend) would you want to cook with me, pick veggies or pull weeds with the farm crew, or just feed Wendell carrots until he outgrew his horse suit?

I would want to do it ALL!  Well, maybe all but pulling weeds.  lol

4. Do you like to tell jokes or hear them?

I find humor in the very ordinary and laugh at times when no one else is laughing.  I can't help it.  Certain things just strike my funny bone.  I don't really tell many jokes but I do enjoy a good wise-crack or pun now and then.  I also enjoy hearing jokes.  I especially like the ones that you don't know are a joke until it has drawn me in.

5. Do you wear sunglasses often?

All the time!  I wear sunglasses year-round.  My contacts make my eyes sensitive to the light so I always have them on hand.


Let's chat and get to know one another!