Family Time ~ A Dog's Purpose ~ 1/31/17

 

The girls did VERY well on their report cards this nine weeks.  In fact, they both had all A+'s and A's!  I'm a very proud Mama for all their hard work.

 

We decided, as a reward, to go see "A Dog's Purpose" this past Saturday for the Matinee.

 

Now, I know some of you had probably seen the same clip that I did claiming that the dogs were mistreated.  But, then I read an article in the newspaper that claimed the clip was misleading.  You never know what to believe in the media.  Sad, but true.

 

We had been looking forward to this movie ever since seeing the previews last fall, so we decided to put the media aside and go watch the movie! 

 

I'm so glad we went!

It was one of the very best movies I have seen in a long time!

I'm not going to lie.  I cried.  In fact, I may have sobbed uncontrollably at one point!  I'm sure there were other people in the theater who cried also, but I think I might have been the loudest!

It was just such a touching, moving, loving look into the thoughts of a dog.

I absolutely loved it!

If you get the chance, go see it!  I would, however, be careful taking younger children as they might get upset.  (kinda like I did!)  My 10 year old cried right along beside me but she's old enough to understand that it is just a movie.

Here's a trailer for your viewing pleasure in case you haven't seen the preview:

Have you seen the movie?  What did you think?  If you haven't seen it, do you think you will?


Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up Totally Terrific Tuesday,  Titus 2sdays, Unite, Share Your Stuff, Treasure Box, Do Tell Tuesday and Titus 2 Tuesday, Hearth and Soul, A Spirit of Simplicity,  Tuesdays with a Twist  , Inspire Me , Tuesday Talk , The Scoop.

Teaser Tuesday ~ LFYI Sunflower Kansas ~ 1/31/17

 

My teaser for this week is from:

 

~"Just about anybody, except a convicted felon, can become a private investigator."

Burt Renfro's words did not make Annie Jamison feel any better.

Anybody, in this case, happened to be her mother.~

 

What do you think?

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 1/30/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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I can't believe this is the last Happy Homemaker Monday post for January 2017!  Where has the month gone?  I can't say I'll be sad to turn the calendar to February :)

 

The weather outside is::::

Snowy!  and Cold!

 

 



On my breakfast plate:

 

Cheerios
  

As I look around the house::::

 

I think I mentioned before that we are now living at my Mom and Dad's house.  My mom is a very "tidy" person so there really isn't much that needs done.  Lucky me!  I do try to help out with the cooking and dishes and such but sometimes Mom beats me to it!

On today's to do list::::

Chiropractor
Exercise
Bible reading
Blog reading/visiting
Crochet

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday....I really need to go to the chiropractor!
Tuesday...  Clean, laundry, Cheer.
Wednesday... Menu and Grocery List, Schedule for next week, Cheer, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday....Laken's Birthday!!!, Groceries.
Friday....Laundry, Cheer
Saturday....Weight Watchers Meeting.

Currently reading::::



I just finished a cozy mystery so I thought next I'd go for a historical romance.  I've just started it so I'm still learning the character and getting a "feel" for the book.  I've enjoyed Karen Witemeyer's writing in the past and am looking forward to digging in to this book.

 

On the TV::::

Aurora Teagarden Mystery's on Hallmark M&M
Cupcake Wars

We also went to see "A Dog's Purpose". 
Be watching for a review soon!

 

On the Radio:::

This week for Songs on Sunday, I featured "Ever Be" by Aaron Shust.
 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Taco Salad, apples
Tuesday - Chicken, cheesy potatoes, green beans, grapes
Wednesday -  Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
Thursday - Potato soup with Ham, broccoli, oranges
Friday - Pizza burgers, apples
Saturday - Oatmeal, toast
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

After giving much thought to making Kaylee a temperature blanket for the year she was born, I decided it would end up being huge!

Instead, we decided that I would make her a Giant Granny Square Afghan using the colors and order that she picked out.  I took this picture yesterday, so I'm a bit farther along after working on it last night.

 

I'm also finished with a Cosy Stripe Afghan by Attic24 in Moorland inspired colors except for tying in the ends.  More on that at a later date :)

From the Camera:::

 

 

Squeeeellll!!!!  It is coming out just in time for my "Birthday Date"!

 

 

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  The Creative Gallery, Tuesday Pin-spiration, Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.

Songs on Sunday ~ Ever Be by Aaron Shust ~ 1/29/17

 

His praise will Ever Be on my lips!

 

 

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

I'm also linking up to Spiritual Sunday and Counting My Blessings , Faith And Friendship , Grace And Truth , Dance with Jesus, Sunday Stillness, Give Me Grace .



Stacking the Shelves ~ 1/28/17

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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This week I added the following to my shelf:

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Katie can find the answer.

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The streets of San Francisco would be lined with hardcovers if rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her mentor wouldn't be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration.

With his final breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives her a priceless and supposedly cursed copy of Goethe's Faust for safekeeping.

Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to the humorless, but attractive, British security officer who finds her kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice….    
 

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Also linking up to: The Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday



 

Happy Reading!

Tea Time ~ Report Cards and Stationary ~ 1/27/17

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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I usually write this post and have it ready to go by Thursday evening.  Last night I just wasn't feeling it!  I was blah and "bloomy" (blue and gloomy mixed).  I feel a bit better after a good night's sleep and even though I almost skipped posting my 5 smiles, I felt that I needed to think happy thoughts to get the day started off on the right foot.  So here we go:

 



 

~I've been sick since the first of January but finally went to the doctor last week and got and inhaler and an antibiotic.  I can honestly say I am feeling much better!  Here's to some good meds :)

~It snowed this week.  Big, fluffy, sticky snowflakes.  It was beautiful!  Laken had a lot of fun out making a "snowgirl".  It was a beautiful drive to school the next morning :)

~The girls got their report cards this week.  I was a bit leery to see their grades because they've missed so much school this winter due to illness.  We just keep passing it back and forth to each other.  However, they both got all A's!  One proud mama here :)

~We had 67 people sign up for the Pen Pal endeavor.  I hope that everyone has made contact with their new pen pal.  I have and it is so much fun!  I made a special trip to Staples looking for some pretty Stationary.  I couldn't find anything I like anywhere else.  I also got some cute stickers!  I love stationary!

 

~Sign-ups for the Favorite Color Swap are still open.  Come help me celebrate my 39th Birthday!  Click HERE to read more and join in  :)

 

 What made you smile this week?

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Love Made My Home , Friday's Fave Five. Life in Leggings, Fresh Friday Finds, Weekend Wind Down.

 

Book Review ~ A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd ~ 1/26/17

 

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Blurb:

 

 Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness. His secret traps him in a life that is not his own.

Darbury, England, 1819

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could expose her disgrace. But soon after becoming a lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she’s desperately hidden for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own—one that has haunted him for years and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove Hall. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breathe a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he’ll never be free to find his own way in the world. He’ll never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and fight for a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long kept?    

My Thoughts:

 

Sarah E. Ladd has fast become one of my favorite authors!

 

I loved the first two books of the "Whispers on the Moors" series,  "The Heiress of Winterwood" and "The Headmistress of Rosemere".  They were both excellent reads.

 

I had great expectations for "A Lady at Willowgrove Hall"!

 

It did NOT disappoint :)

 

The opening line set the tone for the entire book:  "Is it always a sin to tell a lie?"  This is a great question that the main characters both have to ask themselves as they are both keeping secrets.

 

I loved Cecily and Nathaniel and loved them even more together :)

 

Once again, the setting became a character of in its own right.  My imagination went along delightfully with the descriptions the author chose to set the scene.

 

I couldn't have been happier with how this book turned out :)

 

It is always so much fun to see a series through to completion.  Even if it took me 3 years to do so!

 

I look forward to reading more books from this author.

 

 

For the Biblical "Way of Salvation" please see my header or click HERE.

 

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

  

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook

Hodgepodge ~ 1/25/17

Joyce's Hodgepodgey Questions:

1. "The cure for anything is salt water-tears, sweat, or the sea." (Isak Dinesan) Would you agree? Of the three, which has 'cured' you most recently?
I haven't been to the sea for a couple years; I haven't really cried lately; so I guess it would be sweat although it has been about a week since I've worked out due to bronchitis :(

2. What's something you can't eat without salt? Do you normally salt your food a lot, a little, or not at all?

 

French Fries!!  I usually salt a moderate amount.  Not too little and not too much.

 3. Sands of time, bury your head in the sand, built on sand, or draw a line in the sand...which sandy phrase could best be applied to something in your life right now? 

Bury your head in the sand.

 4. A favorite book, movie, or song with an island setting or theme? 

South Pacific!

 5. Yesterday-did you run your day or did it run you? How so? 

I think I ran my day.  I got a lot accomplished but also had time to work on hobbies.

 6. You're on an island holiday. Will I most likely find you parked in a beach chair, shopping in town, on the back of a jet ski, or snorkeling off the back of a catamaran? 

Hmmmm.....   Either shopping or snorkeling.  I love to visit all the sights!

 7. What do you think we humans most take for granted?

Our parents.
 

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Sign-ups for my Favorite Color Swap are still open and will be through the end of February.  I hope you will consider joining in.  It is a lot of fun!

I'd love to return the visit!  Please leave a comment and a link!

Weigh-In Wednesday ~ 1/25/17

 

My inspiration:

 

Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

 

Proverbs 16:3

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Bronchitis.  Sinus infection.  Both were enough to throw me for a loop this week. 

Exercise was pretty much non-existent and I was craving comfort food like crazy!

Hence, my 0.6 lb gain :(

I almost didn't even go to my meeting because I knew there was going to be a gain.  At the last minute I decided that I NEEDED to go and face the music of the scale and get the support I would need for the week ahead.

As I mentioned last week, my meeting has moved locations.  It was a bit chaotic as everyone was trying to figure out how to best situate the products, weigh-ins and seating but it all worked out.

The meeting was about "Mindful Eating".

"Mindful Eating" is eating with intention while paying attention.

We talked about all the distractions that take place while we're eating.  Work, TV, even driving!  The main idea was to try to be more mindful about what, where and why we are eating.  Some ways to accomplish this are to enjoy conversation, the smell of your food, the color of your food, and pay attention to the ambiance of the room.  (pretty centerpiece, etc.)

A question was posed to the group:  "What healthy habit are you working on?"  My answers would be exercise, tracking and healthier snacks with the intentions of losing weight and feeling better both physically and mentally about myself.

What healthy habit are YOU working on?


My week's stats:

Weigh-in:  +0.6 lbs.  Total:  -16.8 lbs.

Exercise:  Non-existent!

Tracking:  Horrible!

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Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

 

Linking up to  WholeHearted Wednesday, R&R, Word Filled Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, Ladies Collective,   Party in Your PJs,  Works or Me, Wake-Up Wednesday and  Women with Intention, Peaches and Salt, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman, Classical Homemaking , Wow Us Wednesday.

Teaser Tuesday ~ A Crafty Killing ~ 1/24/17

 

My teaser for this week is from:

 

 

~"Ezra Hilton lay sprawled at the bottom step of the staircase, facedown in a puddle of his own congealed blood.  He'd probably broken his long, proud nose when he hit Artisans Alley's carpet-covered concrete floor, Katie Bonner decided.  She wondered if McKinlay Mill's funeral director could make Ezra look presentable for a viewing. "

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 1/23/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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The weather outside is::::

It has been unseasonably warm the past few days but the forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and possibly some snow today.

 



On my breakfast plate:

 

Cheerios
  

As I look around the house::::

 

Mud.

It has been rainy and we need to get gravel for the driveway and parking lot.  Until then, we have to put up with the mud.

On today's to do list::::

"31 Verses" - Verse 4.
Exercise.
Bible reading.
Blog reading/visiting
Crochet

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday...."31 Verses"
Tuesday...  Clean, laundry.
Wednesday... Menu and Grocery List, Schedule for next week.
Thursday....Bills, Groceries.
Friday....Laundry, Watch Dex.
Saturday....Weight Watchers Meeting.

Currently reading::::



I've been on a reading roll lately.  I have 5 books of 52 read for my Goodreads challenge so far.  I'm ahead for now!  Up next is another cozy mystery :)

 

On the TV::::

The Inauguration
Steelers Vs. Patriots
A Royal Winter

 

On the Radio:::

This week for Songs on Sunday, I featured "Fierce" by Jesus Culture
 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Stuffed Peppers, Mashed Potatoes, broccoli, grapes
Tuesday - Chicken, alfredo noodles, peas, orangs
Wednesday -  Dan's Buying
Thursday - Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, green beans, apples
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Bacon, eggs, toast
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

This is the January 2017 BAMCAL extras square:

Floral Kaleidoscope

It is very light and airy with lots of Triple Crochets.

 

 

I also am almost finished with a Cosy Stripe Afghan by Attic24 in Moorland inspired colors.  More on that at a later date :)

From the Camera:::

 

 

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Matthew 7:7-8
(NASB)

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  The Creative Gallery, Tuesday Pin-spiration, Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.

Songs on Sunday ~ Fierce by Jesus Culture ~ 1/22/17

His love is FIERCE!





 

 

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

I'm also linking up to Spiritual Sunday and Counting My Blessings , Faith And Friendship , Grace And Truth , Dance with Jesus, Sunday Stillness, Give Me Grace .



Stacking the Shelves ~ 1/21/17

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week I added the following to my shelf:

Sara doesn’t think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter.

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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?    
 

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Also linking up to: The Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday



 

Happy Reading!