Happy Easter ~ 2014

Happy Easter!!!

Songs on Sundays ~ All The People Said Amen ~ 4/20/14

Hosted by Faith, Hope & Cherrytea

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Go ahead!  Say amen!

Saturday 9 ~ Peter Cottontail ~ 4/19/14

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

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Peter Cottontail

1) Which do you prefer: colored hard-boiled eggs, chocolate marshmallow eggs, or plastic eggs with coins inside?

Actually, my favorite are Peanut Butter Eggs!  Especially, of the Reese variety :)  I also like hard-boiled eggs and plastic eggs with coins inside but I'm not a big fan of marshmallow eggs.

2) What's your favorite color of Peeps (yellow, purple, or pink)?

I don't really have a favorite color of Peep.  To me they are the all the same.

3) All this talk of sweets is making Sam hungry. What's for lunch?

Well, I'm doing the Slim Fast 3-2-1 Plan so my lunch will be a Vanilla Slim Fast Shake.  It tastes like cake batter is is super yummy!

4) This song was introduced by country singer Gene Autry and it's still a favorite. Please share some of the lyrics. (And you're on your own; Sam didn't include a link to the song this week.)

Here comes Peter Cottontal, hopping down the bunny trail; Hippity Hoppity, Easter's on its way!

5) Gene Autry was so popular that a town in Oklahoma named itself for him. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?

I've haven't ever been to Oklahoma but would someday like to be able to say that I've visited all 50 states.  Someday.  Sigh....

6) In addition to singing, Mr. Autry made 93 cowboy movies. What's the last movie you saw?

Last night we watched "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" with Kevin Costner.  A oldie but a goodie )

7) He and his horse Champion also had a TV show. Can you name another famous horse?

Mister Ed and Silver are all I can think of.  lol

8) Gene Autry also recorded "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer," and it was, of course, wildly popular, too. Who is your favorite recording artist?

This is a tough question.  There are so many that I love.  I can't pick just one.  I just can't !

9) Back to the holiday celebration at hand -- Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated?

A nice, long, hot shower complete with hair washing and leg shaving :)

High Five for Friday ~ 4/18/14

Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  I had Thursday and Friday off this week for Easter Break!  So glad I work at a college :)

2.  The hubby cleaned the house while I had the youngest at t-ball practice Saturday morning!  Best hubby ever :)

3.  I lost 3.4 lbs this week to reach a mini-goal in my weight loss!  Hip-hip-hooray!!!

4.  Kaylee got her braces off on Wednesday!  Now I can see her beautiful smile :)

5.  Thursday was "Date Day"!  We shopped, we ate, we spent quality time together :)

What made you smile this week?

Cozy Reading ~ 4/17/14

All things bookish!

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What I'm Reading:

I finally got this book started while waiting for my daughter in the orthodontist's office.  It is off to a really good start!

The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother’s death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben’s death was no accident?
Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang’s family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.
She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious e-mail she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.
Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear apart the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?

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What I Received:

The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families. 

When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past. 

As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

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What I Can't Wait to Read:

While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn’t expect, however, is for God’s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.

As they work together toward a cure, Abby’s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

Release Date: 5/6/14

Happy Reading!  Make sure you check out my giveaway in the sidebar!

WholeHearted Wednesday ~ 4/16/14 ~ Week 1

hosted by Whole Hearted Home

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I've been rearranging my blog schedule and trying new things this week.  Maybe it is because Spring has finally sprung and it makes me long for all things new and fresh.

This is my very first WholeHearted Wednesday post.  If you've never visited my blog before, "Welcome!".  If you are a faithful reader, "Thanks for sticking around :)"

In Monday's post, A New Start, I talked a little bit about my new venture to get healthy.  I thought long and hard about posting anything about this subject on my blog.  Do I really want people to know that I'm overweight, out of shape and struggling to do anything about it?

Finally, I decided that I need encouragement and prayers to do this.  To stay motivated and determined in my healthy walk.  That walk is something that I want WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

So, where better to ask for that encouragement and prayer than a WholeHearted Linkup?

Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

I'm not sure how I'll format my updates each week.  If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

For this week, I'll just give a bit of a breakdown:

Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 5.5

lbs lost: 3.4
Total lost:  3.4

Food:  I started the Slim Fast 3-2-1 Plan and have been doing really well on it.  (More on this in the future.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hoppy Easter Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 4/24

Up for grabs is the following book:

Callie Duflay just isn’t like the rest of her family. While they’ve built white collar lives, she prefers getting her hands dirty by working with children and local California causes. When Callie learns that a beloved piece of untouched property in her town of Otter Bay may soon be developed, she confronts the architect assigned to the project.Gage Mitchell may be an easygoing, eco-friendly professional, but he’s not about to back off this job no matter how cute Callie or her pet pooch, Moondoggy, may be. His reasons and hers are noble—both have a heart for protecting God’s creation, and the truth is these two would be perfect for each other outside of this face-off. But will they ever figure that out?

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me how to contact you if you are the winner.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, April 24, 2014.  The winner will be emailed on April 25th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Chats on the Porch ~ 4/15/14

This week's questions are:

1. What are you doing for Easter?

We'll be going to Church where I'll be singing a special with the Choir.  Then afterwards we're having a Fellowship Dinner.  I'm in charge of rolls and a dessert.  Any ideas?

2. How many spring flowers have you noticed the last week or so?

I love seeing the flowers and trees budding!  My daffodils and hyacinths are budding as well as the forsythia.  The trees in the neighborhood are all pink and white and my lilacs are getting green!  So excited!

3. What was your favorite thing in an Easter basket, or as dessert at Easter dinner?

Hands-down, Reese Peanut Butter Eggs!

4. If you were a dog, what kind would you be?

A kind, gentle, obedient mutt!  lol  My husband would probably say I am a high-maintenance poodle.

5. What are your favorite pizza toppings?

I love me some pizza!  My favorite is pepperoni and extra cheese.  You can never have too much cheese on pizza.

Let's chat and get to know one another!

Monday's Musings ~ A New Start ~ 4/14/14

I read an article today on the internet about 13 women who had lost over 100 lbs. I wish I were one of them. It made me really sad. If I just would have stayed committed any of the numerous times I "started", I could be one of them. But I'm not.

Can I ever be? I question myself. Is it even possible? I think of the phrase "if you believe it, you can achieve it." But I honestly don't know if I can. I know I should be thinking positively. Especially with with the title of this post and wanting a "new start".  I'm just being honest with myself.

Being honest with myself. Maybe that is the key.

I had a check-up last Thursday and my dr. asked me about my exercise and diet. I could honestly tell him that I had started walking again and lowered my Dr. Pepper to one a day and the rest of the day I am drinking water. He said that was the picture of a healthy lifestyle to which I scoffed. I told him I was a long way from being that. His reply:

"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

I, being me, need to have a plan. So what is my Thousand Mile plan?  My new start?

I wish I could go out there and do a 10 mile run but right now I'm lucky to make it walking 1 mile. So I need to be honest with myself about my limitations and where I am right now. What can I do RIGHT now?

Exercise: I will walk 1 mile a day Monday-Friday. When I get to the point that I'm ready to move it to 2 miles, I will.

Drink: One Dr. Pepper a day. (Maybe I can try to find Diet Dr. Pepper? That is a thought. I'll look when I go for groceries.) The rest of the day I will drink water.

Food: I've been debating what plan to use. What to do? What to do?

Any suggestions?  Any tips?  I'd love to hear from you.

Songs on Sunday ~ Oceans ~ 4/13/14

Hosted by Faith, Hope & Cherrytea

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I absolutely love this song!  Especially this acoustic version.  Beautiful!

Stacking the Shelves ~ 4/12/14

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:

Attorney Callie Webber investigates nonprofit organizations for the J.O.S.H.U.A. Foundation and awards the best of them grants up to a million dollars. In this series, Callie comes across a mystery she must solve using her skills as a former private investigator. A young widow, Callie finds strength in her faith in God and joy in her relationship with her employer, Tom. 

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In book number three of The Million Dollar Mystery series, Callie suddenly finds herself involved in the life of a young wife and mother whose husband has disappeared...possibly the victim of foul play.

Callie has come to the beautiful Smoky Mountains hoping to award a million-dollar grant to the charity set up in the woman's late husband's honor. But in the search for a missing migrant worker, a body is discovered, which puts the grant on hold and her new romance with her mysterious boss in peril. Trusting in God, Callie forges steadily ahead through a mire of clues that lead her deeper and deeper into danger.

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This exciting and adventurous romantic spy novel is the second book in a new series from Roseanna M. White. Whispers from the Shadows combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the War of 1812.

Treachery causes Gwyneth Fairchild's world to crumble. The daughter of a British general, she just barely saves her life by fleeing London aboard a ship to America. Her goal is to find refuge with the Lane family in Maryland, having been told by her father she could implicitly trust Winter and Bennet Lane, even though their nations are once again at war. After meeting their son, Thad, she soon discovers they are a family much like her own. The Lanes trade in a dangerous commodity--espionage.

Not long after Gwyneth is on his ship, Captain Thad Lane experiences the tug of love, though he fears it may blur lines of loyalty. With family playing the part of enemies and enemies proving themselves friends, a future with Gwyn is uncertain. But at this moment, with the British advancing on Washington and Baltimore, they have only their shared faith in God as a shield about them.

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Happy Reading!

High Five for Friday ~ 4/11/14

Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  We watched Kaylee march in the Maple Festival Parade!  Laken got a whole bag of candy :)

2.  We stopped by my Mom and Dad's house and played with their puppy!  What a stinker :)

3.  I got to see and chat with a good friend while they were home from trucking!  It was great :)

4.  Laken had her very first t-ball practice!  So fun to watch :)

5.  Kaylee was in a talent show with the Chorus last night!  I love hearing the sweet girls sing :)

What made you smile this week?

Thursday Thirteen ~ No Housework ~ 4/10/14

A list of 13....

"Things I Didn't Do on 'No Housework' Day"

1. Dishes

2.  Wipe Counters

3.  Sweep

4.  Mop

5.  Scrub the tub

6.  Scrub the toilets

7.  Wash laundry

8.  Fold laundry

9.  Put laundry away

10.  Dust

11.  Sort through papers

12.  Bills

13.  Any housework of ANY kind!

Waiting on Wednesday ~ 4/9/14

 Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine,

 spotlights an up-coming release that I'm eagerly anticipating.

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his fair share of trouble too. But now he's finally returning to his hometown--the Lake Michigan tourist town of Whisper Shore. Counting on a not-so-warm welcome, he's surprised at not only a positive reception but also a job offer. Determined to settle down and prove himself responsible, he agrees to the catch that comes with the job offer--coordinating the annual Christmas festival--even though he has no idea how he'll pull it off. 

Autumn Kingsley, inn owner and experienced organizer of the Christmas festival, has always dreamed of traveling the world. Now she has a job opportunity in Paris and a surprise potential investor coming to town who just might take on her family's inn and finally leave her free to go. The only problem is that she has just two weeks to whip the inn into shape.

Their families have a long history of not getting along, but when Blake comes to Autumn for help with the festival, she actually agrees...in exchange for his help with the repairs to her inn. They may have struck a simple deal, but complications are quick to pile on when the guy who's had enough of running away and the woman who can't wait to leave join forces. 

Release Date:  5/6/14

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Waiting Until Next Wednesday,

 

 

Chats on the Porch ~ 4/8/14

This week's questions are:

1. What has kept you busy lately?

My new part-time job, my family and watching movies.

2. Are you making or creating anything?

I haven't made anything creative for a while but I just got an order for a baby cocoon so I'll be making that soon.

3. What are you really hungry for right now?

Ice-cream!

4. What song has stuck in your head lately?



5. If I could celebrate my upcoming birthday with you, what would we do?

Go for a nice long walk around the lake near my house :)

Let's chat and get to know one another!

It's Monday! What Am I Reading? ~ 4/7/14

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What I read this past week:

None

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The book I am currently reading is:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband.

Not true for Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott. Instead of planning a walk down the aisle, she's crossing the pond with the only companion she needs; her darling dog, Bliss. Caring for a pack of show dogs in England seems the perfect distraction from the scandal that ruined her teaching career, and her reputation, in New York. What she doesn't count on is an unstoppable attraction to billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy. The London tycoon's a little bit arrogant, a whole lot sexy, and the chemistry between them is disarming. When passion is finally unleashed, might Elizabeth hope to take home more than a blue ribbon?

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Hoping to read next:

The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother’s death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben’s death was no accident?

Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang’s family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.
She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious e-mail she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.

Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear apart the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?

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What are you reading today?

Raining Romance Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 4/18

This blog hop is hosted by

StuckInBooks

Up for grabs is the following book:

Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing?

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me how to contact you if you are the winner.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, April 18, 2014.  The winner will be emailed on April 19th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Stacking the Shelves ~ 4/5/14

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:

For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime has taken unexpected turns. And her future—her very life—depends on the decisions she’ll make at each crossroad. As the Grand Tour with her newfound family winds through France, Austria, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. And a forbidden love continues to put everyone’s plans at risk.

Cora must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices...because each one has grave consequences.

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Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she's startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement--and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road. 

A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on the person's face in the instant before her headlights swung away. The person she hit had been in trouble. She's sure of it. But she can't get anyone to believe her story--except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case. 

From the very first page, readers will be hooked into this fast-paced story full of shocking secrets from fan-favorite Irene Hannon. "Vanished" is the exciting first book in the Private Justice series: Three justice seekers who got burned playing by the rules now have a second chance to make things right.

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Happy Reading!

Thursday Thirteen ~ Lies ~ 4/3/14

A list of 13....

"Lies About Me"

1. I have stick straight hair.

2.  I'm pregnant.

3.  I'm thin.

4.  I have brown eyes.

5.  I have all sons.

6.  I live by the ocean.  Sigh....

7.  I don't have freckles.

8.  I've been married for 25 years.

9.  My house is spotless.

10.  I have high self-esteem.

11.  I don't worry.  Ever.

12.  I have a cute button nose.

13.  I hate blogging!