Here are some things that made me smile this week:
~Answered Prayers! I can't really get into details, but the Lord came through in a big way about something I had been praying for. I hate to be so vague but I couldn't let it go by without mentioning that God does answer prayers! :)
~Days Off! Monday there was no school due to MLK Jr. Day and Laken doesn't have school on Friday so we only had to "rise and shine" 3 days this school week :)
~7150 Steps! This number is the highest number steps I've gotten on my fitness tracker since I got it last week. I work so hard to get to that number. My next goal is 8000 steps :)
~Valentine Swap Participants! I was so excited to have 12 people sign up for the Valentine Swap. I sent out all the info to the participants on Sunday so now the packages should be flying about. I can't wait to send and receive :)
~Snow (err..ice) Day! Saturday we were iced in for the whole day. I was bummed to miss MyWW Workshop but it was nice to spend the entire day with my family working around the house :)
We had a major ice storm here in my neck of the woods on Saturday so I wasn't able to make it out to my WW Workshop. I'm not even sure if they still had it or if it was cancelled. I saw the ice at 7am and promptly went back under the covers!
So, no weigh in this week...
I do, however, want to mention that I've gotten myself a "fitbit" type contraption for my wrist to measure my steps for the day. It does a whole lot more than that but was only $23 on amazon.
I wanted to see how many steps I was getting in on a regular day. I should say how LITTLE steps I get in on a regular day. "They" recommend getting 10,000 steps a day but on a non-gym/treadmill day I'm only getting 20% of that. One day that I got on the treadmill for 30 minutes I got about 5,000 steps for the day, so better but still not quite there!
When we go to the gym I'm putting about 60 minutes in on the treadmill and stepper. Due to the ice, we didn't make it to the gym Monday (I used my treadmill though) so I'm anxious to see how many steps I get in at the gym.
I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday. If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends!
Title: For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Series: The MacGregor Legacy Book #1
Pages: 352
Date Published: November 2013
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Blurb:
Scotland to Carolina, 1760
One conquest could destroy her, but avenge his family.
Malcolm MacGregor vows to free his family and exact revenge against Duncan Campbell. When the opportunity arises, Malcolm decides to use Duncan’s daughter as the bargaining price. Lauren Campbell is the perfect answer, until she begins chipping away at the bitterness in Malcolm’s heart and changing everything. Her bold faith and forgiveness ignites guilt he would rather avoid and a love he doesn’t deserve.
Lauren Campbell never expected to discover such a caring and protective man behind the façade of Malcolm MacGregor’s fierce reputation. When they arrive in America, things turn against them, and Lauren finds herself in a fate worse than death. Now Malcolm has the dilemma of freeing the rest of his family or rescuing Lauren, but time is short and with little means, he needs a miracle.
My Thoughts:
I was scrolling through www.christianbook.com 's Christmas sales and came across this book. The cover drew me in right away. The description and price (less than $2.00) sealed the deal! Back in the days when I read mainstream romances, I loved books set in the Highlands so I was very eager to dig in to this one!
I found it extremely interesting that people were so desperate that they would sell themselves (indenture) just to get passage to the "colonies". I was also surprised that people could be indentured against their will. What a horrible, horrible situation that would be!
The story of Malcolm and Lauren was an epic tale going from Scotland to the High Seas to Charles Towne (plantations and bordellos and lumber mills). It was quite a ride with a very strong inspirational story line as well.
I really want to find the next two books in The MacGregor Legacy Series! I'm off to search for them now :)
We had a nasty ice-storm on Saturday and were iced in the house. We made it out for Church on Sunday morning but then couldn't make it back up our driveway! We had to park in the grass and walk the rest of the way up the hill on the ice. Not fun!
On my breakfast plate:
English Muffin, Eggs, Vanilla Chai Tea
As I look around the house::::
Saturday, while iced in, the hubby built Kaylee a wardrobe so that we could get rid of some of the dressers in her tiny bedroom and make more room to move. It was a bit nerve-wracking during the process because everything was scattered EVERYWHERE! The end result will be worth it though. I must keep this in mind!
On today's to do list::::
We're going to the gym and then getting groceries. The gym and the market are in the same plaza so it makes it super convenient.
Happening this week::::
Devotions: This week in our "Bad Girls of the Bible" study, we learned more about Michael, wife of David and Saul's daughter. Some takeaways: 1. There is a time to dance. 2. Unconfessed sin stops worship. 3. Words spoken in anger burn. 4. A wise woman rises above her circumstances.
WW: We had an ice storm on Saturday, so we were stuck inside. I didn't make it to my workshop to get weighed in.
Exercise: We've been going to the gym 3 times a week and on the other days I've been getting on my treadmill. Kaylee and I got "Fitbits" (a cheap brand) so I can truly track my steps.
Housework: Kaylee and I went through her clothes to get rid of any that were too small or that she no longer wears. She gave some to Laken but most are going to Goodwill.
Doug: The hubby is on 1st shift (7a-3p) this week but will probably be working overtime so not getting home until around 6p-ish. He pulled his back a bit moving furniture around Saturday but not too extremely bad. He's still getting around!
Kaylee: Kaylee is getting situated in her bedroom after the rearrangement. I helped her sort through all her clothes are will be taking a full large garbage bag to Goodwill. She still has a ton of clothes that she was able to hang up in her new wardrobe. We need to get her some more hangers though.
Laken: Laken has no school today for MLK Jr.'s Day. She also is off school on Friday because her school hosts a huge wrestling tournament this weekend. Another 3 day week for her!
Currently reading::::
I finished "For Love or Loyalty" by Jennifer Hudson Taylor and will be posting a review tomorrow.
Right now I'm reading "Stratagem" by Robin Caroll, one of my favorite suspense authors.
Next, I'll probably read either a historical fiction or a nonfiction.
Wednesday - Homemade waffles, eggs, bacon Thursday - Pot pie Friday - Pork Chops, Au Gratin Potatoes Saturday - Pizza Sunday - Potluck at Church
What I am creating at the moment::::
Still working on the Ombre Cozy Stripe Afghan at my leisure. I'm also making something "top secret" for my Valentine Swap partner! I'll show pictures after the swap :)
Picture From the Camera
Bible Verse
"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
I'm using these scrappy colors to make my crochet along blocks:
This block used some techniques that I haven't done before such as descending and ascending the "ladder" of previous rows. I admit that I breathed a sigh of relief when the rows below were finished!
For some reason my computer won't let me make the rest of these pictures larger but this is what the block looks like with the written instructions completed. It turned out to be 13".
Because it was already 13", I only bordered with a single crochet round of white and a single crochet round of the red.
I'm please with how it turned out. I really had to concentrate on some parts of the pattern but the writer had lots of "special notes" there were very helpful.
"According to your estimations, she has eight minutes to figure out she can't open the door unless her employee uses the key he got in the last room."
Page 56
"I'd like to pay for the funeral."
Q. Do you think that readers make better employees, as opposed to non-readers? Why or why not? (submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books)
A. I'd like to think that reading makes a person better all around but I don't think reading would necessarily make a person a better employee. For example, my husband hates to read and he is one of the best employees I've ever known. I think it all depends on the individual.
Here are some things that made me smile this week:
~My Crochet Buddy! Kona, our chocolate lab, likes to sit on the rug right beside the chair I sit in to crochet. Whenever I move, she moves. She's my buddy :)
~Planet Fitness! We've started going back to the gym. The hubby, Kaylee and I are going on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is so much more fun when you have workout buddies :)
~Doug's Laptop! My laptop won't stay connected to the internet for some weird reason. It must have a virus or something like that. Luckily, the hubby doesn't use his laptop very often so I've kind of confiscated his! It is nice to have a back up :)
~Kaylee's Books! Kaylee and I went to the campus bookstore on Monday and got her books for the Spring 2020 Semester which starts TODAY! Yikes! Please say a prayer that she does well :)
~Fitbits! Kaylee has an online gym class this semester. Isn't that funny? They do everything online these days. (I sound so old!) She wanted some kind fitbit-ty device to monitor her heart rate, miles, steps etc. We found a "knock-off" fitbit on Amazon for $24. I forget the brand name and it hasn't arrived yet. Of course, for $24 I wanted one too! They should be arriving today or tomorrow :)
This week I maintained my weight... No gain. No loss. I don't know whether to be happy, sad or mad!
I just wish I could get my rear in gear and be consistent. I'll do really well for a day or two and then blow the next day! Consistency and determination need to happen if I want to meet my goals.
Exercise and staying within my daily points allowed are key and I'm the only one that can do it!
I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday. If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends!
Standing Between Stephanie and Her Dream Is One Hundred Pounds of Lovable Trouble
It should have been so simple for Stephanie Pink: Meet up with Agnes Wharton in a small town in California, retrieve the reclusive author's valuable new manuscript, and be promoted to a full-fledged literary agent.
But Agnes's canine companion, Sweetness, decides to make a break for it before Stephanie can claim her prize. Until Agnes has Sweetness safely back at home in Eagle Cliff, Washington, Stephanie will never set eyes on the manuscript she needs to make her dreams come true.
When Stephanie tracks the runaway mutt to a campground, she meets Rhett Hastings—a man also on the run from a different life and a costly mistake. Rhett agrees to help Stephanie search for the missing dog...thus launching a surprising string of adventures and misadventures.
Once Sweetness gets added to the mix, it's a recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem, fun and faith in the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest.
My Thoughts:
I read the first book of the "Love Unleashed Series", "Sit, Stay, Love" back in April 2016 and really enjoyed it so when I saw "Fetching Sweetness" on www.cbd.com for just $0.99 I snatched it up. Well, I put it in my cart and then anxiously awaited its delivery :)
I loved that the Leading Lady was a book nerd! Stephanie loved all things literary and couldn't stand to be without a book. She learned so much about herself on the adventure and came to realize that maybe she was chasing someone else's dream and not her own.
Rhett evolved into the quintessential Hero. He started out quite harsh but along the way became a big old softy.
I can't forget Sweetness as he was as important to the story as Stephanie or Rhett. In fact, there would have been no story without him. He was a spatula-loving, big, old lump of love.
Within the story was the main idea of learning to listen to God and letting Him direct your path and more importantly your plans.
I must mention that I was very surprised and excited that a blessing my Mom taught me when I was little was featured in the book and that it was Rhett that said:
"Thank You for the world so sweet.
Thank You for the food we eat.
Thank you for the birds that sing.
Thank You, God, for everything."
"Fetching Sweetness" was possibly the sweetest book I've ever read! I adored this novel.
I'm putting together a Valentine Swap! I'd love for you to join in the fun! Click HERE for more information.
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The weather outside is::::
It was 68F this weekend! Can you believe that??? It was also VERY windy, in fact, we had quite a few trees come down from the wind.
On my breakfast plate:
English Muffin, Eggs, Vanilla Chai Tea
As I look around the house::::
Things are pretty much in order :)
On today's to do list::::
The hubby, Kaylee and I will be going to the gym this morning and then stopping by the College Bookstore to get Kaylee's books for this semester. We got groceries on again on Saturday so that we wouldn't have to worry about extra stops today.
Happening this week::::
Devotions: I'm sad to say that I missed reading my devotions on Friday. It was the first day of this year that I missed :(
For the "Bad Girls of the Bible" study, we learned more about Jezebel this week. We should all know what happened to that Bad Girl!
WW: I maintained this week so I was a bit bummed, but better than a gain, I guess! Our meeting was about explaining how they get the points for each food. The scientists look at calories, protein, saturated fat and sugars. It was really quite interesting.
Exercise: As I mentioned above, we're going to be going to the gym today. The plan is to go on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I'm determined!
Housework: Normal housework this week. Nothing too out of the ordinary.
Doug: The hubby is on second shift this week. As I think I mentioned, it was his idea to get back to the gym. He wants to lift weights while I do cardio.
Kaylee: Kaylee starts back to school this Thursday. She only has classes on Tuesday and Thursdays but it will be 4 classes back-to-back for basically the whole day. I worry about her driving in the bad weather... I guess I'll always worry about my babies.
Laken: Laken's last day of the marking period is today. Industrial Arts will be over for another year and she'll move on to "Humanities" which is a hodgepodge of skills that the students need to know such as how to use a printer, library etc. She's not thrilled about this class as she has heard it is quite boring!
Currently reading::::
I finished "Fetching Sweetness" by Dana Mentink and will be posting a review tomorrow. So cute!
Right now I'm reading "For Love or Loyalty" by Jennifer Hudson Taylor.
Next, I'll probably read either a contemporary fiction or a nonfiction.
On the TV::::
NFL Playoffs!
Listening to:
On the menu week::::
Monday - Ham, Fried Potatoes Tuesday - Ladies Meeting Potluck
Wednesday - Potato Soup, Grilled Cheese Thursday - Kielbasa, Buttered Noodles Friday - Pork Chops, Au Gratin Potatoes Saturday - Pizza Sunday - Potluck at Church
What I am creating at the moment::::
Still working on the Ombre Cozy Stripe Afghan at my leisure. I also decided to join in the Ravelry BAMCAL 2020 and the Moogly CAL 2020.
Picture From the Camera
Bible Verse
"For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned."
"Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete."
I decided to jump into some crochet alongs but I didn't want to go out and buy new yarn (well not really that I didn't want to but that I SHOULDN'T buy new yarn :). I'm using up some skeins leftover from various projects so this will be a "Scrappy CAL".
The first (January Main) block of Ravelry's BAMCAL 2020 is called "Cheers!" and was designed by Polly Plum who is a marvelous pattern writer! The pattern says that it is "Advanced" and I had no problem whatsoever following along.
Do you like the pop of red? I'm not quite sure about it but the hubby said he likes it.
I'm going to add a round of white to every block and crochet them together with the red (probably) to tie them all together. Here it is finished off:
Well, finished off except for tying in all those ends. I'll get around to it sometime :)
The block turned out to be 12.5" before the border rounds. Polly Plum created a new stitch that she called the Treble W Stitch (Tr-W) which is tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr. It was fun to learn :)
I was pleased with how it turned out!
Are you participating in any crochet alongs (CALs)? What are you working on?
Here are some things that made me smile this week:
~Little Women! Laken and I went to see the new Little Women movie at the theater. Little Women is one of my all time favorite books and I loved the older version of the movie. This newer version comes in a close second but that might be because I'm partial to the older, more-to-the-book version. This new movie has flashbacks and moves at a totally different pace. I loved it :)
~Goodreads Challenge 2019! I finished up the Goodreads Challenge 2019 on December 30, 2019 with 26 books read. I was cutting it down to the wire! For 2020, I'm once again setting my goal at 26 books but I've already read 2 books toward my goal and am "secretly" hoping to read 52 books this year: 1 a week :)
~Christmas Cleanup! I love Christmastime, don't get me wrong, but when all the decoration are put away and everything cleaned up I truly feel like a New Year is upon us with all things clean and fresh :)
~Skipbo with the Hubby! I was bored one evening during break and talked the hubby into playing Skipbo with me. Just the two of us. The first hand I dealt 30 cards and the hubby one ruthlessly! The second hand I only dealt 10 cards and I won ruthlessly! It was fun to spend some quality time :)
~Back at It! I'm full speed ahead on my health, fitness and wellness goals. I'm tracking my food and getting in the exercise. Tuesday was so pretty that Kaylee and I went outside to walk. It was still a bit chilly but the sun was shining and I was soaking in the Vitamin D! When the weather doesn't permit a walk outside, I've been using the new-to-me treadmill that I got for $50 :)
My goal is to lose 1 lb per week. I had my first 2020 MyWW weigh in on Saturday January 4th and lost .4 lbs .
I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't 1 lb but then I started thinking that it had only been 1/2 a week since 2020 had started so that would be right on track!
I tracked my smartpoints all week and counted everything I ate on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I tried to be mindful of what I was eating while still enjoying the holiday food wise. I think I had 6 weekly points left by Friday night.
I really want to get my 25 lbs Charm by the end of January. I need to lose 4 lbs to get there.
This week I definitely want to hit the 1 lb loss mark and to do that I need to track everything and get some good walks in either on the treadmill or outside. It is a bit cold outside so I don't know if I'll make it outside but thankfully I do have the treadmill option. I also have walking DVD's but, frankly, I'm sick to death of them!
How are your 2020 fitness and wellness goals going so far?
This Week's Total: -0.4 lbs Grand Total: -21.0 lbs
I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday. If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends! Colletta
Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.
Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.
With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.
My Thoughts:
This was my first book of 2020!
I decided to read an inspirational suspense novel next and Lisa Harris is one of my favorite authors for this genre. I really enjoy her writing.
The fate of the Nation was resting in Nate's and Grace's hand and they didn't even know why! It was definitely a mystery that needed solving and a murderer who needed brought to justice.
Nate and Grace were both suffering from forms of PTSD and past hurts. Somehow they found a way to push through their struggles and, of course, solve the case!
There was a lot of technical jargon in a few places that was a bit hard to follow and had to be read very carefully to understand but to some it would probably be easy to follow. I'm no coding expert!
The conclusion was a bit surprising as far as who the "culprit' was.
I was also a bit surprised...spoiler...that the "l-word" was used after Nate and Grace were re-united for only a few days. A few action-packed days, granted, but none-the less...
This was a totally enjoyable book that I was able to read at a fast pace and am now ahead of my reading goal for the year! Whoohooo!
I'm putting together a Valentine Swap! I'd love for you to join in the fun! Click HERE for more information.
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Welcome to the first edition of Happy Homemaker Monday for 2020! (I just love typing that...2020, 2020, 2020, 2020...)
The weather outside is::::
It really hasn't been too bad for January in Pennsylvania. We did get a skiff of snow last night with colder temperatures accompanying it. I can't seem to get warm with anything other than my fuzzy pj's.
On my breakfast plate:
English Muffin, Eggs, Vanilla Chai Tea
As I look around the house::::
Everything is back in order, including the main part of the house. All the Christmas decorations were loving put away on Saturday and replaced by the normal decorations. I, for one, am a bit glad to get back to normal with decorations and a routine.
On today's to do list::::
The hubby and I went for groceries Saturday evening as our "date", lol! I don't have to worry about that this week but I do want to sweep and mop the floors.
Happening this week::::
Devotions: I've been loving using my book "Devotions from the Kitchen Table" as a starting point for my devotions. I read the Bible then I read the devotional which has amazingly beautiful photographs throughout!
For the "Bad Girls of the Bible" study, we learned more about Rahab this week. We're almost finished with this study book and are going to do "Really Bad Girls of the Bible" next. I'm excited to get the new book!
WW: MyWW Workshop was all about how to set goals for the New Year. I didn't quite hit my weekly goal but it wasn't a gain so I wasn't heartbroken. Time to really hit the treadmill and stay away from the snacks!
Exercise: It was warm, but rainy here this week and now it is cold and snowy so I haven't been back outside for another walk. I did, however, get on the treadmill. I want to get into a better routine with the treadmill.
Housework: I'm caught up on laundry and general housework. I just want to do the floors as I mentioned above.
Doug: The hubby was back to work for 2 days last week and I was missing him. This week will be even worse with 10 hour days and a full week but he's on third shift (nights) so at least I'll be sleeping through most of it. hehe. Poor Douglas! On another note: he's counting down the weeks until trout season. 13 is the magic number :)
Kaylee: Only 10 more days of Winter Break! Yikes! We'll be going to get Kaylee's books for the Spring 2020 Semester this week. Either today or tomorrow. She also wants to get some new notebooks. I've passed on my love of paper to my babies :)
Laken: Like the hubby, Laken had just 2 days of school last week and it seemed like a full week. She said the first day seemed like FOREVER! She's very dramatic! This week she'll be having Science Olympiad practice though so she'll enjoy that.
Currently reading::::
Last week I finished reading "A Secret to Die For" by Lisa Harris. I'll be posting the review tomorrow.
I'm currently reading "Fetching Sweetness" by Dana Mentink which I'm enjoying.
I'm not sure what I'll read next, other than it will probably be a historical novel.
On the TV::::
We've been watching lots of Disney+ and also the NFL Playoffs!
Movies:
Little Women
Listening to:
On the menu week::::
Monday - Weiner Winks, Homemade French Fries in the air fryer! Tuesday - Ham, Mac-n-cheese
Wednesday - Deer Steak, Baked Potatoes Thursday - Chinese, Rice Friday - Pork Chops, Au Gratin Potatoes Saturday - Pizza Sunday - Potluck at Church
What I am creating at the moment::::
Still working on the Ombre Cozy Stripe Afghan at my leisure. I'm still deciding if I want to join in with any of the new 2020 crochet-alongs or not.
Picture From the Camera
Bible Verse
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also."
