Songs on Sunday ~ Flawless ~ 8/9/15

 

This song amazes me.  How do the writers of songs know exactly what a person is going to need to hear.  It has to be a God thing!

 

I could highlight the words of this whole song as being my favorite but instead I'll focus on one word.

 

FLAWLESS.

 

How many of us think that there are too many things wrong with us to ever be flawless and yet, as Christians, that is exactly how God sees us.  Plain and simple.  So hard to understand and accept sometimes.

 

I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do!

 

Flawless

By MercyMe

Theres got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
Cause we were taught thats who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking theres worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when
Were on the edge of our seats saying its too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

Could it possibly be
That we simply cant believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But thats exactly what He did

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now Im ok
Because the cross was enough

And like a hero who takes the stage when
Were on the edge of our seats saying its too late
Well let me introduce you to grace grace
Gods grace

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

No matter what they say
Or what you think you are
The day you called His name
He made you flawless
He made you flawless

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

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 , Sundays Down Under and The Weekend Brew.

Stacking the Shelves ~ 8/8/15

 

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:

 

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college--still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be her husband. He's a professional bull rider; he lives on the road, and he's long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he's known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia's trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

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Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve--the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is stalking her.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife--a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.  

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Shiloh Jacobs is planning her wedding without family, without money, and without a clue—and trying to make a go of small-town Southern life. Until she stumbles on an unsolved case about a missing woman that makes her run in the opposite direction—right into the would-be killer’s web of plans. In the midst of sorting through her tragic past and strained relationships, Shiloh finds herself on the run from a madman—and hoping she can make it to her wedding alive.  

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Happy Reading!

Book Review ~ A Penny for Your Thoughts by Mindy Starns Clark ~ 8/8/15

Blurb:

 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 each book of the 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.

In book number one of The Million Dollar Mystery series, Callie’s assignment is to go to Philadelphia and present Wendell Smythe, an old family friend of her boss, Tom, with a check for $250,000. Mr. Smythe heads a relief organization and needs immediate funds. When Callie goes to his office, check in hand, she discovers him dead on the floor. At Tom’s request, Callie moves into Smythe’s home and begins a murder investigation.

But it’s a dangerous place to be, for the family has secrets they would rather not have uncovered. Callie’s only hope is that God will help her use her investigative skills to discover the murderer and escape the web of deceit that surrounds her.      

 

My Thoughts:

After reading "Dying to Read", I was ready to sink my teeth into another mystery.  I've had a few of the Million Dollar Mystery series on my shelf for a while just waiting for me to get into a "mystery mood".  I've read other books by this author and knew I was in for a treat.

This book was written in the First Person POV which is something I haven't read for quite a while.  I really enjoyed this change-up!

The main character, Callie, was very well written as was the emotions that she felt throughout the book.  She was a widow solving a murder.  The first death she had been around since that of her husband.  It was very moving.

I enjoyed the mystery very much and can honestly say I did not see the ending coming.  That being said, I didn't care for the outcome.  I wish I could go into my reasoning but I don't want to give it away and ruin it for those who might be going to read it!

Even though I didn't like the outcome of the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book an look forward to the next book of this series on my shelf.  Especially, finding more out about "Tom" even though I have a few theories :)

 

Happy Reading!

Tea Time ~ 8/7/15

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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This has been what I call a "depression week" so my 5 smiles might be a bit blah...

~I went to the dr. and bawled my eyes out!  Upped my meds :)  YAY!  not....

~This Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake!  Yummm :)

~Kaylee got new glasses!  She really likes them :)

~I accidently spilled half a bag of powdered sugar on the floor because I picked up the wrong end!  Kaylee and I cracked up :)

~I made it through the week!  TGIF :)


How's your week been?

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 and OhHeyFriday

 

In the Kitchen ~ Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake ~ 8/6/15

This recipe is adapted from "Gooseberry Patch Keepsake Cookbook".

(This is one of those posts where the pictures don't do the cake justice!)
 

Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 15X10 jelly-roll pan.

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl; set aside.

Combine butter, water and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil.  Add to flour mixture and mix well.

Add eggs, vanilla and milk to mixture.

Bake 25-28 minutes or until cake springs back when gently touched.  Spread Peanut Butter Icing over warm cake.

Peanut Butter Icing:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup milk
16 oz powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar until spread consistency.

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

Linking up to:  Full Plate Thursday, Inspritation2 , Creative Ways, Grace at Home, Create It Thursday, Your Turn to Shine,   Project Stash  Homemaking Linkup and Home Sweet Home, Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Think and Make.

Book Review ~ Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato ~ 8/5/15

Blurb:

Three years ago, Captain Brogan Talvis's late wife abandoned their son, leaving no clue as to the boy's whereabouts. After searching relentlessly, Brogan discovers his son was adopted by a New England shipbuilder. And the man's daughter, Lorena Huntley, acts as loving guardian to the child.

Lorena, who hides a dark truth, finds herself falling for the handsome captain and ex-privateer who's come to secure ownership of one of her father's ships. She's unaware of Brogan's own secret when another's deceit has her sailing toward Europe against her will.

Haunted by thoughts of Lorena in peril, Brogan is compelled to choose between the boy he longs for and the woman who has captured his heart.    

 

My Thoughts:

I read this book in one evening and a morning in between cleaning and household chores.  Once I started, I didn't want to stop!

Brogan is an awesome hero.  (Isn't it weird that I had never heard the name Brogan before and have now heard it twice in two days.  The other Brogan is a real-life man who works at Enterprise where I rented a car while mine was getting worked on!)  He was manly, handsome and flawed.  Quite the hero.

Lorena was a great heroine.  (Isn't it weird that Lorena is the name of the author of the book I read just before this one!?!)  She was kind and loving and strong of character.

The storyline was intriguing and mysterious with danger and action with just the right blend of romance.  The ending had a very surprising twist.

Lisa Norato was a new-to-me author but I'll definitely be reading more of her books!

 

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday ~ A Penny for Your Thoughts ~ 8/4/15

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 

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My teaser for this week is from:

 

~She began growing hysterical, but I took her face in my hands and told her sternly to calm down.  That seemed to surprise her enough to swallow back the rest of her sobs and stare at me with frightened eyes.~

Page 72

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Make it Monday ~ Bree's Afghan ~ 8/3/15

 

 

Kaylee's friend, Bree, went to the cabin with us in the beginning of July.  As I mentioned, Beaches also went with us and spent its time on the couch.  When I asked Bree if she would like me to make her an afghan, she got so excited!

 

She immediately knew what colors she wanted:

 

Below is the start of the afghan.  I'm making it in granny stripes just like Beaches.  It has grown a bit since I took this picture.

 

I should have it done before too, too long.  I'll make sure to show it to you when it is complete!

 

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

Linking up to Making Memories Monday, Much Ado About Monday,  Making Your Home Sing , Inspire Me Monday, Merry Monday , Motivation Monday, Made By You, Creative Mondays, What'd You Do this Weekend and Pieces by Polly Block Party,  Monday's Musing and Making Monday, Stitch It Up and Hooking on Humpday, Yarn Along , Yarn Fanatic , Keep Calm Craft On.

Songs on Sunday ~ Exhale ~ 8/2/15

 

Yet another new-to-me song!  Have you heard this one before?

 

I love the visualization of breathing in grace.  And then exhale.

 

So calming.

 

Exhale

It's okay to not be okay
This is a safe place
This is a safe place
Don't be afraid
Don't be ashamed
There's still hope here
There's still hope here

No matter what you've done or who you are
Everyone is welcome His arms

Just let go let His love wrap around you
And hold you close
Get lost in the surrender
Breathe it in until your heart breaks
Then exhale
Exhale

Spirit come tear down the walls
That only You can
That only You can
Reconcile this heart to Yours
Right now God
Right now

Just let go let His love wrap around you
And hold you close
Get lost in the surrender
Breathe it in until your heart breaks
Then exhale
Exhale

Oh God We breathe in your grace
We breathe in your grace
And exhale
Oh God we do not exist for us
But to share Your grace and love
And exhale

Oh God We breathe in your grace
We breathe in your grace
And exhale
Oh God we do not exist for us
But to share Your grace and love
And exhale

Just let go let His love wrap around you
And hold you close
Get lost in the surrender
Breathe it in until your heart breaks
Then exhale
Exhale
Exhale
Exhale
Exhale

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 , Sundays Down Under and The Weekend Brew.

Book Review~ Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney ~ 8/1/15

Blurb:

Cate Kinkaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many resumes she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

 

My Thoughts:

As I've mentioned on the blog before, I've been in a MAJOR reading slump.  I asked a facebook group I belong to for suggestions on how to get out of a slump.  One of the repeated pieces of advice was to read a new genre.  So, mystery it was!

I had read some books by Lorena McCourtney before and enjoyed them.  I thought the blurb looked interesting so I settled in before bed to start reading.

Guess what?  I feel like I"m out of my slump!

This book was so entertaining!  I loved Cate Kinkaid's character and the PI aspect.  I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and can honestly say that I didn't have it figured out at all :)  And, there was just enough hint of romance to make it interesting on that front as well.

I've already been looking at buying book 2 and 3 of the Cate Kinkaid Files series but I have so many other books on my shelf to read before I start buying.  These will be at the top of the list though :)

 

Happy Reading!

Saturday 9 ~ Heartbeat Song ~ 8/1/15

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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Listen to the song HERE.

 1) Kelly Clarkson is singing an upbeat song about falling in love. Think of your favorite love song. Is it about finding love or losing it?

 

Finding it.

2) This song was co-written by Kara DioGuardi, who was a judge on American Idol. Kelly was, of course, the first American Idol. Do you watch Idol, The Voice, or America's Got Talent?

I used to watch Idol but stopped a few years ago.  My hubby and I watch the Voice and AGT.

3) In this video, Kelly is blonde. Clairol based a famous ad campaign around the assertion that "blondes have more fun." Tell us another commercial catchphrase (it can be for any product at all).

Be all that you can be.

 4) As a young girl, Kelly wanted to be a marine biologist. She jokes that she changed her mind after seeing Jaws. Tell us about a movie that really scared you.

I absolutely refuse to watch scary movies!  No way!

5) Kelly is very involved with NASCAR, performing at pre-race concerts and appearing at their Champions' Breakfast. Are you a race fan?

I used to be big NASCAR fan and even went to a race.  But then I got married and had kids...

 6) Kelly is married to Brandon Blackstock, stepson of country superstar Reba McEntire. Are you a country music fan?

I'm listening to country music right now!

 7) The Blackstocks have a baby girl, River Rose. In May, the family visited an Australian wildlife preserve and introduced her to koalas and kangaroos. Have you visited the zoo this year?

Not this year.  My cousins went to the Pittsburgh Zoo last weekend.  Wish we would have gone along :(

 8) Upon learning that she was getting criticized on Twitter for being "big," Kelly responded, "Say what you will. It's a free world. It doesn't bother me." How about you? Do you worry what other people think of you?

I'll admit it.  Yes.  But I worry more over what I think of myself.  Does that make sense?

 9) She bid over $200,000 and won a ring that had once belonged to Jane Austen. (She doesn't have the ring, though; the British government banned its sale because it's a historic artifact and Kelly's money was returned.) She also has a first edition of one of Austen's novels. Who is your all-time favorite writer?

Jane Austen!  I didn't know Kelly was a fan!

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

Tea Time ~ 7/31/15

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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~As promised, here is Laken with her new glasses!  My baby is growing up :)

~I started reading a book!  I don't know how long it has been since I sunk my teeth in a good book :)

 

~I started a new crochet project!  African flowers :)

 



~My mom bought me a new cookbook!  I love looking through them and making lists of recipes I want to try :)

~I got my Subaru back from the Collision Center!  Looks brand new :)

How's your week been?

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 and OhHeyFriday

In the Kitchen ~ Apple Pie Muffins ~ 7/30/15

This recipe is adapted from "The Bake Sale Cookbook".

Apple Pie Muffins

Makes 12
3 1/2 Tablespoon butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 large baking apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped.

Topping:

5 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350F and put 12 paper liners in a muffin pan.

To make the topping, place the flour, cinnamon and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Add the butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles find breadcrumbs.  Set aside.

Cream together the butter and brown sugar until pale and fluffy.  Gradually beat in the egg.  Add the flour, baking powder and cinnamon.  Stir in the chopped apple.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

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

Linking up to:  Full Plate Thursday, Inspritation2 , Creative Ways, Grace at Home, Create It Thursday, Your Turn to Shine,   Project Stash  Homemaking Linkup and Home Sweet Home, Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Think and Make.

Hodepodge ~ 7/29/15

Joyce's Hodgepodgey Questions:

1.  I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-

Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most? Which one comes most easily to you?
I struggle sometimes with finding the good in life. I guess depression/anxiety will do that to you.  Thank God, I've been somewhat symptom free but it always niggles at the back of my mind :(  Then rest of the "secrets" come pretty easily.

 2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?
I'd probably take my kiddos out to lunch.

 3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet...which 'trip' have you experienced or dealt with most recently? Explain.
 Guilt trip.  Always.

 4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?
I might have to come back to this one!

 5. As July draws to a close, let's take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you...been swimming? enjoyed an ice cream cone? seen a summer blockbuster? camped? eaten corn on the cob? gardened? deliberately unplugged? watched a ballgame? picked fruit off the vine? taken a road trip? read a book?  Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?
Swimming: check.  Ice cream:  check.  Summer Blockbuster:  check.  Camped:  check.  Corn on the Cob:  check.  Gardened:  hubby does that.  Unplugged:  check (see camped).  Ballgame: check.  Fruit off the vine:  nope.  Road Trip:  check.  Read a book: major reading slump.

I'd like to get back into reading some good books.  I have a ton on my shelf.  I just need to take some time to sit down and crack one open.

 6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What's your question?
Just one????

 7. What's your most listened to song so far this summer?


 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A stomach bug has been making its way through my family.  Littlest one is sick now :(

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

Teaser Tuesday ~ Dying to Read ~ 7/28/15

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 

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My teaser for this week is from:

 

~An identification card that made her--what?  An overage Nancy Drew?  And underage Jessica Fletcher?  A clueless Stephanie Plum?  Whatever, she was getting desperate, and the job was only temporary, not a lifetime commitment.~

Page  5

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Family Time Tuesday ~ PNC Park ~ 5/28/15

 

 

Toward the beginning of summer we were lucky enough to go to a Pirates game at PNC Park.  They were playing the Mets.  It was a beautiful day and the Park was at its finest.

 

In this picture, you can see Cutch's poster.  I wanted to get more pictures of the players but you had to keep up with the flow of traffic or get run over!

Here's the Legacy Square entrance.

Don't mind the random dude at the bottom of this picture.  Apparently he was a Mets fan....Booo!!!

There are so many pretty views from the park.  Of course, there are lots of bridges to go over those 3 rivers.

And lots of boats on the water that day.  Probably hoping for a water ball!

The Park is huge but doesn't have a bad seat in the house.  It always amazes me that so many people can congregate in one place!

 

You can see the city behind the outfield fence.

When a homerun goes outside the park and into the water, it is then called a water ball.  We were excited to see a few homeruns during the game!

One final shot of the family.  (Laken elected to stay home with the babysitter, a wonderful teen from our Church.)

 

It was a wonderful day spent with the family and the Pirates won!  Good all around fun :)


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

Linking up Totally Terrific Tuesdauy,  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.