Deborah's Reading Window

New Beginnings

2012-02-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies;
I am always excited to share good news! Our new home is such a blessing to us! We are finally settling in and almost done with unpacking. This weekend should be the last of it, if all goes according to our plans.
I am getting back to reading again, since I have been sick I have not been up to doing any of my "normal" activities. I have missed it so much!
Our book club meeting was wonderful! It was so good to get back into the swing of things! I know we all missed each other and agreeing to a new meeting date and place has got us all excited for the New Year. We are also looking forward to welcoming some new members as well!
Our next meeting date will be on February 25th and we will now be meeting at Hot Brew instead of Starbucks because it has been so hard to find empty tables, but thankfully we asked and the wonderful waitresses at Hot Brew said we can call ahead and reserve a space! Wahoo!! What a blessing!
The book we are reading for January is a suspense called "The Witness" by Dee Henderson. It is already good, should be some good discussion!
I look forward to posting more as I am feeling more like my "old self". Thanks for being so patient with me!
Blessings and Happy Reading~
Deborah

Here's to a New Year

2011-12-29T19:44:00.000-08:00

I must apologize for not blogging for awhile now. I have been dealing with some major health issues which I hope will be coming to an end here soon.
With the New Year coming just around the corner I am so excited for what it holds. We have been blessed with a HUGE answer to our prayers with a wonderful new home to move into. It is time for a change-and we are so ready for it!! We have been in this home for 9 years, it has held some great memories and some not-so great memories, but definitely through it all-God has been with us.
I am looking forward to making some GREAT NEW MEMORIES in our new home. With Christ in the heart of it!
I have not been reading as much as I have liked because I have not been feeling well, so I am looking forward to getting back to myself again. I will be reviewing and posting my reviews again after the New Year.
I hope everyone has a blessed New Year surrounded by those that they love and care for.
God bless all of you!
Happy Reading~
Deborah

A True Inspiring Life!

2011-10-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

When I first got Brenda Warner's book "One Call Away", I thought, "Oh this book will probably be a good read." I must tell you that is a true understatement. I could not turn the pages fast enough.
I know that each of us have a story to tell, God has called us to use each of our hurts and heartaches and even our joys to encourage others as they walk this journey called life. This is exactly what Brenda has done in this book.
I was so moved by her openness and honesty as she shared her story of her first marriage and the ups and downs and even as it led to the unfortunate disability of her son Zack. I was so impressed with the strength that Brenda showed to fight for her child to find out all the information that she could as he was growing up and not settle for what the doctor's would tell her. We do have to be advocates for our children, no one else will do it!
Having been through divorce and also the pains of adultrey, I could share some of the feelings of betrayal that Brenda described in her book. It brings to surface so many insecurities and lack of self confidence.
It was great that she had such an incredible support system, as did I.
Brenda goes on to tell how she met her second husband, Kurt Warner, who at that time was just starting to play football in college. Their story is very sweet and romantic. It was not without it's own trials, but as soon as they started giving everything over to the One who created everything, things definitely started going smoother.
Brenda was so great about sharing how life as a football wife was tough for her, she was an outspoken lady and it often made her very unpopular with the media and the coaches of her husband's teams.
I won't go into too much detail about the story, but I will say the two of them have huge hearts. As much money as they made, they loved to share and help out as much people as they could, and they still do that today.
The story that touched my heart the most was the one of Daniel. Brenda is part of a ministry where she goes to hospitals and rocks little babies that are abandoned and left to die. There was one that was pretty much brain dead as he was "shaken" by his birth father but the mother did not want him to be taken off life support because that would mean the father would go to prison for murder.(unbelievable!) Daniel was finally getting worse and was sent to a different hospital as he was on his last days. One night Brenda had a real strong feeling that she was to "go rock Daniel". She told Kurt about this and he said "GO!" long story short, Brenda listened to the voice of God and went to spend that time with Daniel holding him, rocking him, kissing him, singing to him, speaking to him softly, and telling him that he could let go and go home to Jesus, the One that loved him and created him. He died that night, but not alone....Brenda was holding him, but had she not listened, he would have died alone. WOW!!! I cried so hard when I read that part!
This book was amazing, Brenda is an amazing woman with such a heart for God. Her and Kurt both have such a great ministry that I admire! I loved this book and I hope someday to be able to share my story just like they did! I definitely recommend this book! You will be inspired!

The First Gardener-by Denise Hildreth Jones

2011-10-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I got the opportunity to review this book from Tyndale House, I did not hesitate. I have heard such wonderful things about this author and I have had several of her other books on my wish TBR list as well. Including her Savannah series.

Jeremiah Williams has been taking care of the gardens at the Tennessee governors mansion for the past 25 years. He has cared and prayed for its residents as well. There is something special though about the current family. Jeremiah wonders if all the hurt and unjust treatment he's gone through in life have been so that he could be with this family at this specific time.

Governor Gray London and his wife Mackenzie, struggled with infertility and miscarriages for years. Now it seems that all their dreams have come true. Their miracle baby, Maddie, is heading off to kindergarten, and Gray is making a real difference as governor.

When tragedy strikes again and again, the London's are thrust into circumstances they don't know if they can survive, and they're not sure they even want to.

What is God doing in their life? Is he really even there? How could he love them and let these kinds of things happen?

It's a real story of life . . . and death, forgiveness,faith, depression and broken dreams.

One of my favorite quotes from Jeremiah was when he said in his southern accent " . . . Maybe this what the last thirty years been for. Maybe this why I gone through ever'thing I gone through, see ever'thing I see, hear ever'thing I hear. `Cause this family need me. 'Cause there be some way I can make a difference, even if it's only prayin' for an ornery ol' woman..."

This story is packed with emotion. The characters literally leap off the pages and into your heart. You will definitely need a box of kleenex as you prepare to read the book.
I definitley recommend the book, but it is not an easy, lighthearted read. Although it is not one you will forget anytime soon!
I look forward to reading more of Denise's books. She is a very gifted author who knows how to tell a story.
I want to thank Tyndale for trusting me with a copy of this book to give my honest review to post on my blog and share with others.

Enter to win "The Chair" by James L. Rubart

2011-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone-head on over to Nora's blog at http://psalm516.blogspot.com/2011/10/chair-giveaway-james-l-rubart-interview.html and you can enter to win a copy of James L. Rubart's book "The Chair". He also wrote a great book called "Rooms", another MUST READ!
For those of you who don't know, Nora did an interview awhile back with Lucie and I for the Chick Lit Book Club for "Christian Women Online Magazine". She is amazing and so talented.
I hope you will head over and check out her blog and enter the contest!
Happy Reading~ Deborah

Sometimes Being Bold Pays Off!

2011-10-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

So I was on Twitter awhile back and saw that an author shared about a book he had written. I took a bold step and tweeted to him. I said, "I blog about books and I am in a book club and if you would send me a copy of your book I would love to write a review and post it for you on my blog and on Amazon for you, along with discussing it at our next Book Club meeting." I waited thinking this would be a long shot, put it didn't take long for the author Michael Barnett to contact me to let me know he was sending me a copy of his book "Eden Fading" to review.
The story is set in 1961 the main character is a little boy named Danny, who at this time is only three years old. The story is told from the view of what I perceive to be as guardian angels who are watching over the little boys. Danny has two younger brothers named Wayne and Eddie. The boys like to play together and then Danny likes to "go overboard" with his imagination and rough housing, to the extent that you don't know where the lines of good and evil are anymore. He definitely has some spiritual battles going on, even at three years old. Danny has become the king manipulator and also great at getting his younger brother Wayne to join in on his plans. It is either join him or fall victim to his plans.
Mom and Dad have gotten to even "fear" their own boys, and at one point in the book go to the extreme of strapping the boys to their beds at night so they don't sneak out to create more trouble.
As the story progresses and the boys get older, so does the extent of their creativity and dangerous mischief. Their brother Eddie is now joining in on the fighting and trouble and they now have another little brother name Lee who has fallen victim to their antics. Some are laugh out loud funny, some are shocking that I wondered how any child could survive, except Guardian Angels watching over them.

The story kept my attention, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Hoping nothing "horrible" was going to happen. I have a favorite part at the end of the book a moment between Danny and his mother. It made me smile, warmed my heart.I have one son, and two daughters. My son was totally accident prone, and I know he must have had a couple Guardian Angels watching over him to survive some of the things he did. It makes me laugh to think about it now, but I was not laughing back then.
I think Danny, Wayne, Eddie and Lee's mom must have been an incredible woman, she went through so much with those boys! That woman deserved an award!

Seriously, I enjoyed this book. It was different than I thought it was going to be, but it was real and well written! I recommend it and I hope the author had success with it. I appreciate the trust that was given to me in sending me a copy and in letting me write a review!

Surrender the Heart-by MaryLu Tyndall-Our Book of the Month

2011-08-03T06:49:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading our Book of the Month selection-"Surrender the Heart" by MaryLu Tyndall. It was AMAZING!! So enjoyable, romantic, ministering and a page turner! I can't wait for our book club meeting to see what everyone else thought of it!
I am looking forward to reading more of this authors books, she is so talented and definitely did her homework with the knowledge and history of life on the high seas! If you have not read this book or heard of this author-I recommend you check it out!
You won't be disappointed~~~
Until we meet again~Happy Reading!
Deborah

The Canary List-A Book That Will REALLY Get You Thinking!

2011-07-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

From the back cover:

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone.

But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.

Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. It was not at all what I had expected the storyline to be. I did not find much of a Christian message in the book at all. I did learn quite a bit about the Catholic church and some of their ceremonies. Even though this book is fiction, I found some of the information to be very possible and probably not far off the mark. EVIL is everywhere, even in the Vatican and Catholic church. Think of all the crime committed against children that takes place in the Catholic church...that is evil alone.
I think this book was interesting-but it may not be for everyone. I think this book was interesting, definitely a story that will really get you thinking. I had to finish it to see what would happen in the end and even then I was not very satisfied with the finale.
A good read but not one which I would give five stars to.
This book was given to me by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Company to review, I was not paid or rewarded for my review in any way.

Deborah

Great Marriage Devotionals-Check it out!

2011-07-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Marriage Devotionals

June Bug by Chris Fabry-My Review

2011-07-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

Back Cover Description:

June Bug believed everything her daddy told her. That is, until she walked into Wal-Mart and saw her face on a list of missing children. The discovery begins a quest for the truth about her father, the mother he rarely speaks about, and ultimately herself. A modern interpretation of Les Miserables, the story follows a dilapidated RV rambling cross-country with June Bug and her father, a man running from a haunted past. Forces beyond their control draw them back to Dogwood, West Virginia, down a winding path that will change their lives forever.

This book was very different from any book I have read before. It keeps you turning the pages just to see what is going to happen. Told from a child's perspective, it touches your heart from the beginning and bonds you with the characters right away. I thought as I was reading the story that I knew where it was going, what the secret was that her "daddy" was keeping from June Bug, but I was pleased to know I was wrong. I am glad it was not so predictable! As I read to the last page I found tears streaming down my face; mixed with emotions of happiness and sadness.
I definitely recommend this book, it is another one that I will not forget about.

Everyone Welcome!

2011-07-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies!
It has been a crazy winter. We weren't sure we were ever going to see the sunshine. The Chick Lit Book Club and Review has taken a break for a little while, but we have all still been reading some wonderful books.
We will be joining back up and meeting again to discuss these books this Saturday, July 16th at Starbucks. We will be meeting at our regular time of 11:00 a.m. Due to the fact that we will be discussing our last 3 books, be prepared to have the meeting go a little longer than in the past.
It should be fun and full of some good conversation.
At that time we will be letting you know what books have been selected for the next couple of months. Lucie and I have really put a great deal of thought into the variety of what we read. I know you ladies will be as excited as we are!
I look forward to seeing you there!
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Max on Life-Real Answers to Real Questions

2011-07-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Max On Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions

Product Description:

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.

In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.

Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions-parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships-as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?

The one thing I liked best about this book was how REAL and HONEST Max Lucado is. He doesn't hold anything back, but he is also gentle with his answers-all of which are backed up with scripture. It is often said that there are no "dumb questions", the only thing that is dumb is not asking the question.
In this book so many of the questions we want to ask have been addressed. The answers are easy to understand and help set your mind at ease.
Sometimes things happen in life that we don't understand and we ask "Why?" For example, one of the questions #66 to be exact: "I applied for a job and got rejected. I asked my grandmother for a loan: She turned me down. My boyfriend says we should split up. I'm having a hard week. Is God even listening to me?"
And the answer....well you will just have to get the book and read it.
This book will be one that anyone can keep and use as a reference as life continues for us and we need to have those answers.
I believe this book will be very useful especially for New Believer's and people who are in counseling groups.
Max has once again done a GREAT job!

Here Burns My Candle-My Book Review

2011-07-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

I was excited to read my copy when I received it for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books for a couple reasons.First, I am a fan of Liz Curtis Higgs and I also had heard so many good things about this book.

The novel follows the Kerr family in 1745, the story focusing on Lady Elisabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, the dowager Lady Marjory Kerr. The bonny Prince Charlie and his army of Jacobites have ridden into town and are preparing to take back their land. The Rising has a profound effect on Elisabeth and her husband Lord Donald, his brother and sister-in-law Andrew and Janet, and Marjory. The family is initially mixed in their loyalties- do they throw their support to Prince Charlie or stay loyal to King George? Elisabeth worries her Highlander loyalties, and thus to the bonny Prince, will divide her against her family. Each character's reaction to the turmoil around them sets the course for our tale.

Liz Curtis Higgs's historical novels trace a Biblical story. "Here Burns My Candle" is the first in a two-book series. This time around, the story is based on Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah.

The story moved quickly, for me, thanks to the dynamics between Elisabeth and Marjory. Marjory starts off as a snobby, critical, domineering mother-in-law. Watching her grow, seeing her reclaim her faith as Elisabeth comes to know who God is, was beautiful. I don't want to say much more than that. It is easy to say, I was captivated from the start. I'm very excited to dive into the sequel: Mine is the Night.
If you are a fan of historical fiction you will love this, but be prepared to look back in the glossary to try to decipher some of the words that Liz uses. It can be pretty crazy!

Deborah

Review for " Broken Wings"

2011-07-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

From the back cover:
Mitzi tenderly cares for her husband, Gabe, as he suffers from Alzheimer's. When not visiting him at his care center, she spends time volunteering at the local hospital. It is here that she meets Brooke, a young woman with a seemingly perfect life. But Mitzi quickly discover's Brooke's secret, and is determined to help her regain control of her life. Both women learn, through each other, how to mend their own broken wings.
Onstage, the singing duo of Gabe and Mitzi Steiner captured America's heart for more than two decades. Offstage, their own hearts have throbbed as one for sixty years. Only now, Gabe has retreated into the tangles of Alzheimer's, leaving Mitzi to ponder her future alone.

On the other side of Tulsa, everyone believes Brooke Woodson has found the perfect man--a handsome lawyer with sights on becoming Tulsa's next District Attorney. If only Brooke felt more sure. If only her fiancé could control his anger. If only love didn't come with so many scars.

When an accident lands Brooke in the hospital where Mitzi volunteers, the two women quickly develop an unlikely friendship birthed by providence and bathed in grace. And with Mitzi's help, kindness, and insight, Brooke learns how to pick up the broken pieces of her life.

I adore the love story of Mitzi and Gabe, and I liked the way the story was revealed, bit by bit, weaving past with present. This story touched my heart so deeply and made me very well educated of how difficult it would be dealing with someone suffering from Alzheimer's. It is such a heartbreaking disease.

Carla Stewart does a good job at getting you attached to the characters of this book, you feel so connected to them it is sad when the book comes to an end. I loved this book for the story and for the delicate, yet truthful ways she unfolds the issues of Alzheimer's and Domestic violence.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a story to read that will tug at their heart and make them think about friendship, struggles and how the two can beautifully intersect. There are many books out there that are good reads, and then there are some that are great and will stay with you long after you read the last page; for me, this book is one of those!

Deborah

This Book Will Grab You and Not Let Go!

2011-06-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

I just finished Tracey Bateman's book "Thirsty". Talk about a book that is a real pages turner! I finished it in one day because I had to keep reading it to see what was going to happen. The storyline was well written and had you on the edge of your seat. It was not your average predictable suspense. And I liked that!
Here is a little of what the book was about:

Nina Parker was married and is now divorced with two children, her demons comes flying at her in every possible moment on the pages. After hitting rock bottom, Nina's sister, Jill, takes the broken woman in. Jill lives in Nina's hometown of Abbey Hills, Missouri, and has arranged for a job for Nina as a waitress until she can get back on her feet. Nina was a vet before alcoholism took over and is hoping to save enough to return to Houston one day and open up her own practice.
Returning to Abbey Hills is a difficult idea for Nina as it's a place she hasn't seen in 16 years. She left one terrible night when she was only 18 years old, not yet realizing that she had become pregnant. She hadn't faced her parents in all that time, and they had never met her children. They are overjoyed to get the opportunity now, but it's a hard situation for Nina to face.

Nina's daughter, Meagan, accompanies her for a week-long trip, the stay being arranged by her dad is an attempt to repair an extraordinarily strained mother-daughter relationship. Though Meagan is furious about the forced trip, she has lost faith in her mother long ago, Nina still holds on to the hope that she can begin to make up for years of hurt. The only catch is that Meagan's real father also lives in Abbey Hills and Nina doesn't want him to know about her. And there have been disturbing events on the news, with some animals nearby having been found mutilated and a young woman murdered. The community is in a state of panic, and the situation has escalated enough to make both Hunt, Nina's ex and Nina nervous.

Nina becomes friends with Markus who is her sister's neighbor, and who seems charming enough, but he is holding a dark secret as well.

Nina, Markus, Jill, Meggie and Hunt became so real that I felt that I knew them. I found myself having to put the book down for a few moments several times in order to catch my breath as events unfolded. The authors ability to develop the relationship between Nina and her daughter was so believable for anyone that has raised a teenage daughter.

Ok, I have to stop or I will tell you too much about the book. You have to read it! You will either end up liking it, or not. But it definitely will keep you in suspense. I think Tracey did a great job with this one!

Happy Reading**
Deborah

The Convenient Groom-by Denise Hunter, A Book Review

2011-06-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

"Kate wrote the book on finding the right mate. But she couldn't write the chapter on true love . . . until now. Kate is always used to having this so planned out and perfect and when things are falling apart right in front of her she is finally left without a plan.
Five hours before her Nantucket beach wedding, Kate receives the worst news of her life, her fiance's decides not to marry her, that's right, he won't be showing up. And this is all happening on the same day her big book launch.
Along comes Lucas Wright, who offers to stand in for the missing husband-to-be and marry her. Kate's desperate enough to agree,although she's sure this Mr. Wright is completely wrong for her. They might just be able to pull this off. But Kate has one crucial question: what's in it for him?
I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. It had you voting for your favorite characters and wanting to yell at some of them to "wake up and smell the coffee". It also showed good points of what happens when you rush into things without going to God in prayers first.
I could actually see this made into a movie.

My Review of "Fade to Blue"

2011-06-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

We all loved Julie Carobini when she wrote "Chocolate Beach" and the sequel "Truffles by the Sea". Now she has another book as part of the Otter Bay Series called "Fade to Blue"
"Suz Mitchell is a determined dreamer, and won’t allow her ex-husband’s jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah’s life. An accomplished artist, Suz moves with her child across the country to California’s central coast, and lands a job restoring priceless art for the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the sea.

But even dreams have shocking twists. To her surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, works at the castle and jumbles the new aspirations in Suz’s heart. While sorting through their past and a palette of spiritual differences, an even bigger brush with yesterday awaits. Suz must learn to let God be the true restorer of all that once seemed lost."

I really enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, and one that kept me waiting to see what would happen next.
There was a little bit of everything in this book, mystery, romance, suspense. I love Julie's writing style, she really allows you to put yourself in the scenes like you are a part of the characters life, one of her friends.
I am looking forward to the next book to see what other adventure lies ahead.

My Review of "Heaven is For Real"

2011-06-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

From the first couple of pages of "Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back" by Todd Burpo,& Lynn Vincent, I was drawn in, I could not put the story down. The story is well told and just grips you deep inside your soul.
Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. He tells of meeting his sister that was miscarried of whom he was never told any details about from his parents, and a Grandfather that he had never met, who had died 30 years prior. He goes on to tell of other incredible things he experienced while being dead for those three short minutes, including sitting on Jesus' lap and hearing the angels sing.
This story is told by Todd Burpo,the father, but often in Colton's own words.
What I found to be true is that even if a the father were to have embellished on Colton's recollection of his visit to Heaven, so that you were to have doubts, then you would have to have doubts about your faith and the Bible and what God's word says. This story was nothing short of AMAZING!!!
When I finished reading it, I was so deeply moved I wanted to buy copies for my friends and family.
I do recommend it for all to read, sceptics included!! I dare you to believe!!

Incredible Book!!

2011-05-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
I just had to post about a book that I just finished reading. I read it in 3 days on my Kindle. It is titled "Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back" by Todd Burpo. If you have not heard of it or read it, I definitely recommend it!
I will be giving my review to the ladies of our book club and posting on my blog here as well, but I just wanted to put a little blurb on here real quick. I was so moved by this book.
The first time I had heard about it was from my pastor, and then I saw it for sale on Kindle for only $6 so I decided to go ahead and get it. I was not disappointed.
Again, I will post my review within the next couple of days!
Happy Reading**
Deborah

All I Can Say is Wow!!

2011-05-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! I can't believe that May is already here. Our book of the month selection is "Deceit" by one the most amazing suspense writer's in the business, Brandilyn Collins. We had the honor of interviewing her when we read "Eyes of Elisha". We learned so much from her plus some amazing true life stories. This book is the first book I have gotten to read on my Kindle-I was so excited and I not only LOVE my Kindle, but I was hooked on the book right away! I have to admit it was "edge of your seat suspense" and I have already finished it! That's right! I could not put it down. Any free time I got I was reading. All I can say is "Wow!!"
I know we are still waiting to discuss "Redeeming Love" and that is going to be an amazing meeting. But when we discuss this book we are going to have a lot to discuss as well. I believe this summer is going to be a wonderful adventure with the Chick Lit book club and I for one am so glad to be apart of it!
Blessings and as always.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Another Great Meeting-Another Great Book Choice!

2011-03-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

Our book club meeting on Saturday was really good as usual. We had a full group, including a new member-Welcome Sandy! I was just telling Lucie the other day-if we get any bigger, we may have to start looking for another place to meet. THAT is a good thing! Lucie and I are so excited! It is so nice to read a book and then get together with friends and discuss the book together. That is exactly what The Chick Lit Book Club does. We also get the chance to interview the authors from time to time, and we consider that a real privilege! You know what makes it even more special? The authors consider it a real privilege to be interviewed by us as well! I love that!
The next book selection is one that I have been hearing nothing but GREAT things about. It is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I have already started reading and I am looking forward to diving deeper into this new adventure.
Here is a little description of what the book is about....

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go. A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

I hope you will pick up a copy of this book and join us at our next meeting on April 30th at Starbucks.
We will be reading half for the month of April and the remaining half for the month of May-because the book is so thick, and we don't want to rush through it.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

A Facelift for March

2011-03-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

With that description....do I have your attention now?
That is actually the title of our book selection for March. Facelift by Leanna Ellis.
Here is a little about the book:

A ‘can do’ kind of woman, who runs her own business and raises her teenage daughter alone, takes into her home her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. She turns Kaye’s world upside down. Kaye receives her own emotional facelift when she learns joy isn’t tacking on a happy face but relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 26th-11:00 at Starbucks. Anyone is welcome-even if you have not read this book for the month, come join us and get in on the discussion. You can find out what the next book choice will be, purchase that book, start reading it and when you come to next month's meeting you will know what to expect. We are always taking new members!!!
Until we meet again**
Happy Reading
Deborah

February's Book Club Meeting

2011-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is our book club meeting for February. We will be discussing our book selection, "Love Finds You in Bridal Veil Oregon" by Miralee Ferrell. Our regular meeting begins at 11:00 at Starbucks and the reviewers will meet at 10:00. I am looking forward to getting together with the ladies. We always have great discussions with every book we read.
Just want to let everyone know that we are always open to new members. So come join us for a cup of delicious coffee and some great female conversation.
As always-Happy Reading and God's sweet blessings**
Deborah

Will You Just Sit There? Or Make a Difference?

2011-01-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

I have always been a fan of Max Lucado. He definitely has a gift with his writing. God has blessed him with the way he is able to use his words. Sometimes he makes us laugh, sometimes we even cry.
I knew when "Out Live Your Life" hit the shelves it was going to be a book that would do nothing less than challenge me.
He eliminates any excuse the reader might have about whether he/she can make a difference. He uses examples in history as well as from the Bible to prove that we indeed can make a huge impact on this world if we choose to. He shows us that anything is possible with Divine Guidance. Lucado challenges us to get out of our self-absorbed worlds and out into the needy world around us. He tells about enough worthwhile causes/activities that most anyone can find a few they can do. You don't have to be rich or a foreign missionary or even talented to make a lasting difference in this world....and the next (Heaven). "Are you more dinghy than cruise ship?...More blue jeans than blue blood? Congratulations. God changes the world with folks like you." While Lucado may not spell out exactly what you personally should be doing this book should aid you in your reflection.
Max Lucado incorporates each chapter with biblical examples and scripture to help the reader grasp the reality that God can and will do extraordinary things through ordinary people.
You will not be able to sit comfortably by after reading Out Live Your Life if you have allowed any part of this book to soak in. I definitely recommend this book! I received this book from Booksneeze.com in exchange for my review.

You Shine, IShine, We All Shine For Jesus!

2011-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

I was really excited when I got the opportunity to review this Bible. I knew it was going to be perfect for our daughter. The IShine Bible we received was the pink one with the leather cover with stars and girls joining hand-in-hand on it. The size was perfect to fit in a purse, backpack, ready to take anywhere.
Looking inside we were really impressed with the question and answer section. It dealt with all the issues that tweens deal with today. Self esteem, anger, teachers, peers, even questions about their own faith.
The Bible version itself was the New Living Translation, and it was very easy for a tween to read and understand. I know that for anyone that has a difficult time understanding the Bible and what it is saying, this would make it so much easier. My husband and I really loved the colored sections that emphasized that each tween is a V.I.P. in God's eyes. "V: you have value in God's eyes. I: your identity is found only in Jesus Christ-and wow does that mean a lot! P: because of the V and the I, you have a special purpose in the world."
Our daughter lives in another state with her mom and step-dad, so when the IShine Bible arrived in the mail,I immediately called her up and told her about it. I read to her the back of what V.I.P. meant and a little of the colored pages, she was so excited and said "when are you going to send it to me?"
I know she will love it as much as we did. I would recommend it to all tweens and even older teens who have trouble understanding the Bible.

We're Off To A Great Start!

2011-01-27T07:18:00.000-08:00

Our first book of the New Year, "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman was incredible! It was touching, inspiring, and a book that I will remember for a long time. We are off to a great start with our book choices for 2011. I am excited to read our February book selection "Love Finds you in Bridal Veil, Oregon" by Miralee Ferrell. She was one of our first speaker phone interviews, and quickly became one of our favorite authors. Being that February is the "Month of Love" Lucie and I thought this book would be fun and filled with adventure. I hope everyone enjoys it.
Here is a little about the book:

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon
Amidst a backdrop of thievery and murder in historic Bridal Veil, Oregon, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future. Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel, but he left town six years before. Now she’s giving love another chance, but her decision to build a new life with Andrew is shaken when Nathaniel steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill. When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

I look forward to hopefully welcoming back some of our members that have had to take a break for awhile. Once a member always a member. All you ladies are important and valuable to the group! Just get the book-read it and join back in, it's that simple.
Until we meet again, Happy Reading**
Deborah

What An Inspiration!!

2011-01-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies*
Our book of the month selection, "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman, is nothing less than inspiring. I didn't get past the forward and I was already in tears. I am looking forward to finishing this amazing "gift" that she has given us. By gift I mean, the fact that she opened up her heart and allowed us to see deep into her life, the happiness, the pain, the struggles, the anger-all of it! To be so vunerable and yet so strong at the same time is incredible to me. Something only our AMAZING God can make happen.
All of us has suffered some sort of loss, and we know that life does go on. Sometimes you wonder how, or if it is even fair to allow yourself to feel good again. It is so wonderful to read about the hope that can come out of something so tragic. God is in control of everything, whether people want to believe it or not, even in our deepest pain.
I look forward to discussing this book at our next meeting on Saturday, January 22nd at Starbucks. It is the first non-fiction book we have read and I know it will be very interesting.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Christmas is in the Air!!

2010-12-02T07:05:00.001-08:00

Happy December my friends!
I hope this season finds you cheerful and full of the REAL Christmas spirit!! I know sometimes it can be so distracting with all of the push to "buy! buy! buy!". But as long as we keep JESUS in the heart of it all, gift giving can be so rewarding and satisfying! I know that for me, that is one of my love languages, so I don't really have a hard time with it.
Our Chick Lit Book Club met last weekend to discuss "Christmas at Harringtons" by Melody Carlson. Talk about a good read and a GREAT way to get us into the Christmas spirit! I am so excited and feel so blessed to have the important things in such an abundance, like family and friends and my faith in Christ!!
Our next meeting will be on January 1st, 2011. And we will be going over our book of the month "A Choice to Cherish" by Alan Maki. Another Christmas selection. It sounds like a really good book, I can't wait to get reading!
I pray that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and that you are surrounded by loved ones as you Celebrate the Birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Happy Reading!!
Deborah

Christmas is Coming

2010-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies*
I hope this post finds you all doing well and enjoying our book of the month selection "Christmas at Harringtons". I actually finished reading it in two days. I enjoyed it so much and could not put it down. I cannot wait to hear what the rest of you think about it.
I can see the stores are already getting all the decorations and Christmas trees all set up. I love the Christmas season, I do not like the commercialization of it all. It's just up to us to keep the true meaning alive and reminding those around us so they don't lose hope or get distracted themselves by all the gift giving and chaos that happens around the holiday season.
It can be a beautiful time of year when we spend time with family and friends, baking cookies, Christmas caroling, and just taking time to stop and spend time together, away from the TV, away from the video games, etc.
I am looking forward to some quality family time this year. Loving on my kids and grandkids. Nothing compare to that!
Happy Reading**
Deborah

New Selections Have Been Chosen

2010-10-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Chick Lit Book club met this morning at Starbucks. The day was beautiful, but a little crisp outside, a perfect fall morning. The coffee was delicious as always and the pastries were calling my name.
It was great meeting and discussing our book of the month "Beach Dreams" by Trish Perry. I know some ladies were concerned that reading a book about the beach in the "fall" seemed out of sorts, but it turned out to be a GREAT HIT! And I for one can never get enough of the beach.
We are excited for the next book selections that have been chosen for the next couple of months. The holidays are coming swiftly upon us and it will be good to get into the spirit.
Lucie and I are announcing the book selections in advance so everyone can start shopping for their books now. I already have mine ordered and they are being shipped out to me. I am so excited.
Here is the list:
For November:
"Christmas At Harringtons" by Melody Carlson
For December:
"A Choice to Cherish" by Alan Maki
For January:
"Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman
For February:
"Face Lift" by Leanna Ellis

Each of these books are available now, some are cheaper than others because some are new and some have just been released.
I am really excited about the next couple of months, I hope you all will feel the same after you check out the authors and the book selections!
God's blessings and Happy Reading**
Deborah

Chick Lit Book Club Meeting

2010-10-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about our book club meeting tomorrow at Starbucks. We just finished reading "Beach Dreams" by Trish Perry. Will be discussing it at tomorrow's meeting. I loved the book and finished it in four (4) days.
Our next couple of selections will help us bring in the Christmas holiday. I am looking forward to those selections, Lucie, our book club leader, will announce them at tomorrow's meeting. Then all of the ladies can get busy and get those books ordered and start getting into the holiday spirit.
Happy Fall and Happy Reading!
Deborah

Never Let You Go- A book review

2010-09-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

Lexi Solomon is struggling to put her life back together. Ever since her husband Grant left her, she's barely made ends meet for her and her daughter. Suddenly, within a span of a few hours, everything she held dear threatens to fall apart. Erin Healy's first novel of her own, after co-authoring two with Ted Dekker, is a thrilling story about forgiveness, survival and spiritual warfare.

When Lexi's daughter, Molly, was only two, her drug addicted husband left her. Around that same time, a man named Norman Von Ruden murdered her sister. Now, seven years later, a low-life drug dealer gives Lexi an ultimatum. She must testify on Norman 's behalf at his parole hearing, or he'll harm her daughter. Then, Grant storms back into her life, trying to renew ties with his daughter. Further threatening Lexi's sanity is her father, who is in a mental institution, and her mother, who will have nothing to do with him.

Working two jobs and behind on utility payments, Lexi doesn't know if she'll make it. To make things worse, she's starting to see things and losing her grip on what is real and what isn't.

Knowing Healy's background with Dekker, I expected to there to be some sort of supernatural angle to NEVER LET YOU GO, and there is. It is powerful and gripping and gives you hope that good will ultimately prevail. My only complaint would be that some of the early hints of the supernatural elements were confusing.

Once the story gets rolling, it was hard to stop reading. Lexi's fight for Molly is both captivating and wrenching. The villains are pure evil, and the spiritual message is uplifting and hopeful. A must-read for Christian fiction fans who enjoy Dekker.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for this copy of Erin Healy's book in exchange for my review.

My Review of Still House Pond

2010-09-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home. When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if their daughter is injured . . . or even alive.

I ended up really liking this book. It took me a while to get into it, but by page 100 I didn't want to put it down. I thought in the first half of the book, the character development was also a little slow. I didn't feel like I was getting to know anyone. In the second half it totally turned around and once I got to know the characters I loved them! There are really 3 main characters -
Copper - She is the town Midwife. She is a strong and smart woman. She takes sick, pregnant women into their home against her husbands better judgment. She nurses them back to health and teaches them how to care for their babies.
Lilly - An 11 yr. old girl who is carefree and a little mischievous. She intends on being a mature young lady but something is always tempting her away, puppies, people, listening and watching things she shouldn't, all these things are far more interesting than watching her siblings and doing chores. She is scheduled to visit her Aunt for a spell, which she is very excited about and feels very grown-up taking the train alone.
Manda - She is the 18 yr. old hired help. She has big dreams of falling in love. With stars always in her eyes, her mind is always wandering to a certain stranger, while at the same time her heart is wondering if her friend, Gurney could be "the one". I loved Manda, she was my favorite!
This takes place in Kentucky in 1896. This book has some great twists and turns, and in no way is predictable. Thank you Tyndale House Publishers for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to review.

A Little Glimpse....

2010-08-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hello my fellow readers!
Here is a little glimpse of the newest book I have the pleasure of reviewing. It is called "Still House Pond" by Jan Watson

"Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home. When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if their daughter is injured . . . or even alive."

I will be posting my review shortly. Until then.....
Happy Reading!
Deborah

My Review for Happily Ever Laughter

2010-07-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

When I first chose this book I was hoping for an easy read, something funny, as I had just finished a few serious books. Let me just say; I was not disappointed. This book is compiled with stories from different authors such as; Chonda Pierce, Ken Davis, Jeff Allen, Kendra Smiley and others.
Let's face it, sometimes marriage can be serious, and like one person said, "sometimes it can be seriously funny".
This book is a quick read it, touches on so many subjects in marriage and makes us look at them from a funny side,for example;garage sales, home repairs, clogged toilets, babysitters gone bad, road trips, anniversaries, the before and afters of weddings (taking a look at ourselves 20 years or more down the line). And the list goes on. I found myself laughing out loud at times.
I know marriage does have it's time when you need to be serious, but God also has brought man and woman together to love and enjoy eachother, and that does include LAUGH together. Thank goodness for that or marriage would be quite dull.
This book was well written, I would definitely recommend it to marriages that are just beginning and to those that have been well seasoned. A great gift for any occasion!

I Am Still Alive!

2010-06-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! It seems like it has been forever since I have posted anything. Life has been so crazy in my house. To be honest, we have been doing some major praying for our kids, we have had teen troubles. But the power of prayer is AMAZING and God is winning the battle. My heart has been heavy for so long, so I have not been doing much reading at my normal times. I am finally feeling some relief and have gotten back into a routine. I feel a bit more normal again...if I ever was. lol! I feel bad for the dedication I gave to the reviewing, but I am giving it my best. The books are SO good. I am currently reading "Never Let You Go" as you can see on my blog sidebar. And it has held my attention. And I will be posting my review of another book "Happily Ever Laughter" in the next couple of days.
I hope everyone is happy and healthy. I am looking forward to a peaceful summer full of wonderful new books and authors!
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Book Club Meeting This Saturday

2010-05-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, the Chick Lit Book Club & Review will be meeting this Saturday, May 22nd at Starbucks. The reviewers will meet at 10:00 and the regular members will meet at 11:00. We will be discussing "Intervention" by Terri Blackstock. We will also be announcing the next book selection for June as well.
Please remember that if you have not read our last couple of selections, you are still welcome to join us. New members are welcome at ANY TIME! You can hear the discussion and then pick up the current book and start reading! We have already marked the meeting dates for the next couple of months, so we will let everyone know those dates and you can start planning your summer calendar.
We have some fun events planned. Please come join us and see what you have been missing.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

I Love More Hours of Sunlight!

2010-05-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends!
I feel spring in the air! I am looking forward to shopping for my flowers that I will be planting this season. Last year was my first year that I enjoyed the fruits of my labor, watching petunias, cosmos and pansies and even two different rose bushes bloom and flourish as the season progressed. It was amazing to watch them develop the way that only our amazing God could create them to do. I even took pictures of their growth along each step and will be scrapbooking them. Those of you who know me will not be one bit shocked by that bit of information.
I am also getting excited for all the new books that are coming out this spring as well. Even though my TBR list is a mile long, there is no such thing as too many books to have don't you agree?
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the books they are currently reading. I am currently reading Terri Blackstock's "Intervention" and it is very good.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God*

2010-03-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

Sheila Walsh is an incredible woman of God. When I first became a Christian she was one of my favorite artists. Then I saw her at a Women of Faith Conference. I loved her then. She really knows how to speak to a woman's heart. When I was offered a chance to review her book "Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God", from Thomas Nelson Publishing, I jumped at the chance.
Sheila has an incredible way with her words, she makes you feel like you are right in the journey yourself, like it is your story. You can feel the pain and the happiness that is expressed so well in the book. Sheila's relationship with God is so amazing and her faith is unwavering.
Sheila is encouraging to the reader as she lets you know that anyone can have a close relationship to God, you just have to trust Him. I love that she doesn't hide the struggles she has experienced, but puts the focus back on the lover of her soul.
I also love how she takes several characters from the Bible and their stories and shows us how similar the trials and tribulations are with our own lives.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "We tend to think that if God is with us, things will fall into place in ways that make us feel comfortable and safe. That is what trust in God procures, right? Not at all. The logic is not; trust God and he will always keep you safe. Bad things-frightening things!-happen every day to those who love and trust the Lord. The truth is: what makes us safe is absolute truth that God is with us no matter what our circumstances."
I really enjoyed this book and the honesty and openness that Sheila shares with her readers. I am a fan of Sheila's and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Why Is God Ignoring Me? a book review

2010-03-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

When I first requested a copy of Gary R. Habermas' book "Why Is God Ignoring Me", it was at a time when I too was going through some tough times in my life. In this book, Gary shares insights of his own struggles with the feeling of silence from God. He shares some of the reasons why we may be experiencing the silence, and also ways that encourage someone to stay strong and not give up. Of course we know that God is always there,but sometimes the answers we are waiting for don't come as quickly as we would like them to. But He always responds in the way that is best for us, according to His will for our life.
Gary has a direct way of pointing to reasons why God will choose to use His silence as an answer. Scripture shows us that no answer to us, is actually an answer according to God. He spares us from the things that will lead us into danger or sometimes even death.
I felt this book was easy to follow and comprehend. It will be helpful for others to read and apply to their lives, also reading it helps to know that what we are going through others have gone through and survived. I would definitely recommend it to others.
This book is available to purchase on Amazon.com, CBD.com, or anywhere Christian books are sold.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

A little Info About the Author of our Book of the Month*

2010-03-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

About Me

Christa Parrish graduated high school at 16, with every intention of becoming a surgeon. After college, however, her love of all things creative led her in another direction, and she worked in both theatre and journalism.
An Associated Press award-winning reporter, Christa gave up her career after the birth of her son, Jacob. She continued to write from home, doing pro bono work for the New York Family Policy Council, where her articles appeared in Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine. She was also a finalist in World magazine's WORLDview short story contest, sponsored by WestBow press.
If you want to order a copy of this book and join our discussion of it at the April meeting, you can click on the sidebar photo of the book and go directly to Christa's website, or purchase it from Amazon.com. I am already enjoying the book. I hope you will come and join us!
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Our Interview for Christian Fiction Online Magazine!

2010-03-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies-
I am so excited to share the good news with you about our interview with Nora St. Laurent. She wanted to interview our Chick Lit book club and publish it in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine. To read the whole interview, here is the link:
http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/biz_bookclub.html
I feel so blessed to be apart of such a great group of ladies, you help encourage me and hold me accountable in my walk with Christ. You can't put a price on that. I hope you know how much Lucie and I appreciate each and every one of you ladies.
Enjoy the interview.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Always an Adventure!

2010-02-15T10:47:00.000-08:00

I love books! It is such a thrill to open up the pages of a new book. It is always like beginning a new adventure, for me, that is. As you begin to get to know the characters, you feel like you are apart of their life, even if for a short time.
The one thing I enjoy about reading Christian books is that I am always drawn closer to my Creator, Jesus Christ. There are always lessons in each book that make me think about my own life, the road I have been on before and where I am going now with Jesus as my pilot! There have been healings in so many areas and growth that I would not have been able to do if I had continued in the other direction.
That is why I choose to read Christian books. There are many talented authors out there, but reading those who write with the same faith as myself, makes is so much more inspiring and enjoyable!
I look forward to each new adventure and the things that Christ will teach me along the way.
Happy Reading**
Deborah

Meeting This Saturday

2010-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies*
I am really looking forward to our Chick Lit Book Club meeting this Saturday, February 13th, at Starbucks. We have some sweet surprises for everyone who attends, and we will be choosing the next couple of books that we will be reading. Remember book reviewers meet at 10:00, and the regular meeting begins at 11:00.
If you have not read the Book of the Month, please don't let that stop you from coming to the meeting. You will still be just in time to start the new book for February and March.
If you have never been to one of our meetings and you are looking for a great Christian Womens Book Club to be apart of, come check us out! We always welcome new members! And you can see for yourself what the fun is all about!
Happy Valentines to you and your loved ones, keep in mind as you celebrate this day of love, that we have the best Bridegroom ever in Jesus Christ, and He loves us more than any human can ever try. He will never let us down or break our heart. In fact, He is the healer of the broken hearts and His love is never-ending!
Blessings and Happy Reading**
Deborah

Simple Pleasures

2010-02-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

Since it is the "Month of Love", I wanted to take a moment to express how important it is to tell those that you love and care about how you feel while you have the chance. So many times in our lives we will think there is another day to make that phone call, or send that card that tells someone special in our life how we feel. We know that sometimes those moments don't happen, and other times we take simple pleasures for granted. I have been known to be very good at expressing my emotions. But I am not perfect and I have learned from my mistakes. I really value the close relationships that I have been blessed with. I choose my friends wisely as I have been hurt so bad in the past.
Someone whom I am really thankful for is my Best Friend Lucie. I am so blessed to have such a good relationship with her. We have shared a lot of life's ups and downs in the short time that God has blessed us with our friendship, and I don't know what I would do without her. When they made that saying along time ago, "A friend is someone who knows everything about you and loves you anyways." I know it was perfect for my friendship with Lucie. I am so blessed also to help Lucie with our Chick Lit book club and feel so honored that God has called us to such a fun and fulfilling ministry.
So as you celebrate this "Month of Love" we do celebrate our Valentines, but also stop and think about those other people around you whom you may need to make that overdue phone call to. It may just be what they need to get them through the day!
Blessings**
Deborah

So Many Books, So Little Time!

2010-01-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

I have been so blessed lately by the books that I have won in the various blog contests. Thanks to all the bloggers who have made those opportunities available. I too am going to start doing giveaways on my blog as well. You have to return the favors. I have only just learned how to do this blog the correct way, so I am finally getting it slowly, but surely. I am also committed to the blog tours, which I love so very much. I feel priviledged to review a book and post it on my blog. I try not to take that for granted.
What I am really frustrated with currently though, is that my "to be read" list is growing quite large and it seems like I do not have enough hours in the day to tackle the stacks of books like I would like to.
Am I alone in this? Does anyone else feel this same way? I do work full time, and my attempts to read at bedtime, still does not get me through the average novel as quickly as it used to. But I will keep reading on as my love of books is like my love of life itself. There are so many great authors out there to discover it is like a great adventure everyday!
Here's to the journey ahead of us...even though we have those yield signs and bumps in the roads and stop signs that keep us from finishing those books faster than we would like.
Deborah

Book Review-Saving Cicadas by Nicole Seitz

2010-01-17T21:16:00.000-08:00

Saving Cicadas is a book unlike any book that I've ever read. It's the story of a single mother, Priscilla Macy, who learns she has become pregnant with a third child. It is an unwanted child that she carries.Feeling like she is at a crossroad in her life, she packs up her family,8 year old daughter,Janie,17 year old Rainey who has Down Syndrome, Mom, Mona, who is the meanest grandmother in the world (at least it seems to Janie) and Father Poppy, into the car and begins a journey of searching for answers.
The trip seems aimless until Janie realizes they are searching for the father who left them years ago. When they can't find him, they make their way to Forest Pines, SC. Priscilla hasn't been to her family home in many years and finds it a mixed blessing of hope, buried secrets, and family ghosts.
Through eyes of innocence, Janie learns the hard realities of life and the difficult choices grownups make. And she must face disturbing truths about the people she loves in order to carry them in the moments that matter most.
Seitz chose to tell this story using the voices of eight-year-old Janie and her grandma, Mona. I thought Janie’s voice was totally believable, and the story worked with her telling it. I didn’t think Mona worked as well, mostly because of her reserve. Mona told information that was vital to the story, but her character was mean and cold, a major difference to Janie’s. I understand why Seitz used Mona to tell the story, but the only reasoning I could come up with for the harshness of the transition was that some of the story matter itself was harsh and Mona was the one who exposed it. Although I believe Seitz’s story was well worth the telling, I found myself not believing the book, and that made it a less enjoyable read.

Great Interview

2010-01-09T21:49:00.001-08:00

Hello my friends!
Our Book Club had a great speakerphone interview today with author, Mary Connealy. We found her to be very delightful and funny. I was not surprised, of course. It was so easy to pass the phone around and everyone had several questions that they wanted to ask her. She was snowed in at her home in Nebraska, so she was not planning on going anywhere today. We all learned more about her, how she got started writing, that she wrote for several years before she finally got published, but she did not give up. We are so glad she did not, because she is a very talented and gifted author! The ladies in our group look forward to reading more of the books that she has written and has in the works, as well.
We also voted on the books for the next 2 months. February's Book Selection will be "Ruby's Slipper's" by Leanna Ellis, and for March we will be reading "Watch Over Me" by Christa Parrish. Both of these books are going to be GREAT reads. Those of you who were not able to make it today, you were sorely missed, but please get your books and join us these next few months, we are going to have a fun-filled reading year!
If you go over to Lucie's blog, she will be doing a giveaway for "Watch Over Me" and you might be the lucky winner of that book!
Blessings* Deborah

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-29T06:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with their family. I wanted to remind you of our meeting on January 9th. We will meet at my house, and we are having our speakerphone interview with "Cowboy Christmas" author Mary Connealy. I am really looking forward to speaking with her. She sounds like such a sweet lady. And she sounds thrilled to meet all of you as well.
Regular meeting is at 11:00, and the book reviewers will meet at 10:00.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your New Years celebration, whatever you will be doing. I pray this upcoming year will bring much happiness and love for you and your family. I pray for growth in our group, I am looking forward to the wonderful new books we will be reading and the new authors we are discovering.
I feel really blessed to be apart of such a wondeful group, sharing each book with you ladies, it is really interesting and fun. Thanks again for another wonderful year!
Blessings to you!!
Deborah

Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover's Soul-Book Giveaway!!

2009-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies-check out this great blog- Colletta's Kitchen Sink. I have become a regular follower of her blog, and she is having a giveaway on her blog right now for "Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover's Soul". This series of books is always so inspiring and uplifting. You can keep it for yourself or give it aways as a gift for someone else. Either way, hop on over to her blog, (it is adorable), and enter the contest.
Let me also take this moment to say "Merry Christmas" to all you wonderful ladies that follow my blog and the ladies in our book club. We look forward to another great year with the Chick Lit Book Club and Review. I am looking forward to many more adventures that we will experience together through the books that we will be reading with eachother. And of course, with our Heavenly Father guiding our way.
Christmas Blessings to you all**
Deborah

Meeting This Tuesday Night!!

2009-12-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies!
Just a quick reminder that our meeting will be this Tuesday, December 8th,6:00 at Starbucks. We will be reviewing "Sound of Sleighbells" by Cindy Woodsmall. Even if you have not read it yet, please come and join us for great conversation and to just hear what the book was about. You can get onboard too with the next book selection too. We have already picked that one, "Cowboy Christmas" by Mary Connealy. She has generously sent us some little gifts and I will be passing them out at the meeting, so if you want one, come to the meeting to get yours. Order your book now and join us! We will be doing a speakerphone interview with her in January. It should be lots of fun! She has never done one before and is really looking forward to it as much as we are!
Please bring any book choices that you would like to have us vote on for future "Book of the Month's" and we wil start a new list. Lucie and I really appreciate all of you ladies. We look forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday night.
Blessings to you** Deborah

My Review of "Jesus Lives" by Sarah Young

2009-11-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

When I received this book from Thomas Nelson Book Reviewers, I couldn't wait to read the first page. Each page is titled with something new (joy, faith, trials, etc.) and depending on how quickly an individual wants to go through this book, you can choose to use it as a daily devoitional or read 3-4 entries a day. The book is very easy to read, the scriptural references are so perfect and it makes it so good to be able to reflect back on them for the future to encourage again and again. What I liked most is that the book is written as though Jesus Himself is talking to us daily from His heart. We can sit down with Him and read what He has for us, He already has it all written down. We know this already, some of the things we have gone through already, and maybe some we have not yet to experience, but the book is encouraging and it gives hope, hope that Jesus lives, that He loves and that He is alive and loves us. That is what I got out of this book. I will be passing it on to share with others as well. For a great way to start your time with Jesus in the morning, this is the book to buy! It will put a smile on your face and draw you closer to the One who chose us!

New Book-Next Meeting Date

2009-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies-
It was so good to meet the other day and get ready for the upcoming holidays. As most of you know our next title that we should be reading is The Sound of Sleighbells by Cindy Woodsmall.
We have agreed that our next meeting date will be on a Tuesday instead of Saturday just for the month of December. And that will be on Tuesday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m.
We have already chosen our book of the month for January too, but please be thinking ahead for any books that you would like to add to our list that we can start looking at and voting on.
We look forward to the new coming year. I can't believe that this will be coming close the the end of the second year of the Chick Lit Book Club and Review. Lucie and I appreciate all of you very much! We wouldn't be a group without you ladies!
God bless you all**
Deborah

Next Meeting Date

2009-11-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hello Ladies*
Just to let you know that our next meeting will be on Saturday November 21st. at Starbucks.
We will have our regular meeting at 11:00 and reviewers will meet at 10:00.
Those of you who have read "Distant Echoes" GREAT! and the rest of you PLEASE do not worry-come anyways. The next book that we will be reading is by Cindy Woodsmall called "The Sound of Sleigh Bells". I know you will love it! So look online to purchase it now or I am sure you can find it at Borders,if they don't have it-ask them and they will be more than happy to order it for you!
This book will get us right into the Christmas Season. We will enjoy it together.
I am so excited about celebrating it with all of you. I also want to remind you that the book for December is "Cowboy Christmas" by Mary Connealy. Now you can order both books and be ahead of the game!! I have been in touch with Mary, she has been so wonderful to agree to a speakerphone interview with us when we meet to review the book in January and has sent you ladies some goodies to enjoy just from her!! So go buy her book and get ready to sink your teeth into some good reading. It is so fun to discover these "new to us" authors-they are so talented!! So enough of my talking-you have lots of reading to get busy with. Remember our meeting on the 21st!
Until that time, happy reading!
Deborah

Just Discovered Another Good Author

2009-11-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies-I was entering another contest-which I do on a daily basis now-thanks to my wonderful friend Lucie, I am now hooked. But it has paid off, I have won 2 great books now. I hope to win more. It gives me the opportunity to find new authors that I may not have heard about otherwise. So recently I was entering a contest on one of the sites and came across this book that sounds really good-I thought I would include a little detail about it so you could check it out for yourself. We may review it sometime you never know. Let me know if it interests you. I guess it is the 2nd book by Christa Parrish-her first one was titled "Daisy Chain". So here is some details about "Watch Over Me" "Her rescue might be the miracle they needed, things like this don't happen in Beck County. Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant baby girl, abandoned in a field. As police work to identify the mother, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the obvious couple to serve as foster parents. But the newborn's arrival open old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastaing military tour. Their marriage teeters on the brink and now they must choose to reclaim what they once had or lose eachother forever."
Okay, I have entered the contest to win a copy of this book-I will let you know if I get it! I will keep posting about other good books I hear about. And great authors.
Have a great day everyone!
Deborah**

New Book Choices

2009-10-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! We had a really good meeting today. Discussing the books we have read and choosing the ones for the next couple of months.
We made some choices that I think everyone will enjoy. The books range from suspense to ones that will tug at your heartstrings. And in getting with the spirit of season, we have picked a couple that we will read leading into the Christmas Season.
Feel free to keep reading other books ladies. And get your reviews to Lucie so we can vote on others for the New Year that is just around the corner.
So for October the book choice is Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble, November is Sound of Sleighbells by Cindy Woodsmall, December we will be reading Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy. All of these authors are really talented. It is so fun to dive into a new book-just like starting a new adventure. So enjoy ladies!
God's sweet blessings* Deborah

God is Good Through it All

2009-08-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
~ Psalm 13:5, NLT

That is the scripture for today, and boy was it appropriate. I know that no matter what happens in my life that God has things under control and I have to trust Him. That is all that matters.
It has been tough too, car trouble, finances are tough, but on the plus side I have so many blessings in my life, much more than the negative things that satan tries to throw at me daily. God is my strength and my shield and with Him guiding my day, I can survive anything.
I hope I have encouraged you a little with this nibble from my life.
I pray that your week goes well, we have a three-day weekend to look forward to. YEY!!! Time spent with family and friends always makes me happy. And when I can get things accomplished around my wonderful home I also feel so satisfied.
I hope you enjoy your weekend, whatever you will be doing-or if you are just relaxing. May God bless your life sweetly.
Deborah

Catching Up

2009-08-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies!
Just taking a moment to update my blog. Thanks to Lucie I found a wonderful new site that gives you FREE blog templates. They are so wonderful and so easy to install.
I hope your summer has been going great. I can't believe school will be starting next week. Wow-where has the time gone?!
As you know by now we will be having our Chick Lit Book Club meeting in September now instead of this month. I hope y'all are reading those books. You still have time to order them if you haven't.
I already have a long list of new books that are coming out in September that I am going to by. Some good ones too. I CAN'T wait to read them!
I hope the rest of your summer is great and you will all be at the resuming of our club meeting. We will make it special since we have been on a big break. See y'all there!
God bless everyone of you!
Deborah

Life Happens

2009-07-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends;
Well, July has sped by so fast. My little girl is already going back home to New York on Saturday. My heart is very heavy about that. But every visit is better than none at all.
My daughter Shelby will be due in September with her baby girl Faith Rene', and my daughter Ashley will be due in December with her son Jalen Marques. Wow! I am going to have so many grandkids and so fast! I don't know if my girls know what they are in for, but God planned each child and I am so excited for those little miracles that I am looking forward to loving them with all that I've got.
As for our Chick Lit Book Club. Lucie and I have decided to postpone a meeting until September. So for those of you who have not bought our current book, you still have time and won't miss out on anything. I for one, am glad as life has been so crazy for me that my reading has taken a back seat. I look forward to enjoying every page instead of racing through the book just to get it finished!
My Open Crop will be tomorrow night at 2227 Lee Ct. from 6-11:00. All are welcome! Just bring a snack to share! Time to get those photos into your albums! And have some great GIRLFRIEND time!
Blessings**Deborah

Enjoying the Little Things

2009-07-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are already getting to the end of July. Can you believe it? Where does the time go?
I am loving the warm summer days we have been having. We have been blessed with so many. I also have been enjoying the reading of our Book of the Month for June (should have had it read by now, I know) The Measure of a Lady, it is so good. Then I have to hurry and start reading our other book Love Finds You in Last Chance California by Miralee Ferrell. I am really looking forward to that. We are supposed to have a speakerphone interview with her after we are done reading it. That will be fun! She is looking forward to talking to the ladies again. She loves our group!
My Open Crop is set for Friday July 31st from 6-11. Anyone is welcome. Come scrapbook with me and some other friends. Get those Rodeo Parade pictures on some cute pages, or the 4th of July photos scrapbooked too. We have lots of new stuff coming out.
I am just enjoying all the little activities this month has. Spending time with friends and family is always the best memory makers!!!
Gods special blessings to you all!
Deborah

Summer Fun

2009-07-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I have updated my blog. I have never gone this long.
June has gone by so fast. Graduation for my 8th grade son! Can't believe it! We picked up our two kids, Matt and Tori from the Oakland Airport last weekend for their summer visit here with us. And this weekend Jeff's parents are here visiting from Los Angeles.
We have several activities planned already for this summer. Lots of fun! Our annual camping trip with the Buchert Family. I am so looking forward to that. With our kids getting older and changes taking place in our lives, you never know when we will get to have all the kids in one place like this, as it is we won't have Josh and Ashley with us.
We will be having our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting probably the 3rd weekend in July instead of the 2nd.
Lots of activity around our house, but I love every minute of it. I hope you all are enjoying the beginning days of your summer too. We have had some wonderful weather!!
God Bless you all!
Deborah

1st Annual Chick Lit Barbeque!!

2009-06-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies!
I know by now you have all finished reading your copy of A Seahorse in the Thames I finished mine awhile ago. I enjoyed it very much.
I hope you all received my email letting you know that our Book Club meeting will be changed from it's original date to June 20th where we will be having our 1st Annual Chick Lit Book Club & Review Barbeque.We will be down at the Rohner Park. Meeting to be held at 11:00-12:00. Barbeque to be after that with family warmly welcomed!
Lucie and I are so excited about this event. We hope you all are too.
More updates will follow soon about the food and such!
Blessings and Happy Reading!
Deborah

OH! Happy! Day!

2009-05-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! I just wanted to share with you the good news. Those of you who know that we will be reading Miralee Ferrell's new book "Love Finds You in Last Chance California" for our Book of the Month in July, well, she has agreed to do a speakerphone interview with us in August after we read the book as well!!! OH HAPPY DAY!! She said to tell you ladies that she really enjoys speaking to all of you anyways!
I hope this gets you all excited! I really like to support Miralee-she is still newer than most of the authors that we read and has really given us some individual attention that is really rare. Lucie and I both receive emails from her quite often.
I know this book is a couple months away we still have two more books to read first...but I just wanted to share this bit of good news.
I hope you have already received your copies of a Seahorse in the Thames. I am enjoying it already.
Those of you who did not get the update, this is our Book of the Month for May-it has been on my blog for awhile. Our Book of the Month for June is called The Measure of a Lady written by Deanne Gist. So don't fall behind! Get your books now and join us for the fun!!!!
Blessings to you all!
Deborah

2009-05-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies!
I am so excited to share with you that I have been in touch with some of our favorite authors and they are willing to share more of their valuable time with us. Author of Chocolate Beach Julie Carobini has offered to have a speakerphone interview with us.!!!! She has a new book coming out called Sweet Waters, and she is already working on the follow-up book for it, it will be titled A Shore Thing. She was one of my favorites, I know some of you were not too thrilled ,but this new series sounds delicious!!! Plus getting the chance to talk to her would be bonus. Lucie and I are going to get things set up. It will be fun!
We also discoved a new author named Deborah Vogts her debut book is titled Snow Melts in Spring. I have spoken with her and she too has said she would be willing to do a speakerphone interview with you ladies!! This is the time to get excited!!!
Sure it is fun to read the book and discuss it, but even better when we can talk to the Person who wrote it!! Amazing!!!
Looking forward to seeing you all this weekend! This book Miss Invisible has been Laugh Out Loud Funny!!
Have a great rest of the week!
Deborah

Reading, Living, Loving

2009-04-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies-hope everyone is doing well! I hope everyone has their book Miss Invisible and is already reading it. I am and I am enjoying it immensely. Very funny!!!
I have already received the other books for the next 2 months as well. I am not going to be caught getting the book 1 week before it is due to be read like the month before last. THAT is frustrating!!
Our kids just left from their visit here during Spring Break-they were here from New York. It was a short but very sweet visit-we made the very most of it-living every moment to the fullest. We took a trip down to Fort Bragg and enjoyed the town and sights down there-spent some good quality time with them. It was fun.
I hope you all love your kids while you have them, because they grow up so fast it blows me away, and saddens me more than I can express. But I am thankful that God has given us the time with our kids that He has because the long and short of it is they really belong to HIM right? Praise God!!
Blessings to you my friends**enjoy your book and see you at the next Chick Lit Book Club Meeting.
Deborah

You Ladies are Missing Out! But It's Not too Late!

2009-04-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends; Just wanted to give you a little glimpse of what is coming up in the next couple months with our Chick Lit Book Club & Review:

April's Book of the Month: Miss Invisible Here is a little about it to strike your taste buds..

Freddie Heinz is a single, 29-year-old plus-size wedding cake baker/decorator who feels invisible most of the time due to her size and her still-single status. But she’s about to discover love comes in many shapes and sizes!
Any woman who has ever struggled with body image will enjoy this tale about a woman who finds the liberating love and acceptance she longs for.

May's Book of the Month: A Seahorse in the Thames Here is a little about it to wet your appetite**

This is a story about a woman who is very much in need of an encounter with loveliness. Life has been unfulfilling for Alexa, sometimes downright tragic. She has lost her vision for finding extraordinary within the ordinary. Her vulnerable, older sister Rebecca, brain –damaged from a car accident many years earlier has run away from her group home. Worried, Alexa sets off to find Rebecca with the help of her reluctant-to-get-involved twin sister, Priscilla. She wants to find her missing sister, of course, but she also wants to find a shimmer of hope that her life won’t always be the way it is right now and that beauty sometimes exists in the place where you least expect to find it.

Okay now get on Amazon or Half.com and order your books and come to our meetings. Call me for information and dates 599-4467. I promise you will have a new experience everytime.
God bless you all! Have a great week!
Deborah

National Scrapbook Day Is Coming

2009-03-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies!
Well, It is that time again....the time to catch up on all those projects that you put away for some reason or another and the perfect day to get them done or at least started is on April 4th from 9:30-4:30 at the Fortuna Veteran's Building....Yes! I am talking about NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY!!!! I am so excited, and I hope to see all of you there!!
The cost is only $30 which includes a breakfast, a catered lunch and of course, free goodies and lots of chances to win Wonderful prizes!!!!
Please give me a call at 725-2625 or 599-4467 if you would like to reserve your spot!
Happy Scrapping!!

Deb

Things are going great!

2009-03-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!
Just checking in to see who has gotten their Book of the Month yet?! Mine just arrived on Monday so I have some crazy reading to do....wow-crunch time. But the book looks great. On Sharon K Souza's web page she even has a book trailer, and that really made me excited to read the book. This one is going to be a good one!
My new job is going great! I love it-learning new things, getting to know so many new and different personalities. And I am getting lots of practice on the WII, yes, I do get paid to play video games....can you imagine? But if that is what the consumer wants to do, then that is what I need to do with them. That is when we are at the center. When we are out at the gorgeous victorian houses in Ferndale cleaning that is another story. My job is definitetly interesting. And the consumers their inspire me-wow! That is all can say. Their determination, some of them, is enough to make me think again before I complain about things in my life again
God is good-in ALL things...we need to remember that!
Love and blessings to you**Deborah

New Beginnings

2009-02-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends!
It was so wonderful to have our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting last weekend. Not all of you were able to make it, but we now have an official secretary for the club who takes notes and will get them for all you so you will be able to catch up on what you missed.
It was great getting together after taking the break over the holidays, and now Lucie and I are so excited for the new year to start and the new books that we will be reading.
A new beginning for me will be the new job that God has blessed me with. It will be at a business called "Reaching for Independence" I will be assisting Mentally Disabled individuals out in the community while we clean houses for people, as they become independent adults along the way. I am so excited about this new adventure that God has allowed me to be apart of, and I really just want to make a difference here in this community-in peoples lives now, otherwise, why are we on this earth? Right? I will keep you all filled in on all the wonderful stories. I am sure there will be many.
May God bless your life this week! Deborah

2009-02-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends*
I can't believe how fast January went by. Now it is the month of LOVE. And speaking of Love I am so excited to say that Jeff and I get the opportunity to getaway to a special place in Napa called the Vino Bella, thanks to my parents who have a timeshare there. I am looking forward to a wonderful trip away.
I am also excited that our book club will be meeting this weekend after a couple months off. It has been great to be reading again. I just ordered our next book of the month "Lying on Sunday" by Sharon K. Souza. It should be quite interesting.
I hope all of you have been doing well.
See you soon!
Deborah

I Love Discovering New Authors!!

2009-01-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies!
I just came across this author and thought I would post a little blurb about what the book is about-we should give her a try-I am going to get this book and the other one she is going to come out with soon too! The book is titled "Her Unlikely Family" And here is a little bit of what the book is about:
Opposites attract when an uptight banker encounters a free-spirited waitress during the search for his runaway teenage niece. As they work together to heal the young girl's damaged spirit, an unlikely family begins to form...

Sounds good huh? I will definitely be checking out this (new to me) author.
Have a great week!
God Bless you all!
Deborah

I Love a Good Deal

2009-01-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

When I was shopping at Winco recentley I was so thrilled to find a bin of discounted books! Yes! That is right I said discounted! And they were of the authors that we know AND love, Karen Kingsbury, Rachel Hauck, Judith Pella to name a few. The highest price I paid for some of the books I purchased was $5.99. And the lowest price was $2.99. I also saw the whole Left Behind series in the bin as well. There were a lot of books there to choose from, so if any of you go shopping up there soon-be sure to check out the great deals! I just wanted to share the new so someone else could have the same opportunity!
Happy Reading!
Deborah

Getting Back to the Books

2009-01-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

I have been having a hard time getting into our next "Book of the Month" Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs. I haven't read one book since finishing the Twilight Series. But I need to snap out of it, as I miss getting away to those adventures and lives of those many characters that I had been reading about during the summer. I guess the difference also was during the summer I was not working as much as I am now either. Oh-how I loved that time. Ha!ha! Anyways, I need to get back to the books, I have several that I purchased that I am looking forward to reading and reviewing for our book club-which doesn't meet again until February, so I do have some time to give myself, thankfully.
Any of you been reading some good books I should know about? Or that I should add to my now growing list?
Hope your week is going well!
Deborah

Looking Forward to the New Year

2009-01-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all had a safe celebration wherever you were!
We got the pleasure of spending it with our best friends, Tom and Lucie and their kids. It was fun! I got the pictures to prove it! ha!ha!
I am looking forward to new opportunites this year to draw closer to my Creator, first and foremost. And to spend more time with my family and friends.
I am hoping to be changing jobs, we will see where God will lead me. I will keep everyone posted so you can know where to pray.
I am looking forward to my Crop Night coming up on January 9th from 6 -11:00. It will be some fun girlfriend time and some good time to catch up on some scrapbooking pages. I hope to see you there.
God's sweet blessings to all of you!
Deborah

My First Crop Night

2008-12-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies!
I hope this day finds you warm inspite of this freezing weather we have been having. I do love it-I would love it more if there was actual snow on our ground-then the cold would be worth it!
Anyways, I wanted to give everyone advance notice of an upcoming Crop Night I will be having on January 9th from 6:00-10:00. It will be held at Trudy's workshop, as I do not have enough table space, but I will be the Host of this Crop-as you are my customers. I will be sending out actual announcements, but I wanted to put it on my blog too.
I am very excited about this. It will give us all a time to work on projects that we have put aside during this crazy Christmas season and things like LIFE. I will have another date to do this too, January 30 6:00-10:00 also. So please do me a favor and mark these dates on your calendars. I know so many of you have asked me for a time to do scrapbooking and I am taking the time away from my family to dedicate to you on these two nights for now. I hope you will come out to join me.
Warm toasy blessings**
DKL

Happy Birthday Aimee

2008-12-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends,
It is already December 10! Time is flying by!! My youngest child turned 14 yesterday!!! I cannot believe it!! I just hope our struggles with his schooling will improve and he will finish the 8th grade. He is definitely smart enough-he just doesn't like school and so he has not put his all into it.
Anyways, come see me at BAA BAA. We are having a sale-ALL Christmas items are 30% off and Christmas ornaments are BUY1 GET 1 FREE!!! Plus you can come in and see my friendly face.
I know you all are not done with all your shopping yet, so get yourselves a going and come on in!!!
Have a great week-OH yeah and I am putting out a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my other daughter AIMEE BUCHERT-I love you sweetie-pie!!!
God Bless*DKL

2008-12-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

Well, it is December 4th. How is everyone doing with their Christmas shopping? I have bought for my parents, and for Lucie, Matt, Josh and Tori are getting money, and I think Ashley, Shelby and Anthony will get the same. That takes care of most of mine. Oriana is getting a babydoll, Mahalia is a little harder since she is turning the BIG 6 this weekend, we are getting the movie "Tinkerbell" for the both of them to share. I love my granddaughters. Plus we may be getting them both matching nightgowns too for Christmas morning. This is too fun....being a "grandma", that is!! And Christmas shopping too, although my husband would not agree-but phooey-he doesn't have to do it now does he? I will gladly accept all the fun!
I also have 3 birthday's this month that I have to take care of! Oh my goodness!! Somebody have a money tree I can pick off of?
I will count them all as blessings, right? (power of positive thinking)
Hope your shopping is coming right along! Until later.
Blessings,
DKL

I Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy!!

2008-12-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. –Luke 11:10-14

I wish I could have been one of the actual people receiving this message in person. I would love to have been sitting by the manger-looking at the face of the baby Jesus.
We are still blessed beyond measure though. We can talk to Him everyday, have a relationship with Him that is so unbelievable, I don't know about you, but I definitely take that for granted so often!
Happy December 2nd!!!
DKL

Christmas time is Coming!

2008-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Happy December Ladies!
My Tree is decorated, my house is decorated, the only thing left is getting my wonderful husband to get some lights on the house somewhere. I guess I need to bake him some cookies or something to get him sweetened up first. He is not looking forward to the task of hanging lights. I may have to ask our best friend Tom to come help motivate. There will be a pumpkin pie in it for him!!
I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. I am looking forward now to enjoying the season since the decorating is done. I love Christmas!
My work schedule is not too crazy so I get to enjoy it more time at home too.
I hope to do some baking with Lucie-we always have fun doing that! Whatever plans you have, we all know how blessed we are with the wonderful birth of Jesus at the center of our center of our celebration this month. God is good all the time, everyday!
Blessings**DKL

The Blessings in My Life

2008-11-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

Hello to you all!
I have to say I have had a very good weekend. Croptoberfest was a HUGE success. I had 8 customers attend. Thank you to each and everyone. You made my day, and I look forward to more fun times scrapbooking with you.
Today in church we were thanking God for the blessings in our life, we started with, our life; that it is not the same as it used to be-that we have changed (hopefully for the better). Then next for our husbands or wives that we have; or if you are not married, that God will bring to your life in the future, or if you are widowed, thanking God for the time that He allowed you to have with that person. Then we thanked God for our children; even the black sheep of pasture (ha!ha!) God has plans for them, and I will cling to that promise as long as I live. Lastly, we thanked God for our church; we are so blessed to belong to a wonderful church that has a pastor and ministry leaders that do care about us, that DO NOT claim to be perfect, but love us and when the storms of life come against us, they are there. I know in my life they have proven that.
But another thing I thank God for is YOU; my friends, I am so blessed to have so many flowers in the garden of friendship. You each are so special, and my life is full with the love and fun times I have with the moments that we share.
Have a wonderful week-there are some changes getting ready to take place in my life where I will actually be able to spend more time with my friends again. Especially my BFF Lucie. I missed you sooooo much yesterday. Get thee to the doctor!! Or I will take you there myself!!
Blessings and Love,
Deb

What a Perfect Day for a Fireplace!

2008-11-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends,
I hope this windy, rainy day is finding you all warm and toasty like myself. Right now I am curled up on my couch typing this blog in front of my wonderful fireplace. What a perfect day to have a fire going huh? I am so thankful!
So it must officially be fall huh? The wind, the cold chilly weather, the falling leaves, which I think are so beautiful!
I am looking forward to getting together with you ladies at the Croptoberfest. I have approximatley 10 people signed up to come. My record event ever!!! I can't wait!! I also am going to have a time at my house to make Christmas tags. It won't cost anything, just a time to get together and make some tags to put on your christmas presents this year. You might want to purchase your own Tag Maker so we won't have to share one the whole time. It will cost you only $26.50. Let me know in advance and I can order yours and have it for you in advance. We will have refreshments and just have some good old fashioned crafts and girlfriend time!!!
I hope you all have a great week-Blessings to you all!
DKL

Missing My Friends!!

2008-10-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends. I just wanted to post real quick while I had a moment to let you all know that I miss seeing you on a regular basis. Lucie, Heidi, Kathy, Carmen, just to name a few of you. When you work as much as I have, it really makes you appreciate even the smallest moments when I get to visit with my girlfriends.
I hope you will come to the Croptoberfest so we can catch up and spend some fun girl-time together. I have heard from Carmen, Heidi and 5 others, but LUCIE>>>>>>>>>>>> I am counting on you too!! You ARE my best friend y'know!!
I love you all, even though I may not have said it lately. And I praise God for the amazing new friendships He has blessed me with Becky, Dannell, just to name a couple.
Have a great week, and just remember to be Thankful for the wonderful blessings, like being able to stay at home. Enjoy those moments as they go by so darn fast!
Blessings and Love,
DKL

Counting down the days!!!

2008-10-25T16:47:00.001-07:00

Trick-or-Treaters in Old Town

2008-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hi girls!
I finally had some down time to update my blog. I am working today at the Baa Baa Sheepskins in Old Town. My schedule today is from 10:00-6:00. It has been pretty busy today as we had over 600 trick-or-treaters come by the store to get a candy stick from me. So, yes, I handed out over 600 candy sticks. I had been given 300 originally. Then I had to call the main store and have them bring me more. It was so cute, there was so many amazing and adorable costumes. I was tickled to see the adults dress up with their kids as well. I really enjoyed seeing their cute and sometimes very scary faces. God really has blessed us with the miracle of children hasn't He? I love them!
I hope the rest of you are enjoying your Saturday. My honey misses me, and that is a good thing. When I get home I get the joy of spending time with Mahalia and Oriana. Life cannot get any better than that!!
Much love, Deb

Working, working, working!

2008-10-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends! Sorry it has been so long since I last updated my blog! I have been working some crazy hours, I LOVE IT!!! But it doesn't give me much free time. Oh how I miss FREE TIME!!
I am looking forward to Croptoberfest-November 15. You all will be receiving your invites in the mail next week for sure, please RSVP as soon as you can so I can get a head count. I am so excited!! It will be a fun day for everyone. And I know that you will all be satisfied with the progress you make.
If you need any supplies before that day comes, please remember to give me a call and we can get you all set up.
November 21, Jeff and I get to take a little trip down to Oakland to pick up Matt and Tori who are coming for Thanksgiving Vacation. Needless to say, WE CAN'T WAIT!!!! We miss those kids so much!
So the next couple of months things will be getting busier and busier, but we have so much to be thankful for as God does answer our prayers.
Have a great week ladies. God's sweetest blessings to each and everyone of you.

And don't forget to check out Lucie's blog for updates on our Chick Lit Book Club. You can see the next "book of the month" which is "A Thorn in My Heart" by Liz Curts Higgs.
We are looking forward to reading that!
Until later!
D

Thank God for the Weekend!!

2008-10-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends! I hope you all had a great week. This weather has been so crazy huh? I loved the wind and hearing all our leaves blowing the other night-although my son is not so happy, as that means he will be raking them soon. (ha!ha!)
I am looking forward to this weekend-I have nothing planned except decorating my house for the autumn holidays and enjoying some playtime with my honey.
The days are getting busier-and I now have 2 full work schedules to juggle. NO COMPLAINTS though-God answered my prayers for work, and He is so incredible! What a mighty God we serve!
Please feel free to stop by Baa Baa Sheepskin to see me working-I would love to help you spend your money-and my friends can get my 25% discount!
I hope you all have a great weekend!
God's bountiful blessings to you all!

Our God Loves You!

2008-09-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Lord your God is with you,he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Hello my friends! I hope your week was a blessed one! I found out that I get to work at Baa Baa Sheepskins. So now I have 2 part time jobs!! Whatever it takes to get those bills paid! Do I get an AMEN??
I am sad though, since I have been working I haven't been reading as much as I used to. That bums me out, but I am finding time whenever I can steal a moment.
I hope you all have a great weekend. The scripture above is a gift to you-a reminder of how much our Lord loves us and cares about each one of us.
Blessings to you all!

Fall is finally here!!

2008-09-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well, it is official! Fall is here. I am looking forward to it. The change of seasons that is, but not losing the hours of daylight. Whaaaaa!
I just came back from Women's Retreat 2008 at TLC. It was titled "Divine Design" all about transformation. It was a great theme! Something I am ready for in my life. I know God is going to show me some new things about myself and I am ready to follow where He leads.
It was also my birthday the 19th of September, which I spent out at the retreat, but my friends out there definitely made me feel special. I came to my cabin with a decorated bunk complete with baloons. (Thank you Leslie) presents from Kathy, Leslie and Heidi, and a beautiful card from Tracey that brought tears to my eyes. I love you all so very much. The only thing that was missing was the presence of my Best Friend Lucie. But I am looking forward to spending some time with her on Friday to make up for that!!
I wanted to let you know that I will be starting to have regular Open Crop opportunities at my house 2 times a week. But if there is more than 4 of us, we may join forces with my fellow sister consultant Kathy and any of her customers that want to join us, and we can use Trudy's workshop which has 6 big tables. I will let you all know when the times are set up.
Have a great day! Blessings to you all!

Great Weekend!

2008-09-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies!
Well, the Scrapbooking Retreat was very productive. I completed 22 pages. Considering I woke up Saturday morning with a horrible migraine, I am pretty satisified with those numbers. That got me caught up with the ones that I was behind on. Now I feel motivated to keep going with the current photos that I have a hundred stacks of-ha!ha!
I did miss the fact that my Best Friend Lucie was not with me. It's just not the same when she is not with me at things like that. I am hoping to schedule a regular scrapbooking night two times a month. I will keep everyone posted, so you can come too!! As the weather gets colder and the outdoor activities slow down, that tends to be when the scrappers want to pull all those photos from the summer out to start working on...and that's okay by me!
We have lots of events coming up, including Croptoberfest, which will be November 15th. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! We have great gifts this year ladies
See you soon!

This is one movie I really want to see!

2008-09-08T16:16:00.001-07:00

I hope it comes to our area!

Brookings Here I Come!!

2008-09-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Eveyone!
Well, Officially tomorrow I start back to work. I will be working at my son's school doing yard duty. It will only be for 15.5 hours a week, but I am excited to be doing that until God brings something with more hours or more pay along.
Those of you who know me, know that I am a scrapbooking Consultant for Creative Memories. Scrapbooking is my first hobby and it is a business that I do and love. I love to show women how to bring out their creative sides even when they protest so much on how much it doesn't exist, but when they stand back and look at the finished product-they're hooked! I also am available to help people who want to just organize their photos. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! The ones that are in shoe boxes or in plastic bins in the garage. Creative Memories has a simple box that holds 2400 photos, and it only cost $35, plus you get my services for 3 hours where I come and help you arrange and organize them into the 12 categories that you create yourself. When you are finished, you feel so much better about knowing exactly where your photos are for each child, each event, etc., without having to look through tons of photo envelopes. If anyone is interested in this service, please let me know. Or if you just want to order the Power Sort Box (that's what we call it) I do have a web site listed on my blog) You can also call me at 707-725-2625 and I can answer any questions you have.
This next weekend I am fortunate to be going to a scrapbooking retreat up in Brookings Oregon. We have rented a beach house and we get to enjoy 3 wonderful days of relaxing and catching up on some long overdue scrapbooking. At least overdue on my part, my albums are quite behind.
I am so excited I have photos of our trip to Six Flags and I have more of my granddaughters that I have to get busy on.
I also just finished A Mile in My Flip Flops. I loved it!!! I am now reading Death of a Garage Sale Newbie by Sharon Dunn. You can see the picture and a link to her website on my blog as well.
Hope you all have a great week!
God's richest blessings**

2008-09-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies! Happy Hump Day! I love short weeks! I hope your labor day weekend was very restful or at least enjoyable and packed full of fun if that is how you preferred it.
We were able to go to our annual Church Family Camp. It was wonderful! My husband and I helped lead worship out there, which was an amazing thing to be apart of. We also did a concert on Sunday night that TOTALLY ROCKED FOR JESUS!!! We did a new song by Lincoln Brewster called "Today is the Day" I love it. You can download it now on itunes. Otherwise his new CD will be released on September 23rd. I have a picture of the new CD on my blog to advertise it because it is so ROCKIN!!
The newest book I am reading currently is called A Mile in My Flip Flops it is by author Melody Carlson. She is a very talented author who writes for women, teens and young children. She has a new book out called These Boots Weren't Made for Walking. It sounds really cute. You guys should check her out. This is the first book I have read of hers and I am definitely a fan from here on out!
I hope you ladies in the Chick Lit Book Club are enjoying Eyes of Elisha. I have talked to a few of you and the feedback is positive. I am looking forward to our meeting this Saturday.
Have a great week!

The Beach House

2008-08-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies
I have already finished another book since I last blogged. It was titled The Beach House, by author Sally John. It was about 4 friends named Jo, Char, Molly and Andie (all short for their full names) who reunite after 12 years to celebrate their fortieth birthdays in San Diego. Somehow only annual Christmas letters have kept their friendship from fading away completely.
They get the chance to spend a week together in a cute little beach house and it gives them time to open up and reminise on days gone by, a time to grow closer to the God they once knew and maybe become the women they were really meant to be.
And that is all I will tell you. I may write my book review on this or Stealing Adda, it is a tough choice. I know if you read both of these you would enjoy them.
Hope you are enjoying your last days of summer!
God bless!

2008-08-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the kids (Matt and Tori) went back to New York. It has been a bit more quite around this house. Jeff and I miss them very much. We took them and Anthony to Six Flags for some fun before we had to say farewell. We had a blast!! We enjoyed our time with all of the kids so much. It was so sweet when they kept thanking us for taking them to Six Flags. We knew it was a hit!
And in the midst of all of that fun I did get the chance to finish Stealing Adda. It was another good book, I must say. I haven't read one yet that I haven't enjoyed. This story let me reflect on the Book of Psalms and how David struggled and struggled. And even through it all God still loved him-just as he was, because He was teaching him lessons through his trials and tribulations and through his victories as well. I love that! Because I know He won't give up on me either!
I hope all of you are enjoying what is left of our summer. Whaaa! I am officially looking for work now. Please be praying for me.
Until later* Happy Reading & God's sweetest blessings*

Kids

2008-08-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
I hope you are having a great summer. I hope you are getting some fun time with your families and some time to read those wonderful books! I am enjoying Stealing Adda. Can't wait to see where this adventure takes me.
I am enjoying my visit with Matt and Tori who are here from New York. Their visit is short, but we will take what we can get, and we make the most of every moment! Our little girl is not so little anymore and our little boy is now a young man of 13 whose voice is changing and is towering over me (but then all of my kids are now-it is official!) I can handle that though! All my children are doing so well and I am so very proud of them, even in their struggles I see them growing so much. God is so good to us-and I am so blessed in my life!
I hope you all have a wonderful day! May God keep you strong and happy!

Our Club is Growing

2008-08-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

We had our monthly Chick Lit Book Club Meeting on Saturday, and I was so happy to see two new people join our group. I would like to take this time to warmly welcome Kathy and Jaqueline to our group. Lucie and I are so happy you decided to share your love of books with us. This is going to be a fun time of reading, fellowship, and new friendship! I am so excited about the growth of this club, Lucie and I have prayed about it not being just a club but also a ministry, that God will use us for HIS glory. So if there is anything you ladies need, or any questions or concerns that you have, please feel free to voice them. This is YOUR book club too!
Until tomorrow, happy reading! God Bless!

2008-08-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies! Tomorrow is our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting at Starbucks and I am looking forward to seeing most of you there. Along with a new face or two hopefully!
I have been enjoying the visit of our daughter Tori, here from New York, so I have not been blogging as much as I thought I would have. My book reading has also slowed down, as I have a little girl that needs/wants constant entertaining. I don't mind though because I miss her so much when she is not here with us.
The book I am currently reading is called Stealing Adda by Tamara Leigh. It is really funny so far. I love the character-feisty, sassy, and yet I can totally relate to her myself! I will be giving you the review as soon as I am done so you will be hearing more about it.
Happy reading!

Another Great Book

2008-07-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! Well, I finished Eyes of Elisha. All I will say is "WOW!!!" I can't wait to do my book review on it. You ladies will definitely want to read this one. It really keeps you going. I am so glad I bought the 2nd in the series. And it being the 1st book I have read of author Brandilyn Collins, I will say, I am very impressed with her writing skills. She really must do her homework when it comes to the judicial system and all that mumbo jumbo. Loved it! To hear my complete review and to get your FREE bookmark with BOTH books on it-you must come to our next book club meeting on August 9th at 11:00 at Starbucks in Fortuna. Hope to see you there!
Have a glorious day ladies!

Prayers for the Work Hunt

2008-07-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know I am almost finished with The Eyes of Elisha it has really been a good read! I would have finished it by now but I have been trying to redecorate my house before I start hitting the pavement looking for work again.
I would appreciate everyone's prayers that if God would allow it, I would be able to find a job here in Fortuna. My skills consist of clerical, bookkeeping, and I even did 8 years of retail. I would be willing to get back into that, except I am adamant that my hours are the same as Jeff and Anthony. So we will see what God has planned. I have always trusted Him and He has not let me down yet!
Have a blessed day my beautiful friends!

So Many Good Books

2008-07-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished the Book of the Month Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini. It was really good. Definitely different than I had expected. I am looking forward to what we will be reading next. In the meantime I am reading Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins. It is a murder mystery and so far it is really really good. One of our favorite series, Cape Refuge author Terri Blackstock even was quoted saying " it kept me guessing and gasping and franically turning the pages to see what happened next." Brandilyn Collins as been compared to secular author Mary Higgins Clark, which is a huge compliment! I was in contact with Brandilyn and her assistant and was able to get some FREE bookmarks for our bookclub! So I am very excited about this book possibly being one of our next books to read! We will have to vote on it as usual!!