Saturday, March 29, 2014

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM


I don’t like food. This subject came up again recently and I figured it would be a good topic. Don’t get me wrong with. I appreciate good food. I appreciate the time and talent it takes to create good food. I appreciate the social aspect of eating, but if I didn’t have to eat, I wouldn’t.

This may be a shock to the majority of people and I can see why. But I’ve been this way for most of my life. In fact, if my mom hadn’t packed me a lunch in college, I wouldn’t have eaten. It’s just not something that registers for me or that I necessarily enjoy. It’s one of those necessary evils in my opinion.

Now there are many reasons I would happily give up food. First off, it takes too much time. Between the preparation and eating alone, one could easily spend an hour and a half. Then adding clean up to that and there’s about two hours. Of course if you do something quick, i.e. something from a box, a bowl of cereal, a sandwich, the time involved changes. I understand that. Personally, that is what I do a lot of. But when you get into making things from scratch and stuff like that . . . well it takes time. Time that I would rather spend doing something else.

That’s probably the biggest reason I would do without food. Since I’ve been married, Hubby, who says he’s not a picky with food but really is, has helped me develop a greater appreciation for food. That still hasn’t changed my opinion of eating, however, if I had to choose between hiring a cook or a maid . . . I would now choose a cook. For me, that’s a step I’d say.

So I guess with this confession out of the way, I should ask what do you enjoy about eating? What is your favorite food? What is something you would suggest for me to try that might help me convince or help convince me that eating isn’t just a waste of time (minus the wonderful visiting aspect a good meal and company provides. :)?

Thursday, March 27, 2014

IMPERFECT LOVE by Rebecca Talley—Book Review/Giveaway

Imperfect Love
IMPERFECT LOVE by Rebecca Talley. This book hit too close to home for me. I saw it coming but for some reason it didn't register fast enough for me, so I had a hard time with the book. It was well written. The characters were wonderful. I loved the ending. It was clean and just about anyone would love it, but like I said. For me, it hit too close to home.

:) :) :)

Lauren Wilson is well on her way to her happily-ever-after. She has a career she loves, a husband she adores and a baby on the way, but a devastating diagnosis changes everything. The life she's built suddenly crumbles around her when her husband insists she choose—the baby or him. Returning to her small hometown to rebuild her shattered life, Lauren crosses paths with Ethan Campbell, the man who stole her teenage heart. The old attraction is still there, but Lauren won't admit it to anyone—least of all herself. Her only priority is providing a life for her child, and she can't afford to get it wrong. Ethan is confusing everything, including stirring up feelings she’s not prepared to face. Will she spend her life raising her baby alone or is the family she's always wanted finally within her reach?  



rebecca

Author Rebecca Lynn Talley Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children. Rebecca is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children’s chapter book, Gabby’s Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children’s stories and articles for both print and online magazines. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.


Blog Tour Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/10/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Imperfect Love Tour




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

DEATH IN THE FAMILY by Marlene Bateman—Book Buzzin'


DEATH IN THE FAMILY by Marlene Bateman. Take a look at this great book and the interview at the end of this post. It will be a great one. Stay tuned for my review. :)


Erica Coleman, a gifted and quirky private investigator with OCD is with her family in the picturesque town of Florence, Oregonhappily anticipating Grandma Blanche’s eighty-first
birthday celebration. But when the feisty matriarch, a savvy businesswoman, suspects wrongdoing and asks Erica to investigate her company, things get sticky. Before the investigation can begin, Blanche passes away. But her unexpected death leaves Erica with more questions than answers. It soon becomes clear Grandma’s passing was anything but natural: she was murdered.
When another relative becomes the next victim of someone with a taste for homicide, Erica uses her flair for cooking to butter up local law enforcement and gather clues. As she works to unravel the case, Erica’s OCD either helps or hinders her—depending on who you talk to—but it’s those same obsessive/compulsive traits than enable Erica to see clues that others miss. When she narrowly escapes becoming the third victim, Erica is more determined than ever to solve the case but wonders if she’s bitten off more than she can chew.



What made you decide to become a writer?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer--ever since I was in elementary school.  I think a large part of this came from reading so much.  As a child, I was a voracious reader.  For three years in a row in elementary school, I won the award for reading the most books.  And the prize was: A book!  I was delighted, of course.  Sometimes I wonder if writers are born, because I’ve certainly always wanted to write.  However, once I got married, I had to cut back because—let’s face it—you can’t do everything at one time. To everything there is a season. When my children were little, I concentrated on writing for short articles and stories for magazines. Then, as the children got older and I had more time, I started writing books.

What makes your mysteries standout from the crowd?  
First, my books are ‘clean’ books, which means no swearing and no gratuitous sex or violence.  Second, I like to keep the reader guessing. My novels are ‘whodunit’ mysteries that keep readers trying to figure out who the killer is. Many current TV shows focus on high tech prowess to solve the crime. I focus more on the psychological aspects—why this person did that, why that person didn’t do this. I try to delve into the killer’s psyche and show the psychological aspects that drive their behavior. I like to have a lot of fun and interesting characters.  Third, I like to incorporate humor, because everyone likes to laugh now and then. Fourth, and last, I include plenty of intriguing plot twists and turns to keep readers turning the page. Each ending of every book has a surprising, final twist.  

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Never. Give. Up. 
People don’t fail because they can’t write, they fail because they stop trying. I have a yellowed newspaper clipping by my computer that says; “For most of us, it isn’t that we don’t have the ability to write, it’s that we don’t devote the time.  You have to put in the effort.”  Another way of saying that is if you want to write and be published bad enough, you’ll work for it.  And if you work at it, your writing will improve, and you WILL be published. 

What can we expect next from you?
I have two books that are awaiting publication. The first is Crooked House but my publisher always changes the titles so I don’t know what they will call it! Here is a short summary:    Someone is trying to kill Liz Johnson, and it is up to quirky private investigator, Erica Coleman, to find out who it is. With an authentic setting in Dover, Delaware and against a background of NASCAR racing, Erica works to stop the killer who has already survived two murder attempts. It’s up to Erica to pinpoint the killer before he can succeed. As always, ten delicious recipes are included.

My second book that is awaiting publication is called, A Home for Christmas. Here is a short summary:    Kenzie has big plans—the only problem is she hasn’t told anyone about them. One of them is to buy the house she grew up in—the home her brother, Tom, recently put up for sale. When she arrives in Lake Forest for Christmas vacation, Kenzie is shocked to find that her brother has accepted an offer on the house she desperately wants to buy. Unwilling to give up her plans, Kenzie tries to wrest the house from the man who made the offer, a handsome widower named Jared Phillips. Although they find themselves attracted to each other, it’s impossible for Kenzie to even think about a relationship with the man who is taking away the house she desperately wants. Then, a surprising revelation works a Christmas miracle. As a special bonus, seven delicious cookie recipes are included.

I’m also working on another Erica Coleman mystery, called, Murder in the Black Hills. I’d also like to do a sequel to Gaze Into Heaven—Near Death Experiences in Early Church History, which came out last year. 


Where can we purchase your book?
A Death in the Family is available at bookstores such as Deseret Book and Seagull Book and others. Here are 3 links where A Death in the Family can be purchased online. 


THANK YOU, MARLENE.


Saturday, March 22, 2014

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM


Sometimes I wonder if we did Tigger justice in his time with Lion. He wanted to help and I did the best I could to allow him to, but there were so many things that could and would have hurt both of them. He wanted to play with Lion in the front room but we could just move things as quickly as his attention span at the time would allow. Someone asked me if I got a picture of Tigger holding Lion and I don’t think Tigger ever actually held Lion.

With this new baby, I feel like we are talking more about him. Tigger is patting my tummy more, even kissing it. He’s asking about his brother more and it makes me wonder if we didn’t do that when we were expecting Lion.

At the same time, we did get a doll for Tigger and treated him like Lion. We changed his clothes, taught him how to hold Lion, put the doll in the baby swing. In fact, when family members asked where his brother was he’d say, “At home,” because we had left him in the baby swing. :) I have a cute picture of the baby doll with a fruit snack stuck in it’s mouth because Tigger wanted to share. Of course I can’t find it when I want to post it, so I think I’ll just do one post sometime with all the pictures I haven’t been able to find right when I want them.

I know that part of this is age. Tigger is more aware of things now than he was then, but I still wonder. I worry about him if something happens to the new baby. How would Tigger react? Would he understand again? What would it do to him emotionally? Especially since he is so much more aware this time around. I worry about him.

Just like any parent, I worry about Tigger in so many ways. He’s continuing to assert his independence and becoming more defiant and all that good stuff. Some of his behavior makes me wonder if he’s angry with the loss of Lion or if he’s hurting or if he’s okay with the whole situation. Some people say that he won’t remember because he was so young. I don’t think I believe that. Children feel ever so much as deeply as adults, they just may not know how to express them. I worry about him.

But the only thing I can do is continue to pray and ask for help. I’m not sure what else to do. I trust The Lord. I trust that He will help us through. I trust that. I cling to that trust when I feel all the worry, anxiety, and stress of everything is crashing down on me. I trust Him. Hopefully everyone can learn to develop that kind of trust. It’s amazing the peace and calm that it can bring in the most desperate times.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

HOME MATTERS by Julie N Ford—Book Review/Giveaway

Home Matters by Julie N. Ford. I'm really excited for this series and the first book has not let me down. I was sucked in from the very beginning and loved the tension Julie built between the obvious two people that would end up together. It was a clean, cute romance that any romantic at heart will love.

:) :) :) :)


According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach. When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.



Julie

Author Julie N. Ford Julie is a forty-something, dangerously close to becoming a fifty-something, graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a marriage and family counselor. She is the author of four women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she entertains delusions of being a master gardener, that is, when she’s not killing the unsuspecting plants in her yard with her good intentions. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two daughters, a Betta named Bob, and a Scottish fold kitten, Ardweal.


Updated Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love." Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/31/14   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Home Matters Updated



Wednesday, March 19, 2014

POWER TO BECOME by David A Bednar—Review

POWER TO BECOME by David A. Bednar. This inspirational read is incredible. It's one that I didn't have to read from cover to cover. In fact I found it easier not to do it that way. I chose a topic, read about it and put it aside to digest what I had just read. Then when I'm ready, I'll pick it up again and read on another topic. I love the teachings and the examples that are shared in the book. My husband watched the discussions that are linked to this book and can't wait for his chance at the book. Be sure to take a look at those discussions, here. They are incredible.

:) :) :) :) :)


As followers of Christ, our desire is to become like Him. In fact, we have been commanded to do so. But how?
In Power to Become, Elder David A. Bednar explores how the Savior makes possible His divine commission, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48).
Chapters in this thought-provoking book highlight the importance of the Atonement, the spiritual gift of personal peace, the importance of priesthood ordinances, and the responsibility we have to obey willingly and endure valiantly.
"As we increase in learning about the Savior and His gospel," Elder Bednar writes, "as we strive with ever greater consistency to act in His doctrine, ordinances, and covenants, then we are blessed with power through His Atonement to increasingly become like Him." Power to Become introduces vital tools we all can use to invite these eternally significant blessings into our lives.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

I AM STRONG, I AM SMART & WE ARE STRONG by Fay Klingler


Luisa May, known to her family and friends as Lu, loves to play games with her grandma. When she’s bullied at school, Grandma has a special puzzle for Lu to help her see how valuable she is—no matter what others say, or how much doubt she feels within herself. Soon after, Grandma has to go to the hospital, and Lu finds out Grandma needs help recovering. Then it’s Lu’s turn to help Grandma see how valuable she is—no matter how much doubt she feels within herself. It’s a beautiful parallel for young and old alike, as each age learns from the other.

Written and illustrated with loving hands, this delightful children’s story offers a heartfelt message that unites and bonds generations. From the award-winning pen of Fay A. Klingler, I Am Strong! I Am Smart! provides to women of all ages a reminder of the tremendous gift of “girl power.”





Every girl needs a mentor, someone she can trust to show her the way home to Heavenly Father. The stakes are high—as women of influence, how we live and how we teach Heavenly Father’s daughters will change the course of their lives forever.

Using compelling real-life stories from women of all ages, award-winning author Fay A. Klingler clearly defines how and why we must continue to live and teach the Young Women values.

We Are Strong! beautifully illustrates how powerful a faithful woman’s example can be.









These two books are a powerful reminder that we all have worth. The Lord loves us and we are strong. Be sure to take a look at them and if you can, stop by to meet the author.



What made you decide to become a writer?


A very good question, but I really don’t know the answer. I don’t think I ever had the compelling thought I want to be a writer. In fact, I know all I really wanted to be was a mother, a wife, a homemaker. I mean a real home maker. But as the years went by I became a professional illustrator, wanting to share my love of motherhood and the joy of babies. Then those visuals began to turn into words, and then to books. The themes of joy in motherhood and the strength of women can be seen threaded throughout my work.

Who inspires you?

Oh my goodness, so many people! Above them all, I would say my mother. She has always encouraged me to develop my talents and use them for good. She taught me to be solution conscious and to finish what I start.



What would you like your readers to get out of your writing?

I have two books coming out this month. Both of them revolve around the influence one generation has on another—grandmothers/grandchildren, mothers/daughters.

I am hoping these books have a tremendous impact on my readers. Grandmothers will teach with more compassion. Granddaughters will welcome and appreciate opportunities to interact with grandparents. Mothers, grandmothers, and all women of influence will give their hearts, their very lives, to preaching truth and living that truth.

The fiction book (for ages 8 to 12) is fully illustrated (Christian, national). A couple of my beta readers (non-professional critiquers) were in this age category, and oh, my goodness, they did such a marvelous job and were very entertaining to work with. The artwork was done by Briana Shawcroft. She did an excellent job and I had a lot of fun working with her on this project.

To my delight, I Am Strong! I Am Smart! received 23 endorsements before it even went to press. I hope mothers and granddaughters, in particular, will feel the “warmth” of this book and gain from it.



My second book out this month is a non-fiction book. It also has received many endorsements. I am immensely grateful to the many people who contributed to We Are Strong! Mothers and Daughters Stand Together.


Any advice for aspiring authors?

Writing can be a very isolating career. My advice would be to join a writers’ group. When I began seriously writing, I joined a writers’ group that met at the public library. We critiqued each other’s work and I learned you had to have a pretty tough “skin” to endure the “suggestions” for change.

When I moved from that location, I started up a small group that met in my home. This was a group of women who were very serious about writing and helping each other.

Another very difficult thing about being an author is how much time it takes and the too-often self-questioning—“Is this what I should be doing?” For me, it is all worth it when a reader tells me my work made a positive difference in her/his life. Then I feel humbled and know my efforts were guided and not in vain . . . But practically speaking, a writer has to decide how much time they are going to give to his or her craft, and then commit to that time and follow through.

Where can we purchase your book?

My books can be purchased on Amazon and in Christian bookstores. There are wonderful book launch parties coming up in two different states for these two books. One is on April 12th in Salt Lake City, Utah, at The King’s English Bookshop. The second one will be in Arizona on April 19 from 11-1 at the Changing Hands Bookstore.



 THANK YOU, FAY! :)


Saturday, March 15, 2014

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM


Now that I’ve actually admitted to being pregnant, lots of fears have come to mind. None of the fears are new but they’ve become more real. Many people have wondered if we would have another child. I’ve wondered that myself, except that a little while after Lion went home, both Hubby and I got the feeling that there was one more child waiting for us. That in itself is a scary thought. Add to that everything else and I’m very glad that I haven’t had the time to think too much about it until recently.

Blessings come in all sorts of different ways. The fact that I was so busy for January and February was one of those blessings. Had I had the time to think about what happened last year along with the potential of an addition to the family, I’m not sure I would have been able to stay sane. It’s only been in the last week or so that I’ve relived and thought about different experiences with Lion. Then looking at pictures and watching Tigger play with Hubby I’ve had moments I’ve had to keep the tears at bay because I won’t have a picture of Tigger and Lion jumping on Hubby. I won’t have a picture of my three boys together with Hubby. Some of those things that others may not think are that big of a deal, I won’t have. At times that is a very depressing thought.

Those are minor things when I look at all the medical things that I’m trying not to freak out about. I have a friend in the medical field that also had to bury a child recently. She said that sometimes ignorance really is bliss. I completely agree with that statement. Lion’s pregnancy was pretty much worry free. This one, not so much. And even though we’ve already done chromosomal testing and so far everything looks normal, in the back of my mind there’s always that doubt.

And at this moment my mind has shut down. I’m having a hard time even putting a complete thought together, so this is going to have to do for now.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF by M. L. Legette—Book Review/Giveaway

orphan thief
THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF by M. L. Legette. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. It captured my attention from the get go but I found the journey Toad and Melena a little long. Their adventures were wonderful and it will be a fun read for anyone who loves a great adventure mixed with some good magic.

:) :) :)

The Orphan and the Thief An adventure that will keep you and your kids spellbound.

Toad thought it’d be easy to steal from Mr. Edward P. Owl. Unfortunately for Toad, he isn’t the best of thieves. Caught in the act, he’s in more trouble than ever before. Now to save his hide, Toad must track down five rare potion ingredients for Mr. Owl. Or else.

All Melena Snead wants is her family back, but after the Miggens Street Fire, that isn’t very likely. Orphaned and miserable, forced to work in an apothecary, she’s determined to find Milo, her missing brother. No matter what. When Melena finds Toad ransacking her apothecary, Toad gets a nasty shock: apothecaries don’t carry Mr. Owl’s ingredients. Luckily, Melena’s willing to help, for a price. With Melena’s pet Spit-Fire dragon and Toad’s enchanted talking beer mug, they embark on a fantastical journey, traveling the country in search of the potion ingredients. But can they gather all of them in time, what with monsters, pirates, and axe-wielding thieves? And if they do, is there an even greater danger waiting for them at the end?


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

M.L LeGette: Melissa Lee LeGette has been writing seriously since she was a teen. She loves an old world vibe with a magical twist, and she puts her full focus on creating believable characters--even if they happen to be a talking beer mug. Her books are targeted for children and teens, but have been enjoyed by adults of all ages. She lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright.

 
Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/27/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

orphan tour


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

CRAGBRIDE HALL: THE AVATAR BATTLE by Chad Morris—Book Review & other cool stuff


CRAGBRIDGE HALL: THE AVATAR BATTLE by Chad Morris. This book is the second in the series. I've been curious about book one for awhile and when the opportunity came up for the second one I decided to give it try. I'm glad I did. This is a very creative storyline that I have thoroughly enjoyed, enough so that I'll go back to the first book and read this one again. I love the characters. I love the school setting, all the tid-bits of history, the gadgets and challenges. It's just a fun escape to another world. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves great adventures and fantasy. Be sure to check out the awesome interview/book trailer at the end. :) You'll love it! It makes me even more excited for the books.

:) :) :) :) :)

The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin their second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. The year is 2074, and Abby and Derick are busy designing their own virtual worlds and learning to control new robot animal avatars, but when their Grandpa Cragbridge admits them into the Council of the Keys—a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time—strange things begin to happen. One by one, members of the council are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby, Derick, mand their friends must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past—and forever alter the present and future.





*Publisher provided a review copy, cover, & book blurb taken from deseretbook.com. This did not influence my review.

Monday, March 10, 2014

ONE LITTLE MATCH by Thomas S Monson--Book Review

ONE LITTLE MATCH by Thomas S Monson. This delightful picture book illustrates a beautiful life lesson that President Monson talked about in one of his conference talks about following directions and feelings. My three-year-old was captivated by the pictures which lead to him listening to the message. It is a book we will read over and over together. I would highly recommend this book for anyone, especially those with young children. It is a wonderful book.

:) :) :) :) :)


Thomas S. Monson loved spending summers at his family's cabin in Utah's Vivian Park. One summer day, he and his best friend, Danny, decided to clear a field so they could gather with their friends and have a campfire that night. The tall, stubborn weeds would not pull out easily. So Tommy had the idea to burn them up instead.
He knew he shouldn't use matches without permission from his parents. But he ignored the feeling that warned him of the danger and raided the matchbox in the cabin. Back in the field, he lit one little match and prepared to set the parched June grass abaze...
Readers of all ages will resonate with this wonderful true story that demonstrates the blessings of obedience and "the dangers that can come from something as small as one little match."
*A review copy was provided by the publisher. It did not influence my review.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM


I don’t want a girl. I’ve said this for many years, and there are varying reasons. First, I’ve taught a boy dominate classroom and a girl dominate classroom. I’ll take the boys any day. Yes they’re draining physically, but the emotional strain from the girls, (even at 5) was almost more than I could take.

Growing up if someone asked me how many kids I wanted, I’d always say, “At least one boy and one girl and then whatever else The Lord sees fit to send me.” I always thought everyone needed the experience with both genders. Obviously that opinion has changed over the years.

But there more reasons behind my statement. I’ve wanted boys for so long, and I feel Tigger needs a brother to play with that I’m afraid if we ever did end up with a girl that she would be resented in a way. I don’t want to look at her and think that she should have been . . . Why did she make it and Lion didn’t . . .? I don’t want Reed to think somewhere down the line that he wished she was a boy. (Although I’m not sure what brother doesn’t think that of a sister every once in a while.) I just don’t want any room for resentment.

That being said, I remember talking to my mom while pregnant with Lion and saying something to the effect of, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to do this again because we’re having a boy.” I’m not sure if that was because everyone says since I don’t want a girl that I’m going to have one or if that means there’s a little girl waiting to join our family. I’ve pondered that many nights since, especially since I’m not shy in saying I really do not like being pregnant.

Then the other week Tigger, Hubby, and I were sitting on the couch. Tigger turned to me and said, “Mommy, we need another little boy just like me.” My heart sped up thinking, but what if it’s a girl? Will he be disappointed? What will he think? How would be break that news to him.

A week later we found out the Tigger and Lion will be having another little brother. In all senses, there’s relief that it’s a boy. Then there’s all the worry that another pregnancy is having that I’ll get into later. And then there’s that little voice wondering if we’re supposed to have a little girl in the family at some point.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled to death we’re having another little boy. I’m excited Tigger will have a brother to run around and rough house with. I’m exhausted just thinking of chasing after both of them. I’m overjoyed that we have three sons in our family. And the only thing to do now is enjoy the moment and wait to see what the future brings. 

Saturday, March 8, 2014

CONFESSIONS OF A MOM

Well, I did it again. I wrote the blog post in my head & it never made it to type. I'd do it right now but I'm headed to help with all-state. So look for it tonight or tomorrow. Thanks again for your patience. :)