Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday!
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Showing posts with label Wednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wednesday. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Whimsical Wednesday Karma Media 5/30
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Whimsical Wednesday Hop #Karma Media (3/23)
Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday!
- Link up your Blog, Facebook, Twitter & Google+ every week, and follow as many as you like.
- You don't have to post the button, but it would help to spread the word about this hop.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Finding the Upside of the Down Times by Dr. Robert Pennington Guest Post
Summary from goodreads:
Psychologist Survives Shooting, Firing, IRS Audit and Death of Spouse to Challenge Others to 'Find the Upside of the Down Times'. Rob Pennington, PhD, shares his own very personal and honest account of some of the biggest challenges life can throw at anyone. He empowers readers with true stories, inspiring insights and practical tools to help turn their own negative experiences into positive opportunities.
Stepping beyond the initial shock and emotional roller coaster of each trial he faced, Dr. Pennington credits faith and support from others. “I discovered strengths I did not know I had and might not have found, had it not been for the challenge,” says Dr. Pennington. “I learned how to turn the worst things that happen to me into the best opportunities I have.”
This book is not about theory, but the very real blessings that can be found by anyone in the difficulties of day-to-day life. At the end of each chapter, Dr. Pennington shares specific activities he learned that can assist readers to turn their own struggles into stepping-stones that can lead to an upside of personal and professional growth.
With wit and tenderness, with vulnerability and candor, the reader is taken on a journey through many aspects of life, from career and finances to relationships, education, and health. And when tragedy strikes, Dr. Pennington demonstrates through his own humanity that even though we all have difficult times, we also have the ability to rise above them.
When the times start to drag you down ... Rob’s real world examples show that you can still:
• Turn your worries into positive action plans
• Turn your fears into opportunities for hope and for help
• Turn your life into something better than you thought possible Look Inside available at: www.resource-i.com/Intro&Chapter1.pdf Praise from Experts available at: www.resource-i.com/bookreferences.html
• Turn your worries into positive action plans
• Turn your fears into opportunities for hope and for help
• Turn your life into something better than you thought possible Look Inside available at: www.resource-i.com/Intro&Chapter1.pdf Praise from Experts available at: www.resource-i.com/bookreferences.html
THE AUTHOR Dr. Rob Pennington completed his doctorate at The University of Texas at Austin in educational psychology in 1976. In addition to his career in counseling and executive coaching, Dr. Pennington was a professor at three universities, a four-time recipient of the Mental Health Association’s Outstanding Speaker Award and one of Meeting Professional International’s original Platinum Presenters. Since 1982 he has received the highest trainer evaluations each year from Fortune 100 employees for his trainings, “Successfully Managing the Stress of Change” and “Successful Work Relationships.” Dr. Pennington’s intensive academic understanding paired with profound personal experience helps him make complex issues understandable in a delightfully common-sense manner. For the first time in book form, Dr. Pennington provides insights he has presented in trainings and keynotes worldwide on a range of professional and personal development topics.
Find The Upside of the Down Times by Dr. Robert E PenningtonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has to be the best self-help book I have ever read--or at least read in years. I honestly don't know where to begin to sing its praises, and I doubt my review will do it justice. But I will attempt to review this phenomenal, potentially life-changing book.
First of all, I believe that Dr. Pennington's style is very easy to read. And his advice is very practical and real. It is really nice to read a book by a psychologist that makes sense. I like the fact that he doesn't just say "Smile and everything will be all right." I also like the fact that he doesn't write above the common person's style. He uses common, everyday language that makes sense.
When I compare the struggles that I face, I know that I have not suffered like he has! My struggles don't even compare with his. And if he can look at his struggles in a positive light, it gives me hope that I can as well.
I appreciate the most his view on relationships. Over the years, I have read a lot of relationship books over the years, but Dr. Pennington offered real advice. In fact, I have been following what he mentioned concerning what one requires in a relationship and what one prefers.
At the end of each short chapter (and they really are short but powerful), he has ideas for you to apply and practice what he has taught you. I did not actually sit down and do every single project, but this book is one that I will not only read one time. It is a book I know I will come back to and refer to again and again.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I do not think anyone would find anything offensive in the book--unless you would rather wallow in your negativism!
This book was provided to me for free by the author in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any other way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
View all my reviews
Being Devoted: A journey of discovering the upside in the down times.
When Clair and I were married, part of our marriage vows stated that through our union we were joining ourselves with God, and we committed ourselves to seeking and serving God through the way we treat one another. By devoting ourselves to one another, we were devoting ourselves to God. This was easier said than done.
Clair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three months after we fell in love, a year and a half before we were married. Although her limitations progressed year after year, her need for serious care increased in her last ten years.
Many people have asked about the many years I spent as her primary caregiver every evening and weekend. They seem to feel sad for me or confused about how I could give myself so fully to another person in need. They seem awed or impressed, and perhaps even afraid, imagining how they might feel faced with the same challenge.
It seems difficult for most people to imagine that there could be any upside to such a profound down time. But Clair and I did share many amazing experiences. I believe a key was our devotion to promoting, as best we each could with the tools and abilities at our disposal, one another’s highest good.
“Love at first sight” wasn’t just a cute saying for us. We loved each other from the moment we met. On the other hand, maintaining our ability to feel and experience that love was a very difficult journey that required more of us than we ever realized it would. As Katharine Hepburn said, “Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything.”
During our wedding ceremony the minister echoed this sentiment when he spoke of commitment by saying, “We do not expect you to know all that means now; but we do expect that you are pledging your will, so that whatever turns are in the road ahead, we may depend on your being there for her, supporting her with your very life.”
Although I said, “I do,” I did not know what that meant.
At first I think my devotion to Clair was probably a romantic high that came from the feeling of “being in love.” But the reality of our relationship was that during our years together Clair and I wrestled with fears about abandonment, rejection, and loss. We stumbled over issues of self-esteem, competition, jealousy and envy. We needed all the help we received from family, friends, therapists, physicians and spiritual teachers. In the middle of these struggles it was difficult to feel the romance. It took years for us to learn the difference between our preferences and our fundamental requirements (You can watch a video and learn more about this concept at
: Don’t Go To War Over A Preference!).
: Don’t Go To War Over A Preference!).
As Clair’s multiple sclerosis progressed her abilities decreased, so my responsibilities increased. I had to clean and cook and do things for her I won’t even write here! The more I did for her the more Clair resisted because she felt I was restricting her, and taking her power and options away. She thought that meant I didn’t love her. It was very confusing.
But after each emotional incident we would come back with love, affection, and appreciation. It was like falling in love all over again. I started to realize that as soon as things started to get rough I could already begin looking forward to that feeling of falling in love again. That meant to me that the love was always there, but sometimes the logistics of life distracted our attention. I started to realize that I don’t have to prove my love and devotion; I just need do the next thing that needs to be done. I only have to clean the toilet because it needs to be cleaned. I only have to clean one spilled cup of coffee instead of all the messes that have ever happened. And in the meantime, remember the love is already there.
We gave each other so many ‘I love you’ cards over our decades together. I keep some cards today as a testament to the fact that we kept falling in love again and again until falling in love became as constant as giving one another romantic cards.
I learned I could not get everything done, and now three years after her death I’m still cleaning up messes I didn’t have the time or energy to address. But you have to make choices in such circumstances, and it helps if you can feel good about yourself in the process. I learned to be devoted to myself and to take responsibility for own my needs as well.
By devoting myself to caring for Clair I found that I could be the kind of person I really wanted to be. You could say that by caring for her I found myself! So, in a way, I really did all this for myself as much for her. I just didn’t realize what I would have to go through on the journey in order to get here!
Now that she has passed, I can be that person for my parents as they age by sharing devotion without all the pain and emotional effort. What a wonderful blessing for us all.
About the Author: Dr. Rob Pennington
Shot, fired, audited, divorced and caring for a critically ill spouse until her death, psychologist Dr. Rob Pennington shares his personal challenges, lessons he learned and activities to help readers save themselves time and pain in his awarding winning book: Find The Upside Of The Down TImes: How To Turn Your Worst Experiences Into Your Best Opportunities!
Bio at: www.robertpennington.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Printable Pirate Party Treasure Hunt, Invitation, and Activities Review
The printables included:
- A pirate lingo sheet, perfect for teaching the partygoers how to talk like a pirate
- A pirate maze
- A pirate ship coloring sheet
- A pirate word search
In addition to these, I received a high resolution pirate party invitation--one for a boy and one for a girl. A pirate font is included to easily personalize these invitations.
What I appreciate the most is that the printables are high quality and easy to use. I don't always have a lot of time to plan parties, and with these printables, the hard work is done for you. Everything matches the theme so well from the pictures to the font. I also appreciate the fact that the images are kid-friendly. Sometimes party paraphernalia is too old or too young for the party goers.
My daughter was very willing to do the pirate maze and the coloring sheet, but the part that captured her attention was the treasure hunt. She got so excited that we are going to have a treasure hunt this weekend. The rules are easy to follow, and she is very excited.
So if you are looking for great party theme ideas and printables, be sure to check out Party Games Plus!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Every Single Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge
Summary from goodreads: Powerful Tools for Guarding Your Body, Mind, and Heart
Every Single Woman's Battle: Guarding Your Heart and Mind Against Sexual and Emotional Compromise by Shannon Ethridge
I appreciate the fact that the author of this book truly stressed the importance of keeping your mind pure. Being a woman herself, she understands that sexual temptation really occurs in the mind of a woman. With men, it is mainly visual. While some women might be turned on to men's bodies visually, I believe that if women are honest, they will say that 90 percent of the temptation begins in the mind.
I did feel that the author misinterpreted some Scripture passages. Thankfully, the passages that were used in this way did compromise the whole of Scripture nor the author's message. I am glad that she caused me to have look up the original Greek of these passages since I was challenged on what I had always believed. So that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
This book is written to be read along with a small group. I think in that setting, it may be an excellent way of using this book. I would not recommend reading the book by yourself as I did. It was not nearly as interesting. The discussion questions tend to fall flat when it is just one person reading the book.
I did feel that the book was a little light on Scripture. I am used to very in-depth Bible studies so this was not necessarily my cup of tea. If you are, however, a Christian single woman who has not ever been involved in a Bible study or any kind, this may just be the study for you.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
Remaining pure while single isn’t easy in a culture that encourages women to use their bodies to gain power and personal fulfillment. The longing for emotional and physical connection can gradually and subtly lead you into compromises you never intended to make. But you can resist the pressures–or reclaim your purity–by building a strong foundation of integrity.
This companion workbook for Every Woman’s Battle–designed specifically for single women–will give you the tools you need to resist temptation and help you discover true fulfillment. Through practical and biblical lessons you’ll be equipped to:
·understand the unique components of female sexuality
·discern your personal areas of vulnerability
·design a defense plan to protect your heart and mind, as well as your body
·allow God to satisfy the desires he placed within you
·understand the unique components of female sexuality
·discern your personal areas of vulnerability
·design a defense plan to protect your heart and mind, as well as your body
·allow God to satisfy the desires he placed within you
Each weekly study section–perfect for use by both individuals and small groups in either 8-week or 12-week tracks–guides you deeper into God’s Word, then helps you personalize and apply the principles that will help you win the war for sexual and emotional purity.
Every Single Woman's Battle: Guarding Your Heart and Mind Against Sexual and Emotional Compromise by Shannon EthridgeMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book's title struck a chord with me immediately because of the title. I am a single mother, and I know what a battle the mind can be in the area of sexual temptation. After all, since I have been married and have a child, I have had marital sex. It was a part of my life for many years. One of the hardest things about being divorced is giving that up. That is, if you are a Christian woman who wants to follow what the Bible says.
I appreciate the fact that the author of this book truly stressed the importance of keeping your mind pure. Being a woman herself, she understands that sexual temptation really occurs in the mind of a woman. With men, it is mainly visual. While some women might be turned on to men's bodies visually, I believe that if women are honest, they will say that 90 percent of the temptation begins in the mind.
I did feel that the author misinterpreted some Scripture passages. Thankfully, the passages that were used in this way did compromise the whole of Scripture nor the author's message. I am glad that she caused me to have look up the original Greek of these passages since I was challenged on what I had always believed. So that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
This book is written to be read along with a small group. I think in that setting, it may be an excellent way of using this book. I would not recommend reading the book by yourself as I did. It was not nearly as interesting. The discussion questions tend to fall flat when it is just one person reading the book.
I did feel that the book was a little light on Scripture. I am used to very in-depth Bible studies so this was not necessarily my cup of tea. If you are, however, a Christian single woman who has not ever been involved in a Bible study or any kind, this may just be the study for you.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy Review
Summary from goodreads: Miss Rodeo Wyoming Jodie Bryce is back from the big city to find that her childhood friend Teague Treadwell's rugged cowboy charm never looked better. But Teague thinks Jodie's success lifted her out of his reach, and now he's got to shed his bad boy image to be worthy of the girl next door.
Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In most ways, this book definitely delivers what is promises. This is a hot and heavy cowboy romance--my first ever. I loved the main characters, Teague and Jodi, and I appreciated the way the author dealt with Teague's brother, Troy, who has Down's Syndrome. In addition to this, the author throws in a little mystery and a lot of steamy sex scenes. For the majority of romance readers, this is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
For the first half of the book, I was pretty impressed. There was very little detail in the bedroom scenes, and the language used in the book was fairly mild. The author had an easy-to-read style, and I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters. Jodi seemed to want to please everyone else rather than living her life, and I was glad to see how the author showed the true growth and maturity in the character. It was also nice to see Teague beat the odds. And as for Troy, I am always glad to see people with disabilities accomplishing so much.
I decided to give this book three stars for two reasons. First of all, while I can't fault the story too much, it is just a basic romance. The addition of suspense and mystery probably would bump the rating up to a 3.5, but it is still what it is--a cowboy romance. Secondly, as I approached the second half, I found myself skimming the rather descriptive bedroom scenes. I do not mind some description, and thankfully the author did not go into the kind of detail that usually causes me to put it down, but I wish that the characters had not gotten so hot and heavy over and over again with no thought of marriage in sight. But that is just me. I was glad that some foul language was avoided, but the increasing use of the "s" word amongst others got old pretty fast. I also did not find the character of Courtney very believable.
While this book may not have been high in my list, I still appreciated the author's style, and the story never failed to hold my interest. So depending on your individual tastes, this book may or may not be for you. I might hesitate to read another book by the author due to the issues I raised, but I cannot say I would refuse with certainty.
View all my reviews
Praise for Cowboy Trouble:
"Joanne Kennedy's debut novel will put the honky tonk back into your life...a lot of fun." -Love Romance Passion
"Refreshing and different...a little romance, a little mystery, good looking guys and wide open spaces."
Cowboy Fever by Joanne KennedyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
In most ways, this book definitely delivers what is promises. This is a hot and heavy cowboy romance--my first ever. I loved the main characters, Teague and Jodi, and I appreciated the way the author dealt with Teague's brother, Troy, who has Down's Syndrome. In addition to this, the author throws in a little mystery and a lot of steamy sex scenes. For the majority of romance readers, this is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
For the first half of the book, I was pretty impressed. There was very little detail in the bedroom scenes, and the language used in the book was fairly mild. The author had an easy-to-read style, and I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters. Jodi seemed to want to please everyone else rather than living her life, and I was glad to see how the author showed the true growth and maturity in the character. It was also nice to see Teague beat the odds. And as for Troy, I am always glad to see people with disabilities accomplishing so much.
I decided to give this book three stars for two reasons. First of all, while I can't fault the story too much, it is just a basic romance. The addition of suspense and mystery probably would bump the rating up to a 3.5, but it is still what it is--a cowboy romance. Secondly, as I approached the second half, I found myself skimming the rather descriptive bedroom scenes. I do not mind some description, and thankfully the author did not go into the kind of detail that usually causes me to put it down, but I wish that the characters had not gotten so hot and heavy over and over again with no thought of marriage in sight. But that is just me. I was glad that some foul language was avoided, but the increasing use of the "s" word amongst others got old pretty fast. I also did not find the character of Courtney very believable.
While this book may not have been high in my list, I still appreciated the author's style, and the story never failed to hold my interest. So depending on your individual tastes, this book may or may not be for you. I might hesitate to read another book by the author due to the issues I raised, but I cannot say I would refuse with certainty.
View all my reviews
A Few Words:
(from her author site)
“After 25 years in the business of selling books, I finally decided to sit down and write one. Five years and a lot of hard work later, I’m looking forward to the publication of my first novel, Cowboy Trouble, coming from Sourcebooks March 2nd.”
“Cowboy Trouble combines humor and suspense in a romance written for women whose interests range beyond high heels and hairstyles–readers whose idea of high fashion is wearing their Wranglers in “slim fit” instead of “cowboy cut.””
A member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Joanne Kennedy won first place in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest and second in the Heart of the Rockies contest in 2007. Her first novel, Cowboy Trouble, was released by Sourcebooks Casablanca in March 2010, and will be followed by One Fine Cowboy in September 2010. Two more contemporary western romances are scheduled for release in 2011. Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Steps to Courage by Sandra Stiles Review/Interview and Giveaway (ends 9/3) (CLOSED)
Summary from Amazon: Trina Lacy knew all about survival. Since her accident, she has been determined never to feel like a victim, but live life as a survivor. Her classmate, Mark Jacobs did not think he deserved to be a survivor. Plagued by guilt for his role in his parent’s death, he felt life was not so great. Trina’s ex-boyfriend Lucas James felt guilty for the accident he caused that left his former girlfriend scarred. When Trina proposes a fundraiser to be held at Windows on the World for their community service project Lucas and Mark jump at the chance to help. Each of them has their own reasons. Once in the Towers, they decide to divide and conquer. They had not expected someone to fly planes into the Towers. They never expected to face escaping the burning towers with all the odds stacked against them. Now the fears they have been carrying with them must be dealt with as they take steps to get out. The question is, will they survive the events of 9/11?
Steps to Courage by Sandra Stiles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first time I have dared to read any book--fiction or nonfiction--about 9/11, and I have to say that I was impressed and touched.
The first half of this book is absolutely stellar. I was pleased to discover how much research the author had done concerning 9/11 and New York. The descriptions of the terror attack and just afterwards were heart-wrenching and brought a tear to my eye. I will say that I do not normally cry when reading a book, and had it not been for the well-written text, I would have dreaded picking it up each night to read. I found myself so drawn into the story, and I cared about the three main characters--Lucas, Mark, and Trina.
My only criticism concerns the second half of the book. Following the events of 9/11, I feel that the author tried to rush too fast through the rest of the story. I realize this is a young adult book, and I understand that keeping the book short is important in this case. I also realize that the reader cares about these teens and wants to know how 9/11 ultimately affected the rest of their lives. But I would have preferred either spending more time on the event of 9/11 and only following the characters through the end of their school year or writing a sequel to detail how 9/11 affected the characters' lives so that we could learn more about the characters' journey to healing. Because the second half of the book was rushed, I felt that much of the story became disjointed and too easy to predict. Granted, I was glad to discover what happened to the characters, but I would have preferred having more time for the stories to develop.
I was quite impressed with the writing style of this author. It is her debut book, and it is neat to note that she wrote it in response to a challenge from the students she teaches. I felt like the first half of the book was written by a seasoned professional, and the author accomplished her ultimate purpose. I learned a lot about the events of 9/11, and it is important to be reminded of that horrific day as the 10-year anniversary looms near. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
View all my reviews
Disclosure: I received two signed copies from the author in exchange for my honest review--one for me and one for a giveaway. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
________________________________________________________________________________
Sandra Stiles graciously agreed to do an interview. One blog reader submitted a question, so we will begin with that.
Steps to Courage by Sandra StilesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first time I have dared to read any book--fiction or nonfiction--about 9/11, and I have to say that I was impressed and touched.
The first half of this book is absolutely stellar. I was pleased to discover how much research the author had done concerning 9/11 and New York. The descriptions of the terror attack and just afterwards were heart-wrenching and brought a tear to my eye. I will say that I do not normally cry when reading a book, and had it not been for the well-written text, I would have dreaded picking it up each night to read. I found myself so drawn into the story, and I cared about the three main characters--Lucas, Mark, and Trina.
My only criticism concerns the second half of the book. Following the events of 9/11, I feel that the author tried to rush too fast through the rest of the story. I realize this is a young adult book, and I understand that keeping the book short is important in this case. I also realize that the reader cares about these teens and wants to know how 9/11 ultimately affected the rest of their lives. But I would have preferred either spending more time on the event of 9/11 and only following the characters through the end of their school year or writing a sequel to detail how 9/11 affected the characters' lives so that we could learn more about the characters' journey to healing. Because the second half of the book was rushed, I felt that much of the story became disjointed and too easy to predict. Granted, I was glad to discover what happened to the characters, but I would have preferred having more time for the stories to develop.
I was quite impressed with the writing style of this author. It is her debut book, and it is neat to note that she wrote it in response to a challenge from the students she teaches. I felt like the first half of the book was written by a seasoned professional, and the author accomplished her ultimate purpose. I learned a lot about the events of 9/11, and it is important to be reminded of that horrific day as the 10-year anniversary looms near. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
View all my reviews
Disclosure: I received two signed copies from the author in exchange for my honest review--one for me and one for a giveaway. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
________________________________________________________________________________
Sandra Stiles graciously agreed to do an interview. One blog reader submitted a question, so we will begin with that.
- What inspired you to write this story?
Our principal required us to keep the TV's on in our classroom all day. The first concern my student's had was in regards to who was in the towers. They wondered if there were kids in the towers. They remembered the daycare center in Oklahoma and thought maybe there was a daycare center in the towers. Over teh course of the day my students made comments about what they would have done if they had been in the towers. That got me to thinking about how it might be different for a teen as opposed to an adult. My sister lost a former roommate in one of the towers that day. Her body was never recovered and they finally had her declared legally dead just to have some closure. My husband's sister lived a few blocks from the Pentagon and when he finally got in touch with her she told us the impact was so great that she had dishes flung out of her cabinets. We waited three days to find out if my husband's cousin's daughter was alive. She worked in the Pentagon. She had gone across the street just five minutes before the plane hit. All of these things together floated around in my head and made the
urge to write this story almost unbearable until I put pen to paper.
The rest of the questions are mine.
1. How long have you been teaching, and which subjects have you taught? What is your favorite age/subject to teach? Why? Least favorite? Why?
This will be my 19th official year teaching. I've taught Kindergarten, PE, Elementary through High School Spanish, High School English, Biology and American History to non-English speakers, Middle school Histories, Middle School Remedial Reading, Middle School Life Science, Middle School Language Arts And Middle School Remedial Math. My favorite to teach is English/Language Arts because of my addiction to reading and writing. I hated teaching math because I struggled with it myself. I now understand it but it makes it difficult to teach it to someone else.
2. It is clear from your book that you are strong in your faith with the Lord. What is your religious/Christian background?
I am a Christian and have been since I was 8 years old. I attend an evangelical Southern Baptist Church here in Florida
3. Tell me a little about your family. Parents, husband children? Whatever you feel comfortable talking about.
I am married with a son and daughter and a step-daughter. My mother lives with us due to her health. We are blessed to have her with us. We lost my father in 1999. In addition to his job he was a gospel singer and came from a performing family. At the time of his death he played 14 instruments. He was self-taught. My husband works from home so that he is here with my mother. We have a total of 9 grandchildren. Three of them we have only seen through pictures or on web cam due to their circumstances. They range in age from 11 months to 12 years. My son and his family live in El Paso Texas. He is a sergeant in the army stationed at Fort Bliss. My daughter and her family live here in Florida . My husband's daughter lives in Illinois and her children live with their father in Wisconsin
4. Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?
I grew up on a farm in Indiana. It had been my great-grandmother's house. I loved it. There are a lot of memories there. This is where I honed my imagination along with my sisters. I was pretty much a tom-boy. I could be found either with a book or a notepad in my hands. When it was too rainy outside we played school inside. Both of my younger sisters could read, write and do math when they started school. I played for real.
5. Although this is your debut novel, have you written any other unpublished works? Elaborate if you would like to.
I have a children's picture book called The Princess Pirate. It needs some more work. I write poetry when I am emotional, such as when I learned my youngest sister had cancer, or the poem called "The Training" after attending the world's most boring training program for school. One day I will take the collection of poems I write each year as an example for my students and put them together into a book.
6. How would you describe your personality?
I actually have a very easy going personality. I try to stay on the positive side. That doesn't mean things don't get me down. I've always been described as being extremely helpful and have had to learn how not to let people walk on me. I can be fun but not in a loud manner. I would never be described as the "life of the party". I'm the one you would find hidng in a corner with a book.
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
Besides reading and writing, I quilt and I paint with acrylics. I do other crafts such as crocheting Barbie clothes for grandkids.
8. What other ideas/plans do you have for books/stories in the future?
I actually have 3 going right now. I have a story half finished about an abusive mayor who takes his anger toward is son out on other kids by killing them.
I have a historical time travel back to the East side of the Berlin Wall
I have a story of a preacher's kid involved in a hit and run accident of an Amish man and the external and internal things he struggles with.
9. How would you have described yourself as a teenager? Anything you want to share there is fine.
My students think it is funny when I tell them how shy I was. I walked with my head down and could barely talk to anyone. Definitely could not talk to boys not even my male cousins. I was always standing up for the underdog in school. I started coming out of my shell when we moved to Florida. The captain of the football team kept trying to talk to me and I told him he couldn't because he was a jock and I was not a cheerleader so he couldn't talk to me. Difference in the school I came from and this one. He fell out of his seat laughing and told me it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard of and he would do whatever it took to bring be out of my shyness. I was a very studious person. Always had to do the extra research because one topic always led to another.
10. Tell me one thing that not everyone knows about you.
My students found out this last year that I used to do puppetry. I inherited an ventriloquist dummy from a gentleman who was in one of my dad's quartets. I used them in Children's church and later had my father build me aportable puppet stage from pvc pipe and I made my own puppets and wrote my own scripts and traveled to churches in the area doing puppet shows for VBS and other things. I can't project my voice anymore. Five surgeries within a year damaged the vocal chords.
The other question I asked would spoil the story, but if you get a chance to read this (and you should!), know that she did a lot of research concerning 9/11 and New York. If you question anything in the first chapter, check out this link for verification:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
This must be the longest post I have ever published here, but there is still one more part. Sandra Stiles has agreed to offer one of her books to one of my readers. It is a signed copy, and I am willing to ship anywhere in the world. She does ask that the winner will review it on Amazon so she will know what you thought of the book. Please fill out the rafflecopter form below and only comment on this post as required or if you have a question. The giveaway will end September 3 at 9:00 P.M. Pacific.
I want to thank Sandra Stiles for everything she has done. She has gone far above the call of duty, and I am so honored to be featuring her on my blog!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Free-Wheeling Friday--SHANKZ Glow Golf Review (Olympia, WA)
I don't usually review local places, but I just thought I had to take a moment to review this wonderful place my daughter, her friend, and I went today.
A few weeks ago, I saw a deal come through on Mamsource. I make it a point to subscribe to as many daily deal sites as possible. I admit that I do not often buy a deal, but there are those moments that I do. And this just happened to be one of them. The deal was two adults and two kids for about half off or more, and I bought it at once.
SHANKZ is a black light miniature golf place. Saying all that does not do it justice. I had remembered seeing this place before because it is right next door to our favorite IHOP (another great place!). I realize that I took a chance, but my daughter loves miniature golf, and I just thought this would be perfect for her.
Originally, I thought another adult might come along, but it just didn't work out. But even so, we saved money, so I am not bothered.
Now, how do I explain this place. When we got there, I gave the voucher to the gentleman at the desk, and he knew exactly what to do--I am so glad when there are no problems with vouchers! I asked the man what to do, and he led us behind the black curtain into a wonderland of black light and florescent colors. The themes included underwater creatures/scenes, the jungle, and even prehistoric creatures! I wanted to take some pictures, but I knew my phone would have none of it. So here are some internet images:
My Daughter's Favorite
All in all, this was a fantastic time. Martha (my daughter) and Meghan (her friend) were so excited about everything that was glowing--their shirts, their shoes, their necklaces I just bought them at Family Christian Store, and much more. They both got a hole in one. But did I? Nope. Not a chance!
It was nice that there were 18 holes that were creative but not too challenging. They usually left me in the dust. After the golf, they got to play in the moderately-priced small arcade attached to the place. And of course, we ended with ice cream.
I say all this to say:
1. Watch the deal sites. You might find something that you already do or buy at a huge savings.
2. Watch the deal sites for new adventures. Be willing to take a chance.
Where do you find the deal sites? I usually discover them from bloggers. I know it can be a pain to get all those e-mails, but it is worth it when we are able to have a day like today.
What deals have you discovered near you? Any special experiences or adventures? I would love to hear!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann Review
Summary from goodreads: Emma Benson's view of life was crafted by the death of her brother as a child, abandonment by her father and later, the man she trusted she would marry, until David Schlosser-back in town after years in New York writing best-selling novels-threatens her neatly tended life. Romance blooms. Emma and David eventually persevere in the face of tragedy, refusing to leave their dreams behind.
Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was truly a fun read. I was smitten with this book from almost the first few pages. The author drew me in with the strong and spirited Emma and the sweet and good-humored David. And, of course, who doesn't love a nice country setting where the reader is spirited away from the big city problems? This book was a fantastic escape to a simple world with just enough complications to keep things interesting.
I was intrigued from the start by the banter between David and Emma. The more they argued, the closer they got--as it should be. Even when my interest waned in certain sections of the story, I was hooked by this love-hate relationship between these characters. The author indeed has a fantastic sense of comedic timing.
I was not expecting the bit of mystery that entered the story. There was no doubt how it would end--after all, this is a romance--but I found that I was uncertain as to path of the conclusion. I found the explanation of the mystery was not quite sufficient--it was rather illogical in my opinion--but not everything has to make perfect sense in fiction after all.
I appreciated the way in which God was an integral part of the story. It was assumed that all go to church, and I feel that the characters relied on God for guidance. Better still, I loved the fact that the characters were not sexually active before marriage! They were on guard, and even when placed in positions where they could have compromised, they did not! It is so rare to read romances where the characters do abstain.
What were my criticisms? The only real fault I found in this book was that the physical affection between Emma and David got rather boring at times. Don't get me wrong--I loved reading about it. But I felt that all too often, the descriptions were the same thing over and over. And the reader knew after the first few times how the physical intimacy in a particular scene would end. It was the same thing over and over. I also did not see the financial struggles of Emma and her mother as central as I felt they should be. It seems that Emma has plenty of time and resources--maybe too much. But then that gives her and David more time together, right?
I, for one, found this a delightful summer read, and if you are looking for a clean romance that you can read in enjoy in a weekend, look no further!
The author, Gloria Schumann, gave me a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for this review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
View all my reviews
Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria SchumannMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was truly a fun read. I was smitten with this book from almost the first few pages. The author drew me in with the strong and spirited Emma and the sweet and good-humored David. And, of course, who doesn't love a nice country setting where the reader is spirited away from the big city problems? This book was a fantastic escape to a simple world with just enough complications to keep things interesting.
I was intrigued from the start by the banter between David and Emma. The more they argued, the closer they got--as it should be. Even when my interest waned in certain sections of the story, I was hooked by this love-hate relationship between these characters. The author indeed has a fantastic sense of comedic timing.
I was not expecting the bit of mystery that entered the story. There was no doubt how it would end--after all, this is a romance--but I found that I was uncertain as to path of the conclusion. I found the explanation of the mystery was not quite sufficient--it was rather illogical in my opinion--but not everything has to make perfect sense in fiction after all.
I appreciated the way in which God was an integral part of the story. It was assumed that all go to church, and I feel that the characters relied on God for guidance. Better still, I loved the fact that the characters were not sexually active before marriage! They were on guard, and even when placed in positions where they could have compromised, they did not! It is so rare to read romances where the characters do abstain.
What were my criticisms? The only real fault I found in this book was that the physical affection between Emma and David got rather boring at times. Don't get me wrong--I loved reading about it. But I felt that all too often, the descriptions were the same thing over and over. And the reader knew after the first few times how the physical intimacy in a particular scene would end. It was the same thing over and over. I also did not see the financial struggles of Emma and her mother as central as I felt they should be. It seems that Emma has plenty of time and resources--maybe too much. But then that gives her and David more time together, right?
I, for one, found this a delightful summer read, and if you are looking for a clean romance that you can read in enjoy in a weekend, look no further!
The author, Gloria Schumann, gave me a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for this review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
View all my reviews
About the Author
THE EARLY YEARS
I grew up in the midst of car country in the suburbs of Detroit in a loving, Christian family. Through the school years, I hesitated to light on one area of interest due to a love of a wide range of activities and interests. During the formative years they were music and sports—mainly, track and basketball. Not able to parlay any of those into a career, I headed for college.
At the University of Tennessee, I not only discovered a major, but also my husband of many loving years. The major was Logistics, the husband was and is, Paul Schumann.
From Knoxville, TN, after graduating with honors, my journey took me to the outlying area of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I worked in a pharmacy for a couple of years until the blessed beginning of our family came along. We—Paul, our five-week old daughter and I, left the cold of Minnesota for the heat of Austin, TX where the three of us still live with the addition of a son and a daughter.
Outside of faith and family, I have never been as engrossed and thrilled about anything as I am about writing. It is truly a passion.
HOW WRITING GRABBED ME
I came to writing in an unusual way. Not ever having been much of a reader for the majority of my life and with my kids mostly grown I came to embrace a love of reading I had never experienced before. Always having been a sucker for stories about relationships, especially romantic ones, I leaned toward that genre in my quest for deeper insight into stories than television and movies could offer. I was hooked.
I read whenever I could. Waiting for dial-up to load was a perfect time, also during advertisement breaks of a show I was watching, and yes, I read in the bathroom also. You can laugh. I laughed at myself. It's pretty funny for someone who wanted nearly nothing to do with reading more than an article on occasion.
Then going about my life, enjoying my family and my newfound love of reading novels I was tapped on the shoulder one day with the idea of writing, broadcast plain as a radio announcer through my head. I know, sounds a bit nuts. That's what I thought and gave a 'Heh!' at the absurdity of the thought and went on with life. This happened on several occasions at times when my brain was no where near a topic or thought as such. I began to consider it, almost embarrassed by the idea. It started to seep into my everyday thinking more often until I gave in to the absurd notion.
At the beginning of my writing journey I did so in secret. I promised that I would give it a real effort, but if it was painful, like hiking over rocks with no boots, that I would quit and no one would have to know of the thought that should have never been.
When it proved to be not only not painful, but enjoyable, I thought, okay, so I like doing it. That doesn't really mean it's a good route to follow. So with this in mind I confessed my secret to my husband. No, he didn't laugh. I placed several chapters in his hands and asked him to read it, but only if he would tell me if it was junk or not. Before you say anything, I know what you're thinking. He's just going to be nice and tell me it's fine. That's just it, although my husband is a fantastically nice guy, I know that he wouldn't let me waste my time continuing down a path that was futile. After several sets of chapters he left me a note on one remarking that I should definitely continue because in his words, 'You have a real talent for this.'
I am very grateful to Gloria for giving me this book to review. She was extremely accommodating since I do not have an e-reader, and I was unable to read the first copy she sent (thanks, Gloria!) Not only that, but when she returns from vacation, she will be doing a guest post on here, and she will be doing a giveaway of this book in e-book form! Isn't it great? So get a jump on things and like her on facebook and follower her on twitter!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Well-Spoken Wednesday--Freedom's Stand by Jeanette Windle Book Review
Summary from goodreads:
Jamil renounced a life of jihad when he encountered the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, but villagers and authorities in the hills of Afghanistan respond with skepticism . . . and even violence.
Relief worker Amy Mallory is shocked by the changes in her organization—changes with dire implications for the women and children under her care. And concern for her former assistant, Jamil, weighs heavily on her heart.
Former Special Forces veteran Steve Wilson faces off against the riots and corruption of Kabul’s upcoming election. He's looking for something that will give his life purpose but is confident that he won’t find it in Afghanistan.
All three are searching for love and freedom in a country where political and religious injustice runs rampant. But when religious freedom becomes a matter of life and death, they discover that the cost of following Jesus may require the ultimate sacrifice.
Freedom's Stand by Jeanette Windle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Okay, I'll be honest. I was not excited at all about reading this book at first. Modern novels like this don't usually grab my attention. Well, I will say the author did a fantastic job of drawing me in from the very beginning. I wanted to read the book and find out what happened to the girl at the start of the story.
Unfortunately, the author lost me again as the next chapters came about. It became a chore to wade through all the characters and the story and try to fill in the missing pieces. I planned on giving it a 3-star rating for this reason.
As I continued to read, I realized that the author was merely giving me background pieces to the story, and I found myself emotionally attached to the characters. I struggled to put it down as I read through the halfway point and beyond. All the stories seemed to weave together in a wonderful way. I decided that a 4-star rating would be highly appropriate.
That is until I read the last 100 pages or so. I thought I had the book figured out, but the author added in some unique twists and turns that I was not expecting. I had found myself telling my mom all about the book. In fact, she was almost getting a play-by-play summary of it.
When it came to the end, my questions were answered, and it ended the way I wanted it to. It ended the way it had to. I so appreciated the fact that the author wrote a book that portrayed the truth of Afghanistan and its people. I honestly knew very little about this country, and it is clear the author held a special place in her heart for the people there--especially the women. I also loved the easy way that the gospel was presented in the book. It strengthened my faith and made me realize how blessed I am as an American woman.
So why did I rate it 5 stars? Because it was clear that what I thought was weakness towards the beginning grew and caused me to connect with the book in a unique way. Any book that is able to accomplish this goal certainly deserves my highest admiration.
View all my reviews
Jamil renounced a life of jihad when he encountered the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, but villagers and authorities in the hills of Afghanistan respond with skepticism . . . and even violence.
Relief worker Amy Mallory is shocked by the changes in her organization—changes with dire implications for the women and children under her care. And concern for her former assistant, Jamil, weighs heavily on her heart.
Former Special Forces veteran Steve Wilson faces off against the riots and corruption of Kabul’s upcoming election. He's looking for something that will give his life purpose but is confident that he won’t find it in Afghanistan.
All three are searching for love and freedom in a country where political and religious injustice runs rampant. But when religious freedom becomes a matter of life and death, they discover that the cost of following Jesus may require the ultimate sacrifice.
Freedom's Stand by Jeanette WindleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Okay, I'll be honest. I was not excited at all about reading this book at first. Modern novels like this don't usually grab my attention. Well, I will say the author did a fantastic job of drawing me in from the very beginning. I wanted to read the book and find out what happened to the girl at the start of the story.
Unfortunately, the author lost me again as the next chapters came about. It became a chore to wade through all the characters and the story and try to fill in the missing pieces. I planned on giving it a 3-star rating for this reason.
As I continued to read, I realized that the author was merely giving me background pieces to the story, and I found myself emotionally attached to the characters. I struggled to put it down as I read through the halfway point and beyond. All the stories seemed to weave together in a wonderful way. I decided that a 4-star rating would be highly appropriate.
That is until I read the last 100 pages or so. I thought I had the book figured out, but the author added in some unique twists and turns that I was not expecting. I had found myself telling my mom all about the book. In fact, she was almost getting a play-by-play summary of it.
When it came to the end, my questions were answered, and it ended the way I wanted it to. It ended the way it had to. I so appreciated the fact that the author wrote a book that portrayed the truth of Afghanistan and its people. I honestly knew very little about this country, and it is clear the author held a special place in her heart for the people there--especially the women. I also loved the easy way that the gospel was presented in the book. It strengthened my faith and made me realize how blessed I am as an American woman.
So why did I rate it 5 stars? Because it was clear that what I thought was weakness towards the beginning grew and caused me to connect with the book in a unique way. Any book that is able to accomplish this goal certainly deserves my highest admiration.
View all my reviews
About the Author:
A daughter of American missionaries, Jeanette Windle grew up in the jungles and small towns of Colombia, now guerrilla hot zones. In 1981, Jeanette graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Biblical Studies and Theology from Prairie Bible College in Three Hills, Alberta. In 1985, Jeanette and her husband Martin moved to Bolivia to work with a nondenominational Christian mission organization. While her husband served as director, Jeanette worked with women and children at risk in varied regions of Bolivia.
Jeanette began her publishing/writing career producing Spanish-language educational and inspirational material for women and children at risk as well as writing articles for a variety of international publications. This was followed over the next years by eight children's books, including the six books of the Parker Twins Adventure Series, a young adult mystery/suspense series set in a multi-cultural background, and a teen novel, Jana’s Journal. Her first major adult political/suspense novel, CrossFire, set against background the counter-narcotics war in Bolivia she was witnessing firsthand, was released in 2000. This was followed by The DMZ, set in the guerrilla zones of Colombia where she grew up, and FireStorm, all published by Kregel Publications. Betrayed, set in the background of Guatemala's fifty year civil conflict, was released by Tyndale House Publishers in 2008. Her most recent novel, Veiled Freedom, set in Afghanistan, released by Tyndale House Publishers, was a 2010 Christy Award finalist and 2010 Christian Book Award finalist. Its sequel, Freedom's Stand, released June, 2011, was nominated AWSA (Advanced Writer Speaker Association) 2011 Golden Scroll Novel of the Year.
Jeanette and her husband Marty moved to Miami in June, 2000, when her husband assumed the position of Vice-President of General Services for Latin America Mission, a nondenominational Christian mission organization working throughout Latin America. In January, 2006, they moved again to Lancaster, PA, when Marty accepted the position of President of BCM International, another nondenominational mission organization serving in 50 countries on five continents.
Jeanette is editor of BCM World magazine, speaks and travels extensively both in the U.S. and internationally, and serves as consulting editor and mentor in developing writers from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Spain, Croatia, Philippines and more. She is recipient of Focus on Fiction’s 2005 Deserted Island Book Award (i.e. the reading material of choice if one were headed to a deserted island). Jeanette is also recipient of the South Florida Writers Association 2004 Celebrity Author’s Award and 2002 Mabel Meadows Staats Award. She served for three years as VP of Publication for the South Florida Writers Association and president of Miami-Dade Christian Writers and is currently president of Lancaster Christian Writers. Marty and Jeanette have four children.
Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book or ARC.
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