Family crisis

Are you wondering why I haven't posted in so long? Early in December my family suffered a crisis, and we are still suffering. I don't want to go into the details, but frankly, blogging became the least of my concerns.

Do you ever feel like the Job of the Bible? I was feeling like him on Wednesday. Trying to continue living a normal life, I got into the van to make a quick trip to the grocery store. And it wouldn't start. Of course. While I was futilely trying to start the van, Hubby called to tell me he had been terminated because sales were low and his company was doing some reorganizing. No severance or anything like that.

But before you start feeling too sorry for me, let me tell you some good news.

Last weekend we made a quick visit to our friends in South Carolina. And all week we have been turning the house upside down looking for Adam's teddy. Times are stressful for our family right now, and I sure didn't want to deal with the loss of the teddy bear he is so attached to. Today our friend called and said they had found Teddy at their house. Well, we were not going one more night without that stuffed bear, and since Hubby no longer has a job to worry about we decided to do something very uncharacteristic. We decided to be spontaneous and drive the hour and 45 minutes to their house to pick up Teddy. The only problem was that the van still wouldn't start.

Hubby had been trying and trying to start it, but it looked like the fuel pump was bad. It was getting close to bed time and still... no Teddy.

Recently Hubby and I have been doing something different. We have been waking up every morning and asking God to get us through just one more day. And at the end of each day, we have been giving thanks to the Lord for getting us through yet again.

Tonight, after trying yet again to work on the van to get it started, we had given up on getting Teddy back. Then Hubby walked outside, stood in front of the van and prayed a simple prayer. "Lord, we need something positive right now. Please let the van start." He put the key in the ignition, turned it.... and it started like nothing had ever been wrong.

So tonight, we will ring in the new year in prayer with our friends. And Teddy is back where he belongs... in the arms of a loving 6-year-old.

Book review: The Sheriff's Surrender

The Sheriff’s Surrender
Barbour Books (December 1, 2009)
by
Susan Page Davis


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books. My young adult novel, Sarah's Long Ride, also spotlights horses and the rugged sport of endurance riding, as does the contemporary romance Trail to Justice. I took a vocational course in horseshoeing after earning a bachelor's degree in history. I don't shoe horses anymore, but the experience has come in handy in writing my books.

Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters

For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer, covering local government, school board meetings, business news, fires, auto accidents, and other local events, including a murder trial. I've also written many profiles and features for the newspaper and its special sections. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. We're so glad we did. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!



ABOUT THE BOOK


Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards, but she wants Ethan Chapman to see she's more than a crack shot with a firearm. When the sheriff of Fergus, Idaho, is murdered and Ethan is named his replacement, Gert decides she has to do whatever she can to help him protect the citizenry. So she starts the Ladies Shooting Club. But when one of their numbers is murdered, these ladies are called on for more than target shooting and praying. Can Gert and the ladies of Fergus find the murderer before he strikes again?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sheriff’s Surrender , go HERE

Man's best friend

See this dog? She was supposed to be my dog.... we got her about six months after my beloved black Lab died of kidney failure.

So whose dog do you think she has become?


Leo, our 10-year-old Italian greyhound, is best buddies with our 14-year-old son. I guess I get the cats...

Book review: Whirlwind

Whirlwind
Thomas Nelson (December 29, 2009)
by
Robert Liparulo


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first novel, Comes a Horseman, released to critical acclaim. Each of his subsequent thrillers—Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock—secured his place as one of today’s most popular and daring thriller writers.

He is known for investing deep research and chillingly accurate predictions of near-future scenarios into his stories. In fact, his thorough, journalistic approach to research has resulted in his becoming an expert on the various topics he explores in his fiction, and he has appeared on such media outlets as CNN and ABC Radio.

Liparulo’s visual style of writing has caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman. were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers, released in January, and number four, Timescape, in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series, Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

With the next two Dreamhouse books “in the can,” he is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects supernatural elements into his brand of gun-blazing storytelling. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on his acclaimed short story, which appeared in James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans


ABOUT THE BOOK

Which door do you go through to save the world?

David, Xander, and Toria King never know where the mysterious portals in their house will take them: past, present, or future. They have battled gladiators and the German army, dodged soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, and jumped from the sinking Titanic. They've also seen the stark future that awaits if they can't do something to change it--a destroyed city filled with mutant creatures.

And they've still got to find a way to bring Mom back and keep Taksidian from getting them out of the house. The dangers are hitting them like a whirlwind . . . but the answers are becoming apparent as well.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Whirlwind, go HERE

Dryer treasures

The dryer has been making a funny noise, so Hubby took it apart to look at it.



We vacuumed out the inside and cleaned it up. Did I mention our dryer is about 20 years old?



We never did find the cause of the funny noise, but we did find these....

My daughter's barrette, a toy gun, nails and staples (Hubby), and yes, a fuse and a razor blade (from Hubby's box cutter). I try to check everyone's pockets, but apparently it doesn't always work out that way.

Ornament with message

I bought one new ornament (so far) this year. I couldn't resist this ornament with a message I believe in! Don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it's the earth.