Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Talbert's:

Showing off her new outfit from Grandpa and Kathy:

The goodies for Santa: (including the note from Bri saying, "Dear Santa, Just leave the stuff." She was talking about the dirty dishes but I can see how that could be misinterpreted!)

My family knows me well - a huge skillet, a new deep fryer and a foam roller! Yes!

Christmas afternoon at Granny's:

Day after Christmas began our vacation in Georgia!

Brianna's first manicure, thanks to Oma!

An annual pool tournament was started to celebrate Opa's recent promotion in the Air Force and his completion of his doctorate degree!

Walks include finding cool caterpillars and looking in sewers for Ninja Turtles:

My North Carolina family and Georgia family blended together! I'm so happy!

Party with family and friends:

Legoland adventures:

Lights of Life with Oma!

The Stinky Cheese Man puppet show!

Making Olaf cookies!

When your sister gets headbands from her aunt, you should try them on and make a silly face!

The kids' Stinky Cheese Man crafts from the puppet show:

Like a Flower in Bloom (Review)

This review is for the book "Like a Flower in Bloom" by Siri Mitchell. This book is in the genre of historical romance, which is a genre that I enjoy but is not my favorite. This book in particular is probably my favorite historical romance novel I have ever read.

Charlotte Withersby is a young lady who is a botanist through and through - so much so that she has absolutely no concept of society's rules or how to act like a lady. When her uncle decides that she absolutely must get involved in society in order to find a husband, she leaves scandals all along the way - discussing the sexual reproduction of plants, wearing the wrong dress to go dancing, and even bringing up the subject of scandals to a gentleman. Her complete ignorance was really funny to me, and surprising because I don't see a lot of humor in this genre. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Siri Mitchell in the future.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Purity is Possible (Review)

This review is for the book "Purity is Possible" by Helen Thorne. This is the second book in this particular genre I have read within the last few months and I really enjoyed it. I think it is critical for Christians to understand the "fantasy trap" which Thorne speaks of because it is literally everywhere. Sex is plastered all over television, billboards, commercials, social media sites, books, and conversation. Of course, no one really discusses the consequences that sex and pornography can have on an individual and family. In this book, the author discusses the difference between fantasy and reality, the emotion of guilt that we have, the mercy that God has, and how to find your way back to purity.

The book itself is on a great reading level and kept my attention. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews and The Good Book Company for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Furry Logic (Review)

This review is for the book "Furry Logic: A Guide to Life's Little Challenges" by Jane Seabrook. This is the 10th anniversary edition of the book. This is a cute book that is short, but will lift your spirits. Seabrook has created beautiful watercolor illustrations to go along with well-known quotes, such as "The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable."  To be honest, most of the quotes were not new to me and they seemed too familiar to be very funny, but I loved the illustrations Seabrook provided. This would be a cute gift, particularly for an animal lover.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

100 Books of 2014

In 2009, I pledged to read 100 books over the course of 2010. Here's my list of 107 books in case you're interested.

I did it again in 2011 (why not?). Here's my list of 109 books.

The tradition continued in 2012 where I read a whopping 144 books! Here is my list from that year.

In 2013 I kept on chugging along, reading 104 books. Here is my list from last year. 

In 2014 I wondered how I'd be able to read 100 books. It seemed like I had less and less free time. But I am also highly motivated to move some of these books out of my house! I was able to read a total of 152 books - a personal record! Here is my list for 2014:

• "The Patmos Deception" by Davis Bunn (152)
• "Against Medical Advice" by James Patterson and Hal Friedman (151)
• "Soul Matters for Teens" by Various Authors (150)
• "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult (149)
• "We Call This Friday Good" by Howard Hageman (148)
• "Swept Away" by Laura Hilton and Cindy Loven (147)
• "In This House We Will Giggle" by Courtney DeFeo (146)
• "Love Without End" by Robin Lee Hatcher (145)
• "Perfect Match" by Jodi Picoult (144)
• "I Have Seen God" by Klaus-Dieter John (143)
• "The Sacred Year" by Michael Yankoski (142)
• "21 Things the Devil Cannot Do" by Duane Vander Klok (141)
• "The Home Team" by Clint Archer (140)
• "Too Loved to be Lost" by Debora M. Coty (139)
• "Healed at Last" by Scott Blackwell (138)
• "Where Treetops Glisten" by Various Authors (137)
• "Becoming Bea" by Leslie Gould (136)
• "Before Amen" by Max Lucado (135)
• "Neil Patrick Harris" by NPH (134)
• "The Brickmaker's Bride" by Judith Miller (133)
• "Pound Foolish" by Neta Jackson and Dave Jackson (132)
• "Expectant Parents" by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin (131)
• "A Love Undone" by Cindy Woodsmall (130)
• "Quilted by Christmas" by Jodie Bailey (129)
• "The Hardest Peace" by Kara Tippetts (128)
• "Citizen" by Rob Peabody (127)
• "Buried Beneath the Words" by Betel Arnold (126)
• "Unlikely Angel" by Ashley Smith (125)
• "The Promise" by Beth Wiseman (124)
• "Keepers of the Covenant" by Lynn Austin (123)
• "Songs of a Suffering King" by J.V. Fesko (122)
• "Who Is the Holy Spirit?" by R. C. Sproul (121)
• "Bossypants" by Tina Fey (120)
• "Unwrapping Lazarus" by Pete Carter (119)
• "Heaven Touching Earth" compiled by James Stuart Bell (118)
• "The Sea House" by Elisabeth Gifford (117)
• "The Daughter of Highland Hall" by Carrie Turansky (116)
• "Can I Really Trust the Bible?" by Barry Moore (115)
• "Spartan Up!" by Joe De Sena (114)
• "The Princess Within For Teens" by Serita Ann Jakes (113)
• "Spiritual Misfit" by Michelle DeRusha (112)
• "Joyful" by Shelley Shepard Gray (111)
• "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella (110)
• "Tried and True" by Mary Connealy (109)
• "Home to Chicory Lane" by Deborah Raney (108)
• "I've Got Your Number" by Sophie Kinsella (107)
• "Miracle in a Dry Season" by Sarah Loudin Thomas (106)
• "How Will the World End?" by Jeramie Rinne (105)
• "Seven Secrets to Power Praying" by Jane Glenchur (104)
• "Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler" by Wade Rouse (103)
• "Stand Strong" by Nick Vujicic (102)
• "A Grand Design" by Amber Stockton (101)
• "The Deeper Life" by Daniel Henderson (100)
• "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (99)
• "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett (98)
• "Love Hunger" by David Kyle Foster (97)
• "Pulling Back the Shades" by Gresh & Slattery (96)
• "Murder at the Mikado" by Julianna Deering (95)
• "Modern Pioneering" by Georgia Pellegrini (94)
• "Great Lives From God's Word: Esther" by Charles Swindoll (93)
• "Pilgrimage" by Lynn Austin (92)
• "What Every Woman Wants in a Man" by Diana Hagee (91)
• "Bittersweet" by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore (90)
• "Penny Wise" by Neta Jackson and Dave Jackson (89)
• "Twist of Faith" by Anne Beiler (88)
• "Loving Constance" by Lyn Cote (87)
• "Forever Amish" by Kate Lloyd (86)
• "Four Weddings and a Kiss" by Various Authors (85)
• "Rival Hearts" by Tara Randel (84)
• "Out of the Ruins" by Karen Barnett (83)
• "Christ or Hitler?" by Wilhelm Busch (82)
• "Double Take" by Jenness Walker (81)
• "When We Were on Fire" by Addie Zierman (80)
• "Happy to be Alive, Because" by Chelsea Jacobs (79)
• "Death by the Book" by Julianna Deering (78)
• "Meant to Be Mine" by Becky Wade (77)
• "All My Belongings" by Cynthia Ruchti (76)
• "The Heart's Pursuit" by Robin Lee Hatcher (75)
• "Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio" by Serena Miller (74)
• "Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss..." by Kerri Pomarolli (73)
• "Moms' Night Out" by Tricia Goyer (72)
• "Raptor 6" by Ronie Kendig (71)
• "Thankful" by Shelley Shepard Gray (70)
• "Mom Seeks God" by Julia Roller (69)
• "10% Happier" by Dan Harris (68)
• "A Season of Change" by Lynette Sowell (67)
• "Surprised by Grace" by Elizabeth Sherrill (66)
• "Know Orphans" by Rick Morton (65)
• "Silenced" by Dani Pettrey (64)
• "Caught in the Middle" by Regina Jennings (63)
• "No Place Like Home" by Debra Clopton (62)
• "All Heaven Will Break Loose" by Joy Dawson (61)
• "Lost & Found" by Sarah Jakes (60)
• "Girl at the End of the World" by Elizabeth Esther (59)
• "A Promise in Pieces" by Emily Wierenga (58)
• "Guiltless Living" by Ginger Hubbard (57)
• "The Third Day" by Alex Webb-Peploe (56)
• "The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman" by Joyce Ellis (55)
• "A Sensible Arrangement" by Tracie Peterson (54)
• "Betrayal of Trust" by Tracey Bateman (53)
• "Critical Condition" by Richard Mabry (52)
• "The Queen's Handmaid" by Tracy Higley" (51)
• "Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives" by Charles Swindoll (50)
• "The Quilted Heart" by Mona Hodgson (49)
• "Maybelle in Stitches" by Joyce Magnin (48)
• "Real Women Leading with Proverbs 31 Values" by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder (47)
• "Super Plums for Dry Creek" by Janet Tronstad (46)
• "Death Benefits" by Hannah Alexander (45)
• "Captivated" by Thabiti Anyabwile (44)
• "Bible Marvels, Oddities, and Shockers" (43)
• "A Broken Kind of Beautiful" by Katie Ganshert (42)
• "The Secrets of Happy Families" by Bruce Feiler (41)
• "Eternity Changes Everything" by Stephen Witmer (40)
• "Christian Teachers in Public Schools" by Dalene Parker (39)
• "Note of Peril" by Hannah Alexander" (38)
• "The Forever Husband" by Kathryn Alexander (37)
• "Married to the Mob" by Ginny Aiken (36)
• "A Stillness of Chimes" by Meg Moseley (35)
• "Claiming Mariah" by Pam Hillman (34)
• "Dancing with Fireflies" by Denise Hunter (33)
• "The Devil Walks in Mattingly" by Billy Coffey (32)
• "Miss Brenda and the Loveladies" by Brenda Spahn (31)
• "Homicide at Blue Heron Lake" by Susan Page Davis (30)
• "A Hero for Dry Creek" by Janet Tronstad (29)
• "A Dry Creek Courtship" by Janet Tronstad (28)
• "Come Thirsty" by Max Lucado (27)
• "Wildwood Creek" by Lisa Wingate (26)
• "A Sky without Stars" by Linda Clare (25)
• "Prophet on the Run" by Baruch Maoz (24)
• "30 Days to Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs" compiled by Bruce Wilkinson (23)
• "The Thief" by Stephanie Landsem (22)
• "Mistletoe Prayers" by Marta Perry and Betsy St. Amant (21)
• "Echoes of Mercy" by Kim Vogel Sawyer (20)
• "Scraps of Evidence" by Barbara Cameron (19)
• "It Had To Be You" by Susan May Warren (18)
• "Last Resort" by Hannah Alexander (17)
• "A Road Unknown" by Barbara Abingdon (16)
• "Stepping Out in Faith" by Mark Gilbert (15)
• "Reasonable Doubt" by Tracey V. Bateman (14)
• "10 Days Without" by Daniel Ryan Day (13)
• "The Sinners' Garden" by William Sirls (12)
• "A Promise Kept" by Robin Lee Hatcher (11)
• "Distortion" by Terri Blackstock (10)
• "Prepared for a Purpose" by Antoinette Tuff (9)
• "Friend Me" by John Faubion (8)
• "A Miracle of Hope" by Ruth Reid (7)
• "The Dancing Master" by Julie Klassen (6)
• "Cult Insanity" by Irene Spencer (5)
• "Lies Young Women Believe" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh (4)
• "A Log Cabin Collection" by Various Authors (3)
• "Cultivating Contentment" by Women of Faith (2)
• "Imagine Life God's Way" by John Ortberg (1)

Favorite authors of 2014: Mo Willems (technically a children's author, but I can't help it - I love his books!), Stuart Woods, James Patterson, Jodi Picoult, William Sirls, Max Lucado, Sophie Kinsella

Favorite new authors read: Kerri Pomarelli, Courtney Defeo, Meg Moseley, Stephanie Landsem

Books I highly recommend for everyone: "We Call This Friday Good" by Howard Hageman, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, "In This House We Will Giggle" by Courtney Defeo, "The Sinners' Garden" by William Sirls, "The Thief" by Stephanie Landsem

I also was very grateful to have time to read 14 chapter books with my two kids this year. Our favorites were: "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White, the entire Ralph S. Mouse trilogy by Beverly Clearly (although #2 was not my favorite), "The Boxcar Children" (#1) by Gertrude Warner, "My Father's Dragon" by Ruth Stiles Gannett, "Twenty and Ten" by Claire Bishop, and "The Story of Doctor Dolittle" (#1) by Hugh Lofting.

Brianna learned to read around the month of October and she read around 59 books by the end of the year. Of course they started out very simple, but by the end of December she was reading chapter books such as Cam Jansen by David Adler, Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, and Uncle Elephant by Arnold Lobel.

Any good reads of YOURS this year? I'd love to have the titles and authors of some of your favorite reads so I can look into them! 

The Patmos Deception (Review)

This review is for the book "The Patmos Deception" by Davis Bunn. When I began reading this book I kept waiting to get sucked into the storyline. Unfortunately I never did. I never made a connection with the characters, and part of that may be that the Greek culture is completely new and foreign to me. The ending did not really tie up all the loose ends which makes me think there will be a sequel. I think that Davis Bunn is a great writer - I have read other books by him - but this one just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.