Book Giveaway: A Dream to Call My Own

Lacy Gallatin is extremely headstrong, independent, stubborn, and will be forever single if she doesn't change her ways. Lacy is constantly butting heads with the deputy in town ~ especially because she feels he hasn't done enough to investigate the death of her father.

Ignoring the pleas from her sisters to let it go, Lacy continues to pursue vengeance for her father's death. Yet Dave Shepard, the deputy, is always in her way. Despite her irritation with him, there is something deeper stirring within her...but will she realize what is really important before it's too late, or forever be searching alone for justice for her father?

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A Dream to Call My Own is the final book in the Brides of Gallatin County series and a great wrap-up of the story of the three Gallatin sisters. If you've read any of Tracie Peterson's books in the past, this series will not disappoint you. I actually borrowed the books from the library ~ because reading the last book all by itself just seems to be wrong! {grins} Peterson sets this series in Montana while the railroads were being built, saloons were in full swing, and the West was still a little wild.

Having read the first two books and knowing the issues Lacy continues to struggle with {unforgiveness, vengeance, etc...} and seeing the resolution in her heart over the course of the books is wonderful. Peterson delves into the topics of completely trusting God and complete forgiveness, offering Biblical insight in those areas through the characters of her book.

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If you'd like to win a copy of A Dream to Call My Own by Tracie Peterson, just leave a comment on this post and I'll put your name in the 'hat'. Comments for the giveaway will be open until next Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 8pm. I'll randomly pick a winner and announce next Saturday. This giveaway is open only to US residents.

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There are still a few books on my nightstand in my suitcase while we're traveling.

• Free Yourself to Love: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness ~ Jackie Kendall {re-reading}
• A Bride in the Bargain ~ DeAnn Gist
  
• Ransome's Honor ~ Kaye Dacus
• Assaulted by Joy: The Redemption of a Cynic ~ Stephen Simpson
  
• Finding Favor with the King: Daily Inspirations ~ Tenney
• Grace Based Parenting - Dr. Tim Kimmel

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

Confusion of Goals and Desires

This is a repost from September of 2007...I'm on a little vacation of sorts and sharing some of my earlier posts with you all.

Having Rick gone this weekend and having a little time to myself had me thinking about a few things in our marriage.

It is so easy for me to be quick to jump on every little thing that I think he should change about himself, our relationship, life with our kids...when the problem might not be him...but me (gasp!). I'm realizing that there are too many instances where I am expecting so much from him, showing him little appreciation for all he does do, and taking him for granted. I need to appreciate more and expect nothing...but how?

Larry Crabb has a quote from his book "The Marriage Builder" that I really liked. You can click here for a little more in depth read on it. He says:

"Problems in communication generally involve a

confusion of goals and desires. What we desire from

our spouses becomes our goal. We insist that our

partners treat us a certain way, and when they don't,

we express our negative emotions to them either

as revenge or to change them."

The answer is there. A goal is something that I can set for myself. If I want to read a book a month, that is a goal. If I want to get in better shape, I can exercise every day (haha) - that's a goal. Read a chapter a day in my Bible, try a new recipe a week, go to bed at 10pm...they all are things that I can control.

Desires. Hmmm....desires are things that I want for or from others. I want my husband to rub my feet each day, play with the kids every night, cook a meal a week, cuddle on the couch with me before bed...the list can go on.

The thing is - I can't control those things. I can't control how my husband lives his life. When I try to make my desires into my goals...problems start cropping up. I'm setting expectations that are not going to necessarily be met. And in the process that begins to affect my relationship with my husband.

I start thinking he should be doing (fill in the blank) and when he doesn't, I get upset. I pout internally. I get frustrated. I treat him badly. And he doesn't know what I'm upset about, but he gets frustrated too. And the problem doesn't lie with him - but with my desires.

:::sigh:::

So, how do I stop? Maybe I can set some different goals for myself. Like quit nagging my husband to do (blank). Say "I love you" first thing when he walks in the door (instead of shoving a child in his arms immediately).

Laugh more. Let it go. Ask nicely. Be a little more patient. My list could be endless. :)

But are you catching my drift?....

Just Cracks Me Up

GE has a some new commercials out that just make me all-out laugh. Maybe it's because it takes me back to the 80's and some great music memories...but mainly, it just makes me laugh.

Drippy Swim Suit Solution

With summer in full swing and swim team practice every.single.night we seem to be accumulating a LOT of wet swim gear. I was starting to go a little nutso finding wet suits dripping all over the floor or stepping on one that was wadded up in a ball on the floor.

And WHY I didn't think of this before is beyond me.

I already have a little love affair going on with the 3M removable adhesive hooks and now there are 4 hooks hanging ever-so-nicely in a row at the back of our shower. The kids can reach them and quickly hang up their suits to drip dry and I don't find a soggy mess somewhere around my house.

Just wanted to pass along a little something that is Working for Me!

The Reason for Eating Boogies

At a picnic recently, one of my friends asked Zachary to tell her something about himself. He {never having a lack of things to say} rose to the occasion.

Z: Well, I used to eat my boogies.

C: Ok.... Why?

Z: Because it's the best way to get them off my fingers.

Why I'm even surprised anymore at the stuff that he says, I don't know....

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A few weeks ago McKenna had a tick climbing up her leg while we were eating breakfast and since then has been a little leery of bugs in general. Now everything 'could be a tick' and she's a little sensitive on the topic.

McKenna came racing in the house yesterday hysterically screaming that she had one biting her under her shirt . She showed me where it had been crawling before she brushed it off. After she had calmed down some and the trauma had passed she kept looking at the spot and saying it burned a little.

She looked up at me ever-so-serious and asked, "Mom, do you think it could be heartburn?"

{and I tried so desperately not to burst out laughing...}

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!

Friend Makin' Monday: Best Friends

With Kasey on vacation for a whole month, Friend Makin' Monday will be popping up at a few different blogs over the month of July. Today Kelli @ Outside My Kitchen Window is hosting and the topic is best friends.

Over the years there have been several ladies that I have had some wonderful and close relationships with ~ and one of them is my mom. Yes, I have other amazing friends {and I'll mention them a little later}, but my mom has been a constant in my life for the last 36 years and our relationship has grown closer over the last ten years or so.

Honestly, I can't imagine life without her. She is one of my strongest supporters, a prayer warrior that I know I can ALWAYS depend on and one to also 'call me out' on issues that others might not be willing to. Her patience overwhelms me. Her love is constant. Her compassion abounds. Her heart for her children {and grandchildren} is one that I hope to emulate for all the years to come. Most importantly, I have learned so much watching her in her relationship with the Lord. She has always been completely transparent in her struggles and frustrations and 100% real through it all.

Even if she wasn't my mom ~ well, I'd love her still!

At the zoo last summer with Hope

As for those other ladies in my life ~ I have three that I talk to frequently. Hope is a friend from college that was in my wedding and has remained a close friend over the last 15 years {can you believe it's been that long, Hope?}. From road trips across the country, experiencing a car break-in in New York City, vacations with our husbands and visits with each other over the years, Hope has been so much fun to have as a friend. Over these last few years our relationship has grown even closer through a phone Bible-study that we are doing together. I have SO much enjoyed the time we've put aside to deepen our relationship with God and each other!

With Christin and Crystal

Christin and Crystal are two other ladies that are my everyday, up close and personal friends. There isn't a thing that I am hesitant to share with them {you two know exactly what I'm talking about}. Thankfully they both answer the phone when there are multiple calls in a day ~ even though they both have caller id. :) Both have been in my life in some way, shape or form over the last 10 years ~ from Bible studies, births of our children, and the many different facets of life. Love you guys!

Before I go on and on....I'd better remind you that there are other ladies talking about their best friends today too! Be sure to stop by Kelli @ Outside My Kitchen Window to see what others are saying today ~ and make some new bloggy friends of your own!

Family Fun Magazine for $4.95!!

Family Fun magazine is one of my favorite 'idea' magazines and definitely the one I get the MOST out of. My subscription expired a few months ago and today while I was looking for deals online I found a great coupon code and deal.

If you order through Magazines.com be sure to use the coupon code BMSFIVE at checkout {the code box is on the right hand side of the payment screen}. When all is said and done, you are paying $4.95 for a one year subscription {10 issues}.

Sometimes a Light Surprises {Book Review}

Ben Buckley's life and relationship with his family were pretty much summarized the night he overheard his daughters talking on the porch. Out of everything that was said about him, one thought continued to nag at him...

"...all the references to himself were either he or him. Not once had one of his daughters called him Dad or Daddy. Not even the stuff-sounding Father. He was just a pronoun."

When a young woman applies for a job in his store, sorely unqualified, Ben finds himself hiring her ~ and a journey toward restoring relationships that have been non-existent for years begins.

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Sometimes a Light Surprises by Jamie Langston Turner was not at all what I expected it to be. I had a difficult time really getting into the book and relating to the characters. While the book is very well-written and the message of the book is great {it's never too late to restore relationships}, the book does not move quickly and jumps around a lot. Months pass from one chapter to the next and the reader misses out on the characters maturing and developing in a way. Overall, the story was good but it's not one that I personally would keep on my shelf to read again.

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This last week I finished the first two books in the Brides of Gallatin County series by Tracie Peterson because the third one is waiting for me!

There are still a few books on my nightstand and I'm hoping I'll have some time with traveling to finish off a few more.

• Free Yourself to Love: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness ~ Jackie Kendall {re-reading}
• A Dream to Call My Own ~ Tracie Peterson
  
• Stand-In Groom ~ Kaye Dacus
  
• Finding Favor with the King: Daily Inspirations ~ Tenney
• Grace Based Parenting - Dr. Tim Kimmel

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

If You Give a Girl a Duster...

If you give a girl a dusting challenge {thanks so much Rachel Anne} and send her children off to the children's museum with their grandparents, she just might...

~ dust not one room, not two rooms, but the entire upstairs

~ take an overstuffed chair and ottoman to the Salvation Army to donate

~ turn the furniture in the house literally upside down to sweep underneath

~ scrub the floors on her hands and knees {because who really knows when it got a good clean last???}

~ clean out a closet

~ turn the music up SUPER LOUD since there were no kids to worry about

~ stop for a Dr. Pepper break

~ remember to mail some packages

~ flip her mattress, wash/dry the sheets and redo her bed

~ wash/dry the boys sheets and change the quilts to their summer ones

~ get fed up with the handprints on the tv and finally clean it off

~ pick up and vacuum the entire basement

~ rearrange the basement furniture some

~ haul a chair up from the basement to replace the missing chair

~ clean both bathrooms

~ drink 1 liter of Diet Dr. Pepper

Isn't it amazing how much one can get done in a 3 hour timespan when there are NO INTERRUPTIONS from little ones? It just all goes to show what dusting can lead to!

All These Great Posts....

While I'm trying to fall asleep at night I have all these lovely, wonderful and witty ideas for posts swimming around in my head.

I 'compose' the first few catchy lines of the posts, come up with an equally intriguing title and then finally drift off to sleep.

Only to wake up the next morning without ONE CLUE about any of those post ideas.

Nothing. Zilch. Nada.

During the night, my brain has completely emptied out it's 'blog contents' folder and left me with few clues...other than the haunting thoughts that I'm completely forgetting something.

I've started to put a notebook next to my bed, but trying to write in the dark leads to comical results. At the speed my brain goes it might be better to have a recording device of some sort, but then I'd have to explain to my husband why I am talking to myself in the middle of the night.

Not that talking to myself is anything new...

I'm starting to feel old and forgetful and I'm not liking that feeling very much. At all.