Hello, dear friend,
It's time for a change so I'm moving this blog site to a new home at http://fivestarfaithbasedbooks.blogspot.com. This site will remain up until the end of the year so you can access the archived newsletters found here.
Blessings & Love!!!
Susan, your reading mom
Jer 29:11-14a
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
hello, july-august five star books & more
hello, friend,
here it is... another five star pick of some of our favorite reads these past two months. you'll find our reviews once you go to the tab labeled, "five star books & more newsletter." for our visual friends, no worries, we'll have those corresponding book covers up before the week is over!
blessings & love!!!
susan aka the reading mom
jeremiah 29:11-14a
here it is... another five star pick of some of our favorite reads these past two months. you'll find our reviews once you go to the tab labeled, "five star books & more newsletter." for our visual friends, no worries, we'll have those corresponding book covers up before the week is over!
blessings & love!!!
susan aka the reading mom
jeremiah 29:11-14a
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
2015 JUNE Five Star Books & More by the Reading Mom... is here :o)
Here it is... hello, summer reading! Check out the latest update in my newsletter, Five Star Book & More. Just click on the tab above and you're there :o)
Friday, May 1, 2015
The latest update of Five Star Books & More by the Reading Mom is... HERE!!!
Hello, Reading Buds,
I'm so excited about the books I get to share with you today!!! Check out my latest collection of reviews (I especially love the Family-Friendly resource I posted for you) at the link "Five Star Books & More Newsletter" and enjoy :o)
Happy Reading!!!
I'm so excited about the books I get to share with you today!!! Check out my latest collection of reviews (I especially love the Family-Friendly resource I posted for you) at the link "Five Star Books & More Newsletter" and enjoy :o)
Happy Reading!!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
November-December 2014 Five Star books & more reviews
Hello, Friend!!!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I am posting my Five Star picks early so you can have more ideas as you go Christmas shopping for your family & friends :o) As you will notice, there's not a ton of books reviewed...yet; however, I will be adding on to my reviews as I complete them, so come back and visit my blogsite to see all my updates!
Just click on the folder above labeled, "Five Star Books & More newsletter" and you can check out what's new. And feel free to go to the "Archived Newsletters" folder to find past reviews.
Blessings & Love!!!
Susan aka The Reading Mom
Jer 29:11
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I am posting my Five Star picks early so you can have more ideas as you go Christmas shopping for your family & friends :o) As you will notice, there's not a ton of books reviewed...yet; however, I will be adding on to my reviews as I complete them, so come back and visit my blogsite to see all my updates!
Just click on the folder above labeled, "Five Star Books & More newsletter" and you can check out what's new. And feel free to go to the "Archived Newsletters" folder to find past reviews.
Blessings & Love!!!
Susan aka The Reading Mom
Jer 29:11
Monday, November 3, 2014
Five Star Books & More Newsletter SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014
Happy Fall, friends!!! My newsletter has arrived :o)
Check out my FIVE STAR picks for these months!!! Just click on the link above that says, "Five Star Books & More Newsletter."
Check out my FIVE STAR picks for these months!!! Just click on the link above that says, "Five Star Books & More Newsletter."
Sunday, August 31, 2014
It's Here!!!
My reviews for my newsletter, Five Star Books & More are in for the months of July & August. Happy reading, friend!!!
Monday, June 30, 2014
The May-June Five Star Books & More newsletter is....here!!!
Happy reading, friends!!! You'll find the latest reviews posted here on my blog, so click on the "Five Star Books & More newsletter" link to see some great picks for your summer reading list :o)
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Five Star Books & More newsletter... is here :o)
My March - April newsletter of reviews is here (click at the link "Five Star Books & More Newsletter" above)!!! Happy Reading!!!
Monday, February 10, 2014
winter bane... or winter blessing? that is the question.
overheard in the car the other day...
michael: i want to learn how to decipher hieroglyphics when i grow up. last year, he wanted to be an ice cream man with an ice cream truck so i suppose this is a step up in his career path!!!
michael and i started reading the bible together at the beginning of the year. we are using karyn henley's (i love her and have good memories of our interviews during my icrs marathon interview days!!!), God's Story and it's been so nice to end his day with the bible! i was sick last weekend and lost my voice so michael had to read for me. i really enjoyed listening to his little voice as he read for us!
this winter has been such a bane... and a blessing, too (i love it when the kids get to stay home from school!!!). in fact, it's been a real eye opener! here are some lessons i've picked up so far...
1. optimum warmth in bed requires preheating the electric blanket a little after 4pm so making it to bed after 11:30pm thaws me out nicely.
2. wear high boots when trying to reach the the recycling bin that's on top of a snow plowed hill in your yard.
3. you can get calluses on your fingers from zippering up your boots every day.
4. layers are your friend... and enemy (adds an instant additional 5 lbs to you). but freezing is not an option so i'm happy to walk around feeling like the abominable snowman :o)
5. snow looks prettier on top of the tree branches than on the roads where it turns to a disgusting gray blob.
6. 30 degrees feels downright tropical these days.
7. note to self: the seat warmer-heater-thingy that everyone else has in their cars (except for us) is a must-have for the next car purchase.
8. the oversized hood on my coat is a potential health/life hazard. when i pull over my hood, the only thing i can see is straight ahead which makes it dangerous when crossing a parking lot; however, it does a very effective job of blocking out the wind from my face.... which will be pointless if i get run over while crossing in front of an oncoming car...
9. beware of huge icicles hanging off the roof by the entrance of any building. look up before you go in!!! death by impalement is, ah, painful, i'm sure.
10. i battle coveting issues every time i look at pretty, sunny weather pictures posted by my socal friends on facebook!!! sigh.
11. hot pot dinners with friends is one of the best ways to stay warm :o)
the biggest thing i've learned this winter is the importance of being content. even when the weather gets colder or windier, i'm trying to fight the urge to complain (hello! these roads are terrible! where are the snow plows and salt trucks?!? or i'm so sick of putting on my scarf, coat, boots, etc. every time i leave the house every single stinkin' day! or why couldn't we be in cali right now?!? this weather is killin' my skin!!!)!!!
instead, i want to be grateful. i'm grateful that when it's cold outside, we have a home with great windows that doesn't leak air like the ones we had in our first home in nj. * i'm grateful our pipes haven't burst... yet. * i'm grateful we have an electric kettle that heats up water pretty fast so we can drink something warm anytime of the day or night. * i'm grateful the car has a good heater. * i'm grateful that we can still communicate through cell phones, skype/face time, facebook, etc. when we're staying indoors because of the weather. * i'm grateful for the multiple silk undershirts & underpants my mom forced on me the last time she was here. * i'm grateful we have warm blankets and comfy beds to sleep in every night. * i'm grateful we're so close to costco and a ton of other grocery stores! * i'm grateful for our washer & dryer---they can hold soooo much clothing so i end up doing less loads than most people i know! * i'm grateful jacob orders our kleenexes by the bulk --- i went through 6 boxes of kleenexes when i was sick and we still have more :o) * i'm grateful for beautiful snowy days which make me feel like i'm on the inside of a snow globe. * i'm grateful that Jesus doesn't give up on me even when i forget to be grateful :o)
i love how the message version & the amplified bible puts the apostle paul's words in philippians 4:11-13 (thank you, biblegateway.com!!!)...
"Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. " (the message)
"I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without andbeing in want.I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who[b]infuses inner strength into me; I am [c]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (the amplified bible)
so, how about you??? got contentment???
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
44 gifts in 2014
i'm starting my new year today and it doesn't feel any different being one year older than when i was 25. i guess, after a while, you realize that age is just a number---it doesn't define you, can't hold you back or limit you, right?!?
last night i was wide awake. it may have had something to do with the fact i took my shower at 1am... sleeping with wet hair is never truly comfortable; however, leaving the warmth of my electric blanket was not an option!
so, i started thinking about my blog topic. i mean, what do i want to share? last year, i shared my 43 favorite bible verses. but that took a while editing it down to just 43. sigh. then i thought about listing 44 influential people in my life, but that list went on and on. and on. nix that idea! how about 44 goals for the year? ummm... i can only think of 2, so no. 44 favorite books?!? definitely not happening. that's like asking who's your favorite child?!? it's impossible!!! how about 44 favorite movies i've seen? unfortunately, due to my limited memory, i don't think i can come up with 44 at the moment without doing a google search on movies. 44 things i want to change this year? nah. i'll have to wait until i'm at least 100 to do that list justice!
and then it hit me. i can do 44 gifts. it coincides with a book study that started in the fall with a group of old and new friends inspired by ann voskamp's one thousand gifts. we've all been keeping a journal and it's been so relaxing to write down 10 gifts every day reflecting on all the good gifts God has given :o) so here are mine in no particular order after #1...
1. GOD He completes me, forgives me, gives me grace, mercy, peace & joy and promises me a future & a hope!!!
2. my electric blanket although i am coveting my friend esther's heat mat aka bun warmer (!), this wonderful invention keeps me cocooned in warmth when i'm in bed :o)
3. jacob i got to sleep in every day while he was home and he cooked & cleaned!!! lucky me :o)
4. krista she's sensitive, insightful, wise beyond her years, makes me laugh, sweet with her brother & is so much fun to be with!!!
5. michael every morning, he's in our room at 7 am-ish (except for today because krista hung out with him so i could see how long i could stay in bed!!!). he draws pictures, chatters, snuggles and says the funniest things!
6. our office it's cozy & warm and we all love to hang out in here. it's the place where i spend time with God, make cards with Krista, read, blog, check my emails, watch stuff on the computer, etc.
7. the deep freeze thanks to the record cold temps & wind chill factor, everyone got to stay home a few extra days!!!
8. hobby lobby one of my favorite midwest features---it's the store with every kind of art supply imaginable, home accessories, furniture, etc. and they play instrumental music by maranatha! praise & others like that!
9. kale & cranberry smoothies krista got me hooked on this smoothie. she found the recipe, improvised it and now we have these fairly often! yum!!!
10. my favorite sister there is no one like her!!! she is fun, loving, a great cook, creative and so easy going!!! i can't wait to spend time with her this summer :o)
11. fresh fallen snow i love how it looks on bare tree limbs and on evergreen trees! there's something magical about freshly fallen snow until you have to drive in it...
12. technology it allows us to stay in touch with our friends from all around the world :o)
13. indoor plumbing can you imagine having to go to an outhouse to use the facility in these frigid temps?!? ice!!! we are so spoiled to have 4.5 bathrooms in this house!!!
14. warm soup or tea on acold frigid day we have a plethora of tea options in our pantry---so perfect for these chilly days!!!
15. friends i love this quote: "friends are the family you choose for yourself"
16. trader joe's salt & pepper rice crisps the perfect gluten-free snack :o)
17. bsf i'm learning so much and am getting so much out of my bible study!!! love it!!!
18. whole food's french macaroons: mango these delectable treats are my favorite!!!
19. heated floors need i say more?!?
20. my iPhone camera feature i've taken more pix thanks to the phone :o)
21. sakura brand glitter gel pens yes, i am a gel pen snob. i can't help that i love this brand of gel pens---they're smooth & sparkly!!!
22. my slightly-darker-than-cotton-candy-blue kitchen aid mixer seeing this beautiful machine on the counter inspires me to bake!
23. biblegateway.com this is my go-to resource for looking up various versions of the Bible for clarity. my favorite versions are the nlt, the amplified bible, the esv, the message and the nasb.
24. the electric kettle it's the fastest way to boil water for tea :o)
25. crockpot liners the inventor of these wonderful liners is simply brilliant!!! it makes life SO easy when you can just remove the liner (no mess!!!) and just wipe down the crockpot (if needed). i currently have enough boxes in my pantry to service a third world country.
26. roasted seasoned seaweed it makes anything with rice taste better :o)
27. mini glue dots i just discovered these recently and they're perfect for holding things down when i'm using glittery card stock!!! plus, they're so cute :o)
28. handmade cards by krista & michael i treasure the cards these two make me. krista is at the age where she writes very meaningful messages and i love reading her cards!!!
29. birthday wishes from all over :o) thank you for all the birthday love!!!
30. quiet nights after i put michael down for the night, i can gather my thoughts together to write notes or blog. savor the silence :o)
31. kleenexes with lotion these are a life saver if you have a perpetually running nose from a cold!!!
32. hot pot with friends the perfect meal on a cold night with friends!!!
33. priority flat rate boxes you can stuff these boxes to the max and the shipping price is fixed. love these boxes!!!
34. the scent of raspberry sorbet candles burning they make a room smell so warm and inviting!!!
35. the God's story bible michael and i are reading through the bible with this tool by karen henley!
36. decorative brads these are so fun to use when i'm making cards!!!
37. a well organized pantry there's a shelf for snacks, a shelf for breakfast stuff, a shelf for canned goods, bottled goods & dry goods, 2 shelves devoted to baking needs, a shelf for tea & coffee drinks, a shelf for cookbooks, a shelf for jello, popcorn & misc, and 2 shelves for paper products and plastic ware :o)
38. twin rolling cabinets with 10 drawers these are perfect for me to store all my papers, decorative brads, stickers, etc. for card making!!!
39. gift wrap organizer i love organization so getting this organizer for all my gift wrapping, rolls of ribbons & bows and gift bags in one place needs was a necessity!!!
40. one-day contacts i feel blessed to have these b/c my allergies make it challenging to use my contacts more than once.
41. my resurrected lap top thanks to john d. for putting his healing hands on my machine!!! now i can start doing all my reviews again :o)
42. fleece lined leather gloves these have been one of my best friends this winter!!!
43. sherlock holmes okay. i'm hooked on this series!!! i'm bummed there are only 3 episodes per season though!
44. jacob's job we're so thankful God provides. we can share what we have with others!!!
as i get one year older (& hopefully, wiser!!!), i pray that i will...
love more and dislike less
listen more and talk less
reach out more and spend less :oD
i'll leave you with these verses from galatians 6:9-10 (i'm liking the amplified bible's version of it from biblegateway.com):
last night i was wide awake. it may have had something to do with the fact i took my shower at 1am... sleeping with wet hair is never truly comfortable; however, leaving the warmth of my electric blanket was not an option!
so, i started thinking about my blog topic. i mean, what do i want to share? last year, i shared my 43 favorite bible verses. but that took a while editing it down to just 43. sigh. then i thought about listing 44 influential people in my life, but that list went on and on. and on. nix that idea! how about 44 goals for the year? ummm... i can only think of 2, so no. 44 favorite books?!? definitely not happening. that's like asking who's your favorite child?!? it's impossible!!! how about 44 favorite movies i've seen? unfortunately, due to my limited memory, i don't think i can come up with 44 at the moment without doing a google search on movies. 44 things i want to change this year? nah. i'll have to wait until i'm at least 100 to do that list justice!
and then it hit me. i can do 44 gifts. it coincides with a book study that started in the fall with a group of old and new friends inspired by ann voskamp's one thousand gifts. we've all been keeping a journal and it's been so relaxing to write down 10 gifts every day reflecting on all the good gifts God has given :o) so here are mine in no particular order after #1...
1. GOD He completes me, forgives me, gives me grace, mercy, peace & joy and promises me a future & a hope!!!
2. my electric blanket although i am coveting my friend esther's heat mat aka bun warmer (!), this wonderful invention keeps me cocooned in warmth when i'm in bed :o)
3. jacob i got to sleep in every day while he was home and he cooked & cleaned!!! lucky me :o)
4. krista she's sensitive, insightful, wise beyond her years, makes me laugh, sweet with her brother & is so much fun to be with!!!
5. michael every morning, he's in our room at 7 am-ish (except for today because krista hung out with him so i could see how long i could stay in bed!!!). he draws pictures, chatters, snuggles and says the funniest things!
6. our office it's cozy & warm and we all love to hang out in here. it's the place where i spend time with God, make cards with Krista, read, blog, check my emails, watch stuff on the computer, etc.
7. the deep freeze thanks to the record cold temps & wind chill factor, everyone got to stay home a few extra days!!!
8. hobby lobby one of my favorite midwest features---it's the store with every kind of art supply imaginable, home accessories, furniture, etc. and they play instrumental music by maranatha! praise & others like that!
9. kale & cranberry smoothies krista got me hooked on this smoothie. she found the recipe, improvised it and now we have these fairly often! yum!!!
10. my favorite sister there is no one like her!!! she is fun, loving, a great cook, creative and so easy going!!! i can't wait to spend time with her this summer :o)
11. fresh fallen snow i love how it looks on bare tree limbs and on evergreen trees! there's something magical about freshly fallen snow until you have to drive in it...
12. technology it allows us to stay in touch with our friends from all around the world :o)
13. indoor plumbing can you imagine having to go to an outhouse to use the facility in these frigid temps?!? ice!!! we are so spoiled to have 4.5 bathrooms in this house!!!
14. warm soup or tea on a
15. friends i love this quote: "friends are the family you choose for yourself"
16. trader joe's salt & pepper rice crisps the perfect gluten-free snack :o)
17. bsf i'm learning so much and am getting so much out of my bible study!!! love it!!!
18. whole food's french macaroons: mango these delectable treats are my favorite!!!
19. heated floors need i say more?!?
20. my iPhone camera feature i've taken more pix thanks to the phone :o)
21. sakura brand glitter gel pens yes, i am a gel pen snob. i can't help that i love this brand of gel pens---they're smooth & sparkly!!!
22. my slightly-darker-than-cotton-candy-blue kitchen aid mixer seeing this beautiful machine on the counter inspires me to bake!
23. biblegateway.com this is my go-to resource for looking up various versions of the Bible for clarity. my favorite versions are the nlt, the amplified bible, the esv, the message and the nasb.
24. the electric kettle it's the fastest way to boil water for tea :o)
25. crockpot liners the inventor of these wonderful liners is simply brilliant!!! it makes life SO easy when you can just remove the liner (no mess!!!) and just wipe down the crockpot (if needed). i currently have enough boxes in my pantry to service a third world country.
26. roasted seasoned seaweed it makes anything with rice taste better :o)
27. mini glue dots i just discovered these recently and they're perfect for holding things down when i'm using glittery card stock!!! plus, they're so cute :o)
28. handmade cards by krista & michael i treasure the cards these two make me. krista is at the age where she writes very meaningful messages and i love reading her cards!!!
29. birthday wishes from all over :o) thank you for all the birthday love!!!
30. quiet nights after i put michael down for the night, i can gather my thoughts together to write notes or blog. savor the silence :o)
31. kleenexes with lotion these are a life saver if you have a perpetually running nose from a cold!!!
32. hot pot with friends the perfect meal on a cold night with friends!!!
33. priority flat rate boxes you can stuff these boxes to the max and the shipping price is fixed. love these boxes!!!
34. the scent of raspberry sorbet candles burning they make a room smell so warm and inviting!!!
35. the God's story bible michael and i are reading through the bible with this tool by karen henley!
36. decorative brads these are so fun to use when i'm making cards!!!
37. a well organized pantry there's a shelf for snacks, a shelf for breakfast stuff, a shelf for canned goods, bottled goods & dry goods, 2 shelves devoted to baking needs, a shelf for tea & coffee drinks, a shelf for cookbooks, a shelf for jello, popcorn & misc, and 2 shelves for paper products and plastic ware :o)
38. twin rolling cabinets with 10 drawers these are perfect for me to store all my papers, decorative brads, stickers, etc. for card making!!!
39. gift wrap organizer i love organization so getting this organizer for all my gift wrapping, rolls of ribbons & bows and gift bags in one place needs was a necessity!!!
40. one-day contacts i feel blessed to have these b/c my allergies make it challenging to use my contacts more than once.
41. my resurrected lap top thanks to john d. for putting his healing hands on my machine!!! now i can start doing all my reviews again :o)
42. fleece lined leather gloves these have been one of my best friends this winter!!!
43. sherlock holmes okay. i'm hooked on this series!!! i'm bummed there are only 3 episodes per season though!
44. jacob's job we're so thankful God provides. we can share what we have with others!!!
as i get one year older (& hopefully, wiser!!!), i pray that i will...
love more and dislike less
listen more and talk less
reach out more and spend less :oD
i'll leave you with these verses from galatians 6:9-10 (i'm liking the amplified bible's version of it from biblegateway.com):
9 "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [[a]morally] to all people [not only[b]being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]."
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
2013 Flashbacks... So Ready for the Adventures of 2014!!!
This is bad. It's been so long in between blogs that I keep forgetting my password and having to reset it. Again. And again. I'm hoping this one will stick in my brain or better yet, I'm hoping to blog more in 2014 so my password will be forever ingrained in my memory :o)
I can't believe that in a few short hours, 2013 will end. It's been a year of building new relationships, dealing with pain & loss and yet, it's been full of God's grace & healing. I have seen God's faithfulness through all the ups and downs, so here are a few memorable highlights from 2013...
Dec 31/Jan: Last New Year's Eve, we celebrated with friends over for a "Make-Your-Own-Pizza" party where everyone brought their favorite pizza toppings. It was such a fun night!!! Every weekend following included having friends over for a meal or two. After all, why have a house if you can't share it with others?!?
Feb: We hosted our first Super Bowl Sunday party!!! The week leading up to it, we were hit with the realization that we had intentionally decided to forego a cable service... No cable, no Super Bowl game, right?!? Jacob improvised and we bought the Apple TV gadget and hooked it up to the iPad and Taa Daa, the party was on again!
My first WOW Women's Retreat where I was away for the first time pre-children for (*gasp*) 3 days & 2 nights. It was SO much fun!!! What a blessing it was to have the best table group ever!!!
Mar: We hosted our small group for the month & had the world's most adorable Japanese foreign exchange student staying with us. Michael adored Yume and had so much fun teaching her games on the Wii! There wasn't a language barrier between them :o) During Yume's stay, Krista had a few of her friends (who came over with the Japanese students they were hosting) for a cookie baking & decorating experience.
I think this was also the month my lap top died. A very sad night since I hadn't backed up my reviews... lesson learned :o)
April: I met my friend Marti D. at a WOW Wednesday event. Her husband was willing to check out my laptop and see if he could resurrect it. But before I could send it out to him, we were hit with 5.5 feet of water in our basement. That ended all our entertaining plans. In one moment, we lost over 50% of our possessions and to this day, I still grieve over the loss of my library, Krista's special toys (I loved those doll houses!!!) and our beautiful ornaments!!!
God was faithful in providing us with the last 2 bedroom suite at a local hotel for a month, wonderful friends who either brought us food or had us over on weekends for meals and so much more!!!
May: My dear friend Nancy B. from Cali was able to spend the weekend visiting. She and I had a sleep over at the hotel :o) We bought a new car and three days later, unfortunately, I had my first accident since '94! Thankfully, God protected Michael and I from getting injured but the car needed a new body & system overhaul!
June: We were one day shy of being home for a month (after our extended stay at the hotel from flood #1), when we were hit with 4 feet of water in the basement. Deja Vu, anyone?!? Thankfully, Jacob was in town and our family was safe. God is good!!!
July: My closest friend, Un C. from Cali came and we were able to have dinner together. It was so nice to catch up with her!!! Krista got to go to SandBlast again and had a wonderful time bonding with her friends in youth group. We are so blessed by Impact here!!!
Aug: After 14 months of pure stress and traveling, Jacob started a new job God provided. What a blessing and what a change in Jacob!!!
We were able to return to Cali and be with the friends we have missed so much!!! Krista celebrated her 16th birthday early with Teal C. and we had the best afternoon having tea and pastries!!!
Jacob and I had our first Global Leadership Summit experience at Willow and we already purchased tickets for next year's Summit!!!
End of Aug/Sept: Jacob unearthed a time capsule that impacted the state of our marriage. To make a long story short, God has resurrected our marriage and now, thanks to His grace, instead of just surviving, our marriage is thriving!!! I'm not going to lie. There have been a lot of tears and a lot of pain through the process, but God is drawing us closer to Him and *to each other. *Now that's a miracle!!!
For the first time ever, I have more time to myself with Michael having normal school hours now that he's in 1st grade!!! I fill my time with making cards, a 1,000 Gifts book study, a mentoring training study, One Pot Wednesdays (purely social!) and BSF!!! Although it's an intense Bible study, I've loved digging deep in to God's Word and bonding with my friend, Diane J and May S :o)
We spent a weekend with friends in Door County, WI. What an unique and fun experience!!! We can now check that off our "Things to Do in the Midwest" list...
Krista turned 16. She is and continues to be my favorite 16 year old ever!!! We surprised her with 16 presents---a present a day leading up to her big day :o) It was as much fun for me as it was for her!!!
Oct: We were one of the last in the country to get on the Rainbow Loom bandwagon. Michael has been ecstatically watching youtube.com video how to's and cranking out the bracelets for his friends! His big friend Luke J. taught him his first fish tail Rainbow Loom bracelet and he's been hooked ever since!
Krista's small group leader, Melissa & Impact's pastor, Andrew had their first baby: Evan!!! He. is. adorable!!!
Nov: We invited my favorite collegiate nephew, Daniel to spend his Thanksgiving break with us. On Thanksgiving day, we had Alice, a new friend from Northwestern over for Thanksgiving Lunner (Lunner: the meal that's not quite lunch and not quite dinner) and afterwards, we had a great time playing multiple games of Monopoly Deal!
Krista survived round 1 of the ACT's :o)
Michael won a trophy (1st Grade Chess Champion) in Chess club at school!!! Only 40% of his Chess comrades won a trophy so he was in trophy Heaven with his big one :o)
Dec: Krista had surgery to remove her tonsils & adenoids, a turbinate procedure and to fix a deviated septum from a rude encounter with a volleyball during a game of Dodge Ball when she was in 9th grade attending GBHS in California (ironically, the initials to Krista's high school here are GBHS!).
We thank God she had an infection free recovery with a minimal need for her pain meds. She can breathe normally again and sleeps better at night, too :o) What a blessing to have so many friends from all around the world praying for her and for us!!!
So, I'm ready for whatever adventures 2014 will hold... but hopefully, it will not include more water in our house...!!!
I'll end this blog with a verse from Romans 15:13...
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound [overflow] in hope."
I can't believe that in a few short hours, 2013 will end. It's been a year of building new relationships, dealing with pain & loss and yet, it's been full of God's grace & healing. I have seen God's faithfulness through all the ups and downs, so here are a few memorable highlights from 2013...
Dec 31/Jan: Last New Year's Eve, we celebrated with friends over for a "Make-Your-Own-Pizza" party where everyone brought their favorite pizza toppings. It was such a fun night!!! Every weekend following included having friends over for a meal or two. After all, why have a house if you can't share it with others?!?
Feb: We hosted our first Super Bowl Sunday party!!! The week leading up to it, we were hit with the realization that we had intentionally decided to forego a cable service... No cable, no Super Bowl game, right?!? Jacob improvised and we bought the Apple TV gadget and hooked it up to the iPad and Taa Daa, the party was on again!
My first WOW Women's Retreat where I was away for the first time pre-children for (*gasp*) 3 days & 2 nights. It was SO much fun!!! What a blessing it was to have the best table group ever!!!
Mar: We hosted our small group for the month & had the world's most adorable Japanese foreign exchange student staying with us. Michael adored Yume and had so much fun teaching her games on the Wii! There wasn't a language barrier between them :o) During Yume's stay, Krista had a few of her friends (who came over with the Japanese students they were hosting) for a cookie baking & decorating experience.
I think this was also the month my lap top died. A very sad night since I hadn't backed up my reviews... lesson learned :o)
April: I met my friend Marti D. at a WOW Wednesday event. Her husband was willing to check out my laptop and see if he could resurrect it. But before I could send it out to him, we were hit with 5.5 feet of water in our basement. That ended all our entertaining plans. In one moment, we lost over 50% of our possessions and to this day, I still grieve over the loss of my library, Krista's special toys (I loved those doll houses!!!) and our beautiful ornaments!!!
God was faithful in providing us with the last 2 bedroom suite at a local hotel for a month, wonderful friends who either brought us food or had us over on weekends for meals and so much more!!!
May: My dear friend Nancy B. from Cali was able to spend the weekend visiting. She and I had a sleep over at the hotel :o) We bought a new car and three days later, unfortunately, I had my first accident since '94! Thankfully, God protected Michael and I from getting injured but the car needed a new body & system overhaul!
June: We were one day shy of being home for a month (after our extended stay at the hotel from flood #1), when we were hit with 4 feet of water in the basement. Deja Vu, anyone?!? Thankfully, Jacob was in town and our family was safe. God is good!!!
July: My closest friend, Un C. from Cali came and we were able to have dinner together. It was so nice to catch up with her!!! Krista got to go to SandBlast again and had a wonderful time bonding with her friends in youth group. We are so blessed by Impact here!!!
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| Michael modeling Krista's orange frames with dangling mustache creation on the way to SandBlast |
We were able to return to Cali and be with the friends we have missed so much!!! Krista celebrated her 16th birthday early with Teal C. and we had the best afternoon having tea and pastries!!!
Jacob and I had our first Global Leadership Summit experience at Willow and we already purchased tickets for next year's Summit!!!
End of Aug/Sept: Jacob unearthed a time capsule that impacted the state of our marriage. To make a long story short, God has resurrected our marriage and now, thanks to His grace, instead of just surviving, our marriage is thriving!!! I'm not going to lie. There have been a lot of tears and a lot of pain through the process, but God is drawing us closer to Him and *to each other. *Now that's a miracle!!!
For the first time ever, I have more time to myself with Michael having normal school hours now that he's in 1st grade!!! I fill my time with making cards, a 1,000 Gifts book study, a mentoring training study, One Pot Wednesdays (purely social!) and BSF!!! Although it's an intense Bible study, I've loved digging deep in to God's Word and bonding with my friend, Diane J and May S :o)
We spent a weekend with friends in Door County, WI. What an unique and fun experience!!! We can now check that off our "Things to Do in the Midwest" list...
Krista turned 16. She is and continues to be my favorite 16 year old ever!!! We surprised her with 16 presents---a present a day leading up to her big day :o) It was as much fun for me as it was for her!!!
Oct: We were one of the last in the country to get on the Rainbow Loom bandwagon. Michael has been ecstatically watching youtube.com video how to's and cranking out the bracelets for his friends! His big friend Luke J. taught him his first fish tail Rainbow Loom bracelet and he's been hooked ever since!
Krista's small group leader, Melissa & Impact's pastor, Andrew had their first baby: Evan!!! He. is. adorable!!!
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| Michael introduces Baby Evan to his very first Rainbow Loom bracelet :o) |
Krista survived round 1 of the ACT's :o)
Michael won a trophy (1st Grade Chess Champion) in Chess club at school!!! Only 40% of his Chess comrades won a trophy so he was in trophy Heaven with his big one :o)
Dec: Krista had surgery to remove her tonsils & adenoids, a turbinate procedure and to fix a deviated septum from a rude encounter with a volleyball during a game of Dodge Ball when she was in 9th grade attending GBHS in California (ironically, the initials to Krista's high school here are GBHS!).
We thank God she had an infection free recovery with a minimal need for her pain meds. She can breathe normally again and sleeps better at night, too :o) What a blessing to have so many friends from all around the world praying for her and for us!!!
So, I'm ready for whatever adventures 2014 will hold... but hopefully, it will not include more water in our house...!!!
I'll end this blog with a verse from Romans 15:13...
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound [overflow] in hope."
Wishing you JOY in 2014!!!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
"Mommy, I Dropped My Shirt in the Toilet!" and a Merry Christmas to You, too!!!
One day it was a little warmer than expected and Michael was hot. We came home from school and I helped him take off his undershirt giving him instructions to take it upstairs. Meanwhile, I headed to the kitchen to start making dinner. I think I was peeling potatoes when I hear this voice from the bathroom in the hallway...
Michael: "Mommy, I dropped my shirt in the toilet!!!"
Me: "Did you drop it in before or after you went to the bathroom?!?" I'm thinking, WHAT?!? How does that happen?!? Please let it be #1 and NOT #2!!!
Michael: "I already went to the bathroom!"
Me: Okay now. "Just don't flush the toilet or we will have a HUGE problem!!!"
I ripped off my gloves and ran over to him. He was standing at the toilet proudly holding one sleeve (the one that didn't fall in) and told me he "saved" it from falling in! Thankfully, it was a bladder issue or I would have been even more grossed out!!! And just for the record, this is the LAST time I plan on fishing anything out of the toilet!!!
The other day, Krista and Michael were verbally sparring. I interrupted them and asked if they needed to change the tone of their voices or be on the "couch of loving kindness" (the original one drowned in flood #1 but basically any part of the couch will do!). Of course, they both denied what they were doing, so I asked, "Then why are you talking to each other with that attitude?" And they both said in unison, "That's tough love!!!"
Gotta love those moments, right?!?
Okay, so I had this grandiose idea to hand make all my Christmas cards this year...FAIL!!! I made about 30 of them and then ran of out of steam, time and creativity!!! Thankfully, I had 2 boxes of back-up cards (I then ran out of those, too, so I'll start making some more once my second wind kicks in again); otherwise, your Christmas card may or may not arrive until Easter 2014!!!
I had an epiphany this year after helping Krista's 3rd grade girls learn their Bible verse in Promiseland from Isaiah 9:6. This verse comes to mind the most during the Christmas season, but I don't really reflect on it any other time. But then I realized, I've been missing out on a message that's meaningful for now and forever!!! I've added my thoughts in red and when you read it, you'll see why this verse has become one of my favorite verses to meditate on.
I grew up on the King James version of Isaiah 9:6 and love it this way...
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor (I love that we can pour out our fears, our sorrows and our longings to Him... and He listens), The mighty God (He's Omnipotent---all powerful so there isn't a problem too large that He can't handle), The everlasting Father (I'm reminded that He's a God who keeps His promises forever and ever!!!), The Prince of Peace (When we ask, He provides us with His presence and peace in the midst of the disappointments and uncertainties of this life!!!)."
This verse is clearly relevant all 365 days of the year :o)
Michael: "Mommy, I dropped my shirt in the toilet!!!"
Me: "Did you drop it in before or after you went to the bathroom?!?" I'm thinking, WHAT?!? How does that happen?!? Please let it be #1 and NOT #2!!!
Michael: "I already went to the bathroom!"
Me: Okay now. "Just don't flush the toilet or we will have a HUGE problem!!!"
I ripped off my gloves and ran over to him. He was standing at the toilet proudly holding one sleeve (the one that didn't fall in) and told me he "saved" it from falling in! Thankfully, it was a bladder issue or I would have been even more grossed out!!! And just for the record, this is the LAST time I plan on fishing anything out of the toilet!!!
The other day, Krista and Michael were verbally sparring. I interrupted them and asked if they needed to change the tone of their voices or be on the "couch of loving kindness" (the original one drowned in flood #1 but basically any part of the couch will do!). Of course, they both denied what they were doing, so I asked, "Then why are you talking to each other with that attitude?" And they both said in unison, "That's tough love!!!"
Gotta love those moments, right?!?
Okay, so I had this grandiose idea to hand make all my Christmas cards this year...FAIL!!! I made about 30 of them and then ran of out of steam, time and creativity!!! Thankfully, I had 2 boxes of back-up cards (I then ran out of those, too, so I'll start making some more once my second wind kicks in again); otherwise, your Christmas card may or may not arrive until Easter 2014!!!
I had an epiphany this year after helping Krista's 3rd grade girls learn their Bible verse in Promiseland from Isaiah 9:6. This verse comes to mind the most during the Christmas season, but I don't really reflect on it any other time. But then I realized, I've been missing out on a message that's meaningful for now and forever!!! I've added my thoughts in red and when you read it, you'll see why this verse has become one of my favorite verses to meditate on.
I grew up on the King James version of Isaiah 9:6 and love it this way...
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor (I love that we can pour out our fears, our sorrows and our longings to Him... and He listens), The mighty God (He's Omnipotent---all powerful so there isn't a problem too large that He can't handle), The everlasting Father (I'm reminded that He's a God who keeps His promises forever and ever!!!), The Prince of Peace (When we ask, He provides us with His presence and peace in the midst of the disappointments and uncertainties of this life!!!)."
This verse is clearly relevant all 365 days of the year :o)
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| Merry Christmas with Love, Joy & Peace!!! from the Lee's Jacob, Susan, Krista & Michael Jer. 29:11 |
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Goodbye, Summer break and Hello, 2013-2014 School Year!
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| As a result of Michael's anti-photographing behavior, I have a pretty good collection of pictures of his ear/side profile. Sigh. I need him to outgrow this phase. AND soon (as in BEFORE school pictures are taken again!). |
Since the last time I blogged, a ton of things have happened!!! Let me list them in no particular order...
1. Michael lost 2 bottom teeth (they were growing behind the baby teeth so once they came out, he already had a new set of permanent teeth in place!) after the school year ended.
2. Jacob accepted an offer with another company in the area (his stress level has gone down considerably!).
3. Krista finished two semesters of Chemistry in summer school (between her class and constant tutoring in Japanese, she's been very busy with very little time for relaxation!).
4. Michael finished a Lego robotics class, a hands on geometry class, a chemistry class for kids, an art class and a puzzles class over the summer (I'm convinced those three hour days trained him for the new school year!).
5. We flew back to California for a visit with friends and celebrated Krista's pre-16th birthday there (we had such a fantastic time with our friends in soCal & noCal!!!).
6. After completing the final paperwork for flood #2, I rediscovered the joy of making my own cards again (it's been very therapeutic and so much fun to create for friends and family!!!).
7. Our house was under siege by a gazillion of nasty flies whenever the temps were up in the 80's or above (I have ALWAYS hated germy flies. Having them invade our house is plain disgusting!!!).
8. The basement continues to be in a state of incomplete while we are contemplating our options (hopefully, we will find a solution before the next flood...!!!).
9. Jacob and I attended the Willow's Global Leadership Summit and left highly impacted & motivated (I can't wait til the next one!!!).
10. I discovered a great recipe for cake online that doesn't need eggs or butter (after discovering I ran out of both ingredients on the day I planned to bake!)! Of course I tweaked the recipe and made some mini chocolate cupcakes with chocolate chips inside and some mini raspberry lemon cupcakes and a strawberry whipped topping for both cupcakes.
11. Krista and I planned a baby shower for Melissa B with her small group that turned out great!!! What a God thing!!!
Tomorrow is a monumental day. Krista starts her junior year (I'm praying that God will clearly show her His plan as she embarks on another exciting chapter of her life at GBS) and for the first time since in forever and ever, Amen, I will have nearly 6 hours of time to get things done. This. Is. Huge.
I'm in a new season of life now (it's the season of life known as "both kids in school full-time now!") and I can't wait to see where God leads me!!!
In Ecclesiastes 3:1 (The Message), King Solomon said it best, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven..."
Now, I need to sit and make a list of everything I want to accomplish...!!!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
"Deep and Wide. Deep and Wide, There's a Fountain Flowing Deep and Wide..."
I know it's been forever and ever, amen since I last blogged. I've been a little bogged down with stuff from the flood, stuff for the insurance and everyday life stuff! My last blog entry was on Friday, April 19th and so much has happened since that time. I'll separated a few of them into "Highlights" and "Lowlights...:
Highlight: My friend Nancy B from Cali visited!!! It was SO much fun catching up late into the night :o)
Lowlight: We bought a new car on Memorial Day weekend and on day 3, I had a car accident... long story short: Michael and I and the other drivers involved were fine---a total God thing!
Highlight: Both kids finished their school year and started their summer programs.
Lowlight: Jacob tried to save a box of things for me that I didn't get to take care of in time. It was filled with notebooks of interviews from 2000 and beyond from my past life at the radio station---all muddy and moldy. Ick!!!
Highlight: All but one box of CDs and DVDs Jacob & our friend Brad rescued have been separated from their cases and sanitized.
Highlight: After what seems like forever, all the necessary documents have been turned to the insurance & FEMA. (HUGE sigh of relief!!!)
Highlight: John D retrieved some important files for me from my lap top that died last summer!!! He's a miracle worker!!!
While documenting pictures and filling out spreadsheets for the insurance company I had a gazillion and one things I've wanted to do like reading and blogging (I have a ton of things swirling around in my brain begging to be put down in writing!), but fun stuff has to take a back seat to the massive wall of responsibilities in front of you sometimes. In times like these, who wants to be the adult?!? I know I don't!!! I think I want to be Michael for the day...!!!
SO! After reading the title of my blog, have you found that tune running through your head?!? You're welcome :o) lol
This classic Sunday School song was a staple when I was growing up and then again when I was teaching my own Sunday School class. I mean, who doesn't remember stretching out their arms at the "Wide" of Deep and Wide and trying to hit the person next to you?!? Ummm... Okay, I hope I'm NOT the ONLY one guilty of that!!! Little did I know how this song would be the theme of our family's life since moving here...!!!
On Wednesday, June 26th, I was jerked out of a deep slumber at a little after 5 am (definitely an ungodly hour to be awakened for those of us who are NOT morning people!!!) by these words, "It's been raining outside and water is coming into the basement. We need to pack and may have to evacuate..."Groundhog Day, anyone?!?
"NoooooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The day before I had scheduled the restoration company to begin filling up the cracks in the foundation and to cap off the exposed exhaust pipe in the basement bathroom (where the water had gotten in before in the last flood in April). It was a two day project and was supposed to be finished today. Fat chance now!!!
The thought that we might flood AGAIN so soon (April 18 was the date of flood #1) and the fact that it was nearly one month since we were able to move back home after living in the hotel threatened to be joy robbers... But, God showed me how much I have to be grateful for again so here are some Splashes of Joy I want to share...
Splashes of Joy #1: I swung out of bed in record time, headed over to my closet to get the suitcase and turned on the lights and they worked this time!!! We still had POWER! It's SO much easier to pack when you can actually see what you're doing unlike the last time we had flooding!!!
Splashes of Joy #2: I knew the routine this time around as I called the plumber, the restoration company and the insurance company. After going through flood #1, I'm much better prepared for this time around with flood #2!!! I'm happy to dispense advice to anyone going through a flood for the first time...
Splashes of Joy #3: Jacob was in Japan last week so he was home this week.
Splashes of Joy #4: We only had 4 ft of water this time around compared to the 5.5 ft of water last time.
We hadn't started finishing the basement yet because we were still researching our options. We knew if the village storm system gets charged again, our streets will flood which would impact our home again so we were taking our time trying to figure things out. We had replaced the furnace and the air purifier, the hot water tank, the back-up battery and sump pump, so when we were hit with 4 ft of water and realized there goes the furnace and air purifier again, it threatened to be a joy robber, but...
Splashes of Joy #5: We replaced the hot water heater with a tankless so it could be mounted on the wall and the back up pump was up on the shelf that was built for us so we had hot water and the back-up pump working as our other sump pumps got overwhelmed! I wonder if we can suspend the next furnace from the ceiling...?!? We were so thankful we didn't replace the electrical stuff yet (it was on my "things to schedule next" list) because the water reached the breaker box again!
Splashes of Joy #6: The cracks in the foundation were being fixed and that's all that was happening in the basement---formally furnished but now down to a big 'ole slab of cement and ugly studs. You should see the lovely plastic wall with the big red zipper mounted that separates the main floor from the basement...!
We loaded the car and tried to drive out but the water level was too high on the roads, our driveway, our lawn... so we drove back in the garage and closed it. Then the sensors went out. We went back inside the house and it sounded like a waterfall downstairs in the basement. A pane of glass got shattered/cracked from the water (there are double pane windows downstairs) and I started calling the village's engineer requesting that the locks be opened so we wouldn't flood like last time! I calmly left new messages as the water started rising in our basement.
He never returned my calls; instead, he paid us and our street a visit.
Splashes of Joy #7: The plumber was finally able to make it (so many roads were flooded and closed down) and the slow process of pumping the water out took all day. Thank God for my rain boots! They came in handy when I went downstairs to inspect the damage in the basement and measure the water line :o)
Splashes of Joy #8: Jacob had to get our other car (parked in the driveway) to higher ground. The water was up to the doors so he drove through the neighbors yard (sorry, Tom!) to get to a street further up from us that hadn't been flooded. Next on the shopping list: Buy Jacob and the kids some rain boots, too. It comes in handy when the entire neighborhood goes underwater!!!
Earlier, after we had packed the car, we started moving things frantically from the main floor of the house knowing that the water might come in. Jacob was carrying boxes from the garage and taking them up on the landing of the stairs single-handedly! And then at the end of the day, he wondered why he was so exhausted!!!
Splashes of Joy #9: No water came in on the first floor so we were able to stay here instead of returning back to the hotel. Hot water and power (hello, internet!) are things we never want to take for granted!!!
Splashes of Joy #10: I got a call from the insurance adjuster that day and she was the same one from flood #1 so it was great to have already worked with her before!!!
Yes, we flooded again, yes, there's stuff to do for the insurance again, and yes, my list of "things to do" again has grown, but we have so much to be thankful for!!! Losing a basement is nothing compared to those who lost their homes in the fires out West or the flood in Canada. We have our family intact and we have food, shelter and clean water---it's more than what most people have around the globe.
I love how the Amplified Bible records the words of Job in Job 1:21...
Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!
I'm totally not comparing myself or our situation to what Job went through, but I LOVE his attitude!!! He chose joy!!! :o)
P.S. I was determined to blog today knowing that in the days to follow, I'll be pretty swamped again and may not make it back to blog in a long time...
Overheard: "Daddy, I leveled up to first grade!" Clearly, someone is spending too much time playing on the iPad, right?!?
Finding the time to read has been a challenge in the past couple of months! Here are the only books I've read in no particular order...
Unveiling Grace: The story of how we found our way out of the Mormon church by Lynn K. Wilder is a gripping story that's sure to impact you as you see the Wilder family touched by the power of God. Their story is amazing!!! The differences between Christianity and Mormonism are clearly laid out (I like the doctrinal comparison index in the back of the book) and it answers so many questions I've had about Mormons, their culture, rules and their belief system.
The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd has plenty of faith, action and romance! Amelia Barrett, heir to an estate, is plotting to get baby Lucy's father to marry her so his child's future will be secure. But his refusal to her proposal creates a complication that makes him realize what a mistake he made. Deception, danger and death---you'll find these elements keeping you on the edge of your seat!
Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt was a great read! Dr. Kendall Haynes is a caring doctor looking for the right man. And it seems like she's found her man, but the prickly & pig-headed guardian of one of her patients has her confused when she sees a rare tender side to him, too. Romance, tragedy and a mystery will keep you hooked to the end!
The Offering by Angela Hunt is one of those stories that makes you think. One discovered mistake has the potential to change everything in Amanda Lisandra's future and now she has the power to make things right. I've always believed that you can never go wrong with anything by Angela Hunt!!!
If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairytale by Sandra D. Bricker is charming and a fun read. Julianne has been searching for Prince Charming and her desperation to protect her pride is agonizing to read about! But, there's a happy ending and it turns out the Prince Charming has been there all along! I loved it!!!
Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson is a powerful love story that made me cry at the ending! Jennifer O'Malley hasn't really gone looking for love because she loves her job so much, but one man is about to change everything for her. And then the surprise ending caught me by surprise... it was totally not what I expected. It's true love, girlfriend!!!
The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney is an incredibly intriguing read. When Mitchell Brannon's wife Jill never shows up for dinner after being away at a conference, the police suspect foul play. Mitchell and his next door neighbor (his wife's best friend) search relentlessly for her but every lead seems to be a dead end until jewelry is recovered from Jill's hotel room. This is a story about redemption and second chances. Loved it!!!
When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti covers three woman's lives in three eras where they are faced with a dilemma that seems like there's no hope. The stories are fascinating as you go in and out of each woman's life. Becky is the mother of a teen daughter with a secret. Ivy has a secret that she's afraid to admit. And Anna is giving out her secrets so they can be remembered. It was a great read!
A Healing Heart by Angela Breidenbach is a story about one woman's desire to reconnect with her daughter. Her idea to make a photo memory quilt for her daughter incorporating some of the techniques from her heritage excites her but running her late husband's company drains her. Enter new business consultant partner: Joel Ryan---a man Mara doesn't trust! Mara needs to figure out if Joel is out to steal her company or something else!
An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow is the third title of The Monastery Murders. This series is addicting! Something strange is going on when Felicity stumbles upon a dead body with something held tightly in his hands. The sinister image haunts her as she and her fiancé Father Antony try to solve the murder while leading a group of youth on a walking pilgrimage. I love a good mystery and it's always fun to try to guess the "whodunnit" in the story!
Afloat by Erin Healy was an interesting book to read while our basement was flooding from the overcharged village storm sewers! In this story, architect Vance Nolan has designed a one-of-a-kind floating apartments concept that's funded by a wealthy developer interested in luring wealthy residents. But the unthinkable happens and suddenly, a handful of residents, builders and investors are desperately trying to survive. This is a suspenseful story about faith, spiritual warfare and deliverance!
Highlight: My friend Nancy B from Cali visited!!! It was SO much fun catching up late into the night :o)
Lowlight: We bought a new car on Memorial Day weekend and on day 3, I had a car accident... long story short: Michael and I and the other drivers involved were fine---a total God thing!
Highlight: Both kids finished their school year and started their summer programs.
Lowlight: Jacob tried to save a box of things for me that I didn't get to take care of in time. It was filled with notebooks of interviews from 2000 and beyond from my past life at the radio station---all muddy and moldy. Ick!!!
Highlight: All but one box of CDs and DVDs Jacob & our friend Brad rescued have been separated from their cases and sanitized.
Highlight: After what seems like forever, all the necessary documents have been turned to the insurance & FEMA. (HUGE sigh of relief!!!)
Highlight: John D retrieved some important files for me from my lap top that died last summer!!! He's a miracle worker!!!
While documenting pictures and filling out spreadsheets for the insurance company I had a gazillion and one things I've wanted to do like reading and blogging (I have a ton of things swirling around in my brain begging to be put down in writing!), but fun stuff has to take a back seat to the massive wall of responsibilities in front of you sometimes. In times like these, who wants to be the adult?!? I know I don't!!! I think I want to be Michael for the day...!!!
SO! After reading the title of my blog, have you found that tune running through your head?!? You're welcome :o) lol
This classic Sunday School song was a staple when I was growing up and then again when I was teaching my own Sunday School class. I mean, who doesn't remember stretching out their arms at the "Wide" of Deep and Wide and trying to hit the person next to you?!? Ummm... Okay, I hope I'm NOT the ONLY one guilty of that!!! Little did I know how this song would be the theme of our family's life since moving here...!!!
On Wednesday, June 26th, I was jerked out of a deep slumber at a little after 5 am (definitely an ungodly hour to be awakened for those of us who are NOT morning people!!!) by these words, "It's been raining outside and water is coming into the basement. We need to pack and may have to evacuate..."Groundhog Day, anyone?!?
"NoooooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The day before I had scheduled the restoration company to begin filling up the cracks in the foundation and to cap off the exposed exhaust pipe in the basement bathroom (where the water had gotten in before in the last flood in April). It was a two day project and was supposed to be finished today. Fat chance now!!!
The thought that we might flood AGAIN so soon (April 18 was the date of flood #1) and the fact that it was nearly one month since we were able to move back home after living in the hotel threatened to be joy robbers... But, God showed me how much I have to be grateful for again so here are some Splashes of Joy I want to share...
Splashes of Joy #1: I swung out of bed in record time, headed over to my closet to get the suitcase and turned on the lights and they worked this time!!! We still had POWER! It's SO much easier to pack when you can actually see what you're doing unlike the last time we had flooding!!!
Splashes of Joy #2: I knew the routine this time around as I called the plumber, the restoration company and the insurance company. After going through flood #1, I'm much better prepared for this time around with flood #2!!! I'm happy to dispense advice to anyone going through a flood for the first time...
Splashes of Joy #3: Jacob was in Japan last week so he was home this week.
Splashes of Joy #4: We only had 4 ft of water this time around compared to the 5.5 ft of water last time.
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| My view of the basement as I watched the water rise up on the stairs |
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| The view from the front door of our house! |
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| Here is a view of what it looked like from the side of the house leading to the backyard |
We hadn't started finishing the basement yet because we were still researching our options. We knew if the village storm system gets charged again, our streets will flood which would impact our home again so we were taking our time trying to figure things out. We had replaced the furnace and the air purifier, the hot water tank, the back-up battery and sump pump, so when we were hit with 4 ft of water and realized there goes the furnace and air purifier again, it threatened to be a joy robber, but...
Splashes of Joy #5: We replaced the hot water heater with a tankless so it could be mounted on the wall and the back up pump was up on the shelf that was built for us so we had hot water and the back-up pump working as our other sump pumps got overwhelmed! I wonder if we can suspend the next furnace from the ceiling...?!? We were so thankful we didn't replace the electrical stuff yet (it was on my "things to schedule next" list) because the water reached the breaker box again!
Splashes of Joy #6: The cracks in the foundation were being fixed and that's all that was happening in the basement---formally furnished but now down to a big 'ole slab of cement and ugly studs. You should see the lovely plastic wall with the big red zipper mounted that separates the main floor from the basement...!
We loaded the car and tried to drive out but the water level was too high on the roads, our driveway, our lawn... so we drove back in the garage and closed it. Then the sensors went out. We went back inside the house and it sounded like a waterfall downstairs in the basement. A pane of glass got shattered/cracked from the water (there are double pane windows downstairs) and I started calling the village's engineer requesting that the locks be opened so we wouldn't flood like last time! I calmly left new messages as the water started rising in our basement.
He never returned my calls; instead, he paid us and our street a visit.
Splashes of Joy #7: The plumber was finally able to make it (so many roads were flooded and closed down) and the slow process of pumping the water out took all day. Thank God for my rain boots! They came in handy when I went downstairs to inspect the damage in the basement and measure the water line :o)
Splashes of Joy #8: Jacob had to get our other car (parked in the driveway) to higher ground. The water was up to the doors so he drove through the neighbors yard (sorry, Tom!) to get to a street further up from us that hadn't been flooded. Next on the shopping list: Buy Jacob and the kids some rain boots, too. It comes in handy when the entire neighborhood goes underwater!!!
Earlier, after we had packed the car, we started moving things frantically from the main floor of the house knowing that the water might come in. Jacob was carrying boxes from the garage and taking them up on the landing of the stairs single-handedly! And then at the end of the day, he wondered why he was so exhausted!!!
Splashes of Joy #9: No water came in on the first floor so we were able to stay here instead of returning back to the hotel. Hot water and power (hello, internet!) are things we never want to take for granted!!!
Splashes of Joy #10: I got a call from the insurance adjuster that day and she was the same one from flood #1 so it was great to have already worked with her before!!!
Yes, we flooded again, yes, there's stuff to do for the insurance again, and yes, my list of "things to do" again has grown, but we have so much to be thankful for!!! Losing a basement is nothing compared to those who lost their homes in the fires out West or the flood in Canada. We have our family intact and we have food, shelter and clean water---it's more than what most people have around the globe.
I love how the Amplified Bible records the words of Job in Job 1:21...
Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!
I'm totally not comparing myself or our situation to what Job went through, but I LOVE his attitude!!! He chose joy!!! :o)
P.S. I was determined to blog today knowing that in the days to follow, I'll be pretty swamped again and may not make it back to blog in a long time...
Overheard: "Daddy, I leveled up to first grade!" Clearly, someone is spending too much time playing on the iPad, right?!?
Finding the time to read has been a challenge in the past couple of months! Here are the only books I've read in no particular order...
Unveiling Grace: The story of how we found our way out of the Mormon church by Lynn K. Wilder is a gripping story that's sure to impact you as you see the Wilder family touched by the power of God. Their story is amazing!!! The differences between Christianity and Mormonism are clearly laid out (I like the doctrinal comparison index in the back of the book) and it answers so many questions I've had about Mormons, their culture, rules and their belief system.
The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd has plenty of faith, action and romance! Amelia Barrett, heir to an estate, is plotting to get baby Lucy's father to marry her so his child's future will be secure. But his refusal to her proposal creates a complication that makes him realize what a mistake he made. Deception, danger and death---you'll find these elements keeping you on the edge of your seat!
Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt was a great read! Dr. Kendall Haynes is a caring doctor looking for the right man. And it seems like she's found her man, but the prickly & pig-headed guardian of one of her patients has her confused when she sees a rare tender side to him, too. Romance, tragedy and a mystery will keep you hooked to the end!
The Offering by Angela Hunt is one of those stories that makes you think. One discovered mistake has the potential to change everything in Amanda Lisandra's future and now she has the power to make things right. I've always believed that you can never go wrong with anything by Angela Hunt!!!
If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairytale by Sandra D. Bricker is charming and a fun read. Julianne has been searching for Prince Charming and her desperation to protect her pride is agonizing to read about! But, there's a happy ending and it turns out the Prince Charming has been there all along! I loved it!!!
Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson is a powerful love story that made me cry at the ending! Jennifer O'Malley hasn't really gone looking for love because she loves her job so much, but one man is about to change everything for her. And then the surprise ending caught me by surprise... it was totally not what I expected. It's true love, girlfriend!!!
The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney is an incredibly intriguing read. When Mitchell Brannon's wife Jill never shows up for dinner after being away at a conference, the police suspect foul play. Mitchell and his next door neighbor (his wife's best friend) search relentlessly for her but every lead seems to be a dead end until jewelry is recovered from Jill's hotel room. This is a story about redemption and second chances. Loved it!!!
When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti covers three woman's lives in three eras where they are faced with a dilemma that seems like there's no hope. The stories are fascinating as you go in and out of each woman's life. Becky is the mother of a teen daughter with a secret. Ivy has a secret that she's afraid to admit. And Anna is giving out her secrets so they can be remembered. It was a great read!
A Healing Heart by Angela Breidenbach is a story about one woman's desire to reconnect with her daughter. Her idea to make a photo memory quilt for her daughter incorporating some of the techniques from her heritage excites her but running her late husband's company drains her. Enter new business consultant partner: Joel Ryan---a man Mara doesn't trust! Mara needs to figure out if Joel is out to steal her company or something else!
An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow is the third title of The Monastery Murders. This series is addicting! Something strange is going on when Felicity stumbles upon a dead body with something held tightly in his hands. The sinister image haunts her as she and her fiancé Father Antony try to solve the murder while leading a group of youth on a walking pilgrimage. I love a good mystery and it's always fun to try to guess the "whodunnit" in the story!
Afloat by Erin Healy was an interesting book to read while our basement was flooding from the overcharged village storm sewers! In this story, architect Vance Nolan has designed a one-of-a-kind floating apartments concept that's funded by a wealthy developer interested in luring wealthy residents. But the unthinkable happens and suddenly, a handful of residents, builders and investors are desperately trying to survive. This is a suspenseful story about faith, spiritual warfare and deliverance!
Friday, April 19, 2013
"Water, water every where, nor any drop to drink" (The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
We rushed out of the house frantically grabbing what we could in the dark (no power because the breaker box was downstairs and there was a possibility it was under water). Okay, I realized that being rushed around while half-asleep and being told, "Hurry!" every couple of minutes are real joy robbers... But I knew we had so much to be grateful for, so in keeping with my water theme, here are some splashes of Joy I'll share!!!
Splashes of Joy #1: We were all safe and Jacob was home and not away on business!!!
Splashes of Joy #2: We have our wonderful brothers & sisters in Christ all around the world praying for us. And many friends here have offered us a place to stay or to share a meal :o)
Splashes of Joy #3: We met our neighbors! Everyone flooding at the same time has a way of quickly bonding you! And one neighbor lent a pump which was instrumental in helping us get our basement water pumped out!!!
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| See the water line on the wall? That little pump was amazing!!! |
Splashes of Joy #4: Our wonderful plumber Ed Struck who came out before his next job to help us rig up pipes to get the water away from the house. He came by twice to check on us and help us with the pump.
Splashes of Joy #5: Our wonderful carpenter/handyman Dave Ratajczyk forwarded info about a Flood Restoration Company to contact. Our plumber Ed put in a call for us with a company he's worked with in the past. Krista's friend Michelle's dad has a flood restoration company (Castino Restoration) and they came on Monday, 4/22!!!
Splashes of Joy #6: We have flood insurance!!!
Splashes of Joy #7: Our sump pumps were still working (imagine how much more water we might have gotten had they been out of commission?!?)!!!
We called 911 to report our power box being underwater but they didn't want to cut the power because the sump pumps were all still working and that was a GREAT thing to know!!! We did lose the majority of my books (we rescued 25% of them), the furnace, the air purifier, the hot water tank, the sump pump back-up system, all the furniture downstairs, the TV, Wii game system, the games, special toys in the play room, all the craft stuff, all my Creative Memories pictures and papers, albums, etc. I guess I could go on but you'll notice they're all "just stuff" and stuff doesn't go to Heaven with us, so I'm learning to let go even though it hurts!!!
We had dinner with a wonderful family, the Chang's and they were so gracious to let us borrow their showers!!! Hot water is a luxury!!! My sweet friends Mary Ann W., Cheryl S., Esther C. and Vicky W. extended their kind hospitality, but we figured we would try to stay one more night in our house before staying somewhere else while Ed and Roberto (his heating and cooling expert) brought in a new furnace and hot water tank this weekend. Or so they thought...
The big bummer in all of this was that this weekend, our long-time dear friends, the Wong's were supposed to stay with us while checking out colleges through Wednesday. We had this planned to host them for months and I had been looking forward to spending time with my friend, Mary!!! But the flood changed everything---no heat, no hot water, no internet access and limited power are joy robbers when it comes to hosting personal friends!!! But then I realized how much I have to be grateful for...
Splashes of Joy #8: I intended to clean the guest bedrooms and bathrooms and wash all the linens from a visit the weekend before with our dear friends, the Beccue family (CA). My plan was to do it closer toward the end of the week. If I had cleaned pre-flood, I would have been annoyed that all my efforts were wasted, but since I didn't do anything, I have no regrets!!!
Splashes of Joy #9: We had a $40,000 plan for the yard and it's flooding issues but didn't start the first phase yet. Had we spent the money, it would have literally washed away because the storm drains were charged and couldn't hold all that water (no thanks to the village who haven't cleaned the drains in 10 years according to our informative neighbors!)!
Splashes of Joy #10: We were flooded with rain water complete with mud and all. But other homes were flooded with city sewer... Triple Icky!!! I'll take mud over poop any day!!! Thank you, God!!! See, He never gives you more than we can handle!!!
Friday, April 19th, 2013: It was hailing and snowing today. In April. This weather is so kooky here!!! Thank God the water got drained out of our basement! Ed and Roberto came by to check on the house and realized it was impossible to put in the new furnace and water tank without an electrician on hand to take care of stuff since the breaker box had been immersed in water. Their concern was mold forming if a flood restoration company didn't get here soon... Then, the entire basement has to be gutted and once construction starts, well, it will definitely mean we need to be away from the house for a few weeks. I put on my rain boots and sloshed through the basement with my iPhone and what I saw were definitely some joy robbers...
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| This is the water mark on the door to the boiler room!!! |
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| Here is the water level that's marked on the wall in the boiler room where the water tank is. Can you imagine?!? |
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| See ya TV, Wii game system and bookcase! |
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| Here's a better view of that collapsed bookcase from the picture above |
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| I found it comical that a bunch of books landed in the fireplace and the couches were pushed by the water into strange positions! |
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| The guest bedroom #1: I couldn't get the door opened anymore because of the downed furniture and books!!! |
But I found more splashes of Joy to reflect on...
Splashes of Joy #11: Once we have a flood restoration company come clean up the mess, Ed, Roberto, Dave and Tony and his own crew will take care of demolition and rebuilding the basement!!! What a blessing this team of men have been to us :o)
Splashes of Joy #12: See that white table in the third picture? That was our temporary fix while searching for the perfect entertainment system armoire... I'm so glad we didn't invest the money or put the effort in searching for the right one yet!
Splashes of Joy #13: Michael and I stopped by an extended stay hotel nearby and they had one 2 bedroom suite left. We reserved it and later, while having dinner with our lovely friend's, the Cesario's, Brad informed us that when he checked about availability at the hotel, they were fully booked. We got the last suite!!! And we finally have internet access again!!! It will be our home away from home... literally!
Splashes of Joy #14: We're on another adventure as a family!!! Thank you for your continued prayers!!! God is faithful and His provision, care and grace never cease to amaze me.
I have so many more Splashes of Joy I would love to share, but it's after midnight and I need to get some sleep because tomorrow, we'll be hanging out with our friends from NJ!!!
Here is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah 43:1-5 The Amplified Bible:
But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt [to the Babylonians] for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba [a province of Ethiopia] in exchange [for your release].
4 Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and because I love you, I will give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east [where they are dispersed] and gather you from the west.
And with that, I'll say thank you, Biblegateway.com and Good Night!!!
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