Indivisible

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I started reading a book and it seems like it’s going to be really good… I just wish I had more time to read! I get maybe five minutes here or there. (Confession: I turned the shower on the other day, locked the bathroom door, and sat on the floor and read for a while. Then I jumped in enough just to get my hair wet. You gotta do what you gotta do for a break, right?) I am only a few chapters in to this book but it’s one that I think I will end up staying up late at night to finish! It’s called Indivisible and it’s by Kristen Heitzmann.

Here is a quick summary:

Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

If you want to start reading, you can download the first chapter HERE

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

An Absence So Great

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I am in the middle of reading this book called An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick. It’s an historical fiction novel set in the early twentieth century. It has beautiful photographs and descriptions in it. I can’t tell if the book has been slower to get started, or if I have just had a hard time since I only get to read for about five minutes at a time. I am starting to enjoy the book, it’s just taking me forever to read! I have been reading it for two or three weeks now and I am only about a third of the way through. Normally it takes me just a few days to read a book.

Here is a quick summary of the story in case you are interested:
Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

I am looking forward to finishing this book… someday… and seeing where she ends up!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Love & War

Filed Under Books, Marriage, Sponsored, This Rocks | 2 Comments

I am about halfway through a new book called Love & War that is completely changing my mindset about marriage. I am usually hesitant to read “self-help” type books but I am familiar with John and Stasi Eldredge and knew that this would probably be a good one. And plus, I knew that I needed a better attitude about my relationship with Jonathon. (What, you thought we were perfect? ha ha) We do “fine” together but lately we just seem to be missing something. And it’s easy to get bogged down by life with a two year old, a baby on the way, a job, taking care of the house etc. But how do you get back to where you want to be?

This book has been great because the writers are both so honest. It’s a husband and wife team and they each share from their own perspective. First off, they admit that marriage is not going to be easy. Do you know what a relief it is to hear someone actually say that? It’s not just us. We’re not the only ones who struggle. I struggle to be nice to my husband on a daily basis, to appreciate him, to show him respect. With the way my hormones have been lately, I’m guessing that he struggles to not strangle me!

Love and War talks about how marriage won’t be better until we learn to seek fulfillment from God and not our spouse. It discusses dealing with hurts and insecurities, working as a team, learning about our differences… stuff I’ve heard before. But the way the message is conveyed is captivating and really got under my skin. It made me want a change, to want something better, to believe it’s possible. I honestly recommend this book for anyone who is married or about to be married. I think it will change the way you approach your relationship. If you want to borrow it when I’m finished, just let me know.

And I just wanted to share some of my favorite quotes from this book:

“God created marriage as a living, breathing portrait laid out before the eyes of the world so that they might see the story of the ages. A love story, set in the midst of desperate times. It is a story of redemption, a story of healing; it is a story of love. God give sus marriage to illustrate his heart toward us. It is the deepest and most mythic reality in the world–that love is true, that God pursues us. Our love is meant ot be a picture of both his love and his fight. The masculine and the feminine, the courage and sacrifice, and yes, the blood, sweat, and tears–these play out for us and for the world the story of truest Love and his Beloved. God is fighting for the hearts of his people. He is a valiant king and lover, who will set his people free.”

“So there you have it–we live in a great love story, set in the mindst of war. We need each other, desperately. We have been entrusted with the heart of another human being. Our loving will prove to the world that love is real. We will play out before watching eyes the Great Love Story of the ages.”

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Contest for free Raleigh, NC getaway

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I realized I have been slacking at posting coupon links and contests and stuff on my blogs like I have in the past… so hopefully this makes up for it. This looks like a pretty good one! Jonathon and I are trying to figure out how we are going to afford to take a little trip this fall. I have been checking out all the discount travel sites and stuff like that- but so far nothing has really piqued our interest a whole lot except for this one.

There are a lot of romantic weekend type packages and activities in Raleigh, NC. I was surprised when I started checking to see what was available. Lots of cool dining stuff, Broadway shows, spas, a ballet… as well as some fun shopping places, Diwali festival, and amusement parks and that kind of stuff too.

You can enter to win a free Raleigh getaway which includes:
-One night accommodations for two at the Courtyard by Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley
-$25 gift certificate to Bloomsbury Bistro
-Free VIP admission for two to Rum Runners
-2 tickets to the North Carolina Theatre
-2 tickets to the N.C. Museum of Art’s Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism
-2 tickets to Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences

Anyway I have entered the contest, and it would be nice if Jonathon and actually won one of the trips and could use this as our fall getaway! There are nine trips available to win- so you should enter, too

I Would Buy You a Big House

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Way up in the west hills…

My in-laws just spent the summer in Naples, Florida. Funny, because initially, that makes them sound like they have a decent amount of money. But they were there working with a Haitian church. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned that Jonathon grew up in Haiti. Anyway, these people kill me because sometimes they are so broke that they have to buy Bailey garage sale stuff, yet they have a timeshare and eat all organic food.

They used to own some houses in some small towns in Illinois, and they would rent them out. They only made a few hundred dollars each month, per house. Well, and that was before repairs and upkeep. I wonder if they made a serious investment in some Tampa real estate, if they would have better luck. Then, people could probably use them for vacation homes. You know, for people who really “summer” in Florida.

Baby Weight

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Losing the baby weight is really frustrating to me. Jonathon commented tonight that he thinks my stomach is firmer than before. Which makes me feel good… but I haven’t been getting to the gym like I should. I just can’t make myself go when it’s this hot out. It’s like the last thing I want to do is get even hotter and, God forbid, break a sweat.

Sometimes I am jealous of people who use stuff like hydroxycut. It makes it seem so easy, but I know there are risks associated with it and I’m not willing to take those risks. For one, I am breastfeeding and Bailey definitely doesn’t need that stuff. And two, I had corrective heart surgery as a child and even though I don’t have any restrictions, I try to be more careful with my metabolism and heartrate than probably the average person would be.

Boys and Their Toys

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Apparently before we were dating, Jonathon used to spend hours on his computer playing games online with his friends. Yeah, he was one of THOSE guys I forget the name of the game they used to play, but he was really into it. I know he has played StarCraft a little bit, but not sure what he thought about it. There is a new game out called StarCraft: Brood War and I think it’s one of those things that computery guys obsess over.

There is also a StarCraft fansite for people that play the game. I guess it’s kind of like baby info sites, or the discussion forums that I stalk… only it’s not quite the same… Anyway it amazes me the stuff that you can find out there. I’m sure it’s popular, or it wouldn’t be there.