Teaser Tuesdays - March 30

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Ok, so I missed this last week, but if you look at my last post, you'll find out why.

'Over the Wall' by Becky Melby & Cathy Wienke (book 3 in Race to the Altar)

'Ryan sputtered and dropped the lug nut. "And there ain't a drop of jelly on that boy!" He scrambled after the nut, and his voice rose from under the table. "But you still can't go flirtin' with a girl who's spoken for. Crumbs, flirtin' don't describe it. You acted like a plumb fool yesterday"

Tommy ignored the last part. "Who says she's 'spoken for'? Just because she's been with the same guy for three years doesn't mean it's a done deal."

This book, while a romance isn't one I would have normally chosen. All 4 of stories in this book revolve around NASCAR. Car racing is one of my least favourite things, but the book came ina box with a few others, and I had no choice.

Where are you on the river?

Last week I went for a short holiday to Bright in the Alpine region of Victoria. It is a beautiful town on the banks of the Ovens River. We walked along a couple of the tracks along the river, and this photo was on the Canyon Walk.

As I looked at the river I was thinking about what my life is like at the moment, and how that compares to a river, such as this one. There are rapids, and rocky parts, but then you come to the smooth, slower parts of the river too. But even under this smooth, quiet part there can be a fast under-current, pulling you along.

I think that's where I might be at the moment, perhaps even about to hit the next set of rapids. I feel pulled in many directs, but not strongly in any particular one.

Other times I feel like a rock in the river. Everyone is flowing past me, in their hurried, busy lives. Life just seems to be passing me by, as I struggle to know just what my place in it is to be. Am I to be a rock that stays in one place, or will I be a rock that is taken further down the river by the current?

How about you? Where are you on the river?

Role Play Games!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

2010 Reading Challenge - week 12

This week I finished 7 books!

I had a little more time because I went away for a few days.

So the finished books were:

• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Virginia Weddings by Lauralee Bliss (3 in 1)
• Thin Air by Bette Nordberg
• Wisconsin Weddings by Andrea Boeshaar (3 in 1)
• Woven Hearts by Cathy Marie Hake, Susan Downs, Kelly Eileen Hake and Kathleen Paul (4 in 1)
• Cowgirl at Heart by Christine Lynxwiler (book 2 in McCord Sisters series)
• Listen by Rene Gutteridge

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen
• Colorado Weddings by Joyce Livingston

Friday Fill-Ins #169

And...here we go!

1. The right word said at the right time can change a life for the better.
2. Go to your room and shut the door quietly, please.
3. Up is one way to go.
4. Sitting at my desk is where you'll find me at the present time.
5. Ooh! What is that used for?
6. Sleeping is a good idea.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night in, unless someone calls and asks me to do something else, tomorrow my plans include pottering around home, working on some projects, and maybe working on the lawn I've been growing and Sunday, I want to enjoy the fellowship at church and hopefully find out what will be happening at GNG for next term!

Christian Historical Fiction Challenge 2010 - March Update

Ok, so I'm about a week early with this update, but I've actually finished the challenge - 9 months early!!!

I knew I would, so now I'm going to see just how many Christian Historical Fiction books I read for the whole year.

In January these were the books I read:

• The Confidential Life of Euginia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo
• Pieces of Silver by Maureen Lang
• Remember Me by Maureen Lang
• New Mexico by Janet Lee Barton
• The Tapestry by MaryAnn Minatra
• The Masterpiece by MaryAnn Minatra
• The Heirloom by MaryAnn Minatra
• Texas Brides by Cathy Marie Hake

In February I read:

• Battles of Destiny Vol. 3 by Al Lacy
• Battles of Destiny Vol. 4 by Al Lacy
• A Place Called Home by Lori Wick
• A Song For Silas by Lori Wick
• The Long Road Home by Lori Wick
• A Gathering of Memories by Lori Wick
• Gingham Bride by Jillian Hart
• Look to the East by Maureen Lang

And to finish the challenge in March I read:

• Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick
• The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick
• Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus
• Angel's Den by Jamie Carie
• The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
• Pasadena Primises by Rachel Druten
• Brides of the Empire by Darlene Minrup
• The Raven Saint by M L Tyndall

So, just for those interested, I was very even in my reading - 8 books each month for the 3 months. I wonder if that trend will continue. If it does, then I will have read 96 Christian Historical Fiction books by the end of the year.

But then, that's not really surprising, since it is my favorite genre.

2010 Reading Challenge - week 11

So this week I finished 4 books. I was trying for a couple more, but I'm still ahead of schedule for my target of 160.

They were:

• Pasadena Promises by Rachel Druten (3 in 1; the first time I've read anything by this author)
• Screen Play by Chris Coppernoll
• Brides of the Empire by Darlene Mindrup (3 in 1; the first time I've read anything by this author too)
• The Raven Saint by M L Tyndall (book 3 in the Charlestowne Belles series)

And I'm reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada (in case you're wondering why this is still on this list, it's a year-long daily devotional book)
• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs (2 chapters to go)
• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight
• Virginia Weddings by Lauralee Bliss (3 in 1, and I'm currently reading the 3rd)

So that takes me to 49 outof 160.

Friday Fill-In #168

And...here we go!

1. Today I will be picking up my sister from the station.
2. You say "Why?", and I say "Why not?"
3. What do you think of when you hear the word 'radishes'?
4. At a place somewhere in the world it's free Pastry Day til 1030 Friday!
5. People say that what we're all seeking is something to fill the God-shaped whole in our heart.
6. The image I cherish most is a father enjoying spending time with his young children.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing a game with my sister, tomorrow my plans include spending some time with my sister and Sunday, I want to enjoy our last GNG breakfast for this term, have fellowship at church and quiet afternoon!

Teaser Tuesdays - March 16

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Edge of Destiny by Darlene Mindrup (Book 2 in Brides of the Empire)

'Decimus Antigonus stood on the edge of the milling crowd and felt his stomach coil with revulsion. As large as the city of Rome was, how had he managed to be at this particular spot during this moment of time? Would that he were anywhere else in this whole stinking city.'

These are, in fact, the opening lines of the story.

2010 Reading Challenge - week 10

A few books finished this week, including one that I've been reading for a little while.

I often do that. Fiction I finish pretty quickly, but non-fiction I often read just one chapter a day (or one chapter every couple of days), so it takes me a longer to finish. But that's because I want to take in as much as I'm reading as possible.

So the 5 books I finished this week are:

• The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
• Texas Neighbors by Debra White Smith (3 in 1)
• Michigan Weddings by Mary Davis (3 in 1)
• Countdown in Cairo by Noel Hynd
• Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen
• Pasadena Promises by Rachel Druten

Teaser Tuesdays - March 9

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Get ready for a good laugh and a shot of hope this week!

'The Key' by Debra White Smith (This is one of 3 stories in her anthology titled 'Texas Neighbors')

'Zeke decided his best bet was to eat and mind his own business. As he prepared to remove the sprig of parsley from the centre of his soup, he noted that the parsley had disappeared. That's strange, he thought. With an inward shrug, Ezekiel dipped his soup spoon into the creamy mixture, and the parsley surfaced with an extra bit of protien. In fact, a writhing night crawler the size of a small snake hung on either side of his spoon.

"Oh, my word!" Brandy gasped.

A deathly silencesettled upon the table - a silence broken only by the clank of the children's spoons against their bowls as they continued gobbling the soup at lightning speed. After the initial surprise, Zeke eyed the creature and debated his options.'

And now you'll just have to read the rest of the story to find out what he does with it. Ha ha!

2010 Reading Challenge - week 9

Just 5 books finished this week.

Although, if you really think about it the 2 Lori Wick books were actually 4 from a series.

So this week we have:

• Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick (The Californians vol. 1)
• The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick (The Californians vol. 2)
• Prayer is an Adventure by Patricia St John
• Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus
• Angel's Den by Jamie Carie (I finished this just before doing this post)

I'm currently reading (or about to start):

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Cure For the Common Life by Max Lucado
• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen
• The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
  

Friday Fill-In #166

And...here we go!

1. Why are you making me cry?
2. I want you to take my heart and make it Yours.
3. If I start first then it will be on my terms.
4. Let's wait and see what happens.
5. I could use a good laugh.
6. I would like to get married and then have a few children.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing in some way, tomorrow my plans include our church family day in Geelong and Sunday, I want to enjoy our GNG breakfast, fellowship at church and have a relaxing afternoon!

Teaser Tuesdays - March 2

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Have you ever bought a book because you liked the cover or the title, without actually knowing if it would be good or not?

Well, this week's teaser is from a book that I bought because of the title.

'Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight' by Karen Scalf Linamen

'Wouldn't it be great if you and I really understood the principles of change? What if we had a good working knowledge of how to change, so that whenever anything came up that we wanted to tweak, we'd have a clue of what to do and how to begin?'

All In The Serve

The first time I heard this song, I loved the way it sounded, but I couldn't quite make out all the words.
I have since found them, and that has made the song even more powerful. Have a listen (sorry if it takes ages to load, but it's worth it). I've put the words below so that you can get the full impact.

ALL IN THE SERVE

Never gave you nothing

People couldn't explain away

Never gave you nothing

Without something to gain

Never could slow down enough

To study a face, but now

I wanna know your name

Hold my feet to the fire

'Til I'm breaking a sweat

'Til I never forget

Your calling

Keep me on the line

Give me the nerve

Here it's all in the serve

Locked in the diamond lane

I kept driving past it

Better to be safe

Than learn what you're about

Give me another chance

To go where you're going now

I'm here to walk it out