A2Z Take 2 "U"

Upset

Yep, that's me. Two beloved pets, cats, have gone missing in the last six months. Vanished. No sign of them. They're not unusual cats, a grey tabby and an orange tabby. They were both fixed, so no hope of breeding them. Nothing.

My two sons are not visibly upset, but I know they must be. 

Hobbes (orange tabby) hadn't been around long, but he was a cutie. We'd had him less than a year and he vanished late last year.

Duchess (grey tabby), on the other hand, had been with us for close to five years. She was a bit aloof, but loved getting attention first thing in the morning. She disappeared a couple of weeks ago. We put her out one night and never saw her again.

It's a pure mystery. We've looked around, but with no luck.

These are the third and fourth cats we've had since we moved in. Two were bought with the house - haha. One we found dead. The other also just stopped showing up.

Do coyotes eat cats?

Are certain cats more likely to stay is a certain area (i.e. not roam outside of our yard)?

We will be in the market for a new kitty here soon. I need a good mouser. Are certain breeds better mousers than others? 

Of course, I ask all these questions, but in the long run it doesn't matter. We will be adopting from a local shelter, so will take what's available.  :)

Blessings, 

Ginger

Review: "Chameleon" by Jillian Kent

Romance, intrigue, and trouble - that's what Lady Victoria finds on her first day in London. That's also what you will find throughout this novel.

I loved Lazarus. He was such a lovable fellow. I just wanted to hug him. :-) I wasn't particularly fond of Lord Witt at first, but he quickly grew on me, as he did Lady Victoria.

The twist at the end, ah ha, well, that's all you're going to get out of me. Just know there is one and it is rather unexpected, but then that's why it's called a twist.  :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which took me ONE day to read, and several hours of that day were spent doing other things. I devoured each page and dreaded having to put it aside for other activities. I stayed up late because I just couldn't stop reading.

Kudos to Jillian Kent for an awesome second book of the Ravensmoore Chronicles. While this is book two in the series, it is also stands alone.


Blurb:

Chameleon is the story of Lady Victoria Grayson, fondly referred to as Snoop by her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore. Lady Victoria journeys to London for the first time in her adult life after battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her home bound for years. She is embroiled in a hornet's nest of intrigue when her brother is called upon to treat a Member of Parliament after a brutal attack.
The Prince Regent has called Jonathon Denning, Lord Witt, from his home in the country to investigate Ravensmoore's activities. The Regent isn't so sure he wants one of his lords working a trade and expects to put an end to what he considers eccentric behavior. Jaded by his profession as a spy, Witt understands that some people are not what they pretend to be. When he meets Victoria his cynical nature is challenged along with his doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

To read an excerpt click here.

To purchase Chameleon, click here.

Blessings,
Ginger

A2Z take 2 "T"

TEST

BEEEEEEEPPPPP! Computerized voice says, "This is a test of the...." Wait, no it's not. I don't have an emergency broadcast system...ummm, yes I do. It's called prayer. I don't wait for an emergency to use it though.  LOL 

Okay, so yesterday my eighteen year old son received a letter in the mail from the university he plans to attend  responding to his most recent ACT Test scores. (How many prepositional phrases can you put in a sentence without it becoming a run-on?)  It said, in essence, that his scholarship was upgraded to full-tuition plus money for fees.  YIPPEE!!! School paid for, for four years. I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE!

Life is full of Tests and not just for academics. Even God tests us. Proverbs 17:3(NLT), "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

Sometimes circumstances test us. At those times, we sure do see how strong our faith is (or isn't).

There are times when people test us, or our patience. :)

I want to encourage you today. God will uphold you in your tests and trials, whatever they are today. He will bring you peace as you strive to serve Him. He never promised bad things wouldn't happen, but He did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us. 

When you are going through a Test that tries your faith, what verse has God given you to see you through?

I like Psalm 27:14 (NLT) "Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD."

Blessings,

Ginger

A2Z Take 2 Meme "S"

Singing

I love to sing. I love to write. I wish I could write songs, but usually the songs that spew forth from my heart would make no sense to others, and they certainly aren't beautiful. Some of them are down right horrible. BUT I know that God loves my singing because all of the songs that I make up are about Him--thanking Him, worshiping Him, honoring Him.

This is a picture from last year's ACFW conference. I was so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group. 

Today, take a few minutes and worship God in Song. Sing a new song from your heart to your heavenly Father. Bless him with your words today.

Ever singing,

Ginger

Review: "Just a Little Faith" by Amy J. Norris

As a friend of Amy's I've been waiting expectantly for this book for months. I was not disappointed.

I started yesterday afternoon, ready for an evening "get-away." I read for several hours, though it seemed like minutes. I took a break to watch TV with my husband. Later as he drifted off to sleep, I opened my kindle and began where I had left off. The next time I looked at the clock it was thirty minutes past my bedtime. I put down the book with some hesitation, but knew I needed sleep. This morning I woke up and looked at the clock--an hour before I needed to get up, but "Just a Little Faith" was on my mind. I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and finished this wonderfully written novel before I had to start my day.

Now before you think I'm biased, I don't think I am. Not that much anyway. I know a good book when I read one and this is a good book. I wouldn't be posting a review if I didn't think so. I'm not that kind of reviewer. I will tell you about quality stories, and keep silent about the ones I don't care for--notice I didn't say they were bad. A good story is in the eye of the reader.

I truly enjoyed "Just a Little Faith." You don't have to enjoy sports to get sucked into this book, though one of the main characters is a pro-baseball player. What you do have to enjoy is a strong helping of romance with an inspirational flare.

Here's the blurb:

An opportunity for love and a challenge of faith.

Paxson Taylor’s recent relocation to St. Louis leads her to a life different from what she’s experienced in the past. Through her work with a small charity, she meets and attracts the attention of professional baseball player, Sebastian Quinn. Flattered, Pax tempers her desire for the handsome playboy with her need to serve her God—a God Seb doesn’t believe exists. Through unspeakable tragedy, they grow closer and with disappointment, drift apart. How can two people from opposite ends of the faith spectrum reconnect when they need each other most?

I just know you're interested now, so click HERE to purchase this book.


Blessings,
Ginger

A2Z Meme Take 2: Letter R

Rest, Relaxation and Recovery

I try Really hard to get this blog done early in the morning. Today, it's late in the day. My internet has been incredibly wacky and unreliable lately, and every time I tried to post, it wasn't working. *sigh*

It's May 8th. This is our vacation season-before most schools let out for the year. I'm looking forward to vacation this year. Why? Because I really don't have plans to do much. We will be close to the beach, have access to a community pool, and that's really all my kids want.

My plans are to Rest, Relax, and Recover from a seemingly endless school year. But, I ALWAYS feel this way in May. I'm ready for school to be done. 

I've contemplated schooling through the summer and we probably will with a very relaxed schedule. I'm not sure "I" can handle more than that.  :)

Short but sweet. Bye y'all.  LOL

Ginger

Review: The Shadow Catcher's Daughter by Carla Olson Gade

The Shadow Catcher's Daughter is captivating and a great Sunday afternoon read. AND there's an unexpected twist at the end. Just goes to show you...not everyone is as they seem.

Carla made it easy for me to commiserate with Eliana and fall in love with Triska. I loved her "romantic" descriptions of the mountains surrounding the Four Corners. She must be a poet at heart, as well as a terrific novelist.

Blurb:

Daring Eliana Van Horn aims to make her mark by joining her father as his photography assistant-disguised as a young man-on survey expedition to the remote Four Corners. 

Living in the shadows of his heritage, trail guide Yiska Wilcox is thrown off course when the shadow catcher's daughter opens up the uncharted territory of his heart. 

As they travel through dangerous terrain in the mountains and deserts of Colorado and New Mexico, Eliana and Yiska must learn to overcome the barriers of culture, faith, and ideals to discover common ground. 

Though they are worlds apart, will they stake a chance on love?

To purchase this book, visit this site: http://www.signedbytheauthor.com/The-Shadow-Catchers-Daughter_p_694.html

OR for a chance to win a copy comment on my interview with Carla here.

Blessings,
Ginger

Review: "Wildflowers from Winter" by Katie Ganshert

Do you want to read a book that will cause you to laugh, cry, and search your soul all within 314 pages? Then this is the book for you.

At first I wasn't sure I was going to like Ms. Ganshert's writing style. The prologue is in first person, but chapter one changes to third person. However, just a few short chapters into the story, I understood her motivation for the change. It was not distracting and I think actually added to the depth of Bethany's character.

The old saying, "when it rains, it pours" applies to Evan and Bethany's lives. "What doesn't make us bitter, makes us better" (boy, I'm sure into cliche's today) is written out in their stories. I hate spoilers, so I'm not going to say any more, so you'll just have to read it to find out how the story ends.

Blurb:

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany's vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away. 

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn't seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she's not even sure exists?

To read this wonderful novel, click here and help support this blog.

Blessings,
Ginger

A2Z take 2 "Q"

Quiet times

Living in a house with eight other people does not lend itself to Quiet. I mean really...I home-school, so five of my seven children are home with me all day, every day. The oldest two have their own work/school schedules and come and go as necessary. 

But Quiet is something I crave. I was not an only child, but the closest sibling to me was 14 years older and male. I had a lot of Quiet time. The older I got, the less I cared about having noise and activity. I liked it Quiet - still do. Quiet is where I rejuvenate.

Sometimes, to get the Quiet I need to refresh myself, I wander into a public place - restaurant, library, park - and read. Those places are not necessarily Quiet, but I don't have to be aware of as many things in those places. I don't have to listen for squabbles, or the dog needing to go out. I don't have to worry about the washing machine or dryer. I time it so dinner is not a concern.  It's just me and my book or computer, if I'm trying to write.

Do your kids knock on your door or venture into your space just to make sure you're there? Mine do. It's so funny. They'll knock on the door and come in and give me a hug or a glance and then leave. I ask what they wanted. "Nothing." They just wanted to see if I was still there. I appreciate the hugs, but sometimes (especially when they all have the need to 'see' me) it gets overwhelming.

When I can't get away, I have a sign that I post on my door. It reads "Knock for Emergency ONLY." I only use this when I just can't stand anymore attention or questions and I NEED some Quiet.

I could use some new tactics...what do you do when you need Quiet?

Blessings,

Ginger