A Kingsbury Collection {Review}

 A Kingsbury Collection is a book of three of Karen Kingsbury's novels all in one.  Although I like a lot of authors, I still think that Karen is my favorite so I was super excited to be able to review not just one, but three of her stories!
Here is a description of each from the publisher:

Where Yesterday Lives

Ellen Barrett is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, she longs for the time, long ago, when they were a happy family. Now Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she returns to her childhood home to make peace–with the people who still live there, with the losses and changes that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her.

When Joy Came to Stay

Maggie Stovall is one of the golden people. She has it all together...at least on the surface. Ben Stovall is a godly husband and successful attorney. He has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life. Amanda Joy is a child of society–abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive. When Joy Came to Stay is the heart-wrenching story of one woman’s descent into the shadows of depression, her husband’s search for understanding, and a precious child’s unwavering faith.

On Every Side

Faith Evans is an up-and-coming newscaster, a woman of honor and integrity who must take a stand against the one man she never imagined would be her enemy. A beloved, hundred-year-old statue of Jesus stands in a small-town park–but some say it’s a clear violation of separation of church and state that must come down. Jordan Riley is a powerful attorney fighting for human rights and against God, but still reckoning with bitter boyhood losses. Amid political intrigue, social injustice, and personal conflicts, will love be enough when the battle rages on every side? 

 As much as I love Karen Kingsbury's books, I had a very hard time getting started on this one.  If you take a look at the pile of books on my night stand, it is the one on the bottom.  Can you guess why I wasn't so excited to start it?  It is huge!  I usually read in bed before going to sleep and I had a difficult time holding such a large book while laying down. I would have much preferred them in individual books. However, that is my only complaint about A Kingbury Collection.  The three stories are some of her older ones and ones that I had not read yet, so I very much enjoyed them.  They all contain her usual (and wonderful) writing style with realistic characters facing realistic situations and strong elements of faith mixed throughout.  I highly recommend these three stories from Karen Kingsbury!

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Blessings,

Betrayal {Review}

 I recently read Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher.  I don't recall that I've read any of her other books before, but I really enjoyed this one!  It's a great historical romance, my favorite kind of book. :)

Here is a description from the publisher:

The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take readers to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances.

It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him.

Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door?

When I first started reading Betrayal, I didn't even realize it was the second book in a series.  It is really good all by itself and I didn't at all feel like I missed something by not reading the first one.  But I can't wait to read the other ones in the series, because I really did enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher's writing style.  She did a great job of keeping my attention with the perfect amount of romance, faith, and suspense!

I received this book for free for review from Booksneeze.

God Gave Us Love {Review}

I've had the opportunity to review several of Lisa Tawn Bergren's books and when I had a chance to review God Gave Us Love, I knew that my kids and I would love it.  I wasn't wrong!  In the story, Little Cub learns about love from his grandpa.  Little Cub wonders why it is easy to love some, but not others and why he still loves someone, even when he doesn't really feel like it.  His grandpa does a great job explaining to him about God's love for us and that he created us to love also.
My kids loved the story and the cute pictures.  The art work is beautifully done and fits in so well with the story.  I love that it is a well written story and very simple for my kids to understand but still full of lots of truth about God's love for us.  It is a great story for kids of all ages and I think this (or any of Lisa's books) would make a great Christmas gift!

 

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Blessings,

No Safe Harbor {Review}

I recently had the chance to review No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig.  It is the first in her series Edge of Freedom.
From the back cover:

New York City, 1897

She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she's found is a web of danger.

Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother's warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.

She's then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother--but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.

With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. Will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke... a man she's grown to love?

I think that this is one of my favorite books that I have reviewed so far!  While I love romances, most are fairly predictable.  This one, however, was very unpredictable!  No Safe Harbor was full of suspense, tension, twists, and turns along with romance and it kept me up late because I couldn't put it down! Elizabeth Ludwig does a great job writing a well written, historically accurate novel.  I highly recommend this one and can't wait to read more in the series!

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

 

Blessings,

Unending Devotion {Review}

Unending Devotion is a story based on the timber industry that was in full swing in the 1870s-1880s in the Midwest. While the industry did many good things for the lives of those living there, Jody Hedlund wants to bring to attention some of the devastation it also brought, including slavery.
From the publisher:

High-Stakes Drama Meets High-Tension Romance

In 1883 Michigan, Lily Young is on a mission to save her lost sister, or die trying. Heedless of the danger, her searches of logging camps lead her to Harrison and into the sights of Connell McCormick, a man doing his best to add to the hard-earned fortunes of his lumber baron father.

Posing during the day as a photographer's assistant, Lily can't understand why any God-fearing citizen would allow evil to persist and why men like Connell McCormick turn a blind eye to the crime rampant in the town. But Connell is boss-man of three of his father's lumber camps in the area, and like most of the other men, he's interested in clearing the pine and earning a profit. He figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters.

Lily challenges everything he thought he knew, and together they work not only to save her sister but to put an end to the corruption that's dominated Harrison for so long.

I've read one of Jody Hedlund's books before and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to this one also.  Unending Devotion was a great read too!  Jody has a great writing style that is easy to read. There was hardly a dull moment and it was easy to get into the story and relate to the characters.  If you like historical romances, I highly recommend this one and can't wait to see more from Jody Hedlund!

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

  

Blessings,

Tasty Tuesday ~ Pollo Con Crema

Last week in our journey through Mexico, we tried out a few new Mexican dishes for dinner.  This pollo con crema recipe was a huge hit with everyone!  Most of us put it in a tortilla along with Spanish rice, but it was also really good just served over the rice.

Ingredients:
Olive oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 spicy pepper (jalapeno, serrano, etc), chopped (optional, or remove seeds depending on how spicy you would like it)
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup butter
1/4 flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tsp cumin
2 cups chopped cooked chicken

Directions:
Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the mushrooms, peppers, onion, and garlic until the vegetables are beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the vegetables into a bowl. Melt butter over medium-high heat in the same skillet, and whisk in the flour. Cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until  lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth, bring to a simmer, and whisk until thickened. Reduce heat to low, and whisk in the cream, sour cream, ketchup, and cumin. Cover the skillet, and simmer until thick and the flavors have blended, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in the chicken and vegetables and heat through.
Enjoy!

Blessings,




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Undaunted {Review}

Undaunted is the story of writer Josh McDowell's life.  The beginning is about his childhood growing up on a small farm in Michigan.  It was hard to read about the horrors he lived through with an alcoholic father, sexually abusive family employee, and a very disjointed family.  Needless to say he came to the conclusion that he was the most God-forsaken person in the world at age eleven and he grew up not believing in God.  In college, he harassed a group of Christian students who challenged him to prove that the Resurrection never happened.  This led him to a summer spent in Europe searching for answers from original sources.  He ended up finding that the evidence completely supported the Bible and ended up becoming a Christian.  Although he was a new Christian, he found that he still needed to deal with some of the horrors of his past and he slowly began to forgive those who had wronged him.  In the end, his father even became a Christian because of Josh's love and forgiveness.
I thought this was a sad, amazing, and inspiring story all in one.  While it is so sad that any child would have to experience the pain that Josh did, it is amazing to know that God's love can overcome anything.  It is very inspiring to read that Josh was able to forgive those who did such cruel things and helps remind me that I can and need to forgive those in my life who harm me, no matter how small the offense.  I also love how God turned something so ugly into something beautiful when Josh's Christianity led his father to God, who in turn also led others in their town to Him.  This is a great book that I highly recommend.

I received this book for free for review from Tyndale House Publishers.

Blessings,

Be Still My Soul {Review}

I recently has the opportunity to read Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof.  It is a story about Lonnie and Gideon who are forced to get married after her father witnesses Gideon kiss Lonnie.  Lonnie has grown up very poor and with an abusive father and has clung to her faith all her life.  Gideon is a handsome ladies' man who is frustrated that he was forced into the marriage. Together they leave the only homes they have ever known to try and find work and a place in a distant town.  Along the way discover an elderly couple who helps them work through some of their troubles, but Gideon's past mistakes keep coming back to haunt him and it seems their hearts might never be healed.
I thought this was a really good book.  Although it seems pretty predictable, there were several twists that kept it interesting.  I enjoyed the fact that Lonnie stood strong in her faith and was an example of God's love to her new husband despite the way he treated her.  Everything was written very descriptively and I had an easy time picturing the story in my mind. Joanne Bischof did a great job writing this historical fictional and I can't wait to read more by her, especially since this was the first in the Cadence of Grace series.

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Blessings,

The Reason {Review}

I recently had the opportunity to review William Sirls' new novel The Reason. Although it was a little slow reading and took me a while to get through it, I did end up enjoying it. It is about a town of people who are going through some very difficult circumstances including cancer, blindness, and living with regrets from the past.  When a stranger enters their lives and tells them to only believe, they each respond differently to letting go and letting God be in control of their lives.  I thought the situations the characters went through were very real and the questions they asked about God were ones that many of us have asked when going through a difficult time.  This book is a good reminder that no matter what our circumstances, we only have to believe that God is in control and the reason he does everything he does is because of his great love for us.

From the publisher:

When Facing the Impossible, Can You Only Believe?

Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas church flicker . . . and then go out.

All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.

When the storm ends—the search for answers begins.

James Lindy, the church’s blind minister, wonders how his small congregation can repair the cross and keep their faith in the midst of adversity. And he hears the words “only believe.”

Macey Lewis, the town’s brilliant young oncologist, is drawn to Alex, a young boy who’s recently been diagnosed with an aggressive leukemia. She puts her hope in modern medicine—yet is challenged to “only believe.”

And Alex’s single mom, who has given everything she can to her boy—is pleading with God to know the reason this is happening . . . to save her son. But she only hears silence and wonders how she can possibly “only believe.”

The Reason is a milestone debut novel, opening with a blast and never letting up as it introduces us to everyday characters who are wrestling with the questions: where is God when bad things happen? And does God ignore the prayers of the faithful? The answer each character receives will astound readers while offering an unforgettable call to hope, to change, to . . . only believe.

I received this book for free for review from Booksneeze.

Blessings,

Short-Straw Bride {Review}

I read Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer in less than 24 hours.  I couldn't put it down it was so good!  It is about four orphaned brothers who have secluded themselves from the world in order to stay together.  Travis, the oldest, swore to his dying father that he would protect his family and their land.  None of them have been off the land for years and they keep everyone else off of it.  Until Meredith shows up to warn them of a plot to get them off their land.  Then their world will never be the same.

From the publisher:

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk. Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again. Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

Despite the usual predictability of romance stories, I still love them.  This one however was not nearly as predictable.  I thought the story line was really creative and well written.  I also loved the side characters.  I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and often found myself laughing out loud.  I highly recommend Short-Straw Bride and can't wait to read more from Karen Witemeyer.

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.


Blessings,

Unbroken {Review}

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, is not usually the type of book I read.  When I had the opportunity to review it, I figured I would give it a try and then let my husband read it when I was done because he likes stories about war.  But I am so glad I read it because it is an amazing story! 

Here is what the publisher says:

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

While I thought the book started a little slow with a ton of background info that didn't seem very relevant, it all came together later in the story.  By the middle of the book I couldn't put it down!  For some reason, I have never realized how many POWs were held by Japan in WWII.  When I think of WWII, I usually think of Hitler and the concentration camps in Europe, but after reading Louie's story, I now know of the horrors men faced in the Pacific as well.  It gives me a great appreciation and thankfulness for the freedoms we have in our lives today.  I thought the story would be just about being stranded on a raft for over 40 days, but then Louie's story turned even worse and he was forced through horror after horror in the Japanese POW camps.  It is amazing what physical tortures an unbroken mind and strong will can endure.  And the book didn't even end with his rescue, it went on to tell how Louie overcame alcoholism, became a Christian, used his story to help others, and even forgave his captors.  This story had me laughing and crying and, while I am sad that this is a true story that many POWs lived through, I think this is a great book to read.

I recieved this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Blessings,

My Stubborn Heart {Review}

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade is another great summer read. Kate Donovan is a 31 year old social worker who has been praying for a husband since she was young. When she needs a break from her job, she heads to the small town of Redbud, PA with her grandma to help her renovate her grandma's childhood home, Chapel Bluff. Despite being cute, spunky, and fun, she seems to have low self-esteem and wonders if God will ever bring a husband into her life.
Enter Matt Jarreau. Matt is an ex-world famous hockey player, hiding out from everyone after the death of his wife. Matt has shut out all his family and friends, but as he works to renovate Chapel Bluff with Kate and her grandma, Kate is determined to become his friend. Despite Matt's determination to keep her out of his life and Kate's determination to think of Matt as only a friend, they both find themselves drawn to each other. As Kate's prayers for a husband and Matt's family's prayers for him are answered by God, they all find that God doesn't always prayers the way we expect!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wished it could have gone on and on! I love that the end wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but it still ended so well. I think it was a great reminder that no matter how badly we want something, we always need to follow God's will for our lives. I highly recommend My Stubborn Heart and can't wait to read more from Becky Wade!

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

Blessings,

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Getting Our Kids into God's Word

The main reason that we teach our kids to read is to be able to read God's Word.  Then they can read for themselves what God tells us, not just have to take our word for it.  Since both Buddy and Sweetie did such a great job of learning to read this past year, we gave them each their own Bible at the end of our school year last month.  We also gave them a blank journal along with it.

Even though we are officially on summer vacation, I don't want them to forget everything we worked so hard to learn, so I have been incorporating ways to get in some practice in some new and fun ways.  We also want to work on helping them get familiar with their Bibles this summer, so we have been using them while we practice writing verses.  A couple times I have used some of the Bible studies at Good Morning Girls (I highly recommend the Ministry of Motherhood and Proverbs 31 studies!) and have learned to use the S.O.A.P method when studying verses.  This stands for writing the Scripture, Observations, Application to our lives, and Prayer.  I thought we could incorporate that a little bit into what the kids do.  We have been using the book Little Visits With God and I love how easy it is to use with the kids.  I had this book from when I was young and I still remember reading through it. 

Each story begins with a verse that is explained through the story.  The stories are fairly short and really keep the kids' interest.  And then at the end there are questions that we can ask the kids (keeps them paying attention even more if they know they have to answer a question!) and a short prayer.

Instead of having the kids do the whole S.O.A.P method, I write the verse on our white board each morning and they copy it into their journal. (Writing the Scripture)

Then for the Observation, Application, and Prayer part, we read and talk about the story in Little Visits With God.  When they get older, then we can start have them doing that part on their own in their journals also. 

  I happen to have two copies of Little Visits With God, so if you would like our extra (gently-used) copy, just leave me a comment letting me know.  I would love to bless someone with our extra!  I will randomly pick a winner next Wednesday, June 27.

What do you do to get your kids into God's Word?  I would love to hear your ideas!



Blessings,

Linked up with:
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Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Tasty Tuesday ~ No Bake Chocolate Cookies

It's been a while since I've shared a recipe!  Since I made these tasty cookies today, I thought I would share this easy recipe with you.  These are so easy to whip up and even my kids love being able to help with them.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup baking cocoa
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick oats

Directions:
Combine the milk, butter ,cocoa, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute without stirring.  Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and oats.  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.  If they don't hold their shape very well, you can stir in an extra 1/2-1 cup of oats.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Linked up with:
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Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

9 Years Ago

Mark

1983-2003

9 years ago today God completely healed my little brother from cancer.  While it was not the way we were hoping, I am so happy that Mark will also be there to meet me when it is my time to meet my Creator.  We love and miss him and can't wait to see him again!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Blessings,

The Fiddler {Review}

If you are looking for some vacation reading this summer, I highly recommend Beverly Lewis's The Fiddler.  I have loved all of her books that I've read so I was excited to be able to review the first book in her new Home to Hickory Hollow series.  I was not disappointed! 
Amelia Devries is a very talented violin and fiddle player.  While she loves her music, she has been feeling like she has to follow her terminally ill father's dreams of touring around the world and making her music her life.  When she makes a wrong turn and finds herself lost in Amish county, she meets Michael Hostletler.  Michael is a young Amish man who doesn't want to join the Amish church, but knows that his parents expect him too.  Together Amelia and Michael discover how to choose their own path in life without hurting their parents.
This was a very sweet romance that blossomed slowly through out the story.  I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

Blessings,

Bringing Up Girls {Review}

A while back I had the chance to review Raising Real Men to learn more about raising my boys.  When I received the chance to review Bringin Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson, I thought it was great that I could learn more about raising my girls also! 
Dr. Dobson begins by explaining the differences between boys and girls backed by research and examples.  I thought this was a great place to start since much of today's culture tries to tell us they really aren't that different.  He goes on to tell of the importance of both a mother and father in a little girl's life.  Daughters need different things from each parent to feel secure in her life.  Dr. Dobson also discusses some of the challenges our daughters will face as they grow, such as peer pressure, bullies, adolescence, media/technology, and much more.  He gives great advice on how we can guide our daughters through different phases of their life and how to help them make wise decisions based on Biblical standards.
Bringing Up Girls is another great book that I will keep around so I can refer to it again and I highly recommend it!

I received this book for free for review from Tyndale Publishers.



Blessings,

Wahl Deep Tissue Massager {Review}

Last week I received an early mother's day present!  Only it wasn't from my family, it was from the great people at Wahl.  They sent me a Deep Tissue Massager for review.  I was so excited to get this because I love massages (who doesn't?) and couldn't wait to try it out!  As much as I love to get a massage from my hubby, it's not always as easy for me to give him a good one in return due to carpel tunnel in my hands.  I thought the Wahl massager would be the perfect way to give my hardworking hubby a good massage for once and we weren't disappointed! 

The Deep Tissue Massager comes with four interchangeable attachments: deep muscle, four finger flex, accupoint, and raised bump.  My favorite is the deep muscle one, but they are all useful for different areas of your back or different aches and pains you are working on.  It also has a variable speed feature to adjust the intensity, which was nice because the higher speed was a little too harsh around areas like my shoulder blades and spine, but worked great for getting at areas that usually need a little more work to feel relaxed. It is powered with a cord so you don't need to worry about getting new batteries all the time and the cord is nice and long too, so you won't need to be in an uncomfortable spot just to be next to an outlet. It is very easy to use and my kids have been having a blast giving massages to each other and me.

 If you happened to be short on helpers, the long handle is another great feature that makes it easy to even use on yourself!  I used to be a pet groomer and have used the Wahl brand clippers, so I know that Wahl makes quality products and I have no doubt this massager will last us a long time!

You can purchase this or any of Wahl's other massagers on their website or you can nominate someone to win their giveaway contest.  Wahl is having a contest going on over on their Facebook page right now in honor of Mother's Day. Running through May 13, those who like Wahl Home on Facebook can nominate a mom to win a mom relief package from Wahl, whether it’s your mom, grandmother, wife, daughter, a friend or yourself. To enter the Mom Relief Initiative, simply post a comment on their wall explaining why the mom on your list deserves relief—maybe they’re a single mom who does it all, a working mom who never takes a break, a grandmother who’s always been there…every mom has a story and every story matters. Entries will be judged on their uniqueness and sincerity and the winners will be selected once the contest wraps up on May 13. Stories MUST be submitted before then in order to be considered. So go nominate your favorite mom today!

This is a MamaBuzz Review.  I received this massager from Wahl for free for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Blessings,

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

I used to use a lot of cans of cream soups.  They are so easy to throw into a casserole to make it creamy and yummy!  One time though, I was completely out of cream of mushroom soup but didn't discover that until after I had started making something.  I needed something quick, so I got out my trusty Betty Crocker Cookbook to see what I could use instead.  It recommended making a thick white sauce and adding in mushrooms.  After finding out how easy it was and how much healthier our dinners could be, I have almost completely quit using canned soups.  I've also done a bit of experimenting to make cream of chicken and cream of celery soup with almost the same recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup of milk

Directions:
Saute mushrooms in the butter in a saucepan over low heat.  Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly.  Gradually stir in the milk and heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.

For cream of celery, substitute 1/2 cup celery for the mushrooms.  For cream of chicken, substitute chopped chicken for the mushrooms and 1/2 cup of chicken broth for 1/2 of the milk.

This will make about 1 can of condensed soup, but often I will triple or quadruple the amount and put the extra in jars in my fridge or freezer to save for later.  It's not as easy as opening up a can of soup and dumping it in, but if I have some ready to go, then I only have to cook it up once in a while and the rest of the time it is just as easy as dumping it in!  It is very tasty in Chicken Tetrazzini or Chicken Pot Pie!

Blessings,

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Wildflowers From Winter {Review}

Bethany Quinn grew up in a small town in Iowa, where her life is less than ideal after her father dies.  The only place she enjoys going is to be with her Grandpa, working with him on his farm. When she grows up though, she escapes her past and small town life to become an architect in Chicago.  Fast forward ten years and Bethany is called back home when tragedy strikes.  Despite her plan to keep her stay as short as possible, Bethany ends up staying indefinitely when she unexpectedly inherits 500 acres of farmland.  Bethany would like nothing more than to sell her land and get back to being an architect, but her Grandpa's handsome farmhand, Evan, stands in her way and it seems God has other plans for her life.  As she sorts through feelings of her past and her faith, she and Evan begin to fall for each other. 
I thoroughly enjoyed Wildflowers From Winter by Katie Ganshert!  It was such a great reminder that God's plan is not always the same as our plan.  Bethany struggled with letting go of her plan, but when she did, she found that God's plan was even better!  I also like that this book was about farming!  Growing up on and now having our own farm, I could very easily picture the farm scenes in the story.  The author did a very nice and accurate telling of many farming details.  I highly recommend Wildflowers From Winter and look forward to finding more books by Katie Ganshert.

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah

Blessings,

Song of My Heart {Review}

Song of My Heart, by Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a sweet, but fairly predictable romance.  It took me a bit to get into this book, and I thought it was a little slow to start, but it had a great ending.  Sadie is a sweet, rather naive, young girl working far from home to help support her family after her stepfather is injured.  She moves to Goldtree, Kansas, where her cousin Sid lives and told her of a store clerk job and an opportunity to use her musical talents at the town's new opera house.  When the opera house owner coerces her into performing bawdy songs for "invite-only" performances, Sadie does so to continue to be able to send money home to her family.
Thad McKane is also a new arrival in Goldtree.  He has been hired as the sheriff to discover who is running an illegal liqueur operation in town.  When Thad begins to discover that the illegal activity seems to be connected to Sadie, he wonders if their new found romance will be able to last.
Despite being predictable in the beginning, I liked how the ending of the story came about.  I also really enjoyed the quirky side characters of Melba and Shelba Baxter, the owners of the mercantile who give Sadie her clerk job and take her into their own home.  Kim Vogel Sawyer does a very nice job of weaving in the lesson of learning to trust God.  Sadie was trying to do what she thought she needed to to, but instead she should have allowed God to provide for her and her family.  Once she realized this, she was able to do what was right and have the courage to face the consequences of her actions.  Song of My Heart is a good romance with a strong faith base and I recommend it to anyone.

I received this book for free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

Blessings,

No Heat Curls: Rag Curl Tutorial

Sweetie has stick straight blond hair.  So straight that it absolutely doesn't hold curls when I've tried curling it with a curling iron.  Any hair that actually curls, will be straight again within 10 minutes.  While this makes it super easy to do her hair on most days, she is sad whenever we have tried to curl it and it doesn't work.  We have been reading the Little House on the Prairie series and once it was mentioned that they used rags to make their hair curly.  I wondered if that would work for Sweetie and so we gave it a try.  It worked beautifully and Sweetie had curls that stayed ALL day!  Her hair was even still curly the next day!  It is super easy too, so I thought I would share with you how we did it.

All you need are strips of cloth about 6 inches long and 1 in wide and wet hair.  We've done it right after Sweetie takes a bath in the evening and I just cut up an old pair of ripped pants into our strips of cloth.

First, start by taking a small strip of hair and wrapping the end around one of the strips of cloth, right in the middle. 

Then continue rolling the hair around the strip all the way up to the head.  Then take the ends of the strip and tie a knot in it. 

Continue doing that with all of the hair until it is all tied up in the strips of cloth. 

If you want smaller curls, use smaller sections of hair and do more of them and if you want bigger curls, use bigger sections of hair.  Then go to bed for the night.
When you wake up in the morning, take out the strips, style your hair, and ta-da, beautiful curls that will hold for a long time!

Blessings,

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