Friday, February 26, 2010

Spring Value Fiction

I had the opportunity to read two books by WaterBrook Multonomah publishers in order to review them. I was so excited for some good fiction books because I have been reading alot of nonfiction books lately and it can get a bit exhausting.

The first book I read was Faithful Heart by Al Lacy. Now, I usually read fiction by female authors. I have no clue why, but I do. I really enjoyed the plot of Faithful Heart, which dealt with how a woman and her family dealt with her husband's worsening mental illness. Very intriguing.

The second book I read was Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin. I was a little skeptical about this book, just because I hadn't read something by this author but was quickly surprised at how suspensful and well written the book was. I'm not easy to stump when it comes to plot lines and mysteries, but she really had me wondering in this book set in England and South Africa and centered around a family diamond industry, murder, and love! I'd really recommend this one to people!

Here's a list and description of these value (read..inexpensive!) books that you can buy HERE.

"Value Fiction For Your Spring Break"

"Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford.

Full-length novels offered include:

Secrets

by Robin Jones Gunn - Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she’s hiding.

Beneath a Southern Sky

by Deborah Raney – Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the m field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her?

The Golden Cross

by Angela Elwell Hunt – Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.

Deep Harbor

by Lisa Tawn Bergren – Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii, Japan, and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen, Norway, each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need.

Faithful Heart

by Al and Joanna Lacy – The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California. Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.

Yesterday’s Promise

by Linda Lee Chaikin – Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart."

These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Also, if you are interested in WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program, check it out HERE.

Shots Anyone?

Last Friday was our first shot clinic. Our company graciously provides all of the immunizations we could need for living overseas which is an awesome blessing.

But a pain in the butt arm.

So, last Friday I got four shots...one of which was the first shot in the rabies series, and let me tell you, that sucker HURT.

I don't really get bothered by needles too much....


But Ian does! Oh sweet husband. I was in the exam room with him when it was his turn, and the look he gave me was one of complete and utter death.

(he only got 3 that time though.)

Today, at 2:00 we are receiving our second round of shots. I think I'm only getting a TB skin test and my second rabies, but we'll see!

Our third shot clinic is in three weeks.... Hurray for being "immunized!"

Thursday, February 25, 2010

An Answer

Several of ya'll asked me the same question a post or two ago about THIS picture....

I laughed because I never think about the "NAME welcomes," as being confusing.

You see, my company is an international company, with employees all over the world *wink wink, you SO know what I'm talking about if you've been here for long. If not. Sorry, you're in the dark!*

In order to keep the different regions straight, they have regional names, like Europe, or South Asia, or Sub Saharan Africa.

Ian and I work for the NAME region, or North Africa and the Middle East. So, NAME is used to describe our job assignment, leaders, language school, medical availability and so forth.

Speaking of language school...We got some interesting news about two weeks ago.... We're no longer going to Jordan!

I was really sad about this and a little heart broken, but God gave me such a peace about it and I can't wait for the new experience of our new school.

SOooo, after we finish up here (one more month to go!) and finish our Urban training in Vancouver (we'll finish up at the end of July,) we'll be moving to Buraimi, Oman!!!

It's right on the border of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and since we'll be working in Dubai when we become fluent, our boss thought it would be best if we learned the Gulf Arabic dialect instead of the Jordanian dialect.

No one says we aren't flexible!

Plus, we're learning all about how if we are doing this "job," and working for DAD and "the company," we need to learn to die to ourselves and give up our "rights," {such as- "we have the right to decide where we go for language school!}

Anyways, that's all for now.

I can't believe training is halfway done today!

I can't believe we've lived in Virginia for an entire MONTH.

I also can't believe I haven't frozen to death.

Amazing.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Week 8-Project 365


{I love this picture. The shoes on the left are the leather work boots of a dad here, and the little pink rain boots are his daughter's. Just precious.}

{Birthday present!! (my birthday was tuesday the 16th...kind of forgot to post about that.) It's a Jill-E bag, which is an amazing camera bag system. It is a little big for my one camera and one lens, but I intend on branching out on lenses sometime soon!}



{2 kids from my quad got me these two flowers and some candy for Valentine's day. They were absolutely gorgeous when they bloomed!}

{wow, this was fun. I had all four kids from my quad help me cook cupcakes for the next day. I'm on the children's team here and we were going to have cupcakes for the kids to decorate after they finished getting their first round of shots. Anyways, we had a blast with music and baking and a little bit o dancing going on in that little kitchenette!}


{Girl Scout cookies anyone? This was the 19 boxes that my quad ordered! (four families- one who only ordered one box of thin mints.) Six boxes were ours but we are saving them, and haven't opened one yet!}

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

VOW 2

One of my New Years Resolutions was to memorize more verses (25 to be exact.)


So I started the year off with James 1:2-3


and then this verse really spoke to me:


Wait on the Lord,
Be Strong and take heart,
And Wait on the Lord.
Psalms 27:14


Anyone else have any verses that jumped out at them recently?

Monday, February 22, 2010

Week 7- Project 365

I'm really late getting these up (by a week!) but here they are! I am getting pretty tired of taking pictures of things around our apartment, but {still} for security reasons, I don't get to take pictures of people too often! {I really just need to get up the courage and ask people if it's alright. I'm sure it would be!}








Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A Tour

I thought I took better pictures of our apartment when we first arrived here at the training center...

Apparently I was wrong!

So, here, one month later, are the pretty junky pictures of our apartment. They don't really give you any sense of layout or how things look, but this is about as good as it's going to get!



My night stand, which I was so excited to have, with my frame, water bottle, and memory cards booklet.


Top of my dresser with my catchall bowl, candle, and calender.

Our really comfy bed (not!) which is just two twin beds pushed together. We didn't want to pull a "Leave it to Beaver," during these two months.

Our laundry room, with basket of cleaning supplies.

Inside of our fridge, with easy to grab snacks.

And our sink! Very stainless steel-y.

Aren't you SO impressed? No? Oh well, just know that it is a pretty drab apartment, but it's clean and warm so that's all we really need right now!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Missing Ya'll (is that pathetic or what?)

I'm sorry guys, for not being around much these days.

I miss ya'll alot.

I miss hearing about your day to day stuff, or about the really exciting news.

I miss learning from you and trying to help others when I can.

I REALLY miss writing. I have known that it's my cathartic release for awhile now, but since being here (at our 2 months of training in VA,) I haven't had alot of time for anything fun and carefree.

Here at the Learning Center, life moves at full tilt pace.

I get up at 5:15-5:30, shower, read, wake Ian up, read some more, get ready for the day, and spend time with the Father before heading to our house church at 8:00. There we pray, sing, and read together in a time of sweet community before heading to class at 9.

We spend all day (9-5) in seminars and workshops on a variety of different subjects, our breaks being 7 minutes out of every hour on the hour and an hour lunch break.

After class time ends, there are chores to be done, dinner to be eaten, kids to be babysat (while their parents run into town or try to get work done at the library,) exercise to be done ( at least and homework to be finished (lots and LOTS of reading.)

The community here is just amazing. I love the people of all walks of life that we've been paired with!

I also learned so much about the Father and myself since coming here, and I feel like I have grown so much.

On a way more trivial note, I MISS THE INTERNET!!!!!!

Our classroom buildings and library/office buildings have wireless internet, but our quads, or the housing buildings (where there are 4 apartments sharing a common living room,) have no wireless. So, the only way to get internet is to trek down to classroom buildings in the freezing cold, which I am not all about.

Also, since arriving up here in the cold land, I have had a deep desire to take up running. Perfect. Because we haven't gotten 36 inches of snow in the last 2 weeks or anything. I've never wanted to run before. In fact, I usually loathe it. But, go figure I would want to run as soon as we leave beautiful warm Florida for cold, frozen Virginia.

I have so much more to catch ya'll up on, but it will have to wait. Please bare with me while I am away from reading your blogs! I'll be back, I promise!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Love & War

As Valentine's Day approaches, many of us are looking at love through rose colored glasses.

It sparkles, it shines.

It's perfect, and divine.

(ha, that's about it for me and poetry this year.)

The truth of the matter though, is that love is hard work. And there are battles to be fought. Not at each other, but for the sake of your love. And, if you want to win those battles, you are going to have to fight for it....together.

Every 6 months or so, I try to do some research and find a new book on Christian marriage that is applicable to us. I usually read the whole book and on occasion, Ian will to, though sometimes it's just excerpts or chapters that I think are especially powerful.

Enter, John and Stasi Eldredge's "Love & War."


"LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing
into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own"

I really loved how this book looked at different scenarios from both husband's and wife's perspectives and how they emphasized the spiritual warfare that goes on within a marriage without us ever knowing. Their emphasis on praying together and becoming aware of what is bothering you opened my eyes to things immediately in my own marriage.

Marriage "is like taking Cinderella and Huck Finn, tossing them in a submarine, and closing the hatch."

How true.

If you're interested in "Love & War," I would highly recommend it! You can get it HERE.

Also, if you are interested in Blogging for Books, WaterBrook Multnomah's program where they provide books to bloggers to review, check out their website and apply HERE.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Waking up Singing

Today I woke up singing the French National Anthem.

.....

I hate when that happens.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Week 6- Project 365






I have a picture for February 7th, but since it is a picture of a child here at training, I can't put it up. :( It's super cute and I wish I could share!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Schooled

Economics really isn't my thing.

It's really my husbands thing.

So, by default, it kind of becomes my thing.

Even when I don't want it to.

But today, I was thoroughly entertained through an economics video put out by a bunch of economists that pretty clearly explains the two schools of thought on this recession.

Plus, it's all set to a rap.

Score.

Make sure you pause the music at the bottom of the page first!


Friday, February 5, 2010

Branching Out

Since we're moving to the Middle East and all, I've been working on branching out and trying new foods, or trying foods that I'm really not a fan of.

So far, I'm doing pretty good!

On the "foods I've never eaten before," list, I've managed to eat collard greens (I know, from the South and have avoided them for 23 years so far, ended up loving them,) and some different arabic foods that are a little more obscure than hummus and falafal.

On the "foods I've eaten but just plain hate," list, I've made myself eat 3 cherry tomatoes on 2 different occassions and I didn't barf in my mouth.

Accomplishment.

I also ate mushrooms whole, which really weird me out.

There was something else, but it's not coming to me.

Any food that really grosses you out but you know you should probably be more adult and start retrying them?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I Am...

I saw this cute meme on Kristin's page and I thought I would join in. I'm pretty sure that I haven't done this one before, but I suppose, after almost 2 years it is very possible! Enjoy!

I AM - a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and an aspiring photographer

I HAVE – really dirty nails. (well? I’m just being honest! My dark blue jeans tend to get schmutz all over my finger and under my nails!)

I WISH – to see my sister. I miss her a lot.

I WANT – to be all caught up on my assignments. Dream on, dream on.

I FEAR – birds. Like a lot. A flock of geese were flying over us today and I got a little panicky. It didn’t help when Ian {jokingly} said they had turned direction and were coming for me.

I HEAR – the baby with croup, in the next apartment over, coughing it up. Bless her heart.

I WONDER – when I’ll get to hold my favorite baby next. Tommorrow? Probably not. Drat.

I REGRET – not being as bold in several areas in my life.

I LOVE – cheesecake. Almost any kind.

I ALWAYS – wear my hair curly and never try to straighten it.

I USUALLY – eat oatmeal and drink green tea + honey for breakfast.

I AM NOT – reading much these days.

I SING – when we walk around campus. I guess it’s really just humming though.

I RARELY – talk on the phone. It’s just not my thing.

I NEVER – wear my flip flops any more. Way too cold up here in VA!

I CRY- when I’m too tired, which seems to be everyday these last couple of weeks.

I AM NOT ALWAYS- patient with the wireless internet here. It drives me crazy!

I NEED- to be in the Word daily. Oh how it changes everything!



Wintry Mix?

Two days ago, the campus here was all abuzz with talk about snow/sleet/ice and this interesting little thing called a “wintry mix.”

When I first heard that term I told my friend Courtney that it sounded like some sort of dance or event to go to!

Seriously though, doesn’t “wintry mix,” sound WAY more beautiful than it really is?!

Right. So the campus kept talking about the ice that was coming and I was having a really hard time with this. I knew that it wasn’t going to fall all in one sheet of ice {no duh, right?} And I had just seen my first real snow, so I had a concept for how snowflakes fell, but I just could not reconcile the two to get an idea with what sleet was going to be like!

I was semi astonished when we walked outside after a seminar and had the teeny tiniest little hail stones {like the size of a pin head, or smaller,} falling from the sky!

I know that isn’t really revolutionary information to most of you guys, but to me, I was just shocked out of my socks with this experience.

Did I mention that we got 18-22 inches of snow last Saturday, and they are calling for another 14-20 inches of snow this weekend? Wow, we had such a great time in it and I can’t wait to play again!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

In need of Sleep, without a visit from Satan's Minion.

I am SO tired.

Exhausted

Incapacitated.

13 hours of seminars with a repeat of it all tomorrow.

AND the neighbor girl has croup and has been keeping me up all night.

AND the snow plow came through our campus this morning at 5:10 am.

That’s morning time people!

The solution sprayer truck came through about 20 minutes later.

And then, a dog started barking. Right. Outside. Of. Our. Window.

{which is really odd when you know that our campus is out in the middle of nowhere and there are no animals anywhere around.}

I called that dog Satan’s Minion then rolled over and tried to catch a few more z’s.

As soon as I can catch a wave of wireless internet, I am posting this and crawling in bed.

Pray for smooth, successful, restful sleep!