tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38229843343812868872024-03-14T03:06:36.962-06:00The DanceI used to dance to music. On a dance floor. Now I do the dance of life, with kids, pets, a mortgage and a job. But, I still dance.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.comBlogger982125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-31833771028119277852017-01-19T20:46:00.001-07:002017-01-20T20:00:10.217-07:00Daughter of Ishmael<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Daughter of Ishmael</h2>
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Promised Land, Broken Heart</h3>
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From the back cover:</div>
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<i>In one statement, Father Lehi and Ishmael had stripped away her gentle, girlish dreams and replaced them with stark reality. </i></div>
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<i>She was marrying a stranger.</i></div>
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<i>When Hannah learns she will be given in marriage to a son of Lehi, she dreams of raising children in the paths of righteousness with a worthy priesthood holder. Instead, she is met with unimaginable hardship: an arduous journey, a cowardly husband, and possible infertility. Hannah had promised herself long ago that she would follow the Lord and His prophet, but when she thinks her journey is over, she is faced with an impossible choice between faith and family.</i></div>
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I absolutely loved this book! For my friends that are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (the Mormon church) some of my references my be confusing as this book is based off of people found in the Book of Mormon. Feel free to ask me questions or you can always go to <a href="http://www.lds.org/" target="_blank">www.lds.org</a> and look up things as well.</div>
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Hannah is the daughter of Ishmael, who is a relative of Father Lehi. The story starts when Hannah is a young child and follows her through her childhood and teenage years, her marriage to one of Lehi's sons and their travels to the Land of Promise.</div>
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As one reads the Book of Mormon, you are aware that there are people that are not mentioned because there is just not enough room to write it all down. Anyway, I have always wondered about the women that married Lehi's sons. This story is one interpretation of who those women were.</div>
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The daughters of Ishmael:</div>
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Moriah, patient,kind Moriah. Life does not go the way she thought it would. Does not go the way it was planned for her. But ever patient and kind her reward is better than she could have ever planned or dreamed.</div>
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Uzziel, ever impatient and not always kind. Life gives her the reward she asks for, the reward she takes for herself even though it was meant for someone else. But in the end it is the reward meant for her. And the getting of the brass plates as outlined in 1st Nephi in The Book of Mormon ensures that the stolen reward is not taken at the expense of the one it was taken from.</div>
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The twins, Amanna and Anava, adventurous and learning. A ray of sunshine and light heartedness for their father and a help to Hannah, she who is the namesake of this book.</div>
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Hannah, loves her father, loves her family, loves the prophet Lehi, the scriptures and her God. But as anyone that has lived life knows, while those things are promised to bring us happiness and reward, sometimes life has a way of testing us to make us prove that we are and will remain faithful. </div>
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Hannah was named after she of the Old Testament,Samuel's mother. And like Hannah of the Old Testament, our Hannah is tried and tested over and over again. But she thinks deep, trusts in her Lord and uses her faith to help her when life is hardest. </div>
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When the plans for her future are altered in a way that ensures even more hardship.</div>
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When her husband turns out to have as little faith and character as it is possible to have and still be breathing. </div>
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When all of her sisters and sisters in law are having children and she, like Hannah of old, is not.</div>
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When her beloved Father dies in the valley of Nahom.</div>
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When the trip across the ocean proves almost more than she can bear, and then takes a turn for the worse when Nephi is tied up and the Liahonna stops working leaving everyone in despair that they will perish.</div>
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When her son begins to idolize his uncle Laman and act like him.</div>
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When she must decide, in the end, who and what she will trust. Who and what she will be. Even when it is hard.</div>
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I fell in love with Hannah. I want her to be the actual daughter of Ishmael because I want to know her, to talk to her, to walk with her, to be her friend.</div>
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And I want her story to continue so there absolutely HAS to be a second book so I can be with her and get to know her some more.</div>
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Purchase it</div>
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Read it</div>
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Love it</div>
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You can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Ishmael-Promised-Broken-Heart/dp/1462119662/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484883656&sr=8-2&keywords=ishmael%27s+daughter" target="_blank">get it here</a>.</div>
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<b>About the author</b></div>
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Diane Stringam Tolley was born and raised on the great Alberta prairies. Daughter of a ranching family of writers, she inherited her love of writing at a very early age. Diane was trained in journalism, and she has penned countless articles, short stories, novels, plays and songs and is the published author of two Christmas novels: <i>Carving Angels </i> and <i>Kris Kringle's Magic. </i>She and her husband, Grant, live in Beaumont, Alberta, and are the parents of six and grandparents of seventeen.</div>
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-67218188485989385262016-09-10T19:09:00.003-06:002016-09-10T19:10:04.624-06:00Book Review- Stuck in the Game by Christopher Keene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Disclaimer, I was given an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book by the publisher in return for my review</span></div>
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Stuck in the Game by Christopher Keene</div>
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I am not sure about this book. I'll be honest. It was well written mostly. The descriptions brought the pictures to life in my mind, but I spent most of the book confused. I am not a gamer so part of my confusion came from not understanding the jargon of "the game". However, I think my biggest confusion came from the beginning of the book.</div>
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I understood that Noah was stuck in some kind of cyber game, but that came from the description <b>of</b> the book. The description <b>in</b> the book was inadequate for me to truly understand what was happening. I would have liked to see a better description of what happened. I am not always a fan of prologues, but I think this story could use one to help us understand what is happening with Noah, how he got into the game and why he doesn't want to be there. Or even to help us understand how the game even works, because that was the most confusing thing for me.</div>
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Once I decided to just ignore the reason, or not knowing the reason, Noah is stuck where he is and just read the story as if it were a fantasy adventure/mystery, I began to enjoy the story and the adventure. The action scenes were fun to read and I enjoyed them. Until the ending. That is where I was pulled back out of the story and my questions of who, why, how, came back. And then with a miracle all was revealed and it all made sense. Sort of. Some of those things would have been better if they had been revealed in the beginning or even sprinkled throughout the book instead of all revealed at the end because that made it feel as if the author was not sure how to end the book and just pulled out a surprise ending so he could end the book.</div>
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I am not sure whether I would recommend this book or not. If you are wanting a casual read? Probably not. If you are a gamer and want to read a book about gamers? Yes, get this book and read it.</div>
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It is available on Amazon nor Kindle now. <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Stuck-Game-Christopher-Keene-ebook/dp/B01JI080BS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473555365&sr=8-1&keywords=stuck+in+the+game+christopher+keene" target="_blank">You can get it here </a></div>
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-88528003553055246642016-05-15T06:30:00.000-06:002016-05-16T20:20:31.289-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Girl Who Heard Demons</b></div>
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<b>Janette Rallison</b></div>
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A chance to review a book by Janette Rallison. Yay! I love, LOVE, LOVE her books. The story, the humor, the laughing. Yay me. So I finish the day's chores, hunker down in bed, turn on my Kindle and pull up <i>The Girl Who Heard Demons.</i> Demons and Janette don't seem to belong in the same sentence so it would be fine to read it at night. Right?<br />
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<i>The demons came again during the night. I was sleeping alone in my aunt's house, and their swishing whispers woke me.</i></div>
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I turned off my Kindle and vowed I would try again when it was light outside. There was no way I was going to read a scary, creepy book right before trying to go to sleep. On a school night. In a dark room. Alone.</div>
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I did look at the back liner again though, just to make sure:</div>
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<i>Shy Adelle Hansen hears demons, but she’s determined to make friends at her new high school by keeping her ability secret.<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>When
she overhears supernatural voices celebrating the impending death of
the school quarterback, Levi Anderson, she knows she has to do something
to prevent it. However, the demons aren’t the ones plotting; they’re
just celebrating the chaos, and Adelle must contend with earthly forces
as well if she wants to preserve Levi’s life.<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Handsome,
popular Levi doesn't appreciate Adelle’s self-appointed role of
guardian angel. As Adelle battles to keep him safe, she’ll have to
protect her heart, too. Can she do both?</i></div>
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A couple of days later I tried again. And was so very happy I did. Janette does not disappoint and she definitely delivers an A+ story. Her demons are just scary enough to be creepy and scary, but not so ever present as to be overwhelming. And I could have continued reading that first night. Her bad guys are really bad news and the hero should be awarded a white horse because he truly is valiant even if he doesn't know it yet.</div>
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Adelle just wants to be normal, liked, accepted and not judged but that is really hard when people can't understand why you want to help them. But she turns out to be a pretty good person anyway. And Levi needs help, even if his friends are jerks, maybe especially since his friends are jerks. But they are teenagers, so maybe they aren't jerks but just unguided teenagers.</div>
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I work in a high school and the dialogue, the setting, the cliques all rang true. I often read YA lit and am turned off by how grown up, mature and reasonable the teens sound in their conversation. The students outside or inside my office never sound like that. Janette channeled the conversations, thought process, angst, everything perfectly.</div>
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When I started reading I couldn't put it down. In fact, I had to rush around to finish getting ready for work and Brandi even finished getting ready before me because I kept reading "just one more page". And then the night I finished it Brandi had on a series we had been watching, a cooking show, and I didn't even watch because I just HAD to finish.</div>
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Character development gets an A as well. Levi grew the most in the story and it was fun to watch him grow and go through the doubts and acceptance and disbelief and the pain of growing into the person he is at the end of the book. A much better version of himself.</div>
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Adelle did her own growing and learning and accepting. Janette has an amazing ability to let her characters grow at a natural pace and she doesn't force anything, she is ok with her characters being imperfect versions of people and then learning how to be a better, imperfect version. There is no forced learning or going from being imperfect to perfect in 3 pages. Nope, her characters grow, and learn and have growing pains and I love it.</div>
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Oh, and did I mention the laughing out loud? I did a lot of that. Because Janette has a way of twisting words to find the humor in almost every situation. I don't want to ruin it for you because it is such a laugh out loud moment, and it has to do with beached whales and I am still chuckling over it weeks later. I think that was my favorite moment of the entire book. My favorite among favorites.</div>
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<i>The Girl Who Heard Demons</i> by Janette Rallison was an Amazon Kindle Scout winner. Get it. Read it Love it. </div>
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Get it here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Heard-Demons-ebook/dp/B01BCD1VQ0?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20girl%20who%20heard%20demons&qid=1463451535&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </div>
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A bit about Janette:</div>
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<i>Janette Rallison/CJ Hill writes books because writing is much more fun than cleaning bathrooms.<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Her
avoidance of housework has led her to writing 24 novels that have sold
over 1,000,000 print copies and have been on many reading and state
lists.<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Her
books are fantasy, sci-fi, and romantic comedy because hey, there is
enough angst in real life, but there’s a drastic shortage of humor,
romance and hot guys who fight dragons.<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>She lives in Arizona with her husband, kids, and enough cats to classify her as eccentric</i>.</div>
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Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-44244318896450669922016-04-04T12:25:00.002-06:002016-04-04T12:29:39.756-06:00 Conference this weekend brought new and renewed insights and hope. I learned some things, had some confirmed and reaffirmed. And I think I am ready to let go and move on.<br />
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This conference also brought many opportunities to see so many of my friends as they sang with the choir. One of my friends, C. David Belt has gone viral as he shared his testimony of Jesus Christ and the atonement through song.</div>
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There is a reason I blog about this song and link to it so often.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ldsdaily.com/personal-lds-blog/the-powerful-story-behind-the-choir-member-who-cried-at-conference/#.VwKUqor-pto.facebook" target="_blank">http://www.ldsdaily.com/personal-lds-blog/the-powerful-story-behind-the-choir-member-who-cried-at-conference/#.VwKUqor-pto.facebook</a><br />
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Indeed</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-2775463889318013342015-08-01T09:59:00.005-06:002015-08-01T09:59:56.287-06:00Viking on a dimeFriend- I have an awesome idea for a photoshoot. Wanna do it?<div>
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Me- Maaayyyybeeee what do you have in mind</div>
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Friend- Vikings</div>
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Me- after thinking about it- When and where and what do I need?</div>
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Friend- just get the outfit I'll do the rest</div>
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OK, I was NOT going to wear one of those immodest viking costumes and was not going to show much skin so I went searching on the internet.</div>
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<br /><img height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f7/ce/56/f7ce56ee5ee0aafc9f8e230031ce5699.jpg" width="150" /><br /><br />I asked if this was what she was looking for, to which she replied YAAAASSSSS!!!! Knowing her I knew this meant "Oh yes, yes, yes on so many levels yes". So this became my inspiration.</div>
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Then I looked at my budget/bank account. Hmmm. What is a poor, bankrupt educator supposed to do? But I knew I could do it, I am creative and know how to do stuff.</div>
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Here is how I became a Viking on a Dime:</div>
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1. Remember that you put a skirt like this in the box to go to the thrift store because you hadn't worn it for 3 years. But it is bright yellow. Go to box and grab it. Go to store and purchase brown dye.</div>
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Dye skirt.</div>
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Go to thrift store and spend an hour trying on shirts that "might" work. Head over to the men's department to see if there might be something over there. Remember that you have a pattern at home for exactly what you are looking for AND enough white material in your cupboard.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNhggMU34JlezOFxW46TbJKrCSiQg3wUZvtEC54hkLwzSJYhXQ_cFC7MRnnz2Wr5xnyw3N2bdyH80N9IQurrhtlG_gAeIeGSDuz7Mm5sP_AK6BpgGsH0e2RmMqVDkySB1TpB_RiJuRmjo/s1600/di+trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNhggMU34JlezOFxW46TbJKrCSiQg3wUZvtEC54hkLwzSJYhXQ_cFC7MRnnz2Wr5xnyw3N2bdyH80N9IQurrhtlG_gAeIeGSDuz7Mm5sP_AK6BpgGsH0e2RmMqVDkySB1TpB_RiJuRmjo/s320/di+trip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Go home. Find pattern. You still don't know what you are going to do about armor. Then, when you are looking at your different white materials you find </div>
<div>
1) an old yellowed but supposed to be white sheet that will work great for the shirt.</div>
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2) faux leather that you had left over from when you recovered a chair</div>
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Bingo!!!</div>
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But you are still not sure how to actually MAKE the armor because you are not really great at eyeballing or hand drawing shapes. Then as you are standing there thinking, your eyes fall on a pattern that for some reason is not where it belongs but just laying on the sewing table. The bodice portion is PERFECT.</div>
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So you set to work cutting and sewing. And try on the shirt and laugh uncontrollably because even though you measured and measured and measured it is ridiculously large. So you take it in. Again. and yet again. In the end the sleeves get 10" taken off because they are HUGE.</div>
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And this is what you have. Now to try and replicate the rest of the inspiration look.</div>
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You go to your closet and your jewelry making supplies.</div>
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Perfect</div>
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Bracers and head piece. Though in the end we didn't use the head piece because it was too "nice" for the look she wanted. If I ever wear the costume gain I'll use the head piece. I grab a piece of fur, string a saber tooth on a piece of leather for my necklace, thread a strip of grey leather onto a wire for my earrings and hang an old house key to a piece of leather around my waist, to complete the look. Then have my daughter lace me into the armor and head to the meeting point where Natalie did my make-up and Jen did my hair.</div>
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<br />Then I did the hair for the other 3 models while Natalie did their makeup. Jen was also one of the models so she was getting makeup and getting dressed- that's why I did the rest of the hair. Then we gathered all of our props and headed out to Spanish Fork Canyon. We spent about 2 hours doing photos. Individual and group and it was a blast. I was totally out of my comfort zone. I love dressing up, but don't think I am very photogenic and I am NOT a model so I didn't really know what I was doing and having others watch me was a bit uncomfortable. But I have decided to start trying to stretch myself and stop saying "no" "I can't" or whatever.</div>
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The pictures below, my daughter took after I got home. I am really excited to see the ones that Natalie did. She said she is going to frame the best one of me and hang it in my office. I hope she does. </div>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-65723686030444381732014-09-15T05:00:00.000-06:002014-09-15T05:00:01.941-06:00The Watchers Book One Knight of Light<div>
I absolutely loved this book and hate it that I will have to wait for book two because I want more of the story right now. The story is compelling and Auriella is someone that you want to meet and know and spend time with. Deirdra Eden knows how to write a story that draws you in and holds you captive. I was seriously upset that I had to put the book down and go to work and do grown up responsible things when all I wanted to do was keep reading.</div>
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I will admit that there were a couple of times that I was a little bit confused? or felt as if I had missed something somewhere almost as if I had entered the story in the middle of the action. I quickly forgave Ms. Eden that, though, because Auriella feels that way throughout most of the story as she is just learning of who/what she is. I think this is what helped to make me feel drawn to the story and to Auriella and made me want to continue the quest as if she was a real flesh and blood friend and I needed to help her understand as I came to understand Auriella's life, quest, mission.</div>
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I say purchase the book, read it, love it, beg for more.</div>
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<br /><i><span>The Watchers <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://literaryservicesbylaura.weebly.com/knight-of-light-blog-tour-giveaway-post.html#" id="FALINK_6_0_5">Book</a></nobr> 1: Knight of Light</span></i></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpR06xga8n18v80B7tmpKzURfmEMToXULuT5Y9b6BZ5SC91hNRoMxJLTCpkXDzrqPEcH1fXT5hxjsXg3djmqvhzh_e_2lzneR09zGpGXssVmtak2oSYMYQm424DVS2pGNdSBn3_Sem949/s1600/Copy+of+knightoflight-animation+%25281%2529.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpR06xga8n18v80B7tmpKzURfmEMToXULuT5Y9b6BZ5SC91hNRoMxJLTCpkXDzrqPEcH1fXT5hxjsXg3djmqvhzh_e_2lzneR09zGpGXssVmtak2oSYMYQm424DVS2pGNdSBn3_Sem949/s1600/Copy+of+knightoflight-animation+%25281%2529.gif" width="281" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In
England, 1270 A.D., Auriella (pronounced yurr-ee-ella) flees her
village after being accused of witchcraft. Pursued by nightmarish
creatures, she struggles to accept the truth about her humanity. Filled
with fairies, dwarves, pixies, dragons, and
monsters, <i>Knight of Light</i> is an
enthralling tale that will capture the imaginations of readers young and
old.<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>The Watchers
Series</i> has been described as <i>Braveheart</i>
meets <i>Supernatural</i>.<br /><br />The mythology for the
series is based on many theological texts from dozens of sects with
correlating themes. Ancient writings include <i>The <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://literaryservicesbylaura.weebly.com/knight-of-light-blog-tour-giveaway-post.html#" id="FALINK_5_0_4">Dead</a></nobr>
Sea Scrolls</i>, <i>The Traditional Apocrypha</i>,
<i>The Pearl of Great Price</i>, and <i>The
Kabbalah</i>. <br /><br /><br /><br />“The Watchers” are supernatural beings in human form whose duty it is to protect and guard mankind from the armies of darkness.<br />Unfortunately,
as the <i>Book of Enoch</i> mentions, some of these
Watchers go bad. Although the mythology is based on these texts, Deirdra
Eden’s <i>The Watchers Series </i>is written in a
traditional fairytale style with a young girl’s discovery of incredible,
but dangerous powers within herself, a cast of humorous side-kicks, a
quest for greater self-discovery and purpose, and villains of epic
proportions.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>
<br /></div>
<br /><br /><br /><div>
<br /><div>
<br /><a href="http://amzn.com/0996015809" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knight-of-light-deirdra-eden/1120264372?ean=2940150398825" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWatchersSeries" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KnightessHope" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/DeirdraEden/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/17650871-the-watchers-book-1-knight-of-light" target="_blank">Wattpad</a> <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/deirdraeden" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<br /><br /><br /><div>
<br /><b>About the Author</b></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwHLrK17lnILOLVPd_VDspRvQ8_d-Tls71dUmec0e_t3A-aqXK6yS6sp_3jgXhUPInTycmXPD3TGgnDzmj3sxi5Wy2T8zGchOykREECWvEVrOU0yzFQifpAnYxNH8jpnw4vIDFVuroRI2/s1600/1001739_10151582772737807_1061010053_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwHLrK17lnILOLVPd_VDspRvQ8_d-Tls71dUmec0e_t3A-aqXK6yS6sp_3jgXhUPInTycmXPD3TGgnDzmj3sxi5Wy2T8zGchOykREECWvEVrOU0yzFQifpAnYxNH8jpnw4vIDFVuroRI2/s1600/1001739_10151582772737807_1061010053_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>"My goal in <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://literaryservicesbylaura.weebly.com/knight-of-light-blog-tour-giveaway-post.html#" id="FALINK_4_0_3">writing</a></nobr>
is to saturate my books with intrigue, mystery, romance, and plot
twists that will keep my readers in suspense. I want to see fingerprints
on the front and back covers where readers have gripped the novel with
white knuckles!<br /><br />Aside from writing, I enjoy jousting in arenas, planning invasions, horseback riding through <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://literaryservicesbylaura.weebly.com/knight-of-light-blog-tour-giveaway-post.html#" id="FALINK_1_0_0">open</a></nobr>
meadows, swimming in the ocean, hiking up mountains, camping in cool
shady woods, climbing trees barefoot, and going on
adventures."</i><br /><br /><i>-Deirdra Eden</i><br /><br /><br /><br />Find
Deirdra Eden and <i>The Watchers Series</i> online
on <a href="http://amzn.com/0996015809" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://knightess.com/" target="_blank">Deirdra's
website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWatchersSeries" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KnightessHope" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/DeirdraEden/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/17650871-the-watchers-book-1-knight-of-light" target="_blank">Wattpad</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/deirdraeden" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7135c91a49/" id="rc-7135c91a49" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><hr />
IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-28607037728479641572014-04-23T13:12:00.000-06:002014-04-23T13:12:45.190-06:00Random thought during lunch break<div>
1. Feeling tired, no motivation and just a wee bit crabby. I just want this work day to end so I can go run on the treadmill and then take a bubble bath.</div>
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2.My child is mad at me, so I guess I am doing my job? But I hate it when my kids are mad at me.</div>
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3.I realized that it is ok for me to have the beginnings of a crush on someone.</div>
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Do people my age even have crushes?</div>
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And it is just as scary to start a conversation with a member of the opposite sex as it was when I was 15.</div>
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4. I am almost finished with my apple and almond butter and that has made the crabbiness factor go down. I am going to be able to make it through.</div>
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5.I am not looking forward to finding damage to the house from last night's wind. The gate was open and the dogs were out when I left this morning and I had a hard time latching the gate. But if that is the only problem, I know how to fix that. I think.</div>
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6. I love yard work and how it looks after you finish a project. But I hate mowing and edging. Maybe I should get a goat. Or a sheep. Think my neighbors would even notice?</div>
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7. End of year, get these seniors graduated, have you finished that make-up credit yet? season is here. I have a love/hate relationship with that particular brand of crazy. I hate hounding the students but I love it when the credit is finally done and I can clear them for graduation.</div>
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8. Should I replace the carpet or just rip it out and put in wood/pergo in my living room.</div>
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9. I collected a lot, A LOT of shells while in Corpus Christi. They are soaking in a mix of bleach and water. After I rinse them off today I think I will use some of them to make jewelry.</div>
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10. Right now I wish I was sitting on the beach again soaking up some vitamin D.</div>
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Back to work. Lunch time is over.</div>
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-5672048133042477632014-03-13T10:43:00.002-06:002014-03-13T10:43:26.237-06:00Baby steps, baby stepsI am thinking about attending a singles party this weekend. I am equally excited and scared out of my mind. It has been so long since I attended any party that wasn't just a girl's thing or couples thing and I am just not sure I know how to do this anymore. <div>
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Part of me wants to dance around and can't stop smiling at the thought.</div>
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Another part of me is afraid that I will embarrass myself silly or start crying with overwhelm.</div>
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And yet another part of me wants to run to the bathroom and throw up at the thought.</div>
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Then there are the questions. Oh, the questions- what do I wear? Does this make me look fat? What will we talk about? What if they play games I don't know how to play- you know something that involves knowing about sports or celebrities or movies or, or, or? What if we have to choose teams for a game and I get chosen last? What if I snort when I laugh? What if the cute guy doesn't like me?</div>
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Ok, now I feel the need to go sit in class with some of my students because they ask me these questions every day and I ALWAYS know how to help them.</div>
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Maybe I'll just finish this break by opening that bottle of bubbles that is sitting on my desk and blowing my anxiety away.</div>
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I can do this, I can do this, I can do this<br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-55342979146532358592014-02-02T20:04:00.003-07:002014-02-02T20:04:25.232-07:00I Lived in Heaven..<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
Today in Primary our lesson was "I Chose to Follow Jesus Christ" and it was the story of the council in heaven when we chose Jesus' plan and not Lucifer. I was teaching today and was telling them the story:</div>
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When we lived in Heaven there was a big meeting. Who do you think was in charge? (Heavenly Father and Jesus!!) No, not Jesus, only Heavenly Father. He told us that he made us a special place because we were all grown up and had learned everything we could learn so we needed to go to an earth so we could learn some more stuff like faith, and repentance and how to be like Him. But while we were on this earth some bad things would probably happen and we would make some mistakes and some bad choices. Then He asked us what we should do about that.</div>
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Who was at this meeting? (we talked about how everyone in the whole world was there. No not the fishes and whales only the people and yes, Max Wright, even the people far away in Hawaii were there- his parents are on a vacation there and he was missing them :) Well, one of our brothers, whose name is Lucifer (yes it is the name of the kitty on Cinderella, yes he was a bad kitty) but our brother's name was Lucifer. Anyway, he stood up and said that he had a plan. He said that he would go to earth with us and MAKE us all do the right thing and we would never ever make any mistakes and no bad things would happen and then we would all go back to heaven and we would all go to him and tell him how wonderful he is and thank him for forcing us to do the right things.</div>
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Then another of our brothers, in fact our oldest brother stood up. Do you know who that was? Yep, Jesus. He said that He had a different plan. He thought that we should let Him go to earth and He would teach us about Heavenly Father and how to make right choices and we could decide if we wanted to Choose the Right or not. And then when we got back to Heaven we would all tell Heavenly Father how much we loved Him and thank Him for letting us choose.</div>
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Well, we then needed to vote and decide which plan to chose. Which one do you think we chose? Yes, we all chose Jesus's plan. Well Lucifer was really angry about that and he went around trying to make us all chose his plan and he was mean. In fact we had a war. (no Josh we didn't have spears and shields because we didn't have a body. But we had words and they were angry words) And they we so angry that we were all fighting each other and finally Heavenly Father said that because Lucifer couldn't follow the rules and was making a fight then he couldn't live with Heavenly Father in Heaven anymore and he was kicked out of Heaven and everyone that was wanting his plan was kicked out too. And then Heavenly Father told them that because they were kicked out they could never be born and never get a body. (at this point little Josh Beck had the beginnings of tears in his eyes and he said "that is really so sad". It almost made me cry) And when he was kicked out he got a new name. Now we call him Satan. (this was the first time that they realized that he was our brother and lived with us in heaven and it made them really sad and I thought It is really too bad that we don't always feel that way about our brothers and sisters that are making poor and wrong choices just as I am sure we did feel that way before we were born but now we just criticize and condemn instead of feeling sorry and helping and praying for them. I think our world would be different if we could remember this small fact)</div>
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How do we know that we chose Jesus' plan? We got something that those that didn't choose His didn't get. Yes, we got a body and that is how we know that we choose to follow Jesus.</div>
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It was a simple lesson, but for 5 year olds it was profound and it really touched me how the little light bulbs were coming on and how much they felt sorry for those that chose poorly. They really are sweet little souls and I am so privileged to be their teacher</div>
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-59984769876517645822014-01-12T17:40:00.000-07:002014-01-12T17:40:00.066-07:00The Woodlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDIQH16cO7aWAMrgGbqRNn-0dqc3pXu_ifyBKGIU4O_vHFDj-zJLLu_Aseqds1xWSjjDfOa5Z4cMO9KrWak5PW6Rerv6MW0CHBJr0ObjTcw8rtMSxcFUAqDHh-GJUaeeHbbcGZEAre1M4/s1600/The+Woodlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDIQH16cO7aWAMrgGbqRNn-0dqc3pXu_ifyBKGIU4O_vHFDj-zJLLu_Aseqds1xWSjjDfOa5Z4cMO9KrWak5PW6Rerv6MW0CHBJr0ObjTcw8rtMSxcFUAqDHh-GJUaeeHbbcGZEAre1M4/s1600/The+Woodlands.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rosa never thought she'd make it to sixteen...</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When being unique puts you in danger and speaking your mind can be punishable by death, you might find yourself fighting to survive. Sixteen-year-old Rosa lives in one of the eight enclosed cities of The Woodlands. Where the lone survivors of a devastating race war have settled in the Russian wilderness because it's the only scrap of land left habitable on the planet. In these circular cities, everyone must abide by the law or face harsh punishment. Rosa's inability to conform and obey the rules brands her a leper and no one wants to be within two feet of her, until she meets Joseph. He's blonde, fair-skinned, green-eyed, and the laid-back complete opposite of Rosa. She's never met anyone quite like him, and she knows that spells danger. </span></i><br />
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<i><br />But differences weren't always a bad thing. People used to think being unique was one of the most treasured of traits to have. Now, the Superiors, who ruthlessly control the concrete cities with an iron fist, are obsessed with creating a 'raceless' race. They are convinced this is the only way to avoid another war. Any anomalies must be destroyed. </i></div>
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<i><br />The Superiors are unstoppable and can do anything they want. After all, they are considered superheroes by the general public. But not everyone sees them this way. When they continue to abuse their power by collecting young girls for use in their secret, high-tech breeding program, they have no idea that one of those girls has somehow managed to make friends even she didn't know she had. And one man will stop at nothing to save her.</i></div>
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I just finished this book on my Kindle. I don't know why I am so enamored of dystopian novels but lately that is my book of choice. I really enjoyed this book. I understand Rosa's spunk and feel her pain when tragedy strikes, as well as her elation, confusion, sadness etc. I really like her and I like to think that should I ever be in the same situation I would be as strong as she is as she reaches to overcome her oppression.<br />
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My recommendation? Read it.<br />
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Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-31862972593009917612014-01-11T17:32:00.000-07:002014-01-11T17:32:02.978-07:00Day 8-11I was going to blog every single day this month. Then I got sick. I haven't been sick like that for about 10 years. I called in sick at work and felt bad because it was my turn to teach the counseling lesson to the 8th graders. I then had Jess drive me to the doctor's office. <div>
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Am I the only one or does it irritate you when the nurse doesn't even speak to you beyond calling you back to the exam room? She waves toward the scale then silently sticks the thermometer in your ear and scribbles on your chart then silently waves toward a room and you just assume that is where she wants you to go. After you crawl up on the bed she then silently attaches the blood pressure cuff to your arm and when finished scribbles again. Not once has she told you what the readings were. Then she says- why are you here? in a tone that implies that you are really inconveniencing her day.</div>
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I like to know what my readings are for a number of reasons. 1. I like to monitor and take charge of my health. It is kind of hard to do if you don't tell me the numbers. 2. I know what is normal for me. So if a doctor says, "so no fever, your temp is 98.6* normal." I can say- nope, normal for me is 96* 98.6 <i>is</i> a fever for me. Just sayin'</div>
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I saw the nurse practitioner because my doctor was not in that day. I like seeing her if he is not in. She thought it was the beginning of the flu but sent me home with a shot for the headache and nausea and a prescription for more and told me what to watch for.</div>
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I slept the rest of the day. I have no idea who brought Brandi home from school but she got here.</div>
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I went to work the next two days and just went through the motions and then came home and went right to bed. Today I have spent in bed reading. I hate unproductive days</div>
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On another note, I am thinking about going back to selling Avon again as opposed to going back to Target as a second job.</div>
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Indoor soccer begins next week.</div>
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I'm going back to bed.<br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-83047749220825718652014-01-07T20:54:00.002-07:002014-01-07T20:54:59.091-07:00Baby Its Cold OutsideI am cold. I don't remember the last time I was this cold. I never feel warm. Even when the house thermometer says it is 70* I still feel cold. And then I walk outside and think I am going to freeze. Then I look up how cold it is in Prince Albert Canada where Jacob is and realize that the temperature here is down right balmy. When it is -56* there, the +20* that it is here is not that cold. Right?<br /><br /><hr />
IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-28788135314216385452014-01-06T20:36:00.000-07:002014-01-07T20:43:42.001-07:00SleepI have insomnia. It is a by product of PTSD which is a by product of 28 years of not so happy times- to put it mildly.<div>
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Short story, I am tired. I also have an issue with my larynx and my trachea is not exactly formed right. The trachea issue makes it hard to breath while sleeping so I stop breathing when I am sleeping. Because of that I have always been tired but I started using a Cpap machine about four years ago. They kept telling me that I would feel so much better after I started using it because I would get such great sleep. I'm still waiting for that to happen.</div>
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Then this issue with my larynx started Thanksgiving weekend. It makes breathing hard and then it started happening at night and I can't use my Cpap because of this issue. So even though I never feel rested I am not getting even the slight sleep I get when using the Cpap. So I am tired.</div>
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So I just want to sleep.<br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-33152007874019083792014-01-05T15:57:00.000-07:002014-01-05T15:57:03.512-07:00This year's Soundtrack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sLxv4v9OB3A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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This is the song that I think will be my soundtrack on my journey through this year.<br /><br /><br /><hr />
IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-33694706547452957872014-01-04T21:09:00.000-07:002014-01-04T21:09:18.846-07:00To paint or not to paint? That is the question.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />That is the carpet on my stairs. When it first started showing as a hole, I was going to sew it back together but was told that I would be getting new carpet instead. Ya, that happened. And now it is big enough that it scares me going down the stairs. I am afraid that someone is going to trip on it and fall. It is the second stair so it would be a long fall. And since I broke my foot stairs have been hard for me anyway.<div>
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So now I need to make a decision- what to do- re-carpet or paint? If I re-carpet I am afraid that it will turn into a "If you give a mouse a cookie" type of project. There is carpet on the trim on the wall that the stairs share with the garage and it goes around to the front room floor. So if I re-carpet the trim as well, then I will need to re-carpet the front room (which it needs) and if I re do the front room, then I just as well re-carpet the hall (also needed) and if I re-carpet the hall then I should probably take out one row of entryway tile and put carpet there to tie the front room and hall together and take care of that row of marble tile because it keeps breaking and I need to replace it at least every two years. In fact two of those tiles have needed replaced for about three years now. I have the tiles just haven't done it yet (since that was another I'll get to it un-kept promise). And if I re-carpet the hall, then the bedrooms need done as well. And the carpet in the basement is older and worse off than the upstairs, so if I do the stairs then where it attaches to the basement... You see where I'm going.</div>
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Or I can paint the stairs instead. I have painted floors before so I know how to do that, but do I use porch paint or floor paint? Do I go for color or stain or a design? Do I paint the treads one color and the risers another? Or the tread a color and the risers a design? What do I do to seal them? Will they be too slick? That scares me as well, almost more than tripping, what if someone slips and falls?</div>
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<br /><br />These are all stairs that I like. I am just not sure, though. My stairs are nowhere close to being this bright and airy, they are small and steep and go into a dark basement family room.</div>
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So what do you think? Carpet or paint?<br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-43375659355342182012014-01-03T17:20:00.003-07:002014-01-03T17:20:53.915-07:00GoalToday we had 2 groups of 7th grade students and 2 groups of 8th grade students to teach. We were overbooked because we could only be in one classroom at a time. We had the 8th grade students watch Monsters University in preparation for our lesson next week on preparing for college. We did have a study guide to go along with the movie.<div>
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Our time with the 7th grade was spent with the CTE lessons that the state says we have to teach. Today we talked about our roles in our life- family member, citizen, worker, community member etc. and how our personalities help us when we make job choices and balance in our lives. When we discussed balance we talked about priorities and goals and how to make them a reality.</div>
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One of my goals for this year is to figure out who I am and where I want to be. Part of doing is that I have committed to posting something here everyday this month. I miss writing and creating and I am hoping this will help me. </div>
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If my 7th grade students can set and accomplish their goals I can too.</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-50413690960354679922014-01-02T16:09:00.001-07:002014-01-02T16:09:45.512-07:00Day 2 January 2We went back to school today. I hate going back on a Thursday, it almost feels pointless but I understand why. It is the reason we can do Winterim while the rest of the school districts are finishing up their second term. Then we begin 3rd term when they begin theirs. But when the alarm went of at o'dark thirty this morning my body was not happy.<div>
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But I knew it would get better once I got to school and started teaching my lesson and it did. Just like I knew it would. </div>
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I really do love my job.</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-43905776246575817722014-01-01T18:31:00.004-07:002014-01-01T18:31:56.948-07:00Day 1Day 1. Today life begins.<div>
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This starts my new journey into life and living again. </div>
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Brandi and I watched <i>The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</i> yesterday and loved it. There is a part in there with a travel journal and I decided to start a travel journal for my journey into life. I did tease with Brandi and say I wonder how many days before I say "I am totally alone. Rations are almost gone. I don't know if I will make it out of here"</div>
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While that was a joke, I am a little bit afraid that there may come a day this year that I do feel like that. But if I am faithful in my journey I will be able to look back and see that I am really not alone and my rations of love, health and prosperity are not as low as I think they are.</div>
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We had a small miracle yesterday that has already started filling that rations pot of thankfulness.</div>
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So today, Day 1, Life begins.</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-51465249516991131632013-12-31T21:34:00.002-07:002013-12-31T21:34:26.326-07:00The Witnesses by Stephanie Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From <a href="http://www.stephanieblack.net/Site/The_Witnesses.html" target="_blank">Stephanie Black's blog</a>:</div>
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SPOILER ALERT! If you have not read <a href="http://www.stephanieblack.net/Site/The_Believer.html">The Believer</a>, and would like to, don’t read this blurb. It contains spoilers for Believer). <br />
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<i>Welcome to New America, where patriots are traitors and religion is a crime. After government agent Daniel Lansbury fakes the executions of three believers on national television, he and the fugitives Alisa Kent, Ian Roshek, and Ian's sister, Jill face the perilous task of outwitting President Amanda Ryce and her power-hungry Council long enough to escape to freedom. While a government reformer is on their side, rigorous new <a href="http://www.stephanieblack.net/Site/The_Witnesses.html#">security measures</a> thwart any chance of aid. And Daniel's estranged father, Marcus, an underground terrorist leader, is hatching plans to sabotage the breakable trust between Daniel and Ian and put himself in power at the head of the nation. As faith and loyalties come under fire, the fugitives struggle to stop Marcus and his zealous terrorists and bring to light the wrongs committed against the citizens of this fragile, fledgling nation.</i><br />
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I told Stephanie a long time ago that I would do a review of this book. In fact, she sent me a book so I could do a review. I got it, read it and prepared to do a review and then life got in my way. I am so sorry, Stephanie, that it has taken me so long to put this up.</div>
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I read The Believer quit a few years ago so I needed to try and remember what happened in that book before I read this one, but I didn't have time in my busy back to school/daughter has soccer/after school counselor meetings to re read. I didn't have to worry, Stephanie did enough catch up that I could remember what happened. But the catch up she did was not a big info dump like sequels so often contain. The catch up was done in conversations between characters or a short memory that a character would have. And I mean short, not long drawn out info dumps, just enough to help her readers remember. And I love that, because if I am going to get an info dump I just as well go get the other book out and reread it.</div>
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What I liked about The Witnesses- even though this book is about the punishment for someone believing in a religion that has been banned that religion is not rammed down the reader's throat so if one is not of that religion it would be easy to insert whatever belief the reader has into the story. </div>
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When I read The Believer I thought living in an America that banned religious beliefs was in the far, far distant future. Things and times have changed and while reading The Witnesses I can see the possibility of this book becoming a reality in a closer future than I imagined and that worries me. Most of the books I read by Stephanie Black are books that I won't read at night or with my back to a window, The Believer was not one of those but The Witnesses had those moments that I thought about going somewhere with more light as I read. </div>
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There is a scene in a family's mountain home. During this scene I thought I had figured out something, a major plot line and how it would all play out. But in true Stephanie Black form, I was wrong and things were not what I thought. And then, and then it all changes again. And then once again. And then it isn't what I thought. Again. And people aren't who I thought they were. And that is what I love about reading books by Stephanie Black, she is so good, so expert at letting her readers think she is leading you down one path when in reality you are headed somewhere else entirely and it isn't until you reach your destination that you can see the how the twists and turns got you there. And even if you do figure it out before you get there, the ride is amazing. But while she is leading you down the path, it is never so confusing that you give up caring or trying. That is why she is so good. You care and you are invested in what you are reading and you want to keep following her down the path. And when the book ends you are sad because you want it to continue forever.</div>
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Get <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FN5XP4K/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=059SBM89W1G2WQW8EYZ1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846" target="_blank">The Witnesses here</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SHADOWED</span></div>
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I also read Shadowed a week after I read the Witnesses.</div>
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<i>Gifted musician Catherine Clayton was born into a life of wealth and privilege. Following the death of her father, she makes a bold decision she hopes would make him proud: she’s using the family <a href="http://www.stephanieblack.net/Site/Shadowed.html#">money</a> to establish a <a href="http://www.stephanieblack.net/Site/Shadowed.html#">music school</a> and offer free lessons to the underprivileged. A providential suggestion from an old college friend leads Catherine to select Riley, New York, as the perfect location for her new school. Hit hard by the economic downturn, Riley personifies economic hardship: peeling paint, overgrown landscapes, and damaged buildings. But the damage runs much deeper than Catherine first realizes.<br /><br />Two years ago, Riley was rocked by weeks of vandalism, followed by the brutal murder of beautiful elementary school secretary Olivia Perry. Everyone in town loved Olivia—but especially the two men with whom she was caught in a love triangle. Though the murder remains unsolved, Catherine receives ominous warnings that one of these men, Adam Becket, is responsible for the girl’s death. Unimpressed by the lack of evidence against him, Catherine is drawn to the shy but endearing Adam. Could he really have been involved in Olivia’s murder?<br /><br />Just as Catherine is settling in and getting to know Adam, a vandal strikes again, and it’s eerily reminiscent of the events surrounding Olivia’s murder. The death threats splashed on the walls prove that the killer is back—and this time, it’s Catherine who wonders if she’s come to the wrong place at the wrong time.<br /><br />To read a sample of Shadowed on Amazon.com, click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-ebook/dp/B0092TSUCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380511921&sr=8-1&keywords=stephanie+black+shadowed">here</a>.<br /><br />To purchase from Deseret Book, click <a href="http://deseretbook.com/Shadowed/i/5085207">here</a>. </i></div>
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<div>
This is one of the don't read at night or with your back to the window books. And I did figure this one out early on. Kidding! I only thought I did and there was a scene that helped further my believing that I had figured it out, but I was wrong. And our path twisted around and surprise! not what you thought.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-44185905139196340542013-10-17T21:36:00.001-06:002013-10-17T21:38:56.282-06:00AftermathShe stands at the precipice and waits<br />
<div>
For what </div>
<div>
She is not sure</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Move on they say</div>
<div>
Be glad they say</div>
<div>
Forget they say</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But how </div>
<div>
How does 28 years just go away</div>
<div>
Forgotten as if it never was</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She takes a step</div>
<div>
The pain is excruciating</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Her heart lays on the ground</div>
<div>
Ripped from her</div>
<div>
Shredded</div>
<div>
Torn</div>
<div>
Stomped on</div>
<div>
Discarded like yesterday's garbage</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In its place</div>
<div>
A huge gaping hole</div>
<div>
Impossible to be filled</div>
<div>
Repaired or fixed ever again</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the tether is unbreakable</div>
<div>
Binding forever</div>
<div>
Holding her back</div>
<div>
Bound to a history that isn't pretty</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Friends since before time began</div>
<div>
The betrayal paralyzes</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So she stands</div>
<div>
Afraid to move</div>
<div>
The gaping maw of sadness threatens to swallow her up</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Left behind by the one that was supposed to take care of her forever</div>
<div>
Rejected by those that cared before forever</div>
<div>
Wounded, broken, bruised and afraid</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And she knows </div>
<div>
She will never be whole again</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
Indeed<br />
<br /></div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-57440064482316479872013-09-27T19:56:00.000-06:002013-09-27T19:56:00.878-06:00Rocky Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71NicIQEHSUbeEyTfT2nx3sZOF2ex9wuddVYXM8IZA618EpAWjd2vLKhA8mcZKuAMaWGiTpdl8DhhC8QiRNO8w3Etx2zTvZoYwWxbubdVfzju5yMYIVTCnkW2x8ZSzgfoBc9h0-8PWRz8/s1600/Rocky+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71NicIQEHSUbeEyTfT2nx3sZOF2ex9wuddVYXM8IZA618EpAWjd2vLKhA8mcZKuAMaWGiTpdl8DhhC8QiRNO8w3Etx2zTvZoYwWxbubdVfzju5yMYIVTCnkW2x8ZSzgfoBc9h0-8PWRz8/s1600/Rocky+Road.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />From the back of the book:<div>
<br /><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">THE ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dr. Trenton Hendricks was last seen Friday, April 8, when he set out alone on a backpacking trip. Hendricks's </span><nobr style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-ebook/dp/B00EIQXCVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380160402&sr=8-1&keywords=rocky+road+josi+kilpack#" id="FALINK_3_0_2" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">Jeep Grand Cherokee</a></nobr><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> was located Tuesday at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, but after six days and thousands of man-hours, the official search has been called off. He is presumed to be deceased.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was supposed to be a girls' weekend in scenic St. George, Utah, that would included shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fund-raiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fund-raising event, a</span><nobr style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-ebook/dp/B00EIQXCVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380160402&sr=8-1&keywords=rocky+road+josi+kilpack#" id="FALINK_2_0_1" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">local doctor</a></nobr><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, had disappeared two months before was not supposed to be Sadie's problem.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Sadie learns that her friend Caro and Caro's cousin, Tess, have started a grassroots investigation into Dr. Hendrick's disappearance, Sadie graciously refuses to be a part of it. With her wedding to plan and her most recent case still fresh in her mind, Sadie is determined to leave this case to the police—until she meets the ex-wife of the missing man.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">How could she not ask a few questions ... that lead to more questions ... that lead to a small town and even more questions? When the local police ask her to be their eyes and ears, Sadie can't help but jump in with both feet. Before she knows it, she is on the rocky road of another investigation, following a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is the next installment in the Sadie Hoffmiller series. I love Sadie more and more with each and every book. This adventure was a little bit of a departure for Sadie's normal curiosity driven entanglements. However it doesn't stop Sadie from becoming entangled in things almost beyond her. There is no such thing as a smooth road to a relaxing weekend for Sadie no matter how hard she tries. And she really does try.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is the second book review this week where things really surprised me in the who, what, where or why categories. There were times I thought I had it figured out but then there would be a twist in the road to the end and I would have to rethink my theory.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well done, Josi, well done.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">disclaimer: I am part of the test kitchen for this series and do get a complimentary book, but know nothing of the story other than the setting before I read the book.</span><br /><br /><hr />
Indeed<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-26233461408339852482013-09-25T19:47:00.000-06:002013-09-25T19:47:07.354-06:00The Magic Shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPTMLY2CjrTKnwNsWMzxkrXaJswaRU9_32iKrMvxIAocHmvFrrqWsTB7kDIyLmbUkPHdnoi3Hr73w-Bk8bvPZ5uHP9uA_WQbLykq-EdkaZ1hjOfOw3vr3ZVFCIXuej7uxTwVBGS0Y-GWr/s1600/magic+shop+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPTMLY2CjrTKnwNsWMzxkrXaJswaRU9_32iKrMvxIAocHmvFrrqWsTB7kDIyLmbUkPHdnoi3Hr73w-Bk8bvPZ5uHP9uA_WQbLykq-EdkaZ1hjOfOw3vr3ZVFCIXuej7uxTwVBGS0Y-GWr/s320/magic+shop+cover.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<i>Marcus is a <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Magic-Shop-ebook/dp/B00CJCUCTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380158861&sr=8-1&keywords=the+magic+shop#" id="FALINK_2_0_1" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">troubled youth</a></nobr>. When his grandparents decide it would be good for him to tend the family business, a Magic Shop, Marcus is thrown into a world that he never knew existed. Not only is the family business a front, but Marcus learns that he has been marked as a dead man from the time he was born.</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<i><br /><br />Marcus tries to develop his powers before the Dun-Bahr find him and assimilate the magic he was born with. Will he survive? Will he find his parents? First he must discover the secret his grandparents have been keeping from him all these years. It all comes down to what's hidden at the Magic Shop.</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<i><br />"THE MAGIC SHOP is a Middle Grade / Young Adult / Urban Fantasy novel that takes you on a wild ride filled with magical creatures, curious situations, and questionable choices that will keep you turning pages through the night.<br /><br /><br />"Visit Justin's blog at JustinSwapp.com<br />"Follow Justin on twitter at twitter.com/JustinSwapp<br />"Join Justin on facebook too!</i></div>
<h3 class="productDescriptionSource" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.23em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0.375em -15px;">
<i>About the Author</i></h3>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<i>Justin was born with an active imagination on a U.S. naval base in Spain, but has spent most of his life in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains of Utah. He is bilingual, and has lived all over the world. He has four children; two boys, and two girls, and one wife. He doesn't have any pets that he's aware of, but his children have been known to hide things under his bed.<br />In his free time Justin loves to read, write, and play <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Magic-Shop-ebook/dp/B00CJCUCTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380158861&sr=8-1&keywords=the+magic+shop#" id="FALINK_3_0_2" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">games</a></nobr>. He enjoys his close friends, and loves to make people laugh. To learn more about Justin, or his work, you can visit him at justin swapp dot com.<br /><br /><br />Justin is the author of The Magic Shop. He has also been published in several anthologies, including The Crimson Pact (Volumes 1, 2, and 5), The Memory Eater, and Short Sips: Coffee House Flash Fiction Collection 2.</i></div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
All of the above I took off of Amazon. And I need to do a disclaimer here,</div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
1. Justin is my cousin, his Father and my Mother are brother and sister.</div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
2. He gave me a copy of his book so I could do a review.</div>
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3. I really, really liked this book. I would have liked this book even if 1 and 2 were not true.</div>
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4. If you like Percy Jackson, Fable Haven, Maze Runner you will like The Magic Shop</div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Justin gets us to the action pretty quickly and I appreciate that. There is a back story but Justin weaves it throughout the story and we discover it at the same time Marcus does. I appreciate that. There were times that I was a bit frustrated because I didn't know the back story and so I was confused about what was going on, but so was Marcus so in that aspect Justin was a master at making me feel what the characters were feeling.</div>
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There were a couple things that I guessed, but this is a middle grade novel and I am a bit past middle grade. However there was one HUGE thing that I didn't guess and was as surprised as Marcus. And then the next thing surprised me even more and I was left hoping that that is a doorway to a next book because I really want there to be a next book. Is there a next book, Justin? Please say yes because I am waiting for it.</div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I would recommend this book to you and your children.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Magic-Shop-ebook/dp/B00CJCUCTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380158861&sr=8-1&keywords=the+magic+shop" target="_blank"> Go to Amazon</a> and get it now.</div>
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-88536599907370669932013-09-17T05:39:00.001-06:002013-09-17T05:39:08.536-06:00SiblingsAfter my last post I thought that perhaps someone might get the wrong impression about my sibling mentioned there. I don't want to leave the impression that my sibling is a mean person because that would be a lie. They aren't. In fact in the past year I can think of a couple of times that I was the mean one, the rude one, the one that was wrong, wrong, wrong.<br />
<br />
Here is where the problem lies. This sibling has a way of saying or doing things that evokes a Pavlovian response in me and usually it is the wrong way to respond, but respond I do. And try as I might I can't seem to make it right between us. So, I stopped trying because no matter what it will never be good enough. <i>I</i> will never be good enough. Even if I were to crawl on my hands and knees across the burning desert it would never be enough. True or no that is how I feel.<br />
<br />
Let me explain. When this sibling feels that something is amiss they want to make it right. Now. Now. Right now. When I have been wounded- real or perceived- I need to pull back, lick my wounds and figure out how to proceed. Analyze. Feel sorrow and the need to reconnect and make it right. And if you pick at me, follow me around, demand that I apologize, speak to you, do it your way, say that you are right and grovel ten ways to Sunday it is going to take me longer because for the last 28 years I have been taught that that is just a set up to even deeper pain. I will feel backed into a corner and I will eventually begin to lash out like a wounded animal. And I will be stubborn and dig in my heels and refuse to be moved.<br />
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Even if I know I was wrong to respond the way I did. <br />
<br />
For 28 years there was never any compassion. Forgiveness. Understanding. Just picking, picking, picking and setting up for the next fall from grace. And my sibling is unfortunate enough to use the same words, and inflections and timing or whatever.<br />
<br />
So please don't think my sibling is a mean, horrible person. Because this time it isn't them it is me.<br />
<br />
But I still don't know if I can do family time right now.<br />
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IndeedSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-47034456566599104012013-09-15T21:52:00.006-06:002013-09-16T16:58:29.239-06:00PTSDI hate PTSD. I have worked hard to overcome the effects and put the feelings to rest. To re-frame my world and the way I view it and the people in it. I have learned what my triggers are and how to deal with them. I can spot them and breath through them. And I have almost eliminated the people in my life that bring those triggers with them. And I have gone No Contact with most of them to the extent that I can.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then today happened. My sweet sister in law has planned a family gathering. There was a time that I would have been the one planning the gathering. And stressing over it. I haven't been to a family gathering in a very long time. I am thinking probably Labor Day 2006 ish. And the last three years I have been a virtual recluse when it come to even speaking to anyone in my family except my parents. So when I got the e-mail about the family gathering my first thought was- Sweet! It has been too long. This could be so nice.</div>
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Then the stupid PTSD kicked in. See I have a sibling that treats me the way the kids' dad did. And from all appearances this sibling delights in my discomfort and pain and takes every opportunity possible to say things to hurt me.And I know there is the possibility that this sibling doesn't mean for it to be that way. And that they possibly have no idea what their words and actions do to me. And that they are confused and hurt by my reaction to them. But the truth is that it does hurt me and I do react and I lash out and I hate that because it is not right on my part. Even if they are doing it on purpose (which I have no idea one way or the other) I still should not lash out. But I do. And I have spent the last two hours in tears at the mere thought of spending even five minutes in the same room as this sibling.</div>
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I am a grown woman. I am strong and I am capable and I can stand on my own two feet. But I don't know if I can go spend time with my family.<br />
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<hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3822984334381286887.post-35436336440805908902013-09-14T20:14:00.002-06:002013-09-14T20:14:56.392-06:00Now that was randomI had a dream last night that I moved back to New Mexico. What was weird was that the kids and I were moving with their father. Like that would ever happen. 1. He would never leave Utah, 2. I will never live with him again.<div>
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<div>
I was doing something today and thought about one of my fellow staff members that is a guy and is single and close to my age. While I have never thought of him in that way the random thought came into my mind "I wonder if he wears cologne and if he smells good" That was really random. But if I am thinking those thoughts then maybe my heart will eventually heal? Maybe it isn't shattered forever and ever?</div>
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I didn't do any canning this year and probably won't. I miss canning. And sewing. And crafting and painting bracelets and writing. Maybe I can get my life in order enough to do at least one of those this fall.</div>
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I didn't get to take the belly dancing class. It starts this Wednesday and things just didn't work out. But I will do something the next time there are community classes to sign up for.</div>
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Divorcing a sociopath is not easy. Just when you think all is done and over and you can move on and try to get your life back in order and clean up all the messes and mend your soul, they do something to make it all messed up again. And if they go and hook up with a sociopath that is worse than they are? Hope you have a life vest because it isn't pretty because your sociopath will clash with his and somehow you get the backlash. And you will end up paying for their sins for a long time- physically, monetarily and emotionally. A long time.</div>
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Hasn't the sky been pretty lately? I haven't had to water very much this year. Even though it has been hot, the Lord has done most of my watering for me on my watering days.</div>
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But I slept through the amazing thunder storm the other night, I guess. Everyone keeps telling me about it but I had no idea we had even had a storm.</div>
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I think I heard that David Woolley's new book is coming out this fall but I haven't heard from him lately so I don't know. I hope so. I have waited a long time to see what is happening with the families in the story.</div>
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Jake has been in the MTC for a week and a half now. He will be flying out on the 18th. I can't believe how fast the time is going.</div>
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I have two book reviews to do. Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack and The Magic Shop by Justin Swapp. Justin is my cousin and it is a really good book. I'll try and get to them this coming week.</div>
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I have an overflowing basket of towels in my room that need folded so I think I'll go take care of that now. I hate folding towels. Too bad I don't have Mary Poppins around to do it for me.<br /><br /><br /><hr />
Indeed</div>
Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761951935843784725noreply@blogger.com0