SRC | Week 9

I just picked up Lessons from the Road by Nigel James from the Post Office...hmmm...sound familiar? Seems everyone that has read it and reviewed it for the SRC has really liked it.

SRC | Week 8

#12 Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer: This is the fourth book in the Twilight Saga. I've read the first three and loved them all. There was a simpleness to them, great character development and an interesting story line to work through.

Breaking Dawn was different from the first three books. The first difference is that this book is broken up into three books. The first book, told from Bella's point of view, contained the wedding and honeymoon. It moved very quickly, which is fine since it was the wedding and all, but annoying because I just couldn't really get into it. The first book does take a surprising turn before it ends though, so be prepared. The second book, written from Jacob's point of view, brought us a bit further into the story (can't say too much here without spoiling things...which apparently some of my reviews/summaries have done...sorry.) The second book slows things back down a bit, which is nice. Gives the story a little time to develop instead of feeling so rushed. The third book is back to Bella's point of view and to me seemed a bit more reminiscent of the previous three books in the series. I do think that Stephenie could have spent a bit more time on the book. I could have used a little less of how beautiful Edward was, how beautiful Bella was...this got annoying in the earlier books too though, so might just be me. Much of the book seemed to be filled with fluff to get us through to the next chapter and earlier books didn't seem that way.

A set of books I will be more than happy to let my daughters read when they are old enough. Would I say rush out and buy this one in particular, probably not, but borrow it from a friend or go to your local library and put your name on the wait list for it for sure.

SRC | Week 7

#11 Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire: Our story is set on a family farm in Tuscany where a seven year old "Snow White" in the form of Bianca and her father Don Vincente de Nevada live. Early on in the book, Vicente has found a mirror in a lake on his estate, but how it got there unknown. Soon after, Cesare and Lucrezia arrive, needing the isolation of the Nevada estate for their own purposes. Cesare also has a use for Vicente, and offers him a choice...he can either join Cesare's army and face certain death, or he can go on a quest for him, a quest to find three apples, but not just any apples, these apples are from the Tree of Knowledge...you know, Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve. Having no choice but to accept the quest, Bianca is left in the care of her father's farm staff and the infamous Lucrezia Borgia, Cesare's sister.

As the years tick by Lucrezia becomes less and less enthused about Bianca and eventually hires a hunter to kill her. But the hunter doesn’t kill her, bless his tender heart, he takes her deep into the woods instead and then he kills a deer and takes the heart back to Lucrezia as proof that the girl is dead. Meanwhile, Bianca falls into a deep sleep in the woods and is taken in by six unusual characters, who as you’ve undoubtedly guessed by now, are dwarves. But where is the seventh dwarf? The missing dwarf was the strange creature that had observed Vincente's discovery of the mirror (that he and the other dwarves had created) and had followed Vicente ever since. Eventually Bianca wakes up and slowly starts to see and comprehend the dwarves and the strange house in which she’s been staying. Saying much more about the plot might reveal too much of the ending. Let me just say that what happens in the last part of the book is similar to the Disney movie.

Overall I’d say this book is okay. I was disappointed because I wanted a new perspective on a familiar story but I felt like all I got was the same story dropped into a different time with a few different names. I thought there were some clever ideas such as the poisoned apple was actually from the Garden of Eden and the mirror being created by the dwarves. The characters bored me...I never learned anything about any of the characters that made me care about them or even dislike them and when it all ended I just felt like I hadn’t learned anything. Maybe I just missed what Maguire was getting at. If viewed as pure entertainment, the book's not bad. I didn't regret reading it, but compared to Maguire’s other works I’d say it’s way below Wicked.

SRC | Week 6

This week I've been reading Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire. I've had tons of work to do too, so I haven't gotten very far on it. Mirror, Mirror is Maguire's take on Snow White. In the same style as Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Maguire tells us about Snow White's life before the tale of Snow White that we all know and love. More to come next week...I'm hoping!

I'm also very excited because I get to pick up Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer's new book, at the end of this week!!!! I might have to put Mirror, Mirror on hold for that one!

SRC | Week 5

#10 Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire: In the style of Wicked, Maguire is sharing his take on the classic fairytale, Cinderella, from one of the stepsister's point of view.He shows us what could have really happened and where the fairytale could have come from, after centuries of retelling and altering the "real" story.

The book starts out with a widow, Margarethe, and her two daughters, Ruth ~ a large, simple-minded girl, and Iris ~ a smart girl with plain looks, who are fleeing from their English country village after her husband's violent murder. They return to the town that Margarethe grew up in only to find that they have no relatives or home left there. In search of a place to stay, they find shelter in the home of a painter, Master Schoonmaker. The mother takes a job in his household doing chores and mixing paints, Ruth is asked to pick wild flowers for the him to paint and Iris is only to pose for him to paint in his paintings. After several months of living and working in the Master's home, Margarethe is offered a job in the home of a very wealthy man. Master doesn't want her to go and proposes to her, but she won't marry him because he is too poor and can offer nothing to her and her daughters (a glimpse into her scheming ways).

This new house is that of a prosperous merchant, Van den Meer, his wife, Henrika, and beautiful daughter, Clara, who is not allowed to leave the house for reasons we will only know at the end of the book. The Master is asked to paint a portrait of Clara with tulips, a beautiful flower with a beautiful red color that the father is trying to import, and he creates a masterpiece that he is afraid won't be able to repeat. The mother, pregnant, dies before giving birth (the reason for this will also be revealed later), and Margarethe soon manages to convince Van den Meer that the town will start talking if they don't get married, so they do. Clara is not happy about this situation at all. Margarethe does not wish to replace her mother, but does want the respect that goes along with being the wife and running the household. Clara, not being used to having to do anything and used to having everything given to her, refuses and thus Margarethe starts behaving with Clara as the stepmother we have grown to know and love in the fairytale, commanding Clara to clean and do other household chores. Clara has never had to do any of this and Iris takes pity on her, helps her, and teaches her how to do things. For her, Clara is now her sister and she finds her duty to take care of her as she takes care of Ruth.

Van den Meer is gone from the house often, either due to business or due to the fact that he doesn't want to be around Margarethe. Clara, upset by her mother's death and her father's outings, refuses leave the kitchen. She says she finds the silence and the work comforting, and she will soon ask people to call her Cinderella, or Cinder girl. Try as she might, Iris can't make her leave the house and behave like a normal child. (Thus making it just as much her fault for her "maid" situation, not completely the wicked step-mother's fault in the way we think it is.)

Van den Meer makes a huge business mistake and his work fails miserably and he falls into a depression so deep that he is not able to get out of bed. The family has basically lost everything and Margarethe is left to try to straighten out the situation. So Margarethe, who has become more cunning and more wicked than before, decides that she wants Clara to get married to a disgusting, but wealthy, merchant and will try to get Iris married to a prince who travels the country with his Aunt, the Queen, in search of a wife. Clara is forbidden by Margarethe to go to the ball, which is fine with her because she doesn't want to be seen out of the house. Iris does not give up though and finally convinces her that she should go. Clara agrees as long as she can keep her face covered with a veil.

The prince, upon meeting Iris, finds her enchanting and gives her his whole attention...until Clara arrives. As we all know, he falls immediately in love with Clara, but it is not the clock striking twelve that makes her leave as much as a fire that destroys the beautiful painting of her with the tulips the Master had borrowed to show the Queen. The shoe the prince brings to the house the following day is only an excuse to find the culprit of the fire, and that he does; he also discovers Clara. They finally get married and Clara is careful to send money and help for Iris and Ruth, her beloved sisters, who love her as much as she loves them. As for Margarethe, she is another story, but she's done enough damage not to deserve much respect. Clara has left it to Iris and Ruth to decide how to care for their mother.

Don't skip the prologue and the epilogue...many things are brought to light. Between Wicked and this book, Maguire has definitely been able to capture the "gray" areas of otherwise black and white children's stories.

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Sunday, July 13th - Eeek! I'm so excited! I just pre-ordered Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer while we were at Borders...you better believe I'll be there on August 1st at midnight to pick it up...I'll probably start reading it too! I'm so excited I could just pee!...okay, maybe not quite that excited, but quite happy. ;0p

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#9 Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney: This is one of my favorite kids books (I won't be sharing too many of these since I'd have about 20 a day to write, but we just read this one again and I wanted to share). I bought this book after having our first daughter and we read it almost every night to her at bedtime. Although she's getting a bit too old to enjoy it like she used to, she still picks it out for her bedtime book now and then. Little Nutbrown Hare is telling his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, how much he loves him in a form of comparing it to the measure of actual things. Of course, being a typical male, daddy has to one-up his son and go one measure up from anything that Little Nutbrown Hare says. (LOL...just kidding about the typical male jab). Just before falling asleep, Little Nutbrown Hare amazes his Dad with the statement "I love you right up to the moon." Of course, Dad does one-up this too, but only after his son is sound asleep. Anita Jeram's illustrations for this book are beautiful and the colors are perfect for capturing the sleepy-time feel of this bedtime book. I give this book as a baby gift quite often and I highly recommend it to any parent.

Corn Casserole

1 box Jiffy corn bread muffin mix
1 stick butter - melted
1 cup sour cream
1 can corn - drained
1 can cream corn

Mix it all up and cook it 350 for about an hour.
This recipe is for a 2qt. dish, I usually double it for a 9X13 though.

SRC | The Last 90 Days

In lieu of the holiday weekend, Mark has asked us a couple questions about The Last 90 Days:

1) IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, what is the one book that has impacted you the most?

2) IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, what is the one artist and/or album that has impacted you the most?

Eeekkk! - nothing like starting off the week with a tough set of questions! Hmmm...in the past 90 days, gotta think...

The book that has impacted me the most over the past 90 days..., other than the devotional that I'm going through,Time to Get Serious by Tony Evans - it's awesome, I'm going to say it was The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman. I heard Karen speak at the Hearts at Home Conference this past spring. (It's a conference for stay-at-home moms and this book has really motivated me to get my house and life more organized, thus making a huge impact on my and my family's life. Karen teaches you step-by-step how to create a system that will work for your specific family. She teaches you how to manage your time, unclutter/organize your home, get your kids interested in helping you and, most importantly, how to not over commit to things. A must read for anyone who needs help in any or all of those areas, which was definitely me!

The one artist or album that has impacted my life the most over the past 90 days...I don't know that I can narrow it down because I usually listen to the local Christian station or just a mix of music on my computer. I will say that I honestly listen to Third Day probably the most and between listening to your music and keeping involved with you guys on your site and the blogs, plus this reading club, I really think I would have to answer Third Day (yes, I know, I'm a brown-noser!) Sometimes it feels like I personally know you guys and you'll never know what an awesome thing it is that you take time out of your busy schedule to do things like personally post on your blogs or respond to posts on facebook. Most people, if they bothered to do it at all, would hire someone to take care of those type of things for them. You guys genuinely seem to care about your fans...it all brings a smile to my heart and soul as well as my face. Thanks!

Whew, that's a novel of a post...sorry!

...now back to our regularly scheduled SRC!

SRC | Week 3

#7 Before I Wake by Dee Henderson: Before I Wake is twisting story that follows the intertwined lives of three main characters: Sheriff Justice, his friend and private investigator Bruce Chapel and Bruce's former girlfriend, now business parter Rae Gabriella.

Rae left the FBI after years of dedicated service when a case went ugly. She accepts a position as a private detective at Chapel Detective Agency, headed by her former Fed partner Bruce Chapel in Justice, Illinois.

Justice County Sheriff Nathan Justice has his hands full with a strike that could turn violent and his grandfather. However, he soon has more to deal with when Peggy Worth is found dead in her hotel room, five rooms away from where Rae is staying; a woman she met earlier in the day. Peggy's parents hire Rae to investigate what seemed likely a natural death in her sleep of a twenty-eight years old healthy female. Soon Bruce, Rae and Nathan know that a serial killer murders women in their hotel room without a whisper or a hint of a struggle, but never takes their money or jewelry so no motive has surfaced. Whereas she seeks justice, he fears she could be next.

Have you ever had a book that when it finished you sat back and thought oh my? Well, this is one. Dee Henderson, as always, does a fabulous job of pulling the reader into the work and getting them to be part of the story. There is a bit of a triangle developing between Bruce, Nathan and Rae. Bruce is a man she once almost married and Nathan is quickly becoming more than just a friend. The twists and turns the plot takes are great and keep the reader always on their toes. Each word becomes something you focus on so you don’t miss anything. The characters are real and deep as they deal with various situations.

The "oh my" part comes though in that everything isn’t solved by the end. As readers we get very used to everything being wrapped up in a neat little bow by the end of the story. This book is obviously going to be a series with more great installments to come. Now don’t get me wrong, if Before I Wake is the only one you ever read, you aren’t left hanging out in left field. However, it sure leaves you ready for the next book. I know I can’t wait!

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#8 The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson: A short and sweet review for this little book. Our main character, Jennifer, has lost a husband and child and she's afraid to love again. Since I have two daughters, I look at conflicts involving children differently now. I've never lost a child, but I do know that it would be hard for me to get over losing either of my girls because they mean the world to me! Even with God's grace, getting over the death of a child is would be an extremely hard thing to do. As in most romance novels, there is a happy ending and Jennifer does find the courage to have children. Not as good as some of Dee's other work, but still a good read.

As a sidenote: If you haven't read any of Dee Henderson's other books (The O'Malley Series and Uncommon Hereos Series) you definitely should.

SRC | Week 2

Hmmm...at this rate I'm going to have to look up some more books to last...to August...through August??? When does this thing end?

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#5 Betrayed (Book 2) by PC and Kristin Cast: In this follow-up to the book Marked, Zoey has begun to settle into her life at the House of Night. She is now the leader of the Dark Daughters & Sons and High Priestess in training, but something still feels wrong. Zoey wonders if it has anything to do with the ghosts she's been seeing, or if it's all just her imagination...but when a couple of her old acquaintances go missing and then later turn up dead, Zoey is inclined to start listening to her instincts. Her instincts are telling her that perhaps the strange feelings and dreams she's been having might just be some sort of vision. For someone she trusts is definitely not what they appear, and betrayal can lie in the most unlikely of places.

I really enjoyed this book. Although annoying at times (probably only because I have already read Marked), it works well for readers who may have missed the first book as the authors brings up any important points from the previous novel that you might need to know. Okay, now on to Chosen, which I just so happen to have sitting right here. :0)

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#6 Chosen (Book 3) by PC and Kristin Cast: In this third book of the House of Night series, Zoey's adventures at the vampyre school have taken a turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, who has become a very scary version of a vampyre, is struggling to maintain her hold on humanity, while Zoey tries to figure out what she can do to restore her friend to her former self. Zoey also finds herself juggling not two, but three boyfriends...And all these secrets she's having to keep from her best friends. For some strange reason, the only person Zoey seems to be trusting is the furthest person from her friend, Aphrodite. Now, while Zoey is juggling all that is going on, things are getting worse because Vampyre professors are being murdered and all leads point to the People of Faith, Zoey's own stepfather's religious group, as the most likely suspects! Yikes!

Best part about the book (I'm being sarcastic here) is that it leaves you hagning...um...what happens next!!! In any case, I enjoyed this book as much as the first two, if not more because I'm beginning to really like the characters. Okay, I guess I need to Google to see when the next book, Untamed, comes out now!

SRC | Week 1

3. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire: Did you ever want to know how the Wicked Witch of the West became wicked? Maguire tells us the story behind how Elphaba (the Wicked Witch), her sister Nessarose, and her school roommate Galinda deal with the conflicts that we all face...good and evil, God and religion, racism, prejudice, sibling rivalry, status, politics, lust and love. Elphaba was born with green skin, shark’s teeth and an aversion to water. She is not wicked just insecure and she eventually commits her life to overthrowing the controlling Wizard.

The Wizard of Oz story with which we are all familiar with, either from the L. Frank Baum book or the movie, doesn’t even appear until the final section of the book There are references throughout the book to characters that appear in the later Baum books, such as TicTok and Ozma. We get an inside scoop on the winged monkeys, the Yellow Brick Road, the house that kills Elphaba's sister and the Ruby Slippers that cause so much drama. We also find out that Glinda (formerly known as Galinda), the good Witch of the North, isn't really all that good unless it benefits her in some way and the Wizard of Oz will stop an nothing to remain in control of Oz.

Maguire has told Elphaba's story in great detail...maybe a bit too much detail at times, especially for younger readers (which is where I found this book). Wicked was a very hard read, but worth it...probably even worth a second read, just because of all the details that I probably missed in the first read. Overall, I recommend the book and cannot wait to go see the musical!

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#4 Marked (Book 1) by PC and Kristin Cast: First off, I have to admit that I'm a sucker for vampire books, so I might be a bit biased.

Unlike most vampire novels, Cast's vampyres are not created in the usual manner such as being bitten by another. Instead, after being "marked" by a tracker - with a dark blue outline of a crescent moon on the forehead, a fledgling vampyre is created simply by biological changes going on in their body. The change occurs over a period of four years, during which time the vampyre leaves their family and friends and into the House of Night. There they will learn everything they need to know to prepare for their new life as a vampyre or their bodies will reject the change and they will die.

Zoey was at school, dealing with teenager issues when she was marked. Her mother and WAY over-the-top, legalistic, Christian-like stepfather freaked out about this and she ran away to the home of her Cherokee Grandma, looking for comfort and acceptance. While looking for her grandma, she had a vision of the Vampyre Goddess Nyx speaking to her and telling her she had a special purpose - she was to be Nyx's eyes and ears. When she awoke from that, the Mark on her forehead was completely filled in, as it is usually only on adult vampyres. There is much about Zoey, the friends and family that she left behind, the friends and enemies that she makes, and the happenings at the House of Night to read about, but I won't share so that I don't ruin the book for any of you who want to read it.

This book was a very easy read and I really liked it. So much so that I was very happy to have the sequel, Betrayed, which I'm starting tonight.

Mark Lee's Summer Reading Club | Week 0

These are the last two books that I've read that we are being allowed to cheat and post as our "freebies". My two freebies that I just finished reading are:

1. The Spiderwick Chronicles (Books 1-5) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi: (Yes, I realize this is 5 books, not 1, but those of you who have read them will understand...they're kinda short books.)

In the first book we are introduced to the Grace children, the twins, Jared and Simon and their older sister, Mallory. They have moved with their newly divorced mother to the old, run-down, house that used to belong to their Uncle who was missing and their Aunt who is now in an institution. As they try to adjust to their new accommodations they discover a secret world populated by brownies, goblins, griffins, elves, and more. In the first book they meet Thimbletack, the family’s house brownie, who is mighty unhappy with the new occupants of his home, especially when Jared finds Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide. The Field Guide contains all of Arthur ’s observations on magical creatures, which could endanger all of the faerie world if it fell into the wrong hands.

Over the course of the rest of the books, the children learn the family secrets and how to make their way among the faeries through a series of adventures ending with a quest to save not only themselves and all of the good creatures of the faerie world, but all of the non-magical world as well.

For a set of Young Adult books, they were entertaining. The illustrations of the fairy-tale creatures and characters were very well done and really brought the characters to life...nothing like helping your imagination along. It was definitely written in a simple enough form for kids to read, so you don't need a dictionary to help you out with any words. Not too scary for pre-teen readers, but probably a bit much for younger ages. I really enjoyed reading them and cannot wait for my girls to be old enough to enjoy them as well.

Sidenote: The books are SO much better than the movie. I thought the movie was good, but it was annoying because the changed from the books way too much!

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2. Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles: The Nixie's Song (Book 1) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi: A great follow-up to the original Chronicles, The Nixie's Song takes readers...beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles. :0)

This first book introduces us to Nick Vargas and his family. Nick's father develops subdivisions, so they move around a lot. It's been a calm life for Nick and his older brother, until dad goes and does the unthinkable, he remarries. Now Nick has to give up his room to his new stepsister, Laurie. Laurie's a bit odd. She collects books and drawings about faeries. She knows they exist, because she's read The Spiderwick Chronicles, and she even has her own copy of The Field Guide. She knows how to see faeries, but hasn't been fortunate enough to actually have it happen.

All that is about to change when Nick finds a four-leaf clover, which, unknown to him, gives him the "Sight" to see things no one else can see, not even Laurie, who is so jealous. Thankfully they can share the clover which allows them to share the sight. What they end up seeing is an injured nixie, a water faerie, who has been cut off from the river she shared with her sisters and must now reside in the neighborhood's man-made lake.

The nixie, Taloa, binds Nick and Laurie into an agreement to find out what happened to her sisters. What Nick and Laurie find instead is a giant that has more danger to it than just its size. Soon, Nick and Laurie find themselves in need of help from somebody who's had a lot more experience with faeries than they have, which leads to some amusing and surprising encounters with some familiar characters.

This book is enjoyable, not only for those who have read the Chronicles, but for newcomers as well. Not quite as good as the original Chronicles, but still worth reading. I'm hoping that the plot develops into something a bit better as this new series continues. I'm looking forward to the second book coming out in September so I can continue on with the story...I hate being left hanging!

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All posts related to Mark Lee's Summer Reading Club will be found here. Books that I haven't read yet, but am hoping to can be found in the right hand column of this blog.

My summer reading list is in the right hand column on the blog. I'm sure it will grow and change, but that's it for right now. :0) By the way, thanks Mark for putting this all together!

Stampin Up! Stamps

Berry Christmas
Best Yet
Botanical Blooms
Bugs & Kisses
Cheep Talk
Darling Dots
Doodle This
Embrace Life
Full of Life
Halloween Hoot
Heard from the Heart
Inspired by Nature
Just Like You*
Live Like You Mean It
Love Bug
Merci
Out of the Box
Owl Together Now
Pocket Silhouettes
Pumpkin Patch
Punches Three
Seeing Spots
Short and Sweet
Snow Buddies
Sprinkles
Sweet Dreams*
Sweet Shapes*
Think Happy Thoughts
Trendy Trees
Watercolor Trio (clear mount)
Whimsical Words (clear mount)
Wonderful Watercolors
You and Moi
Zoofari
(*=retired)

Picture this!

Kimberly Smoot came up from Springfield the other day to visit and take our family pictures. Her pictures rock - this was just a sneek peak - cannot wait to see the rest! Watch for more pictures to be posted soon!

Happy Independence Day!

Lots of fun down at the Peoria Riverfront!

...and relaxation to!

Mawma and Bella

Lili's belly.

Blowing kisses...

Lili attacking Daddy!

Look at those piggy tails!

Yo ho, yo ho, a Pirate's life for me...

POTC3...are you wondering if it was worth seeing? Well, wonder no longer, go see it! The movie had everything...action, drama, comedy, love, and beautiful scenery...and of course Johnny Depp, isn't that enough?

We arrived about 7:15pm for the 8:00 showing and the theater was already mostly full. Good thing we didn't wait any later or we probably would have had to sit separately. I'll try not to give too much away, but be forewarned, this may contain some spoilers...

The movie opened with the laws that Beckett imposed or suspended being read and a line of men, women, and children waiting to hang at the gallows. Beckett has decided to rid the world of pirates and anyone willing to help or befriend a pirate in any way that he can. The end of the opening, when the boy starts singing and everyone joins in and then when he is hung and his coin drops and the opening title is displayed...awesome opening that displays how evil Beckett has become. Okay, bring on the movie.

Elizabeth is navigating a small boat through a crowded village in China, singing a nice little pirate song. Upon reaching her destination, she meets up with some friendly Chinese pirates and then is joined by Barbossa. While trying to avoid being seen by Beckett's soldiers, they continue through the village to meet up with one of the Pirate lords, Sao Feng. It's humerous seeing just how many weapons that Swan can carry on her at once. Okay, to sum up the rest of this scene, Turner was captured, there's a spy, a fight breaks out, Jack the monkey gets to blow things up, Turner makes a deal with Feng to get one of his boats and a crew, and they all head out to save Jack from Davy Jones' locker.

Skip to the next scene with Captain Jack Sparrow and his interesting crew aboard the Black Pearl. Funny, funny, funny! Ok, so now Jack is apparently crazy-er...and not invited to the garden party either. So, he's trying to get the Pearl from the middle of the dessert to the sea...not too easy to do, but this is Jack, so of course, he does it. When Barbossa and the gang finally find Jack, and finally convince him that they're not just hallucinations, the fill him in on what Beckett has done and that a meeting of the Pirate lords has been called.

After Sparrow and the rest of the crew get back to reality comes the real fun. Beckett sets up a deal with Jack that will allow him to take Davy Jones place as the captain of the Flying Dutchman, Wil Turner forms a deal with Beckett that will allow him to free his father from Davy's crew, Elizabeth is captured and meets up with Bootstrap who now has some form of amnesia, Norrington helps Elizabeth and her crew escape only to have Bootstrap kill him before he can leave as well, we meet the Pirate lords as well as Teague, Jack's father, and his mother, and Elizabeth becomes the Pirate king and declares war on Beckett.

We also get more details on the story of Davy Jones and his romance with Calypso (Tia Dalma) and there's a great scene with Jones and Dalma while she's in the brig of the Pearl. You could really sense the feelings of both characters, and when she puts her hand on his face and he becomes a man again....just wow. This one brief scene made up for the fact that Tia's character didn't really get explained in POTC2.

So, with Beckett's fleet on the horizon, the Flying Dutchman surfaces and battles with the Pearl. While Sparrow and Jones engage in their own sword fight, the crews of each ship fight it out. During the fighting, Wil and Elizabeth take a moment to have Barbossa perform a marriage ceremony. All the chaos and fighting around them seems to disappear when they finally get to kiss.

Sidenote...one of the best lines in the movie...this was actually hard to pick because there were so many great lines, but Jack has just done his cannon trick and is escaping through the air from the Endeavour to the Pearl...Beckett asks the sailor how soon they can start after the Pearl and then the Endeavour's mast snaps in the background, the sailor, looking in awe, says to Beckett "Do you think he plans it all out or just makes it up as he goes along?"

Anyway, Jack's plan is to stab the heart of Davy Jones so that he can take his place and sail the seas for eternity, but after Wil is stabbed by Davy, he realizes that the only way he can save Wil is to give up what he truly wanted and to let Wil stab the heart and save his life. (Yes, I cried.) Wil then becomes Captain of the Flying Dutchman, human crew and all, and takes over Davy's duties of helping those who died at sea cross over to the other side.

The Pearl and the Dutchman then team up on each side of Beckett's ship and blow it to smithereens. This scene is quite amazing. Beckett, large ego and all, walks along the ship as it blows up around him, finally ending in his death.

Elizabeth leaves the Pearl and she and Wil are on a beautiful island before Wil has to leave to fulfill his duties on the Dutchman. He leaves his heart, which he says has always belonged to her, with Elizabeth to guard and sails off into the sunset, disappearing with a green flash. Yes, I cried again.

Cut to Jack trying to smooth talk a couple of ladies into taking a ride on the pearl....er, but why's his ship out at sea? Barbossa stole the Pearl again with the map and plans to find the Fountain of Youth, only to find out that Jack removed the center of the map and will be tracking it down himself in his little row boat.

Roll the credits...but don't leave just yet, there's a short clip that takes place 10 years down the road (it actually feels like 10 years after all the credits too!) and don't forget..."keep a weather eye on the horizon."

Overall, I loved the movie. Bring on POTC4!

POTC3...did you forget? It's almost time!

Ahoy, Maties! How could it have slipped yar mind? Well, it hasn't slipped mine, and we now officially have our tickets to see POTC: At World's End on Thursday, May 24th!...that's right, not the 25th! They're having one showing, 8pm on the 24th, at select area theaters and our area is one of them. YEAH!
In any case, we'll be sitting in a dark movie theater watching Johnny, Oralando and Kiera dressed as pirates in an awesome movie one day before many other people will be! Now, when to schedule to Pirate's marathon to refresh our memories from the first two...hmmmmm...

Spring has sprung!

Today Mommy and Bella went to Chuck E. Cheese to play for a while, then went back to Papa and Mama Myers house to play. Papa watched Lili while we were at Chuck E. Cheese. It was such a beautiful day today that we decided to play outside for a little while.

While we were playing, we found this cute, little toad. He kept hopping when Lili was trying to catch him. She thought it was quite funny. Bella even enjoyed carrying him around for a short time before we let him go so he could go take a nap.

Lili also discovered how much fun dandelion seeds could be. She liked to hit them with her hands and watch them fly.

Before we went in for a snack, we found this baby "Anaconda"...or perhaps it's just a Garter Snake...either way, Papa didn't want anything to do with it, so he and Lili headed for the house while Bella chased him around. We watched him slither through the grass, climb through the Lilac bush, and quickly slither over the driveway and under the evergreen tree so he could go hide...he was afraid of Papa too!

Are you a good egg or a bad egg?...

I'm thinking these two are two of the cutest bad eggs I've seen around!

I really want to change...

The small groups have started at Harvest and we're working through the book "I want to change...so, help me God" by Pastor James MacDonald. Only a few chapters into the book and wow - it definately doesn't give you that warm-fuzzy feeling all over. James hits you with several hard questions and challenges.

Everybody knows what it is to struggle with sin – whether you want to admit it or not. Well, this book is telling you to admit it! At different times in our lives, we all try and fail, we all fall and get up again, only to fall again and feel discouraged.

For the good that I want to do, I do not; but I practice the very evil that I don’t want to do.

(Romans 7:19)

It's so easy to fall back into old ways, that's why we need to ask God to help us.

Do I really want to change? Yikes...what a question.

Well, yes, I want to change, but....

There are no buts...you have to commit to wanting to change. Change is difficult and you cannot do it with any of the hundreds of self-help books at Barnes & Noble...you have to allow God to change you.

Step one is repentance. Repentance involves our emotions and will, but it begins with a chance of mind. All sin has wrong thinking in it. In our sinful nature, we say...just this once...I can handle this...nobody else has to know. Repentance is putting those ugly lies that we tell ourselves out in the open and calling them what they are...SIN. When I sin, I deceive myself. When I repent, I turn my mind from that deception.

When repentance happens, it leads to two things:
First, confession. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I have to see sin the way He sees it. That's a scary thing. You have to make things right on a verticle level first, you have to make it right between you and God.
The second thing that happens when I genuinely repent is I make restitution. Zacchaeus is the example James gives us for this (Luke 19:8). If you wrong someone, you must make it right with them. If you lie, go back to the person(s) and tell them the truth, if you steal from someone, give it back, if you hurt someone, physically or emotionally, ask for forgiveness. Do whatever can be done to make it right on the horizontal level after it is right between me and God. That’s restitution.

Both confession and restitution are easy to understand, terrifically difficult to do, but the only way to a right relationship with God. – James MacDonald

Just a few snapshots . . .

Thought I'd share a few pictures I took the other day.

Once a week we go to McDonald's for a playgroup and lunch. The kids have so much fun. This is Bella and her friend Tyler. They are hilarious together!

Lili Jo is growning so fast...she's quite the little drama queen.

I think she knows I want her to smile and thinks it's funnier to make faces! This is her apparently telling me she's done.

The Glory of God

God’s glory...His holy presence...it’s something so many people desire. But are they really ready for it?

Many prophets in the OT experienced God’s glory, and it wasn’t how many Christians today imagine it to be. When God entered a place, the ground shook, the Temple filled with smoke and people fell down in fear...YIKES! Isaiah was no exception. When struck with the presence and glory of God, Isaiah cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips.” He recognized the sinfulness of his soul and the awesomeness of God.

What would happen if we were met with the presence of the God? Thankfully, God will look upon us and see the blood of his son, but still the presence of God changes people.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “We, with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory…”

I want to be like Jesus, but I’m so far from looking anything like Him. On some days I really wonder if there is any resemblance and if He’d recognize me as his child.

A closer relationship with Him brings change...Maybe that’s my problem. I’m not changed because I don’t sit long enough in the presence of the One who can change me. I know what quiet time is, but do I do it?

I found this quote that sums it up nicely: “Nothing so invigorates our souls, so ravishes our hearts, so diminishes our anxieties, and so ennobles our existence as being supremely preoccupied with God’s greatness and presence. This is what you and I were made for.” Dwight Edwards

So how do I find the time to sit in God’s presence and absorb His glory when I’m surrounded by “stuff” to do and little girls to take care of? We all can’t be monks or nuns, called to hours of isolation and communion with God. So how can a normal person, a stressed-out, busy mom experience the glory of God in her daily life? I’m still trying to figure out this answer.

Father, I want so much for your glory to be present in my life, especially in my home and in my parenting. Help me find the time and desire to spend it with you so I can be filled with your glory so others will be drawn to you.

Worship the Lord God Almighty!

Lord, you are more awesome than I can even imagine and I give you praise. For the day and the sun...and the snow (if I have to)...and the ability to enjoy one more day in your presence.

I've been studying a bit on worship, and what I've found is that I need to worship God not because of what He does for me, but for who He is!

In the Old and New Testament, people who worshiped God first before facing the enemy. Gideon, Elijah, Paul, Jesus to name a few. All worshiped God despite their circumstances and God moved!

So, I need to praise Him in the middle of my circumstances, instead of complaining about them. I’m getting better at this. Instead of focusing on my problems, I’m trying to visualize them as I know God wants them to be. And it really has changed my attitude about the situation, when I do it.

That’s the toughest part. Remembering to praise God and thank Him for what I know He will eventually accomplish. I have no idea when He will bring certain things to pass, but I do know if I focus on the future, the will of God, it will happen.

So if I start to stray from this thinking. If I focus on my current set of circumstances, instead of worshiping God, I give you permission to give me a whop upside the head and remind me of my words.

Worship God for who He is despite my current need.

That’s what I’m trying to do. What about you?

Turning one...

Lili Jo's birthday came and went. I cannot believe that she is one already! It seems like just the other day that we were making trips to and from St. Francis to visit her in the NICU. I'm so glad it really wasn't just the other day!

We had her birthday party at Papa and Mawma Myers house.

We decided upon a Mickey Mouse theme, once again my gift of picking a theme that you cannot find decorations for was visible. Mawma Sheila made two beautiful cakes, one of which Lili ate a few small bites of.

She opened several great gifts...with a little help from big sister Bella and cousin Isaiah.

By the time the party was over, she was exhausted
and could barely keep her eyes open. I'm sure,
had she been more awake, she would have devoured
the cake.

Thanks to everyone who made Lili's first birthday so wonderful!

A night in the cold...

One Event Program + Monsters, Inc hardhat... ... ... ... ...$10.00

One bag of cotton candy + Monsters, Inc hardhat... ... ...$10.00

One Boo doll with costume... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... $26.00

One Monsters, Inc T-shirt, size 6... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...$16.00

One picture with Mike W. and a magnet frame... ... ... ...$12.00

Two Mike mugs filled with an icey... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... $20.00

Two Mike W. straw/spoons... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .$4.00

The look on her face while watching the Mike and Sully skate on the ice... ... ...PRICELESS!

2007...time flies!

Wow, another year...2006 is now history and we've begun 2007!

If you’re like most people, you make resolutions each new year's day, only to find by the end of January (or the end of the week!), you’ve already forgotten about it. And I sit here wondering to myself, why do we fail so miserably at our resolutions? Well, why did you pick...enter your resolution here....to be your goal for this year? I believe, in part, it could be our heart motive behind those resolutions.

Without a doubt, the most common resolution we hear about is losing weight. With obesity on the rise in America, one would think this would be a good resolution to stick to; but it’s difficult to break bad habits and start new, good habits...very difficult! So the resolution itself is good - but our heart attitude is off. We really want to lose the weight, but we don’t relish the hard work and effort that it takes to make that happen. I don't like to make New Year’s resolutions.

If I feel the Lord leading me to change or correct something, I don’t want to wait until New Year’s Day to put it into action. Am I always successful at everything the Lord tells me to change or to do? I wish I could say yes, but the truth is - No, I’m not. Why? Because I am not perfect and I am still a work in progress...I'm a sinner.

So what’s my point? For 2007, my resolution, or should I say goal so I make it past the end of this week, is to grow even deeper in my walk with the Lord. I want to know Him more fully and intimately. I have looked back on 2006 and while it’s been a blessed year, it’s also been very stressful at times. I find myself busier than I should be and that busyness has left me tired, stressed and not digging into the Word like I need to. I read my Bible - and I do pray and hear from the Lord, but it’s not as close a relationship as it should to be - and it’s my fault. I let life get in the way of what should always have been my first priority: my relationship with Christ.

Now, it wouldn’t kill me to lose about 25 or 30 pounds, do some more organizing in my home, take more time for relaxation, prayer and just quietness; but I know that the root of all the good things I want/need to do will come after I first seek God and put Him first above all else. My heart was seeking worldly things rather than pursuing a relationship with the One who will give me what I need...spiritual growth, and what I want...to lose weight, organize my life, etc. No wonder I am stressed and tired! I was trying to do all these things! I can only do all things through Christ who strengthens me, if I let Christ strengthen me. I was leaving out the important element in my plans: Christ!

The year 2007 is going to be a year of rest, less stress and spiritual growth for me. I know this is what God is calling me to - and without this step, nothing else will get done that I want. I must first do what I need to do.

Is God calling you to do something? Get your priorities in order and all else will come in God’s timing.

God bless you in 2007!