Thursday, October 29, 2015

Two Horses

Two Horses.
There were two horses in a field.  From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.  But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting… One of the horses is blind.  His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. This alone is pretty amazing.  But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field.  Attached to the horse’s halter is a small, copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.  As you stand and watch these two friends you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray.  When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect. Or because we have problems or challenges.  He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.  Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
And at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.  Good friends are like that. You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell, and I will listen for yours”.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Fall photo shoot

Usually I take pictures of the kids a little closer to Christmas, but today's weather was so nice, and I know the end of that is coming.  So - I made them put on their nice clothes, and took them outside to take some pictures.  Arlington was less than thrilled, but she did cooperate.....eventually.

Enjoy the pictures








































Tuesday, October 27, 2015

October happenings

Halloween 2015 is getting near.  Last weekend Mat had Finley and Cainan carve pumpkins while my mom and I took Arlington shopping.  (she wasn't into carving a pumpkin this year).

Cainan carved his pumpkin into a Ninja Turtle and Finley's is carved into a My Little Pony.

Cainan also had a round rubik's cube that he solved and he was pretty proud of himself, so I took his picture.

Enjoy!










Monday, October 26, 2015

Book Review #45

5 more to go!  I cannot believe I am actually going to do it.  Read 50 books in 12 months.  LEss than, really.  I expect to be done before December.  So excited!

The book I am reviewing today is

Wait Til Helen Comes


This was under the category:  A Book from your childhood.  (It was written in the 80's

Here is what Amazon had to say about this book:

Twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, have never liked their seven-year-old stepsister, Heather. Ever since their parents got married, she's made Molly and Michael's life miserable. Now their parents have moved them all to the country to live in a house that used to be a church, with a cemetery in the backyard. If that's not bad enough, Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen and warning Molly and Michael that Helen is coming for them. Molly feels certain Heather is in some kind of danger, but every time she tries to help, Heather twists things around to get her into trouble. It seems as if things can't get any worse.

This book was cute.  It is a kid's book, so there's that.  And it was written in the 80's, so it was funny to read the main character say "got out my walkman and listened to some music before bed".  (she also used cassette player - which Arlington had no idea what that was).  It kept my attention, even though it was for the 8-10 year old range, and it was a quick read (less than 200 pages).

I recommend this book for the younger group.  Sure it was written awhile ago, but besides the mention of the walkman, they would not know that.  

Stars: 3 1/2

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Book Review #44

The book I am reviewing today is

Before I Fall


The book was in the category:  A Book that takes place in High School

Here is what Amazon Has to say about this book:

For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—"Cupid Day"—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.
However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.

It was a half decent book.  I liked the story and it was well written.  It ended how it was supposed to, yet I hoped it would end differently.  True, it is a mimic of the 100 Goundhog's Day stories that are out there.  I could see this book being good for my daughter, though, who is going to be 13 soon.  I see these high school clicks developing all the time - the girls who make fun of anyone they deem below them.  How wondering if they were given a second chance would they change how they treat the people around them.  

Stars:  3 1/2

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Book #43

The book I am reviewing today is

The Moon Dwellers


This was under the category: A Trilogy

This is the first book in this series (which, in reality - there are actually 4 books which I did not know until recently).  I am thinking about reading the rest, but we will see.

Here is Amazon's take on the book:

"In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms. After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, seventeen-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents' crimes of treason. Against all odds, Adele must escape from the Pen and find her family, while being hunted by a deranged, killing machine named Rivet, who works for the President. She is helped by two other inmates, Tawni and Cole, each of whom have dark secrets that are better left undiscovered. Other than her friends, the only thing she has going for her is a wicked roundhouse kick and two fists that have been well-trained for combat by her father. At the other end of the social spectrum is Tristan, the son of the President and a sun dweller. His mother is gone. He hates his father. Backed by only his servant and best friend, Roc, he leaves his lavish lifestyle in the Sun Realm, seeking to make something good out of his troubled life. When a war breaks out within the Tri-Realms, Tristan is thrust into the middle of a conflict that seems to mysteriously follow Adele as she seeks to find her family and uncover her parents true past. In their world, someone must die."

As for me?  The book was okay.  The writing is pretty cheesy.  Proving again that just about anyone could write a book if they just take the time to sit down and do it.  The story is a neat idea, which is what attracted me to the book in the first place.  I could see this future actually happening.  The surface of the earth is destroyed and those who survive learn to live beneath the surface.  True, there are quite a few holes in the book (like where does water come from?  How do they keep the walls from collapsing in?)  It was hard to picture it in general - the miles and miles of underground.  All lit by artificial light.  The cheesiest part, of course, was the two main character's "love story".  They are drawn to each other by physical pain.  This was never explained why in the book, and from reading the next book's set up - doesn't look like it will be there either.  

I say judge for yourself.  It is entertaining enough - good beach read or when there isn't much else on your shelf.  I read it for free on my Kindle through Amazon Prime, so no money spent.

Star Rating: 2 1/2

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Book Review #42

Getting so close to 50 - I cannot believe it!

The next book I am going to review is:

Still Alice


This was under the category: A Book Based entirely on its cover.  (okay this was a bit of a stretch, but I wanted to read this book, so sue me)

Here is what Amazon had to say about the book:
Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life—and her relationship with her family and the world—forever.

This book was amazing.  It was an easy read, and I couldn't put it down.  I finished it in just a few days because I was really enjoying it.  It is told from Alice's point of view, so you get to experience what she is going through as she loses more and more of her ability to know what is going on around her.

After I read the book, I watched the movie which I also enjoyed.  It followed the story pretty well (they changed some minor details).

I encourage you to read this book.

Stars: 4 1/2