My Crazy Busy Life: Goodbye 2012

WOW, this year has certainly gone by SUPER FAST! I myself didn't really get to "Enjoy" this year as I have been EXTREMELY busy this year.

2012 started off great, we were in our normal routine. I have Vein Surgery on March 9th to help relieve the pain from the Superficial Phlebitis I had been suffering from for almost 2yrs. The surgery was very easy, even under Local Anesthesia and barely any pain killers. I was pain free and no swelling for a few months. I was a very happy camper.

Our family continued to follow our normal routine until Mid-May. Mid-May my mom had foot surgery and then a week later my dad ended up in the hospital and then Rehab/Nursing Home for a foot issue. This is when things got super busy and haven't slowed down. The boys and I become the "Drivers" for getting my mom back and forth to Dr. appointments, grocery shopping and more. My dad stayed in the Rehab until late July, so I was also going back and forth to the Rehab for visits, laundry help, and more. My dad was home from Rehab for a couple of weeks, only to have his foot problem get worse and he returned to Rehab. The Rehab center bought in a Podiatrist who took one look at my dad's foot and diagnosed the problem. He stayed at Rehab until late September and came home. This is when life got REALLY BUSY! He can't drive at this time because his foot is in a cast, but he needs to get to Dialysis 3x a week. I have been getting up at 3am, picking him up at 3:45am, dropping him off by 4:30am and getting back home by 5am. My brother was picking him in the beginning, but for the past 5 weeks or so hasn't been able to do pickups as he is now working. So now I do drop off and my boys and I do pick up 3 days a week. I know children are supposed to take care of their parents when they are older(even though my parents are that "old").

I know this year has been a time of life lessons and helping others which is great for my boys, we are just TIRED! We have seen the inside of our van more then anything else this year! I know God puts us through "seasons" in our life and takes us off course for reasons only he knows. The boys and I have looking forward to a "new season" or even our "normal season" to hopefully return soon! I know God's plan will always come into plan before my own "desires and plans" and that has been proven this year!

My year in review update would usually include all the Family Fun activities we normally do like Park Days, Picnics/BBQ's, Library Days, exploring Chicago, and much more, but we haven't had time or energy to do much of anything this year. I am an AVID reader and I the only reading I did this year was reading the books for my Book Reviews that I do. I didn't do my usually Library visits for reading materials. I had set a book reading goal this year and came NOWHERE close to that goal. I have had no time for BLOGGING as you all can see from the "bareness" of the blog this year. I was just making my review deadlines. I have not had time to do weekly Menu Planning and get organized with our grocery shopping. I had begun to take part in a 36 in 366 challenge on a message board I am on, but had to "Abandon my List" because I just haven't had time and energy for accomplishing to much other then taking care of my parents. My boys are getting TIRED and BORED of being in the van so much. They are good sports most of the time, but as of December it has really "worn on them".

The one MAJOR thing that I did accomplish for me was I finally demanded the Dentist allow me to get Dentures and the Dentist finally agreed. Here is more on my Dental Journey, Dental Journey Update and a pic of the day I got my "teeth"!

I am looking forward to 2013! I am looking forward to getting my household back in order and back on routine! I am looking forward to many days of Family Fun for our family of 5. I am looking forward to having my boys experience new and different things and more of the same! I am looking forward to making 2013 one of the BEST yet and being a RELAXING year!

My Crazy Busy Life: Goodbye 2012

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12 Pearls of Christmas- Day 1: God with Us . . . And Us with Him by Susan May Warren

Welcome to the12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

God with Us . . . And Us with Him
By: Susan May Warren

Every year over labor day weekend, the Warren family has a MWE. Mandatory Warren Event. It’s a call to come home and enjoy the long weekend with our favorite people. Since my children have left for college, I relish every second of this weekend—the laughter in the kitchen, the long conversations in the family room, the frenzy of backyard football, the quietness of the morning as we drink coffee on the deck and watch the sunrise. I cherish these people, and when they are with me, I drink in their presence.

I’ve been reading the prophecies about Christ this season and came across Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

I am struck by the word Immanuel. God with us. The closest I get to comprehending this is reading about how Jesus’ loved his disciples. Surely they relished the time with him more profoundly after his resurrection, knowing he would soon leave.

Thankfully, he didn’t leave them for long and sent His Holy Spirit. God . . . still with them. 

As I consider the magnitude of this God who would come to earth, who would abide with the disciples, and then with me, I have to wonder not only do I relish God’s presence in my life, but does God relish time with me? Am I committed to embracing His entrance into my life? Am I even making the effort to see Him?

Imagine that during our MWE weekend, I ignored my children, and they, me? I would lose the joy of their presence.

It is not surprising to me that the Jewish people did not recognize their Savior. After all, who would guess that the Almighty might package himself as a baby and appear among them, fragile and dependent? But today, we know the story, we know the miracles, we know the truth, and God invites us into an abundant relationship, one that He wishes to relish, one that will change us. A relationship that will slake our thirsts and satisfy our hungers. One that reminds us that we are never alone.

Because every day we are a mandatory event to our Immanuel.

This season, look for the ways that God is your Immanuel, with you, every day.

***

Susan May Warren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 40 novels. With over 750,000 books in print, her stories of family, romance and adventure have earned her acclaim and reader fans from around the world. Visit her website for upcoming books and sneak peeks!

12 Pearls of Christmas- Day 1: God with Us . . . And Us with Him by Susan May Warren

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Menu Plan Monday 11/26

Praising God for such a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend! The ENTIRE family was all present for the first time in 16yrs and it was AMAZING!! Had a wonderful feast prepared by my sister and had fun "hanging out"! My family was also blessed with a Pre-cooked meal from a local grocery by a small group from our church. I also went out on Thanksgiving Day and purchased a 15lb Turkey to put in our freezer for cooking at a later time. I paid $8.78 after the sale price! I do hope to catch another sale during the next month and hopefully get a couple more.

 Here is our menu plan for the week with recipe links in blue: Weekly Menu Plan 11/25-12/1

For more Menu Plans and Recipes links visit: 

Menu Plan Monday 11/26

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LitFuse Blog Tour: The Breath of Dawn by Kristen HeitzMann

About The Breath of Dawn:

 "Heitzmann weaves a many-layered tale keep[ing] readers entertained and wondering when the next bit of drama will occur." -Publishers Weekly

Corporate turnaround specialist Morgan Spencer, dubbed the "success guru," has a Midas touch in business. But losing his wife sent him to the brink, and his two-year-old daughter, Livie, is all he's living for-until they encounter a woman whose trouble just might draw him out of his own.

Four years ago Quinn Reilly did the right thing. Now the man her testimony put in jail is getting out. Though she has put up barriers to protect herself and those around her, she has come to care for the Spencer family, especially the winsome Livie and her mercurial father. Unwilling to put them at risk when the threats begin, she requests something she hopes the super-successful Morgan might be able to deliver.

Fixing problems is what Morgan does best, but his counterproposal takes them in a direction neither is equipped to handle. Determined to confront the past, will they survive to build a future?

Link to buy the book:

    

Meet Kristen:

Kristen Heitzmann is the bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including "Freefall", "Halos", "A Rush of Wings", and the Christy Award winner "Secrets". She and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.

Find out more about Kristen at:

My Thoughts and Review:

I am a fan of Kristen Heitzmann, having read many of her books. The Breath of Dawn proved to be another favorite! Breath of Dawn is the 3rd book in a series, but is also great as a Standalone Novel. I have not read the first 2 books in this series, but I was not lost in the storyline.

I really like how the characters in this book grow in their faith and overcome obstacles in this story. The book is filled with suspense and twists and turns that it is hard to put the book down once you pick it up! I really related to Quinn Reilly in the fact that I also "put up barriers" when I feel I need to protect myself. Quinn gave me some inspiration and encouragement that with God's Love and help you can break those barriers and bring 'em down!

The Breath of Dawn does not disappoint the reader! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! LOVE Kristen Heitzmann books!

Check out what other reviewers are saying about The Breath of Dawn.

Contest Sponsored by the Author: Win a Kindle Paperwhite and connect with Kristen at her 11/27 Facebook Party!

Kristen Heitzmann is celebrating The Breath of Dawn by giving away one of the new Paperwhite Kindles and hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. (11/27)

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 26th. Winner will be announced at the "The Breath of Dawn" Author Chat Facebook Party on 11/27. Connect with Kristen, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of The Breath of Dawn and join Kristen on the evening of the November 27th for a chance to connect with Kristen and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book as part of my participation in the LitFuse Blog Tour Program. I was only required to give an honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. 

LitFuse Blog Tour: The Breath of Dawn by Kristen HeitzMann

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God's Blessing= Stocked Freezer

We have been extremely blessed over the past month with being able to stock our freezer with food, especially vegetables! A couple of friends from our Homeschool Group blessed us with a HUGE bounty of Veggies. I was able to bless some family and friends with some and we kept some for ourselves.

Day 1 Bounty

Day 2 Bounty

A couple of days after receiving the bounty I spent the afternoon to chop and freezer bag the Broccoli and Cauliflower. I am ever so grateful for my Chest Freezer and Food Saver as it truly has been helpful in being able to store more food then we used. I don't miss out on sales anymore due to "not having enough space".

Broccoli 

Cauliflower

I also spent that same afternoon cooking up 7lbs of Dry Pinto Beans that my hubby later mashed into Refried Beans. We LOVE Refried Beans, but we don't like the price nor preservatives in canned Refried Beans. We use Refried Beans weekly so it much more healthier and cost effective to make our own. We were able to get 12 16oz containers and 3 bigger containers from the 7lbs. We are set for at least 3 months.

Refried Beans

We also received the blessing of 20 Baked Potatoes from church recently. We help at our church on Wednesday afternoons/evenings to prep for the Wednesday night dinner. The kitchen help tries to freeze any leftovers that can be frozen so that families from the church who are in need of meal(new baby, bereavement, whatever reason) it can be provided. The food that cannot be frozen, the kitchen help divides up amongst us and we take home. I decided to take the potatoes and slice them down the middle. I scooped out the insides and was left with 2 shells and the insides I put in a bowl. We made mashed potatoes with the insides and Potato Skins with the shells. We ended up with 2 different products from the potato blessing!

Potatoes

We still have Squash that we are going to cook up for dinners! I PRAISE God for the blessings that are stocking our freezer and our "tummies"!

God's Blessing= Stocked Freezer

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Energizer "Power the Creativity" with Crayola (Mom Central Event)

I, along with my boys, recently had the opportunity to attend an Event called Power the Creativity with Energizer and Crayola. The Event was AMAZING and now I share with you the fun we had and info I learned!

The Event was held at Family Grounds Cafe on the Northside of Chicago. The Cafe has a GREAT play area for the kids and plenty of tables and chairs for the parents to sit and chat. The Cafe was a PERFECT spot to host the event and it was beautiful!

The Play Area tables were filled with lots of Crayola products for the kids to use and enjoy. My boys LOVE Arts and Crafts and Drawing, so they took to the items right away. My boys had fun with the Wonder Paper products of all kinds. Danny especially loved playing with the Sketcher Projector and Nathan loved Light Up Paint Palette. The boys were especially excited when we moved into the "dark room" where they had lots of Glow in the Dark products set up for play. Danny really got into playing with the Light Designer. The Light Designer sort of reminded me of a toy from my childhood, but better! The boys had an amazing time playing and exploring with all the wonderful Crayola toys!

Nathan "Painting"

Danny and the Light Designer toy

An Assortment of Crayola Toys powered by Energizer Batteries

The boys were excited about the Crayola toys, as was I. I though, was super excited about the Energizer Flameless Wax Candles that were on the tables. I don't use candles in my home because for me Boys + Candles= Danger. The Energizer Flameless Wax Candles have the feel and look of real candles, but are powered by Energizer Max Batteries and an LED Light which NEVER needs replacing. The Energizer Flameless Candles for me = SAFETY and ENJOYMENT!

I really like the features of the candle which include: 

• Coming in a variety of Sizes, Scents and Colors. 
• An On/Off Switch which allows for you to control the length of time each day it is used
• A 4hr timer on the bottom which allows the candle to turn on each day at the same time for 4hrs

Energizer Candle at Event

I have been enjoying the candle with Energizer Max with Power Seal Technology batteries that I received the day of the event! I have even put these on my Christmas Wish List so that I can have many for all rooms of my home!

The Holiday shopping season is upon us and it is important to stock up on Batteries for all the toys, gadgets and gifts that will need batteries. I remember having disappointed kids on Christmas morning in past years because I forgot the batteries! Oops!! Don't be like me , stock up now on Energizer Max with Power Seal Technology! The batteries hold their power for up to 10 yrs on the shelf. Energizer batteries have power that outlast any other battery, so you can stock up on the new Energizer Max batteries without worry of "corrosion". Make sure to look for specially marked packages of Energizer Max AA and AAA 16 packs and you will find $20 off select Crayola products  inside the battery packs.

THANK YOU to Energizer and Crayola products for sponsoring such a fun filled and informative event!

Find Energizer on Social Media: 
Energizer Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Energizer  
Energizer Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Energizer

Disclosure: "I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Energizer. I attended an event and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation." 

Energizer "Power the Creativity" with Crayola (Mom Central Event)

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LitFuse Blog Tour: Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

About Every Perfect Gift: 

Book 3 in Dorothy Love's Hickory Ridge Romance series.

Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they're not sharing could tear them apart.

Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town. A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.

Ethan Heyward's idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.

When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan's own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.

Link to Buy the Book:

Meet Dorothy:  

An accomplished author in the secular market, Dorothy Love makes her inspirational fiction debut with her Hickory Ridge series of historicals set in her native South. Her skillful blending of the historical and the personal reflect her passion for discovering the histories of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things and set her apart as an authoritative voice of Southern historical fiction.

Find out more about Dorothy at: Dorothy Love Books

My Thoughts and Review:

Every Perfect Gift is the 3rd and final book in the Hickory Ridge Series by Dorothy Love. I was able to read the 2nd book in the series a few months ago and loved it and this book continues the story and is just as wonderful. I enjoy Dorothy Love's writing style and books. Every Perfect Gift is would also be a great read even if you haven't read the first 2 books. The first thing that really stands out is the cover of the book. The cover is so beautiful and lovely, VERY well done!

I LOVE Historical Fiction and Romance books, so the 2 together and I am soo in heaven! I LOVE how Sophie is determined to make something of herself in the town she lived in before and sets out to buy the newspaper and begins working toward restoring the paper in town. The romance that sparks when Sophie interviews Ethan, an accomplished Businessman, is very evident. The romance is without its struggles though as both are hiding secrets from their past.

The historical value of the book is "spot on" and very true for the time and that really makes the book even more enjoyable. The theme of the book is being able to overcome lifes obstacles and giving grace to one another. I picked up the book on a "lazy Saturday afternoon" and began reading and couldn't stop. I finished the book in about 5hrs. I was intrigued by the story and the characters, the book is a GREAT read!

I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book as part of my participation in the LitFuse Blog Tour Program. I was only required to give an honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. 

LitFuse Blog Tour: Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

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