Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy

The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer – Review

May 29, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I recently received the new book The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer to review. The Promise Box is the second book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. I reviewed book one, The Memory Jar, last year. It is not necessary to have read book one to enjoy book two, The Promise Box. The main characters in each book are different, while secondary characters, such as store and restaurant owners, are the same.

The Promise Box is set in West Kootenai, Montana, where young Amish men from other states come to live for 6 months so they can receive resident status for the hunting season in the fall. Lydia Wyse grew up in this small Amish community, but left her parents and her Amish faith to become an editor in Seattle. She is now returning to her parents home after the death of her mother. Lydia ends up staying with her father to help him. Her father gives her her mother’s Promise Box, that Lydia never knew her mother kept.

The promise box contains Bible verses, and letters that her mother wrote. As Lydia reads through all the letters in the promise box, she discovers a side of her mother that she never knew. Lydia also learns to accept God’s promises for herself. And to follow God’s plan for her life.

The Promise Box is a great read. The perfect book for a restful summer day.

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One “promising” winner will receive:

Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc…)
Sherry Gore’s Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the “The Promise Box” Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun – book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect 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 12th!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

SHOWgrins by Betty Collier Book Review

May 28, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Betty Collier

and the book:

SHOWgrins

XLIBRIS (February 12, 2013)

***Special thanks to Betty Collier for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Betty Collier is a nurse by profession, author by passion, and storyteller by the grace of God. After reading the headlines that tennis pro Venus Williams suffers from Sjogren’s syndrome, Betty discovered she had many of the same symptoms. This began her quest to share the journeys of five other remarkable women battling this incurable illness. The third in her Living Inside The Testimony Book Series, Betty hopes others will discover that they too live inside testimonies meant to be shared. Betty lives in Bartlett, Tennessee, with her husband, the absolute love of her life, and their two sons. Betty’s passion for increasing awareness of this silent disease takes her beyond the inspirational stories she has written about to the streets of Nashville, TN where she will run with Team Sjogren’s on April 27, 2013 in the Country Music Half Marathon to help increase awareness and raise funds for Sjogren’s research.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Award-winning author Betty Collier has intricately woven a beautiful, edifying and inspirational book that informs readers of Sjogren’s syndrome – its signs and symptoms, diagnosis, medication and treatment, complications, and other related information. Readers will be captivated by the inspiring and uplifting story of five remarkable women who embarked on the same journey through Sjögren’s syndrome. This book takes Venus Williams’ fight against the same autoimmune disease many women are suffering right now as a concrete instance. Along with her story, Collier brings into the limelight the cases of Cathy Taylor, Estrella Bibbey, Judy Kang, Lynn Petruzzi, and Paula Beth Sosin, the five women who opened their hearts and shared their Sjogren’s stories with the world for everyone to understand more about this incurable disease. Through the heartwarming stories of these five women and the intimate details of their journeys, millions will be inspired, encouraged, and motivated to face the crossroads in their lives.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99

Paperback: 102 pages

Publisher: XLIBRIS (February 12, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1479780154

ISBN-13: 978-1479780150

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Fame, Fortune, and Fatigue
Who wouldn’t want to be like Venus Williams, one of the most admired professional athletes in the world? Continue reading for about three or four minutes, and I’ll answer that question. But first, let’s take a quick glance at the trophy room of this phenomenal tennis superstar. She has won an astonishing forty-three singles titles, including two U.S. Open Singles and five Wimbledon Singles. Along with her sister Serena Williams, she has also won an amazing nineteen doubles titles which include two at the U.S. Open Doubles, two at the French Open Doubles, five at the Wimbledon Doubles, and four at the Australian Open Doubles. And lastly, she has been an Olympic gold medal tennis champion for an unprecedented four times.

In addition to her tennis accolades, Williams is CEO of her interior design firm, “V Starr Interiors” and realized a dream come true by launching her fashion line “EleVen.” She has been recognized by Forbes on numerous occasions such as Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, Forbes Most Powerful Black Women In The U.S., and Forbes the Celebrity 100. If that’s not enough, she’s also part-owner of the Miami Dolphins along with her sister Serena, making them the first African-American females with ownership in an NFL franchise.

So why am I talking about Williams in my book? After all, she wrote a New York Times Bestseller, a book entitled Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession. What does her book have to do with my book? Absolutely nothing. However, this book does have a lot to do with Williams. You see, Williams had to pull out of the U.S. Open in 2011 due to yet another undertaking, undoubtedly her toughest challenge yet, one that up to four million Americans are also battling to live with.

Williams is fighting Sjögren’s syndrome, the second most common autoimmune disease. Prior to her announcement, Sjögren’s syndrome was probably the most common, unknown disease in the world even though it was first identified in 1933 by Dr. Henrik Sjögren.

Classic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but Sjögren’s may also cause dysfunction of organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Williams, along with millions of others, experience extreme fatigue and joint pain, which is likely why she had to withdraw from the tournament.

I will ask the question again. Who wouldn’t want to be like Venus Williams? Up to four million Americans can answer in the affirmative, with approximately 3,600,000 of them being females. I think I am one of them. I have not been formally diagnosed yet, but I am seeing the specialist my primary care physician referred me to. Before I finish writing this book, I will know for sure if I have it, but that’s another chapter toward the end of the book.

For now, let’s see what happened after Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open. I read a story on the internet a couple of days after she withdrew, Venus Williams Battles Sjögren’s Syndrome. Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me. I wondered how she could have such a dreadful disease which forced her to leave the tournament after only one match. Would she ever be able to return to this sport that she loved and once ruled?

Much to my surprise, the article only had two paragraphs about Williams. She was quoted as saying, “I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.” The rest of the article was about the disease, not Williams. It was only one day after reading Williams had to withdraw that I began writing the first chapter of this book.

As I was trying to comprehend what had happened to me over those twenty-four hours, I had already self-diagnosed myself as being affirmed with this same condition, and I was now totally obsessed with writing a book about it to help others. I just wish Dr. Smith had identified the illness instead of Dr. Sjögren. Hence the book title, SHOWgrins, because I read that Sjögren’s is pronounced “SHOW-grins.” In my haste to start writing this book the very next day, I entitled it SHOWgrins so I wouldn’t forget how to pronounce my new diagnosis and new book title.
So how does this story fit into my book series of uplifting, real-life, inspirational testimonies? Let’s see what Venus Williams had to say about all of this.

SHOWgrins by Betty Collier Book Review

I reviewed and loved Betty Collier’s first two books, Living Inside the Testimony and An Angel in My Room, so I was excited when I found out about her third book.

SHOWgrins tells the stories of five women who went from not being to find out what was wrong with them to finding out they had an incurable autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s syndrome. Sjögren’s is pronounced SHOW-grins. And now you know where the name of the book came from.

SHOWgrins is an excellent book that follows these women from their worst to reclaiming and living their lives. I highly recommend SHOWgrins, as well as the authors previous books.

Making a Home – Homemaking Linky

May 28, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

The featured post from last week’s Making a Home – Homemaking Linky is:

Honeysuckle Jelly from Taylor-Made Ranch. I remember well standing around the Honeysuckle bush with my siblings and cousins sucking the honey out of the blossoms. I’ve shown my kids how to do it, too. Have to keep those family traditions alive. lol I have yet to make Honeysuckle Jelly, though. This recipe makes it look really easy.

If you missed the Honeysuckle recipe last week, stop by now to see it.

Taylor-Made Ranch Blog's photo

Making a Home – Homemaking Linky

Now it’s your turn! Share your posts about homemaking ideas, recipes, crafts, decorating, cleaning tips, basically anything that has to do with caring for a home and family.

No giveaways, please. Giveaway links will be deleted. You can link your giveaways on my Thursday’s Giveaways linky. Thanks!

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

In the Kitchen with Linda

May 27, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

After last weeks week long breakfast for the freezer session, I didn’t do anything major in the kitchen this week. I did make cupcakes on Friday for my father in laws birthday.

We’re having a family cookout today, Memorial Day. If you’re having a cookout, too, let me help you get ready. See my post How to Prepare for a Large Cookout.

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….

What’s For Dinner?

Dinner Menu:

Saturday – Sabbath- Make ahead meals- Fish and Chips

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Sandwiches- ham and egg salad on homemade bread

Monday – chicken – Cook out! Hot dogs, Linguica, potato salad, homemade baked beans, chips, and, of course, S’mores!

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Crockpot Chicken Parmesan, broccoli

Wednesday – beef – Homemade meatball subs, carrot sticks

Thursday – super simple – Leftovers!

Friday – Sabbath Dinner – Baked chicken, rice, corn, peas

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

Saturday on the Farm – Garden Tour

May 27, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

This week, two kids learned how to use the weed eater. Hopefully, that will help keep everything looking neat this year. Zach will be 13 in July, and I thought it would be good for him to learn. He did really good, and was really careful.

Abby, 14, volunteered to learn to weed eat. Volunteers are never turned down here. lol She, also, did really well and was very careful.

Now onto the garden tour.

This bed is in the back yard. The Wilds Roses on the right are trying to take over the Iris’s. After they bloom, I will trim them back. I just can’t bring myself to trim them before they bloom. I love Wild Roses too much to take the chance that I might not get any after trimming.

They Iris’s love it in the shade back by the creek.

Also in the back yard, and all over the area, the Tulip Poplars are blooming. It’s very pretty to see the full tree covered in these blooms.

The Spinach and Lettuce bed by the creek is doing well. The Romaine Lettuce is on the right, and the spinach is on the left. I’ve been very patient this year, and haven’t harvested any leaves. I’m usually out there picking leaves to eat as soon as they are big enough. lol

The Iris’s on the end of the house are blooming. There are yellow and purple ones.

Very beautiful.

The cat followed me around the yard while I was taking pictures. She settled on the rocks under the tree by the Iris in the above pic.

Now, to plant the vegetable garden!

[Read more…]

The Schoolhouse Library

May 25, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

The Old Schoohouse Magazine has just launched it’s newest homeschool resource. The Schoolhouse Library. I have loved the Old Schoolhouse Magazine for years. It was the only homeschool magazine I subscribed to. For the last couple of years, I have been blessed to be a part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, reviewing homeschool products. I’m excited about the new Schoolhouse Library!

The Schoolhouse Library

I haven’t seen any of the products included in the Schoolhouse Library yet, I will receive a package free in exchange for this post.

More than 175 ebooks, lapbooks, audio books, unit studies, study guides, maps, and more, covering over 25 topics are included in the library. Art, Bible, organization (with several planners included), nature studies, homeschool encouragement & support and special needs are some of the topics covered.

There really is too much included in this package to list. The Schoolhouse Library looks to be an incredible resource for homeschoolers. You get the over 175 ebooks included in this digital library for only $25. Then, when new titles are added to the library, you get those, too, for free. A very frugal resource for your homeschool.

*Disclosure: I will receive a Schoolhouse Library package for free in exchange for this post. I received no other compensation. My opinions are my own.

Science Naturally – One Minute Science Mysteries Review

May 21, 2013 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the book One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! from Science Naturally to review. Science Naturally is an independent press that produces interesting math and science books, booklets, and apps. One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science is written by father – daughter team Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder. Their books have won multiple awards.

One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science, written for kids ages 8-12, is the second book in the science series. You can read a mystery sample here. These fun brain teasers get kids thinking about science to solve the mysteries. Each story takes about one minute to read. They are fun little stories that engage children and keep them interested in solving the mysteries. The story is on one side of the page, with the answer to the mystery on the back side of the page.

I used One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science with my 12 year old, 6th grade son. I started out reading the stories out loud to him. After a few days, he switched to reading the stories himself. His choice. Most days he read one story, but some days he read several because he was so interested in the stories, that he just kept reading. Since the answer to the mystery is on the back side of the page, kids can read this book themselves and still be able to solve the mystery without seeing the answer.

I like that there is an index in the back of the book, making it easy for kids to refer back to the book again and again. There are a lot of black and white pictures in the book, and even a chart about mineral hardness.

With One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science, kids will be able to use their critical thinking skills, while learning more about science. My son enjoyed reading this book, and I did, too. He would often ask questions about the science in the stories. This book gets kids thinking and talking about science. This book is a great supplement to your science curriculum. I think it would make a great gift, too. One Minute Mysteries are a great way to start the school day, or draw the kids back into school after a lunch break.

“I liked that the stories were short. I liked reading one a day.” – Zach

There’s a section in the back of this book with 5 One Minute Mysteries You Solve With Math. A great way to preview the math mysteries.

One Minute Mysteries 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science sells on the website for $9.99. Right now, when you use coupon code 3SPEC you can purchase any 3 books on the website for $19.95 plus $2.95 shipping. That’s a $12.90 savings.

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