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Saturday 30 January 2010

Lost Generation

Make sure you listen to all of this.

Why Do You Like It?


Have you ever thought about why you like a particular TV show?
Is it because it makes you laugh? You like a certain actor in it?
I've been watching season 1 of Numb3rs, and was thinking about this as I watched the final scenes of an episode.
I like the intricacies of the plot lines, the twists in the stories, and the relationships between the brothers.
My favorite part of each episode is right at the end, where the bad guys have been caught, and the main characters seem to take a breath and talk about something unrelated to the case, or their thoughts about some aspect of how it affected them. I like that, because you have some time to wind down from the intensity of the climax before the episode finishes.
Your thoughts?

Friday 29 January 2010

2010 Reading Challenge - week 4

Well, I've been making a big dent on the books needed for my other reading challenge - in fact I could finish it within another month, well before the 31 December deadline.

As for this challenge, I read 3 books. I've been pretty busy and was away over the weekend, so that's why I didn't finish so many. Of course, one of them is actually 3 books in 1 volume, but I'll only count it as one.

So ...

  • New Mexico by Janet Lee Barton
  • The Tapestry (Alcott Legacy book 1) by MaryAnn Minatra
  • The Masterpiece (Alcott Legacy book 2) by MaryAnn Minatra

... are the ones I finished.

Currently reading:

  • The Heirloom (Alcott Legacy book 3) by MaryAnn Minatra
  • More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • Cure For the Common Life by Max Lucado
  • Don't Tell Cute Stories - Change Lives! by Mark Griffiths

Friday Fill-In #161



1. Wouldn't it be easy if God just told me plainly what He wanted me to do.
2. I think this year Good News Gang will be better than ever!
3. I love the taste of chocolate mousse.
4. I don't spend much time in the living room.
5. The first thing we're going to do is to plan.
6. Drip, drip, drip, drip; Where was that coming from - Oh, the laundry tap wasn't quite off properly.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying home after running around today, tomorrow my plans include maybe getting on with some sewing and Sunday, I want to go to church in the morning and relax in the afternoon!

Tuesday 26 January 2010

A New Use for Textas

funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Teaser Tuesdays - January 26





Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page

  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Don't Tell Cute Stories - Change Lives!' by Mark Griffiths

'Children's ministry stands at the top of the cliff with arms wide. It is about building strong children, making them secure, introducing them to a God who loves them, showing them a godly example and convincing them that they have a destiny that God set apart for them even before he began to put the universe together.'

I am involved in the children's ministry of the church that I attend. Every year I like to pick up a new book, for inspiration, to learn new skills, or just to read someone else's perspective. I am still reading this book, but right from the start is has challenged me. I started it on Friday - just as we started our planning weekend for the year ahead. It was good timing.

For those of you who have been following my blog, you may remember that I talked about not knowing the direction my life is to take next. I have realised that I am passionate about children and believe I should do something along those lines. What that role will look like, I don't know. Childcare, teaching and the medical field are not ways I want to go, so it is baffling to know what else to do. If you are a praying person, please pray that I will be open to God's leading and that He will clearly show me the path to take.

And for those of you involved in children's ministry, I highly recommend this book.

Saturday 23 January 2010

3rd Blogoversary

Yes, today is the day when I celebrate another year of blogging.


3 years and over 400 posts!!!!

I still do this just for me. I can put things on here that would never be possible in a normal scrapbook-journal - like videos and music.

I hope I can keep going for another 3 years and more.

Oh, and if you want to see what craft, cross stitch and sewing I've been doing, please visit my other blog here.

Friday 22 January 2010

2010 Reading Challenge - Week 3

Another week of reading. Some interesting ones this week. Not that the other books I've read haven't been interesting.

The 4 I finished this week are:

  • Pieces of Silver by Maureen Lang
  • Remember Me by Maureen Lang (sequel to Pieces of Silver)
  • Laura by Jo-Anne Berthelsen
  • Seaside Letters by Denise Hunter

I'm reading:

  • More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado
  • New Mexico by Janet Lee Barton (which is really 3 books)

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Comfort

funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Teaser Tuesdays - January 19





Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page

  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Cure for the Common Life: Living in Yourr Sweet Spot' by Max Lucado

' What about you? Our Maker gives assignments to people, "to each according to each one's unique ability" (Matt. 25:15). As he calls, he equips. Look back over your life. What have you consistently done well? What have you loved to do? Stand at the intersection of your affections and successes and find your uniqueness. You have one. A divine spark. An uncommon call to an uncommon life.'

Saturday 16 January 2010

2010 Reading Challenge - Week 2


Another few books add my list for this challenge this week.

4 in fact.

  • The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo
  • The Cowboy Next Door by Brenda Minton
  • Around the World in 80 Dates: Confessions of a Serial Dater by Christa Ann Banister
  • Blessed Are the Meddlers : Confessions of a Serial Matchmaker by Christa Ann Banister

My current reads include:

  • Pieces of Silver by Maureen Lang
  • Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado
  • More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Teaser Tuesdays (January 12)





Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page

  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Around the World in 80 Dates' by Christa Ann Banister

'Liam showed up at my door just when he said he would. "Why, hello, gorgeous," he said as he picked up my bulky suitcase. "You know we're only going to be gone for two days, right?"

"Yeah, but a girl's gotta have options," I replied.

"Of course. I should have known that, Syd," he said. "My apologies." '

I'm still not quite sure what I think of this book, since I'm not quite half way through. It does jump around between people a little, and I generally don't like that so much in a book. I may let you know once I've finished. And then there's a sequel to it. Hmm ...

10 on Tuesday - Best Movies You've Seen Lately



10 Best Movies You’ve Seen Lately

1. Mamma Mia! - who would have thought you'd get Pierce Brosnan singing?!

2. The Muppet Christmas Carol - it is in fact one of the best versions of this classic by Charles Dickens

3. The Awful Truth - the perfect movie for a Friday night, you just can't go past Cary Grant and Irene Dunne

4. The Christmas Card - very inspirational, but Alice Evans accent needed da bit of work

5. What The Deaf Man Heard

6. Alvin and the Chipmunks

7. Julie and Julia

8. Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

9. Adventures in Baltimore - an older Shirley Temple movie, and she just can't keep out of trouble

10. The Italian Job

Friday 8 January 2010

2010 Reading Challenge - Week 1

Ok, so my first week on this reading challenge I have read 3 books and am partway through 2 others.

I read:

  • Safer Than A Known Way by Mavis Areta Winder
  • Island Breeze by Lynn Bulock
  • Fatal Harvest by Catherine Palmer

I'm reading:

  • The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo
  • More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada (this I will be reading all year as it is a year long devotional)

Not a great start, but I'm just warming up.

Until next week, happy reading!

Friday Fill-Ins #158



1. There are places I would like to go, but not alone.
2. Wind will blow those clouds away.
3. Standing in the rain on the top of a mountian is an amazing experience.
4. Oh boy, oh boy.
5. He went out tiger hunting but didn't catch anything more than a beetle.
6. Lord, please keep my mind from wandering where it should not go.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home watching episodes of The West Wing season 6 and spending some time on Facebook, tomorrow my plans include gettin on with some projects I have planned and trying to keep cool and Sunday, I want to enjoy the fellowship at church and do something with family and/or friends!

Monday 4 January 2010

2010 Reading Challenges

I found a couple of different reading challenges on sites that I follow, and have decided to join in this year.

Firstly there is 2010 Reading Challenge at Writing for Christ.


Here are the details:

Starting January 1st and running through December 31st of 2010 I challenge you to read as many books as possible. Every Friday of the new year I will post on my progress and this will be your chance to leave a comment documenting your progress.

The Rules: (it's simple I promise)
~Only CHRISTIAN books count
~Only books started on January 1st count
~This is not a genre specific contest, read whatever genre you love!
~Every Friday on my blog, post how you are doing and I'll keep a running tally on a side bar
~Tell others on your blog about this- let's get the challenge out for others to know about! You might even win a book here that you can read for this challenge! :)

Think you can read a book every week- that's 52 books in year. Think you can do more than that? I'm shooting for 160 books- think I can make it? 2010 Reading Challenge here we come!


I'm joining Ausjenny on this one. Make sure you have a look to see what she is planning too!

The second challenge I'm joining will also have books included in the 160 I plan above.

This is the 1st Annual Christian Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.




1. The goal is to read and promote Christian Historical Fiction by reading at least 24 titles. That is two per month, but anyone who wants to commit to more or less is welcome to join in on the fun. Anyone can join. You do not need a blog to participate.


2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, and other formats are all allowed. As long as the book can by purchased it counts.

3. Feel free to list a proposed lists of TBR (to-be-reads) but you can also list them as you go.

4. Duplicates from other reading challenges can also count.

5. Challenge begins January 3rd through December 31st. Books started before count. *wink*


I'm joining Margaret on this one.



And the first book on my list is The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo.



Since Christian Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, I'm sure to read more than 24 for the year.

So here I go with my reading! I may just need to get my eyes tested at the end of the year, but I'm sure to have a good time along the way.

Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year!!!

Happy 2010.

Yes, it is the new year. I can hear fireworks going off as I type this.

You might think I'm having a boring 'celebration'. I'm listening to Glenn Miller, doing things on Facebook, and have been watching season 4 of The West Wing. That's all on top of celebrating my Dad's birthday, watching God's fireworks (lightning), and enjoying the smell of rain.

But that suits me just fine. We don't make a big deal of the new year in my family. It's just a marker of the passing of time.

But as I think of what the future will be I have to wonder, what would you (or I) do if we got a glimpse of what would happen in this new year now? Would you freak out, be pleased, be scared ...
I don't know what I would do, I think it would depend on what I saw.

Right now I'm looking for direction as to what I should be doing with my life. Starting a new year when you have no idea what you should be doing is scary. I don't want to waste this year. I want my life to count for something. I want to give myself over to God's leading.

I don't say that lightly. I really do want to do exactly what God wants me to. And that thought is scary too. I don't know what He has planned. All I know is that I'm not happy with some areas of my life and I want that to change.

I'm trusting God to do what's best in my life. Yes, some days this year I will struggle with this.

There's a poem that keeps coming to mind - or at least part of it. Hmm ... how did it go and where did I read it? Oh, now I remember, it was a quote used in Mavis Areta Winder's book 'Safe Than A Known Way'

"And I said to the man who stood at the Gate of Year:
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown'.
" And He replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the hand of God. That shall be to thee better than light and safer than a known way'."
~ M. Louise Haskins