REVIEW: “Capital Gaines” by Chip Gaines

Attention, book blog universe! I have returned. A lot has changed since my last entry. My husband and I both have new jobs and have moved from a small town in Southeast Iowa to the bustling metropolis of Des Moines, our state's capital city. We're pretty much settled in our new home, and my thoughts …

End of year book survey

Happy New Year's Eve! To wrap up 2016, I've filled out this year-end book survey I first discovered at Stephanie's Book Reviews. It is hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner. Number of books you read: 46 Number of re-reads: 1 Genre you read the most from: Historical fiction 1. Best book you read in 2016? …

The Jingle Bell Book Tag

I wasn't tagged in this one, but it looks like fun so I'm doing it anyway! Props to the creator, Richard @ The Humpo Show. "All I Want for Christmas is You" ... What book do you want to see under the Christmas tree? Honestly, I hesitate to name any one book ... there are just …

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-me authors in 2016

This week's Top Ten Tuesday focuses on authors whose work I've read for the first time this year. As is often the case, my list is in no particular order. Please click on the book covers for reviews and/or synopses, and on the authors' names to learn more about them. Kathleen Grissom I read both of …

Three years and counting

Three years ago this morning, I woke up in a haze. Mom and I packed up the car and set out for a Western Illinois winery, where in a matter of hours, life as I had known it for nearly 28 years was about to change. (photos by Emma Wroughton) After months of planning, I was …

My review of “Second Forgetting: Remembering the Power of the Gospel during Alzheimer’s Disease”

This is an excellent resource that is scientifically- and biblically-based. It is written not only for Alzheimer's/dementia patients and their caregivers, but also for the church as it issues a challenge to minister on a deeper level to those in the body of Christ who are struggling with degenerative neurological conditions. Every believer can gain …

Week in review – Oct. 22, 2016

Another week is almost in the books. This past week, I didn't read as much as I'd have liked BECAUSE NLCS PLAYOFFS. Go, Cubs, go. Jared and I are nervously awaiting tonight's Game 6. You can read my husband's thoughts on the playoffs here - he is a lifelong Cubs fan and knows his stuff. (I just …

Writer Meme Monday: You should be writing

In yesterday's post I slipped in a rather bold declaration: Yes, I plan to write a book. Now I just need to start it. See, I have this bad habit of saying I'm going to do something, and then not doing it. Or I'll start something, and I won't finish it. But I'm telling myself …

Angel at my door: ‘Rabbit trail’ thoughts

My mind has a tendency to follow rabbit trails. Sometimes, like this morning, that's a positive thing. For those of you who may not have picked up on it yet, my faith in Jesus Christ is very important to me. I've been following Him since I was 13 years old, but like any believer I …