Monday, September 27, 2010

And the winner is...

Chosen by Random.org :
#5
Jim said...
pick me! pick me! pick me!! ;) ... this is Michelle :D

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Walk for Midwives

This weekend, families from across Alabama will walk in seven cities to raise awareness and funds to support the Alabama Birth Coalition's campaign to legalize Certified Professional Midwives. Remember, Certified Professional Midwives are specifically trained to provide out-of-hospital maternity care. Studies prove that for women experiencing normal, low-risk pregnancies, giving birth out of a hospital attended by a Certified Professional Midwife is just as safe as giving birth in a hospital.  Alabama is one of only 9 states that specifically prohibit midwives, and the Alabama Birth Coalition is working diligently to remove our state from that list!

Walks are planned in multiple cities across the state, including Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Dothan, and Cullman.  Please plan to attend one close to you!  If, however, you are unable to attend, consider visiting our website and donating.  The Alabama Birth Coalition is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization. We rely on the generous donations of our supporters to maintain all of our local and statewide initiatives. Your contributions are vital to our work.

We would also like to take this time to thank our amazing sponsors, without whom none of these events would be possible.  Please take time to look over the list and then patronize these midwife-loving businesses.

 We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

*Wish I could take credit for this great message - but this post was taken from the Alabama Birth Coalition email, go to www.alabamabirthcoalition.org to sign up and get updates on what we're doing!*

Birmingham Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
Breakfast at 8 a.m. and Walk at 9:15 a.m.
ROJO (2921 Highland Avenue South)

Cullman Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
9 a.m.
Sportsman Lake Park (1544 Sportsman Lake Rd NW - Hwy 31 S)

Dothan Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
9 a.m.
Kiwanis Park (1715 Whatley Drive)

Huntsville Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
11:15 a.m.
NEWK'S Express Cafe (4925 University Drive Northwest)

Mobile Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
9:30 a.m.
Cathedral Square (Claiborne Street at Conti Street)

Montgomery Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
9 a.m.
Vaughn Road Park (3620 Vaughn Road)

Tuscaloosa Walk for Midwives
Saturday, September 25th
10 a.m.
First Christian Church (627 Paul W. Bryant Dr.)

Monday, September 20, 2010

the Secret book review

I just finished reading the Secret by Beverly Lewis! Now, while Deeanne Gist is my favorite author for romance and fun reads, Beverly Lewis is my favorite when I want a sweet and fulfilling story. She is a wonderful author, who was born in the Pennsylvania Dutch country and writes beautiful Amish fiction, usually drawing from real experiences and stories from her family. This is the first in one of her latest series, Seasons of Grace.
It was a heart wrenching tale of Grace Byler and her family. Grace's mother, Lettie, seems to have a secret, and is having a horrible time dealing with it. Grace herself, is praying that she's making the right decision with her beau, so that she doesn't end up a maidel (old maid). Beverly does a beautiful job (as always) of letting you enter the hearts and lives of her characters on the journey they travel.  This book is quite different from her other series, it's much darker, almost depressing at times. But still so very sweet and real. I am anxious to read the others, to see how this story plays out.  I would still recommend this book to fans of Beverly Lewis, but be forewarned, it is not like her others!


"The loving hand of God is at work in even the most unsettling circumstances...
In the seemingly ordinary Amish home of Grace Byler, secrets abound. Why does her mother weep and wander deep in the night? And why does her father refuse to admit something is dreadfully wrong? Then, in one startling moment, the quiet life Grace has known is irrevocably altered, leaving her to question all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment."




*I received this book from Bethany House Publisher's book review program in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Saturday, September 18, 2010

A Sad Day

Well, today started off on a sad note. Our cat, Thumbelina died. We hadn't seen her in a couple of days, so I had a feeling that something might of happened, then my husband found her. It was quite traumatizing for all of us. Especially E, our three year old. He doesn't quite understand death yet, but he knows that she's not coming back. He cried every time he thought about her this morning. As the day went on, he got better, thankfully. And I know that it won't affect him for long, since he's so young. But it was still harder than I thought, having to tell him.
She was a great cat, really. I found her at a shelter when Leo and I first got married. I had always had an allergy to cats; but for some reason, when we moved, it went away. And he loved cats. So it was the perfect first Christmas present! I went to the shelter with a friend of mine, and I sat down in front of the cages with the kittens. She (Thumbelina) was the only one who came over to the side and tried to play with me. I knew right away that she was the one! I mean, if I'm getting a pet, I want to know I have a pet!  She was really pitiful - she was blind in one eye, had chronic respiratory problems and had thumbs on each front paw (hence the name!).  She was the only kitten who had survived her litter, and so had been put with a litter of puppies.
She really thought she was a dog. We brought her home and she learned to come when we called her name. She would sit at the door and wait when Leo came home from work. She was a great cat!
After Lydia was born, Thumbelina started getting restless, so we chose to let her live outside. She enjoyed the freedom and would still come to the door when she wanted attention. Ethan loved playing with her - she's always been "his" cat!
We knew when she went outside, that it was possible for something to happen, but it was still heartbreaking.
Sigh...

The first of many emotional issues we'll deal with as the children grow up, I know.  Ethan already decided he wants another cat. A baby kitten that he can hold. We'll see.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tag Along Tuesday

Tuesday Tag-Along

It's Tag Along Tuesday! I'm trying a little something different to make new friends :) Follow along with Twee Poppets and find all kinds of new blogs to visit! See her site to find all the rules, but in short - follow the host, the featured blog and at least the 3 before you. Let's see how many new blogs you find to visit this week!
 

Monday, September 13, 2010

Beguiled Giveaway

Do you remember my review of Beguiled? You can find it here, if you need to refresh your memory :).
I really enjoyed this book! It was one of the best I've read in a while. So, I thought I needed to share with you as well!
I will be giving away a copy of Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand, courtesy of Bethany House Publishers!

All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post, telling me your latest favorite book. No real reason, I'm just curious. :) If you can't think of one, that's fine, just leave a comment saying hi!

For additional entries:
Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know.
Facebook, Tweet or Blog about this give away and let me know.

There ya go, three ways to enter!
I will close the giveaway at 6pm on September 27th.
A winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 24 hours to get back to me or I'll select another winner.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Widow of Larkspur Inn

The Widow of Larkspur Inn is the first book in the Gresham Chronicles, a series of books by Lawana Blackwell.  Set in Gresham, England in the mid-late 1800s, it's a sweet and charming story of Julia Hollis and her family. Three weeks after her husband passes away, Julia learns that he gambled away their fortune. As the bankers arrive to foreclose on her home, they leave her with one bleak hope. The Larkspur Inn, a property that belonged to her late husband's family, is still available. At the suggestion of her butler, Julia moves her family out to the country to start a lodging house. Learning to start her life over and begin anew brings many changes to Julia and her three children.
 Per the back of the book:
When life seemed it's worst, Gresham awaited.
Julia Hollis's opulent life in Victorian London crashes to pieces when her husband passes away. Worse, she is told by his bankers that he gambled away their fortune. Now the family's hope rests on The Larkspur, an old abandoned coaching inn in the quaint village of Gresham. 
Driven by dread and her desire to provide for her children, Julia  decides to turn the dilapidated inn into a lodging house. But can she-who was accustomed to servants attending to every need-do what needs to be done and cope when boarders begin arriving? And then an eligible new vicar moves into town...

It was such a sweet story, flowing quite smoothly as you get to know the Hollis' and the six lodgers that soon become family. I look forward to reading the other books in this series!

*I received this book courtesy of Bethany House Publisher's book review program. All opinions are my own.*

The Boy Who Changed the World

I'm a little late in this review, but here it is!

I recently received The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews. It's a delightful children's story about how every little thing we do makes a difference. Every choice we make, good or bad, has a consequence. Andy addresses the Butterfly Effect in a charming and effective way for all ages to understand. My three year old and one year old loved it! Lydia really enjoyed finding the butterflies throughout the story and Ethan found the stories quite engaging.

Andy starts with the story of a young boy, Norman Borlaug, who grew up with a desire to feed people who were hungry. But was he the one who changed the world?
Maybe it was a boy named Henry Wallace, who grew up wanting to use his knowledge of plants to make a difference. Did he changed the world?
It could have been a boy named George Washington Carver. He grew up with a love for helping others, and became a wise teacher and inventor. Was he the one who changed the world?
The final story is of Moses Carver, who grew up caring for his friends and family. And one decision he made set off the ripple leading up to each of the other stories.
Along with Philip Hurst's lovely illustrations, Andy Andrews does a great job of showing children that every choice we make will affect someone else's life.

*I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze book review program. All opinions are my own.*