I Am Blessed!

The county fair officially ended this past Sunday evening and I’m just now starting to get my energy back. Three days of standing, walking, and many consecutive hours working at the Pancake Feed on concrete floors made my legs a little tired. I was a bit stressed the week before fair, tired during it, and exhausted afterwards. Despite all those things, the fair was also rewarding -- lessons were learned, hopes were fulfilled, and joys were shared. Overall, we had a great time. Blessings abounded!

This year, as my daughter participated in consultation judging in two of her events, I found a corner and parked my lawn chair in it. I sat down, prayed, and began to write. By the time about an hour-and-a-half to two hours had passed, I‘d written a little over 2,000 words. I have to say … it felt soooooo good! Life has been busy this summer (actually, my life is always busy) and to add county fair preparations to it made it downright hectic. So, it felt so nice to slow down for a little while and get some writing on my book accomplished.

Earlier in the month, I attended the July meeting of my local ACFW group. Afterwards, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, and inspired to get moving on the changes that my book needs. We have an awesome group that I am so honored and blessed to be a part of – and I am so grateful. Thanks to all of you and for the awesome brainstorming session. You are amazing – in so many ways. I’m so thankful that God has placed you in my life.

I am in awe of the Lord’s blessings in my life – heaped up, pushed down, and overflowing. There are too many to name here today; maybe I’ll blog about some of them individually in the future. But a particular blessing is the people that God has placed in my life during this writing journey. There are too many to name individually in this blog post, but I hope you know who you are. Each of you has unique, amazing gifts, and I’ve been so blessed to be able to glean from your wisdom, willingness to share, and your prayers with and for me. The friendships I’ve made are precious gifts that I will treasure forever. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As I continue on this wonderful writing journey with renewed zest and excitement, I hope you’ll join me as I blog about it, share what God is doing in my life, and of course, review books. I am a lover of words. I love to write them and I love to read them. So, don’t worry, I’ll still be sharing with you and reviewing the wonderful books that I have the privilege of reading. And for those of you who are interested in home education – don’t miss my reviews of homeschooling curriculum and resources.

They say that the older you get, the faster time flies. Hmmm. The summer has zoomed by at breakneck speed this year. And although by the calendar, there’s still nearly two months of summer left, only a couple of weeks or so remain of official summer break from school. I’m ready for the new adventures and blessings that God has in store for me and my family.

I love to hear from the readers of my blog. What are some of the blessings and/or amazing things God has been doing in your life?

Blessings,
Susan

And the winner of SEEDS OF SUMMER is....

..... Pam!  Congratulations!  How kind of you to give your won copy to a member of your book club.  Maybe your whole club can read and discuss it.   Thanks for stopping by my blog.  I hope you'll come back again soon!

Happy Reading!
Susan  

Homeschool Crew Review of TRAVEL KITS

Check it out at TOS's SchoolHouse Store

Vendor: © 2010 The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC


P.O. Box 8426, Gray, TN 37615©

1-888-718-HOME

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/

Item Details:
Price - $12.45
Number of Pages: 93
Age Range: All Ages
Where to Buy: You’ll find this and other great products and resources from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/

Read what other fellow TOS Homeschool Crew members think about Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others at www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew .


My Review:

Suitcases packed? Check. Car loaded? Check. Smiles are in place as you pull of out the driveway? Check. As you get on the highway, excitement abounds and someone hollers ROAD TRIP! Smiles stretch even wider. The exuberance and excitement just slightly begin to wane about 20 miles down the road as you hear for the first time, “How long before we get there?”

Have no fear, Travel Kits are here! Donna Rees’ e-book entitled Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others is packed full of delightful ideas of how to bless your children and family with a travel kit assembled especially for them with love. Donna covers details from theme ideas for kits, what to include, where to purchase items, how to wrap them, distribute them, and the list goes on.

My daughter is going to be starting high school this fall, and this e-book brought back memories of when I used to make homemade activity sheets to occupy her time as we were on the road. I created car bingo where she marked off road signs as she spotted them, I drew maps for her to mark off our route as we traveled -- ending with a big star at the end when we arrived at our destination. I even printed a copy of the United States so that she could color the states as we traveled through them and tally the number of license plates we saw from each state. She loved it! She still has fond memories of those times. Travel kits take this idea a step further.

But do not be disillusioned that this book is only for making "travel kits" for the extremely young. Oh contraire! Travel Kits are for anyone of any age. Even Mom and Dad can be included, and should be. Their only treat shouldn’t just be the quiet as the kids are involved with their own treasures.

The author suggests books to be included as well. Books could be used while in route or during some relax time at the destination location. And what homeschooler doesn’t love books? If your budget allows, you may purchase books, but she also suggests using library books to keep the budget down. I can see how the library book idea could possibly be problematic, especially if you’re making the kit for a family other than your own. That’s one extra thing they have to worry about – keeping track of the book on their trip and returning it to you or the library. If the children are really young, they might not understand that they have to give the book back. But if you can make borrowing them from the library work for you or afford to purchase them, books are a fabulous idea for those of you who don’t get car sick. And if there’s at least one in the car that doesn’t get motion sickness, it’d be a great time for a read-aloud.

You can also use this idea for blessing others if they’re heading to camp, college, or a mission trip. Just adjust what you put in the kit, basket, box, or bag to be age appropriate, meet their preferences, and what they can use on their particular adventure. You can use Donna’s exact ideas or tweak them to fit your specifc needs. Or even come up with your own ideas – but this publication is a great place to start your new ministry of Travel Kits, Blessing Baskets -- whatever you want to call them. Frankly, I can even see these creations making wonderful birthday or hostess gifts. Who wouldn’t enjoy receiving several small, individually- wrapped gifts in a container that is a gift in itself – no matter the occasion?

This book can be used in two different ways. When my family used this publication, it was read through from front to back. In doing so, I recognized some information is repeated. However, once you’ve read it and later want a few fresh ideas, while a bit repetitive, having the information shared in the way it is, makes it a handy reference guide as well – providing information in different places applicable to those chapters.

My daughter and I are going to have fun creating a travel kit for our next get-away. I’m always going to love field trips, and a full-fledged road trip is even better. And I don’t know about you, but the shopping and the assembly is going to be half the fun. My daughter and I are already planning our first travel kit to bless someone.

So whether you’re looking for a way to treat others who are planning a trip, trying to keep your own children from the abyss of boredom on the road, or wanting to gift someone who has a special event in their life -- Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others will get you started on a wonderful ministry, not only for your family, but for others as well.

Disclosure/disclaimer statement, as required by the FCC:
I have been given this product free-of-charge in order to write a review. I have used this product in my home, and comments and thoughts within this review are solely my own, based on my personal experience with the product. Any products reviewed by me as a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew have been provided to me absolutely free-of-charge in order that I will provide an honest and sincere review of said products, stating my opinion of it, and as to how we used the product within our family and home. I receive no other form of compensation for said reviews written and posted on this blog.

Join Me for a Chat with Deborah Vogts!

Good morning, everyone! I’m so excited! Deborah Vogts has stopped by to chat with us today. So, grab your beverage of choice, get comfy, and enjoy. Let’s get to know Deborah a little better.

Susan: Deborah, would you like to start out by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Deb: My husband and I have three daughters and live in Southeast Kansas. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, I developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, I hope to share my passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

Susan: I grew up at the edge of the Flint Hills.  It is beautiful! 
What is one thing you love to do other than the obvious things of reading and writing?

Deb: I like to take walks with our two golden retrievers or dig in the dirt in my flower beds or garden. I also enjoy playing the piano, baking something, sewing or scrapbooking!

Susan:  I think it's great that you're a gardener.  I'm ... uh .... horticulturally challenged, you might say. 
You have a fantastic smile, Deborah, and I know you have a wonderful sense of humor. Can you share with us one quality you look for in friends and what quality do you hope others see in you?

Deb: Thanks, Susan. That’s a great question, and honestly, one I’ve never given much thought to. I think you know when you have a connection with someone—or at least that’s the way it seems when I meet a good friend. But if I had to put a definition on it, I guess I’d say someone who is genuine and caring of others. I hope others see in me the same as what I seek—a genuine and compassionate human being.

Susan: That's really nice, Deb.  I agree whole heartedly.  Do you have a project you’re working on after Blades of Autumn releases in Summer 2010?

Deb: I'm hoping for a contract on the fourth book of the Seasons of the Tallgrass, but if that doesn't come through, then I'd like to return to a project I have about a Dad and his four daughters. The blurb goes something like this: He wanted sons but God gave him daughters and a gift with horses . .

Susan: Oooooh!  I'd love to read another book in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, but that last one sounds really good too.  Are there any book tours, signings, or other events that you’ve got coming up that you’d like to share with us?

Deb: My next book signing is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 at Bradley Fair Barnes & Noble in Wichita from 2-5 PM. I’ll be joining several other Christian authors that day so it should be a lot of fun. I’m hoping to get to the Topeka area this fall.

Susan: I hope you get to the Topeka area this fall too!  Deb, it’s been a pleasure having you stop by at my blog and I’ve really enjoyed our chat. You’re always welcome as it’s an honor to have you as my guest.


REMINDER TO READERS: If you haven’t checked them out yet, on Monday, Deb shared a guest post about her Seasons of the Tallgrass series. Yesterday, I posted my review of her second book, Seeds of Summer, and she’s graciously agreed to do a book give-away. So don’t forget to leave a comment on any of my three posts this week regarding Deborah or her books for a chance to win a copy of Seeds of Summer. Visit Tuesday’s post for the particulars of the book give-away.

And the winner of KATY'S DEBATE is .....

.... Rhonda!  Congratulations!   Emily is sending out her influencer copy to you and she hopes you enjoy it as much as she did!

Happy Reading!
Susian

Book Review and Give-Away: SEEDS OF SUMMER by Deborah Vogts

Seeds of Summer

by Deborah Vogts

Publisher: Zondervan

ISBN: 978-0-310-29276-0 (pbk.)

Copyright: 2010

Check out your local bookstore or go online at:

Christian Book

Amazon

It seems that none of Natalie Adams’s hopes and dreams are working out for her these days. Just when she seems to have adjusted to her disappointment and sets new goals with a return to college, her father dies unexpectedly. Not only is she devastated, she has the sole responsibility of raising her half-brother and half-sister. She’s had to abandon yet another dream to make a go of her father’s ranch. Just when she thinks the burden of running a ranch can’t get any heavier, her step-mother, long believed to be dead, shows up suddenly wanting a relationship with her brother and sister. Is her step-mother sincere? Will Natalie be able to handle this burden on top of everything else with the ranch? She is a strong-willed and independent young woman and finds it difficult to lean on anyone else for help, including God. When the new pastor in town seems to have made her family his latest mission project, will she be able to accept the help from a man of God – the very same God that, in her eyes, abandoned her years ago?

Pastor Jared Logan, the newly ordained minister with a heart for God and serving others, comes to town and finds himself wanting to help Natalie and her family. While he struggles with his congregation’s resistance to change, he finds himself entrenched in the Adams family’s struggles. Despite being a city boy, he pitches in valiantly as he draws on the memories and skills taught him by his grandfather during summers spent with him on his farm. Jared has struggles of his own as he finds himself having feelings for Natalie. Can he protect his heart from a woman who has no room in her life for God? He has decisions to make. Has God really called him to the ministry?

Many times in our lives, circumstances seem unfair and our burdens too heavy to carry. But God never gives us more than we can handle as we lean on Him for guidance and strength. This poignant story portrays the lives of those who grieve, struggle, and question the circumstances of their lives. Deborah has shared with us a wonderful story of love, forgiveness, redemption, and faith. I enjoyed this book and found myself not wanting it to end. I’ll be marking my calendar, and I hope you will as well for the release of her third book in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, Blades of Autumn, to be released in the summer of 2011. And be sure and check out her first book in the series, Snow Melts in Spring, if you haven’t read that yet. You can find out more about Deborah at her website here or at her Country at Heart blog here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded.

Please feel free to stop and chat with Deborah -- via comments -- as she'll be stopping by a few times this week to check in and answer any questions you might have about her book and writing.

BOOK GIVE-AWAY:

By leaving a comment, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of SEEDS OF SUMMER, compliments of Deborah. If you're a follower, your comment will get you two entries for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com . Drawing to be held on Monday, 26th!

Happy reading, everyone .... and let's chat!

Disclaimer: The winner's prize will be shipped by the author. Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. 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.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html .

Guest Post by Deborah Vogts -- Seasons of the Tallgrass Series

Journey to the Seasons of the Tallgrass by Deborah Vogts

In April 2008, I received “the phone call” from my agent, Rachelle Gardner, that Zondervan had made an offer on the Seasons of the Tallgrass, a contemporary romance series set in the Flint Hills of Kansas—a place I dearly love. My long-held dream had finally arrived—my prayers had been answered. But the story didn’t begin there…it began many years ago when I attended Emporia State University and took a summer course called Flint Hills Folklore.

Along with classroom study, we took field trips into the heart of the Flint Hills and visited with old-time ranchers, schoolmarms and post-mistresses. It was such a delightful experience, especially our drives into the pastures. We would get on these back roads and drive over pasture guards into the open range. We would travel for miles without seeing another car or even an electric line—just pure, native prairie. That summer, I fell in love with the Flint Hills and it has stayed with me all this time, finally culminating in the contemporary romance series, the Seasons of the Tallgrass.


My first book, Snow Melts in Spring, begins when a horse is terribly injured. Right off, I had to know technical terminology and had to create a scene that was accurate and believable. To get it right, I contacted a handful of veterinarians, asked them a bunch of detailed questions all the way down to possible accident scenarios, which would create the type of injuries required for the story. I even shadowed one small animal vet for a day in order to get a feel for what a "day in the life" might look like for my character who was also a vet.

My hero in this book is an NFL quarterback, so I also had to know something about football. For this research, I went to the children's section of the library and checked out an armload of books. I also watched a lot of football games on television and asked my football-loving friends and family hundreds of questions--all so I could write two or three scenes with authenticity.

On one of my many road trips into the Flint Hills, my husband and I stayed at the Clover Cliff Ranch, a Bed & Breakfast owned by Jim & Joan Donahue. This place became the basis for the McCray's Lightning M Ranch.

For Seeds of Summer, which released the end of May, I learned about the Miss Rodeo America competition because my main character, Natalie Adams is a former Miss Rodeo Kansas and first runner up Miss Rodeo America. My research for this story included visiting with those at the Miss Rodeo America headquarters, as well as interviewing and questioning the current MRA at that time, Miss Amy Wilson, Miss Rodeo America 2008.

The highlight of this research occurred when I met and visited Amy at her home in Colby, KS. Amy was a joy to work with and is such a lovely person. My visit to her home was an unexpected blessing, as she shared some special moments from her time as Miss Rodeo Kansas and then as Miss Rodeo America.

I learned that Miss Rodeo America has a host of sponsors who shower their queen with lovely gifts, some of which include: a wardrobe of Wrangler Jeans, Justin Boots, Bailey Hats, fully tooled Court’s Saddle with custom Miss Rodeo America conchos and an official Miss Rodeo America trophy buckle from Montana Silversmiths. Accompanying the perpetual Miss Rodeo America tiara made by Landstrom’s Original Black Hills Gold Creations, Amy was given a wardrobe of matching jewelry. These items, along with other prizes were presented to her throughout her reign. To see some pictures of these items, please visit my blog post HERE: http://deborahvogts.blogspot.com/2009/07/visit-with-miss-rodeo-america-2008-amy.html

Seeds of Summer Book Blurb: When opposites attract, sparks fly--like an electrical malfunction. That's what happens when former rodeo queen Natalie Adams meets the new pastor in Diamond Falls. A heart-warming contemporary romance set in the Flint Hills of Kansas where a former rodeo queen abandons her dreams in order to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two half-siblings, only to realize with the help of a young new pastor that God can turn even the most dire circumstances into seeds of hope. Spanning the Seasons of the Tallgrass, each story in this series reveals the struggle of the people who live there and the dreams they have for the land until they come full-circle in a never-ending cycle, just as man comes full-circle in his understanding of God.

Author Bio: Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

Visit Deborah at her web site: http://deborahvogts.com/
Or her Country at Heart blog: http://deborahvogts.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogger Reviews KATY'S DEBATE by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Katy's Debate

Book 2, Katy Lambright Series

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Teen Fiction (Mennonite Life)

Zondervan Publishing

ISBN 978-0-310-71923-6 (softcover)

Copyright 2010

Review by Guest Blogger --
My daughter, Emily. 

She just graduated from the 8th grade. 

Thanks for the review, Emily! 

Just as life settles down and Katy joins the debate team, her world gets turned upside down. Can Katy balance life, school, and family troubles?

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

Katy’s life at school gets interesting as she joins the debate team. She believes that if only she would be given the chance to compete, she can be as good as anyone on the team. But when her big chance finally arrives, can she do as well as she has dreamed or will her nerves get in the way?

At home, life becomes complicated when Katy’s dad starts courting a woman. Katy feels she’s old enough to handle her own household. More importantly, she doesn’t need a new mother. She believes she and her dad are doing just fine on their own, and she schemes to send the woman packing. Despite the fact that everyone, including her best friend, believes that her dad’s courtship is a good thing, Katy does her best to convince him he doesn’t need a wife. Her worst nightmare comes true when the woman accepts her father’s proposal. Is it too late to convince him to her way of thinking? Katy refuses to give up her efforts to curtail his future marriage.

Meanwhile, Katy is dealing with her growing feelings for a boy at school that she knows her father will never accept. Can Katy balance school and the Mennonite life she has grown up in? Will she destroy the relationships of those she loves?

This is the second book in the Katy Lambright Series. I really enjoyed it and I look forward to the next book in this series, Katy’s Homecoming, releasing in February 2011! 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 
Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a best-selling, award-winning author and inspirational speaker. She makes her home in Kansas with her husband. Please visit Kim’s Katy Lambright Series website here.  You can also visit Kim at her main website. 

BOOK GIVE-AWAY!

By leaving a comment on this review post, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of Katy's Debate.    If you're a follower of my mom's blog, your comment will get you two entires for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so we can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com . Drawing to be held on Wednesday, July 21st!

I hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
~~Emily

Disclaimer: The winner's prize will be shipped by the author. Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. 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.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html .

And the winner of LOVE ON A DIME is.....

.....Crystal!  Congratulations!  You're going to really enjoy this book! 

Thanks, Cara, for a copy of your book for the give-away!  Blessings on your writing!
We all anxiously awaiting your next release!

Happy Reading!
Susan

LOVE ON A DIME Review & Book Give-Away

Love on a Dime

A Ladies of Summerhill Novel

by Cara Lynn James

Thomas Nelson Publishing

ISBN  978-1-59554-679-1 (pbk).

Copyright 2010

Check out your local bookstore or

purchase online at:

Christian Book

Amazon

In Newport, Rhode Island, in 1899, proper young ladies in wealthy society were ladies of leisure. They did not work, and they most certainly did not write dime novels. Lilly Westbrook has more worries than deciding which tea or ball to attend. The young man who is about to propose to her has opened up doors to the social elite increasing her family’s social status; and although Lilly doesn’t particularly care about mingling with society, her family does. If anyone finds out she writes dime novels under the nom de plume Fannie Cole, her family will be shunned from society and perhaps even face financial ruin. So, she must continue to write in secret, pretending to pen poetry as her excuse of staying holed up in her room for hours at a time.

Just when she finds herself getting over the heartbreak of her long-lost beau, Jackson Grail, and finally courting a suitable man for marriage, she finds Jackson as a summer houseguest once again. He’s recently purchased the company who publishes her novels. Can she protect her secret identity and her heart? Jackson still stirs up feelings she thought she’d put behind her. Which man will truly sacrifice everything to win her heart?

Jackson Grail regrets the decisions he made years earlier. He was a coward. He’s done well for himself and now he’s back to try and make things right. He suspects Lilly knows the true identity of the elusive Miss Fannie Cole. Why is she adamant about not helping him find her? Will he be able to convince Lilly that she can trust him again?

This book has a few twists and turns that one might not expect. Ms. James has made the secondary characters quite interesting and they support the main story nicely. This was Ms. James’ debut novel. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to her others in this Ladies of Summerhill series.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cara Lynn James is a debut novelist who has won numerous contest awards from Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband reside in Florida. You can find out more about Cara at http://www.caralynnjames.com/ .  Her next novel Love on Assignment will be available in January, 2011. 

BOOK GIVE-AWAY! 

 Please feel free to stop and chat with Cara -- via comments -- as she'll be stopping by a few times this week to check in and answer any questions you might have about her book(s) and writing. By leaving a comment, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of Love on a Dime, compliments of Cara.  If you're a follower of my blog, your comment will get you two entires for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com . Drawing to be held on Monday, July 12th!  

Happy reading, everyone .... and let's chat!

Susan

Disclaimer: The winner's prize will be shipped by the author. Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. 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.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html .

And the winners of KLONDIKE HERO are......

Patti and Kathy!  Congratulations, ladies!  You're going to enjoy this book! 

Jillian -- thanks so much for your gracious gift of two copies of your book.  

Happy Reading!

Susan