The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson (book review)

 

The Miner's Lady (Land of Shining Water, No. 3)

From the back cover:

When Chantel Panetta's younger sister claims to be in love with Orlando Calarco, Chantel knows there is no hope. The Panettas and Calarcos have been sworn enemies for decades, and young love cannot heal the deep wounds between the two iron-mining families. Yet, unable to resist Isabella's pleas, Chantel agrees to help her sister spend time with Orlando...only to have a run-in with Dante, Orlando's brother.

Chantel can't deny the attraction that flares when she's with Dante. But when a tragedy occurs at the mine, is there any hope that the hatred that has simmered between these two families might be resolved? Or will Chantel and Isabella's hope for love be buried amidst decades of misunderstanding?

My thoughts:

Having read a number of other novels by Tracie Peterson and enjoying them, I was looking forward to reading The Miner's Lady. However, I was very disappointed in the story.

The concept seemed good, however, I felt that the development of the story line lacked a lot! I felt that the story started out very slowly and was very hard to become engaged with. I really never felt like I could relate to any of the main characters and did not feel that they were fully developed. I felt that the tension that Ms. Peterson was trying to show between the families was really non-existent and fake.

It took me a little over 2 weeks to read this book from beginning to end. Normally I will read a book like this over the course of 2-3 days. I just did not like this book. I never felt into the story, which was a shame because I have previously enjoyed Ms. Peterson's works.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Apple picking with the kids

Last Sunday, Bill and I decided to that we needed to do a family activity, as life has been crazy busy and we just haven't been able to do something fun with the whole family in a while with no schedule and no worries. So we decided to go apple picking.

We packed the kids up and headed to an orchard about 20 minutes away from our house. We are so blessed that we live within driving distance of some great u-pick farms and orchards.

I wasn't sure how the boys would like apple picking, but knew that Rebecca would like it. Well the boys LOVED it!

We picked apples that I knew that we would eat...red delicious and golden delicious apples!

We took advantage of the great weather and got some cute photos too!

Benjamin was hilarious. I took him out of his stroller and showed him how to grab apples off the tree. Well he burst out laughing every time we plopped one off the tree and then handed it to him. He thought that was the greatest thing in the world!

Overall it was a great family day! And I enjoyed the time I got to spend with my hubby as well!

We ended up picking just shy of 30 pounds of apples! We have eaten a few. I am attempting to make crockpot applesauce today, and I have plans to make at least 2 pies with some of the apples as well!

Do you pick apples? What is your favorite thing to do with apples?

A Simple Change-- (book review)

Simple Change, A (Home to Amana)

From the back cover:

She never imagined a simple change could be so complicated...

Middle Amana, Iowa, 1881

When her parents decide to sell their home and move to the Amana Colonies, Jancey Rhoder must make a difficult decision. Should she give up her beloved teaching job and her carefree life in Kansas City to go with them?

Her suitor, Nathan Woodward, doesn't want her to go, but Jancey feels she must give this new life a try. Her mother is sick, and these next few months may be the last Jancey gets to spend with her. But will this move spell the end of her relationship with Nathan? And when life in Amana is far more mysterious and challenging than Jancey expected, will she choose to return to the city, or will she make this unique place her forever home?

My thoughts:

Could you adjust to living within a community with strict rules and a certain way of doing things after living in a community that is radically different and free? That was what Jancey had to do in order to care for her ill mother in Judith Miller's book A Simple Change. Jancey is disenchanted with some things in her regular life and while she has some trouble adjusting to her new simple life, she soon learns to embrace the uniqueness of the simplicity that the Amana colonies offer.

This book struck a cord with me because I am trying and thinking about trying to find more simplicity in my own life. I am being rather unsuccessful at that right now, but I am trying. I don't know that I could ever forgo all of the regular, modern conveniences  of life that I have come to think of as normal. However, I would like to find a balance. I enjoyed this story greatly and was glad that Jancey embraced the simple life and was able to still be herself within the simple life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Catholic Schools Week 2013

My daughter attends a Catholic School. The same school that I work at after school. She typically wears a uniform every day, which means it is easy for me to know what she is wearing to school. Well there are certain days during the year that the kids get to dress down. One of those events occured this week...it is "Catholic Schools Week," which is basically a weeklong celebration of how Catholic schools are great. It is kind of like spirit week in high school.

One of the highlights of Catholic Schools week is the different themes to the days. This year was no exception.

We had....

CRAZY HAIR DAY.....

DRESS LIKE YOUR FAVORITE STORY BOOK CHARACTER DAY....

 

HAT DAY....

and RED AND BLACK DAY....

Friday, is a uniform day and the kids have to bring in food items for the poor in our area as a service. They are also having a mass with the Bishop, which is a very special treat for the kids and not something that normally happens.

Does your school celebrate a spirit type week?

Ear infection, chicken pox, life, etc.

It has been a while since I have updated this here blog. Life has happened and it kept getting pushed to the wayside....

Here are a few highlights of what has been keeping me busy...

• we have been dealing with softball practices and games
• Jacob getting a high fever and being diagnosed with an ear infection,
• allergies affecting Benjamin
• Jacob coming down with a rash that started on his feet (we thought it was hand, foot and mouth disease at first)
• Benjamin coming down with the same type of rash as Jacob (starting at his feet, then moving up to his butt)
• Figuring out that it was NOT hand, foot and mouth disease but rather chicken pox. The boys have had the vaccine, but apparently they can still get it. They were unknowingly (by us) exposed to it at one of Rebecca's softball games by a brother of one of her teammates, whom Jacob was sharing a ball with and sitting right next to and playing with. (the same little boy who was being sent to school for 2 weeks with the rash, without his parents telling the school!)
• Because of said chicken pox, the boys have been quarantined in the house for about a week.
• The house has been cleaned from top to bottom and sanitized
• It has been Catholic Schools week at my daughter's school, meaning she has had to dress to the theme of the day, which means more thought and figuring out hair and outfits.
• September 21 was a hard day for me as it is the anniversary of the birth into Heaven of our son 5 years ago. I just did not feel like blogging that day!

It has been a crazy month!  Thankfully the boys seem to be on the mend. Softball tournaments are this weekend, then fall ball is over. And I can start working on the party months (October is Jacob's birthday, November is Rebecca's birthday and Christmas is in December!)

What has been going on in your life?

My HUGE to-do list

The past few weeks have been crazy busy....with work, trying to find time to start a 5K training program, softball for Rebecca...etc....That also means that the house really hasn't had more than a slight cleaning up and it is showing.

My plan for today was to go to the grocery store this morning, but then it FINALLY decided to rain (hopefully bringing in cooler temperatures!) so I figured we can go 1 more day before I have to go. Granted our fridge and freezer are pretty bare but we can make due until tomorrow morning.

For I am taking this as a sign that the house needs to get cleaned this morning. So on my agenda this morning consists of:

clean the downstairs bathroom
     -clean and sanitize toilet
     -clean and sanitize potty training seat
     -sweep floor
      -empty trash
      -clean sink area and hang fresh towel
      -clean up floor near sink
clean mudroom
      -clear off tops of bins and put things away where they belong
      -take inventory of pantry
      -sweep floor
clean up dining room
      -clean off table
       -sweep floors
       -clean up any toys
clean up desk area
       -this is a disaster area, just needs things purged, put away and filed
clean up living room
       -toys need to be sorted back into bins
       -straighten up bookcases
       -clean out from underneath sofa and chairs to find missing toys
other
      -I have 3 baskets full of clean folded clothes that need to be put away
      -beds need made

I took before pictures, but can't find my camera cord--think it is piled under all the junk on the desk---
Hopefully tonight I will be back with the before and after pictures!

Wish me luck!

What is on your to-do list today?

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

So many times during my C25K workouts the last week, this song appeared in my head and I have been singing it every day since. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! This C25K program is hard, but I am doing it and I will succeed.



Have a great day!

Sunday Night Chit Chat

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!  And since it is Sunday, it is time once again for Sunday Night Chit-Chat...hosted by our friend Carla! 

 

To play along simply start your post with a photo or quote... Copy and paste the starters and link up to Carla so she and others can visit you and see what you've been up to!

So here goes:



 

Benjamin's new favorite game is to pick things up in the living and dining room and drop them over the gate into the kitchen!

 

• Reading?
• Listening to?  The TV is on to Paw Patrol (a kids cartoon). The kids being nuts!
• Watching? The kids are watching cartoons. I watched football with my dear hubby earlier. Unfortunately the Packers lost to the 49ers! :(
• Cooking/Baking? Tonight for dinner I made cheeseburgers and veggies. Really should make some muffins or bread soon, but have to get baking soda at the store first.
• Happy you accomplished this week? started the C25K training
• Looking forward to next week? This is going to be another busy, busy week. School pictures are tomorrow. Hopefully will get into a routine soon with life.
• Thankful for today? Simple Sundays spent with my family.   
• *Bonus Question* Do you have a celebrity crush? Ummm....Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers....

So there you have it. A little glimpse into my world on this Sunday night! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and remember to link up to our wonderful chat host Carla! :)

C25K...Am I insane??

Last March/April, I made a bet with my husband in conjunction with "March Madness." If I won the tournament bracket challenge, he had to give up all fast food. If he won the challenge, I would have to train and run a 5K. I HATE running! I will say it again, I HATE running! I am not built to be a  runner.

Well....I lost the bet......

Bill was kind enough to give me a year to pay off the bet.

Fast forward to the beginning of September. With hubby having trained and run in his half marathon, I figured I had better start training and getting ready to pay off my bet.

I decided that it was time to do this because I gained some weight over the summer and I just don't feel good about myself.

So I did some research, talked to some friends who are runners, and over and over I was given the "Couch to 5K" program to try.

I googled the program and decided to follow the training program here. Basically you start by interspersing walking and short running and then each week you run a little longer and walk less.

Last week I did the first week of workouts. For the first week, you are supposed to warm up for 5 minutes, then alternate  60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes (8 times), then do a cool down of 5 minute walking.

After workout #1 (Monday) I felt exhausted and I hated that I couldn't run for 60 seconds without getting winded . It was horrible! I felt like I wanted/needed to pass out! It was awful! But...I did it.

Workout #2 (Wednesday) wasn't much better.

Workout #3 (Friday) was better. My legs didn't feel like lead and were not as sore.

Today, I had to decide whether to do another week 1 workout, or move on to week 2. Week 2 is basically walk 5 minute warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 6 cycles, followed by a 5 minute walking cool down.  When I headed out this afternoon, I decided to see when I got tired of jogging and if it was under 45 seconds I would repeat a week 1 workout, if it was after 45 seconds then I would do a week 2 workout. Well....the first time I looked down at my stopwatch for the run it said 92 seconds! So I decided to do a week 2 workout. Today's workout felt really good. I am beginning to think that I can do this.

My ultimate goal is to run most of a 5K in the beginning of November put on for the benefit of "Food for the Hungry" for our local county. I am hoping that I can do this. And as a side benefit I really want to lose some weight so hopefully that will happen as well.

I am not a runner, but maybe just maybe I can do this.

Are you a runner? Do you workout? Any tips for me?

Summer Bucket List Final Check-in

At the beginning of the summer, I made a summer family bucket list that listed things that I wanted to do with our family. I was doing this as a way to be intentional with how we spent our time over the summer and not just end up watching TV and lounging around. Well it is now September 6-- AFTER LABOR DAY, so after the end of summer...so I thought I would do a check-in to see how we did and what did we accomplish!

2013 Summer Family Bucket List

Visit the Zoo-DONE!

Wash the car/van by hand with the kids' help-DONE!

Play at the park at least once every 2 weeks--DONE!

Have a picnic on a blanket on the grass-- Nope--although we did have at least 3 picnics on picnic tables at the park.

Go to Chuck E. Cheese---DONE!

Catholic Kidz Camp for Rebecca (Vacation Bible School)---DONE! She had a blast!

Make Smores in the sun--NOPE

Pick strawberries---DONE!

Eat lunch on the porch---NOPE

Play tag in the yard--NOPE

Go to the library at least once every 2 weeks--DONE!.

Attend the Knox County Fair--DONE!

Go to Ye Olde Mill for Ice Cream--NOPE

Mini golf --NOPE, partly because there is not a mini golf place anywhere near us :(

Go to the Children's Garden---DONE

Take Rebecca to the movies--NOPE

Watch fireworks on the 4th of July---DONE, wasn't on the 4th, but the night of the 3rd when our town had theirs.

Overall not too bad! I am happy with the things that we accomplished this summer. I feel that it was a very more intentional summer and that is a good thing! :)

Now I need to look ahead to fall and see what I want to accomplish before the cold weather hits.

Did you have a good summer?

Lysol Power and Free Cleaners! (review)

One of the things that I hate the most about deep cleaning is the overwhelming smell of bleach and chemicals. I especially notice this now that I have kids. Well I don't need to worry any more...

Lysol^® Power & Free^™ delivers more cleaning power than bleach— without the harshness! The cleaners are powered by hydrogen peroxide (which turns into water and oxygen as it attacks tough stains), so you get a pristine home that’s free from harmful fumes and chemical residue.

I was recently given the opportunity from Bzzagent to try these wonderful cleaners. And I was impressed. I grew up thinking that the whole house had to smell like bleach in order for it to be considered clean. Well no more....

I took the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes and used them clean my stove vent. You know the vent...over the stove that gets icky with grease buildup and just dusty and gross.

Here is my before:

 

SO GROSS!!! It was sticky and the buildup didn't move at all with a normal paper towel. It was gross!

Wiped it down with the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes and the result was....

A dirty cleaning wipe....

 

And a nice clean stove vent!

I love the fact that it didn't smell like bleach. Instead it was a pleasant natural scent. I love the fact that I can use these in my kitchen around where I am preparing food. I love that I can use these around my kids without worry!

As a member of Bzzagent.com I was sent this product to try. As a result of my trial, I am looking forward to purchasing the other Lysol Power and Free Cleaners! They have many available including:

• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Multi-Purpose Cleaner (Great for cleaning many household areas, including surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom )
• NEW! Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes  (Great for quick clean ups and disinfection of all kinds of kitchen and bathroom surfaces like counters, sinks, and more)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Bathroom Cleaner (Cuts through stubborn stains like soap scum in tubs and on shower doors)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner  (Cuts through toilet grime and even tough stains like rust and limescale)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Toilet & Bathroom Wipes  (Great on a variety of surfaces, including: sinks, bathtubs, toilet seats, shower doors, and bathroom fixtures)

I love that I am now able to clean and keep my family healthy without having to smell chemicals and put my kids at risk of touching bleach! Lysol Power and Free Cleaners are my go to choice now!

Disclaimer: I received free product coupons for these items in exchange for an honest review from Bzzagent.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

A little bit of this and that.....

Sorry for the unannounced blogging break....life happens and time got away from me. At the end of the day I was just too tired to write.....I hope to get into a better routine this week. We will see....

My days have been filled with housework, being back to work, making sure Rebecca has what she needs done for first grade (book bag packed, lunch packed, gym bag packed, etc.), potty training Jacob (yes it is still on going), trying to get into a routine of when to go grocery shopping and when to go snack shopping for work, trying to get into a rhythm of scheduling with hubby's work schedule and my own schedule, etc.

We have also been spending a lot of time at the softball field with Rebecca. Last week she had 2 games and 2 practices....

Also I have decided that in order to pay off a bet with my dear Hubby, I began the "Couch to 5K" program yesterday.(Yeah, I am just a little sore today! LOL)

So life is going on...I have so much I want to do in regards to finances, working on my health, and just making our life better.....I just don't seem to have the time or energy to do it all.

Oh and I woke up this morning with a stuffed up nose....

Well I must go and fold laundry or else I will have nothing to wear to work....

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

He did it! He did it! He did it!

You might be wondering "what in the world is Rachel talking about? "

Well....

Sunday morning, my dear Hubby, ran in and completed a half marathon! That is 13.1 miles!!! Running! All the way!!! That is insane!!!

The race was "The Emerald City Half and Quarter Marathon." held in Dublin, Ohio.

Sunday morning, Dear Hubby and I were up at and out the door at 4:45am for an hour drive to Dublin for his first half marathon.

To say that Hubby was nervous would be an understatement. (In truth, he drove me nuts for the 2 days prior because he was so nervous). Upon arrival, we parked and walked to the starting line so hubby could pick up his shirt and bib. Then we stood around and waited for the start. (It actually was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic on one of the main roads that the runners would be running on....)

There was over 3000 runners there....

Hubby got off to a great start....

While he ran, I went back to the van and sat and read some of a library book. I then walked over the grocery store and got a frappucchino from Starbucks (not the brightest thing for me to get!) and a couple of donuts for breakfast.

Around 9:15am I went back over to the finish line to wait for Bill, as he said his goal was to run it in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. So I waited for him....I watched other runners come through. There was a couple who looked like they were in their 70s running hand in hand. It was really sweet! I saw a father and son duo who were running in the quarter marathon come through....Then I saw him coming toward the finish line.

He ran in 2:16:33.72! That is AWESOME for a first time half marathon!

After he was done, we went to McDonalds so he could change into non-sweaty (AKA- non-stinky) clothes for the hour long car ride home and to get him some food. Then we headed home. That night we had my family over for Ron's Pizza to celebrate Bill's accomplishment! And to thank my sister for coming over and spending the night Saturday night into Sunday and watching our kids so that I could be there for my husband.

Bill is 41 years old. He will tell you that he is overweight. He started running around a year ago. He has since competed in a 4 mile run, a 5K and now a half-marathon! He ran in this for himself and for our family. He ran this race in memory of our son, Travis, who was born silently into Heaven September 21, 2008 (he has Travis' name and date of birth on his headband). He ran in memory of a high school runner that he befriended named Nick who was a runner and who died in a tragic auto accident a couple of years ago. Bill is an inspiration to me and I hope to our children!

Have you or someone you know done anything recently that you are proud of?

Do you think you could run in a half-marathon?