Monday, January 31, 2011
Gifts 7
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Blizzard Blog Hop
I may live in Texas with no snow, but I'm happy to play along on the "Blizzard Blog Hop" with Ann Marie, the Household 6 Diva!
I'm Pattie, the proud wife (of almost 20 years!) of an Air Force chaplain, and proud mom of two dancing, artistic daughters, a teen and a tween. We currently live in Texas after a four-year stint in North Dakota, which followed my husband's reservist years in our home state of Missouri. I'm in the over-40 bracket on survey sheets, and I still wonder what I am going to be when I grow up.
I don't blog here as often as I do at Wives of Faith, but I do occasionally pop in. I also write book reviews on my other blog.
I try to live a life of faith, of gratitude, and of caring for others. I can only pray I have succeeded.
Thanks for stopping by! The movie's over...go on to the next blog on the list ;)
I'm always happy to meet other military wives!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Digitalis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!
This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.
This is the second book in the series.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?
If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.
My review of Nightshade is here.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Gifts 6
14. My overall good health.
15. The good health of my children. Truly I do not take this for granted. I have many friends with sick children, and I am phenomenally blessed.
16. Clothing--I might not be the most stylish, and I'll never be considered well-dressed. But I have adequate clothing for most places and occasions to which I'm invited.
17. The book Fresh Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson. If ever a book (besides the Bible) ever changed me, this is it. Choosing to live a roasted, ground, fresh-brewed life has brought me more pain that I'd ever have imagined, but also so many more blessings than I ever thought possible. I've grown in the past 11 years since I read the book.
18. Driving in January in Texas, window rolled down, sun pouring in the window, blasting Josh Groban on the stereo.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Gifts 5
8. an old-but-still-works DVD player
9. a working barbeque
10. a husband to run said working barbeque
11. my Holy Bible, New Living Translation, with commentary by Jill Briscoe. I am enjoying the fresh wording of the Word as I read the Bible through.
12. good eyesight. Truly cannot imagine not being able to see to read or write.
13. my little devotionals were accepted for inclusion into a new book! I will be published in Faith Deployed . . . Again by Jocelyn Green this summer.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Grace
I used to envy these women their themes. How wonderful that God gave them something to guide their years. So one year I asked the Lord to give me a theme, too. I thought it would be easy and maybe even fun. Well, God works as He wants to, and the theme He gave me for 2009 was "Brave." Last year, 2010, my year's theme was "Focus." Neither of those were easy, and only maybe a little bit fun sometimes (just goes to show you that envy gets you nowhere!).
New Year's Day 2011 came and went, and I began to think that God was letting me off the hook this year. However, the word that keeps coming to mind each and every time I read my friends' themes and reflect upon my past two is: Grace.
I am not entirely sure what this means. Brave, I knew. I knew God was asking me to step out of my comfort zone, sticking up for myself, my husband, and my children, and trying new things. Focus, I knew. I failed at focusing more often than I succeeded, but I did learn in the process what my writing focus needs to be, and that I need to focus on God and His Word and my family, before I focus on too many other distracting things.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Gifts 4
5. Writing - it is a gift, truly. I gave my writing back to God and am working hard not to stress out about it. I am proud to be writing for Him.
6. Coffee. Brewed thick and dark, with a touch of flavored creamer. Or espresso shots pulled by a large steaming machine, blended with flavors and steamed milk, frothy and warm and inviting.
7. The Internet, without which, I feel we as Christian women (particularly military wives, but that's my focus right now) would be so much more disconnected.
Friday, January 07, 2011
2011 From the Shelf Reading Challenge
Sunday, January 02, 2011
TBR 2011
Where Do I Go?- Neta JacksonWho Do I Talk To?- Neta JacksonWho Do I Lean On?- Neta JacksonThe Gun Seller- Hugh Laurie- Traveling Mercies: Thoughts on Faith - Anne Lamott
- Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith - Anne Lamott
- Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith - Anne Lamott
It Happens Every Spring- Catherine Palmer & Gary ChapmanSummer Breeze - Catherine Palmer & Gary ChapmanFalling For You Again - Catherine Palmer & Gary ChapmanWinter Turns to Spring - Catherine Palmer & Gary Chapman- East of Eden - John Steinbeck
All of these books have been on my PBS wish list or bookshelves for at least a year, if not more.
Alternates:
Mr. Monk is Miserable- Lee Goldberg- The Ten-Year Nap - Meg Wolitzer - could not finish this one. I think I gave it about 3 chapters before I gave up.
Don't You Forget About Me- Jancee Dunn