I went ahead and drawed the name because I think everyone who wants to enter has entered! So here we go!! I put all the names in a bowl and drew a name. The Winner of "The scent of cherry blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall" is........

Drumroll please!!!

Buki Family
this looks like a good book to read!
thanks for the contest!
sabeckstrom at yahoo dot com

Congrats to you!!!!

I am emailing you now! Thanks everyone for entering!! I might do another one in the future!!

The Baptist White Lie Cake!

I got this in a fwd email and it was funny. So I thought I would share!  Have you ever told a white lie? Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angelfood cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack for scout camp. When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet Paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home. When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone and called her mom.Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized,talked about, ridiculed!All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her And talking about her behind her back. The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake And would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa, but having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old south, and to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, "what a beautiful cake!" Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself." Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good."

All the Way he Leads!!

I love this song. I love the words and I love to hear it sang without music,just voices lifting it up! He truly does lead us all the way!

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Book Review:By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

The Plot:

Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change. Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

My Review: Amelia is on her way to America with her Aunt to meet a man she has only been talking with through letters. Her cousin got put in jail and is unable to make it on the ship. So as Amelia sees a man being taken off for trying to sneak on,she goes and gives her ticket to him. They were staying in second class. Unknown by her Quentin was from a wealthy family who has been living on the streets after a run of bad luck. Up in first class it turns out Quentin's Father who has been searching for him and his brother are also on board. Amelia has turn both men's heads. It was a nice read and it did keep me going to the end to see what would happen,but I didn't never really connect with any of the people in the book. It seemed kind of rushed. I never even really seen where Amelia and Quentin feel in love. I didn't really see that much interaction together that showed their strong feelings for each other. I guess it was just something you had to read between the lines. I did though enjoy reading about the titanic,as I have always loved to read about it. Overall it was a nice light read with not much going on throughout the book,but I really did love the part between the Quentin and his brother while the ship was sinking. I won't reveal that part so you can read it. It was a good story plot and overall I would give it around 4 out of 5 stars!

I received this book free for my honest review.

To read all the other reviews on this book tour please click here

To buy the book click here

Also the author is hosting a blog party and for a chance to win some great prices. Click the icon below.

Enter Today and Save the Date-4/10!

Oh no!!! The Keys!!!

I came home from the store today and laid they keys on the table in the kitchen. This morning we had dropped our dog off at the grooming place for a haircut and bath. So I had the car for the day. Well I decided to take mom to lunch. So we head out the door and locked the lock from inside. Well as soon as we are heading down the steps,it dawns on me,oh no!!! Mom I left the keys in the house. So she looks through her purse to try and find her keys to open it back up because our car key is locked inside too. Well turns out I had borrowed her keys sometime this week and they were also in the house..lol. My dad is at work and I have his keys  from where I took him to work,which are in the house. My sister works in Nashville and she won't be home til after 5 or 6. Well mom had some keys in her pocketbook that were on the set they gave us when we rented the house. So I go to the gate and can't get in the gate because it's locked from the inside. Oh dear this was really getting nerve racking. So then I went to the back corner of the yard gate that also opens and got in the back yard. Well you would think 1 of 4 keys would open up a basement door...noooo!! Turns out there all doors to doors we don't need at the moment..lol. So back up to the front porch I go. I tried downstairs and upstairs with my drivers license to open the door. Mom pulls out her Food Lion MVP card and slides it in and thank the Lord the door opens. All was well,so now you know those cards don't just save money at the grocery store,that little piece of plastic can unlock our door..hahaha:)  Priceless laugh afterwards with mom!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!

Well I have not got any green on,so I bound to get pinched sometime:) I have always wanted to visit Ireland,but I am afraid that is just a dream that will stay a dream to dream on!! So if I have any readers from the Irish culture,please stop and say hello!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!

What would you have done?

I was reading a book about Titanic and thinking a thought. I think alot,I guess that is good? Women and Children were the first that was being called off the boat into the lifeboats. Many of them as they said goodbye to their husbands for the last time. They say the band kept playing til the very end and they never even tried to leave,they brought music to a very loud and scary moment I suspect. Now comes to my question. If you were in that moment in time,what would you have done?

Would you have got on the boat and left your love one behind?

Would you be the person pushing and shoving to get a life jacket and getting off the boat no matter what?

Would you have been the person helping others before yourself?

Would you have been the one who did not get on the lifeboat and would have bravely stood beside your loved one on the sinking boat and know your fate coming?

Plus would young men in today's time be the gentleman those men were being letting the Women and Children go first?

I honestly can't imagine being in a situation like that and just thinking about standing on that boat that night scares me and makes me wonder what they were feeling and thinking and what would I have chosen to do.

So it brings me to the conclusion what would you have done?

Maybe it's just a question that could never be answered til your in that very moment?

Book Review:Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth

The Book Plot:Have you ever stopped to think, Maybe the Amish are on to something? Look around. We tweet while we drive, we talk while we text, and we surf the Internet until we fall asleep. We are essentially plugged in and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rather than mastering technology, we have allowed technology to master us. We are an exhausted nation. No one has enough time, everyone feels stressed out, and our kids spend more hours staring at a screen each week than they do playing outside. It’s time to simplify our lives, make faith and family the focal point, and recapture the lost art of simple living. Building on the basic principles of Amish life, Nancy Sleeth shows readers how making conscious choices to limit (and in some cases eliminate) technology’s hold on our lives and getting back to basics can help us lead calmer, more focused, less harried lives that result in stronger, deeper relationships with our families, friends, and God

My Review: I always enjoy reading about Amish and their lifestyle. In this book she talks about how in some ways the Amish have a much more free lifestyle. From no computers,phones,texting,email. She showed a lot of good points as in how they have much less cluttered lives and more of a close contact with neighbors and family. The lady talks about how she quit her job and her husband quit his job as a Doctor to downsize their lives. She had some very good points in the book and some made me really think. I think the whole concept of the book was good. To cut back on all these things that are cluttering our life today and coming between families. I read til the end and it was a good read,not great but good. I felt like it kinda dragged on in places and got boring in some parts. Other then that though I think it was a good read and gave you some good points to think about how you can unclutter your life and be almost Amish!

I received this book free from Tyndale for honest review

I've been Tagged!!!

So I was tagged by Vicki(check out her blog,it's great) to do a post on 10 random things that I have done this year and 10 random things I want to do before the year is over. So here we go:)

1. Well the biggest thing that happened to me this year was moving from my home of 26 years to a whole new town!

2. I got to see Loretta Lynn in performance at the Grand Ole Opry for my birthday!

3. I found out I lived near an Amish community and discovered a great Amish Store and Amish Bakery!

4. I got to go to Civil War day in Nashville. I always wanted to go to one!

5. Thrifts stores have had some really awesome 50% off sales that I have gone to!

6. Of course I have watched my favorite shows "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie"

7. I have read some really great books!

8. Discovered the world of Pinterest and now I pin things a lot..lol:)

9. Got to see my Favorite group Dailey and Vincent at the Grand Ole Opry!

10. Still enjoyed my favorite hobby of taking pictures of anything and everything:)

Ten things I want to do by years end!

1. Find a good Church that walks the old ways in the new town we are in

2. Visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield MO

3. Visit the Gulf Shore Beaches

4. Complete some idea off Pinterest

5. Visit the Amish community below us and take the Wagon Tour

6. Get a new Style with my hair or something

7. See a good music group

8. See a good play

9. See something totally new in life

10. Make a dream come true

Well not many big things..lol..I am just a simple girl:) This was fun and I invite anybody that wants to do this to do this!!

**Now Closed**Giveaway Time!!! Amish Book by Cindy Woodsmall

You just read my review in the post before this one!! Now I am going to give one of my winners a chance to read "The Scent of Cherry Blossoms" by Cindy Woodsmall. By accident the company sent me two copies and they gave me permission to give one away. So one of you will win your very own copy of this book! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post!! I will draw a Winner on March 31,2012 to give everyone a chance to enter!!

You have 3 Chances of winning by doing any of the following!!

1. Just leave a comment about anything

2.Follow my blog or tell me you already follow me

3.Blog about the giveaway on your blog and link back here

Remember leave a separate comment for each

Good luck everyone!!!!!!

Book Review:The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall

Plot:Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge. 
But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.
 Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

My Review:I love Amish Fiction and recently got the chance to review this one from Cindy Woodsmall. I have read all her books and they have all been wonderful, as was this one! Can a woman who is of the Mennonite church and man from the old order Amish find true love even though their different backgrounds? This was such a sweet light read. It did not go into anything or drag anything out deep. It kept you reading til the end. I finished the book in a few short days. It shows how deep their love for one another was without going in deep with all kinds of plots and storylines. I loved the people in the book. I loved how the orchard trees came in on the book and gave it's own sweet romantic sweetness too it. I really enjoyed this latest from Cindy and it is refreshing to see a simple and sweet relationship with a Christian feel to it and not all this mess you read now days in fiction books.

I received this book free from waterbrook multnomah publishing for my honest review.

Amen Kirk Cameron aganist Gay Marriage...

Kirk Cameron has come under some heat for his words on a show. He openly told everyone it was wrong and he did not go for Gay Marriage. I say Amen,it is time someone stood up and expressed their Christian beliefs. I do not believe in Gay Marriage and it is a SIN!!!! You are not born that way,it is sin that has came into your life. I love everybody including Gay people and I would never bully or be mean to them and I would welcome them in anywhere,but they would know I don't agree with their lifestyle and would pray that maybe something I said or did could convince them it is a sin and is wrong. If people that go for it can have their opinion then yes I think Christians and people aganist it should be able to voice their opinion. Marriage is between a man and woman. It has been that way since the start of the world. I have sinned,we all have sinned but you can turn your life around and be forgiven for that sin! Nobody is perfect and I am not perfect but if your living in sin you need to ask the Lord to forgive you. Man and Man were not put to go together and Woman and Woman were not put to go together as one. It is Man and Woman that fit perfectly together as one. God made it that way. That is why two of the same sex can't have children together it is meant for Man and Woman to be together. Gay marriage or any type of Gay activity in the world is wrong. Sorry if I have offended anyone,but I have a right to my opinion as do you. It's a sin and you can be forgiven from it.
Below is the clip of Kirk Cameron.

Beautiful Clouds...

Storms have moved through two days this week. The other day we had to go down to the basement during a tornado warning. Nothing happened though and today another round came through. We got a small storm early in the morning,but the severe major ones passed us. Praise the Lord!! Please be in prayer for those that have lost everything in these storms. God bless them. Today in the sky was some beautiful clouds.

 It was pitch black early in the morning and lightning struck right as I took the picture and I thought it turned out cool.

 Like stepping on Cotton Candy

Our Lord created such beautiful pieces of art if you take the time to look around!!