Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011
We are so blessed this year! It is such a gift to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives… your impact on our lives this year means more to us than we can possibly say. More importantly, God has shown his amazing grace to our family through some of our greatest challenges this year. Like many Americans, we have faced struggles during this economic downturn, however we are so grateful for all of God’s wonderful blessings. In 2011, I have been fortunate to be working for a dynamic and professional organization which keeps me challenged and quite busy. I am grateful for the steady employment in a time when so many cannot find good jobs. The twins have entered Huntington Beach High School and are learning the ropes of high school life. With honors classes, learning to play guitar, church, and playing soccer, they lead a life with a full schedule. As always, I am quite proud of their accomplishments. Always addicted to their music, cell phones, and laptops, it’s a rarity to see them unplugged and just wanting to hang out with good ole’ Mom. However, we were able to visit Big Bear on vacation this year and get in some good game playing and cooking time. Living with teenagers is a new and, well, interesting experience! As we look towards 2012, we are hopeful that we are able to continue to survive in today’s economy and pray that God bless you and your families with his amazing grace.
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Posted in Personal Blogs
Saturday, Nov 26, 2011
Deanna & Nicole at Big Bear Lake
We have enjoyed our vacation this year. The twins, the dogs, and I have spent the past several days up at Big Bear Lake, CA. We were hoping to get snow on Thanksgiving, but didn’t luck out. Although, snow is plentiful on the mountain and we got to see plenty of it (such a treat for beach girls)! We were able to play games, eat well, visit the zoo, go on walks, hit the shops downtown, and relax in the jacuzzi. Everybody had a great time.
Here’s a pic of our favorite owl from the zoo:
We’re heading down the mountain on Sunday around noon after a hearty breakfast and all is packed up at the cabin. After we unpack, I plan on doing a little house cleaning and errand running before returning to work on Tuesday. It’s been a nice long vacation off from work – nearly 10 days off in a row (I had to go into work one afternoon and have been “on-call” while out). At the beginning of my vacation from work, I worked on the front of the house. Deanna and I planted a flower garden. After my ex-husband and I fixed my gates, the twins and I painted the gates the color of Chianti. The front of our home is looking nice… and we’re proud.
I’m planning on starting to read a book tonight called Heaven is For Real. I heard that it’s a sweet book and am looking forward to it. I hope that you are enjoying your current read.
On the entertainment side… the twins went and saw Breaking Dawn – Part I. They said they enjoyed it. I’m still addicted to Revenge on ABC and Welcome to Sweetie Pies on the OWN Channel. What are you watching?
I hope that y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and that Black Friday didn’t completely swallow you whole!
Warmest wishes from our family to yours…
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Posted in Personal Blogs
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central/Hachette
ISBN #: 978-0-446-54765-9
Type: Fiction
Pages: 292 Hardback
Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Website: http://nicholassparks.com/
Purchase: $14.26 (HERE)
The Story
In the small town of Oriental, North Carolina, people tell lies, capture secrets and hold revenge in their hearts. Like other small towns, some of its citizens move away and start lives anew. They move away to escape their secrets and avoid the hurts that once held them captive. Yet, despite their relocations, their roots are tied to their hometown and the love that bounds them there. Amanda and Dawson are two such people. Both moved away from Oriental to start their lives over again. However, neither of them chose the life that they had dreamed of in high school, when they were completely and solely in love with one another.
Amanda Collier came from a wealthy family whose sights were set on her going to college and marrying well. Dawson Cole was born into a less fortunate family. Despite her family’s unwillingness to accept or approve of their relationship, Amanda fell deeply in love with her once-in-a-lifetime soul mate. He was an outcast from a renegade, criminal-minded family with a bad reputation which proceeded them. He left his home and moved in with Tuck, a local auto-mechanic. He kept his meager room and board by working, the majority of the proceeds of which were stolen by his menacing, threatening family. Luckily Tuck understood and allowed Dawson to stay with him. It was there that Amanda would come and visit Dawson. Tuck was the constant, supportive friend who was seemingly always there for Dawson and, later, for Amanda.
Years after life had separated their great love due to instance of tragedy, Amanda and Dawson were brought back together via Tuck’s passing. As they meet up at his home to sort out his belongings and attend his funeral, they were faced with messages from Tuck. He knew and loved them both. As such, he had letters filled with words of wisdom and love for each of them as they rediscover the long-lost love they had for one another. Although they are able to face this great love and open their hearts to one another, their fates would take their worlds in directions they could never imagine.
The Review
The Best of Me is one of the best novels to come from Nicholas Sparks. What amazed me the most about this read was the way in which Sparks painted such a vivid, vital cast of characters, all of which the reader wants to learn the fate of. Like most small towns, everybody is related to another in some manner and this story provided that same feel… that everything and everybody in the story were connected. In following the fates of these characters, Sparks surprises the reader with not always providing the anticipated results as the pages turned. Rather, what the reader anticipated didn’t always materialize in the expected way.
The twists & turns, the underlying love story, the uniquely imaginable characters, and the well synchronized story telling cumulate into a heartfelt and memorable novel.
The Rating
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I am giving The Best of Me a rating of 9 out of 10. It has all of the components that a good novel needs… love, family, tragedy, spirituality and betrayal. A seasoned writer, Nicholas Sparks provides it all!
Disclosure to new readers: I’m a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nicholas Sparks. I have read all of his books, own all of his books and the movies based off of them!
Works By Nicholas Sparks
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Posted in Books Books Books
Sunday, Nov 13, 2011
November Greetings to You…
I hope that all is well with you as we see Thanksgiving creeping around the corner. It’s already that time of year to start thinking about Christmas presents, cards, and decorating the house. Where has the time flown? The twins, pups and I are planning our annual trip up to Big Bear Mountain. There’s been a dusting of snow and the girls are hoping for a lot more so that they can snowboard while we are there.
I recently celebrated my 42nd birthday with my mom and sister. We went to this fabulous place called The Melting Pot, which is a fondue restaurant. I think I ate until I could eat no more. My mom took me shopping and then a couple of days later surprised me with a copy of Nicholas Sparks’ new one The Best of Me. So far, so great (but, to be expected from one of favorite authors).
For my birthday, I treated myself to a couple of goodies and also got my hair all chopped off.
(I got 3″ taken off my hair… EEK. It will be the perfect length by Christmas time, I’m sure.)
In preparation for the Fall/Winter season, I cut back my overgrown garden in the front yard. It’s nearly bare with the exception of my perineals. We had some wonderful rains over the past 24 hours and I’m hoping for a bit more. I’d like to plant some bright, colorful pansies next weekend and fill in the bare spots with fresh bark.
I’ve also been making little home repairs throughout the house. I’m realizing that I’m falling in love with my house all over again now that I know that the girls and I are safe in our new mortgage. It’s such a sense of relief after an anxious year of not knowing what the future would hold.
O.K. time to gush about my favorite new show of the season… REVENGE! This is the juiciest and most addictive drama since Dynasty! There is intrigue, love, lust, jealousy, and it is filled with a cast of great characters. My two favorites are:
Emily VanCamp portrays Emily Thorne who is the main character who is seeking revenge for the death of her father, who was framed.
Victoria Grayson, played by Madeleine Stowe, is the housewife next door who was involved with Emily’s father, but betrayed him and sent him to jail.
I can’t get enough of this Wednesday night show (ABC). If you are able to get it on-demand or on the web, I highly recommend it!
Well, here’s to a safe and happy week to my friends and readers!
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Posted in entertainment reviews, Personal Blogs
Sunday, Oct 30, 2011
Happy Sunday, Saloners!
October has been a busy month for us girls. The twins and I have enjoyed all of the Halloween festivities and parties which we have attended. Every year I usually decorate the house to the hilt, but this year I decided to be a minimalist and keep it down to one carved pumpkin. I’m sure the twins will do some trick-or-treating, but I have full intent on watching Dancing With the Stars and passing out candy in my comfy clothes.
As October comes to a close, I look back at this pivotal month in my life. As I’ve shared in past posts, my family has come dangerously close to losing our home to foreclosure. Last week, we were able to finalize a new deal with the lender. Signed documents and hard-earned dollars were sent off to seal the new deal. The end result was a permanently modified loan in which we can manage our monthly payment and remain in our home. All praise be to God for his graciousness and his infinite plan for our lives.
Looking back at the past 6 months, the underlying stress of not knowing what will happen to my family and I took its toll on us. Looking forward, I want to focus on gratefulness and how to make my life a more complete one. I’m turning 42 this week. 42. I don’t know where the time has gone. What shall I make of the next 8 years of my life? What strives can I make in my career, in my personal growth, and with getting my twins through high school and off to college? What can I do to make the next year a better year…? I know that I want to start gardening again, start some home improvements, and fall in love with my home life again. I want to pick up the pen and start writing more… finish those unfinished projects. Maybe I should take a dance class? No matter if I choose all directions or pick just one, I look forward to feeling more grounded and forward-thinking.
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I am looking forward to Daylight Savings occurring next weekend and gaining an extra hour of sleep (at least for a short while). As we start the new week, I wish you all a Happy Halloween and the beginning of a great Fall season.
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Posted in Personal Blogs
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