Book Review: Love Comes Calling

We have all felt like we did not belong in the world we were put in.  We have all felt that we needed to do something else or BE someone else only to realize that where we are is where we need to be.  That is exactly what Ellis Eton learns in Siri Mitchell's book Love Comes Calling from Bethany House.  Ellis is from a well to do family in Boston and being from a traditional family, traditional expectations are given to her - college to go to, profession to have, Griffin Phillips to marry.  However, Ellis feels like the bright lights of Hollywood are calling her and she begins to make plans to head that way.  After having a rough semester in college, she comes home to Janie (a friend who looks like her) needing her to fill in while she goes to look for her father.  Janie works as a telephone switch operator and needs to keep her job now that her mother has passed.  Ellis agrees to help seeing how it can also help her get the money she needs to head to Hollywood.  On the job one day, she overhears a plot to harm Grif - the one her parents want her to marry.  In her resolve to save Grif from potential death, she meets Jack, a police officer who might be in on the Grif scheme.  As her plans to go to Hollywood, save Grif, as well as avoid Grif so love does not bloom begin to go haywire, she learns very valuable lessons about being who God has made you to be in the place where He has put you.  A wonderful story full of many twists and turns, love, mystery, suspense and a real heroine!  Thank you, Bethany House, for allowing me to review this book for you!

CCJHS Eaglette Soccer 2013

LB had a great start to her junior high life as a member of the CCJHS Eaglette Soccer team.

As a 6th grader, we really didn't expect her to play a whole lot, but she saw action in many of the games this year. 

As you will see from the pictures, she is QUITE a bit smaller than anyone else on the field.

However, that did not stop her from getting to the ball and playing hard. 

Many of the parents started calling her "Little Bit" for "LB." 

The team had an amazing season and we are proud of all they accomplished on and off the field!

Picture #1 - Girls coming after LB

LB taking down the girl

LB's first goal as a junior high team member

After the goal after the game . . . 

Hayley got to see the goal and rubbed it in Whitney's face!

At the beginning of the season, a high school senior that was on the soccer team as well as Coach Callis' cousin was killed in a car wreck.  They girls wore bands that said "Brodie" for each game and even wrote his name on their arms.  This picture was the first game after Brodie had been killed.

Lucy and Carter watching LB play!

Walker cheered so hard for LB at the game!

Even Alex got to come see LB play!

and Whitney made it to a game!

Great season, ladies! We are so proud of you!

August 2013 Recap

For those who are were regular followers of my blog, let me apologize for NOT keeping up with this blog for almost an entire year! (GULP!)

To say that the past 10 months were crazy is an understatement and I know many people have been dealing with things FAR worse than what we have been.  However, I just really felt like the blog was a low priority and it has shown. 

I must admit I have missed blogging and I really hope to get back into it this next year. 

We really did have a wonderful year!

The kids had amazing school years!

The time that was left to me was just not to be spent on blogging.

So . . . now that summer is here, I am going to give you a month-by-month (or big event) recap of what the Welches have been up to the last 10 months.

I hope our time apart is not this long again!

August 2013 began with getting ready to start back to school.  We took the kids out for a back to school dinner (instead of my cooking it).

The next thing we knew school was beginning.  Damon took the kids for their first day since I was having my own first day of school.  Carter is going to have a great year with Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Snider in fourth grade!

As much as it hurts me to say Carter is in 4th grade, it kills my soul to say that LB is in JUNIOR HIGH!  6th grade!!! AHHHHH!!!  She is ready.  Mom is not.

At the end of August, we said good-bye to 2 very special people - John and Erin Jones.  We were blessed to have known them while they were in college.  Then, this summer we were blessed again to have had the privilege of spending the summer with them before they left to be missionaries in New Zealand.  We know God is going to do AMAZING things through them and while we will miss them, New Zealand is now on our bucket list of places we want to go!

August brought us a new love - FLASHLIGHT TAG!  We live in a fabulous neighborhood with incredible neighbors.  The Allen's sent us a flashlight tag challenge one night and the kids have been hooked ever since!  Do they look serious or what?

Our challengers and the best neighbors ever!

What a month!  So thankful for the fact that I am a picture taking FREAK so even though it has been 10 months and I have slept - SOME, I can remember these times!

Book Review: Where Courage Calls

Bethany House sent me a book awhile ago called Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke and Laurel Oak Logan.  I was anxious to read this one because I have not read any by Janette Oke in awhile.  However I was captivated by this book from the moment I opened it.  Beth Thatcher has decided to leave all she has ever known - wealth, comfort, family - in Canada for the very rugged outdoors of western Canada where she has accepted a teaching position.  While on the train headed that way, she runs into Edward, a Canadian mountie, who is the one her mother wants her to marry.  Edward has always been a thorn in Beth's side but as she continues on her journey, she is glad to have a friend beside her.  Once she gets to Coal Valley, she sees that things are much different than she had imagined.  Not only is she needed as a teacher, but she is a counselor, nurturer and friend to so many who have lost so much.  She has her work cut out for her as she tries to educate the children as well as possibly some of the miners that are left.  As she tries to help the town get back on their feet, her heart begins to wonder if Edward is really the one for her or could his mountie friend, Jarrick, be the one her heart wants.  Obstacles abound in this small town as Beth tries to decide what she can do to help the town, her heart and future decisions.  This is a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Book Review: Praying for Boys

Another book crossed my door steps not too long ago and I just thought that this would be a book to review (Thank you, Bethany House) and move on to the next.  However, Praying for Boys has made a huge impact in my life.  I have always wanted to do better at praying for my children.  Praying specific things for them. Praying scripture for them.  However, I get so overwhelmed by all that does need to be prayed about that I just go back to the basics.  Brooke McGlothlin does a fantastic job with this book.  She is so personal in sharing her own stories as a mother of two boys.  She is very real in allowing us to see that she is not perfect but just wants what is best for her children.  She is very simple in giving us 21 areas of prayer that we can pray over our children (and I have been praying these over my girl as well as my boy).  Each chapter focuses on one aspect that is needed in your son's life.  While you can choose to focus on the aspect for the day, you can.  However, at the end of each chapter, more scripture is given to allow for extended period of prayer time for that aspect.  Questions are even given at the end of each chapter to allow you to personalize how you are going to work on bringing that characteristic out in your son's life.  Praying for a heart change, obedience, fears, integrity, wisdom, pride, and the fruit of the Spirit are just some of the 21 characteristics in this book.  She also gives advice on how to keep going once you are done with the book and ways to get your friends involved.  This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and it will be one I pick up again and again to remind myself of my most important job.

Book Review: The Miner's Lady

I didn't think that this series could get any better, but I was wrong!!!  This third book, The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson,  was a fabulous end to the series and will not disappoint!  This book has it all - romance, murder, mystery, family feuds and forbidden love! The Panetta family and Calarco family have been at odds with each other for generations that span back to Italy.  They found themselves living in the same town and working in the same mines.  The hatred for each other is still there between the fathers of the families, but can it be resolved.  When the youngest of each family fall in love with each other, the families become even more at odds with each other.  Chantel Panetta (the oldest sister) and Dante Calarco (the oldest brother) find themselves "helping" the forbidden lovers meet with each other, and, as their paths cross more and more, one wonders if there will be more than one forbidden love.  Family feuds are not the only problem in the town.  There is a gambling issue as well and the Panetta brothers are suspecting that there are other issues going along with it.  When more than one family tragedy strikes both families, can it bring the families together?  Tracie Peterson does a wonderful job developing her characters and the plot.  You really never know where the story is going to go.  I would highly recommend this book and this entire series to anyone.
I have been given this book by Bethany House to review, but the ideas are my own!

Book Review: Rules for Murder

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for a review of it. I was trying to branch out to try new genres not just for me but for my book club. I chose to receive Rules for Murder by Julianna Deering. I was not impressed with this book. I had such a hard time getting into the book. I was easily confused from the very beginning of the book. I had a very hard time keeping up with the characters in the story. I don't know if it was trying to keep up with the whole story plot, the characters or even the British elements in the story. I really was disappointed because I was looking so forward to reading this one. Others of you may have better luck with it! I will not give up on this author though! I will try again!

Book Review: The Quarryman's Bride

I received a book from Bethany House to read and then review.  I always enjoy their books and The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson was of NO exception.  I really was not expecting the storyline to be like it was.  So many Christian authors repeat the same storyline just changing the characters and setting a bit.  However, this was so unlike the first book in the series.  Immediately your heart went out to Emmalyne, her situation and her whole family.  I just could not put the book down as I was kept under the spell of Emmalyne and Tavin's future story, present story and future.  Seeing the change that took place in all the characters was so heartwarming and made you realize people can change with God in their lives.  I would recommend this book to anyone!

3, Really 4, Months?

Has it really been almost 4 months since I have posted on my blog?  To be honest, it feels like a year has gone by!  Never in my life I have been so busy . . . tired . . . overwhelmed . . . you name it - I have felt it, I think.

I do hope to update soon because we have a lot going on this holiday season that I want to remember.  I  guess I have my work cut out for me now!!!

I wonder where all those pictures are now . . .

A Beautiful Ending to a Beautiful Summer

That's right.

Our summer is OVER.

It went by so fast and, to be honest, it is really suppose to be over now.

However, even though my room at school is FAR from being ready . . . 

Even though I have not written one single lesson plan . . . 

Even though I really should be at school . . . 

I really need to have a day with my kids.

That's important.

When you ask my kids where they want to go on a beautiful summer day. . . 

they WILL answer - 

SHILOH!

So off we went.

It was a gorgeous summer day!

Once we got to the park, we rode with our windows down.

We enjoyed some new parts of the park as well as some of our favorite spots.

We saw more wildlife than ever before.

Here are some of the highlights!

A beautiful day . . .

A beautiful way to end the summer . . . 

Can't wait to see what God has in store for us this next school year!