Good Samaritan 5K

 Saturday Mikayla and I participated in the Good Samaritan 5K. This year we walked it. It felt pretty nice and relaxing.

It rained a little but not too bad.  Felt good to spend some quality time with my girl.

After we finished we went out for breakfast to a restaurant I had never heard of begore. The All Night Eggplant. It was a little diner like place a few minutes away.  It was small and crowded and it took awhile to get our food. But we were content to sit and chat.

All in all not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning. =)

He is Risen! Happy Easter

 I awoke with joy in my heart on Easter.  As I ventured downstairs it turned to bubbles of laughter as I started finding Easter eggs. Like taped to the clasp of the dog chain, taped to the inside of the lamp shade and the ceiling, in my Bible.

At this point I wasn't sure the culprit- I suspected the children. But could not rule out the Mister either.  A while later Rhett came down to the kitchen greeting me good morning continuing to the living room for his crocs. I heard his astonished laughter and exclamation of what's going on here? 

I'm guessing Hannah... I told him, I guess this what what they were all whispering and giggling about last night.

Late Saturday night Ryan and Nicole, Jake and Hannah slipped into our house and hid easter eggs all around the downstairs.

Still finding them three days later 😂

At church there was an Easter Party for the kids and teens during the Sunday School hour. Complete with the Easter story, egg hunt, snacks and craft.

Ryan, Mikayla and Dylan also came for church which filled my heart with joy.

After service we went to Mom and Dad's for Brunch. I made sourdough biscuits and sausage gravy

We had so much food! As usual and I was stuffed. 

In the afternoon all the kids found their baskets from Mimi and we played a few games. Avocado Smash and Peach Snaps. 

 

After we went home Ryan and Nicole also stopped by to bring Easter baskets for me and Rhett! Such fun.

The kids Easter baskets from us-

Rhett and I then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening binge watching most of season one of The Chosen.  A great way to finish off Easter Sunday.

I hope you enjoyed a lovely Easter as well. 💖

Hello again...

Hello friends. I haven't felt much like sharing lately.

But Saturday we had a little sister coffee date.  We didn't take any pictures- I stole a couple off the internet. And while the coffee was good and we had a good chat, it wasn't my favorite.

We went to Salt City Coffee in the city near my sister's library. We both got the Lucky Charms latte and were a little disappointed it was simply poured from the tap with nothing to make it fancy. No whip cream, no luck charms cereal = sadness.

The coffee shop itself was crowded with college students so we wandered out through the thrift shop (promising to come back) to the common area upstairs to find a quiet table at which to sit and chat (ie complain about life). The weather that week had been particularly icky- cold, gloomy, rainy and it added to our angst.

We headed to the thrift store, I didn't find much that caught my eye but Laura came away with some treasures. Including a cute brand new with tags pink skirt. Score! 

After I got home I mixed up a loaf of sourdough, which I baked in the morning. And baked a Sourdough Carrot Cake Loaf to take to church for coffee time in the morning.

My friend said I should take a picture with my sourdough like men take pictures with the fish they catch. So I had Ryan snap a picture before I sliced it up for lunch.

We had to stop by my sister's house in the afternoon and Rhett engaged with the nephews in some sword play.

Two great reads from April so far.

The boys are very happy it is now light enough to resume our early morning walks.

They thank me by barely leaving me any room in bed.

Hannah spent some time with Mikayla and all her fur babies the other day.

While I finally made a recipe I had been wanting to for quite some time.  Chicken Parmesan Meatballs. From What's Gaby Cooking. They were delish! It's kinda hard to see in the picture but they are stuffed with mozzarella cheese.

I guess that's all for now. Looking forward to celebrating the resurrection with my Church Family on Sunday. 💙

March Books

16 Uneasy Street by Becky Wade    3/3    (audio/hoopla)★★★

A light rom/com- read because I listened to the first two books in the series last year. It might be my favorite of the series, or that just might be because its freshest in my mind. Interestingly it is the third book with threads of adoption I have read this year.  It was enjoyable and had me laughing out load at times. I wish it was easier to pull quotes from audiobooks but since I mainly listen while driving or doing chores- its not always possible to bookmark. c'est la vie

 

17 Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson    3/2    (print/own)

52 Book Club 19. Has Short Chapters

I read this as the MMD book club selection in February.  It was a bit of a slow read but an enjoyable one. This is very much a story about resilience and grief. It deals with tragedy and also has a story line rooted in slavery.

History, too often, has been told from only certain perspectives. This is not good enough. History is a collective phenomenon. It can only be told through a chorus of voices. And that chorus must make room for new voices over time.

understand that sometimes you can save yourself a lot of trouble by daring to have a difficult conversation.

 18 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarrows    3/10    (kindle/library)★★★★

52 Bookclub 42. Non-Human Antagonist

I had to put my kindle in airplane mode to keep it after my library loan ran out. :P  I'm still processing how I feel about it. It's a little spicy- and there's some language. But overall I'd say I enjoyed the story- Fourth Wing is still my favorite of the series but I think I liked this one better than Iron Flame (#2).  It's hard to really talk about books in a series with out giving spoilers.  I read a lot of kind negative reviews of this book- and I didn't really disagree- but also didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book. I like Violet, and her dragons, Tairn is my favorite- he's a loveably, grumpy, gruff, crusty old man and he was probably my favorite character in this book. 

The real disappointing part is I'm not sure I like or completely understand what's happening at the end...and there is no release date for the next one (apparently she's taking a break).

“Pain isn’t a competition,” I assure him. “There’s always enough to go around.”

“Are congratulations or commiserations in order?” Tairn lifts his head.
“Shut up.”

“Her name is Broccoli, not that,” he mutters. She looks at him like he’s sprouted whiskers. “You named a kitten Broccoli?”

I debate going back to the throwing-daggers-at-his-head stage of our relationship.

19 Sparks of the Revolution by Megan Soja    3/13    (kindle/kindle unlimited)

WC- 9. 2025 Debut from a New Author

Moody- Christian book published this year

I heard about this book on F&F podcast and looked it up immediately to start reading.  It was a delight through and through. I love reading about the Revolutionary war period.  The book is set in Boston at the time of the Boston Tea Party. I loved the characters and am so happy there is another book coming out in June. A lovely romance story and a faith journey for both main characters. 

Patience Abbott was certain her parents had erred in naming her.

Today had not been what she had hoped or expected, but tomorrow was a fresh start. “‘His mercies are new every morning.’” She repeated the verse her mother had often said and tucked the quilt under her chin, imagining it was Mama’s embrace around her shoulders instead.

Josiah shoved a hand through his hair and threw a glare in his friend’s direction. “The woman I spoke of before…she’s William’s sister.” Nathaniel’s guffaw drew the eyes of more than one fellow patron. “And you have been thinking of her again, haven’t you?” Josiah pushed away from the table and tugged the edge of his coat. “As William said, it’s late. I should be leaving.”

“I’d best be off to bed. I’ve much to think and pray on.”

20 When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin    3/17    (print/borrowed)★★★★★

 52 Bookclub 10. Author's Last Name Is Also A First Name

My mom recommended this book and I then chose it for our Church book club.  It took my a little bit to get into but it ended up being so good! An emotional ride for sure, you know you are heavily invested in the story when you find yourself wanting to pray for fictional characters!

“All hearts stop, Annie. What matters is what you do with it while it’s still pumping.”

21 My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh    3/18         (kindle/kindle unlimited)★★★★★

52 Bookclub 3. Title Starts With Letter "M"

A light fun, rom com. I've yet to be disappointed by a Courtney Walsh book.  I sincerely hope there will be book #3 with the third sister of the Hart family.  This was a grumpy/sunshine trope romance and I loved everything about it. 

You have to feel the pain in order to heal.

We’re strong, capable women, but we still like to be told we’re pretty.

Still, that tiny little compliment felt like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold, winter day. In front of a fireplace and a Christmas tree. While wearing pajamas.

22 The Fur Trader's Lady by Gabrielle Meyer    3/21    (kindle/kindle unlimited) ★★★★

52 Bookclub 38. An Adventure Story

Overall I loved this story. There were a couple things that made me go hmmm (for a Christian novel).  But not enough to dissuade me from reading and enjoying. 

Reid repaying a debt agrees to take Charlotte, on a voyage to the an outpost in the interior wilderness of Canadian to meet her fiancé. Charlotte is fleeing a man in England who is trying to force her to marry him, he is her guardian until age 21 and wants to basically take control of her inheritance. On this canoe voyage to the interior Charlotte must be disguised as a boy, apprenticing as a clerk.

I just love that Reid seemed to be a man of strong faith-

“Dear Heavenly Father.” Reid took a deep breath and then let out an exhale, his words filled with reverence and awe. “Your Word says that in his heart, man plans his course, but it is the Lord who determines his steps. May You guide our feet and protect us as we go. May we not stray from the path You have set before us—and into dangers unknown—but follow Your will, wherever it may lead. May our actions please You, and may we bring Your name and Your Word to people who do not know You. We dedicate this trip to You. In the name of Your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.”

23 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins    3/28    (kindle/borrowed)★★★★★

52 Bookclub 11. A Prequel

I read the original Hunger Games trilogy back in 2012 (Thank you goodreads!) I gave the first book 4🌟 and the second two both 5. I'm not sure why, all these years later.  I do remember loving them all. When the first prequel came out, I didn't read it. I guess I was over it at that point. And I had no real intentions of reading this one either. But Mikayla preordered it and devoured it and asked me to read it so she'd have someone to talk about it. So I did. This book is brutal. As are the rest if the Hunger Games books. This tells the story of Haymitch, who is the mentor of Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games.  This is his story as a young man when he went through the Hunger Games. Don't read it unless you want to have your heart ripped out. And now I feel like I need to re-read all the Hunger Games books and read Snow's prequel as well.

They will not use my tears for their entertainment.

I guess that’s my answer. A sister is someone you fight with and fight for. Tooth and nail.

Then she remembered she’d read that sometimes the only thing you can control is your attitude to a situation. “Like I could decide whether I was scared or not, no matter what happened. I mean, I was still scared, but it helped having that to chew on.”

Total: 8    2025:  23

Kindle/Ebook: 5    Print: 2     Audio: 1

Library: 2  Owned: 1   Kindle Unlimited: 3   Borrowed: 2

Favorite: I would definitely be hard pressed to pick a favorite this month.