Review for "One light still shines" by Marie Monville

I recently read "One Light Still Shines" by Marie Monville and was totally blown away!  First let me say, if you know me and my family very well, you know that we love the Amish culture and lifestyle and even have Amish friends.  So when the school shooting happened at Nickel Mines in Pennsylvania several years ago, we were watching the headlines along with the rest of the country.  When the rest of our country was shocked at how forgiving the Amish were towards the Roberts family (aka..the shooters family), we were not.  We know that the Amish are very forgiving in spirit and that God centers in every thing they do.  They are an example to live by.

But when I asked to review this book, I was a little hesistant on what I might read.  Marie (the wife of the shooter (Charlie) that fateful day) wrote this book and I feared I'd read maybe some terrible details that only she knew..dark secrets of her now deceased husband, or anything of the like. 

But what I ended up reading about was God's love and grace and it totally amazed me like nothing I've read before.

Marie accounts of that fateful day.  She also tells of the aftermath.  Not only the grief she experienced, but the hand of God in every single detail that followed.  How God was there with them and protected her family from the media, how He used family members to help them and uplift them, how God shined through the Amish in the many acts of love and kindness that was shown to her and her children even as they buried their own children, and even how God brought a new love in her life that she wasn't expecting.  This book had me crying and smiling and praising God all at the same time.  Our God is awesome..and her story..I'm telling you now..its a MUST read!  You won't be sorry at all that you took the time to read her incredible story.

I received a copy of this book through Booksneeze and these are my honest opinions and thoughts on this book.

Cards!!

I'm happy to say that I ordered my Christmas cards online just the other day!  Though I haven't gotten them in the mail yet (obviously) I can't wait to see how they turned out.  I ordered through Vistaprint a couple years ago and wasn't really impressed with the quality of their cards.  But after visiting their website the other day, I can tell that things have changed!

So after having a really hard time deciding on just one design..I ended up going with 4!!  Yup..you read right..I made up 4 different cards and just ordered what I needed.  While I was at it..I went ahead and ordered a photo mug for my mom and a mouse pad for my dad because I was planning on getting them those gifts anyways..I figured I'd go ahead and do it all in one place.  Glad I did too..because I found an online code and saved a good deal on them! 

In case your wondering..no..vistaprint didn't ask me to do this post in exchange for anything..though I'm wishing now I had contacted THEM to see if they'd be interested!  Maybe next year....

But anyways..y'all want to see how the cards turned out..right?  Thought so!

Designer Collection - Holiday 5" x 7" Flat Cards by Vistaprint

Holiday 4" x 8" Cards by Vistaprint

Holiday 4" x 8" Cards by Vistaprint

Holiday Folded Cards by Vistaprint

So what do you think?  I'm really pleased with all of them and can't wait to get them in the mail now!!

Winner!

Congrats to Wendy..you won the 1 year subscription to "Taste of the South" magazine!!!  Thanks to all who entered!

Impatient

Having patience is something I pride myself on.  I have a whole lot more patience than Damon does when it comes to a lot of things. 

Like driving..or waiting in the grocery store checkout line.

Ok..so that's not huge..but its something to take note of!  But anyways, I failed this year when it came to our Christmas tree.  I just could not wait any longer to put our tree up.



I couldn't help it.  I couldn't wait to see Makayla's face this year.

I know this year Christmas will be that much 'more' to her.  She'll get more joy out of the whole process.  Will be able to understand more (which excites me!!) of the Christmas story.  Telling my daughter why we celebrate Christmas and how Jesus came to earth in that little manger so many years ago..that's time I will treasure for the rest of my life. 

So yeah..this year I was impatient.  I put my tree up a couple weeks before Thanksgiving.  But it was all worth it seeing her little face light up!!



 

PS ~~  Don't forget the giveaway going on right now for the 1 year magazine subscription to Taste of the South!

3 Projects in 1 Day!

So the other day I was feeling SUPER crafty and ended up making/finishing 3 different projects in 1 day!  Go me!

The first was a project I was finishing up for a friend.  I'll give you more details later on (wink, wink!) but the final product was 2 very stylish aprons!!



The next project..well..y'all are just gonna die when you hear about it!  For Christmas, we (as in Damon and I) are getting some new bedding.  I went with a red and gray theme after a LOT of deliberation.  I wanted the pillows to be what really sets everything off.  One particular bedding set I saw online (didn't purchase it..but its what inspired my red/gray theme) had this pillow that I just fell in love with.  A charcoal gray sweater pillow.  It was SO cozy and just made the bedding set.  Well..after searching online and in stores and the cheapest thing I found was $25..I decided there HAD to be a better way!  I wasn't spending more on one pillow than I did on our comforter (it was on sale!!).  So to pinterest I went..and came up with a great solution!  Buy a sweater and turn it into a pillow!  And it was SOOOO EASY!  All I did was turn the sweater inside out..sewed close the armholes and neckhole...then turned it right side out..slid in a pillow (that I already had..$$ saved there!)..and sewed the bottom closed!  The best part is I got the sweater for only $7

 

~Before~

 ~After~

 

My last project on this very crafty day was a fitted sheet for Makayla's toddler bed.  I knew it was something that could be done..I just wasn't sure how.  So again..I headed off to pinterest where I found the perfect tutorial.  I'm one that can sew, sure, but when following a pattern I have a really hard time.  But this one was so simple even I was able to follow along easily!  And I tell you guys..had I known back when I first had Makayla what I know now..I would have never bought the first crib sheet for her.  I made this fleecy, soft fitted sheet for her for a little over $5.  I bought her a flannel sheet for her bed last year at toys r us (which was also the only place I could find flannel crib sheets) and spent around $15 for it.  The results were awesome..and Makayla loves her new sheet!

 

(ignore the stuffed kitty in the middle of the bed)

 

 

So there ya have it..3 projects in 1 day!  And in case I forgot to mention it..the last project (the sheet) I did while Makayla was awake..she was actually at the sewing machine with me..on my lap..helping as I sewed!







How About a GIVEAWAY?!

Been forever since I've had a giveaway..so I thought...

Yeah..its about time!

In the spirit of the 'giving season' we're in right now..I thought I'd pass on some savings to my dear readers in the form of a giveaway!  My subscription to Taste of the South magazine was coming near an end and they (as many have in the past) sent me notice if I renew now I could give a subscription to someone else totally free. 

So of course, I thought of all of y'all!

If your interested..Taste of the South has a lot of great things to offer.  Not only do they have very tasty southern recipes, but also travel information (like where to eat), highlights on some restaurants in different areas, and a whole lot more!  I've been a huge fan of their magazine for many, many years.

The only downfall I can see is they only publish 6 issues in a 1 year subscription!

I could easily read this magazine monthly, but this is the way theirs has always been set up.  At any rate..do I have you interested now??  If so..enter below..and good luck!  I'll keep the giveaway up until next sunday and will announce the winner Monday the 25th!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank You

Two simple words.  A world of meaning.  Also on the brink of extinction.



Have you noticed in the past several years, how sending something as simple as a thank you card has become 'old school'?  Recently (don't worry..I'm not referring to any of my blogger friends!!) there have been a couple of instances where I thought a thank you card would arrive in my mailbox (either my actual mailbox or via email) and it never did.

Was my gift not received?  Lost in the mail?  Did that person not appreciate it?  Or worse, did they hate it?

I've always tried my best to send a thank you card in the mail any time someone has sent me something.  Even better..tell them on the phone.  Or at the very least, tell them online. 

Its the proper thing to do.  Right?

Or are people in this day and age to oblivious to proper etiquette?

At any rate..its kinda sad.  At least to me it is.  Sometimes you can put a great deal of thought into a gift for someone, only to receive nothing in return.

Nothing.

But it won't keep me from giving in the future.  The Bible says, "Do not to others as they would do unto you"..even if they are unappreciative.  God appreciates what I do for others.  That's what matters most in the end.

Have you ever gave something to someone and not received any type of 'thank you' in return?  How did you handle it?

A consigning we will go...

For anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis or knows me in person..you know I'm big on shopping for Makayla's clothes via consigment sales.  Well..we had yet another sale in Charleston over the weekend and of course, scored some great deals!!



The rundown:

4 dresses
2 outfit sets (top and matching bottoms)
1 gown
1 shirt
5 pairs of pants
1 sweater (craft project for a Christmas present!)
2 dvds
1 pair of shoes
5 books (3 Nicholas Sparks books for me..Christmas gifts)

And I only spent $100 and some change!  Not bad, huh?  The reason I LOVE this type of sales event is the quality.  "Most" of the stores many of the items I purchase are stores I don't regularly frequent.  Plus again..the quality..consigment sales (in our area) take only really good quality clothing..that is..they look or are, in some cases, brand new. 

Do you shop at consigment sales?  What's the best deal you've ever gotten (anywhere)?

New 'do for the holidays!

I'm like the world's worst for making time to get my haircut.  Used to it was a priority, but when Damon went back to work a year ago after being unemployed for many months, I found myself doing grocery shopping (aka our 'big' weekly trip out of the house) with just Makayla and myself. 

Yeah..you can't exactly run into Walmart and get your hair cut with a toddler in tow.

So when he'd be going with us and it was about that time to get a trim..I'd be able to.  But it wasn't always the case.  Anyways..you see where this is going.  I just didn't have the time.

But now that Damon is working a new schedule at work that allows him more time with the family..he is almost always with us when we go out now!  So I finally went and got my hair cut..and it only put me back $7.99 (and thats with a $3 tip added in..the place I went was running a 4.99 special!!).

 

 

I'm totally loving the shorter look!  My natural curls 'spring' up more now and gives it that nice 'flouncy' look.  And yes..thats a real word..at least in my world it is!



Wednesday Love

She's my world.  And so darn cute in denim.  Love.

 

 

Collections

Many people have a tendency to collect things.  Whether its dolls, figurines of all sorts, buttons, or dust bunnies (ha!).  Most of us all have our 'thing'. 

I collect magnets.

Yeah..I'm one of those people who has a fridge filled with magnets.  When I was younger and came into someone's home whose fridge looked like that..I thought it looked a little tacky.  Cluttered. 

Maybe it is?  Maybe not?

But now..since I've become a 'collector'..I don't see it that way.  I see my little collection as my story.  Many magnets are those that I've gotten when we've been on trips, big or small.  They kind of tell the story of my life. 

Places I've been, states I've visited, states friends/family have lived or visited, places I'd like to see!  I love them..each and every one of them.  Because they are a part of 'my' story.

Any of my blogger friends out there wish to add to my collection?  Pretty please?!  Let me know in the comments section and I'll send you my address if you don't already have it!  :-)