New Year's Interviews

2015 began in an extraordinary way...Ian and I going to sleep by 10 pm. Fun times. It was totally worth it though. Pregnancy insomnia and reaching that largely uncomfortable stage means that sleep is elusive and highly valued.

I had intentions of getting away to a coffee shop and setting some goals for the year but after some (quick) thinking I realized my only goals were:

1.) Have a baby and enjoy the newborn stage
2.) Love on my husband and children
3.) Survive another Abu Dhabi summer

Sure, I would love it if I blogged more, completed more yearly photo albums, and checked off some bucket list items, but, if I am being realistic, then goals 1, 2, and 3, will be enough to fill my plate.

Grace and I did her New Year's Interview, following in the footsteps of last year's. This time was alot more last minute and unscripted but I love it anyways!

Grace's New Year's Interview 2015 from IGalloway on Vimeo.

And Sophia wanted in on the action after she saw Grace get to sit in the rocking chair (which is a bad place to sit a moving preschooler if you are trying to capture a picture or a video, just FYI.)

Sophia's New Year's Interview- 2015 from IGalloway on Vimeo.

And then Grace got upset that I had forgotten to ask her about school, so we did a round two for her!

Grace's New Year 2015 Take Two from IGalloway on Vimeo.

I love these videos. They so capture my girls' personalities, except Grace is usually much louder and easier to understand.

So, here's to 2015. Another year of change and growth for our little family!

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New Year's Interviews

Word of the Year and a New Look

I know, I'm a month late with choosing my word of the year. But, to be fair, we have had a good bit going on, you know, with moving overseas and all.

I should clarify by saying I have chosen wordS of the year. Plural. As in two words of the year.

Bold/Still

They may seem slightly contradictory but I assure you, they are not.

I focused on the word "Still," months ago when I felt the pressure and stress from our approaching move mounting. Again and again I had friends going through trials and I would refer them to the verse in Psalm 46:10 that says:

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted among the earth."

Each time I would feel a peace about our own situation and could rest in that stillness when I remembered that God will be exalted. If our own purpose on earth is to bring glory and to exalt God, then whatever change in the map of life that comes my way is for that purpose.

I knew my word for the year was going to be "Still." This was a trait that I wanted to strive for, to think on, and to help me focus on the sovereignty of God. We have alot of changes coming in our lives this year, especially in these first 2-3 months, and I had a real peace that this was something I needed to focus on.

I was surprised when the word "Bold," came to mind a few days after the New Years. I became greatly convicted about how my lack of boldness in certain areas of my life was leaving me without vision, identity, and purpose. I went to Scripture to see what boldness could be found there and time and again I found people being bold despite opposition and logic saying they should be otherwise.

Boldness with relationships, personal goals, language learning, social situations, and more will help me to reach the goals that I have placed before myself and I know that acting cowardly or hiding behind the veil of shyness or introvertedness will only hinder me. (note: there is a real time and place when those characteristics do affect how you act, but I know when I hide behind them instead of working with them.)

Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

I am so excited to see how the Lord uses these words to grow and stretch me this year, and to see how His presence is affirmed again and again.

Also, thanks for sticking with me as I update the look of the blog! It's coming along but definitely needs some tweaking!

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Word of the Year and a New Look

Five on Friday

It's just one of those weeks.

And also, I'm having a bit of insomnia (hello, 4 AM.)

So I thought I would join in on the randomness.

{1.} Seven years ago this week I started work at a summer camp outside of Philadelphia. Kind of a random place for a Florida girl to go and work, but it happened. You see, 8 years ago I got pretty sick and the doctors couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong. I eventually had trouble standing, walking, and, at the worst of it, had trouble gripping a pencil. So, in the midst of the whole "not knowing if I was going to live or not" thing, I wrote my bucket list. And, apparently, one of the things I had to do before I died was lifeguard at a summer camp.

So, when I started to get better, I decided that there was no time like the present to get started on my bucket list. So, I got a job at a summer camp.

Well, it turned out to be a Jewish summer camp.

And I didn't know that.

So. Wtapping up. Southern Baptist girl spends 8+ weeks away from home for the first time lifeguarding at a Jewish sleepaway camp in the Poconos.

Shabbat services and all.

It was a wonderful experience (met alot of neat people from all over the world)

and it was a horrible experience (saw the depravity of the world for the first time. In a summer camp. Yes, I know the irony in that.)

And also, I got a ridiculous tan.

 Point in case.

All of that to say, that my little 5th and 6th grade girls that were in my cabin graduated this year. From high school. And are going to college. I feel so old.

{2.} Let's continue our walk down memory lane for a moment, shall we?

Ian and I celebrated our 5th anniversary last week.

It's been a crazy, fun, adventure filled 5 years.

5 years, 4 countries, 6 homes, and 2 children later and I really wouldn't change any of it.

We were talking about how we've changed and what the biggest difference we see in ourselves might be. Probably the biggest thing is just the maturity that comes with age and experience. We feel older, more steady. Slower to speak, quicker to think.

I've always been  told that I was an old soul, but now I feel like one, ha!

Ian and I were able to slip away for a night and some friends of ours watched the girls overnight. It was the first time I've left them except when I left Grace to have Sophia! We just haven't had someone to watch the girls or we would have done it much sooner and much more often. We had a snack at one of the hotel restaurants, took in the beautiful view, and had a late dinner at a romantic Moroccan restaurant.

{3.} The girls are changing so much and so quickly!

Grace has shocked me by just growing so much with her language development. Just last week she said new words completely out of the blue- vacuum, counter, taco, and Tinker Bell. I mean, what the heck? How and where did she pick those words up? I mean, I never vacuum. ha. She also is really improving in her Fine Motor control. She has shown more interest in coloring and isn't just doing random scribbles in big lines, she is actually trying to color on or in shapes and such.

She's very tall and often gets mistaken for being 3 or even a young 4! Her 2 year old molars are popping through and since she's running a fever, we've been having alot more paci and snuggles on the couch.

Sophia, well, she's crawling now. And pulling up. And outgrown her baby bath. My baby! She can clap and wave and she loves any and all food.

{4.} Speaking of girls...I really dropped the ball on Father's Day this year. I had taken these pictures and meant to order cards for our dads and have them printed in a frame for Ian to have on his desk but I just never got around to it. My husband, dad, and father-in-law are just wonderful, Godly men, who are great fathers! I am so grateful for them!

{5.} We have just a week left in our house and just 10 days until we step foot on the plane! I am ready to go. Right now! It's at that awkward place that if I pack now, we'll be in transition too long, living out of suitcases while still in our house. But I have nothing but time so I really want to do something. Kind of like de-nesting. So I've taken to trying to sell some of our least favorite furniture or things online. Though I'm not willing to let things go if it is going to be a complete financial loss, so, no luck so far. Hopefully we can make some spending money before we head to the (expensive) US!

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Five on Friday

30 Before 30

Yesterday, I turned 26. To most that might not seem that old, but to me, it's SO close to 30. Somehow 25 was in a realm of it's own, but 26? Very close to 30.

So, I thought I would reevaluate my "bucket list," and chose some goals that I would like to accomplish before I turn that dreaded 30.

(a few of these are not from the bucket list and several of these I expect to complete during our time in the States this year!)

1. Have one more child

2. Be debt free

3. Go parasailing

4. Swim with dolphins

5. Have 5,000 in savings

6. Send a letter to the president

7. Receive a response from the president

8. Learn to play chess

9. Grow a sunflower

10. Learn and play golf with my dad

11. Throw a surprise party

12. Straddle state lines

13. Ride in a hot air balloon

14. See baby turtles hatch

15. Sew a Quilt

The first fifteen were all goals of mine, but 16-30 were goals Ian and I came up with on a recent date night that we wanted to complete together before I turned 30! It took alot off prodding and drawing out the answers from Ian, ha, but we finally came up with some. Many of them take advantage of the fact that we live in the Middle East.

16. Attend a Georgia Football game

17. Take a trip as a couple to Budapest and Vienna

18. Take a family trip to England and Scotland

19. Get scuba certified

20. Learn how to play the oud (a local Arab instrument, like a guitar)

21. Go on a dune bashing excursion

22. See the Western and Northern Emirates

23. Take a road trip to see the rest of the Arabian Gulf

24. Cross into Saudi Arabia

25. Take Grace and Sophia to Disney

26. Own a grill and a kitchenaid mixer

27. Learn how to make matchboos (a local rice and chicken or fish dish)

28. Watch all 21 James Bond movies

29. Take a calligraphy class together

30. Attend a marriage conference

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30 Before 30

Books in 2012

One of my goals for 2012 was to read 20 books in the year. In 2009 my goal was to read 50 and I made it, but 2010 and 2011 were filled with alot of moving around and learning a foreign language, so my reading dropped off significantly.

I casually read during the first half of the year, because I was still in full time language school and was left feeling mentally drained by the time class was over each day. When school was out, we moved and Sophia arrived just two months later, followed closely by the busy holiday season. I thought for sure that I wasn't going to make my goal, but when I sat down and compiled my list of books, I was pleasantly surprised at how many I had read just naturally throughout the year!

Considering this is my only goal from the year that truly got met, I am proud of it!

1. The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins
4. I've Got Your Number- Sophie Kinsella
5. The Sunday Philosophy Club- Alexander McCall Smith
6. Ender's Game- Orson Scott Card
7. Bringing up Girls- Dr. James Dobson
9. The Three Musketeers- Alexander Dumas
10. Love and Respect- Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
11. Her Mother's Hope- Francine Rivers
12. Her Daughter's Dream- Francine Rivers
13. Without a Trace- Colleen Coble
14. Beyond a Doubt- Colleen Coble
15. Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
16. Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets You in Your Mess- Brooke McGlothlin and Stacey Thacker
17. The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien
18. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
19. Humility: True Greatness- C.J. Mahaney
20. I Will Carry You:The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy -Angie Smith

I also reread:
- MiniShopaholic- Sophie Kinsella
-The Duggars: 20 and Counting- Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar
-The Negotiator- Dee Henderson

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Books in 2012

Resolutions Revisited

Sophia's birth made me think about alot of my goals for the year and how many things have been put on hold or altered because of her arrival. Usually, unaccomplished goals would drive me crazy (anyone else like me?), but I have a pretty cute, cuddly, adorable excuse this time around.

I didn't even remember what most of my goals were for the year, so I had to go back to an early January post to find out. Here they are and how they have changed:

*Complete Grace's baby blanket.
(not finished but I will get this one done!)

*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe
(I had not even tried one recipe- I totally forgot this was one of my goals! I've pulled aside 3 brownie recipes that I want to try and if none of those are "perfect" then I will try again next year. But with all of the holiday baking that is coming up, I just don't want to miss out on baking holiday goodies as a sacrifice for finding the perfect brownie.)

*Be completely out of credit card debt
(Boo. Double boo. This one is not going to happen this year. Hopefully we will be done completely with one card by Christmas, but our second card won't be done until summer of next year. We just underestimated the expense of moving into a new house and having to get appliances and furniture, so we had to alter our payment plans. At least we're making forward progress?)

*Order a 2010 and 2011 photo book and Grace's baby book
(Not done, but this one is easy enough. I've ordered the 2010 and have almost finished Grace's baby book. So I think this one will get finished!)

*Complete Couch to 5k
(erm. Yes. Probably not going to happen. I went and got pregnant just 3 weeks after making this goal, which didn't slow me down in my running. But THEN, my running partner got pregnant, and she didn't feel like running much during her first trimester. Then it was 120 degrees outside. Seriously. I think this goal will morph into a new one: Research costs of gym memberships in our new city. At least that is accomplishable.)

*Read 20 Books, two of which should be Pride and Prejudice and 1984 (from my bucket list)
(I've read 15 out of 20 so far, so I am right on track! I am currently reading Pride and Prejudice and am loving it!)

*Read the entire Bible
(I'm reading the Bible in a really strange order- I started in Psalms and read straight through until the end and then started Genesis where I have gotten a bit bogged down. I will finish reading it this year, even if it means taking a couple of morning to myself just to make some progress!)

 And that's it! My goals were really measurable and mostly practical. I'm not upset that a couple of them had to be deleted or revised, because at least the majority of them are being met.

I think it was the perfect time of year to revisit these goals. There is enough time that you can get them done if you have forgotten them, but just enough time to light a fire under you if you are procrastinating!

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Resolutions Revisited

Fall in the Middle East

Seasons tend to look a bit different on this side of the world, and I don't just mean weather wise. After all, I grew up in Florida- we don't really have normal "seasons," there either.

No, I mean that there tends to be a complete lack of recognition of the Fall season here. After all, it means nothing special to this side of the world, these three months of the year. There isn't much of a change of weather, it is not a time of harvest or Thanksgiving, there are no family oriented holidays!

And, don't even get me started on the lack of Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

It's been a disappointment three years running.

But, with the impending arrival of our second baby girl, I thought it would be wise to focus on some goals for our little family this fall. A chance to step back, spend time together, and make some memories in the process.

Next year, we hope to be in the States during the Fall and I'd like my daughter to at least know of a few things.

Like what the word leaf is.

Or what carving a pumpkin means.

Or how to order me a Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte, no whip.

Or, just the first two would be alright.

She will only be two then.

Our bucket list for this year:

Two things to observe:
1.) many of my goals are food oriented, and I am okay with that.
2.) "carve pumpkins," is a goal of mine, but I'm not even sure if we can buy whole pumpkins, so it might turn into "carve bell peppers," and, once again, I'm okay with that.

Also, "make costumes for girls," may turn into me "buying costumes for girls." I have to remember I'll have a newborn and an 18 month old.

I am looking forward to these activities, simple as they might be!

What are your plans for the fall?

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Fall in the Middle East

It's February and....

It's February and....

*my parents just left after a 10 day visit. It was wonderful and we were able to do alot of fun things together.

*we just took down our Christmas tree. It took all of 5 minutes to do, but I'm so glad we got to enjoy it for longer this year.

*that means we only have 4 and a half more months here. I'm so excited to move, I can hardly stand it. We'll get to house hunt in early March, and hopefully we'll find a place quickly so I can begin finding things to decorate/furnish with.

*Grace is crazy. She moves more than I ever thought possible and she's constantly jabbering/yelling. She is crawling like a mad woman and pulling up on things and successfully lowering herself down. Her yeast infection has finally started to clear up, nearly 2 months later. She is 10 months old today.

*I remembered my love for puzzles and puzzling while my parents were here. We did two puzzles, a 500 and an 1,000 piece puzzle, and now I wish I had more.

*I've started writing on my book review blog, Bound to Books, again. It's been awhile, but I'm finally getting back into reading.

*we sill don't have working batteries for either of our laptops, and mine will only power on when plugged in to the cord on my desk, meaning I end up using my husband's alot more. His "t," key is broken, so posting takes alot more thought and deliberating in checking my spelling!

*I already had to relook at my goals for the year because I forgot what they were, ha!

*we have three more days left until we start our final semester. Ian and I plan on saying home, getting Grace back into her normal schedule, and piecing our house back together. Ian will spend time playing his new video game and I will be blogging and reading by his side. We're looking forward o this time of relaxation.

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It's February and....

2012

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful time of family, fun, and food this weekend.

We ended our week long break from school by having our friends over for the evening. We ate delicious homemade southwestern egg rolls, salsa, queso, and twice baked potatoes (healthy, I know,) watched a football game that someone mailed them on dvd, played The Office board game, and enjoyed each others company.

They went home around 10:30 and Ian and I were in bed, asleep, an hour later. We didn't even bother staying up the extra half hour so we could celebrate the changing of the year.

I am officially old.

I spent the first day of 2012 with a cold (it keeps coming back!) and have been sleeping and laying around since we got home from school.

I looked at my End of Year Resolutions and realized I did not meet them all. A little disappointed in myself but at least three out of five isn't too shabby.

*Memorize 5 pieces of Scripture-Done. I have them posted by my desk and have read them to myself anytime I sat down to check blogs or email. It was amazing how quickly they stuck in my mind.

*Complete Grace's baby blanket (that I started last year!)- Incomplete. Boo. It was just SO hot here for so long, the last thing I wanted to do was snuggle up with a crocheted blanket and work on it. It's finally cold(ish) here and I've made progress, but I probably still have another 50 rows to go. Will finish before we move!

*Be one credit card out of two, out of debt- Complete! I was most excited about this one, because I hate being in debt! We've made some progress on the other one, but since we're paying off Ian's student loans as well, it's slow progress.

*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe- Incomplete. My kitchen and stove here are very unsuitable to baking. It makes me sad that I have such a hard time regulating the temperature of the oven and don't have my pans and other gear, but I thought I could push through that anyways. I decided not to complete this one, shortly after I set it, and instead will do this in 2012, when I have a nicer oven and all of my kitchen wares arrive!

*Order a photo book from our France vacation- Complete! This one was relatively easy and is already shipped and delivered to my parents. They will bring it over when they come at the end of the month!

So, as I am sure most of America is doing today, here are my goals for 2012:
*Complete Grace's baby blanket.
*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe
*Be completely out of credit card debt
*Order a 2010 and 2011 photo book and Grace's baby book
*Complete Couch to 5k- my friend and I started this a week or so ago and I want to finish!
*Read 20 Books, two of which should be Pride and Prejudice and 1984 (from my bucket list)
*Read the entire Bible (also from my bucket list. I started in Psalms last year and am in John. Now to finish the New Testament and go straight through the beginning of the Old Testament.)

I have a couple more bucket list goals that I am eying but since the list is supposed to be for my whole life, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. If they happen, that would be amazing. If they don't, no big deal!

There aren't any travel goals this year, since we are saving for our new home and furnishings, but I would love to have a weekend away with just Ian and I this year sometime. Let's call that a tentative goal.

What are your goals for the year? Happy New Year and happy goal setting!

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2012

End of Year Resolutions

It may only be September, but Fall flowing into Winter always feels like a rush of days and I often find myself thinking about the Holiday season and the New Year right after Labor Day.

It got me thinking about my resolutions for the year and *gasp* I realized I never set any!

I was big ol' pregnant and in the middle of language school (still am, I suppose. In language school, that is, not big ol' pregnant.) and didn't want to put any added pressure on myself.

It was probably wise thinking on my part, but now I'm wishing I accomplished something big on a checklist, besides, you know, birthing a human.

I had a great year with my resolutions in 2009 (read the Old Testament, wrote 300 blog posts, and read 50 books,) but failed epically with my 2010 goals (try 50 new recipes, memorize 25 Scripture verses, and complete project 365.)

Not wanting to set myself up for failure, I have set some smaller, more manageable goals for the rest of 2011.

*Memorize 5 pieces of Scripture
*Complete Grace's baby blanket (that I started last year!)
*Be one credit card out of two, out of debt
*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe
*Order a photo book from our France vacation

And that's it! I think that some of these will occur naturally while some will have to take a little forethought and planning.

Ian and I have been talking lately about what success means to me and how I need to feel successful at something, which living in a foreign country and learning a new language has not helped with. I hope, at the end of the year, to be able to look back and feel proud of all that I have accomplished and that I feel successful!

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End of Year Resolutions

New Year's Resolution (Take Two!)

Last year, I made 3 New Year's Resolutions. To read 50 books in the year, to write 300 blog posts, and to finish reading the Old Testament.

This year, I have decided to undertake three more goals.

1. Try out 50 new recipes. I am a cautious cook (though I love baking and will try just about anything,) so I need to try a few new things and be more adventurous in the cooking realm.

2. Memorize 25 Bible verses.

Because I just don't do enough of this.

And also, I'm lazy like an ox.

3. Participate in Project 365, a photo project that has you take one picture each day for the year! I have alot of reasons for participating in Project 365, but two stand out in particular.
1.) I want to remember all that goes on in the next year. I feel like alot is going to be happening, and I don't want to miss a moment of it. I hope that doing this project will help me to focus on living in the moment, and not just rushing from activity to activity.

2.) I love photography. I always have. But, I need to improve drastically. Taking a picture a day helps you to focus on what you are actually doing, instead of just snapping away.

Hopefully, within the next 3 weeks I'll be getting a new camera. Because that would be the responsible thing to do with our first paycheck, right? haha, I'm just kidding. We've been planning on this for a long time.

I plan on getting and using editing software and becoming familiar with it as well. But probably not until about halfway through the year.

I decided not to do a separate Project 365 blog and instead will just integrate my picture posts onto my regular blog! I haven't quite decided yet, but I think I will post on Sundays, for the previous Sunday through Saturday.

Yeah, that sounds good.

Thanks for reading through my resolutions! I choose long term resolutions that have some flexibility built in. What are your resolutions?

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New Year's Resolution (Take Two!)

Blogging Book Goal- Book #48

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

by Kim Edwards

When I worked at 'the bookstore,' last fall, I was constantly adding books to my list of "want to reads," and was always jotting down titles on scraps of paper and stuffing them in my pockets {the lists, that is, not the books, because that's stealing.}

The lists usually got forgotten about and put through the wash come laundry day, however I had a mental list that did not get so easily destroyed.

So, when at a used book store recently, I found a cheap copy of the book, The Memory Keeper's Daughter, and snatched it up knowing that I would like it!

The premise of the book is that a man, who is a doctor, helps deliver his wife's baby one night. First comes a perfectly healthy boy. Then, when the wife is unconscious, she delivers a baby girl with Down's Syndrome. The husband makes the choice to send his daughter to an institution and tell his wife that the baby girl died. Only, the nurse sent on this rather sinister errand decides to keep they baby girl and raise her. The rest of the story is about how his poor decision making affected the rest of his, his wife's, his son's, and many other people's lives as the husband is haunted with grief and regret.

Sounds uplifting, doesn't it?

Okay, well maybe it isn't a feel good type of book, but I thought it was very well written and poignant about how decisions affect many people, for many years, and for many generations.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that will give them something to mull over!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #48

Blogging Book Goal- Book #47

I decided to read A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, because, well, it's Christmas time! We were going to read it as part of book club on Bound to Books, but, let's face it, no one really pays attention to that, so I just read it by myself.

I had found a 3 dollar copy of it at a used book shop (hardcover!) and was really excited to read through it, even though I know the story backwards and forwards.

I loved it! (but I knew I would!) Yes, it is a dark, DARK story. Yes, it can seem rather depressing at times. But.... YES, it completely redeems itself!

Then, as a reward for finishing it, and because he loves me, Ian took me out to see Disney's The Christmas Carol. If you haven't gone to see it, please do! It sticks to the book almost word for word. Seriously. The character's lines are exactly from the book! It is just unreal! Don't go expecting a happy, jolly, feel good all the time, Christmas movie though. It's purpose is true to the book's purpose though, and can sometimes be dark and suspenseful! I also wouldn't recommend it to kids either. A little scary.

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #47

Blogging Book Goal- Books #41-46

I originally was not going to count these in my "Book Goal" list, but since they are books, and I did finish them this year, I decided to include them.

And also, I am just cutting it WAY too close for comfort, my friends.

#41 The Patriarchs by Beth Moore

I started this Bible study over a year and a half ago, but restarted and finished it up this past spring.

#42 Annointed, Transformed, and Redeemed by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore

I started this Bible study with my church in the fall of 2008, but when I got my teaching job, I stopped going . I completed this this past summer, and kind of liked it. It was a good introduction to some other Bible study ladies, but I'm still a Beth Moore woman, through and through.

#43 Me, Myself, and Lies, by Jennifer Rothschild

Beth Moore's living Proof Ministry (LPM Blog,) hosted this Bible study this summer, but I seriously fell off of the bandwagon (are you seeing a trend yet?) I picked this one back up right before Thanksgiving and am finishing it by Christmas Eve. I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to anyone! Gave me alot to think about and really challenged myself.

#44 Encountering the New Testament by Walter A. Elwell

Well, this one was for one of my seminary classes, and is technically a textbook. But, I read it, cover to cover, and I really liked it! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is reading through the Bible as a reference tool. The chapters are short, concise, and well illustrated to give you ideas of what they are talking about!

#45 What to Expect Before You're Expecting

Yes, I read this one. Yes, I have baby fever. No, we aren't trying right now. So my grandma, aunts, and uncles can stop hyperventilating now. I just thought it would be good to have this info under my belt before we began on that journey. This book had a lot of great information and helped to dispel a lot of misconceptions.

#46 ______________

Not going to tell you the title on this one, for security purposes (remember we're moving to the Middle East,) but it was for my seminary class and was explicitly about our "job," so I'm guessing most of you can fill in the blank there, ha!

**I am so close to meeting my book goal for the year! Only 4 more books to go! I can totally do this!**

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Blogging Book Goal- Books #41-46

Blogging Book Goal- Book #40

Wow, I can't believe I am on my 40th book! Actually, it's probably like 42 or 43rd, because there has been a couple I didn't want to blog about, but still....40!

I am actually running out of books, so I'm a little nervous. When we drove down to Florida for Thanksgiving, we packed up most of our things and put them in our storage unit, only leaving out a few books to hold us over. Somehow I forgot that I would need at least 10 more books to meet my year goal of 50 books in 2009. hmmm.

Well, for my 40th book, I read:

Morality for Beautiful Girls

3rd book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series

By Alexander McCall Smith

This is a great series for anyone wanting an "easy read," that will jump start your reading! They are fictitious mysteries, with the protagonist a {large} lady from Botswana named Precious. There is 11 books in this series, which means you can just keep reading, if you like it! He has four series in total, I believe, with the Ladies set in Botswana, Africa, and a series in Scotland and England. Definitely makes you want to travel!

If you want to learn more about this great author, check out his website, HERE, and make sure you have the volume up, it has great music!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #40

Blogging Book Goal-Book #39

For security reasons, I'm not really going to blog about this book. It's called the M____ Call, and is all about what we will be doing with The Company. Super great book if anyone is interested in learning about the process!

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Blogging Book Goal-Book #39

Blogging Book Goal- Book #38

Alright, this post has been back logged for quite awhile, and since I will be doing a ton of reading over the next few weeks, I decided to go ahead and back post it to a date where I had no posts.

If that even made a lick of sense.

For my 38th book of this crazy reading adventure, I read the second book of Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," aptly named Tears of The Giraffe.

Now, I don't really remember too much about this book, other than I really enjoyed it. It followed the same sort of layout as the last one, with Precious, the main character, attempting to smartly solve many mysteries that she is put in charge of solving.

The difference though, was that this one had a romantic side to it, with Precious being courted and proposed to by a close friend. I really enjoyed the comedy and dialogue in this book, not to mention the mysteries!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #38

Blogging Book Goal- Book #37

This book has a funny story behind the whole "me reading it," part.

I had remembered my sister talking about woman who was a detective mystery series, so while at the local used book shop, I spotted Alexander McCall Smith's "The No. 1 ladies' Detective Agency," series, which I remembered as being best sellers when I worked at the book store.

So, naturally, I texted my sister to make sure she definitely approved of the series, then picked up the first 3 for about 4 dollars a piece!

I devoured this book. Seriously. It was just a very interesting, easy read. The characters were well developed and the plot line was intriguing.

So, I called my sister up and thanked her for recommending the series. She was all "Yeah, I love James Patterson." and I was like "what? No, it's Alexander McCall Smith." and she was like "No way, it's totally James Patterson."

This went on awhile until we were both thoroughly confused.

Finally, I said something along the lines of "Heather! I'm looking athe book! It is NOT James Patterson."

And you heard the dawning revelation. "Um, what series did you say it was? Don't you mean the Women's Murder Club? Because that is the series I read! Sorry!"

Thanks big Sis, for recommending a series you had never read.

Good thing they turned out excellently!

This series is about a woman detective, Precious, in Botswana, who is appealed to by many local citizens to find answers for the problems in their lives. She may not solve high profile cases, bu there is always alot of heart in the cases she takes on. Plus the beautiful scenery and people of Botswana draws you in and keeps you asking for more.

HBO has begun to make the books into a tv series. We don't have HBO, but I can't wait for them to be out on DVD!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #37

Blogging Book Goal- Book #29-36

I'm a little ashamed of myself.

But only a little.

I read eight books this past week. That's right. Eight.

I was really looking for a good fiction fix, but since all most of our books are still in our storage unit and we can't just go our and buy enough to keep up with my veracious literary appetite.

So, I looked onto my parent's book shelf, and lo and behold, what do I see?

The entire Little House on the Prairie books (sans Little House in the Big Woods.)

Oh my joy.

(by Laura Ingalls Wilder.)

I had actually only read two of the books before, Little House on the Prairie and On the Banks of Plum Creek. And I had read those over and over again.

And over, and over.

And then I assigned my fifth graders to read them!

And I read them again.

Somehow, I had never read the rest of the books however, so I buckeled down and read them!

Little House on The Prairie

Farmer Boy

On the Banks of Plum Creek

By the Shores of Silver Lake

The Long Winter

Little Town on the Prairie

These Happy Golden Years

The First Four Years

Let me try to briefly review these eight books. First of all, remember that these are classified as children's books and are easily read by most 4th-6th graders. So my undertaking wasn't really one to be aplauded, trust me.

Secondly, if I had to chose just one word to describe all of the books it would be.....Charming. These books are just delicious, and you will surely be charmed from the very beginning to the last few words of the series.

The premise of the books, which can be classified as autobiographical instead of historical fiction, since they are based off of Laura's real travels and stories as a child, is about the Ingalls family during their pioneer trek from Wisconsin, to the Kansas Territory, to Minnesota, and finally to the Dakota territories, where they finally settle and Laura and her sisters continue to grow up.

The stories keep you on the edge of your seat and sometimes it is hard to believe that all of these events actually happened to one family!

I would highly recommend these books to anyone who was looking for an interesting, historical read!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #29-36

Blogging Book Goal- Book #28

I kind of happened across this book, instead of really choosing it. Our church here in TN was having a going away party for their youth intern and we were asked to come and do a sort of meet and great (since we were new.)

Turns out the youth intern's parents work at a radio station and gave him a box of stuff to get rid of. Brand new stuff.

So, I picked up this book, and about 3 CD's, and since I was going through a non fiction kick, I decided to give it a try!

Glory Revealed
by David Nasser

I had just finished reading "Crazy Love," and so I decided that this book would be much like it.

It wasn't.

Where Crazy Love is inspirational and motivational, Glory Revealed is much more informational and personal.

Discussing in 20 different chapters the ways that God reveals Himself through situations with reflection questions and pages for journaling your thoughts, it is set up much more like a devotional.

It really was good to read, though I read it like a book instead of a study, and I came away with a fresh perspective on all of the different ways that God uses our positive and negative situations to bring Glory to Him.

Packed with Scripture, this book is for anyone wanting a deeper look into this area, that is well researched and well written!

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Blogging Book Goal- Book #28