The Kindle

Update ---- Ashley made it home fine, yesterday! Thank you for your sweet thoughts and prayers!

Thank you also for your sweet comments, once again! I am so thankful for all of you!!

The Amazon Kindle --- David gave me one of these for Christmas this year.

Before I tell you whether or not I like it, let me fill you in on how I feel about books. 

I LOVE BOOKS!! I have almost a whole wall of books in my office/craft room! I have a hard time parting with them, even after I have read them. Books give me such a great feeling of "accomplishment" after I have read them. How can I throw or give away books that I enjoyed reading so much?? 

Here are a few photos of my wall of bookshelves. These were taken a few years ago... but, you'll get the idea!

I took this photo (and the next) as "before" shots of my very messy shelves, before I did a clean-up on them! -- Sadly, these shelves are back to being just a little messy! Oops!

Here are the "after" shots of a much more organized space!

By the way..... Ashley painted that beautiful ocean scene and the red & black platter was painted by my mother! The other picture was done by a lady that I used to work for. 

I love to look at books, as well. I love the ones with pretty pictures and I am instantly attracted to books with bright or interesting covers! -- You'll have a hard time getting me out of a book store!! 

I love to read all sorts of books. I love Mysteries, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romantic Comedies, "Heavy" Romance (if you know what I mean! *Smile*) and I even love non-fiction books. One of my favorites is "The Journey" by Billy Graham. 

Anyway.... For a couple of years now, I have been checking out the "e-readers" -- such as The Nook & The Kindle. I really liked the idea of them, but I couldn't get past the thought of not actually "owning" the book! 

As Christmas rolled around -- Once again, as it seems to do every few months!! -- this year, I started talking about them again and wondering about them. I guess David decided to make the decision for me and get me one! Haha! 

I'm still getting used to using my Kindle, but I'm starting to REALLY like it!! It's so light weight and can hold SO MANY BOOKS!!! I have to admit, tho, that I will miss buying actual "books" to read, but... at least this way..... my shelves might stay neat! ** Smile**

New Books For My Trip

Well, I finally finished that book that I started reading back in June - (I think). I can't remember exactly when I started it, but I always like to find a good book to read in the Summer, when I have more time to read! This is the book that I just finished ----

Photo Source

I really liked this book!! There are 39 chapters, and long about the middle of the 21st chapter... I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN!! I mostly read while I was hanging out by (and in!) my pool.

I would start out by laying on my float with my sunglasses on my face, my hat on my head, my foot on the edge of the pool (to keep me in one place!), my cool drink by my side and my book in my hand!! Then... as I got hot... (and I did!!)... I would scoot off of my float and sit on the steps of my pool and prop my feet up on the handrail. Then... I would move to the edge of the pool, where the umbrella gives shade, and stand for a bit, all the while... reading and reading! I only read on Friday & Saturdays, tho.

Last weekend, was when I got to chapter 21!!! Since then... I have not only read by the pool, but everywhere!! I HAD to find out what happened to poor Griff!!! -- Plus, since I was so close to finishing the book, I decided that I wanted to finish it before our trip. That way, I could start a fresh one while we were ON our trip!

Here is what Amazon has to say about the book ---

Foster Speakman, an eccentric Texas paraplegic millionaire, offers $500,000 to Griff Burkett, a disgraced former NFL quarterback fresh out of prison after serving a five-year sentence for racketeering, to impregnate Foster's wife, Laura. Foster insists the child be conceived naturally (The way God intended). Broke with no prospects, Griff takes the job. Meanwhile, Stanley Rodarte, the crooked detective behind Griff's arrest, is bent on pinning an unsolved murder on him and takes to terrorizing Griff and those close to him in the hopes of nailing him when he self-destructs. After Griff's stint as stud takes a bad turn, the ex-footballer must track down the one man who can secure his freedom. The tension builds as lust, greed, pride, wrath and envy threaten to undo everyone in this tightly told tale of modern temptation. (Aug.)


Also --

Foster Speakman and his wife Laura lived a charmed life before fate denied them the one thing they wanted most -- a child. Fresh out of prison and out of prospects, Griff agrees to do a job for the Speakmans that demands secrecy. But he soon finds himself once again in the spotlight of suspicion when an unsolved murder comes back to haunt him. While safeguarding his new enterprise, Griff must also protect those around him, especially Laura Speakman. Griff stands to gain the highest payoff he could ever imagine, but cashing in on it will require him to forfeithis only chance for redemption...and love.

Sounds good, doesn't it?? --- It is!

So, now that I have finished that book... in which I bought at Goodwill, by the way! (I rarely buy books new unless they are a book that I plan on keeping.) .... I needed to find another good one for my trip.

Yes. I have PLENTY of books at home, but I love the fun of "hunting" for a good book! My favorite author is Mary Kay Andrews, and she has a few books that I haven't read yet. Here's the link to the Amazon page where you can see and read about her books -- LINK. Her books are light-hearted & funny. They also usually involve a little bit of romance & mystery. A little bit of it all! She is a Georgia Girl and therefore, most of her books take place in Georgia.

Anyway.... I went to the library in hopes of finding at least ONE of her books that I hadn't read yet. Nope. There weren't any. Well, there was one. It was her Christmas one. I don't think Summer is a good time to read a book that has to do with Christmas. I'll save that one for Winter!

So, then... I started searching for another Sandra Brown book. I saw a few. But, none peaked my interest. I ended up leaving without a book, but made my way back to Goodwill to look there. They have a large selection of books, but they are in NO ORDER what so ever!! So, you have to "crank" your neck to one side in order to read each title and/or author! Luckily, I can spot fiction books pretty easily.

I scanned the shelves and found not one, but THREE books that caught my eye! All three seem to be light-hearted books like Mary Kay's. I do not recognize the authors, but the books seem "fun". Two of them are by the same author -- Beth Harbison. I am not sure if one is a sequel to the other, or not. I decided to first read the one that seems to come first, but bring along the second one as a back up book, in case I finish the first one!

Here's the one that I am going to read first ---

Photo Source

Here's what Amazon has to say about this book ---

From Publishers Weekly


Arriving just in time for beach-read season, the effervescent hardcover (mine is soft-cover!) fiction debut of cookbook author and romance novelist Harbison features four D.C.-area women who meet weekly to swap and chat about... shoes. Trying to get a handle on her massive consumer debt, Lorna Rafferty posts an Internet ad looking to trade footwear with women who have good taste and wear size seven-and-a-half. A senator's trophy wife, Helene Zaharis, is dreaming of escaping her loveless marriage when she stumbles upon Lorna's post. Overweight phone sex operator Sandra Vanderslice struggles to overcome her agoraphobia long enough to attend the shoe meetings. After a few funny missteps, the threesome finds a fourth member, Joss Bowen, the nanny of a shrewish socialite's hellion boys. Joss couldn't care less about shoes, but uses the group as a reason to get out of the house. Harbison does a fine job of showcasing how each woman is trapped—Lorna by her debt, Helene by her marriage, Sandra by her self-image, Joss by her employment contract—and how the fresh eyes of the group allow them to see themselves in a new light. Harbison creates vivid, convincing characters and handles them well. Reading this novel is like eating a slice of cake. (June)

From Booklist

In this entertaining novel set in Washington, D.C., three very different women are brought together by a shared passion: shoes. They meet once a week to trade Manolos and Maglis, but soon they rely on each other for much more. Lorna, a debt-ridden waitress, founded the group to curb her destructive shopping sprees. Helene, a senator's trophy wife, attends to escape her loveless marriage and the banality of high-society life. Sandra, an overweight phone-sex operator, hopes the group can help cure her agoraphobia. They're joined by Joss, a young nanny, who doesn't care about shoes but needs a place to avoid her demanding boss. The four women become fast friends, trusted advisors, and eventually business partners. Readers will root for these four plucky women. Like the designer shoes that pepper its pages, this book is pleasing and stylish. This frothy confection is sure to fly off the shelves this summer.
 
Like I said... It sounds light-hearted and fun! I'll fill you in on the second one after I finish this one! I love to read in the car, and we'll be in the car quite a LOT! There is a good chance that I will at least finish the first one!

I have to tell you what the clerk at Goodwill said to me when I was checking out...

She saw the books that I was buying and asked (while laughing!!).... "Girl! Do you have a thing for shoes??"  It was quite cute! I had to say... "No. I just have a thing for fun light-hearted books!"

A to Z Blog Challenge -- A & B

I saw this fun Blog Challenge on my friend Becca's Blog. I have done an A to Z Blog Challenge before, but this one is a little bit different. For this one... you have to name 5 things that start with the letter of the day and then write about them. If you care to play along... you can join in by clicking the link button on my side bar.

I am a day behind, so this posting will contain both letter A & B.

Letter A

Ashley

Ashley is my first-born daughter. She has a birthday this month and will be 24!! I am having a hard time accepting the fact that I have a child that is THIS OLD!! Of course..... I am not getting any older, myself! **Smile** It seems like yesterday that I was 24 years old!! Ashley was two years old when I was her age! WOW!

Anniversary

David and I will be celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary this month!! WOW! The years have flown by so very fast! We are planning on taking a weekend trip somewhere to celebrate. We haven't decided on just "where", yet.

Atlanta

This is the city that I grew up in -- Atlanta, Georgia. I was born in Columbus, Georgia... but when I was three years old, my Daddy was transferred to Atlanta by the finance company that he worked for at the time. I grew up on the east side of Atlanta in the county of Dekalb. It's funny.... David took a transfer 12 years ago with the company that he works for and now, I am right back to where I started from!! I love where I live now, but there are many things that I miss about Atlanta.

April

The month of April is a very special month to me. It is the month that I was married, bought my first house and my second, had my first child, and it is when nature comes back to life in all of it's beautiful Spring colors!!

All My Children

This was my mother's favorite soap opera. She never missed an episode! As I grew up, I became a fan of the show as well, and watched it as often as I could. Over the past few years, I have finally moved on and no longer watch it. My mother no longer watches it either. Since her stroke, she has a hard time focusing on TV shows and movies. I heard, just the other day, that All My Children's ratings were down and that the show may be canceled. This makes me sad, but I understand.

Letter B

Bananas

I have no idea why I am writing about banana's!! This is the one food on this planet that I do NOT like!! I can't stand the smell or the taste of them! Blech! Many people have tried to get me to "like" them, but I refuse! Yes... I KNOW that they are healthy and good for you! But... NO! I do NOT like them and will NOT eat them! You can't make me!

Books

I love books!! I would rather read a book about something than read about it online. Back before Christmas, I seriously thought about asking David to get me one of those electronic book "thingy's", like the Kindle or the Nook. But, I have thought about it since then, and have decided that I like actual books a whole lot better! Just yesterday, I purchased my very first copy of Tom Sawyer! I was at a little flea market near my house that I hadn't been to in a while and found a booth FULL of old books! I could have stayed there forever looking at all of them! (In fact... I may go back and look some more!) This is where I found the Tom Sawyer book. I can't find a "year" on it, but from looking online, I believe it is from the 1950's or 60's. If you take me to a book store, you will have a hard time getting me out!!

Bags

I have a "thing" for bags, too! I love them! I use them for everything. In stores, I am drawn to them. I certainly don't need any more, but if I see a cute one... you can almost bet that I will buy it!

Butterflies

My mother loves butterflies. I always think of her when I see one. She recently told me that she would love to have butterflies released at her funeral. I had never thought of this or heard of it, but isn't it a beautiful thought! I have no idea how I will carry out her wish, but it is something that I need to research.

Birds

Now that it is Spring, the birds are returning to my bird feeder! YAY! Yesterday, I saw a bright red cardinal and a chickadee! Birds are also something that my mother loves. All that I know about birds, I learned from her.

To Pay or Not to Pay

You may not know this, but I love going to the library and checking out books! I also love to buy them, but if I can "check them out" rather than buy them, I will.

The county that I live in is mostly rural and it is a fairly big county. The "County Seat" (or main town) is in the center of the county. This is where the very small, county library is. I live in the southwest part of the county, almost into the city of Columbus, GA... which is in the neighboring county.

We have lived here for 12 years and we have always used the library in Columbus because it is more convenient and because it is bigger and has a much better selection of books, CD's, DVD's, etc.

I had heard that the Columbus Library System had started CHARGING out of county residents to use "their" library, but I didn't believe it. Today.... I found out that it is TRUE!

They are charging out of county residents $35.00 per year for a library card!!! YIKES!!

I was sad to find this out. I didn't have the CASH ---- Yes. They will only accept CASH!--- to pay it today. Plus... I need to think about this and decide if it is worth it or not.

Of course, I am sure that it will save me money in the long run, but...... will it, really???

Also, we could buy ONE card and the girls and I could share it, I suppose.

I don't know. I'll have to give this some more thought. I am just quite disappointed that I now have to PAY to use the library!

Yes.... I could use our own county library, but it really is not at all convenient and it is VERY small!

Decisions, decisions.

A Book for My Mom

A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me about this wonderful book ----

In case you can't read the subtitle.... it says...

"A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back"

As soon as my friend told me about the book, I knew that I must buy it for my mom to read.

For those of you that may not know... my mom is in a nursing home as a result of a stroke that she had in November of 2005. She bounced back pretty good from the stroke, but over the past few years... has been declining in health and now suffers from Congestive Heart Failure. I know that my mom does not have much time left with us, here. Her heart is getting more and more weak. I have accepted this fact and I am prepared.... or at least I "think" I am prepared... for her to leave us and pass on to live forever in eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

For the past month or so, my mom and I have been having some deep conversations regarding how she feels about death and her wishes for when the time comes. Through these conversations, I have sensed that she has many fears and questions about it all.

I have tried, the best that I can, to comfort her, answer her questions, and ease her fears. But, of course, I do not have all the answers. No one here on earth, does. All that we know is what we read in the Bible, and from books such as the one above.

So, when my friend told me about this book... I knew that I must get it!

My mom's birthday is Sunday. I would like to give her the book as one of her presents. Fortunately, she does like to read. I just pray that she will enjoy this book and it will ease her mind and her fears.

I have started reading it myself and I am hoping to finish it before Sunday.

Let me share a little bit of what the back of the book says --

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in his life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Coltons says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

I can't wait to finish reading this book!! And....So far, it is easing "my" fears about dying and going to Heaven. I sure hope it helps my mom, as well.

Bucket List #91-93

#91 --- Get a passport --- I guess, if I am going to go to all of these wonderful destinations (well... at least the ones that are in (or ARE) other countries!) I will need to get a PASSPORT. I have never obtained one before, because I have never needed to. I have heard that it takes several months to get one. I guess Hubby and I better plan ahead for this before we go jet-setting off somewhere!!

#92 --- Go on a mission trip --- This is something that I have had the opportunity to do several times, but have always been a little hesitant about doing for whatever reason! I've had the opportunity to go to The Bahamas, to Costa Rica, to Mississippi, to Alaska, to Kentucky, and to quite a few others that I've forgotten about! I seem to always come up with an excuse as to WHY I CAN'T GO. My excuses usually have to do with either lack of financial funds or the weather (as in it being "too hot"). I really DO want to do this! I think I need to search deep down into my heart and really consider doing a life-changing thing, such as this!

Found this beautiful photo at  THIS SITE

#93 --- Read at least 4 books a year --- I have tried and tried to follow through with this one since I started this list. I really DO love to read! But, I face my own challenges when it comes to actually sitting down and reading a book! I have several TYPES of books that I enjoy --- I like fun romance novels that have both humar and romance. I also like fun mysteries that have a little bit of romance to them. I also enjoy reading to gain "knowledge". (Don't laugh!) Especially the type of books that set your heart on fire for GOD!

Here are a few books that I have read within' the past year (or so!) that I really enjoyed ---

This one is a blend of mystery & romance! Loved it!!

Great story! I fell in love with Italy by reading this book! (And I love football!)

I learned a lot from this book!

A MUST READ!