YouTube Thursday

It's been quite a crazy couple of weeks between my niece graduating, my other half's birthday last week, and our anniversary this week.  And I didn't even really post pictures--unless you watch my Twitter feed at the side of the page, or follow me on Instagram.   I know, I know...bad blogger.  In any case, with all of the craziness I'm trying to remember to count it all joy, which leads me to today's video:

Joy by For King and Country




P.S.  Happy #NationalSmileDay

Congratulations Cutie Pie!

It's hard to believe that today is the day you're leaving high school and starting the next step of your life--college.  I still remember hanging out at amusement parks when you were younger,

going to chorus concerts,

cheering you on in robotics,

taking trips with you,

and even having our girl's nights.

While we haven't been able to get together quite as often the last few years due to distance,  I still love that we can pick up right where we left off and be our goofy selves together.  

I am very proud of the young lady you've become and can't wait to find out what you're going to do next for others.  

Kind.  Caring.  Compassionate.  Intelligent.  Beautiful.  

These are the words that come to mind when I think about you.  Congratulations on finally getting out of school and graduating so you can continue to pursue your dreams.  I love you!

You Tube Thursday

It's been twelve years and now the end is finally here.  My niece is graduating from high school tomorrow and I can barely believe it.  I've watched her from the time she was born blossom into the young lady she is now.  I can't believe it's time for her to start the next step in this adventure called life. 

I had so many things I wanted to do for her before we reached this point, but life has a way of sneaking up and past you.  All I can say is enjoy it while you can because it is brief. 

Today, I realized that the Sidewalk Prophets have already mentioned all of the things I want for her in their song "The Words I Would Say." 

So, Cutie Pie--this one's for you!  I'm very proud of all you have accomplished so far in your life and can't wait to see what's to come!  Congratulations!!  You finally made it!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms who have two-legged and four-legged children!  

I hope your day is filled with rest and relaxation!

Love Inspired Book Tour

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these books for free from the publisher through a book blogger campaign. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

What exactly is Love Inspired?  Here's the word directly from the publisher:

Feel comforted and at peace when you read these uplifting romances of faith, forgiveness and hope from Love Inspired. There are 12 new books each month! 6 from Love Inspired for those who love contemporary romance and 6 from Love Inspired Suspense who like some danger with their romance stories.


Dynamic Uno here:  While very saddened to hear that the LitFUSE Publicity Group is no longer in business, I was happy to hear that the publisher, Harlequin, decided to continue with their Love Inspired book tour.

Yes, Harlequin publishes books with a Christian slant.  The tag line is "Heartwarming Inspirational Romance" and they do not contain all of the other "stuff" that the Harlequin name is know for in their books.  I've spoken with several people this past month who were surprised to see me reading a Harlequin romance and when I started telling them about the books, they were immediately impressed. (Yay!!)

Enough about me though-you're here to hear about the books!  I was hoping to have read all of them before the tour, but alas time was not on my side.  I was able to read two of them, even though I only had to read one.  Hopefully I'll be able to read the others within the next few weeks.

Primary Suspect 

by Laura Scott

Framed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend---and then attacked at the crime scene---fire investigator Mitch Callahan turns to ER nurse Dana Petrie for help. As they fight for their lives, can she be convinced of his innocence---and in his promise of love?

Primary Suspect by Laura Scott (Love Inspired Suspense)
I have to admit that I hate finding out that the book I'm getting ready to read is part of series that I haven't read yet.  However, that was not a problem with this story.  The action started on page one with a murder scene being discovered with several murder attempts made and a couple on the run.  The action continued throughout the story and the whole time I kept questioning why all of this was happening to the characters, just like they were.  I enjoyed reading this fast-paced thriller and now want to read the other books in the series while waiting for the next one.

Bound by Duty 

by Valerie Hansen

When Sgt. Linc Colson is assigned to monitor Zoe Sullivan and determine if she's secretly aiding her fugitive serial killer brother, his instincts tell him she's not in league with the criminal---she's in danger. It's up to him and his K-9 partner, Star, to keep the pretty single mom alive.

Bound by Duty by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)
I was immediately drawn in to this story since the main character was being followed by Military Police surveillance because of the murders her brother committed.  Talk about drama from the first page!  This story kept me guessing throughout because the events kept getting crazier and crazier--I can only imagine how helpless the characters felt.  I  also enjoyed reading as the sparks started flying (in a good way) between Linc and Zoe.  Happy endings are my favorite!  If the other books in the series are as good as this one, then I'll definitely keep reading them!

The Wedding Quilt Bride 

by Marta Perry

Widowed single mom Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community hoping to open a quilt shop. She accepts carpenter Daniel King's offer of assistance---but she isn't prepared for the bond he forms with her son. Will getting closer expose her secret---or reveal the love she has in her heart for her long-ago friend?

The Wedding Quilt Bride by Marta Perry (Love Inspired)
Yes, I know...another book about the Amish.  I'm hoping to get to this one in the next few weeks because it looks really good.  If you've read it, let me know what you thought!

The Rancher's Secret Child 

by Brenda Minton

Marcus Palermo's simple life gets complicated when he meets the son he never knew he had---and his beautiful guardian. Lissa Hart thought she'd only stick around long enough to aid Marcus in becoming a dad---but could her happily-ever-after lie with the little boy and the rugged rancher?

The Rancher's Secret Child by Brenda Minton (Love Inspired)
If you've been with me for any length of time, you know that I love me some cowboys--whether fictional or real. This one is another one I'm hoping to get to within the next few weeks.  I can't wait to read about what happens with Marcus and his son.


Since you've stuck with me for this long, let me tell you about the $100 Visa gift card giveaway!

https://gleam.io/gLe4I/love-inspired-blog-tour-sweepstakes

Love Inspired Blog Tour Sweepstakes!
I mean, who couldn't use $100 right now?  (If you don't need it, then you can always donate it to your favorite blogger...am I right?  Bueller...Bueller...)


Let me know what you think and Happy Reading!

You Tube Thursday

Y'all know how I love me some NeedToBreathe.  When their Hard Love album came out, this is one of the songs that I immediately fell in love with...

Let's Stay Home Tonight


I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  Let me know what you think in the comments section!

International Bereaved Mother's Day

http://stillstandingmag.com/2016/06/international-bereaved-mothers-day/

I first became away of this day through a former co-worker who lost her child before birth.  I grieved with her through the distance and I watch the amazing things that have come out of her grief through the foundation established as a result of her loss.  Never did I think that I would be joining this day of remembrance.


Only our mothers, doctors, and a couple of my current co-workers knew that we were walking through this same heart-break earlier this year.  It was such a nightmare, and despite all of the tears that I'm shedding as I attempt to type, I think it's finally time for me to share our story of loss.

I found out in January that I was pregnant.  Definitely not planned, and quite a surprise given that neither of us thought we could conceive, but a miracle blessing.  I went to my PCP a few days after my home test to confirm and she was so happy for us.  I was completely inundated with information and overwhelmed, but excited and trying to figure out how best to tell Handsome Uber Marine.

I decided to meet him after work at the place where we had our first date.  He actually beat me there, but I was still able to let the staff in on the news and what I was about to tell him--they were excited as well.

Handsome Uber marine asked me why I had a gift bag and I told it was a present for him because I had been so moody lately (pregnancy hormones are no joke) but that I would give it to him afterwards because it was a little personal.  He just nodded and we shared about our days.

After he had eaten, I finally gave him the gift bag to open and to say he was shocked is an understatement.  He even had to read the card twice before it actually sank in.  We. Were. Pregnant.  About 4 weeks along.

The next couple of days were a blur as we tried to decide how to tell our mothers because Handsome Uber Marine is incapable of keeping a secret.  We finally decided to take them out the following Friday  to dinner under the guise of Valentine's Day since it was just around the corner.  We scoured Pinterest and decided to give them a cute little birthday announcement with the September 30 potential due date.  Sadly, on Wednesday of that week, I started bleeding heavily and went to the ER.

After hours of waiting to be called back, they determined that I might be having a miscarriage, but to talk to my OBGYN and she could keep track of my levels, etc.  Of course everyone there kept telling me about how they had a miscarriage and now have x number of kids living healthy lives.  There were even pictures shown to me to try and give me hope.  It just made me pray harder to keep "Jellybean."

On the Friday we were supposed to meet our mothers for dinner, we managed to get an appointment with the OBGYN for the first time.  She was not as sympathetic as I had hoped, but she did confirm that I was having a miscarriage and that we would just have to wait it out.  "But don't stress out about it."  (Yeah, I wanted to punch her.  I'm losing my child, but I shouldn't stress out about it--right.)  She told me to go back to the doctor in a couple of days since they could test my HCG levels again and that I would becoming into the office every couple of days for blood work and to test my levels to make sure they were dropping adequately.

We went through this nightmare for weeks.  Me, bleeding heavily, praying that  Jellybean would just hold on because I had been told that some people bleed during their first trimester, especially if this is their first child and they're of "advanced maternal age."  Finally, after all of the ultrasounds and blood work, they still couldn't find Jellybean and had decided that Jellybean was gone.  On Valentine's Day no less, the OBGYN told me to either schedule surgery to have the remains sucked out or to take a pill and continue bleeding with really bad cramps.  I figured I had lasted this long with cramps and bleeding that a while longer wouldn't hurt.

Handsome Uber Marine and I continue to grieve the loss of our child.  The miracle blessing that God decided to raise for us. And while we won't know the why until we meet Him one day, we both rest knowing that we are able to have kids and will try when we are ready.  We have hope.

Background image created by Ijeab - Freepik.com

There will be some that will say that God is punishing us because we're not married yet and living together.  While others will blame it on me, my stress levels, my health... (I only mention these because they are the hurtful things that family members have already said.)

All I can say is, I don't wish this nightmare or heart-ache on anyone.  And if you've been suffering through the loss of your child too--I understand, and I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you for letting me remember my little one, even though our time together was brief.

Love Inspired Book Tour Giveaway

Enter now for the Blog Tour Sweepstakes by following the directions below.  Winners will be contacted via the Harlequin Love Inspired division, I'm just giving you the opportunity to enter the giveaway.  Stayed tuned for my reviews of several of the Love Inspired books.  Good luck!

Love Inspired Blog Tour Sweepstakes!

You Tube Thursday

I've had to face a lot of decisions here lately that I've been scared to come to grips with and every time I've gotten into the car, Zach Williams' song Fear Is A Liar has come on.  While the video deals with other forms of fear--suicide, bullying, etc.  I still think the words apply to any difficulties that occur when you're afraid.  I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.








Let me know what you think in the comments section.