Last Week to Win A Copy!!! Extended time...

I'm guilty. I got so crazy the end of June and beginning of July, that I forgot I was supposed to end the contest on the 5th. I figure one more week wouldn't hurt anything, although since only two people entered, they are probably wishing I'd shut up...grin. So -- I'm extending it to the 15th. Totally last day!

But, since I announced it a few weeks ago, you've probably forgotten. You've gotten wound up in your own little busy summer activities and have forgotten you could have this excellent book in your little hands!!

Well, it's time to refresh your memory! J Scott Savage's book, Farworld, is by far one of the best books I've read of that age grouping in a long time. He has an excellent way of telling a story and drawing you in for the ride.

Here's a review of the rules:
EVERYONE with a blog can join in.

1) Add a link to this blog on your blog, with some nice blurb about the contest.

2) Post a comment on here so I can visit your blog and see your entry.

That's it! The contest will run until the July 15th. The winner will be drawn at random from the comments. Your prize will come direct from the publisher, Deseret Book's Shadow Mountain.

So...don't waste anymore time. I'm keeping track...I'll be posting an interview with Mr. Savage the week after the contest (or thereabouts) so be sure and watch for it...it should be interesting!

NEW CONTEST!

Okay...This is the best one ever. Want to win a free book??? Of course you do!! Well, I mentioned how I get to preview J. Scott Savage's new book? I also get to give one away!

Here goes with the contest rules. They couldn't be easier. And EVERYONE with a blog can join in.

1) Add a link to this blog on your blog, with some nice blurb about the contest.

2) Post a comment on here so I can visit your blog and see your entry.

That's it! The contest will run until the July 5th, with a reminder at the top of my blog most days. The winner will be drawn at random from the comments. Your prize will come direct from the publisher, Deseret Book's Shadow Mountain.

I read his book, and it's amazing! It's one of the best of it's kind I've read in a LONG time. You'll find it riveting, fascinating and definitely a page turner. What's even better is your kids will really like it too!

Come on...enter. You know you want one! ;)

I'm READING -- don't bug me

Well, I'm signing up for the Summer Reading trek. I don't usually sign up for these things because I don't have time during the school year when I'm working to read as much as I'd like. I figure I hope to have more time now, but that could be wrong -- I guess we'll see.

So...my list for reading this summer...

The 13th Reality -- James Dashner
Far World, Water Keep -- Scott Savage (ARC -- Blog tour! -- more to come, grin)
Fool me Twice -- Stephanie Black

I don't have the list handy, so I'll be adding to it later. I'm excited...

Capturing the Moment

Several years ago, while we were struggling with a child who was making poor choices, (like that has changed) I ran across a book that has had a great impact on me and my life. While most of you would think this was the Book of Mormon (and it's a wonderful read, I might add) I'm talking about something else. It's called He Did Deliver Me From Bondage.

While I haven't been able to fully appreciate it's principles and apply them daily as it suggests, I have gained new insights from it and am striving to work through my frailties. One of the suggestions it makes is that you read each morning, either scriptures or from the modern prophets and capture what you've read. By capturing, they mean not only studying it, but bringing it into your life. Writing it down, such as in a journal or notebook.

For some reason, this has been difficult for me. I used to be quite the journal writer. I have several journals through my youth and college years, and three alone for my mission. But since being married and having children, that has become a challenge. I've done better in the past year, but it's still much more sparce than I'd like. At one point I was following the 12 week challenge in the book with a group of friends. I got to a point where it was difficult and let myself stop. It still bugs me. I know I need to work through this part of my life, just as I know there are things I need to be doing. It is a hard thing though, and I keep procrastinating.

One thing I have done though, is I've started walking every morning on our treadmill. I'm not a walker in the sense that I like to go outside and take long walks. I love nature, so I don't know why that's not something I enjoy -- I just don't. So, I like walking on my treadmill. And while I walk, I read the Ensign. I've gone through three of them now, which I'm fairly proud of, and started today on last years spring conference issue. I'm figuring on finishing it before May's conference one comes out. I would read the fall conference, but we've been trying to read that one together as a family...sigh.

Anyway, the point I'm getting to, is that it has been a wonderful time for me. I suppose I could read the scriptures while I walk, but they take more reflection and attention than my sleepy first-thing-in-the-morning brain. My goal is to make it to a mile a day. Today was the closest I've gotten, which was 18 minutes, or three times around an imaginary track. That's pretty good for me -- especially when I started out at 10 minutes, and barely past once around...

But my favorite part, is the reading. I love the words of the brethren. I can hear their voices from the times I've heard them in conference. I ponder the words and how they effect me and my life. I feel as if I've started capturing their words -- in my heart. It's an interesting thing.

Unfortunately it doesn't appear to have changed my behaviors much or my tendency to be short tempered -- I'm hoping that will change with time, as I sincerely want to change. But that's what this life is all about, isn't it? The opportunity and desire ... to change. To have the image of the Savior in our countenance. That is all I seek.

Have a good one...

I've Been Distracted...

I have to admit, I've been distracted. I don't know how it started -- wait, yes I do. Someone invited me to join them at Goodreads, and it's gone from there. Goodreads is where you can list all the books you've read, rate and perhaps review them for others to think about, and mention the books your reading. ugh. I've been going through and finding all the ones I've read. I now have over 300...but it's such a long process because I don't remember all the ones I've ever read. Especially the ones in high school...although I don't think we're really worried about all the silly romance novels I read either...hundreds of those (Barbara Cartland, Harlequin, you get the picture)

So -- I've been trying to find the ones I read as an adult. That's quite an undertaking to figure out what you've read over the past 25 or so years... And it's very addicting!! So, I've posted my bar thing at the lower end of the left side. Check it out...you might have some fun!

Greetings!

Well...I'm finally feeling a little bit better. Yesterday I thought I was going to church - I was supposed to teach a lesson even - but it didn't happen. I was back in bed, wishing my stomach belonged to someone else.

Today, so far, so good - but my stomach is still being iffy. I hate that achy feeling...sigh.

I had lots of deep thoughts yesterday, but they've vaporized with the new day. Hopefully some of them will come back so that I can share them with you.

One thing I was going to talk about for a friend. I was talking about a book I had purchased to help my daughter during a difficult time. She (my daughter) was totally addicted to reading. We are not talking just liking to read when she wasn't doing other things--I'm talking about stealing a book because she wanted to read it so bad. She got caught twice, once by us, once by a store, and at that point had to pay the consequences. She paid the store back, but it's been a sting she hasn't liked to talk about for a long time. It's an embarrassment for her.

We have the opposite problem some parents do. We don't have to worry about our children reading. We have to worry that they are reading when they are supposed to be doing something else...like listening in class! We even had one child almost come to blows with his teacher because the teacher tried to take his book away!

Now...given the thought that just crossed my mind that there was something in life so awful that they were escaping into books over it, (I shudder to think that was a reality) or they were just soo into reading that everything else was boring...I'm not sure. I don't think we have been that bad of parents, I mean, we're certainly not perfect, but we do try. However -- they do come by their addiction honestly.

I mean, I'm a reader. I read anything that comes before me. If I'm at the doctors office I stock up on magazines and read till they drag me out. If I am sitting waiting for someone, my first thought is what can I read? We go to the library weekly during the summer, and I'll check out at least 5 books...if not more. And these are not little thin ones either. Sometimes they'll be cook books, or self help with something like decorating, but usually and more often than not, it's reading material.

My kids aren't much different. Although, it's usually only two or three books for them.

My husband would read if he had the time -- he used to drive his mother crazy because he loved to read and he would read the same books over and over. She'd ask him why in the world he would want to read the same books over and over!? He liked them. I do the same thing. I have several books that are my favorites and I keep them for times when I was a relaxing read.

I'm looking for new authors all the time because I go through series so fast. Right now I'm trying to find all the LDS authors that I know and read their books. Unfortunately, not all of them are at the library. sigh.

But anyway...that's my family. We read. What is funny, is it doesn't seem to hit until jr. high. They HATE reading before then, which is strange. I have to coax and plead and threaten my youngest to get his 30 minutes in, and in a different book than he's already claimed to read all summer...

My biggest fear is that I'll loose my eyesight and not be able to read. If I loose my hearing at the same time, my world will be hard until I discover what blessing the Lord has given me in exchange. There's always a blessing in there, it just takes finding it! grin.