Cami Checketts's Blog, page 47

Only six more weeks

My husband and I are going on a cruise this January with a wonderful group of friends. I've been looking forward to the trip with such joy and anticipation until one of our friends said the other night, "Only six more weeks." I looked down at my less-than-tight abs and thought, Six more weeks! The bathing suit terror helped me resist chocolate for about sixteen hours then I remembered my sons' emotional well-being was more important than my flat abs.

I do not believe in dieting (especially during the holidays) and I keep reminding myself that my husband loves me and doesn't care if I have a perfect figure, but that vision of me spilling out of my swimsuit just won't go away.

How do you keep the healthy balance - taking good care of yourself but not making yourself crazy trying to be perfect?

12 Gifts for Christ

Book Description

Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and a time for giving. In the middle of this busy season, it is easy to forget the very reason why we celebrate. The first Christmas began with gifts of light and gold. This Christmas ask: What gifts can I give to Him?



In 12 Gifts for Christ, author Merrilee Boyack suggests ways we can give to the Savior, including having gratitude, sharing through service, and loving others. With examples of these gifts shared through personal stories, scriptures, activities, and family home evening lessons, she suggests presenting those gifts to Christ in letters placed in stockings or brightly wrapped boxes. Following the ideas of this book will truly add joy to the spirit in our hearts and homes during Christmas!



Buy or read more:

Deseret Book

Amazon



About the Author

Merrilee Boyack is a crazed woman who loves eating out and taking naps when she can. She is an estate-planning attorney who conducts her law practice from home. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in business management—finance, and from University of Santa Clara Law School. Merrilee is also a professional lecturer, featured for many years at BYU Education Week, and a published author. Her interests include reading, camping, talking, eating, and helping children in Africa. She’s now a pesco-vegetarian and is having to relearn how to cook!



She is the author of several books and talks, including The Parenting Breakthrough, Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option; Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy; and her most recent, In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying. Merrilee and her husband, Steve, reside in Poway, California, and have four sons, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way!

Poison Me Free

My boys are ecstatic to be out of school for the next five days. We're going to be partying it up here, lots of eating, shopping, and hopefully relaxing. Do you have any fun plans?



If you're needing a book to read to pass the time, Poison Me is free until 11/29. Click here for the deal.



Happy Turkey Day!

I Will Lead You Along - The Life of Henry B. Eyring

Henry Bennion Eyring was born on May 31, 1933, in Princeton, New Jersey, bearing the first name of his father, who was fast building a reputation as a brilliant scientist, and the family name of his mother, who didn't care for the name "Henry" and insisted that he be called Hal.



In 1970, Hal received an impression to make a daily record of his activities. Years of journals form the backbone of this personal biography, a candid look at his walk through life with his beloved companion, Kathy. "The journal shows how a good-but-imperfect man works each day to win divine approval," write the authors, and this window into his past provides unforgettable insights about the man the Lord has shaped him to become.



Readers will love these richly designed pages, filled with photographs, sketches from the pen of President Eyring himself, and scores of entries straight from his journals woven into an engaging depiction of his life's journey.



President Henry B. Eyring's professional, academic, and personal experiences have all combined to make him uniquely qualified for his responsibilities as a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life story vividly demonstrates the power of the Lord and the example set by one who strives to follow His commands.



My Review



When this book arrived I thought, That is a huge book! I wasn't sure I'd be able to fit in the time to read it all, but the story of President Eyring's life was so engrossing to me I just kept reading (even when I should have been sleeping or doing dishes). I especially loved every word written about his sweetheart, Kathy. It was beautiful and inspiring to have insight into their marriage and parenting. I cried when I read the last chapter.

President Henry B. Eyring is amazing, a spiritual giant, but you can feel as you read his book that he is truly caring, humble, and loving.



Buy or read more here.

Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway

 

Just in time for the HOLIDAYS - Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

 

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".






All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway




The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)




 

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)




 

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)




 

 

 

Holiday Kindle Fire Giveaway #1 Sponsors:



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Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway:

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Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7".

Ends 12/18/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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Book Disclosure

Movies, television shows, and video games all have ratings and disclosure of contents. For some reason, books have no such standard. I understand it would be nearly impossible to slap a rating on each book in circulation, but why not disclose violence, language, and sexual content?



As a parent who can't keep up with all the novels my sons are reading, disclosure would be a huge help. Disclosure wouldn't just protect children, I believe it would help adults find the books they are interested in reading easier and it would help authors sell more books.  



Some authors are upset by disclosure of contents or a rating because they think they will lose readers, but I would rather have a reader know what they’re getting into. The last thing I want is someone who reads sensual romance buying my book where the characters never share more than a kiss. Such a reader would be very unhappy with me.



I picked up a book by a well-known author last summer. By page 150 I'd found my new favorite author. I mentally composed the blog post to share my wonderful discovery with the world. On page 166, there was the most violent, disgusting sex scene I have ever read in a book, complete with language that I personally detest. I threw the book at the wall and promised never to read that author again. Since then, I've heard numerous people say how wonderful the author is and that most of her books are really clean, but I haven't been able to force myself to read her again. If there had been some indicator when I bought the book, I would have chosen one of her other, cleaner novels, and she would have gained a new fan.



There is never going to be a law enforcing publishers to rate their books, but companies like Amazon are very forward-thinking. If enough people e-mailed them through their contact me button, they would probably add a section of disclosure or author rating.



Please share any ideas or thoughts you have.



Thank you,

Cami

Christmas from Heaven

Christmas from Heaven is the story of the humble beginnings of what became a beacon of hope to a war-torn land, the story of Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet-blockaded Berlin.



As he performed his duties, Lt. Halvorsen began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. Knowing that they had very little, he one day offered them some chewing gum. From that small act, an idea sprang: He would "bomb" Berlin with candy. Fashioning small parachutes, he and his crew sent them floating down as they approached the Berlin airport, wiggling the wings of their C-54 as a signal to the children that their anticipated cargo would soon arrive.



Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" or "The Candy Bomber." Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen's small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to German children in a bombed-out city but to all those who yearned for freedom.



Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable true story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD. Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own “Candy Bomber” parachutes.



My Review:



This is the perfect book to add to your Christmas collection. I read it to three of my boys. My 7yo and I had quite an in-depth discussion about World War II and what kind of hardships the children in Germany experienced. It was not only a great history lesson, but quite a humbling experience for a boy who is very kind, but honestly has never experienced real hunger, cold, fear, or loss.

I was halfway through the book when my visiting teacher stopped in for a visit. My 11yo kept reading without us and later said, "Sorry, Mom, I couldn't wait. That's a really cool book."

Christmas from Heaven will touch your heart whatever your age. I would highly recommend it.



Find Christmas in Heaven

Deseret Book

Amazon





About the Authors









Tom Brokaw is one of the giants of television journalism. Anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004, he also holds the honor of being the only person to host each of NBC News’s major news programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Meet the Press. He has won several awards, including a Peabody Award and seven Emmys. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and The Greatest Generation Speaks, among other books. He and his wife, Meredith, have three daughters and five grandchildren









Robert T. Barrett is a professor of illustration at Brigham Young University, received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in painting and completed postgraduate work in Germany. An accomplished painter, muralist, and illustrator, his work has been featured in many national magazines and in art exhibits across the country and in Germany. He and his wife, Vicki, have ten children and one grandchild and reside in Provo, Utah.

The Colony book cover

The Colony should be released before Christmas. Yeah, buddy! Any thoughts or suggestions on the cover? I am loving it, but I'm a bit prejudiced :)

Here's a bit more info about the book. 




Brinlee Trapper escapes to a secluded mountain home to protect her young sons from the mistakes of her past. But there are dangers lurking in the mountains she has never encountered. A mysterious hunter, Jed, saves them. Brinlee is drawn to him, but she worries about his involvement with a peaceful commune hidden deep in the mountains behind her property.




Lance, Brinlee’s attentive neighbor, has his own troubled history. Between his obvious attraction to Brinlee and his developing love for her children, Brinlee finds it more than difficult to guard her heart against this tender intrusion.




While Jed offers a life of excitement and freedom, Lance holds the key to the family Brinlee always wanted. When it comes time to choose, she learns that both men have secrets that could shatter her fledgling trust in men and the wrong decision could leave more than her heart exposed to danger.

My twin sister

My sister, Abbie, and I look like twins. It's really funny because our older brothers are twins, but nobody would guess it. Here's her picture. Yeah, kind of like staring in the mirror for me.







She's a major sweetie, but also a huge smart aleck (we share the smart aleck gene). When people ask me if we're twins I grin and say, "No, and I'm five years older! Haha." When people ask her if we're twins, she holds up her hands and says, "The only way you can tell the difference is I have all ten of my fingers." (I'm sure a lot of you know I cut three of mine off in a lawnmower, boring story, even thought there was a lot of blood.) Abbie thinks it is hilarious when she says that because people get all shocked and shaken. "I can't believe you would say that!" They don't realize I think it's hilarious and I couldn't care less that I'm missing fingers (it's a great way to scare kiddos at the grade school). My amputated fingers only upset me when I'm playing the piano and keep missing notes. Actually, that's most upsetting to my mom-fifteen years of piano lessons down the drain.

Abbie and I have a great time teasing each other and always go along with it when people mistake us for the other.

The best story lately is a friend of mine was appalled when she saw Abbie at the grocery store buying all kinds of processed food and treats (for some reason she assumes I'm a health nut). I told Abbie how relieved my friend was when she found it my sister was the junker (we workout at the same gym and I guess I have a reputation to uphold :) ) Abbie unknowingly repeated the story to the same friend the first time she met her saying, "Yeah, some crazy lady thought I was Cami at the grocery store and got all upset that I was buying corn dogs and licorice." When we later connected that she'd told the story to the same friend, she just couldn't stop laughing. I need to reign her in or I'm going to lose friends!

Most of all I'm extremely grateful for my hilarious, younger, twin. Life wouldn't be fun without a sister!

Hudson Lights

Tour Schedule
Hudson Lights

Composed of 4 vocal artists from the Rocky Mountains, Hudson Lights creates a fresh fusion of contemporary pop and jazz like you've never heard before! World-class harmonies and consummate showmanship make this an unforgettable music experience. Equal parts thrilling, inspiring, and effortlessly charming, Hudson Lights brings a classy edge back to mainstream pop.





 

HUDSON LIGHTS will release their self-titled debut album November 12, 2013. They released a single, “Good to Me”, on iTunes in September.

The group is composed of four male vocal artists from around the country: McKay Crockett, Keith Evans, Joseph Moore and Ross Welch. Together they create a fresh fusion of contemporary pop and jazz music.
The upbeat album features classic covers of legends like Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. They also have several original songs.

Bob Ahlander, director of music at Shadow Mountain Records, says “Hudson Lights fills a void in the music scene.”

They have already had some notable performances. They debuted at the Marriot Center during the BYU Women’s Conference Concert in May, and placed 2nd in a contest to open for Kelly Clarkson at the STADIUM OF FIRE in June.
On November 22nd they’ll perform for a crowd of 10,000 as part of Deseret Book’s “Time Out for Women” event at the Maverik Center. Tickets are available here.

 




 

"Call Me Maybe"



Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/24/13

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