Julie Arduini's Blog, page 113

Thankful: My Quiet Family

As I mentioned on November 2nd, I didn’t receive a lot of submissions this year on why people are thankful. I decided perhaps that meant it was time for me to share.

I’m thankful for my quiet family.

Call us nerds, geeks, freaks. When you come to our house, the circus is the last thing you’ll find. We’re probably working on laptops or reading. Watching sports. We love to talk but we aren’t overly chatty.

And our volume is almost always on low.

The hard part is when we visit “normal” homes. We’re completely overwhelmed by the yelling that is actually talking. The side conversations and interruptions. It’s all normal, we’re the weird ones.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I like having a sanctuary for my husband to come home to. He’s tired and enjoys relaxing. He’s not entering a perfect place by any means, but more times than not, he’s sitting down to a tranquil setting.

The same for the kids. The oldest is feeling the pressure of senior year. He’s an honor student who works hard. He’s spent when he gets home and school is not always a calm place. Home is safe for him.

The youngest is the loudest of us all and the most extroverted, but she too gets overwhelmed. She can get headaches a lot when there’s too much chaos.

As for me, people ask how I do so much in a small span of time. Although I don’t sleep a lot, I think having a quiet home helps a lot. I can focus and multi task, and I believe the atmosphere is a big part of it.

It’s not for everyone, so don’t think I’m knocking you if you love noise at your home.

I’m just thankful for our quiet, little family.

What are you thankful for?

 

Tags:  family, Julie Arduini, November, quiet home, Thankful: My Quiet Family, thankfulness




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 Book Review AND GIVEAWAY: Apologetics Study Bible for Students    Character Confession: Forgiving Judas  WFW: Never, Ever Give Up  12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 9 - The ADVENTure Awaits You! by Charissa SteynCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Thankful: My Quiet Family], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Book Review: Every Girl Gets Confused by Janice Thompson

Book Description:

How can she choose between the love she thought she lost and the love she stumbled upon in the aftermath?

Katie Fisher and Brady James may be a match made in heaven, but that doesn’t seem to guarantee them a happily ever after accompanied by angelic choirs. Katie’s almost-fiancé Casey is back in Fairfield, ready to rekindle their relationship. And there’s nothing Katie’s parents want more than for their small-town girl to leave Dallas and come home for good.

But can she really leave Brady behind? And will she ever be able to wear that gorgeous wedding dress she won?

Every Girl Gets Confused

I was thrilled to return to Texas and see how Katie, Brady, Queenie, Dewey and the gang were doing. Every Girl Gets Confused picks up after Every Bride Needs a Groom. Katie’s settling in with her new job and new boyfriend, injured NBA player Brady James.

Her grandmother Queenie is marrying a pastor and the whole town of Fairfield is getting ready. That would include Katie’s ex, Casey.

I loved everything about Queenie’s wedding, including the racy lingerie shower for a senior citizen with a titanium hip. It’s so fun to read about senior citizens having fun, and these folks do. I equally loved reading about life at the bridal shop, especially between Eduardo and the bride who had her family and her fiancé’s attend every aspect of the dress.

I wish there had been more romance and conflict between Katie, Brady and Casey. There was a great thread with Brady’s injury and how the theme of season kept popping up.

All in all, this is another delightful read from Janice Thompson full of smiles and tender moments. You will enjoy Every Bride Gets Confused.

To purchase Every Bride Gets Confused, click here.

I received Every Bride Gets Confused from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tags:  book review, Book Review: Every Girl Gets Confused by Janice Thompson, fiction, Julie Arduini, NBA, romance, senior citizens, Texas




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 Sabbath Sunday: New Roads  Introducing the 2012 Me  And the Survey Says...  Year Round Thanks by Marijo Phelps  COTT: Return of the Cowboy Doctor by Lacy WilliamsCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Book Review: Every Girl Gets Confused by Janice Thompson], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Thankful: Birdseed

As you know, each November I use the theme of thankfulness here. Usually guest posters take over, but people just didn’t submit this year. So, here I am.

I’m trying to think of out-of-the-box things I’m thankful for.

Today?

Birdseed.

Yep.

We have a couple feeders in our backyard and one is right outside our kitchen window. I use black oil sunflower seed for that one and the birds just flock there. There’s just something about them visiting that brings me peace.

Cardinals, chickadees, orioles, finches, they all come by. They sing, chirp, hang out in nearby trees, take a bath in the birdbath.

I never would have thought I would have found enjoyment in such a basic thing.

But I do.

 

Tags:  bird feeders, birdseed, black oil sunflower seed, cardinals, chickadees, finches, Julie Arduini, orioles, Thankful: Birdseed




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 Featured Video: Mississippi Nights by D.M. Webb  Book Review: Kelly Tough by Erin Kelly and Jill Kelly  Celebrate the Holidays with Odyssey Adventure Club and FREE Content  Sabbath Sunday: Waving a Flag but Not Living Free  Unlikely Merger: Authors Share their Corporate ExperiencesCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Thankful: Birdseed], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Celebrate the Holidays with Odyssey Adventure Club and FREE Content

Odyssey Adventure Club celebrates the holidays with FREE content.

Odyssey Adventure Club—What’s on your children’s Christmas wish list? As excited as they might be about that new toy, as every parent knows, the thrill of the gift will eventually wear off. Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey have created the perfect gift for those who want to give their children or grandchildren a present that will provide year-round fun with eternal impact.

The Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) offers families 24/7 access to 25 years’ worth of Adventures in Odyssey (AIO) episodes in a safe online environment where children can explore and learn. Christmas really is the perfect time to tap into your children’s imagination while infusing faith and fun into their day . . . and every day of the year.

To celebrate the holidays this year, the OAC is offering free content for everyone, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

In keeping with AIO’s rich heritage of teaching children about biblical principles — such as the importance of giving — a portion of each OAC membership benefits Focus on the Family partner organizations. Here are a couple of examples of what has been accomplished through Odyssey Adventure Club members:

Carry the Cure received a sound system they needed to provide after-school programs to children in Alaska.
Mission Aviation Fellowship has been able to provide health vaccines to 65,000 children.

The Odyssey Adventure Club wants to reach beyond fleeting entertainment this Christmas, partnering with parents in helping their kids grow deep in faith and find their place in God’s story.

Speaking of the holidays, you can prepare for Christmas with Thriving Family‘s 2015 Advent Activity Calendar — Tales of Christmas Past: 25 Inspiring true stories of the season. Assemble a beautifully designed Advent poster to help your kids focus on Christ this Christmas. Then read Scripture passages and stories that relate to individual flaps on the poster. You can also create easy-to-fold booklets for each story. Get more information about this year’s free Advent calendar at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent, or sign up to download it.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Tags:  advent calendar, Adventures in Odyssey, Android, app, Celebrate the Holidays with Odyssey Adventure Club and FREE Content, free, ios app, Julie Arduini, Odyssey Adventure Club




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 Sabbath Sunday: I Got This  Thankful: Tiffany Amber Stockton's Gratitude Born From Selfishness  Thankful for Life by Eleanor Gustafson  Saturday Confession: About that Apple Core  The Magic of a Christmas Moment by Sarah E. LaddCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Celebrate the Holidays with Odyssey Adventure Club and FREE Content], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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COTT: Celebrate COTT’s 5th Year with a Kindle Giveaway

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Happy Birthday, COTT!

We’re half a decade old!
To celebrate FIVE YEARS of Clash of the Titles, we’re GIVING

AWAY some fun gifts.
You can win books by Gail Pallotta and Lisa Lickel,
or even a KINDLE FIRE!!

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Raffle opens right now!

Closes Monday, November 30.

There are several ways to enter the drawing outlined in the RaffleCopter

below. Winners will be drawn and announced on December 2nd.

Please note: All entries are optional, but

the more you rack up, the higher your odds of winning.
To boot, you’re showing support of those who’ve donated prizes. Not to

mention, some of the entries come with their very own freebies!

Thank you!

Check out all the ways to enter…!

*Our newsletters will not clog your inbox. We send updates VERY

sparingly.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tags:  authors, birthday, Clash of the Titles, COTT, COTT: Celebrate COTT's 5th Year with a Kindle Giveaway, fiction, Julie Arduini, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire giveaway




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 Author Blog Hop  September 11: We Will Never Forget  Saturday Confession: My Marriage Reminder Courtesy of Donnie Love Jenny  Book Review: High-Stakes Holiday Reunion by Christy Barritt  Secretly Smitten Live Webcast February 5thCopyright © Author Julie Arduini [COTT: Celebrate COTT's 5th Year with a Kindle Giveaway], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Book Review: When King’s Clash by J.E. Lowder

Book Description:

The furnaces of Ebon burn day and night, melting ores for weapons. Throughout the land, bonfires are lit as Ebonites pay homage to the Cauldron’s Dark Flame. The land’s midnight sky glows like sunrise. Ebon prepares for war as myths and legends from ages past take on flesh and walk the land. The Worms of Bal Malin soar the skies, the ancient fortress of Min Brock rises from the ashes, Storytellers from Claire weave tales of power – and now two mighty warriors arise, both claiming the dread title of Gor King. A clash of kings is inevitable, and only one can emerge victorious. “In mad times such as these,” Lassiter offered with one last look at the ridgeline, “sometimes the sane thing to do is be mad yours elf.” Mälque risked a quick glance as they rolled past the corpse of his brother. “Ain’t nothin’ but dyin’ out here today.” In a softer voice, as if offering a prayer or reciting a prophecy of his own demise, he added: “Nothin’ but dyin’ everywhere you look.” Yet when all hope is lost, a whisper comes. The War of Whispers rages.

When Kings Clash is the third installment after Tears of Min Brock and Martyr’s Moon. I’ve commented before that fantasy is not my first genre as a reader and yet J.E. Lowder has kept me captivated the entire series with amazing storytelling. I thought the previous too were great reads.

When Kings Clash takes everything I enjoyed with the first two and enhances the experience, which I did not think needed improving. The imagery is breathtaking. Authors often hear they need to work on showing, not telling. When Kings Clash is all showing, and it is so seamless, I truly felt I was watching the action. It was dark, eerie, action-packed and suspenseful. There’s death, stealing, hopeless feelings and a battle for control.

Love fantasy? This series HAS to be on your list, starting with Tears of Min Brock and ending with the excellent When Kings Clash. If you don’t love fantasy, I still say give it a try.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

To purchase When Kings Clash, click here.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tags:  book review, Book Review: When Kings Clash by J.E. Lowder, fantasy, J.E. Lowder, Julie Arduini, Martyr's Moon, Tears of Min Brock




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 Character Confession: Fighting Words  A2Z Meme: Forget about the Garage  Character Confession: Even When    Michael W. Smith Sovereign CD Winner Announced!Copyright © Author Julie Arduini [Book Review: When King's Clash by J.E. Lowder], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Thankful: Clairol

One of the things my husband admitted he took into consideration was how youthful my mom looked. He thought perhaps if mom was that young, maybe I had those genes.

My reaction?

“Those aren’t good genes. It’s Clairol!”

Mom turned gray at age 16, and I found my first strand at age 25.

The year I met my husband, just sayin’.

Seriously, it isn’t gray hair that runs in our family, it is white. Those that chose to let it transform have a beautiful white color. But, they are grandmas who look the part.

My mom looks like she’s in her 50’s. She’s over 70.

I’m 45 and I am not ready to call it quits on Clairol.

My husband might be ten years older but he has a youthful look to him. I don’t want to be confused with his mom or someone older. Is it vain? Absolutely.

Clairol has been with me since 1995 and we’ve seen bold reds, a blond, and a palette of browns.

In a season where gray is the in color, color me with Clairol.

Lightest Golden Brown, please.

Tags:  confession, gray hair, hair color, Julie Arduini, lightest golden brown, thankful, Thankful: Clairol, white hair




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 Sabbath Sunday: But, God.  The Magic of a Christmas Moment by Sarah E. Ladd  Book Review: Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck  Clash of the Titles: Vote for Favorite December Release  COTT: The Hesistant Heiress by Dawn CrandallCopyright © Author Julie Arduini [Thankful: Clairol], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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More on November’s Don’t Miss This: Catch of a Lifetime by Candee Fick

Earlier this month I rolled out a new feature called “Don’t Miss This.” I love reading as much as writing, and I love promoting books. With that, each month I’m going to feature a book I don’t want you to miss.

This month is Catch of a Lifetime by Candee Fick. Reviews have been popping up around cyberspace and if you’re on the fence, or sideline, if you want to talk football, perhaps these links will help you decide to purchase.

Laura Hilton’s Lighthouse Academy Catch of Lifetime review.
Marian P. Merritt’s Interview with Candee Fick
Sharon Srock’s Author Spotlight with Candee Fick
My Book Review of Catch of a Lifetime

To purchase Catch of a Lifetime, click here.  Hey, buy two and give one as a gift!

Tags:  book promotion, book review, Candee Fick, Catch of a Lifetime, Christian romance, debut novel, football, Julie Arduini, More on November's Don't Miss This: Catch of a Lifetime by Candee Fick




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 Angels with Flashlights by Kathy Dippolito  A2Z Meme: But I Got the X In!  Mother of Pearl: Mizpah by Margaret McSweeney  The Magic of a Christmas Moment by Sarah E. Ladd  My Upstate NY Memories of September 11thCopyright © Author Julie Arduini [More on November's Don't Miss This: Catch of a Lifetime by Candee Fick], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Thankful: Enough by Gail Kittleson (GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY)

Gail Kittleson

 

“If the only prayer you ever pray is thank you, it is enough.” Meister Eckhardt

 

Enough—such a multidimensional word. The meaning changes with the person, and within our own lives, this word transforms, sometimes moment-to-moment. Culture, upbringing, spirituality, and general outlook alter in our concept of enough.

Once, during a particularly down time, I wandered through an eclectic second hand consignment store, and one wooden sign grabbed me. “You are enough.” Me? I sure didn’t feel like enough.

But in this month of Thanksgiving, it’s good to connect gratitude with enough in our personal season of life. If the South Carolina floods devastated one’s home, gratitude may erupt at having a warm place to sleep and food to eat. For others suffering health challenges, a new day with the sun peeping through the window may cause thankfulness.

This year, I’m especially thankful for my vocation. For its steadfastness, even when I didn’t have confidence to pursue it. I’m grateful for second chances for my writing to bloom. Specifically, I celebrate my debut novel’s release, and inclusion in a Christmas anthology. And another contract!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, my heart whispers—for the tenacity not to give up, though sorely tempted, for my gradually-developing skills that led to publication and for my patient husband, through so many rejections and pitfalls. Thanks for my daughter, who always listens and encourages, and for writing friends far and wide who commiserate, rejoice together, and make honest manuscript suggestions.

The list goes on … reflecting on these gifts makes giving thanks a no-brainer, as they say. I may be a late-bloomer, but I’m blooming. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Julie’s note:

Because Gail is thankful, she’d like to do some giving!

I’d like to give away a kindle copy and an apron like the one my heroine wore to TWO people who comment on my writers’ FB page or on my website.

Bio:

Our stories are our best gifts, and blooming late has its advantages—the novel fodder never ends. Gail writes from northern Iowa, where she and her husband enjoy gardening and grandchildren. WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Line) greets the world on November 18, 2015. Please feel free to contact her—meeting new reading friends is the frosting on her cake!

Contact links:

http://www.gailkittleson.com/

www.facebook.com/gail.kittleson

https://www.facebook.com/Gail-Kittleson-author-1799350843625035/timeline/

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/gail-kittleson/43/935/b06

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3459831.Gail_Kittleson

Purchase link:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/mai...

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/mai...

 

 

Cover: see below

Tags:  Enough, Gail Kittleson, In This Together, Julie Arduini, November, thankful, Thankful: Enough by Gail Kittleson, Thanksgiving, WhiteFire Publishing




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 Mother of Pearl Blog Series: Megan Alexander  Saturday Confession: The Great Pretender  Character Confession: Wrap it Up  Saturday Confession: I Want to be Like the Sheriff  Book Review: The Christmas Stalking by Lillian DuncanCopyright © Author Julie Arduini [Thankful: Enough by Gail Kittleson (GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY)], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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Thankful: Bold Friends

In the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about friendship.  Some I gave my complete trust to only to find a knife in my back. Some I thought would be in my life until death, but for whatever reason, it was just a season and they are gone.

And then there are the bold friends.

This is a group that rose from the ashes of grief we all shared. We shook ourselves off and started praying together.  When I was up against some spiritual mountains that were threatening my peace and family, they didn’t ask if they could come and pray.

These friends told me when they were coming.

Their mission to pray so focused they didn’t want coffee or snacks. They prayed that kind of prayer where you feel the gates of hell shake. It was a top moment not just from this year, but my life.

I don’t see these ladies every day. We haven’t met in awhile to pray. But when we send up a request, the responses are immediate and real. Intentional. Bold.

And I am forever thankful for each one of them.

Tags:  friends, friendship, intercessors, Julie Arduini, prayer partners, thankful, Thankful: Bold Friends




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 Book Review: Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens  Sabbath Sunday: Chosen  Tiffany Colter is Thankful for Jen Tucker's The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out---and Much More  Guest Blogger Maria Spencer on Special Needs & "Differently-Able" Families  Sabbath Sunday: The Cross CoversCopyright © Author Julie Arduini [Thankful: Bold Friends], All Right Reserved. 2015.

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