What Are We Celebrating Today --- Sept 22, 2012?

Have to work today....hopefully, Angela and I will be able to stop and pick up some of the dance shoes she needs. She needs new tap, jazz, and lyrical shoes....we didn't even use lyrical shoes the last couple of years.
so, what are we celebrating......
1). Elephant Appreciation Day: This is the day to show how much you care about elephants.
Elephant Appreciation Day was declared beginning in 1996 by WildHeart® Productions [*] to celebrate the Elephant because...

• is the largest land mammal of our era,
• is unique among mammals for its trunk,
• is the most noble of beasts on earth,
• is most undeservedly threatened with extinction,
• has been man's benefactor in numerous ways throughout history,
• is entertaining and amusing,
• is gentle and friendly,
• contributes to ecosystem development and maintenance,

2). Business Women's Day: This is the day to recognize women in business. Hilary A. Bufton Jr. and three Kansas City business women founded the American Business Women's Association(ABWA) on September 22, 1949. The first Business Women's Day was celebrated in 1982. In 1983, a joint Congressional resolution was passed, and signed by President Ronald Reagan proclaiming September 22 as Business Women's Day. President Ronald Reagan also issued Proclamation 5532 on American Business Women's Day, in 1986.
3). International Rabbit Day: This holiday seeks to protect rabbits as pets and in the wild. Animal rights groups and humane societies are active promoters of this special day. Their objectives are to promote healthy, caring environments for rabbits that are raised as pets, and those living in the wild.

4). National White Chocolate Day: This is the day to celebrate that yummy white confection. White chocolate was invented by the Nestlé company in Switzerland. The first white chocolate bar debuted in 1930. Despite its long history, for many years the confection we know as “white chocolate” was not officially chocolate at all. White chocolate does not contain cocoa solids—one of the main ingredients in traditional chocolate. In 2004, ten years after chocolate manufacturers filed the first petition, the FDA finally relaxed its definition of “chocolate” and accepted white chocolate into the family. White chocolate is my husband's absolute favorite. I even get his Easter bunny in white chocolate.
5). Hobbit Day:I like this holiday. September 22nd is the Birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, two characters from J.R.R. Tolkein’s popular Middle Earth Cycle books, hence Hobbit Day. Hobbit Day is perhaps the oldest running day celebrated by fans. There is some debate on the date that Hobbit Day should be celebrated on, due to the differences in the Gregorian and Shire calendars. Tolkien once said that the Shire calendar is ahead by about ten days depending on the month. To celebrate this holiday, go barefoot and eat 7 meals today....LOL
6). World Carfree Day: Today is the day to go car free. Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. I'd celebrate this one, except I have to go to work and it's way to far away to walk.

7). Ice Cream Cone Day: Yum! I like this one....and the reason it's celebrated today, is September 22, 1903 the ice cream cone was invented. Today, there are a variety of types and flavors of ice cream cones. My favorite happens to be the chocolate covered waffle cone.

Now, I'm sure there are other holidays today....and if you know of one, just post it below.

Book Review: Peaceful Passages by Kim West PhD

Peaceful Passages by Kim West PhD is an amazing book that deals with what one will go through when a loved one is dying.



From the Back Cover

YOUR LOVED ONE IS DYING...YOU'RE OVERWHELMED...
THE COUNTLESS DAY-TO-DAY LOGISTICAL DETAILS...
THE EMOTIONAL UPS AND DOWNS...ALL THE HOSPICE ARRANGEMENTS...
AND ON TOP OF IT ALL, WHO'S TAKING CARE OF YOU?

Taking care of a loved one on their final journey can be one of the richest, most life-affirming experiences you'll ever have. And perhaps the hardest one you'll ever go through. There's far more involved than just hospice details and your loved one's constant physical and emotional needs. There are your needs as well - as your "regular" life obligations collide head-on with this potentially all-encompassing commitment.

Enter Peaceful Passage, a true labor of love from professional counselor Kim West. West was at her mother's side during her last months of life, and chronicled the whole process in order to provide a comprehensive and proven blueprint for others to follow.

In the pages within, you'll find practical guidelines for:
- Determining first steps once you've heard the news
- Charting a course with hospice as your partner
- Dealing with your loved one's emotional roller-coaster
- Navigating demands of marriage, family, children and career
- Handling the daily, ongoing physical challenges and demands
- Confronting common fears and unresolved emotional issues
- Working through inner conflicts around faith and God
- Managing the myriad post-passage details and arrangements
- Finding closure, returning to routine and reflecting on the journey

Peaceful Passage is your essential, all-in-one guide to handling every aspect of this often heart-wrenching and heartwarming journey.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I received this book to read and review. My mother does have stage 4 ovarian cancer, but she has been successfully fighting it so far. No, I'm not in denial, as the doctor said she is currently in remission. I do know that someday in the future, she will probably die from the cancer. At that time, I will want to use Peaceful Passages as a reference. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the journey, from finding out your loved one is dying to the final end at home.

At the end of each chapter, there are workbook like pages for one to fill out. I found them extremely interesting and helpful. These pages will help keep things organized during that stressful time. Plus, there were questions in the pages to answer that I didn't really think about until I saw them. In a way, it was a little scary to read, because I don't want to think about some of this stuff (like funeral arrangements) right now. It is important information one needs to deal with when a loved one is in the process of dying though.

The last part of Peaceful Passages is Kim's diary account of her mother's last few months. It's very sad and touching, and Kim handled it well. I hope I can handle my mother's eventual passing that well.

I give this book 5 stars. I thought enough of this book to give it to a friend. Julie's mother is dying of cancer and has stopped all treatment. Her mother has not contacted hospice yet, but Julie knows it will be in her mother's future. The family has a lot of difficult decisions to make and I believe this book will help.



About the Author:

Kim West holds a PhD in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and a Master of Divinity in Counseling and Family, but when her own mother became ill with terminal cancer she found that she had no hands-on knowledge of how to take care of her.

As a counselor she knew to journal her own experience to help her process her grief at losing her mother and she knew how to help her mother finish her life well and be prepared for the life to come. But the day-to-day of taking care of her mother as she died would require learning a whole new set of caring skills. And learn she did.

After completing her own journey with her mother she knew she had to help others who would travel this same path. Peaceful Passage is a merging of her years of counseling experience and the new skills she learned caring for her mother combined with her heart to help and to heal. (Thank you Connie for the Author portion).

I was given a copy of Peaceful Passages to read and review by Christian Women's Affiliates. The views and opinions are all my own.

Book Review: Presumed Dead by Barbara Derkesen

Presumed Dead is the second book in Barbara Derksen's Wilton/Strait Murder Mystery Series. Since I downloaded this book in to my Kindle, the synopsis is from Amazon : "Andrea Wilton and Brian Strait, from Shuster Detective Agency, take on another case to find a missing person. This second book in the series introduces DJ Wiebe, a biker who rides with The Sons Riders, a Christian biker ministry. Another biker, a member of The Demons Raiders, is missing and presumed dead. DJ, his friend, hires Shuster Detective Agency to find him. He initiates Andrea and Brian into the biker culture, a world that encompasses motorcycles, leather, drugs and murder."   I have now read all four books in the Wilton/Strait Murder Mysery Series, and I have to say that Presumed Dead is the best of the four books. The book is a rollercoaster ride that you can't put down. The pace is rather quick, which was good, as I figured out what was going on about half way through the book. That's all I'll say, because I won't give anything away. The banter between the two main characters, Andrea and Brian, is amusing and enjoyable. They sound like a friend and I do when we get together.   This is Christian Fiction, so expect Bible passages, Jesus, and Prayer. It's not 'preachy' but the series seems to be headed that way. It's a fine line and probably an easy one to cross. You do not have to read the first book in the series, Vanished, to understand or enjoy Presumed Dead. Presumed Dead does have references to the storyline in Vanished, but enough explaination is given that you'll know what happened. I would give this book 5 stars, as I enjoyed it (and there were none of the little things that bugged me from the first book). I was given a free ecopy of Presumed Dead to read and review by Christian Women's Affiliates. The views and opinions are all my own.

Book Review: Rosie and Scamper

From the back of the book:
While learning to ride at Sonrise Stable, eight-year-old Rosie dreams of the horse shows she will win with her pony, Jet. Two years later, nothing is exactly the way Rosie planned it -- she's riding a new pony, Scamper, and learning that life isn't always easy. But it's as Rosie reaches out to the new girl next door that she truly begins to see that God works all things together for good in our lives.
Rosie and Scamper is the first book in the Sonrise Stable series, heartwarming stories of an extended homeschooling family, they live, learn, and love together. Mixing adventures, life lessons, and realistic horse experiences, the series is a must for readers who enjoy family values, Christian faith, and, of course, horses!
 

This chapter book is quite cute for ages 6-9, though it's definitely more for girls than boys. Rosie learns a lot of lessons about horses and horse care over the course of the 134 pages, but the more important lessons she learns are about love, loss, and friendship. Family plays a very important roll in the book, and it's great to see the interactions between the grand kids and the grandmother. I love the name Sonrise Stables, but I'll let you read the book to get the full meaning.
The only negative for me was all the time spans that the book skips. Rosie and Scamper takes place over more than a 2 year time frame but there are a lot of 'time skips.' I understand the two years later one, but all the little 'weeks later' or 'three months later' makes the book a little disjointed. I would have liked to see more chapters and less time skips.
Overall, I'd give the book 4 stars. Any little girl that loves horses will love this book.

Book Review: Vanished by Barbara Derksen

I am a member of the CWA review Crew. The CWA Review Crew is a network of Christian Women that were brought together to review new books, ebooks, products, apps, or resources. I was given an ecopy of Vanished to read and review. The opinions are all my own.
A synopsis of Vanished from Amazon:
Vanished! That’s what Andrea Wilton and Brian Strait discover when they come to visit their best friends one evening. Where could they be and does God answer prayers, two questions they find the answers to as they journey to another world of voodoo, murder, and more missing people. Andrea and Brian also discover each other as they learn to scuba, fight a common enemy, and search for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Book Details:
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (April 19, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 146809419X
ISBN-13: 978-1468094190
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Vanished is the first book in the series of 'mysteries' starring Andrea Wilton and Brian Strait. This particular book is a little bit mystery and a little bit thriller. I was not surprised or shocked by anything that happened in the book, though some readers may be surprised. Andrea and Brian are enjoyable characters that I think anyone can relate to. They do make some mistakes, but they mean well. The banter back and forth is amusing and definitely something I would engage in with my friends. I realize I'm not saying a lot about the plot or what happens, but I don't want to give anything away.
The only thing that I just can't get out of my mind is the SCUBA diving. The little details drove me nuts, because some of them were wrong. I've been a certified diver for over 25 yrs and not once have I heard a driver call fins "flippers," for example. None of these details would be picked up on by the average person, and I know it shouldn't bug me, but it does.
Overall, I'd give this book 4 1/2 stars (out of 5). I'm interested and invested enough in the characters that I've already read the second book in the series.

Book Review: Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall

I was fortunate to receive a copy of MaryLu's new Christian Historical Fiction book Veil of Pearls. About the book, from her website:
It is 1811, and the prosperous port city of Charleston is bustling with immigrants like Adalia. But she has a secret: her light skin belies that she is part black and a runaway slave from Barbados. She lives in terror that her owner will come looking for her. Instead Morgan, the son of a plantation owner, finds her. He is handsome, charming, bored—and enamored of the beautiful Adalia. Soon she is swept into his glamorous world, a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin her—and Morgan. This epic romance reveals the beauty and tragedy of the Old South.

From the first page, I was swept away to the 1800's and living through Adalia. Though her life after escaping slavery is still rough (can you say corsets and NO INDOOR PLUMBING), I wanted to be right with Adalia in Charleston. She is plucky and not afraid to stand up to the spoiled rich brothers. Morgan becomes enthralled with Adalia and pulls her in to his world of privilege and luxury. I, like Adalia, would not be comfortable in that world, but I'd also probably love to be doted on and spoiled by Morgan. Being a part of the 'in' crowd would be nice...at least for a while.
I don't want to give anything away, but I'll say that I was so captivated by the story that I was up until after 3 am reading. I just wanted to know what was going to happen. The nastiness of certain other characters made me want to seek some revenge....nothing too drastic though.....just highly embarrass someone.... I know, I know...not very Christian of me, but geez, a person can only take so much...LOL.
I'm very glad that MaryLu Tyndall decided to put in an epilogue, though it probably means no sequel. I like to know the future of the characters....and see if what I want to happen, happens.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars. If you like Christian Historical Fiction, you'll love this book.

The Christian Olympics -- Fun and FREE!

I'd like to tell you all about the week-long Christian Olympics beta testing group I just finished. It's by the Christian organization “Love, Life, Wellness“ which is owned by Certified Wellness Coach, Elizabeth Avelar. It plays through a free site called Mindbloom.

What is the Christian Olympics, you ask?  Well, the Christian Olympics is a free, two-week long on-line Special Event taking place July 26- Aug 8^Th. Each day, you’re given different tasks to complete that will help you grown physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally, You are encouraged to make improvements are in 3 main areas: NUTRITION, RELATIONSHIPS and FAITH, and Coach Liz is there every step of the way. She is encouraging and also answers any questions you may have.

Now, remember this is completely FREE (No, they are NOT selling anything). The Christian Olympics Game will explain itself, as you join and follow the given directions. It is a highly interactive! Just like in the regular Olympics,  you can earn the bronze, silver, or gold by completing the various levels. I found it to be a lot of fun, though I did have to go out of my comfort zone a few times. I also made some friends that I will stay in touch with via Facebook.

You can also win prizes during this special event! I've been told there will be other surprises throughout the 2 weeks...including the 'opening ceremonies.'

If you need more details, just click here and Coach Liz will tell you all about it herself!