The Last Christian Standing Book Review and GIVEAWAY!

~Giveaway Now CLOSED~

The Last Christian by David Gregory was F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C!  I love science (I use to want to be a high school biology teacher) and Gregory's writing style was easy to follow.  The story isn't a feel good fiction, similar to what I'm use to reading but very real.  The storyline was set in the future of 2088 where all Americans have implanted computer chips.  Virtual reality is used everyday and for all things.  Often people don't meet in the physical realm such as a restaurant, they meet in virtual reality from the privacy of their own home or office or wherever they may be.  Cars are operated via computers and robots are household norms.  It may sound ridiculous, but really Gregory just took cloning, stem cell research, computers and technology and wrote about a future that could become one day America's reality. 
The storyline follows Abigail Caldwell out of the jungle and into America to fulfill the mission God has for her - to bring Christianity back to America.  As she tries to go about her mission she realizes it will be much harder than she ever thought, as no one can fathom the need for a Saviour.  With all the advancements in technology, the dissappearance of moral absolutes and since marriages are a thing of the past; finding a way to share God's love becomes increasingly difficult for Abigail. 
Abigail struggles with her own faith as she tries to reach out to those around her.  All the while she is in the fight of her life searching for the killer who murdered her village in the jungle, and trying to tie up all the loose ends from the message that her grandfather sent her 16 years ago.

You will be enthralled reading this novel with silicone brains transplants, a godless society and a virtual reality.  And you can check it out for yourself because I'm giving a copy of this book away.  All you have to do is leave me a comment with your contact info to be entered.

This giveaway will close Friday, June 4th at 7pm PST.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Tuesdays Random Thoughts

I've been busy.  Seriously.  Painting and trying to put my house together.  Ya'll, it's been three almost four years since we moved into our house and there are some rooms in this house that needed H.E.L.P.  (Just to remind you, I had two babies in two years so cut me a little slack, k)?!  There has been some major painting and decorating going on.  I will post pictures in a separate post.  What I'm looking at are some vinyl wall decals to go in a couple places, and while searching on ETSY, I found some funny stuff.  So, here ya go.

I personally like this one (he, he, he) . . .

This one is for my SIL (thinking of you!)

And seriously . . . if you have toddlers in your home, how awesome is this idea?

Grrrr - I tried to insert the links to the etsy shop, but blogger is being weird.  SO - I gotta finish my book for a review/giveaway later this week and another HUGE giveaway in June from a different company if they aren't annoyed with me and given up on me posting it.  I better write an email.  TTYL!!!

My new snack.  I've only tried the chocolate peanut butter bar, but it's delicious!  Under 200 calories.  12 grams of protein, and only 19 carbs.  Taste like a candy bar but without the genically modified ingredients.  I ♥ it!

Dear God . . .

My three year old is learning how to pray and it completely melts my heart every time I hear his passionate prayers.  A typical prayer usually goes something like this at meal time.

Dear God,
Thank you for Mom, Dad, Lukey, Nat and Summer. 
Thank you for the food,
make us strong,
make us healthy,
Amen.

Sometimes he inserts our activities for the day, or the people we interacted with.  One of my most favorite prayers is when prays at the dinner table.  The first line is changed and goes a little something like this.

Dear God,
Thank you for Mom, Nat, Dad come over to our house . . .
(WA-HA,HA,HA,HA,HA, ummm . . . excuse me but doesn't Dad live here?)

And then there's the prayers he prayed all this last weekend while at the beach.  It was his first time he spent the night at by himself with Papa and Nana at the beach.  He was soooo excited and proud.  Apparently, he thought he was big stuff and was VERY special.  It reflected in his prayers.

Dear God,
Thank you for Nan, Mom, Dad, Lukey - I be special, (apparently he forgot about Papa and Nat)
thank you I go beach house
I be special . . .

Giveaways!

It's that time of year again where my SIL has an awesome week of giveaways!  Juicy, Coach, Philosophy and more.  Go check it out!!!




 And . . . in case you haven't heard, she just opened up her closet on a new blog.  Go check it out - you might just find something for yourself!CLOSET SHOPPING

Over the Top!

I should be birthday shopping for my sister-in-law because her birthday is on Sunday. Instead, I found this awesome top for me.  Shhhh . . . don't tell her.  It'll be our secret. (wink, wink).  Now . . . about that birthday present.  Hmmmm . . . think she would care if we were twins?  Ha, ha!  Just kidding.

(victoriassecret.com)

Our Little Yankee

Baker is "assistant" coach for his nephews tee ball team. 
First day of practice, Baker arrives home early from work to change and run out the door.  At which point, Luke grabbed his yellow plastic bat and balls and was ready for practice. 
We arrive at the field, and daddy gets out to coach.  At which point I think it'll be easier to run an errand than hang out at a baseball field for 1-1/2 hours at dinner time with a 3 year old and a 19 month old.
We stay in the car, and prepare to leave. 
At this point Luke promptly states, "but mom!  I play baseball!  I gotta practice!"
Luke is three.  Tee ball starts at age five. 
We have a little ways to go. 
However, this poor boy is already counting down the years. 
He is R.E.A.D.Y. 
He is already holding up four fingers and asking, "my birfday I be dis many?" 
Yes, buddy. 
"When I'm dis many (five fingers spread open) I play baseball and golf." 
Okay.
Soon enough baby, soon enough.

Our nephew Maddox and Luke

(The boys on the team were asking, "who are you?"  as Luke was warming the bench.

Luke says, "I'm Yuke and dats my DAD (pointing proudly at Baker).

Forget Me Not Book Review

One of my most favorite genres to read is the mystery fiction.  This book written by Vicki Hinze did not disappoint.  I was going to save this book to read while on vacation and actually started it prior to leaving and couldn't put it down.  Which meant, I finished the book instead of packing for my trip (smile).  Forget Me Not kept me on the edge of my seat reading well into the night, hoping that I would then be able to sleep.  If I read during the day, I had to face the stairs and face the doorways . . . just in case the boogy man was gonna come while reading my book (does that just sound absolutely dumb or what)?!  I've never been this engaged with a mystery novel and the suspense the author built into the story line was phenomenal.

The story is of a young woman who develops amnesia after being attacked while in her car at a red light.  She is beaten and left for dead in another state away from her home.  She is determined to find her identity, her memory and solve the mystery of why someone wants her dead.  The only thing she knows for sure is regardless of her circumstances her faith in God is absolute and she knows beyond any shadow of doubt her place as a daughter of Christ.  As she clings to her Saviour she finds herself falling in love with Ben. Ben is a man who is heart-broken as a result of his wife and son who were murdered. and because of that - he has completely abandoned his faith.  

You will completely fall in love with these characters as they work their way through questions surrounding Ben's wife and son's murder, why this young woman looks identical to his wife, why she was beaten and left for dead and without memory, and who is behind it all.

Go check out this great book at Waterbrook Multnomah's website.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

We Have A Winner!

Okay ladies!  The book winner for This Little Prayer of Mine is . . .

APRIL who said: I know 2 little boys who would love this! :o)

Thank you so much for participating in this great children's book giveaway.  If you would like to purchase the book for yourself head on over to Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group to get your own copy for your children's library.

Don't Forget!

A few more hours to enter my children's book giveaway!  DO IT!