Menu Plan Monday - 12/28

The name of the game this week is CHEAP! With Christmas just behind and college looming ahead, we've got to do some major cutbacks for the next month or so, plus my family is visiting this week, so what I fix has to feed 8 people while they're here (Tuesday & Wednesday). So here is my cheapskate menu for the week...
Monday Lunch: baked chicken, Dinner: company chicken (not cheap but I have the ingredients at home, so I'm using what I have!)
Tuesday's Lunch: sandwiches, Dinner: chicken and dumplings
Wednesday's Lunch: taco soup, Dinner: sandwiches
Thursday's Lunch: fish sticks, Dinner: chicken with egg noodles
Friday's Lunch: sandwiches, Dinner: hot dogs (my son is having a friend sleep over)
Saturday's Lunch: chicken and egg noodles, Dinner: hot dogs
Sunday's Lunch: fried raviolli, Dinner: fish sticks

A reminder...

I just read this on Yahoo, and it was just the reminder I needed to see. This is why I'm gonig back to school and going into dental hygiene...

Dental hygienist
Of all the jobs that require a two-year technical degree, this one promises the most opportunity in the new decade, boasting a whopping 36 percent growth rate, Shatkin says. Why? Because "dentists try to shrug off more work to dental hygienists so they can see more patients," he explains. As a bonus, Shatkin adds, many of these positions are part-time with flexible hours, making them ideal for parents with young children.
Median annual salary: $57,100

You can check out the full story on other hot jobs on Yahoo.

Martyr Moments

I've really wrestled with whether or not to go through with going back to school, and I've decided that the long-term payoff will be worth it, but it's been a decision I've struggled with. Lately I've been having "martyr moments" a lot, and I've got to stop.
Martyr moments are major self-pity parties...like the one I had when I found out our family will have the opportunity to go to San Antonio in April, except I'll be school, so my hubby and kids can go, but I'll probably be stuck at home. I had a total emotional meltdown.
I've been a wreck since I decided to do this. It's been a stressful and difficult decision. I know I'm going to have to make sacrifices for this - we all are - but wallowing in self-pity will do nothing but make things worse. I've got to just keep going, trusting God and the decisions I've put so much prayer and thought into. My family will be behind me all the way. We have a good plan in place to get through this, and we can tweak it as go to make it work even better. In the end, I'll be glad I did this...we all will. It's an amazing opportunity I've had thrown into my lap, and I can't walk away from it.

Merry Christmas!

I'm taking a break from blogging this week to focus on my family during Christmas. I will be back this weekend. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Thankful Thursday - relaxing days at home

OK, so these are few and far between now, but I love spending the entire day at home. I love to start my day with my Bible and coffee before everyone else gets up. I love cooking for my family and enjoying meals with them. I love stealing a few minutes to curl up on the couch with a good book. I am really a homebody, and I love relaxing and enjoying our newly remodeled home. It's a warm, cozy, loving home, and being there makes me so happy.

Menu Plan Monday - 12/14

Monday Lunch: chicken packets (even though they were on last week's menu, we ended up eating out a couple of meals, so I'm using the ingredients I already have at home), Dinner: sandwiches
Tuesday Lunch: chicken in a pot (slow cooker meal), Dinner: Christmas party
Wednesday Lunch: leftovers (chicken packets), Dinner: sandwiches
Thursday Lunch: leftovers (chicken in a pot), Dinner: a quick fix favorite at our house - pot pies with rice
Friday Lunch: raviolli, Dinner: tacos
Saturday Lunch: EAT OUT, Dinner: hot dogs
Sunday Lunch: dinner at church (I'm taking my oven baked mac and cheese), Dinner: chicken ricotta bowls

One wild week...

I couldn't shut my brain down last night to go to sleep. (I ended up staying up entirely too late reading the latest Ted Dekker book, which I'm reviewing for Thomas Nelson, but it helped me relax enough that once the lights were out, I could actually fall asleep...but that's beside the point.)
The week ahead is going to be one of those insane weeks when I need to be superwoman to get it all done...I need about five of me, scattered around in all the places I need to be. We have three Christmas parties, two major church events, extra shifts at work for me, plus we're taking the kids to see Curious George Live (thanks to my oldest winning a coloring contest in the local paper - yea Bobby!). I stayed up late to make sure everything was scheduled so I can get it all done...I hope...I just want to get through the week with nothing falling through the cracks.

Missing my running...

I've run one time in the past two weeks due to weather. Ugh...I love living on the Gulf Coast because the weather is usually so great, but that's not the case lately. So far I have finished week 2 of the Couch Potato to 5K plan, and I'm loving it...if I can just get back into it! I think the weather is supposed to be much better this next week, so hopefully I get back into my routine!

5 Favorite Movies

1. Sabrina (the newer version, with Harrison Ford)
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Julie & Julia
4. Roman Holiday
5. The Passion of the Christ

Thankful Thursday - The Internet

Okay, I'll admit, sometimes I wonder if the internet is a blessing or a curse for me. I spend entirely too much time in cyberspace, but I'm so grateful it exists!
I live 6 hours from the small town where I grew up. A lot of my childhood friends also moved away from the area. My husband's family is scattered all over the southeastern U.S. So we really depend on the internet to keep in touch with each other, especially since most of us are now on Facebook.
Then there's all the research I do online...for children's church, work, home, cooking, homeschooling, and more, I am constantly turning to the web for new ideas. I love spending time online!

College - the decision

I have wavered back and forth so much about going back to college. I made the decision to go, then I started having second thoughts about the effect my insane schedule will have on me and my family. I've talked to lots of women who went back to school when their kids were young and asked their opinions and advice. I've thought about it, prayed about it, wrestled with the decision...and finally I reached one. I AM going back to school.
I'm absolutely terrified. It's been almost 10 years since I went to college! When I was in college before, I was single, childless, and living with my grandparents. I went to school full-time on scholarship and didn't work. Now I'm married to a pastor, I have 2 kids, and I work almost full-time. I'm petrified. But in the long run, I think this opportunity is too good to pass up. It's going to be so good for my family once I finish college. Plus it's something I've dreamed about for years - finishing my degree is something that is so important to me. So I'm going for it, scared or not. Janunary 11th I'll return to college once again. It's definately going to be an adventure...

Menu Plan Monday - 12/7

Monday Lunch: chicken packets (quick, easy, and really tasty - I'll post my recipe for them tomorrow), Dinner: creamy chicken pot pie (this is a new recipe for me)
Tuesday Lunch: lunch on the run - eat out, Dinner: goulash
Wednesday Lunch: leftovers (chicken pot pie), Dinner: sandwiches
Thursday Lunch: leftovers (goulash), Dinner: chicken in a pot
Friday Lunch: sandwiches, Dinner: Mexican hamburger casserole
Saturday Lunch: leftovers (chicken in a pot), Dinner: raviolli
Sunday Lunch: pork chops, Dinner: chicken packets

Thomas Nelson Book Review Program

Finding this program was like a dream come true to a book lover like me! It's so simple...agree to read each book you receive, then post a review on your blog and on a major book site such as amazon.com and you can receive free books! I've reviewed several books for Thomas Nelson...and the best part is, it's the publishing company for my favorite author, Ted Dekker, so I get free hardcover copies of all his new books. What an awesome hobby! You can find out more at Thomas Nelson Book Review Blggers.

My 5 Favorite Books (Fiction)

1. The Awakening - Angela Hunt
2. Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers
3. Adam - Ted Dekker
4. Thr3e - Ted Dekker
5. The Atonement Child - Francine Rivers

Thankful Thursday - My Bible

My NASB study Bible was a Christmas gift from my husband 7 years ago. I don't have a Bible for church, on for the car, one at home, like a lot of people do - I have my one Bible that goes everywhere with me and that I use for almost everything. Over the years, it's slowly filling up with sermon notes, markings from my inductive Bible study, and underlined verses. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that Christians in other countries can be arrested or even killed just for owning a Bible...it's so wonderful to be able to have mine.

My 5 Favorite Flavors

1. coffee

2. chocolate

3. cheesecake

4. raspberries

5. caramel

Thankful Thursday

In 1999, I met the most awesome man alive, and in 2000, I married him. It's hard to believe we'll celebrate our 10th anniversary next year! We have been blessed with the two greatest little boys in the world, who are now 7 and 4. (I always tell people, how many women can say they live with the 3 best looking men alive?) We are a very close knit family, and we love being together and having fun together. I can honestly say that while life may not always be easy, it is always fun with them around!

I think everyone who knows me would agree that my life boils down to two things - faith and family. That pretty much sums me up as a person. I'm so grateful God brought my wonderful family into my life. They mean the world to me.

Menu Plan Monday - Nov. 23

Monday Lunch: Chicken and black bean enchilada, Dinner: Baked chicken

Tuesday Lunch: Tuna sandwiches, Dinner: leftovers (chicken and black bean enchiladas)

Wednesday Lunch: Tacos, Dinner: Chicken and egg noodles

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: Still enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers

Saturday Lunch: Baked chicken, Dinner: Eat out

Second Thoughts

I'm having major second thoughts about this whole going back to college idea...

I went to my campus this past week to get some paperwork sorted out, and I got lost. Not on the way there, not on campus...I got lost in the main building. It's three stories tall. I couldn't find the elevator.

I have completely lost my mind. I'm confused, I don't know where to go on campus or who to talk to or what to do, and I haven't even attended my first class! It has me wondering how I'll ever be able to negotiate college in my 30's.

I've also started freaking out now that I'm making my to-do lists and working on my scheduling. I'm starting to realize that a lot of things are going to have to change if I do this. I am passionate about leading our children's ministry at our church, but I may have to give it up while I'm in school. My youngest is going to start playing T-ball this spring...how many T-ball games will I have to miss because I'm studying or working to pay for college? How many bedtime stories will I not get to read? How many nights will I get 3 or 4 hours of sleep because I'm cramming for a major test? What if I do a year's worth of work and don't get into the program I want? What if I do get in and start school full time? What about spending time with my family, hanging out with friends, running, reading, traveling with my family? I have a life that I really love, and I'm starting to wonder how much of it I'm going to have to give up and whether or not this whole college idea is worth it...yes, I want to finish my degree, but is the price I'll have to pay to get there going to be worth it? Three years seemed so short at first...now it looks like an eternity looming before me.

One of those weeks...

Ever have one of those days when you just want to crawl back into bed and pull up the covers? It's been one of those weeks for me...let's just say it's not been spectacular and it's not getting better. The first part was actually ok, but these last two days have been full of yucky weather (which caused me to miss my run this morning, which did not help my general grumpiness), annoying tech support people (after two years on the job, yes, I do know how to use the software at work, and I know enough to know you messed it up instead of fixing it!), plumbing issues (overflowing toilets...not fun), and general stress. It won't be a relaxing weekend, either. We have a day planned tomorrow to work on my children's ministry rooms at church, then a busy Sunday as we start rehearsing with the kids for our Christmas program. (And my family wonders why our house is a little chaotic?) But, thankfully, next week is one of my very favorite holidays...and I only work two days...and we don't have Wednesday night services at church...next week will be a better week.

Recipe Zaar

My absolute favorite recipe website is Recipe Zaar. I stumbled across it months ago, and I've gotten so many great recipes from it! My favorite feature is the fact that you can search by preparation method - slow cooker, OMAC, etc., but they have so many different search options. It's a lot of fun and so useful!

5 Things on My Bucket List

1. visit Israel

2. white water rafting

3. rapelling

4. write a book & get it published

5. go on a missions trip to a foreign country

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for cooking, and for cooking for my family...for some people that might sound like a nightmare, but to me, it's something great, especially after after our house flooded in Hurricane Ike and I was without a kitchen for months!

I guess I'm something of an unlikely chef. I never cooked when I was growing up. I didn't even have any interest in really trying to. When I got married, my poor husband got the point of just asking what kind of Hamburger Helper we were having for dinner that night - it was all we ate! I literally didn't know how to boil an egg. When I finally got tired of that, I started experimenting...that was worse. Some nights dinner was inedible. But over time, I started learning what sounded good and what didn't, and my experiments got better. Now I love to cook and bake...if anything, my husband gets tired of me experimenting because I don't cook his old favorites often enough! It's relaxing to go into the kitchen, whip up something yummy, and hear my husband and kids say, "Wow! This is really good."

Menu Plan Monday - Nov. 16th

Monday's Lunch: easy taco casserole, Dinner: spaghetti

Tuesday's Lunch: chili dogs, Dinner: baked ricotta bowls

Wednesday's Lunch: leftovers (spaghetti), Dinner: chicken and black bean enchiladas

Thursday's Lunch: chili dogs, Dinner: soup and sandwiches (Note: If you haven't guessed, Thursday is my busiest day of the week!)

Friday's Lunch: leftovers (chicken and black bean enchiladas), Dinner: EAT OUT!

Saturday's Lunch: Church event, we will eat there, Dinner: soup and sandwiches

Sunday's Lunch: fried raviolli, Sunday's Dinner: chicken and green chili straws

Note to self...

I went running again yesterday...my 3rd time for the week. I was really proud of myself, and I finished my workout with a little more ease than before. I also learned an important lesson...don't run when the "real" runners are on the track.

I thought, oh, it's Saturday morning, the track will be empty...WRONG! The first people I saw were a coach and a high school track kid, who easily ran lap after lap as I jogged one minute, walked one and a half, jogged one, etc., while desperately gasping for air towards the end of every one minute run. The kid put me to shame, making it quite obvious that I'm still in the "couch potato" portion of the "Couch Potato to 5K Plan."

Finally, the kid finished, and I thought, great, I'm almost done too, maybe I won't see anyone else...then the bikers arrived. A couple, probably a good 10 to 15 years older than me, came up on their bikes, parked them, and started running the bleachers before they started their laps at the track. Once again, I, the fitness trainer and gym manager, was put to shame.

All in all, despite having to share the track with "real" runners instead of newbie wannabes like myself, I was proud of myself for running, however slow it was. I feel great - even though I already work out regularly, I think adding something new to the routine is great. I just kept telling myself that one day, before too long, I will be one of them...I think.

College Here I Come!

I'm so excited...I registered for two college yesterday! I've been thinking about and praying about this for so long, but it didn't really feel "real" until yesterday. Having that slip of paper in my hand with my advisor's signature and my class schedule was such an awesome feeling! My classes will be challenging - not to mention the balancing act of juggling family, home, work, church, kids activities, and now college - but I'm more excited about this than I've been about anything for a very long time.

My Miche Bage

I just got my Miche bag last month and I am so in love with this purse! I first discovered it when a member of the gym where I work brought hers in. The concept is so simple but so amazing! The purse is a basic black bag, but there are magnets on the outside lining - they use a special kind of magnet that will not effect your credit cards, debit cards, or cell phone. You can buy dozens of adorable magnetic shells for the purse, then whenever you want to change your purse, just pull off one shell and put on another. For a purse junkie like myself, this is a dream come true! I have 5 shells for mine now, and I already have several more picked out to buy. It is worth every penny you will spend on it! Check it out at www.4miche.com

5 Things I Never Leave Home Without

1. my day planner (a.k.a. my brain - just about everything I need to know is in there)

2. cell phone

3. Miche bag

4. a good book

5. my journal

Thankful Thursday

Today is my first meeting with my college advisor...I'm nervous, but I'm so excited too! I'm so grateful for the chance to return to college.

I dropped out of college after two years to marry my husband, and a few months later, I found out I was expecting my oldest. I've never regretted quitting - I was a straight A student on a full academic scholarship, taking 18 hours a semester, and I was so completely burned out. To add it, I really didn't know what I wanted to study or what career I wanted to pursue. I needed a break, but I always knew I wanted to go back. For years, I held onto the dream, but the time was never right...until now. So today I start a new chapter in my life, and it's one that I'm really excited about. College, here I come!

Another menu plan Monday

This is going to be a crazy week...work, training at work, church events, and my 1st meeting with my college advisor...this week the menu's all about quick and easy food!

Monday's Lunch: chicken ricotta bowls (new recipe), Dinner: piergoies with kielbasa

Tuesday's Lunch: tuna sandwiches, Dinner: baked chicken

Wednesday's Lunch: lasagna, Dinner: chicken and sausage sandwiches

Thursday's Lunch: tuna sandwiches, Dinner: pot pies with rice

Friday's Lunch: leftovers - lasagna, Dinner: leftovers - chicken and sausage sandwiches

Saturday's Lunch: taco soup, Dinner: baked chicken

Sunday's Lunch: Meal @ church, Dinner: leftovers - taco soup

Just a note...tomorrow is my first Tasty Tuesday - I'll be posting my taco soup recipe from this week's menu. It's really quick and easy, and my family loves it!

Mom on the Move

I've decided I need a new outlet, a new way to relieve stress, which I always seem to have plenty of! I work at a gym, so I already work out, but I need some variety in my routine. I've always been a wannabe runner...I've thought about it, dabbled in it, tried for a while and was doing really well, then fizzled. So I've decided to go for it again. I love the website Cool Running, and they have an awesome Couch Potato to 5K plan. It was the plan I did well with before, so I'm going back to it. Tomorrow is my offical start day (unless it rains). Hopefully blogging about it will keep me accountable! Any other runners out there...I'd love to hear tips!

Favorite Ways to Relax

1. getting lost in good book

2. horseback riding, grooming, or almost anything at the barn

3. a long hot bath

4. a good workout

5. journaling

Thankful Thursday

For my first Thankful Thursday, I have to start with what I am most grateful for, and that's my relationship with Christ. My faith shapes everything I do, and it's absoultely at the top of my gratitude list! I' grateful that I was raised in a Christian home, and that I had great role models to follow and to help guide me through rocky times, especially my teens. Without Christ, I am nothing, but through Him, I can do anything. I am so grateful for His love!

And it begins...

I am so excited about going back to college in January! I'm surprised by the fact that the stress has already started, though!

It's been almost 10 years since I quit college after my sophmore year to get married and start a family. It's a decision I've never regretted, but I always knew I wanted to go back and finish school. The time never seemed to be right...until this past summer when I brought up the idea, and my husband said, "Go for it!"

My first appointment with my advisor is next Thursday, when I'll register for classes and find out how much of my previous 67 hours will transfer to my new college in another state. I'm nervous but so excited! I feel like I'm starting a new chapter of my life...turning 30, going back to school...life is going to get even crazier when January rolls around!

Tasty Tuesday

One of the things I really want to do on my blog is share recipes and talk about cooking. I'll be posting recipes on Tuesdays...maybe not every Tuesday, but at least a couple of times a month. I'm putting together a family cookbook with all of our favorite recipes - for everything from special events to everyday meals - and I look forward to starting to share those with you!

I can't be the only mom...

- Who is fighting gray hair and acne at the same time.
- Who sometimes locks herself in the bathroom with a good book just to get a few minutes of peace.
- Who has days when I don't like myself as a mom or as a person in general.
- Who things bulldozing my kids bedrooms and starting over would be easier than cleaning them up.
- Who sometimes feels so overwhelmed by my house and my to-do list ath I want to pull the covers over my head and hide from it all.
- Who has found parenting is so much more awesome than I ever thought it would be!

My First Menu Plan Monday

Monday's Lunch: cheesy potato soup, Monday's Dinner: chicken and chorizo sandwiches

Tuesday's Lunch: Cuban chicken wraps, Tuesday's Dinner: slow cooker pot roast

Wednesday's Lunch: beef empandas, Wednesday's Dinner: leftovers (chicken and chorizo sandwiches)

Thursday's Lunch: stuffed chicken breast, Thurdsday's Dinner: hamburgers

Friday's Lunch: sandwiches, Friday's Dinner: spaghetti

Saturday's Lunch: hamburgers, Saturday's Dinner: salisbury streak

Sunday's Lunch: leftovers (spaghetti), Sunday's Dinner: sandwichs

Snacks and other goodies: cream cheese brownies, roasted red pepper hummus

My review for Face of Betrayal

Face of Betrayal is a great first novel from Lis Wiehl, someone fans of the Fox News Channel are very familiar with! The story has a "ripped from the headlines" feel as three friends investigate the disappearance of 17 year old Senate page Katie Converse. As they delve into the case, they discover disturbing clues from Katie's blog pointing a mysterious relationship with a much older man. The friends race to piece together the puzzle of who he is and what happened to Katie.
Lis gives the reader a unique perspective on the story because it is told from three different viewpoints - prosecutor Allison Pierce, FBI agent Nicole Hodges, and reporter Cassidy Shaw. The storyline is good and takes some surprising twists. Lis also takes you into the personal lives of each of the characters, and she leaves several loose ends that left me wanting to know more. It's a great book - if I had any complaints, it's the fact that there were a few minor details, and one very short scene in particular, that I would rather not see in a Christian book.
Overall, I really enjoyed Face of Betrayal, and I hope that I get the opportunity to review Lis' next Triple Threat novel, Hand of Fate, due out in April 2010.

My review for The Noticer

Orange Beach, Alabama is a typical American town - it's filled with people with a lot of needs, from failing marriages to bankrupt businesses to lonely lives. But one by one, lives are changed by a mysterious old drifter known only as Jones. Jones insists that all it takes is a little perspective on your problems to change your life and realize that things are not as bad as they seem to be. As he travels throughout the town, he touches many lives, offering wisdom and hope to those who need it.
"The Noticer" is very different from any other book I've ever read. Part fiction, part self-help, and part good old fashioned wisdom and advice, it definitely makes you think. It gives you, as Jones would say, a little perspective. It also includes a detailed discussion guide that would generate some really good topics for a book club. The sound advice and encouragement it offers, as well as the author's own inspirational life story, would make it a great choice for anyone going through a transition or a difficult time in their life. It made me think about the people who have influenced my own life as well, often in ways they never even realized. It's definitely a book I will pass along to others.

My review for The Rivers Run Dry

Raleigh Harmon's life is not going well. A disciplinary transfer lands the Southern FBI agent far from home in Seattle with an egotistical supervisor. Add to the mix her mom, who has moved with her to live with the quirky sister of Raleigh's deceased father, and the disappearance of a young hiker who may have been kidnapped, and things gets a little crazy.
I really enjoyed "The Rivers Run Dry." It includes quite an interesting cast of characters, from Raleigh's New Age aunt and her friend Claire the Clairovyant, who is all too eager to help Raleigh solve a case - and leads to to some pretty funny episodes; to the ever-evolving list of suspects in the disappearance; to Raleigh's quirky co-workers and sometimes confusing boss. Not only is a great mystery with lots of surprises, but Sibella Giorello's writing style is beautifully descriptive. You can picture each scene is vivid detail. So often, especially when reading a mystery, I feel compelled to keep going simply by the plot - rarely do I find a book with not only a good plot, but one whose poetic language drives me to keep reading and keep enjoying it. This was a great introduction to Giorello's work, and I look forward to reading her next Raleigh Harmon novel, due out next year.

My Book Review for Kiss - by Ted Dekker

I am a huge Ted Dekker fan, so I was really excited to get Kiss. It's a great book, and it's one that any mystery fan will love, even those who don't usually like the intensity of some of Dekker's other books. It's suspenseful, exciting, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story begins with Shauna, the main character, getting ready to confront her father with allegations that, if true, will be shattering, especially since her father is ahead in the polls in his race for President. Her plans to confront him are in place...until a car accident leaves her in a coma. She wakes up unable to remember the last 6 months of her life. As more details are revealed to her, things go from bad to worse. She is blamed for the accident and accused of being involved in drugs. Despite her memory loss, Shauana is convinced that all is not as it seems. As the story unfolds, Shauana is fighting not only to clear her name, but also to find out what she researching and who is behind the attempts to cover it up. She also battles to repair her strained relationship with her father, fearing whether her quest for the truth will do to further damage. To further complicate the situation, Shauna's coma has enabled her with a strange new gift, but she wonders whether it is a blessing or a curse. I really enjoyed Kiss and am already to looking forward to the next book coauthored by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy, Burn, which will be out next year.

Looking forward to Ted Dekker's newbook...

The Unseen by T.L. Hines - My first Thomas Nelson book review

The Unseen is the first book I've read by T.L. Hines, and I look forward to reading more! The plot twists and turns keep you guessing until the very last page. When the book begins, you start to get an idea of just who Lucas, the main character is...then you very quickly learn that there is more to him that you imagined. Little by little, throughout the book, Hines pieces together Lucas' past. He gives you hints, but he still completely caught me off guard with the ending. The plotline was very original and kept my glued. As you progress through the book, you wonder how the author is going to pull what seems to be several different plot lines together, but once they all tie in, it whole story comes together wonderfully. I got so involved with the book and so caught up in the storyline that I wanted to check every ceiling, closet and crawl space in my home and office as I was reading - you'll understand what I mean after just a couple of chapters! After reading The Unseen, I would love to pick up more books by T.L. Hines. If you are a fan of suspense and mystery novels, I would definately recommend this book!

To find out more about this book, visit Thomas Nelson at:

The Perfect Job - Reviewing Books!

I was so excited to find an awesome new program from Thomas Nelson recently...if you agree to read a book and post a 200 word review on your blog and on a major book review website, you can get free copies of new books sent to you for review. I'm so excited about this! I am working on my first book, a novel called The Unseen by T.L. Hines. I was also offered the chance to review (via email) the bestseller The Same Kind of Different As Me. So I am currently working on two books for review. My husband thinks I'm crazy...I don't have loads of free time! But taking some "me" time is cheaper than therapy! The downtime to read - and feeling obligated to read! - is great.