Sharing from the Modest Mom today!

http://www.themodestmomblog.com/2012/10/huge-giveaway-even-bigger-announcement/

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Missed Opportunities

My heart is heavy today.  I was just going through my email, and a prayer chain email came through late last night that said a friend of ours had passed away.  Such a sweet and wonderful lady, and someone who I had lost touch with.  The last time I saw her several years ago, she was just as wonderful as ever.  She gave me her phone number, and told me to call her.  And, in the hustle and bustle of daily life and busyness, I never did.  And now I am sad because I missed the opportunity to spend more time with this wonderful person.

This is a lady who put up with me in the teenage years, right in the middle of the walking attitude phase, but no matter how much I dished out, all she gave back was love and patience.  I thank the Lord for people like Jane Neese.

I encourage you to make that call, send that text, or note, or card, or letter, or knock on that door today.  Walk down the hall or around the corner to say hello, and let your loved ones know they are loved.

The wonderful part is, I know exactly where this precious, beautiful lady is going, and some day I am going to get to see her again in Heaven.

God Bless,

-Sonja

Schedules

I've been absolutely struggling to post lately, which I am sure some of you have noticed.  It's been a very busy few weeks, and I feel as if I'm behind on everything, from time with my family, to blogging, to reviews, to CafeMom posts...I will tell you, time with my Lord and time with my family come before any of the rest of those, so if I'm not all caught up or on as much for awhile, it's because I'm trying to make sure I get enough time with them.  That said, I've prewritten all of my KJVDirectory posts (except for the last two in December) for the rest of the year, so you can be sure to see me there :).  I will begin posting regularly again soon!

-Sonja

Steel Magnolias 2012

Wow.  That's what I have to say about this movie.  Wow.  Now I am old enough to remember the original Steel Magnolias, and I loved it.  I had reservations about the new one, wondering if anyone could replace a cast so iconic, and a movie so well remembered.  And here's the thing.  It's not a replacement, it's a new companion to walk alongside.  I think I want to go back and see the old one again, just to see if I was right about the things that I thought were different!  Of course, I'll have to stop bawling first.  That's one thing the movies definitely have in common!

With an all star cast, headed by Queen Latifah playing M'Lynn, and one of my favorite ornery women, Alfre Woodard (She's the feisty lieutenant from Memphis Beat, which I really miss) is playing the orneriest of the them all, Miss Ouiser!  Jill Scott brings a fresh face and a sparkling wit to Miss Truvy, and I was so thrilled to see Mrs. Huxtable herself (Phylicia Rashad) in the role of Clairee.  She can definitely pull off the poise and character to play such a role.

I don't remember seeing Aderpero Oduye or Condolesa Rashad anywhere before, but I surely enjoyed watching them here.  Annelle was the shy, reserved character of the 80's, and Miss "Blush and Bashful"  Shelby delivered her lines with great spirit.

I felt like the 2012 version went farther into the mother-daughter relationship, and showed us more of what happened to Shelby herself, and as I said, I am going back to watch the 1989 Steel Magnolias.

Ultimately, I don't think there is a comparison between the two.  This one isn't better than that one, and that one isn't better than this one.  They are both incredible stories delivered by amazing casts, and each was perfect in its own time.  If you haven't caught it yet, check out Steel Magnolias, on Lifetime.

I will say that if you had any problems with language or actions in the first one, you'll still have them, so as always, preview before watching with children.

Sharing a Giveaway ~ The Grammar of Poetry Video Course

New Giveaway ~ The Grammar of Poetry Video Course and Textbook (Over $130 Value!)

http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2012/10/giveaway-grammar-poetry-video-textbook-over-130-value/comment-page-4/#comment-69030

"Poetry is important because words are important." ~ Douglas Wilson

The Grammar of Poetry is a video course and textbook that teach the mechanics of poetry by using the classical approach of imitation.

The course is designed for the 6th - 9th grade level, but is also appropriate for older children and adults seeking to achieve a better knowledge of how poetry works.

Its goal is to teach your child to analyze not only poetry, but words and language in general. Just as an English course would teach a student the different parts of speech, so also the Grammar of Poetry teaches a student the building blocks of poetry, enabling the student to effectively engage in the language of poetry, in literature, and in non-literal language

Sharing Encouragement

As I perused my inbox this morning, trying to play catch up on a million (okay, slight exaggeration) pieces of correspondence, my heart was lightened as I opened my Daily Focus and found a familiar and comforting verse.

Does it ever seem like there's too much on your plate?  That the world is spinning too fast and it's out of your control?  Well, it is out of your control, but don't throw up your hands in defeat and give up, give it up to God. 

I hope you'll gain a little (or a lot of) encouragement from checking out today's Daily Focus!

I don't know why, but I can never get those darn buttons to work right!  Today we're linking up to Lessons from Ivy:  Encouragement for the Present, and boy is she encouraging!  The scripture she shared on Monday totally hit the right spot in my heart when I read it this morning.  Thanks for dropping by!

For my part of the link-up we're going back in time, for something encouraging and yummy, some super duper cupcakes!

Remember to check out http://www.lessonsfromivy.com

Review of Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

I loved the twists and turns of this fast paced story.  I did figure out the plot, but rather than being bored, I was intrigued enough to read on and discover how she so skillfully twisted the plot to wrap all the twists and turns into a compelling and arresting story with a climactic resolution.

I love the fact that the relationships in this book were realistic and actually required work, not just a fairy tale where they seemed effortless and illusionary.  The characters themselves were imperfect and real, not shallow and faultless.  Their shortcomings, fears and foibles made them ultimately more relatable.

I do wish I'd have gone back and reread all her former novels, especially the O'Malleys.  It's been long enough for me that the references to the familiar characters and stories teased my memory with bits of stories that I want to explore again.

I would love to give more details about why I enjoyed this novel but I don't want to fill my review with spoilers.  I will say that this book made me wonder about the author herself.

I did have an image of Paul Falcon in my head soon after beginning this novel, which stayed throughout the book.  No book trailers or promo pictures disturbed the image, and I could even hear the voice of the actor my mind had cast to play him as I read.

I highly recommend Dee Henderson's latest novel, Full Disclosure!

From the back cover:

Ann Silver is a cop's cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region's most trusted investigative positions.

Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.

Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn't expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.

The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former Vice President. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is...

https://www.facebook.com/DeeHendersonsFullDisclosure?fref=ts

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Walk in the Light at the KJV Blog Directory

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