In the Storm

all about me | READ March

Another month has passed and another month of slippery-sloped reading time. I am making my way through the 47 full-sized novels by J.D. Robb, the In Death series. But, I'm intentionally adding in various non-fiction pieces that have been setting, seemingly abandoned from being un-read, on my color-coordinated shelves - and one re-read for review. Non-fiction, in particularly non-fiction Christian is my favorite genre, so I was glad to have added a couple of those titles to my reading list. When I read non-fiction books I generally have pen (usually pen, sometimes pencil) in hand because I, inevitably, will be taking notes in the margin, bracketing paragraphs, and underlining quotes. Sometimes, this exercise spurs on further study, but, it helps me 'find' easily the parts of the book that spoke the loudest, to me.

Here we go:

Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb. If you're unaware, J.D. Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts only Robb's works are darker and grittier. Loyalty is definitely darker with a high body count and evil murderer. All of the In Death novels revolve around homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her billionaire husband Roarke, and her trusted sidekick Officer Peabody. But, the tremendous supporting cast of characters continues to grow as Robb grows Eve's character. Because these books are set in the not-so-distant-future in the late 2050's, Robb is afforded great liberties with technology and she uses it well in this exciting terrorist-driven murder mystery. 17/100 books in 2018.

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb. Lieutenant Eve Dallas' psyche had a work over in Witness, highlighted because of the current homicide she was investigating. It was a really good, and intricately woven story of a murder in real life on stage during a murder being acted out on stage and Lieutenant Dallas was a witness to the murder. Just as it was difficult for Dallas' to deal with, some of the content was especially disgusting but connected the motive to the murder. 18/100 books in 2018

Shaken by Tim Tebow. I'd heard such good things about Tebow's book, Shaken; and, while I know who Tim Tebow is and that he is a Christian and seems to live that life out well, I really didn't know much about him. This is not necessarily a biography, but there is glimpses of his younger life - and through the years. And, while this isn't a memoir, there are individual stories with individual testimonial lessons-learned. We may know Tebow as a successful collegiate athlete and Heisman Trophy winner and this may seem like he is un-relatable. But, Tebow the man, is very relatable. He exposed himself so we could see beyond who and how the world sees him, instead we see how Christ sees him - and how Christ sees us, too. 19/100 books in 2018.

Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb. In a club owned by Roarke a cop is bludgeoned to death. Motive is a mystery. Robb weaves in an intense and intricate storyline - and investigation for Eve. This one will keep you guessing. Some frustrating parts when Internal Investigations gets involved but a bit of a spice is captured with Eve and a former lover who happens to be IAB. Shake things up a bit, relationally. 20/100 books in 2018.

Grace by Max Lucado. There is more to grace than we ever imagined..."Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God. Gifted, equipped, and commissioned. Farewell, earthly condemnations: Stupid, unproductive, slow-learner, fast talker, quitter, cheapskate; no longer. You are who He says you are: Spiritually alive. Heavenly positioned. Connected to God. A billboard of mercy. An Honored Child. This is the aggressive forgiveness we call grace"...so good. 21/100 books in 2018

Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb. One of Robb's more disgusting and vicious serial killers woven into revenge and betrayal that you do not see coming. Lots of players and a couple story lines to follow - but, easily followed and all pertinent to the murder mystery. 22/100 books in 2018

Many Thorns Yet Still Roses by Jessie Gallaher. I read through this new release by my friend Jessie who writes an excruciatingly brutal and revealing exposé on her and her husband's first year as adoptive parents to 5 siblings and the intense highs and lows they experienced adopting children with troubled pasts. We had the opportunity to befriend this couple - and these kids while they lived near us and went to our church. While I heard tell of some of their experiences it was nothing like I could have ever imagined. This book is not for the adoptive faint at heart. If you come into contact with adoptive families in any way, especially if those families adopted older children then this book is for you. If only to keep you from 'putting your foot in your mouth' when you attempt to tell an adoptive family how they should be doing something different. Because, truthfully, unless you are in the middle of it - you have no idea. But, Jessie, helps us see with clearer vision the struggles. 23/100 books in 2018

all about me | a timeline of home

I have lived in 14 different 'homes' over my 54+ years. Much of the roaming was done while I was in the military for 20 years. Some of my 'homes' were dorm rooms as the Air Force calls what the Army calls barracks. One such dorm was actually dubbed, The Hilton, by the Army personnel on the Army post who were in fact living their year-long tours in barracks, while us Air Force personnel on the Army post lived in dorm rooms. With carpet. Our own bathrooms. For shame.

I might have those very early years of life off by a couple years - no worries. But, I realized the longest I have ever lived in one place. Where I am living - right now! That's just crazy. Surprised me, too!

I should have included a few 'funny things' that I remember, or just something I remember, about each place. But, hey, I can still do that, right? Actually, now that I've said that - that would be another great scrapbooking page. Like, how, when I was way younger and my family - and I - were driving up I95 from Florida on our way to Pennsylvania for a vacation - probably a family reunion - and we drove by Savannah. And, I clearly remember saying I would never live there because it stunk (from the paper mill nearby). I can tell you now that the winds were blowing from the northeast that day we drove by, that day I said I'd never live in Savannah, that day it stunk. Because now that I actually live in Savannah - I know, right - I know that the only time it really stinks bad in Savannah is when the winds are from the northeast.

And, in Chanute Air Force Base, IL, when I was in weather forecasting technical school...I lived in a house with two other women which was for temporary duty personnel, I had a closet sized bedroom and we shared one bathroom.

Now, I am definitely going to put another page together...

Digitally, because this page is, of course, digital - I scraplifted the entire page from Ali Edwards who showed us this page in her HOME Story classroom. I am a monthly subscriber to her digital Story kits. As part of the subscription, besides the entire digital kit for the current theme - in this case - HOME, Ali also provides  classroom instruction each month. It's truly an amazing deal! I have seriously told way more stories than I ever would have dreamed telling partly because I'm subscribed to Ali's Story kits.

And, aren't those little houses from the kit, just the cutest! The background digital brush wasn't a part of the kit but an add-on Ali provided in the story classroom. Pretty cool.

all about me | 55 facts about me

I turn fifty...

five later (much later) this year.

I was inspired to create for my All About Me album a few facts about me.

Similar, yet different, than things I love - in that it is a list; and, a few of the facts are also things I love - but, once again, I had fun putting the list together. Fun, yes! Easy, no!

Here are just a few facts about me:

My favorite reading genre are non-fiction; particularly, Christian non-fiction

I only swim freestyle - because I'm uncoordinated and can't seem to grasp the other strokes

My number one dream: a lap pool in my backyard

I have stood atop the Eiffel Tower

I have skied (I use that term loosely) the Swiss Alps

My life Bible verse is Micah 6:8

I have never smoked a cigarette

I don't know the difference between an espresso, a latte, a cappuccino, or a macchiato

I have been ejection seat qualified

My favorite season is winter...

to just name a few.

I randomly put together facts. Some, quite silly. Some, I bet will surprise some people.

While I don't mind turning fifty...

five,

I don't like the health issues I currently have and would love some relief.

 

all about me | 100 things i love

The idea is a throwback from, probably, the very early days of my scrapbooking - reinvented for today and my All About Me album 2018. I haven't yet, but I need to pull out the last 100 things I made and compare and contrast what has stayed the same and what is different over the years passed. It would be an interesting perusal through time.

For this page, firstly, I made my list. I simply (well, not really simply; it took awhile) typed up a list of 100 things I loved.

Then, I got to work in Photoshop Elements and my stash of digital products. Mostly I typed on strips of 'paper' and straight onto the paper background my loves, but I also included word art brushes and chipboard to list my loves. This was not an easy-to-put-together page as it was long and tedious.

But.

I love...the finished page.

Project Life 2018 | Week 12

While I missed documenting week 11, I almost passed on week 12 intentionally.

It was one tough week. Both physically and emotionally my body and my heart and mind were spent. Nothing left.

Or so I thought.

Then, I held on to my date night - that was fabulous.

The 1000 yard swim that made my body feel so good - and my mind in control - and my heart believing.

A intense deep-water running class that simply rocks the body, moves muscles lain dormant, and gets the endorphins flowing that I feel on-top-of-the-world!

And, then there was that full-belly laughing at the family King Sunday morning while serving at Elevate. Getting to know this family little by little has done my heart so good. They are beautiful people.

And, yes, we finished Star Trek Voyager with a whoop and holler and a good cry.

Stories 2018 | The Vault

This probably will go in either our date night album, or Stories 2018 album, instead of All About Me. Haven't decided yet.

We recently visited The Vault Kitchen and Market on Bull Street and 37th, downtown Savannah and let's just say, I - we, were blown away. By the food. By the atmosphere. By the evening. We had such a good time.

The Vault is a restaurant that was retrofitted and re-furbished from a bank that closed. The store re-used much of the banks parts and pieces to include, the vault, the safety deposit boxes, money, teller boxes, hardware, and more. I don't think we even touched on the scope of re-use from our back corner table with a view of the right side of the 'bank' - I mean restaurant.

And, the food.

Oh my!

Totally yum! Truly delightful. Mouthwatering. Decadent.

Gorgeous food, right?

I'm telling you. If you're ever in Savannah, go to the Vault! It's amazing.

all about me | favorite morning moment

My favorite morning moment is that first weather observation of the day when I go up to the sixth floor of tower and see the sun just beginning to peek up and over the horizon coloring any clouds in the sky with a distinct hue. I never cease to stand in awe.

Moments like these are a part of my story. I capture them because they tell more about my heart than a big event, or place I go. Sure, I'll tell those stories to. But, I want all about me told so my kids will maybe know me a little better.

all about me | just the facts

Each month I am including a present participle page of -ing words with mini-stories associated with those words. I've blogged for years this way, but this year because I am making an All About Me album I am creating a scrapbooking page specifically for those '-ing' words, just the facts.

Jeff snagged this photo while we were dining at The Vault in downtown Savannah. I love it! This is rare...me liking a photo of me. But, this photo captures my mood. I was having a really good time. Good company (my hubby), lots of laughter (he makes me laugh), amazing food (I mean, really good food!), and the atmosphere was awesome.

So, I used it for this page about me. Another, 6 x 8 page about me with present participles, going, drinking, loving, watching, and listening. Usually, I include a longer list but I used a journal card from Ali Edwards Stories of the Month, March kit, which was perfect for my monthly capture of these facts.

Totally in to scarves these days, I used a piece of the scarf I was wearing in the photo as a strip of paper at the bottom of the page to finish it off.

all about me | creating a home

As I walk on these beautiful wood floors I am reminded...many years ago we decided when we purchased anything for our home it would be quality...well-made, and long-lasting. We knew this would mean, most often, more expensive. This also meant that upgrading our home with quality pieces would take time. Lots of time. Because, let's be honest, we are not wealthy, and because, at the same time we decided on quality we also decided on paying cash. Which means saving for what we were going to buy.

The wood flooring that Jeff, John, and Jarrod, along with some guys from our home group, laid down in our living room, the hallway, and the master bedroom was one such purchase, a quality-made engineered-manufactured deep walnut wood flooring and was the only flooring that Jeff and I both agreed upon, and we both loved!

Even today I get a kick out of having this gorgeous flooring in our home. It was expensive. It is high quality. And, we paid for it with cash. Currently, we are saving for a leather big chair and big ottoman, a new roof, and a large living room rug. The chair and ottoman will match the new leather sofa we recently purchased...with cash.

Digitally, I used another large photo as my background. Big impact for the win! I used a digital stamp home and enlarged it and clipped in the wood flooring, then gave it a raised look with shadowing and beveling. A couple pieces of chipboard and my journal. Love it!

all about me | threads

I adore this 2-page 6 x 8 page(s) of the throw blanket my mom gifted me the very same year my dad passed away. She used pieces of my dad's shirts, some, much older shirts, because he hung onto shirts until they were thread-bare, which was a standing-joke, bit of laughter, and my dad's expense. All in good fun, and always received with laughter.

My blanket. My story. My dad. I love that we all have stories to tell, but, this one...this one - is my story. My thoughts, my feelings of my dad. Even now as I look at this photo of my dad, there is another story - about his hair - that is mine - and his.

When I tell my stories for this album, I am, mostly and almost always, telling my own thoughts. I'm sure someone else who is a part of this one story might have something to say about the very same story but would say something totally different. That's the beauty of telling stories. No two will be the same. My story is mine, alone, to tell. I get to choose what stories, what pieces of stories I want to tell.