Family Reunion Get-together 2015

If you have been following my blog for long, you know that every year, my sister and her family come for a visit from Arizona where they live. This year, we were missing one of my nieces who is Sarah's age as she had a church activity and were joined by my Grandma (mom's mom).

Had to grab a family photo when all the Wall family was together

Some years, I forget to take pictures, so this year, I made sure to take more. So you get some random candid shots ☺

Cousins Caleb and Joshua

My older sister's dog Rue

My sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 25th anniversary this year 

My mom made them a bed cover using fabrics from their wedding.

The guys working on re-doing the picnic tables 

Sarah's micro birthday party

The morning after staying up really late by the fire

 We went to where my older sister's family was camping to hang out, go fishing, and swim. We had my younger sister's kids, too.

The Wall's campsite

It was a tad wet 

Dan removing the hook from a fish

My nephew crashed when we got back to Grandma's

Our campsite was really big!

It had a tire swing and access to a full size kitchen where I could store my food supplies for meals

We camped in my parents' back yard ☺

This cat showed up one morning

Making pizza

Working on a mosaic table top project

Happy 11th birthday, Sarah!

I've gotten behind on blog posts, so I am attempting to get caught up.

Sarah's birthday was in the beginning of July. She opened some gifts in the morning and then we had a little party for her at the park before the free concert. She also had a micro party at our family get together/reunion the next week.

Dan playing with a shark "cootie catcher" that we had made

Elephant birthday cupcakes

Book Review: "Through Waters Deep" by Sarah Sundin

"Through Waters Deep" by Sarah Sundin is the first in the Waves of Freedom series and is set in 1941 when the USA is at the brink of war. Mary Stirling enjoys her job as a secretary at the Boston Navy Yard as long as she can blend into the background and not stand out. After four years in town, she encounters Jim Avery from her hometown, who is assigned to the new USS Atwood. When sabotage is discovered, they must work to find out who is behind it. Will they also discover their hearts' desires, too?

I really enjoyed reading "Through Waters Deep" and wished I could read faster so that I could find out what was going to happen. I found Jim and Mary to be developed and believable. There were times I wanted to yell at one or the other of them! The book was full of well research history from the era. As I read, it brought to mind the scrapbook of pictures that my father-in-law had of his time serving in the Navy during WWII. My head was a little confused with the different parts of the ship, but I was glad that Sarah Sundin wrote them using the correct terminology. I can always do more research into destroyers if I want to know more about them. Along with the romance of the story, there is mystery and suspense with both the story line of the saboteur and the missions that Jim goes on with the destroyer.

I would recommend this book.

"Through Waters Deep" is available in paperback:

• Series: Waves of Freedom (Book 1)
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 4, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800723422
• ISBN-13: 978-0800723422
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches

in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 4891 KB
• Print Length: 385 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800723422
• Publisher: Revell (July 28, 2015)
• Publication Date: July 28, 2015
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00QMSCM7I

and in large print hardcover:

• Series: Waves of Freedom (Book 1)
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print; Lrg edition (November 11, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410483266
• ISBN-13: 978-1410483263
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Book Review: "Hope Harbor" by Irene Hannon

 Tracy Campbell loves her hometown of Hope Harbor and the three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up, but it is struggling financially. She doesn't have time for romance and even if she did, she isn't looking for it. When she bumps into visiting Michael Hunter, her life takes an unexpected turn. Both of them are harboring regrets and broken hearts and maybe Hope Harbor is the place to find the hope they both need.

I was drawn into "Hope Harbor" by Irene Hannon and had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the characters and seeing them grown and change. This is a Christian romance and the characters only hold hands, hug, and kiss occasionally, but there are secondary characters who have had inappropriate relationships. This is sort of a central theme for growth for some of the characters we meet. It is handled in a discrete way.

I would recommend this book.

"Hope Harbor" is available in paperback:

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Revell (July 7, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800724526
• ISBN-13: 978-0800724528
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 6480 KB
• Print Length: 353 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800724526
• Publisher: Revell (June 30, 2015)
• Publication Date: June 30, 2015
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00QMSCKXY

I received a free paperback copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Review: "Island Dreams" by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Piper Hunt goes to Wildflower Island to scout out the land where she hopes to build a resort. It is her last chance to show her father/boss that she can handle her job. She knows that she needs an advocate with the locals and hopes that she'll find that in the owner of the neighboring piece of land, Chase Grayson. Chase feels an attraction to Piper, but doesn't think her resort is what Wildflower Island needs. Will they find a way to compromise or are they destined to be apart?

I really liked Chase. He was helpful even when Piper's ideas went against his own desires. I didn't like Piper as much. (I didn't hate her, either!) She seemed to get upset over the strangest things. I agreed with Chase on not understanding what he'd done wrong! But this is what makes the characters more realistic. I'm sure there are people I wouldn't like in real life, too! Piper does realize she's being irrational at times, so there is redemption. I liked seeing both Chase and Piper open up and learn from their pasts and be able to better move forward.  I would like to go and visit Wildflower Island and stay at the B&B.

Being the 2nd in the Wildflower B&B Romance Series, it would be best to read the 1st book before you read "Island Dreams". As of the writing of this review, the first book "Island Refuge" is free  for Kindle. It would help to meet the other characters before jumping into their lives in "Island Dreams" since their story continues in this book.

I thought this was a nice book and was a fairly quick read. This is a clean, Christian romance.

You can get "Island Dreams" in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 4891 KB
• Print Length: 156 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink (August 1, 2015)
• Publication Date: August 1, 2015
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00XYYRP66

I received a free advance digital copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.