Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Emily's 5th Grade End of the Year Field Trip

The 5th graders always go on a end of the year field trip and this year they decided to go to the IMAX theater and MingTen restaurant. Dan and I both were able to go with.




Our group of kids

Emi with her 2 best friends









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Monday, June 5, 2017

Middle School Honors Assembly

Also during the camping trip was the Middle School Honors Assembly. Sarah received the "High Academic Achievement" award, given to the top 20 gpa's per grade. So she is one of the top 20 students in the whole 7th grade!











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Pet Fest 2017

This year, the annual Pet Fest at the vet's office was the same day as the 4th grade camping trip, so William and I missed it. My parents took the other three kids, though, so they got to participate still.



















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Sunday, June 4, 2017

Temperature Blanket - Week 22

May 28: 77
May 29: 75 Memorial Day
May 30: 69 Rain from 4:30 - 8:00 pm & 11:30 - midnight
May 31: 67 Rain midnight - 1:00 am
June 1: 74 HDC
June 2: 81
June 3: 81

Using my temperature scale, I had the following number of days of each temperature. (The first number is for just April and the second is cumulative for the whole year)

 < 9 :   0/0
10-14: 0/2
15-19: 0/2
20-24: 0/5
25-29: 0/10
30-34: 0/14
35-39: 0/21
40-44: 0/13
45-49: 2/11
50-54: 1/13
55-59: 4/14
60-64: 6/14
65-69: 8/12
70-74: 3/9
75-79: 5/6
80-84: 0/2
85-89: 2/2
(16 colors)

Using the more common scale, I would have ended up with:

 <  22: 0/8
23-32: 0/23
33-43: 2/36
44-53: 3/22
54-66: 11/33
67-77: 14/24
78-88: 3/5
(7 colors)



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Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Amish Brides" by Jennifer Breckstand, Molly Jebber, and Amy Lillard

About the Book




Amish Brides
Click to purchase

Book: Amish Brides
Author: Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber, Amy Lillard
Genre: Amish
Release Date: May 30, 2017
JOSHUA’S BRIDE
Molly Jebber
Madeline Lehman fears her fiancé’s family will never accept her because of her rebellious sister. She’s postponed her wedding to Joshua Stutzman until they see the truth. But when Maddie adopts her sister’s abandoned baby, can she and Joshua find a way to unite their families through forgiveness as well as love?

My Thoughts:

The Reluctant Groom by Jennifer Breckstand: Anna and Felty Helmuth are up to their usual trick of matchmaking for their grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) This story had a bit of a twist because it wasn't their idea in the first place. Suvie is perky and I loved watching her get Aaron to open up. I really like how Felty comes through with his quiet wisdom at exactly the right time. 
Joshua's Bride by Molly Jebber: This story  made me very frustrated with Joshua's family not accepting Madeline and I wanted to shake them. I was anxious for the two of them that they wouldn't ever get their approval. I found this story a little choppy to read, but it could be that I wasn't used to her writing style after having read a Jennifer Beckstrand book and novella back to back. I look forward to reading more books by Molly Jebber. It is interesting that this is the only story in the book that is historical. 

A Summer Wedding in Paradise by Amy Lillard: I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was well written. As I read, it seemed like there had to be a story about Jess and Bernice. I checked and sure enough, their story was featured in the "Amish Christmas Sleigh" another book of novellas. I actually have that book but haven’t read it yet! I think reading it first would give a better understanding of Reba’s nieces. They were cute in their attempts to get Reba and Abel together. 

About the Author

6-10-2016-close-head-shotMolly Jebber’s books have been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today’s HEA, and Romantic Times has given them a near excellent rating. She’s on RWA’s Honor Roll. She’s a speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, and she offers presentations on writing, publishing, Amish lifestyle and traditions. She has received widespread media coverage, including live interviews, across the United States for her books and speaking engagements.
She’s just signed a new contract for four more Amish books! She loves interacting with her readers. She loves God, her husband, family and friends. She has a hard time saying no to cupcakes, swimming, nine holes of golf, and walks on the beach. Coconut, oatmeal, and onions, on the other hand, are not hard to say no to!

Guest Post from Molly Jebber

Do you remember picking out your bride’s dress? The cake? Food? Location? The invitations? Weddings are fun, no matter how simple or extravagant. The marked event fills your heart with joy sharing in the special day with the bride and groom. I remember the day I married Ed, my best friend and soulmate. We planned the details together, and we still talk about what a heartwarming memory it is for us. I’m sure if you and I met for a girl’s chat, we’d enjoy hearing each other’s account of when we exchanged vows with our sweethearts.
Amish brides may not have the flowers, rings, and fancy food and cake, but they have their traditions and share in the excitement like we do. I enjoyed writing “Joshua’s Bride”. I hope you enjoy it to.

Blog Stops

June 1: Quiet Quilter
June 2: cherylbbookblog
June 7: A Greater Yes
June 9: Splashes of Joy
June 12: Karen Sue Hadley
June 13: Bigreadersite

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Molly is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3a7


"Amish Brides" is available in paperback:
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington (May 30, 2017)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1496711637
  • ISBN-13: 978-1496711632
  • Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches

and in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 973 KB
  • Print Length: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington (May 30, 2017)
  • Publication Date: May 30, 2017
  • Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B01LJKQIP0

I got a free copy of this book for the tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.
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Friday, June 2, 2017

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Return to Huckleberry Hill" by Jennifer Beckstrand


About the Book

Return To Huckleberry Hill
Click here to purchase
Book: Return to Huckleberry Hill
Author: Jennifer Beckstrand
Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance
Release Date: May 30, 2017
When it comes to matchmaking, Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s unstoppable octogenarians Anna and Felty Helmuth never seem to run out of opportunities—or grandchildren…
Reuben Helmuth is plenty bitter. John King, his best friend—or so he thought—is engaged to the girl Reuben loved. Humiliated, Reuben flees from Ohio to his grandparents’ home on Huckleberry Hill, where he knows he’ll find comfort. He’s enjoying wallowing in his misery—until John’s sister, Fern, shows up. She won’t stop pestering Reuben about forgiveness—or trying to help him find love again. Yet Fern’s efforts only reawaken Reuben’s long-buried feelings—for her…
With her brother too ashamed to face Reuben, it’s fallen to Fern to help mend fences. But as she and the Helmuths do all they can—even organizing a knitting club event filled with eligible girls—it may take one more challenge to inspire Reuben to forget his heartache, recognize his own blunders, and embrace the true love that’s right in front of him…
My Thoughts
Jennifer Beckstrand is one of those authors where I see she has a new book and I have to read it. I just know I'm going to like it! "Return to Huckleberry Hill" is a delightful book and full of all the things I expected. I love Anna and Felty and their (or rather, Anna's) matchmaking schemes. And her cooking! You just have to smile about them. Fern was sweet and self depreciating and I could feel her pain and longing. Sometimes I wanted to shake Reuben and make him wake up to how he was acting and what he was missing out on. There is character growth from the beginning of the book to the end and I was happy to see the change. I can't wait for more "The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill" books. Anna and Felty had 13 kids, so they've got to have lots of grandkids to match. 

About the Author

jennifer Beckstrand 1Jennifer Beckstrand is the award winning Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and The Honeybee Sisters series for Kensington Books. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth and the Honeybee sisters’ aendi Bitsy. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a passion for Jane Austen and Shakespeare. She and her husband have been married for thirty-two years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and soon-to-be six adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Guest post from Jennifer Beckstrand

Anna Helmuth is starting a knitting club, but that’s not all she’s got up her sleeve.
SCAN0129-1
My family. I have five sisters and no brothers. I think my mom made every dress in this photo, including her own.
In Return to Huckleberry Hill, Anna Helmuth and Fern King decide to start a knitting club in order to introduce Anna’s grandson Reuben to some girls from Bonduel, Wisconsin. Anna is a very good knitter, with years of practice making baby blankets, scarves, mittens, and potholders. One of Anna’s scarves actually saved someone’s life, and her potholders have helped her make many a match.
When I was a young teenager, I learned how to knit and crochet. My mom taught me how to sew and quilt, and I made several of my own dresses in high school. I never learned to love sewing, but it was an invaluable skill that I am so grateful to have. Now that I’m a little older, I love putting together simple quilts for baby gifts and making quilts for the local children’s hospital. There is nothing like a homemade gift to say, “I care about you.”
I have a friend who is a wonderful cook. Making a delicious, beautiful meal is how she tells her family she loves them. I don’t consider myself a great cook, but I still take pride in putting something nutritious and satisfying on the table for my family.
It seems to me that some of the “home arts” that our mothers and grandmothers practiced are dying out. Who knows how to tat anymore? Or embroider? Some of these arts have died because of expediency. Who doesn’t think today’s stocking choices are more comfortable and practical than knitted wool ones? Others have died out because so few people want to learn.
What about you? Do you still practice any of the home arts that your grandmother did? What do you want to pass on to the next generation?

Blog Stops

May 23: cherylbbookblog
May 24: A Greater Yes
May 25: Just Commonly
May 30: Quiet Quilter
May 31: Bigreadersite
June 2: Pause for Tales

Giveaway

e5f4939d-cd96-45de-b748-8fb15bc1a0af
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card to three lucky winners!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3b2
"Return to Huckleberry Hill" is available in paperback:
  • Series: The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill
  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Zebra (May 30, 2017)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1420144111
  • ISBN-13: 978-1420144116
  • Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.9 x 6.7 inches

and in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 1163 KB
  • Print Length: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Zebra (May 30, 2017)
  • Publication Date: May 30, 2017
  • Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B01LJKQGDO

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

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