Book Review: Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough

Riley Morgan has been away from home four years, fighting in the War Between the States. He returns home, eager to see his family and fiancée only to discover that he is alone. Homeless and abandoned by her father, Annie takes desperate measures to ensure that she has a home. The two of them cross paths in Waco, TX when Annie’s new found way of life is about to be uprooted.

The school for blind children that Annie has served is threatened when its benefactor suddenly dies and his heir is more interested in the money he can get by selling the place than anything else. Riley struggles with his return home and can barely stand to look at his former home, much less live there again. All he wants is a fresh start. Although she wants to admit she is falling in love with Riley, Annie has a secret she is afraid to reveal.

Vickie McDonough continues the story of the Morgan family in the third book of the Texas Trails series. As with the other books I have read from the series, this one stands alone but melds well with the other books. I loved the way this sweet love story unfolds. The interplay of spiritual and personal journeys of the main characters is well written, and as usual, I had a difficult time putting the book down. A must-read if you like the Texas Trails series!

I received this book for free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis

Taabe Waipu has escaped the Comanche village that has held her captive for 12 years.  She is alone, tired, and injured, but she will stop at nothing to return to the life she once had as a child.  Although she has forgotten English, she never shook the feeling that she did not belong with the Comanche.  

Ned Bright is a young driver for a stagecoach company.  He and his partner have a promising contract to run mail.  The future looks bright. However, Ned finds an unconscious injured woman and sets out to help he rediscover her place in the culture she was taken from.  As he works to reunite her with her family, Ned discovers just how far he is willing to go to protect Taabe.

Captive Trail is the second book in the Texas Trails series.  As all the books do, it stands alone, but I would recommend reading the first book before this one.  The first book does set the stage for this one as it gives some of the back story.  Captive Trail is an engaging book that I had a hard time setting down.  It has a healthy amount of suspense and great character development.  I must say that at this point I am addicted to the Texas Trails series and can’t wait to read the rest of them!  Captive Trail is a great faith-based story and I definitely recommend it.

I received this book for free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: The Reason for My Hope by Billy Graham

In his latest book, The Reason for My Hope, Billy Graham discusses salvation in detail. He talks about Christ’s redemption and rescue of us from our sin, the price He paid and the price we should expect to pay, Christianity today, the realities of Hell, and promise of the future.

I was excited to see the Billy Graham had written another book, and I was not disappointed! The message of salvation is simple, and yet Mr. Graham managed to deepen my understanding so much more. He examines sin, hell, our self-destructive culture, and the total depravity of man, allowing the reader to see that we are hopeless without a Savior. But he also writes about the price paid for by Christ, the fact that Jesus is alive, and the promises we are given for the future.

It has been a while since I read a book that just makes me want to start changing things in my life. It is easy to keep a status quo in your faith, and I think we all need some extra motivation at times. Mr. Graham’s love for Christ and his ability to see things clearly is apparent in this book. I highly recommend it for any Christian, whether recently saved or not, or anyone who has questions about salvation or what it means to be saved.

Along with his book, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is releasing a series of testimonial videos. You can check it out here.

I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin

Wande Fleischer is a German immigrant who has just come to Texas with her family to begin a new life.  But instead of the “milk and honey” they were promised and the marriage Wande had planned, her family meets tragedy and disappointment.

The Morgan family has had their fair share of family tragedy as well, and Jud Morgan is apprehensive of all the recent immigration from Germany. When the paths of the two families cross, mixed emotions ensue. Jud does not trust Germans, but he comes to care for the Fleischers. Soon, more heartbreak hits both families, and as they help each other overcome difficulties, love blossoms.

I enjoyed this book. I recently read the final book in the Texas Trails series, and although they all stand alone as separate stories, I decided I did want to go back and read the others. The series covers stories of different members of the Morgan family. Lone Star Trail is a fairly easy read, and although parts of it were a little predictable, I enjoyed the journey. The characters were well developed, and I found the romance intertwined in the story to be just enough without being sappy. The book in written from a Christian perspective, and the author manages to make that apparent without looking like she is trying to throw occasional statements that qualify it as “Christian fiction.” Overall, Lone Star Trail is well written and enjoyable, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy fiction.

I received this book for free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The House Project: More Electrical Work

I feel like I now have a ton of progress to catch up blogging about! Bruce has been very busy the last couple of months, with occasional help from both of our Dads. I will say that I am stoked about progress and should have plenty to blog about for awhile!

As we continued our work on the kitchen, we decided to upgrade one of the kitchen circuits with thicker wire so that it could handle the possible need for a dual electric oven, should we decide in the future to replace the gas oven with another electric oven. Basically, we replaced the thick orange wire with an even thicker black wire, and put in a bigger appliance outlet with a higher amperage rating. We also ran a circuit in the garage for the natural gas pump we intend to install.

Bruce had to swap wires out in the breaker panel and put in a new breaker.

As we removed the orange wire, we threaded the black on in it's place:

This may look like a mess, but I promise it's not! we ran the black wire in sections and then pulled out the orange from each section afterwards.

This part was going to be tricky! We had to dig through the foam insulation the first time we ran the circuit, and threading a thicker wire through the foam, a right angle turn, and down through a little hole in the beam was going to be difficult. 

We recycled the orange wire by using it for the circuit we were running for the gas filling station we plan on putting in. We hope to eventually get a bi-fuel vehicle that can run off natural gas. This way, we fill up at home and save on gas costs. Plus natural gas in a clean and abundant source of energy. Anyway, back to the house. 

Louie found a corner to hide in until we started moving things out of the way. He still tried to stay invisible.

Scooter, on the other hand, was "helping" as usual!

Threading the wires through the beams and foam insulation is never easy!

I got to uncoil the rest of the black wire so it wouldn't try to curl up as we threaded it through. It was going to be hard enough as it is!

Louie found a new hiding place...

While Bruce was moving on with the gas pump outlet. 

The wire is threaded through the box and stapled in place against the stud.

Next, the orange insulation is stripped off the end, and the end of the insulation on the three wires is stripped as well. The fourth wire, on the left, is the ground. it isn't insulated to begin with.

Bruce then attached the wires to their respective spots on the outlet. 

Each wire is connected in the proper place and a screw is tightened to hold it in place.

Next the outlet is pushed back into the box. The wires have to be bent just right in order for everything to fit. 

Bruce then fastened it in place with the screws.

And there you have it!

That was the outlet for our future gas pump. We then went back to working on the outlet for the oven in the kitchen. It took some maneuvering, but Bruce got the wire threaded through.

The grey box will house the new outlet.

After Bruce hooked up the wires I got to help with this one!

Done! Not bad for an hour of work!

One final important step is to add the metal nail plates to keep a nail from accidentally going through the wire when the sheet rock and cabinets are put in. Because that would be bad!

I'll wrap up with a couple of pictures of the wires Bruce buried to run power to the island. The concrete is dry now, and the wires have been run through the conduit.

Well, that's all for now! Soon I will be writing about the rest of the progress on the kitchen, the gas lines, some more AC return work, and the hall bathroom. The project is gaining momentum!

Book Review: Beyond Bath Time by Erin Davis

Our society today seems to be all about choice. We want to choose our careers, our lifestyles, and, of course, exactly when and if to have children. Erin Davis explores the increasing popularity of the choice not to have children, as well as the Biblical reasons why motherhood is a wonderful ministry and should not be cast aside.

I picked up Beyond Bath Time as a woman who is not a mother, because I wanted to reflect on the issue. The author explores several lies presented in our culture about motherhood, and how children are a burden instead of a blessing. She also considers how raising children and teaching them to follow Christ can be an amazing ministry, even though many Christians don’t applaud or recognize it.

The point of this book is not that all women should have tons of children, but more about prayerfully considering the role of motherhood in a new light. Ms. Davis examines several Moms from the Bible and explains how crucial their roles were, including Mary, the mother of Jesus. She talks about children as a blessing, and states that they serve to teach us lessons as well as provide us with joy (most of the time!).

Overall this book was fairly short, easy to read, and full of lessons and encouragement every mother can use. I will have to hang on to it to revisit someday when I become a mother!

I received this book for free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Many of us at the very least have gone through a phase where we had money troubles. We may not have even thought of ourselves as being in that much “trouble” but were, in fact, hanging on the edge of possible financial ruin. It is extremely stressful to be in a situation where we are in slavery to debt and struggling to pay the bills without a financial breakthrough in sight.

Dave Ramsey offers practical solutions in a step-by-step process to eliminate debt and move toward financial prosperity. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme and he warns that the process is not easy. However, with some determination and the know-how he offers, Dave shows how anyone can win the fight for financial freedom.

I had heard of Dave Ramsey’s methods before, and even used his first few steps when I was pulling myself out of a major financial slump a few years ago. However this is the first time I actually read any of his books. I can’t say I agree with everything he says about credit cards and debt, but the gist of his message is pretty solid. I will say that for anyone deep in debt and financial struggles, it would be wise to follow his instructions to the letter. My main disagreement comes in when he discusses never borrowing money for any reason. I believe in staying out of debt, but there is a time and a place for it. It would take too long to debate this topic, however, so I will just say that his plan is pretty solid for getting out of debt. As I said, some years ago I was at the point where I had to start going through his baby steps and they worked to get me out of the crisis I was in. The later steps are important for building wealth, and there is some room for modification to fit the individual or couple. I like the fact that he gives guidelines and advice on how to set your own targets based on your income, goals, and family situation.

Of course I loved the chapter where he talks about what to continue to do with your money on the last step. He urges the reader to continue to invest, but also to have fun and give to others! As motivational as the first two chapters are, it’s the last part that really spoke to me. The secret to getting there is delayed gratification, as those of you who read my blog and know about our house project are aware my husband and I practice! I have become so used to the “delayed” part that I don’t really give that much thought to the “gratification” part! Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to it, and I know it’s there, but I don’t really dwell on the details. I think now that that’s a mistake! Waiting is easier when you have dreams that might someday come true!

I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

Brooks Morgan is tired of being used by his parents. All they ever expect him to do is hard work. Brooks’ father wants him to take over his ranch when he grows up, but Brooks has other ideas. Ten years later, estranged from his family and drifting from town to town, all Brooks wants is a permanent home. He wanders into a new town and ends up the proud owner of a cattle ranch! But Brooks soon realizes that he is getting more than he bargained for: enemies, responsibilities, hard work… and a complicated relationship with Keri, the niece of the ranch’s former owner!

This book is the story of a prodigal who finally finds the path he needs to be on. Ten years of drifting put Brooks in a position to finally humble himself enough to learn to be responsible. Through their conflicted interactions, both Brooks and Keri learn to reconcile with family members and rebuild their relationships with God. It is a sweet story, and part of a series about the Morgan family. I did not read the other books in the series, but this one does stand alone without background information being necessary.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers of fiction. It did not take very long to read and, of course, comes with a happy ending.

I received this book for free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Miranda Hunt is asked to take on a case that could make or break her career. She is to go undercover at Last Chance Ranch to uncover the identity of a notorious train and bank robber. As her investigation gets deeper, the job gets more and more dangerous, as well as uncertain. To make matters worse, she feels a strong attraction to another newcomer at the ranch. Her job and her success depend on her ability to resist his charm, something she wishes she had the proper training for!

Gunpowder Tea is a mystery novel with romance sprinkled in. Feelings and attraction play a large role, but I did enjoy the fact that the book doesn’t focus on it too much. The plot was pretty solid on its own without the romance, which made it all the more enjoyable. I read it pretty quickly, as it was hard to put down. The author was also able to include God and faith without it looking like it was just thrown in there to make it “Christian Fiction”.

Overall I quite enjoyed the book! It was romantic yet clean, and kept me guessing the whole time. The writing style was enjoyable as well. The author has good command of the English language and didn’t overuse certain words or literary methods (as I have seen some authors of fiction do). As a lover of classic books with rich vocabulary and descriptions, I found Gunpowder Tea to be easy to read and yet not boring or repetitive.

On a side note, this book is the third (and final) of a series, but it stands well on its own. I did not read the other two books, but from what I could tell they all had to do with the ranch but involved different people and completely different storylines. It was a good read and if you are looking for a new book to read I recommend it!

I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The House Project: Working on the Kitchen

Alrighty folks! Time for another update! Early in September, Bruce's Dad came over and the two of them were able get some work done in the kitchen! I came home from work a couple days in a row to survey the handiwork!

The lights over the kitchen are now working! Here we tuned on the main lights:

And here are just the ones over the island (only one of them has a bulb in it right now):

And of course all on at the same time!

They had help:

Bruce finished installing a switch:

The "help" was getting tired!

I photographed the newly installed switch. We originally had the traditional light switched, but recently decided to go ahead and update them to the flat switches.

The new kitchen design includes and island, and of course we decided we wanted power on the island for electrical outlets and lights in the glass-front cabinets. In order to accomplish this, Bruce had to bury a pipe in the slab to run the wire through. They already had it done by the time I got home from work, and the fresh cement was drying on top of it.

The chairs were in place to keep the dogs (and us) from accidentally stepping on the wet cement. Of course Scooter was interested, and at one point wanted to lick it. No big surprise there... he always wants to put his nose and tongue in the middle of whatever we are doing!

The dining room lights are working now too!

These are the light switches for the dining room. Yes there are three of them: one for the general dining room lights, one for a chandelier, and one for a single light between the dining room and the door to the Master bedroom. Why go through the trouble of a remodel and not give yourself lighting options?

More on the kitchen next time! I know we don't have walls yet, but as you can see there is still plenty to work on in the meantime!