Book Review ~ Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up The Way You Thought He Would?

What do you do when your dreams are shattered?

What do you do when your life isn't turning out the way you thought?

What do you do when you have to turn to Plan B?

Pete Wilson reaches beyond the typical Christian response to offer frank understanding, honest encouragement, and real hope for your Plan B reality. Drawing on real-life stories from the Bible (David, Joseph, Mary and Martha) and the present day, he writes to help you:

* move past the feelings of crisis: panic, fear, paralysis and over control
* see God in your circumstances - even when He doesn't seem to be there at all
* make peace with doubt, which can actually be an expression of faith
* find hope through the redemptive power of community
* ask the right questions in order to find real, satisfying answers
* explore the relationship between shattered dreams and true spiritual transformation

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I was unprepared for the flow of emotion that was released when I began to read this book.

I don't know about you, but my life didn't turn out like I planned. From the time I was a little girl, I planned on being a successful lawyer or child psychologist. I couldn't imagine that anyone would ever love me enough to marry me, therefore I never imagined children in my future.

But my life doesn't look anything like that now.

I am married to a man that loves me with all the breath in his body, just as I love him. I have three beautiful, healthy, and happy children. I'm not a successful lawyer or psychologist - I'm a mom. A role I deeply longed for with all of my heart.

Pretty sweet Plan B, huh?

Not all of them were that sweet.

We lost our first child to miscarriage. I got cancer. We lost loved ones. We've had layoffs and financial hardships. We've been in the deepest, darkest pits you could imagine. We have clung to each other, and we have pushed each other away.

God sure didn't show up like I thought He would, that's for sure.

Pastor Pete Wilson's book Plan B is powerful and life changing. His writing is the style I love - as though we're sitting across a table from one another, just hanging out. He takes us through relevant stories in the Bible and explains them in such a clear way, and shares real life stories from people he has encountered throughout his own life.

He doesn't sugar coat our trials, rather he reminds us that no matter what we face, we are not alone and that our hope must always remain in God alone.

If you are finding yourself face to face with your own Plan B, I strongly recommend that you read this book. There is so much depth to it, and it makes so much sense.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available May 2010 at your favourite bookseller.

Book Review ~ What Happened To My Life?

Here's your 40-day plan for reclaiming your life

Do you feel too busy? Do you worry about the future? Do disappointments in life drain your joy? It doesn't have to be that way! In What Happened to My Life? personal life coach and speaker Danna Demetre invites you to join her on a 40-day journey where you'll learn to

* slow down and make good choices
* reinterpret life and have more realistic expectations
* choose the very best from all the good
* pursue God in a life-changing way

Whether you're dealing with a crisis or simply feeling that life is not all you'd hoped for, you'll learn to find authentic contentment and joy regardless of your circumstances.

It's time to move from simply surviving to truly thriving once again!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I really appreciated the candidness in which the author shared her own life experiences for this book. She was truthful and authentic. No sugar-coating here. Her advice and encouragement is Biblically sound, something that is so very important to someone like me.

The second half of this book is a 40 day journey, beginning with a short devotional for that day. It also includes a worksheet and closes with a prayer.

If you are looking to renew your passion, purpose and joy, then you will benefit from this book.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Search On

5QF ~ May 28

Ahhh...it's Friday.

No huge plans for the weekend, just family time and sunny weather.

Oh yeah.

I haven't participated in Mama M's Five Question Friday in awhile so I thought I'd play along today.



1. Is there something you've always wanted to try but just can't muster up the courage to actually do yet?

Karaoke. I would love to get up in front of a bunch of people and just belt out It's Raining Men like a rockstar.

But to make that dream a reality, there would need to be a lot of alchohol involved and a group of people that are hard of hearing.

2. If you had $100 handed to you in cash without your significant other knowing about it, what would you spend it on?

I'd tell Ian right away, and probably put it towards a bill, or maybe take everyone out for dinner. If he told me to keep it, then I'd get my hair cut and coloured because I am way overdue and look a mess.

3. What was your favorite piece of playground equipment as a child?

The swings. I loved going as high as I could and leaning back with my eyes closed. It felt like I was flying.

4. Do you prefer a sweet or hearty breakfast?

I like a healthy breakfast. If you follow me on Twitter then you know I love me some Raisin Bran and eating it is like the highlight of my day.

Not really.

But kinda.

5. Are you a Neat Freak or a Messy Bessy?

If you were to Google Messy Bessy you will probably come up with a picture of me right beside the definition.

I'm sorry to shatter your image of me as a perfectly neat person. I am, indeed, a Messy Bessy.

Thanks Mama M! I'll try not to be such a slacker from here on out.

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of The Last Christian!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Book Review & Giveaway ~ The Last Christian

In the future, it’s possible to live forever—but at what cost?

A.D. 2088.

Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.

But a larger threat looms. The world's leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense?

As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father's unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals. Hanging in the balance—the spiritual future of all humanity.

In this fast-paced thriller, startling near-future science collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding "what-if?" novel.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I am torn on how I feel after reading this book.

On one hand, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was fast paced and gripping, and the idea of a world without Christianity was interesting. There was certainly a lot going on in the book and I had to be sure to concentrate so I wouldn't miss any important hints or reveals.

With the exception of the two main characters, Abby and Creighton, the characters weren't really well developed, and I was left wishing I knew more or heard more from certain ones. I enjoyed the gentle and modest romance that grew between Abby and Creighton.

On the other hand, I was disappointed that the author didn't spend more time having Abby trying to spread the word of God. She had a few chances, but I was hoping there would be more of an emphasis on it since that was pretty much the premise of the novel.

The technology aspect of it was almost overwhelming to me. Imagining a world where everyone is connected by a chip in their brain and can meet up with anyone, anywhere in Virtual Reality is just too much for me.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. I'm excited that along with my review copy, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group sent me a copy to give away.

If you'd like to win a copy of The Last Christian, just leave me a comment letting me know what your favourite piece of technology is.

I'll select a winner on Tuesday June 1st using Random.org. The winner will then have 24 hours to contact me before I choose a new winner.

Good luck!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

A Baker Can Dream

As a general rule, I try not to ask for too much.

With three children to provide for some wants and desires just have to take a back seat.

I'm sure most of you are like that.

I've been very blessed to have everything I ever wanted.

But lately I can't get this baby out of my mind...



Sigh.

I just want to touch it.

Hug it, maybe.

Perhaps sit it next to me while I watch tv.

I'm not fussy...any colour will do...



It even comes in purple and orange.

You know what else it comes with?

A $300 plus price tag.

Oh well. A baker can dream, right?

Tuesday's Treats ~ Banana Cream Squares

As soon as I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it. I love bananas like you wouldn't believe and this dessert is so simple to make.



You'll need:
1/2 a cup of butter or margarine, cold
1 bag of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 pkg (8oz) of cream cheese, softened
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tub (8oz) of whipped topping, thawed
1 box of instant banana pudding mix
3 medium ripe bananas, sliced

Step One:
Heat oven to 375. Spray 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray

Step Two:
In a medium bowl, cut butter into cookie mix using a pastry blender or fork, until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 3/4 cup mixture for topping. Mix egg in remaining mixture until incorporated. Press crumbs evenly in bottom of dish. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges. Cool completely.

Step Three:
In a 15x10x1 inch pan, place the reserved topping crumbs in a thin layer. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until light golden brown. Cool completely. Crumble into small pieces. Set aside.

Step Four:
In a 3-quart mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed, for 1 minute or until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk. Beat until well blended. Beat in the whipped topping until smooth. Add the pudding mix and continue to beat an additional 2 minutes or until everything is well combined.

Step Five:
Spread 1/3 of the pudding mixture onto cooled base. Arrange bananas in a single layer over the pudding. Top with remaining pudding mixture and refrigerate for 10 minutes or until set. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the pudding.

** To serve, cut into 24 squares, 4 rows by 6 rows, and serve individually.

Ian lovingly photographs my weekly treats, and today I was just about jumping out of my skin waiting for him to give the a-ok so I could eat my sample.

Warning!!!

This dessert is sooo good you're going to want to eat a lot of it!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

I'm So Hot

And by hot I mean boiling. Not to be confused with hawt which is what I am in my own mind.

Something is wrong with our air conditioner and it's hot in my house.

Hot Kate - air conditioning = 1 crabasaurus.

It's 28 today, or 82 for my American friends. Tomorrow it's going to be 86.

I've always wondered if one could truly fry an egg on the sidewalk on a hot day, so I googled it. And yes, yes you can.



I'm tempted to try it because now I want to know how long it takes to fry.

What is the temperature where you are?

Coke vs Pepsi

Along with our recent breach treks, we've been enjoying a few picnics.

I had to laugh at this photo. Mom is a Diet Coke drinker and I am a die hard Diet Pepsi drinker.



Just seeing them side by side made me laugh.

Which do you prefer?

Jordan Slides

Jordan recently discovered she could manage the big slide on her own without any sibling assistance.



Well, except for the getting down part. I love how she just sits there calling for help.

You can tell by Julie's speed that she's getting tired of having to rescue her baby sister.

I don't know why this video makes me laugh so much. It just does.

Hooray For Beach Days

Yesterday, Mom and I made our third 2-hour trek to Sherkston Shores in about a week and a half. She's been looking for a place to vacation this summer and this place seemed perfect, so yesterday's trip was to reserve her cottage.

Being the most awesome mother that I am, I let the children skip school to come with us. They were beyond thrilled.

It's amazing how much stuff I had to pack for three little kids and myself. A picnic lunch, a bag of sand toys, a bag of swimsuits and towels, diaper bag, purse....

Camera? Check!

The water was much too busy for Jordan to enjoy, so she stuck to playing in the sand...



She carried the tiniest bits of sand back and forth. Back and forth...back and forth...



She was so cute. She kept trying to pick up the sand and was watching it slip through her fingers. Over and over and over...



Julie, shivering from the freezing water...



Boy is he about to get a shock...



They were in heaven...



I recently discovered how easy it is to take, and upload, video from my beloved camera, MaryBeth.



It's amazing how rejuvenating being on a beach can be for the soul.

Hooray for beach days!

Life, In Spite Of Me ~ Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a copy of Life, In Spite Of Me.

I selected a winner using Random.org and that person is...

Kaleena at McNabb Land!

Congratulations Kaleena!

Send me an email at Katieb38@hotmail.com and I will send out your book shortly.

Please make sure to contact me within 24 hours or I will have to choose another winner.

Thanks again!

Book Review ~ God's Promises For Girls

Share the eternal hope of God's promises with the special little girl in your life.

God's word can never change;
His promises are forever true;
So put you hope in His words-
They were written just for you!

We can trust God to do what he promised.
Hebrews 10:23 (ICB)

The Bible verses in this book offer comfort and encouragement when young girls need reassurance of God's protection, love, and forgiveness. As children see again and again that Scripture has the answers they need, they will learn to rely on God and His promises. The promise verses have been selected form the International Children's Bible.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

This little book of scripture promises is a fantastic resource to have on hand when their little ones are facing struggles or just have questions. Geared towards 4-8 year olds, it is easy to read and understand.

The Table of Contents is broken down into sections so that children can easily thumb through to find what they are looking for.

Topics include:

You Want To Be Cool
You Need Help
Growing Up Is Hard
He Is Your Friend
The Woman You'll Grow Up To Be
God Will Answer Your Prayers
Being A Good Daughter
Praying For Your Family

Whatever your child is facing, struggling or wondering about, this book will have a few applicable verses and a poem that goes with it. It would also make for an easy devotional tool for children as well.

I plan to leave this book out on the coffee table for my own daughters to find, with the hopes of great discussions to follow.

Book Review ~ God's Promises For Boys

Share the eternal hope of God's promises with the special little boy in your life.

God's word can never change;
His promises are forever true;
So put you hope in His words-
They were written just for you!

We can trust God to do what he promised.
Hebrews 10:23 (ICB)

The Bible verses in this book offer comfort and encouragement when young boys need reassurance of God's protection, love, and forgiveness. As children see again and again that Scripture has the answers they need, they will learn to rely on God and His promises. The promise verses have been selected form the International Children's Bible.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

This little book of scripture promises is a fantastic resource to have on hand when their little ones are facing struggles or just have questions. Geared towards 4-8 year olds, it is easy to read and understand.

The Table of Contents is broken down into sections so that children can easily thumb through to find what they are looking for.

Topics include:

You Want To Be Cool
You Need Help
Growing Up Is Hard
He Is Your Friend
God Will Help You Live Your Life For Him
God Will Answer Your Prayers
Being A Good Brother
Praying For Your Family

Whatever your child is facing, struggling or wondering about, this book will have a few applicable verses and a poem that goes with it. It would also make for an easy devotional tool for children as well.

I plan to leave this book out on the coffee table for my own son to find, with the hopes of great discussions to follow.

I Love The Hulk And I Love This Truck

I have a weird love for the Hulk.

I don't know why. I just do.

No one - and I mean no one - was more excited for the release of the Hulk movie than yours truly.

I'm talking about the Eric Bana version.

We even had a little Hulk party at the office.

I wish I was kidding. But I'm not.

Ahem.

So imagine my excitement when this passed us on the highway this past weekend.



I know, right!?

I made my mom drive closer...



..and closer...



RAWR!!!

Can you just imagine driving that?

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Life, In Spite Of Me!

Girlfriend Tells It Like It Is

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Life, In Spite Of Me!

Tuesday's Treats ~ Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

One of my most favourite people from highschool (hi Brenda!) is a baking whiz. You would not believe the delicious looking things she bakes. When I saw this one on her Facebook page, I knew I had to try it myself.



You'll need...

Lemon Curd:
1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice
3 whole large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tsp of lemon zest

Meringue:
3 large egg whites
1/2 tsp of cream of tartar
1/2 cup of sugar

Cupcakes
I do have a recipe to make these from scratch, but I'll be honest with you. I used a cake mix. If you want this part of the recipe let me know and I'll post it. But if you're like me, a boxed mix is sufficient.

To make...

Step One:
For lemon curd, whisk lemon juice, eggs, egg yolk and sugar in a metal bowl until smooth. Add butter and place bowl over a pot of gently simmering water. Whisk gently until curd thickens and leaves a ribbon when whisk is lifted, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Stir in lemon zest and chill completely before filling.

Step Two:
Mix and bake cupcakes as per the instructions on the box. As I mentioned above, I added 1 tbsp of lemon zest.

Step Three:
For meringue, whip egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Add sugar and continue whipping until egg whites hold an upright peak when beaters are lifted.

Step Four:
Remove cupcakes from muffin tin and place on a baking sheet. Carve out a hole in each cupcake with a paring knife. Spoon or pipe 2 tbsp of lemon curd into each cupcake. Spoon dollops of pipe spikes or swirls of meringue over curd. Bake for 4 - 6 minutes until tops of meringue brown

A little time consuming, but oh so worth it!

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Life, In Spite Of Me!

Book Review And Giveaway ~ Life, In Spite of Me

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.

In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Oh my heart.

I started to read this book the day it arrived and finished it by mid-morning the next day. I just couldn't put it down.

The story begins on the night Kristen decides to take her own life, then flashes back to what brought her to that point, and then catches us up to the days following and her rehabilitation.

This book is a gentle and beautiful account of Kristen's path to Jesus, and how He restored her to wholeness and revealed her life's purpose. It is breathtaking.

Kristen is open and honest in her account of her actions and healing. She is engaging and sweet and just so real. I loved her letters to the reader that were written throughout. No one knows brokenness more than the broken, and she offers them hope.

As much as I loved this book, I would have liked to have read more about the struggles her parents and siblings would have faced in the wake of her decision. This book glosses over many facets of the aftermath, and I would have enjoyed reading about how they dealt with it.

Kristen's story is messy and heartbreaking and dark, yet so full of hope and beauty.

I am so excited to be able to give away a copy of this book to one of you. If you'd like a chance to win this book, leave me a comment letting me know about a cause or charity that is near and dear to your heart.

If you'd like a second entry, tweet about this giveaway using my twitter name (@Katieb38) and then come back and leave a separate comment.

I'll leave this giveaway open until Thursday May 20th at midnight. I'll choose a winner using Random.org and post the winner's name right here on Friday morning.

Good luck!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

I Am Having A Fantastic Day! And By Fantastic, I Mean Horrible

It is currently 12:45 pm. So far, my day has looked like this.

6:30am ~ two year old crawls into bed with us

7:00am ~ dog starts whining and will.not.stop.

7:30am ~ get dressed and head out to Walmart to get the milk and diapers I was too lazy to get last night

8:10am ~ walk Willow around the block

8:20am ~ throw in a load of laundry

8:30am ~ send children and Ian off to their day

8:45am ~ wash dishes and bask in the glow of motivation

9:10am ~ clean up dog barf from carpet

9:15am ~ clean up dog diarrhea from carpet

9:30am ~ scrub my hands raw because I am sure I got poop on them

10:00am ~ cuddle up with Jordan and watch last night's Greys Anatomy and share popcorn

11:20am ~ clean up dog diarrhea

11:30am ~ take Willow outside. See my new neighbour's dog running loose and no neighbour. Tired of this dog piddling on my grass. Willow lunges at her dog and my arm is almost ripped out of its socket. See the owner finally and ask her (for the third time) to please keep her dog on a leash. She screams at me like she's going to rip my throat out. I think she was frothing at the mouth.

11:40am ~ call Management office to report the dog

11:45 ~ take Willow out again

11:50 ~ carry a half-asleep Jordan up to her crib for nap time

12:00pm ~ ice my shoulder and pout on the couch

12:22pm ~ rinse dog barf off my front porch

12:30pm ~ toss in a second load of laundry

12:45pm ~ whine on my blog

I'd like a do-over please. This day is not going very well so far. It has to get better, right?

RIGHT!?

:-(

/end rant

Iams ProHealth Dog Food Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a 17.5 lb bag of Iams ProHealth dog food!

I used Random.org to select a winner and that person is...

My Three Sons!

Congratulations!!!

Send me an email at Katieb38@hotmail.com and I will forward your info. Your voucher will be sent to you in about a week.

Make sure to contact me within 24 hours or I will have to choose another winner.

Thanks again!

Things Kids Do That I Don't Understand ~ Take One

I have this thing about toilet paper. I like to have it.

A lot of it.

It's not something that I particularly like to run out of. Recently, our local grocery store had toilet paper on sale, so I stocked up.

Like normal folk, I will put a roll on the holder and when it's empty I will replace it.

But not my children.

Oh no.

Apparently they like to display all of it for some reason.



I don't understand why.

We do have room underneath the sink to store it.

But no.

They keep pulling it out and stacking it for the world to see.



It does make me laugh though...

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a 17.5 lb bag of Iams ProHealth Dog Food!

I Figured It Was High Time To Clean Out My Purse

I have a love/hate relationship with my purse.

I love it because it used to cost $100.00 but I bought it for $24.99, and it's small enough that I don't whack people with it when I walk past, nor does it break my shoulder to carry it.

And it's kind of cute.



I hate it because really, if I was being honest, it's just a junk holder collector thing.

Think I'm lying?



I wasn't.

I hate throwing out anything. It physically hurts.

I figured that since I could barely close it, it was high time I cleaned it out. I recently won this Joey Junior purse organizer from my lovely bloggy friend Robin at Lolidots Blog.



Let's take a look at some of the crap treasures I found in my purse, shall we?

I'm rich!! All of this change was floating loose in my purse, even though I do have a change purse to hold it all.



I have a horrible, horrible habit of keeping all of my receipts. I am afraid to just throw them away (hello, credit card fraud!) and I'm too lazy to rip them up. So... I collect them in my purse...



(In case you are wondering, no I did not win on that lottery ticket.)

I guess I can throw this one out since I have ANOTHER 40% off one that's good for this week.



My friends at Michael's Craft Store are sneaky petes... Every time I buy something from them, they give me another coupon. After I used this one they gave me a new one for 50% off.

Here are some various things in there as well. A nail file, nail clippers, a clicker for Willow's training (which I never use), pens, my favourite shade of lipstick (which I never wear), an elastic thing for Jordan's hair and a pair of her socks.



My keys. Note the colourful key chain on the left ~ it's a lizard that Sam made me a few years ago at his after-school program. The little Fisher Price push popper key chain was given to me by Ian, and everyone who sees it, loves it. It works too. If you push it along a hard surface the balls will pop. I love it.



This is Templeton who I made in Grade 3. He is my good luck charm and goes everywhere with me. I even pinned him underneath my wedding dress. If someone were to snatch my purse, it would be Templeton I would miss the most.



And here is the finished project.

Doesn't it look empty now?



I give myself 2 days before it looks like the first picture again.

;-)

What does the inside of your purse look like?

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a 17.5 lb bag of Iams ProHealth Dog Food!