Kudzu and Koolaid

Hello Dolly

fleeting moments..., originally uploaded by Kudzu and Koolaid.

My parents arrived safely.

My children are in grandparent heaven. My daughter is now completely adorned in everything Aurora-dress, shoes, wand, phone.

Our house in Texas-just 15 miles inland from South Padre Island is ok (as far as we know.) We had some fellow agents that were kind enough to go by and board up our windows-now we wait and pray regarding flooding.

We are going to Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow & then going on a long drive that will end up at a fishing spot on Friday.

In the eye of the hurricane
in the center of the storm
in the chaos there is comfort
a harbor safe and warm
the strong winds may blow
but it can't change what I know
when I hold to the Rock
that the winds can't erode

Painted Dresses [a bloggy book tour]

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Painted Dresses
(WaterBrook Press - July 15, 2008)
by
Patricia Hickman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike.

Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits". All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!).

Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.

Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.


ABOUT THE BOOK

In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.

Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

A kinda, sorta, semi, bloggy vacation

I may be posting infrequently for a few weeks. I'll keep the book bloggy tours rolling out & probably some updates here and there. My parents are coming in for a visit & we have school starting on the 11th.

Just wanted to give ya a heads up if you don't see me around here as usual.

[I will no doubt hit Twitter so if you wanna follow me there it's cool!]

And the winner is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8

Timestamp: 2008-07-20 06:15:05 UTC

I used the random generator and it gave me the number 8. The eight person to comment was Katie.

I would love to get a copy. Please enter me in the drawing.

Posted by: Katie | July 15, 2008 at 10:13 PM

Katie, I need an email with your postal address and I'll be glad to get this in the mail to you! Drop me a note at kudzu and koolaid AT hotmail DOT com (no spaces)

Thanks, all of you, for your comments and for stopping by my blog.

Things that make me happy...

FridayFelicities, originally uploaded by joymombecky.

little girls in rainboots with flowers on their fingernails...

really good coffee...

redecorating...

soft baby yarn...

the drive in (we're going to see Wall-E this weekend)...

a new school year with a great curriculum that I am so excited about...

my parents visiting soon...

What are you happy about today?
Why not share? Blog your felicities and make sure to sign Mr. Linky over at Becky's site.

Happy Weekend.
Book giveaway below-drawing on Sunday!

Thursday Thirteen...

Apache Canyon, originally uploaded by Kudzu and Koolaid.

things I'm thinking about:

1. my friend from high school, today is her bday.
2. that I need to look up mileage for a trip next week.
3. making a menu-my parents are visiting next week -yay-
4. finishing a crochet project
5. making a list of school supplies I need to buy.
6. putting together our book basket
7. putting together our circle time basket
8. going to walmart today
9. how much fun it is to hear from people on myspace/facebook
10. little girls with pretty fingernails
11. finishing my book
12. speaking my kids love language
13. reaching a goal

Hot tea, scones & adventures with Sisterchicks (a bloggy book tour)

SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.

Two midlife mamas hop over to jolly ole England and encounter so much more than the usual tourist stops. Liz does have a bit of a childhood crush on Big Ben, and she has hoped to “meet” him ever since her fifteenth birthday. Kellie dreams of starting an interior design business and figures Liz needs to be a part of that equation–a calculation that hasn’t added up for Liz yet.

Nothing on the excursion goes the way these two friends had envisioned. They start with a village pancake race and end up being held for questioning on The Underground. Kellie and Liz take a wild tour through the land of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and then find themselves swept up, up, and away in a hot air balloon over the Cotswalds. London beckons with the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill, and of course, reservations at the Ritz for a posh high tea.

A few detours along the way and the possibility of being lost in a London fog of wonderment aren’t enough to stop these two Sisterchicks! Each step of their regal journey is lined with evidence of God’s gracious compassion, and both come to realize that God knows their every wish. He is the One who planted every dream in their hearts. And, oh, what a surprise awaits them when they return home!


To read the first chapter, go HERE

I have read several of the Sisterchicks books and this one follows in their fabulous footsteps. I love how strong friendships are always present, struggles with faith & family issues --real life stuff is always in these stories & it makes them very applicable. These characters are just like ''you.'' I also love the encouragment I always walk away with from them. The books weave a fun story, with adventure and hijinks (usually) but there is always a foundation of faith-a soft voice reminding you of God's love & care & His part in all of our journeys. If you've never read a Sisterchicks then this is a great introduction to the wonderful world of Sisterchicks!

I read this last week and will be giving my copy away. Are you interested in winning? Simply leave a comment. I am willing to ship to the U.S & Canada. [drawing will be Sunday, July 20th.]

Happy Reading!

What I'm doing on a Saturday...

Contemplating subscribing to THIS magazine.

Making THESE scones.

Considering instituting ''tea time'' when we start our new school year next month. In essence we already do this--sort of. The kids get up from quiet time at 3 and typically have a snack. I'm just thinking of making it a little more special. I'm also thinking maybe it would be a nice break, before the evening meal prep and madness starts.  This happens when you are reading a fun book about London. :)

Things that make me happy...

FridayFelicities, originally uploaded by joymombecky.

*movie night

*memories

*cofffee (it's what's going to get me through today-I was up and down with kiddos with leg aches last night)

*road trips

*family visiting (my parents come at the end of the month! Woot!

What makes you happy?

Make a list, post it on your blog and then head over to Bedky's and sign Mr. Linky!

Just call me Sabrina...

only I didn't learn to cook in Paris.

[please, please someone tell me they get the movie reference?]

My inlaws visited last week and I was a cooking fool. Ok. Honestly, I cooked the same as usual I just increased amonts. :) But here are a couple of the things I cooked while they were here...

My hubby's favorite menu item right now Grilled Pork Loin

This is a recipe that my friend Trudy shared and it has become a favorite too...the kids all love this. I add a lot more salsa for topping and play around with the spices.  I've also, when time was crunched, used onion and garlic powder as opposed to chopping and crushing the real thing--and it turned out just fine.

Oh and of course I made Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding. This is so easy and tasty. I've made it alot in the last few years-especially for like potlucks. Oh and I always use vanilla wafers not the shortbread cookies. I mean I'm from the South I can only defame a banana pudding recipe to a certain point...I draw the line at nilla wafers. ;)

Saturday during their visit we drove over to Ruidoso and spent the evening at The Flying J Ranch. There was an old west ''town'', pony (horse!) rides, pistol shooting range, panning for gold, a gun fight [!] and the evening ended with a chuck wagon supper followed by a concert. It was  a lot of fun. I took pictures and they crack me up...mostly because my kids look miserable & honest, they were having a good time. :) I leave you with a picture of Elijah, ''the sheriff'', and Daniel...YES, Elijah ASKED to be in this picture--this was not a forced photo op. [I promise]