EmpowerMoms

When Grace Sings: A Novel (The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy) by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“When Grace Sings” is a great book! To be honest, sometimes I find Amish Christian books to be a little boring, but this one kept my interest the entire time! I liked that each chapter was written in one of the main characters point of view. It made the characters story and emotions more real to me and easy to follow.

This book is part of The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy. I haven’t read book 1, and I think the characters and relationships would have meant more to me if I had read it before reading this one. But I was still able to follow the story line with just reading it as a stand alone book.

Nothing was “resolved” in this story, so it definitely left everything open to continue in book 3. I will definitely have to look for it when it gets published.

Great story lines, characters, and belief in God. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion?

Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.

But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths.

Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.

About the author:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of twenty-nine novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women’s fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and nine grandchildren.

When Mercy Rains: A Novel (The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy)

Sorry for my absense for the last couple of days here on my blog. I’ve been busy getting my local No Excuse Mom Fitness mom and kids group up and going. I have my first meet up on Saturday!

I made a 6 minute video of an arm workout for you. This will be one of the exercises we do on Saturday.

Comment below if you did it and tell me what you thought.

Want to know more about the FREE No Excuse Mom group I’m doing? Go here for locations and info:
http://www.noexcusemom.com/

This is a great video explaining about the group too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32AD6cubCc&feature=youtu.be

A Love Like Ours (A Porter Family Novel Book #3) by Becky Wade

I have been waiting for this book for several months since I greatly enjoyed book 1 and book 2. Although this says its book 3 of the Porter Family series, you do not have to read these books in order or even read the other books to read this one. They mention characters and siblings from the previous books, but other than that, it can be read as a stand alone book.

I really loved the main character Lyndie and her faith and determination with everything in life. I loved how the author was so descriptive with Lyndie’s love and emotion towards animals and with her family, especially her special needs sister Mollie. I have a nephew that is exactly like Mollie, so I was able to visualize what kind of relationship and emotional connection they had. Lyndie was best friends with her guy friend Jake until she and her family moved away. After 20 years they move back to their home town and she goes to see Jake to hopefully reunite their friendship and maybe more.

Jake served in the military and suffered from severe PTSD and had also turned away from his faith and God. He loved working with animals but stayed away from people and relationships.

I liked this book and loved the depth of emotions and feelings that Lyndie and Jake had, as well as all their family relationships. I love how faith in God and trusting him was such an important part of this book.

Realistically though, I had a hard time with the fact that after 20 years Lyndie still had feelings for a guy she never had contact with after she moved-it was like she was obsessed with him. And the fact that she took a chance on love with a non believer and someone with emotional issues was a huge risk. I know what its like to have a relationship with someone with past “issues” and its a huge struggle the rest of their life even with God being part of it. Love doesn’t overcome everything.

I did still like this book, but I would recommend reading the other ones first because this may not leave the best first impression of this author’s writing or this series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

Book Description
Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

About the Author
Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction. Becky’s work has been a finalist for both a RITA and an INSPY Award. Learn more at www.beckywade.com.

You can buy it here:

Fall in love with Becky Wade‘s new book, A Love Like Ours, a story of healing, romance, and cowboys. A glimmer of the hope Jake thought he’d lost returns when Lyndie lands back in Texas, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

To celebrate the release of her new book, Becky is giving away a $100 cash card and a book-inspired prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 cash card
• A copy of A Love Like Ours
• A copy of the Secretariat DVD
• A scarf
• A dog-tag/cross keychain
• A pair of earrings
• A Scarf
• A Texas-shaped cutting board
• A Jake Porter mug

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 26th. Winner will be announced May 27th on Becky’s site.

ITS HERE!!
I have had this dvd on my amazon wish list for a month now anxiously awaiting its arrival! I just saw the announcement this afternoon so here’s all the information I have about it.

I LOVE Jessica Smith TV workout dvds and her free youtube videos. She is incredible! If you don’t know who she is, you should definitely check her out.

1. Mix and Match Your Miles to walk as far and as long as you wish!

2. Create Your Personal Walking Plan With Our Customizable DVD Menu (DVD only).

3. Includes 2 Bonus Routines – “The Strong Feet and Ankles” and “Strong Knees and Hips” Workout

4. Our Mile Markers and Countdown Clocks will help you stay motivated to move and rack up your daily step count!

Segments Include:

Walking Warm Up (5 Minutes)

Mile #1: Brain Booster (15 Minutes)

Mile #2: Belly, Buns and Thighs (15 Minutes)

Mile #3: Power Posture Walk (15 Minutes)

Mile #4: Turbo Charged Walk (13 Minutes)

Mile #5: Boogie Down Walk (15 Minutes)

Cool Down (5 Minutes)

Bonus Workout #1: The Strong Feet and Ankles Workout (15 Minutes)

Bonus Workout #2: The Strong Knees and Hips Routine (15 Minutes)

Sneak Peek Video here:

Buy it from Amazon here:

FROM THE FITBIT BLOG:
Last year, we set the record for most daily steps per person on the 3rd Saturday in May. And for 2015 we’ve got one thing in mind: Beat our best. So on May 16, we’re introducing the first-ever ‪#‎FitbitGoalDay‬ and challenging everyone in the Fitbit Community to crush their daily step goal.

Are you up for the challenge?

Go here to view the whole blog post:
https://blog.fitbit.com/join-us-for-fitbit-goal-day/#i.1uaxcaxb38eh6p

I looked up my Fitbit stats since I’ve been a member Dec 28, 2011.
Best Day:
32,317 steps/16.35 miles
on Saturday August 31, 2013

seriously??!! whew!

That was a month before I did my half marathon training, so I know I was training for that. I haven’t run or walked that far since because the months of training leading up to, and then the race, about killed me.

I will make a personal goal to get 20,000 steps in for tomorrow, Saturday 16th for Goal day. I typically do 12,000 to 15,000 on the weekends so it will take some work for me to get that goal.

Are you up for the challenge? What will your goal be?