*BOOK REVIEW* Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

Anne Fletcher traded her hometown of Charleston for New York City, and she does not regret her move one bit. However, she finds herself heading back home to celebrate the college graduation of her sister Sarah. The happy reunion planned is abruptly turned into a nightmare when an accident occurs that leaves Sarah on the brink of death. As Anne battles a sadness unlike anything she has ever felt before, God places some special people and some Angels in Anne's life, and the difference they make is astounding.

I highly recommend this book! As a reader that enjoys a wide variety of books, I found this one particularly refreshing. To actually read a scenario of how God can make Himself known to someone in need by placing the right people in their lives just reminded me of how God cares about each one of us individually. I also loved this book's emphasis on Angels. How powerful to think that even as Angels help us, when we help others we never know when we have just helped an Angel.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not asked to write a positive review, but simply, an honest one.

five question friday

I've found a new Friday post topic thanks to My Little Life. This should be something fun to look forward to! If you wish, head over to her blog and check it out!



This week's questions...
1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?
2. Do you dream in color?
3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?
4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?
5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?

My Answers...

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it? No, I do not have any favorite blankets or toys that I've kept into adulthood. Looking back though, I would guess that my Barbie dolls, my Sweet Valley Twin books, and my bicycle would be my favorite toys from my childhood.
2. Do you dream in color? Yes. Although most of the time I cannot specifically recall what I dream about, I do know it is pretty real life stuff, so yes, it's in color. I cannot think of a single time I've dreamed in black & white.
3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller? I'm 5 foot 3 inches flat footed. I guess that's pretty average, but I would love to be a few inches taller...guess that explains all the heels in my closet:)
4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be? I've never thought about this before this moment. Although I have thought on many occasions that I'm not too crazy about the female voice my GPS does have. Just off the top of my head I would say Patrick Dempsey's voice. It sounds pretty good on the Mazda vehicle commercials, so I think I would be satisfied with it!
5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot? I'll be 100% honest - I do not return the shopping cart to the corral all the time. If my kids are shopping with me (which is a majority of the time) it all depends on how close the corral is to my car. I do my best to part as close to the corral as possible, so that the chance of the shopping cart getting returned to the proper location increases, but sometimes it's just not possible. Now on those rare occasions I am shopping with children, then yes, the shopping card does get returned...period.

the wednesday dish

This recipe was given to me by a friend I worked with while in college. She made this for a potluck style lunch we had at work, and it was a huge hit with everyone. That said, if I'm guessing correctly, I've been making this chicken spaghetti for 5-6 years.
Disclaimer: This recipe makes a ton of food, but luckily, it is one of those foods that is even better warmed over.

chicken spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 3 cups chicken - seasoned as you wish and fried in a bit of oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter
• 12 oz angel hair pasta, cooked and drained
• 1 block Mexican Velveeta, cubed (if large block use half, if small block use all)
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 can Rotel Tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen english peas
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Preparation:

Saute onion and bell pepper with the butter in a large skillet until tender. Add cream of mushroom, rotel, peas, worsteshire sauce and cooked chicken. Stir until well mixed. Add cubed Velveeta and stir until melted. Mix angel hair pasta in.

*BOOK REVIEW* Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Ben Sherwood's book Charlie St.Cloud (originally published under the title The Life and Death of Charlie St.Cloud) takes you on a journey with Charlie, a guy that is in his late 20s and haunted by a tragic accident that took the life of his kid brother 13 years earlier. Since the night Sam died and Charlie lived, Charlie has carried a huge secret; he can see his brother's ghost, and this, Charlie will find, is part blessing and curse.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I literally could not put it down! It had an entertaining storyline with just enough of the unexpected to make it almost magical. What if we could see and communicate with our loved ones who have died - this story brings that ability to life. They always make the best books into movies, and Charlie St.Cloud the movie is coming out at the end of the month, so you know the book has got to be good!!!

For God So Loved...

Untitled from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

the wednesday dish

I've been making these cheese biscuits for almost 10 years. My mother-in-law made these biscuits for breakfast the very first weekend I spent at her house (about 2 months after my husband and I started dating), and she was nice enough to share the recipe with me:)

cheese biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese


• 2 cups self-rising flour


• 1 cup butter


• 8 oz sour cream
  

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients by hand. Roll into balls and place in greased muffin pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until tops begin to brown. This recipe yields approximately 18 biscuits.

*BOOK REVIEW* The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer's new book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner gives readers a look into what life is like for a newborn vampire. Bree Tanner, the main character in this novella, was first introduced to readers in Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight Saga. In this new book, you get to experience life along with Bree; the fears and friendships she uncovers, and her ultimate revelation - that she was created to go to Forks, WA and the battle with the Cullens.

As the title implies, Bree's vampire life is short, and therefore, so is this book. If you have not read the Twilight Saga this book will probably bore you, because there are many things that will only make sense if you have prior knowledge of them. If you have read the Twilight series, this should be an easy and enjoyable read. Be aware that this book is not broken down into chapters, so it is very hard to put down - there is never a good stopping point. If you don't read this book in one sitting, you will be left hanging each time you put it down!