Menu Plan Monday - November 11, 2013

The forecast is calling for all sorts of fall-ish weather this week.  From possible snow to bright sunshine and warm temps, we're supposed to see it all.  With that in mind, we're going to spend lots of time together this week, so I might be a bit absent around the Nest.  It's been a while since we took a week off from school and just hung out all together, so that's our plan.  That means that our meal plan may or may not happen as scheduled, but in case it does, here are my ideas.

Breakfast:

- scrambled eggs, juice, bananas

- 

- Cinnamon Almond Granola and fruit

- Steal-Good Pumpkin Bread

- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal, oranges

Dinner:

- Mummy dogs, baked beans, applesauce

- Spaghetti with marinara sauce, salad, applesauce

- Baked potatoes, smoked sausage, lima beans

- Stir fry over brown rice and veggies

- Nachos with Chili and cheese, oranges

- Dinner out

- Leftovers

We're having Harvest Cake and Apple Crisp for desserts this week.  :-)

What are you cooking this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Book Review

Some awesome authors have grouped together to show off four of their new books.  I had the chance to read all four, and it's a pretty amazing collection of work.  Get the inside scoop below.

One sinister phone call has derailed their wedding. Will they let it tear them apart forever?

A Christmas wedding on the beach---what could be more perfect? Poinsettias and fragrant pikake blossoms, soft sand and mistletoe, the gentle sound of the surf and the wedding march played on a ukulele. This wedding has been a long time coming, with Bane's trust issues and Leia's worries about her childlike sister, Eva.

Now they can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Thrilled to be a bridesmaid, Eva keeps trying on her ruffled dress. The tent is reserved, the caterers paid. Everything is going as planned---until Leia's phone rings and her world skids out of control. A muffled voice informs Leia that Eva's been kidnapped and will be killed unless Leia calls off the wedding without explanation---and no police! If she disobeys instructions and tells Bane, she'll risk her beloved sister's life. But how can she ever handle this without his help? And how can he ever trust her if she lies to him now?

Of the books in this tour, I must admit that this one wasn't my favorite, but that could be because it's part of a series that I've never read.  I really enjoy Colleen Coble's writing style and liked that, but the story opens with a jump into the rapidly-approaching wedding of two characters who are the leads in the series, but without a prior connection to them, some of their actions appear to be without reason.  That definitely makes it harder to connect to them.  Still, I liked how caring they seemed to be, and I would be interested in reading other books in this series - but I'd like to start at the beginning.

Purchase your own copy of this book here.

Bree Matthews is preparing for Christmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior's icy shore.As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor.

As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she's admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.

Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree's prayer for a baby ever be answered?

I really enjoyed this addition to the Rock Harbor series.  The search-and-rescues are exciting and throwing adoption stories and missing people into the mix only ups the ante.  Even more than that, however, is the opportunity to see people grow closer together and growing in maturity.  Having this particular immature character learn responsibility the way that she did totally made the novella!

Purchase your own copy of Silent Night here now.

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com.

 Inspired by a true story, A Christmas Gift for Rose is a heartwarming novella of sacrifice and deep love.

Born in the midst of the hardships of The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But she is overwhelmed by self-doubt when she learns the truth of her birth. She was born Englisch and abandoned when her family moved West in search of work. Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind---Englischers? And was her intended's gift of discovering her birth family given out of love or fear?

Don't miss award-winning author Tricia Goyer's first Christmas novella.

This is, hands-down, without a doubt, my most favorite Tricia Goyer book so far.  I have to qualify it like that because Goyer's books keep getting better and better, but this one is beyond amazing. 

That's probably partly because it's a true story.  I think that no matter how incredibly creative an author is, the stories that God writes are always better than what we can come up with, and this one is no exception.  Based on the story told to her of an Amish person's grandmother, it rings truth and honesty and heartache and love all at the same time.  

Another reason I loved this one is that it's an Amish World War II story.  One of my favorite time periods in history meets a sub-culture of my home.  What could be better?  I've never before considered how the Amish community might have regarded this far away war and the mad dictators who wreaked havoc through it, but Goyer's story is a great exploration of this concept.

The characters are loveable, as well.  While the world tilts on its axis all around her, you want the best for Rose - and for her love interest and her family, as well.  While a few of the ending bits are somewhat predictable, that doesn't make it any less exciting when they come to fruition.  

A Christmas Gift for Rose should definitely be added to your Christmas list.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qbs31

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and "Lead Your Family Like Jesus," (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

Anna's grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband.

Anna Byler should be enjoying her Rumspringa as allowed by her faith. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather---the bishop---the available suitors in town are afraid to court her. Even Anna's grandmother is keeping a big secret from Anna's grandfather in an effort to keep the peace. Under her grandfather's oppressive watch, Anna begins to feel her faith slipping and wonders if God has forsaken her.
Jacob Hostetler and his family have relocated to Lancaster County following a family tragedy in Ohio. As his family struggles to rebuild their lives, Jacob is forced to act as head of the household when his father is unable to cope with recent events. It's been a long time since Jacob has felt any joy. Until he meets Anna Byler. But will Anna's grandfather succeed at keeping them apart? And can Jacob put the past behind him and open his heart?

The first book of Wiseman's was in this series, so I was super excited to find this book following those same characters years later.  I enjoyed catching up with my favorite characters and meeting new ones.  Anna's romantic dilemma made a dramatic conflict for this story, and her grandmother's quirky habits added humor and fun throughout.  I loved the way that the ending seemed to wrap up all the loose ends with a neat bow.  

 Beth is a Carol Award Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Winner, INSPY Winner, and the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. All of her books have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list and the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list. She grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a small town west of Houston with a population of around 300. She lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, two chickens and a pygmy goat. Her two grown sons also live in Texas. Beth has been writing in some capacity for most of her life. She's a former award-winning journalist with eleven honors, including 'First Place News Writing' for The Texas Press Association. However, writing love stories with a spiritual message is where her heart is. When Beth isn't writing (which is seldom these days) she enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, reading, or just settling in for a good movie. Her best times are spent with family and friends!

Find out more about Beth at http://bethwiseman.com.

You can read other reviews of these books here.  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Beloved" by Robin Lee Hatcher

  

Diana is ready to begin a new chapter in her life-until the husband she believed dead reappears at her engagement party.

Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word from him in years, Diana's infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.

But when Tyson returns, claiming to be a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom.

He agrees with one condition---she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.

Beloved is the perfect conclusion to Hatcher's latest series.  Diana has the ultimate problem - she's prepared to marry again and secure her future when her thought-to-be-dead husband reappears and ruins her plans.  Figuring out what to do next takes both Diana and Tyson on a faith journey that involves a sick dog, demanding parents, a kidnapper, thief, a senatorial election, and a few mysteries, besides.  I like the way that each of these obstacles were used not only to advance the plot in action but to allow the characters to grow in their faith, as well.

For while you simultaneously want to cheer on Diana and Tyson's marriage while beating him up for being a selfish cad, ultimately you want them to grow.  To grow together and to grow up in maturity.  It becomes less about the love story and more about the faith, although the growing of the faith allows forgiveness to fall and love to bloom.

I was excited to read this third installment in the series as I've read the other two and enjoyed them.  I don't think the ending would have been as clear if I hadn't read them, however, for one very specific reason:  a character from one of the other books appears during the climax of this book, and as soon as a resolution is reached, the book jumps from the end of this book to a scene which closes out the series.  I think it suits the series well but is a bit abrupt for this book, so it might help smooth out that transition if you read the series in order.

All in all, Hatcher is a master of historical love stories.  This one is certainly no exception.

Read other reviews in this bloggy hop here or purchase your own copy here now.

Robin is the author of 65+ novels and novellas. Her home is in Idaho, where she spends her time writing stories of faith, courage, and love; pondering the things of God; and loving her family and friends.

Learn more at: http://www.robinleehatcher.com

I received a free copy of Beloved from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop - November 7, 2013

Introducing ... the Hearts for Home Blog Hop!  A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you'll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post.  If you're a blogger, we'd love to have you link up your posts and join us.  You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

Last week this post called Six Crucial Prayers to Pray for Your Children was the most-clicked-on post.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

- Prayer Journal for the Homeschooling Mom

- Rustic Cinnamon Stars

- 30 Days of Thanks

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our 'Featured Blogger' buttons!  Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

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Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

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Inspired Wednesday - "Dark Halo" by Shannon Dittemore

I've always enjoyed a good sci fi story.  

In the past my favorite have been time travel stories.  There's just something about the idea of people being able to visit the Wild West or the Revolution or go back to make a difference somewhere that's always fascinated me.

My new sci fi favorite isn't about time travel, though, but realm travel.  It's the third and final installment in the Angel Eyes series, and it's a fascinating look at what might happen if we had the eyes of angels - if we could see those heavenly bodies that God promises are all around us.

If we could see that, what might it look like?  What sort of spiritual battles are being waged all around us that we might never see?  I feel sure that theologians have whole parties where they debate that question, but Dittemore put an even more interesting spin on it - she made the sole human owner of that special vision a teenage girl in love with the orphan charge of an angel.

Doesn't get much more exciting - except when that handsome charge has been kidnapped by Satan, and that beautiful all-seeing girl decides to go get him back.

That's the premise of this story, and is a wonderful read.  I couldn't put it down - I was completely drawn into the spiritual battle between demon Damien and the angels surrounding Stratus.  There was an extra layer of sub-plots in this book that weren't present in the first, showing just how skillful a writer Dittemore is and just how well-planned the entire series is.

I think this series would make a great teen book club choice.  Obviously it's more than one book, but it's important to read all three to get the full scope of just who angels are and who we are in turn. I think that there are great debating options that arise from this plot and the potential to go back to the Bible and research just what it says about angels and their duties is huge.  In-depth discussions could really spring from this book.

Throughout the entire book, Dittemore's writing style and ideas reminded me of Ted Dekker's Circle series.  Not in any way has she incorporated his ideas, but her translation of the spiritual into a physical outcome is an idea that Dekker has used.  If Dittemore keeps this up, she'll definitely be rivaling Dekker for the top sci spots on the best seller's lists.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Are you a sci fi fan?

Be sure to check out Stephanie's Inspired Wednesday post over at The Multi Taskin' Mom!

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An InLinkz Link-up

GratiTuesday - A Great Coach is Worth ...

We're in between sports seasons right now.  The calm before the storm.  Livin' in the lull.

I love it.

This past sports season was particularly crazy because both kids were playing sports.  Different sports.  At different venues.  With different practice times.  Usually the same game times, which meant we were dividing and conquering and never able to cheer on everybody.

That was a bit stressful to me.  I want to be there for my kids, and while they understood, it was hard to know that I was missing moments that were important to them.

The best part of that rotten deal was knowing that they each had a great coach.

Everybody knows that coaches are important, and in our past few (admittedly limited) sports' experience we've had some great ones and ones who were less than stellar.  This season, however, my husband picked up the coach's clipboard for the very first time.

And I got to see firsthand just how hard these coaches of short people really work.

He had great kids on his team and lots of parents who were willing to help out.  They were kind and communicated and that is a huge plus.

But there are many things that a coach does that nobody else ever sees.

Nobody knows just how long he works to figure out the right pitch for each child.

Just how much time and thought and effort and strategy goes into creating a lineup that will be doubted and examined and then tweaked and recreated for the next game.  How he just might even dream about it.

How nervous and anxious he'll be for the kids to do well and have fun and learn something from each game and practice.  How he'll nearly make himself sick and be unable to eat because he wants the best for 'his' kids.

How excited he'll be when a player learns a new skill or reaches a new level of understanding.  How he'll rehash each great play after the game, over and over, chattering excitedly, and then go over each mistake bit by bit to determine the best way to use it as a teaching experience for the kids.

How much time he spends emailing parents and ordering t-shirts and planning parties.

How this involves not only the coach but the whole family - as the spouse must rearrange family schedules, meal plans, laundry plans, and transportation arrangements - to have everything and everybody where they need to be on time.

How the family gives up other things to make time for all of this coaching and sports stuff.

Both kids had great coaches this season.  Not only did they put in the time and work to teach the kids sportsmanlike conduct and athletic skills relevant to the sport, but they used kind words, communicated with the parents, and readily offered praise.

A great coach is invaluable.

Have you or your children been blessed to work with a really great coach?  What made him/her stand out?

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Check out See the Light's November Special - with FREEBIES!

*This post contains affiliate links which support our homeschooling efforts.  Thank you for using them!

This month’s special is our most popular The Gift of Love Deluxe Set for 25.00 + FREE SHIPPING.  You save 33%. This incudes:

• The Gift of Love DVD (143 mins)
• A pocket Size – 6 inch See the Light Black Light (batteries included)
• Extreme Colored Pencils
• Fluorescent Chalk

Use Coupon Code: NOVEMBER

Offer is good thru November 30, 2013. These art lessons make wonderful keepsakes and special homemade gifts that your children can give to their loved ones.

Be sure to download your FREE Luke 2 Copywork to go along with the November’s special, The Gift of Love Deluxe Set.

Now for the Giveaway!

See the Light will be giving away THE GIFT OF LOVE DELUXE SET. We will be picking a random winners November  15th at 11:59p. Winners will be contacted via email and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. All entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plus, for four lessons that you can download for free, click here.