Tidewater Bride

 

Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Historical Christian Fiction 4 stars
An engaging story set in James Towne, Colonial America. I learned so much about the struggles of that era in our history. I loved the characters and was caught up in the story: the conflicts and the romance. I think you would like it!


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Worth a Thousand Words

 Some pictures just are . . .

You Are My Sunshine

 

You Are My Sunshine: A Story of Love, Promises, and a Really Long Bike Ride by Sean Dietrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy listening to this author’s books. He reads them himself. He is such a good writer- one of my very favorites. I think this is the third one I’ve listened to and have all of his others on my TBR list. He is such a good story teller. This one is about his and his wife’s trip on the C & O trail. It is so funny and so wonderfully described. I felt I was on the trip too. I highly recommend any book by this author- especially audio books. Get ready for some laugh-out-loud reading.

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A Quiet Christmas

 We had a lovely, quiet Christmas at home.  On the way home from the Princes on Sunday evening, we stopped at Patty and Hal's.  We exchange gifts in my family, taking turns giving to each one.  Patty and Hal had us this year, so we collected our gifts and had such a nice visit with them.  They are some of our heroes and we love them so much.  Their beautifully wrapped gifts certainly cheered up our little Christmas tree.

Our outdoor decorations

For our Christmas eve meal I tried a new soup recipe.  We both loved it.  I will be posting the recipe on Hungryhintons.blogpost.com soon.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Christmas night we watched some very nice Christmas musical specials.

On Christmas morning, Michelle facetimed as the kids saw what Santa brought.

I got an ice maker from Ken and this stack of books.  I'm so excited.

Gabbi got a new desk

Jaron got a nice indoor basketball.  And he can palm it!

Our Christmas breakfast.  We actually had our Christmas dinner the next day because the turkey wasn't thawed yet on Christmas day.

Ken modeling the new shirts I and Patty and Hal gave him.

He looks good in everything!

This is my happy place.  These are my TBR books for 2025 with my new books added in.  Don't worry; I will fill up those shelves!

Mackrorys gave me a nice, new, and much needed bathroom rug.

Ken gave me a new bubble gum colored jug.  I am loving it.  It keeps the water cold for over 24 hours. The one on the left I have used for years.  I take it everywhere.

Patty and Hal gave me a glasses case and earrings that I look forward to wearing in the temple.  They also gave me a pasta serving set.

We exchanged gifts with Camerons at Thanksgiving and I didn't take pictures, but they gave me a beautiful ornament and yummy smelling soap and lotion.

Later, we facetimed with the Camerons.  Hannah and Gabe wanted to show Grandpa Ken their new bird feeder.  Actually, each of the kids took us into their rooms and showed us everything they got.  It was so fun to "be" with them.

This was one of favorite Christmas presents- a special note from seven-year-old William.  He was so cute.  He didn't want it folded and kept it so perfect for us.

Princes gave me this "Garden of Grandchildren."  I love it.  It is the birth month flower for each child.  The stems say their names.

Mackrorys vacationed in Florida for Christmas so we didn't get to facetime them.  We have enjoyed pictures they have sent of their fun.

We so enjoyed our quiet Christmas.

An Almost Perfect Weekend

 We had such a nice weekend with the Princes on the weekend before Christmas.  We were assigned to work the 11-2 shift at the temple on Friday, December 20th.  We hurried out to the car after and left from there to go to SLC.  I had made sandwiches that we ate in the car on the way.  We had a nice trip until about Payson where we hit slow down traffic clear until SLC.  We were sweating it because we were trying to make it to Gabbi's show choir concert.  We were blessed to make it in time.

It was hard to get good photos as we were behind people.  But it was such a good show.  Gabbi loves being a part of this fun group.  

Gabbi's solo was perfect.  You could hear her well, her diction was great, and she sounded beautiful!

We were so glad we were able to be there.

The next morning we attended Kenny's basketball game.  We have wanted to see the Prince boys play and we were glad to see Kenny's game and later, William's game.  Brian coaches both teams and is an excellent coach.

Warming up.

Ken played basketball all growing up and in high school.  He was especially glad to be there.

Ken squared.

At 2:00 that afternoon was William's game.

These kids were so cute.

💋

Later, Gabbi gave me a manicure.

Brian had scored tickets to the Tabernacle Christmas concert later that evening.  It was a dream of a lifetime for me to be there.

How we love these two.

The processional marching in.

The whole thing was so beautiful and inspiring.

It was so fun to walk through temple square after.  There were nativities from around the world.  We especially loved this one from Japan.  We hunted the whole time we were in Japan for a nativity.  Because they are not a Christian nation, you can't find one.  After we got home, our niece, Jana, who was living there as her husband was in the military sent me one that I cherish.

As lovely as the concert was, it was not the highlight of the weekend.  The highlight came on Sunday morning when we got to attend Michelle and Brian's ward and witness their Christmas program.  Brian had written the most beautiful program and he directed the excellent choir.  Michelle sang a beautiful solo all about how Mary felt.  Her voice is so beautiful.  Afterward, a Juliard trained pianist complimented her, telling her she belongs on Broadway.  He compared her to Idina Mendez.  I know she got lots of other compliments, but that is the one I heard.  Anyway, I just tell you that so you don't think it is just our parental prejudice that it was beautiful.  We were so uplifted by that beautiful program.  We then had a nice dinner of spaghetti, then we had a little Christmas, exchanging and opening gifts.

We gave everyone a copy of "Grandma's Stories" the book I had published this year.  We then left for home.

Later, Michelle sent up pictures of William reading the book.  That really touched me that he was that interested.

Why was it just "almost perfect?"  Because William had a little cold.  Ken is very susceptible to colds, so we wore masks and couldn't be with them as much as we would have liked.  But other than that, it was absolutely perfect.  Thank you Princes.  We love you! 

PS:  We didn't get sick!