Time to head back home and back to real life. We had so much fun this week and it went by so fast! Getting the camper out of the parking spot was tons easier than getting it in was!
We are back home, but there is TONS to do, so I am off for the night - planning on going to church in the morn!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Last boat ride ths trip
We loaded up and headed back out on the boat today. We were going to head back to the same island that we went to last night with my parents, but when we coasted up to it, two large dogs met us at the shore, so we changed our minds on that one. Next one wasn't much better - the water dropped off almost immediately, so the kiddos couldn't play there like they had the few days before, and there were critters on that one - we saw an armadillo - eek! We loaded up, again, and went back to what we named Storm Island (same island that caught us in the rain the other day - also caught us several years ago in a storm). Rog dropped Chelle and the kiddos and I off and went back to the dock where he met Chris, Billy and the kiddos. Had a BLAST out on the island. Billy, Rog and I went out on the boat with Samantha and Riley - they both wanted to learn to ski, so we gave them a shot at it!
Here is Samantha -she gave it two shots and went a short distance each time:
And here is Riley, he only tried once, he sorta got up, and he went about as far one time as Samantha did in her two:
Billy tried to ski, but couldn't - said it was too hard! Then Rog skied for a bit. At the end of the day - we were all tired, but still going strong. Here is a really cute shot of Samantha when we were headed back in:
Chris, Billy and the kiddos stayed and roasted marshmallows and hung out at the campfire until we were all exhausted - then they had a 2 hour drive home!
Here is Samantha -she gave it two shots and went a short distance each time:
And here is Riley, he only tried once, he sorta got up, and he went about as far one time as Samantha did in her two:
Billy tried to ski, but couldn't - said it was too hard! Then Rog skied for a bit. At the end of the day - we were all tired, but still going strong. Here is a really cute shot of Samantha when we were headed back in:
Chris, Billy and the kiddos stayed and roasted marshmallows and hung out at the campfire until we were all exhausted - then they had a 2 hour drive home!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Quiet Thursday
Everyone was tired this morning and we planned on hanging out a the campsite for the day. Chelle jokingly said - call mom and dad and see if they will come down - so I did - and they did!!!!
While we were waiting on them, we had dogs over the fire - first time the kiddos had done that- they really thought it was cool:
We were surprised that mom and dad came down. We went out on the boat, to a different island - mom tried to get up on skis, but was unsuccessful - she used to all the time, but her hands no longer had the grip. Here are mom and dad - enjoying being out on the boat with us:
While we were waiting on them, we had dogs over the fire - first time the kiddos had done that- they really thought it was cool:
We were surprised that mom and dad came down. We went out on the boat, to a different island - mom tried to get up on skis, but was unsuccessful - she used to all the time, but her hands no longer had the grip. Here are mom and dad - enjoying being out on the boat with us:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday ~ another try back out on the boat
Things dried out overnight, so we loaded everything back up and headed back to the island. Everyone was excited to get out and tube today. Here are a few shots from the boat - I managed to avoid the camera at that time, and so did Chris - 
We played out on the island for a while and then we all had a turn on the tube. I will spare you the details of all the tubing pics, but here are a few great crash landings:
This was Billy doing his FIRST face plant of the week!
Here is Chelle - floating on her back until she stopped and sunk:
Emily's tube catching some air- not sure what happened to her:
And finally, me. This was the second set of waves that he was about to pull me over. I had surprisingly stayed on over the first set, but I knew these were going to take me down (I was actually on my stomach at one point in time on this ride - even though it appears that I am sitting):
We had a lot of fun, and nobody got hurt. It was a long, hot day and everyone was exhausted when we got back to camp, so it was dinner and then bed.
We played out on the island for a while and then we all had a turn on the tube. I will spare you the details of all the tubing pics, but here are a few great crash landings:
This was Billy doing his FIRST face plant of the week!
Here is Chelle - floating on her back until she stopped and sunk:
Emily's tube catching some air- not sure what happened to her:
And finally, me. This was the second set of waves that he was about to pull me over. I had surprisingly stayed on over the first set, but I knew these were going to take me down (I was actually on my stomach at one point in time on this ride - even though it appears that I am sitting):
We had a lot of fun, and nobody got hurt. It was a long, hot day and everyone was exhausted when we got back to camp, so it was dinner and then bed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday ~ camping ~ out on the boat
This morning everyone woke up ready to go! We made lunches, loaded water toys and towels up, sun screened EVERYONE really good and headed to the slip. We went straight to a nice island that went out shallow for a good ways, making it a great place to be with the kiddos.
We played for a long time in the water. Tried to get the kiddos to go explore the island, but they wanted to be in the water. Here are a few of all of us playing around in the lake:
Out of no where, we noticed it was lightening and thundering, so we got out of the water, and really noticed how bad it looked.
After a bit of debating on trying to head in or not, we decided to go for it and once we got in the boat, it started pouring. So, we turned around and went back to the island to wait it out. I think it rained - heavy rain -on us for about 45 minutes -we just sit there, being all wet!
Once it let up, we went back to shore, everything SOAKED! We talked to a couple of friends who were thinking about coming up on Wednesday and hanging out with us, talked them into coming on up tonight. Chelle got us a campfire started and Billy and Chris joined us late. There was enough room in the camper for everyone to sleep on a bed, if Chris didn't mind sharing with Riley. Was no problem for Chris, and he started teasing Riley about he was going to sleep with nothing on - I think he scarred my poor child - here is where Riley ended up for the night:
We played for a long time in the water. Tried to get the kiddos to go explore the island, but they wanted to be in the water. Here are a few of all of us playing around in the lake:Out of no where, we noticed it was lightening and thundering, so we got out of the water, and really noticed how bad it looked.
After a bit of debating on trying to head in or not, we decided to go for it and once we got in the boat, it started pouring. So, we turned around and went back to the island to wait it out. I think it rained - heavy rain -on us for about 45 minutes -we just sit there, being all wet! Once it let up, we went back to shore, everything SOAKED! We talked to a couple of friends who were thinking about coming up on Wednesday and hanging out with us, talked them into coming on up tonight. Chelle got us a campfire started and Billy and Chris joined us late. There was enough room in the camper for everyone to sleep on a bed, if Chris didn't mind sharing with Riley. Was no problem for Chris, and he started teasing Riley about he was going to sleep with nothing on - I think he scarred my poor child - here is where Riley ended up for the night:
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday ~ headed out for camping
On his way home from work this morning, Roger went by his parents house and picked up the camper. While he worked on getting the outside things loaded in the back of the truck, I finished up laundry and cleaning up in the house and started packing things in the camper. It was about 1:30 or so when we got on the road - headed to 
Thankfully our campsite was open when we arrived so we started the long painful process of parking the camper. Apparently during the recent flooding, part of the gravel washed away and made the area where the camper belongs VERY unlevel - it took us right at 2 hours to get the camper set up - and it still wasn't completely level!
It was also so hot out today. Once we finally got things set up, we fixed dinner, then with good intentions, we started a fire. It didn't last, we let it die quickly and went to bed!
Thankfully our campsite was open when we arrived so we started the long painful process of parking the camper. Apparently during the recent flooding, part of the gravel washed away and made the area where the camper belongs VERY unlevel - it took us right at 2 hours to get the camper set up - and it still wasn't completely level!
It was also so hot out today. Once we finally got things set up, we fixed dinner, then with good intentions, we started a fire. It didn't last, we let it die quickly and went to bed!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
UGH...it's hot
Rog and a buddy left out first thing this morning to take the boat to the lake. We didn't get to go due to previous obligations.
Today was a long day and I think it is because it was so hot outside. We had a few errands to run and then music lessons. Riley's was an hour this week - he was making up a class... I am glad his lessons are only 30 minutes...he gets to distracted in an hour. Although, Mr. Mike did let him play his new electric guitar (Mike's, not Riley's) and he let Riley pull out the microphone and use it while he was singing AND Samantha joined in on one song...so, I am sure it was easy to get distracted with all of that! He is having fun and he is learning - that is what counts!!
Thursday is Gramma's birthday, so we went straight to her house for a surprise b-day dinner and cake. Rog got back from taking the boat about the time we all got there...only Gramma was late! Dinner was really good and after the kiddos all headed out to VBS, we pulled out Guitar Hero Rock Band. We played for a while, but I didn't care for it so much. I prefer Dance Dance Revolution!
I just got in from a meeting, and the family is piled up on my bed watching the HOGS in OT. I am going to see if I can run them out so I can get some sleep!
Today was a long day and I think it is because it was so hot outside. We had a few errands to run and then music lessons. Riley's was an hour this week - he was making up a class... I am glad his lessons are only 30 minutes...he gets to distracted in an hour. Although, Mr. Mike did let him play his new electric guitar (Mike's, not Riley's) and he let Riley pull out the microphone and use it while he was singing AND Samantha joined in on one song...so, I am sure it was easy to get distracted with all of that! He is having fun and he is learning - that is what counts!!
Thursday is Gramma's birthday, so we went straight to her house for a surprise b-day dinner and cake. Rog got back from taking the boat about the time we all got there...only Gramma was late! Dinner was really good and after the kiddos all headed out to VBS, we pulled out Guitar Hero Rock Band. We played for a while, but I didn't care for it so much. I prefer Dance Dance Revolution!
I just got in from a meeting, and the family is piled up on my bed watching the HOGS in OT. I am going to see if I can run them out so I can get some sleep!
CFBA: Bride in the Bargain by Deanna Gist
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY: Honestly, it took me a bit to get into this one. I wasn't sure that I was going to care for it. Once I got a couple chapters in and figured out who the characters were and where the story line was starting to go, I got into it. I did like the story and all, however, it made me think of one that I had recently read that had the same type - I can't recall now what it was, but the stories were similar, yet different. Deanna made you feel sad for Ana, and cheer her on, hoping that she would end up in the right place! There was a point when it got sad, and I wasn't sure where she was going with the story.
Have you read this? Let me know what you think!
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Bride In The Bargain
Bethany House (June 1, 2009)
by
Deeanne Gist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.
Since the debut of those novels, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Wedding Is All Planned...
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride
In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.
Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.
Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE
Have you read this? Let me know what you think!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas. Since the debut of those novels, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Wedding Is All Planned...Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride
In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.
Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.
Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Blue tounged skink
The kiddos let me know that they wanted to go to one of the local libraries today and see one of the first programs of the summer. So, I grabbed my book and we headed off to the library. While they crowded in with the TONS of kiddos, I sat back along the wall and read. When the program was over, I did get a chance to snap their pics while they were petting, but the museum lady was moving so much that it didn't really turn out.
While waiting for Rog to get home, we watched Meet the Robinson's (not one of my faves). Once he got here, he stole the kiddos and they went to wash the boat so he can get it in the lake this week. I took a nap!! Rog and the kiddos rushed in in time for him to throw some burgers on the grill.
We are planning a camping trip coming up, so Chelle and I were going to work on menu and grocery list - until my mother in law came and demanded that we go shopping with her! Glad we did - we went to Hobby Lobby and I found some scuba diver scrapbook stickers in the clearance section! Then we came back and finished the menu/lists for our trip.
While waiting for Rog to get home, we watched Meet the Robinson's (not one of my faves). Once he got here, he stole the kiddos and they went to wash the boat so he can get it in the lake this week. I took a nap!! Rog and the kiddos rushed in in time for him to throw some burgers on the grill.
We are planning a camping trip coming up, so Chelle and I were going to work on menu and grocery list - until my mother in law came and demanded that we go shopping with her! Glad we did - we went to Hobby Lobby and I found some scuba diver scrapbook stickers in the clearance section! Then we came back and finished the menu/lists for our trip.
Homeschool Crew: The Homeschool Planner
Wow! I have had this in my computer for a couple of weeks now, and every time I get a chance, I just go and scroll through it, finding something new each time. As a person who thrives on organization (and really likes the look of a schedule on paper) - this is WONDERFUL!!! I do have one teeny tiny thing to say against it, and truthfully, it is not bad against the planner - This planner is so full of stuff, I am curious how it will sell next year to those of us who have it. It is chocked full of information, has type-able forms (although, some prefer to print -and PENCIL - that option is there as well).
The forms...I cannot even begin...there are forms for homeschooling, and the options are there for everyone - well, pages for moms with up to 5 children. And the pages that list 5, those of us with 2 don't have to adapt that page and have wasted space - there are several choices for 1-5 children . I have been printing off and taking notes on what pages I may want to refer back when my curriculum comes in and I start planning it.
And that is just the SCHOOL portion of it. The home part of the forms - there are chore forms, menu/menu planning, recipes,phone number/website and password forms, journal pages, and prayer pages.
I spent today printing off the big calendar pages and some others, but I am taking my time and really studying my choices, layout and making sure that I get the correct pages back to back. I am not 100% sure what I want where so it is taking some time to get it right. Since it is so big and there is so much, I know I can make it work for me. Nothing worse than a planner that doesn't work because of the way the company thought it should be arranged! This one will fit you and work the way you want it to...
I have printed off many of the home portion and have already added some stuff to them, so they are ready when I get my school stuff ready. I went ahead and printed off the front colorful page and plan to take it and a back page and have them laminated, then I plan to take my pages to Office Depot and get it spiral bound. The possibilities of designing a planner for the year that is suited to you, are never-ending - just someone else has done all the hard work.
Oh, and I cannot forget to mention with this purchase, I also got 12 mini unit studies. One for each month for this next year. Even though I don't have all of our books in yet, I know that there are a few of these units that we will incorporate in this next year - I am thinking the American Government and Thirteen Colonies may work well with our history!
I apologize for the long post. The planner really is full of goodies! There are even a few lists that I am thinking of printing off, laminating and adding to the kiddos binders for reference.
The E-Book: The 2009 Schoolhouse Planner is available for you to purchase from The SchoolHouse Store for $39.00 - and I just noticed this - Order between June 11, 2009 and July 12, 2009 and receive the 2008 Planner Excerpts FREE. (These are the extra mini unit studies from last year. I did not see these, so it will be a complete surprise for you!)
For others reviews and opinions on the planner, please click the Crew banner at the top of the page!
Monday, June 15, 2009
CFBA: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY: This was a another super cute teen book. It was an easy read, and I fell in love with the characters! You learned to really like Christine and want to reach out to her as a trouble teen. She has some issues that she needs to get off her chest. Does she take care of things? Pick up a copy and read for yourself and see! This is one that I will be passing on to my friend with the teen daughter and is having reading choice issues with her. This one should be one that they both agree on.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.
MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.
Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ana, Christine, Riley, and Zoe have grown closer than ever over the past few months, but summer is over and it's time to put their friendship to the test.It's been a little over a year since Christine Lee's mom passed away in a tragic car accident. Now her dad is engaged to Candace--"The Bimbo"--and Christine couldn't be less thrilled. When her attitude starts to take a toll on her schoolwork, the administration forces her to attend counseling sessions. At least she gets to skip gym class!
But with her father's wedding inching closer, Christine is growing even more bitter. To make matters worse, the Miracle Girls are beginning to drift apart. Christine's anger and the pressures of high school threaten to break the girls up when they need each other the most. Will they find a way to join together to help Christine come to terms with her mother's death . . . and her father's remarriage?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, go HERE
Monday
The kiddos were up at about their normal times this morning.
The started digging in the cabinet and found the colorful clay. Since they wanted to play with it, they were ready to help me clean off the school table. The made all kinds of things with the clay - for hours!
I had told them we would make a cake yesterday, and things changed, so that didn't happen - yet they didn't forget! I supervised the makings of a funfetti cake and then we made crazy cheese bread-stix for lunch. YUM!
After waiting FOREVER for the cake to cool, they frosted it and we dug in- that would be my favorite kind of cake, minus frosting - oh, and fresh out of the oven!
The best part of my day ~ all 3 of my AT&;T rebates came in today. I spent some time on the phone with Rainbow Resources and placed my order with Math U See - which only means that by mid-week next week, I am going to have to have figured out the new planner and start printing!
Took the kiddos to church for VBS and then went to my Ladies Bible Study...keep a friend from there in your prayers please. We only have a few more chapters in the book we are reading together - Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World. Anyone have a suggestion for a book for a women's bible study group? We are a mixed group as far as ages and married/kiddos, so it would need to be something that worked for all women.
Kiddos are in the bed, and asleep. I am headed that way to watch the news...which I will miss, because I am in the middle of a really good book!! More on that later!
The started digging in the cabinet and found the colorful clay. Since they wanted to play with it, they were ready to help me clean off the school table. The made all kinds of things with the clay - for hours!
I had told them we would make a cake yesterday, and things changed, so that didn't happen - yet they didn't forget! I supervised the makings of a funfetti cake and then we made crazy cheese bread-stix for lunch. YUM!
After waiting FOREVER for the cake to cool, they frosted it and we dug in- that would be my favorite kind of cake, minus frosting - oh, and fresh out of the oven!
The best part of my day ~ all 3 of my AT&;T rebates came in today. I spent some time on the phone with Rainbow Resources and placed my order with Math U See - which only means that by mid-week next week, I am going to have to have figured out the new planner and start printing!
Took the kiddos to church for VBS and then went to my Ladies Bible Study...keep a friend from there in your prayers please. We only have a few more chapters in the book we are reading together - Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World. Anyone have a suggestion for a book for a women's bible study group? We are a mixed group as far as ages and married/kiddos, so it would need to be something that worked for all women.
Kiddos are in the bed, and asleep. I am headed that way to watch the news...which I will miss, because I am in the middle of a really good book!! More on that later!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Dive certification
I slept pretty good last night - until storms came thru Hot Springs at 5 and woke me up. I hit the day running, but knew it was going to be long.
Class was supposed to meet at the dock at 8am, and today I remembered a book! They all loaded up their equipment and we headed back out to the dive spot. They all jumped in the water and I grabbed my book and kicked back to read! The weather was cool, cloudy and breezy and felt great sitting up on the boat. I did snap a few pics today, here is Rog going in the water:
and here is Rog and his dive partners:
and lastly, here is a fresh water sponge that one of the instructors found and brought up for us to see: 
The divers still had a about an hour's worth of class back at the dock, then we headed to the house. The kiddos were with gramma and since we weren't sure when we were going to be home, she was planing on taking then to VBS for the night. We called and were supposed to be home right at dinner time, so we headed straight to her house and had dinner. The kiddos are at VBS now and as soon as they get home, we are all headed to bed!
Class was supposed to meet at the dock at 8am, and today I remembered a book! They all loaded up their equipment and we headed back out to the dive spot. They all jumped in the water and I grabbed my book and kicked back to read! The weather was cool, cloudy and breezy and felt great sitting up on the boat. I did snap a few pics today, here is Rog going in the water:
and here is Rog and his dive partners:
and lastly, here is a fresh water sponge that one of the instructors found and brought up for us to see: The divers still had a about an hour's worth of class back at the dock, then we headed to the house. The kiddos were with gramma and since we weren't sure when we were going to be home, she was planing on taking then to VBS for the night. We called and were supposed to be home right at dinner time, so we headed straight to her house and had dinner. The kiddos are at VBS now and as soon as they get home, we are all headed to bed!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Dive class
We got up EARLY this morning and headed out to Mt. Harbor for Rog's dive class. They were to meet at Mt. Harbor Resort by 8am to learn how to put things on and take them off and breathe underwater and such, before they went out to the lake. I brought the camera and kicked back in a lounge chair and snapped pics of him. Silly me, I forgot to bring a BOOK.....what was I thinking???
Anyways~ I spent the morning with my toes in the water snapping shots. Here are a few from the pool:
The class broke for lunch and we had a YUMMY! lunch at the Mt. Harbor Resort restaurant. Meeting the class back at the boat after lunch, we loaded up and headed out. It was pretty hot out this afternoon, and I didn't snap many pics, mainly because I plugged my music in and took me a nice nap! LOL! Here is one of the group in the water this afternoon:
Rog is toward the front here with the lime green sleves.
Once class was over, we headed back to the hotel - I was ready for a COLD shower!! He has a friend in Hot Springs, so he called Dano about where was a good place for dinner. I was hungry for catfish, but mainly wanted a really good, well kept secret type place to have dinner. Dano told us about Smyly's Crab Shack (sorry, there was no link or anything for it). It was seriously a hole in the wall restaurant that I would have totally judged by the outside and would not have stopped at. We both ordered a catfish platter and it certainly hit the spot! It was what I was hungry for and really hit the spot!
After dinner, I was stuffed and tired, so I am about to turn on the Food Network and watch Challenge until I fall asleep - we have another long day ahead of us tomorrow!
Anyways~ I spent the morning with my toes in the water snapping shots. Here are a few from the pool:
The class broke for lunch and we had a YUMMY! lunch at the Mt. Harbor Resort restaurant. Meeting the class back at the boat after lunch, we loaded up and headed out. It was pretty hot out this afternoon, and I didn't snap many pics, mainly because I plugged my music in and took me a nice nap! LOL! Here is one of the group in the water this afternoon:
Rog is toward the front here with the lime green sleves.
Once class was over, we headed back to the hotel - I was ready for a COLD shower!! He has a friend in Hot Springs, so he called Dano about where was a good place for dinner. I was hungry for catfish, but mainly wanted a really good, well kept secret type place to have dinner. Dano told us about Smyly's Crab Shack (sorry, there was no link or anything for it). It was seriously a hole in the wall restaurant that I would have totally judged by the outside and would not have stopped at. We both ordered a catfish platter and it certainly hit the spot! It was what I was hungry for and really hit the spot!
After dinner, I was stuffed and tired, so I am about to turn on the Food Network and watch Challenge until I fall asleep - we have another long day ahead of us tomorrow!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Long day Friday
We spent some time this morning cleaning the house...we have been at it about their rooms being clean. They thought they were clean, but they were not Momma Clean, or as another friend says, inspection clean. Well, they were told this morning that if their rooms were not Momma Clean by the time gramma got there, then after they left, I would be releasing their small collection of animals they had in the back yard - 2 turtles and a countless number of toadfrogs. They didn't want that to happen, so miraculously, they got their rooms cleaned like I have been asking for months!
I heard one of the say as they slipped out back (after their rooms were sparkling, of course!) 'Yes, we get to keep the frogs'. I am not 100% sure who said it, but I would be willing to bet it was Samantha.
After they had some reading time this afternoon, the house got really dark - it was then I realized we were under a tornado warning!! The sirens were sounding and then the storms started!! We hung out in the den and watched the news and weather, and listened to all the calls go out over the scanner. They didn't last long, but they were pretty strong!!
Gramma came and got the kiddos after the weather cleared! I finished up laundry and packed - Rog and I are headed to Hot Springs. He is doing his dive and certification class at Mount Harbor of Lake Ouachita and so we are going to stay there for the weekend instead of driving back and forth.
******
Rog was supposed to get off at 7 and we were hoping to be on the road by 8. We left at 9 and didn't get there until 11...I am tired and going to bed...will be back after class tomorrow with pics!
I heard one of the say as they slipped out back (after their rooms were sparkling, of course!) 'Yes, we get to keep the frogs'. I am not 100% sure who said it, but I would be willing to bet it was Samantha.
After they had some reading time this afternoon, the house got really dark - it was then I realized we were under a tornado warning!! The sirens were sounding and then the storms started!! We hung out in the den and watched the news and weather, and listened to all the calls go out over the scanner. They didn't last long, but they were pretty strong!!
Gramma came and got the kiddos after the weather cleared! I finished up laundry and packed - Rog and I are headed to Hot Springs. He is doing his dive and certification class at Mount Harbor of Lake Ouachita and so we are going to stay there for the weekend instead of driving back and forth.
******
Rog was supposed to get off at 7 and we were hoping to be on the road by 8. We left at 9 and didn't get there until 11...I am tired and going to bed...will be back after class tomorrow with pics!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It may happen this year....
We have lived in this house for 4 years this summer. In the backyard are 2 pear trees. Well, there are more than 2 really. There is one that stands alone, and then 1 or 2 that are clustered with a Bradford Pear Tree. They flower at different times, so in the spring, half is all flowery and the other half is bare, then they alternate.
Well, all of that to say that in the time we have lived here, we have never gotten pears off the tree. Any guesses as to why? I have one word for you - SQUIRRELS!!! They attack my pear trees and steal all my pears, right as they start to form...we have only seen the beginnings a couple of times, then all of a sudden - nothing.
This is an old picture of her - she is bigger and not as fuzzy -
She has saved my pear trees! We noticed the other day that both of the trees have nice sized pears on them. Hopefully she will continue her job at guarding the pear trees and keeping the critters away.
Anyone know what I can do with pears? Jam, jellies? Share with me what I can do!!
Well, all of that to say that in the time we have lived here, we have never gotten pears off the tree. Any guesses as to why? I have one word for you - SQUIRRELS!!! They attack my pear trees and steal all my pears, right as they start to form...we have only seen the beginnings a couple of times, then all of a sudden - nothing.
This is an old picture of her - she is bigger and not as fuzzy -
She has saved my pear trees! We noticed the other day that both of the trees have nice sized pears on them. Hopefully she will continue her job at guarding the pear trees and keeping the critters away.
Anyone know what I can do with pears? Jam, jellies? Share with me what I can do!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Almost there
Please forgive me for neglect in my posting! I have been trying to update my side bars - that has been a pain!! Updating the information there, checking to make sure links worked and went to the right place, removing things, adding things...I had forgotten what a big deal it was to design it all in the first place!! I am not quite finished with things, but I am getting there.
As you can see by my new additions on the sidebar, we are 'Splashing into Reading' this summer with Splish! You need to check out his blog each week - we have been on some scavenger hunts and found some really cool treasures!! I will try to remember to post something at the beginning of each week, so you can hop over there and check it out!
And, as you can also see by my new addition on my side bar, I am going to be a Crew Member for the 2009/2010 voyage of the Homeschool Crew! Cool thing about this...it's actually almost silly, but...I was sent the Cruise Handbook, to help throughout the year with things, and included in it were some samples of some reviews from last year. The reviews were of Flying Creatures of the 5th Day. Read every word of everyone of them, since that is what the kiddos have chosen for next year. After reading through those reviews, I am even more excited about starting - can't wait to until those rebates from ATT come in and I can get my grubby paws on next years book!!
So, once again, I apologize for the lack of personal around here...it will be picking back up soon!
As you can see by my new additions on the sidebar, we are 'Splashing into Reading' this summer with Splish! You need to check out his blog each week - we have been on some scavenger hunts and found some really cool treasures!! I will try to remember to post something at the beginning of each week, so you can hop over there and check it out!
And, as you can also see by my new addition on my side bar, I am going to be a Crew Member for the 2009/2010 voyage of the Homeschool Crew! Cool thing about this...it's actually almost silly, but...I was sent the Cruise Handbook, to help throughout the year with things, and included in it were some samples of some reviews from last year. The reviews were of Flying Creatures of the 5th Day. Read every word of everyone of them, since that is what the kiddos have chosen for next year. After reading through those reviews, I am even more excited about starting - can't wait to until those rebates from ATT come in and I can get my grubby paws on next years book!!
So, once again, I apologize for the lack of personal around here...it will be picking back up soon!
I did it...
Not sure why, maybe it was because for some reason I managed to snag it for such a good price, but whatever the reason, I broke down and bought the SchoolHouse Planner from The Old Schoolhouse. I have a planner addiction and I cannot seem to find 'the one', so I thought I would give it a shot.
Well, I ordered it back in May, and have been waiting patiently since then (not that I have my books for next year yet). I was eXcited!! when I got an email a couple weeks ago saying it would be ready on the 7th! Then the 7th comes and goes, no planner...
Then, today in my inbox, I got the email I was wanting...Your planner is ready to download!! Woohoo...except I was reading that on my phone at piano lessons and wouldn't be home until after church tonight...actually later than that.
So, why am I sitting here typing to you instead of browsing thru my planner and printing it all off and trying to get organized? Because it is downloading!! I am really excited about it, but I guess I will have to go to bed soon... I will be back to let you know what I think as soon as I skim thru all 375 pages of it!!
Well, I ordered it back in May, and have been waiting patiently since then (not that I have my books for next year yet). I was eXcited!! when I got an email a couple weeks ago saying it would be ready on the 7th! Then the 7th comes and goes, no planner...
Then, today in my inbox, I got the email I was wanting...Your planner is ready to download!! Woohoo...except I was reading that on my phone at piano lessons and wouldn't be home until after church tonight...actually later than that.
So, why am I sitting here typing to you instead of browsing thru my planner and printing it all off and trying to get organized? Because it is downloading!! I am really excited about it, but I guess I will have to go to bed soon... I will be back to let you know what I think as soon as I skim thru all 375 pages of it!!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Bye bye Brownies and Bear Cubs!
We are moving on to bigger and better things - Scout things - that is....
The last week in May, Riley bridged up from a Bear Cub to a Webelos. He will go to a day camp soon and get started on his Webelos I book, working towards his progress to becoming a Boy Scout. He has a great den, in a great pack. Most of the boys in his den have been there since Tiger Cubs and they have really formed a bond together. Great friends. Here are some of Riley at his ceremony. Sorry this first one is blurry, but it was the only one I got of his crossing the bridge:
Here is him getting his neckerchief tied:
Then, this last week, Samantha and her troop bridged up from Brownies to Junior Girl Scouts. Most of her troop has been together since the beginning as well and they have become really good friend also. Her troop is planning a camp-out this summer, and the boys will be getting together a few times, but we are slowing down considerably with scouting for the summer. Here are some from Samantha's ceremony - they chose to bridge at the Old Mill (think Gone With the Wind).
Crossing the bridge: (Sorry for all of those who are in AR and know the Old Mill - there are much prettier bridges there, but this was the one they chose!)
And here is her getting pinned:
The last week in May, Riley bridged up from a Bear Cub to a Webelos. He will go to a day camp soon and get started on his Webelos I book, working towards his progress to becoming a Boy Scout. He has a great den, in a great pack. Most of the boys in his den have been there since Tiger Cubs and they have really formed a bond together. Great friends. Here are some of Riley at his ceremony. Sorry this first one is blurry, but it was the only one I got of his crossing the bridge:
Here is him getting his neckerchief tied:
Then, this last week, Samantha and her troop bridged up from Brownies to Junior Girl Scouts. Most of her troop has been together since the beginning as well and they have become really good friend also. Her troop is planning a camp-out this summer, and the boys will be getting together a few times, but we are slowing down considerably with scouting for the summer. Here are some from Samantha's ceremony - they chose to bridge at the Old Mill (think Gone With the Wind).
Crossing the bridge: (Sorry for all of those who are in AR and know the Old Mill - there are much prettier bridges there, but this was the one they chose!)
And here is her getting pinned:
Girls Only Day
We dropped Riley off again this morning and then we did our grocery shopping. After that, we met some friends at Kittie's Kreation Bead Store. The girls spent a while searching thru all the beads and finding just that 'perfect' color/style/size for them to make their jewelry.
Both girls chose to make an anklet. They both worked hard - and walked away with very nice pieces of jewelry! Samantha's was pink and mauve with a frosted flower in the middle. Ash's was a black/gold beads alternating with clear yellowish beads. They were proud!
Samantha and I were going to go to one of the library story time this afternoon, but we found out a friend would bring Riley home, so we went home and chilled - forgot all about the library!! Oh well, we missed the balloon man....drats....
Riley came home at 4:30 and asked if he could go watch TV. He looked pitiful, and was DRAGGING! I told him he needed to eat something then take a shower first. He did just that. He was in his bed in his PJ's by 5:30. He didn't move - I just let him veg for the evening...
They both came to me at about 8:30 and said that they were going to bed...everyone lights out and it is quiet here...
Both girls chose to make an anklet. They both worked hard - and walked away with very nice pieces of jewelry! Samantha's was pink and mauve with a frosted flower in the middle. Ash's was a black/gold beads alternating with clear yellowish beads. They were proud!
Samantha and I were going to go to one of the library story time this afternoon, but we found out a friend would bring Riley home, so we went home and chilled - forgot all about the library!! Oh well, we missed the balloon man....drats....
Riley came home at 4:30 and asked if he could go watch TV. He looked pitiful, and was DRAGGING! I told him he needed to eat something then take a shower first. He did just that. He was in his bed in his PJ's by 5:30. He didn't move - I just let him veg for the evening...
They both came to me at about 8:30 and said that they were going to bed...everyone lights out and it is quiet here...
Reading your Male by Mary Farrar
I received the book called Reading Your Male, by Mary Farrar to review. I thought it may be interesting to read, since it describes how the 'alpha-female' has taken over. I was interested in reading it because there are so few females now days that, for lack of better description, respect men. Not any men, not their bosses, not their husbands, not even younger girls respect their dads anymore.
Now, I know there are 2 sides to every fence, but I really enjoyed reading the view from this side. If you get a chance ~ you should read it! If you have read it, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Reading Your Male, by Mary Farrar from David C. Cook on Vimeo.
Now, I know there are 2 sides to every fence, but I really enjoyed reading the view from this side. If you get a chance ~ you should read it! If you have read it, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Reading Your Male, by Mary Farrar from David C. Cook on Vimeo.
Monday, June 8, 2009
My Baby Boy
First Monday of 'official' summer vacation - according to PS...we're past that already...
Anyways, today was the first day of Cub Scout Camp. Didn't take me near as long to get him signed in and dropped off as it has in the past...Me thinks they have figured it out!!
Anyways, got him dropped and then headed to the $1 movies with Samantha. We watched Nim's Island. I LOVED IT...it was a really cute movie. I hadn't ever seen it, didn't think it was anything I would like, but it was super cute.
Didn't do much but hang out at the house until pick up time, then loaded up with some ice cold water and headed out to get Riley. He was tired, but he had a great day. Made an arm sleeve to use while shooting the bow, scored a 72 on his JR USA Shooting Team target (have to shot a 35 in order to qualify as a team member). He also told me about some clay something he sculpted, but I am not sure, by his description, what exactly it may be.
After dinner, we headed to the fire station. The kiddos went with us, Roger set up an obstacle course for the guys to put air packs on and crawl thru and he let the kiddos help him set it up and hang out and 'watch'. They were also in charge of the water, when the guys got their equipment off, they were right there with some cold water for them. While they were all out in the hot doing their training, I was sitting in a nice cool office dealing with a nice slow computer. I did get a little of what I was wanting to accomplished, but the rest will have to wait!
Anyways, today was the first day of Cub Scout Camp. Didn't take me near as long to get him signed in and dropped off as it has in the past...Me thinks they have figured it out!!
Anyways, got him dropped and then headed to the $1 movies with Samantha. We watched Nim's Island. I LOVED IT...it was a really cute movie. I hadn't ever seen it, didn't think it was anything I would like, but it was super cute.
Didn't do much but hang out at the house until pick up time, then loaded up with some ice cold water and headed out to get Riley. He was tired, but he had a great day. Made an arm sleeve to use while shooting the bow, scored a 72 on his JR USA Shooting Team target (have to shot a 35 in order to qualify as a team member). He also told me about some clay something he sculpted, but I am not sure, by his description, what exactly it may be.
After dinner, we headed to the fire station. The kiddos went with us, Roger set up an obstacle course for the guys to put air packs on and crawl thru and he let the kiddos help him set it up and hang out and 'watch'. They were also in charge of the water, when the guys got their equipment off, they were right there with some cold water for them. While they were all out in the hot doing their training, I was sitting in a nice cool office dealing with a nice slow computer. I did get a little of what I was wanting to accomplished, but the rest will have to wait!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
FWC: The Moment Between by Nicole Baart
First, I would like to offer my apologies to Nicole. For some reason I didn't have this tour on my calendar and I totally missed it...I am so sorry!
This was a good one! I really enjoyed reading this. It wasn't one of those that I can read from cover to cover like some. I had to read some, then put it down and think about it...had to think about where Abby was going with some of the things she was thinking. Being a big sister, I can relate to how she wanted to protect and take care of her baby sister. Does she find out what she is searching for? Grab a copy and see for yourself!
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Nicole Baart was born and raised in a small town in Iowa, where she and her family now live.
She is the mother of two young sons and the wife of a pastor. After the adoption of their infant son, Nicole discovered a deep passion for global issues and is a founding member of a nonprofit organization that works with a church and orphanage in Liberia.
Nicole is the author of three novels. After the Leaves Fall was published in 2007 and was followed by a sequel, Summer Snow. The Moment Between is Nicole’s first stand-alone novel.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (April 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414323220
ISBN-13: 978-1414323220
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
This was a good one! I really enjoyed reading this. It wasn't one of those that I can read from cover to cover like some. I had to read some, then put it down and think about it...had to think about where Abby was going with some of the things she was thinking. Being a big sister, I can relate to how she wanted to protect and take care of her baby sister. Does she find out what she is searching for? Grab a copy and see for yourself!
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
Tyndale House Publishers (April 8, 2009)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nicole Baart was born and raised in a small town in Iowa, where she and her family now live.
She is the mother of two young sons and the wife of a pastor. After the adoption of their infant son, Nicole discovered a deep passion for global issues and is a founding member of a nonprofit organization that works with a church and orphanage in Liberia.
Nicole is the author of three novels. After the Leaves Fall was published in 2007 and was followed by a sequel, Summer Snow. The Moment Between is Nicole’s first stand-alone novel.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (April 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414323220
ISBN-13: 978-1414323220
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
~ I ~
Abigail Bennett was the definition of unexpected. She was one year on the wrong side of the knife blade that was thirty, but if she turned up at your restaurant and ordered a glass of wine, even high-heeled and clad in a black sheath, you’d card her every time. Petite and narrow-waisted, with a pixie flip of hair the exact color of coffee beans, Abigail could easily pass for sixteen in a pair of ripped jeans and an Abercrombie T-shirt.
Not that she liked looking younger than her age. In fact, most of the time Abigail hated the constant reminders that no matter what she did or where she went, she would not be taken seriously. This explained the harsh line of bobby pins that held her wayward hair out of her face as if the severity of it could add years. It also explained the almost-dowdy clothes, the earth-toned makeup, and the hard, thin line of a mouth that could have been very beautiful.
Once people got past the fact that she wasn’t a teenager, Abigail looked very much like the ideal kindergarten teacher. Her stature and dress were the opposite of intimidating, yet there was a spark in her dark eyes as if from time to time a match was struck behind the velvety chocolate of her corneas. These eyes could freeze hell over with a well-timed look, a piercing arrow of unmistakable meaning. But there was also the hint of tenderness in Abigail that translated into quiet strength when paired with the sharp edges that were inevitably unveiled before anyone had a chance to form a false opinion of her. But then again, maybe it was all a facade. She didn’t let people get close enough to find out.
In reality, Abigail was not a kindergarten teacher, nor could she remember a phase in her life when she ever wanted to be one. She was an accountant. Numbers were stable, unchanging, and best of all, incapable of being mysterious or of forcing people to act and think and feel in ways that they would not normally act and think and feel. Numbers were predictable; people were not. And because Abigail trusted the reliability of her chosen field, she was good at her job, meticulous and capable of holding the smallest detail in her mind for as long as it was useful.
During tax season Abigail worked more hours than anyone else at her firm, and that was saying a lot. It was why she was made a partner after only five years with the company and why she occupied one of two corner offices, the one with a view of the swampy man-made pond that graced the complex of professional stucco buildings on Key Point Drive. Johnson, McNally & Bennett was a Rosa Beach institution, and though Blake Johnson and Colton McNally could claim most of the honor behind their prestigious position in the community, Abigail knew she filled an important and indispensable role. Southern Florida had its share of widows and divorcées, and for some not-so-surprising reasons they preferred to have a woman handle their money. Abigail was happy to oblige. It kept her busy and the firm in business.
Keeping busy was what Abigail did best. When she wasn’t working, which averaged sixty hours a week, she was either running or reheating days-old Chinese takeout in a dented wok. Both activities were little more than a personal experiment; they were representative of the only two things in Abigail’s life that she really, deep down hoped to accomplish someday: run a marathon and learn to cook.
The marathon was a goal that she had already partly achieved. On the day of her twenty-ninth birthday, she ran a half marathon in Miami. Abigail could have easily completed it, and in fact, the finish line was in sight only two blocks ahead when she realized it was enough to know that she could do it. Crossing the finish line would have meant that she ran for someone else, that she ran for the glory, the recognition.
So Abigail had slowed down a little and then a bit more until someone thrust a cup of water in her hand and yelled, “You’re almost there!” She smiled her thanks, sipped the water, and folded herself into the crowd while all eyes were watching the other runners throw their arms into the air for the last few triumphant yards.
The cooking, on the other hand, was little more than a pipe dream. Abigail’s greatest accomplishment was adding a diced chicken breast and some soy sauce to leftover chicken chow mein. It was too salty. But propped on her counter in an antique, wrought-iron bookstand was a Williams-Sonoma cookbook with full-color photographs and extensive instructions on how to cook homemade delicacies like potato gnocchi with wild mushroom sauce and baked clams with pine nuts and basil. Every morning, while she waited for the last few drops of coffee to drip into her Gevalia carafe, Abigail would thumb through the glossy pages of the cookbook and imagine what it would be like to make a wine reduction sauce as the sound of laughter filled her apartment. Someday, she told herself.
And though there were many somedays in Abigail’s life, she tried not to let the particulars of her existence get her down too much. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have a boyfriend. It didn’t matter that every day plodded on with the same pitfalls and small successes. It didn’t matter that her apartment was quiet but for the hum of her empty stainless steel refrigerator. It was the life that Abigail had chosen, and she was a grim optimist, resigned to the path she was on—she was getting exactly what she had always wanted. So what if it was tilted heavily toward work, personal discipline, solitude? So what if it left little room for the things other people craved? So what if her cupboards were as bare of exotic ingredients as her apartment was bare of cheerful company?
But sometimes, alone in her apartment with the shades drawn tight, Abigail would stand in front of the full-length mirror on the back of her bathroom door and relax enough to admire what she saw. Tousling her wet hair and practicing a self-conscious smile that showed her teeth—her impossibly white, perfectly straight teeth that were a genetic legacy instead of the result of extensive dental work—Abigail could almost pretend that she was ten years younger and that the world was unfurling itself before her.
For those moments in the steam and warmth, dark ringlets of hair curling around her temples as if she were some Grecian empress, Abigail wished much more for herself than what she had. She wished that she could rewind the clock and find Abby, the girl she used to be, perched on the cusp of her life instead of entrenched in the middle of it with no apparent way out.
Every once in a while, she could gather the courage to admit that it would be a very different life if she had it to do all over again.
***
When Abigail first came to Johnson & McNally, she had a chance at a different life.
It was no secret around the office that Colton McNally had a thing for the new accountant. He was twelve years older than Abigail and divorced, and that seemed somehow estimable according to Abigail’s less-than-high expectations. It wasn’t that she would settle for just anyone, but she also didn’t enter into much of anything with a long list of prerequisites.
In truth, Abigail found Colton very attractive. She thought his salt-and-pepper hair was distinguished—even though she suspected it came from the hands of a very talented colorist as he wasn’t quite forty—and she liked the way his tailored suits fell across the straight line of his shoulders. Best of all, he was nothing like the immature, self-absorbed boys Abigail had dated in college. They had nearly turned her off of men altogether. So when Colton turned his attention toward her, Abigail let him flirt. For a while, she even stopped wearing the stern bobby pins so that her dark curls framed her rather nicely arched forehead.
And yet Abigail wasn’t naive. She knew that her employer loved her because of the photo. It would have been too much to ask for Colton to love her, or at least think he did, because of herself. But while she probably should have been reticent of attention resulting from such a faint and improbable notion, Abigail accepted—almost expected—the source of Colton’s desire.
The photograph in question hung neatly squared and centered on a fabric-covered board adorning the west wall in the reception room. It was a concession to the more traditional bulletin board, replete with employee photographs that were intended to look candid but often looked overposed.
Abigail knew of the board, she even shot glances at it whenever she could to detect updates and changes, but she was not aware upon settling into her position that tradition dictated a spot for her photo front and center ASAP.
It was her third day of work, and Abigail was immersed in balancing infinitesimal details and worlds away from the air-conditioned office she inhabited when Colton startled her with a quiet “Ahem.”
Her head was bowed, and her forearms rested on endless pages that sprouted like an unruly crop of paper weeds across her generous desk. Abigail blinked and raised her eyes, just her eyes, in time to be blinded by the flash of Colton’s expensive Canon. He laughed and snapped a few more pictures for which she cleared off her desk, sat up straight, and smiled, thin-lipped and toothy and even coy, trying them all in the hopes that one would be right.
But the next day, Abigail was surprised to see that the photo gracing the quasi bulletin board was the first of the batch. She knew she was looking at herself because seeing the small, hunched form over the crowded desk was a sort of déjà vu—she had been there before. If not for that, Abigail would have never believed that the woman staring back at her was her own reflection. The woman in the photograph had luminous—there was simply no other word for them—luminous black eyes of the starry-sky variety: endless and opalescent and dark like a time before the genesis. Like the event horizon of identical black holes—no way out, but no matter, for who would ever want to leave? Beneath the twin universes of those eyes, her lips were slightly parted, pink and full and evocative of bruised raspberries. Her skin glowed faintly (fluorescent light reflecting off all that white paper?), and her shadowy curls were framing and soft. The woman was lovely.
But what unnerved Abigail the most was that Colton had caught her at a moment between. A rare, uncovered moment between expressions: a moment of evaporation before the advent of her surprise became the dutiful smile that spread across her face in the split second after the shutter snapped. This woman was a living mystery.
Abigail wished she knew her.
***
One day, a few months after she started at the firm, Abigail went into Colton’s office to ask him a question about the tax return of a dual citizen living out of country. It was a legitimate question, but Blake’s office was closer than Colton’s, and her admirer acknowledged that fact the second Abigail rapped her knuckles on the doorframe. She realized almost too late that her presence would be read as an invitation, and sure enough, a smile unfolded across Colton’s face like a flag pulled taut in a billowing wind.
“Come in, Abigail! Why don’t you close the door behind you? There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
Abigail did as she was told and crossed the plush, carpeted floor of Colton’s office with her heart stuck fast in her throat.
“But first—” Colton set aside what he had been working on—“what can I do for you?”
Passing him the papers, Abigail lowered herself to balance on the arm of one of the leather chairs facing the wide, black walnut desk. But Colton raised an eyebrow at her, motioned that she should cross behind the desk to stand beside him.
They had flirted before, secret half smiles conveyed across crowded rooms and careful conversations littered with possibilities. And it seemed that the unmistakable chemistry between Colton and Abigail was a favorite topic around the watercooler, boasting far more people in favor of a match than against it. It was impossible for Abigail not to get caught up in it a little. But she also couldn’t help being cautious, and suddenly, with the door closed and Colton looking far more handsome than she remembered from only the day before, she knew that he was a man who wouldn’t play games for long.
Colton waved her over again and Abigail moved slowly, explaining about the nonresident and his recent payout from a life insurance death benefit. She had just gotten to the part where he intended to give enough of it away to slip below the line of taxable income when Colton grabbed her wrist and, in one smooth movement, pulled her forward until her face was inches from his. He studied her, still smiling, then kissed her full on the mouth as if he had been intending to do so for a long time.
It wasn’t that Abigail didn’t want to kiss him back. Actually quite the opposite. It wasn’t even that she was stunned by the inappropriateness of such a gesture. Instead, it was a Tic Tac that ruined everything, a burning little grain of peppermint that she inhaled when Colton’s lips touched hers.
She drew back, pulling out of Colton’s embrace and coughing violently until tears collected at the corners of her eyes. Abigail struggled for a moment, choking mutely as she watched Colton bolt out of his chair and grab her upper arms. When the breath mint was dislodged from her throat and she could feel it hot and peppery on her tongue, she knew it was a very small thing that would be significant in ways that might cause her years of lament.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail murmured, utterly mortified for one of the first times she could remember. “I . . .” She couldn’t continue.
Colton stared at her, concern and disbelief gathering foglike across his forehead. At first, Abigail thought he might fold her into his arms, that the almost-pitiable comedy of what had just happened would become the sort of story they laughed about months down the road when they told people the tale of how they came together. But then Colton laughed, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. The moment shattered and fell away, disappearing in a shimmer of doubt that made Abigail wonder if she had merely dreamed it.
“As long as you’re okay,” he boomed. And then he sat back down and pretended nothing had happened. He never mentioned it again and neither did she.
Eighteen months later, Colton married Marguerite, the receptionist who was hired at the same time as Abigail. Marguerite was a few years younger than Abigail, but she looked much older due to a succession of bad dye jobs and what appeared to be a lifetime of sun damage spotting her skin. Colton seemed happy; from what little Abigail could discern of her boss’s marriage, he genuinely longed for companionship and Marguerite’s horselike laugh didn’t turn him off so much that he considered her a poor match.
Although it was against her nature, shortly after the happy couple’s beach wedding, Abigail went through a brief stage where she fixated on what might have been. The entire office had once been invited to Colton’s sprawling house only a block off the ocean, and Abigail could almost picture herself the mistress of his columned colonial. What sort of a woman would she be if she were Mrs. McNally? What would she look like offering guests a second martini and lounging in some bright sari that she had bought on their honeymoon in Belize?
It was a nice scenario, but Abigail wasn’t one to waste too much energy on regret, and she abandoned such nonsense the same way she set aside every other impossible dream: she placed it firmly out of her mind. A few years later when Blake and Colton approached her about being a partner, she was even able to congratulate herself that her business card would read Johnson, McNally & Bennett instead of Johnson, McNally & McNally. She convinced herself that it was much more satisfying this way.
For his part, after their less than romantic encounter in his office, Colton was nothing but a gentleman to Abigail. He treated her with the same respect, the same quiet yet somehow condescending pride of a father figure. Abigail was reduced from a possible lover to the discarded role of a dependable daughter. It was a character she was rather good at playing.
***
Lou Bennett was a father when he could have been a grandfather.
He met Melody Van Bemmel at Chevy’s Café a week after he turned forty-five. It was nearly a blizzard outside, and she blew into the warm restaurant off-balance and trembling as if she were a leaf driven by the vicious wind. When the door slammed behind her, Melody gasped, stomped her booted feet, and flung the hood of her parka back. She smiled shyly, looking around as if her entrance had been staged, as if she were taking her place beneath the spotlight and now that she was front and center she had forgotten her lines.
Everyone in the café glanced up at her for the blink of an eye and then turned back to their coffees and specials of the day without a second thought. Everyone except Lou. He had fallen in love the moment Melody raised her hands to turn back her hood. They were little hands swimming in a pair of men’s work gloves that were so big on her fingers they nearly slid off. Lou imagined they were his gloves. He wished they were.
And just as quickly as he longed for her, Lou hated himself for it. She was a child. Her eyes were too clear, her skin too bright for her to even look twice at a man whose own skin was as deeply lined as those etchings he had seen on display in the American National Bank. But when she caught his eye, when her lips pulled up slightly just for him, Lou knew there was nothing that could be done about it. He was hers, even if she never acknowledged his existence. Even if he loved her in secret until the day he died.
As it turned out, he didn’t have to. Melody came to Lou in the most natural, ordinary way: she brushed against the edge of his life and found herself inexorably pulled in. He didn’t even know he was drowning until he felt himself reach for her and cling for dear life.
They were married less than a year later, and though Melody was not as young as Lou had imagined, when she walked down the aisle in a confection of white, a little shiver crept up Lou’s spine because she did not look twenty-five. Twenty years, he thought in the second before the preacher asked him if he would have her and hold her until “death do you part.”
Lou said, “I do” without hesitation, but somewhere in the back of his mind he faltered. There was a nagging suspicion, an accusatory guilt that made him wonder if he had made her the happiest woman alive like she claimed or if he had involuntarily ruined her life.
It took Melody almost six years to get pregnant, though they tried to make a baby on their wedding night. She saw doctors and gynecologists and fertility specialists, but no one could tell her why her womb would not swell with a child. For a while, Lou entertained the possibility of joining her at one of her appointments, but those sorts of things made him unbearably uncomfortable. He avoided the conversation he knew Melody wanted to have the same way that he avoided the drawer where she kept her neat pile of lace-trimmed underwear.
When Lou was fifty-one, Melody’s cheeks took on a greenish hue in the early morning, and the waist that he so loved to encompass in his enormous hands began to expand. She wouldn’t admit it at first—maybe she was scared to hope—but Lou knew almost immediately. Something about Melody had changed, the scent of her skin or the complexity of the air around her when she entered a room. Maybe both. Either way, Lou was relieved. It wasn’t him, it had never been him, and now she would be happy. They would be a family.
Lou didn’t think much about the baby until the doctor handed him a tiny, tightly wrapped bundle with a pink cap sliding down over her lashless eyes. They were two little commas, those eyes, a break amidst all the words that comprised his many years of life, though certainly not a beginning or even an end. Lou stared at her and realized that he had planned on having a son.
“Abigail Rose,” Melody called weakly from the bed. She smiled at him with all the energy she could muster, and her eyes were dancing with tears. “Rose for my mother and Abigail because it’s the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard. I think we’ll call her Abby.”
What was there to say? It was a fine name, and Lou hadn’t wasted a single thought on another. “Pretty,” he said finally and brushed his lips tentatively across the soft forehead because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Taken from The Moment Between by Nicole Baart. Copyright ©2009 by Nicole Baart. Used with permission from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Abigail Bennett was the definition of unexpected. She was one year on the wrong side of the knife blade that was thirty, but if she turned up at your restaurant and ordered a glass of wine, even high-heeled and clad in a black sheath, you’d card her every time. Petite and narrow-waisted, with a pixie flip of hair the exact color of coffee beans, Abigail could easily pass for sixteen in a pair of ripped jeans and an Abercrombie T-shirt.
Not that she liked looking younger than her age. In fact, most of the time Abigail hated the constant reminders that no matter what she did or where she went, she would not be taken seriously. This explained the harsh line of bobby pins that held her wayward hair out of her face as if the severity of it could add years. It also explained the almost-dowdy clothes, the earth-toned makeup, and the hard, thin line of a mouth that could have been very beautiful.
Once people got past the fact that she wasn’t a teenager, Abigail looked very much like the ideal kindergarten teacher. Her stature and dress were the opposite of intimidating, yet there was a spark in her dark eyes as if from time to time a match was struck behind the velvety chocolate of her corneas. These eyes could freeze hell over with a well-timed look, a piercing arrow of unmistakable meaning. But there was also the hint of tenderness in Abigail that translated into quiet strength when paired with the sharp edges that were inevitably unveiled before anyone had a chance to form a false opinion of her. But then again, maybe it was all a facade. She didn’t let people get close enough to find out.
In reality, Abigail was not a kindergarten teacher, nor could she remember a phase in her life when she ever wanted to be one. She was an accountant. Numbers were stable, unchanging, and best of all, incapable of being mysterious or of forcing people to act and think and feel in ways that they would not normally act and think and feel. Numbers were predictable; people were not. And because Abigail trusted the reliability of her chosen field, she was good at her job, meticulous and capable of holding the smallest detail in her mind for as long as it was useful.
During tax season Abigail worked more hours than anyone else at her firm, and that was saying a lot. It was why she was made a partner after only five years with the company and why she occupied one of two corner offices, the one with a view of the swampy man-made pond that graced the complex of professional stucco buildings on Key Point Drive. Johnson, McNally & Bennett was a Rosa Beach institution, and though Blake Johnson and Colton McNally could claim most of the honor behind their prestigious position in the community, Abigail knew she filled an important and indispensable role. Southern Florida had its share of widows and divorcées, and for some not-so-surprising reasons they preferred to have a woman handle their money. Abigail was happy to oblige. It kept her busy and the firm in business.
Keeping busy was what Abigail did best. When she wasn’t working, which averaged sixty hours a week, she was either running or reheating days-old Chinese takeout in a dented wok. Both activities were little more than a personal experiment; they were representative of the only two things in Abigail’s life that she really, deep down hoped to accomplish someday: run a marathon and learn to cook.
The marathon was a goal that she had already partly achieved. On the day of her twenty-ninth birthday, she ran a half marathon in Miami. Abigail could have easily completed it, and in fact, the finish line was in sight only two blocks ahead when she realized it was enough to know that she could do it. Crossing the finish line would have meant that she ran for someone else, that she ran for the glory, the recognition.
So Abigail had slowed down a little and then a bit more until someone thrust a cup of water in her hand and yelled, “You’re almost there!” She smiled her thanks, sipped the water, and folded herself into the crowd while all eyes were watching the other runners throw their arms into the air for the last few triumphant yards.
The cooking, on the other hand, was little more than a pipe dream. Abigail’s greatest accomplishment was adding a diced chicken breast and some soy sauce to leftover chicken chow mein. It was too salty. But propped on her counter in an antique, wrought-iron bookstand was a Williams-Sonoma cookbook with full-color photographs and extensive instructions on how to cook homemade delicacies like potato gnocchi with wild mushroom sauce and baked clams with pine nuts and basil. Every morning, while she waited for the last few drops of coffee to drip into her Gevalia carafe, Abigail would thumb through the glossy pages of the cookbook and imagine what it would be like to make a wine reduction sauce as the sound of laughter filled her apartment. Someday, she told herself.
And though there were many somedays in Abigail’s life, she tried not to let the particulars of her existence get her down too much. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have a boyfriend. It didn’t matter that every day plodded on with the same pitfalls and small successes. It didn’t matter that her apartment was quiet but for the hum of her empty stainless steel refrigerator. It was the life that Abigail had chosen, and she was a grim optimist, resigned to the path she was on—she was getting exactly what she had always wanted. So what if it was tilted heavily toward work, personal discipline, solitude? So what if it left little room for the things other people craved? So what if her cupboards were as bare of exotic ingredients as her apartment was bare of cheerful company?
But sometimes, alone in her apartment with the shades drawn tight, Abigail would stand in front of the full-length mirror on the back of her bathroom door and relax enough to admire what she saw. Tousling her wet hair and practicing a self-conscious smile that showed her teeth—her impossibly white, perfectly straight teeth that were a genetic legacy instead of the result of extensive dental work—Abigail could almost pretend that she was ten years younger and that the world was unfurling itself before her.
For those moments in the steam and warmth, dark ringlets of hair curling around her temples as if she were some Grecian empress, Abigail wished much more for herself than what she had. She wished that she could rewind the clock and find Abby, the girl she used to be, perched on the cusp of her life instead of entrenched in the middle of it with no apparent way out.
Every once in a while, she could gather the courage to admit that it would be a very different life if she had it to do all over again.
***
When Abigail first came to Johnson & McNally, she had a chance at a different life.
It was no secret around the office that Colton McNally had a thing for the new accountant. He was twelve years older than Abigail and divorced, and that seemed somehow estimable according to Abigail’s less-than-high expectations. It wasn’t that she would settle for just anyone, but she also didn’t enter into much of anything with a long list of prerequisites.
In truth, Abigail found Colton very attractive. She thought his salt-and-pepper hair was distinguished—even though she suspected it came from the hands of a very talented colorist as he wasn’t quite forty—and she liked the way his tailored suits fell across the straight line of his shoulders. Best of all, he was nothing like the immature, self-absorbed boys Abigail had dated in college. They had nearly turned her off of men altogether. So when Colton turned his attention toward her, Abigail let him flirt. For a while, she even stopped wearing the stern bobby pins so that her dark curls framed her rather nicely arched forehead.
And yet Abigail wasn’t naive. She knew that her employer loved her because of the photo. It would have been too much to ask for Colton to love her, or at least think he did, because of herself. But while she probably should have been reticent of attention resulting from such a faint and improbable notion, Abigail accepted—almost expected—the source of Colton’s desire.
The photograph in question hung neatly squared and centered on a fabric-covered board adorning the west wall in the reception room. It was a concession to the more traditional bulletin board, replete with employee photographs that were intended to look candid but often looked overposed.
Abigail knew of the board, she even shot glances at it whenever she could to detect updates and changes, but she was not aware upon settling into her position that tradition dictated a spot for her photo front and center ASAP.
It was her third day of work, and Abigail was immersed in balancing infinitesimal details and worlds away from the air-conditioned office she inhabited when Colton startled her with a quiet “Ahem.”
Her head was bowed, and her forearms rested on endless pages that sprouted like an unruly crop of paper weeds across her generous desk. Abigail blinked and raised her eyes, just her eyes, in time to be blinded by the flash of Colton’s expensive Canon. He laughed and snapped a few more pictures for which she cleared off her desk, sat up straight, and smiled, thin-lipped and toothy and even coy, trying them all in the hopes that one would be right.
But the next day, Abigail was surprised to see that the photo gracing the quasi bulletin board was the first of the batch. She knew she was looking at herself because seeing the small, hunched form over the crowded desk was a sort of déjà vu—she had been there before. If not for that, Abigail would have never believed that the woman staring back at her was her own reflection. The woman in the photograph had luminous—there was simply no other word for them—luminous black eyes of the starry-sky variety: endless and opalescent and dark like a time before the genesis. Like the event horizon of identical black holes—no way out, but no matter, for who would ever want to leave? Beneath the twin universes of those eyes, her lips were slightly parted, pink and full and evocative of bruised raspberries. Her skin glowed faintly (fluorescent light reflecting off all that white paper?), and her shadowy curls were framing and soft. The woman was lovely.
But what unnerved Abigail the most was that Colton had caught her at a moment between. A rare, uncovered moment between expressions: a moment of evaporation before the advent of her surprise became the dutiful smile that spread across her face in the split second after the shutter snapped. This woman was a living mystery.
Abigail wished she knew her.
***
One day, a few months after she started at the firm, Abigail went into Colton’s office to ask him a question about the tax return of a dual citizen living out of country. It was a legitimate question, but Blake’s office was closer than Colton’s, and her admirer acknowledged that fact the second Abigail rapped her knuckles on the doorframe. She realized almost too late that her presence would be read as an invitation, and sure enough, a smile unfolded across Colton’s face like a flag pulled taut in a billowing wind.
“Come in, Abigail! Why don’t you close the door behind you? There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
Abigail did as she was told and crossed the plush, carpeted floor of Colton’s office with her heart stuck fast in her throat.
“But first—” Colton set aside what he had been working on—“what can I do for you?”
Passing him the papers, Abigail lowered herself to balance on the arm of one of the leather chairs facing the wide, black walnut desk. But Colton raised an eyebrow at her, motioned that she should cross behind the desk to stand beside him.
They had flirted before, secret half smiles conveyed across crowded rooms and careful conversations littered with possibilities. And it seemed that the unmistakable chemistry between Colton and Abigail was a favorite topic around the watercooler, boasting far more people in favor of a match than against it. It was impossible for Abigail not to get caught up in it a little. But she also couldn’t help being cautious, and suddenly, with the door closed and Colton looking far more handsome than she remembered from only the day before, she knew that he was a man who wouldn’t play games for long.
Colton waved her over again and Abigail moved slowly, explaining about the nonresident and his recent payout from a life insurance death benefit. She had just gotten to the part where he intended to give enough of it away to slip below the line of taxable income when Colton grabbed her wrist and, in one smooth movement, pulled her forward until her face was inches from his. He studied her, still smiling, then kissed her full on the mouth as if he had been intending to do so for a long time.
It wasn’t that Abigail didn’t want to kiss him back. Actually quite the opposite. It wasn’t even that she was stunned by the inappropriateness of such a gesture. Instead, it was a Tic Tac that ruined everything, a burning little grain of peppermint that she inhaled when Colton’s lips touched hers.
She drew back, pulling out of Colton’s embrace and coughing violently until tears collected at the corners of her eyes. Abigail struggled for a moment, choking mutely as she watched Colton bolt out of his chair and grab her upper arms. When the breath mint was dislodged from her throat and she could feel it hot and peppery on her tongue, she knew it was a very small thing that would be significant in ways that might cause her years of lament.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail murmured, utterly mortified for one of the first times she could remember. “I . . .” She couldn’t continue.
Colton stared at her, concern and disbelief gathering foglike across his forehead. At first, Abigail thought he might fold her into his arms, that the almost-pitiable comedy of what had just happened would become the sort of story they laughed about months down the road when they told people the tale of how they came together. But then Colton laughed, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. The moment shattered and fell away, disappearing in a shimmer of doubt that made Abigail wonder if she had merely dreamed it.
“As long as you’re okay,” he boomed. And then he sat back down and pretended nothing had happened. He never mentioned it again and neither did she.
Eighteen months later, Colton married Marguerite, the receptionist who was hired at the same time as Abigail. Marguerite was a few years younger than Abigail, but she looked much older due to a succession of bad dye jobs and what appeared to be a lifetime of sun damage spotting her skin. Colton seemed happy; from what little Abigail could discern of her boss’s marriage, he genuinely longed for companionship and Marguerite’s horselike laugh didn’t turn him off so much that he considered her a poor match.
Although it was against her nature, shortly after the happy couple’s beach wedding, Abigail went through a brief stage where she fixated on what might have been. The entire office had once been invited to Colton’s sprawling house only a block off the ocean, and Abigail could almost picture herself the mistress of his columned colonial. What sort of a woman would she be if she were Mrs. McNally? What would she look like offering guests a second martini and lounging in some bright sari that she had bought on their honeymoon in Belize?
It was a nice scenario, but Abigail wasn’t one to waste too much energy on regret, and she abandoned such nonsense the same way she set aside every other impossible dream: she placed it firmly out of her mind. A few years later when Blake and Colton approached her about being a partner, she was even able to congratulate herself that her business card would read Johnson, McNally & Bennett instead of Johnson, McNally & McNally. She convinced herself that it was much more satisfying this way.
For his part, after their less than romantic encounter in his office, Colton was nothing but a gentleman to Abigail. He treated her with the same respect, the same quiet yet somehow condescending pride of a father figure. Abigail was reduced from a possible lover to the discarded role of a dependable daughter. It was a character she was rather good at playing.
***
Lou Bennett was a father when he could have been a grandfather.
He met Melody Van Bemmel at Chevy’s Café a week after he turned forty-five. It was nearly a blizzard outside, and she blew into the warm restaurant off-balance and trembling as if she were a leaf driven by the vicious wind. When the door slammed behind her, Melody gasped, stomped her booted feet, and flung the hood of her parka back. She smiled shyly, looking around as if her entrance had been staged, as if she were taking her place beneath the spotlight and now that she was front and center she had forgotten her lines.
Everyone in the café glanced up at her for the blink of an eye and then turned back to their coffees and specials of the day without a second thought. Everyone except Lou. He had fallen in love the moment Melody raised her hands to turn back her hood. They were little hands swimming in a pair of men’s work gloves that were so big on her fingers they nearly slid off. Lou imagined they were his gloves. He wished they were.
And just as quickly as he longed for her, Lou hated himself for it. She was a child. Her eyes were too clear, her skin too bright for her to even look twice at a man whose own skin was as deeply lined as those etchings he had seen on display in the American National Bank. But when she caught his eye, when her lips pulled up slightly just for him, Lou knew there was nothing that could be done about it. He was hers, even if she never acknowledged his existence. Even if he loved her in secret until the day he died.
As it turned out, he didn’t have to. Melody came to Lou in the most natural, ordinary way: she brushed against the edge of his life and found herself inexorably pulled in. He didn’t even know he was drowning until he felt himself reach for her and cling for dear life.
They were married less than a year later, and though Melody was not as young as Lou had imagined, when she walked down the aisle in a confection of white, a little shiver crept up Lou’s spine because she did not look twenty-five. Twenty years, he thought in the second before the preacher asked him if he would have her and hold her until “death do you part.”
Lou said, “I do” without hesitation, but somewhere in the back of his mind he faltered. There was a nagging suspicion, an accusatory guilt that made him wonder if he had made her the happiest woman alive like she claimed or if he had involuntarily ruined her life.
It took Melody almost six years to get pregnant, though they tried to make a baby on their wedding night. She saw doctors and gynecologists and fertility specialists, but no one could tell her why her womb would not swell with a child. For a while, Lou entertained the possibility of joining her at one of her appointments, but those sorts of things made him unbearably uncomfortable. He avoided the conversation he knew Melody wanted to have the same way that he avoided the drawer where she kept her neat pile of lace-trimmed underwear.
When Lou was fifty-one, Melody’s cheeks took on a greenish hue in the early morning, and the waist that he so loved to encompass in his enormous hands began to expand. She wouldn’t admit it at first—maybe she was scared to hope—but Lou knew almost immediately. Something about Melody had changed, the scent of her skin or the complexity of the air around her when she entered a room. Maybe both. Either way, Lou was relieved. It wasn’t him, it had never been him, and now she would be happy. They would be a family.
Lou didn’t think much about the baby until the doctor handed him a tiny, tightly wrapped bundle with a pink cap sliding down over her lashless eyes. They were two little commas, those eyes, a break amidst all the words that comprised his many years of life, though certainly not a beginning or even an end. Lou stared at her and realized that he had planned on having a son.
“Abigail Rose,” Melody called weakly from the bed. She smiled at him with all the energy she could muster, and her eyes were dancing with tears. “Rose for my mother and Abigail because it’s the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard. I think we’ll call her Abby.”
What was there to say? It was a fine name, and Lou hadn’t wasted a single thought on another. “Pretty,” he said finally and brushed his lips tentatively across the soft forehead because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Taken from The Moment Between by Nicole Baart. Copyright ©2009 by Nicole Baart. Used with permission from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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