Is This A Meme?

I'm still fairly new to blogging, so some of the lingo still escapes me. I think I get the idea of a meme, but I still don't know where the term came from. All I can figure is it's a "thing" all about me, me, me. Am I close?

My friend Jenster emailed this to me months ago (how embarrassing!), and while it looked like a lot of fun, I just didn't think I had the time to complete it myself. And frankly, I probably still don't. But I'm going to anyway. Dishes can wait a little longer. (Bathroom breaks, however...) So here we go:

1. Do you like blue cheese? DEFINITELY!!!

2. Have you ever smoked heroin? Heroin, no; cigar, yes
3. Do you own a gun? Yes. Guess I should learn to use it.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Cherry, if I could drink carbonated drinks.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment? No

6. What do you think of hot dogs? A GIFT FROM GOD!!! Ball park dogs & Nathan's are THE BEST!!!!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life (A Christmas Story comes in a very close second)

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk

9. Can you do push ups? I can do push up...singular, not plural. After one, I'm done!

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My Roman coin earrings

12. Favorite hobby? Reading a good romance novel.
14. Do you have A.D.D.? Not officially...!!! Wait, I'm sorry...did you say something?

15. What's one trait you dislike about yourself? Only one? INCREDIBLY disorganized.

16. Middle name? Katherine

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. 1. I should probably be doing something a bit more productive right now; 2. Did my timer go off yet? 3. I wonder if Wonder Dog pee'd on the carpet again.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Grilled cheese sandwich, a SuperSonic cheeseburger-no tomatoes, and a Root Beer float. No, it was NOT all mine!!!
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Milk, water, iced tea.
20. Current worry? Is my baby going to be okay? (No, there's no indication that something's wrong...just a general concern!!!)

21. Current hate right now? THE HEAT...THIS OPPRESSIVE HEAT! AND IT'S STILL ONLY MAY!!!

22. Favorite place to be? Cape Cod, Massachusetts in June
23. How did you bring in the New Year? Very quietly at home watching the ball drop. Such a sissy.

24. Where would you like to go? Cape Cod; Pennsylvania; Hawaii; San Diego
25. Name three people who will complete this: me, Jenster...uh...oh wait, she already did. Uh...me...uh...I'm stumped.

26. Do you own slippers? BIG FLUFFY PINK ONES WITH A HUGE FLOWER ON THE TOP!

27. What shirt are you wearing? maternity tank top under sweatshirt (basic pajamas!)

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I've never tried...sounds slippery.

29. Can you whistle? So well and so loud my daughter's friends think I'm cool. Come to think of it, hubby's friends are impressed too.

30. Favorite color? Pink

31. Would you be a pirate? No. Remember? I'm a sissy.

32. What songs do you sing in the shower? None

33. Favorite girl's name? Audrey

34. Favorite boy's name? Hmmm...that's a toughie

35. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets.

36. Last thing that made you laugh? My husband!!!

37. Best bed sheets as a child? I don't remember.

38. Worst injury you've ever had? I jammed my pinky on my right hand and couldn't write for a couple of weeks. As I said before, I'm such a sissy.

39. Do you love where you live? Like a lot...not quite love.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? Way too many...three

41. Who is your loudest friend? Pam when she's watching a University of Texas or Dallas Cowboys' football game

42. How many dogs do you have? Only one, but he thinks he's human

43. Does someone have a crush on you? Yes, I think so.

45. What is your favorite book(s)? Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers; The Measure of a Lady, by Deeanne Gist; Sharlene MacLaren's Little Hickman Creek Series; the first three books in Dee Henderson's O'Malley series (Danger in the Shadows, The Negotiator, & The Guardian); Tamera Alexander's Fountain Creek Chronicles (can you tell I like a good series???); Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion Series.

46. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Easter Eggs; they are far superior to any other Reese's product, but they're only out at Easter. The PB cups are an excellent substitute!!!

47. Favorite Sports Team? Texas Rangers...even though they are permanently ensconced in the cellar.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Amazing Grace

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Hey, this is a family blog!!!

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Can't someone else let the dog out?


Awfully selfish of me, I know. So there you go...more information about me than you really wanted to know. If you decide to answer these very probing questions on your blog, let me know! Back to the dishes!

Prayers for Steven Curtis Chapman and Family

In case you hadn't heard, here's the AP news story:


Daughter of Gospel Star hit, killed by car

Published - May 21 2008 10:12PM CDT | AP

By JOE EDWARDS - Associated Press Writer

The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

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Update:

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made here.

To see a video of Maria Sue Chapman or to offer condolences, click here.

These links are also available at the Shaohannah's Hope website.

Little Hickman Creek Series, Or Tagged Again!

Last Friday I was tagged by my buddy Shauna over at The Coffee Stop to share about a favorite but rather lesser-known book. (If you haven't visited Shauna's blog before, it's time well spent. She has three of the funniest boys you'll ever find!) From Shauna's post last Friday:

"Patti Abbot launched this great idea. Here's her original explanation:

This is the first of what I optimistically hope will become Friday recommendations of books we love but might have forgotten over the years. I have asked several people to help me by also remembering a favorite book. Their blog sites are listed below. I also asked each of them to tag someone to recommend a book for next Friday. I'm worried great books of the recent past are sliding out of print and out of our consciousness. Not the first-tier classics we all can name, but the books that come next."

So in keeping with Friday book recommendations (yes, I know I'm posting a bit early!), I am taking some liberties with this and recommending not just one book, but a 3-book series by Sharlene MacLaren. It's her Little Hickman Creek Series, and consists of three of my all-time favorite historical romances. I'm including the synopsis from each book.

When I started this blog last year, one of my first posts was about my favorite authors. Sharlene MacLaren, who is on that list, is a new-ish author with whom I have absolutely fallen in love! Every book of hers that I have read has been one that I've read at least twice, if not more. Each book is better than the one before. And not only are her books wonderful, Shar herself is such a fun gal that you will absolutely love her. She's been so generous with me with email notes that I feel like I've known her for years. Check her out at her blog or her website. You will enjoy getting to know her better. Till then, let me encourage you--STRONGLY encourage you!!!--to read her Little Hickman Creek series.

The first book in Shar's Little Hickman Creek Series is "Loving Liza Jane":




A Divine Leading: When Liza Jane Merriwether rode into the town of Little Hickman Creek, her first thought was, "Oh Lord, what have I done?" Kentucky was much different than what she was used to back East, but she knew God had led her here for a reason. Will she discover His plan for her life?

The Handsome Widower: Soon, the petite schoolteacher is beloved by all...including Benjamin Broughton, a handsome widower struggling to raise two young children. Will he overlook the perfect wife that God has practically dropped in his lap for a mail-order bride?

A Destined Love: Liza Jane's teaching contract implicitly states that she is to have "no improper contact with the opposite sex." Will she discover that with God, all things are possible?


Sounds good, doesn't it???? I can assure it, IT WAS!!!

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The second book in the series is "Sarah, My Beloved".

A Divine Mix-up: A beautiful redhead has traveled from Boston to Kentucky by stagecoach to be a mail order bride. But when Sarah Woodward arrives in Little Hickman Creek, she is greeted by her prospective husband, who tells her he has fallen in love with another woman. Disappointed but determined, Sarah refuses to leave until she finds out the reason why God led her here.

A Hardened Heart: A tall, dark and ruggedly handsome man, Rocky Callahan meets the fiery Sarah. He has tragically lost his wife, his only child, and his sister. Faced with raising his sister's two children alone, he suggests a "marriage in name only" to Sarah.

Healing the Past: Will Rocky let go of the pain in his past and trust God's plan for his life? Will Sarah leave him for a past beau, who has followed her to Kentucky to bring her home? Or will Sarah and Rocky find true love from the hand of the ultimate Matchmaker?


I love a good "marriage of convenience" story...and this one is JUST THAT!!! A REALLY GOOD ONE!!!

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The third and final book in the series, just recently released and what I think to be Shar's best work to date, is "Courting Emma":




A Divine Plan: Twenty-eight-year-old Emma Browning has built a barricade around her heart to survive the pain of growing up with her alcoholic father, Ezra. As she runs Emma's Boardinghouse, she plays host to an array of unkempt, earthy characters while trying to maintain a protective emotional distance from people. No one has succeeded in getting to know the beautiful yet steely edged proprietress. That is, not until Little Hickman Creek's handsome new pastor, Jonathan Atkins, takes up residence in the boardinghouse and begins to dismantle her carefully controlled world...

A Struggle to Forgive: Clinging desperately to her stubborn ways and unable to forgive her father, Emma begins receiving letters from a mysterious sender who somehow knows about her and has secret information about Ezra's past. Amidst all this, she is surprised--and unsettled--by the attentions of both Jonathan and Billy, the smooth-talking traveling showman.

A Miraculous Love: When the town of Little Hickman Creek is stunned by an unexpected turn of events, will Emma risk removing her protective shell to accept the love of God--and the love of a man?


As good as the other two are, this one is without a doubt my favorite. Well worth the wait!!!

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I love a good book, but even more I love a good series. A series gives me another book to anticipate. I also love when characters from one book show up in subsequent books. It's like visiting with old friends whom I haven't seen in a while. (Yes, I know I need to get out more!!!) Shar's "Little Hickman Creek" series has all those things, and then some. You can read these book summaries and probably guess how each book will end, but I can promise you that NONE of Shar's books are predictable. Her writing has quality and depth, and she tells a wonderful love story with a happily-ever-after ending that always leaves you sighing and wanting more. Check her out! You will be so glad you did!

And finally, to finish off my Friday book recommendation, I now tag Deb over at The Daily B. I noticed you have "Loving Liza Jane" on your Shelfari list, Deb! So next Friday is yours!!!