How to add cfmpics Instagram slideshow to your blog

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...but here it goes anyway.

First go to Snapwidget. Then fill in the information similar to the above picture. Size depends on where you will add it to your blog. If you are adding it to a sidebar then 200px seems about right. Just play around with it until you get the size you want. 

Next you will click on get code. Copy the code and open up or switch to your Blogger layout screen. Click "Add a gadget" and choose "HTML/Javascript". Paste your code and title your gadget. 

Click save and you are done. Now you can move your gadget anywhere you would like on your sidebar.

However, if you want to add the slideshow to a post you will click onto add post instead of Blogger layout. When you are ready to add the slideshow click on HTML and paste the code. Click save and publish and you are all done.

Let me know if you have any questions.

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Mother's Day Card from my daughter

A Mother’s Day Poem by: Rhiannon

I can imagine when I first came out with big eyes a smiling mouth
The joy you probably felt could not compare to anyone’s wealth
The love in a mother’s heart is something few can understand
The tender heart and hands you used to bring me up

The way you saw fit— Even when I brought you pain, trouble, and grief
Somehow you still loved me. You brought to life the meaning of the of the words hope, love and faith by showing me your Christian example everyday.
So thank you for being there for me.
Thank you for trying.
Know that your mother’s love is not in vain because I love you too.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

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Subject Transcript Instead of Yearly Transcript - High School

Well I finally finished compiling my daughter's transcript. She graduates home school June 1, 2013. I purchased Homeschool Tracker years ago to make the transcript process smoother. Alas, it didn't work out for us because I enrolled her in private school for 3 semesters.

Entering all her info again would have been very confusing and time intensive based on how the program is set up. Plus I realized a subject transcript would be a better fit for us than a yearly transcript and Homeschool Tracker only offers a yearly transcript broken into semesters.

The university she is planning on applying to (University of Texas Permian Basin) told me they don't want multiple transcripts for high school. They want me to consolidate her transcripts into one. So, that's what I did.

I searched for a subject transcript, but couldn't find one I liked. I finally ended up picking and choosing different parts from various transcripts and just making my own. In the hope of saving someone out there time, I'm making mine available.

• Based on subjects instead of years
• One page
• Space for recording SAT and ACT scores
• Space for GPA and credit info 

Click here for Subject Transcript Template

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Escabeche - Belizean Soup Recipe

Today I cooked Escabeche, my favorite Belizean soup. Hard to believe, but our temperature is in the 60's!  This is the closest we will get to soup weather, lol. This was my 1st time cooking Escabeche, but it won't be my last! My husband and I enjoyed it. I think what makes the Escabeche so unique and different from any other soup that I've tried is the addition of vinegar. I hope you will try it for yourself.

Ingredients:
1/2 of a whole chicken or if you are like my family - 4 bone in chicken breasts

1/2 cup of vinegar to wash chicken

1tbs of olive oil

6 cups of water or enough to cover chicken and make a nice broth.

6 whole escabeche peppers or jalapeno peppers if you don't have access to escabeche peppers

10-15 whole black pepper seeds - depends on your taste

10 whole spice seeds

3 cloves garlic crushed with garlic press. If don't have garlic press then just dice them.

3 chicken bouillon cubes

3 large onions - cut like you would cut an onion for onion rings

1cup of vinegar for soup

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
First rinse chicken with 1/2 cup vinegar and water.

Then in a  6 quart pot heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown for about 3 minutes on each side.

Pour in 6 cups of water. You might need more or less depends, but just make sure you have enough to cover chicken and still have plenty of broth.

Add the escabeche peppers, whole black pepper, whole spice seeds, garlic, and chicken bouillon cubes.

Bring to a boil then simmer for about 30 minutes.

Next add 1 cup of vinegar and 3 large onions - the more ppl eating the more onions you add.

Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer about 15 minutes.

Serve with corn tortillas. Enjoy!

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Book Review: The Love and Respect Experience

The Love & Respect Experience is a devotional book based on the bestseller book Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Since this book only contains 52 chapters, it can be read one chapter a week for one year. At the end of every chapter it features a Prayer section and an Action section which I liked.

My husband and I read through this devotional book separately and then discussed the material. I must admit after a while it felt like the same topics were being rehashed just from a slightly different angle. But overall I enjoyed the book.

I would like to suggest that if you have never read Love & Respect, you could just skip the book and get the condensed version by reading the devotional.
Book Sneeze provided this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

A Devotional Unlike Any Other!

Through his international bestseller, Love & Respect, Emerson Eggerichs has transformed marriages around the world with his biblically based approach to understanding the love that she most desires and the respect that he desperately needs. Now, in this long-awaited new release, Emerson has created an experience for couples that is effective, flexible and life-changing.

To build this couples devotional, Eggerichs has taken the top concerns that surfaced in a survey of thousands of couples and has developed 52 devotionals around the three cycles that are at the heart of Love and Respect:

The Crazy Cycle

The Rewarded Cycle

The Energizing Cycle

Some may ask, “Why 52 devotionals and not 365, like other couples' books I have seen?” The author’s research shows that married couples don’t want to deal with that much material, that often. Therefore, the specific devotionals, which can be done weekly or at any chosen pace, are specifically guided to what couples say they most need. And this is a husband-friendly devotional, written and designed in such a way that the husband can feel comfortable in the entire process.

With this wealth of new material, The Love & Respect Experience will be indispensable to anyone wishing to better their marital relationship.

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Book Review: Date your Wife by Justin Buzzard

Net Galley recently provided Date You Wife by Justin Buzzard  for me to review. Since the book is written to men, my husband graciously read and reviewed the book for me. The following is his review.

Date your Wife by Justin Buzzard 

No matter what stage you are at in your marriage this book is written directly to husbands that are interested in improving their marriage. I believe the author does a good job of relating to the problems of married men.  As well as giving the reader plenty of encouragement on how to do something to work on these issues. I appreciate that he even goes as far as showing you a schedule and Ideas on how to effectively and affordably “Date your Wife”. 

Many books bring up marriage problems without any real answers. But I think the author does a good job of bringing in the Word of God to identify marital issues and bring hope for change. I think some of the illustrations and personal stories will also compel you as it did me to understand his message. 

However being that he is a pastor, he mentions that he would drink wine and smoke cigars with his friends. Although his marriage may be good, he might want to consider what kind of example he is giving to others. As a Christian and a pastor myself, whatever we do we must consider what others may do with our example. Paul said 1 Cor 10:23-24 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. NKJV

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Book Review: Finding our Way Home

Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich is a disappointing book. I originally picked this book to review because the story line sounded interesting, and because I like some of the authors who gave it a positive review. However, this book did not live up to my expectations. As I have stated before, when I read a "Christian" book I expect it to at least mention Jesus Christ or at least to be about someone who will meet Jesus Christ or will grow as a Christian based on what Christ did on the cross for us.

Finding Our Way Home was not about trusting Christ but more about how Sasha (one of the main characters) should have listened or trusted in her snow globe (talisman or good luck charm) to lead her. How awful is that in a supposed Christian book? 

Based on how many times the word grace is used, I'd say the author is trying to teach us about grace through Sasha and Evelyn. However, grace apart from Jesus Christ is meaningless, so I think the author has failed in her mission. If just taking a few depression pills and becoming a nicer person is what people consider "grace", then we are heading in a very bad spiritual direction. I have always heard it said, "There will be lots of nice people burning in hell without Jesus Christ as savior!" I cannot recommend this book.


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

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Book Review: Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann is not my kind of book. I like my Christian books to be overtly Christian and to have God as an actual part of their day to day lives and not someone looked to as an afterthought.

Also, I thought the book was too dark. Everything seemed so negative and the characters were almost all portrayed as victims. I don't live with my head in the clouds and think everything is perfect in life, but come on it was just too much. I guess I should have realized this from the book cover.

In addition this book is part of a series, so if you haven't read book one you'll have to a lot of characters to keep straight. Most books in a series will just focus on the main characters and a few secondary characters, but not this one. Inedible goes into the thoughts and conflicts of characters from the first book, so if you haven't read the first book you'll really feel like you're missing something.
Book Description

In a clash of light and darkness, can courage prevail?
Rescuing a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, Trevor MacDaniel, a high-country outfi tter, sets in motion events he can’t foresee. His act of bravery entwines his life with gifted sculptor Natalie Reeve—and attracts a grim admirer.

Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands. In each other they see strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe.

When a troubled soul views Trevor as archangel and adversary, Redford’s peaceful mountain community is threatened. Together with Police Chief Jonah Westfall, Trevor presses his limits to combat the menace who targets the most helpless and innocent.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

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Book Review: Like Sweet Potato Pie

I loved Like Sweet Potato Pie by Jennifer Rogers Spinola! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I've read both books in this series so far, and I can't tell you how refreshing it is to read Christian books that really are Christian. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these books for new Christians or any Christian who likes a good story. These books will make you laugh out loud, cry, then laugh out loud again. 

Faith Like Sweet Potato Pie continues the where Southern Fried Sushi left off, so I would definitely recommend you start with Southern Fried Sushi first. These books tell the tale of Shiloh's conversion and struggles as a new Christian. 

Jennifer Rogers Spinola is now one of my favorite authors!


Netgalley provided this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

Witness as Shiloh’s new life in Virginia crumbles around her. The house she inherited from her mother is much more than a place to live—it represents Shiloh’s changed life and what little financial security she has. But her half sister is contesting their mother’s will and the IRS is threatening to take it for back taxes. She’s also discovering God’s ideal when it comes to love and romance. When Mr. Right shows up will she recognize God’s hand or let circumstances and prejudices blind her heart to the love of her life?

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Book Review: Stand By Me

Stand by Me by Neta Jackson was not what I expected based on the publisher's description. Maybe because I recently read Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Hartman which depicted a "real" radical Christian. Kat was more of a baby Christian who desperately needed spiritual grounding. This book shows what happens to people who accept Jesus as Lord and savior, but don't put down any roots or grow as a Christian. What does living green have to do with being saved? You can't help but feel bad for her. I did like how the book showed her questioning and growing - especially when she got a burden for her parents salvation.

Since I haven't ever read any of the Yada Yada books, I wasn't familiar with Avis. The author, Neta Jackson, does a great job showing real life struggles Christians face with their families through the character of Avis. However, Avis was not really likeable. The joy she got from worshiping God and the awful way she treated the college kids just didn't reconcile.

Also, I thought it was a little strange how they kept mentioning a multicultural church, but maybe that's because I was saved in a multicultural church which was never called a multicultural church to begin with and has never felt the need to distinguish between different cultures since we are all under the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Overall I liked the book, but not enough to continue the series.

Publisher's Description

Sometimes the person you most need is the one least like you.

Kathryn Davies is a bright young woman from a prominent Phoenix family. But after making a leap of faith at a Christian music fest, dropping out of med school, and moving to inner city Chicago, her family all but disowns her.

When Kat discovers SouledOut Community Church, she longs to become a part of the multicultural church family. But her tendency to immediately say whatever she's thinking steps on the toes of nearly everyone she meets-especially Avis Douglass.

Avis has a strong faith, is the principal of one of Chicago's highest performing elementary schools, and is a founding member of SouledOut. But the country's economic downturn has thrown both her and her husband's jobs in question. And Avis hasn't heard from her youngest daughter in months-an estrangement that gnaws at her every day. Where is God in this?

Kat's flamboyant zeal for living a "radical" Christian life is a stark contrast to Avis's more reserved faith. But in God's timing, the two women discover they need each other in ways neither of them expected.

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