Under Orders by Dick Francis-  This is the first book I've read by this author.  I really enjoyed reading it.  It was full of action and left me hanging until the end.  Sid Halley is a former horse jockey turned private investigator.  He struggles with his past injuries that ended his jockey career, while trying to decide what he feels about his live in girlfriend.  I really felt for him throughout the story.  He was a believable character to me, and I enjoyed watching his life unfold during the story.  I also enjoyed his girlfriend Marina.  I love a woman who doesn't back down from a threat.  The mystery part of the story was good.  I'm not one to figure it out early, so I was left wondering until towards the end.  I look forward to going back and reading more by the author.

11 years today

11 years ago late at night I got a phone call.  Actually Gary answered the phone and then he had to relay it's message. My 20 year old brother had been shot and life flighted.  We arrived at the hospital to be escorted to THAT room.

 My thoughts on that room- simply run from it. It won't change anything- your loved one will be gone, but you will not have had to set your feet in THAT room. Can you tell I have issues with the small room they take you to, to break the news that your loved one didn't make it?  I liked the morgue better. At least there I could touch Aaron and cry on him.

I feel this year as been a turning point for me.  I'm still sad and I still miss him, but I feel a bit more stable about it all.  I truly would love to have him still with us.  I miss his presence in my life, but I know that he is having great fun in heaven with all our other family.  One day I will be there with him.  That will be a joyous day.

Bible verse

I think Isaiah 43:2 may become my life verse.  It's long though....

"When you pass through the waters , I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze."

The other one I really like is Psalm 27:14

" Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage: wait for the Lord."

I've been pondering both of those this week. I know what it's like to wait and I know about passing through fire and water and coming out the other side, protected by God.

It was just Gary and I this week, and we had some good conversations.  He is 13 and he was put in 2 opportunities to talk about his sister.  He hates to talk about the fact that she died.  He was over at a friends house and he has a little sister.  She happened to ask Gary about having a little sister, and what else could he say? So, he told what little bit he had to say. I totally understand that.  Then the very next day, with the same friend, he had to tell his mom almost the same thing.  That time though he got to tell a "I remember when" story.  He remembers the good stories- the little sister stories. I love them.

Both nights we talked about her. That we miss her, and how hard it is to have to tell anyone that you have someone so close who has passed away.  I told him how proud I was that he talked about it.  

We really miss Ryleigh.  

This Week

My husband and my youngest son have been out of town since yesterday.  I have a list of things to do tomorrow, but I have been reading a ton.  It's so funny how alike Gary and I are, so that when it's just us it is super quiet here.

Here's what I've read so far:

The Devil & Miss Prym- Paulo Coelho-  This book is about temptation.  The battle between good and evil.  I won't tell you who wins at the end :)  

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire- Kerrelyn Sparks-  I enjoyed this light read. Well, it wasn't totally light.  I had to pay attention as there was  romance with a mystery tied in.  Of course I loved the vampire part.

Full House- Janet Evanovich- Good romance with a surprising twist toward the end.  I didn't expect the extra excitment.

Dark Emerald- Lisa Jackson- Romance set in the 1200's.  I love that time period.  It was a good story.  I'm glad I got her book to try.  

So far I haven't read a book I didn't really like this week :)  It's been a good reading time.

My weekend has been interesting.

1. I went to a book lovers dream.  A used book sale! Way fun.  I came out with 50 books for less than a dollar a book!

2.  It rained so hard here on Saturday that my street flooded.  My boys canoed down our street. I spent the day reading.

3. We went to watch the Houston Dynamo play soccer today.  They won and it was a great game.

4. Then we went to a friends for a crawfish boil. YUM!

Overall it was a great weekend.  I need some rest now. My dh and Thomas are going to grandpa's house for the next 3 days.  Now is the time to clean some things out, and move some things around :)

So I finished the fifth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  I still can't decide what I think.  I like the series.  I would recommend the series to all my reading friends, but it takes me forever to get into them and then it's over.  I am beginning to think I would rather watch the TV series.  I will also finish out the series. How's that for a book review? :)

Tomorrow I want to start writing about following God's plan.  It's been an interesting year, and it's only April.

test run

Somehow I am now blogging.  I'm not to sure about this, as I really don't write well.  I thought I'd give this a shot.  Partly because I love to read, and this is a great way to write about the books I read.  

It's also a great place to chronicle my life as a mom and a wife.

  This is also a place to write about my life without Ryleigh, and my faith in God. 

Welcome to my life :)