Because - A post in which I blame Jessica

It snowed yesterday and I was not happy. I don't like snow. It's pretty, it's photogenic and it kills off garden destroying pests, but other than that it does very little for me. Going on a walk in the snow with my camera is cool and all and I'll indulge in the random snow ball fight, but other than that it's just cold and wet and you end up stranded in the house until it melts and - being in the south -you're sure there is no black ice on the roads. Also it chases away fiances when the roads get icy. Yeah - not cool.

I am in love with Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars. It's so awesome, it goes with the Hanger Games and the music video gives me goose bumbs - or maybe those goose bumps are from the cold in this room - I'm not sure which. Also, are Bre and I the only one who thinks the guy from The Civil Wars looks a bit like Johnny Depp? Just asking... Also I think the Safe and Sound music is more inspired by their (The Civil Wars) music than hers (Taylor Swift). It just doesn't sound like her usual kind of thing. Anyway Dance Me to the End of Love sounds similar and we all know Fearless doesn't :) So maybe the soundtrack sould read The Civil Wars ft. Taylor Swift... again, just sayin'.

I do promise more wedding plan photos once I get enough time to take some pictures of it... I just haven't got the time... Maybe some later this week, although I can't promise that because Lyssa's coming to visit Wednesday and not leaving until Tuesday and another one our friends is coming to stay one night this weekend, so we're gonna stay busy busy.

(random note - I love the song Forget Me Not by the Civil Wars - and do all their songs sound haunting?)

Anyway - now to the blaming Jessica part. Jessica from Diary of a Beautiful Soul told me about Pinterest and now I love it!! Addicting really... I'm not sure why though... Anyway I just love it now and maybe one day will join in and do a Pinterest post...

Now because a post needs a picture:

Because Mr. Darcy is sooo amazing and I'm on a Jane Austen kick (am currently reading Persuasion).

"Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you." Frederick Wentworth, Persuasion by Jane Austen.

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"I cannot make speeches, Emma...If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it." Mr. Kightley, Emma by Jane Austen

Your's most ardently ;)

An interesting afternoon!

When we go to the library, we have a system. Mom goes and researches what books she needs using the library card catalogue, Kay helps Beenie find books and I help T. Lynn. Bree is pretty much on her own, but she'll come to Mom, Kay or me for help if she needs it. After I have helped T. Lynn find her books I do one of three things: Take her with me while I find my books, leave her with Beenie and/or Bree in the children's sections or leave her with Mom.
Yesterday we went to the library and I took T. to pick out her books, but she was in a bit of a mood and didn't want to pick a book - not even a Nancy Drew or Ramona book (shocked?). Well she was required to pick one non-fiction book, so after some hushed arguing (which mostly consisted of me telling her she had better pick a book and pick one right now) she finally picked a spider book and a Nancy Drew book. I then went to help Bree find a couple of books and then I had to answer questions from the Librarian if we were like the Duggers or not (which we're not) - I eventually sent the lady to find Momma, since I have no clue what religion the Duggers practice nor do I know why they believe what they believe.
After I had done all of this I was about to look for my books when T. Lynn called me over to look at something. She was flipping through a magazine and had just thrown it down in disgust when I walked up.
"Riah, look at this!" She exclaimed irritably.
"What's amatter?"
"This magazine showed a snake on the front but there is only two snakes in the whole thing - the front (cover) and one inside! See?" She picks up the magazine and it falls open to a page covered in snakes. "Ohhhh! Riah, sit down and look at this with me! I musta missed it..."
I sat down beside her and she flipped through every page that featured snakes. Then she asked me to find her some snake books to take home, so I found one and handed it to her. She ran and got her spider book and wanted me to sit there while she looked through it too. While she was studying the spiders I happened to glance back at the magazine rack T. had gotten her magazine from. It was filled with girly magazines about bedroom designs, boyfriend quizzes and make up tips. There was one Boy's Life magazine - yep the snake magazine T. Lynn had was the Boy's Life magazine. Rows and rows of girls magazines and my baby sister picks up the only boy magazine in the whole rack! Go figure. Kay eventually finished looking for her books and very sweetly offered to sit with T. while I looked for my books.

As it goes my afternoon kinda went bad-good-bad-good!
Bad: T. Lynn refuses to pick out books.
Good: I eventually get her to pick out two.
Bad: She is irritable.
Good: She finally gets interested in something and ends up going home with about 5 books.
Bad: Our library is changing it's system and not only is it taking awhile to figure out, it also isn't fully installed and we can't renew, request or put books on hold. We can just check in and check out. Such a bummer.
Good: Maybe this new system will be better.
Bad: The library didn't have any of the books I wanted (it's a small, SMALL library).
Good: I was forced to browse most of the library and found two books that look great:

Two books and a Lemon Tea Snapple make for a fun afternoon. I can't wait to start reading them... Right now I am reading a rather boring book and am almost just going to stop reading it

And here is just a random picture of my sunflowers!

So that was yesterday! Fun, no?

-Miah

Sad, sad, sad!

I can watch a movie that everyone else is tearing up at and never so much as blink. I can watch a movie that everyone else is sobbing over and never get watery eyes, but books... Books can get me nearly every time if the writer is good enough and I feel attached to the character.

When I was little, I read the Elsie Dinsmore books all the time, over and over again. My copies of the first few books are just about worn out. The part in the first book (or is it second?) where Elsie nearly dies made me cry every time I read it. I knew she was going to live, obviously. There were other books about her, so there was no way, but I cried anyway. I don't anymore, obviously, but I used too.

When Rue died and Katniss sung to her until she died I about started to tear up. It was unbelievably sad. I knew she was going to die, but it was still sooooo sad.

Henri's death is so much more devastating then it was in the movie. Henri was a more loving and father-like character. When he died he told John that he wouldn't have traded a moment of his life on earth with John for anything. He lost his entire life on his planet and his wife that he adored, but he still loved John that much, how sweet was that? And not gushy, romance sweet. It was pure, fatherly love.

When I first read Anne of the Island, I cried and cried when Anne's school friend Ruby Gillis died at about 18. She had what they called consumption, aka: tuberculosis. She was so sad that she wouldn't get married and have little babies. She was scared about that she wouldn't go to heaven and she was scared that even if she did go to heaven that she would be missing life. That she was leaving everything she knew and loved behind. **sob**

It's been a long time since I've cried over a book, but I have teared up a bit recently.

Now onto some pictures I've taken:

This picture was taken at the farm we get milk from. They have these growing all around the fence.

This lady bug was kind of adverse to taking a picture. She (or he) kept crawling away, so Bree scared her (or him) into staying put for about a second. She (or he) started moving right about the time I snapped the picture, hence the blurriness.

The sunset was reflecting beautifully on these clouds that were out front of our house.

Another "cliche" picture. I wanted a good one, but I haven't gotten one yet. I need to do it in the afternoon when natural light in coming in the window. And I need to zoom in more.

-Ri

Many Thanks!

Yesterday we had our big June birthday party. We all got together and exchanged gifts, had cake, ice cream and hot dogs. It was great fun. I thought I'd list everything I have gotten so far.

Lys gave me this necklace one day randomly. See this post.

Amber sent this table runner to me as an engagement gift. It was such a surprise!

She even hand stitched part of it! Several other things came in the box as well, but I didn't have time to locate them all, since they are now being used in my sewing and put in my hope chest.

Mom gave me these for my hope chest.

Amber (same Amber as before) sent me this handmade card and cross stitched book mark. She is really good at remembering that I like yellow and blue.

Bree gave me a Brooke Fraser CD and the second book in the series I'm reading. The book came out this month - or maybe it was last month - and I have been dying to read it. I loved the first one.

Beenie got me my favorite scented lotion and then put it in a jar and had Mom helped her with the cute little topper.

My dear friend Danielle gave me this necklace today at church. I love it. In fact I'm wearing it now.

Lys gave me these. I've already read A Dream To Call My Own, but I loved it, so Lys bought me my own copy. The one I read before was her copy. The other two I haven't read yet, but I'm going to after I finish reading my library books.

SO DO Y'ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BEST GIFT WAS? Yeah, I thought so... Alright so everyone pitched in and bought me this...

Yes, that is the Canon Rebel T3i!!!!!!!! I am so thrilled!!! I've already taken 129 pictures since yesterday afternoon.

Go here for more details on the camera.

So when I said everyone chipped in, I mean everyone. My grandma, parents, uncles, fiance, Lys... Everyone. I love love LOVE!

Thanks everyone for everything!!

-Ri

A Cowboy's Touch...

....is a MUST READ book!

I just finished it this afternoon (after Ri left my house - our visit was way too short!)

Here is the cover of said book:

Pretty right?!
Here is the synopsis:
Abigail is just in Moose Creek, Montana for the summer to temporarily care for her great aunt. But a tender-hearted cowboy beckons her to stay.
Abigail Jones intends to spend just one summer in middle-of-nowhere Montana with her Aunt Lucy. Time away from her job is just what Abigail needs to reassess her life. The slow pace has her breathing deeply for the first time in years. And the majestic scenery encourages her to get reacquainted with herself . . . and God.
What she didn't count on was the handsome widowed cowboy who owns the ranch where her aunt lives. When the rancher loses his daughter's nanny, Abigail decides to lend a hand for the summer.
Wade Ryan can't help being attracted to Abigail. But he's given up everything to protect his daughter, and he's not about to risk it all on a pretty face.
Under Abigail's care, Wade's home and daughter thrive. And with Wade's touch, Abigail's heart feels at home at last. But Abigail knows this elusive rancher is hiding something. Will her own secrets separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

Hobbies!

So, y'all already know about my photography and it's more a passion than a hobby... Let me think, a hobby... I like to design blogs, but that's not exactly a hobby. Um, reading! Yeah, reading. Yes, I would totally consider reading a hobby! I love so many books and I love looking for new books. I'm not a big shopping person, but I like "shopping" for books. It's amazing!

"You know you've read a good book when you turn to the last page and feel as if you've lost a friend." ~Author Unknown to me

" A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." ~Chinese Proverb

"A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend." ~Author Unknown

(Does anyone besides me think this is just the coolest book shelf ever? I want one!)

Your devoted bookworm,

Riah Chelle 

disclaimer: not my photos

Day Three

I think this one is one of the hardest. A favorite book… I love so many books that I’m not even sure this is a fair question. I also love a lot of authors. Mary Connealy, Cathy Marie Hake, Ted Dekker, Tracie Peterson (haven’t liked as many of her newer ones though), Tamera Alexander, Jane Austen and so many more. I think I’ll list a few of my favorites instead. In no particular order, mind you.
This was on of the first books Lys and I read together. I love this book. It actually my favorite Charlotte Bronte book. Jane and Mr. Rochester are awesome! The best movie based off this book is the one made by Masterpiece Theater with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson. The Mr. Rochester is the best ever!

This is another favorite! Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer. Gideon Westcott and Adelaide are perfect, but my favorite parts of the story are actually the parts with Gideon’s adopted daughter Isabella. I love where Adelaide and Isabella are cleaning out the school room and where Isabella learns to pray after Gideon is hurt and then she sings to him. I think I have a soft spot for children!

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake is absolutely HILARIOUS! I think it’s one of her best ever! I love Letter Perfect and Bittersweet too though! Sydney and Big Tim are great… I’m not sure if I like the book better before or after Big Tim realizes Sydney is a girl… I know my favorite part is when Big Tim finds out though!

First off, is this the best cover or what? I love Tamera’s book covers, woman in the foreground and man in the background. I’m slightly disappointed that her new one doesn’t look more like this. Oh, and can I have her hair and dress please? I do like more than the cover though. I like the book too! The story is good and I like the characters. Some one should have slapped around the main character’s brother… I certainly would have wanted to. Oh, I like the heroine’s name as well, McKenna Ashford, it’s such a  pretty name.

Ok, I have to admit that my favorite thing about this book is Dave Shepherd… He’s great! I think it’s just because he is the only person who’ll stand up to Lacy and tell her what’s-what and she seriously needs that. She acts like a spoiled child a lot.
I like so many more…. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy, A Lady of Secret Devotion by Tracie Peterson, Blink and Kiss by Ted Dekker, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, The Wizard of Oz (The book is better than the movie) and many, many more!

Love, Riah

Writers Block. Why Oh Why?!

When writers block hits I want to get a bulldozer and ram that block DOWN! And I mean it.
I have tried so hard to actually complete writing a book. But I get stuck. Stupid writers block. And it happens for blogging too! It is so WRONG!

So here is my plan:
I'm going back to my very first book I was writing (beginning date was 9/5/07 - YIKES) and start over but keep everything like I originally planned - with a few minor changes to make it fit better. And I am not going to stop until the last word is written on the last page in the last chapter of my first book! Confused yet? I hope not.

If I get writers block during this project I am going to ram it down. Ram. It. Down. Hard. No mercy.

Don't worry - I will keep you up-to-date on the ramming. It should be fun.
Writers block has been warned...
With love, 

My Recent Reads…

I am quite an avid reader. I absolutely love to read, books are the best gifts and the best entertainment in the world. I got four for Christmas, as most of you already know.

Here are some of the books I’ve read:

Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Montana Rose, and The Husband Tree, all by Mary Connealy.

Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake.

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander.

Blink, House, and The Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer.

Embers of Love and Twilight’s Serenade by Tracie Peterson.

An Uncertain Dream by Judith Miller.

What am I reading now? :

Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy and Sharpshooter in Petticoats by Mary Connealy.

What am I going to read next?:

Saint, Showdown and Sinner by Ted Dekker and anything else I can smuggle from Lyssa’s ever growing Library. She is ever so lucky to work in a Christian book store!

I can’t wait to dig in!

I am soooooooo thrilled! Guess what?

Oh wait… maybe I should back up.

Lyssa and I exchanged our gifts today. We choose the Tuesday (Tuesday because we go to South Carolina for raw milk every other Tues. and her house is on the way) closest to whatever holiday we’re celebrating and give our gifts that day. So today was the day. We had great fun sitting in the middle on the living room floor directing each other as to which gift to open first and which to save for last – yeah we’re bossy that way. Between laughing at each other, talking to mom and T. Lynn, and pushing various dogs out of the way, we opened our presents. Guess what I got?

Books!!! Yes, books. The most wonderful things created. The bestest things ever (well, she gave me something better, but I’ll save that for last).

She got me: “Saint” by Ted Dekker, “Showdown” by Ted Dekker, “Sinner” by Ted Dekker and “Kiss” by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy.  Can you tell I like Ted Dekker’s books? I’m a recent fan. Lyssa converts me all the time, First Cathy Marie Hake, then Tamera Alexander, then Hillsongs, then Mary Connealy, now Ted Dekker! Whatever am I going to do with her? I can’t afford to like so many authors and bands (not that she has converted me to more than one band – but I already liked Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North and Robert Pierre).

The best present is a picture of me and her framed in an antique-y picture frame (is antique-y a word?). She is such the little sneak. I asked her to take pictures of me for Superman as a Christmas gift because he constantly tells me that I need to give him a picture of me. I didn’t have any good recent ones because I don’t like pictures of me and anyway I’m usually on the other side of the camera. Well she took the pictures and like we always do when we’re taking pictures (of anything), we took some of us together – at her suggestion. Little did I know that I was being trick into posing for my own Christmas gift. Its beautiful too, Lys is a talented photographer!

Now all I have left to do is dig in. I’m finishing “Wrangler in Petticoats” (which is very good – 5 stars) by Mary Connealy, then I’m gonna read “Head in the Clouds” by Karen Witemeyer, after that I’ll read my Ted Dekker books! Yay, I needed new reading material – I’ve nearly exhausted all of mine.

Your content,

I'm Caught. Stuck. Forever immersed.

Books are my friend. I have reading in every spare minute I have.
It boggles my mind how some people don't enjoy books like I do. It seems so weird to me that my own sister has been "trying" to read a very small book for about 8 months now, and is only on chapter 4 or 5! The book is very good! I've read it a few times already. 
I guess some people just aren't avid readers like I am. If I could read 24/7 I would...as long as the book was good. haha.
There is just something about sitting down with a good book for a couple of hours...
The written word really does stir the imagination. It takes the characters that were created by an author and turns them into real people. People who become friends to you in a different way.
To me, books are more than just books when the story catches you, and immerses you in it. The books turn into an adventure, or a good escape for you. You "meet" new people and "see" new places all over the world. It just takes some words put to paper and an imagination.

Reading/Books

I've been thinking recently about books and reading.  Reading is, by far, one of my favorite things to do.  I am currently reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and trying to read Inkspell (the sequal to Inkheart) by Cornelia Funke (By the way, Inkheart and Inkspell might be better books in their original language, I don't know, I think they're alright books, but could be a bit shorter).
Books are wonderful escapes.  Getting wrapped up in a mystery, falling in love with characters, of course hating the villian (as we all must), trying to figure out the "twist" in the story before we come to it, all the while still hoping to be surprised, because as we all know, the book is never really good if we're not truly surprised by the way a story is turning out.  I'm not sure who said this, I just read it somewhere, but I agree.  They said "You know you have read a good book when you turn to the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend".  I've read a few of those books, where you feel very sad because you got to the end and although you wanted to know how it ended more than anything else, you didn't want it to be over.
But on the same hand, as good as a novel is, non-fiction are just as good.  Biographies of people that lived durring the world wars, the depression, and people who were excited about the changes going on durring the 1880's.  The history of Europe, the fall of Rome.  Reading about the French Revolution, or about Australia's convict camps.  And history is not all, there are music books which show us how to play music that touches us and makes us happy, sad or calm.  There are cook books, books on just about every animal, science books, math books (ok, can math books really be qualified? I mean c'mon, math?), books about herbs and gardening, about sewing, law, photography, and everything else you can possibly think of. 
Some books touch some people, while others touch other people.  We all have our preferences.  I love history books, biographies, certain romance-ish boks, books that are about Australia, Alaska and Russia.  In general if a book is well written, I'll give it a chance and read it.  Half the time I find a new interest, something to research, to learn about, and it some cases try.
So what are your favorites books and types of books? What are you currently reading?

"A story is alive as you and I are.  It is rounded by muscle and sinew.  Rushed with blood.  Layered with skin, both rough and smooth.  At it's core lies soft marrow of hard white bone.  A story beats with the heart of every person who has ever strained ears to listen.  On the breath of a storyteller, it soars.  Until its images and deeds become so real you can see them in the air, shimmering like oases on the horizon line.
A story can fly like a bee, so strait and swift you catch only the hum of its passing.  Or move so slowly it seems motionless, curled upon itself like a snake in the sun.  It can vanish like smoke before the wind.  Linger like perfume in the nose.  Change with every telling, yet always remain the same." - From The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey

"No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of of good books." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart."  - Gilbert Highet

Mariah

A Choppy & Random Post.

Bee is going to the beach with a friend this weekend. She is leaving tomorrow afternoon.

I am about to take that mid-term exam. Yay.

I am going to make a circle skirt soon. It will be teal and white.

My puppy is sleeping better and getting more energetic. In turn I am getting my sleep back!

Summer camp is starting on Monday. Next week is the half-day-camp. And then there is a 3 week break before camp really starts!

I am reading "The Silent Governess" by Julie Klassen. It's good so far.

I am getting really good at the drums on Guitar Hero! lol.

I drove for the first time by myself today!!!! So exciting!

I will post lyrics another time. :)

RIAH CAME YESTERDAY!!!!!!!

We talked and talked and talked. And ordered pizza - I made her do it this time. lol. We had a wonderful time - but now I am going to instant message her - so I'll blog more another time! G'night!

A book that hits home!

I am reading "Maid to Match" by Deeanne Gist right now, and it is set in Asheville, NC. I used to live there so reading this book hits home for me. :)

It makes me wanna go for a trip...

I recommend this book! It is great!

Beguiled.

I just finished reading a book called "Beguiled" by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand. AMAZING!
I highly recommend it. The story is so capturing. Suspense...romance...mystery.
I wish it didn't end! But it did and now I have to move onto a new book. :( - :) It's a bittersweet feeling. lol. Leaving behind such a good story and the characters... *sigh*
I will definitely read it again!

Here's the description to "Beguiled"

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her
Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.
Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything.
As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

The next book I am going to read is "Mornings Refrain" book 2 in the "Songs of Alaska" series by Tracie Peterson!

There once was a chicken...

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away...
...there was a chicken.
I named her Essie Spreckelmeyer.
The end.

(Read "Courting Trouble" and "Deep in the Heart of Trouble" by Deeanne Gist and you will understand why I chose that name. Maybe.)

Right now in my life I am...

1. Thinking about what to wear tomorrow.
2. Thinking about what I want to have for lunch tomorrow.
3. Thinking that I should go get in the shower.
4. Thinking too much and not acting.
5. Thinking that this weekend, though good, has gone by too fast.
6. Thinking about Riah and Becky (and their whole family).

I...

1. Just finished playing the wii with my family.
2. Finished reading "A Love To Last Forever" book 2 in the Brides of Gallatin County series by Tracie Peterson. (About four hours ago) :D (Highly recommended)
3. Started reading "A Dream To Call My Own." book 3 in the Brides of Gallatin County by Tracie Peterson. (Highly recommended too)
4. Folded my laundry and did dishes.

Going to go do more acting than thinking now.

Let's hope this week goes smoothly and doesn't feel forever long. :)

Cheerio!

Hilarious Peeps.

My co-workers are funny.
They are awesome.
One is pregnant with twins.
She is the one training me.
At one point today was were laughing really hard over some joking.
It's fun.
And guess what!!
I'M NOT TIRED!
Let's all rejoice right now.
I passed some tests today in my training today.
I was happy.
One of the photographers that works there got into a bad car accident on her way to a photo shoot. We don't think she was hurt. Just shaken up.
SO! That caused some scrambling around in order to get another photographer to take the other one's place.
It worked out. :)
I just had some coffee. YAY! I am good to go for another three hours minimum. :D
Now I gotta get ready to go to the barn. I am helping with the chores tonight.

Much love,

PS. You should read the "Lassoed in Texas" series by Mary Connealy! It is very funny and each book has a great story line. Well... I've only read two of the three... But I know the third one will be just as great!

A Book That Is A Must!

I have read this book five times. I am currently working on the sixth time. It is seriously that good!
Deeanne Gist is my favorite author...well one of. I have many. :)
"The Measure of a Lady" is one of the books that got me going on my three-book-a-week reading life. My reading pace had slowed down to a screeching halt around Fall and up till now. It is still slow, but, hey, I am reading something!
Lemme just say that my mom was super happy to have one of her daughters enjoy books as much as she does. :) It is so awesome how a story can bring a smile to my face. They can be so inspiring. The characters become real people to me. They are friends!
Okay, I'll stop going on and on now. Here is the description for the book:

Rachel van Buren arrives in Gold Rush San Francisco with two wishes: to protect her younger siblings and to return east as soon as possible. Both goals prove more difficult than she could imagine as her brother and sister are lured by the city's dangerous freedom and a missionary-turned-gambler stakes a claim on her heart. Rachel won't give up without a fight though, and soon all will learn an eloquent but humorous lesson about what truly makes a lady.

Speak Politely. Even when you're the only respectable woman around, protesting the decadence of a city lost to gold fever.
Dress Modestly. Wear your sunbonnet at all times. Ensure nobody sees your work boots muddied by the San Francisco streets.
Remain Devoted to Family. Protect your siblings from the lures of the city, even against their wishes.
Stand Above Reproach. Most difficult when a wonderful man turns out to be a saloon owner.
Rise Above Temptation. No, not even just a little kiss . . .
When these rules become increasingly difficult to uphold,can Rachel Van Buren remain a beacon of virtue in a city of vice?

Going to go eat dinner now,

Randomness Wednesday!

I don't have much on my mind. I have been reading "A Hope Beyond" book two in the "Ribbons of Steel" series by Tracie Peterson and Judith Pella. I just put it down a minute ago to do this post before I have to go to sleep. :-)
So, here is what/who I am thinking about:

• The book
• Carolina
• James
• Victoria
• Virgina
• What's goin' to happen next?!
• My sister

Time to explain. (Not in too much detail...wouldn't wanna ruin the book for anyone..)

• The book: I'm reading it...need I say more?
• Carolina: She is the main character, mostly, for this story. She just made a very HUGE decision...
• James: He is just awesome! If he was a real person...I would want to meet him.
• Victoria: A cute little girl! She is about to receive some bad(ish) news... she is only five years old.
• Virgina: Oh goodness! This woman is impossible! I won't say anymore about her!
• What's goin' to happen next?!: I can't wait to pick up the book again and find about what Carolina is going to do! What is James planning next? How will Victoria take the news? Will Virgina ever change? Will what they had hoped for ever happen??? I WANNA KNOW!!! haha.
• My sister: Her 21st birthday is on Friday! YAY!

Tomorrow I will try to blog again. Maybe I'll post more pictures! Until then it is goodnight!

Wondering (impatiently, I might add) about what's next,