I have another new favorite to add to my list.....{Show Us Your Books}

Here we are again at another month of seeing what we've read...

I feel like my reading mojo took a little hit, but I am happy I still got in 3 books for the month.

A little bit of everything too.  Highs & lows.

But I did totally walk away with a favorite for the month - that's always a good thing.

So let's dig in... my latest reads....

Ratings are based on the Goodread Scale

1 Star - Didnt Like it

2 Stars - It was OK

3 Stars - Liked It

4 Stars - Really Liked It

5 Stars - It was AMAZING!

The Castaways / Elin Hilderbrand

**** / 4 stars

Fast Summary: 4 sets of friends do all of life together in strong relationships but you see whats behind all these relationships when one of the couples die in a mysterious & unexpected accident.

So I'm apparently becoming a Hilderbrand fan.

This is my 2nd book &I just bought 2 more.

This one is about a group of 4 couples (8 people) & their stories, how they intertwine with one another & how it effects the group when 2 of them pass away in an awful accident, as well as the relationships that were there before the accident.

A lot of characters. I liteterally had a notecard with all the names & arrows drawn all over it to keep me straight on it.

I did like this one - probably better than my first Hilderbrand book (The Matchmaker).  A good book on how different personalities come together, how the relationships look & how friendships can be full of love & family & support.

"Forgiveness is a powerful thing"

Dumplin by Julie Murphy

***** / 5 stars

Fast Summary:  Willowdean enters a local beauty pageant in honor of her aunt who passed away, despite being everything that is NOT a pageant girl & inspires others to step up & join in 'the cause'  while finding each of their own unique beauty.

I can't believe this took me so long to get around to this book. I just absolutely loved it. Mainly because I could so relate to Willowdean. The teenage girl who wasnt the one who could shop in the mall with friends because of her size & the one who was always expecting to be made fun of for her weight. & the one who was always nervous about an idea of a boyfriend because it meant shedding down some layers, in many ways.  

Plus, girlfriend is a Dolly Parton fan... which for me, is my whole childhood listening to her albums. I just totally GOT Willowdean. & loved this book.

I loved all the other 'misfit' characters that ended up supporting Willowdean by joining the pageant & all the different ways that we can over look beauty... & loved the friendship with Willowdean & Emily... & even felt bad for Mitch, the perfect gentleman to date.  & of course there is Bo, the bad boy.  I get she liked him... but preferred Mitch really... but I get it... Because again, I SOOO get Willowdean

I honestly need this to be a movie RIGHT NOW!!!!  With a cameo by Ms. Parton herself!!!

"All my life I've had a body worth commenting on & if living in my skin has taught me anything its that if its not your body, its not yours to comment on"

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
**1/2 / 2.5 Stars

Fast Summary: A notebook is passed between 2 strangers forming a different kind of relationship & then what happens when they have to find one another & meet in person.

This had a really cute idea for a story... & I actually think I just read where a similar movie is being made with this same idea.... but a guy finds a book with a scavenger hunt on it & he completes it & leaves a note in return to the girl who created it.  & a writing back & forth between them happens, with them revealing deeper sides of each other they would ever show to anyone else.

It started off a FUNNY book. Like I literally LOL'ed at parts... & then somewhere in the middle, it just took a big dip. I dont know if it felt drawn out, or just unnecessary side stories. Even some of the characters started getting on my nerves & I felt like they didn't gel together. Like I would wonder if the characters were 17 & then the next page, wonder if they were like 10... their personality would shift too much.  It almost made me give up on it even about 70% in...

... but I did finish it, & I will say, the end did bring it back up for me.  Didn't make me trash it.

So, in the end, it was just MEH to me... take it or leave it.  Not a must to read in any shape or form.

I know these are the people that wrote Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I've been wanting to read too... now I'm scared.

"Luckily, I always travel with a book, just in case I have to wait on line for Santa, or some such inconvenience"

So what is your favorite book you've read this past month?

The weekend that was a roller coaster of a hospital ride....

It's been a crazy weekend in our little family....

You may have noticed I wasn't around here on Friday... well, I ended up taking off work & was up at the hospital with my daddy.

Actually, my dad went in the hospital on Thursday.  Around 2am to be exact.

To make a very long & graphic & awful story really short, he had some issues with his colon... & my brother picked him &my mom up, got them to the ER & my dad had lost so much blood, they immediately admitted him.

The weekend involved a lot of uncontrollable bleeding, enough that my dad had to get 7 (or 8, I lost count) units of blood... my dad being in Critical Care Unit since passing out & having heart issues isn't a good thing... & bleeding they couldnt stop with concerns my dad was going to end up in a surgery removing even more of his colon that he couldnt afford to loose....

It was a crazy weekend to say the least...

a lot of emotion, a lot of living on pins & needles...

& I'll jump ahead of the story & let you know by the end, after a roller coaster of wondering if they got the bleeding to stop, it FINALLLLY stopped on Sunday morning. Whew

I went in after church to visit him & he looked SO MUCH BETTER... color in his face, swelling down, even sitting up!!! He had been down on his back for 3 straight days... & even real food. The first food he had had since Wednesday....

I'm getting ready to call dad & see how his night went & praying that there was no more issues & everything is still going smoothly....

So now we're still holding our breath & praying the bleeding is 100% stopped ... lift a prayer with us, will you?

& dont think I only sat up at the hospital...

It was still a weekend FULL of busy...

... I had to give Bruno a bath
... I had a photo session for our friends new baby



... I had MSM

... I had our JOY Bible Study

... I even squeezed in a run

.. & I am EXHAUSTED.

Truly... completely....

I ended up missing the reception of a friend's wedding
I ended up not getting all my Etsy stuff done
I ended up not getting the editing I needed done
I ended up not getting my house cleaned up
I ended up not getting my grocery shopping done

... but it's all good

just thankful that things looks to be on an upswing right now.

You take what you can get.

How was your weekend?

New projects, sweet words, & little brave guy {Thankful Thursday #136}

This week I am Thankful For:

{The numbers go with my One Thousand Gifts Journal... just ignore}

503 / Weekend opened up.

I had a photo session scheduled for the weekend. & while I hated not seeing this beautiful new momma on the weekend, I was excited to have another free weekend when she had to cancel the session.  I'm growing to love these free weekends anymore.

504 / Missed the morning rain.

Whew! That was close. Since I have to take Bruno out in the weather with him not being able to see, I was SOOOO thankful when I took him out for his morning bathroom trip & the second we walked in the door, it down poured. I would have been drenched leaving for work.  That's what you call good timing.

506 / New project ideas!

I cant wait to try some new things for my Etsy store.

507 / Chewy Dog Food.
I'm excited to find this pet supply company online that automatically ships dog food to your door.  I'm all about having things show up at my door without me having to run & load stuff up myself.  & plus, I think I FINALLY found a dog food for Bruno that is good for his skin / low-carb. You have NO IDEA how hard the struggle is to find a low carb dog food. People think "Grain free" is low carb. Nope - because they use potatoes as filler instead & that's a huge carb.  That & peas, which I didn't realize is a high carb food for yeast production as well.  I found this dog food & read some reviews where a few people said this food totally helped their animals yeast issues. So fingers crossed it does the same for Bruno.

Garbanzo beans instead of potato fillers... I like it

508 / Spotify.
I dont know what I did before Spotify in my house.  Let the TV run - that's what I used to do.  Never really watched it, just had it for background noise. Well, this is better.  Especially when I saw Nicole Norderman's new album came out - I was able to listen to it all day long.  Yes, I do pay the $9.99 for the premium but its so worth it to me.  I especially love the Spotify app when running where it keeps your pace & give you music to go with that pace. That alone is worth it.

509 / My first zucchini bread experience.
To say it went well is an understatement.

510 / Another gorgeous day to do everything outside
The best of days.  Reading outside & even working out outside... let's just live outside on days like this please.

511 / MSM is back!!!
YAHOOO!!! So excited for a new year.

Picking up the 2017 leader shirts

514 / New baby Joyster.
So excited our sweet friend had her baby & her & her new son are doing well. Cant wait to meet the little man.

515 / Brave little grand son
So our middle grand son has always had issues with breathing & sinuses & allergies & all that fun head stuff,  so he ended up getting his adenoids taken out on Monday.  Julie said he was great through the whole thing, such a brave little guy & apparently his healing has been wonderful too.  Whew.

Snagged Julie's picture
They let you draw on the sheets in surgery  #creatingbadhabits ;) haha

516 / MSM Meeting.
I loved getting to sit at a table with 2 ladies that I have met at MSM in passing but at separate events.  They each teach in first service while I teach in 2nd... but one of the ladies, I was helping her daughter learn to knit & the other went to Believe (the middle school conference) where we wrangled up the girls together... so it was great to spend some time sitting & chatting & praying together.  Even playing a scavenger hunt together... &coming in totally last place.  But we had first place in laughing & fun, guaranteed ;)

517 / Sweet encouragement.
I got a card from one of the staff at Southeast that just encouraged me & lifted up my spirits so much this week.  Kind words are never wasted, are they?  I think I've re-read the card 4 or 5 times just because it has filled up my soul.

What good things have been going on in your week?

Summer time, our baby is 4 & a lot of loss.... {One Sentence a Day - July 2017 Edition}

This is it... officially half through the year.

& Halloween & fall decorations are trickling in.

Didn't we just start 2017?... is it just me?

Wow... just wow...

Anyways - here's a look at how my July went - One Sentence at a time.

1.  Got news that a friend of our family had passed away unexpectedly #RIPMandy

2.  Had a photo session with a precious family that tried so hard to plan & schedule pictures only to have the kids not feel the heat very well & had to cut the session short. #stillgotgoodpics

3.  Felt like such a weird day where I had to work & the office was half empty, to spending my evening celebrating the 4th of July with my family  #Rainbowoutofnowhere

4.  Thanks America by letting us celebrate your birthday with a day off work!  #'Merica

5.  Heartbroken for a friend who lost her dog after a quick illness, making me love my little fragile little blind boy/grumpy old man even more during the night.  #Whycantdogsliveforever

tired after a bath

6.  Went to pay respects to a family friend who unexpectedly passed away.  #liveeverydayboldly

7.  Kicked off Friday with a Joyster Coffee shop date.  #laughtergalore

8.  Got to see one of my favorite couples for their son's first birthday pictures.  #cutestfamilyever

9.  Stopping at the pet store for Bruno's food is becoming as routine as going to the grocery for our food. #naturalfoodisbestforeveryone

10. Just feel like life is running at full speed all the time, every day. #needavacationBAD

11. Laughed through my hair appointment when its all people you know in the hair salon at the same time & you can talk about things you'd never talk about if a stranger was in there. #girltalk

12.  The heat must be life draining because both Ricky & I came home from work & fell asleep for a nap.  #summerishere

13.  Got to give a little knitting lesson to a fellow MSM leader's daughter.  #sharetheknitlove

Look at her fun colorful yarn

14.  Doctor's appointment that officially shows I'm old since they want to start me on hormone replacement cream. #menopausearoundthecorner

15.  Just the most perfect day of having NOTHING planned or anywhere I needed to be. #thisisthelife

16.  Feeling the push to go more towards vegan after watching What the Health?  #beyourownadvocate

17.  Thinking about doing another half marathon training program.  #whydoIdothistomyself

18.  Havent gone out for lunch the past 2 days at work & while I like saving the money, its working on my mental state staying in the office a full 9 hours. #sanitynow

19. Started a separate Instagram page to promise my Etsy store that I'm going to be introducing my hand lettering in as well as hopes of doing other creations to add in. #creativejuicesflowing

Come follow me!

20.  So stupid hot, that it inspires me to knit a wool hat.  #aknitterforallseasons

21.  Harvey Dent is 4 years old!!!!!! #happybirthdaytoourbaby

22.  Worked on my Etsy store & got all sorts of new beautiful things posted up.  #lotsofwork

23.  Slept in till 9:30am & felt wonderful for the first time in the longest when I woke up. #lazysundaymorning

24.  So glad to celebrate my dad's birthday after hearing some devastating news at work of the loss of a coworker. #daddysbirthdaybringsbackthesmiles

25.  Finished one hat & started another one immediately.  #needlesalwaysmoving

26.  Sent out over a dozen texts to all my MSM girls & my nieces wishing them a good first day of school & a blessed year. #startstomorrow

27. Literally laughed out loud so hard at lunch reading my book, people were looking at me. #nocaresgiven

28.  Went with coworkers to the funeral home to say goodbye to one of the most well liked & respected people we had the honor to work with. #RIPHoward

29.  Made zucchini bread for the first time in my life.  #thiscouldbeahabit

30.  MSM is back in session for the year #8thgradgirlsrock

31. We just added one more baby to our Joyster group with the birth of a little boy to one precious couple. #babieseverywhere

What's the thing that stands out to you the best for July?

How is this fair... or even right?

(Little preface here.... this may start off sounding like I'm talking about a female only problem or situation... but hang in there, because this turns into a bigger problem that is affecting a lot of people in our country right now... seriously.  I'm not trying to be cute or witty... so preface stated... HANG IN THERE for a few paragraphs)

just HANG IN THERE!!! 

Last week, I talked about hormone replacement therapy.

& first, I wanted to thank everyone who gave me some insights on it through messages & comments. I love the way people can stay connected in this big world over big & small things.  We all need each other's help & thoughts in this world.  Or encouraging or helpful thoughts, I should say in this world of everyone has an opinion & feels free to voice the negative ones too. Luckily, that's not here in my blog world.

If you missed it, my doctor suggested I started on some cream that would boost up my estrogen levels... & I wasn't sure what I was going to do about it.  Do I start this stuff that has some risk to it?  Do I try& find natural supplements?  Do I just muddle through for a few years?

Well, I have to say, I won't be taking the cream.

Want to know why?  Because I hate my health insurance... that's why.

I called to get the price of the cream & found out it was $150.00 for a month's supply.

I asked them if that was with my health insurance.  Nope.  Whew!  Thank goodness.
So I gave them all of my insurance info & they told me to hang on... to which I hung on for 18 minutes & then said, FORGET THIS - I'll call back.  I hung up & went about life.

I called back the next day & asked what my total was going to be... $150.00.

"Um, excuse me, but thats what they said yesterday. Did they check with my health insurance?"

...oh yeah.. .they sure enough did.

Do you know my health insurance covers ZERO of it. Zip. Nada. Zilch.  Big old goose egg.

I sat stunned & the pharmacist said, "Yeah, your insurance covers nothing that is compound made"

Seriously?

I know my dog had bone cancer a few years ago & we had to get a compound medicine for her then. That medicine helped prolong her life too. She lasted about 4 months longer than expected because of the treatment we did for her.

& I thought, what if I needed that medicine for something worst than a hormone cream?

& I get it, if it was something life altering, I'd pay the $150.00 a month - grumbling - but that's not the point.

First, if it was a life saving medicine, I'm sure it would cost WAY more than $150.00 - but my medicine would still not cover anything on it.

Now, here's what irks me to the core.

It's not like I have a pitiful cheap policy.  I have talked about this before - but every time I do, my monthly deductibles go up... now, I'm paying $450.00 a month... for insurance that covers NOTHING.  Basically nothing.  At least we know it covers no compound medicine.

& I work hard to earn money to pay $450.00 a month.....

& yet, I know personally a few people that are getting government assistance & get health insurance that covers every single little iota of doctors visits, every test, every medication they want.

& this is not a slam to them. At all...

I know there are some people that need that assistance & it helps them in ways they wouldn't be able to get the help they need otherwise... but I'm also not naive to the fact that there are people that take advantage of it, which is so bothersome to me as someone to works so hard to pay for coverage myself & then this is reward you get for not being a burden on our government or tax payers....

But what this is a slam to is to the insurance companies that are keeping this ridiculousness up.
To the government that lets this sort of treatment to hard working American citizens continue.

This is a slam to my pocket, is what its a slam too.

How is this fair... or even right?

I was so mad when I hung up the phone & said, "OK God, I wasn't sure whether to take this medicine or not.... this is my answer"... & that actually calmed me down for this incident.

& I prayed that my health stays up so I dont have to deal with bigger or stronger medicines that could cost me everything I own, just to stay alive.

Something has to be done... I dont know what...

I dont get on a soap box for much in this world when it comes to government or politics - but I think its because most things, when they dont touch us in a personal way, we are great at ignoring it.

I cant ignore this. Every year, it gets worse & worse. My rates go up, my coverage is less.  & as I posted a few weeks ago, I may not even HAVE a policy to choose from come 2018 when our only provider for Indiana (Anthem) pulls out of our state... & then what do I do?

It's just so frustrating... & irritating...& makes my blood pressure raise through the roof.

& I actually contacted my state Senator & told them my situation.  & I am a skeptical person most of the time & feel like it's in a pile of a thousand other complaints that probably make it to the shredder bin at 5:00 pm each day... but at least I did something that I hope makes a difference. Voiced my opinion.

Same thing I'm doing here.

Because I know there are people who are battling for their lives that are going through the situation where they have to decide if they want to live, or if they want a roof over their head.  If they want to live, or have food in their cabinets.  If they want to live, or if they want electricity in their home.

How is this fair... or even right?

Luckily,for me & my situation, mine is just a hormone cream that I dont need....

I'm looking into alternative & natural supplements.  More my style anyways.

I'm getting off my soap box....

& for the record, I started my period when I got off the phone with the pharmacist. So take your hormone cream & shove it....