Taming the Wind

Taming the Wind
By Tracie Peterson

The basic premise of the story is that several men are leave home to drive cattle.  A trip that will take three months, so what happens to the rest of the families that are left behind?  They join together and get by as best they can.

The time is right after the civil war - smack dab in the middle of the time of cowboys and Indians. It is a story of the harsh realities of life in Texas in the mid-1800's. From the dangers of the cattle drive to the women who come together to survive and lean on their growing faith in God.

Of course it is also a love story - well at least we are on the edge of our seats hoping it will be a love story.  These two belong together!  But circumstances, misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and separation all stand in the way of the love story we are begging the author to get to.  Couldn't turn the pages fast enough!



Disclosure: Litfuse Publicity Group provided me with a complimentary copy of this book as part of their blog tours program. Buy the book here.

About the Giveaway and Author Chat Facebook Party:  


Celebrate with Tracie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 See what people are saying about Taming the Wind.

One winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
• Five copies of Live to Give by Austin Gutwein

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 9/25/12. Just click one of the icons below to enter. The winner will be announced at Tracie’s ”Taming the Wind” Author Chat Party on 9/26! Connect with Tracie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Taming the Wind and join Tracie on the evening of the September 26th for a chance to connect with Tracie and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN, RSVP TODAY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS VIA FACEBOOK or TWITTER AND INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 26TH!

Too funny - Ben and school

A few days ago Ben came home with Yellow on his behavior report.  They start out at Green and move up and down the chart depending on their behavior.  At the end of the day the color they are on is reported to the parents.

Going up from Green, Blue is good, Purple is better, Pink is awesome.  Then going down from green, Yellow is bad, Orange is worse, and Red is the worst.

Anyway, this was the first time Ben had lower than green, so I had sent him to go and think about how he could behave better at school.  After a few minutes he came back and told me 5 things which I wrote down for him.  Daddy was away and I didn't want him to miss out on all the fun so I took this video.

Then on Friday he had received orange, which is not good at all!  So I asked him what the consequences should be for coming home with a bad behavior report.  He said "I should have one day off of school"

LOL nice try. 

Almost as funny was a couple weeks ago when he was taking his temperature because he was convinced he had a fever and had to stay home from school the next day.

It really is a good thing this kid is so darn cute.  The evidence of that statement? One day after school I was trying to explain something on his homework to him.  He was being very whiny and very grumpy so I said "You need to stop being so grumpy.  When you are ready to listen you can come back and show me a happy face."

So he went away and I moved onto helping the next kid with homework but was very aware what Ben was doing.  He was rummaging around upstairs, then in the living room and then in the school cabinet.

Then he ran outside but quickly came back, looked around and found the van keys.  I knew the van was locked and assumed that he wanted something from in there.  At that moment he was not being grumpy so I did not ask what he needed the keys for I just told him to please bring them right back...which he did.

He finally sat down at his homework table, but only for a minute.  Then came to me with this...

Yep, he literally showed me a happy face.  Do you see the little yellow happy face on the left?

He still has on his grumpy face but he did what I asked him too. He showed me a happy face!  How in the world could I possibly keep a straight face!!!

Yes this child is my biggest challenge, but I simply cannot express my gratitude to God for allowing me to be his Mama - and for giving me lots of  Blog and Facebook posts so that I can share our chaos with all of you!

It has been a long time since I participated in Gratituesday.  Far too long!
Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Too funny - I surrender

This morning before church Ben comes out wearing a red plaid button up shirt and black sweatpants with wide neon green stripes. 

I think, Oh great here we go time to fight a battle. So I say - "Ben, you cannot wear sweatpants to church." 

He gets all sassy and says "Oh yes I can" 

so I get sassy back and say "Oh no you can not". 

He thought for about half a second, dropped his head and sighed very loudly and said "All right, all right, I surrender" and walked in great defeat back to his closet. 

It was very very difficult to keep a straight face!

too funny - I surrender

This morning Ben comes out wearing a red plaid button up shirt and black sweatpants with wide neon green stripes. I think, Oh great here we go time to fight a battle. 

So I say - "Ben, you can't wear sweatpants to church." 

He gets all sassy and says "Oh yes I can" so I get sassy back and say "Oh no you can not". 

He thought for about half a second, dropped his head and sighed very loudly and said "All right, all right, I surrender" and walked in great defeat back to his closet. 

It was very very difficult to keep a straight face as he walked by me.

too funny - playing school

After a week of fighting to get kids to school, and fighting with them to do homework, what do you think they are doing on Saturday morning? 

...Playing school - no fighting over who is the teacher - Sam assumed that role, 
no fighting over folders or crayons or dry erase markers or chalk. 

Just playing school...nicely...

I think to myself...sigh I wonder how long it will last?

Well they played school on and off most of the day today.

Sam was the teacher and handed out construction paper and had Ben & Carlee write their names and then draw a picture of the school.

The writing assignment he gave them was to write "The cat is fat".

They checked out books from the library (bookcase), and went to breakfast and lunch. They even went out to the pool for recess. 

But the funniest was when Ben wasn't behaving so Sam took him to the principal (Daddy) but they couldn't find him so Sam said "Oh well, Ben you are kicked out of school"

too funny - can we do that

Thursday the kids were in the pool.  I had already started to wash all the suits and towels and cover ups with the intention of putting it all away and getting the towel rack out of my kitchen.

When the kids decided on Saturday to get in the pool they were looking for there bathing suits. Sam asked where they were and I told him they were all put away.

He whined "but how can we go swimming without a bathing suit?"

I said, "Just go in your underwear or go in naked"

He looked at me like I had said the most craziest thing in the world and then asked "Can we really do that?"

I laughed and said "of course you can." 

He hugged me and said "You are the best Mama in the whole world"

Too funny - wimpy

School closed early today due to a water main break...

3 out of the 4 kids I have here begged to go in the pool. 

I said it was too way cold. 

They insisted it was not. 

I chose not to fight this battle. 

As I took this picture Sam said "I am feeling a bit wimpy right now". 

They got out before I finished typing this post hahaha

too funny - pick your battles

 School closed early today because of a watermain break.  What to do with my three plus an extra one I brought home?  I wasn't sure but figured they would find something to do.  They started by just playing outside, then 3 out of the 4 them came in begging to go in the pool. 

I said it will be too cold. Why? they ask.  Because it is fall now.

They didn't seem to get it so I sent them to feel the water and they came back saying it was fine. So I said, It is really not fine, it will be cold.

Someone said "but it is hot outside".  This was true, it was about 80 degrees.

So I said, Yes, but it gets cold at night and that makes the water cold.

They continued to beg and plead and one of them even changed into a bathing suit. I said it was too cold. They insisted it was not. I chose not to fight this battle. 

As I took this picture Sam said "I am feeling a bit wimpy right now". They got out before I could finish this post hahaha

Remembering

In the van I heard the following conversation after someone mentioned something that happened awhile age...

Sam Oh yeah, I remember that.  I am good at remembering, I can remember things for at least two years.

Carlee Wow Sam that's a long time to remember things

Sam Yep I am good at remembering because I have been six for more than two years

Ben I can remember things for only a short time and then I forget and then I remember again and then forget again and then remember and then forget and then remember and then forget and then remember and then forget and then

Carlee interrupts with:  BEN STOP IT you are making me dizzy!

To live with intention and purpose

 

Unending Devotion
by Jody Hedlund



Historical fiction? yes...
suspense? yes...
characters to love and hate? yes...
a romance to cheer for? oh yea!

This wonderfully written story has it all, but there is more.  So much more!

A lesson in devotion.  Devotion to family and to an important cause.  We should all learn the lesson: "to live with intention and purpose".  Through those intentions and with purpose we can make a difference.

A lesson in waiting on God and following His path.  Sometimes we have unending devotion to someone who rejects us.  We must learn to wait on God and have Him show us how to live beyond that devotion.

And a wonderful lesson in gratitude. There are those who have much and do not appreciate what they have, and in turn live miserable lives..  There are those who have little or have lost someone special but can see through the pain and heartache and still count their blessings.



Disclosure: Litfuse Publicity Group provided me with a complimentary copy of this book as part of their blog tours program.
See what other reviewers are saying here and Buy the book here.

About the Book: 

Michigan, 1883

In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?

 About the Giveaway:

Unending Devotion" by Jody Hedlund
Nikon Camera Giveaway and 9/18 Facebook Party! Enter and RSVP today.  
Celebrate with Jody by entering to win a Nikon Camera Prize Pack!

See what folks are saying about Unending Devotion!

One “devoted” winner will receive:

• A Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera
• $25 Shutterfly gift certficate
• Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 17th. Winner will be announced at the “Unending Deovtion” Author Chat Facebook Party on 9/18. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Unending Devotion and join Jody on the evening of the September 18th for a chance to connect with Jody and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!