Thursday, November 29, 2018

Thanksgiving in Ohio

 As many of you know, my sister Hosanna spent Thanksgiving in Ohio with her 'special friend' and I went along as driver, chaperone, semi-map reader, and sidekick.
    Overall, I had a great time, but didn't get pictures of most of my time there. We played a lot of games, ate a LOT of pie, and had a great time being thankful for everything God has blessed us with.


I've made a few pies in my time, but these pies put me to shame! I'll have to work on that. The peanut butter pie was my favorite followed by the pecan.



They took us to this air force museum. It is the worlds largest and oldest air force museum and one day was NOT enough time! We didn't get through the whole thing, and I'm not sure if a week would have been enough! If you're ever in Dayton, OH, make sure to stop in!



I took a LOT of pictures, but many of them were blurry and I wasn't sure which ones would interest you the most, so I just grabbed a few random ones.


It started with a hanger going from the beginning of flight, through WWI. In this picture, you can see a model of one of the Wright brothers first planes, a glass display with one of the bikes from the Wright brothers' bike repair shop, and in the background you can see one of the blimps from the early days.


I enjoyed the paint jobs on some of the planes.


There were several presidential planes that we got to go through. It was neat going through Kennedy's plane, as well as a few other presidents' planes like Eisenhower and FDR.



We did a LOT of walking, went through multiple hangers, and didn't have time to finish going through all of them. It was AWESOME!!!!


It's blurry, I know, but this is the FIRST picture I've ever had with Santa Claus. Okay, so I would NOT go out of my way to get a picture like this, but the reason I got it, was because I was following Hosanna, who was following her 'special friend' through Lowe's Department store, and we come upon poor Mr. Santa Claus, sitting all alone on Black Friday morning, smiling and waving at all of these men who were walking by and ignoring him. I commented about how lonely he looked, and Hosanna was like . . . "You should get a picture with him for the blog!" At first I was like . . . "NO WAY!" But after thinking about it, I was like . . .  "You know, if my friend ---- were here, I'd do it." So, I decided to go have a little chat with him. NO, I did NOT tell him what I wanted for Christmas, and I CERTAINLY DID NOT sit on his lap!!! But I did get the picture, and had a nice chat. :) :) 

The road home was pretty crazy, northern IL had just had a snow storm and we had some really bad roads, but aside from the one time we fishtailed and ended up facing the WRONG direction on the interstate, and the time we had to wait for around a half hour because of a wreck, we made it home with little drama. THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for our safety on the long drive. I believe it was crucial in the safety we had.


Here's a sneak peak at what my table will look like at the book signing this Saturday. That plate in the bottom left hand corner will have fudge samples on it. :)  


And just a quick reminder, if you happen to be in Warroad on Saturday, please stop by! I'd love to see you and the first 25 people to stop in get a $1 off any drink of their choice.

With Thanksgiving, I'm reminded of all the things I've been blessed with in life, and all the many things I often forget to be thankful for. Things like my ability to walk, my ability to taste, smell, hear, speak, and feel. Every breath is a gift!!! I'm ESPECIALLY thankful for the family God's given me, and the friends I've been blessed with.


Thursday, November 22, 2018

Announcing the WINNER!

Drum Roll Please . . . 

  And the winner of the signed copy of THE FUDGED UP MURDER is . . .

   Carol Taylor Jacob!!! 
Congratulations!!!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who got involved! I loved the comments, and interaction! 

Happy Thanksgiving! We have SO MUCH to be THANKFUL FOR!!!  Salvation. Family. Friends. So let's be thankful! In EVERYTHING!!!!!

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Book Signing! + $1 Off Coffee Coupons!



Saturday, December 1st, from 10-12:30, I'll be at Caribou Coffee in Warroad, MN doing a book signing! The FIRST twenty people to stop by, will receive a $1 off coupon for the drink of their choice! :) :)
     
   So, you may be wondering . . . WHAT is a book signing? Do I have to buy a book? What do you even do at one?

       Well, at my book signings, I have a book display table, and I do sell books, and people are free to buy books, or bring books of mine that they have at home, and I will sign them, but you DO NOT HAVE to buy a book!!!! So, if you don't have any of my books, and you're NOT planning on buying one, should you still come? ABSOLUTELY!!! Stop in at Caribou, get a coffee or just stop in and say 'hi!' Pick up a bookmark, get a $1 off coupon, and sample some of the Martin sisters' cookie dough fudge. If for any reason you're in town that day, I'd love to see you!

   ALSO - There's only a few days left to get your name in the drawing for a signed copy of The Fudged Up Murder

    REMINDER of ways to get your name in the drawing! (You can get your name in the drawing over 50 times!)
 
    1. For EVERY book you review on Amazon, or Goodreads, you'll get your name in the drawing TWICE... (If you do all of my books on both places, that's a total of 36 entries!)
   
     2. Comment on ANY post on this blog before the drawing on Thanksgiving Day and get your name in the drawing.

     3. Comment which of my book characters is your favorite and why, and get your name in the drawing THREE times!

     4. Share the Giveaway post on Facebook, Google+, or any other social media, and get your name in the drawing.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Attitude Check?


I saw these quotes today, and was reminded of how important our attitude is. How's your's been?"

 

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference." - Winston Churchill

"A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don't change it, you won't go anywhere."

"Your attitude is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, it means your hearts not right." - Coach Taylor

"There is nothing so sour that it can't be sweetened with a good attitude."

Psalm 42:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In EVERYTHING Give thanks, for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS: and again I say, REJOICE!"

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."


Monday, November 5, 2018

GIVEAWAY - The Fudged Up Murder!

   The Fudged Up Murder is in the final stages of editing and will be released on December 1st!!! (Yes I know that's not in November, but things have been going a little slower than anticipated.)
    HOWEVER on Thursday, November 22nd, THANKSGIVING DAY, I'm going to do a drawing! The winner, will receive a signed copy of The Fudged Up Murder. Depending on where you live, this may reach you BEFORE December 1st!


HOW DO YOU GET YOUR NAME IN THE DRAWING?

Actually, you have potential to get your name in the drawing multiple times!

        1. If you comment on my blog ANYTIME before then, you'll get your name in the drawing.
        2. If you comment, and tell me which one of my book characters that you've read about is your favorite, you'll get your name in the drawing twice.
        3. If you comment which of my characters is your favorite and WHY, you'll get your name in the drawing three times.
        4. If you share this on Facebook, Google+, or any other social media, you'll get your name in the drawing. (Although you might want to comment here and let me know just to MAKE SURE your name is in the drawing.)
       5. If you like this post on Facebook, you'll get your name in the drawing.
       6. For EACH book of mine that you review on Amazon, you'll get your name in the drawing twice.
       7. For EACH book of mine that you review on GoodReads, you'll get your name in the drawing Twice!
     So, start getting your name in the drawing!