Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover

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Coffee with Friends (Stamped Cards)

One day last week I went back to work after a quick lunch and my computer had decided to do a long detailed update and I was locked out. Soooooo. What is a girl to do, standing there amongst all the rubber stamp supplies?

OH. She could most certainly dig out the most recent gifting of unused supplies (papers, stamps, extras) from a friend and see what card jumped out of the mix.

It was coffee. Coffee jumped out. This fun coffee cup rubber stamp set was just the thing. Add some fun papers, a bit of this and that, and 14 time for coffee with friends cards are now drying on my desk.

Not that they were all finished that first day. It took a few more chunks of time, but once the mess is out on the table and the idea has a plan, rubber stamped cards are just a few short work sessions away. I worked on them a little bit both days of the weekend, finally finishing them up in time to make dinner on Sunday.

How about you? What do you do when the computer locks you out or you have a few free hours? Any favorite hobbies? We could get coffee!

Sunday Peace

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Book Share: Spying on Spies, How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes by Marissa Moss

Spying on Spies, How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes

Written and illustrated by Marissa Moss

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2024

I usually feature picture books on my blog, but after receiving and reading a copy of this book from Darlene Beck Jacobson, I thought there might be others who would be fascinated by the tenacity and brilliance of code breakers!

Secret codes are a thing! Decoder rings, special clues, ciphers, and so on are intriguing. I love watching movies where puzzles and special codes are solved on the journey to success (whatever that goal might be). But being clever enough to solve intentionally secretive and difficult secret codes-eek!

Spying on Spies was an amazing chapter book to read. The strategies, machines, and secrecy kept me captivated. I loved that this book focused on a woman code breaker. Go girls! Each chapter begins with a short cartoon/graphic novel type illustration, and then jumps into the chapter. The back matter is glorious! There is not just a glossary, but also photos, additional information and explanations about ciphers and codes, notes, timeline, and bibliography, all of which provide more opportunities to dive deep into the world of code breaking.

You can read more about this book in Darlene’s post here.

Two thumbs up for this fascinating historical book! Perfect for the code breakers in your life!


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Haiku Moment: anything

lines, zags, speckles, dots, holes

heart, tower, treasure, or picture

rocks can be anything

anything by Angie Quantrell

rocks from her enormous rock collection


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3 Airplane Rides and 12 Birthday Cards

My weekend was not spent doing what I wanted (and had planned to do for oh so many hours). Winter Storm Cora derailed (de-planed?) my travel plans and flights to attend a wonderful weekend of friends, missions, connecting, sharing, and encouraging. Many of us were turned back and unable to attend.

But on the bright side, I flew to San Francisco for breakfast at the airport. Continued on to Denver for a late lunch/early dinner, and then (after flight cancellations), made it home the same day! Just a leisurely tour of three airports and planes. If you add in Pasco, WA, and look at a map, you will see I made a pretty neat triangle of adventure with my airplane rides. The picture above shows the Golden Gate Bridge as we flew over San Francisco heading to the airport.

Come Saturday, when I was home missing the comradery, I decided I needed to do something fun and change my attitude. What better way for me to cheer up than making brightly colored birthday cards? Several bonuses here: I used up washi tape, created with some brightly colored cardstock that for some reason I have a hard time using, discovered that embossing anything was off the table (the 20+ years-old embossing pads were toast), and came up with a dozen new birthday cards!

One dozen rubber stamped cards is a great way to kick off a year in which I hope to create many more cards to add to my stash.

What about you? When have your plans been changed by circumstances beyond your control? What did you do to change your attitude?

Sunday Peace

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Sunday Peace

Welcome to 2025! Over the years, I’ve changed the name of this type of post. Sunday Moments and Sunday Joy are just a few of the titles I’ve used. This feels like a good year to focus on Sunday Peace.

Whether rain, snow, ice, or sun, be brave and stand strong like this little pansy in one of my uncovered plant pots. Peace to you.


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More (A Letter for 2025)

Dear Lord,

Thank You in advance for the many blessings You bestow and will shower down upon me and my family this year. Bring each blessing to mind so I can notice and give thanks.

Help me, Lord, to

move more

think more

laugh more

learn more

care more

dream more

create more

write more

thank more

reach out more

encourage more

forgive more

LOVE more.

Let this be a year when WE grow closer as I lean into You.

Amen.


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A Giveaway for Middle Grade Readers

Written by Darlene Beck Jacobson, Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully might be just what your middle grade reader needs! OR maybe you also write for middle grade and want to do some research about middle grade books. Either way, thanks Darlene, for this opportunity!

Darlene is offering a copy of her book to someone who comments over on Kathy Temean’s blog. I mean, I would love to hear from you as well (wink, wink), but to get in her drawing, you need to hop over to Kathy’s blog and comment there.

Click the link below to comment. Happy reading, everyone!

HOLIDAY BOOK EXTRAVGANZA: WISHES, DARES, AND HOW TO STAND UP TO A BULLY by Darlene Beck Jacobson


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The Christ Candle: Advent 5

On this, the 5th day of advent, we remember the Christ Child. Read the full story of Jesus in Luke 1-2.

Rejoice! Worship and give thanks! Long ago, a Child was born, a horn of salvation for us from the house of David. Jesus, the Messiah, God made flesh. For all of us.

Happy birthday, Jesus! Thank You for being clothed in humanity for our benefit. You came because You loved us, will always love us.

Hallelujah! Sing with joy and great adoration!

Let our hearts celebrate the birth of Jesus.