We recently held a baby shower for Alanna and Baby Clara. Oh, what fun we had together! Alanna chose the theme of the baby shower to be "A New Chapter is About to Begin". Each guest was asked to bring a book to help build Baby Clara's library. I loved the theme, and it was so fun to host!

Thank you to all who entered in the two book giveaways! It is a genuine blessing to support authors that I know have written books that will be a blessing to all who read.  

So, without further ado, I would like to announce the winners! 

Faith from GoldintheClouds blog has won Cheryl Smith's book (Homespun Devotions Volume III).

Martha Jane Orlando from Meditations of My Heart has won Kathy's book Torn Robe: Choices! 

Please email me with your mailing addresses, and I will get these books on their way to you! 

August skylines!

Late August skies and horizons after we took a ride out into the mountains.

We hiked a short distance and found some more huckleberry bushes.

There are a few huckleberries still hanging on the bushes, and we enjoyed picking a few more for the freezer.

Did you realize that August is the one month out of the year - for the United States at least - that has no national holiday? It has no special connotation associated with it, unlike other months. February is the month of Love, July is the month of Patriotism, October is the month of Pumpkins, November is the month of Thanksgiving, and December is the month of Christmas.  Poor August! No special holiday for this month. Speaking for myself, I think August is a month of preparation.  

I'm thrilled to announce that I have another giveaway for you, my readers - and this time there will be two books given away to TWO blessed winners! Let me introduce these wonderful authors to you, and all you will have to do is leave a comment below which book you'd like to receive, or both! Yes, you can enter for both if you'd like! 

KATHY M. QUINN

Please meet my dear friend, Kathy Quinn! Kathy has been writing for many years and has become a friend of mine through an online Christian writing group. She recently started a new blog where she has been introducing her book series, The Torn Robes including the setting for her book as well as introducing the back story of the characters.  

Here is Kathy's introduction to herself and her books!

Hello, everyone! I'm K.M. Quinn, award-winning writer of the Torn Robes Book Series.

As a wife, mother, and grandmother, I truly enjoy spending time with my family and staying active. Whether it's horseback riding, boating, or simply taking a walk, I love being outdoors. I’m also an avid researcher with a passion for history, learning, and exploring new things. Born and raised on the East Coast, I have a deep love for the ocean, which is reflected in my books, set along the beautiful beaches I cherish.

I'm thrilled to celebrate my journey as an author with you!

I began writing my first novel, “Torn Robes: Choices, “while juggling a career in the corporate world and raising a family.

For many years, "Torn Robes: Choices" was my constant companion. It became a labor of love, fueled by a passion that God placed in my soul long ago. My personal experiences with God's guidance and direction inspire me to share His unconditional love and constant forgiveness through life's tough times and challenges.

The second book in the series, "Torn Robes: Reckoning," looks at the impact of poor choices and highlights the transformative power of God’s love. 

I’m currently working on the third book, "Torn Robes: The King's Highway," and can’t wait to share it with you! 

To celebrate this journey, Marilyn is hosting a book giveaway! If you love stories that explore the beauty of imperfection and the strength of the human spirit, I’d love to send you a signed copy of Torn Robes: Choices. The characters in my stories, whether they are school board members, parents, or students, are all ordinary people with many imperfections. Through their imperfections, they demonstrate uniqueness and courage. I have journeyed with each one of them for quite some time and developed a fervent attachment to them, just as I hope you will.

My hope is that with each page, you will laugh at their humor, scoff at their sarcasm, feel the depth of their sorrow, and embrace their hope. Please remain steadfast during their moments of confusion and immerse yourself in the miracle of God’s love!

To get the inside scoop I've started a biweekly blog, "Torn Robes: A Journey Through the Characters and the Town." In this blog, I dive into the development of both the characters and the town, weaving in personal stories from my life that have shaped their narratives. I'd love you to join me on this adventure!

For more information, or if you'd like to drop me a line, please visit my website at: www.kmquinn44.com .

Wishing you abundant blessings, always, K.M. Quinn.

~ ~ ~

I hope that you will welcome Kathy to our blogging community and drop by to say hello at her blog!   www.kmquinn44.com  You will be blessed by reading her book, as her characters are relatable in their struggles and faith journeys. 

CHERYL E. SMITH

I also want to present to you another book just released by a dear friend whom many of you may know, as I have hosted giveaways for her two previous books in the Homespun Devotions collection.  My dear friend, Cheryl Smith has just published her third book in the Homespun Devotion series, and this is one you don't want to miss! It is packed with special devotions written from her heart, and also included in this book are some of her very favorite recipes! If you haven't met Cheryl before, you can find her blogging at www.homespundevotions.com 

Priest Lake

Nothing thrills our hearts like the views at Priest Lake!

Riley and I went for a walk around the beach, and she was enjoying the day as much as we were!

We got to the beach early and found a great spot. It was quite windy during the morning, but grew calmer as the day went on.

I love this picture of the waves that I captured! After the wind calmed down, it was a treat to enjoy the kayaks. Dan and Danielle enjoyed a peaceful time out on the lake together. I was busy entertaining Danika while Danielle enjoyed the kayak ride. :)

Ryan and Alanna with Baby Clara (she is about 6 months expectant now!)

Celebrating her 25th birthday!

Every couple of months, a group of neighbors gathers to celebrate our birthdays.  A new Thai restaurant opened in town at the golf course - so we met there for lunch this past week. Oh my, it was so so good! SO much meat and flavor with all the fresh veggies. Definitely a favorite now for all of us!

After our meal, one of our neighbors offered to make dessert for us! She made the most decadent cupcakes - Lemon Curd Cheesecake cupcakes, Chocolate Mousse cupcakes, and Carrot Cake cupcakes! She even had "to go" boxes for us so we could try them all. Oh my goodness - what a special day it was, lots of fun and laughter. We really have the best neighbors up here, and I praise God for that blessing.  Good neighbors are the best when you live out in the country.  We all help each other out and show up to celebrate life events together.  It is like a big extended family - so grateful!

Spending time with my little Danika, she is climbing and crawling everywhere! So her parents found her this cute little backpack for her to wear to protect her head as she crawls and climbs! It amazes me the neat things there are for kids today - things we never thought of when we were raising ours!

My raspberries are really producing this year! It's been a great year for berries.

A picture of Mr. Bandit deep in thought! He always makes us laugh with his antics!

As July is winding down, there is always a tinge of sadness at its close - I love July with its warm sunshine, hot beach days, abundance of berries, and evenings spent outside enjoying the sunsets.  August is coming - and that means harvest season will begin to ramp up, the days are getting shorter, and sometimes our leaves start turning in August! It is the month for 4H fairs and last-minute summer celebrations.  So, I try to enjoy each day as it comes, and be thankful for what that day has brought to me.  

We can't hold onto the loveliness - it slips away quickly - so each moment should be lived deeply and with great appreciation.  Joy in our hearts is something that abides regardless of the physical elements around us - joy comes from deep within, a fountain that bubbles even when life may not be perfect. Do you have that joy in your heart? I've learned it truly comes from the Lord, and being thankful for the things you have - it is purposely choosing to look at a situation, finding the beauty in it, even though sorrow may have mingled there.  

This is how I live - finding joy in the simple moments, and letting the rest go. I'll treasure the moments that make me smile.  How about you? How do you find joy in your life? 

May you find a special ray of joy in your life today! Blessings to all of you :) 

Thank you so much for sharing your encouragement and support for my friend Stacy's book, Love, Emily! The winner for the book was Shug and I want to congratulate her on winning the book. A copy of the book has been sent to her! 

In other news, May was a beautiful month of blooms, and ended with a visit from my mother, as well as her sister and husband!  During the last week of May, they came to visit us and we took them all to Banff, Alberta, for the weekend. We had a wonderful time there, saw some incredible sights and scenery and I want to share some of the highlights with you. 

The Queen of blooms, at least here in Idaho, is the month of May! Every day, new petals unfold to delight our hearts and senses with their beauty. May has been a busy month here! Let me tell you all about it... and read to the end where I will share about a giveaway I am doing! 

UPDATE! (June 10) WE HAVE A WINNER! I would like to announce that SHUG is the winner to LOVE, EMILY! I will email Shug and get the signed book on the way to her - thank you to each one who shared such wonderful comments and encouragement to Stacy! And if you want a copy of your own, you can find the book here!  Blessings :) 

Happy Good Friday, dear friends! Today is the pivotal day in all of creation when we remember how our Savior paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. This morning as I began my daily devotions, I began to write about what it must have meant for God to choose Springtime as the season for Jesus to die ... for me. 

The brilliant harbingers of Spring - the tiny but mighty "Glory of the Snow"- are appearing everywhere now that Spring has rounded a corner, and blooms are appearing every day. The anticipation of the blooms as I wander my garden is exciting. I've begun to allow my heart to be excited for this new season. Does anyone else approach Spring with a mixture of trepid anticipation? You just never know if Spring is really here, or if it is Springter, or just Winter! However, I'm letting my breath out slowly and breathing in deep. Yes. I believe Spring has arrived! 

The entire month of March has been full of sunshine and then lots of rain, and even some winter! As I walk in the early morning, watching the sun come up on the horizon is always a joy, especially now with the sun coming up earlier each day! It is such a promise from the Lord that each day the sun comes up - whether we see it or not, it still is there. I'm glad for the blue sky days when we can see the sun! 

Happy March to all of you! Oh, the first day of March here was unbelievable,  high 50s, brilliant blue skies, warm sunshine and promises of Spring in the light breeze. It was a day of rejoicing that Winter's days are numbered, and as much as I love winter, I am now allowing my heart to sing in the promise of spring! 

I opened our front door on Saturday, March 1st for several hours to let the spring breeze inside. Oh what a glorious day it was!

It has been a quiet winter for us here! Oh, we've had our snowstorms, cloudy days, and wintry weather, but really, this has been a mild winter in so many respects for our area.  Our local schools have not closed for one winter day yet this year.  We have about an inch of snow on the ground, and this is already the first of February! We've not had to plow our driveway here yet, and that is very unusual for us! So, we are thankful for the mild winter, and that the Lord allowed us to move into our new home without overwhelming amounts of snow. For this, I am grateful beyond words! 

This week, most of the Lower 48 United States are experiencing chilly weather and we are not exempt. A chilly polar blast has arrived, and with it, beautiful sunshine! For most of this winter, our skies have been grey and cloudy, with lots of rain. We've had very little snow. In fact, we have not even plowed our driveway yet this winter! This week though, the polar air arrived, pushing out all the cloudy skies, and allowing brilliant blue skies and chilly weather.  

The sunshine, blue skies, and snow on the mountains were so beautiful on our drive to Sandpoint.

It is hard to believe it has been over a month since I've been able to sit down and create a blog post. 2024 was a whirlwind of a year, and the last month was especially crazy! The holidays are always busy, but it gets especially wild when you begin to move in the busiest season of the year. I am happy to report that we were able to celebrate our first Christmas in our new home! 

A picture of our kitchen with some Christmas decor that I managed to get up just days before Christmas!