Book Review "Code 13" by Don Brown

This is a book review on the book, "Code 13" by Don Brown.


      THE U.S. NAVY’S BILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OF DRONES LANDS TWO NAVY JAG OFFICERS IN THE GUN SIGHTS OF A KILLER.
     Caroline is just getting her feet wet at the prestigious Code 13, but is thankful for at least one familiar face—her old flame, P.J. MacDonald. He loops her into the assignment he is currently working on—the legality of a proposed drone-sharing contract with Homeland Security that would allow the sale of drones for domestic surveillance. The contractor wants a legal opinion clearing the contract for congressional approval. But the mob wants the proposal dead-on-arrival.
     When P.J. is gunned down in cold blood and a second JAG officer is killed, one thing becomes clear: whoever is ordered to write the legal opinion on the drones becomes a target. Which is exactly why Caroline goes to her commanding officer and volunteers to write the legal opinion herself. She is determined to avenge P.J.’s death and trap the killer, even if that means making herself a target.
     It is a deadly game of Russian roulette for the sake of justice, but Caroline is determined to see it through, even if it costs her life.
                                       *************************************
      I was interested in reading this book, as we have just started watching "JAG" via streaming.  I found out this is actually book 2, but it didn't seem to matter that I missed the first one in the series.  I liked the book - it has a lot of action in it, and things I didn't know before - the Constitution Free Zone.
     What I didn't care for, is that it is presumably a "Christian" book, but you really couldn't tell it was Christian.  It is more of a secular book. It has drinking, smoking, adultery (not explicit, but mentioned a few times), and homosexuality.  I know this happens - but I just don't want to read about it in a Christian book.  If you told me this was a secular book, I would give it a 5.  But, as a Christian book, I have to give it a 2.

I received this book free for my honest review. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Crock pot cleaning hack

My beloved crock pot has seen some better, cleaner days!  I looked on Pinterest and found a lot of ways to clean the inside of the base.  How does THAT get dirty????  I mean--really??  The crock sits in it, and goes over that edge, so how does it get dirty?  I don't know, but it was dirty!

So, this is what I tried.  I read that if you put a bowl of ammonia in the base, and put the lid on, that just the fumes would clean it.  I wasn't really believing this, because I had tried that on an oven to no avail.

So, here is my crockpot at the start.  Gross!!

So, I read that you put a bowl of ammonia inside the base, then put the lid on and leave it overnight. I actually left mine for 2 nights and then some!

This is the crockpot base after I wiped it out--just wiped it!

It's better, but not all clean. 

And here is the base after lightly scrubbing the rest out with an SOS pad.  Almost new!!

Blessings!  and I hope this helps you keep your crockpot base looking better.  I mean, my crock pot is a life saver!!

Book Review "The Newsmakers" by Lis Wiehl

"The Newsmakers" by Lis Wiehl.  This is a good, page turning book!  It did keep my interest.  The story is about Erica Sparks, who is a recovering alcoholic, who lost her beloved daughter, and husband.  It sets out with her being interviewed in a prestigious news company.  She gets the job, and things are just turning out different. 

How does she "happen" to be in the right place, at the right time while horrific events take place?  Is she reporting the news, or is someone making the news happen?? 

She is also dealing with a lot of personal issues.  Her ex-husband has found a new love, she is battling the demons of the alcohol, she wants her daughter to like her, and not be scared of her, and she has a new love interest.

Although Thomas Nelson published this book, you can not tell that it is Christian.  There is some swearing, her boss snorts cocaine as well as watches her undress, the alcohol references and desires, and a lady at her work is in a homosexual relationship.  I didn't see any mention of faith, or Jesus helping with any of the issues.  Aside from what I've mentioned, it is a clean book.

I received this e-book free for my honest review. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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NIrv Beginner's Bible Devotional Pack

This is the sweetest Bible/Devotional duo for kids!!  The Kid-Sized Devotions are very short and sweet!  There are devotions for each day for 1 year.  There is a presentation page in the front, then the devotions to "grow closer to God", and at the very end, the "ABC's of Salvation"!  I had never heard past the C in this--and they have every letter except X and Z.  I was very impressed by this!  Each devotion starts with a Bible verse, and a very short devotional.  It also has a main point in a highlighted area, and ends with a very short prayer.  This devotional book is geared for preschoolers.

The NIrv Beginners Bible is pretty much a straight Bible.  They say it is geared for children 6-10, but I would think it could go a bit older.  It has a presentation page in the beginning, and what I thought was really cool was on the back of the presentation page, it said, "My name is _____________.  I am _____________ years old.  I received this book for ______________."  I just really liked that personal aspect.  This Bible then has typical things like table of contents, then the books of the Bible in alphabetical order.  The next thing I liked was the next page "Getting to Know Jesus".  It is short (2 pages), and has a question and answer format.  "How can I get to know Jesus?  Who is Jesus?  Why did Jesus have to die?  Does Jesus love me?  Will Jesus ever stop loving me?"  etc.    It has very few pictures (18 pictures - that is 9 pages, front and back).  This Bible has very small margins, they almost go to the edge of the pages, and has 2,034 pages, including all the helps.  Immediately following the Bible there is a small dictionary, and then a section of 150 famous Bible stories and where they are found--I Loved this section!!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received both these hardcover Devotional book and Bible free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers for my honest review.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hemi-metameric Shift Scoliosis Dr. Visit

Whew!  What a title, huh?  A hemi-metameric shift scoliosis is a very big name for congenital scoliosis.  It is a rare form of scoliosis, and very rare in boys.  So, when Matthew was formed in the womb, when the spine was coming together, the one side of the spine didn't have a match, also known as the hemivertebra off at the T2 and T5 vertebrae.  Then, further up, there is another side without a match.  So, all in all, he evens out, even though the spine is crooked.  Hope it makes sense!

So, here he is.  Dad dropped us off at the door, and we waited.

Then, we went upstairs and checked into the Orthopedics.

And waited for just a little bit.  They were very timely today!

Off to get changed:

He had 2 sets of X-Rays--one from the waist up (he had to take off his jeans for this one):

and another of just the upper part (Thoracic) of his back.

Then off to get weighed (he weighs 73 pounds)

And then they measured his height (and he is 5 feet tall, yep, tall and slim)

Then, they measured him from fingertip to fingertip (missed this measurement)

Then off to see the doctor

and to view his X-rays.

Everything went great, and he doesn't have to go back for 2 years!!  Praise God!

Blessings!

a Busy Pastor's Wife

So, here we are--in OCTOBER!  Where did the time go??

I have been busy with the photo directory.  You thought I was done with it?  Well, so did I!  I got the proof back, and it was riddled with errors.  It is now shipped back off to the company.  I'm waiting on the next proof--hopefully error free!!

We have been looking at a Wednesday night's children's curriculum.  Trying to find something that doesn't just plop children in front of a tv.  I think we may have found something--It does have a small amount of tv in the beginning, but the main Bible teaching is done by the adults there.  It sounds fun, and teaches our main tenets of faith, with a mystery theme, this would be for the children aged 6-12.  I have stuff for the kids ages 3-5.  We will have our meeting next Wednesday, and show it to people who are interested in teaching.

I've also been doing the weekly church bulletin.  And the monthly activities calendar, and monthly birthday/anniversary calendar.  Whew!

Our family grew by 1!!  It's a four legged addition.  We are pretty sure a neighbor left their cat when they moved earlier this summer (how can someone do that??)  This is the nicest cat--at first he tried to come in, and we would say no.  But, months later, he is still around, and it's getting colder and he really wants in!!  Sunday night, we were heading to church, but I had to put something in our recycle bin.  I turned around and the cat came running straight to me.  And dropped a mouse at my feet!!!!  After my initial horror, and jumping around and screaming (much to the boys' delight!), I saw the mouse was dead.  So I told him, "Good Kitty, Good Kitty!!!"    Hubby took the cat to the vet today.  He de-wormed him, and we found out the cat has already been fixed!   We are making sure the cat is litter box trained, so right now he is in the garage.  We are trying to come up with a name for him.  My ideas?  Frank, or Frankie, or Aslan.  Dan says Toffee.  Matthew says Garfield.  We will have to vote.  He is part Siamese, so my Frank was for Old Blue Eyes (Frank Sinatra).

We are going on a trip later this month to Colorado.  We will be taking cabinets for a man who double booked himself.  Then, we will do some sight seeing.  I think Mesa Verde is on the agenda.

Matthew goes in for a Scoliosis appointment next week.  I will try to remember to take pictures of what goes on in a normal Scoli appointment.

Blessings!

Book Review "Diary of a Jackwagon" by Tim Hawkins

"Diary of a Jackwagon" by Tim Hawkins.  Reading Tim Hawkins' book is almost as good as being at one of his concerts!  Almost!  You still miss his funny faces, and jumping around, and mopping his brow.  :)  But, he writes the book (he keeps saying we are peeking into his diary), just as he talks.  Some of this is old material that he has done in the concerts, and some of it is new material.  But, it was good, and fun to read.  He ends each chapter with a short quip, a "Tweet Thought", and those are just as funny as each chapter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it was a nice fix for me, seeing as how I missed this year's concert.  Our family enjoys Tim Hawkins!!

I received this e-book free from the publisher for my honest review.