My Book has been Published!
On Wednesday, April 7th, I did something I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. Finally, my inspirational, historical, romance novel, Emma’s Grace, has been published.
From the time I was able to put sentences together on paper, I loved to write. It was something I did every chance I got. Whether it was writing a story, a letter, or in my journal, you could often find me pen to paper. It is still my passion today, and I truly feel that it is also my purpose. The Lord gives us all passions and talents for a reason. First and foremost, it is for Him to work through us to spread the Word to all who do not know Him. Being able to do that, while writing, is a dream come true.
Emma’s Grace is an inspirational, historical romance novel. It is a story about a young mother’s struggle to keep the faith and trust in God’s timing, following a devastating loss. Along this journey she finds love again and a chance to live her dreams.
You can purchase my eBook on Amazon for $2.99. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can get it for free! If you don’t have a Kindle, no problem. Just download the Kindle app on your smart phone or tablet. The book is not yet available in paperback. Below is a description of my book and the amazon link. If you decide to purchase the eBook, and you enjoy the story, please consider writing a review. Thanks in advance for your support. It truly means so much!
Book Description
Emma Kinlin never could have imaged the devastation that would come to plague her life so early in her role as wife and mother. After the unexpected death of her husband, and love of her life, she is forced to push her dream of becoming a respected artist by the wayside and tend to the farm in order to keep her family afloat. She can only trust that God will provide a way and reveal his purpose for her life.
When Emma meets Will Rivers, a young engineer recently home from his studies in New York City, she can’t help question his intentions when he offers to help with the farm. Romance is the last thing she is looking for, but something about her new farmhand is reviving her inspiration and desire to paint—something she thought she had lost forever. Struggling with guilt and self-worth, Emma hesitantly opens her heart to love again. It all seems like a dream come true, until the past threatens to repeat itself and put a devastating end to everything.Construction Update: Windows and Doors
The journey to this point has been stressful and certainly tried our patience, but the house is finally dried in and ready for roofing and siding. Well, almost…
The windows and doors have been installed, except for two, a transit window in the small bathroom and a casement window in the second floor bonus area. According to the window manufacturer, the glass for those were on backorder, but we should expect them by next week. The windows are all gridded and double-hung for easy cleaning. We are really happy with them.
The 8×8 western cedar posts have been installed, and they are beautiful. We are going with white siding and a galvalume roof, so these reddish-brown chunky posts will help break up the light and bright background. Additionally, cedar is naturally bug and rot resistant, and will be much less maintenance than other wood posts.
The front door is in, and it’s exactly as I envisioned! It’s a Masonite, fiberglass door with gridded, rain water glass and wood grain finish. We added the dental shelf as a additional feature, because we liked the look. The transit widow gives the door some additional height, which I think balances out the space between the door and ceiling. It also allows for more natural light, which I can’t get enough of. Right now it looks a little bland, since it isn’t stained, but we plan to stain it to compliment the cedar posts.
The next step will be the brick, which is supposed to arrive this week or early next week. Brick will be used for two features of the house. It will be laid to skirt the exterior base/foundation. With all the wood and block we’ve seen so far, it will be nice to see some color added to the house. And the second feature, we’re really excited about – the fireplace!
Nate and I both have a love for open flames. We knew we wanted some type of alternative heat source anyway, and with the last two ice storms we’ve experienced, since living in our current, all electric, home, we knew this would be a smart choice. Additionally, we love the warmth of a wood fire. Although we thought about doing an insert or wood-burning stove, we finally opted to put in full masonry fireplace. We cannot wait!
In the meantime, roofing and siding materials are being ordered. As soon as the fireplace/chimney is completed, the metal can be installed. Below are some additionally pictures of the progress. I look forward to the next update that I can share. Until then, thanks for stopping by, and I hope the rest of your day is blessed!
View from Back Porch 
Front Door (unstained)
Back of the House Construction Update: Trusses Are On!
Finally, the trusses are on and stick framing can begin for the second floor bonus area! As the house comes together piece by piece, I am starting to see the vision we originally intended. In the beginning, when you only have a house on paper, you have so many uncertainties going through your mind. Did we choose the right house plan? Will we have enough storage space? Are the bathrooms too small? Will there be enough natural light? But, the more I see the house coming together, and the more I walk the space, the more I’m falling in love with it.
This house feels so open and bright – just what I was hoping for. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that there’s no roof on the house right now! 😛 Really, though… The large windows are the center focus of each room as you enter. The open concept living, dinning and kitchen area gives the space an energetic and airy feel. What makes the most difference, though, in my opinion, are the nine-foot ceilings. I know this was an added expense, but I believe we made the right decision. The bedrooms in this house are pretty average, but they feel so much bigger than they are because of the high ceiling.
The building process has not been easy, but I’m really trying to enjoy every piece of it. God has truly blessed us with this opportunity and I don’t want to take it for granted. I like to think we’re also learning a few lessons along the way and practicing our patience…a lot!
Here are a few pictures of the progress.
Front View 
West Side View 
Back View 
East Side View 
10 Simple Pleasures of Winter
Every season is filled with simple pleasures that you can enjoy with your family for little money and effort. Take a moment and enjoy some of these this winter season.
1. Snow Days
It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re stuck at home, due to inclement weather, but take this opportunity to enjoy the extra time you have with your family. We live in such a fast-paced society, so most of us are overdue for some downtime.
2. Hot Cocoa
There’s nothing like coming in out of the cold and whipping up a cup of hot cocoa or hot chocolate (yes, there is a difference). Bump it up a notch with some marshmallows, a drizzle of caramel and a leftover candy cane from the Christmas tree. My kids love to make hot cocoa sundaes!
3. Wood Fires
We have electric heat in our home, which effectively keeps us warm throughout the winter season, but there is nothing like the bone-warming heat that comes from a wood fire! If you are blessed with this option, build a fire and enjoy a game of cards with the family, read a book, or just simply have a conversation with one another.
4. Winter Scenes
Who doesn’t love the sight of a white blanket of snow or ice over a country landscape? There’s just something magical about how it coats the trees and brightens a gloomy winter’s day.
5. Soups and Chilis
Winter is the perfect season to enjoy all of your favorite soups and chilis. Switch up your dinner routine one evening when the temperatures are freezing and make a pot of something soupy to warm your family’s bellies. Be sure to add some crusty bread on the side for dipping!
6. Warm Blankets
I love slow, winter evenings, like on Friday or Saturday, when the whole family can pile in the living room and watch a favorite movie or show underneath a warm, plush throw or quilt. I keep an electric throw on my favorite chair for those extra cold winter evenings.
7. Snow Cream
If you’ve never tried this old-fashion favorite, you just haven’t lived! One of my favorite winter memories from my childhood is of my mom making me and my siblings a batch of snow cream. We were told you had to wait for at least the second snow of the season, and it had to be a good one too. Be sure to avoid the yellow snow! 😛
8. Building a Snowman
It’s a winter tradition that’s fun for all ages! After a good, wet snow, get the whole family involved and start rolling. Me and sisters used to try and guess how long our snowman would last after the snow started melting.
9. Sledding
A great way to unleash your inner child is to spend an afternoon sledding with the family. You get cold and wet, and you have to climb a hill to begin your fun, but it’s all worth the rush you get on the way down.
10. Books
I hear it all the time from friends and family… “I would love to read, but I just don’t have the time.” Winter is the perfect season for book nerds! Take that time you would’ve spent cutting the grass or tending the garden and curl up to a good book. For an even better experience, read in front of a wood fire with a mug of hot cocoa at arm’s length. 🙂
New Home Construction Update: 1st Floor Framing Completed
It has been an uphill battle, but the first floor is finally framed in! After I took this picture, the crew came back in the next day and also put down a section of the upstairs floor. Now, we wait for the trusses, which are scheduled to be here at the end of next week!
It’s really exciting to see the house finally taking shape, and we love it! Nathan and I wanted something with character and something we wouldn’t get tired of looking at, and this house definitely has those qualities! It’s certainly in the farmhouse category , but there are also many features that give it a cottage feel (the gabled roof, the small front porch, and the large double-hung windows). We have a few other ideas in mind for the exterior, which I will share later in the building process, but we also plan to go with a cottage design for the inside. There are many things I love about the farmhouse style too, so I can see it being a good mix of both. I look forward to that part of the project.
Here are some additional pictures of the progress on the interior walls. I can officially say it snowed inside our house! 🙂
Simple Refried Bean Dip
You will need:
- 1 Can of refried beans (We love Rosarita brand!)
- 1/2 Cup of your favorite salsa
- 3/4 Cup of shredded cheddar cheese (Monterey Jack would also be great!)
- 1/2 8oz. package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 2 Tsp. of prepared taco seasoning mix (or your own taco seasoning mix)
My family loves refried beans with any Mexican dish, but once I started making this dip, they pleaded that we never go back to regular refried beans.
I love this recipe because it’s simple and it’s easy. There are only five ingredients, unless you prefer to mix up your own blend of taco seasoning, and the prep time is less than five minutes!
Here’s how you make it:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Combine all five ingredients in a medium to large mixing bowl, and mix with a hand mixer until just combined and there are no lumps of cream cheese.
Tip: If you use Philadelphia 1/3 less fat cream cheese, you won’t need to let it soften. It will mix beautifully straight from the fridge!
Pour your refried bean mixture into a glass baking dish and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the edges of your dip are bubbling. And that’s it folks! You’re ready to enjoy.
This dip is great to server along side any Mexican dish, but it also makes for a great party dip, served with tortilla chips. Add a dollop of sour cream and/or guacamole on top for some cool creaminess. If you like it spicy, you can add your favorite hot sauce or top with fresh slices of Jalapeno pepper.
If you give this dip a try, I’d love to hear what you think of it! Drop me comment below if you prefer your refried beans plain or if you prefer to mix it up.
New Home Construction Update: Ready for Walls
The block foundation is completed and the floor is down!
My husband and I are certainly learning the consequences of building during the cold weather months. The cold, wet conditions have caused slower progress and a lot of mud!
In addition to the weather, there were a couple of other issues that has delayed progress. First, our mason found an issue with the measurements on an area of our house plans, which required new measurements for our trusses (Good thing we hadn’t ordered them yet!). Then, the shipping of our 9-foot 2×4 studs were delayed several days due to being on backorder, which caused over a week delay for the construction of our walls (thanks Covid!). The measurements have now been taken for the trusses and the order has been placed, but they won’t be ready for about three weeks. In the meantime, we did receive the 9-foot studs, so the builders can finally begin on the walls this week, if weather permits.
In less exciting news, we also had 250 feet of conduit installed for our underground electric service, which is only good for temporary service for now. Once the house is ready for electric, the permanent service will be ran the remaining 120 feet to the house. This not-so-glamorous, but necessary, project was my least favorite and turned our once graveled driveway into a muddy dirt road. Still, I know we are truly blessed to be having this home-building experience, so I’m trying to stay positive and remind myself that these issues are only temporary.
Looking ahead, it will be exciting to see the structure of the house take shape, so I’m looking forward to the building progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully, the weather will be cooperative, and I will have more updates to share very soon. Until then, I have plenty to do around our current home.
Simply CHRISTmas
In just four days, we will be celebrating, what is most certainly, the most celebrated holiday in the entire world!
Christmas!
It’s my most favorite holiday. I get excited as early as October when I begin to see glimpses of decorations hitting the big-box stores, while my email and newsfeed begin to fill up with advertisements on the latest toys, gadgets, and everything in between. I can’t get enough of the seasonal sites, tastes and smells overloading my senses, while Christmas lights begin to dot the neighborhoods.
I love hearing Christmas music playing in the background and receiving Christmas cards in the mail from family and friends. It’s so fun to practice traditions with my family, especially my children, and then make news ones we can enjoy and look forward to in the years to come. Then, of course, on Christmas morning, what a blessing to see the faces of my children as they open the gifts that they’ve waited in anticipation to receive. Still, my most favorite part is the gift my family gets to enjoy all year long, not just at Christmas. It’s the part that is too often hidden behind all the ribbons and bows to even be noticed.
Simply put, Christmas is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the greatest gift that anyone could ever hope to receive. We all know the story of baby Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem, but the part that gets left out way too often is the shadow of the cross behind the manger. Yes, our Savior was born, but he also died. God’s greatest gift to us was not the birth of Jesus, but the sacrifice he made on the cross when Jesus took the sins of the world on his shoulders and died for me and for you.
If you are a Christian, I hope this Christmas you will take the time to reflect on this holiday’s true meaning and share it with someone who doesn’t know about the precious gift that is waiting for them. There is no greater gift you can give.
If you don’t know Jesus, I encourage you to learn about him.
If you need comfort, he is the comforter.
If you need healing, he is the master healer.
If you need love, you will not find a greater love than Him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16, KJV
I pray everyone has a blessed Christmas this year!
New Home Construction Update: Starting the Blocks
Finally, starting late last week, we saw some vertical progress on the house! Not counting the Thanksgiving holiday and a minor issue with the foundation, rain, standing water, and cold temperatures delayed the block-laying for over three weeks. Nathan and I are learning something new all the time in this home-building experience. A couple of important things we’ve learned is that things don’t always go as planned and patience is a must!
I mentioned before that we aren’t particularly in a hurry to move in, but we would still like to see consistent progress, even if it’s slow and steady. The fact is, winter is upon us. We knew that building this time of year might bring some challenges and delays. The weather is not something we can control, so we’re trying to be patient and focus on the Christmas season. Hopefully, January doesn’t bring us too harsh of a winter, and we can continue to make progress.
I was hoping to wait until the blocks were completely finished to share an update, but I didn’t want to keep you waiting too long. Here are a few pictures of the progress so far.
Decorating the Cabin for CHRISTmas!
Last fall we finally finished up the interior of our little cabin, which sits at the edge of our property against the tree-line. Last year, I had the idea of decorating it for Christmas and taking some family photos inside. They turned out really cute, especially since the photographer was a complete amateur! 😛
Family photo from Christmas 2019 We’re still chipping away at the finishing work needed for the outside, but, for now, we’re just enjoying our time spent there. My husband likes to go down and build a fire in the wood-burning stove, get it toasty warm, and gather inside just to sit around and chat. Just last night, we went down to the cabin and played a game of Rook around the table he made from wooden pallets.
This Christmas, we decided to keep it very simple. The cabin doesn’t have electric yet, so we wanted to use décor that didn’t require any extension cords. First, we decorated the pencil tree, given to us by my mom-in-law, Carol. I borrowed it from her for our Christmas photos last year, but when she saw it in the cabin, she thought it needed to stay. I agreed!
For the tree, we skipped the lights this year. Instead, I dehydrated some orange and lime slices, strung them with glittery-green ribbon and hung them for a natural and old-fashion Christmas look. I also used a few other ornaments that went along with the hunting cabin theme as well as some pinecones. I topped the tree with a natural-looking star I found at Hobby Lobby and a navy blue tree skirt from Walmart.
Next, I added a plaid table runner to the table and dressed up the oil lamp with some faux berry garland. My daughter added the two snowmen on each side for a finishing touch. At night, I added a couple of candles, which gave the space a nice warm glow.
In each window, I added a couple of faux pine picks with burlap ribbon and pinecones. It was a very simple touch, but I loved it!
For the door, we also kept it simple with a berry garland over the top and a wooden snowman piece that my sister and her husband made for us a couple of years ago for Christmas. It was the perfect, natural doorhanger, and it made us smile! By the way, if you love Christmas crafts, check out her YouTube channel called Life’s a Project!
Finally, for the attic stairs, we just wrapped some faux pine garland around them to break up the wood, and added a few burlap snowmen (actually, my daughter added those).
This may not seem like much, but I really wanted to keep it simple and not make a big fuss. One of the main things we love about the cabin is it’s simplicity. We love to come down and just forgot about our stresses and spend quality time as a family.
Christmas Photo from 2019 Maybe next year we could stick with the natural theme, but use only things from our property, like pine, cedar, and berries. I think it would be fun to get the family involved and gather things to make ornaments, reefs and garlands to decorate with. Just a thought…
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little tour and that it gave you some inspiration for your Christmas decorating this year. Sometimes, less is more. What do you think? Do you keep your decorating simple, or do you go all out for Christmas. Whatever your style, I hope you keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas and cherish the blessings you have with your family this year.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – KJV
