The Tidwells: From A (merica) to Z (ambia)...and Back: 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

2013 Book of the Year

It's that time again!! Time for what, you ask?? Time for me to give you my book recommendations for 2013 of course!! :) I read a LOT of books this past year, and I read a lot of GOOD books!! Looking back over my list, the Matched Series and the Divergent series stands out. (If you haven't read Divergent, read it!! The movie comes out in March 2014 and you know you have to read the book first!!) I REALLY liked Divergent, and Blu did too! But if I can only choose ONE...then I would have to go with....(*insert drum roll*) And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.

I loved The Kite Runner, and this book was even better. A sign of an outstanding novel to me is that I could read it again tomorrow. So read it and let me know if you love it!
And of course, I can't leave you without a nonfiction recommendation! Every other year, I read through the Bible. This past year, Blu & I read through it together chronologically. We read this one:

Most days we read separately, some days we read together (in the car with me reading out loud), but we always discussed what we were reading. We loved it! If you haven't read through the Bible, I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

I read tons of non fiction biographies this year, but my favorite was probably Elizabeth Smart's story. It was amazing, and I think you'll love it too.

Did you hear? I was also busy in 2013 writing a book of my own!

A young boy is abandoned in a maize field in the heart of Southern Africa. He experiences horrors in an orphanage and later on the streets, filled with anger at a God that he's not even sure exists. A childless African pastor with a heart for the lost tries to break down the walls this orphan has so carefully constructed around his heart. A story of loss, hope, and above all, Love.

It is available 2 ways RIGHT NOW:

1) Go to amazon.com where you can purchase a paperback for under $6!

2) Go to amazon.com where you can download it on your kindle for $3.99!

Happy reading in 2014!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Fun day after Christmas!

We had a fun and very busy day after Christmas! Here's what we were up to!

A visit to the Waco Children's Museum with Mom & Dad! Yes, I do realize that most of the pictures below are of the adults and not the kids.. :)

Blu loved the bubble room!

We laughed and laughed at Blu "flying!"

Here he is writing me a secret message in Hieroglyphics!

Getting ready to get back to New Day and milk Martha the cow again!

Ugh...nasty tarantula...

Cambree makes a bubble around herself

The pioneer room was so fun!

We used to do this in Zambia...

Everyone wants to be like Uncle Shade.. :)

Rinsing clothes!

An old historic church building

Dad & Blu were fascinated by the floating ball :)

Love him :)

My little (and big) drummers

Dad said, "Dee, go stand there and I'm going to show you something.." She was a little bit leery :)

Mom gives a news report

The train exhibit was amazing!

We met Marie, Johnny Boy's sister, for lunch at a Lebanese café - yum! I can't believe I didn't get any pictures...probably because my kids were being hooligans...

After lunch we drove to Alvarado to see Jessica, Landon, and the new baby, Miss Addie Jane!

So sweet!

Brindley stopped by to say hi! She's gorgeous :) Both of them. :)

We hung out at Mrs. Kelly's house and then had supper with some of our good Alvarado friends.

It was a fun and tiring day! Please lift up Wes and Laurie in your prayers as Wes flies back to the USA due to his mom's sickness. She is not doing well at all and the doctors did not give a good prognosis. He will arrive in Missouri on Saturday morning at 9:20am, and Laurie will hold the fort down at New Day until we arrive in 8 days.