Amanda's Books and More: 5 Minute Friday

Showing posts with label 5 Minute Friday. Show all posts

Friday, September 20, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #50

Welcome to my weekend blog hop! Here you get to link your favorite post of the week and share it with other bloggers. Just remember to visit the last two links before yours and leave a comment and make their Saturday sweet!

I'm joining three other great hops today and I've taken the challenge of answering their writing prompts for this Friday. My own hop doesn't have a theme, so you are welcome to link your family friendly blog below.

The word prompt on Five Minute Friday is She

She came when I wasn't ready for a new baby. She messed up my schedule and changed my routine. She came with colic and couldn't sleep in the day at all. There were no naps. There were no easy moments.

She changed my life and that of our family for the better. She turned our world upside down. She showed us how to love and to appreciate each other. She grew into a little girl who knew how to demonstrate sharing and was gracious in spirit. She taught me how to be a better person.

I cannot express in words what she has meant to our family. God designed her to be beautiful on the outside and even more beautiful on the inside. She is friendly and caring. She is smart and creative. She loves to dance by expressing the music she hears with her body.

She lights up our world.

The theme on Friendship Friday is Fall

Morning fog: View from my kitchen

I love it when the trees change colors. My favorite memories are of Virginia and all the variety of yellows, reds and oranges that covered the landscape. It's also the time when we get away from the heat of the summer and enjoy cooler days.

Right now it is hard for me to imagine fall as we are having spring. Yep, everything is backward in the Southern Hemisphere. No snow men at Christmas, but lots of sun and swimming at the beach.

Finish the Sentence Friday

I deserve a medal for the time I... cared for a colicky baby. I had four babies and each came with colic. There is nothing harder than having to give all your time and energy and then some to an uncomfortable baby. You wonder if today you'll get some rest. You wonder if today they will grow out of it. You wonder if today you won't lose your mind.

*********************

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to
link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #36

Today I'm linking with 3 other blog parties, so you'll get to know more about me and my family with photos too. But first I want to tell you that I'll be hosting an international e-book giveaway this weekend for 5 lucky winners of a really neat mermaid e-book (ages 6 - 12), so make sure you don't miss out.

Also, I had to share with you the gift that Amanda and I put together for her teacher. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week and so we showed our appreciation by baking chocolate chip cookies and decorating a jar to put them in. The chocolate chips were my last bag from the States. They arrived in a Christmas package from my mom and grandma. We can't get chocolate chips here unless I buy the waxy kind that are not real chocolate or the gourmet kind that come in small tins, so I don't do either. If I'm stuck, I just chop my own chocolate, but then they don't look like chocolate chips.

For my first writing prompt of today, I'm linking with Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday and Create With Joy's Friendship Friday.

Comfort

I feel the comfort of my little girl as we snuggle together on the couch to watch TV. She enjoys watching cooking shows with me like Barefoot Contessa or The Great British Bake Off.

It’s a wonderful feeling when I come into the bedroom early in the morning to find Amanda already awake and waiting for me in my bed with Hubby. I give them both a big hug and kiss. It’s a wonderful start to a new day with our youngest child.

I see the comfort she brings to our kittens with all the attention and love that she showers on them. They don’t mind having her so close. In fact, they enjoy it.

My son brings me comfort when he takes the time to lean in and give me a hug. He’s so grown now, but he’s not too big for hugs. I’m proud to be his mom.

Stop

For my second writing prompt of today, I'm linking with Janine's Finish the Sentence Friday.

This summer I plan to...

go with my family to Florida to visit family and to see Disney World. It will be Amanda's first time leaving South Africa. My kids are being raised as South Africans and Americans, but they don't have many American experiences except the few trips to the States and what I bring to the family.

Amanda hasn't even seen real fireworks yet, so this trip to Disney will be great. And, we'll be at my mom's for the 4th of July, so we'll see more fireworks. Samantha and Amanda never experienced a 4th of July in the States. Jeremiah and Jessica got to see the fireworks from the downtown park in Atlanta, but they were very small and can't remember. We enjoyed taking them to the playground there and the fountains during the day.

This trip will be awesome!

Jeremiah, Jessica and Me in Atlanta in 2000

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #35

Linking with Five Minute Friday

Brave...

I believe that to be brave means that you go out and do what you are wired to do. Brave people are willing to try anything, but they are especially willing to go and do what they are good at. They don't hide the gifts and talents that God gave them. They get excited and have energy that other people not wired like them can't quite understand, even when they are being stretched in their area of gifting.

Brave people know how to say no to things that they aren't supposed to be doing. This means that they lead a balanced life, a healthy life, a quality of life that knows when to say yes and when to say no. They also don't back down or give up when they are put to the test.

God is their strength and their provider. He equips them for the task at hand.

Stop.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #32

I have two very important events to share with you today that are not to be missed. If you take the time to check out my post, you may be able to help save a child. It's as easy as buying a movie ticket!

Today I'm linking with Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday.

This is Prince, as a kitten, sitting on my laptop.

Today's Five Minute Friday writing prompt is on the word "here."

Start…

Here I am sitting at my computer in my pajamas. My husband is at the TV watching Frasier. It’s the morning and the kids are all at school. We both spend our time on the computer, here in our home office. It’s a good thing that we have to share this laptop, because we both get so caught up in our work that we would hardly leave this room.

For example: Hubby only came to bed after 1 am this morning. He was working on a comment to someone’s post, but he couldn’t get the wording quite right. Eventually, he left his comment in a Word document to look at again later. This kind of thinking it over and re-thinking it is very common to my husband. He won’t waste this effort, because he’ll turn it into a post that he can use on our shared blog, Real Church Life.

Here is also South Africa. My hubby is South African and I am American. Our ministry is here. We live in the Western Cape, a beautiful region of the country. This country became better known world-wide during the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to live in the here and now. Sometimes I want to be somewhere else in the future.

Stop.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #26

Today I'm joining the Five Minute Friday writing prompt over at

Lisa-Jo Baker's blog. Today's topic was about our memories

growing up with our moms. That is why I refer to my mom in

the past tense. She is still alive and doing well.

Motherhood:

My mom and me in 2005

What I remember most about my mom is that she was always at home when we got home from school. Having Mom there made my world feel a little more secure. She would always listen to my retelling of my day and she always had time to hear me read my latest poem or story. I talked a lot when I was younger, so this was a true act of patience on her part.

My mom almost always did the cooking. We ate healthy balanced meals and hardly ever saw a TV dinner or fast food. Only much later did I find out she didn’t like cooking. We never truly know or understand the sacrifices mothers have to make on a daily basis until we become parents ourselves.

My mom was not a creative mom, she didn’t enjoy baking or making handmade things, but she kept her home neat and clean. We had a few pretty things in a cabinet and that made our home special.

Stop.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #25

Today I'm joining the Five Minute Friday writing prompt over at
Lisa-Jo Baker's blog. This time I set a timer, so I didn't go over.

Bare
When I think of the word “bare,” I think of honesty with nothing hidden. To be bare is to be your true you. You are not ashamed of who you are. Your character, personality and values make you strong and able to be a shoulder for others to lean on. You can laugh and cry with others. You can celebrate with others and not be jealous, because everyone needs a moment to shine and perhaps this was not your moment. You are a true friend who speaks your mind in love. You are not a doormat for others to walk on. You are bare and you are proud of who you are.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #23

Here is my first attempt at taking part in the 5 Minute Friday writing prompt. I confess, I did edit and I did backtrack. I even went over by 3 minutes, but I was interrupted for a moment, so maybe that’s not too serious. I hope I’ll be able to follow all the rules next time. Today’s word is…

Cherished

My youngest daughter is cherished. She came at a time when I wasn’t ready to be pregnant a fourth time around. I had three kids who were growing up and finding their independence. I was starting to dream again about the things that interest me.

But she has been such a blessing to us. She came when we all needed her. She has brought us all closer together. She is a joy and a pleasure. She brightens our world and makes it a better place.

I would have missed this treasure if I had had my way. Abortion is not an option in our home, but not getting pregnant in the first place was what I had decided was right for me. Do we always know what’s best for us? Do we always make the right choices?

Daughter, I’m so glad that it wasn’t up to me. I’m so glad that I didn’t have as much control in this matter as I had hoped. I’m glad that I fell accidentally pregnant with you. The pregnancy was rough on me and the birth was tough. Your colic was terrible and my arms ached from holding you, but those days are now past. You are growing fast. The world is a place to discover. Making new friends is always a delight. You are cherished.