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Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Amanda's 10th Birthday and a Linky


Amanda turns 10 on Wednesday! She had her sea/ocean themed birthday party on Saturday. She colored in sea creatures and used her pictures for decorations. The photo below is of her sea turtle. She also had pictures of a shark, fish, shells, mermaids, and more.

Her dad and siblings helped with the games. Included was a treasure hunt, musical chairs, pass the parcel, throwing streamers, and swimming. I chose photos of the children where faces aren't clearly shown.

Amanda chose to have hedgehogs (no-bake chocolate squares with crushed cookies) instead of traditional cake. She wore a brand new necklace that she got from her grandma of a sea turtle from the gift shop at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

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Click on the photos to enlarge them.













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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:





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My Very Own Book!




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Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
(with or without words) or any picture post
at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.
Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!


I would love for you to follow me on
and
Follow on Bloglovin

Here are the easy rules:
  • Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
  • If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
  • Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Watered Roses and a Linky


This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the photos to see them at their best!








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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:





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

My Very Own Book!





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Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
(with or without words) or any picture post
at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.
Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!


I would love for you to follow me on
and
Follow on Bloglovin

Here are the easy rules:
  • Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
  • If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
  • Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Friday, February 16, 2018

My Very Own Book and a Linky

Happy Moms, Happy Homes


I have exciting news for you today.
I have my very own book for sale on Amazon!

Happy Moms, Happy Homes
Empowering Moms to Live in Victory


About the Book:

Title: Happy Moms, Happy Homes | Author: Christina A. Morley | Cover Designer: Les German | Pages: 111 | Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Book Description:

Feeling Stressed-Out, Left-Out, or Maxed-Out? Don't Miss-Out!

During times of stress, loneliness, financial difficulty, or whatever troubles life may bring, moms can still lead a victorious life in Christ. This book is sympathetic to moms and the challenges they face, offering tools to overcoming their obstacles.

With heart, wisdom, and understanding, Happy Moms, Happy Homes offers mothers of all stages advice and direction as they walk with God and share his love with their children and others.




About the Author:
Christina A. Morley


CHRISTINA A. MORLEY and her husband were married in 1995 after meeting on the mission field. Currently, they live in South Africa with their four kids, two dogs, and two cats. Together, missionary work has always been a big part of their lives, but Christina also became a volunteer reader at the Blind Institute in 2010 and a blogger in 2012. Her blogs include Amanda’s Books and More, where she and her youngest daughter review books, 1camera1mom, which celebrates her love of photography, and Real Church Life, where she and her husband continue to spread the gospel across the world.


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Here's an excerpt from my book:


CHAPTER NINE:
JOY AND A
THANKFUL HEART


We have an enemy called the devil, who goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour (1Peter 5:8). We ought not to underestimate his craftiness because when our guard is down he’ll try to blindside us. Whether we like it or not, the truth is that we are engaged in a war twenty-four hours a day.

Every team wants to know its opponent’s strategy so that it can win the game. That is why I may mention the devil’s strategies now and again – not to give the enemy glory, but to expose his game plan.

When God gave Adam and Eve authority over creation, life was good. However, when they disobeyed God they lost that authority. They didn’t just eat “an apple.” They took hold of something much bigger than just a piece of forbidden fruit. They took hold of the knowledge of good and evil, which had far-reaching consequences. In fact, everything was affected negatively in that we died spiritually, as God had warned. We no longer lived with God as our source, but tried to live apart from Him. We all failed at this miserably, but God had a plan to rescue us.

Jesus came to put things right. Through His authority, we have the advantage and the victory over sin and its consequences. The devil doesn’t want us to walk in that authority so he cons us into thinking that we don’t have it. He tricks us into thinking that we are losers and failures.

In Ephesians 6, the Bible talks about putting on the whole armor of God. Interestingly, the armor covered only the front of the person. The idea was that the soldier wearing the armor would be safe as long as he continued advancing, fighting head-on without considering retreat.

In sports, we speak about offensive players and defensive players. Those on the offensive would be the ones fighting head-on. Offensive players have the chance to taste the victory. We must not only hold our ground but also gain new ground by moving forward in our spiritual lives. As we submit our lives to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7).

Those who remain in defensive mode may feel like failures and give up trying to experience a victorious Christian life. Remember, the devil wants to keep us thinking and feeling that we are defeated. When we feel defeated, we lose our joy. Satan wants us to lose our joy. Without the joy of the Lord, we have no strength and our light grows dim like a tiny flame without proper fuel. We can’t have a positive impact on anyone if we don’t stay stoked with joy. It’s time we started taking back stolen territory by taking back our joy.

Joy is not a feeling that just comes and goes like natural happiness. Natural happiness is gained by the ups in life and not the downs. Joy, however, is supernatural. You can have joy even in the midst of great trials.

All believers are meant to have the joy of the Lord consistently operating through them, but this is often not the case. After taking a quick look at regular Sunday morning churchgoers, we might conclude that this joy is present, but if we were to look closer we might be surprised to find that many are just doing a good job of role playing. All the smiles and nice clothes hide the turmoil, the depression, and the loneliness. God’s joy doesn’t hide these things, but acknowledges them. He gives us the grace to live joy through it all. Life can be hard. If that is the case, then how can we maintain our joy? Joy is maintained by nurturing a thankful heart.

It’s easy to be thankful when everything is going right, but what about when adversity strikes? How do we react then? The ultimate test is to see if we can be thankful while experiencing difficulties. It takes courage to trust God no matter what, and it takes even more courage to thank Him in the thick of things. Thankfulness is a Kingdom principle that protects a person from getting knocked off course.

I chose to marry in my husband’s country of South Africa and settle there. Moving to a new country didn’t bother me much because I had lived a good part of my childhood outside of the United States. Once I started having children, though, I became more housebound and isolated. It was during those long, lonely hours that I often didn’t feel like being thankful.

I missed having a decent conversation with another female. When I did get the chance, those conversations were few and far between. I did try building some new relationships, but the ladies I met mostly had their own friends and families. Cultural differences also made it harder to connect. Missing out on meaningful relationships made raising children that much more stressful.

We may not always be able to change our circumstances, but whatever our disappointments, there is still one thing that we can change and that is ourselves. It’s usually during the tough times that we grow most. As long as we maintain the right attitude, we’ll continue moving forward; however, if we have a bad attitude we’ll just get stuck in the situation we’re in and never pass the test.

When Moses and the Israelites had to flee Egypt, how did they respond to adversity? Perhaps you have heard that story or read it several times and concluded that they were an unthankful and ungrateful people. After all, they had God performing miracles before their eyes. Why should they grumble and complain?

Actually, it’s easier to point out their faults while ignoring our own. In the next chapter, we’ll take a closer peek into their lives, which will offer us a greater understanding of them and, consequently, ourselves.


Father, thank You for the love that You give
The only love which helps me live
I would be nothing without You
You are sweeter than honey and refreshing as dew

When the world becomes too great
And I find myself in a terrible state
You lift me up with Your tender hand
And I realize that You understand

When the weight of my burdens become too much
And I feel discouraged as such
You remind me that You’re there
To take my burdens, because You care

When everything seems to go wrong
And I think I won’t last long
You fill me with Your staying power
And make me strong as a fortified tower

And when my troubles reach their peak
And I realize that I am weak
You cradle me in Your loving arm
To keep me from any more harm

Then I realize the love that You give
Is the only thing which helps me live
You are sweeter than honey, refreshing as dew
And because You first loved me, I can love You


Chapter and Poem by
Christina A. Morley


If you purchase a copy, please write a review. Authors need reviews to help promote their books. Also, please consider telling others about my book. I think it would make a great baby shower or Mother's Day gift too!



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I want to give a special shout out to C.S. Johnson for helping me see my dream come true with Happy Moms, Happy Homes! She gave me lots of advice, helped format my book, and more! In case you missed it, check out my blog post: Books by C.S. Johnson.

About the Author:
C.S. Johnson


C. S. Johnson is the author of several young adult novels, including sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles series, the Once Upon a Princess saga, and the Divine Space Pirates trilogy. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family.



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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -
Make My Saturday Sweet #256!

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

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!

I would love for you to follow me on

Here are the easy rules:
  • Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
  • Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
  • Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
  • Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
  • Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.
Blog Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More

Weekend Linky


Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Love Stories for Valentine's Day

A Variety of Love Stories
Some are FREE!
Happy Valentine's Day!



The kids in South Africa wear uniforms to school, but many of them are allowed to dress for Valentine's Day. This is what Amanda wore to school this morning. It's because of her little outfit that I decided to do a special post today. I'm including previous romance novels that I have reviewed. I also checked to see if the free eBooks were still available on Amazon Kindle for free and they are! There are no affiliate links. Enjoy your day!

















Tuesday, February 13, 2018

A Dramatic Sunrise and a Linky


We've been having amazing sunrises some mornings and I seem to be one of the few people in my family awake and enjoying them. Since it's summertime here in South Africa, the sun starts rising before 6 am. These dramatic photos were taken over a week ago from our balcony. I didn't use a filter to edit them, because it wasn't necessary. My camera is a compact Canon PowerShot SX720 HS with a 40X optical zoom for those who want to know. Every morning is different, so be sure to check out last week's sunrise photos if you missed them!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the photos to see them at their best!









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

Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:




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

My Recent Book Reviews:

Wishing everyone a
Happy Valentine's Day!




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


Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
(with or without words) or any picture post
at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.
Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!


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
and
Follow on Bloglovin

Here are the easy rules:
  • Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
  • Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
  • If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
  • Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

Amanda’s Books and More

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.