Tickle-Me Tuesday

Man-ificent Monday: Sean Paul

This week's cutie pie is Jamaican cutie, Sean Paul. He's a Grammy winning singer/rapper known for his reggae/dancehall music. Some of Sean Paul's lyrics include Get Busy, Baby Boy (performed with Beyonce), (When You Gonna)Give It Up To Me, and Temperature. Can I say that I LOVE his lips and the raised eyebrow? *swoon*

Word(s) to Describe: Sexy!

Inspirational Sunday

Today, I'm posting something that brought joy to me as I read it. Hope it does the same to you!
Father's Love Letter
An Intimate Message From God To You.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Tickle-Me Tuesday

A joke emailed to me this week...

Joey's dad invited Rev. & Mrs. Brown to dinner. Joey's mom made an extra-special meal. It was Joey's job to set the table with the good china and silver.

As everyone sat down to eat, Joey's mom said, "Joey, dear, you forgot to set a knife and fork for Mrs. Brown."

"I didn't think I needed to," Joey explained. "I heard Daddy say she eats like a horse."

Kids say the darndest things, don't they?

Tickle-Me Tuesday

Posted on LOLCatz website.

Book Review: Twice Bitten

Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Release: July, 2010
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5

Description: Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.

Review: Chloe Neill is becoming one of my favorite authors. I so heart both her Chicagoland Vampires and her Dark Elite series. Twice Bitten is book #3 in the Chicagoland Vampires series.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

• I would've like to have seen more of Merit's witch bff, Mallory, and Mallory's boyfriend, Catcher. That's it.

WHAT I LIKED:

• Oh, how I love the character of Merit. Let me count the ways! She's sassy, independent, a kickass fighter, etc. She wants Ethan and is drawn to him, but she doesn't wither if and when he rejects her. She's strong, yet vulnerable. And I love her voice.

• The tension between Merit and Ethan. It has been mounting up since book #1. I won't reveal whether anything happens or not.

• I heart the secondary characters. They all bring something to this book.

• OMG, the action. I'm a big action movie junkie, so of course, I'm addicted to books with action. Merit holds her own, with her fighting skills and her katana.

• The book is well-written and fast-paced. It didn't lose me and held me til the end.

I so heart this series!

ARC Review: The Fairy Godmother

Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Romance, Fantasy
Release: July, 2010
Source: Net Galley
Rating: 3/5

Description: In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale….

Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella— until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with “The Tradition” was no easy matter—until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job….

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, she has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with….

Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done…

Review: I rather liked this fairy tale/fantasy. It had a different take on Cinderella. The main character, Elena, was born to be her kingdom's Cinderella. Both her parents died; she had the horrid stepmother as well as the two annoying stepsisters; she was even treated as a mere slave in her parents' own house. When she turns 18, though, no prince arrives to take her away. Instead of becoming Cinderella, she becomes an apprentice to the Fairy Godmother, Bella, who takes Elena under her wing and teaches her everything she knows. As an apprentice, Elena learns about "The Tradition," the force that makes everything happen in fairy tales. Eventually, Elena takes Bella's place as Fairy Godmother and does an excellent job.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

• Alexander, a prince and Elena's love interest, didn't transform on his own. He was supposed to learn his lesson and be transformed, but he had help. I would have liked for his change to come from within...not without.

• The story got became too long at times. It was almost as though she was trying to cram everything into one book.

• The sex scenes. It would've been ok if they fit in, but they didn't. The scenes came out of no where and completely threw me off. Here's an example: "...and it wasn't until he'd stolen up her skirt and suddenly his head was - good heavens! What was he doing between her legs..." Ms. Lackey didn't need the scenes. The book would've been fine without.

WHAT I LIKED:

• I loved the character of Elena. She was strong, despite horrible circumstances. When she became an apprentice, she worked hard at learning. That's why she became one of the best.

• I loved the different take on Cinderella, featuring a strong character. Cinderella was never really my favorite fairy tale, but I loved this take.

• I liked the storyline and the idea of "The Tradition" and how fairy tales worked.

Overall, this was a pretty good book that I enjoyed reading.

Tickle-Me Tuesday

Comic, by Debbie Ohi, found here.

Man-ificent Monday: Bradley Cooper

This week's cutie pie is the oh so gorgeous, Bradley Cooper. He's known for his roles as Phil Wenneck in The Hangover and Templeton "Faceman" Peck in The A-Team. He'll be seen this year in The Hangover 2 as well as Limitless. Can I just say that I LOVE his eyes? *sigh*

Word(s) to Describe: Dreamy!

Inspirational Sunday

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
Luke 1:38
Rae's Thought: I am at a point in my life where I'm standing on the cusp of a new change...a change that will more than likely take me in a completely different direction. I know God wants to use me in ways I've never imagined, but for a while, fear has held me back. It's like I'm standing on the roof of one building and God is on the roof of the building across from me, beckoning me to come to Him. I'm paralyzed with fear because all I see is open space between us with the streets below. What if I fall? How am I going to get there?

I love the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was an ordinary girl - nothing particularly special about her - yet God used her for such an extraordinary thing. When the angel of God told her what God had planned for her, did she refuse? No. Did she run away in fear? Nope. She said, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). What a brave, powerful statement for such a young girl. I wonder what was going through her mind at the time. It wouldn't be far-fetched to say she was frightened, especially since she was so young (couldn't have been more than 14 years old). Yet she was brave enough to trust God completely and allow Him to use her in a major way. I can learn a lot from this young girl. I so want her bravery!

Francesca Battistelli has a song called "I'm Letting Go" that describes where I'm at right now.

• (Verse 1) My heart beats, standing on the edge, but my feet have finally left the ledge. Like an acrobat, there’s no turning back. (Chorus) I’m letting go Of the life I planned for me And my dreams. Losing control Of my destiny. Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe. So I’m letting go. (Verse 2) This is a giant leap of faith. Trusting and trying to embrace The fear of the unknown, Beyond my comfort zone. Giving in to your gravity Knowing You are holding me. I’m not afraid.

Let's go back to the roof, shall we? Remember, I'm on one building and God is on the other, telling me to come to Him. I have two choices: refuse or listen. I can refuse to take the risk and remain safe in my own little world. Yes, I'd be safe, but would I really be happy? I don't think I would. And I'd probably end always wondering, "what if." Or, I can listen to God and take a chance on Him. I'd still be safe and I'd not only get to experience happiness, but I'd also experience true joy. There is open space between us and the streets are below, but all I have to do is focus on Him, not below me...not even behind me. As I take each step, His hand will hold me up. Add to that the excitement that'll come along with it and I've made my choice...I'm taking that step. I'm risking all for God. I'm letting fear go. Like Francesca said, I'm letting go. Like Mary, I'm telling God, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." I've asked God to make the rest of my life be an adventure in Him and I'm so ready for it. Are you with me? Well buckle up and get ready for the best ride of your life!