Saving Madeline

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. But how far is she is willing to go— especially when she needs her job so she can continue caring for her mentally disabled sister? Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping a four- year- old child. Just another criminal, just another job, Caitlin thinks. But when she learns the real story, she realizes that she must put everything on the line to defend her client and save the little girl before it’s too late. Saving Madeline is the story of a man determined to protect a child he loves, and the woman who dared to trust him.

I read an advanced review pdf copy of this book. I have always been a big fan of Rachel Ann Nunes and this book is no different. This book is also different from many of her other writings and asks many thought provoking questions. It takes you inside of the legal system and gives you a better understanding and closer look at how things happen and what it trying to be done to protect children and people from all the evils that are attacking our world today.

It was a book that I had a hard time putting down and afterwards kept my mind going and considering things I have not thought of before. It took me to a world inside our own world, that for me really doesn't exist in my little bubble, and got me to ask myself, what could I be doing? I really enjoyed this book. Whether you have never read Rachel's books before or if you are a long time fan, all will enjoy this latest book by her, Saving Madeline.

Rachel is also doing a drawing for this book. Everyone that comments on this post will be entered in a drawing for a copy of this book. So please post your comments and I hope you win!!!

You can read sample chapters at Rachel Nunes' site

Where to buy and general info:
Amazon.com
CedarFort.com
DeseretBook.com
Shadow Mountain Softcover Tradeback $17.95
Romance, 321 pages.
First printing in September 2009
ISBN 13-978-160461-049-3
Book also includes a discussion guide.

Do you remember...

I am sure we all do. I was on a little island in Washington, near Seattle. We were shut off from everything. No one could go off or come on the island. We didn't know everything that was going on, just that something terrible had happened. (Thanks mom for the call or we would have been clueless all day.)

I do not have school on fridays so on Thusday we talked a little about Sept 11th. I realized that these seventh graders were 4 or barely 5 when it happened. They do not care and they have no real love for thier country. I wanted to scream at them that they should respect the flag, the country and the president. Now I do not agree with a lot of what the president of the US is about and what he does BUT he is the President and we should respect him. My students feel like they can talk so badly about and disrespect him greatly. In my class I heard them using words that I never say describing our president. I finally told them that I didn't care what color, or party, or sex our president was, as the president they should be respected. I told them that in my classroom I would not allow or put up with them talking about the president that way. It makes me sad to see what thier parents must be saying and doing at home for these 12 and 13 year olds to have such strong opinions.

I am grateful for a mom and dad that taught me to love my country and to respect the flag, the president and the men and women who fight every day so that I can say and do what I want and live freely. If only some parents would do the same.

So, I am asking you all to teach your children how lucky they are to live here and to have the freedoms we do. We may not like certain things about our government and how things are run but that should never deter us from remember how we got the freedoms we do and how lucky we are.

I am proud to be an American. I can not thank in words those that have sacrificed thier lives and thier time to keeping me free. I thank those who are the families of the military men and women that go out. They deserve just as much for what they do at home while thier loved ones are fighting for all of us. THANK YOU!!!!!! Thank you for everything a million times over. Don't forget that there is still a great majority that are grateful for you and what you stand for. Don't let the negative cause you to forget those that truly care and are truly grateful!!!

Are you ready for some football?!!?!?!?!

Yes, it is the greatest time of the year again, football season. What a way to start. GO BYU!! That game was awesome. Our defense was amazing holding their star QB to 10-14 for 96 yards and 1 TD. True he got hurt and couldn't come back but they were great!!! Some respect for the MWC!! (Rob did you cheer for the Cougars). My parents went to the game and told me all about it. So much fun!! They bought the family matching BYU shirts just for this game. When my mom handed Arik his shirt the conversation went the follwing:
Mom: Arik, I know you hate BYU but would you for one game wear this shirt.
Arik: Which game?
Mom: The first of the season and then you don't have to wear it again.
Arik: Who are they playing?
Mom: Oklahoma.
Arik: (long pause, deep breath) If there was a team I hate worse then the Cougars it would be the Sooners. Okay I will.

Saturday we headed to some friends house to watch the game. Arik wore his UTAH shirt under the BYU shirt so that he could have the correct team close to his heart and the minute the game ended, the blue shirt was off. Thanks sweetie for wearing the shirt for 3 whole hours. Arik wouldn't let me get a pic of it.

Also, this week the NFL starts. My Broncos are going to get thier bums beat hard this year so I am ready to take all the crap from everyone (Rob). Also, our fantasy football has started again and I am ready to take down ROB!!! (Anyone see a theme, Rob). It is a fun time of year. All the upsets, all the excitement and all the cheering. just wonderful!!!


Also, Arik didn't want me to mention it but we got a new van. Okay it is not new. We got a 2005 Pontiac Montana (which Brookelyn calls the Hanna Montana van). Sorry no pics. And just so everyone does not have to ask us. NO we are not pregnant. We found this van for a great deal and decided to go for it. We wish we needed the van but for right now we are settling for being grateful that we were able to get one.

Bring on all the trash talking and all the hype. I am ready for some football!!!!!

Birthday, first day, and stuff in between

September 1st was Arik and Gail's bday. (Just for those of you that don't know, Arik has a twin.) Marti and I planned this for them:

That night we had a party at Mom and Dad J's house. Gail came home from Boise. We went to dinner at El Toro (the only "real" restaurant in Soda). We sang and then had Arik and Gail blow out the candle, Brookleyn actually did it all herself and Kira wanted a try so this is the second verison.

Marti and the girls made this cake while the rest of us were at school/work.

Marti's birthday was on the 29th. The crown was the one from Brookelyn's party.

Gail was so very happy to get a pic with the crown.

Arik being a great sport. How can you turn down two little girls begging him to wear the crown.

Brookelyn holding her crown waiting for the ice cream and cake.
Kira waiting for cake and ice cream.

Arik and I debated for quite awhile about weather or not to put Brookelyn in preschool. After a long debate we decided it was probably the best thing for her. She really wanted to go too. That helped make the deicision. So here she is ready to go. Since I had to be at school an hour before she went to school, here she is.
I love this picture.

One morning I went in to the girls and this is what I found.
Brookelyn then wanted a picture of herself because I can't just do something for one and not hte other.

On wednesday I had my first volleyball game. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. We won!!!! I felt so good. Last year the girls only won one game and they were not very confident. This helped them. We play again on Wednesday and I am nervous again but at least the first game is over.

School is going good. I am crazy busy and having three different classes is insane but I think things are going good. Getting up at 5:30 am for practice is not fun but well worth it in the end.

Happy Anniversary to Brandee and Spencer and Katie and Steve. They each just celebrated thier 6th!!

Also, congrats to Mo and Alicia for having a baby girl!!!

There should be a law...

There should be a law that states a mom and a dad CAN NOT get sick at the same time. Luckily for us, our girls can watch themselves. Arik and I have both been sick for over a week and it finally wore us done to nothing. We attended the doc and I have strep while Arik has a nasty chest cold that has moved into his sinuses. (This was how he started before his Mono went full blown.) Today Arik and I have slept many many many more hours than we have been awake.

Our girls are wonderful. They played by themselves, they ate whatever Brookelyn could reach and they did not fight as much today as usual.

I have now been on meds for 24 hours and can somewhat shallow without crying in pain. Arik's cough is getting farther and farther apart, he has lost his voice though. Life is great.

We will survive! We will survive!! WE will survive!!!!

What would you do?

Brookelyn and I had a conversation today that went like this.

Brookelyn: Mom why do you have two girls and no boys?

Mom (me): Because that is what Heavenly Father sent me.

Brookelyn: Mom, why does Aunt Brandee have a boy and a girl?

Mom: Because that Heavenly Father wanted to her to have a boy and a girl.

Brookelyn: I want a boy in our family.

Mom: So do I.

Brookelyn: I don't understand why we don't have any boys and and Aunt Brandee does.

Mom: Neither do I.


So what would you say? I don't have the answer for her. Any help in case this comes up again, which it will. I have already had a couple different talks like this abotu how she wants a brother and why don't we have one when most everyone else she knows has one. HELP ME!!!!

Kids say the darnest... he is the greatest ever

Side note: I have still not gone through all my pics yet but that will be soon.

Yesterday the girls had thier 4th and 2nd brithday check ups.

Brookelyn is:

39 1/2 inches tall

34 pounds

Kira is:

33 1/2 inches tall

30 pounds

The doctor told me that Brookelyn could get her school shots this year instead of waiting for next year. I said go for it. (she is starting preschool). I leaned over and told Brookelyn that she will be getting a couple of shots. A minute or two later Brookelyn said in a crying voice, "I don't want to be shot. I don't want to die. I want to live!!!" I busted up laughing and the doctor had tears in his eyes from laughing. I told her, "medicine shots, not gun shots. They are so you don't get sick and so you can go to school." she felt better after that.

Kira went first getting her shot. I told the nurse who was giving the shot that Kira has never cried getting shots before. The nurse gave Kira the shot and Kira... laughed. The nurse said it was the first time ever that a kid laughed when getting a shot. (It must be all the fat on those thunder thighs.)

Arik and I have not seen each other in 5 weeks and this weekend my cousin is getting married in Salt Lake. We were going to leave the kids with grandma and grandpa and then have a date night on our way down to Salt Lake. Enjoy a day together and then come back late tomorrow night. Two kid free nights!!!!!

That was the plan. A couple of fires decided to pop up yesterday and so Arik is on call in case they need him so no trip to Salt Lake with me and no date night. Arik felt so bad that on his lunch today he brought me...

Now I am not usually a flowers girl but they made me feel special and hopefully before school starts we can have a night just us. M husband is the greatest and I am so very lucky to have him. I love you sweetheart!!