The Talens' Tales

Detective Avery North has experienced her share of loss both inside and outside her time of work. But when two young women are found dead within a short time from another with some very interesting connections, Avery knows she needs to act quickly before yet another young woman falls victim to this killer. Dangerous Passage  by Lisa Harris follows Avery on the search for the killer. And not only is Avery busy with her work as a detective, she is also a busy single mom and on the brink of a new relationship with Jackson Bryant. Jackson a medical examiner provides both important clues to her case and some needed distraction in her life. But, when this case hits a bit too close to home, will Avery and Jackson be pushed closer together, or ripped apart? I enjoyed reading Dangerous Passage . It was an very engaging novel and also very relevant and current to the realities of the world we are living in. I appreciated that these were Christian characters who were struggling wi...

I don't know about you, but it is 9 pm on Monday, and I am tired. I think part of it is we had a busy week of  "firsts" over here, all which remind me that my kids are growing up way to fast. Our fall activities have started. I attend a Coffee Break Bible study on Tuesday morning and Joash has moved up to Story Hour. We have now entered the time of crafts to take home. "Clear the refrigerator." said Wilbert. I was nervous for this transition because he did so well in the nursery he was in last year. He loved the ladies that took care of him because they brought tractors for him to play with. But Story Hour went well with just a few tears. Then on Sunday Joash started to go to Junior Sunday School. This means he sits in church with us for the first half of the service, then goes to the front of church for the Children's Message and then heads downstairs for Sunday School. He did really well with this one. He was pretty quiet during church, sat in the fr...

Mom: Hi Mataya!  You are 4 months old already! M(ataya): I know! I am so excited about that! Mom: I can tell. You certainly do love to smile. And you have a very lovely smile too. M: Thanks, mom.  Mom: So, what is new in your world? M: Not to much really. I am growing. I am rolling both ways now. I love my brother. I like to be in the swing in nursery. It is nice to take a nap then. Mom: I am glad you take a nap then too. You are much happier the rest of the day if that happens.  M: I think it is safe to say I am a morning person right now. Mom: I would agree. You are so happy and content in the morning. But by about 5 pm, you have had it for the day. Anything else that you like to do? M: I like to spin the rattle on the exersaucer. It doesn't scare me any more like it used to. Mom: Well, I think it might be getting close to time for a nap. Are you ready for that? M: You bet mom. I don't mind going to my bed most of the time now. Sleep is usuall...

Not too much to say today. Just some fun pictures to share.  Joash showing Mataya the different machines used to harvest crops. Mr. Potato Head glasses! Silly monkey!

And the start of the school year is upon us. Not that anyone in this house is going to school or anything, but this time of year is always interesting to me. I guess my 17 years of school followed by 6 years of teaching really makes September a big month in your life. And this September it seems crazy to think that next September I will have a preschooler!  But this is the sort of early education taking place at our house these days... Joash loves to show Mataya the finer points of using the telehandler to move round bales. In just this last week, he has decided that he likes to play by her. So all around her gym and exersaucer are tractors and round bales. It will be a sad and difficult day when Mataya become mobile and interested enough to grab onto all of these items  and start putting them in her mouth. But for now, I love watching this older brother introduce his sister the world.

With the new baby, one of the most common question I get is how is Joash handling it. And to be honest, I think he is a pretty awesome big brother. He loves Mataya and he tells her that. He loves to get her to smile or coo at him, and she does it for him all the time. He always keeps an eye out for her and tells me when she spits, or rolls or touches him. And she eats up all of the attention. They are quite the pair. This is Joash's idea of "getting a few toys for Mataya to play with on her blanket. I think she has enough. The only differences I have seen in Joash is that he is a bit more moody and little things can turn quickly to tears, especially if he is tired. He doesn't like to go to nursery any more. And he has developed a fear of the dark. But, it is hard to say if these things are due to Mataya entering our life, or just the fact that he is almost three. So, if anyone has any good tips on how to get a child through his fear of the dark. I am all ears. R...

Mom: Well, Mataya, you have been three months for a little while now, but we still haven't done your interview. Now that the computer is fixed, let's do it! M(ataya): Sounds good! Mom: So what is new Mataya? M: Lots of things are new, mom. Where should I start?  Mom: Well, what new things have you tried? M: I have tried the exersaucer, which is a lot of fun. I have also tried rolling. I worked really hard on it for a week, mastered it, and now I am pretty content to be on my back again. But, I am sure glad my arms are free from my swaddle now. It helps me take better naps.  Mom: I can tell. While it may take you a bit to fall asleep for you nap, once you are asleep, you usually take a nice long nap. What else do you like to do? M: I like to play on my gym and hang on to the legs of the monster and frog that dangle from it. I also like to watch my brother and smile and coo at him. And I really like to smile for my dad. I really like him. Mom: I know. I ...