52 Weeks Challenge

Well~ once again I have failed miserably at the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. I read more books than are listed on the bottom of my blog, however, I forgot to add them to the list and now I am having trouble remembering what they were! Needless to say, it's been a crazy year. I am going to attempt to do the challenge again this year. Mainly because I love posting to the challenge blog and seeing what others are reading. On the 52 week blog there is a little survey that one of the members posts every year. So I thought I would fill it out so I can look back on it for next year. 


1) How many books did you read this year?
     I have listed 12 books (pitiful, I Know) but I know I read more than that I just can't remember what. (pitiful, I know) 

2) Did you meet or beat your own personal goal? I didn't meet or even come close to my personal reading goal this year- but hey- there's always next year.

3) Favorite book of 2012 (you can list more than one or break it down by genre)
My favorite book this year was The Witness by Dee Henderson. 

4) Least favorite book of 2012 and why?
My least favorite book was not "the least" because of any reason other than that it was the third book in a series, and I didn't realize it until the end. That book was The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I very much enjoyed the book, was a little slow at times, but really wish I would have read the first two books before this- would have explained things.
5) One book you thought you'd never read and was pleasantly surprised you liked it?
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. My only exposure to Pinocchio was the Disney movie. I really enjoyed the original story. The moral lessons to be learned are presented so much better in the book than the movie.
6) One book you thought you'd love but didn't.
I really enjoyed each book I read this year.
7) One book that touched you -made you laugh, cry, sing or dance.
The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson. It was a really touching Christmas story.
8) Any new to you authors discovered and you can't wait to read more of their stories?
Every book that I read this year was by a new to me author. I have several of Barbara Cameron's and Lisa Wingate books on the list today.
9)Name the longest book you read? Shortest?
The Mysterious Island was definitely the longest book I read and Christmas Dog was the shortest.
10) Name the most un-put-down-able book you read?
I could not put down The Witness by Dee Henderson or  A World I Never Made by Jame Lepore. Both very suspenseful page turners. 
11) Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
I guess it would have to be Raising the Perfect dog by Cesar Milan. It is helping us train our puppy Zoe.
12) What book would you recommend everybody read?
Pinocchio- especially if you've only had the Disney experience.
13) Share your most favorite cover(s) I love Amish themed books and love the covers!


14) Do you have a character you fell in love with?
Betty Kowalski, the main character in The Christmas Dog. She is what everybody wants as a grandmother.
15) What was your most favorite part of the challenge? Did you do any of the mini challenges? I did read three classic books this year as a mini challenge and at least 3 new authors as another mini challenge.

What are your goals for the new year? To read more non fiction? To dip your toes into a mystery of an urban fantasy? What book are you most looking forward to reading in 2013?
I am going to challenge myself to read the 52 books this year. I would like to read some books that I have on my shelves for starters, there are so many I haven't touched yet, and also finish a few of the book series that I started in 2012. I am really looking forward to reading Bill O'Reilly's books Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. I have them on the shelf and have heard good reviews on them. I would also like to read a few non-fiction books and maybe be as brave as to attempt something sci-fi! Only time will tell.
Happy reading!

Blog Designing

I love visiting blogs. There are so many creative people out there and their blogs look amazing. Yes- I have blog envy. So I have decided to try my hand at redesigning my blog. I  decided to warn people ahead of time because I will probably mess things up quite a bit before it's finished. So please pardon my mess progress! This is my first attempt to make a collage on picmonkey. I was surprised how easy it was. Maybe there is hope for me yet! 

Summer 2012 Rehoboth Beach Sand Castle Contest

Christmas Snapshots

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve, Britni, Zack, and Alex joined Dan, Abi, Mom, and me for gift exchange, Cream of Crab soup(will post recipe soon) Oyster Stew, and It's a Wonderful Life. On Christmas morning Abi crawled in bed with us around 7:30 and asked if we could get up around 9:00! (we didn't wait that long). Our "Elf on the Shelf", Rachael, set the table for breakfast and left Abi a snowman (made from powdered sugar doughnuts) and a letter reminding her that the best gift of Christmas is Jesus. We spent the day relaxing together and watching movies. The fun continued on the 26th with a get together with the Benderoth side of the family at our beach house. It was such fun getting all the kids together and spending time with my siblings and their spouses.  Here's a sampling of the last few days for you to share with us.

We pray you all had an opportunity to make some special family memories this year. Family is a gift that lasts forever. Merry Christmas from the Drehmer's

The Tale of Two..... Gingerbread Houses

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is the Christmas Eve building of the gingerbread houses. Both Dan and I have German decent and we've always looked forward to including this part of our heritage. Last year we bought a pre-made kit with everything included to decorate a sweet little house. This year, I decided to use the gingerbread house cookie cutters (that have been on my shelf for years, unopened) and make the gingerbread myself. I found a great recipe, everything baked perfectly, and dried nicely overnight. Abi and I chose a few candies from our quick outing to the grocery store this afternoon, including ready made frosting (which I don't typically buy) to use in the extravaganza! This year, since I made the dough from scratch, we had enough for both Abi and I to decorate our own houses this year...oh how excited she was.

Daddy fixing Abi's house

Well everything was going along just fine.....the houses were nearly finished......Abi stepped out of the room to go get my camera and as I was adding the finishing touches to my house........... Abi's house fell...SPLAT.....I was struck speechless as I began to feel the devastation Abi was going to have when she returned to the kitchen and......SPLAT mine caved in as well! After hugging away the tears I couldn't help the giggling that came forth.(from me, not Abi) 

My "Masterpiece"

Enter Daddy to the rescue.....Dan gently picked up the pieces of Abi's house, filled the center with crumbled newspaper and got it standing again. (we can't remove the 'Good n Plenty' box bracing up the roof on one side but other than that..she stands)

It reminded me of how our heavenly Daddy, gently picks up the broken pieces of our lives, puts us back together and helps us to stand again. May we all know His great love for us this Christmas Season. He sent His son Jesus for our peace, our health, our anything we need...HE is the Great I AM. 

Abi and her house!

Shalom & Merry Christmas

The Hard Things in Life

Sometimes God allows us to walk through hard places. This week was one of those for many people. People close to us, people far away we don't know, and even our family walked through hard things this week.  What can be learned while walking in the hard places? Lots if we let God speak. 

I've been thinking of the unimaginable suffering that the town of Newtown Connecticut faced this week. What a hard place to walk. The parents who lost their precious little ones will never be the same. When we are unjustly wronged our human hearts want an apology. There will be no apology for them. 

A family we hold as dear friends said goodbye to a loved one this week. Their comfort will come for they know where their loved one rests. And they hold the same promise. 

I think of my own hard place this week. Like the parents of Newtown I may never receive an apology but I know that I have to forgive. It's not easy but the healing is coming. God is good. I pray that the body of Christ in Newtown will reach out with the love of Jesus to these hurting people, probably many that do not know Him. 

God has a plan for each of our lives. Trusting Him with that plan is easy when things are going along a smooth road but it takes great faith to trust Him when the road gets rocky and the path ahead is uncertain. 

Speak Lord Jesus

Nutcracker 2012

 Abigail in the production of The Nutcracker.

Abigail as little sister Maria

The party's over

Baby Mouse (center right)

Courtier (center)

Ginger Baby

Abi, Britni holding Alex, & and; Zack

The Ginger Babies
(l to r) Karyme Arroyo-Flores, Hannah Pusey, Allison Harris, Abigail Drehmer, Anna Williams,
 Annelise Bynum

Abi was also a "little angle" but for some reason we didn't get a picture of her in that roll.