joy that surpasses all else!!!!!!!!!!!!

joy

Book Review:

If God Is Good
by Randy Alcorn

Quite frankly, this book could seem overwhelming at first. I am amazed at how thorough the author was and how much information and faith filled this book! I have not been able to read all of it, but what I have read is more than just informative...its an experience. Alcorn raises questions such as....where do we get the standard for the goodness we judge evil? Is our suffering void of a redemptive purposes? Can we as Christians offer hope despite all the bad that occurs?

One particular quote has quite a bit of wordly wisdom......."We define our good in terms of what brings us health and happiness now; God defines it in terms of what makes us more like Jesus."

I can't tell you how often I've fallen in that trap...creating my own measurement for life's goodness. How often do I look to the Word....the Word itself and also written on my heart and in my mind...not enough.....and I must thank Randy Alcorn for bringing a freshness to such a hard question to fathom.

I have no copy to give away, but you may go here for a look at where to purchase this powerful book!

About the author....
Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries and a bestselling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written eighteen nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and four grandsons.

Yeah! Another soccer win!

This pic is SOOC, or straight out of the camera....and I just love it. I had this post all planned, had written a couple paragraphs below already..but you know what. My heart is just not in it. I suppose it's because half of the time, I don't feel like I should blog, or don't have anything worth saying..and other times, I just am so tired, I can't think. I love to share, don't get me wrong....but sometimes I just slave over my words, and I hate that. Also, tonight I feel emotional about a desire I have and cannot discuss here. Oh well....I will just digress...and let my reader(s) finish reading this post like I originally planned.

Okay...


So far, Ella's team, The Elks, have won 3, lost 2. YAY! She had quite the fan club tonight....it included her mom and dad, both brothers, my dad, and my grandma. That was such a neat thing to have for her...and we all had so much fun. Afterwards, Rich took the kids and I to Dairy King for ice cream. I am the oddball of the family- I LOVE sugarcones. Butter pecan for me, then strawberry/vanilla twist for Ella, chocolate for Buddy, and peach yogurt for Rich. Yummy...even the baby joined in with several bites of the peach yogurt. I know one thing for sure- I'll be pushing for a quick return!







Tomorrow is the last day for the homeschool week! I can't believe it's the end of another week. We've done lots this week- even sneaked in a short trip to Panera's, Ella and I, Wednesday, after we dropped Philip off at preschool. We worked on school stuff, of course, while there, but wow..the chicken noodle soup (wish it's had been brocolli cheese!) and hot cocoa was delish and took my mind away from schooling for a short while. ;0 Ella wants to go without the baby next time, although, really, he did great. Not sure where to put the babe next time!


I love watching Ella write....she has beautiful handwriting. We aren't learning cursive yet...I'm wanting her to really learn manuscript first and also have some spelling 101. I loved seeing her create a little work of art today. I was encouraged by seeing her write a cute little letter to her cousin, Sydney. She misspelled only one word, and although she forgot punctuation, she created this special, special letter of love and friendship. Tomorrow, I need to revisit math...it's sometimes been a subject of stress. She is practicing her piano each day...and her lessons are being given by a wonderful teacher from our church. We had an unspoken blessing- MAJOR blessing- concerning those lessons....and what a sigh of relief and a release from stress.

As we approach the weekend, we have lots going on, both Rich and I. Tomorrow, Great Grandma is going to teach Ella a little embroidery...should be grand.

Ups and Downs

This past week or so since I've blogged "our life" has had its ups and downs. Several real downer days with kids' behaviors. NOT fun...let me tell you. NOT FUN. But, we managed with prayer and God's wisdom. Those kinds of things end up blowing over to school time and that can be frustrating. We've had mountains to cross but with those resolved we can now climb even better and face those same circumstances and attitudes with more grace and confidence.

A blessing came to us via form of my parents offering to watch our children (and we handed off Ella and Philip only) so we could go on a date...one in I don't know how long. And yes...I call a date with one child in hand a date...one's perspective changes a bit when you have multiple children. ;0 We went to Aladdin's and I had the most delightful salad EVER! Yes..EVER! It had a variety of fresh greens, crumpled feta cheese, juicy craisins, crunchy pine nuts, yellow squash (sounds strange but it was fantastic in this salad!), grapes, small but tasty pieces of grilled chicken, and a splattering of honey dijon dressing. A small fortune at 8.99...but oh so worth it. I am making myself quite hungry again!

We also sneaked in a short visit to Barnes and Noble and then to the Family Christian bookstore where, ahem....I found some eye catching things. Well, I found these fantastically appropriately aimed devotional workbooks for boys, ages 2-5, and girls, 6-9. I was truly delighted to have found these treasures....and the best part is my kids LOVE them. There are about 100 different devotionals to choose from with no matter to what is chosen first to complete. Each begin with a verse and short story to read. Then, some questions to answer right there on the page. And then a prayer. The other side has some sort of activity- some require some extra time or supplies, but most of them are quite simple. I am incorporating these daily devotions into our homeschool time...probably two or three a week though.....and a review of the verse on the in between days!

Homeschooling has gone well. Ella has really done well with her reading, especially. I was worried about her getting into "chapter books" but wow...she's done it herself. She completed a Nancy Drew mystery paperback (about an 8 year old Nancy) the other day. She is working on another chapter book, from a different series, and is reading more than just 2 pages a night like before ...haha.... One thing to work on daily----- SPELLING! Some of our studies go slowly, at a crawl, because I am not having her do too much "inventive" spelling. Our funnest studies- art (which she excels at) and history. We have done a lot of creative things also for science. It seems, too, that a lot of our studies run into each other...which is really good, because I find it easier to plan our day! For instance- this week, science with reading go together. Also, manners and art, with a bit of a mini science project. Also, our English and History/Geography intertwine. Awesome.

I have a sleeping baby on my lap here...must go on to put him in his little bed. Don't forget about the previous post's giveaway!

Kiss Me Again, blog tour and review!

I am delighted to have another giveaway! Please leave me a comment and I will draw the winner's name this Friday evening. In Kiss Me Again, Barbara Wilson gives women insight on rekindling their love and connection with their husbands. Be blessed with her gentle words and strong breaths of wisdom. Also included is a Bible study to follow in the back of the book. Don't let yourself be destroyed by past relationships or present hangups....let God fill your heart with joy for your mate!

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:
· Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
· Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices
· Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
· Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
· Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
· Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

Barbara Wilson is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.

If you are wishing to see this book for yourself, please go here to purchase!

****The winner of the previous giveaway is my friend Zorina- lucky gal again! I'll mail it out to you soon!*****

You Were Born For This Blog Review and Giveaway!

I am excited to bring to your attention another exciting and challenging book by Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez. Do you feel that you aren't being used? Let's open our eyes and expect God to use us for great things! Even the smallest miracle is a great miracle. I have recently seen "direct interventions" occuring in my own life. Maybe it's because reading the powerful words of Wilkinson AND digging into God's Word. Maybe it's because the knowledge and hope to be used opens up opportunities....with the willingness to be a part of God's plan each and every day.

Here's a direct quote that checks your heart...."Ministry without the Spirit of God is merely our best efforts. Ministry with the Spirit of God is the stuff of miracles." He's speaking of one of seven keys to a life of miracles...the Spirit Key. Listen....understand that you deliver the miracle while HE actually DOES the miracle. The examples the author brings to life with his words are in fact, divine interventions and absolute miracles. It was amazing to see people at work...but most of all, God at work.

If you wish to see more about this book, please click the following link to view a video...

http://bit.ly/wGT7l


Author Bios:
One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa . Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta .

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado .

***I have one copy of this to giveaway! Please post a comment to me and I will announce a winner late Sunday night! *****

picture show

this face....that is determination

a couple pics from the nature walk a few weeks back...

and my Philip on his first day of preschool a couple weeks ago! he loves it!

Book Review.....Stray Affections

Stray Affections
by Charlene Ann Baumbich

In Stray Affections, the last thing that Cassandra expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home—even if means wrestling another shopper for it!
The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw , Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange—flurrious, as Cassie deems it—moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.
“As a believer, I know the power of forgiveness and new beginnings, and of a God, and family and friends, who love me the way I am,” Charlene Ann Baumbich says. “The heartbeat of change flows through those wonderful gifts.”
With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites readers to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

About the author....
Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn , Illinois . She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.

Here's a video link of Charlene introducing the book to readers!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=101927788491
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWwya52SkjU

Not enough time!

to do everything i want to do! eek! really- i feel like i'm rushing everything i do! and compared to most, we're not even that busy...it must be the three kid thing! what a blessing...a sometimes going crazy blessing...but a major blessing nonetheless...

so, school is going well. for both philip and ella. i think i forgot to mention that buddy started preschool last week and is thoroughly enjoying it. in fact, he talks more about school then ella ever did! lol! he is making friends, having fun with all the different activities, and loving going to his class. yay! he said he only cried the first day at recess. he didn't cry going to school that first day or any day after! what a little man!

tomorrow is friday- that means no school for buddy and rich's birthday plus rich has the day off. i am not sure what we are going to do tomorrow to celebrate. he hasn't said much. i do know that we forgot to make cards! yikes! must do that first thing tomorrow, me and the kids!

tomorrow we also finish our "unit" on Africa. i am reviewing with ella via a little booklet for the ancient egypt part of our unit. she is doing great with her reading comprehension. also, a little bit inventive is she with her spelling...but i suppose that is par for the course. lol. she is only in first grade! and finshing her third week at that! i am trying to be upfront with her about her spelling. she gets a little frustrated having to rewrite some words but we just take it a little at a time. her reading is really really good...i just hope she begins to visualize in her head how she would READ the word and then spell it that way. i have a couple videos on African tales/stories we will try to watch plus several books to read. it should be a "living book" day..or rather...a review on what we know through reading and conversing and some short video clips. next week we do the Land Bridge and then the maya..with the aztecs and incas following shortly the following few weeks. i am excited about the next unit! yay!

science was fun this week. we took a field trip to the pet store to see what animals had scales, feather, and fur. she had to write some names down and talk to me about what those coverings do for the animal. our experiment today was really fun- hands on stuff.

three books we read about or relating to Africa and people from Africa were Somewhere in Africa, Amazing Grace, and Bringing Rain to Kapiti Plain. For each, we did at least one worksheet. i found lesson plans online and also, the first two we actually discussed main characters and traits, settings, events, problems, and resolving of conflict. It was a stretch for her, being the first times she ever did something like that but i suspect as we do one every week as i plan, she will get the hang of it. tomorrow's books include a sequel to Amazing Grace called Boundless Grace, Papa Do You Love Me, and The First Music. these are just for fun books- not going to actually make her work after we read them. we need an easy day tomorrow...it's been a full week!

i introduced her the other week only briefly to Peter and the Wolf, and we went into it a bit more today. Since health has been focusing on feeling this week and last week, it was a good tie in to musical instruments and the emotion and images they convey. she began her little notebook today, with each page a different instrument as noted in Peter and the Wolf and her own little illustration of the instrument. she really enjoyed it!

here's some tidbits of other russell things- rich took the kids to the fair sunday and i did not go..i napped....i am wiped out on the weekends. totally....baby is just adorable as ever. had a few better nights of sleep....the kids have been playing with their neighbors almost every day. they love our right next door neighbors plus the one neigbor across the street from us....it is an awful awful day when they can't play!

these pics above are from last friday's little nature walk adventure with grandpa! they made simple nature journals which someday i will show here on the blog and actually sketched their own drawings of what they found! i made one too..i couldn't resist! here are only a small sampling of my pics...hoping to get more up later!

Another day under our belt!

I cannot believe it. We are almost two weeks into our homeschooling. I feel so BLESSED, to say the least, that we have been given this opportunity. I am able to give one on one instruction to my child, let her work on things that inspire her, and have us incorporate our faith in all sorts of ways into our daily studies. It. Is. A. Blessing....

And something else that is a blessing....those that prayed for me, and this venture of homeschooling. Yesterday was a much better day. So was today. One thing that may have made a difference is that I added a second break (besides Lunch/Recess) for Ella. I think that girl likes her play time! LOL! Our natural time to start is 9, so we end up going until 3, which for me honestly is not really what I wanted to do, but if it makes her more able to study and learn, then so be it. If we didn't have that extra break, we may be sneaking out of school at 2:30..ha! Oh well....I also made a file folder into a daily study chart. She gets to put in order what she wants to do. I help some...I like to have some control with when I present certain things, but she does have some input.

Reading is always first...we have a reader that is really nice- short and sweet, but with new words for her to learn- and it usually takes us 15 mintues to get through what we do with that. One thing that we do daily is copywork from a manners book. It takes a 6 year old an awfully long time to print out a sentence. LOL. I learned that last week! But, she IS doing her best work. We are making some headway with the letters and numbers she writes backwards. Like, 3's and E's, p's and q's, and 7's and 9's, and sometimes j and J.

Tomorrow is a quiz in English. Also, a Unit 2 test in Spelling. And a small test in Math. Also, we will be taking a small walk by train tracks to finish our art lesson on perspective. We did the first part today, which was drawing train tracks fading off into the horizon, so I had this idea that popped into my head (which happens a lot!) to go to this particular place nearby. We need some exercise anyways. Well, I do at least!

We've been studying the Ancient Egyptians, and will 'try' to conclude that tomorrow (although I have a feeling we will have to go until Tuesday with that). I had the kids make "mummies." NOT real ones..ha...but small ones..it was from an idea I saw. Instead of the supplies suggested in the lesson plan, I used pipe cleaners and white crepe paper. ;0 You use white glue to secure and paste the mummy's wrappings on it. We have to paint it (like we are painting the case it goes in) tomorrow. Since we learned about mummies already earlier this week, as we finish this subject up, I will conclude with the story about Lazarus. Fitting, right? I had that idea pop into my head too! To be able to show that GOD'S power is real and these poor mummies are just mummies...For some reason, my kids were really into the Reading Rainbow VHS on mummies we got from the library (which, by the way, was awesome because those videos are EXPENSIVE!). Ella curled up right beside me today while I read to her from A Child's History of the World. I had two chapters to read, and it took awhile, but really broke down what we were studying.

Okay, so on to what else we did. English- narrating a picture. Some copywork that included drawing a picture. Science review on stems/roots/leaves. An online math game and several worksheets, including a new thing I introduced- easy graphing. We went over some mapping terms again..just for review. We also read this book that I recall reading when I was little- Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. So, we also went over the lands in Africa, monsoons, droughts, etc. I had found a lesson plan on this book so I used the corresponding questions. Tomorrow for review on the book I will have her do story sequencing with sentence strips. Had health class- which involved much discussion about being sad/happy/afraid..and I read several Bible verses for our lesson. I am looking forward to tomorrow's lesson in health because I included listening to Peter and the Wolf. The music is great for portraying emotions, etc. I sampled it for the kids the other day and they liked it. Added bonus- they get to learn the instruments in the orchestra. A little book that we work from sometimes goes along with the whole "emotions" theme but adds some nice thoughts on how to act/respond is something that we've worked on too. I LOVE how three subjects can intertwine!

I'm thinking we are postponing our mini dig for next week. I am waiting for a book so I can read it to the kids. I love adding things ...I am totally thriving on getting things together. I have things in place, but am not afraid to alter it a bit. That's just how we work here anyways. Very flexible. And it seems that the more flexible courses of study are History, Health, and English...although I am needing to add some more work for her Math, because Singapore math is a little lacking with the worksheets for extra practice.

Okay, time to go. The baby's poor mouth...it is still bothering him and thus my sleep is still far and few between. There he goes crying again..my sweet WD!

I am NOT going to sugar coat this...

life of a stay at home mom who has a hard working husband, one first grader to homeschool, one to take to preschool, one to take in my arms mostly all day (especially now, during this awful time of teething), and a very, very tired fibromyalgia body...

nope...i'm not

but i'm not going to say i'm depressed, because i'm not...i'm just frustrated, need some direction, and am very very very tired.

did i say i'm tired?

i'm tired...thus, i'm emotionally and mentally a little depleted. well...let's be honest here...all the way...i'm a LOT depleted...

but...

we are pushing forward...and with that said...let me sum up our first week of homeschooling last week and this week so far.

i have this wonderful "plan" of studying maps, continents, a little bit of ancient egypt and then finally the mayas, incas, and aztecs before we hit the explorers, the discovering of the americas, and then pilgrims, and thanksgiving. so far, last week we began our study of maps. i began with several different options to begin our map quest. first, we needed to learn what a map was and what was on a map, such as the compass rose and map key. i taught ella AND philip how to draw a compass rose, and let me tell you, it was a hit. philip was drawing them left and right! ella drew a map of her bedroom and also of the place we took a field trip too, which was a local fruit farm. another thing we did was to make a "splatter" map. we had gotten the idea here. we went outside last tuesday with our butcher paper and paints and went to work. they loved it and so did i. friday we completed our maps with the appropriate markings. it was a made up map project so it could be anything they wanted it to be. i do not have the pics loaded onto the computer yet...so i can't share...hopefully soon.

with knowledge of maps, we went on to the continents. ella picked that up really fast. i found a game online that tested her.

we reviewed our knowledge about maps through several books...and one about Penny, a dog, was especially helpful in our "quest." the funny thing was that there had been a look a like dog at the fruit farm where we had gone to READ our book! it was the "farm's dog" and kept coming up to us so we could play fetch with her.

i also had borrowed some large books of maps, but now have something of my own that will help us. also, we are borrowing a really special globe from my dad, and then my parents found a leapfrog globe that will be a great tool as well.

how to go next with our quest to knowing our world...well...i found a great idea through Core Knowledge and many other sites followed suit. a study of the fairytale, Cinderella, through various countries. i obtained many copies of Cinderella tales to see what we would study first. Turns out that studying the Egyptian Cinderella is the best fit as it takes us to Africa and more specifically Ancient Egypt. monday, we started our Cinderella adventure. there is so much to pull from this idea...including literary terms such as villain and heroine, narration and comparing, etc. we also are learning about pharaoh's, mummies, the nile river, and thursday and friday we are exploring archaeology, which is really right up my alley as i have an anthropology degree. friday we will have a mini "dig." hehe..can't wait....i have a great big binder of notes, etc, that i've pulled from the internet and books...and also things that are going into ella's "lapbook" of africa. the lapbook is basically a file folder turned into an art project/notebook/presentation of what she's learned and done for a certain subject.

speaking of lapbooks, we started one last week on punctuation. and today, one on cool colors and warm colors. buddy and ella painted wheels and some worksheets on "manners" and they will go in their folders/lapbooks. also, this art lesson tied into health believe it or not. the art was mainly about showing feelings and our health lesson was about feelings. i found a great book at the local library to help us with this as it had an accompaniment cd, with the book sung. it was great. we listened to this after i lost it. yes..i lost it.....i had to go into my bedroom and close the door. we've had some ups and downs with adjusting to knowing what the best schedule is and also what is the best time for 'breaks.' ella is learning that this is "school" even thought we are home and sometimes she struggles getting her work done. it is the work that she has to compose herself usually...and it would be for example, a math question or a sentence to write from her science lesson. sigh.....we're dealing with it and it just frustrated me so much today. i think it's mainly ME though since tonight i asked her what she like about school and she said, everything. i then asked her what she didn't like, and she said, well, i like everything! lol! last year, when i asked her what her favorite thing about school (when she was not homeschooled) was she said "lunch and recess." hmmm made me feel a little better...lol.....

speaking of science....we did one project and one also went on a nature walk yesterday. tomorrow is another experiment. tuesdays are supposed to be "field trip" days but we didn't have one to do this week. next week and the week after we do.

english is old fashioned. i am utilizing several books that have character in them...kind of a charlotte mason approach. but rest assured, all following ohio standards with all we are doing.

i LOVE figuring out my lessons and what i will teach and how. it really feeds into my creative soul. i feel like all i have done my entire life has led up to this point and that is such a gift from God, i believe, and i thank him for it. and pray that i can continue to do my best for him, from home. for Him, from home is kinda my new motto.

anyways, what else....oh, our living room is overcome with books right now..library books to be exact. oh well...our basement is getting there so we can have a room. soon, but not yet.

tomorrow during health we are going to continue with 'feelings' and i will introduce peter and the wolf so we can "hear" different feelings. oh, another thing is that we begin with a devotion from a reader from Christian Liberty Press that introduces some appropriate Biblical concept for children and also new words to read and know. it takes us a while to go through the two pages she reads but i also have her narrate it after we are done and ask her questions. then we have prayer requests and pray.

i really love being her teacher, and she loves me being her teacher. buddy likes to chime in here and there, and the baby HAS to come along for the ride....it has been slightly difficult to make sure the baby's needs are met while we homeschool without it being awkward but we are working through it. i just need more sleep....the baby is teething and his teething is awfully difficult for him. his gums are very very very very tender. more tender i think than the other two kids' gums when they were teething. he is up honestly, like every other hour at night. THAT is why i am so tired and not dealing with little difficulties right now. i am going to head for bed, so i will put links in this later. i know i detailed about some but i have a brain that cannot think anymore.

i have more to say about the specifics of my eclectice homeschooling too, but all for another time. and photos..whew....one of these days!

God bless! and really- if you can say a prayer for me during the day, please please please do. i don't want to lose it again, throw down my book, and send myself to my room again! ;0



(this link is cool...we are looking at it tomorrow. the kids watched a vhs already tonight so they will know some of this stuff! wooohoo!!)


http://www.nms.ac.uk/education__activities/kids_only/egyptian_tomb_adventure.aspx

Blog Book Review: Deadlock

Time for another book review! I don't have a copy to give away but you may purchase this here if you would like!

The Zarbo brothers are seasoned outlaws with a reputation for killing. Already wanted in two states, they set their sights on Colorado and a string of bank robberies. They don’t count on running into Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman.

John arrests Lee Zarbo, but his brothers remain in hiding. Lee’s sentence to death by hanging incites them to desperate measures. They’ll do anything to get him out alive. Even kidnap the Chief U.S. Marshal’s daughter.

When John learns of his young daughter’s captivity and the conditions for her release, he must turn to the Lord for direction. It takes all the faith he can muster to wait for the answer. Without freeing a dangerous criminal, can John find Ginny before they kill her?
About the author...

Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and Western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies.

Book Reviews Times Three!

**I adored the Knit Lit ladies....I was honestly surprised because by the summary I wasn't sure it was even my "style." You know what, though? It engaged me immensely. The characters were well developed and each honestly sparked interest in my mind enought to just fall in love with them. ***

*** The other two books were wonderful as well....please look them up! ***

THE CONFEDENTIAL LIFE OF EUGENIA COOPER

by Kathleen Y'Barbo
The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man. As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado , she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

THE SWEETGUM LADIES KNIT FOR LOVE

by Beth Patillo
Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum , Tennessee , love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

A ROSE HOUSE

by Tina Ann Forkner
A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms. She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.


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About the authors...
Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and young adult books, with more than a half-million in print. A graduate of Texas A&M University , she is currently a publicist with Books & Such literary agency.

RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Pattillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program.

Tina Ann Forkner is the author of Ruby Among Us. Originally from Oklahoma , she now lives with her husband and three children in Wyoming , where she serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation’s board of directors.

I Heart Faces "Nostalgia"

This week at I Heart Faces the theme is "Nostalgia." Since I appreciate GREATLY all things vintage and old fashioned, I had LOTS of photos to choose from. I LOVE the look of nostalgia. If I could have it in every single photograph, I would. What a wonderful theme they picked! ;0

So, here is the photograph I have chosen to enter. This little boy is our Will David when he was oh, maybe 6-7 months old? He is wearing a vintage outift that my sister in law Jessica found for me. Precious isn't it? The little lamb just adds to the "nostalgia." This photograph sends me to sweet old fashioned playing days...something I'd see a hundred years ago if I was walking about in my neighborhood. I have a whole series of photos like this....this was TOUGH!

Here's my sweet, sweet little Will David...Almost Easter: A Nostalgic Moment...how's that for a title? LOL!

Feeling God is good!

That is my sentiment of the day....it should be each day. Today it is because I feel like I actually have the time to sit and be thankful...I'm thankful for being able to begin homeschooling with Ella tomorrow...for a husband that plays music...for my children who are in our home, given to us by the Lord to raise up...for my grandmother whom I treasure and see treasuring my children...for the cooler air today...for sweet neighbors...for wonderful friends.....for health and life...for grandparents that enjoy the unique natures of Ella, Philip, and Will David..for parents that still invest their hearts, time, and energy in me...for a church that is strong in its faith and preaches without reservations....for the absolute beauty of a minute...the minutes in an hour...the hours in a day...for the absolute beauty of the air we breathe...and being able to breathe! I see more and more each day of God's handiwork. Partly, I believe, is my own faith growing, but also having my children here to remind me...and life experiences. As we are beginning homeschooling, I see everything I am to say to my Ella-girl as an opportunity to plant good solid seeds in her heart and mind of God's goodness. I pray for that knowledge to stay strong and pure in her! I also pray for my Buddy as he starts preschool a week from tomorrow...he will begin a wonderful adventure in a new class with new people. I need to trust in the Lord that He will take care of him, the few hours each day he is gone from me.

The blessings are abundant...and I can say this even in trial..sadness or pain...not to boast, but to show that God's love proves over and over that it gives us life. This neck pain, and for that matter, the other body pain I have, that I've had for the good part of last week is somewhat crippling to my daily tasks of being a mom to three and wife to Rich but it is a reminder that God can move past MY hurt and do great things through me I wouldn't have guessed. Maybe it seems like I'm "preaching" today...I'm not trying to do so. Honestly, just reminding myself what it is to truly be a child of God and to put my trust in Him for ALL THINGS.

As you approach this week, I hope that you will let the Lord work through you, guide you, and encourage you. I know He can, and He will!

We are preparing for a first great week of homeschooling! I am resting my body today to try to get rid of awful pain stemming from my fibromyalgia but worsened by trying to get the basement rid up so we could have a small part of it for homeschooling if we so desire. It's been tough- getting little sleep silly because of baby teething and having to take pain meds and get ice packs for a "feels'like'it's'been'hammered'neck." God has gotten me through...my spirit is quiet and willing...and I know he will provide for me what I need this week!

I will say that these two older children of ours are quite excited about school! I kinda feel like I am "playing school" like I did when I was little! HA! I have spent HOURS and HOURS and HOURS working through all that is homeschooling...it is a lot of work, but so worth it. I am excited beyond what I can really convey here in this blog post!

Well, I must leave with this photo...and tomorrow I will probably relay what we are studying and some resources we are using. :0

And one more thing..this is very serious. Good friends of ours had to surrender a little foster boy of theirs that they have cared for since he was about 6 months old. He is now past 4. They surrendered him on Friday, and that was so very heavy all day in my heart. Besides being wonderful foster parents to him, Matt and Amy recently adopted two other of their foster children this summer. And these other children were attached to the little boy as well. Please pray for Matt and Amy, Justin and Jameeka, and their extended family as well. Rich told me...it's like what if we had to go drop Buddy off somewhere forever. Yikes....makes you think. This little boy was their son...they will continue to love him and pray for him, I know. It's heartbreaking and not something we can comprehend and understand. The pain is so very very very real. Please keep them in your prayers.

Swing time...

Last week, on one of Rich's days off, we went up to the Boardman Park for a few hours. The kids played their litte hearts out....including biking, scooter-ing, tennis, and who knows what else! We also had packed lunches to eat. Will David completely loved the baby swings, as you can see! I love these pics...you can really see how he looks like me!!!!!!!! ;0

Today was a busy day- we had a check up for WD and the kids and I have been doing various other things- a craft project, cleaning (kinda) in the basement, homeschool research, phone calls to be made....and we squeezed in a walk somewhere too. Right now, we're just waiting for Rich to get home from a slightly later shift. Then I suppose out the door they go to play. And down to the "dungeon" I go to rid, sort, and organizes. Sigh....that is soooo not a fun job.

Here is something really interesting I found while googling for things...I am trying to locate some things to help teach Ella (and Philip) some map reading skills...it's called Letterboxing. Here's the gist (of what I can figure out). You make a rubber stamp (they give you directions). You stamp/sign a book you make/buy for this project. You place that stamped book inside a waterproof box, and then hide that box somewhere. Make directions..and spread the word for people to go treasure-hunting for your box! I honestly think this is a super fun thing for kids to do, and I plan on doing this NEXT week when we START OUR HOMESCHOOLING!!!!

If you are interested for more info, here are some other sites (I haven't looked at them yet myself, but here you go anyways....)

http://www.imcpl.org/kids/blog/?p=119
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/PeoplePlaces/Letterboxing
http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Letterboxing

ps...don't know why i have two different colors here sorry!

It's late again!!!

but I am in the mindframe to blog, so if I am..I suppose I should take advantage. The time took off when I got home from my night out with WD and my friend, Beth. I started to clean up a bit around the house and then..poof! It's after 11 pm! Yikes!
How's come I think better at night anymore? Shouldn't I be able to do this stuff during the morning or something? Sigh....

Well, we filled up our day again today. Lately, we are just busy. Busy meeting friends/family, going to store, preparing for homeschooling next week, trying to rid/clean rooms, and just enjoying the summer, inside and outside. And soccer. ;0

This morning we went to our new friends' house here in Salem, just a hop, skip, and jump away from our street. The family has three children, just like us, and they played so well together. That makes ME HAPPY! I had fun chatting with their mom. All around, a great morning! Then, after getting McDonald's happy meals (for the toys...haha..) we went back home and then out once more to the store. I picked up some better face cleanser and makeup. Really....I feel my age. I am approaching a certain number..and I feel like my skin has been neglected. I used the new stuff tonight, one in particular- the mask, and it REALLY seemed to make my face smoother, and it feels great too. Anyways, a little special treat for myself.

At the very end of our store trip, WD started to cry. He had awoken from his little nap, and someone else had been talking to him, and he just did not like that. He is such a mamma's boy right now. We toted him in the cart, out the doors, crying..poor thing...he really doesn't cry a lot, but lately (teeth being the culprit) he's doing a bit more of it, and it is NOT like him at all. He is a naturally good natured little fellow..and it is so endearing.

After we got home, I had to put groceries away as fast as I could, being said baby didn't like not being held by mommy, and then make dinner. For..shortly after 5 I would be going to pick up my friend so we could go enjoy something like tea, etc...I was a little late, being trying to cram as much as possible before I left. WD did fantastically well for being out and about. We stopped at Barnes and Noble for our drinks (tea, and tea..LOL), some browsing, and then headed to Target, the store where you go in to just look and come out wondering how the stuff in the bag jumped in your cart. One thing to note....and Beth can testify..I need to be a bit more organized with my purse ;0

Okay, so onto what was next...a stop in at my parents' house right after I dropped Beth off at her house. WD charmed my mom and dad of course..and he also managed to get up the couple steps between the living room and kitchen, pulled the kitty's hair and tail, and conducted a symphony. Apparently..he is a real music lover. And was practicing his gross motor skills by waving his arms and hands after my dad put on some classical music. ;0 That was cute..sweet..and a wonderful moment to share.

I have the best kids..they both told me several times today I was the best mom in the whole world. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so here is a goofy pic to share of Philip and Rich the other day..enjoy!

11:20

so notice my title...yes it is LATE, and for some reason my bedtime keeps getting pushed later and later. ugh. not a real good thing to happen when I get up at least 2 xs with WD each night. yes, yes..2 xs. I know..I know.....I do think right now, the teething is why. it's rough. but something I just have to do..

so, getting a photo up I am. even though, my readers are few, you are. bed time I do see...after getting this photo published, I will..hmmm......Buddy's Star Wars frame of mind is rubbing off on me...the photo, see here?

Oh, don't you just love WD's expression in this above photo. And the very first photo in this post...just something fun we did today, without any participation from WD...he was not happy at that time. well..all day...poor fella. :(

Visiting a pasttime

I love to read, and have found myself in the midst of READING, READING, READING lately.





Reading to my daughter.





Reading to my eldest son.





Reading to my youngest son.





Reading about homeschooling.





Reading about first graders.





Reading lesson plans.





Reading books for blog reviews.





Reading book lists for various lesson plans.





Reading my childrens' minds (naw..just kidding on this one...I really wish I could though!).





Reading music.





Reading my own thoughts and heart...trying at least.





Reading old books of mine..and this last bit of information is what is prompting this post...in the midst of trying to prepare for a garage sale (who knows, however, if one will even happen!), I have collected a few books that I have carried along with me through life and brought them upstairs to leaf through.





One in particular, had this affect on me..have you had this happen to you ever before? Where you find something of your past and all at once it brings emotions to you that warms your heart and mind? Well, it happened to me, when I saw this book. I don't recall when I had gotten it. I am assuming at a Scholastic Book Fair in elementary school...I so loved reading growing up. I read, read read read...and read some more. Thankfully, my kids are starting to get that reading is AWESOME! We are going to the library more often now...and it is helping. Well, back to this book. Simple book of poetry for two voices..black and white illustrations...although they are black and white they are "naturey" and have a touch of whimsy.







In my research for finding lesson plans on the internet, I found one that uses this book! Go figure!



Insects Through Literature

Now that I shared a little story that no one probably cares about, I shall tell you that I have spent numerous hours the past couple months (which probably add up to DAYS I tell you!) preparing for the homeschooling venture. I have enjoyed it, and only a couple times have gotten stressed out. Thankfully. I am very confident that we will succeed, and I am confident because of how the Lord has prepared each and every step of this new journey. I sent in our official papers this week. I have almost all of the books we are using. I have extra supplies we need. I have a bulletin board, big dry erase board, some various art materials, several binders with sleeved prinouts that I have found on the computer...and wonderful wonderful books that we are using for her first grade curriculum. I did not go with just one company, I used various from all around. I know that created more work for me, yada yada yada, but honestly, it was super fun, and now has developed a great passion for researching curriculum and all things close to it on the web and library. That joke's on me..who really NEEDS another all consuming hobby! **Insert LOL here!***

I must say that another post shall include some information on the books we are using..the particulars and all, and why I chose them for Ella this year. I am soooo excited about this. And, thankfully, so is Ella. We start SOON! A couple weeks! Along with Philip who begins preschool! Sniff Sniff Sniff!! Preschool and first grade! WHEN did this happen??!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?! And Will David..who is crawling and pulling himself up now? Ayi yi yi!!!!!