Book Review: The Scent of Water by Naomi Zacharias

This book was an eye-opener into the world of prostitution and brothels in India and other countries.  Naomi has worked with women in the red-light districts in The Netherlands, India and Thailand.  She also helps provide foster homes for children affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Asia and helps to find funds for hospitals to provide surgical treatment for women who have been the victims of violence in the Congo.  She works in women's prisons in South Africa; displacement camps in Indonesia, Uganda and Pakistan; areas of the Middle East offering aid to Iraqi refugees; and areas of Southeast Asia devastated by the tsunami of 2004.  All of his is through Wellspring International, which is an "initiative devoted to providing financial grants to international efforts working with at-risk women and children."

I felt that I needed to tell you who she is in order for you to know what this book is about.  It covers all of these things and talks about her personal story within all of these environments, as well as some of her personal struggles.  The stories were heart-breaking, but also encouraging. 

In India, their ministry partnered with another ministry to help those that wanted out of the brothels to get out and to never have to go back.  They believed in these women even when these women didn't believe in themselves.  That brothels and prostitution part struck me because she spoke about how many times we judge people for their past.  When we describe them, we say, "they're the ones who used to be in a prostitution ring, but got saved and stopped" or "they used to do drugs but got saved and stopped."  We don't see them for who they are now.  Yes, by God's power they overcame, but the sin didn't/and shouldn't define them or what we think of when we think about them.  "For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." It's not like there are levels of sin in God's eyes.

She also spoke of going into the red-light district and not wanting to demean the women in the window by looking at their bodies, but she also didn't want to pretend they weren't there, so she would stop and look in their eyes.  She said it was heartbreaking because many of them were in pain and ashamed and empty.

This book was a great read and has made me more aware of some of the issues going on in the countries that we don't hear much about.  I definitely recommend this book.
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Zondervan provided me with this book free of charge, for the purpose of review.

Book Review: The Take Action Bible

This is a neat Bible that focuses on how God calls us to go, serve, give, heal, and teach all the way from Genesis to Revelation.  It's written in the NKJV (New King James Version) and has a concordance in the back of it.  It's is small (like the size of a regular book) so it can easily be carried around.  It has real-life stories in it that show how real people with real lives have answered God's call.  They are just ordinary people that are obeying.  Along with the stories, there is a Personal Take Action note page so you can write your notes on.  At the end of the Bible, there are 52 Take Action ideas of how to put your faith into action andhow to go, serve, give, heal, and teach.  I love the Bible reading plan that is included in it, as well.  It has a column for your morning devotions and your evening devotions.  The words of Jesus are in red and there are text notes.  It is not a study Bible, so there aren't a lot of notes or extra information about the time/history/etc. given, other than God's Word.  Just the name of the Bible alone reminds you that the Bible isn't meant to just sit on a table and collect dust or to only be read.  It was meant as a guide for us to put into practice and live it out, no matter how easy or difficult the circumstances.  Every time I look at the title, the first thing that pops in my head is obedience and that alone reminds me what God wants me to do.  This would make a great gift!
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I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: God Gave Us Two by Lisa Tawn Bergren

What a cute children's book!  This book has beautiful illustrations that appeal to a child's eye and an adults, as well.  The book is about a polar bear family who already has one child and is expecting another.  Little Cub asks his mommy all of those questions that he needs confirmed when a new baby enters the scene.  Questions like, "Can they make it be a girl or a boy" or "Can they send back the baby if they don't like it" or even "will you forget about me when the baby comes?"  Momma ends with saying "God gave us you, now He gave us two."  This is a sequel to the book "God gave us you."

I enjoyed reading this book, and so did my 2-year-old.  In fact, every time we mentioned the fact of being  big sister (I changed it to big brother so he'd think it was about him), he would point to his baby sister and say that was his sissy and he loved her.  I think this book will be one of his favorites!
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This book was provided for review free of cost from Waterbrook Multnomah Press. I was not required to write a positive review this book.

Growing Like a Weed

Has it really been 10 months since our precious baby girl entered the world?  Some days it seems like she's always been here and others it seems like she should still be my precious little baby that was so tiny!

Baby M is a bundle of joy.  She is so happy and laid back and loves to eat.  She's the lightest sleeper (thanks Daddy T), which does not go well when I have a loud 2-year-old who doesn't know what a whisper means despite all of the practice we do.  (Tiptoeing is another one we're working on, but so far he that only lasts a few steps and then it's clomp, clomp, clomp.) 

In the past 2 weeks, Baby M has started standing up by herself, waving "bye-bye", talking A LOT, saying "mama" (not Daddy, mind you...she won't even utter those words), and crawling super fast.  She would still much rather walk, given the chance.  I suspect that will be soon.  B started walking at 10 months, and she has been doing the same things about the same time as him so far.  I don't mind if she holds off a bit, though, on walking!

I'm excited for the summer and all of the playing outside, which we've been doing a lot of.  However, I'm sad that my baby girl will be turning 1 in 2 months.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm happy that she's here and healthy, but I always have a hard time with that first birthday because the years seem to go by so quickly.  We love you, happy girl!

Book Review: When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

This book is the third book in the Sisters of the Quilt series.  Like most of Cindy's books, you don't have to have read the other 2 to know what is going on in this book.  Cindy is a great writer of Amish fiction and is a great storyteller.

Hannah Lapp left the Old Order Amish community when she was disgraced 2 years ago.  Needless to say, there is tension between her and her parents since her departure was into the Englischer world.  While immersing herself into the ways of the English, she finds a man that she loves and is helping to raise the two kids.  All is going well in this new life of hers until she gets a phone call from her sister, Sarah, who is in dire need of help.  So Hannah decides to return to help her sister.

As if returning to this community and their disapproving words are hard enough, she is also made to work together with her former fiance, Paul Waddell.  When Hannah realizes that a lie was the only thing that made them split, one that Paul never knew happened, she falls in love with him again.

Now she must decide not only which man she wants to be with, but also which world she wants to embrace.  Will it be that of her heritage or the ways of the world?  Will the Amish community offer grace to Hannah and stop their judgements?

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This book was provided for review free of cost from Waterbrook Multnomah Press. I was not required to write a positive review this book.

Book Review: The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

I was thrilled when this book came up for grabs because I was just introduced to Colleen Coble's books a few months ago.  She is an excellent writer and keeps me turning pages even when I should have been asleep a long time ago!

The Lightkeeper's Ball is the third book in the Mercy Falls series, but it's very easy to follow even if you haven't read the first two books in the series.  Olivia's sister passes away, so Olivia is left to decide whether or not she should take her sister's place in society.  Some things just don't add up in her sister's (Eleanor) death, so the family packs up to go investigate for themselves.  Since Eleanor was arranged to be married to Harrison, Olivia is now expected to take Eleanor's spot as wife.  After meeting Harrison for herself, she learns that Eleanor's death wasn't an accident.  Oh, and dare I ask one question?  How great would it be to find out the facts about her death at the ball with lots of people?!  With so many secrets emerging, will Harrison find out any secrets that Olivia is trying to keep?  So many questions and so many answers to be revealed only by reading the book.

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I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Corduroy Lesson #4

What can you do with felt and ribbon and a button?

 If your guess was to make a ribbon snake, then you'd be correct.  I saw this idea on the Delightful Learning website and thought it was a neat concept so decided to make my own.  B loves it.  He doesn't even wait for our time for school to play with it.  He'll just bring it out and practice putting his Corduroy and overalls over the button onto the ribbon.

Even Baby M likes them.  B was nice and let her hold one of the bears until he needed it.  Progress in sharing his things with his sister!  By the way, I'll update on ALL of Baby M's progress this weekend.  My, when she decides to learn something new, she goes ALL the way in a matter of a week!

Corduroy Lesson #3

This particular day's lesson wasn't challenging, but it was fun for B since he loves to color.  He's getting good at his gross motor skills and is able to start coloring in the lines and draw shapes.  He's perfectly content sitting and drawing or writing.  If there's a pen or paper lying around, it's fair game for him to write on.  I'm in trouble if I forget to put up a book!  The hardest part to explain is when I'm doing my Bible study and am marking in my Bible.  He'll ask if I'm coloring in my Bible and I try to explain to him that it's not exactly coloring, but I am using colored pencils.  He doesn't quite understand that one and I'm not for sure how to explain it, so some of my Bible study books have cute little markings all over them.  That's okay, because it makes me smile to see what new "note" he left me from the day before!  All of that to say, this activity took a while since I got to color with him.  This was our art lesson.

Recipe Sunday

Hearty Mac & Cheese

Prep: 25 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Taken from: Taste of Home Simple and Delicious Magazine p. 16 (Feb./Mar. issue)

Given to magazine by: Carol W. of Manitora

1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) macaroni and cheese dinner mix

1 lb ground beef

3 Tbsp. chopped onion

2 Tbsp. chopped green pepper

1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed tomator soup, undiluted

2 Tbsp. water

2 Tbsp. ketchup

2 tsp. prepared mustard

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 cup frozencorn, thawed

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup 2% milk

1. Cook macaroni acording to package directions; set cheese packet aside.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain.
2. Add the soup, water, ketchup, mustard and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4 minutes.
3. Drain macaroni, add to the beef mixture.  Stir in the corn, cheese, contents of reserved cheese packet, butter and milk.  Cook over medium heat until heated through.

My entire family enjoyed this meal.  B and Daddy T could eat mac n' cheese all the time.  However, I don't think it's a meal so I very rarely make it, much to their dismay.  When I saw this recipe, I figured I would give it a try.  They both ate it for 2 days in a row with no complaints and I actually liked it.  I don't like it quite as cheesy so if it was just me then I would probably add less cheese mixture or even add my own cheese to it instead of the packet.  I may play around with that a bit.  This was easy to make and I whipped it out in no time.

Corduroy Lesson #2

What can you do with these?

Use them for a lesson in math and graphing, of course!  I can't believe that wasn't your first guess!  In my search for lessons to do on Corduroy, I joined Tot School and used some of their ideas, as well as some homeschooling websites and then my own brain.  Part of this idea came from one of my favorite blogs, Delightful Learning, but I decided to make my own worksheet and colors that related to the colors that came in the gummy package.  B liked this activity, although I think he ate as many as he graphed!

This lesson was fun for both of us.  He did a very good job at sorting by color.  Good thing I didn't open up the 2nd package to graph, though, or he may not have eaten dinner that night!