Book Review: Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

The third book in the series, you don't have to have read the other 2 books to be able to easily follow along with the storyline or characters.  Based on WWII, the story picks up with Helen Carlisle who is a widow.  She lost her husband in the war and is honestly kind of glad that he is gone.  He used to abuse her, hard at it seemed.  When she tried to tell someone about it, no one believed her except Lt. Raymond Novak.  Novak would much rather preach than be a pilot.  However, because of the war, that's not really a possibility for him at the moment. 

Helen and Ray seem to be drawn to each other, but their dreams want to take them both in different directions.    Throw in their deepest fears and flaws and it's a recipe for them to be pushed away.  Will they be able to get past their fears and trust?  How will they react when challenges mount against them? 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I loved the history involved and the romance wasn't that cheesy kind of romance.  If you like historical fiction or romances based in the war eras, check this book out.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

*“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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This book was given to me free by Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Mugabe and the White African by Ben Freeth

Ever heard of Zimbabwe?  Heard of President Mugabe?  How about the white farmers and their families in Zimbabwe?  Do you know how all three of these relate?  If you don't, then you need to check out this book by Ben Freeth.  You will have many emotions flowing through you as you read this book.

In 2000, President Mugabe decided that he wanted to take away land that was legally owned by the citizens of Zimbabwe, so he decided to call it land reform.  What it really turned out to be was a violent land seizure programe in which thousands of white farmers and their families were forced to abandon their land, their homes, and their possessions and run.  As you can imagine, this lead to poverty for most people in Zimbabwe.  Farmers were beaten and left unprotected by police.  Their land was illegally seized and given away.  Possessions were burned and livestock was given away or stolen.

Based on experience, Freeth was living in Zimbabwe and experienced this violence firsthand where he was beaten and left on the side of the road for someone else to pick up or for him to die.  I think that this statement pretty much sums up how President Mugabe was.  He said, "I am still the Hitler of our time..."

This book shed a light on how we could pray for Zimbabwe.  It opened my eyes to a country that I wouldn't normally think about and has brought it to the forefront of my prayers.  I challenge you to read this book and find out for yourself what is happening there and see the devastation of Zimbabwe for yourself by watching the movie.  These are souls needing Jesus, and He is working.

(You can click on the book above to see more comments about this book.)

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion.

A True Girl

It's weird how different boys and girls are from birth.  I know there are some exceptions, but B knew how to make car sounds without me ever thinking to utter it to him.  He would just pick up a car and make it zoom.  I was amazed.  (I still say their lack of focusing on more than one thing comes at birth, too.  Come to think of it, I wonder if they have a nothing box at that age, too.  You know...when you ask your husband what he's thinking and he says "nothing."  Seriously?!  How can you NOT be thinking about anything?)  I digress.

Baby M has come ingrained with some natural girl behaviors as well, such as talking on the phone, wanting a purse (or a bag, really, anything with a handle will suffice), and taking care of her babies with hugs and kisses.  Its so funny to watch the difference.  My dad always says that she's such a girl.  Loves the tractor, but hates the vacuum cleaner.  How does that work?  I mean, the tractor is MUCH louder than the vacuum cleaner.

So what about you?  Have you noticed anything that boys and girls seem to come with from birth that are characteristics of what you think of when you think of their gender?

Book Review: Amish Values for Your Family

"I'm gone every day of the week."  "Our family never gets to sit down for dinner."  "I'll get a babysitter while I go help someone."  Have you ever heard any of these comments or thought them yourself?  Truth is, I think all of us are guilty of it to some degree. 

Suzanne Woods Fisher shares short stories about the Amish and their values and how we can incorporate them into our lives as an Englischer.  I loved hearing how the Amish battle the same problems of working too much at times and especially liked learning about how they do everything as a family.  We don't necessarily focus on that as much, I don't think.  The younger siblings are taught to respect the older and the children obey.  They are never heard raising their voice at their children.  They love their children but don't adore them.  They give them jobs and make them feel like they are important because they are needed within the family to do that job.  They don't get a babysitter so they can go serve someone who is sick, down, or hurt.  They take the siblings along so they can learn how to serve and how to handle different situations.

At the end of each little chapter, Fisher shares with her readers ideas to how we can take what the Amish do and carry it over into our lives, such as lessening Christmas presents to three...one thing hoped for, one thing to share with their siblings, and one for spiritual development.  Perhaps it's eating dinner as family or finding moments in your day to share with your entire family.  Family is the focus.

I read this book in a day, complete with distractions, kids, and teaching lessons!  It took no time at all to read and was a delight.  The stories within the chapters are maybe 3 pages long, so they are very short and provide an easy way to start and stop a book when the distractions do come.  If you are looking for ways to incorporate simplicity into the life of your family, pick up this book.  You'll love learning their values and their insight into what we as Englischers make as our top priorities.

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This book was provided free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Put It All Together and What Do You Get?

What do you get when you put together this....

and this....

and this..... 

and this.... 

and this?

You get this....

Cowboy birthday invitations!

Book Review: Route 66 by Krish Kandiah

If you're looking for a devotional that gives just a glimpse into the Bible and the history, grab this book.  The chapter outlines are as follows:

1.  Living faithfully (the narrative literature)

2.  Living distinctively (the law)

3.  Living poetically (the psalms)

4.  Living discerningly (the wisdom literature)

5.  Living prophetically (the prophets)

6.  Living infectiously (the gospels)

7.  Living purposefully (the epistles)

8.  Living hopefully (the apocalyptic literature)

The book is broken down into themes, including an 8-week Bible reading plan to read the books to get the big themes of the Bible.  He also lists some resources that are great to have, such as concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and Bible atlases.  Of course, many of these things are online so that makes it easier to use. 

At the end of each day, there is a travel journal that takes you through certain Bible passages where you study it for yourself to see what God is really saying.

It's an easy layout with a small group guide after each chapter.  It's a very nice guide through the Bible that is easy to read and is a great "crash course."

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I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion on this book.

Cowboys and letters

This week has found us studying about cowboys.  I found some great websites that offered free printables and I downloaded and laminated the cowboy themed worksheets.  I'll try to make a list of links that I use when I get a chance.  I've had so much fun planning for his school year!

We take clothespins and place them on the letter that matches the letter to the left.  I also make him tell me the letter name so I know that he knows it instead of just visually matching them.  We've had fun with these.

 He likes to do the clothespins himself.  He doesn't like me to help him too much.  He's very independent.  Both good and bad! 

Nanny R took B to the "cowboy store" to get his boots and his shirt for his birthday party.   He's so proud of these boots.  He wants to wear them everywhere.  And since it's just shoes, I oblige.  Not a fight that I choose to pick! 

He had to get on Princess to try riding her with his new boots.  I think he was re-enacting the Backyardigans.

Baby M is just waiting for B to need her for the hammer....or for him to yank it away from her.  Yeah, the second part is probably what happened.

Book Review: Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

This is a chick book packed with not only a wonderful storyline but also with a powerful message.  Have you ever thought that God couldn't possibly love you or forgive you for what you've done in your past?  I mean, He's not that big, is He?  He is and no matter the past, you can be redeemed. 

The storyline isn't about those who struggle with smaller issues.  Kim gets down and dares to dig deep into some tough issues that we often like to forget exist.  Heather, who likes one night stands and affairs with married men, has found herself kneeling at the foot of the cross, desperate, alone, and giving it all up for Chrst.  She is now int he process of finding who the new Heather is.  However, she still has to deal with the devastation caused by choosing to sleep with a married man.

Kelli loves to write songs.  One night, that changed.  Since that night and the choice she made, she hasn't heard a song in her head since.  Giving up on her dream to be a songwriter and being with Brian (a.k.a. Alien, a Christian rapper), she tries to find a job elsewhere in communications.  However, just like Heather, she is still trying to deal with the choices she made that haunt her and cause her to feel so unworthy of God's love, grace, and forgiveness.  She wrestles with forgiving Brian for his response to their choice.

Together, these girls search for their true worth in Christ.  They know they are loved unconditionally by Christ and have even made a list describing who the "new" them are.  They are children of God.

I definitely recommend this book.  It's a fun read, almost like a chick lit book.  It's a great reminder that God is big enough to forgive us despite our mistakes and sin is sin.  It all has consequences.  But along with those consequences is forgiveness if we choose to repent and accept it.

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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."

B's 3!

3 years ago we welcomed our first baby boy, B, into our lives.  We didn't really have a lot of sleepless nights with him (he slept through the night the first night home).  Many were jealous at how easy he was.  Looking at him today, we see how independent he is and was then.  He liked to be held but was perfectly content to be laying in his bed.  In fact, he'd lay there for 30 minutes or more by himself without fussing.  He has always been full of energy and goes full-force no matter what he's doing or where he's at.  When I think of "boy," I picture him and his energy! 


I think it's been amazing to look back between 2 and 3 and think about all the changes.  It's a bit mind-boggling.  He talks in full sentences and we have ACTUAL conversations where he responds appropriately, asks questions (many questions) and tries to understand so many things.  He loves to learn, begs to do school, and wakes up with the first question either being "Can I eat" or "One toy at a time?  Huh, Mommy?"  Whispering and tiptoeing are getting better, but they are still quite loud.  He gives hugs freely, loves visiting the nursing home and giving them all hugs before he leaves.  He even has one lady who both of my kids have attached themselves to.  She and her husband (her husband is the one with Alzheimer's) never had kids and as soon as I step foot on her floor, she takes them and plays with them during my session.  She says it's her favorite time of the week! 

He truly repents when he's done something bad (that's another post), he's caring and thoughtful, but can still be rough with his sister.  He has a heart that tries to please and loves to golf, play outside, play on the farm, and sit on EVERY "tractor" (lawn mower) at Lowe's.  He loves the pool and he absolutely loves horses.

For his birthday, we let him open one present before church and one after.  We met my parents in the Pitts at a park for the kids to eat and play.  It was incredibly hot, but it was a cool park.  We were impressed.  After that, we drove to pick up the ice cream cake, dropped off Baby M with Nanny R and hit the lake with Uncle M and Aunt L and the boys.  I wish I had my camera.  He was jumping off the boat with K and D.  The are both teens so they would let him push them off the boat.  They were so good with B and played with him a lot.  They always treat him so nicely and play ball with him and let him chase them or jump on them.  (Side note: B will love going to watch D play football this year!)  He had a blast on the boat.  I think that was the favorite part of his birthday!  After that, we went back to Nanny R and Papa's house and picked up Baby M and let him open a present from them.  She promised to take him to the cowboy store to pick out cowboy boots (also another post).  We finally headed home and had our cake and presents really late that night, but it was a great time for B.  I think he had a great birthday!  Now he's looking forward to his birthday party on Saturday.  He's going to have a blast!!!

Birthday morning before church

Baby M throwing a fit on B's birthday

Cars suitcase from Mama and Pop

Pop and B

B with his maternal grandparents

The kids with their paternal grandparents



B begged to have party hats....so we did.

Has it really been 3 years since I held this boy as a tiny baby?!

Nanny R giving him his M & M plane that dispenses M & M's that she got in Las Vegas.

B loves Curious George!

Book Review: The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

I have just recently started to enjoy books that are set in the Colonial period.  I love the idea of big, fancy dresses (despite the fact I know they are a) hot and b) uncomfortable).  I also like imagining what life was like then since it's so foreign to what we have here.  What would it be like to ride by horse? 

The year of 1779 found spinster Roxanna Rowan at the Kentucky fort that happens to be commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn.  This is how she finds out that her father, an officer, has died.  Now Roxanna is left on her own with not much at all and is forced to take up the role that her father left behind.  As you might guess, Colonel Casius becomes a tad bit attracted to Roxanna and vice versa.  However, her dad kept a journal, which might reveal a few secrets that are being kept at the fort.  Oh, say, maybe some secrets about a spy.  Since the journal has been tampered with and the last few pages aren't there anymore, she's not for sure who is really capable of being trusted and who isn't.  Is Colonel Casius a spy or is he someone worth winning her heart?  Or....is he both?  Like I'll tell you!  Pick up this book and read it for yourself.  You'll enjoy it!

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I received this book free from Revell publishers in exchange for my honest review.