Footprints in the Butter

Summer of Service A.C.T.S.: Discover

2013-05-22T15:04:00.000-06:00

Today! Today there is a webcast happening, sponsored by Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale Publishing. So if you are reading this reasonably soon after I get this posted, check out that information first... the webcast happens at 3:30 in my world (Mountain Time).

When I was asked if I wanted to participate in this Blog Tour, I wanted to jump up and down and say YES! I mean, really, there is so much to love --

A focus on Service
Adventures in Odyssey
Mission trips
"When you serve, everybody wins" as a motto
Connie and Chris, from Adventures in Odyssey
Free stuff, for you! and for me too
Did I mention serving others?

But I was traveling last week, when they wanted this first post to go up, and I knew that wasn't going to work. Fortunately, they told me that I could go ahead and get this posted this week instead, so here I am (finally!) with only minutes before the podcast...

Discover how much fun service can be with Adventures in Odyssey’s A.C.T.S. challenge and contest!
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Why serve?

Our culture puts an extravagant amount of energy into raising kids who will grow up to feel good about themselves. In schools, clubs, homes, and even at church, adults have made a decided effort to bolster children’s “self-esteem” –not by actually encouraging kids do something that’s worthwhile, but by simply telling them they are important and valuable.

At the turn of the century, researchers predicted that the next generation would respond to these efforts of raising self-esteem by being filled with optimism and civic duty. Unfortunately, recent research shows the opposite. Kids coming of age today are more self-centered, disrespectful of authority, and depressed than ever before.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood—which is the greatest gift any parent can bestow on their child.

Oh, how true is all of that! Our family has tried to encourage self-esteem by actually doing something, and I think that means far more than all the telling that can possibly happen. The telling that matters is when clients at the food pantry tell Richard (9) what a great job he did in taking them through for food, not when I randomly tell him he is wonderful. But even without those comments, just doing the work made him feel great about himself.
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Join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!

Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit, Connie, Eugene, and the other loveable characters from Odyssey have shared countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas, books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids discover, imagine, and grow.

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!

Doesn't that sound fun? Adventures in Odyssey characters encouraging the kids towards a summer of service? <happy, contented sigh> Go get your free copy of that AOI Service episode right now!
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How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it!

I mentioned free stuff! So before I sign off, so that you do have a chance to catch the webcast, let me tell you about that.

There was the free Odyssey episode, Business of Busyness, I linked to above. But that site also has a pdf File you can download with ideas for Service Projects, some that serve your family, some that serve your community, some that serve your world. This week, for instance, the suggestion is to go to a local park and pick up trash or plant flowers.

In future weeks, I'll be posting more...

We'll Imagine creative and fun ways to serve using your unique gifts! And that will include a free e-book!

Then we'll Grow in our walk with God every day! That will include some free devotions.

Join my family in a Summer of Service, won't you? I'd love to know what you are doing!

Disclaimer: I received an Adventures in Odyssey album for free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of the Summer of Service A.C.T.S. Blog Tour. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable post. I am participating in this because I truly believe in the values encouraged in this program.

Review: The Genesis Factor

2013-05-21T21:49:00.001-06:00

I've been reading The Genesis Factor, edited by Ron Bigalke, Jr. here lately. It's my latest review as part of the Master Books Apologetics Review Team.

From the publisher:

Genesis is among the most controversial books of the Bible - facing increasing attacks on its credibility and its meaning within the modern Church as fashionable theories of intelligent design and progressive creationism gain support. Compromising the literal interpretation of Scripture to reconcile faith instead with faulty scientific reasoning on the history of the earth, many within the church are abandoning the very foundational truths of Christianity. Join Ron Bigalke Jr. and influential creationist leaders in discussing the myths and realities of Genesis. In The Genesis Factor you will:

Unearth the historical roots of creationism in the church - from the apostle Paul and John, to the Venerable Bede, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Francis Bacon, Galileo, James Ussher, Issac Newton, and others.

Learn of the 19th century controversy between leading geologists and the "scriptural geologists" in uncovering the foundations of the oft-contentious relationship of science to Christianity and the Scriptures.

Read the Scriptural interpretations that answer the questions regarding the length of a Creation week day.

Study point by point the recognized standards of writing history which Genesis 1-11 meet as literal history.

This powerful and needed defense of Genesis includes contributors Henry M. Morris, Christopher Cone, Terry Mortenson, Eugene Merrill, Ron J. Bigalke Jr., Tas Walker, Jonathon Henry, Larry Vardiman, John Whitcomb, and Donald DeYoung. From fossil evidence, geologic evidence, and historic evidence, and more, The Genesis Factor reinforces the validity of the scriptural account of Creation, the Great Flood, and the Tower of Babel.

I have to say up front that the compilation types of apologetics books aren't my absolute favorite. While I love getting a variety of expert points of view, there is just something about jumping from one author to another each chapter that I personally find jarring.

So, my take on books like this is usually to read a chapter in a sitting, and then let the book be for a few days. At that point, I can read another chapter. It is much slower going than I am used to though.

Each chapter takes on a topic, with many being written by PhD types who really know their stuff. I was particularly fascinated by a couple chapters in the middle... Chapter 6 on evidence from outer space, and Chapter 7 on evidence from the oceans. Those had a lot of pretty technical parts to them, and I'll confess that I didn't quite follow some of it on a first reading (or a second, actually). The information was fascinating.

One thing I particularly appreciated was that Larry Vardiman talked about how he used to argue that helium proved a young earth... here, let me quote him:

For several years before the magnitude of the polar wind was determined, this author reported that the lack of helium in the atmosphere argued for a young earth. Based on the measured and computed escape rate of helium to space in the polar wind, that argument is no longer valid.

Those two sentences do make more sense in context, but my point is: I was thrilled to see the statement of an argument that I have heard made that has been disproven. Not only did Vardiman talk about the fact that the argument has been proven wrong, but he admitted it was something that he had put out there. And being wrong in one specific case doesn't bring down the entirety of the young-earth creationist model.

I thought that was refreshing.

Of course, even more interesting was learning about some of the research going on and what it shows. Much more of what is being found now is better interpreted with thousands of years rather than billions, and I always enjoy working through those discussions.

I've enjoyed this book. You can see what others had to say about it though at Creation Conversations.

Disclaimer: I received this books for free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of the Master Books Apologetics Review Team program. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable review.

Review: Chronicles of Dinosauria

2013-05-19T14:34:00.000-06:00

Recently, I've been working through an amazing book -- Chronicles of Dinosauria by Dave Woetzel, which is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.

Initially, I was reading the pdf file on my Kindle, and I really loved the text, but had a hard time doing anything to get my kids involved. It was too hard for us to use that way.

Once the actual book arrived last week, I was completely wowed by the whole thing -- the pictures and text complement each other so well.

Clearly, Richard and Trina are enjoying the book too. Richard is busy in this photo pointing out the spots on one of the dinosaurs.

From the publisher:

Explore legends, mythical sightings, and intriguing explorations from around the globe!

Enjoy the unique combination of visual illustrations and unforgettable accounts.

Discover why the author calls into question what we've been taught to believe and understand about the history of dinosaurs and man.

Every legend is said to include some grain of truth, and for years co-author Dave Woetzel has sought to separate fact from fiction as he explores mysteries related to dinosaurs, mankind's history, and the biblical time-line. Teaming with artist and designer Richard Dobbs, the two have created a visual archive of expeditions and intriguing clues to explore, all of which highlight the connection to the authority and reliability of Scripture.

Provocative artifacts from around the world are examined in an exquisite, full-color book that hints at man's familiarity with living dinosaurs. Studies point to more than simple answers beneath the waves of Loch Ness, and other sites around the world, many investigated personally by the author. Here is the study of cryptozoology and the discoveries that seem to defy all evolutionary time-lines, vividly illustrated and filled with rare photos.

That description does a good job of covering what is included!

The kids were fascinated just looking through the book. The illustrations are incredible, and there is a huge variety.

Pictures alone aren't usually enough for me to highly recommend a book though. I was all set to write a great review of this book before I got the physical copy, and that was primarily based on the text.

My favorite sections were those that talked about Historical Evidence of Dinosaurs and Man (chapter 4), Artistic Evidence of Dinosaurs and Man (chapter 5) and Cryptozoology Evidence of Dinosaurs and Man (chapter 6).

The historical evidence brought up a couple of things I have heard before, but there were so many examples that were either better explained, or that I had not heard. I particularly loved the discussion (and photos and drawings) of the Vikings.

I didn't expect to enjoy the Art chapter, as that seems to be a topic that is brought up a lot with books of this type (evidence of the coexistence of dinosaurs and man), however, I did really like this chapter too. It wasn't just the same Ishtar Gate, Chinese dragons, Cambodian temples and cave paintings. There were loads of other examples too, and even moreso, the commentary about the various art was thought-provoking.

The best chapter, though, according to my kids especially, was the cryptozoology one. Crypto-what? Cryptozoology: the science of hidden animals. Who knew there was such a thing? And yes, some of my kids have a new career path in mind now. This chapter covers things like the Loch Ness Monster (though Nessie doesn't get much space in here).

This is a great book, especially for any dinosaur lover. Of pretty much any age.

You can go see what other Moms of Master Books have to say about Chronicles of Dinosauria!

Disclaimer: I received this books for free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of the Moms of Master Books program. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable review.

Giveaway: Can't-Wait Willow!

2013-05-14T18:12:00.001-06:00

So, when Can't-Wait Willow! arrived, Trina totally fell in love with Willow on the cover (she is adorable, isn't she?) and vanished with the book. She told me about it later that day.

"Willow is so much like me, she has something she wants to save up for -- like I want to buy shrimp -- but all the little things keep pulling at her along the way. You know, like gum in the checkout line. I love gum, but then it is all gone, and I'm further away from my goals."

Of course, that is ALL I can tell you, as Trina cannot find the book again, and I only saw a brief glimpse of the cover before she raced off to read it with one of her big brothers. However, that much is enough for me to know I would like it.

And Trina keeps pulling her hair back with a ribbon to look more like Willow on the cover.

Here is what the publisher says about the book:

Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is, that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!

I know that isn't much of a review, but it is the best I can do until the book turns up, under the mattress or in her pajama drawer or somewhere I just haven't looked.

Hopefully, that is enough to pique your interest though, as I have one to give away.

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Magazine Giveaway!

2013-05-08T21:34:00.004-06:00

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

I have been an occasional customer of Magazines.com for years. My impression has been that they consistently have prices that are about as low as you can find, barring unusual promotional offers. But I love using them mostly because my subscription information is all in one place and I don't have to spend a whole lot of time searching things out.

I was thrilled to get the chance to give away a free magazine subscription (up to $10) to Magazines.com to one of my readers (US Only!) as part of their Mother's Day promotion. They have all kinds of great magazines to choose from.

For myself, I seriously considered Cooking with Paula Deen, Prevention, Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly, and Taste of South, before finally settling on Food Network. Decided I was the one getting this Mother's Day present.

I did consider some magazines for my mother though, like Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, Quilt, Quilter's Newsletter, Creative Knitting, and Quilter's World.

For my Mother-in-Law, I thought about Creating Keepsakes, and Card Maker.

There are lots of other great magazines for moms though:

Martha Stewart Living
Parenting Early Years
Parenting School Years
Weight Watchers
Working Mother
Victoria
People
Southern Living
Real Simple
Southern Lady
Crochet Today
Tea Time
Entertain Decorate Celebrate
Creative Machine Embroidery
Just Cross Stitch
Sew News
Crochet World
Crochet

If you are in the US, you can enter my giveaway! What magazine(s) interests you?

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Reading Aloud Challenge: Another Confession Edition

2013-05-07T20:51:00.000-06:00

Some days, I really wonder why I keep putting these up here. You know, confessing to the entire planet (well, okay, all 36 people who read my blog) that I just can't seem to do what I say I want to do. You know, actually read aloud to my kids regularly.

<sigh>

This shouldn't be that tough. Should it? I shouldn't feel like every week this post ought to be subtitled "The Confession Edition."

So, here goes. The Confession Edition of my Reading Aloud Challenge, part one thousand and sixty-five.

This week, basically --

I read the end of April portion of The American Patriot's Almanac by William Bennett. Fifty quotes about America. Very cool. But now we're back to being a week behind.

William and Thomas are listening to Golden Goblet and Mara, Daughter of the Nile. Good thing I worked so hard and accomplished something. <snort>

How about you? What are you reading out loud? Please. Inspire me.

Bountiful Baskets: May 4

2013-05-04T09:19:00.001-06:00

I'd love to make this Star Wars related somehow, since it is Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!) but I couldn't figure out a way to make my produce look like a space battle, or anything else terribly creative.

So, just the basket. Today it was good to be the first site on the route, as the driver ran out of hours and everyone after us is delayed.

I've got mine.

Great basket, but I am glad I only contributed for one today. It includes:

1 head of cabbage
1 bunch Romaine lettuce
1 bunch green onions
3 green bell peppers
3 artichokes
3 yellow squash
1 cantaloupe
2 personal-size watermelons
6 bananas
3 grapefruit
1 pineapple

In addition, I got 8 pounds of rhubarb, a flat of strawberries, and 40 pounds of organic oranges. I'm hoping those will stay good for our drive next week. And obviously, I have strawberry-rhubarb pie in mind. My absolute favorite. Mmmmm.

As for the basket, my plans are:

Fruit all just gets eaten without a whole lot of thinking on my part. I'm planning to dehydrate the pineapple though.
Lettuce, green onions and bell peppers are basically staples and I really just use them, no thought necessary.
The artichokes will probably be done tonight, as an appetizer essentially.
Cabbage -- I don't know. I tend to do an unstuffed cabbage casserole thing, and with only one head around, that should work out well.
Squash -- I always struggle more with these types of squash. I know I had a recipe somewhere for a squash side dish that included cheese. I think I'll look for that.

Anyone with a squash idea for me, though, I'm all ears!!

Review and Giveaway: Ring the Bell

2013-05-03T22:36:00.001-06:00

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned in this post for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

We had another family movie night, this time watching Ring the Bell. The idea of this movie really appealed to me... Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns... what more does a movie need?

First, a bit about the film ~

Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.

Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.

This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production.

What did we think?

We enjoyed it, and I am glad to own this movie. It is one we'll watch again.

Rob Decker's character started off feeling a bit forced... like he was trying too hard to be all about money, fame, and stuff but he (the actor) didn't quite believe that this was the real him. Once he gets to the small town, his actions (still about money, fame and stuff) start seeming a lot more real. After the Casting Crowns concert about midway through the film, he is truly a believable character.

The Casting Crowns concert is phenomenal, including a mini-sermon -- and alter call -- by Mark Hall. According to the special features, that part of the movie wasn't scripted. Mark did a phenomenal job with it. It made me want to dig out my Casting Crowns CDs.

Another highlight is Steven Curtis Chapman, who plays the pastor in this town. He has a great scene where he is telling Rob about Jim Elliot. Loved that scene.

My favorite part, though, were the scenes at the ranch. Some of the characters are involved with caring for orphaned and foster boys. What an incredibly wonderful thing to be doing, and I enjoyed that aspect.

One of the special features is a discussion guide. I have not actually used it yet, but I am going to pull it out for use with my personal youth group. <grin>

Good stuff. We really enjoyed it. You can too, as I have one to give away!

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Reading Aloud Challenge: a Day Late

2013-05-01T23:48:00.000-06:00

Oh, this week is crazy. I totally missed that yesterday was Tuesday and I needed to post my reading aloud accomplishments for the week. This is a rather boring post though. Basically, we are continuing to read what we've been reading. We ought to finish some things up this next week though, and move to some new things.

What did we read aloud this week?

We read two and a half weeks worth of The American Patriot's Almanac by William Bennett. We are only a day behind. Lots of great stuff, and some rather depressing stuff too. Like pulling out of Saigon in 1975. <shudder> At least most of the entries are more pleasant.

I've been reading Charlotte's Web and Poppy to Richard and Katrina. Both are such great books! We are also reading aloud some history, missionary stories, etc.

William and Thomas are listening to Golden Goblet and Mara, Daughter of the Nile. I'm also reading some history aloud.

And there has been a lot of miscellaneous little stuff happening too.

No picture. I just can't.

How about you? What are you reading out loud? Anything new to shake things up, or are you plodding through the same stuff you've been working on?

Book Review: Hey, God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach

2013-05-01T16:03:00.000-06:00

When the chance to review this book came up, I just laughed. The book cover, and the full title told me that yes, I simply had to review this book.

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! The whale tells his side of the story by Troy Schmidt is an adorable book, and we really loved it here.

The publisher described it like this:

Oh sure, we've all heard the story of Jonah and the Whale a hundred times. But have we heard it from the perspective of the whale who experienced that history-making event?

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! imagines how that great sea creature from the incident might tell his side of the story, helping kids ages 4 to 8 discover a creative way of learning about that guy who was supposed to go to Ninevah.

The "Parent Connection" feature (inside the book) will help moms and dads take the story further with scripture references and tips on how to talk with their children about what really happened. Brought to you by B&H Kids, Available May 1, 2013.

I read this to my seven year old, and she laughed through most of the book. She was also quite capable of answering the questions in that "Parent Connection" section. I think this twist on the story helped her to see it in a different way.

Check out the video trailer:

While we were gone last night, Thomas read the book to Richard. Here is what they had to say:

Richard, age 9: "It's definitely interesting, because it is the whale's side of the story. It has some funny points, and it's a nice book. I would like to see some of the other books, like the one about Moses and the plagues, told by a frog."

Thomas, age 12: "It is a really great story, and I liked looking at it from a completely different point of view. It was easy to read, without any big words. I'd be concerned though about reading this to kids who don't already know the real story, from the Bible, as this one is obviously fictional, and I'd hate for kids to think the Bible version is too. However, if they already know the real thing, this is a fun way to think about it in a different way."

I have one to give away!

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"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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: Persecuted

2013-04-30T22:30:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for a light read to take your mind off of your troubles or the cares of this world, go find another review of another book. Tonight, I am not reviewing a nice, fun, feel-good book.

Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea is a book that you won't read in one sitting. I requested it for review quite awhile back, not really thinking about just how long it would take me to work through it... or to work through enough that I felt comfortable writing a review.

It is time, though, for me to say something about this book.

First, though, let's hear from the publisher:

A timely journalistic look inside worldwide Christian persecution.

The persecution of Christians is widespread and increasing in many areas. In 2010, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the gold standard of contemporary religion statistics, concluded that Christians are the most widely persecuted religious group in the world. In December 2010, the Vatican reported the same conclusion. This timely and well-documented book tells this story well, in a journalistic and lively way, punctuated with compelling stories.

Persecuted offers readers an overview of Christian persecution, analyzing patterns of repression, abuse, and violence across the globe. It explores the reasons that specific ideological, religious, and political groups and establishments target Christian believers as enemies. Woven throughout are vivid examples of Christians persecuted and harassed for their faith. These cases illuminate the courage it takes to be a Christian in today's world. The book provides examples of how the church, including the American church, has successfully diminished or halted repression in other countries, and suggests the steps we can take together in the future.

Most Western (or American if you prefer) Christians hear words like "martyr"and they either think of something pretty casual, or they think of Christians in the arena in Ancient Rome. Or when they hear of persecution, they immediately think about how every time they suffer from a headache, it must be Satan attacking them and trying to keep them from living a nice, full, rich life.

Or maybe, just maybe, they think about Pastor Saeed in Iran, who occasionally pops up on someone's Facebook feed. And if they stop and think at all about persecution, it is usually only to be grateful that this kind of thing doesn't happen much in our modern world. You know, the world that celebrates diversity and preaches tolerance. Persecution just doesn't fit in that world.

If you are comfortable with that viewpoint, you probably ought to avoid this book.

If, however, you are more interested in knowing more about what is really happening in the world, and more specifically what is happening to Christians around the world, then maybe you ought to consider reading this.

This book is not a fun read. It is, however, an important one. The book is incredibly well-documented, and it isn't just a catalog of the awful things being done today. The authors also are calling us -- those in the not really persecuted church -- to take action. To be aware, to be praying, to not be so complacent.

As much as I would prefer to pretend persecution and martrydom was not a reality in today's world, I would rather be informed. My 15 year old (he's still 15 tonight anyway) has been sneaking this book away from me for the same reason. He says this isn't a great story, and he'd much rather read, well, almost anything. "But this is important. People should know this stuff."

Disclosure of Material Connection: 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.”

Bountiful Baskets: April 27

2013-04-27T10:09:00.001-06:00

I ran our site today (eeek!) which always makes me nervous. Survived it, though.

Today was a beautiful basket though, and I got two. The photo shows one basket, but my list is what I got in both.

Three bunches of celery
Two heads romaine lettuce
Three bunches of broccoli
Eleven tomatoes
Three bunches of green onions
Twenty-three potatoes
Two personal-size watermelons
Three boxes of strawberries
Four mangoes
Two pineapples
Thirteen bananas

This is another basket where it is tough to talk about what we'll do with it.

Potatoes, celery, lettuce, tomatoes -- those are totally just staples and I'll use 'em
The fruit will all just be eaten over the week. I may do a dessert with one box of strawberries.
Green onions aren't exactly a staple, but I won't have to think about using them either. I make a lot of stuff that calls for green onions where I end up subbing in regular onions instead. I just won't do that (the substituting!)
Broccoli -- we'll chop some up and the kids can snack on it. I'll do a stirfry with one bunch. I'll use another in a casserole-y thing for lunch this week.

Review and Giveaway: This is Our Time

2013-04-26T06:30:00.000-06:00

This Is Our Time, distributed by Pure Flix, follows the post-collegiate lives of five friends connected by their strong belief in God who all long to make a meaningful difference in the world. But when tragedy strikes the close-knit group, their friendship and their faith are tested in ways they never imagined.

This is an inspirational film about what it really means, and what it really takes, to follow the call of God in your life. “The experiences the characters in THIS IS OUR TIME face are the kinds of real-life ups and downs, successes and devastation, all of us encounter in living life,” said Lisa Arnold, the film’s writer, director and co-producer. “I wanted to tell a story that would resonate with young people just stepping out into the world to make their mark that would help them see that no matter the circumstances they face, God is always with them, loving them, guiding them.”

The movie tells the interwoven stories of Luke (T.J. Dalrymple) and Alé (Erin Bethea), who marry right after school and move to India to serve as missionaries for Embrace A Village, a ministry that cares for those afflicted with leprosy and their families; aspiring financier Catherine (Kate Cobb), who joins a prestigious financial institution determined to make an impact on corporate America; Ryder (Matthew Florida), who lands an impressive job in social media and can’t wait to use the powerful medium for a greater good; and Ethan (Shawn-Caulin Young,) seemingly the odd man out, who struggles to find his God-given-purpose and feels sidelined by God.

“What they all come to learn is that it never really was their time,” Arnold said. “It always was, always is, God’s time.”

This movie is not a fast-paced action flick, but I think everyone over the age of 10 in my household found themselves identifying with Ethan, who narrates the story. The five friends graduate, and four of them have big, huge things they are heading off to accomplish. Ethan, however, did not get into grad school and finds a job waiting tables. He knows he is a disappointment to his father, and he struggles with what he is supposed to do.

We are told very early in the narration that one of the five isn't going to survive the next year. The first third or so leads up to that event, and then the story shifts a bit into the remaining four friends figuring out a bit of the 'why do bad things happen to good people' stuff. Fortunately, they don't exactly reach any conclusions to that question, but all four do move on in a more God-focused direction.

They also have a scholarship competition going on... you can check out a movie trailer and read more about it at their website.

We really did enjoy this movie. You can too, as I have one to give away!

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Review: Ephesians

2013-04-25T19:59:00.001-06:00

A while back, I posted a review of a Discover Together Bible Study on the book of Revelation.

I'm back today to talk about another study by Sue Edwards, this one titled Ephesians: Discovering Your Identity and Purpose in Christ.

In all likelihood, it is the subject matter, but I am really enjoying this study. I struggled a lot more with the Revelation one.

The features of the study are similar. It is set up so that you can do it alone or with a group. Each chapter includes an online video (that I love!), a reading assignment, and a bunch of questions. Each chapter also includes material on the side of the pages that varies from quotes that expand on the topics being covered to some assignments that require additional reading or research.

It is totally up to you as to how involved you get with the study. I like that.

Each chapter requires an hour or two for reading, watching, answering the study questions, and at least skimming the extra materials. From what I've seen, those digging deeper assignments could take a pretty significant amount of time (I haven't been doing them!)

The other amazing part is that you can join an online study group, so that you can "meet" with other women and discuss what you are discovering through this study.

I love that this is a study I actually can do alone. So many things I have tried do not really work out that way, but this title does. I will be looking into Luke, Psalms, Proverbs... really, any additional studies she puts out.

Ephesians: Discovering Your Identity and Purpose for Christ.
Join the online Bible study (4/15 -5/7) with Sue Edwards! And invite your friends to join you.

Between April 15 and June 17 Sue will be posting weekly on the Year of Discovery Facebook Page and interacting with groups and individuals around the country going through the study at the same time. Women will be able to discuss the study with each other and ask questions via Facebook.

Completing each lesson requires about one-and-a-half hours. Readers still receive in-depth Bible study but with a minimum time commitment. For those who desire a more thorough study, including an opportunity to learn more about the history, culture and geography related to the Bible, Edwards has provided “Digging Deeper” questions. Answering these questions may require outside resources such as an atlas, Bible dictionary or concordance and challenge readers to examine complex theological issues and differing views more closely.

More about the Ephesians study: This insightful Bible study uses the example of Paul’s church in Ephesus to show readers how they can be victorious Christians, living in God’s Word, and free from sin. Part of the discovery series, the Ephesians edition includes tips for either individual or group use, inspirational sidebars and short, 3-5 minute teaching videos.

Purchase a copy of Ephesians and join the on-line Bible study today.

“Ephesians” Online Bible Study – JOIN ME!

Disclaimer: I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review and Giveaway: Mother India

2013-04-23T18:52:00.001-06:00

We sponsor a child in India, so the opportunity to learn more about that country is something I tend to go for. Mother India, a short documentary film released today, was a great vehicle for getting a glimpse of life for (primarily) orphans in India.

Let's take a quick look at the description from the producers:

Winner of “Best Short Documentary” at the 2012 San Diego Christian Film Festival, Mother India is a compelling documentary that chronicles the adventure of 25 courageous orphans living as a family along the railway in Tenali, India. Mother India brings to light the struggles faced daily by over 31 million orphans in India and the challenge of rescuing them from a life of begging and addiction.

Mother India, is the work of first-time filmmakers David Trotter and Shawn Scheinoha. “India is growing in both population and industry, but few people know that there are over 31 million orphans in this nation,” commented Trotter (Executive Producer, Director). “Each of these young lives is much more than a statistic. Every one of them has a name, a face and a story.” Scheinoha (Executive Producer) added, “We’re not out to just tell a tragic story. We’re focused on raising awareness and changing lives.”

We sat down to watch this as a family. Connor, 15, was reading aloud the subtitles as parts are not in English. That is something that adds some realism, and in the case of this film, it was nice as a lot of the subtitles. So, my advice would be that there is some subject matter in this documentary that you may not want your seven-year-old to be hearing.

Life for these 25 kids isn't easy. There is talk of sexual abuse, the prevalence of AIDS, injections, beatings, etc. In spite of that, this isn't a depressing documentary. The overall message is one of hope, especially if kids can get some help early. Harvest India is one organization that is featured, and they certainly are a big, bright spot in this film.

Check out the trailer:

Mother India is well worth watching, and I think it can give teens and tweens a fresh perspective on life, and on life in other places. You might want to watch it yourself, though, before sharing it with younger children.

I have a copy of this movie to give away too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received this DVD and an additional DVD for a giveaway for free through Blogger Gateway. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review. All opinions expressed are mine, or those of my family.

Reading Aloud Challenge: Back to It

2013-04-23T15:12:00.001-06:00

We're not quite back to going all out on this reading aloud thing, but at least this week was respectable. For a pleasant change.

What did we read aloud this week?

We read two weeks worth of The American Patriot's Almanac by William Bennett. We are still a couple weeks behind, but at least we've been in April almost all week.

I've been reading Charlotte's Web and Poppy to Richard and Katrina. Both are such great books! We are also reading aloud some history, missionary stories, etc.

Golden Goblet is what William and Thomas are listening to now. We ended up not starting up Sonlight's Core G last week and starting this week instead. William hasn't been well <sigh>. So we are barely into it. I'm also reading some history aloud.

The whole family is continuing to listen to Tower of Babel by Hodie Bodge. I reviewed that last week, even though I haven't finished reading it to them.

(I give up. Getting a photo is just not going to happen today...

How about you? What are you reading out loud? Your posts inspire me to keep going...

Book Review: Duchess

2013-04-22T23:33:00.002-06:00

If you've read any of my previous reviews of any title by Susan May Warren, you know my usual bottom line -- "Buy it."

Can't do that this time. Duchess is the third (and final) book in the Daughters of Fortune series, and while it is definitely the best book of the three, I personally do not think it stands on its own. So my bottom line this time: Go get Heiress. Then Baroness. And finally, go get Duchess.

I suspect this book would be good if you haven't read the first two. But it is so much better knowing the stories that have come before.

From the publisher:

The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars. Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has found everything she’s wanted in the glamour of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she’s finally silenced the voices—and grief—of the past. Her future shines bright…until the fated Black Friday when it all comes crashing down. When Roxy loses everything, she finds herself disgraced and penniless. Her only hope is to join forces with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems, and he has other plans for Roxy and her movies—plans to support a growing unrest in Europe, plans that could break her heart and endanger her life.

This novel covers the late 1920s and the 1930s, in Hollywood and in Europe. I'll confess to knowing very, very little about Hollywood in the 30s, but the detail in Duchess certainly rings true for what I do know about the times. The 1930s Europe setting is one that is a bit more familiar to me, and the historical details there (and their accuracy) were simply fantastic.

As she always does, Warren managed to suck me in so that I really did care about the characters, even though the whole "starlet" thing didn't do anything for me. Rosie/Roxy became very real, and her struggles with whether or not God could possibly care about her rung oh-so-very-true.

This series is great. And you could win it and a Kindle...

Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of Duchess with a Kindle Fire HD Giveaway.

One "glam" winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire HD
Signed copies of Duchess, Baroness and Heiress

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 4th. Winner will be announced on 5/7/13 at Susan's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Disclaimer: I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review and Giveaway: Break Away

2013-04-21T21:00:00.000-06:00

My family tends to love doing movie nights, especially when the movie is an inspiring and family-friendly movie.

The opportunity to review Break Away was too good to pass up... especially since it is from the producer of Faith Like Potatoes, a movie we truly love.

Let's take a quick look at the description from the producers:

Francois is a hard-working husband and dad that gets laid off from his job. None of his efforts to get another job succeed, and he is forced to use what he has, including an old bicycle, in order to provide for his family. With the help of his "black sheep" brother, a bicycle shop owner and a pro-cyclist, Francois makes some life-changing discoveries about his life, career and faith in God.

Although a fictional story, BREAK AWAY, was inspired by true events around the recession that left people without work. The message brings hope and offers practical and Biblical solutions in a very entertaining way.

Francois is a very likeable character from the very beginning of the movie, although it did take a bit of watching/listening before I was used to the accents and speech patterns. The most unlikeable thing he does in the entire movie is at the start though, where he waits (I think) four months before finally telling his wife that he lost his job.

The beginning is slow and a bit confusing, but the pace definitely picks up about halfway into the movie. I think the similarities to Faith Like Potatoes are in this aspect too... my first time watching that movie, I spent about the first half trying to figure out where they were going with the movie and wondering a bit as to why it had been so highly recommended to me. Then I finally got hooked in and really cared. And on subsequent viewings, I just can't quite remember why I didn't find the movie compelling from the start...

Check out the trailer. It might help you come up with an answer to the first giveaway entry question.

With Break Away, I found that I really loved the special features, and that truly served to connect me to the characters and the story. Watching the movie again, I was pulled in much faster and inspired even more.

This isn't a story that is likely to engage your younger children, but for tweens and teens -- if they can stick with it through that first half -- there is a great story and a lot of inspiration.

I have a copy of this family-friendly movie to give away too.

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Disclaimer: I received this DVD and an additional DVD for a giveaway for free through Blogger Gateway. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review. All opinions expressed are mine, or those of my family.

E is for Emergency Preparedness

2013-04-21T20:55:00.001-06:00

I totally missed last week (D is for Dingbat?) but had to get in on E week.

E is for Emergency Preparedness.

Why? Well, a couple of reasons. Trina earned her Emergency Preparedness badge in American Heritage Girls this week, we're looking at getting Thomas going on earning his E Prep merit badge in Boy Scouts, the whole Boston Marathon thing just has me thinking, and we've recently run into so many people who simply are not prepared at all. I want this to be an encouragement to anyone who isn't prepared to just do something.

Trina has been working off and on for her Emergency Preparedness badge with American Heritage Girls. It started last fall, when her brother needed to do a fire escape plan and practice it with his family. We decided that since Trina had to do the same thing for E Prep, she may as well work on it too.

For this 1st-3rd grade level, she had to do things like learn about calling 911, making a list of emergency numbers, do that fire drill where we discovered that one bedroom window was stuck (big brother fixed that) and that a bunkbed was too close to another bedroom window and therefore the window couldn't be opened. She also had to do stuff to locate flashlights, and discovered that one doesn't work anymore. Very productive badge.

With Thomas, we decided against him starting on the E Prep badge at summer camp, but he is going to have to do it sometime soon. He's going to camp this summer and will be working on other things there -- camping, cooking, wilderness survival. Fun, huh?

But what about the adult preparation? It seems lately Dale & I have both been talking with people who aren't at all prepared for any sort of emergency. You know, the "we go grocery shopping every two or three days" sort of thing. They want to be prepared, but it seems so overwhelming.

Here's my profound advice... just do something. You don't have to go from shopping three times a week to having six months of food storage for your entire family straight away. What can you do right now that could make a difference?

My suggestion is that this week, you think about what you could store to feed your family for a single day, and on your shopping trips this week, you purchase that, and set it aside somewhere. In my home, in a power outage scenario, we'd still have access to the stove, but we wouldn't have water. So if this was me, I could purchase a box of matches (to light the stove), a couple cans of stew, a couple gallons of water, a couple cans of fruit, makings for a stove-top tuna casserole (tuna helper and tuna, if you prefer!), and some pancake mix. As an off the top of my head suggestion.

It does need to be food your family is willing to eat. And once you have it stored somewhere (do you have seldom-used cupboards above your fridge?) you will want to rotate it out periodically.

So it isn't much, but it is a start. And next time there is a storm you don't HAVE to run to the grocery store.

And next week... or next month... you could figure out another breakfast, lunch and dinner option, and have two days of food stored up. Do it once a month, and next May, you'd be able to go about two weeks without a grocery store visit.

What can you do this week?

This post has inspired me to do a bit more to build up water storage. That's one area where we are lacking.

Check out Marcy's blog, you can see where E is for all kinds of other great things like the elephants, engineer, and exercise.

Bountiful Baskets: April 21

2013-04-21T08:54:00.000-06:00

So, all day today, I am going to be thinking it is Saturday, as starting the day unloading produce from a truck HAS to mean it is Saturday...

This 24 hour delay thing is going to be messing me up.

Nice basket today, but I am glad I only got one. I also split a box of apples and a box of Roma tomatoes with a friend, so I have plenty of produce to go around at the moment.

1 bunch of Romaine lettuce
2 bunches of broccoli
1 head of broccoflower
13 red potatoes
10 chilies
4 avocado
3 tomatoes
2 honeydew melons
6 bananas
1 box of blackberries
2 mangoes

What will we do with all of this?

Fruit will just be eaten. The melons will go with breakfast a couple of days in a row.

Potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce -- those are all staples that just get used.

Broccoli -- I'll be doing stir fry one night (the only way Dale will eat broccoli) and a casserole type of something for lunch one day.

Broccoflower, well, I always have a tough time figuring out just what to do with it. I'll come up with something.

Chilies are probably going to be roasted and frozen. Some will go into salsa, but those might be the ones from last week's basket.

Avocado -- we still have some from a week or two ago that are just getting ripe. I suspect I'll be freezing some of this too.

Review: Tower of Babel

2013-04-17T21:00:00.000-06:00

One of the first books I read, years go, that got me started in questioning whether a theistic evolution worldview made sense to me had something to do with ancient man, and some of the "how did they do it?" questions that inevitably come up when you start digging too far.

I'll confess that up to that time, the story of the Tower of Babel was pretty much just that: a story. I didn't necessarily think it was untrue, precisely. But I think I believed it in the same way I believe a child who has spent a week digging in the backward who then tells me that he is halfway to China now. The child believes he has dug a significant distance. Those ancient people likewise felt they had built a tower high enough to reach heaven.

Learning more about ancient man's accomplishments made me start questioning my assumptions about stories like that of Babel. And I have loved anything I can get my hands on that helps me to make sense of these accounts.

So I was thrilled, to put it mildly, to have the chance to read and review Bodie Hodge's new book, Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors. I started reading it on my Kindle immediately, and within two chapters, I knew I had to make this a family read-aloud. So I started over.

The vast majority of the chapters are pretty short and sweet. The first dozen (plus) cover a whole lot of ground, but they do it in a few short pages and in the clear, direct style I've come to expect from Hodge.

Before I go on, here is what Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group, has to say:

The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors reveals our shared ancestry as never before! Many are familiar with the Biblical account of Babel, but after the dispersal, there was a void beyond Biblical history until empires like Rome and Greece arose. Now, discover the truth of these people groups and their civilizations that spread across the earth and trace their roots back to Babel as well as to the sons and grandsons of Noah.

Many of today’s scholars write off what occurred at the Tower of Babel as mythology and deny that it was a historical event. Beginning with the Biblical accounts, author Bodie Hodge researched ancient texts, critical clues, and rare historic records to help solve the mystery of what became of the failed builders of Babel. For the purpose of defending the Bible, Hodge presents these and other vital historical facts surrounding this much-debated event. Teens and older can use this layman’s reference for Biblical classes, ancient history, apologetics training, and to realize their own cultural connection to the Bible.

Doesn't that sound fascinating?

I think so. So do my big boys (ages 12 to nearly 16). My 7 and 9 year olds are completely tuning this out, though I think the 9 year old is at least picking up a tidbit or two.

My big boys beg me to read "one more chapter" and I've overheard them discussing some of the details we've been reading about.

I've continued to read ahead, and I highly suspect that once we reach Chapter 17: Where Did All the People Go Initially, they are going to be satisfied with a single chapter. That chapter is 80 pages long. Eighty very interesting pages, but still -- that is nearly one-third of the book. None of the other chapters come close to that length!

Check out the trailer:

My oldest loves this book as he gets into the apologetics angle, and particularly appreciates a book written to adults, as he doesn't feel he's being talked down to. My 12 year old loves this book, as he is quite intrigued by archaeology, so all the ziggurats and charts particularly appeal to him.

This is a great book and I most certainly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received this books for free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of the Master Books Apologetics Review Team program. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable review.

Reading Aloud Challenge: The XBox Edition

2013-04-16T23:16:00.002-06:00

This post?

This week's reading aloud post?

Yeah, this one is for everyone who seems to have this completely insane idea that I'm super-homeschool-mom or something.

What did we read aloud this week? Well, I think we managed to read two days of The American Patriot's Almanac by William Bennett. That's maybe 5 minutes total.

Other than that, <ahem> the only reading aloud that happened all week was when someone read subtitles on various XBox games.

Okay, so I read aloud a couple news stories about the Boston Marathon too.

If it isn't obvious, Dale had the week off, and we stayed home. That primarily meant various mega-game fests that I tried to ignore.

I thought about just not posting a reading aloud link-up, but hey, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Some weeks are just not educational. At all.

In other semi-related news, though, William has been reading along on his Kindle Fire via the Immersion thing (where the professional Audible.com audiobook is read, and the text on the ebook is highlighted as the words are said) a whole lot of stuff, including some this past week.

And yesterday, driving to Scouts, he did more reading aloud than I did all week. He was trying to read every road sign we passed. He was succeeding too. I never, ever thought he would be able to do that. He told me that he figured this was really good practice -- having only a certain amount of time to read (usually) unfamiliar text. "And besides, Mom, I'll need to be good at reading road signs before I can drive." <gasp, choke, sputter>

I had people tell me I was spoiling him by buying that Kindle Fire, but he has made SO much reading progress in the past four months, and I haven't been working with him at all in 2013. He has read through Tale of Two Cities three or four times, and right now he is doing Gulliver's Travels and some Troy book or another. And clearly, it is having an impact.

It was worth every single penny.

How about you? What are you reading out loud? It simply has to be more than I did this past week...

Review and Giveaway: What I Wish I Knew at 18

2013-04-14T21:33:00.000-06:00

I've recently had the chance to review a new book by Dennis Trittin, What I Wish I Knew at 18.

My oldest tells me that he'll be 16 really soon. I'm in denial, let me tell you. And just yesterday, we attended a combination Eagle Court of Honor/18th birthday party for one of the most amazing young men I know. I know he's older than my kids, but only barely. And that means that it is only a blink or two until I have an 18 year-old as well.

I have a mere 24 and a half months left to teach him what I want him to know at 18. And now I have a start on doing that.

From the back cover:

What I Wish I Knew at 18 can serve as your personal life coach as you navigate the road ahead by helping you answer some key questions:

How will I define success in my life?
How can I make a successful transition to college?
How will I select and thrive in my career?
How will I build new relationships and achieve a lasting marriage?
What are my financial goals and how will I achieve them?

I started reading it myself, because I wanted to know if the things that Dennis wishes he knew at 18 agree with what I want my boys to know at 18. This isn't the kind of book I want to just hand over to them without knowing what is in it.

I didn't get too far into the book before I decided that my kids will go through it, so at that point, I started flipping through to specific sections in there. You know, like "Love and Marriage." And while I don't completely agree with Dennis on every point in this section, I most certainly can see this as a basis for discussion.

Which means I'm reading a section at a time out loud. Each section ends with a "Take Five" which is something for the student to think about and analyze themselves.

This isn't a book just for homeschoolers, this is for older teens in general. I'd guess rough age 15, though my 14 year old tends to hang out to listen to these few minutes of reading/discussion too.

I love this book... and you could have one too, as I have a copy to give away!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Reading Aloud Challenge: April 9

2013-04-09T12:58:00.003-06:00

We're loving being sort of back to Sonlight! Instructor Guides for the three older guys have been ordered and will hopefully arrive this week. Connor will have run out of the 3-week sample by that point, and I'd just rather get started with William and Thomas with the real thing.

I am continuing to read Albert Einstein by Kathleen Krull and Investigating Rocks by Will Hurd, as part of the Moving Beyond the Page units that I am doing with William and Thomas. Both are great, and the study has been fun.

I am still reading Poppy by Avi to Richard and Trina. Also part of a Moving Beyond the Page study. We are working on this at a bit slower pace now.

We are doing Tower of Babel by Bodie Hodge as a family read-aloud. From a real book now instead of from my Kindle.

Richard and Trina are listening to Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. They only heard another chapter though.

Charlotte's Web is our first Sonlight Read-Aloud for Richard and Trina. It is a bit scary for me to realize that they haven't heard the book ever. Which is why I'm back to Sonlight.

I read When Jackie and Hank Met by Cathy Goldberg Fishman to the little two. That's a review I'm putting up on Amazon as soon as I get this posted. What a great book. Every time I read about Jackie Robinson, I am so incredibly impressed by him. This picture book is at a great level of detail for the younger ones. You understand that both Hank and Jackie were treated badly because of their religion or color, but without graphic detail.

How about you? What are you reading out loud?

C is for Coaching

2013-04-07T21:41:00.000-06:00

There are just so many great C things to blog about, but this week has nearly slipped away without me doing any of them.

C is for Crazy. Something I know a bit about lately.

C is for Clutter, something we're trying to get rid of.

C is for Citizenship in the Community, the merit badge Connor is trying to finish up. We were driving around this past week taking pictures. Pictures of things like (C is for) Cattle, as that tells a lot about our community.

But for this post, I have to say that C is for Coaching.

I posted last week in my B is for Books post about how we are back to Sonlight. Part of this is that I am back to realizing what my job as a teacher is, with these kiddos who are so much taller than I am. My job is to be a coach. A demanding one, sometimes. But definitely a caring one.

It is hard to back off and let these guys make some of these decisions. It is hard to know when to let them fail, and when to get in their face and shock them back into reality. Or when to call in reinforcements, in the form of someone else (Dad, usually) giving them a bit of a lecture.

If you came into this post thinking I'd give you some answers, well, prepare to be disappointed. I had more answers to this stuff four years ago. You know, before I had teens. Now I question a lot more:

When do I back off and let their lack of diligence cost them something?

When do I rescue them and keep their lack of responsibility from inconveniencing someone else?

Am I totally failing them?

Will they become productive adults?

This parenting teens thing is challenging, and exhilarating too. Check back in about a dozen years, when I've navigated teenhood for four boys, and I'll be nearly through Trina's teenage years. Maybe I'll have more answers then.

But I do know that this transition from dictator to coach is a necessary one. Sometimes, if you want something done right, you need to back off and be willing to let it be done wrong. And be there to ask the questions. What do you think of the outcome? What could you have done differently? What did you do right? What advice would you give your younger brother? Are you ready to try it again, or is this something to let go?

I might have the answers for me (or I might not), but as a coach, I need to push them to find God's answers for them.

So, this week, C is for Coaching... and if you check out Marcy's blog, you can see where C is for all kinds of other great things like the Crew, Castles, or Curriculum.