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Book Review: A Song Unheard

2018-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

It seems like a good amount of 20^th century European historical novels take place during World War II. Somehow, World War I doesn’t get the same amount of attention, so I was interested in Roseanna M. White’s novel, A Song Unheard.

This novel takes place in 1914. Willa Forsythe is a talented young woman--in both playing the violin and thievery-- in London at the outbreak of the War. To help support her “family”, a close knit group of other street dwellers, Willa has begun to take on “jobs” that require the use of her thievery skills from the shadowy Mr. V.

When we meet Willa, she is about to take on another job, this time to Wales, to get close to the famous violinist Lukas De Wilde. Lukas’s father was a renowned cryptologist and Lukas has the key to his father’s work. Willa is supposed to find and steal the key, but she is not the only one that wants it. Neither does she know for sure who Mr. V is, and who stands to benefit from the key.

Lukas was nearly killed in the German invasion of Belgium but has managed to escape to Wales. His mother and sister, however, are unaccounted for. He longs to reunite with his family, but doesn’t know if they are alive or dead but he will stop at nothing to find out their fate.

As Lukas and Willa meet, they begin to realize that things aren’t always what they seem, and that danger is around every corner.

A Song Unheard is the second book in a series, and since I didn’t read the first book, I can’t comment on the continuity, but I enjoyed learning about the characters, and Europe in the time of the First World War, and while it started out a bit slow, it ended up being an enjoyable read with no shortage of adventure.

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in anyway.

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2015-02-15T13:39:00.002-08:00

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February's Monthly Menu

2015-02-09T20:42:00.002-08:00

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Last month I experimented with a monthly menu plan rather than my usual weekly menu plan. It actually worked pretty well--better than I was expecting, so I decided to plan a monthly menu for February as well. I know it's already the 9th, but we were gone all last week (more on that in another post), so I'll start with today and have 3 weeks to plan instead of 4.

I try to clean out my freezer regularly so I always keep things fresh, and here's what I plan to use from my freezer this month:

Proteins
Pork Roast
Stew Beef
Salmon Filets

Fruit and Vegetables
Broccoli
Assorted Frozen Fruit

Homemade Precooked Meals
Spanish Brown Rice
Carnitas
Spaghetti Sauce

In addition, we are getting about 18 eggs a week from our chickens, so I have one meal every week that uses eggs as the main protein. I just purchased some organic chicken breasts, organic ground beef, and bacon at Costco. What I don't use this week, I will put in the freezer for future meals.

Since I like having options, I've been planning 6 meals for the week, and choosing which day gets which meal depending on what I feel like, time, appointments, etc. One night a week I either prepare something simple (sandwiches, frozen pizza, leftovers, etc), or have take out.

February's Monthly Menu:

Week of 2/9-2/15

Breakfast Burritos, Fresh Fruit
Chicken Nachos with Black Beans
Chicken Tacos, Mexican Brown Rice, Black Beans
Burger Sliders with Spicy Mayo, Baked Fries, Fresh Fruit
Chili and Cornbread
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes, Chili, Bacon, Steamed Broccoli

Week of 2/16-2/22

French Toast and Fresh Fruit
Spaghetti, French Bread, Green Salad
BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Chips
BBQ Shredded Pork with Coleslaw over Corncakes
Beef Stew and Biscuits
Beef Stew and Biscuits (this is always better the next day!)

Week of 2/23-3/1

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, Chips, Carrot and Celery Sticks
Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Green Salad
Baked Herb Salmon, Rice, Steamed Broccoli
Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits and Gravy, Fruit Smoothies
Carnitas Burritos, Black Beans
Greek Chicken Pitas, Green Salad

11 Super Awesome Perks of Homeschooling

2015-02-01T20:51:00.001-08:00

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I love homeschooling. I really, really do. We have chosen to homeschool our kids for several compelling reasons, and I'll admit it is a lot of work, but there are also some super secret awesome perks to homeschooling! Here's my list:

1. No School Traffic. It's a little known fact that each time you get stuck in school traffic it takes approximately 47 seconds off of your life. I'm reducing my stress and my risk for a school traffic induced cardiac event by homeschooling.

2. I Have a Realllllly Good Excuse as to Why My House is Never Clean. (They're always with me...when would I have time to clean!?)

3. We Can Take Vacations in the Middle of the School Year. Since school started in our district last year, we've been to Connecticut, New York, San Francisco, and will soon take a road trip to Zion National Park. Traveling when other kids are in school is a huge benefit, and means cheaper hotel rooms and flights (not going during peak season), and less crowds.

4. We Can Sleep In. Waking Tater up out of a deep sleep is like waking up a hibernating bear. It starts the whole day on the wrong foot. Letting her sleep until she's ready to get up ensures no Tater Bear and we all live in harmony.

5. No Make Up Work. If Tater is sick, we wait until she's healthy enough to do studies. No racing against the clock trying to make up worksheets, and no risk of missing out on something.

6. Feeding My Book Addiction in the Name of Education. When I see a really cool world atlas at Costco, well, I have to buy it. You know, for school. Same thing for craft supplies. I have a craft supply problem. But it's for art class, so it's okay.

7. We Never Get an Email That Says: "The Whole Class Has Lice". My kids have good immune systems and are exposed to plenty of germs from doctor's offices (Junior has SO many appointments), playgrounds, neighbor kids, and sports, but we also have the option to isolate if we need to.

8. I Don't Have to Ask "What Did You Learn Today?" And, if she says "nothing", well, I'm more than happy to add some more work =)

9. We Can Do Schoolwork Outside. Or at the Beach. Or Basically Anywhere. We live in San Diego. If we want to sit outside on Wednesday at 10am and soak up the 74 degree sunshine, we can, and we can still get all our work done.

10. Field Trips. Legoland? Sure, let's talk about engineering. The Zoo? Okay, we'll talk about the habitats of animals. The park for a picnic? Help me measure out ingredients for our pasta salad...water boils at what temperature? Even with all the structured curriculum we use, there's still plenty of time for fun, educational outings. And I don't even need to sign a permission slip.

11. I Get More Time To Spend With My Babies. As much as they exhaust me, I genuinely enjoy spending time with my kids. They're growing up so fast, and I'm grateful I get to spend my days with them.

Book Review: Steadfast Heart

2015-01-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

You know when you go to your favorite restaurant, and you know exactly what you're going to order? You get your taste buds all primed and you start looking forward to eating your favorite dish. Then the waiter says "Sorry, we're out." So, you order something else, but because you were looking forward to the dish they were out of, the alternate meal just wasn't as satisfying?

This is how I felt reading Tracie Peterson's new book, Steadfast Heart which takes place in 1880s Seattle. The official synopsis speaks of Lenore Fulcher, a young socialite whose father wants to marry her off to a man nearly 20 years her senior. But, when Chicago lawyer Kolbein Booth wanders into town, Lenore realizes she has feelings for him and must convince him to court her so she won't be subject to her father's arrangement. This was supposed to be the main point of the book. But, alas, Lenore and her courtship took up a small percentage of the novel, which was more about the differing social classes within the city than about the young woman's protest at arranged marriage.

Steadfast Heart, while an easy and entertaining read, was more like 3 books in one, and none of the substories wrapped up in a satisfying way. There were many loose ends. The main character was really not Lenore Fulcher, it was red-headed orphan Abrianna, whose adoptive aunts run the bridal school that Kolbein happened into while searching for his runaway sister. Abrianna has a heart for the poor, and wanders out among the hardest streets in town ministering to the homeless and bringing them food. I liked Abrianna's character; she was funny and intelligent and the author's writing style allowed me to feel like I was there with Abrianna as she wandered through the streets.

I was frustrated that there were so many loose ends. For example, a character was importing sex slaves from China, but there was no resolution or justice, and no hint that he would ever even be caught. I understand this is the first book in a series, but you can't just write about something that serious and have nothing resolve by the end of the book. At the end of Steadfast Heart, Abrianna is starting to hope for a man to love, but there was no hint to the connection I was expecting. She was just left hanging. Lenore and Kolbein's relationship also left me wanting. There was no real character development between them, and their story seemed like a bit of an afterthought.

I liked the writing style and the ability Ms. Peterson has to relay a character's personality and deep character through his or her words, but I was distracted by what I was expecting the book to be about and what the book was actually about, and also wished for more resolution on some of the loose ends.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Book Review: Choosing Him All Over Again

2015-01-28T20:19:00.001-08:00

This post is part of the Choosing Him Blog Tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with nearly one hundred other inspiring Christian bloggers. To learn more and join us, CLICK HERE! I received a free PDF copy of this book for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Juana Mikel's new book Choosing Him All Over Again: A Story of Romance and Redemption tells about her marriage journey with husband Terry. From Juana's early days of dissatisfaction leading to their separation, to Juana's accepting Jesus Christ, to Terry's not wanting her back, and finally her and Terry coming to reconciliation and a mutual faith. The book was easy to read, and Juana seems like a caring and genuine person. I enjoyed her story, and I also enjoyed her tips on marriage at the end of the book. The 11 Checkpoints To Refresh Your Marriage is an invaluable list of little things you should do every day that I want to print out and laminate. Things like giving a gift-tangibly or in deed, making him laugh, and praying for him daily.

Before my husband and I were even dating, God gave me a verse to keep in my heart. "Unless the Lord builds the house, it's workers toil in vain." (Psalm 127:1) I've found that the most difficult seasons of our marriage (we'll be celebrating 10 years in July) were the times we weren't spiritually connected. Knowing this, I try to pray for my husband every day, and I love the appendix at the back of Choosing Him that includes prayers and ideas for prayers you can use to lift your husband up. I loved the idea of praying one specific topic for my husband every day. (Praying for his leadership on Wednesdays and his protection on Saturdays, for example.) We can all stand to pray more, especially for our marriages, which unfortunately, seem to be the first thing we take for granted. Choosing Him All Over Again gave me the reminder and encouragement that marriage takes work, and if you become too complacent, too selfish, or don't keep God in the center of your relationship, it stops being the joy that God intended it to be.

Juana Mikels wrote her own story of how God saved her marriage along with practical teaching on faith and marriage written out of her own failure, pointing us all to Jesus Christ who has the power to change lives and marriages. You can get a copy here HERE or on Kindle HERE.

Sharing Secrets from the Future...A Look Back at Diagnosis Day

2015-01-26T16:15:00.003-08:00

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Thinking back on the date September 12, 2012 stirs many deep feelings inside of me. It was our D-Day...Diagnosis Day. The day my baby boy was diagnosed as being profoundly deaf. The day my life as I had known before ended, and the day a new life, one as the parent of a child with special needs began.

I see myself sitting in that little room alone with only my baby and the doctor who broke the news. I was scared, sad, and lost. I didn't know where to go, what to do, how to think, or why. Why him. Why my baby? Why me?

Now, almost two and a half years later, and after another diagnosis of sensory integration disorder, I wish I could tap myself on the shoulder and whisper to myself a few secrets about the future. A few little secrets that would have lifted my downcast head and dried the tears upon my cheeks. Secrets that would have given pause to my fears and replaced them with little glimmers of hope and tiny inklings of wonder. If only I could have seen then what I see now, this is what I would have told myself that day:

"You may not be able to heal him, but he will heal you."
He will heal you of your flawed definitions of "perfection" and "normal". There is no such thing as normal, and perfection is the love, innocence and joy he exudes. He will heal your desire to control life, and remind you of the importance of faith. He will heal your selfishness and replace it with compassion and empathy.

"You will meet amazing people along the way; people you could not imagine a life without."
The doctors, specialists and therapists you connect with will make an impact that lasts a lifetime. You will forge deep bonds with other parents who are going through similar issues, and they will be a built-in support system you come to rely on.

"You will learn about unconditional love."
We all long to be loved and accepted no matter what we do or who we are, and your child is no different. He cannot do anything to earn your love, in fact, he will bring a lot of challenges you didn't expect, yet you will love him more than anything. Likewise, he will see you in your most exhausted, frustrated moments, and still, he will be your biggest fan.

"You'll be part of a miracle every day."
After Junior gets his cochlear implants, you will see a miracle every single day. Tears--happy, happy ones--will sting your eyes when he hears you whisper "I love you" and whispers "uh lub oo" back. You will call to him from downstairs and he will run out of his bedroom, wondering what you want. You will ask him to hand you his plate and he will. He will try to sing along at church, he will ask you for more apple juice, he will bob his head when the radio is on. He will always be deaf, and yet he will hear you. And you will never, ever take that for granted.

"You will get the encouragement to keep going when you need it most."
There will be days where you're tired and sore about your circumstances, but you will also come to rely on the little breezes that give you rest and encouragement. Just when you feel ready to give up, something will happen to keep you going. You will meet another parent further down this path that can give you a glimpse of good things to come, someone will send you an encouraging article or quote, or your child will do something to remind you that it's all okay. It's all worth it.

"You would not change him."
Yes, there are many parts about his deafness and sensory processing issues you will want to change. You will long for a good night's sleep (I might leave out the part where he's still not sleeping through the night at 2 years old.) You will be sad when people treat him different for no reason, you will get jealous of the parents who don't seem to work as hard as you do, and you will still ask "why". "Why" will never end. But, you will also come to a beautiful place where you accept every part of who he is, and realize that all those parts make up the perfect little boy that you love.

I know you can't imagine what this path is going to hold. God created this path for you...you'll never know why, but you'll take great comfort in knowing it didn't just happen...you were made for this. It will be a trek, but always remember this: the higher the mountain, the more incredible the views. And from here, the view is pretty good. You've come a long way. Sure, there are some other, higher mountains in the distance, but a future me will have to share those secrets later. I'm sure the view will be even better.

DIY Pattern Block Velcro Board

2015-01-24T11:34:00.001-08:00

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So, it's no secret that I'm in love with dollar store cookie sheets. You can make all sorts of cool things, like this project, and this one (one of my most popular posts ever), and they're only a dollar meaning you can buy 2 or 4 or 17. They're also magnetic, which is great fun. (It's no surprise that magnets are one of my favorite things in the world, seeing as how Junior has one implanted in his head.)

Like magnets, Velcro is just fun. It makes things stick without making them sticky. I have issues with sticky things. Ick.

My kids love playing with blocks and making designs, and I knew there had to be a way to make blocks portable. We're in the car a lot, and Junior's been watching way too much Curious George on the DVD player. In an effort to get the theme song out of my head, and to keep him more actively engaged during car rides, I decided to take on the challenge of making blocks portable.

I ordered 15 feet of Velcro Stripsfrom Amazon (affiliate link), and also purchased some Velcro dots from an office supply store. I ended up using both the dots and strips...more on that below, but you really only need the strips.

Supplies:

Velcro Strips(affiliate link)
Wooden Pattern Blocks
OR Plastic Pattern Blocks(affiliate links)
Cookie Sheet (I love getting these from the Dollar Store!)

We had a set of wooden pattern blocks from our math curriculum that I used to make this tray. We had 250 blocks in the set, and I probably only used 40 for this project, so we still have plenty left over for math.

First, measure out the length of the cookie sheet, and cut Velcro strips (you can use either side of the Velcro, but I did the pokier side for the board and the softer side for the blocks) to that length. Carefully attach the Velcro to the cookie sheet in one layer, making sure not to overlap the strips.

Once you've covered the cookie sheet with Velcro, get out the blocks you want to use. I used a variety of all the shapes. Probably about 40 in all. Take the opposite texture from the Velcro you used on the board (if you used the spikier side on the board, use the soft side for the blocks. If you used the soft side on the board, use the spikier side for the blocks.)

I used the strips on the board, and started using the dots on the blocks. But, I found they didn't stick as well, so I finished up using a little of the strips for each block. The strips seemed to stick better, but the Velcro itself didn't stick to the blocks as well because I had to pull so hard to get the blocks off. Tater said she preferred the dots better because they were easier to use. It's your preference.

Once the Velcro is attached to the blocks, you're done! Store the blocks in a plastic bag, and make sure to keep the board clean, otherwise it won't stick as effectively.

I'm excited to add this to my Road Trip Must Haves for our next trip!

I'm linking up at Tater Tots and Jello and Flamingo Toes

World's EASIEST Appetizer! Super Bowl Time!

2015-01-19T20:29:00.001-08:00

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My sister throws an awesome Super Bowl Party every year. There's always a ridiculous amount of food. Good, good food, not boring food. She's the best hostess.

I made this appetizer over the weekend, and it will be my contribution to Super Bowl from now on.

Okay people, might want to get out a pencil to write down all the ingredients. Ready?

*12 oz bag lil' Smokies or Trader Joes Mini Pups

*2 C BBQ Sauce (your favorite variety...I used Trader Joes Sriracha and Roasted Garlic...I recommend it!)

Ok, did you get all that? You're thinking, "Wait, 2 ingredients? That's it? How can something be amazing with only two ingredients?" Well, trust me. Something amazing happens when you heat the Mini Pups with the Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce. It creates some kind of chemical reaction of deliciousness. Just doooooo it.

So, there's a quick way to do this recipe, and a longer way. You can decide. You can either heat the Pups with the BBQ sauce on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through, about 5 minutes, or you can throw everything into your crock pot on low for 3-4 hours until hot. The crock pot is nice because you can keep it on warm and people can help themselves over the course of the game. Either way, there probably won't be leftovers, and people might just start inviting you to every party. With great power (in this case, recipes), comes great responsibility!

Book Review: Own Your Life

2015-01-19T16:07:00.001-08:00

Sally Clarkson is the kind of woman I would love to sit and chat with someday. She seems like such a gentle, encouraging woman with a real heart for the souls of others. Well-known in the Christian book and homeschooling world, Sally Clarkson's new book, Own Your Life: Living with deep intention, bold faith, and generous love, promised to be a thought provoking read.

Own Your Life is divided into 5 Parts, then into Chapters pertaining each part.

The Parts topics are:

"Barriers to Owning Your Life: Don't Settle for a Mediocre Life"

"Owning Your Vision: Mapping Your Life Purpose"

"Owning Your Life by Giving God Control: What Only He Can Do"

"Owning Your Life By Partnering With God: Attitudes and Actions that Transform"

"Owning Your Life By Loving Well: Create a Lasting Legacy".

There are several chapters in each part that break down how you you can apply each topic to your quest for living a more intentional, purposeful life.

At the end of each chapter, there is a section entitled "Own Your Part", which gives summarizing study questions, Bible verses to meditate on, and a prayer. I liked the organization of the book, but I wish there was reference to the Part or Chapter at the top of each page so I could go back and reference later.

There were several main ideas that permeated this book, and if I had to use several phrases to describe everything I read, they would be: "the greatest legacy in life is the legacy of love", "God calls us to rest in Him", and "minister to each person where they are with a wholehearted approach". I was encouraged by this wholehearted approach, as I realize often I live my days just checking off boxes, and looking on to the next thing when I should be finding the joy and rest in each and every day, and investing as much as I can into my children's spiritual and emotional growth, since they will remember sweet moments together much more than a spotless house or endless toys.

This was an encouraging book, and it gave many good reminders. There was nothing earth shatteringly new or different, but I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Tyndale for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

DIY Valentine's Day Glitter Crayons

2015-01-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

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Hi, my name is Sara, and I'm addicted to crayons.

Two years ago, my mother gifted me a 64-pack of Crayola crayons in my stocking. I still hoard them in my dresser, don't allow my children to touch them, and open them to smell their crayon-y goodness after a long day. Few things in this world are as pure and delightful as a box of brand new pointy crayons. Who wants to give me an "amen sister"?

Okay, so now that we've established that I have an unnatural love for school supplies, I'm going to show you how to make your own homemade heart shaped crayons. Because it's Valentine's Day. Who doesn't want heart shaped crayons for Valentine's Day?? And, they're super duper easy.

You only need two things. A heart shaped silicone mold and crayons. The heart shaped mold was at Michael's for $9.99, but I found a 50% off coupon, so it was only $4.99. The crayon bag is filled with all the broken/partially melted/restaurant freebie/Dollar Store crayons I hold onto for this very reason.

First thing you want to do is heat your oven to 325 degrees. Then, sort out your crayons. For this project, I used all shades of red, pink, purple, and white.

Next, you have to get those pesky little papers off. Either you can be smart and use a knife to slice the papers off, or you can be like me. It's possible I have purple crayon permanently lodged under my fingernail. It was a labor of love. How fitting.

Once all the pesky papers are off, snap your crayons into pieces and place inside the molds randomly.

Now comes the glitter. Glitter, glitter everywhere, on my floor and in my hair. True Story. Sprinkle your desired color (or colors) onto the broken crayon pieces. Tater chose the glitter, and she chose pink, purple, silver, white, and red.

Now, it's time to melt these babies! Stick them into the 325 degree oven (put the mold on a cookie sheet so it doesn't bend on the rack and give you uneven crayons), and allow to melt, about 15 minutes.

After about 15 minutes, they'll look like this...hot liquid.

Pull the cookie sheet with the mold on top out of the oven and let sit, undisturbed, until completely cool. This is crucial! Completely cooled I tell you...you can't rush love.

Or else you'll end up with a broken heart

So please, for the love of the crayons, don't release them from their heart shaped home until they're completely cooled. It should take about an hour.

Slip them out of the molds once cooled, and feel the love.

These are going to make a great Valentine's treat for Tater's friends. If she weren't homeschooled, I would totally make them for her class instead of giving candy. I'd tape them to pink card stock and write something witty like:

"I'm drawn to be your Valentine"

   OR
"I'm Cray-zy for you"

                                      OR
"You're Crayontastic"

So, that's it. That's how you make crayons...Cray-zy easy, right? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Think of the possibilities for other holidays (I have a Christmas tree mold for Christmas, and a Star mold for 4th of July), and inexpensive party favors...you may become a crayon addict too. Not that that's a bad thing, though...

8 Things Special Needs Parents Are Tired of Hearing

2015-01-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

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We were at a doctor's appointment today for one of Junior's specialists. While waiting, a little girl about 10 years old, unable to move or speak came in for an appointment being pushed in a wheelchair by her obviously frazzled mother and her care nurse. The other families who were waiting just ignored her, probably because they didn't know what to say or do, but Junior ran up to this little girl, grabbed her arm, touched her face and started babbling to her. The girl smiled and started shaking with delight because someone wanted to play with her. The mom thanked me profusely for letting Junior be around her, because it's obvious that most other people either stare or just ignore her.

I realize that one of the unique challenges of being a special needs parent is that most people don't know what to say or do when presented with a child that's not "typical". It's interesting to hear many of the same things over and over. In speaking with other special needs parents, here are 8 of the hardest things for special needs parents to hear.

1. "I'm Sorry."
Often, when I share that Junior is deaf or that he has sensory processing disorder, people apologize for no reason. Don't apologize. First of all, Junior wouldn't be Junior if he were born any different so I'm not sorry for it, and second, having a disability isn't something to be ashamed of. Being different shouldn't invoke pity. It's like saying "Your daughter has blue eyes. I'm sorry." Or, "Your nose is bigger than mine. I'm sorry." Instead, ask kindly, get informed, and know that his differences don't define him.

2. "God Knew You Were Such a Good Mom That He Gave You a Special Needs Child."
Wait, what? So if I were a worse parent God would have given me a typical child?
I trust God with my life, and that means accepting that His ways are above my ways, and that He chose this path for me because it was the best path for me. Not because I was "too good" or not good enough.

3. "How Do You Handle It? I Couldn't."
Yes, you could. You would rise to the occasion and realize that you're stronger than you know. You do what you have to do, plain and simple.

4. "I Don't Care, As Long As My Future Children Are Healthy."
I've been there. I've said that more than once while pregnant with both of my children. But guess what? Even if you do have a child born with a disability, you'll still love him or her more than anything, and you'll realize that there are many incredible gifts that a special needs child can give. Eternal gifts like hope, joy, patience, and peace that you wouldn't trade for anything.

5. "My Cousin's Friend's Sister's Son Has ________"
I know you're trying to relate and make conversation, but unless you actually know the person you're referring to, there's nothing to relate to.

6. "What's Wrong With Him?"
Nothing's wrong with him. See #1.

7. "Thanks for the Perspective"
I had someone come up to me and say "I'm so lucky I'm not in your shoes. Thank you for making me feel better about my life." Wow. I'm glad to give you perspective, but please don't pity my life or think I'm somehow missing out on something better.

8. (Staring in Silence)
Okay, this one isn't something that's actually said, but staring or pointing is more hurtful than just coming up and asking. You're not going to offend me by asking about Junior, but you probably will offend me by silently staring, pointing, and talking amongst yourselves.

Contrary to popular belief, "special parents" do not get "special kids". Special kids make special parents.

Read Junior's Story HERE

Book Review: My Perfect Pantry

2015-01-11T19:56:00.002-08:00

Sometimes I feel like a contestant on Chopped when I'm going through my refrigerator trying to make something fantastic out of leftovers. So, I was excited to see what kind of recipes Chopped judge, Iron Chef, and renowned chef Geoffrey Zakarian would bring in his new cookbook, My Perfect Pantry.

The cookbook is a great idea--taking 50 common pantry items and transforming them for use in 150 different recipes. Some of the pantry items include: steel cut oats, cocoa powder, canned beans, BBQ sauce, and popcorn. Some of the reimagined dishes include Pecan Herb Pesto, Fresh Ricotta with Honey and Lemon, Cast-Iron Burgers with Secret Sauce, and Chocolate Muffins.

I decided to make the Secret Sauce for the burgers and the Chocolate Muffins. (Of course I had to make something with chocolate!)

The Secret Sauce, a concoction consisting of BBQ sauce, ketchup, and horseradish among several other common ingredients was amazing. I could eat it with a spoon, and I plan to make it every time I make burgers from now on. The Chocolate Muffins were good, although not as moist as I was hoping. They had a good flavor, though, and were easy to put together.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons of My Perfect Pantry:

Pros
-photos of every recipe
-combination of easy and more challenging recipes for every home cook's skill level
-wonderful tips for each pantry ingredient
-good result from the recipes I tried

Cons
-some of the recipes required specialty ingredients that I wouldn't just be able throw together
-in thinking "pantry meals" I assumed it would be a little more budget minded

On the whole, I really liked this cookbook, and it is a good addition to my cookbook collection. Next, I plan to try the Brown Sugar and Black Pepper Bacon. Yum!

Thank you to Blogging for Books for providing me a free copy of this cookbook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

13 Easy Recipes for Leftover Chicken

2015-01-10T18:30:00.001-08:00

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Ever since my life changed when I found my new favorite simple way to cook chicken, I've been thinking of all the ways I can use the chicken to streamline meal prep and spend more time ~~on Pinterest~~ with my kids.

There are so many chicken recipes out there. Like so, so many. But here are our 13 family tested favorites that use leftover chicken.

Southwestern Egg Rolls
Chicken Enchiladas (take a spoonful of chicken and sprinkle with cheese...roll into tortilla and cover with sauce.)
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad
Asian Chicken Salad
Chicken Noodle Soup
Nachos
Chicken Tortellini Soup (add 1C cooked chicken to the recipe)
Chicken Pita Sandwiches
Chicken Caesar Salad (add 1C cooked chicken to recipe)
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
Chicken and Black Bean Bowls with Rice (Scoop cooked rice into a bowl. Top with black beans and chicken. Sprinkle cheese over the top, and serve with salsa, lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole.)

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Book Review: I Can Learn the Bible

2015-01-08T20:10:00.002-08:00

I'm always looking for good devotionals to add to our homeschool Bible time. I had been looking for a good book for Tater that encourages memorizing Bible verses, when I saw Holly Hawkins Shiver's children's devotional I Can Learn the Bible: 52 Scriptures Every Kid Should Know, and thought it would be a great addition to our Bible time.

This hard cover devotional is geared towards children age 4-8, and is based on O.S. Hawkins' adult devotional The Joshua Code. I Can Learn the Bible has 52 devotions and memory verses, with each chapter meant to last one week. Monday, you're supposed to read the devotional out loud and have your child repeat the memory verse. Tuesday your child should memorize the first part of the verse, Wednesday he or she should memorize the middle part of the verse, and Thursday he or she should memorize the last section. Re-read the devotion and verse on Friday, and review over the weekend.

I like how this system reinforces both the concept and the verse, instead of just memorizing a verse without any context. Several devotion themes include: the Bible being true for all time, God is our shepherd, God works all things for our good, and we all have a unique talent to bring to the body of Christ. I think the devotions are well laid out, and engaging.

My only complaint was the translation they used for the verses, from the International Children's Bible. For example, Tater knows pretty well "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth". In this book, however, it's "In the beginning, God created the sky and the earth." To me, "the heavens" refer to the universe, and the "sky" refers to just this world. It may seem petty, but this version doesn't fit my personal preference, and I will probably have Tater try to memorize the verses in a different translation.

On the whole, however, I think we will really enjoy this devotional as an asset to our homeschooling Bible time.

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and have not been influenced in any way.

First Grade Curriculum Choices: MIDYEAR UPDATE

2015-01-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

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One of my most popular posts this year was the curriculum we chose for Tater's first grade year. But now our curriculum looks vastly different than it did at the beginning of the year! We've made so many changes that I figured another post was in order to let you know what we've liked and haven't liked from the original list. (Make sure you check out my original First Grade Curriculum Choices here.)

Mystery of History Volume I-I'm still enjoying this, although there is a lot of reading that can be dry at times, so I'm not sure how much Tater is actually retaining. She likes the activities, and I love that it's biblically based and interactive. I've supplemented with library books to bring more depth into some of the topics, but we're continuing with this curriculum for the remainder of the year and will reassess for next year.

Horizons Math 1-This was one of the only math curricula I could find that wasn't common core, which was a major reason I chose it. Tater has breezed through it...she can do the worksheets independently and hasn't really needed any help. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. There is definitely a lot of review built in, which is good, but I don't find it challenging enough. I'm not sure if we will continue with this math for second grade, but we will finish the first grade book then decide from there.

Horizons Phonics K-Tater seemed to be a little behind in reading to start the year so I put her in kindergarten phonics, but we made it halfway through this workbook only to realize that it was becoming way too easy. An official reading assessment from my aunt (who is a first grade teacher) showed that she was above 2nd grade reading level, so we dropped Horizons Phonics K and have moved into First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind as well as a reading comprehension workbook I picked up at Lakeshore. So far we are loving First Language Lessons.

A Reason for Handwriting-We are still using these worksheets, but Tater's handwriting is still terrible. I'm considering dropping the Handwriting curriculum to just focus on copywork and letter practice.

A Reason for Science-We are only using this about one week out of five. I haven't thought the lessons were that clear, so I had to explain quite a bit that wasn't mentioned in the text. Most of the time we are just doing experiments from Magic School Bus Science Club (Tater's birthday present last year), and some science kits she got for Christmas. I also picked up a Natural Science visual encyclopedia and she does daily journal entries about different plants and animal species.

God's Great Covenant-Since Mystery of History has a lot of lessons on Biblical history, we have dropped God's Great Covenant for now and are just using a combination of MOH and a Bible Storybook. Perhaps when she gets older I will revisit God's Great Covenant, but I would prefer to focus on the stories and God's character more than the dogma at this age.

All About Spelling-We are now in book 2, and I can't say enough about this curriculum. Tater is turning into a really proficient speller because she is learning the rules of spelling instead of random words. I plan to continue All About Spelling for the foreseeable future. Although, I will admit I've been using the tiles less and less, and have been using a whiteboard instead.

Classical Conversations-We still meet with our CC group once a week, but review time is basically just during class day and sometimes the CD in the car. I don't think we are going to continue with CC next year, just because our current curriculum is already more than enough.

Road Trip USA-I enjoy this curriculum put out by Confessions of a Homeschooler, and we will be continuing it. I like all the activities included, although printing everything out was a huge task.

World's Greatest Artists-Tater likes the art projects in this curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler, but I'm not sure we needed a whole curriculum, plus the companion books have been difficult to find. Just printing out examples from each artist along with a painting project will be good enough moving forward.

Read Alouds-We have finished these read aloud books since September...Little House on the Prairie, Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman, two Boxcar Children books, and Prince Caspian.

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Kitchen Hack: Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

2015-01-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

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One of my big goals for 2015 is to spend less time in the kitchen, and more time with my kids. I feel like I'm always cooking (or cleaning up from cooking), and what was late afternoon suddenly becomes after dinner and bedtime. So, this year I want to use my Crock Pot more, create more freezer meals, and spend less time in the kitchen while still making healthy meals and not resorting to take out...well, at least for January. It's the little victories...

I have a bunch of easy prep, freezer friendly recipes that call for cooked, shredded chicken, but by the time I'm done cooking and shredding the chicken (not to mention basting and seasoning if I'm getting it off a whole baked chicken), I may as well have made a lasagna from scratch or just bought a $9 supermarket rotisserie chicken. But, wait, wait, wait! Using your crock pot, you can make a week's worth of shredded chicken at one time! Whoa. This changed my life, people.

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

3 lbs chicken (boneless skinless breasts, bonless skinless thighs, or combination)
6 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp Lawry's Seasoning Salt
2 C chicken broth

Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on high 3-4 hours, or low 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred or chop. (It will shred easily.) Chicken can be used immediately, refrigerated for 3-4 days, or frozen for a month.

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Book Review: A Cry From The Dust

2015-01-03T15:21:00.001-08:00

When I was younger, I aspired to be an archaeologist. Spurred on by a love of history and adventure, the thought of being the first person to discover an artifact after thousands of years answered the typical childhood question of What do you want to be when you grow up? It wasn't until I was older that I realized 95% of an archaeologist's job is either spent subsisting in dusty, ragged conditions in the middle of nowhere or categorizing and record keeping. So, I opted to not follow that career path, but still maintained a love of all things antique and adventure-related anyway.

Carrie Stuart Park's debut novel, A Cry From the Dust, immediately got my attention. Not only does it have archaeological and adventurous themes, but the author was mentored by well-known author Frank Peretti. (I read and re-read the Cooper Kids series often as a kid.)

In the novel, forensic artist Gwen Marcey is working on a job reconstructing the faces of several recently discovered bodies in Utah. The bodies were part of the real historical event, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which 140 men, women, and children part of a wagon train were murdered in 1857 by Mormon extremists. Gwen's hopes this temporary gig will give her a break from her reality...a spiteful ex-husband, a rebellious teenage daughter, and the stress of having recently completely chemo for breast cancer. But, instead, after stumbling across a body killed in the form of ritualistic sacrifice, she realizes there is a 150 year old cover-up that some people will go to any length--including kidnap and murder--to keep covered up.

A Cry From the Dust is a real page turner. Gwen is a likable, funny, and determined main character. I actually wanted to be Gwen's friend--which is the mark of good character development. The book is written in first person, Gwen's perspective, but occasionally, parts are told in 3rd person from Gwen's daughter's perspective so we have additional information. Towards the end of the book, things get a little less realistic (with Gwen's recent cancer and chemo, she probably would not have had the energy and stamina to make it through some of the extreme physical tasks she had to engage in.) But, for the most part, I couldn't put this book down and hope Carrie Stuart Parks plans to write another Gwen Marcey book soon!

*Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Book Review: Love Unexpected

2014-12-28T19:53:00.000-08:00

It's no surprise to my readers that I've chosen yet another historical fiction book to review. This time, I've read Book One of Jody Hedlund's new Beacons of Hope series, entitled Love Unexpected, which takes place in 1859 rural Michigan.

Emma Chambers and her brother Ryan came to America with their father during the Irish potato famine several years prior, after their mother starved to death. Once their father passed away, they decided to leave Michigan's Mackinac Island for better opportunities. As they passed Presque Isle, a small outpost in rural Michigan, their ship was attacked by pirates, and they were forced to abandon ship. Ryan and Emma were rescued by the local lighthouse keeper, Patrick Garraty, a single father whose late wife had passed away just hours before.

Ryan finds a job in Burnham's Landing, the small town attached to Presque Isle, but Emma is unsure of her future. That is, until a traveling preacher comes into town and suggests that Patrick and Emma marry out of convenience. Patrick needs a mother for his 2 year old son Josiah, (he cannot manage the lighthouse duties and be a single father) and Emma needs to be financially supported.

After a short consideration, Emma decides to marry Patrick, since the arrangement makes sense, and they return to their home at the lighthouse where Emma slowly learns how to be a mother and a homemaker. She soon learns some shocking news about Patrick, however. He has a criminal record, and the circumstances surrounding his late wife's death are suspicious. Emma must decide if she wants to learn to love and trust Patrick, or if she's going to let the rumors stand in the way of achieving a relationship with her husband.

There were some things I liked about this book. Patrick's 2 year old son, Josiah, reminded me of Junior. Stubborn yet sweet, with a mind of his own. I pictured Junior's little face in all the paragraphs about Josiah. I also liked the historical aspect to life at a lighthouse, and all that the antiquated job entailed. I've visited 19th century lighthouses, but I never really considered how much work went into maintaining them, and how challenging a life it would have been--especially in rural Michigan.

Some things I didn't like about the book--the hesitancy, indecisiveness, and assumptions made by Patrick and Emma about themselves and their relationship. There are only so many times Emma can play the "he loves me, he loves me not" dilemma without getting annoying. Patrick is the same way. But, neither character discusses their feelings about each other, so they're left assuming the worst and make some fairly poor decisions as a result. This made the main characters not that likeable.

The majority of the book is about Patrick and Emma learning to love each other (mostly by making the assumption that the other doesn't love him/her), Josiah's relationship with his new "mamma", Patrick's learning to forgive himself for his past, and Emma believing that God cares about her.

All in all, it was an entertaining book, and I did learn a few things about lighthouses, but I wish the characters just weren't so wishy-washy.

*I was provided a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

He Calls Me Mama

2014-12-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

His little lips curl into a Cheshire cat smile as he tilts his curly toddler head toward me.

Hi Mama, he says.

Our eyes lock for a brief second before he goes back to whatever chaos he was creating, and my heart leaps. Mama isn't just a word, it's a symbol that represents our journey. The journey of pain and hope, of grief and love, of tears and joy. The journey that has changed our lives forever.

2012 was not a good year. We experienced the loss of a parent, a tragedy involving another family member, and a difficult pregnancy that led to 6 months on bedrest and way too much TV time for my then-toddler daughter. May 22 was the day everything was supposed to get better. It was the day our son would make his debut and complete our family. He would be the catalyst for healing that would bind the wounds we had all recently suffered.

Junior came out quickly at 9:52 that morning, and he was perfect. He had an APGAR of 10, and had beautiful pudgy cheeks. He was literally perfect. A friend posted on my Facebook page: "Congratulations on the gift of a healthy son!" We had been given a gift, alright, but it was not what we were expecting.

That evening, a nurse came in to test Junior's hearing. He didn't respond to the sounds, but no one was too concerned. We had a follow-up the following week. He failed the second test as well, and he was referred to a specialist. One final failed test sealed his diagnosis, and we were sent home with a pamphlet entitled Your Deaf Child.

Crushed. Heartbroken. Confused. I had no words for my emotions at the time, but it wasn't a good place. I looked down at the infant who would never fall asleep to his mother's lullaby. Whose world was silent. The child who was supposed to bring healing, but instead brought more pain.

Over the months that followed, we saw multiple specialists and Junior endured more poking and prodding and sedations than any infant should have to endure. I no longer lived the stay-at-home-mom life of play dates, art projects, and stroller walks at the mall. Our days were filled with doctors appointments, therapies, and the impossible question of why my child?

After hitting rock bottom emotionally, we learned about cochlear implants, and found out that Junior would be a good candidate. The implants would not be able to replace natural hearing, we were told, but it would be a prosthetic that would give him the best chance of success. With this hope, we pushed forward. We met people from all over the country whose children had used cochlear implants to lead normal lives, and we jumped headfirst into the world of special needs.

On March 8, 2013, three weeks after surgery, 9 month old Junior's implants were turned on, and he heard our voices for the first time. He smiled the first time he heard my husband's voice, and we knew we had made the right decision for him and for our family.

It's almost two years after surgery, and Junior still spends several hours a week in various therapies, but he can hear us and he can talk to us. We may not have received the gift of a normal, typical, healthy child, but his unpredictable journey has given us incredible gifts we could not have imagined.

Hope. Peace. Compassion. Acceptance. Perspective.

Gifts that can only be obtained as trophies from a trial by fire.

With a typical child, I would never have recognized the beauty of the little things. The miracles. He knows my name. He hears my voice.

He calls me mama. The greatest gift of all.

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20 Household Objects for "Inventor" Kids

2014-12-16T10:27:00.001-08:00

My 6 year old, Tater, is a natural born inventor. From the infamous "baby slingshot" she invented when Junior was a newborn (a prototype I did not allow her to test out), to the more recent new and improved "up-the-stairs-diaper-lifter" (a good idea, but not a particularly hygienic design), she's always been one to tinker.

Here are 20 household items I always try to have on hand for her when she gets a creative bee in her bonnet and wants to invent something. Putting the little, loose items together in a cute container makes it extra easy for her to grab when she's bored.

You'll be amazed what creative contraptions your child will come up with...the possibilities are endless, even with these common and somewhat random household objects. When your child is done, you can either toss everything or recycle the items for the next creation.

Most of these things can be found at the dollar store, and if packaged right, would make a really cute DIY gift.

*Certain listed items could be a choking hazard and are recommended for children aged 5 and up. Please supervise children at all times.

1. Rubber Bands
-all different sizes and colors

2. Paper Clips
-the big clippy ones are extra fun

3. Bottle Caps
-save the caps from your water bottles and juice gallons for different sizes

4. String
-a ball of endless wonder!

5. Tape
-what is it with kids and tape?!

6. Straws
-we love the big smoothie straws, although the flexible ones are useful too

7. Plastic cups
-paper cups work too

8. Paper plates
-extra points for colorful paper plates

9. Wooden Spoons
-get a pack of them at the dollar store

10. Single Hole Punch
-how else is string supposed to fit through a paper plate?

11. Markers
-for decorating the invention

12. Paper
-for drawing a model/design

13. Wooden Chopsticks
-who knew!?

14. Paper Muffin Liners
-yes, really...

15. Empty Plastic Containers
-wash out those sour cream and yogurt cups

16. Popsicle Sticks (Craft Sticks)
-one of the best "creative" supplies you can get

17. Cotton Balls
-every invention needs a little padding

18. Metal Washers
-these are super inexpensive at hardware stores

19. Plastic Spoons
-one word: catapult

20 Aluminum Foil
-these turn into balls, wrap thing, become a cover...more useful for the kids than for me!

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Money Saving Mom Guest Post

2014-12-13T19:58:00.001-08:00

I have a guest post up on Money Saving Mom today, about my family's favorite Frugal Christmas Traditions. Hop on over and check it out HERE!

Simple Homemade Onion Ring Recipe

2014-12-13T11:05:00.001-08:00

I love onion rings. So. So. Much. I don't have a gallbladder, so I shouldn't be eating them, but I really can't help it. Even my husband and Tater (neither of whom will touch an onion in their pure form), inhale these puppies. Sometimes, I even bake them to make them "healthier". These only take about 20 minutes to make, so you could even make them on a weeknight!

Simple Onion Rings
serves 4
15 min prep, 3 min fry or 20 minute baking.
adapted from Allrecipes

1 medium onion, cut and separated into rings
1 1/4 C All purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1 C milk
3/4 C dry bread crumbs
Seasoning Salt
Oil for frying (optional)

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt
Dip the onion slices into the flour mixture until they are coated; set aside.
Mix the egg and milk into the leftover flour mixture using a fork. Scoop batter into a gallon baggie and place coated onion rings inside. Shake until well coated.
Place the bread crumbs into another gallon baggie, and put battered rings into bag. Shake until all rings are well coated.
Place battered and breaded rings into a deep pan with 1/2 inch of hot oil and cook about 1-2 minutes on each side until browned and crisp.
If you would prefer to bake, place rings on a wire rack and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, flipping once.
Sprinkle with seasoning salt and serve!

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Book Review: The Uncommon Marriage Adventure

2014-12-12T19:11:00.001-08:00

While I've mentioned I'm a big baseball fan (and once threw out the first pitch at a MLB baseball game), I haven't mentioned that I'm also a football fan. Tony Dungy, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has always been someone I've admired...both on the field and off, so I was excited to read Tony and his wife Lauren's new book, The Uncommon Marriage Adventure.

Tony and Lauren have been married for more than 30 years and have nine children together, (three biological children, and six younger children whom they've adopted), so they have a lot of marriage and family experience. They've also experienced the loss of a child, which is grief that few can grasp, but that grief has made them stronger in their faith.

The Uncommon Marriage Adventure is a Christian marriage book written for husbands and wives to read together, sparking genuine deep conversations and prayerful time together...it's written almost as a daily marriage devotional. There are 8 main principles (with different "core practices" for each day) that couples work on in the book that spans 16 weeks. Tony and Lauren divided writing the entries. Some are geared towards husbands, while others are geared towards wives, though most apply to either spouse.

Each entry starts with a title that gives a hint into the content for the day, followed by the "core practice", or concept to practice for that day. Then there is a verse, followed by a personal story, and then a practical application. At the end of every week, there's a quick summary with all the concepts you learned, followed by a prompt for praying together.

I really enjoyed this book, and it appeals to both husbands and wives. (Many marriage books I see are geared toward only one spouse). I appreciate how the Dungys expose their strengths and weaknesses, and give practical advice to other couples. They were real, and didn't claim to have it all together, even after 30+ years of marriage. I not only enjoyed the content and applications, but I also liked the layout. It was easy to read and the weekly summary kept things simple. Overall, I would recommend this book to others.

Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.