The Bridge book review

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury.  I really loved this book. This would be a great book for a book club - I wish she would have included discussion questions at the end. 

The Bridge is a book store - but it is also a metaphor for the thing that connects us - a bridge to connect yesterday and tomorrow. A bridge to connect people to each other. The book is about second chances - about lost love and finding their way back to each other. This book is about the demonstrating that God is in control even when we can't see His amazing hand at work. And this book reminds us that things are not always as they seem --- and to ask questions when something seems odd or off. We, often times, judge others by assumptions we make - and those assumptions might not be true - so ask the question. Stop being afraid of the answer and ask the questions --- because we might just be pleasantly surprised at what we find out. 

This book is a must read - it has a predictable ending. Still, it is an enjoyable story - well written. 

A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans

A wonderful book - a modern day take on the story of Joseph - from the bible. The main character's name is also Joseph. It is a book that speaks to how the failings of the parents affects the children's behavior and how they act toward each other. The Dad shows great favoritism to Joseph and it creates jealous that grows and festers into something ugly in the other siblings hearts. We all strive to be loved by our parents and when it is apparent that one is loved way more - it leaves doubts in the other siblings minds as to whether they are loved at all. To get attention they need to then out do the 'loved' sibling or get that sibling out of the way - out of the limelight. It is so sad when parents can't see that they are giving preferential treatment and how this makes their children feel about themselves. 

A very delightful story. Well written. 

The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner

The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner

This was a very good book. Kept my interest by bouncing between three different story lines. The main character is Meg. Her father has been promising to take her to Florence for years and continually disappointing her by failing to deliver on the promise. Additionally we are introduced to Sophia. When Meg finally gets to Florence she ends up staying with Sophia. Sophia is a travel guide who shows Meg around Florence. The girl in the glass is really all three of them - Nora, Sophia and Meg. The concept is that the girl looks in the glass - in the mirror. And the girl will decide who she will be and whose daughter she is and the kind of parents she has. It speaks to our perspective on things. We can either choose to see things in a positive light or a negative light. It is up to us how we view things. And the spin we put on things to make us feel better about the people in our life and the events in our life - just help to make life more enjoyable. I enjoyed the characters. I wish the author would have more fully developed the romance between Lorenzo and Meg. Maybe that will be book 2?!

Tidings of Comfort & Joy

by T. Davis Bunn

A great read for the upcoming Christmas season. It is just a delightful story. Very heartwarming. Grandma takes in her Granddaughter while the rest of the family gets an amazing trip to Hawaii - the granddaughter was too sick to go on the trip. Grandmother then spends the time telling her granddaughter her story - how she eventually met her husband (grandfather). In the process of telling the story the two become close. It helps to heal both of their hearts. I just loved the fact that grandmother took the time to share and bond with the granddaughter. I loved those types of times with my grandmother and wish for my kids to have them with their grandparents. Some great life lessons can be imparted by learning about the hard time of those that went before us. 

The Boy Who came Back From Heaven

by Kevin and Alex Malarkey

This was an interesting book and an interesting story. I personally liked Heaven is Real much better. This one is good and does help to document the existence of angels and heaven. On the other hand it is also much sadder. The recovery is not a full recovery - and from a parent's perspective it is hard to read about a child that is going to spend his life as a quadriplegic. It seems like such a sad life to not have use of at least your hands. Still, it is amazing to read about the family's faith in the face of adversity and how the community of believers lifted the family up and helped them through the difficult time.

That's Why I'm Here by Chris Spielman

A very good book. Will make you cry. It is the true story of Chris and Stefanie Spielman. They were high school sweethearts. Some of the book covers his career in the NFL. More importantly it details out how he learned to really walk with God and live as a devoted Christian putting Christ first, family second and football third. Fabulous testimony of faith especially in light of dealing with his wife's cancer. When she was diagnosed, he put his career on hold and took a year off playing football to be Mr. Mom -- to do all the things she normally did so she could just focus on her treatments and recovery. 

Throughout her ordeal, Stefanie never once lamented that she had cancer. Never bemoaned it or got angry at God. Throughout the entire thing she felt she had been given so many blessings. (As the title of the book indicates) She felt it was why she was here --- to inspire others, to give others going through breast cancer hope. Cancer has touched so many - this is really a wonderful book - and a great testimony. Chris and Stefanie are very special people and I feel better for having shared in their journey through reading their story. 

Prayers of a Stranger by Davis Bunn

A delightful, heartwarming story. While the story takes place around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays - it is not really a Christmas story. It is a story about healing from heartache and learning to lean on God - both to make it through the heartache and to learn to live joyfully again. Amanda takes a trip to Israel and I found that facinating. I would love to go visit the places where Jesus walked. What an amazingly spiritual journey that would be. I highly recommend this book - it is very good. An easy read. Very good story. 

The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay

This book is by the author that also wrote Sarah's Key. I simply loved Sarah's Key. This book was good but unsettling at the end. There were clues along the way to indicate that the author was going to end it in such a way - still I was surprised. I kept hoping for a 'good' ending. In the end, it seemed that the author was putting way too little value on life and way too much value on a structure. While the structure represented a way of life and memories. It was the link to the past and a link to the deceased husband. I do get that but ultimately I value life - a person's life as being far more valuable. It seems like the main character never really got passed the death of her husband and wasn't able to find a new normal. That is just very sad. 

The book was very well written and I do like her style of writing. This story was really told through letters, of course the main letter being the one that Rose was writing to her dead husband. It was almost a journal of sorts. I am not sure I am on board with her worldview though. Life should triumph. And suicide is not God's plan for us. 

Recipe

Black Bean Quinoa

I tried this recipe that I found - it was really very good. I modified it some though. 

Here is a link to the recipe: link

I used a quinoa that had a mixture of various types of quinoa. It looked very colorful.





I did not have cilantro and didn't feel like running to the store. I also didn't use the Bragg's Liquid Aminos - that is like a soy sauce --- and Americans eat way too much soy. I have cut all soy out of my diet. Still, the recipe was good without the soy added in. It is a very different taste but it was very good. Loved the black beans with the quinoa. 

danger of xenoestrogens

Most people are unaware of the dangers of xenoestrogens - they are not even aware of what they are much less that they can cause problems. Here is an article that talks about them and how to limit exposure. 
Article
Article

Book Review - Shadows on the Sand

Shadows on the Sand A Seaside Mystery by Gayle Roper

This was a very enjoyable read. A fun book to curl up with - not heavy and intense like some of the other books that I have in my pile of to reads. Sometimes it is nice to just read a good story - this one  had good Christian values. It is a romance story and a story about healing (emotionally) and forgiveness as part of that healing process. Both of the main characters are broken - Carrie's past is painful. Her mother was an alcoholic that never protected her from the boyfriends that stayed over. Greg is trying to forgive himself for allowing his wife to move his car. A vicious killer caused the car to blow up thereby killing his wife and children. It is now three years later and Greg is trying to move on with his life. 

The story is also a bit of a mystery - Carrie's dishwasher is killed and then her waitress disappears. The characters try to discover what is going on and why the waitress is gone. How is that connected to the death? 

A very enjoyable read and the mystery thrown in there kept the suspense. 

alternative methods

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

I really enjoyed reading this book. Joe Kissack is a phenomenal example of following God's leading even when it might not make sense to us at the time and when it might be extremely hard. 

Three fisherman end up adrift in the Pacific Ocean for approximately 9 months with no provisions - and only a bible brought along by one of the fisherman. When things got tough Salvador turned to his bible and God - to gain comfort and strength. Two others in the boat followed Salvador's lead and took turns reading from the bible and praying. Two other of the fisherman were very negative and they did not survive. Upon returning the surviving fisherman were accused of having eaten the two dead fisherman - but that didn't happen. Once the story of the fishermen's survival became news, Joe felt God nudging him to go to Mexico - he felt that God wanted him to be sure this story was told fully - with the aspects of faith left in. 

One small detail in the book is that one of the grandmothers of one of the fisherman - prayed without ceasing for the return of her grandson. She never gave up faith and she prayed without ceasing. How often do we want so hard to fix a problem, to do something to help those in trouble - we want to do something. Yet, we forget the most important thing - to pray without ceasing! Prayer is not inactivity but activity. It is probably the most important thing we can do. Pray without ceasing. 

This is a fabulous book - I highly recommend it. 

Visit with Author - Marla McKenna

We were very privileged to have Marla McKenna - author of the children's book - Mom's Big Catch - visit with our homeschool group. It was really wonderful. What a great event and an inspirational message. Marla McKenna read her book to the group. It is a very cute book. It was neat to hear, from the author's perspective, why she had certain pictures in the book, their meaning to her personally and her thought process on writing the book. She also talked about the process to become an author. Her message to the kids was to 'follow their dreams' and not give up. It took her two years and many rejection letters before she found a publisher willing to publish her book. The process took patience - from the point the publisher said yes - it was about another 10 months before the book was printed. Marla is a Christian and talked about how none of this would be possible without God. She really felt God inspired her and helped her through the process. If any of you are interested in reading more about Marla and her book - here is a link to her website. link

And a big thank you to Marla for taking time from her busy schedule to talk with our kids. It was awesome! What a wonderful lady!

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

This is the author's first book and it is very heartwarming. The characters are very real - very true to life. The story takes place in 1956 - in Arkansas. The title seems to indicate that Samuel Lake is the main character, yet I believe the story centers more on Swan Lake - his daughter. 

This book was picked by one of the women in our book club and it was a wonderful pick. We very much enjoyed the book and the discussion of the book. While the ending was very believable and understandable - all of us at the book club felt so much for Toy's character - that we would have wished for a different ending for him. Yet, knowing Toy and what he stood for - we could all see how and why he would make the sacrifice for those he loved. And Toy probably felt he didn't have much else to live for - and yet Samuel did and the kids needed their Dad around. 

Heart Echoes by Sally John

This is a wonderful story. It is in the category of Christian fiction. While it is a Christian book it is not preachy. The characters are flawed and the main character, Teal, is in need of forgiveness - while she believes in Christ as her savior she doesn't recognize that through Him her sins are forgiven and therefore she can now finally forgive herself for the mistakes she made. The book speaks to second chances - those second chances we are granted when we learn to accept the free gift of God's forgiveness. 

The author penned a note in the back of the book - she says " Our beings echo with our experiences, with voices of other people, with our perspectives. We live out all of these, whether they are truth of lies. Sometimes we can't tell the difference." (p. 347) Oh how true this is. We, often believe ourselves to be something other than what God intended for us to be. I know that I was picked on alot in school growing up - and through that I believed I was worth less and not as good as the 'cool kids'. It affected my entire self esteem and it wasn't until I was in college - and through a friend met Christ - that I realized my self worth came because I was a child of God and He loved me. Loved me enough to die for my sins. That is powerful. 

The book speaks to living in TRUTH in all aspects of our lives. In one part, Teal has not told her daughter who her biological father is because she is afraid of what others will think of her, afraid of the reactions of others and afraid of the bio-dad's reaction when he learns. Her sister believes she needs to face the truth, tell the truth and live in the truth - no matter how difficult that is - as that is the only way to be free from the hurts of the past. My favorite quote from the book is when Lacey tells Teal, "Hon, my cancer wasn't good news, but it was truth. Without the truth, we would all have to live like turtles -- in a shell, always protecting ourselves, hiding from others." (p. 307)

How often do we humans try to hide from truth - because it is too difficult to face our sins, to face the hurt of our actions and ultimately to face God - and know He is disappointed in us. So we hide - hide the truth, hide from ourselves and even try to hide from God. Yet, He knows all and sees all. We can't hide. Only by bringing the sin out into the light can we be free from its hold on us. It takes courage and God's strength to do it --- but if we ask Him He will gladly help us. I have a family member who is hiding from God, hiding her sin and others who enable her to continue to do so. I pray that she will break free of the hold the sin has on her and turn to God who loves her and wants her to come home. The truth will always set us free. I pray that she will come to know the Lord as her savior and realize He will forgive her sins -- all she has to do is ask.

Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

Wildflowers from Winter is the author's first book but already she has a second in the series due to come out in spring of 2013 - and I can't wait! The title of the book has to do with the fact that the snowier the winter the more wildflowers you get in spring. This is also often the case with people - we go through a season of harshness - it is a time when maybe God is refining us, or sanding off the rough edges - it can be a season of grief, a season of trials, a season of denying God, being mad at God. When we make it through and come out the other side - there are the wildflowers - the beauty that God has created in our lives - the wonderful things we see and know - that we wouldn't have appreciated had we not gone through the harsh season of winter. The wildflowers can often be the fruit that we know produce - - the fruit of our spirit - that brings others to God. Several of the main characters in this book are going through a season - a harsh season of winter. One is dealing with grief after losing a husband very suddenly. Another, Bethany, is dealing with losing her identity of who she feels she is when she gets let go from her job.  Bethany is also struggling with her image of who God really is and if he is a caring and loving God. 

This was a very good book - one I had difficulty putting down. It is very emotional though as the characters experience several deaths - and that was just very sad to think about. I can't wait for the next book, titled Wishing on Willows - where we get to meet many of the characters again and see their lives progressing. 

The Widow of Saunders Creek

I very much enjoyed this book. Corrie's husband, Jarrod, dies a hero, saving others from a suicide bomber. Corrie is distraught and struggling to deal with her grief. She inherits a family home from her husband in the Ozarks. She decides to move there as she believes she will feel closer to her husband in a place he grew up. Jarrod's cousin, Eli, helps Corrie with the repairs on the house and they become very close. Eli is a Christian and helps to lead Corrie to find Jesus, again. Many in Jarrod's family, though, dabble in witchcraft. What I loved about this book is that it explores the issue of witchcraft from a biblical standpoint. God speaks out against witchcraft and I love that this book depicts that witchcraft exists but that it is not from God and therefore - evil. 

This was a very well written book and was very enjoyable to read. 

between shades of gray - thoughts and ponderings

In one section of the book, Lina jumps to the conclusion that the reason Andrius is sleeping in a nice bed and well fed because his mother has chosen to spy on the others and report to the commander. Lina's mother was asked to do this and refused. She felt it was abhorrent. Andrius lets Lina know she doesn't know what she is talking about and finally he confesses that they had threatened to kill him. Therefore, his mother had to resort to prostituting herself to save her son. 

I read this and thought how often do we misunderstand or mis-read others actions or intentions. We see something and make assumptions - just like Lina did. We draw conclusions when we only have half the facts. How easy it is to be wrong when we only have part of the truth or glimpse into a situation. Yet we condemn others based on the info we have. We should instead be giving others the benefit of the doubt, erring on the side of caution, believing the best in others. I wish I could also be sure I was always talking the high road and giving others the benefit of the doubt - it is hard at times, though, not to jump to conclusions. Something to think about. 

Between Shades of Gray Book Review

It was so exciting - as I was reading the publication from my college - I saw that a lady I went to college with had written a book - titled Between Shades of Gray. I decided to read it and it was very good. Ruta is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee and it gave her inspiration to research what happened to Lithuania in 1941 when Stalin took over the countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. 

This book was very well written. I also think it is a story that needs to be told - we need to know what happened to countries swallowed up by communism. Communism is a bad system to live under and the horrors the people faced is just hard to imagine. Many in our country feel we should actively embrace socialism and that is just a step away from communism. It is important to read stories like this and see what really happened to others while living under communism. I think it might be quite a wake up call to those that think socialism and communism are okay. Ruta says her goal was to "give a voice to the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their lives during Stalin's cleansing of the Baltic region." (Ruta's blog) I think she does a great job of that and I highly recommend reading this story.

She uses great literary imagery. One is when the people were being transported by train and it took weeks. There was very little food, cramped conditions, unsanitary. Illness and disease started to spread and along with that - death. "Death had begun to gather a crop." (p. 64) I thought this was an interesting choice of words creating a great image. They were hungry / starving, yet the word crops gives one the image of being fed. Here there wasn't any feeding - the crop wasn't a benefit. Death had come! I love her choice of words. 

Letter from a Stranger by Barbara Taylor Bradford

A Letter From a Stranger

Justine Nolan opens a letter addressed to her mother - that indicates that the grandmother they thought died 10 years ago is still alive. There was a rift between Mother and Grandmother - and Justine's mother cut Gram out of all their lives. She told her children - Justin and her twin brother, Richard - that Gram had died. 

Justine flies to Istanbul to try to find her Gram and to get answers as to why her mother declared Gram dead. There is a huge twist at the end. It is a good book. Didn't expect the twist but it did add to the book and made it more interesting. I really enjoyed reading the book although I felt at times that her English was just a bit off - like a sentence should have been written in a different way. Maybe it was just me - but I did have to re-read a few sentences as they just seemed off. Still, I think the story is a good story. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

A phenomenally great book! Highly recommend this book. This is a biography of Louis Zamperini - really a remarkable man. He was kind of a scamp growing up. His brother took him under his wing in high school and encouraged him to expend his energies running. Louis becomes a great runner and makes it to the Olympics - held in Germany just before the start of WWII. When Pearl Harbor is bombed Louis signs up and becomes a bombardier flying in a B-24. Sent out on an assignment in the Green Hornet to look for another downed plane, they crash into the ocean. Only 3 survive the crash and Louis Zamperini is one of them. Two of the survivors manage to survive 47 days at sea with little rations and very little water. Sadly though they are not rescued by the Americans but are found by the Japanese. Phil and Louie become POWs. It is a remarkable story of courage, determination and survival. Often I have heard that the generation that fought in WWII was the greatest generation and this book really shows some of the reasons why - their courage and resilience - both on the part of those serving and those left at home to wonder and worry. It is heartbreaking to read what the POWs suffered through. Still, I think it is important to remember and to know so we can prevent this type of thing from happening again. 

It is amazing that Louie survived and that he made it back to his family. Still he wasn't whole. He had flashbacks and began drinking. His wife - an amazing woman of great courage and conviction - convinced Louie (maybe badgered him) into attending a sermon by Billy Graham -- and it changed Louie's life. He became a Christian and devoted the rest of his life to serving God! This book is a must read! It is a great story. 

Book review - Heaven is for Real

Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo

We did this book as a read aloud with the family. There are some very touching moments where I got quite choked up and needed a kleenex! The book is fascinating. We liked that he backed up his son's story with scripture. Very thought provoking! This is a wonderful book, well written - and of course our family believes that heaven is real. My sons really loved the book. 

The Road to Grace - Book Review

The long awaited third book in the series by Richard Paul Evans. 

Loved it - very good book. The book focuses on the need for the main character to forgive those that harmed him - not for their sake but for his own healing - to let go of the bitterness, hatred and resentment he was carrying around with him. I do have to say the ending - while their was foreshadowing so you weren't surprised exactly - I was still surprised (and maybe my reaction is truly along the lines of disappointment) that the author would add that twist into the whole plot line (don't want to give it away) and am wondering how this will be resolved in the next book. The series does continue but it is a wait - the next book is expected out in spring of 2013. 

Being George Washington, Book Review

Being George Washington The Indispensable Man, as You've Never Seen Him 

This is a biography of George Washington. It is a very good read. We did this as a read aloud with the kids. Along with getting quotes from George Washington himself, Glenn Beck also offers his own commentary on Washington. One of the things I found to be wonderful was to see that the fact George Washington had a very strong faith in God and that God led him throughout his life - this was not left out of the book. So much history has been revised to take God out and it was refreshing to see the truth left in - the fact our Founding Fathers were Christians - had a faith in God - that is the truth and it is nice to see it in the book. 

I found that the lessons that George Washington lived out and can teach us through studying him - these are great lessons for kids to know. This is from the book - on what it means to be George Washington (paraphrased from page 250):

1) "Being George Washington means a daily struggle between your heart and your brain; between instant gratification and enduring greatness. 

2) It means passing up awards, honors, or public admiration in exchange for real honor and the admiration of only those who know you best. 

3) It means looking out for our families, our neighbors, and our countrymen - standing for them when they can't stand for themselves. Choose small but real victories over false idols such as fame. 

4) It means putting country over party. 

5) It means becoming a leader. Not of a country or an army, but of yourself, your community, and your own family. It means taking personal responsibility for  your actions and holding those around your to the same standard. (Wow - isn't that awesome! I preach this to my kids - taking responsibility for their actions - even if that means having tough consequences. Unfortunately I have seen a lack of responsibility - a point the blame at others -- in our society. This is especially true in politics - both sides are always pointing fingers and blaming others. Never taking responsibility.) 

6) And being George Washington means accepting that this country was chosen for Divine protection because the struggle for freedom is worthy of God's protection. It means believing that miracles can happen to all of us because a great Author is writing the script!" (Amen!) 

The Heart Mender Book Review

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews is a wonderful book. It is a book about second chances and the power of forgiveness to transform a person. The story takes place in present day with flashbacks to WWII. While the story takes place during war, it is more of a story about the people and how they heal through forgiveness. The story, although written as fiction, is based on real people, real events. It all began because Andy - the author - found some items buried in his yard. The nagged at his soul and he had to find the history behind the items. He wanted to find out about the people who those items belonged to. This was a very, very good. I highly recommend reading it. 

The Arms of Love - Book Review

I picked up this book to read because we are currently studying the American Revolution. This book takes place during that time period - and depicts the difficulty that the Quakers and Amish had remaining neutral. Some ended up going against their beliefs and joining the fight. Those that remained true to their faith and remained neutral were often criticized by others in the area. Sometimes they were harassed and sometimes they were jailed. The book was very interesting to read and I can only imagine how difficult it was for the Quakers and Amish to live during that time period. They came to America for freedom to worship God as they believed. The war for Independence would ultimately secure that freedom - yet they were caught in the middle - as their beliefs did not allow them to pick up a gun and join the fight. 

There were some interesting differences that I noted between the Amish of today and the Amish of  1777. In the book, it portrayed the Bishop as being in favor of learning - even for women to have higher levels of women. He viewed this as a good thing, although other characters in the book questioned the Bishop's reasoning on this. The Amish of today do not typically obtain an education past the 8th grade. Also, bundling was suggested as an okay practice and I do not believe that is a practice the Amish currently subscribe to today. Additionally, in the book one of the characters did a laying on of hands to heal a sick child. I have not heard of the Amish of today subscribing to this practice. 

I enjoyed reading and learning more about the Amish - and noting how their practice of their faith has changed over the centuries. The book was good but at the end it did get to be a bit much - most times the book ends with the marriage occurring - this went on --- and on their wedding night the bride gets bit by a snake and nearly dies. I just think that could have been left out of the book. It just seemed to be out of place with the entire rest of the plot line. Interesting time period to study though and I have not read anything covering the Amish during the Revolutionary War. So that was very interesting.

A complementary copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

The Walk series

Book 3 is now out!!! The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans ---
I have just ordered it from the library - can't wait to read it.

The Final Summit - Book Review

The Final Summit - review part 2 

I wanted to add this on my review of The Final Summit. First know that while I loved the book I didn't necessarily agree with the author's take on everything in the book. My main concern was this - the place that Gabrielle takes the travelers for the summit, I am assuming is a conference room in heaven. I assume this because there are no fires of hell and there is the bright light that is evident when Gabrielle leaves the conference room. So it might be an anti-room to heaven. The book does not specifically say but it can't be hell from the fact Gabrielle is there and it is not an uncomfortable place. 

Now in the story, Anne Frank is one of the travelers who is there in this place to offer advice to Daniel. My question or concern is - how did Anne Frank get there? I know the author is a Christian but he offers no information as to how Anne Frank came to be in heaven or this anti-room to heaven. First let me say that - we as humans are not the judge on this but we are told that one has to believe in Jesus Christ, believe He is your Lord and Savior and that He died for our sins - and that whoever believes in Him shall get to heaven. So again I ask how did Anne Frank get there? Second, let me add that I do believe that faith as small as a mustard seed can suffice --- well I hold out that hope - as I had a grandmother - my favorite grandmother - who up until her dying day was an atheist. She had several days after her heart attack where she was in a comma and I hope that in the place between this world and the next she realized her error - and made amends - and came to faith - even if it is only faith as small as a mustard seed. 

Now from history, which is all we have to go on, Anne Frank in her diary never once professed a faith in Jesus Christ. Her family was Jewish so she would not have known Jesus from them. There is a possibility that in the concentration camp she came to know of Jesus from a Christian that was also sent there. So there is that possibility but from all that we truly know from history this did not happen. And if it did not happen then how could the author place her in heaven. Does he believe that being a good person will get one there? Does he believe that because she is a child that God will not hold her accountable yet - there is some truth here as in the bible Jesus says 'let the little ones come to me' and many churches do not baptist infants for this reason. At an age when the child can choose for themselves they are baptized. Anne died at age 15 - so is she still a child or is she at an age where she would be expected to have a belief in Christ? 

I do not claim to have the answer to these questions as only God truly knows but am just asking them and questioning the author's rational for placing Anne there. The author offers no explanation. Anne is just there in the story. 

Art Class - Pop up books

Art class

With the goal of introducing the sense of Taste, the students created a pop up book where the students designed a bug/critter that Pops out of the book and "eats" something of the student's choice. Various pop up techniques were shown and the students got to select one that interested them.

Science - The Drinking Birds

Drinking Bird Races - this was an experiment we did as part of our PhysicsQuest. Wonderfully fun experiment - these 'dippy birds' have a whole lot of science going on. Often they are confused with perpetual motion but it is not - temperature, pressure, condensation, balance and evaporation all play crucial roles in driving this bird to constantly drink. My son thought this was great fun and after the experiment was completed in co-op, he brought his birds home and set them up on his desk. 

 Do you see who else finds the birds fascinating???

 She is ready to pounce down on them! Wonder how long they will last before they become a cat toy??

Zoo Class - ZSI

Zoo class - ZSI - Zoo Science Investigation

Here is the description the zoo provides on the class content:

How did a non-native animal contract a native disease? In this NEW problem-based scenario, students apply logic and scientific reasoning to solve the challenge of a medical mystery regarding zoo animals. Along the way, they’ll learn how science is applied to care for animals at the Zoo.

The day of our class was a very wet, raining day. We had to walk to several exhibits but thankfully the zoo had plastic ponchos for all of us to wear! I even wore one - no picture to share though! I was behind the camera (thankfully) and not in front of it. 

After our walk outside we went into the lab to diagnose / figure out the solution to our problem. A wonderful class! 

Art Class - prints

The art class studied the sense of touch with TEXTURE as our design element of focus. The students made callograph prints using found textures and printing the embossed designs on the printing press. The completed prints were then embellished with a variety of media to enhance the designs that the students made.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews 

This book is really a sequel to The Traveler's Gift and I recommend reading that book first. It sets the stage for The Final Summit. While chapter 1 of The Final Summit does recap The Traveler's Gift - it just gives a basic overview. I personally think it would be hard to totally grasp The Final Summit without first having read The Traveler's Gift. So go out and get a copy of The Traveler's Gift - read it first. You won't be sorry - it is a fabulous book. The final summit takes place roughly 30 years later. Daniel is struggling because his wife, his life long friend and companion, has recently died. The archangel, Gabriel makes an appearance as he has been sent to summon all the travelers - to a meeting. Gabriel is the guide and facilitator for the upcoming summit conference. The travelers are being convened because God is upset with the human race and God is giving the travelers a chance to intervene and save mankind. 

I enjoyed both books and like Andy Andrews' writing style. Both books were very enjoyable to read. 

BookSneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review. I received this book for free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network book review (BookSneeze) bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

cut out all soy

I have cut out all soy from my diet ---- interestingly I have had several people tell me that they really don't eat soy and cutting out soy would be easy for them. Then I started listing what soy is in - soy is used as a filler in so many things I don't think people realize how much soy they are truly getting. So here is a list of just a few things I found soy in - the list is endless - so I am just listing some.

Soy is found in the following:

Shortening - so anything made with shortening - many baked goods unless you make it at home and don't use shortening.

Almost all processed crackers, cookies and chips - unless you buy organic

Most breads - even though we were buying the good breads - whole wheat or rye from the bakery - they had soy.

Soy is in many types of chocolate - especially many chocolate chips

Mayo - is made with soy - so all salads with mayo used as a base

Tuna in a can - yep - even when it says tuna and water - they throw in soy - only the very expensive albacore white tuna is truly just tuna and water.

Vitamins - no kidding

Gum --- this was a killer for me - I LOVE to chew gum.

Chinese food - think soy sauce (sadly I love Chinese food - I have found that I can modify some of the recipes and make them without soy sauce - still kind of a tough one) 

Various forms of tea - this was just so sad for me - I love tea and drink it alot - now I drink organic decaf green tea. But I had to give up my favorite - Constant Comment - most Bigelow teas have soy in them.

Granola bars - isn't this just a sad one to give up - I now make my own - my family loves them but since I have also given up sugar in any form (except that found in fresh fruit) I haven't eaten the granola bars I made - they had honey in them. Family said they were good though.

Soy lecithin is an incomplete form of soy but still soy - and I have had to give that up --- that is often the form of soy you see added into many things. Still, it is soy.

Again - this is just a few things off the top of my head

Sarah's Key - excellent book

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

This book takes place in Paris in July of 1942 when the French police aid the Germans by rounding up thousands upon thousands of Jews - men, women and children. It is called the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup. The adults are taken right to Auschwitz concentration camp. The adults with children are first taken to a holding camp and separated from their children - then taken to Auschwitz. While this book is fictional - all the characters are fictional the events are real. The shocking aspect is to realize that it really wasn't the Germans who did this but the French Police. It is really a shockingly upsetting event in French history. So often when we think of the French during WWII, we think of the French resistant movement - this was the opposite. Extreme opposite. The French police didn't just roundup the Jews but went out of their way to 'get them all', to roundup even more than requested by the Germans. It is a very sad event in French history. I think of the old saying that "evil can only exist when good men do nothing." Often Germans are painted as the problem during WWII but here is an example of not only good men (the French Police) doing nothing but actually being part of the evil. They fully participated.

The author uses an interesting technique - where she has the time being the present day - 60 years later - and a journalist, Julia Jarmond is doing research on the anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup for the magazine she writes for. In the process she discovers that her own in-laws were connected to the event and it becomes a personal quest for her to find out what happened to Sarah. Sarah was 10 when arrested with her entire family. Sarah seeks to keep her brother save by hiding him in a cupboard in the wall - as she naively believes she will return to let him out. It is a very moving book.

One of the undercurrents themes of the book is how the characters bury the tragedies in their lives instead of airing them out and talking about them. In the end the inability to talk about them leads to problems in their lives. Julia is criticized for bring to light the family's involvement in Sarah's life. Some in the family refuse to examine it, talk about it - they want to just bury every thing - all emotions, all problems, all issues. They want to put a pretty face on things and move on. Yet it is like a sore that festers -- those in the family that finally examine their history and deal with the emotions of it are able to move on in a healthier way.

I really enjoyed the book jumping from past to present. It kept the story moving and added intrigue. A very good book and well written.

Book review - The American Patriot's Bible

The American Patriot's Bible The Word of God and the Shaping of America

Dr. Richard G. Lee General Editor

This bible is a King James version. I have to admit that I am more familiar with the NIV but have found I like the King James version, too. I also believe that it is in keeping with the whole concept - as it was most likely the King James version that our Founding Fathers read. The book begins with Seven Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic. The author states that "whether each of the Founding Fathers was a Christian is not the issue. Their writings, their statements, and their votes evidence the fact that a majority of them embraced these great principles as the basis for a civilized nation." With each principle listed scripture is quoted as a reference of where that principle was derived.

Sprinkled throughout the bible there are quotes from Presidents and Vice Presidents. Additional information is given that ties scripture and various events, happenings, and important historical people in our nation's history. Each of these are placed in the book along side the scripture that is related to the event, happening or important historical person. For example, Exodus 3:10 is quoted, 'Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.' George Washington is discussed on this page - saying he was the "American Moses", the Father of our Country. There are several colorful 4 page inserts that give specific detailed information on our nation - covering things like 'In God We Trust', the American Revolution, World War II, Christianity and Equal Rights, etc.

I was very impressed with the quality of the book. The print is very easy to read. There was a lot of research that went into adding all the historical information and the quotes from Presidents. I very highly recommend this bible to others. I can actually say that I have personally taken it to show some of my friends. I talked about it with one of my friends from bible study and she asked me to bring it next time we meet - as she wants to take a look at it. I have really enjoyed reading this book and have especially enjoyed the tidbits of historical information.

BookSneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review. I received this book for free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network book review (BookSneeze) bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

from Answers In Genesis

Book review - Katie's Way

By Marta Perry

This is book 5 in the series but I didn't realize that until after I had the book and was reading it. This book does stand alone and it is not necessary to have read the others prior to reading this one. The book was very well written. It focuses on forgiveness after someone has hurt you or someone you love. I think that is a wonderful lesson we could all use and work at doing better. You can check out the author's website here if you are interested.