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.