Lincoln's Last Days by Bill O'Reilly

We finished studying the Civil War at the end of last school year and decided to read Lincoln's Last Days as a family read aloud. What a great book for the family! It was very well written and had lots of wonderful historical pictures that really helped the kids to visualize the people and events. This version is adapted from O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln and is really a great version for kids. Lots of great info without getting too bogged down in too many details where kids would be 'bored'. This version moved along, had nice details and pictures. It tells the story of Lincoln's assassination - from several angles. We get to meet the assassin and his conspirators -- and learn why they were part of the conspiracy - what drove them to be willing to act against Lincoln. The book ends with giving details on what happened to the people that played a part in the event - those that helped to bring the murderer to justice and those that were part of the conspiracy. 

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

Wonderful book. Really enjoyed it. Loved the writing. Love the topics. It was nice to read a book where the characters were my age (middle age) with teenage kids dealing with aspects of life that happen with teenagers in the house. She deals with the topic of working long hours, a long commute and the loneliness that occurs when your spouse is not around as much, adjustment of moving, fitting in, making new friends, dealing with teen difficulties such as 'cutting', and the death of a friend. The book is really, very good. It is written from a Christian perspective. 

Gluten Free, dairy free, soy free banana bread

Can you believe it! Gluten free, dairy free, soy free banana bread - and it tastes really good!

My Mother-in-law had a recipe for banana bread --- I totally edited and it turned out! So here is my version---the gluten free, dairy free, soy free version (now doesn't that just make you wonder what is in it!)

Cream together in one bowl

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 cup sugar (I used less - about 3/4 cup)

2 eggs

3 tablespoons rice milk - plus 1 teaspoon of vinegar - let sit for 1 minute then add into mixture

Use two bowls - in one bowl mash the bananas - in the other mix all the other ingredients listed below

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups Pamela's artisan flour blend (an alternative to wheat - gluten free)

2-3 mashed bananas (I only used one and it was a bit dry - two or three would have been better)

Alternately add the flour mixture and bananas to the first bowl (of coconut oil, sugar, eggs & rice milk).

Mix well. 

Grease a bread pan with coconut oil. 

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. 

It tasted really great - it was a bit on the dry side --- so next time I will make sure to use two or three bananas and/or add a bit more coconut oil. Tasted awesome though. We loved it. 

Humor

This is from Answers in Genesis - I just loved it. Having kids there just seem to be those times where as parents we want so badly to say the 'I told you so' --- especially when they fight you so hard on something only to find out later - Dad & Mom were right. Yes, we aren't as stupid as they think we are! God must so often feel the same way about us (humans) --- many things He clearly tells us in the bible yet we just want to tell Him 'nope, He is wrong. We are going to do it our way - our way is better.' 

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross

This was really a delightful read. Julia's husband recently died when on her doorstep shows up the proof of his infidelity --- a child. The child's mother leaves the child with Julia to watch because she needs to go find a way to support the child. I enjoyed the book quite a bit. I was surprised Miss Julia didn't speak up more and tell a few more people off --- after all the book is titled Miss Julia Speaks her Mind --- but I was surprised she never told the Pastor off. She seemed to have such a respect for authority that she couldn't muster up the courage to tell the Pastor off even when it was apparent he was just out to get her money. He was not acting Godly and was not acting in her best interests. I was surprised that she stayed in the church after seeing his true colors. I probably would have switched churches even if it meant driving to the next town. Very good book. Lots of humor. Miss Julia reminded me a bit of my grandmother and it was nice to think back and remember her. 

She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

Do you have those women in your life that you really look up to, want to be more like? They just seem to have it all together -- they always look amazing, they volunteer at church, they are the first to bake someone a meal, they make everything from scratch, etc. They make it look so easy --- to do it all, have it all together, and be this amazing Mom, wife and keeper of the house. Nothing is ever out of place at their house. Things always look perfect. 

Us women we look up to those kind of women - we try to emulate them, try to be more like them. We think if we are just more like them our lives would be perfect. Yet, is their life really all that perfect? Do they have it all together --- or is it just a show? This book explore that. Ariel wants to be like Justine - who seems to have it all together. She is this amazing woman with the perfectly organized house, perfect children that always behave, wonderful husband. Yet, underneath the surface - the foundation is cracked. The relationship that is most important - that with the heavenly Father - is not there. 

I really enjoyed this book - loved the writing. I guess I could just relate to the story line because there have been over the years women that I have looked up to and tried to be more like. While it is good to try to improve ourselves, it is not good to try to be someone totally different from who God created me to be. 

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter. 

Book Description

Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.

In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.

To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.

Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.

Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.

But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?

I really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't just a romance story but a story about leaning on God --- when we try to do things on our own - the results are never as good as when we lean on God. Madison struggled with anger toward God because God let her brother die. Therefore, she tried to get over his death on her own and didn't turn to God for help. The end result is that 10 years after his death she is still struggling with the event and not sleeping well due to nightmares. 

It is also a story about lying. With all good intentions, several of the characters have lied either a lie by omission or an outright lie. The proverbial line of 'the truth shall set you free' seems to apply. It was by telling the truth that they were eventually freed from the past. Lots of good things in the book. At the end there is a list of questions that could be used for a book discussion. This book would really be a great book for a book club and discussion. I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A Step of Faith

I just finished reading a Step of Faith - the 4th book in The Walk series by Richard Paul Evans and LOVED it. In the book, Alan has been taken to the hospital due to a brain tumor. He has surgery. The tumor is benign and after recovering at his Dad's house, he begins where he left off on his walking journey. Why does he insist on continuing to walk? It is part of the mourning and healing process for him. "Why did the man cross America? To see what was on the other side of himself." p. 269. He talks about mourning in the book. In the old days women wore black dresses for two years. Queen Victoria mourned the loss of her husband for an unusually long time - 40 years or so. "It makes me wonder why modern culture has so painstakingly removed the rituals of death. Today, society pressures the bereaved to sweep their grief under the carpet of normality - the sooner the better." p. 164. I know that we are a culture that wants instant fixes. When I lost a child (during pregnancy), it was still very much a death to me and I mourned that loss. My doctor right away wanted to put me on medication. I refused. I felt grief was a process and that it was healthier to work through it - no matter how painful - then it was to medicate it away. The medication might help me think I felt better but it wouldn't help me work through the process of grieving. I think many try to skip that process for the instant fix of feeling immediately better and years later pay the price that unresolved feelings and issues can have. Grief is a process and it can't be rushed. It just takes time and prayer to with God's help --- heal. 

Alan's process of mourning was to walk. Initially, he started out as a way of escape - he wanted to get as far away from the hurt as he could and physically he was in Seattle - the furthest point on the map he felt was Key West, Florida. So he began walking to Key West. As his journey continues in this book he begins walking from St. Louis and gets to Jacksonville, Florida. He meets many interesting characters along the way. The book is a very easy and quick read. Very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book --- but if you haven't read the first ones --- I recommend beginning with book one - they really do build on each other and while they could stand along - the storyline makes way more sense if you read them in order. Book one introduces the reader to the what happened and why he is walking - an important thing to know and understand. 

A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans

Okay, I am about 4 chapters from finishing the book and I realize that there is no way his walk will be done. He isn't even to Florida yet. And he has to walk the whole length of Florida to get to Key West. So I leafed through to the end and sure enough there is a page that says --- "Coming May 2014, book 5 of The Walk series". I am actually kind of glad as so much has not been resolved in Alan's life that I would have felt like I was left hanging. Further, I really love this series and am going to be sad when it really does end. Still, not thrilled about having to wait a year for the next book. 

Garden - bunny prevention

Yah don't they look cute?! Not so much --- we have a huge bunny population and last year they loved to eat from my garden --- specifically they loved my kale. This year I have gone to growing lettuce in pots so that it is up on tables --- and away from the bunnies. It seems to be working! I am so thrilled to be able to eat my own lettuce and not have it just be bunny food.