Recent Reading

The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn
Excellent read!  Not the easiest thing that I've ever read, but I will say one of the best books. I just don't know how to describe it....for me that's saying something.  I linked you back to Amazon there above so go check it out. 

Two Graves by Preston and Child
I'm thinking that maybe this is a book about Detective Pendergast and I've kinda started in the middle of a serious but I'm still able to keep up and it is riveting.  I LOVE a good mystery.  Might finish it tonight so I decided to go ahead and include it here.  I've read something by Lincoln Child before but I can't think of the name of it......well, upon looking at some of his other books I believe I have some on the kindle waiting for me so that is why he is familiar.  I will definately be moving them to the top of the list.  I can't wait to read more about Detective Pendergast!

Waterproof Bible

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics Review team.

 

 

After Bike Camp last fall Greg brought home an interesting Bible, a Waterproof Bible (his was NIV and camo) so I was a little familiar with this product.  When told I would be reviewing it, I was figuring I would get camo, but look!  I got pink :)  They have tons of other styles/versions/colors available (including a full Bible).  This one is priced at $24.95.

 

 

So, what's so cool about this Bible you ask?  Well, aside from being waterproof, it is practically indestructible.  The littles have wallowed it all around church and after the 1st couple of times of reminding them that is was a Bible so be careful, I let them go (for review purposes only lol) and they haven't managed to put so much as a dent in it. 

 

 

I dumped tea on it with absolutely no ill effects.  It got lipstick on it (I keep it in my purse - did I mention it is purse sized???) and it wiped right off. No page curling, no staining.   No problemo. 

 

 

Did I mention it is the perfect size to fit into your purse or backpack?  Its a little heavier then a pocket Bible but the pages are made out of some kind of plastic stuff so you can expect that.  It is much lighter than my full sized Bible.

 

 

Greg's camo version lived in the van for a few weeks and still looks like the day he brought it home (nothing comes out of that van after an extended period of time without some damage - except this Bible). 

 

 

I cannot say enough good things about this product.  I am considering getting these for Bear and Abby's first Bibles because they are so indestructible (I'm not giving mine up btw).  

Made by Bardin and Marsee Publishing, these things are made to be used by anyone that wants to take the word on the go, wherever they go. 

Books I've Read 5-7-13

There isn't a whole lot to report.  I've not been working home health care much and Norman's been off work so I haven't been reading in the evenings either.  lol  Excuses, excuses, I know :)

I did finish The Eldridge Conspiracy by Stephen Ames Berry.  An excellent work of fiction.  I'm going to say one of the best books I've read in a long time. 

I guess that's it.  lol

Ooka Island - Review and Discount Code

***I've received the following product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics Review program***

I've taught a couple of children how to read :)  I have a method, a very practical, no fuss approach and it works well.  Bear is at that age, so here we go again! 

I was intrigued when I received Ooka Island to review.  Ooka Island is a learn-to-read game for ages 3-7. 

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of educational games.  I find that they are primarily games with a little tiny bit of educational thrown in for good measure.  That's fine, as long as you go into the program knowing that.  Rarely I will encounter a game that is educational and am always very pleased when I do. 

Ooka Island surprised me.  I think that maybe I didn't want to like it.  I doubted the ability of a game to teach my children to read - believe me, I had to gain grey hair in order for that to happen.  HOWEVER, Ooka Island is different. 
#1 Bear (age 5.5) LOVES it.  Begs to play it.  Forever.  I had to turn it off.
#2 The activities are repeated without being annoying.  Repetition with reading is a good thing.
#3 The games are "self-learning".  I don't have to help at all.  Every once in a while I do a walk-through but otherwise he is on his own.  THAT is a wonderful thing.
#4 He has gained much in the way of phonetic sounds just over the last few weeks.  I haven't really been working on phonics otherwise but he is learning so it has to be the game.

On the Ooka Island website there are activity pages that can be used with the program.  We haven't used them yet, but I think that they will be a good supplement.

If your child needs some phonics supplement, or you are looking for an educational "game" I strongly recommend that you give Ooka Island a try.  To sweeten the deal, they are offering my readers a 30% off discount good until June 1, 2013. 

Healing Hearts with Helping Hands

Sometimes I just don't know what to do or say.  I'm socially awkward.  Especially around death or around people that are grieving.  It is something that I'm working on, as I want to be a blessing to those around me.

As usual, Lorrie Flem, helps me out.

As usual, Lorrie doesn't just give us vague notions of how to be a blessing.  This book is FULL of ideas to help us help others during their time of deepest need.  She gives us the words to write, the words to say, the actions to take. 

Since food can be such a blessing at this time, some of Lorrie's focus (but not ALL) is on how to take food, what food to take, AND she includes recipes for several easy to serve items that should be universal hits. 

The ideas in this book are very useful in a variety of other situations as well; new baby, sick family member, etc.  I loved the ideas for care packages that can be made for friends that are going to the hospital to help family members or for treatments themselves. 

Lorrie ends this book with scripture to reinforce our desires to bless others.  I just can't say enough good things about this resource.  I feel more confident in my ability to help others now :)

This book is available now at Eternal Encouragement for $3.50, or as a Kindle download from Amazon for $3.99.  However, May 1-3 it will be available from Amazon for $0.99!  So be patient and get it then :)  And don't forget that you don't have to actually have a kindle to read kindle books (I have a kindle yet still read mostly from my Droid phone).  If you need more information about that, you can read HERE.

Need more encouragement or know someone else who does?  You can get Lorrie's Eternal Encouragement magazine for free!!!!!

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Gabby Moms review program.***

Reading List April 25, 2013

To the Grave by Carlene Thompson
***A very good mystery.  You will never guess who did it :)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
***I finally borrowed it from the library and loved it.  Haven't seen the movie and won't rush to, I'm afraid that it won't be the same.  Fantastic read for both the cultural education and the story line. 

Placebo by Steven James
***Just finished this one today.  Another sci-fi type mystery.  I had a hard time wrapping my head around the physics mumbo jumbo but one of the characters was a conspiracy theorist and another was a homeschooling single mom so that made it more interesting for me.  There seems to be another book with these characters coming out in 2013 so I'm going to watch out and try to snag it. 

Families Where Grace is in Place by Jeff VanVonderen
***I picked this up at the APACHE convention and am so glad that I did.  A must read for anyone that came from a yelling family or for parents or for married couples.  Really, anyone could benefit.  I marked my copy all up with my highlighter and will digest it for a while then reread before shelving.  Good, Godly stuff.

Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education: Create a custom plan for your family by Sonya Shafer
***As a long time Charlotte Mason follower, I bought several new resources this year.  I read this start to finish in my hotel room at APACHE taking notes the whole time.  If you are new to Charlotte Mason methods I strongly recommend this resource - it is wonderfully informative for the rest of us as well.  You can take notes and highlight or use the copyable forms that are provided.  A definate go-to resource for me.

I've got another 2 books started (one actual book and 1 kindle book) and I've already put another book on my kindle app on my phone.  I brought 2 books (1 fiction, 1 biography) home from the library yesterday and there are still several in my stack on my table plus my mother-in-law sent some home for me to read while returning some that I sent her. 
There will be more to come :)  I know that I'm not keeping the list up in the sidebar.  Honestly, the time I spend updating that thing can be better spent reading.  I'll do my best, but know that I'm probably reading stuff that isn't on there.

Spanish for You!

I have always found teaching a foreign language at home a little tricky.  Honestly, I found learning a foreign language in school (spanish in high school and french in college) a little tricky.  I taught my older sons a little Spanish and some Latin.  Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to teaching another round of foreign language.

Enter Spanish for You!

Available for grades 3-8 and for use in a classroom or homeschool (family or individual) settings; Spanish for You! lets the child work at their own pace.  We used a "trial" type kit so I received the ebook and audio files on the computer.  The child learns via listening to the lessons, reading the lessons and writing (learning to use the grammar properly).  The lessons aren't based on LEVELS, they are based on themes, so each theme can be used independently and in any order. 

Honestly, my students were a little young for this curriculum (Bear is Prek4) but we did listen to the audio files and looked at pictures while I pointed things out to them.  They learned some new spanish words to add to their Dora/Diego vocabulary.

I can see where this is a total immersion program and would be a fun thing for the students to use.

Prices are in varying ranges depending on grade and which theme, they can be viewed here. 

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics review team.***

Ultimate Planners

What do you think about when you hear Apologia?

Science, right?

Well, not so much anymore.  Apologia, as a company, has started branching out into other areas.  There's a lot of good stuff over there if you haven't checked them out lately!

Anyway, as part of the Mosaic's Review Team I received some planners, The Ultimate Planners, from Apologia to review.

Created by Debra Bell, author of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, these planners are designed with maximum flexibility and usability for families of all sizes and homeschooling styles.

This planner is designed to be used at the very beginning of your planning for the homeschool year.  Not only that, but it gives instructions on how to plan your homeschool year.  Not rigid instructions, but goal setting guidance and various "how to use" instructions.  In all my years of planning homeschool, I've never been instructed on how to do it, and let me tell you, the advice is wonderful - even for a seasoned homeschooler like myself.  I felt like we were covering definate goals and then breaking them down into manageable pieces.
Since I'm working with 2 younger children (Bear is technically K4 and Abby is PreK2) I listed the various "working areas" at the top (numbers, letters, Bible, character, phonics, hands-on) and then their names on the side (they each got 2 boxes) and then there is a box that I have labeled Together for the activities that we do together. 

There are a myriad of ways you can use this planner - subjects at the top, subjects at the side, etc.  All the options are laid out at the beginning of the planner. 

After the grid page each week there is a 2-page spread that allows you to write in prayer requests, weekly goals, hospitality goals and a space to record those special little things you want to remember (or notes, I'm using it for lots of notes).

The main goal of this planner is that Mom will have the guidelines in her planner and the weekly work will be transfered to the student planner. 

My littles don't read so we aren't using it, but it is a very standard planner with lots of space to write daily work, chores, etc. 

There is also a teen planner if your children are that age and I gather that it works well if your children are in public school also (our school supplies planners).

The MOM planner is $28, the STUDENT planner is $19 and the TEEN planner is $19.  These are nice, spiral bound planners.  My planner has a pocket in the front and has already been very abused - still going strong!

There will be a facebook party if you are looking for more information on Friday April 12th.

***As always, this product was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review as part of the Mosaics Review team.***  You can read other reviews of this product HERE

Current Reading March 30, 2013

The Long Voyage by Luke Rhinehart
Set in the 1980's this book is the story of a group of people that band together trying to survive a nuclear holocost.  I read many similar books when I was a teenager, so this brought back some "book memories" for me.  I thoroughly enjoyed the read; I got it as a free kindle download a few weeks ago and read it on my phone.
Interestingly, and not related to the book, I am able to read from my kindle app on my phone while walking on a treadmill.  Reading on my kindle makes me dizzy, but the smaller screen on my phone makes it difficult to lose my place, therefore making it easier to read :)  I'm going to pick a new book and put it on my phone this evening so it is ready and waiting for me.

Marmee and Louisa by Eve LaPlante
A great co-biography of Louisa May Alcott and her mother Abigail, written by a relative.  Many source documents are used so this seemed a very thorough review of Louisa and Abigail's lives.  Knowing more about the author of my all-time favorite books gives me some insight into some of the things that never really made sense to me.  A great book that I recommend to literature buffs.

The Sixth Station by Linda Stasi
New author for me (I'm so out of the reading loop that they are all new authors for me) but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for more from her.  This book is fiction, a story of the cloning of Jesus and the search a reporter takes to find the truth in what is going on around her.  I had a lot of trouble putting this book down :)

What have you been reading these last few weeks?????

We Choose Virtues - Review and Discount Code

I've mentioned a few times lately that one of the things the littles and I have been working on is character.  I see, very plainly, the flaws in my character reflected back to me daily.

I feel that the prime character training time is when children are smaller, under 10 or so.  However, I have found it very difficult to find resources that work for children under 6 or so.  (For children above that age, Doorposts has GREAT resources).  As you've already read, Lorrie Flem has a great booklet with wonderful ideas to help a family study character.  Another resource that I have been blessed to receive lately is We Choose Virtues. 

I had the opportunity to listen to a conference call by Heather McMillan, creater of the We Choose Virtues products.  The catchphrases, cards and posters were created for use with her family first and then with classrooms and homeschoolers.  AND they are working on products for the older set (coming soon!). 

Every situation and family is different and Heather encouraged us to use these products in the way that they would work best for our family.  Some will cover different traits with different children.  Some will cover the traits as a family.

We are using the cards together; Me, Abby and Bear.  We've been working on obedience.  (Which is also Rule #1).  We went over the flashcards, discussed the related Bible references and colored the corresponding page.  I am trying to get in the habit of memory work, but it is still a struggle here.  We've spent about a month on Obedience and I think we will move on to Diligence in April.

Here are Bear and Abby with their mostly completed coloring pages.  This is the front cover.  I haven't gotten a snapshot of the Obedience page yet.

Heather is offering a 20% discount on her homeschool kit.  The code is HOME20 and has no expiration date.
She is also offering a 15% discount good on anything in the store.  The code for that is VIRTUE15 and also has no expiration date.  (Sorry, the coupons cannot be combined)

I feel blessed to be able to use these products with my younger children.  They are fun, but get the point across nicely.  Fun and educational....2 of my favorite things!

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Mosaics Review team***

Character: A Matter of the Heart

One of my goals for 2013 was to work on my character, and the character of my children.  In the past, I've used several resources for this, but at this point Bear and Abby aren't old enough for those.  I have been very blessed this month to be able to review 2 character improvement products that were to be used with younger children.  In fact, the book I am reviewing today is to be used with the whole family, all ages, including mom and dad!

Character: A Matter of the Heart by Lorrie Flem is a comprehensive book designed to give the family ideas on how to implement character training in MY family (or your family).  Designed to be used in the best ways possible for MY (YOUR) family, Lorrie gives many suggestions, ideas and encoruagement to guide you on this journey. 

Lorrie encourages mothers, to give Dad first place in this endeavor and to follow their lead.  Using her ideas, we are taking one character trait at a time - Obedience this month - and working through it as a family.  Lorrie reminds us that character is CAUGHT rather than TAUGHT - remember mom that our character shows through every day!

I'm thankful that this resource came when it did.  If you are looking for something that you can use with your whole family, then take a look HERE, this booklet is available for only $4.97

***I received this product for free, in exchange for a fair review as part of the Gabby Moms review program.***

Recent Reading 3-9-13 Edition

I knocked two books off my reading list this week :)  Actually, one of them didn't even make it to the side-bar list.

Seed Starting: The First Step to Gardening was a review book for the Mosaics Reviews team.  I downloaded it on my kindle and read early this week while on the treadmill.  A GREAT read.  You can view my review of it HERE.

Then I finished the 3rd book in The End Series trilogy by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall, Brink of Chaos.  Like I said before, if you enjoyed the Left Behind series then you will like these.  Essentially they take a similar story line but it ends right after the Rapture.  So, it has a pre-Rapture story line.  I really got into the story of Joshua Jordan and his family.  I know that it is fiction but I hope that there are true patriots out there today that are doing all they can to stop the evil that this country seems to have become. 

So, I will be sure to update my sidebar and keep reading :)  Check back next week to see what's new.

It's Spring! Let's Get Some Seed :)

Spring is almost here.  At least I hope so.

For us, spring means planting a veggie garden.  We have planted a garden for years.  We tried the Square Foot gardening method one year and I kinda liked how it worked out but my husband didn't so much so now we do the rows and such.  A typical garden.

I have a love of fancy tomatoes and rare peppers.  We live in po-dunk nowhere so we just get basic garden plants here.  I have tried for several years to start my own seedlings.  Some years it worked out ok, some years it was a complete failure.

Enter:

 

This is the most fabulous little book that covers ALL the bases of starting your own seeds at home.  I got an in-depth education in potting soil, pots and lighting.  I learned all kinds of interesting information about how to get those little seedlings out of those pots and into the garden safely.  I am thoroughly impressed with how much information this book covers and how concisely it does it.  I wish that I had this book so many years ago, but I am very eager to try his advice out this spring.

This book is available on Amazon for the Kindle for $2.99

Recent Reading

I've been reading more. 

I love to read.  Anything.  Newspaper, magazines, books, cereal boxes.  When I was a kid we rarely went to the library and the school library would only let me check out 2 books at a time, once a week.  I can easily read 200 + pages a day and I had an hour ride on the bus each way 5 days a week.  Those 2 books would be done quickly.  I would be so desperate for something to read that I would read my dad's hunting, motorcycle and stock car racing magazines, cover to cover.  If I ever got ahold of any money it was always spent on books or magazines.  I would read and reread the poor things till the covers fell off.  lol

Anyway, I digress.  We have a free library card now that we live in town and I make it a point to go up there at least once a week.  I would avoid the adult section because, honestly, I didn't have time to read and if I did, my kindle is full of books just waiting for me.  One day I was weak and made it home with 2 books.  I finished those and brought home another.  I can't help myself.  lol  I hope by only bring one home that I can read some of the stuff around here until the next trip (Tuesday, we go on Tuesdays). 

It took 3 weeks but I finished the 1st 2 books: (both fiction)
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier  **  A great book set before the Civil War.  It revolves around the life of a Quaker woman after she comes to America from England. 

Weapon of Choice by Patricia Gussin ** This is one of those medical/biological terrorism books that I love so much.  It is actually 2 mysteries intertwined together.  Another excellent read.

So what did I bring home this week?  Well, it was very hard to choose.  I only look on the NEW shelf so that limits me a little, otherwise I would never get out of the library.  There were 2 mysteries that tempted me and a nonfiction book about 1775 but the one I left with is a dual biography about Louisa May Alcott and her mother Abigail :)  I can't wait to start it.  I have a book going upstairs right now but I'm going to try and finish it tonight or tomorrow and then this one is up next.  I'll be sure to share about it as soon as I get finished. 

Please, share what you've been reading!  I love to hear all about it......now I'm off to write reviews on Amazon.  Have a great day!

Firsts

This week has had some firsts for me:

1st time I ever went to a yoga class.  It was GREAT fun.

1st time I ever had my eyebrows waxed (more to that later)

When I was a sweet little girl I had beautiful blonde hair.  The older I got the darker my hair got.  As a 35 year old mother of 4, it was more light brown than blonde.  On a generous day, my husband would call it dirty, dishwater blonde.  Hmmm.

I've been working on this whole lifestyle change lately.  Low, low carb diet, exercising a whole lot....I've been wearing makeup and trying to do my best to be around for another 35 years.  BUT I also realize that every day might be my last (not that I'm dying, but honestly, it could be) and I deserve to feel pretty. 

The other day I decided that I was going to try to dye my hair.  I say TRY because I've done this before.  First I tried to lighten my hair, but that didn't work.  Then maybe 7 years ago, I tried to dye it red (because I have some natural red highlights).  Didn't work.  I had decided that my hair won't hold color.  Now, I'm working on a NEW me so I decided to try a little darker.  The shade I choose was called light golden brown.  My wonderful husband was willing to be my colorist so yesterday we got down to business.

You can see the BEFORE up in my profile pic.

Here is the after:

 

 

It is darker than I thought it would be and RED :)  I love it.

 

Please ignore the kitchen mess.

 

I dyed my eyebrows to match my hair and now that they were darker they were very bushy.  So a friend at the local salon waxed them for me.  Cute, eh?

 



Creating Contentment Seminar

I've only been to 2 homeschool conventions in all the years that I've been homeschooling.  I will say, that without a doubt, they were well worth the time/expense that I had to give up to go.  HOWEVER, honestly, I can't afford to drive 3-5 hours and get a hotel room and meals and pay the convention fees and find a sitter.....not every year, not every-other-year.....it's been 6 years since I've been to the last homeschool convention (and it was 5 years before that for the other one). 

So I was very delighted to find out that Lorrie Flem was going to be hosting some seminars online. The topic for February was Creating Contentment.   Unfortunately, I wasn't available for the actual seminar BUT with an online seminar, you don't actually have to be available.  If you buy a ticket for the seminar (for $3 at www.eternalencouragement.com) then you can access the seminar at any time.  All the slides, the PDFs and the recordings!  This is completely set up to be convenient for ME (and YOU).

I struggle with contentment.  This seminar really blessed me and encourages me to rethink my attitude and be grateful for the things that God has blessed me with. 

Beginning March 15th, you can also purchase the next seminar, True Womanhood is Not for Wimpy Women.  More encouragement!!!!  I absolutely can't wait to dig into this information.  And I didn't have to drive, book a hotel, find a sitter, buy a meal.  No stress, no frustration, very budget friendly! 

For this and other wonderful resources for Godly Womanhood be sure to check out Eternal Encouragement.  Lorrie's mission is to mentor other women to be more like Jesus every day :)

***I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review as part of the Gabby Moms review program.***

A Blog Planner Review

Blogger?  Yep.

Planner?  Yep.

Blog Planner?  Hmmm.  Not really. 

I think I started this blog in 2006.  At first it was more of a journal.  Then it became a "homeschool" thing as I charted our homeschool journey.  Then it was mainly reviews.  Then it was a journal again.  Now.....I don't know.  Maybe more reviews than anything. 

The thing is, that I LOVE to read blogs.  Sewing blogs, knitting blogs, food blogs, homeschool blogs and "here is my life" blogs.  If you capture my attention I will be a faithful reader. 

My blog, here, has never really had a purpose.  Poor thing.  I just do what I do and hope someone reads it.  I love to write, about everything, so I felt constrained trying to give my blog a focus.

My blog is focus-less, at least until a time that I deem it otherwise necessary.  I have a little ADHD, you have to like it, or leave it.  I can live with it :)

Now, as most of you know, I am a reviewer for Mosaic Reviews.  I love to try out products and tell people about them.  I like to tell people about everything so.....

The 1st review I was asked to do for Mosaic Reviews is of a Blog Planner.

Hmmmm.

Well then.

I thought about telling them that I don't.    plan.     my.    blog.    but you don't want to irritate the people that have accepted you to be part of their review team, especially at the beginning of the process.  There were several to choose from so I choose the least.....hmmmm.....troublesome.  I don't mean that in a grouchy way, some of the blog planners were huge things that were really life planners that included blogging.  I have a nice little calendar planner so I didn't need anything like that.  I didn't NEED a blog planner, remember?

So, I found one that Confessions of a Homeschooler put together.  LOVE her website, by the way.  If you need inspiration, get a cup of tea and spend some time.  I'm digressing again.

 

 

I choose the lined format post planner seen above.

 

Very pretty, eh?  I thought so too.

 

Now, hmmm, what to do with it?  I sat down and wrote out the reviews I had coming up.  And then I scheduled in what I wanted to blog about.  And then sometimes, I even used it :)  Cool, eh?  So if you like the more regular blogging you've been seeing lately, the blog planner is to praise for that.

 

It is a tool.  I need to refer to it more.  But I honestly like it and I can see how it helps to have all the blogging stuff written down in one place for reference.

 

In case you think your blogging could use some.....help....this blog planner is available for FREE :)  So you can give it a try and see how it works out.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  I know I was.

 

***I recieved and reviewed this item for free (remember, it is free for you also!) as part of the Mosaics Review team.***

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning

When I was asked if I wanted to do this review it was just weeks after the death of my dear friend Erin;  I was still in the cloud of grief and was eager for anything to help me dig my way out.  By the time I actually received this book life was a little different.  My burden didn't seem quite as heavy and I wondered if I was the right person to be reviewing this.....however, this isn't just a book about grieving a lost loved one.  This is a book about grieving a loss.  It could be a relationship loss, job loss, financial loss, health-related loss or the loss of a loved one.  Since I seem to qualify in almost all those categories, I decided to give it a go.

I sat down and read it straight through.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE READ THAT WAY. I wanted to make sure that I got all the way through so that my review would be complete.

This book is meant to be a devotional.  The chapters are short, can easily be read in less than 10 minutes every morning. 40 chapters, one for each day, lead the reader through the valley of grief.  This book doesn't just speak to your emotions, it speaks to your spiritual life and physical life as well.  Each chapter has the devotional, reflections to ponder, prayer and a when you walk section.  The author, Alice J. Wisler, encourages her readers to get out and walk.  Meet the world head on, take care of your physical self and enjoy the wonders of God's beauty.

Beginning tomorrow, I am starting this book the way it was intended to be read.  Don't get me wrong, I gleaned much from it in one setting.  I can't imagine how God will work through this book when I have time to reflect, ponder and soak up the truth of His word. 

Alice also has Writing the Heartache  workshops that are geared to help others discover the benefits of writing from losses.  Alice lost her 4 year old son, Daniel, to cancer after 8 months of treatments, so she speaks from experience and wants to help you get through your loss and back on the path to living your life to the fullest.

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is available for $11.05 on Amazon.

For more encouragement you can visit Alice's blogs: Broken Psalms and Alice J. Wisler's Patchwork Quilt Blog.

***As always I received this book for free in exchange for a fair review :)

Finished Reading Feb. 10th

Edge of Apocalypse and Thunder of Heaven by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall
If you liked the Left Behind series then you will like these.  I read books 1 and 2 of the 3 book series, book 3 is on my nightstand right now.  I enjoy them very much. 

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning by Alice J. Wisler - review following

TEACH Magazine Fall 2006
This issue was about the power of prayer.  As always, great, convicting articles about the theme with some cute stories and humorous analogies thrown in for good measure.  I always come away from each issue of TEACH with encouragement and inspired to be a better woman of God. 

Be the Hands and Feet

"Momma!  I NEED you!!!!!"

Those are words I hear from Miss Abby daily, sometimes multiple times a day. 

"What do you need Abby?"

"Momma!  I need YOU!"

What she means is she needs her "love tank" filled up (a term we used with Bear when he was her age).  She needed to snuggle, hug, kiss and be reminded that someone here loved her.  It takes less than 10 minutes and then she is a happy little girl again.

Sometimes, like today, my love tank runs low.  Norman has been working 16 hour days.  In the end, it works out really well for our family because he gets more days off a week, but for those days he is gone, I'm it.  Sure, I've got teenagers.  But they are usually too busy trying to kill each other to have a coherent conversation with good-ole-mom.  Bear and Abby love to talk and tell me all about their adventures and the things they saw on TV and the birds outside.  As long as I am HERE their world is all good and they can live their lives, you know, like little kids do.

A 2 year old and a 5 year old aren't supposed to be concerned with their mother's mental and emotional health (and believe me, they aren't lol).  Honestly, there isn't anything really wrong with my mental or emotional health.  Not anything that doesn't happen to every mother out there, possibly daily.

I'm lonely.

I miss adult interaction.  I don't always want someone to NEED me (I know I will miss that but we are talking about NOW).  I would love to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and a few chapters of my current read without 15 interruptions.  I KNOW these days are short and I should enjoy them and all that, I got the memo.  Believe me, I know.  I've got teenagers, remember?

I imagine that I'm not alone.  So, I've been trying to think of ways that I can recognize these "symptoms" in other moms and be a Jesus hug to them.  Jesus is LOVE, but WE are His hands and feet here on earth. 

Look around at your circle of friends, your neighbors, the new people at church.  Let's think of ways that you (and I) can be an encouragement to them. 
*send a random "glad you are my friend" or "thinking of you" card (or text/email if you are out of cards)
*plan that playdate  -----  I know that I almost never get out of this house without at least 1 child so friendly coffee get-togethers don't work for me.  Playdates do :)  Your friend won't care if your home is a mess.  She will just appreciate that you took the time to connect with her.
*make the phone call --- I am the worst about this.  I hate talking on the phone.  There is always someone here wanting something or bothering me and I always worry that I'm bothering the person I called, but sometimes a call can be such a bright spot in my day!
*be a blessing  ---- Do you have a hobby, skill set or talent that could bless someone in your life?  Use it!  God gave it to you for a reason!!!

I guess the most important thing is to CONNECT with the people around you.  I know that without my 2 besties I would be lost! 

It is February, so it is "Random Acts of Kindness" month.  Don't forget to connect with those around you....a smile, a kind word, the littles things add up to a hug, they really do make a difference!