Sunday, January 31, 2010

Bible in 90 Days {B90} ~ Day 32 Check-in

I’m getting into a ‘groove’ of sorts with reading my Bible, especially in larger chunks. In some ways, I am really surprised that it we’ve finished 4 weeks of the challenge already. That’s 1/3 of the reading! I'm still about 2 days ahead, but that fluctuates and gives me a little buffer. :)

I never seem to have the right notebook with me when I’m reading, so I am forever scribbling notes on scrap pieces of paper or dog-earing pages that I want to check back on later.

I had to laugh out loud at my own notes this week though. I’ve been twittering back and forth with some of the other people participating in the B90 Challenge and apparently have Twitter on the brain. Yesterday while writing my notes for my reading, I titled my page ~ Notes for Week 4 #B90days. Sad that my notes reflect Twitter hashtags. :)

Anyway, here are a few lots of the things that I found interesting this week:
  • Felt bad for the 3 guys who broke through enemy lines to get King David some of the water he longed for ~ and then he poured it out on the ground. I know there’s more to the story, but can you just picture the looks on their faces when David did that ~ after their risky covert operation?
  • The list of names in Chronicles was oh-so-long at times, so I injected a little fun by searching out the women who were mentioned in the lineage and underlined/circled their names. Because you know they were special if they were mentioned, right?
  • NEVER knew there was a real-life woman named Sheerah. Who was important enough to mention in the lineage because she built two cities!! She WAS a She-rah!
  • Spent some time wondering what Asherah poles were, since all these crazy kings didn’t tear them down or erected them in the temple next to the altar. Did a little googling on the term and think I have a fairly good understanding now ~ basically, another form of idolatry.
  • Used this list of the kings from Israel/Judah to track the good and bad kings in 1&2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles. Interesting…very interesting.
  • Cheered out loud when I was reading about Hezekiah. Such a good king who actually tore down all the idols and followed after God ~ especially since his father was so evil and did much to destroy things.
  • Waited for lighting to strike Ahaz when he made a replica of a pagan altar and then put it in the temple. It didn’t.
  • Even though Chronicles is much of a repeat of Kings, there are still some ‘gaps’ that are filled in some storylines. Kings never mentions that David did the bulk of the prep work for building the temple by collecting materials and having them ready for Solomon.
  • Find the wording in two similar passages about the census David took very interesting. 2 Samuel 24:1 says that “he {God} caused David to harm them {the Israelites} by taking a census. ‘Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,’ the Lord told him.” 1 Chronicles 21:11 says "Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” So who was it? :)
  • Loved 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 when the temple was being dedicated and God’s presence filled the temple and no one could continue working because of it. How absolutely amazing would that be??
  • And off on a completely random tangent, can you imagine how long it would take to follow all of the specific Levitical guidelines to properly sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 122,000 sheep. Those priests would have been exhausted after all that {and hopefully had an extra garment or two to wear after all that sacrificing}.

Next week I’ll be doing a weekly sum-up here, but I will also be guest posting at Mom’s Toolbox!! If I’m SUPER brave, I might even be vlogging ~ who knows? :) You’ll just have to tune in and see!

Be sure to visit Mom's Toolbox today and read some thoughts from Ted Cooper, Jr. who founded the 90 Days ministry. There is a link to a survey there also about the B90 program. :)  If you are interested in learning more about the 90 Day Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge ~ you can start at any time because the bookmark isn’t dated. :)

 

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Book Giveaway ~ Things Worth Remembering

image Maisey’s wedding is a just a week away and even though she is home in body, the distance between her and her mother Kendy is overwhelming. There was a point in their lives when their relationship was a model example of the perfect mother/daughter bond. Now Kendy struggles to understand what caused the chasm between them. She only wants her daughter to have a perfect wedding day ~ and longs for restoration between the two of them….but is it even possible?

My Thoughts


Jackina Stark has done a wonderful job weaving the importance of communication and also forgiveness into Things Worth Remembering. An event that happened over ten years prior has virtually destroyed the relationship between a mother and daughter. Because it had gone undiscussed, bitterness had taken root in the relationship.
With her daughter on the verge of her own marriage, everything comes to light ~ and while it seems like difficult timing, it was something much needed and eventually a big blessing.

The Giveaway

Would you like to win a copy of  Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark? Leave a comment on this post ~ be sure there is a way for me to contact you! The giveaway will be open until Friday, February 5th at 8pm.

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review from Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

The Silent Governess {Book Review}

image
Olivia Keene flees her village and the only life she has ever know because she believes she has done something horrible ~ and unforgivable. In her travels, she accidentally overhears some sensitive information about Lord Bradley that causes her even more problems.

If the secret is shared, Lord Bradley stands to lose more than he can fathom, so he employs Olivia in exchange for her silence ~ and to keep a watchful eye on her. Fortunately for him, her voice was injured in a recent accident and she is forced to remain silent. 

My Thoughts

I am a HUGE fan of Regency period books and The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen is one that has found a permanent spot on my bookshelves! Just when I thought I had things figured out in the book, there was another twist {or two} that kept wondering until the end of the book.

From the start of the book, I was hooked and literally couldn’t put it down ~ and with 4 young children, that is a feat in and of itself! Klassen created some wonderful characters and very subtly weaved in what it truly means to be a follower of Christ while providing a glimpse into the working class life of the 1800’s.

What I’m Reading

Look for reviews on a few of these books to be coming up soon!
Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.


I was given this product to review by Bethany House.  I do not have to return the product.
I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Emma ~ PBS Masterpiece

image You all might remember that I love anything and everything that is Austen. To the point that I own practically every version of the movies based on her novels.

That {sadly} includes several versions of Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice. And after the PBS Masterpiece special is done, I’ll be adding another version of Emma to my stockpile.

If you missed the first week of Emma on PBS, you can view it online. Me? I’m sitting here patiently waiting for the next two weeks to air, and meanwhile watching the other two copies that I have so I can compare/contrast the different versions for myself. BBC has done a great job with the costuming and filming, so I’m enjoying it so far!

PBS is airing the special from January 24 until February 7th ~ you can check here for when it will be showing in your area.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Homemade Laundry Soap


I’ve been thinking about making my own detergent for some time, and this past summer I finally took the big plunge and did it ~ and haven’t gone back since! My fears of it being time-consuming and hard were so completely wrong. It seriously took me about 20 minutes from start to finish, and that includes the time it took me to walk downstairs and grab the boxes I needed as well as grate the soap.

These are the few simple ingredients I needed to make the soap and 9 oz {$3.95} cleaning bar will make two batches of detergent, enough for 128 loads of laundry. After figuring out the cost of the detergent, it works out to about 5 cents a load of laundry, and you'll have plenty of Borax and washing soda for future batches.

IMG_2976
  • Arm & Hammer Washing Soda {in the cleaning aisle}
  • Borax {cleaning aisle}
  • Laundry bar ~ I buy mine from Virginia Soaps and Scents
  • Water
Pretty basic and simple to make too!

The recipe that I use comes from the Virginia Soaps and Scents website and you can download a 4x6 folded recipe card here.

Ingredients:
~ 4½ ounces of “Virginia Soaps & Scents” Cleaning Soap
~ ½ cup washing soda
~ ½ cup borax powder ~ grater
~ You will also need a bucket, 3-5 gallon size

Directions:

1. Grate the soap and put it into a large sauce pan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the Cleaning soap melts.
2. Add the washing soda and the borax. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Remove from heat.
3. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir.
4. Add 22 cups of water and stir (22 cups = 1 gallon plus 6 cups).
5. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Note: The finished soap will be in a gel form. It is a low-sudsing soap, so is great for front-loading washers as well as the top-load variety.

Our kids love it too, since they can easily scoop the detergent out themselves and help with the laundry {Mommy loves this part too!}.  Others have asked if we've noticed any change in our laundry ~ is it getting clean? Absolutely yes!  The bars are also unscented, so the detergent doesn't have any overwhelming smell either. Just 'clean'.

If you aren't sure that you want to make your own detergent and want to 'test the waters' to see if it would work for you, Virginia Soaps and Scents offers a Laundry Soap Kit for $4.95 that includes everything you need to make a batch of detergent ~ all you need to do is add water!

Just wanted to pass along a little something that is Working for Me!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Bible in 90 Days {B90} ~ Day 25 Check-in


Do you have a favorite Bible that you like to use when reading? Over the years I’ve had several different versions that I’ve used and I love my mammoth of a Bible right now ~ enough to lug it with me on a plane this last week and risk a mild shoulder injury. :)

I’ve finished up 1 Kings and am now working on 2 Kings ~ so right on schedule at this point. Reading about all the kings who didn’t follow God is almost depressing at times, so those few that actually DID are enough to make you smile. Here are a few of the things that I found interesting this week:
  • The parallels between the story of the Levite {Judges 19} and also the angels that visited Lot before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
  • LOVE the story of Ruth {as always} and the symbolism in the fact that Ruth was ‘redeemed’ by Boaz {her kinsman/family redeemer} ~ and the lineage of Christ comes through Boaz and Ruth
  • 1 Samuel 8:7 ~ when Israel wants a king and Samuel is upset, God says that they are rejecting Him as their king. And really ~ how true that is of us also in so many aspects. Just because they wanted to be like the other nations around them {vs. 20}.
  • After Saul’s disobedience, Samuel never went to meet him again. Such a visual picture of being removed from the presence of God.
  • Just wonder how many men there were in Israel that played the harp, and yet David was the one chosen to play for Saul. Obviously the hand of God, but such an opportunity to see the inner workings of how a king would rule and gain a deeper understanding of things.
  • I don’t quite fully understand why Jonathan and David had their ‘secret code’ with the arrows to let David know if it was safe or not ~ especially since David came out of hiding and he and Jonathan then talked face to face. Why didn’t they just talk face to face to begin? :)
  • Reading through the descriptions of the building of the temple ~ absolutely amazing and so wish I could have seen what it looked like.
If you are interested in learning more about the 90 Day Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge ~ you can start at any time!

 

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Watch Over Me {Book Review}


His marriage was already on the brink of disaster when Deputy Benjamin Patil found a little infant girl abandoned. He and his wife Abbi agree to be foster parents for the baby girl, but their endeavor isn't without problems.

Although they need to raise the baby together, Abbi and Benjamin are essentially leading separate lives ~ something that started long before the baby came to their house. Benjamin struggles with memories from his time serving in Afghanistan and while Abbi wants to know what is causing him so much pain, she has issues of her own that cause her to withhold from her husband.

They have a choice ~ reclaim what they are letting slip away or walk away from it all forever.

My Thoughts

Abbi and Benjamin are as different as night and day. She is a vegan who is also a pacifist. He served in the armed forces while his wife protested against the war.  In some aspects I struggled to understand how the two of them ever managed to get together, much less marry each other.

The emotions in Watch Over Me are very realistic though and Parrish doesn't gloss over the rawness and struggles that the two face in their relationship ~ which I admire tremendously. While the book is somewhat predictable in the plot, it is one that offers hope and ultimately a story of how God can redeem even a dire situation.


Still on My Nightstand

Look for reviews on a few of these books to be coming up soon!

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

 

I was given this product to review by Bethany House.  I do not have to return the product.
I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Christmas in a Cup

In the midst of all the craziness over the last few weeks I completely forgot to post about one of the most hilarious {and one of my favorite} gifts that Rick received this Christmas.

From our daughter.

A few weeks before Christmas the kids and I went to Target, armed each with $6 to browse the Dollar Section and choose a small gift for the other family members. They tried to hide their choices as best as they could from each other, covering them up with their coats so that we would all be surprised on Christmas morning.

I saw a few of the gifts once we got home, but Laurianna managed to keep everything hidden from our view, not wanting to spoil any surprise.

And surprised would definitely describe the look on Rick’s face when he opened up his present from his 8-year-old daughter.

 

IMG_2772

Rick and I tried so hard not to laugh because she has NO idea what a shot glass is, but was so excited because she wanted him to drink out of it. And really ~ the packaging makes it all so appealing, no?

 

IMG_2774

 

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Cheating in 30 Day Shred!

Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred

I've been shredding again. Not paper...hopefully the sad mess that my muscles have become. Now that I have a good pair of sneakers {to avoid that whole issue that I had with stress fractures}, I've been spending a little time each afternoon wondering if I've lost my mind and if there is any part of my body that might just stop aching.

But I do feel the need to point something out, because after watching Workout 1 repeatedly now and practically memorizing all that Jillian says, there's a little thing that is bothering me. Jillian is so very proud of the ladies that help her out, even saying that they don't cheat one bit when she isn't looking.

So.not.true!

If you happen to watch the level 1 workout, one of her buddies, Natalie,  is NOT doing the static lunge {with a bicep curl} when she thinks that the camera isn't on her. My question is, if the girl who is getting paid to do the video isn't doing all the exercises, why is Jillian yelling at me to not take a teeny, tiny break?

Just something for me to yell at the TV when I'm getting my butt kicked, that's all.

This time around, I  got brave and took pictures of myself before starting the Shred ~ ones that no one will ever see ~ even my husband. Just documented proof to compare to after pictures showing that my insanity has actual visible benefits.

So far, so good. Ten days down...and 20 more to go. Assuming I can make it through level 2 tomorrow.




Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Going Easy





Zachary has been working on simple addition during his school time ~ facts that add up to five. The other day when we were doing schoolwork, Zachary was flying through his math problems. I commented on how quickly he was working and he said, "Yeah, I know. They're going easy on me today!"

____________________________________

The kids went sampling at Costco with Daddy {a favorite thing to do on Saturdays}. All of them, except for Kaleb, came back chewing a piece of gum ~ a HUGE treat for them.

When I noticed the kids chewing gum, Kaleb was standing in front of me and had the most pitiful expression on his face. He put his little hands up in the air, his forehead was all scrunched up, and he said, "I went to Costco, but got no gum. Daddy said I swallow it."

It was just the sweetest and most pitiful look all rolled up into one...and made me want to give him a whole pack right there. :)

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!


Monday, January 18, 2010

Bible in 90 Days ~ Day 18 Check In

After getting behind a little bit the first week{ish}, I managed to get completely caught up and {dare I say it??} ahead in my reading. Not much mind you, but I'm hoping to read a little bit extra each day for the next few days since I'm going out of town at the end of this week and I'm not sure when I'll be able to sit down and read.

Once I managed to get through Leviticus and all the sacrificial rules {phew}, it started going MUCH smoother. I'll admit that at some points in Leviticus my eyes just wanted to glaze over and I was thanking God that we are not bound to all the rules and laws!

I've been earmarking pages, underlining verses or jotting notes on paper scraps or in books {depending on where I am when I'm reading} when I find little tidbits that make me scratch my head ~ or giggle ~ or ask deeper questions.  Here are a few from this week:
  • I found it interesting that the two men who believed that Israel COULD take the promised land were Joshua {tribe of Ephraim} and Caleb {tribe of Judah}. Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph, but the one who received the blessing of the oldest son, and Judah is the line that the kings descended from.
  • Never realized that the Israelites wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb ~ until the Lord appeared and set them all straight {Numbers 14: 10-12}
  • The sheer volume of Israelites that left Egypt is just astounding. The count in Numbers of men 20 and older was over 600,000. Poor Moses! Can you imagine what moving a caravan of people that size would involve? Or setting up camp? How HUGE the camp would be?
  • A verse in Deuteronomy {24:19} just stuck out to me also. The Israelites were told to leave the extra grain for foreigners, orphans, and widows and they would be blessed for it. Just thinking ahead to how this would involve Ruth and Naomi...and how they were a part in the line of Christ. 
  • In some ways I feel sorry for Moses ~ just getting a glimpse of the promised land {Deuteronomy 32:38-52} and not being able to go into it. I'm thinking that after 40 plus years of leading around a large bunch of disobedient, grumbling Israelites it just sad. I know that it says he 'failed to demonstrate God's holiness'. Amazing that he was in constant direct communication with God and his hitting one lousy rock messed it all up.
  • I had to giggle when I read Joshua 1:16-18 and the Israelites promised to obey Joshua...just as they had obeyed Moses. Poor Joshua. :)
Over the last two weeks I've had my eyes opened to a few things too. So often I am quick to mock the Israelites and how they always forget the amazing things that God had done in releasing them from Egypt. I wonder how they could doubt that God would continue to do amazing things for them, especially since He promised He would. How could they forget so quickly?

A friend of ours has been in the hospital these last two weeks and we've seen God do some amazing and {I think} miraculous things in his recovery process. Spending time with the family brought back memories of illnesses that our kids have been through and how God's hand has been on so many different aspects of our lives over the years ~ and I realized how far back in my mind/memory those instances seem, even though I don't want to forget them. But forgetting can be very easy to do.

If you are interested in learning more about the 90 Day Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge ~ you can start at any time!


 

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Return Policy by Michael Snyder {Book Review}

Willy Finneran, Ozena Webb, and Shaq are three people whose lives intersect after an unusual twist of fate. Willy 'meets' Ozena, a customer service representative for a coffee machine company,  in an attempt to intentionally break his espresso maker. The espresso maker only reminds him of a past relationship that he would rather forget.

Shaq is a homeless man who remembers little about his life ~ the blank spots outweigh the parts that he does remember. He helps at a homeless shelter. When Willy is sentenced to living at the homeless shelter after the bizarre hit and run accident of a college mascot, a chain of events begins for the three people that no one could have imagined.

My Thoughts

The word that comes to my mind when trying to describe this book is unique Return Policy by Michael Snyder shows three individuals who have all been through different types of tragedies ~ the loss of a loved one, death of a close relationship, mental illness ~ and ties their stories together in a surprising way.

Each of the characters in the book has their own viewpoint ~ sometimes almost comical in their thought process. :) A single mom, struggling to raise a son with special needs...a seemingly washed-up writer who is in a bizarre accident...a homeless man whose memory is more created than actual ~ yet who are linked together through circumstances at times beyond their control. But for God. :)

Personally, I think this is one of those books that you will either love or just put down. I had a difficult time following things at first because the story is written from three different perspectives. While Snyder does identify who is telling the story at each point they character view shifts, it was confusing for me at times to follow it all in first person and remember who was telling the story . Overall, the story is full of hope and how God is always waiting with open arms.

Still on My Nightstand

Look for reviews on a few of these books to be coming up soon!

Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.

 

I was given these products to review by Zondervan. I do not have to return the products.
I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Keep Out of Reach of Children




We love the LeapFrog dvds in our house and Kaleb wanted to watch the Learning to Read dvd the other day which has some punctuation songs on it. Later in the day, Kaleb was strutting around the house, playing his air guitar, and singing, "Hum-hum-hum-hum-u-lation."


{Instead of the punc-punc-punc-punc-tu-a-tion.}

______________________________________

We gave both of the girls some glittery body lotion and sprays for Christmas, which have been a huge hit. One morning, about a week after Christmas, McKenna came bursting into my room, her face in a complete panic.

"Mom!! The back of this bottle says 'Keep out of reach of children.' I'M A KID!!!"

The look of panic on her face and her sincerity were just too funny!

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!


Monday, January 11, 2010

Bible in 90 Days ~ Day 11 Check In

I've been plugging along with my Bible reading and will be the first to admit that I'm a little behind on my Bible reading ~ not much, but just enough to bug me. :) I've spent quite a bit of time this last week helping out a friend and reading when I have a spare moment, but free time has been at a minimum.

I will say that I've been enjoying the reading though and sometimes little questions or thoughts pop into my head while reading. Just to jot them down for myself, here are a few:
  • How in the world did Moses keep track of all of those rules and instructions God was giving him? Of course I'm looking at this from the point of a mom who can't even remember something simple from one moment to the next. He was given very specific things to relay to the Israelites and I can't even begin to fathom the magnitude of  remembering it all. :)
  • Somehow I completely missed that over 70 of Israel's leader went up to the mountain and saw God {Exodus 24: 9-10}. They even shared a meal in His presence!
  • During Passover they weren't supposed to use yeast for seven days and were not to even have yeast in their homes or within the borders of their land {Exodus 13:7}. My question is...where in the world did they keep it then? :)
  • The irony of the importance that God places on names {he renamed Abraham, Sarah, and Jacob} ~ and then there is the whole naming the children battle between Rachel and Leah, where they essentially use their children's names to 'one-up' each other.
There is so much more that God has been speaking to me about through some of these passages that I'll share more about later, but I just wanted to check in and update on where I was! :)

If you are interested in learning more about the Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge.


 

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Take Them a Meal ~ Meal Organization

I want to share a site with you all that I’ve been using over the last few days that is wonderfully AMAZING!! If you’ve ever put together meal lists for someone that has just had a baby or been in the hospital, you know how crazy it can be with all the emails, phone calls…and overabundance of lasagna deliveries.

image

Takethemameal.com is a FREE site that helps you organize meal deliveries to the family with just a few clicks of a button.  As the meal coordinator you can quickly create an online schedule sheet providing directions to the home along with other important information.

Once you create the schedule and set up the dates you would like the meals delivered to the family, all you have to do is share the password with the families that would like to help and they can add their name to the online list. The person receiving the meals can also access the page to see who is delivering a meal, their phone number, the meal they are bringing ~ and they can print off a schedule of meals to stick on their fridge for future reference.

You can view a sample schedule here.

I started using it a few days ago to set up meals for a family in our church and it has taken a HUGE stress off. There are no emails flying back and forth or people accidentally doubling up on dates. AND it will even email a reminder to the meal provider when their delivery date is close! For those who aren’t comfortable using the computer, they just call me and I can quickly access the page and plug in their information.

Did I mention it is all FREE?? Really, you can go wrong with that! This is one of those sites that I wish had been around years ago ~ it’s definitely one that I will use over and over again in the future!

Just wanted to pass along a little something that is Working for Me!

</P=ALIGN="RIGHT">

Friday, January 1, 2010

B90 ~ Bible in 90 Days

A few days ago I read about a challenge to read through the Bible from a blogging friend and it piqued my interest immediately. In the past I’ve started {and stopped} and haven’t sat down and read it completely.

Although I seem to have no problem reading other books from cover to cover {ahem}.

While taking an entire year to read through the Bible seems overwhelming to me, somehow 90 days {despite there being more to read each day} seems much more manageable. Go figure…

I’ve started on my reading and am amazed at some of the nuggets that I have missed, despite reading some of these passages many times before ~ and that excites me to keep reading and find out what else I’ve missed.

If you are interested in learning more about the challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge.

I’m hoping to post weekly on my progress and the verses that spoke to me each week. I’d love to know if any of you are joining in the challenge too ~ so leave a comment so we can chat more!