Do Like A Duck Does

These are our latest library finds.  Ms. Martha, our newest story time lady, read this one a couple of weeks ago and it has stayed at our house since.  Now LittleMan can read the whole thing by himself and it is a new fave.  It has a catchy rhyming verse that is easy and fun to read.  The kids especially like the way that Momma outwits the brown fox in the end!

Great news!  Paperback Swap has this and it should be on its way to our house in a couple of days.  This one is a keeper and I'm going to save it for our back-to-school party in the fall. 

Our other new favorite is Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes. 
Mrs. Turner read this to us and what book that Mrs. Turner reads would not be an instant favorite?  She said that whenever she reads this story the librarians spend the rest of the day saying "Goodness NO!" 

Pete is the coolest blue cat ever.  I had no idea he had such a following!  You can check him out here.  You can also download his latest hits.  They make my kids belly laugh every time! 

My favorite thing about Pete is his awesome attitude.  I overheard LittleMan tell his grandmother, "Whatever you step in, just keep walking along and singing your song.  Because its all good."  Ha! 

We got this book for LittleMan's b-day this year.  There is a new one out that we are picking up from the library today.   Big surprise for my little people!  I'm sure it will be added to my list of books for the back-to-school party too. 

BTW, today is the day to sign up for the library's summer reading program!   Its one of our favorite things of the summer.   Will I see you there?

What I'm Reading

Now and then my ears fill up with noise and they simply won't hold another decibel.  Like tonight.  So the swishing and clanging of kitchen work, the stacking cups clapping, the girly that has too much to say, Star Wars, the goal that Dempsey just made, and Ravi Zacharias is carrying on without me.  I'm camped out on my bed surrounded by books and laptop and so far nobody's noticed I'm missing.

I got a new book. 

 Wanna see it? 

This is the first school book that I've paid full price for in years.

Add that to the fact that I had never seen it in person and you can see that it was a gutsy move. 
I've liked David Dye's free newsletters for a long time and decided to take the plunge.
I've read a good ways through it and can't wait to start on Monday.  

Ok.  Maybe not.  I'm never eager to start anything on Mondays.  Especially school.   But maybe it'll help that I have something new to try. 

Other things I'm reading....

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker

Oh I love this book!  It's easy to pick up when I don't want to think too hard.  Yet has some substance to it.

I've never read any of her books before but I'm looking forward to reading more.

Confession:  I paid full price for this one too.

Actually Honey did and gave it to me for Valentines Day.  Still.

Just finished reading this aloud to my little peeps. 

The younger set hadn't heard it before and our own farmer boy was particularly enthralled.  

You know its a good book when you're disappointed that it's over.  

Confession:  This book is headed for the trash.  The yellow pages are falling out all over the place.  My cheap frugal nature says to just hold it carefully and use the loose pages as a bookmark.  But since the library has multiple copies I'm guessing they'll have to spare one the next time we want to read it.   

I had a mom moment in the last chapter. 

Let me set the stage:  I'm driving in the car to who knows where on any given day with whatever kid comes along.    About 1/2 way to wherever we're going I realize that I've hardly said a word to my passenger and s/he hasn't been so chatty with me.  Momma guilt overwhelms me and I start blabbing about anything I can think of so that I can be a good mom and build some memorable one-on-one time.  Anybody else do this?

 Feel free to roll your eyes. 

In the last chapter Almonzo is offered a promising apprenticeship with a respectable wheelwright.  It's a serious offer.  A good opportunity.  And guess what?   All the way home Father and Almonzo were silent! 

They were both thinking.  And nobody said anything.  Get this:  Almonzo did NOT think that Father was ignoring him and he did NOT feel unloved.  AND Father didn't even feel guilty!  Huh. 

This is a fantastic book if you're headed for local or foreign missions.  And you are, aren't you?  In one way or another?  I was loving this book when we were headed to Haiti.  Since my trip has been cancelled, I've slowed down reading it.  Partly because I HATE that I'm not going to Haiti yet.  Read the "yet".  And partly b/c it requires a lot of thinking.  Evidently I'm not into thinking too much these days. 

And that's it.  I'm also reading through parts of Genesis for Sunday school and working my way through Isaiah.  Isaiah happens to be on my list of faves. 

Book talk question:  Do you have a Kindle?  Do you like it?  Which one do you have?  Would I like it too?

The Maxwells

A couple of weeks ago, my homeschool group hosted the Maxwell family for the second time.
I have followed their ministry for many years and have benefited from many of their books. It was a treat to sit under Mrs. Maxwell's teaching again. The first time was several years ago and I was at a different place in my homeschooling.

I've been reading over my notes and reading my new books. The Maxwells send out a monthly e-mail that I always enjoy reading. And for some reason Mrs. Maxwell's words seem to stick for me. She speaks the truth in love and says it in a way that hits home. So I'll remember something she said forever ago, want to go back and re-read it, but can't remember the date or the title and I'm too impatient to search the archives.

But at the conference I bought both the books that contain all the e-mail articles. Now every one of them is at my fingertips! Love it!

Mrs. Maxwell is my scheduling guru. Most everything I've learned about scheduling has come from her and another speaker I heard years ago. If you need any help with scheduling, encouragement with homeschooling and family life, or just an uplifting word, check out their ministry here.

And to all my FSM friends who were there, I encourage you to send a word of thanks their way. I sent her an e-mail on the Contact Us link and she responded personally right away. So thoughtful!

The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom, is a true story that takes place in Holland during the German invasion. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, (both unmarried) live with their elderly father helping him in his watch shop.

Their days always start the same with Father reading 1 chapter of the Bible aloud to his daughters and employees. The days end the same way as well.

The story follows this family's insatiable love for people to the point of risking their own lives. They love the despised, the lowly, the misfits, and are a wonderful example of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Corrie and Betsy are eventually captured for running an underground operation hiding Jews. The story follows them through unmentionable cruelty, unfathomably miracles, and amazing faith.

Though it is a true story, it reads like fiction. Hard to put it down! I'm so thankful Emily suggested it to me and my neighbor loaned it. Now I'm reading it aloud to my family before I have to return it.

Every night it's the same..."Just one more chapter??"

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

This is one of my favorite Christmas presents. I read it every chance I could and was disappointed when it was over.

Overwhelmed By A Relentless God...I mean what's not to love about that?

One of the last lines in the book reads, "The world needs Christians who do not tolerate the complacency of their own lives." pg 172 And I think that pretty much sums it up.

Francis Chan is able to hold your feet to the fire in a humble way. It's a likeable read, but not an easy one. What I mean by that is that it is full of love, and humor sometimes, yet saturated in Truth.

It spoke to some issues that have been heavy on my heart lately. In particular, closing the gap.
"We either close the gap or don't take the words of the Bible literally." pg 121

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. 2 Cor 8:13-15

There's so much to say here. And God continues to show me places where I can do more. I'm watching and waiting.... and eager. I do NOT want to be complacent. I do NOT want to consider any possessions my own. I do NOT want to waste my life for the sake of comfort. I want to spend my life doing things that may cost me in this life but will be more than worth it in eternity. pg 116

At the end of the book there are little snapshots of what this looks like in the lives of many people. Each one is different and encouraging.

There are videos that go with the chapters plus a couple extras. Fun and different. You can check it out at http://crazylovebook.com

What I'm Reading Now (Besides Princess Bess)

Exodus. 

Teach Me Your Ways by Kay Arthur

This helps. 

I'm doing most of this with my kids too.  We just discussed the significance of smiting the rock in chapter 17.

How come I never picked up on that before?   But this is what I love about going through my whole Bible.  Each time there is something brand new for me.  God's Word is never changing but somehow always new.  How does He do that??

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

My morning devotional.

Some days are easier than others.

But I'm amazed at how much I learn even when I am confused! 

(You Oswald Chamber fans will know what I mean.)

Life As A Vapor by John Piper

The book I like to read before I go to sleep.

And the one that Honey uses sometimes for devotions.

The Sun Is Shining On The Other Side by Margaret Jensen.

No picture.  But that's ok b/c none of these pix are very good anyway.

I do love my Margaret Jensen ya know!

This particular book is a collection of stories from some of her other works.

I think my next one will be Papa's Place.

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

Because I can't get enough of this book. 

So I'm skimming it and trying to internalize the things that I underlined. 

Honey got the audio version on iTunes and asked me to listen to it. 

It was hard.  I'm not such a good listener. 

But then when I got my hands on a real paper copy...oh my!

Life changer.

And finally...

Knowing God by J.I.Packer

This has been lying around awhile and patiently waiting for me to pick it up.

I'm just starting it and it looks like a hefty read.  But I'm guessing it's a keeper since it's pretty much a Christian classic.

I'm also ready to start a new read-aloud to the kids.

But I'm at a loss b/c I can't decide what I'm in the mood for.

I'm thinking a book called Submarine Rescue.

Or The Underneath.

Anyone familiar with these?

Princess Bess

This is a library book that Mally and I have enjoyed lately.  (The boys aren't all that impressed.) 

Princess Bess Gets Dressed by Margery Cuyler and Heather Maione is all pink and foo-foo sparkly in a Fancy Nancy style. 


Bess is a little princess with so many things to do and each one requires its own special outfit.  In the end it turns out that her most favorite outfit is something very simple that all princess-wanna-bes can relate to. 
 
I think we've used up all our renewals on this one.  But I wouldn't be surprised if my little princess gets this one for her birthday next month!
 

Conflict And The Progression Of An Idol - The Conclusion

I have learned a lot from this brief study.  Here's some more from Ken Sande's book, The Peace Maker...

As we have seen, an idol is something we love, fear, or trust.

Love, fear, and trust are words of worship.  Jesus commands us to love God, fear God, and trust God only (Matt 22:37; Luke 12:4-5; John 14:1).  Anytime we long for something apart from God, fear something more than God, or trust in something other than God to make us happy, fulfilled, or secure, we worship a false god. 

There is only one way out of this bondage and judgment:  It is to look to God himself, who loves to deliver people from their idols.  God has provided the cure for our idolatry by sending his Son to experience the punishment that we deserve because of our sin.  Through Jesus Christ we can become righteous in God's sight and find freedom from sin and idolatry. 

Confessing our sin brings freedom and opens the door for God to work through our humility.  Thinking back over the summer, there's many times I wish I had just been quiet.  Many times I wish I had prayed and left it there.  Many times I wish I had waited patiently for God to work instead of stepping out on my own. 

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel."  Ps 73:23-24

One more...
"Finally brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Phil 4:8

This verse is used so often and applied to absolutely everything.  While it is a wonderful principle to apply, reading it in its context we see that Paul is speaking in regard to conflict here.   Imagine how different conflict would be if we concentrated on the good in the other person instead of reminding ourselves of the bad.  

So there ya have it.  I still have 1/2 the book to go and I'm curious as to what else could be said.  Seems like he covered an ocean of goodness in just the first 1/2. 

Now let's see if I can finish the summer as a peace maker instead of trouble maker!

Good Reads

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

Today I start reading John.  My very favorite of the gospels.  I'm also going to read it aloud to the kids and we'll spend about 30 min watching The Gospel Of John on dvd each day just to add a new dimension. 

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets."  Matthew 7:12....  This is our memory verse this week.  After weeks of memorizing long passages, we're starting this week with something easy.  It's a review for my older kids, and new for the babies.  At the end of the week, I'm passing out prizes(!) for several weeks of good work.  Great job, kids!  We're still working away at this Charlotte Mason style of memorization and find its just the thing for our family. 

I printed off a coloring sheet to go with our verse.  Even my big kids like doing this sometimes. 

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande.  My friend, Janice, loves this book.  And since peacemaking skills are always helpful, I put it on my Christmas list.  I love the way the author teaches about glorifying God through conflict.  But its not just in concept, he actually teaches you what that means and explains what it looks like. 

Of course the minute I start reading this book I get into a discussion with Honey.  Or as Jodie calls it, "intense fellowship".   God's timing is perfect, and a bit funny. 

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. This is a re-read for me b/c I was wanting something fiction and something meaningful.  Its about how members in a local church make a commitment to do nothing without first asking the question, "What would Jesus do?".  Through prayer and Bible reading they discern what Jesus' probable actions would be and determine to follow in His steps regardless of the cost. 

First We Have Coffee by Margaret Jensen.  I know, I know.  Seems like I'm always reading this book.  When I found out that I actually knew a child of Ella Tweeten's, I just couldn't help myself.  I'm reading it to the kids and when we're done, I'm planning to invite Mrs. Jensen over for coffee.... and a chat.  We're all looking forward to that!  I love love love it b/c I learn something new every single time.  Mama Tweeten is my hero. 

Spiritual Leadership by Henry Blackaby.  Anything Blackaby is bound to be a fave of mine.  Looks like a man's book, I know.  But leadership skills are helpful as I strive to raise up these little people who look to me for guidance.  Blackaby is never fluffy but always cut and dry, full of Scripture, practical, and relevant.  Greatness in my opinion, but I am a huge fan. 

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

At my husband's request I'm listening to a new book on my iPod, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.

I wish I could write out a thorough review of this book but my best attempt will be only a drop in a bucket. It is one of those that makes you stop and think and reevaluate your current lifestyle.

Piper speaks of a life that glorifies God rather than serves yourself - or (gasp!) only your family. What does that mean? And what does that look like? He takes it beyond the pretty sounding church words to explain how a believer can shift the focus of his life.

It is loaded with Scripture and also quotes from historical minds such as Jonathan Edwards and CS Lewis.

It is piercing and difficult and that's what makes it good. It has caused me to examine my choices carefully in light of what brings honor to my Savior vs. comfort to myself.

One of my favorite lines goes something like this... "There is an old saying that no one will ever say on their deathbed that they wish they had spent more time at the office. Along the same lines, no one will say, "I wish I had spent more time watching TV with my family."

Here I go recommending a book and I haven't even finished it! Unfortunately I'm not a very good listener. I'm much better at feasting my eyes on the written word, underlining and note taking along the way. Consequently, it has taken me a long time to finish and I have nothing tangible to refer back to. (Another thing to add to my Amazon cart!) Listening to it is not enough. This will be one that I'll pull out and pour over again and again.

My Thoughts On The Shack by William Paul Young

I finally finished it! And while I wasn't too sure I liked it at first, toward the end I decided it wasn't too bad.

Mack Phillips is a loving father who suffers a horrible, unthinkable loss. He deals with it the best he can, but it leaves a rift in his relationship with God. He lives with The Great Sadness that is a constant companion.

One day he gets a mysterious note in his mailbox. It is from God asking to meet with Mack at the very spot where The Great Sadness occurred. After much deliberation, Mack goes and has an unbelievable encounter with God.

God does not appear to Mack in a way that you would imagine. Actually the entire story is very unpredictable and that makes it pretty interesting. It takes God out of any box and emphasizes His love for a relationship with his children.

This book is very down-to-earth and easy to read. There are many parts that made me stop and think. And above all, it was a good reminder that I serve the God of relationships.

That said, it wasn't a show stopper for me. I don't understand all the hullaballoo over it. It's fiction. Nothing more. The author is not trying to pass it off as a true story and he states clearly that it's not. And while it is not doctrinally solid, I don't see it as dangerous either....providing you keep in mind that it is fiction and nothing more.

First We Have Coffee....A Guest Post From Wendy

Thanks, Momma Tagg, for inviting me to your blog!

I’m visiting today to recommend a book we both love and have just finished re-reading: First We Have Coffee, by Margaret Jensen. It’s the biography of Margaret’s mother, Elvine Tweeten, “Mama,” a pastor’s wife whose story ranges from rural Canada in the 1930s to Florida in the 1970s.

Mama was a remarkable woman. An immigrant from Norway, she and her husband, Pastor Tweeten, ministered for decades to the Christian Norwegians who had made their way to Canada and America. While raising a family and supporting her husband in his ministry, she found time to love hurting and needy people, to offer her home and the ever-present comfort of a cup of coffee.

Her theology was simple: “If we keep a thankful, joyful heart and learn to trust God, we will have peace all of the time.” I loved how no matter how grave or challenging the circumstances, she always declared, “God never fails.” And that’s just what we see in her story—miracles and wonderful answers to prayer, her faith in action.

What an inspiration to read of this faithful life. She faced tragedy, loneliness, culture shock, marriage challenges, ministry challenges, parenting issues, illness, and more, with a steadfast trust in the Lord. Mama’s choice to trust rather than despair or get bitter allowed God to work powerfully, and kept her own heart tender.

I’m glad I got to meet Mama in the pages of this book, and I will be thrilled to meet her face to face in heaven. Hers was a life well-lived and I have been braced and challenged by her example.

Thanks for the visit! I hope you have a chance to read this lovely book. It was an important story to tell and you’ll be blessed.

Wendy, Momma T’s friend

My Current Reads

Isaiah. Hands down my favorite book of the Bible even though I don't understand half of it. To me it is a book of comfort and my first place to go when life goes awry. It's the most marked up book in my Bible. I'm working my way through the Old Testament and I'm glad Isaiah falls in my regular reading plan right now. Bookmark - my Bible's ribbon marker.

Philippians. Paul's letter of joy. I'm working on memorizing this book and internalizing Paul's joy, thankfulness, and contentment. I'm still on chapter one but plugging along. Bookmark - my Bible's ribbon marker.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. For about the last 10 years I've been slowly (Ok, veeery slowly) reading through some classics. I've enjoyed some, and others are a bit too dark for my taste. Wuthering Heights fits into the dark category. Or at least weird and disturbing. I'm only 1/2 through and wondering how it will end since one of the main characters just died. Bookmark - 2 cute ones that my 13yo son made for me when he was 4 and spelled my name "mome"

The Railway Children by E Nesbit. This is our tea book. I love the mom in this book and how cheerful she is amidst hard circumstances. It's a fun read and easy to read aloud. Bookmark - I still don't have one. The tea book always suffers in the bookmark area.

Pelican Cove by Milly Howard. My read aloud to the little boys. It's a treasure hunting mystery story with short chapters. The only mystery is why I'm reading it. Huge waste of time and boring BUT my guys like it. No bookmark for this one. My boys are eager to show me which chapter we're on....though I kinda wish they'd forget and skip a couple!

Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald This is a pretty girl book from Vision Forum that I'm reading aloud to the girls. It's meant to be a mom/daughter study. I like this book b/c its full of practical Truth and sweetness with a good measure of boldness. I confess that I'm behind on this one and need to pick it up again. Somehow I run out of steam at night and this is what gets left behind. No bookmark for this one either. What's up with my lack of bookmarks anyway??

A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by Philip Keller. BINGO!! I LOVE THIS BOOK. I can tell it's going to be a book that I read over and over. It is written by a real live shepherd and explains the significance behind why God calls Himself our Good Shepherd. If you're looking for a book of encouragement, love, and comfort, this is the one! Bookmark - A pretty blue and white one that LB made for me special for this particular book.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. This is LB's favorite book and she wanted me to read it too. Oh my, I was totally "enchanted" by it. Action packed, girly, and full of suspense. A quick fairy tale read that was lotsa fun for me. I was disappointed when it was over. Bookmark - a Quiznos receipt. She gave it to me to read in the airport during my last trip to AR and that was all I had.

Don't Give Up!

If you're having trouble posting on my book study blog, please try it again...even if only to test. I changed the template and it seems to be working better. Sorry guys!

The Power Of The Written Word

The kids and I went to an Abe Lincoln re-enactment this week. He said something in particular that caught my attention. He was talking about having a few books in his house and when his dad brought home a new book for him, he was awake all night. He wasn't reading though. He was awake b/c of his excitement about what the book had it store for his education...all the new words and ideas and phrases he'd be able to learn.

Isn't that the truth? Books have been one of the biggest shaping influences in my adult life. I love learning from those who have gone before me and enjoy each individual writing style. Books enable me to "meet" thousands of people I would otherwise never have known.

When my daughter was about 7, she was enamored with Dolly Madison. She loved getting the Vision Forum catalog to see if there were any more DM items available. She read the books and longed for the outfit. In one of the VF catalogs, it listed in the description of the book several character qualities of Dolly Madison. Meg slept with this catalog and memorized the words and made it her goal to try to adopt one of these character qualities every day. At that time in her life, Dolly Madison was a wonderful shaping influence.

I've been thinking of my favorite authors and books. My Bible is at the top of the list. I'm ashamed that I don't have more of it memorized than I do. I'm working on memorizing more but Oh, it comes so slowly! I love to look at my G'daddy's old tattered Bibles and see his notes and think about how it changed his life. And while my Bible looks nothing like his, it is starting to come apart. Bad news for me since I'm not so fond of change.

There are others that I love too. Henry Blackaby and Anne Ortlund are 2 of my favorites. I also love the Debi Pearl book (no hissing and throwing tomatoes please!). There are others like Tedd Tripp, Pam McDonald, and Elisabeth Elliot that have been especially helpful over the years. And new "friends" like Elizabeth Krueger and Voddie Baucham.

As I'm typing, my little boy comes in and announces with triumph that he is on chapter THREE!! He's so proud of himself to have read so far in his new library book. He is adopting my love for the written word although our tastes are quite different.

I'm not so crazy about Star Wars.

Age Of Opportunity

My other book study is the book Age Of Opportunity. I'm doing this one with some of my homeschool friends in CO. Fantastic book about teenagers.

Here's one of my favorite parts...

Rule of Love or Rule of Desire?

"Our response to others will be shaped by the rule of love, "Do to others what you would have them do to you." Matt. 7:12

or shaped by the rule of desire..

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from the desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you can not have what you want. You quarrel and fight." James 4:1-2

Such a simple approach to evaluating our hearts. And as there are many relational issues every day I have been able to use this quite a lot. Coming home from the dentist office I had 2 boys fussing over who would sit in the front seat. Were their responses based on love or desire? Obviously desire since there's apparently an invisible pot of gold hidden under the front seat.

Another creative way to train my children (and myself) with God's Word.

Check out Paul Tripp's book Age Of Opportunity. Great read!

My New Blog

Come join me in a new online book study. I think it'll be fun to review this very practical book together.

The pace is slow so it will be NOT be overwhelming. And PLEASE don't lurk...just jump right in and join us.

Check it out here.