A little something the girls and I came up with today....

My Family Right Now

That’s my Adi Marie

With a very cute little tushie.

And a smile as big as the sea. 

That’s my Adi Marie. 

That’s my Emma Colleen

She’s as sweet as a jelly bean. 

Her heart is so naturally keen. 

That’s my Emma Colleen. 

That’s my Judah dog. 

He’s smart and eats like a hog.

He sheds fur as thick as ocean fog. 

That’s my Judah dog. 

That’s my Gilbert Benjamin. 

He a great daddy for our two little women. 

He is fast like the wind and very genuine.

That’s my Gilbert Benjamin. 

That’s my Lyzza Jane.

She just about needs a cane. 

She’s old and sweet and doesn’t like rain.

That’s my Lyzza Jane. 

That’s my family right now. 

I love them more than I know how.   

I feel in a constant state of wow,

Because I can’t believe this is my family right now. 

I Took His Hand and Followed

Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Shared from this site:
http://www.besthomeschooling.org/articles/child_poem.html

Book Review: Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury

Karen Kingsbury’s, Unlocked was a great read! I am not usually a reader of fiction, but after several months of heavy, serious reading, I went looking for something light and enjoyable. Unlocked is about two families, both struggling to deal with the weight of life and all of it’s entanglements. One family deals with money and time issues- placing their priorities completely off balance, while the other family deals with a disorder in a child- placing their world off balance too. 

Having studied and worked with families living with the same disorder that Kingsbury’s character’s have, I found her descriptions of the coping mechanisms, therapies offered, and unique behaviors to be fairly accurate. The author did her homework when it came to writing correctly about this diagnosis. 

I also learned that Kingsbury often takes parts of “real-life” and uses it in her novels. For instance, in this particular book, she used the name of an actual person for the main character of this book. I like that! 

From the perspective of an avid non-fiction reader, this was refreshing, quick and heart-tugging. 

A copy of the book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Zondervan!

Book Review: START! The Bible for New Believers

I recently finished reviewing START! The Bible for New Believers, NKJV by Greg Laurie. This seems to be a good resource for a new believer because of the large amount of “extras” found throughout the scriptures. The reader frequently stumbles upon explanations, thought-provoking questions, discussion guides, application points and the like. Each extra point, quote, or question is highlighted to make it obvious that it is not actual biblical text. 

One aspect of the START! Bible that I don’t care for is that portions of scriptures have been made bold and much larger in text size. The verses, or portions of verses, that are selected for this special treatment seem to be the most popular ones that Bible readers jump to or quickly memorize. This causes the pages of the Bible to look much like a magazine clipping. Some might like this because it takes the “highness” out of looking at the page of scriptures, but I feel that it causes the reader to assume some verses are more important than others. Perhaps it is no different that underlining or highlighting a verse in my own Bible, but it still does not appeal to me. 

I do like the bright, unthreatening cover of the START! Bible. The cover even grabbed the attention of someone I know who does not currently read the Bible! 

Overall, I like this Bible. I just wish it combined the easy reading of a different translation of the Bible with the great additions to the text. 

I was given a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Amazing things happen when I wear the white nightgown

(Photo from www.super70s.com)

Got your attention, didn’t I? It’s absolutely true- amazing things happen when I wear the white nightgown. Now, before your mind goes somewhere it shouldn’t, allow me to describe to your my white nightgown. Picture Little House on the Prairie- minus the ridiculous turtleneck collar and super long sleeves. Combine that with the softest cotton ever touched and you’ve got my nightgown. It’s not what twenty-something married ladies wear to bed. However, as you know already, amazing things happen when I wear this nightgown. My superhero side comes out. Perhaps I even channel the bravery of Laura when she rescued the horses from the flaming barn. 

Just this morning, I woke up to cries of Emma (4). She is now strong and tall enough to open the backdoor and let the dogs in or out whenever they bark. Today, instead of her usual pitstop at my bedside, she went straight to releasing the dogs. That’s when the cries started. It’s ok, take a deep breath- she wasn’t trampled or anything. Somehow, the most precious Mother Goose toy was launched over the rails of the back porch and Judah assumed it was a game of fetch. He launched his agile body down the steps, grabbed the stuffed toy and sprinted to the backyard. Meanwhile the house was filled with the kind of screams that causes any sleepy slowness to flee and makes all moms tap into their inner olympic athlete. I arrived, in my white nightgown, at the back door, stepped onto the back porch in the frosty cold and could not see Mother Goose anywhere. Emergency action was necessary. I ran back inside, slipped on some shoes, grabbed the husband’s coat and rescued the goose from the jaws of Judah. Mother Goose survived another day with just a bit of mud on her back. Shew. 

This is the stuff major motion pictures are made of. 

The white nightgown was a participant in another fabulous night 6 years ago. A few weeks prior to this memorable night, we had acquired a chocolate lab that was forced to sleep in a kennel in the backyard temporarily. She usually complained about her accommodations for a few minutes, but would settle and sleep quietly through the night. This particular night though, she woke up with the most ferocious bark I have ever heard a lab produce. In my sleepy state, I thought it a good idea to go out and check on her. While opening the lock, I heard what sounded like hundreds of hooves running nearby. Since I live in Virginia, I assume the hooves belonged to deer rather than moose or gazelle. All the nighttime brilliance I could muster caused me to let the dog chase the hooves. In the dark, I was unable to see where they coming from or where they were going, so I made my first heroic move in the white nightgown. I got in the dog kennel and shut the gate. I placed my security from the thundering hooves in the hands-or paws- of my overweight and ADHD dog. While standing there in the moonlight of Franklin Avenue, I realized the whole world could now have the opportunity to check out of my white, cotton nightgown if they so wished. I had to wait for the dog to return so I could put her back in the kennel before I could go back inside. Never have I been so thankful for her overweightness before- she didn’t run far- just far enough to chase away the hundreds of hooves. Within a minute or two, she was back and ready to recover in her safe kennel. I quickly locked her up and sprinted back inside. A quick catch of my breath and I was back in bed. While in my white, cotton nightgown, I had avoided a stampede by the hooves running through my backyard that night.

There is no spiritual significance to this story, it's just funny. 

 The nightgown hasn’t failed me. It’s seen all sorts of action- puke, house cleaning, potential stampede, and recognizance from Judah. It’s possible the most accommodating and motivating outfit I own. You should get one too! They are for sale in the old lady section of your local department store. Get ready to fall in love with the softest cotton you’ve ever touched and to be amazed at the moments of strength you experience that night.