I recently read Charity Bishop's book, Thornewicke. In full disclosure, I received this book free for an honest review. I give it ****.
This fast-paced novel can be read over a couple days. The atmosphere is perfect; seventeen-year-old Evangeline goes to stay with her Aunt Henoria at the gloomy Thornewicke and learns that neither she nor her family is what they seem.
At its crux, this is a book exploring the battle between good and evil. Though the dialogue tends to get bogged down with sermonizing a few times, for the most part it’s snappy and the characters are all fleshed out, from Evangeline’s friend, Lena, to the inventor, Nikola Tesla. Evangeline must discover who she really is, who her aunt is, even who the seemingly-innocent Lena is in order to save herself and Thornewicke.
I would recommend this book to those who like darker books, or those with a spiritual meaning behind the story. Fans of C. S. Lewis would probably enjoy this story, as well as readers of Victorian stories.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Beth recently bought a scarf loom, but bought the wrong kind of yarn. I made the first scarf for her, and finished it for her today; she bought more yarn and has started a second scarf. It only took a few minutes and she had the process down. I expect this scarf to take her a few days since one step is hard for her, but I can't wait to see the final product.
Like so much of the rest of the country, we have gotten a lot of snow, and it just keeps coming. The girls aren't tired of it, but I am. I'm trying to have a good attitude about it, though, so the other day we made snow cream. The girls loved it, and I made it again yesterday.
Every year in Expeditions, there's a Grand Prix. The children get blocks of wood and carve them to look like whatever they can imagine. Jill is making a turtle, Beth a jet, Kate a rocket ship, and I'm making mine to look like one of my textbooks. The weigh-in is next week, and I always love seeing what all the children and leaders come up with.
Like so much of the rest of the country, we have gotten a lot of snow, and it just keeps coming. The girls aren't tired of it, but I am. I'm trying to have a good attitude about it, though, so the other day we made snow cream. The girls loved it, and I made it again yesterday.
Every year in Expeditions, there's a Grand Prix. The children get blocks of wood and carve them to look like whatever they can imagine. Jill is making a turtle, Beth a jet, Kate a rocket ship, and I'm making mine to look like one of my textbooks. The weigh-in is next week, and I always love seeing what all the children and leaders come up with.
Monday, February 10, 2014
This past Sunday was a good one. There's a couple in my church who joined a short while ago, and we had them over for lunch. Jon made chicken Parmesan, salad, and pasta. Jorie brought over brownies and ice cream, and all of us had a good time. We put the girls at the table I use for homeschooling, so we grownups got to talk and the kids enjoyed themselves.
After Jason and Jorie left, Jon took Jill out for fish (wow, all those j's sound like a tongue-twister!) for her aquarium. She had fun this past week cleaning her tank and filling it, and she picked out three pretty fish yesterday. She's been having bad luck with fish, though. First, she got a Betta which died the next day. Then, she got another Betta which died two days later. Now, she has an aquarium and one fish has already died. But at least the two she has left seem to be doing well!
Our kitties also seem very interested in the tank. It's a good thing there's a lid!
School is going well enough, though there have definitely been tears over new concepts this week. Sometimes, you just need to stop and go over the concept again and again until the fact is cemented in the little brain. Thankfully, Kate's finally getting how to put a whole word together without having to sound the whole thing out. She still mostly sounds out her words, but even that is progress. And she's still excited about reading, and I know how important that is.
School for me continues to go well. I have a strong A in British Lit, and I'm hanging on to my A in Astronomy, though I don't know how. I can definitely see God's hand in that class!
We have snow, like so many other parts of the country. I'm definitely a person who needs sun, so I'm thankful that we haven't had too many dark, cloudy days. I'll be glad when our snow is gone for good, though I know the girls will miss it. Jon and I played with them the other day and made a fort and took them on the sled in the yard.
After Jason and Jorie left, Jon took Jill out for fish (wow, all those j's sound like a tongue-twister!) for her aquarium. She had fun this past week cleaning her tank and filling it, and she picked out three pretty fish yesterday. She's been having bad luck with fish, though. First, she got a Betta which died the next day. Then, she got another Betta which died two days later. Now, she has an aquarium and one fish has already died. But at least the two she has left seem to be doing well!
Our kitties also seem very interested in the tank. It's a good thing there's a lid!
School is going well enough, though there have definitely been tears over new concepts this week. Sometimes, you just need to stop and go over the concept again and again until the fact is cemented in the little brain. Thankfully, Kate's finally getting how to put a whole word together without having to sound the whole thing out. She still mostly sounds out her words, but even that is progress. And she's still excited about reading, and I know how important that is.
School for me continues to go well. I have a strong A in British Lit, and I'm hanging on to my A in Astronomy, though I don't know how. I can definitely see God's hand in that class!
We have snow, like so many other parts of the country. I'm definitely a person who needs sun, so I'm thankful that we haven't had too many dark, cloudy days. I'll be glad when our snow is gone for good, though I know the girls will miss it. Jon and I played with them the other day and made a fort and took them on the sled in the yard.
Friday, February 7, 2014
This girl of mine, my firstborn.
As my oldest shoots toward her tenth birthday ("Two digits, Mom!" she likes to tell me with a huge grin on her face), I find myself looking back on her short life. This time ten years ago, I was in the final months of my pregnancy. I didn't know if I was having a boy or girl, I didn't realize quite how much having a new baby would change my life, and I had no idea the joys she would bring to my life.
She was a happy baby, a sweet (though headstrong) toddler, and she has always been a very independent person. She's changed from my chubby baby to a string bean (much like I was at that age). She's interested in bugs and mud and books when many girls her age are fascinated with dresses or boys or shopping. She's ready to grow up, but in so many ways, she's still very much a little girl. She wants to be an entomologist when she grows up and she plans to have a house filled with bugs, fish, and adopted children. Sometimes she wants to get married, but usually she doesn't.
She loves her sisters, but gets along better with Beth. Kate is still too much a baby for the two of them to get along for long periods of time. Jill's imagination is always running away with her; she daydreams and makes up stories, but she loves doing things with her hands, too. She painted and assembled a solar system model, has fallen in love with her weaving loom, and loves her science kit.
In school, her favorite subjects are science and history. She tolerates math, and almost hates grammar and writing(nooo!!). Though she's like me in many ways, she's also an enigma. I can't always predict what she'll like or say or do, but when I look at her, I know I love her. Though I love all my girls, Jill will always hold a special spot in my heart. She is my firstborn, the one I made (and continue to make) all my mistakes on, the one who frustrates and fascinates me by turns. She is truly herself, and she won't change for anyone.
She was a happy baby, a sweet (though headstrong) toddler, and she has always been a very independent person. She's changed from my chubby baby to a string bean (much like I was at that age). She's interested in bugs and mud and books when many girls her age are fascinated with dresses or boys or shopping. She's ready to grow up, but in so many ways, she's still very much a little girl. She wants to be an entomologist when she grows up and she plans to have a house filled with bugs, fish, and adopted children. Sometimes she wants to get married, but usually she doesn't.
She loves her sisters, but gets along better with Beth. Kate is still too much a baby for the two of them to get along for long periods of time. Jill's imagination is always running away with her; she daydreams and makes up stories, but she loves doing things with her hands, too. She painted and assembled a solar system model, has fallen in love with her weaving loom, and loves her science kit.
In school, her favorite subjects are science and history. She tolerates math, and almost hates grammar and writing(nooo!!). Though she's like me in many ways, she's also an enigma. I can't always predict what she'll like or say or do, but when I look at her, I know I love her. Though I love all my girls, Jill will always hold a special spot in my heart. She is my firstborn, the one I made (and continue to make) all my mistakes on, the one who frustrates and fascinates me by turns. She is truly herself, and she won't change for anyone.
Monday, January 27, 2014
What kind of parent are you?
What kind of parent are you? Are you a tiger mom? A dad who practices attached parenting? Do you hover, or let your kids range free? Do you practice RIE parenting, or use Dr. Sears as your parenting Bible? Do you spank? Put your kid in time out? Let him throw tantrums? Parent her gently?
Why does it matter? Why do so many of us feel we have to define our parenting? As a Christian, I look to the Bible for guidance, and try to train my children to love God and serve him, but even non-Christians are trying to train their kids to be good citizens. As moms and dads, we want the best for our children.
What does the mom want who lets her kids roam free with minimal supervision? To have good kids. What does the dad want who lets his kids work through their emotions with his support? To have good kids.
I firmly believe that all these parenting “styles” can lead to division if we allow them to. I can see so much good in so many of these ways of parenting, but really, I think when it comes to your kid, you have to do what you feel is best. So if that means spanking, then do so. If you feel the need to stay near your child on the playground, go ahead. But please don’t label your parenting style. I know for me, sometimes what works one day doesn’t work the next day, and I have to really know my girls so that I know how to parent them. Also, what works for my oldest doesn’t work for her sisters, so if I chose to only parent one way, I might be doing my children a disservice.
I say all that to say this. Do the best job you can and throw the labels out the window. If you’re a Christian, ask God for help. The task of raising children is a hard one, and I’ll take all the guidance I can get. And whether you’re a Christian or not, ask for help! Surround yourself with friends. Most importantly, enjoy your kids. They’re only little once, and even though some days seem to last f-o-r-e-v-e-r, the years seem to fly by at light-speed. Take the time to notice your child’s strengths. Take him out for ice cream. Take her to the park. Do things with your children that you enjoy and teach them to enjoy the same things! And at the end of the day, know that though you’ll make mistakes, if you’re doing the best job you can, your kids will be fine. They’re warm, they’re fed, and they’re loved. And in the end, that’s really all that matters.
Why does it matter? Why do so many of us feel we have to define our parenting? As a Christian, I look to the Bible for guidance, and try to train my children to love God and serve him, but even non-Christians are trying to train their kids to be good citizens. As moms and dads, we want the best for our children.
What does the mom want who lets her kids roam free with minimal supervision? To have good kids. What does the dad want who lets his kids work through their emotions with his support? To have good kids.
I firmly believe that all these parenting “styles” can lead to division if we allow them to. I can see so much good in so many of these ways of parenting, but really, I think when it comes to your kid, you have to do what you feel is best. So if that means spanking, then do so. If you feel the need to stay near your child on the playground, go ahead. But please don’t label your parenting style. I know for me, sometimes what works one day doesn’t work the next day, and I have to really know my girls so that I know how to parent them. Also, what works for my oldest doesn’t work for her sisters, so if I chose to only parent one way, I might be doing my children a disservice.
I say all that to say this. Do the best job you can and throw the labels out the window. If you’re a Christian, ask God for help. The task of raising children is a hard one, and I’ll take all the guidance I can get. And whether you’re a Christian or not, ask for help! Surround yourself with friends. Most importantly, enjoy your kids. They’re only little once, and even though some days seem to last f-o-r-e-v-e-r, the years seem to fly by at light-speed. Take the time to notice your child’s strengths. Take him out for ice cream. Take her to the park. Do things with your children that you enjoy and teach them to enjoy the same things! And at the end of the day, know that though you’ll make mistakes, if you’re doing the best job you can, your kids will be fine. They’re warm, they’re fed, and they’re loved. And in the end, that’s really all that matters.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
So proud of Jill!
Jill reminds me a lot of me. She likes solitary activities, so she's thriving in swimming, loves to read, draw, and paint, but she's taking basketball and she's not good. She has no coordination, so today when I sent her off with her granny for practice, I expected nothing special.
After practice, she burst in the door grinning from ear to ear. "Mom," she said, "you're going to love this! I can't wait to tell you what I did!" Well didn't my daughter score not one but two baskets today!! I'm waiting for her to tell Jon tonight. He's going to be so proud of her, and I bet her coach was this afternoon. :)
Sorry I don't have any pictures for today. I'll get some up next time. :)
After practice, she burst in the door grinning from ear to ear. "Mom," she said, "you're going to love this! I can't wait to tell you what I did!" Well didn't my daughter score not one but two baskets today!! I'm waiting for her to tell Jon tonight. He's going to be so proud of her, and I bet her coach was this afternoon. :)
Sorry I don't have any pictures for today. I'll get some up next time. :)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Long time, no see!
It's been over a year since my last post and my, how has life has changed!
We tried Christian school for Jill and it didn't work out, so she's at home, doing fourth grade. Beth has become quite the reader, and Kate likes school some days, not so much on other days. I am also finishing my degree online and have a year and a half to go. I'm hoping to keep up with this blog a little better this year, so hopefully it won't be a year until my next post. :)
We tried Christian school for Jill and it didn't work out, so she's at home, doing fourth grade. Beth has become quite the reader, and Kate likes school some days, not so much on other days. I am also finishing my degree online and have a year and a half to go. I'm hoping to keep up with this blog a little better this year, so hopefully it won't be a year until my next post. :)
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