Books, books, books

I am going to try to dedicate one post a week to what I'm reading, what I'm reading to the kids, what they're reading, and what we/they are listening to. So, here we go....

I just finished the third book in the Yada Yada Prayer Group series by Neta Jackson. I love these books because they are grounded in real life and real problems with real people learning to trust God and learning to pray and grow in their relationship with God. They have been very inspirational to me. I just have one slight problem--the main character gets on my last nerve. I wish the story was told from one of the other character's perspective but it's not. The main character is on the whiny side and can be negative. But, she is also humble and honest so I should give her a break. I won't stop reading the series but I do take a break between books and read a few other books before reading the next one.
The next book on my list is Peace Child by Don Richardson . It's a true story about missionaries in New Guinea. I haven't gotten too far into it but so far it's shocking to hear the beliefs of these people and how they live with so much killing.
On my nightstand I have a book by Wally Lamb that has been recommended to me, it's actually not the main one that has been recommended but I've heard that this one is good also. Can't remember the name of it right now and I'm too lazy to go look.

With the kids I am reading Augustus Caesar's World and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Augustus Caesar's World is very interesting--all about the time period from 44 BC to 14 AD. We are actually taking a break in history to just read this book. The kids are enjoying it and hopefully learning a lot about the history of the Roman world and something about the many historical figures from that time period. As for Wizard of Oz--years ago we listened to this on CD but since the kids are in Wizard of Oz I thought it might be fun to read this classic novel. It's a little different from the movie and play. The kids are enjoying it and having fun comparing it.

Hannah and I are reading Ballet Shoes for book club. Well, Hannah is reading Ballet Shoes. I haven't started it yet but Hannah is loving it so I am looking forward to reading it myself. She just finished Cheaper by the Dozen and didn't like it as much as I had hoped but I'm glad she read it. She and Grace each have to read a book that I have chosen for 30 minutes every day. This is how I get them to read some classic stories that they might not otherwise choose for themselves. Gracie just finished a Betsy book (by Carolyn Haywood)--she enjoyed it but said it was a little old fashioned. I'm not sure what I'm going to have her read next--possibly a Dear America book or maybe Stuart Little. I need to decide before tomorrow. There are just so many good books to choose from. Joe is still reading his Little Miss and Mr. Men books but has enjoyed some fun picture books from the library too. Here is a short list of some of his latest picks--
There Once Was a Many Named Michael Finnegan by Mary Ann Hoberman (really fun to sing)
Princesses Are Not Quitters by Kate Lum
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee
My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck

The kids and I have all been listening to "A Peep Behind the Scenes," it is a dramatization of one of the Lamplighter books and it is so good. Once we are done with this one we will be starting the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series. I half listen to these because the kids listen to them in the car and in the house and if we are home and they are done with school they will sometimes listen for an hour or two while they also do something like Legos or color. I really only listen while we are in the car.

I guess that wraps up our literary adventures this week...hope I didn't go too long.

7 Quick Takes and Pictures

1. The salad in the picture above is a Thai Peanut Salad with Chicken. It is sooo good! Here is the recipe--
2/3 cup of bottled peanut sauce (I made my own using a recipe on the internet but I don't have it handy so if you want to make your own you will have to google it)
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. apple juice
1 lb. chicken tenderloins
matchstick carrots
sugar snap peas
lettuce

Combo peanut sauce, soy sauce, and apple juice in a small bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup. Pour the rest in a ziploc bag with the chicken and toss to coat. Let it marinate for about 15 minutes and then either grill the chicken or bake it in the oven. Then use the lettuce, carrots, peas, and chicken in a salad and use the remainder of the marinade as your dressing.
2. We went skating today for the first time in almost a year. The kids had a ball as usual! I had a good chat with a couple of moms.
3. See what I mean about the Klondike bars? Messy, messy, messy!!
4. Joe got two new bathing suits. He insists on wearing the rash guard shirts and is pretty excited about having one in orange--his favorite color. He also got a pair of bathing suit trunks that are 3D and even came with 3D glasses. They are pretty cute.
5. This is my little second cousin, Lily. We spent the day at the beach with her Grandma, Grandpa, and momma and daddy, and aunt and uncle. It was a beautiful day and the ocean was just perfect. I don't normally enjoy the beach but the great thing here was that the pool was right by the beach so we could jump in the pool and get all the sand off of us.
6. I've been reading up a storm--the last two books I read were both really good. The first one was, "Her Mother's Hope," by Francine Rivers. I love books by her and this one did not disappoint! It starts out with a young girl living in Switzerland and follows this young girl as she grows into a woman and makes her way in the world and then has a family and so on. Excellent read! The other book I read was kind of weird but I loved it and read it in about 24 hours. It was called, "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" by Sarah Addison Allen. It was set in NC and had a little mystery, a little magic, and some unique characters. I highly recommend it. BTW--I don't know how many of you ever scroll way down on my blog but on the left side towards the bottom I keep a running list of books I've read this year. Mostly for my own benefit but if could be for your benefit as well if you are looking for a book to read. I also have a label called, "book suggestions" and "book reviews" that I use whenever I talk about what I'm reading. The next book I'm reading is "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry," Hannah read it not too long ago and really wants me to read it because she liked it so much. So, that's next up. After that, I just got the new Jodi Picoult book at the library--"House Rules." I can't wait to read that one! What are you reading?
7. A friend gave me a wonderful gift that we can all benefit from--she gave me all 4 volumes of Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts" books. I have laughed so much reading these--here's a few of my favorites--

• If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.
• To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kinda scary. I've wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad.
• If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep the students from just trying to yodel right off. You see, build to that.
  

What I'm Reading

I've got a great stack of books just waiting for me.  Last time I went to the library I spent some time browsing in the new biography and non-fiction section.  Here's what I'm reading (a few I've already finished)...As with so many other areas of my life, my choices are very diverse!

This book looks so good to me.  It's got lots of questions that have been answered by people from all over the world.  Here's some of the questions--What is your earliest memory?, What were your dreams as a child?, What does love mean to you?, Have you suffered from discrimination?, What does God mean to you? and so on.  Each question is answered by 5 to 10 people from all over the world and all walks of life.  I am thinking this is one that I'd like to read with Ollie and even read some of them aloud at the dinner table.  I think it's good to get a global perspective.  You can click on this link to see this book at Amazon.com
6 Billion Others: Portraits of Humanity from Around the World

I used to love to watch Regis and Kathie Lee.  I know this woman has taken a lot of flack over the years but I can't help but like her.  So, when I saw this book I knew I just had to read it.  I have no idea what it's all about, I'll let you know after I read it. 
Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities

The author of this book is an advice columnist and I thought that sounded interesting.  Here's what the first paragraph says, "Millions of Americans know and love Amy Dickinson from reading her syndicated advice column, 'Ask Amy' and and from hearing her wit and wisdom weekly on National Public Radio.  Amy's audience loves her for her honesty, her small-town values, and the fact that her motto is 'I make the mistakes so you don't have to.'  In "The Mighty Queens of Freeville," Amy Dickinson shares those mistakes and her remarkable store.  This is the tale of Amy and her daughter and the people who helped raise them after Amy found herself a reluctant single parent."  This book is just begging to be read, don't you agree?
The Mighty Queens of Freeville: The True Story of a Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them

Okay, I'll admit it, I chose this one because she talks about her a*$ looking big right on the front cover and I just couldn't resist.  The whole title is, "Such a Pretty Fat:  One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her A#$ look Big."  Couldn't resist.
Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer

I'm not sure about this one, it's super fat--like 4 inches thick.  A friend recommended it so I will at least give it a shot.  It has something to do with a man born mute who raises dogs.  I'll report back on this one as well.  It will probably be the last one I read though so it may be a while.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (P.S.)

I'm reading this now, I just started it this morning and even with a busy day I may finish it tonight.  It's a super fast read and funny.  It's by a mom of 5 boys and I am thoroughly enjoying her candid look at life as a mom of 5 boys.  She has a blog and I read on there that she just had a baby and it's a girl!!  That little girl will be able to grow up someday and write a book I bet!  Here is the link to her blog--Testosterhome.
How Do You Tuck In a Superhero?: And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys

This was a good read, long and intense but full of history and information about the Fundamentalist side of Mormonism.  I recommend if you like this sort of thing...
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

Hannah just finished this book and she really wants me to read it too.  So, it's on my pile as well.  She loved it and learned a lot about the Civil Rights Movement.  The end was pretty scary for her though but when she finally finished it she said she'd never, ever forget the last line.  If that's not a sign of a good book I don't know what is. 
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry [ROLL OF THUNDER HEAR MY CRY]

Okay, so that's what I've read, am reading, or am planning on reading in the near future.  If you are interested in any of these books and actually click on the link and actually buy the book from Amazon I get something like 10%.  I've joined "Amazon Associates."  Unfortunately, adding this awesome feature of so easily linking to books and the pictures has caused some upset for me in the way my pictures load.  Not sure if it will be worth it.  I seriously doubt any of you, my loyal readers, will actually buy any of these books.  Especially since you know that I got all of them at the library and you could too!  :0)

Daybook Style

On my mind...way too much!!! Unschooling or non-schooling sounds really good right about now. We have a very busy week this week and an even busier week next week. I'm doing my best to get school done. At least the basics. There was a time in our homeschool that we would have just taken these two weeks off but now that the kids can do so much on their own I just make them an assignment list and they can keep plowing their way through. Joe needs more attention but he also has less to do. Anyway, we are doing it--school, life, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
This week...We went to Disney yesterday, we did school and recovered today, tomorrow Joe has a birthday lunch date with Harriet and Billy and the girls and I have school and errands, Thursday is a home and catch up day, and Friday we are going to a PowWow. Busy, busy but fun and even educational.
Next week...it's a show week and although there are only four shows and those are in the evening with an extra rehearsal and other commitments (like lots of baking) and all the excitement and adrenaline and so on it makes for a crazy week. Oh yeah and we also have a field trip.
On my iPod...I am having so much fun with my iPod. I recently bought four new songs and they couldn't be more different but I love listening to them. I listen to them over and over--

• Hammer and a Nail by the Indigo Girls
• Take This Life by Shawn McDonald
• Single Ladies by Beyonce
• Safe by Phil Wickham
• Love Story by Taylor Swift (I stole that one off of Hannah's)

Oh yeah, and I am also listening to lots and lots of Focus on the Family broadcasts. I love that radio show.
What I'm reading...I just finished "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. I have to say that it was weird but I liked it. I think I would like to read some of his other books, particularly "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister." If you decide to read "Wicked" let me warn you that it is rated R. Don't think that it is a kids story since it is from "The Wizard of Oz." I've heard that his other books are cleaner. I'm excited about the next two books on my nightstand. "What Was Lost" by Catherine O'Flynn and "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. I chose those after reading reviews at Find Your Next Book Here. I love that blog. "Wicked" was a pretty heavy read and so I'm looking forward to something lighter.
With the kids...we are reading "Johnny Tremain." What an awesome book!!! I love it and the kids love it. It is teaching us all so much about Boston just before the Revolutionary War.
On Facebook...I am having a bit of an animal butt "war" with an old friend. I first tagged him with a zebra butt picture. I could have sworn that he had tagged someone else with an animal butt picture at some point so I thought of him when Amy took a great zebra butt picture at Busch Gardens. It turns out that he hadn't done that but got a laugh out of me tagging him. So, he paid me back by tagging me with an elephant butt picture yesterday. I spent the whole Splash Mountain ride yesterday trying to get a Brer Bear Butt picture and I succeeded so I've posted it and tagged him. I am planning to go to Animal Kingdom sometime soon and I imagine I'll be spending too much time trying to get animal butt pictures. I'm so mature.
That's all folks! Peace out....

A Fun Reading Challenge

I have decided to participate in the reading challenge that is being hosted at Find Your Next Book Here.  The details are below....

This challenge is all about taking chances in your reading. There are 10 tasks in all -- 7 involve finding a book to read in very random ways. The last three tasks are about taking chances as a writer as you are challenged to take on the role of short story writer, poet and movie/book reviewer. The challenge is meant to be fun and no pressure. Complete as many or a few of the 10 challenges as you want. However, the more you complete, the more chances you'll get to win the grand prize. Here are the details:

* The challenge will run from June 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009 (6 months)
* One winner will be drawn on December 1, 2009 and will receive a grand prize of $25 worth of books from Amazon (any books you choose!)
* Each completed task earns you one entry into the drawing for the grand prize.
* To earn an extra entry, blog or Tweet about this challenge and let me know in the comment section.
* To earn 5 extra entries, complete all 10 challenges.
* The total number of entries that can be earned is 16 (10 for each challenge, 5 for completing all tasks and 1 for blogging/tweeting about the challenge).
* You can join the challenge anytime before the November 30 deadline but only tasks completed by November 30, 2009 will be counted as entries.
* To have your entries count, you must publish them on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your entries in the comment section for this post.
* All participants must sign up in Mr. Linky below so I can keep track of everyone who is participating.

1. Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)

2. Random Word. Go to this random word generator and generate a random word. Find a book with this word in the title. Read the book and write about it.

3. Birth Year Book. Find a book that was published or copyrighted in the year of your birth. Read the book and write about it.

4. Judge A Book By Its Cover. Pick out a book based SOLELY on the cover. First, write about what you expect the book to be about based on the cover art. Then read the book and write about how the book was different from and/or similar to what the cover art led you to expect.

5. Phoning An Author. Pick a random last name out of the phone book. Find an author with the same last name and read a book by them. Write about it. (I'm flexible ... if the first random name you pick is Xprxyrsss, you can pick again!)

6. Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.

7. Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2008 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.

8. Lit Riff (inspired by the book Lit Riffs by Matthew Miele.) Choose a song and then write a brief story that is inspired by or further explains the lyrics of the song.

9. Poetic Review. Write a book review in three different forms of verse: haiku, limerick and free verse. (You can pick any book you want to write about.)

10. Movie/Book Comparison. Find a book that you haven't read that has a movie based on it that you haven't seen. Read the book and watch the movie within a few days of each other. Write about your reactions to both the book and the movie and compare the two.

Be a New Mom By Friday

That should be the title of the book, "Have a New Kid by Friday."  This book came at a perfect point in my parenting journey.  As most of my readers know, I have three children and one of them is extremely strong willed.  That would be my sweet son, Joe.  If you have never parented a true strong willed child you can not fully understand how exhausting it can be.  How discouraging it can be.  How maddening it can be.  I jokingly say that just like God's mercies are new every morning--so is Joe's will.  It's like every day we must establish again that yes, I am the mom and I am the boss.  Today is not the day that you get to run the house.  Probably the last 6 months or so I have become a very lazy, angry parent.  With Joe that is.  I've been avoiding conflict for as long as I can avoid it and then when I can't take anymore I would get furious and scream and yell and rant and rave and he would cry and scream and ultimately we would make up until the next battle.  Can we say, "completely ineffective and stupid??"  So, it was at this point that I picked up the book "Have a New Kid by Friday."  Within the first day of reading it I started putting some of Dr. Leman's suggestions into action and wow--it worked.  Most of what he has to say is totally logical and truly nothing extraordinary.  But--it's practical and easy and can be put into practice immediately.  The best thing that I learned was to "Say it once.  Turn your back.  Walk away."  Until trying that I didn't realize that I would give a command and then wait for the fit.  I started doing just what Leman says and Joe didn't stop pitching a fit but I stopped reacting because I was walking away going on about my business.  I chose to stop being angry and take control of my own emotions so I could better handle Joe's.  A week later and I have not freaked out even once because of Joe's behavior.  Although his behavior hasn't changed completely there are some radical changes that I am sooo happy about.  One of them is that he is completely dressing himself.  I know, the kid is almost 6, he should have been dressing himself for years. But, he's the baby and a strong willed one at that and so I've been dressing him so that he doesn't freak out.  I quit doing that and the first day he screamed for a half hour because he couldn't find the hole to put his head in in his shirt.  He finally found it and proceeded to dress himself.  He's continued to dress himself daily and after a week the fits are over.  He just does it.  I've noticed that he is obeying more and doing it without screaming or complaining.  We still have a long way to go but I feel much more confident now that I have a direction and tools for parenting him.  The basics are this:

• Say it once.  Turn your back.  Walk away.
• Let reality be the teacher.
• Learn to respond rather than react.
• B doesn't happen until A is completed. (they don't get what they want until you get what you want)

There is a great index in the back of the book with common problems that parents have with kids and with advice about how to deal with them.  It gives great advice for every age, particularly the ages my kids are right now.  I highly recommend it!  Even if your kids are easy and never give you a minute of trouble...are there any kids like that?

What I think about "The Shack"--for what it's worth to anyone???

I finished reading "The Shack" a week ago and should have blogged about it right away.  I've probably forgotten some things I wanted to say.  Oh well, here goes...

I didn't hate it and I didn't love it.  It seems like most people are on either end of the spectrum but not me.  It was interesting and different.  In it, a man goes to the place where his daughter was murdered after receiving an invitation from God.  When he gets there, he meets three people--a big, black woman who loves to cook and eat, a man who works with his hands, and an Asian woman who is kind of like a spirit.  They represent God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  This aspect certainly made for an interesting way of looking at the Trinity.  It bordered on irreverent at times though, especially with the woman who was God.  Like when she warned the main character, Mack, not to eat too many greens or he might get the "trots."  I enjoyed how each of the different characters related to Mack and the things they talked about.  I wouldn't base my theology on any of these conversations but some interesting things were brought up and made me think.  Here are a few of them...

I was reading this book while at the doctor's office waiting for results of my bloodwork.  I was anxious and worried.  So, the following really spoke to me at that moment.  Jesus was talking to Mack and said, "do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?"  This really hit me because I have spent a lot of time worrying about my future.  Will I always live in pain?  Will the medication that I'm taking to help with the inflammation and pain ruin my liver?  Will I ultimately end up in a wheelchair?  I could go on and on.  Nothing good comes from these kinds of worries.  Whatever I face in my future, God will be by my side.  That's comforting and helps me control my thoughts.

The next thing that I found interesting (again not necessarily theologically sound) but interesting to think about..."we didn't create man to live alone; she was purposed from the beginning.  By taking her out of him, he birthed her in a sense.  We created a circle of relationship, like our own, but for humans.  She, out of him, and now all the males, including me, birthed through her, and all originating, or birthed from God."  

There is another conversation with Jesus about trusting God with our lives and giving up control.  Mack tells himthat he doesn't know how to let go and give God the control and trust Him with his life.  He also feels overwhelmed at changing himself and the world around him to be more godly.  Jesus says to him," No one is asking you to.  That is the Holy Spirit's task and she (remember that in this book the Holy Spirit is an Asian woman) knows how to do it without brutalizing anyone.  This whole thing is a process, not an event.  All I want from you is to trust me with what little you can, and grow in loving people around you with the same love I share with you.  It's not your job to change them, or to convince them.  You are free to love without an agenda."  I really think if more christians would love non-christians without an agenda, then more non-christians would be wanting to have a faith of their own and would feel God's love and want to know more.  I know for a fact that many non-christians are completely turned off when christians are only out to save them without truly loving them for who they are.

And one more thing worth noting...Now Mack is talking with God about judgement.  There was this awesome section where Mack is taken into a cave and ultimately asked to judge God and he realizes how unworthy and imperfect he himself is and what a hard job God has.  If it were fresher in my mind I could elaborate more but it's been a week.  Anyway, what I liked was what God told Mack about when we fail continually.  Here it is:  "Remember, Mackenzie, I don't wonder what you will do or what choices you will make.  I already know.  Let's say, for example, I am trying to teach you how not to hide inside of lies, hypothetically of course.   And let's say that I know it will take you 47 situations and events before you will actually hear me--that is, before you will hear clearly enough to agree with me and change.  So when you don't hear me the first time, I'm not frustrated or disappointed, I'm thrilled.  Only 46 more times to go.  And that first time will be a building block to construct a bridge of healing that one day you will walk across."  

Those were the things that struck me in this book.  I do recommend it to anyone interested.  The beginning where the crime happens isn't as graphic or disturbing as I thought it would be.  It was scary and disturbing but not as disturbing as the opening chapters of "Lovely Bones."  I will say though that if you read this book remember that it is a work of fiction, and written by a man.  You should not base your theology on what this book presents.  That is what the Bible is for.  The Bible alone is the true word of God.