I have heard about and drooled over the Lamplighter books since I received a Vision Forum catalog three years ago.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I had found a church library that has numerous wonderful selections including about 30 of these Lamplighter books! 

One of the books that was highly recommended is The Hedge of Thorns.  This book is a mere 80 pages, but each page is so well written that my girls and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  The book is written in the style of a first person narrative telling about the life of a man named John Carrol who lived in the 18th century.  He is raised in a poor but happy home by godly parents. 

Young John's only reason to be unhappy is that he cannot get on the other side of the hedge of thorns.  He seeks to do so, even though he is warned by parent and teacher to leave it alone.  One day, after he has made a small hole, he attempts to push his sister, who is willing to do whatever her brother asks, through the hole to see what is on the other side.  As he pushes through, the hole is not large enough and his sister is terribly injured by the large thorns in her eyes and face.  This is when John's father teaches him many lessons about the protection of hedges and the suffering we bring upon ourselves when we try to push against the hedges God has placed around us. 

I really enjoyed reading this book to my girls because I feel they will be tempted like the author (and me) to fight against the hedge of protection God has given them (Dad and Mom) and trust in their own knowledge of right and wrong instead of in God's strength and Christ's righteousness!

This book is sprinkled with scripture in such a way that the story flows smoothly with it and is greatly enhanced by it!

If you are able to read a copy, I am sure you will really enjoy this profound message of the gospel!

To see the Lamplighter collection you can go to this site: http://www.thealertstore.com/brand?mv_arg=1000073&mv_pc=glamp0&gclid=CL68lZSA5Y4CFQUsPAod3UGdNQ

In Him,

I am entering another drawing contest.  I really don't normally do these but I am so excited about the grand prize of a collection of the Ballentyne books that is being offered.

Life in a Shoe is hosting a giveaway of Vision Forum's exciting new adventure series, Ballantyne books.

I love to read Kim's blog over at Life in a Shoe.  Having 3 girls of my own, I appreciate the fact that she loves having 8 girls!  I was drawn to her site because of a debate, and I am so glad!  She tackles the tough stuff and she sprinkles in lots of laughter too!

I also wanted to mention that I love Vision Forum, the suppliers of the giveaway.  I just ordered the entire set of the Jonathan Park audio series thanks to an unexpected monetary gift! (Thanks Aunt Norma and Uncle Vance and Alpheus! The girls even pitched in the money given to them to buy this!)  Of course this is for our science/Bible curriculum, but it is so much more!  Tomorrow I have a long drive with the girls and we are all looking forward to listening for the two hour round trip!  Yes, we mark off time by how many J. Park's we can listen to on the way somewhere!  Please click  the link above and go check them out if you have not heard of them already!

Now my next goals are to get started collecting The Beautiful Girlhood books from them!  We also love their G.A. Henty books that we have purchased!

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!  In Him, Eva

Here is a terrific link!  http://www.gracegems.org/28/gentle_child_training.htm

This is a free ebook you might want to check out!  I also recieve daily emails from gracegems which are wonderful!

In Him, Eva

I was trying to put the link photo here, but I failed.  Here is the site. 

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0513880&netp_id=304828&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW

I am trying to include a link and or a link photo for you to look at for this book!  I first saw this in some magazine/catalog and I really wanted to buy it.   Tonight my dh and I went to the big city and visited the Christian bookstore.  After purchasing the third Elsie Dinsmore book, I continued to look for another book that would benefit our family.  I spent at least 30 minutes looking for something and was about to settle for just the Elsie book.  I decide to go back through the first shelf again, and guess what I find, this Noah's Ark book that I wanted!  

I was thrilled with the book.  What do I love about it?

1)  It starts with Adam and Eve!  Imagaine that!  I like when events are put in context! 

2)The illustrations are realistic looking almost like a photo! 

3) I love the fact that an elephant like animal is shown being trained to help carry the wood.  (I have been so brain washed to think that early man was so primitive, and early animals were so wild, that it didn't ever occur to me that Noah  or his sons certainly could have trained the animals (as we do today) to help them!)  4) It shows scaffolds being used to reach the upper part of the boat which also leads to a more realistic looking picture than this boat just suddenly being built over night!

5)  The true dimensions are shown so that we really see how large this floating box was! 

6) Another fact I love is that dinosaurs are mentioned and drawn in the pictures. 

I hope I have shown you how this book is so realistic and so different  from nearly every other Noah's Ark book I have ever seen!  My nursery for Hannah and Sarah was the rainbow theme so we received many books and Noah decorations as gifts.  I can think of 5 books on our shelf right now, and none of them have an accurate portrayal of this momentous event in history!  I  am thrilled to now own this book.  I am sure that the girls and I will spend quite a while tomorrow  and many days after looking at this book!  If you have also wanted a more realistic Noah's Ark book I highly recommend this one!  Mine came with a CD too!  I have not listened yet!  I hope this helps someone!

In Him,