Well, Before I start about the book review, guess what I got to do this week!!!!!! I went and saw Celtic Woman's "Isle of Hope" tour!!!!! It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
The stage was beautiful. They had impressive lighting that changed with the songs. During loud drums, the light would flash very brightly, but it just added to the effect. Lol
They sang all of my favorite "CW" songs, including:
-Orinoco Flow (LOVE this song!)
-The Ceili (Again... LOVE this song!)
-Spanish Lady (Ok, maybe I love all of their songs...)
-Oh, America (A real tear jerker, lol)
-Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
-The Call
and some solos...
-True Colors (I, personally, wasn't expecting any Cindy Lauper, but I love that song anyway. :o)
-When You Believe (Not really a traditional Celtic Song, But it was beautiful!!)
-You'll Be in My Heart (From Tarzan) (What was with the non-celtic songs? But again, it was beautiful!)
Here's A picture of the tour. (not taken by by me, I followed the "No Photography" rule :o) If you have never seen Celtic Woman, go to their website and find when they are coming to a town near you. You WILL NOT be disappointed! The tickets might seem expensive, but they are WORTH IT!!!!
Alright, Now for a Book Review.
I just finished the book, "The Princess Academy" By Shannon Hale.
Here is a short summary of the story:
"Miri is a fourteen-year-old from Mt. Eskel who has never been allowed to work with the rest of the villagers (young and old, men and women) in the quarry that keeps the community alive. Because of this, she feels like an outcast in the community and feels cut off from the culture that is largely formed by their working life in the quarry. Despite this, she is very close to her father and her sister.
One day, a messenger from the king arrives along with the traders from the lowlands. The messenger announces that the nation's priests have informed the nation that the next princess will come from Mt. Eskell, despite the lack of education provided the villagers and despite the prejudice that exists between the mountain villagers and the lowlanders. To this end, a princess academy is going to be set up near the village to train the young girls the ways of the lowland noblemen and noblewomen. At the end of the year, the prince will visit the academy and choose the girl to be the next princess."
- Summary From Here.
There is more to the summary, but I wouldn't advise reading it... it gives to much away. ;o)
The Good: I felt that this book was very well written. For me, most books have at least a couple chapters that drag on...and on... and on.... but I didn't feel like this book did. I moved along well.
Also, the story line was interesting.
The Bad: There wasn't really anything bad in the book, but there were 2 things that might be a bit offensive to some people. (It wasn't to me, I'm just fore-warning you)
1. There is a bit of slight romance in the book. It is not super prominent (i.e. the entire story is not based around it)
2. There are a few mentions of the *false* gods the Mtn. People believe in. Again, this did not offend me. *Gasp!* No, seriously. I realize there are (and were) people who believe in gods other than the True God. I learn about them all the time in History! Lol
Not to mention, this is not a true story, and they do not talk about it that much. Actually, only at the beginning for a moment.
Final Judgement: Thumbs up. I only give it 4 because I am sure there are other, better books out there, but this is still an interesting (and fun) read.
Here are the rules: Put your ipod(mp3) in shuffle,and then read each question. Answer every question with the title of the song that is playing at the time you read the question. Use the answer to the very last question as the title of this entry.No cheating!!!!!
Here we go!
1. How would you describe yourself? What dreams are made of
2.What do your friends think of you? He lives in you
3. What do you think about very often? Unwritten
4. What do your parents think of you? When you wish upon a star
5. What do you want to be when you grow up? My heart will go on
6. What do you think about your best friend? Bubbly
7. What song will they play at your wedding?God Rest you marry gentleman
8. What do you think about your friends? Popular
9. If someone says "Is this okay?" you say? Have a little faith in me (Ok that is a good one)
10. What would best describe your personality? So Small
11. How do you feel today?Breakaway
12. What is your life purpose?True Colors
13. What is your motto?Stand by me
14. What do your friends think of you?Girls just want to have fun
15. What do you think of your parents?The call
16. What do you think about very often?God bless the u.s.a 17. What is 2+2? Held
18. What do you think of your best friend? Just a dream
19. What is your life story? This is my now
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Someday 21. What do your parents think of you? Waiting on the world to change
22. What will you dance to at your wedding?Dancing Queen
23. What will they play at your funeral?Miracles happen
24. What is your hobby and interest? I need a hero
25. What is your biggest secret? Apologize
26. What do you think of your friends? Bad day
27.What are you going to name this post? A day has come
Add hand-made jewelry to your Christmas gift-giving list!
Posted By yankeemom
Visit my dear friend Melody over at With the Fruit of Her Hands for all of your jewelry needs. I can personally attest to the quality of her work. While you're over there, join the contest she's currently having!
This is me in front of my grandmother's sideboard that I inheired as a young bride. I like to change the nick-nacks on it seasonally. I'm wearing my favorite apron I made from an Edwardian pattern by Sense and Sensiblity Patterns. The crocheted afgan was an antique store find on my yearly shopping trip with my husband for our aniversary.
This is the huge maple tree that shades our home. See how it dwarfs our house in comparison.
These are my favorite little boys. We've had a lot of fun raking and playing in the leaves this Fall.
I gave in and got the H1N1 vaccine for two of my daughters (my oldest and youngest) and for me, complete with Thermisol (mercury) for my older daughter and me. I have very well-managed asthma that has occasionally gone totally South on me in the past. Real misery. 30-40% reading on my peak flow meter kind of stuff. And my eight year old has CVS, which she has gotten sick before from a cold and it causes her to not be able to keep things down at all, once for almost a week. So, despite my misgivings, and outrage at them STILL putting things like Thermisol in our vaccines, I got the vaccine. My littlest daughter got the one without thermisol, but it was "unavailable" to us who are older. We even had a flu like thing come through our house, but not everyone got it and it wasn't that strong or long-lasting, so I'm figuring it wasn't H1N1.
In the end I just figured I was going to worry about which was the right decision and I'd just get the vaccine and then put the worry behind me.
Abigail was cute as can be. Kids were there screaming before they even got the shot, just in anticipation. She, at first didn't know what was going on. Then I got a shot and Natalie (8) got a shot and then I picked up Abigail (2) to hold her. What a smarty she is. I pulled her sleeve down to bare it and she immediately grabbed her upper arm muscle to cover it. So smart. We all feel alright so far.
Dentist
Jon went to the dentist. We belong to an HMO. He called for a dental cleaning and they told him it was three months or today. So, he took today. In customary fashion, nothing wrong with his teeth. I tell you, he brushes his teeth so fast and only once a day and isn't consistent about flossing. But, never any cavities or any other problems. He tells them about the difference between him and I. I don't know why Jon tells me these things, but he tells me he says they say it's just how you take care of your teeth. He tells them about how many cavities I have gotten when pregnant. They tell him that extra cavities associated with pregnancy have only to do with being distracted. You have got to be kidding??? These people just frost me! (Am I not supposed to say that on a blog?) I brush my teeth like a maniac when I'm pregnant. They tell Jon there is no nutritional basis for cavities and that teeth cannot have minerals leached from them. What are they smoking??? (Am I not supposed to say that either?) I suppose weak teeth have no possible connection with weak bones either...as in how badly I broke my wrist... Oh...my, I do need to brush my teeth like crazy. That's true. But, it is my belief that I have some genetic thing going on with both my teeth and my bones and my moods that I best do something about. The medical community can be so narrow minded sometimes. Medicine + a thoughtful (rather than bureaucratic) look at nutrition = powerful. Medicine the way it is = unhelpful.
My grandpa, my Papafather's dad, was a country vet. He had a little office off the side of the house where he did small animal surgery, and exams. He made house calls all around the country, some trips taking him an hour or more to reach the animal in need of help, be it cow, horse, sheep, or pig. Very often he would have one of his children in tow. He had 10 of them so there was no shortage of helpers. It all sounds very James Harriot like, and in a way it was. James Harriot's stories are popular with that side of the family and each story reminds them of one like it that grandpa experienced.
Grandpa's office was, as I said, just off the house. Just off the kitchen to be exact. My grandma had a dutch door put in so that she could just open up the top half to talk to him and yet keep the little ones inside. Think about that. A vet's office, just off the kitchen. Do you recall how a vet's office smells? That smell still lingers in that office to this day and it's been over 10 years since my grandpa died.
Aside from the smell, I never gave grandpa's office much thought. We would traipse our way through it on the way to play outside, to gather in the clothes from off the line, to pick grapes, collect eggs, or to find grandpa. The office doubled as grandma's laundry room so I suppose that's why it didn't seem like a room that needed much attention. I never spent any time in it other than to get from point A to point B. Which is strange now that I think about it, all those fascinating instruments, chemicals, medicines, and the like just within reach. I never touched them or was ever tempted to do so.
One temptation I did give in to was a special barrel out back that held two skunks. Grandpa would warn us to leave those skunks alone. My numerous cousins and I would stand around the barrel peering in, and those skunks would peer back. The lot of us cousins would look for only a moment and then run away as fast as we could before we got sprayed. I didn't find out until I was much older that those skunks couldn't spray because my grandpa had "deskunked" them. I don't know if my cousins were aware of this at the time or not, they ran just as fast as I did. Grandpa's warning hadn't been for us, he had been worried that we would torment the skunks.
Skunks actually make a great pet and are positively darling, if you can legally keep them. My uncle kept one for awhile. She was just like a cat, had a litter box and everything. Her name was Rosie, and then some, but I won't repeat that part.
We have a family story, told every couple of years or so I guess, about grandpa and one particular skunk he was de-scenting. While in the process of removing the gland that contains the hideous skunk musk, it was ruptured. It squirted all of its contents right in my grandpa's face. He came into the kitchen to clean up and the only thing he said was, "It's such a beautiful color." Apparently skunk spray is an amber color, and my God fearing grandpa could still recognize the beauty of God's handiwork even in a skunk's musk.
Funny, while my aunts and uncles roar with laughter about this story every time they tell it, I don't remember anyone talking about the smell lingering in the kitchen or what on earth my grandma said or did. I'll have to ask them about that.
After the laughter dies down, someone will always mention how my grandpa was such a quiet, gentle, and patient man. Oh he had his moments when a cow would stomp him, but how many men do you know who would take it from a skunk and only comment on it's beauty?
I'm still here and still pregnant! I was shocked to find out at my appointment yesterday that I am already 4cm with a VERY low baby since the week before he was still high and I wasn't dilated at all. I haven't had many contractions the past week (which is why I was so surprised), although they have increased in the last couple days. I guess this is par for the course for me as I get towards the end. Then once I go, I usually go fast and furious. Chad is being so protective of me and barely letting me move at all so I can make it until Monday. That is when I will be 37 weeks and able to deliver at home! I'm thinking Tuesday would be a really neat day to deliver so his birthday would be 11-10-09
My birth kit was delivered in the mail today and we're really excited. I think Chad's even more on board for the home birth than I am! We're both really looking forward to the birth, and so excited to meet this little guy.
Here I am with my babies the other night...
Eli has really been acting up lately, the little stinker. He's almost 3 and this is getting into my not-so-favorite age. Life is full, that's for sure!
Here are 2 of my sweeties cuddling this morning...
And a very porcelain-skinned baby as daddy chased him up the stairs before bath the other night...I think he definitely has his daddy's coloring!
Tonight we are having a fellowship meal at our church for our pastor and his wife to celebrate their anniversary. Just last week we had a celebration/meal for another couple who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.... I just love how serious this church takes and MAKES families. The couple that celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary also had a wedding quilt / throw hand made for them by ladies of the church (not me, I am not good with a needle...and it was also made during Nathans birth and there-after). My older 2 were at first surprised that we were having a dinner to celebrate an anniversary-- but now that this is CELEBRATION #2-- I think they get the idea-- Marriage is SUPER special and we all need to encourage and celebrate it with each other!!
Then tomorrow we are heading home (to my home) to help my mom who really needs some wood cut and split and stacked for her. We just found out about this yesterday-- but I am so thankful I have a husband and children who realize that this is what families do for each other-- we HELP and SERVE whenever and wherever needed. Jason works all night tonight but will still be the only "MAN" there-- and I know he is going to be so tired-- but he still stood right up and said "Yes, if your mom needs help-- WE WILL BE THERE." (That made a wonderful impression on the boys too-- ).
I have a friend who is considering homeschooling next year- and she asked me a few questions (I LOVE TALKING ABOUT Homeschooling-- even if we are becoming Unschoolers)....and the one she asked was "How long do you homeschool your boys each day?" Ummmm how do you answer that to someone who sends their children to school all day with out getting THIS look... LOL So I gave her the ol' standby (and TRUTH) "Oh we are homeschooling all day--everyday-- my children are always LEARNING.... it is just a matter of WHAT they are learning." (and I must BLUSH and add that since Nathan has been home and we have been watching FOOD NETWORK and the DO IT YOURSELF channel VERY frequently-- they have had a WHOLE lot of Home Ec. and Industrial Arts... LOL-- really though-- they can tell you many things they did not know before-- and are very ANXIOUS to help in the kitchen!! LOL) Oh and don't for get life science-- raising 25 meat chickens from 2 day old babies to the freezer to the kitchen TABLE (last nights dinner) But I did tell her the truth- "sitting and desk time is about 3 hours"-- (because I KNOW that is what she is considering school-- but hoping she will see school is SOOOO much more) I did re-state that that was not counting read aloud time and hands on learning-- and learning to "serve and help" as members of a society (the home and more).
My children all have blue eyes and fair skin, but they each have different hair colors from dark brown to sunny blonde. When I was pregnant this past summer, I prayed that God would give this baby red hair like her brother, Kade. And look at that........He did! My third boy and my third girl both have gorgeous red hair.
Well, the baby's is more of wispy red hair and fuzz, but anyway.
God cares about such small details as the color of our hair. He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. It's rather amazing when you think about it. He is so big and magnificent and we are so nothing, yet He cares about such a silly thing as what color I hoped my baby's hair would be. He used Faith's red hair to remind me of this gentle love and care recently when I was pushing away from Him.
There is an area of my life that I had taken back from Him. I know he wants ALL of me and I consciously began to refuse to submit in an area. I was miserable, trying to hide from Him. It made me grumpy and depressed to live that way. But He loves me anyway. When I was playing with baby's hair, He whispered to me that He gave her that color in answer to my prayer. His quiet voice persists and asks me to trust Him, to turn it all back over, to let go.
And I have.
And there is peace.
And every time I see that red hair on my little girl I will be reminded of His love and that I can trust Him.
I don't have to be in control.
We're both really looking forward to the birth, and so excited to meet this little guy. 
Life is full, that's for sure!
LOL So I gave her the ol' standby (and TRUTH) "Oh we are homeschooling all day--everyday-- my children are always LEARNING.... it is just a matter of WHAT they are learning." (and I must BLUSH and add that since Nathan has been home and we have been watching FOOD NETWORK and the DO IT YOURSELF channel VERY frequently-- they have had a WHOLE lot of Home Ec. and Industrial Arts... LOL-- really though-- they can tell you many things they did not know before-- and are very ANXIOUS to help in the kitchen!! LOL) Oh and don't for get life science-- raising 25 meat chickens from 2 day old babies to the freezer to the kitchen TABLE (last nights dinner) But I did tell her the truth- "sitting and desk time is about 3 hours"-- (because I KNOW that is what she is considering school-- but hoping she will see school is SOOOO much more) I did re-state that that was not counting read aloud time and hands on learning-- and learning to "serve and help" as members of a society (the home and more).
