Friday, February 1, 2008
~~Friday Favorite~~



Our favorite books of the week!!
These are the books that Elizabeth has been reading for the past few weeks. I remember reading them as a child, but had forgotten how wonderful they are. Even today Elizabeth said, "I can't wait to read The Littles today, I wonder what happened to Aunt Lily?" There are a lot more book in the series, but these are probably the only two I will assign her to read.
Join other bloggers for Mikki's Favorite Friday.
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Friday, January 25, 2008
*~*Friday Favorite*~*


I've been gleaning through our library's resources for nature study books. Specifically I wanted books for tracking animals during the winter and bird study books. I found an author that others probably know about, but I was unaware of. His name is Jim Arnosky, his books have wonderful sketches in them, with great descriptions. He is a nature man!
This book is my favorite:

I also really like these Crinkleroot series he's written also. The are fun, yet filled with a lot of information.

Please join Mikki for more great Friday Favorite's!
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Saturday, January 19, 2008
~Friday Favorite~
Mikki at ClagettsFlStyle is hosting a new meme on Friday's, called Friday Favorites. I've been wanting to share my favorite books I/we've been reading in our home. This is a great opportunity to share and to read other friends favorite things. Coincidentally Jennifer started us singing that song a lot throughout this week, and I've been wanting to do a blog post on our favorite "things"/ books! Please check out Miki's favorite thing, yummy coffee!


In my experience any book by Emilie Barnes is good! I appreciate her organizing books, they are filled with great ideas for any home.
This book is cut into nice bite sized devotions, but are meaty. They take 10 minutes to read, but I end up spending more than that reading more verses in my bible. Also she has a great journal prompt at the end which takes a little more time.
Each devotion starts with a Proverb, and then a wonderful devotion that relates to the Proverb. Here are a few of the topics:
~dreams
~teaching children to do chores, it is never to late
~healthy living
~add years to your life
~forming good habits
It is a great book to focus and help me learn---re-learn some things. I recommend checking this book out from your library. You like purchasing devotionals that you would re-use you will not be disappointed.
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Thursday, February 15, 2007
*^*^The Kite Runner*^*^*
As I've shared before, I'm particular about what I read. Like all of you, I don't have a lot of extra time for "free" reading. I've read a lot of junk over the years, so I tend to stay away from secular, main stream, bestsellers. Just like what I watch on TV, I filter what I read through this verse;
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Phillipians 4:8
I don't want my mind dwelling on things that don't glorify the Lord. As the old saying goes "junk in, junk out". So I try to fill my mind with pure, lovely and excellent things. There are a lot of great classic novels and living literature for me to read. Although most current christian fiction I find to be a bit, well predictable. There are some great authors, the Thoedes, Francine Rivers, Gilbert Morris, Liz Curtis Higgs, and T. Davis Bunn.
But something about The Kite Runner grabbed my attention. I had read about it at Semicolon's. I also have a fascination with Afghanistan. Growing up, watching the Russian invasion. Then their liberation and internal strifes. Post 9-11 watching Afghanistan on the nightly news. Then reading this book:

This is a great book. I'll read this with Jennifer during her high school years. Both of these christian women came from divorced homes. Each turned to the Lord during their struggles and have choosen lives in total service for Him. The details about Afghanistan and the Lord's work there makes this a good read.
The missionary, that stayed in our home in early December, pointed something out to me about sharing the gospels with Muslims. As he said, "you can not start with Jesus." So part of my desire to read this book was to learn more about Muslim culture, part was to learn more about Afghanistan and lastly to read a book that has received fabulous reviews.
The Kite Runner did fulfill these goals. Mr. Hoessini's writing style is vivid, his characters have depth and yet with a balance of predictability. But yet the book left me sad, and deepened my desire for evangelism. The main character, Amir spent the majority of the book seeking redemption for something that he did/didn't do when he was twelve. This "thing", was and is the most horrific part of the whole book. Although I would not say that it is a reason to not read the book, if you are an adult. These "things" are part of the reality of the fallen world that we live in. But, Amir seeks his redemption through his own handiwork. He never truly forgives himself. Nor, does he have the peace that redemption through Christ brings. When finally at the pinnacle of crisis he returns to his muslim heritage and begins praying.
Part of the richness of this book is Amir and his father's relationship. Also, as many reviewers have mentioned, a glimpse into an Afghanistan that is not found in a history textbook or the nightly news. I also appreciated how easily Amir forgave others for their flaws.
I give this book a Great-minus
Here is my book rating scale:
No way:would never think to recommend or purchase
So-so-if you like a run of the mill book
Good-is worthy of a quick read, don't dwell on or re-read any of it
Great-this is a book that you should take time to read
Excellent-a book that I would defintely recommend and will be adding to my library
to re-read in future years.
~~~~~eternally grateful, for His redeeming love and faithful grace,
Linda
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Thursday, January 4, 2007
Library and Educational Services Sale...
Every few weeks a get an ad from Library and Educational Services. I somewhat hate to put this up on my blog because I have not ordered from them. Making that disclaimer, I do know people that have ordered from them and said they had good service.
They have some great books at fabulous prices. You can also sign up at their site to get their newsletter with these bargains.
This is just one example of their sale.
Happy shopping.....
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Save
93%
off List Price
on this library
quality series
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The Library of American
Lives and Times Set #3
Set of 7
Through a chronological narrative, enriched with diary entries, letters, and other primary documents, students will learn about the various stages of our nation's development, as well as learning to think about history from the perspectives of both individuals and society.

—George Washington
This set is for grades 4 to 8. Each book has approximately 112 pages and measures 7" x 9¾". ©2004
Titles in series:
- Benedict Arnold
Revolutionary War Hero and Traitor
- Aaron Burr
The Rise and Fall of an American Politician
- Haym Salomon
Patriot Banker of the American Revolution
- William Tecumseh Sherman
The Fight to Preserve the Union
- Harriet Beecher Stowe
Author and Abolitionist
- John Sutter
Sutter's Fort and the California Gold Rush
- George Washington
Leader of a New Nation
LIBRA125 - Set of 7
Hardcover with Reinforced Library Binding
List Price: $242.20
Publisher's School & Library Price: $167.65
Current LES Price: $33.53
5-Day Sale Price: $16.77
On Sale until January 11, 2007!
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Enjoying These Christmas Books Too

I wanted to share a few more books we've been enjoying this Christmas season. I buy the majority of my books through Amazon at the used prices. I've have gotton better deals than at Ebay or Half.com and they usually get here within two-three days. I love Amazon's search inside feature. It really helps to preview the book. I am blessed to have a great library resource also. I feel for you that don't. It allows me to preview books that I may want to buy. Plus, it seems like that a lot of library users in our area are more interested in their internet access than in checking out books, so I almost always can get the book I'm wanting. A lot more could be said about that thought, but this is a post on Christmas books.
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I purchased this book through Amazon. This book is filled with explanations about the symbols of Christmas. They are easy for the children to understand, yet informative. Each day has a craft with it. For today, St. Nicholas Day there is a simple craft to make a St. Nicholas mobile. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

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This is a great devotional book. It has a scripture reading and then a prayer. Although it is not my style to pray pre-printed prayers, I like using these for meditation and reflection. I got this book from the library, but may buy it used sometime during the year.

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This book is a fabulous read for every Christmas time. I usually try to read this book twice during the season. It will change the way you think of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ. I am amazed at how it altered the way I welcome His birth into my heart and home.

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I found this book at the library. Today we will enjoy reading the story that tells about how St. Nicholas came to be. This is the book description from Amazon: From traditional tales to Yuletide legends from around the world, this timeless collection of fourteen Christmas classics is perfect for the whole family to share aloud. This festive anthology includes favorite stories such as "The Fir Tree," "The Nutcracker," and "The First Christmas," tales by Louisa May Alcott and L. M. Montgomery, and extracts from Charles Dickens" A Christmas Carol and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Each specially selected story features an introduction by award-winning author Ian Whybrow, and is beautifully illustrated to complement its mood and style.
The illustrations are beautiful and the stories exactly the right length for the little ones to sit through.

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This book by Francine Rivers always helps me to focus on Mary and her response to being the mother of the Savior of the World. Great read anytime of the year, but especially at Christmas and Easter.

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Our Christmas book pile.

I have these in a basket in our living room. The girls enjoying reading a couple of these in the evening.
~~~~~~~~~Happy reading during this season of rejoicing,
Linda
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