Nov. 22, 2009 - An interesting bedtime story.......

At bedtime our current new read aloud is Stories of Beowulf - Told to the Children by, H.E. Marshall.  We started this last night, more out of my own fascination than anything and everyone (inlcuding hubby)loved it so much we read through 4 chapters!  Woo Hoo!  What an awesome story too, and okay, even though it may not be the most perfect bed time story since there is an awful ogre in it named Grendel who meets his fate with Beowulf...the way it reads is absolutely beautiful!  Beowulf is a very noble warrior (actually he is royalty), but he is a very strong and smart warrior first and foremost.  He is unmatched in strength.  Some if it is written in English prose, but you know what? Once I explained some of these unfamiliar words to my family they were still like "more mom!!"  What was very noble about his battle with Grendel was that Beowulf did not use his armor or weapons even though this Grendel was a monster!  Beowulf used his strength only so it would be a "fair" fight being since his opponent did not have any weapons or training in them. I won't give it away as to how Beowulf slew Grendel, but all I could say was "hokey pete!"   My family loved what they heard me read last night and so I told them we would read more tonight (such applause!)....but hubby said "please wait for me to come home too!"  So I said..."Ok, but bedtime is at 9pm sharp!"  What a wonderful read this is!! 

~Lori  

Nov. 5, 2009 - I'm doing it!!

I am so thrilled about something that I am doing.  I am attempting to read through the bible!  I just recently treated myself to a new bible on the Walmart clearance rack last month. Woah! YES! I treated MYSELF! (Did your mouth hit the floor?)    It is the NLT version (New Living Translation).  It reads like a wonderful story!  I know there are debates out there about which versions are the best, but that is up to each individual person to decide. I have already read through Genesis and now I'm starting the book of Exodus-I have learned so much that I never "caught" before!  I have many versions here in my home (KJV, NKJV, NIV)...but to read through them as a "story" is difficult.  I always get a little concerned about versions and so I checked this one out thoroughly against my other ones and it holds water as the rest of them do so off I go on a wonderful reading adventure!  I actually look forward to reading it everyday and sometimes twice a day!!!  AND GET THIS!  I read it to my kids and they actually like to sit and listen to it!!  That has never happened before because of the language of the other versions.  I've always loved the bible since I became a Christian 16 years ago, but it always eluded me when people would say "its the most wonderful storybook cover to cover...."  I'd be like HUH?  How is that possible with all the...okay...I'm gonna say it..... archaic language?"  So anyways I am just thrilled at my new bible and what God is showing me, in the words of my kids  "IT IS SOOOOO SWEEEEEET!"

Happy Reading!!

~Lori

May. 28, 2009 - The Legend of the Three Trees

Last night I taught our Children's Church class during prayer meeting.  I read the children The Legend of the Three Trees. 

What a wonderful story about following your dreams and plans...and then seeing what God's plan is and then seeing that His plan is much much better.  In the end the conclusion is that the dreams we have for ourselves are much smaller than the dreams God has for us.  After the story I had them make "trees" by tracing their forearms and hands and then using scraps of "greenish" paper for the tree.  Here are my kids "trees". At the top of their papers is the rhyme "Just like the tree, God has a plan for me!"

TYLER'S TREE

CLAIRE BEAR'S TREE

EMILY'S TREE

They did a great job!  Check this story out sometime, I enjoyed it as much as the kids did!  The ISBN# is 0-8499-7595-6.  

~LORI

May. 1, 2009 - The Tale of Despereaux

The kids and I have started a new reading book this week, called The Tale of Despereaux .  So far the kids have said "its a great book!"and "Awesome!"  I have to admit it is REALLY good.  You see, my kids want to see the movie REALLY bad, but I wanted them to hear the story first so they can see how much better stories are before they are turned into movies,  which is always the case wouldn't you agree?  Anyway, if you get a chance check out this storybook, it is very well-written! 

I have also discovered different websites through Scholastic.com that have lesson plans and things for this story. 

~LORI

Jan. 14, 2009 - My new favorite book.

I am reading a great book (thanks to "Living Under Grace.")  It is entitled The Master Teacher, by Ruth O. Hobbs.  It is printed by Rod and Staff Publishers.  It talks about how Jesus was truly the master teacher, His dedication, His compassion, His unselfishness, humility and wisdom.  There are lots of examples of Jesus teaching in this book and these methods and many more are presented as examples for us to follow today.  Its just an awesome book!  You get this incredible understanding of how Jesus taught and how He simply applied himselft  moment by moment to the circumstances that confronted Him.  The ISBN # is 0-7399-0233-4.    Check it out sometime.

~LORI

Jan. 14, 2009 - Newest bedtime story

Our latest bedtime read is Tigers at Twilight by Mary Pope Osborne.  It is Magic Tree House book #19.  I found it for .25 at a thrift store!  Cool heh?  It is a very good adventure story with lots of info on tigers and India in it.  Tyler has been quite taken with these books and hey, if he will sit and listen to a few chapters of these books, then I will definitely be reading them!  There are just enough pictures scattered through the chapters to keep ClaireBear interested as well. 

~LORI

Dec. 5, 2008 - Story about St. Nicholas

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be looking for a book about St. Nicholas.  I did find one at the library yesterday.  The title is: The True Story of Saint Nicholas by Rebecca Benson Haskell, Illustrated by Elizabeth Durham Goodhue.

ISBN# 0-911469-29-X

It's a pretty good book.  It explains some of the wonderful things he did with his wealth, it talks about the red cloak and bishop's mitre(hat) that you see him wear in the pictures. It does talk about traditions that have developed in Europe because of St. Nicholas. All in all, it is not a bad little book, its a quick read, my kids seemed to enjoy most of it, although they were lost in the names of the cities they mentioned.  But they got the overall just of the book that St. Nicholas was a Christian who loved serving Jesus and did it faithfully, no matter where or what he was doing. 

~Lori

Dec. 5, 2008 - Wonder what snowmen do at night?

It's an age old question heh?  So what do snowmen do at night when we are all asleep?  Read this book to find out.  This is a cute funny rhyming story and the illustrations are adorable.  I checked this out at the library yesterday.  My kids love this story!  Of course they do know snowmen aren't real....that's what your imagination is for!  So, if you get a chance, check it out at your local library and curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and a kid or two or three or more and enjoy.  

Written by Caralyn Buehner. Pictures by Mark Buehner. 

ISBN#0-439-63155-6