I almost never have a "lazy" weekend - usually we have projects going on - if nothing else, there is always big housecleaning to do! But this weekend the big guys are deer hunting and the littles and I are just enjoying ourselves. Yesterday we went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens on a homeschool field trip with 50 of our closest friends. Last night we ate White Castles for dinner (regrets, regrets!). Then we all curled up on comforters on the floor and watched movies. I finally got up and went to bed about midnight, they slept in the living room all night.
Today - more movies, I am going to switch out the closets, play on the internet, put together our menu for next month, plan my week...bake some cookies for the Fall Festival at Faith Baptist Church tomorrow night, prepare ourselves for worship at Bloomsdale Baptist Church in the morning..and pray for the guys to get a couple of deer! Our freezer is bare, we need to re-stock!
This morning the furnace kicked on - that just added to the whole "cozy at home" feeling. Looking forward to the rest of the day here in the forest!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Why I Read What I Read
I feel like when you publish a list of what you read, you are almost publishing your soul. I read a lot (okay, a WHOLE lot!). I read for education and for information - but mainly, I read for entertainment. Hence the long lists of murder mysteries. Now, acknowledging that I read murder mysteries and other fiction (not all of which is "Christian") does open me up to comments about whether or not a professing Christian should read fiction at all. There are some who say you shouldn't. There are others who think that their reading, ie, thought life (and what they watch on tv, etc.) has no bearing on their walk with the Lord.
I am going to disagree with both points. I think it is okay to participate in secular reading, based on my own convictions of the Holy Spirit. And I do believe that the Spirit convicts on these things. Case in point - I used to read what I call "gory murder mysteries" - Kate Scarpetta, Alex Cross, etc. The sex and violence were graphic. I didn't think anything of it - it is just fiction, right? About ten years ago, I was reading an Alex Cross mystery, and suddenly it just hit me - why would I put these images into my mind? I mean, why at all? There was nothing edifying about this book. There was nothing even fun - it was a bloody, gory murder. Since then, I have put them aside. I have done the same with "historical romances" that include graphic sex as part of the story - even if the characters are married. To me, it was basically soft-core porn. Some of it has been hard - I really LOVED the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. And it was really easy to make this decision not to read any more....once the series was over. And it takes years for her to publish a book.
Then the next episode came out. In defense, I will note that her books are exceptionally well-written, and the characters of Clare and Jamie can really suck you into their world. But....the books are sexually graphic. So, I got on the list for it at the library. No one would know but me and the librarians, right? And they won't tell. It was a long wait for it. And then I got the email that it was on hold for me. Planned my day around driving to the library (about 20 miles) to get it. And I....called the library and told them to give it to the next person. I couldn't do it.
Now, this is not a condemnation on anyone who does read Diana Gabaldon, or any of the other books I've mentioned. Each of us has to deal with that as individuals. There are certainly those who would say that I am stepping over a line by reading Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries. I can couch that by saying the murders are generally glossed over, and the focus is on the detective story, and they are usually funny (being set in small English villages). Or that I should not read anything where there is some profanity. Well, maybe. But right now I can enjoy a good story and my mind doesn't stay focused on an occassional cuss word. If I pick up a new author and find the book filled with profanity, then I will put it back. Generally that kind of writing won't hold my interest, anyway.
If you look at my lists, you'll see that I read a lot of family/homeschooling books, some years a lot about food, a lot of cozy mysteries, and quite a bit of "light" theology. I try to take time to spend in the Bible each day, I read a lot of Christian magazines, homeschool magazines and devotionals as well. And of course, I do read The Leader every week (gotta know what my neighbors are up to!).
So, this has probably gone way past the point where your eyes have glazed over, but if you have stuck it out this long, thank you and your comments are appreciated!
I am going to disagree with both points. I think it is okay to participate in secular reading, based on my own convictions of the Holy Spirit. And I do believe that the Spirit convicts on these things. Case in point - I used to read what I call "gory murder mysteries" - Kate Scarpetta, Alex Cross, etc. The sex and violence were graphic. I didn't think anything of it - it is just fiction, right? About ten years ago, I was reading an Alex Cross mystery, and suddenly it just hit me - why would I put these images into my mind? I mean, why at all? There was nothing edifying about this book. There was nothing even fun - it was a bloody, gory murder. Since then, I have put them aside. I have done the same with "historical romances" that include graphic sex as part of the story - even if the characters are married. To me, it was basically soft-core porn. Some of it has been hard - I really LOVED the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. And it was really easy to make this decision not to read any more....once the series was over. And it takes years for her to publish a book.
Then the next episode came out. In defense, I will note that her books are exceptionally well-written, and the characters of Clare and Jamie can really suck you into their world. But....the books are sexually graphic. So, I got on the list for it at the library. No one would know but me and the librarians, right? And they won't tell. It was a long wait for it. And then I got the email that it was on hold for me. Planned my day around driving to the library (about 20 miles) to get it. And I....called the library and told them to give it to the next person. I couldn't do it.
Now, this is not a condemnation on anyone who does read Diana Gabaldon, or any of the other books I've mentioned. Each of us has to deal with that as individuals. There are certainly those who would say that I am stepping over a line by reading Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries. I can couch that by saying the murders are generally glossed over, and the focus is on the detective story, and they are usually funny (being set in small English villages). Or that I should not read anything where there is some profanity. Well, maybe. But right now I can enjoy a good story and my mind doesn't stay focused on an occassional cuss word. If I pick up a new author and find the book filled with profanity, then I will put it back. Generally that kind of writing won't hold my interest, anyway.
If you look at my lists, you'll see that I read a lot of family/homeschooling books, some years a lot about food, a lot of cozy mysteries, and quite a bit of "light" theology. I try to take time to spend in the Bible each day, I read a lot of Christian magazines, homeschool magazines and devotionals as well. And of course, I do read The Leader every week (gotta know what my neighbors are up to!).
So, this has probably gone way past the point where your eyes have glazed over, but if you have stuck it out this long, thank you and your comments are appreciated!
Reading logs - July - September
I have not been too keen on keeping the blog updated! Another of the problems with my Facebook addiction, I guess! But I wanted to get this posted, and later today I am going to try to post on why I have given up Facebook (probably not forever, but definitely for now) and why I read what I read.
JULY
45. Arctic Homestead – 5 – Norma Cobb and Charles W. Sasser – the story of young family with 5 children who settle in Alaska in the mid-70s. Great story of courage, family love, adventure and faith. Much, much, much better than I was expecting. Highly recommend.
46. Death of a Cad: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – 2nd in the series – really enjoy these murder mysteries. Light, but more in the tradition of Agatha Christie than some of the newer ones – ie, there is no “catch” – no recipes, or knitting or tea as a theme.
47. Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth – 2.5 – Tamar Myers – yuck. Mennonite woman running a bed and breakfast with her slutty sister. Characters may be quirky, but they are not funny/charming/endearing. Only even had 3 or 4 recipes. I question a mystery that when whodunit is revealed there are either so many coincidences or it is so convoluted that I can’t really understand it. In a political espionage thriller, maybe. In this? It should all fit together pretty easily. Will not bother with the rest of the series.
48. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – a nice bounce back! I liked this much more than I expected! Agatha is in her early 50s and is a self-made woman. She is also rude, thoughtless, driven. She has always dreamed of owning a cottage in the Cotswolds (England) and she sells her London firm, takes an early retirement and heads to a small village to fit in. She is a complete “fish out of water” – and finds herself caught up in a murder mystery. I have heard other people say they don’t like this series because Agatha is so abrasive, but I am holding out hope for her – and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may even like her better than Hamish Macbeth.
49. Brokeness: The Heart God Revives – 3.5 – Nancy Leigh DeMoss – part of the Revive Our Hearts series. Pretty good, I don’t think I was focused enough to really get the full impact of it. It will be re-read.
50. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – 5 – Agatha Christie – wow! This was definitely one of the best whodunits I have ever read – I admit that I had a few moments when I thought I knew who the murderer was, but it was always, “Nah, it couldn’t be.” But it was……If you never read any other Christie, read this one.
51. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet – 4.75 – M.C. Beaton – even better than the first – I love unlovable Agatha!
52. The Prophet of Yonwood: The Third Book of Ember – 4 – Jeanne DuPrau – a “prequel” to City of Ember – tells what is going on in the world that leads to the building of Ember. Actually pretty thought provoking. In the small town of Yonwood, a woman has a stroke and sees a fiery vision. A self-appointed disciple declares her a prophet, and begins telling the citizens what they have to do to protect themselves from coming disaster, “interpreting” garbled phrases from the prophet. The god that they establish and try to serve is a good example of the idolatry of legalism. Also shows the folly of creating a god (“My god would never do that, etc.”) instead of serving the true God.
53. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener – 4 – M.C. Beaton not quite as good as the first two, but still a fun, quick mystery.
54. Lottie Moon: Giving Her All for China (Christian Heroes: Then and Now series) – 4 – Janet and Geoff Benge – very good junior bio – went into a lot of detail about how the Southern Baptist International Mission Board was formed, and how it (didn’t) work – missionaries committed to serve for life, unless their health was completely broken. No furloughs. Besides her battles with the Convention, her incredible work and sacrifice for the people of China is a wonderful story.
55. Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley – 4 – Still good enough to read in 24 hours! These are just such fun mysteries – I love Agatha – she has a terrible personality, and always gets herself into situations because of her ego.
56. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage – 4.25 – Parts of this were laugh-out-loud funny. Another 24 hour read. I love Agatha, I just really do.
AUGUST
57. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist – 3.75 – not as good as the others. I like stories where she is in the village, in this she is in North Cyprus, with new characters. Just don’t care for them. And, she is on the re-bound and gets herself into a mess with another man. Blech. Oh well, there are plenty more in the series!
58. Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death – 3.5 – this one wasn’t too great, either. Still love Agatha. Got herself into another mess with another man. Don’t care for that. I still love her, flaws and all.
59. Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham – 4 – much better.
60. Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden – 4 – Agatha gets herself into too many problems with men, as far as I am concerned. But still, a pretty good mystery.
61. Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfram – 4
62. Agatha Raisin and the Love From Hell – 4.25
63. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came – 4.25
64. Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate – 4
65. Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House – 4
66. Season of Change: Parenting Your Middle Schooler with Passion and Purpose – 3 – Rebecca Ingram Powell – pretty disappointing. Author spoke about her struggles in middle school (personally, I think that anyone who doesn’t shudder when they hear the words “7th grade” is in denial) and the hints and tips for raising a middle schooler. I thought that since it was prominently featured in a homeschooling magazine, that it would be about homeschooling a middle schooler, but it wasn’t at all. Just a lot of parenting tips. She writes a column for Lifeway’s “ParentLife” magazine, and that is what it reminded me of – a compilation of magazine articles. I will hang on to it, and re-read it again sometime, give it a second chance.
67. The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 3 – Agatha starts her own detective agency – this is my least favorite so far – a lot of coincidences needed to keep the mystery going, and too many plot lines. Next one will be better!
68. What Is a Healthy Church? – 4 – Mark Dever – part of the 9Marks series. A good read for this time in my life, looking at the marks of a healthy church, what a church is and isn’t.
69. The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4 – much better. The new characters in her detective agency are starting to gel.
70. Love, Lies, Liquor: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.25 – now we are getting somewhere. Agatha is finally starting to show some backbone about the men in her life.
SEPTEMBER
71. Kissing Christmas Goodbye: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.25
72. The Holiness of God – 4.5 – RC Sproul – this was excellent – got very deep into the concepts of justice and mercy, and God’s sovereign right to do as He pleases with His creation. Led to much deep thought.
73. The Diamond of Darkhold: Book 4 in The City of Ember series – 4 – DuPrau – enjoyed this. The only book in the series I didn’t really care for was #3. In this one Lina and Doon go back to Ember to see if there are any supplies they can salvage for the people of Sparks. What they find there changes the world.
74. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers – 4.5 – Maria Trapp – nothing like I expected – the story of Maria and The Sound of Music. Their story is NOT like the movie – or very little anyway. She was a nun who came to be the governess, and they were married, but they were married in 1927 – long before Hitler invaded Austria. They were already performing when they left Austria, no sneaking out during the music festival. That was really only the first 1/3 of the book, the rest is their lives when they came to the United States. Very devout Catholic family, whose all-encompassing goal in life is to do whatever is God’s will. Great story, much more religious than I expected.
75. The Double Comfort Safari Club – 4 – Alexander McCall Smith – the further adventures of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
76. A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4 – M.C. Beaton – okay, sort of convoluted.
77. There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – Auugghhh! The last Agatha! The new one comes out in October, but after that….nothing for a year. I am moving back to the Hamish MacBeth series (I think there are about 28) for the duration, and she also writes an Edwardian mystery series under the pen name Marion Chesney, so I will check that out as well. But this one ended so good…..I like to put one down and within 15 minutes pick up the next one. My life seems so empty….
78. This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection – 4.25 – Carol Burnett – just a series of anecdotes about her life in showbiz. Very simple and interesting. She sounds like a fun lady.
79. Death of an Outsider: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery – 4.25 – M.C. Beaton – these are probably technically superior to Agatha Raisin, but I still like her better.
JULY
45. Arctic Homestead – 5 – Norma Cobb and Charles W. Sasser – the story of young family with 5 children who settle in Alaska in the mid-70s. Great story of courage, family love, adventure and faith. Much, much, much better than I was expecting. Highly recommend.
46. Death of a Cad: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – 2nd in the series – really enjoy these murder mysteries. Light, but more in the tradition of Agatha Christie than some of the newer ones – ie, there is no “catch” – no recipes, or knitting or tea as a theme.
47. Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth – 2.5 – Tamar Myers – yuck. Mennonite woman running a bed and breakfast with her slutty sister. Characters may be quirky, but they are not funny/charming/endearing. Only even had 3 or 4 recipes. I question a mystery that when whodunit is revealed there are either so many coincidences or it is so convoluted that I can’t really understand it. In a political espionage thriller, maybe. In this? It should all fit together pretty easily. Will not bother with the rest of the series.
48. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – a nice bounce back! I liked this much more than I expected! Agatha is in her early 50s and is a self-made woman. She is also rude, thoughtless, driven. She has always dreamed of owning a cottage in the Cotswolds (England) and she sells her London firm, takes an early retirement and heads to a small village to fit in. She is a complete “fish out of water” – and finds herself caught up in a murder mystery. I have heard other people say they don’t like this series because Agatha is so abrasive, but I am holding out hope for her – and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may even like her better than Hamish Macbeth.
49. Brokeness: The Heart God Revives – 3.5 – Nancy Leigh DeMoss – part of the Revive Our Hearts series. Pretty good, I don’t think I was focused enough to really get the full impact of it. It will be re-read.
50. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – 5 – Agatha Christie – wow! This was definitely one of the best whodunits I have ever read – I admit that I had a few moments when I thought I knew who the murderer was, but it was always, “Nah, it couldn’t be.” But it was……If you never read any other Christie, read this one.
51. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet – 4.75 – M.C. Beaton – even better than the first – I love unlovable Agatha!
52. The Prophet of Yonwood: The Third Book of Ember – 4 – Jeanne DuPrau – a “prequel” to City of Ember – tells what is going on in the world that leads to the building of Ember. Actually pretty thought provoking. In the small town of Yonwood, a woman has a stroke and sees a fiery vision. A self-appointed disciple declares her a prophet, and begins telling the citizens what they have to do to protect themselves from coming disaster, “interpreting” garbled phrases from the prophet. The god that they establish and try to serve is a good example of the idolatry of legalism. Also shows the folly of creating a god (“My god would never do that, etc.”) instead of serving the true God.
53. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener – 4 – M.C. Beaton not quite as good as the first two, but still a fun, quick mystery.
54. Lottie Moon: Giving Her All for China (Christian Heroes: Then and Now series) – 4 – Janet and Geoff Benge – very good junior bio – went into a lot of detail about how the Southern Baptist International Mission Board was formed, and how it (didn’t) work – missionaries committed to serve for life, unless their health was completely broken. No furloughs. Besides her battles with the Convention, her incredible work and sacrifice for the people of China is a wonderful story.
55. Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley – 4 – Still good enough to read in 24 hours! These are just such fun mysteries – I love Agatha – she has a terrible personality, and always gets herself into situations because of her ego.
56. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage – 4.25 – Parts of this were laugh-out-loud funny. Another 24 hour read. I love Agatha, I just really do.
AUGUST
57. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist – 3.75 – not as good as the others. I like stories where she is in the village, in this she is in North Cyprus, with new characters. Just don’t care for them. And, she is on the re-bound and gets herself into a mess with another man. Blech. Oh well, there are plenty more in the series!
58. Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death – 3.5 – this one wasn’t too great, either. Still love Agatha. Got herself into another mess with another man. Don’t care for that. I still love her, flaws and all.
59. Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham – 4 – much better.
60. Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden – 4 – Agatha gets herself into too many problems with men, as far as I am concerned. But still, a pretty good mystery.
61. Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfram – 4
62. Agatha Raisin and the Love From Hell – 4.25
63. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came – 4.25
64. Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate – 4
65. Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House – 4
66. Season of Change: Parenting Your Middle Schooler with Passion and Purpose – 3 – Rebecca Ingram Powell – pretty disappointing. Author spoke about her struggles in middle school (personally, I think that anyone who doesn’t shudder when they hear the words “7th grade” is in denial) and the hints and tips for raising a middle schooler. I thought that since it was prominently featured in a homeschooling magazine, that it would be about homeschooling a middle schooler, but it wasn’t at all. Just a lot of parenting tips. She writes a column for Lifeway’s “ParentLife” magazine, and that is what it reminded me of – a compilation of magazine articles. I will hang on to it, and re-read it again sometime, give it a second chance.
67. The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 3 – Agatha starts her own detective agency – this is my least favorite so far – a lot of coincidences needed to keep the mystery going, and too many plot lines. Next one will be better!
68. What Is a Healthy Church? – 4 – Mark Dever – part of the 9Marks series. A good read for this time in my life, looking at the marks of a healthy church, what a church is and isn’t.
69. The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4 – much better. The new characters in her detective agency are starting to gel.
70. Love, Lies, Liquor: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.25 – now we are getting somewhere. Agatha is finally starting to show some backbone about the men in her life.
SEPTEMBER
71. Kissing Christmas Goodbye: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.25
72. The Holiness of God – 4.5 – RC Sproul – this was excellent – got very deep into the concepts of justice and mercy, and God’s sovereign right to do as He pleases with His creation. Led to much deep thought.
73. The Diamond of Darkhold: Book 4 in The City of Ember series – 4 – DuPrau – enjoyed this. The only book in the series I didn’t really care for was #3. In this one Lina and Doon go back to Ember to see if there are any supplies they can salvage for the people of Sparks. What they find there changes the world.
74. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers – 4.5 – Maria Trapp – nothing like I expected – the story of Maria and The Sound of Music. Their story is NOT like the movie – or very little anyway. She was a nun who came to be the governess, and they were married, but they were married in 1927 – long before Hitler invaded Austria. They were already performing when they left Austria, no sneaking out during the music festival. That was really only the first 1/3 of the book, the rest is their lives when they came to the United States. Very devout Catholic family, whose all-encompassing goal in life is to do whatever is God’s will. Great story, much more religious than I expected.
75. The Double Comfort Safari Club – 4 – Alexander McCall Smith – the further adventures of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
76. A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4 – M.C. Beaton – okay, sort of convoluted.
77. There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin Mystery – 4.5 – M.C. Beaton – Auugghhh! The last Agatha! The new one comes out in October, but after that….nothing for a year. I am moving back to the Hamish MacBeth series (I think there are about 28) for the duration, and she also writes an Edwardian mystery series under the pen name Marion Chesney, so I will check that out as well. But this one ended so good…..I like to put one down and within 15 minutes pick up the next one. My life seems so empty….
78. This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection – 4.25 – Carol Burnett – just a series of anecdotes about her life in showbiz. Very simple and interesting. She sounds like a fun lady.
79. Death of an Outsider: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery – 4.25 – M.C. Beaton – these are probably technically superior to Agatha Raisin, but I still like her better.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Reading list from June, 2010
Not much of a list this month - I am in the middle of four books, and have started and put down several.
My recommendation of the month is....The Tall Woman
38. Apple Turnover Murder – 2.75 – Joanne Fluke – okay, now I am back to thinking the series should end. I thought that 2 books ago. Then the last one had a good twist at the end. Then this one just bumbled along. 290 pages, and I knew EXACTLY who did it before page 200. And I was right. I even knew at about page 55 how Hannah would be rescued from the murderer and the murder hadn’t even happened yet! Can I say that they are getting a little too predictable? Mike is a jerk, but he’s not, but he loves her, but can he be faithful? Norman has been the solid rock through the whole series, but now he is acting distant. Too many cliffhangers left at the end – these are a series, but they still need to be able to stand alone. Anyway, I think this is the lowest score I’ve ever given one in this series.
39. Young, Restless and Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey With the New Calvinists – 5 – Collin Hansen – a re-read from last summer, but I am going to count it, anyway. I feel like I read it with fresh eyes.
40. The Perilous Roud – 4 – William O. Steele – read aloud with the older boys. Chris Brabson is a Tennessee boy at the start of the Civil War, and he hates Yankees. Then his brother joins up with the Union army. It is about learning that there are people on both sides of the conflict. One of the few Sonlight Core 3 or 4 books that the boys have really liked.
41. Your Child’s Profession of Faith – 4 – Dennis Gundersen – discussion of childhood conversions.
42. Easy Chairs Hard Words: Conversations on the Liberty of God – 4 – Douglas Wilson – discussion between an older pastor and younger man, answering the hard questions about doctrines of grace
43. ArchEnemy – 3 – Frank Beddor – book 3 in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy. It was okay. The first one was the best.
44. The Tall Woman – 5 – Wilma Dykeman – excellent story – reminded me of Christy, only more fast-paced. The story of Lydia Moore MacQueen and her family in the Smokey Mountains, starting with her marriage in 1864. A great story of family and faith, and forgiveness and working out Christian faith in life. Love, love, loved it.
__________________
And that is it!
My recommendation of the month is....The Tall Woman
38. Apple Turnover Murder – 2.75 – Joanne Fluke – okay, now I am back to thinking the series should end. I thought that 2 books ago. Then the last one had a good twist at the end. Then this one just bumbled along. 290 pages, and I knew EXACTLY who did it before page 200. And I was right. I even knew at about page 55 how Hannah would be rescued from the murderer and the murder hadn’t even happened yet! Can I say that they are getting a little too predictable? Mike is a jerk, but he’s not, but he loves her, but can he be faithful? Norman has been the solid rock through the whole series, but now he is acting distant. Too many cliffhangers left at the end – these are a series, but they still need to be able to stand alone. Anyway, I think this is the lowest score I’ve ever given one in this series.
39. Young, Restless and Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey With the New Calvinists – 5 – Collin Hansen – a re-read from last summer, but I am going to count it, anyway. I feel like I read it with fresh eyes.
40. The Perilous Roud – 4 – William O. Steele – read aloud with the older boys. Chris Brabson is a Tennessee boy at the start of the Civil War, and he hates Yankees. Then his brother joins up with the Union army. It is about learning that there are people on both sides of the conflict. One of the few Sonlight Core 3 or 4 books that the boys have really liked.
41. Your Child’s Profession of Faith – 4 – Dennis Gundersen – discussion of childhood conversions.
42. Easy Chairs Hard Words: Conversations on the Liberty of God – 4 – Douglas Wilson – discussion between an older pastor and younger man, answering the hard questions about doctrines of grace
43. ArchEnemy – 3 – Frank Beddor – book 3 in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy. It was okay. The first one was the best.
44. The Tall Woman – 5 – Wilma Dykeman – excellent story – reminded me of Christy, only more fast-paced. The story of Lydia Moore MacQueen and her family in the Smokey Mountains, starting with her marriage in 1864. A great story of family and faith, and forgiveness and working out Christian faith in life. Love, love, loved it.
__________________
And that is it!
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Other Side of Titus 2
In less than a week, I have enjoyed (sort of!) two different encounters that re-established to me that I middle age is here. Generally speaking, I don't dwell much on my age - I like to think I am doing pretty good, considering what I've been through! And, I had my children "late in life" (love that - when I was in my 30s). This means that as I participate in their activities, or host their friends at our home, I am generally with women who are younger than me. I still think I am 28 most days, so this seems to work fine.
This past week, however.....
Last week we were at a fellowship and I was enjoying a conversation with a young man, fresh out of college. We discovered that we had attended the same church, and lived in the same area. He said, "You went to Fox? Maybe you knew my mom!"
Of course, Nevin is laughing as I say, "Your mom? Don't you mean your older sister?" I then asked his age. Twenty-four. Sigh. "Okay, what's your mom's name?"
Then yesterday, we attended a fellowship meal at church. We had gotten the food all ready, the children seated and their plates ready. Then, as the ladies were getting ready to eat (I love it that the ladies get to fill their plates first) the pastor's wife turned to me and smiling, said, "Mrs. Koranda should go first because she is the elder woman."
WHAT!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!
Oh my, I was. Except for one senior lady (who did not stay for dinner) I WAS the elder woman. Granted, it is a very small church with only five other women, but I was the oldest. By two years.
Somebody get me my cane! I am wondering, too, if there is not something about potluck fellowships that is causing all this...
I was not so offended, however, as to refuse to go first at the buffet. No need to take too defensive a stand.
So, suddenly it occurs to me that I am, more and more, in the position of being the older woman. The Titus 2 woman. I have a responsibility to the younger women. Even though my chilren are still young, I do have some life experience. I have graduated college, held jobs, been married for 15 years, established a home, birthed four sons, gotten two of those sons into their double-digit years, homeschooled for eight years, raised some chickens, processed some deer, own a business with my husband....
And I think that I am holding up very well, especially considering what I have been through!
This past week, however.....
Last week we were at a fellowship and I was enjoying a conversation with a young man, fresh out of college. We discovered that we had attended the same church, and lived in the same area. He said, "You went to Fox? Maybe you knew my mom!"
Of course, Nevin is laughing as I say, "Your mom? Don't you mean your older sister?" I then asked his age. Twenty-four. Sigh. "Okay, what's your mom's name?"
Then yesterday, we attended a fellowship meal at church. We had gotten the food all ready, the children seated and their plates ready. Then, as the ladies were getting ready to eat (I love it that the ladies get to fill their plates first) the pastor's wife turned to me and smiling, said, "Mrs. Koranda should go first because she is the elder woman."
WHAT!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!
Oh my, I was. Except for one senior lady (who did not stay for dinner) I WAS the elder woman. Granted, it is a very small church with only five other women, but I was the oldest. By two years.
Somebody get me my cane! I am wondering, too, if there is not something about potluck fellowships that is causing all this...
I was not so offended, however, as to refuse to go first at the buffet. No need to take too defensive a stand.
So, suddenly it occurs to me that I am, more and more, in the position of being the older woman. The Titus 2 woman. I have a responsibility to the younger women. Even though my chilren are still young, I do have some life experience. I have graduated college, held jobs, been married for 15 years, established a home, birthed four sons, gotten two of those sons into their double-digit years, homeschooled for eight years, raised some chickens, processed some deer, own a business with my husband....
And I think that I am holding up very well, especially considering what I have been through!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Reading log, May 2010
Trying to keep this updated in a timely fashion!
31. Murder at Longbourn – 3 – Tracy Kiely – sort of cute mystery, not great. Lots of red herrings, some funny moments, but on the whole, pretty unbelievable.
32. The People of Sparks – 3.5 – Dupree – sequel to The City of Ember – read aloud with the older boys.
33. And the Shofar Blew – 4.75 – Francine Rivers – read for book club – story of a pastor who takes over a dying church with elderly congregation and turns it into a mega church, and loses his way. Very telling about seeker-friendly churches, etc.
34. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate – 4.75 – Jacqueline Kelly – excellent story of an 11 year old girl – Calpurnia – living in Texas in 1899. She wants to be a naturalist and study science; while her family expects her to spend her time learning to knit, tat, cook, etc. She is nurtured by the relationship with her grandfather, who lives with them. He is one of the founding members of National Geographic Society, and teaches her how to be a naturalist, to study and make scientific observations of the world around her. Her “evolution” is her growing and discovering what she wants to do for herself. It does ties in with the naturalist studies of Charles Darwin, but there is no indoctrination in his origins of man. It is more about his work as a naturalist. Her grandfather does upset her mother by wanting to discuss what the fossil record means to the Book of Genesis with dinner guests, but discussing ideas should certainly be allowed! All in all, if you can get past any predjudices against seeing Charles D.’s name anywhere, it is a wonderful story. Calpurnia reminds me of Flavia de Luce, but without the edge – she is a naturalist, not a chemist, and doesn’t have Flavia’s fascination with poisons.
35. The God of the Hive – 4.5 – Laurie R. King – the newest Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery. This was an immediate sequel to the last (which came out a year ago!) so it was hard to get back into the storyline. It was okay, not as good as the others. Mary and Sherlock were apart for about 90% of the book, and that is what I like best – the interaction between them. That is what makes the whole story. So anyway, that’s where we leave off – hopefully it won’t take her another year to write the next one!
36. The Unbearable Lightness of Scones – 3.75 – Alexander McCall Smith – next in the 44 Scottland Street series. It was okay. I’ve liked others better. This one had a lot of dull points. The last two were really good, so maybe this just suffers by comparison.
37. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – 4.5 – Rebecca Skloot – excellent non-fiction – in 1951 Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman from Baltimore – died of cervical cancer. Before she died the doctor took samples of her tumor, and grew a cell line from them. This cell line, named HeLa, continued (and still continues) to grow and has been used in every imaginable sort of experiment, developing medications and vaccines, testing the effects of space travel and nuclear weapons. Her children, who were basically uneducated and poverty-stricken - did not find out until 20 years later. It is the story of Henrietta and her family, and what happened when the world found out who the HeLa cells came from and how it affected their family. Usually this would not appeal to me, but it was a fascinating story from page 1. Highly recommend.
31. Murder at Longbourn – 3 – Tracy Kiely – sort of cute mystery, not great. Lots of red herrings, some funny moments, but on the whole, pretty unbelievable.
32. The People of Sparks – 3.5 – Dupree – sequel to The City of Ember – read aloud with the older boys.
33. And the Shofar Blew – 4.75 – Francine Rivers – read for book club – story of a pastor who takes over a dying church with elderly congregation and turns it into a mega church, and loses his way. Very telling about seeker-friendly churches, etc.
34. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate – 4.75 – Jacqueline Kelly – excellent story of an 11 year old girl – Calpurnia – living in Texas in 1899. She wants to be a naturalist and study science; while her family expects her to spend her time learning to knit, tat, cook, etc. She is nurtured by the relationship with her grandfather, who lives with them. He is one of the founding members of National Geographic Society, and teaches her how to be a naturalist, to study and make scientific observations of the world around her. Her “evolution” is her growing and discovering what she wants to do for herself. It does ties in with the naturalist studies of Charles Darwin, but there is no indoctrination in his origins of man. It is more about his work as a naturalist. Her grandfather does upset her mother by wanting to discuss what the fossil record means to the Book of Genesis with dinner guests, but discussing ideas should certainly be allowed! All in all, if you can get past any predjudices against seeing Charles D.’s name anywhere, it is a wonderful story. Calpurnia reminds me of Flavia de Luce, but without the edge – she is a naturalist, not a chemist, and doesn’t have Flavia’s fascination with poisons.
35. The God of the Hive – 4.5 – Laurie R. King – the newest Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery. This was an immediate sequel to the last (which came out a year ago!) so it was hard to get back into the storyline. It was okay, not as good as the others. Mary and Sherlock were apart for about 90% of the book, and that is what I like best – the interaction between them. That is what makes the whole story. So anyway, that’s where we leave off – hopefully it won’t take her another year to write the next one!
36. The Unbearable Lightness of Scones – 3.75 – Alexander McCall Smith – next in the 44 Scottland Street series. It was okay. I’ve liked others better. This one had a lot of dull points. The last two were really good, so maybe this just suffers by comparison.
37. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – 4.5 – Rebecca Skloot – excellent non-fiction – in 1951 Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman from Baltimore – died of cervical cancer. Before she died the doctor took samples of her tumor, and grew a cell line from them. This cell line, named HeLa, continued (and still continues) to grow and has been used in every imaginable sort of experiment, developing medications and vaccines, testing the effects of space travel and nuclear weapons. Her children, who were basically uneducated and poverty-stricken - did not find out until 20 years later. It is the story of Henrietta and her family, and what happened when the world found out who the HeLa cells came from and how it affected their family. Usually this would not appeal to me, but it was a fascinating story from page 1. Highly recommend.
Saddle Up Your Horses......For the Great Adventure
I haven't blooged much, even though so much has been going on in our lives - I am not able to put into words what God is doing with us. Our family has been on such an incredible journey the last few months. We left our safe harbor and have voyaged out, and it has been amazing. Unsettling at times (most times!). Scary sometimes. Hard to figure out what to do with all my "mental free time" now that I am not focused on that anymore. But it is a wild adventure - we have met so many people, been sucked into worship and studying God's word and doctrine in a whole new way, re-committed to our original family goals that we made so long ago. Right now, I just feel like anything is possible, and hold on - the ride gets bumpy at times. The Holy Spirit is showing us things and leading us in directions I never imagined, and my hunger to read my Bible, and study doctrine, and learn from those who have gone before is just growing.
Life right now is like that Steven Curtis Chapman song:
"Saddle up your horses - we've got a trail to blaze!"
This is the great adventure!
Life right now is like that Steven Curtis Chapman song:
"Saddle up your horses - we've got a trail to blaze!"
This is the great adventure!
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