2018 - book 26

What’s the Difference
(Manhood and womanhood defined according to the Bible)
John Piper
Pages: 82

A short little book on the role of men and women in the church for single or married people. It would be interesting to discuss this in a group setting with others, to encourage each other to follow the Bible’s commands and challenge each other where we fall short.

A quote:
My earnest prayer and challenge for you is...
13. That you developed a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short , that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, and hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all of your might and maximizing your joy in ministry to people’s needs.

2018 - Book 25

Pages: 150

This is the best Martha Peace book I have read this year (of 4). Each devotional is two to four pages long and is followed by a list of questions on the topic.  There are about 10-15 questions for each chapter.  It is a good conversation starter. My favorite part of the book is the two to three books that are suggested as resources on each topic.  I like that you could go do further research on them if you wanted.  I haven't seen that in many books and I always appreciate book suggestions.

2018 - Book 24

Pages: 190

I read this to the boys. It is cute, but kind of silly. 

2018 - Book 23

Pages: 230

I heard the author interviewed on Fresh Air last year and knew I wanted to read this book. He was discussing all these housing policies that I had never heard. Crazy stuff. Information that we should all know and struggle with. How could former generations have treated people so badly? And how do we do the same thing these days?   It is an excellent book (a bit dry - it is written by a lawyer after all). My children will be reading this book for school when they get older.

The book discusses how many administrations (since slavery was outlawed) have continued practices that have discriminated against people of color.  FDR was one of the worst.  The housing part is so interesting.
* Did you know that returning WWII veterans were denied housing loans by the VA if they were black?
* Did you know that many neighborhoods created covenants that banned the sale of a home to a black person in that neighborhood (and that many of these were sponsored by churches and colleges)?
* Did you know that the FHA would only loan money to developers that would build all white communities and promised to not sell to black people?
* Did you know that when FDR built many of the interstates in the country that they went through black communities and that the government did nothing to help them find alternative housing after they demolished their houses? This forced them to double and triple up in the areas that they were allowed to buy houses in.
* Did you know that projects used to be for middle-income people?
* Did you know that governments would either evict blacks that moved into a white community or allow people to harass them until they moved?

I didn't know. I put it on the list of books that every one should read. It is in my top 5 for this year (I think I have more then 5 in my top 5 by now...)

Here is the author's webpage to read even more of his writing.
I found this article especially fascinating: Five Social Disadvantages That Depress Student Performance (Why Schools Alone Can't Close Achievement Gaps). 
The part about lead poisoning is interesting.

And again I am left with wondering what I can do about this...

2018 - Book 22

Pages: 190

Jared read this to me while I was working on various projects around the house. I read it for the first time two years ago. It is excellent! The Devil character is so creepy. The book always makes me think.

Sunrises and Sunsets

Sometimes I dream of owning a house that overlooks a field and where I can watch sunrises and sunsets from a porch, in my rocking chair or hammock. I probably won’t and I am okay with that. I’m okay with seeing the occasional sunrise or sunset at a friends house or on vacation or on a walk. Because sunrises aren’t the ultimate thing they simply point us to a greater beauty. And what is coming is going to be so much better.

So often when I find myself longing for something it is because it is pointing to something greater. And if I never get to experience the reflections and small glimmers of the ultimate beauty in this life it doesn’t matter because some day I will be able to experience in full. Thinking about these things puts my priorities in order. I don’t have to chase after fleeting pleasures of this world. I don’t need to have it all now. I don’t need to see every sunrise and every sunset.

Now I see but dimly.
Then I shall see face to face.
Now I know in part.
Then I shall know fully.
(Paraphrase) 1 Cor 13

2018 - Book 21

These are the three books in the trilogy. 

The copy I found at the library looked like this.
pages: 250

The boys both loved this trilogy.  We read it in four days. The story and the illustrations are delightful.  The boys were intrigued by the map in the front and back of the book. The story follows a little boy that goes on an adventure to save a baby dragon and the adventures they have together. The boy and animals can talk to each other (that is never explained). The boy leaves home several times for several days or weeks and the parents are perfectly fine with that (that is also never explained).

It was a fun read. We were gifted the books on cd for Christmas and are saving them for a car ride this summer. Do you have any other suggestions for books on tape for kids in a car? I really want to do the Narnia radio theater, but I don't think they are quite old enough... I don't want to ruin it by reading it too early.

2018 - book 20

Pages: 360

5 million people in Ukraine died in the 1932-1933 famine. It was one of several that the USSR used to purge Ukraine of its history, language, and leaders. This one was the worst. 

It was a little slow getting into this book. There was a lot of background information about Ukrainian and Russian relationships in the years leading up to the famine and of several earlier famines caused by Russia. But after that everything else is fascinating, tragic, and awful. Awful in a way that you can't stop reading and wish you could stop what is happening.  

Russia still denies the famine happened today. The last two chapters on the effects of the famine on future generations and politics today is some of the best information in the book.  It really helps frame some of the events that happen in the world today and makes them easier to understand. 

As a side note: This is also the second book this month (April) that I am reading that mentions FDR in a negative light... maybe I should read more about his presidency.  

It rained for five days and five nights.

I love rain. I love grey weather. I love sleeping with the sound of rain. I love playing in the rain and splashing in puddles and getting soaked. We have had five days of steady-never-let-up-crazy-rain-all-day weather. Five day. Five nights. My parent's field has ten inches of water and all my tomatoes and potatoes and strawberries and watermelons will die... my neighbors' yards are flooded... it is a little much. All of the bugs have had enough and are starting to seek dry land (aka my house).

In a more positive spin, because my parent's field flooded thousands of frogs decided it would be a good place to mate. The boys and I caught four pairs of frogs and let them lay eggs in a container. Hopefully we will have baby tadpoles in a week or two. It is more interesting to study the life cycle of frogs with a real life example.

2018 - book 19

Pages: 139

Read to the boys. 

Not a huge fan. 

How is this a classic?

Hiking

We've been doing a lot of hiking (when we are battling stomach illnesses or colds). And we picked the first strawberries of the year.

2018 book 18

Pages: 220

My book loving friend, Caitlin sent me this book hot-off-the-presses. I was as excited as the pictures show and equally surprised. It is wonderful when a friend "gets you" and what you love! Thanks so much, Caitlin. 

This book was amazing and challenging.  I hope to put some of it into practice soon.  I am mulling over and praying about a bunch of ideas. It is exciting (and terrifying) to be on the brink of maybe starting something new. ESL feels like that right now too. 

This is one of my top five books this year.  You should go read it. I'd love to discuss it with you if you do.

I quickly went and purchase 5 more copies to give to friends. :) 

2018 book 17

Pages: 350

I read it to the boys. They loved it. We looked at the illustrations in both books. 

My new phone is newer than my old phone.
It is more advanced than my old phone.
It takes better pictures than my old phone.

It will not let me blog pictures without jumping through several hoops.
Boo.

I have updated kitchen pictures of my new counter tops. Hopefully I’ll get to a computer soon and can blog them.

2018 - book 16

Pages: 336

I've got to start reading shorter books. :). But all the interesting ones are long. 

Easy read. 

Interesting story. 

Another good glimpse of people living in poverty and its effects. 

Also, did you know that it wasn't until 1975 that doctors had to explain procedures and side effects to people and have them sign a consent form?!? 

And that doctors were doing medical experiments on people without their permission throughout the 1950s and 1960s? And still some in the 70s? And that they probably were much later than that. Some of the experimenting was harmless and some of it was horrible. This book only touches on a few of those practices as things happen to side characters, but it was enough to surprise me. Wow. 

2018 - book 15

Pages: 187

The best book I have read on the refugee situation. Excellent resources and ideas. 

Same Chair. Different Boys.

We love our books!

The boys are rough and tumble a lot of the time. There is a lot of yelling and jumping and running and fighting.  I don't want to give the impression that we just sit around and read books all day. :)   But every so often things quiet down and I find them reading to each other. It is a beautiful thing.

I sent my mom the second picture and she messaged me back with the first picture. How funny are these?

 I wish I had taken this photo from the other side because the lamp, table, pile of coasters, basket of blankets under the table, and aloe plant would be in it (they are all still around).  You can kind of see the quilt rack in the back of this picture (Jared's coat is on the top of it). And Meems was wearing the same socks as Martin in the first picture today.

The Past Two Weeks....

Wow. The past two weeks have been rough around here. A stomach bug has been sweeping through the house hitting us one at a time about every 4 days. I've missed church two Sundays in a row. *Very sad about this!*  You never realize how grateful you are for church until you miss it. 

Warbs had the virus (I think) 2 weeks ago, then Martin last Saturday, and Meems woke up throwing up on Tuesday night. Throwing up babies are so pathetic. :(  Just when I thought we might get to relax and rest up Warbs had an infected finger (that required a doctor visit Thursday) and my phone died Friday which required many hours setting up a new phone (thankfully, a dear friend had just given me her old phone a few weeks ago).  And then Saturday night was my turn to get ill.  I haven't felt that terrible in a long time. I could barely walk around on Sunday. I spent the entire day in bed or on the couch. It was dreadful.  

I am so very thankful for my friends.  I also haven't felt this loved in a long time. I cried. Several people offered to bring me meals. One dear friend left me chicken noodle soup and homemade bread on my porch on-her-way-to-church! That chicken noodle soup was a lifesaver!  And can you get better than homemade bread?  It is so much better than dry saltines. 

Jared took care of the boys.  I have no idea what they ate or did.  He somehow managed to watch them and make a meal for Sunday night dinner. 

Thankfully, I woke up about 85% today.  Thanks to a shower, chicken noodle soup, and an almost full night of sleep. God is so good. I have about 100 projects to work on that have been put off for the last few weeks.  But I have finished lots of books (I have posted ahead through May now - book 22 just finished).  Today I sewed a pair of pajama bottoms for Martin and finished a doll dress for one of my nieces.  I will post pictures of both of those eventually (the blogger app no longer exists and I am trying to figure out how to blog from my new phone)...Why does everything have to change? 

2018 - book 14

Pages: 180

The sermon series is better. I listened to them my year in graduate school while I was engaged. I re-listened to most of them this Fall. It is such a good series (As is the series on Unbelief, When I Don't Desire God, and on Job - in case you need some other suggestions).  If you have time, listen to the sermon series.  If you want a refresher course or do better with reading, read the book.  The book is edited.  So, you will miss some information from the sermon series. And you will miss the passion and wonder in John Piper's voice when he explains the glory of marriage as being a picture of Christ and His church.  

This is one of my top three marriage books because it describes what the ultimate purpose of marriage is. It isn't to make us happy. It is to display the glory of God in our marriages by showing the world a picture of Christ's love for His church.  

Here is the link to the first sermon in the series:

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/staying-married-is-not-about-staying-in-love-part-1

The series is called, Marriage, Christ, and Covenant. 

There are 14 sermons. 

They are all excellent. 

I listened to them when I was engaged, a few years into marriage, and last year. 

Robot

Paper bags are fun.