Gleaning From the Past

Good Monday morning to you all! It was a lovely weekend here. The temperatures are below normal and it was raining yesterday, giving my gardener the weekend off from watering. *grins*

I find myself in a seeking mood.  I am drawn to all things old.  I have a thirsty desire to glean from ages past, especially the late 1800's to early 1900's.    This knowledge that I am seeking is all about home keeping.

Last night I curled up with a couple good "books", I will call them books, for it was indeed from my computer that I read.  Gutenberg.org is one of my favorite sites.

The first is called, The Book of Household Management by Mrs. Beeton.  This book is more geared to a household with servants.  It was fun to read, anyway.  I just read the parts pertaining to the mistress of the house.  It has volumes on each servant's role.  Very interesting.  However, since I do not employ a house full of servants, the next book was more relevant. 


I also read bits from The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking by Helen Campbell. Some of the ideas are a little out dated, but there are real gems in these old books too.  I really liked the chapter entitled, "A Day's Work" in Mrs. Campbell's book.  The first sentence amused me.  Finally someone who understands! 

"It is safe to say that no class of women in the civilized world is
subjected to such incessant trials of temper, and such temptation to be
fretful, as the American housekeeper."

I like this quote, too. 

"In the beginning, then, be sure of one thing,--that all the wisdom you
have or can acquire, all the patience and tact and self-denial you can
make yours by the most diligent effort, will be needed every day and every
hour of the day. Details are in themselves wearying, and to most men their
relation to housekeeping is unaccountable. The day's work of a systematic
housekeeper would confound the best-trained man of business. In the
woman's hand is the key to home-happiness, but it is folly to assert that
all lies with her. Let it be felt from the beginning that her station is a
difficult one, that her duties are important, and that judgment and skill
must guide their performance; let boys be taught the honor that lies in
such duties,--and there will be fewer heedless and unappreciative
husbands."

I am also revisiting Mrs. Child's book, The American Frugal Housewife .  

I plan to look for more books in this line of thinking.  My library is in want 

of any that I can find on my own. 

Do you have any good old books you might 

recommend? (Or blogs?)  

Beautiful Girlhood

Grace and I are reading, Beautiful Girlhood, revised by Karen Andreola.  I bought this book a couple years ago in preparation for the day when my Grace would be entering young womanhood.  It is hard to believe that we are nearly there.  I wanted to fill her mind with beautiful thoughts as she makes this difficult journey to womanhood.  We are just in chapter 9 and already I am so glad we are reading this book together.

"The great foe of these years is selfishness, and the girl who comes to the most perfect womanhood learns soon to fight selfishness with all her might."  page 27

Oh how I wish I had thought about these things when I was a young girl of almost twelve, like Grace.  It would have saved me many heartaches, for sure.  Unfortunately, I did not meet my Savior for many more years ( I was 20) and so I was left to my selfish ways for too many years.  Years that the Lord has redeemed to be sure, thankfully!

It is my prayer that my daughter can avoid the discipline issues that I struggle with.  Is it not what all mothers want, to spare their children pain?  Sometimes pain is the best teacher, though, and I must step back and let her learn.  

So, Grace and I will read this lovely book together and pray that she can be a girl who is wise and learns to fight selfishness with all her might for the glory of God!

Shaping of a Christian Family

Good morning friends. Are you enjoying a peaceful home this week? It's been a lovely week here. The sunshine and warmth does wonders for my soul. Here's a little post about a wonderful book I am pondering at the moment. It's the kind of book that you must not hurry through and you must go back and read it again, perhaps, as your seasons in life change. How I love and thank God for Elisabeth Elliot.

The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot is currently my self encouragement reading. Actually, I purchased this book many years ago.  I hung onto it, hoping one day it would "click."  Well, it has clicked!  I think I am finally through being spoon fed good books. Hooray!  It's embarrassing to say that I put this book down more than once and for more than a few years because it just did not make sense to me.  However, now I am finally mature enough.  I am certainly older!  And my family is beyond the baby stage, when I first tried to make sense of this awesome book.  Unfortunately, it would have been of great benefit to my family if I had persevered way back then!  *sigh*

The Shaping of a Christian Family is actually a sort of autobiography for Elisabeth Elliot's family.  It is  filed with remembrances from her mother and her father's journal entries sprinkled with Elisabeth's godly wisdom about raising a Christian family.  

The book begins with the history of Elisabeth's maternal grandparents and her parents.  Her maternal grandparents were Christians, but certainly not on fire for the Lord.  They lived a comfortable life with servants and big houses, lake houses too.  It was not until later that the family became devoted to Jesus.

Elisabeth's father came from a more modest family that was living for the Lord.  Her father decided to be a missionary in his late teens, about the same time Elisabeth's mother came to the same independent conclusion.  

I highly recommend this book. It is filled with godly advice, quotes from Scripture, and good old fashioned remembrances of time gone by.  This remarkable family serves as an example to the rest of us striving to bring up godly children.  It's just so encouraging to my heart! 

"The ordering of a peaceful home is not possible without the application of eternal principles.  It is, after all, mostly little, common things that make up our lives.  This is the raw material for the spiritual life. If we despise small things, regard normal household duties as burdens, routines as boring, rules too confining, we will never learn, nor can we teach our children, to live a life of holy harmony.  This takes faithfulness in the troublesome details first of all, learning to do them well that we may make of them an offering to the Lord, for it is His work, after all, given to us.  It is our daily bread for which we should learn to be thankful.  Such faithfulness is the ground-work for all God may ever ask us to do."
p. 129-130

David Livingstone, a Man of His Era

We have just finished  an excellent book about David Livingstone from the Christian Heroes Then and Now series called,  David Livingstone, Africa's Trailblazer by Janet and Geoff Benge.

David Livingstone has been criticised for not being much of a missionary or husband and father.  It is my opinion that he was just a man of his time, who had a God driven desire to plant Gospel seeds to previously untouched African natives. He did not feel called to stay in one place and water those seeds.

David  was an explorer.  He loved science.  He felt this love lead him closer to his Creator. He felt a strong leading to go into the interior of Africa, places where no other missionary dared to go.  He was driven to bring them the Gospel message. And during the middle 1800's, it was not uncommon for men to be absent husbands and fathers in order to do their work to provide for their family. It was common for missionaries to send their children back home for many years of schooling. 

At a very young age, David worked in a factory for 14 hours a day.  He lived in a one room apartment with his mother, father and siblings.  He could not go to school until after his shift in the mill was over.  He lived in a very harsh environment.  His father refused to allow him to read books about science as it was thought science and religion were not compatible.  His Grandfather gave him the books he craved behind David's father's back. He worked for 4 years just to save enough money to go to one term of medical school.  After that his brother helped him to go. 

When David finally arrived at his mission station in Africa, there were 40 converts.  The missionaries had been there for 20 years!  He soon learned it was very difficult to get converts as no one wanted to give up their traditions to do so.  He longed to go deeper into Africa and find people who had never heard the Gospel message.  He was not the typical "veranda missionary" who was afraid to leave the mission station's front porch and this caused friction between he and other missionaries. 

David had planned all along to be a single missionary, but God had other plans.  He met and married Robert Moffet's daughter Mary.  She had been born in Africa and raised by her missionary parents. She shared David's vision of going deeper into Africa to touch the lives of those who have never seen a missionary.  He even brought her and their subsequent children along on several dangerous treks, until one such trek he almost lost their oldest son to malaria.  Mary also gave birth and lost a little daughter.  After these events, he insisted, despite Mary's protests, that Mary take the children to Scotland.    She had never lived in a European country and this was hard for her.  They were separated for 4 years.

During that time, David struggled with malaria, strife with other Europeans who wanted to take his native friends as slaves, and loneliness.  But he overcame those things.  He also started working for the British government, looking for a way to open more of Africa.  He made many discoveries and made some mistakes.  He made huge personal sacrifices in order to open new areas in Africa to the gospel.  He was very interested in stopping slave trading.

This book has caused me to once again become lost in a missionary's story.  The author's consulted Mr. Livingstone's journals.  They had access to his heart motives.  His life was greatly celebrated by the entire world as a dedicated missionary explorer. 

"In the course of his wonderful career, Livingstone served three masters.  As a missionary, he was the sincere and zealous servant of God.  As an explorer, he was the indefatigable servant of science.  As a denouncer of the slave trade, he was the fiery servant of humanity."  Lord Cruzon

Elsie Dinsmore

I know that many of you already love Elsie. I am just so excited that it is finally my turn to get to be an Elsie fan that I had to write about this sweet series. 

The day is finally here!  My daughter just started reading devouring the Elsie Dinsmore books.  Is there a more inspiring series about a godly little girl you would love to be or have in your house?  (Please tell me if you know of one!)

I had been waiting and waiting for my little girl to have the desire to read these books.  We even checked one out last year from the library, but she didn't quite connect then.  I thought about buying the whole set once or twice, but at that retail price, I knew I should wait.  Thankfully, our library has some of the original books and the rest we can read via the Nook for free! (Aside note:  Why did they feel the need to write an adapted version, leaving out important information and ideas?  Ugh! Poor children these days!) 

I also just read the first book, to get an idea of what Elsie is all about.  Again, I cannot imagine a more godly child.  Sometimes it is a bit unreal how much she stands for her convictions.  Puts me to shame! My daughter says that Elsie is inspiring to her!  Indeed she is to me as well.  If only I had such a faith as she.  I cannot wait to read the rest.  I am kicking myself that I did not buy your books, Sally! 

So, if by chance you have a little girl or two at home, and perhaps you've not heard of Elsie, I cannot more strongly recommend this series.  If I had to do it over, I would have started reading them to Grace first, perhaps a year ago.  I think that would have caught her heart quicker.  Or I could have had her listen to them for free via Librivox.  I am just so glad that she is interested now.  I can see how the example of Elsie's obedience to the Word of God will help my little girl consider her own ways and follow suit.  At least that is my prayer! 

A Mother's Brave and Tender Love

"...for no matter how lost and soiled and worn-out wandering some may be, mothers can forgive and forget every thing as they fold them in their fostering arms.  Happy the son whose faith in his mother remains unchanged, and who, through all his wanderings, has kept some filial token to repay her brave and tender love." 

from Little Men, Lousia May Alcott 

(Oh, I am really enjoying this book!  My dear, not-so-little, son downloaded it for me onto the Nook when I was having a recovery day this week.  It is so handy to have a son who likes computer gadgets.  I would be lost without him to guide me through them all.) 

It's Monday!

I just had to post an update today.  I am feeling so much better!  I did not go anywhere or do anything this weekend.  It must have been just the thing I needed.  Thank you for your prayers. 

It felt so good to be out today.  The sun is shining, making the 30F temperature feel lovely.  It occurred to me that I had not been away from home since last Monday.  What a blessing! 

Oh, and I just finished another fantastic book, Cobwebs and Cables by Hesba Stetton.  You have to read it too!  (My poor husband was thinking he needs to get me my own Nook, after I hogged it all weekend.)   

Here is what Lamplighter says about the book.

" It is a story of man's decision to get caught up in sin out of desperation to serve the one he loves. But it soon becomes clear that one lie from a "truthful" man is more hurtful than all the lies of a liar. Those who yield to its power engage in an intricate path of falsehood-an entangling maze-that ever deepens as one lie builds upon another. As you wrestle with the characters in this engaging drama, rest assured that your confidence will grow, not in man, but in our loving, forgiving God."

How can you pass on this one?  And there are so many more!  For free!   

Now, I promised my husband that I would not start another book for awhile so that he can have HIS Nook with him at work.  At least until he finishes the book he bought for Christmas.  And since I am committed to debt free living, I will not press him to buy me my own Nook.  (Perhaps for my birthday in October.  Which is so far away!!!  *sigh*)  For now, I must learn to like reading from my PC.  Or rent my son's laptop!  He only charges a dollar an hour. 

~Jenn

The Nifty Nook

My dearest asked for and received a Barnes and Noble Nook for Christmas.  I've always known that he is smarter than me.  I asked for clothes.  Thankfully, he has graciously shared his nifty little reader.

I have downloaded two books for free so far. I have many more that I want.   I have always wanted to read the many free books online, but we did not have a lap top and I don't like sitting at a desk top to read.  Enter the Nook!  Now, when he is not using it, I am able to put it to good use.

I have to say that at first I thought having a book in hand could not be replaced, so I did not embrace his idea of getting one.  I am a book lover.  I want to be surrounded by books.  But wow, the Nook actually feels good in the hand and the pages look real.  Oh joy!  Free books that don't take up precious book shelves! It is like having unlimited book storage.  Just imagine!  And our library is getting more and more titles online to share too.  It keeps getting better!

Jeff did buy one book, George Bush's new one.  He's going to be asking for Barnes and Noble gift cards for his birthday in January.  That I know for sure! And from now on, I am going to listen to my dearest when he decides he wants a nifty new device. "So, Honey, what do you think of the iPod Touch?"


Follow Up Notes:
Link to Project Gutenberg's free books online.  

We chose the Nook because it is not propitiatory, meaning you don't  have to buy from just B&N. We learned this from our library.  People with Kindles cannot download books from there at this time.

Here's a link from Sally regarding more free books for the Nook.  (Thanks, Sally, I will check it out!)

Yes, JoAnn, if I am dreaming, I probably should go for the iPad, but no chance of that happening, so maybe I will look into getting another used laptop like my son's. But no time soon.  There is curriculum to buy soon.    

Book Review: Voices of the Faithful Book 2

I received my copy of Voices of the Faithful, Book 2, just in time for the new year.  My first impression of this devotional book is,"Wow!"  The cover is very beautifully done.  Turning the book over, I learn another nifty thing about this book,  all the royalties support the work of The International. Mission Board.


On opening the book, I learn that it is dedicated to "the faithful brothers and sister in Christ who lost their lives while serving Him internationally in 2008 and 2009."  I am momentarily humbled and remember there are so many who sacrifice everything.  In the acknowledgments section, we are given the charge:  "May these stories inspire you to pray for the nations like never before and perhaps challenge you to participate in missions by going on a mission trip or starting a career as a missionary."

Now I reach the Foreword.  (Of course, at this point, I want to jump ahead and get into the meat, but I must be a good, patient reader.)  Again, the reader is encouraged to let these stories strengthen their faith and desire to pray for God's work in this world.

The introduction is invitingly written by Beth Moore, to whom the idea for this and book 1 belong.  Mrs. Moore urges us to use this book to feel connected to brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world.  She reminds us that prayers matter.  Furthermore, she says, "If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are tremendously gifted to do something that can make God famous in your sphere of influence, however big or small." 

Each month is introduced by Kim P. Davis, a missionary.  As well as each month's entries has a theme.  January is "Prayer, the Priority."  February is "God, Our Loving Father."  March is "Divine Appointments."  April is "Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb." May is "Follow Me."  June is "The Power of the Story."  July is "Lost and Found."  August is "Making Him Known."  September is "Lessons from the Young."  October is "From Adversity to Triumph."  November is "Be Encouraged." December is "Hope for the World."

Each entry includes a verse from the Bible and a response from a missionary.  There is also a prayer at the end of each entry.  All go together with the month's theme.  

Personally, I am very excited to have the chance to read this book with my children this year.  In our studies, we are studying God's work in the unreached world .  It is my hope that this book will further encourage us to remember missionaries and the unsaved all around the globe. 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson free of charge in exchange for an honest review.   If you would like to receive awesome books to review, click here. 

Brace Yourself

There is just something about the coming of a new year that makes you want to try again at the things your failed at the year before.  I can't help myself from thinking about it all.  Maybe it comes as the result of the dull ache in my tummy from too many cookies this weekend.  My brain is saying,"Enough is enough!"

A couple weeks ago, for our family after dinner read aloud, we started reading Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. My husband has read a couple of the other "highly effective" books and found them to be very helpful.  While we appreciate Mr. Covey's wisdom, we began this book with a discussion about how the Bible is the ultimate "effective living" book. We find lots of opportunities to interject biblical principals.

All this to say, I am getting a lot out of this book.  It has made me take a long at myself .  It has encouraged me to be brave and face some short comings.  I am beginning with the end in mind and doing first things first!  Here is a great quote I re-read just this morning.

"The real tragedy is the tragedy of the man who never in his life braces himself for his one supreme effort - he never stretches to his full capacity, never stands up to his full stature."  
Arnold Bennett

By the grace of God, I pray that I can brace myself for the supreme effort it will be to overcome my unproductive habits.  With His help, the Bible says I can do all things.  I am praying for the strength of character I will need in order to live a more God honoring, God pleasing life.

Are you making any plans for the new year?
~Jenn

Making a Family Home

Browsing through the new books at the library, my eye was caught by the title, Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom.  At first glance I thought it was a decorating book.  Digging deeper, I found it to be just the opposite.  Mrs. Honeybloom offers good insights into making a home work for you and your family while maintaining order, peace, and safety with simplicity, modesty, and joy. She visits each area of a home and offers her thoughts on making the area pleasant and functional.  Now, as is usual, there are some things I needed to overlook, like some references to world views I do not hold.  All in all, it is a good book, a quick read, and if your library has it, I'd be sure to take a look.  You just might be inspired too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book: 

"I found that paying attention to my home was (and is) a way to ground myself in the center of all the information and noise of my life. Home is the place that forms the basis for a child's future. Home is the place where children are introduced to the world. Home can help children thrive and unfold and gather courage to meet their future."  (pg. 10)

"Having grown up during the depression, my grandmother, had the habit of not buying many things and fixing her things when they broke.  Her home was spotless and uncluttered.  Each item was carefully cleaned, place, considered."  (pg. 12)

I pray all my US friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your dear ones.  We will be hosting this year as the baton has been passed to my generation.  I will be honored to provide this to my family.  It's going to be a hard year without my grandparents here, a first. 
~Jenn

Not Ashamed of Economy

One of my favorite books to get from the library is, The American Frugal Housewife, Dedicated to Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy, by Mrs.Lydia Maria Child.  I love her informal and straight-to-the-point style.  I am sure her opinions were controversial in her day.  My favorite quote comes from the first paragraph.

 "The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost.  I mean fragments of time, as well as materials.  Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of a family, every member should be employed in the earning or saving money." 

 Fantastic stuff!  I also enjoy the chapter entitled, "How to Endure Poverty."  She writes,"A mind full of piety and knowledge is always rich; it is a bank that never fails; it yields a perpetual dividend of happiness."  She goes on to describe a visit to an alms house where she met a lovely lady contrasted with a bitter woman, both of equal misfortune.  I love the section of the book called, "Hints to Persons of Moderate Fortune."  She talks about timely ideas.  "Not one friend will be gained by living beyond your means, and old age will be left to comparative, if not to utter poverty."  There are some good recipes, too.  My 10 year old daughter made "Cup Cake," a very good shortbread type of cake.

Cup Cake
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
Mix together, bake for 20 min.  (The recipe doesn't give temperatures because I am sure that was not thought of then.  I baked it at 350. and it took longer.)

If you come across this little gem, give it a read.
~Jenn

Some Notes on Suffering

Just thinking about the idea makes me uneasy.  Suffering.  I admit that one of my favorite idols is comfort and ease.  However, if you've been on the road of sanctification long enough, you are going to run into the concept in a very personal way. 

I am reading an awesome book, Peacemaking Women:  Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict by Tara Klena Barthel and Judy Dabler.  In their book, they take a look at suffering in chapter two. 

Suffering tempts us to doubt the goodness of God.  I can remember struggling with this when I watched a good friend of mine die a few years ago.  She left a husband and 2 kids.  They were homeschoolers.  My small view of God caused conflict in my heart that has taken these years to resolve. 

The fact is, we live in a fallen world.  But, God  can use our suffering for His good, for our good.  Maturing in Christ requires our being willing to suffer.  2 Timothy 3:12 says,"Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution."  Through our trials, we become more like Jesus, if we submit our wills. 

Elisabeth Elliot puts a good light on this topic when she said,"Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose.  Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of the dice which determines our fortune or calamity - it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good." 

House Hunters, Planter Boxes and Life

(My mind is whirling, as you will soon discover reading this rambling post.)

Currently,we are looking for a new home to rent.  House hunting, even for us renters, is a dicey thing, especially the timing and the negotiating a fair rent. I am not ashamed that we are renting. We've owned two other homes for a total of 12 years. We made a drastic decision to get debt-free in four years, which included getting rid of the mortgage. It's been a long 3.5 years, but we've learned lessons and I think we are ready to be financially fit people.

(The current front runner)

I am so eager to get a place of our own again. We've been in a holding pattern for the last year, house sitting for friends who were supposed to move far away.   I am really looking forward to the privacy.  (They live in the garage apartment.)  And I really want to have a small garden box again. (I will really try not to say really again!) 

So, when I am not busy packing this month, I am going to again read this book from the library very soon. 

We so enjoyed our garden boxes at our last home.

We will get there again!  Maybe not right away, but we will recover from the move and then start building our boxes.  And we need to budget for camping as well, so we will have to go slowly. 

I am so proud of us. We are making radical changes, sticking to our budget, learning to live on what we make and to make do with what we have.  Go us!!  Sometimes it is not fun to wait, but it is always worth it. and if the Lord wills, one day we will own our own home again.   

~Jenn

Made From Scratch

Good day to you!  Had to share this wonderful read with you.  Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich  just may change your life.  (At least it has changed the way I am thinking about my life.)

I've always thought that I wanted to be a farmer.  I spent two of my younger years on a farm raising cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits, soy beans and corn.  Those were great times!  I was in the 5th and 6th grade.  My parents were still together.  My sister was alive.  We had 20 acres and a little, tiny two bedroom house.  What more could we want? 

My, I have such sweet memories of those days.  I learned to halter break my calves and lead them on walks down the deserted roads.  I tried to save a new baby pig from its ultimate fate when its mother stepped on him. Little Football, I called him.  I watched my cat have litter after litter.  I watched my cat barf up a mouse!  I played house in the haystack, in the garage, on the front porch with Barbie.  I swung on my tire swing.  I enjoyed meals outside on a table made at the prison.  We planted an evergreen tree that is still there. (The house and buildings are gone.)  We went to sugar-maple festivals and joined 4H and Girl Scouts.  We were rescued from a night at school by a neighbor who came to get us in his tractor during a bad snowstorm!  Those were two packed years of my formative times. 


I think that I have romanticized these cherished years to the point that every time I pick up a book, fiction or non, that is about farm life, I start to pine for something I do not have.  I am always searching for a way back to my life before the pain of divorce and sorrow entered.  Anyway, Miss Woginrich, I thank you for writing your book and inspiring others to go after their dreams. 

What is so inspiring is that Miss Wonginrich does not wait for life to come to her.  She knows what she wants and she goes after it.  She is purposeful, diligent and motivated!  She may have to work a day job, but that does not stop her from living her dream and encouraging others. 

I am inspired by her example to do the same.  But first I need to determine what I really want.  What do I really want?  I already have so much, not in material blessings, perhaps, but I have a totally devoted husband, three awesome kids, and the sweetest kitty on earth!  Not to mention the love of extended family and friends.  I am a blessed woman, indeed! 

In March, we will have a golden opportunity to move yet again.  We need to be so careful and choose wisely.  Do we want to rent a little farm?  Do we want to be in town?  Those are huge questions going through my mind right now.  Both situations would be very suitable for the stage of life we are in right now.  Reading this book has helped me to see more clearly what I want.  I can see my dream house so clearly, although, it may not include livestock just now.  I really want to continue to have our weekends free to explore and go camping, so animals are not really a good fit for now.  But that doesn't mean they would not be in the future.   

I found this picture that might give you an idea of what I am after.   

I so love porches, and this house has two, what a house!  We certainly won't find this type of house to rent in our price range, but you have to shoot for something when you are dreaming, right? I will be looking for a house with at least a small porch, a yard to grow some food in, and a big tree to hang a swing from. 

Sorry that I've not said much about the details of Made From Scratch.  If you are curious, you can get a feel of the book from the author's blog at Cold Antler Farm.  If you hurry, she is giving away a hand-crank radio if you leave her a comment telling how you told someone about her blog. 

Blessings,

Jenn

Simple Reading

"I imagined a simple kitchen, a farm sink full of soapy water, a view from the window that would lift my heart, and time enough just to stand there, fingers softening into wrinkles, slowly swirling a sponge across a china plate." 
~Discover how chores become therapy in Katrina Kenison's memoir, The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

Star of Light by Patricia St. John

Are you looking for a good book to read aloud?  One that will set your heart on missions?  One that will take you to a far away place where Jesus is just another prophet, but becomes so much more to the characters?  Star of Light will capture your heart from the start.  I could not put it down.  Thankfully, it is not a difficult book to read quickly.  Yes, perhaps the characters are a little lacking in depth, but the heart behind the story is what is so very charming.  We have read another of Patricia St. John's books, Tanglewoods' Secret.  It was equally delightful.  I cannot wait to dive into the next book, Treasures of the Snow.  We were blessed to find the original versions in our church library.  Perhaps you may find these books a blessing to your read aloud time or have an avid young reader who would enjoy these stories on their own.  If you need more ideas for reading, be sure to check out my library on the sidebar. 
~Jenn