Shine Bright Book Release!

The Girl Defined devotional releases today!

Things are crazy busy over here, but I want to share this new book with you! I love the books and articles that Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal have put out in the past (I did a review of Girl Defined here in 2018), and I am so excited for this devotional. You can get it at www.girldefined.com/shine, and there is going to be an online study group going through it together starting June 1st, if you want to join!

Isn't it pretty?! And my launch party copy arrived like a present this afternoon. I haven't had a chance to sit down with it yet, but I will be getting to it this evening, and I will be giving a full review on it soon! (I plan on reading through the devotions during the launch, and then going back through it at a slower pace to do the "study deeper" with some friends :).) I'd love if you joined!

I have several posts coming up... I just need to edit them (and add pictures!). A lot has happened the past few months. And then next month has a full plate, too. But until then, have you heard of Girl Defined ministries before? Have you done a devotional you would recommend lately? Let me know if you get this one!

Rejoicing in Hope,

Ambrielle

Of Dragons and Novels

Let me start off by wishing Tori a very happy 17th birthday <3!!!

Since this is Tori's birthday, and Tori both loves Lord of the Rings, and is the main reason that I came to love Lord of the Rings (it's not that I didn't love the books... it's just that 56 page chapters are really hard to find time for when you refuse to read less than a chapter in a sitting), and because Tori is having us re-watch some of the movies with her because she's re-reading the books, and because we celebrated her birthday today with a dragon theme, and because there was a neat blog party that happened, thrown by The Edge of the Precipice, that I totally knew was coming and totally forgot about while it happened... I decided that this would be an appropriate post to share today, despite it's being too late to be a part of the blog party (if I read my own sister's blog regularly, I wouldn't have missed it... but one fun fact about Tori: she changes blog/addresses frequently, and it means that I AM NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO HER BLOGS, and it's a problem, hahaha). So, without further ado, some of my thoughts on Middle Earth...

1.  What's your favorite Middle-earth story/book? Confession... I have only read one book of the smaller stories. So, I'm not exactly an authority here. Next time I read the series, I want to start with the Silmarillion and go through completely in order, but it is safe to say that I don't see that happening until after Christmas. But thanks to Tori, I have quite a good working knowledge of the other works, because she used to explain to me frequently at night the story line of each new book she read (I managed to stay awake about 50% of the time). But I believe my favorite book will always be "The Return of the King". Faramir, Aragorn, and Samwise all get their (mostly) happy endings, and it's got the death of Theoden, which I do not appreciate at all, because I wanted him to have a happy ending too, but also I do, because it's one of the few book scenes that has ever made me actually cry tears. So most of my favorite characters are taken care of, anyway... Second would be "The Hobbit". Let's face it, the style is wonderfully humorous but careful not to be a real comedy given it's perilous setting.

2.  Do you have a favorite subplot? When the people of Rohan get brought into the story, I feel like everything gets even better. It doesn't hurt that they are known for their horses, the Rohan music is my favorite theme in the movies, and that I love how kind Theoden is to the hobbits in the books. I mean, I love Aragorn's story, and I love the way Sam does everything he does out of loyalty for others, but I often think of Rohan/Rohan people when I think of the parts of the story I like best. But this seems like a main theme to me, so I am not sure it counts as a subplot. I think the smaller subplot that I love the best is Boromir + Faramir, trying to serve their people and please their Father, and both having huge struggles through that... Faramir staying true, no matter what is thrown at him, and Boromir's repentance after he succumbs to his Father's path/the ring.

3.  What's your favorite theme in Tolkien's books?  (Can be in one specific story, or overall.) I love that throughout the darkest time Middle Earth has ever faced, they face the future with hope. They fight not for power, but for right; and it's often the small things that bring the biggest change. They refuse to give in to despair, but do just what has been give to them to do, so that other's may know joy.

4.  Do you have a favorite weapon from Middle-earth? I'm partial to the swords, just because they have backstories, and I am all for your possessions having sentimental value. Haha... yeah, I'm not a weapons-loving person at all.It has to have some other purpose as well, haha.
If it had said tool instead of weapon, the answer would have been Sam's rope and herbs ;).

5.  Would you like to be a hobbit? Let us think about this: Hobbits love food, are very social, but love home, but also love to do something new just often enough for you to wonder when it will happen next, love to garden, are short... don't ask if I'd like to be one. Just give me a Hobbit hole, because I already am one ;). 

6.  Do you have a favorite romance/couple? Aragorn and Arwen's romance is my favorite. They are so patient and so willing to lay aside their own happiness for those who need them. It's kind of a back story we don't know enough of in the actual book, but we learn more in the appendix (Mama actually went years thinking that that was all elaborated in the movie, haha), and I think it's sweet. But I kind of like elements from them all, haha :). Someone pointed out that one of the biggest theme's in Tolkien's romances is that they all go through a period of waiting before their romance is realized, and that was based off of his own relationship with his wife, and I thought that was a really neat take from that!

7.  What's your favorite Middle-earth creature?  (Can be "real" or "imaginary.") ??? I mean, by creature, do we mean... everything but the men? I don't want to think that hard, haha. My favorite animal is Bill the Pony. He deserves all the apples Sam was able to give him.

8.  What character do you look the most like? Ah, yes. If you were to ask my sister and her best friend, I am the spitting image of a random elf in the scene where the dwarves first arrive in Rivendale in AUJ, if I would just straighten my hair (the elf who first talks to them, and says Elrond isn't there just to turn around and see him coming). I don't find this very flattering, but... really, there isn't anyone better, because I don't look like anyone,  so, I guess you can laugh over that if you know who that is...

9.  Are there any books about Middle-earth or Professor Tolkien (but not written by him) you recommend? Ahem. I've never read any, haha. The closest I came to reading a book about Middle Earth that wasn't the books themselves was also written by Tolkien, but compiled by someone else, "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien". Seriously, he reminds my sister and I of a gentleman from our VA choir, and he was really quite neat! 

10.  List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the Middle-earth books and/or movies.
Sam's quote. Obviously. Who does not find that quote (you know the one) the best quote and the perfect theme explanation of the story? So I went with a few "lesser" ones, since it wasn't "top ten" quotes that were supposed to be listed ;). In no particular order, here are ten of my favorites that come to mind/I have previously saved. (But I am thinking of so many other parts that are too long to quote - most of them surrounding the people of Rohan. Or Sam.)

"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

"'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

"Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. 'Farewell, King under the mountain!' he said. 'This is a bitter adventure, if it must end so; and not a mountain of gold can amend it. Yet I am glad that I have shared in your perils - that has been more than any Baggins deserves.'
'No!' said Thorin. 'There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!'
Then Bilbo turned away, and he went by himself, and sat alone wrapped in a blanket, and, whether you believe it or not, he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. He was a kindly little soul."

"There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark."

"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater."

 "Praise from the praise-worthy is beyond all rewards."

"Hold your ground, hold your ground. Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”

"I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them."

On My Book Shelf ✽ Girl Defined + Little Life Moments

Good afternoon everyone! I hope your day has been wonderful and that your week has been blessed! It's hard for me to believe it's already Wednesday for some reason. But I am here to talk about lots of little things of varying importance, for anybody who would like to discuss them with me ;)!

You may have heard of this book before... it was actually really big in the circle of blogs I read for several months, but I was late to the trend, as usual ;). (My tbr list is so long... Mama bought this book like a year ago and I just finished it, hahaha...) It has a gorgeous cover (and interior, actually - the design is so pretty!) When I finally got around to reading it, I had heard enough people mention it that I knew that it was either really, really good, or I was going to be disappointed to find that it was way under the standard I had been told it hit ;). But having finished it, I can say: it was really, really good.

Within 24 hours, I had gone through the first 4 chapters (considering I wasn't skipping the study section and bible studies always seem to take me a while to go through, this is definitely saying something for this book!) Reading through the first chapter I kind of felt like it was going to fall short... until I was hit with a bombshell that I hadn't expected, and then I instantly became excited to go through the rest! I had heard a lot about this book in the context of biblical self image and modesty, and really didn't expect much more from it through most of the first chapter, but then there was just one little sentence that jumped out at me (I think it might have even been in the study questions, not the actual chapter!) about finding our identity in Christ or in... well, literally anything other than Christ, and I got a glimpse of just how deep this book was going to delve, and it truly made me stop and think, and then I couldn't wait to get into the rest of it! This book covered so much... loving the Lord with your whole heart, using your time wisely, finding your identity not in what other's think of you but it who God has called you to be, living bravely for Christ, the jobs a girl could take on (do you think they were able to give an answer that would work for everyone without knowing their circumstances? It was the best way to answer that question I have seen!), how we have been placed here "for such a time as this", and yes, modesty and self-image... directly and indirectly, it dealt with SO much, and I loved it.

Kristen and Bethany write like they are right there, with plenty of stories of their own shortcomings to encourage you that they've been here and they know; but they have also been blessed to see the truth, and they want to share it with all the other woman out there. I truly loved going through this book... it was such an encouraging read, but more than that, it was refreshing. I am going to say that 95% of everything in this book is something that I have thought through in the past. But looked at from a new perspective, it wasn't redundant at all. And it's sisterly advice "spurs on to good works"; whether this is new to you or you are well versed in these matters, whether you are working steadily or are feeling discouraged. It was easy to read, but deep to think through, and I honestly look forward to reading it again! It's definitely going to be one of the top books I recommend after this :)!

(For those of you who wanted to know when I shared the Undivided study, yes, this book (as Undivided did) uses more bible translations than the KJV when sharing verses. I read the ESV and HCSB along with the KJV habitually, so this wasn't a problem for me, but for those of you who's conscience would be hurt by this, I didn't want to accidentally deceive you by not bringing it up. When a translation that I don't feel is the best is shared in a book, I know I can always look it up in my own bible to "rightly divide the word" for myself; if you think that you can do that, I still wholeheartedly recommend this book, because it is such a blessing!)

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In other little news from today...
Noah this afternoon woke up from his nap and yelled for me. I came to lay down with him, and he gave me the tightest squeeze, gave a sleepy smile, and told me, "Oh, so comfortable. It's not 4 o'clocks yet." And went back to sleep <3.
For the curious, "4 o'clocks" means nap time is over. He may get up at 4 o'clock... sometimes he tried to test us by telling us it is 4 o'clocks ahead of time ;). Unfortunately, unlike him, we can read a clock ;). But this is the first time he has voluntarily said it was NOT 4 o'clock just to get to stay at nap time, I found it adorable.

I'm working on a new "thing" for the shop today :D! Daddy suggested this one, and I have to say, I love it. As soon as he suggested it I knew 1. It needed artwork. 2. I wanted it to be a chalkboard (although, now that I have finished the design, I also really want to make a happy, colorful canvas one, so, we'll have to see about that!). So last night, I sat down and freehanded a sketch of an ice cream cone, and today I dug out a chalkboard! I had some issues with my photoshop which was frustrating, but once it cooperated, I loved how the design turned out :D! This was actually my first time using the graphite transfer method on a chalkboard, and it IS possible, soooooo... lots more ideas just opened up where chalkboards are concerned. *wheels turning* And what does everyone else think? Should I add hearts around the ice cream cone, or not? Here's the original sketch...

And I am ridiculously pleased with how that fast draft turned out. I am no artist, y'all, so forgive me my excitement. But I pulled up a pinterest sheet of ice cream doodles and combined about three to make that ^. Peter was sitting beside me, pointing out all the mistakes I was making ("THAT ice cream cone doesn't have a cherry!!!" - he told me I must not know what I was doing, hahaha), but when I finished my pencil sketch and started tracing over it with a permanent marker so it would show up well in photoshop, he goes, "Woahhhhhh, you are a good tracer though!!!" We all have our skills ;).

Speaking of the shop... Under The Tapestry is celebrating 3 years on Friday, and I am holding a contest on my FB page and running sales all week long to celebrate :)! So you'll want to check those out here and here.

How is your week going? Have you read "Girl Defined"? If so, what was your favorite thing about this book? Would you add hearts around the ice cream cone? And are you going to join in Under The Tapestry's contest :D?!

Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri <3

Undivided: A Study in 1 Samuel ✽ Bible Study Review

It's the middle of July. In SC. And I am chilly. Yes, I know I am insane.

So, I have a cup of hot chocolate in my hand, obviously, and I have been singing snatches of LifeWay's 2018 VBS songs all morning because I helped with a local VBS and now I truly believe they are stuck in my head for life, and some of them were great songs, but they won't stop playing on repeat in my head, and so please help me.

BUT, if this sound track can maybe stop running through my head for a few minutes ;), I wanted to share with you a bible study that I just finished up on Sunday :)!

I am in a blogger group on Facebook (By His Grace Bloggers, if anyone is interested in joining us!), and one of our blogger friends in the group just released a new bible study, "Undivided: A Study in 1 Samuel". She offered it free for those of us in the group in return for a review on Amazon, and you know me, I love the bible studies that lead you through the passage, especially when they are free ;), so I jumped right on board! I enjoyed this study so much though, I wanted to share it with y'all, as well!

"Undivided" walks us through the book of Samuel, making clear that this is not simply a historical book for Israel. "The hero isn't Samuel or David, but God." Throughout the whole book, we are given glimpses of God at work, bringing about his plan, showing favor to those to whom He will show favor, keeping His promises no matter the circumstances, showing His might, protecting His people, and yes, punishing the wicked and trying the faithful; we see Saul rejecting the gift he has been given, the favor of the Lord, and giving his heart to earthly things, and we see God raising up David, a man with an undivided heart for God (with human failings, yes, but dedicated to honoring the Lord in all that he attempts, and repentant when shown his sins), to lead His people to Himself.

As soon as I opened the PDF book file, I was intrigued, because I was expecting a chapter by chapter study, like most; but no, it is set up so that you went through section by section, instead! You all know that the original manuscripts didn't have chapter and verse numbers. Well, this study is set up to go through a scene of the book a day, instead, and I loved it! I feel like you get a better feel for the setting when you do it this way. One passage that especially stood out to me as being "different" going through this way was 1 Samuel 13-14:46. Somehow, before, I have never really caught that Saul's fear of the Philistines and disobedience in the offering of the burnt sacrifices was so close in time to Jonathan's fearlessness in God and breaking his father's vow that not a man would eat all day. Somehow, that just seems so like Saul, unable to obey himself and yet so soon forgetting that other men can make mistakes as well. Obviously, that has never changed, it's always been in the passage the same way, but things like that stand out more and make you think when you read them in connection with each other rather than in bits and pieces. So that was one thing I really enjoyed about this study!

Another thing that I loved was that, in a section for application/reflection, additional bible passages were shared, and there were questions to ponder through, like most bible studies ;). But I found that these questions were very easy to spark your thinking to ponder for a few minutes, but that they also were very easy to carry further, and you could really spend a lot of time working through them and studying through them and really examining yourself; so I think it works great either way! Stephanie had a great way of writing, too, that drew you in and kept you engaged, and also made you think a bit more about how the passage fit together, with those around it and with the rest of the bible. I wrote down several selections of her comments in my notebook!

This study is set up to take 14 days, but there is a suggestion that you could read through the day's passages one day and then do the bible study work the next day so it would take 4 weeks, and I think I would suggest that. I got through it in 3 weeks, I think, because I was truly trying to do a day's assignments all together, but I just couldn't quite do it. That might have just been me, though. I am pretty sure I have mentioned here before that the Doorposts bible studies that I love are supposed to take 5-20 minutes a day, depending on the assignment, and I routinely take 45 minutes no matter the assignment, haha ;). I just get sucked into all the extra stuff you can do on the side, and usually end up writing, cross-referencing, note-taking, and researching a lot!

Have you ever done a bible study on 1 Samuel? Are you interested in "Undivided"? You can find this bible study on Amazon here!

Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri

Fluffy Hair and Picture Books

This little guy has had that little tuft of hair standing straight up ever since his last bath. We have combed, wet, and combed it again countless times, but it just WILL not laying down, haha! It's adorable...

One of my very favorite things to do with my little brothers and sisters is to all pile on my bed with blankets and picture books. I love a sweet story with perfect pictures :). Daddy was laughing at me last night, because Tori and Mama were telling the little ones that they had to find me before they started reading the new children's books that had just come in the mail, because they both knew that if they read them without my knowledge, there would deep disappointment ;). Josiah has been very into books lately, and Tori wanted some new stories to read to him, and she thought the Pigeon books would be the very thing.

"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" was first introduced to us by my Aunt. She is constantly either taking the little ones to the library, or going there and picking some books up before we get there (depending on how long we'll be staying), to read while we're visiting. I was about seven when this was one of the ones she brought out, and I spent a good bit of my time during the rest of the visit drawing the pigeon until I had him "perfect". Haha! It WAS exactly like the one in the book... looking at him now, that isn't all that impressive ;), but at that time I thought it was, haha!

The ones Tori got this time were a couple of the ones with the duckling in it as well... I think they are her favorite simply because the duckling reminds her so much of Peter, haha! She was reading them last night, and it has the duckling "scootity-scoot-scoot"ing onto the page, and she was like, "Peter! You even scoot when you walk! I don't how, but that's what you do!"

Have a good night! I'm off to do some reading with a couple small people :).

Five Years in the Finishing

Look what book I finished this afternoon, right down to Appendix F!

Mama started reading "The Fellowship of the Ring" as a family read-aloud when Emmi was a baby, but Tori and I were the only ones interested at the time, so after that first book, she told us to just go ahead and enjoy them at our own pace. Which I have finally done. Haha! It's not that I don't read -although I don't read as much as I would like. And it's not that I'm terribly slow, though I might be slower than Tori or Mama. I just have this really weird thing, where, if I wait more than two months to read the sequel to a book, I feel like I have to read the first book over first. It doesn't work out well for a book like one of Tolkien's works. I think at this point I have heard or read "The Fellowship of the Ring" three times ;). And at the same time, I find reading fiction and history books very addicting once I start in, so I try to only read them when I know I have time to enjoy them to my heart's content, which also makes getting through something as thick as this a challenge ;).

But I decided last year that I was going to get through the series. This was partly because Tori has been very firm about the fact that all people who want to call themselves human must read Tolkien (I'm joking... kind of ;) )... and partly due to the fact that when I asked if I could read her "Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien" book, she told me that it was not a book to be read before Lord of the Rings, as he gives plenty of spoilers. I was surprised at how much of the book she had NOT recited to me, given how many late night hours she has spent giving me "must-know" details, haha :).  I liked Théoden and Faramir better in the book, and the hobbits' sass at the end of the book was a highlight, haha! Aragorn's background that wasn't given in the movie was also very important to his character, I think, though I understand it would have taken a lot to get it in. I will say, the series was a wonderful read... but after five years on my reading list, I'm glad to have finished it ;).

Have you heard the term "secondary obsession"? Tori and I heard it a few months ago, and it's gotten frequent use between us since then, haha! This is supposedly where *you* are not obsessed with something because you found it and loved it, but because someone you love found it and loved it and made you love it with them, and now whenever you see something connected with that, you have to comment on/get it, maybe not because you love it, per say, but just because it reminds you of your friend/family and all the good times you've had discussing this thing they love, haha :). I've kind of had that on my mind as I was reading the appendices of this book, haha. If Tori hadn't read it first, and told me some if the neat details he slipped into them, I probably wouldn't have read through them ;).

"Saturdays and Teacakes", by Lester L. Laminack

A friend told me about "Saturdays and Teacakes" a couple years ago, and I have wanted to read it ever since. It fully lived up to my expectations :)! This book was adorable! The pictures were sweet, the story was told in a very engaging way, and I loved to see the relationship of this little boy to his Grandma!

"Saturdays and Teacakes" is told from the perspective of a little boy living in a tiny town. One Saturday he wheels his bike out onto the street, just like he does every Saturday. Passing all the landmarks he holds familiar, he pulls into the yard of a very special person, who is waiting for him every Saturday... just for him! He helps his Ma-maw do some yard work, and then they bake and eat a delicious snack together before he heads back home to wait, with eager anticipation, for next Saturday.

"The Family Daughter", by Sarah Bryant

I've talked about the "King's Blooming Rose Ministries" before. It's my favorite magazine, and they have many other resources as well... challenges to purposefully set aside time to grow in the Lord, online articles, books and other goodies :). Mama ordered me this book, "The Family Daughter", several months ago, and it was no exception, it was so good :)!

Miss Bryant talks about many of the different areas of being a christian daughter serving our family, from following the Lord, to interacting with your siblings, to honoring your parents, and using your time wisely. She writes in a well thought, easy to read tone, including many real-life situations, and opinions from other girls. Each chapter ends with a list of resources that relate to the topic, which I thought really gave this book a nice touch and made it a great "ground work" book for girls who may have been just recently convicted by the Lord to follow the path of investing in the lives of others to share His love with the world. At the end of each chapter is also a short testimony from other daughters who have embraced the calling the Lord has given them.

I especially loved Sarah's chapter on our relationships with siblings, and her thoughts on being humble. And her generous sprinkling of bible verses and quotes by people such as Elizabeth Prentiss made it even more enjoyable :)!

To read a short excerpt from the book, you can go here.

"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey", by Susan Wojciechowski

"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey" is one of my favorite Christmas children's books! This touching story coupled with beautiful illustrations shares the story of a wood carver so harsh that nobody will try to befriend him, and all of the children call him Mr. Gloomy. Nobody knows about the sorrow in Mr. Toomey's past, or the sentimental items hidden in his drawers. 

But one Christmas, a widow new to the area, with her seven year old son, ask the "best wood carver in the valley" for a very important favor. They have lost some very important items, and Mr Toomey must find out how -and why- to make happy sheep and an extra important angel, as well as a mother and child that "love each other more than anything else in the world"! As the Christmas season goes on, the wood carver is given gifts and lessons from young Thomas and his Mother, and is reminded of all that is important about Christmas. 

When Christmas Eve rolls around, Mr. Toomey is left with his hardest task, and finds joy in the midst of his sadness. And the next morning, a new nativity sits in the house of the widow and her son, and the village people see Mr. Toomey smile!

There is also a movie based off of this book, and it is also one of our favorites :)!

26 Books for Young Women

 

 Mama and I were requested to put this list of character-building books for teenage girls together, and I'll share it here. I've mentioned half of these titles before on my blog, but half of them are new. My Mom has put a * out beside all the titles that she finds appropriate for younger readers (Bethi's age- 9) as well.

"Will Our Generation Speak" -Grace Mally
http://tomorrowsforefathers.pinnaclecart.com/…/will-our-ge…/

* "Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends" -Mally
http://tomorrowsforefathers.pinnaclecart.com/…/making-brot…/

"One Thing I Desire" -Sarah Bryant
http://kingsbloomingrose.com/onethingidesire.html

"The Family Daughter" -Sarah Bryant
http://kingsbloomingrose.com/thefamilydaughter.html

"Letters to a Daughter" -W.B. Sprague
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/…/letters-to-a-daughter-o…

"Growing Up Duggar" -Duggar girls
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/growing-up-duggar-P005615677

"Esther & Ruth" -Ian M. Duguid
http://www.wtsbooks.com/esther-and-ruth-iain-duguid-9780875…

"A Young Woman After God's own Heart" -Elizabeth George
http://www.lifeway.com/…/a-young-woman-after-gods-own-heart…

"A Chance to Die" -Elizabeth Elliot
http://www.christianbook.com/…/elis…/9780800730895/pd/730895

"The Hiding Place" -Corrie ten Boom
http://www.lifeway.com/…/the-hiding-place-the-triumphant-tr…

"No More Wasted Years" -Olivia Bradock
http://teachinggoodthings.com/…/no-more-wasted-years-olivi…/

"Joyfully at Home" -Jasmine Baucham
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL…

"Its (not that) Complicated" -Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin
http://westernconservatory.com/products/its-not-complicated

"Before You Meet Prince Charming" -Sarah Mally
http://tomorrowsforefathers.pinnaclecart.com/…/before-you-…/

“So Much More" -Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL…

"Fathers and Daughters" –Barret
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/…/fathers-and-daughters-r…

* “Beautiful Girlhood”-Karen Andreola
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/product/beautiful-girlhood

* “How To Be a Lady” –Harvey Newcomb
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/…/how-to-be-a-lady-useful…

* ”Raising Maidens of Virtue” –McDonald
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/…/raising-maidens-of-virt…

Fiction:

"Stepping Heavenward" -Elizabeth Prentiss
http://www.lifeway.com/Produ…/stepping-heavenward-P005536376

* "The Basket of Flowers" -Christopher von Schmid
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/pro…/basket-of-flowers-the

"The Princess Adelina" -Julia Sutter (this on is rather an in-between book. All the happenings are historical, and most of the characters, but it is written in the style of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, with lots of added dialogue :).)
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/…/the-princess-adelina-an…

"Mother" -Kathleen Norris
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL…

* "Flower of the Family" -Elizabeth Prentiss
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/p…/newflower-of-the-family

* Mildred Keith series (7 books) -Martha Finley
http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/pr…/mildred-keith-book-one

* Elsie Dinsmore series -Martha Finely
http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/elsie+dinsmore
A list of the Elsie books in order can be found if you scroll down at this link...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Dinsmore


There are so many good books, and though we should always read looking through the lens of scripture, I think all of these will be a big encouragement to those who read them :). Are there any that you would add?

"Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors", by Voddie Baucham

I read this book a while back, and have been planning on reviewing it ever since. So here it is! It won't be as fresh in my mind as I prefer when writing a review on a book, but it was such a good one, I couldn't not share it :).

What have you been taught about the story of Joseph? Maybe, like many people, it was used when you were little tell you that you shouldn't brag to your brothers. I mean, look at all the trouble that it brought to Joseph when he told his brothers his dreams about being royal! But was it also explained to you that Joseph's family had been known for their dreams (his father was the one who saw the staircase to heaven, after all!!!), and it probably wasn't Joseph's fault that he was the first family member who had bad consequences for sharing the things that the Lord showed him in a dream?

Did you know that to become second in command was not a blessing from the Lord, but a necessary trial to save his family? He was a Jew, chosen seed of God, ruling a pagan land while not being high enough to change the pagan laws, and given a pagan priest's daughter as wife!

And what does Joseph have to do with the gospel? A whole lot! You will be amazed at all the ways that Joseph's trials worked to bring about the events that worked in the background of the life of our Savior!

Mr. Voddie Baucham does a wonderful job holding your attention, making you think, and giving you details that you don't usually hear! This book really showed what significance this often told story holds, and how God's works are mysterious but perfect, and he uses some of the most unlikely people to carry out his will. One of my favorite parts of the book is where Mr. Baucham explains the tests that Joseph gives his un-expecting brothers.

This book was so good, and it will change the way that you look at the story of Joseph!

"Through Gates of Splendor", by Elizabeth Elliot

After watching a children's animation by the Voice of the Martyrs on Jim Elliot, I picked up this book and began to read it. It was so good, I finished it in just a few days, which is unusual for me lately, as I don't read as much as I used to!

The story of five young couples who came from different backgrounds and came together to use their strengths, the book shares how each couple was called to the mission field, how they learned to minister to the Indians, and how they found the "hidden" home of the Aucas, an Indian tribe so filled with fear that frequently lead to killings that nobody dared to interact with them. These five young couples - Nate and Marj Saint, Roger and Barbara Yuoderian, Ed and Marilou McCully, Pete and Olive Fleming, and Jim and Elizabeth Elliot- felt a burden to witness to them, and started Operation Auca. At first it was dropping gifts out of an airplane, then, after receiving gifts in return, they thought it was time to drop photos of themselves to familiarize the Indians with their faces. The men then set up a camp near the Auca's site, and tried several tactics to lure the Aucas to them, including calling out Auca phrases that an escaped Auca women, named Dayuma, had taught them. They had a visit from three Aucas, and felt that it went so well that they were sure to have a visit from the rest of the tribe quickly.

Two days later, they did have a visit from seven Auca men. Nate Saint informed his wife by radio that they had company, and he would call back later. That was the last time the women ever heard from them.

A rescue mission was set up, in hopes that at least some of the men were still alive, and just couldn't make contact. It was soon clear that this was not so. All five men were speared, and their plane was destroyed.

Though all five women had lost their husbands for the Aucas, and several of them were left with very small children to raise, they worked with another pilot to continue the gift flights with no thought of revenge. Their efforts were rewarded when one day the two Auca women who had been in the party of three on that one encouraging day when the missionaries thought that their fear was over, ended up in the village where Dayuma lived. She talked to them of the incident, went home with them, and soon they came back with seven other Aucas to ask for the missionaries to talk to them of God's word. Elizabeth Elliot, her daughter, and Nate Saint's sister Rachel went and worked with them for several years.

This story was so touching. One of the things that impressed me while I was reading it was that, while written by Jim Elliot's wife, she humbly did not give any more account of her and her husband's work then she did the other missionaries- or even just of her husband. She obviously saw their work and results as a whole, and would not be biased just by being closer to one of the members of "Operation Auca".

There are pictures (at least in our copy) included in the book... some of the pics of the Indians had already been colored over in our book when I got to it. Just throwing that out there, haha :).

This was Elizabeth Elliot's first book. She has written several others, including "A Chance to Die".

Books for Young Girls

After my post last night, I was asked for book suggestions for a younger aged girl that would be more on their level, while still stretching the mind and character :). These are some of the books that I have enjoyed, and think would be especially wonderful for girls ages 7-10, although older and younger girls would enjoy them as well, and boys would enjoy at least half of them too :)!  

Geoff and Janet Benge's Heroes of History books, "Chirstian Heroes: Then and Now". These are awesome history books, thorough enough that Mommy and I always learn something from them, but written in such a way that they really hold children's attention well. They are never too graphic for young readers, but always give an accurate description of the life of those they share about, and never hiding their faith in God, which is a big plus :)! 

"Making Bothers and Sisters Best Friends", by Sarah, Steven and Grace Mally. This is such a good book! Written by three siblings, who share stories from their life about their own relationships with their siblings, it gives biblical thoughts on why and how we should pursue relationships with our brothers and sisters :).  

"Little Susi's Stories", by Elizabeth Prentiss. Elizabeth Prentiss made it on the list again ;). She wrote three short stories, that have been compiled in one book: Little Susi's Six birthdays, Little Susi's Six Teachers, and Little Susi's Six Servants. Little Susi's Six Servants was probably my favorite when I read it several years ago, all about her "servants" (hands, feet, mouth, etc.), and how she could use them for good for others :). 

"Mary Jones and Her Bible", by Mary E. Rope. The story of a real girl, this is such an eye opening story!!! Mary Jones is a young Welsh girl who desperately wants to own her own bible, but as they are expensive when she is growing up, it seems impossible. She saves up for years, and eventually, through twists and turns, receives her bible with great joy! We take our bibles for granted, but for some people, that is not the case!

"Raising Daughters of Virtue", by Stacy McDonald. This is a wonderful study book that my Mom worked through with Tori and I when we were really little. I would suggest doing it with your daughter, not only to help their understanding as you go through it, but also to build memories that they will hold for many years to come (speaking from experience, here :)...). As the chapters are fairly short, this should be easy to do, especially if you already have a time set aside for read-alouds :). 

"The Bishop's Shadow" and it's sequel, "Theo, the Big Brother", by Ida Treadwell Thurston. I've heard that there is another third title in the series, but have not actually seen it to comfirm if it is a third book, or if the second book's title was changed later. These are just some of the most precious books!!! Boys would definitely enjoy these as much as girls, but it had to make it on this list because I value it so much! I wrote a review on the first one here, and my review on the second book can be found here.

"The Little Girl's Treasury", by Annie Brooks. A collection of short stories for girls, covering a quite large array of topics considering it's small size :). From stories of the influence a sister has on her younger brother, to how prayer kept a baby safe from a tiger, to using your time wisely, it includes a lesson in each story.

"Before You Meet Prince Charming", by Sarah Maxwell. My Mom would probably have read this book before giving it to me (or at least read it with me) when I was younger, because of the topic, but after reading the book, I don't think that there is any issue with giving this to younger age girls! It centers around the story of a young princess keeping herself pure for the man God will have her marry, and after each section of the story, gives practical insights on how the same principals apply to the lives of modern day princesses :).

"Basket of Flowers", by Christoph Von Schmid. Ohhh, this book. I don't know how it didn't make it in yesterday's list! (Because I was only writing ten... truthfully, I think I came up with another ten right after posting it, haha!). This book is such a sweet story about a gardener and his daughter who is falsely accused of stealing from the countess. The gardener teaches so many stories while he and his daughter work with the flowers that he uses as his illistrations. This book is kind of old, so the language structure might be a bit difficult for new readers, but I don't think it's that big a deal :). I wrote a review on this book a couple years ago, that you can read here. 

"Amy and Her Brothers", by Sarah S. Baker. A story of four orphaned siblings, this story is one of true diligence and forgiveness as Amy and her brother Will provide for and pray for their wayward siblings, Harriet and Pick. With a happy ending, and many lessons, it was a wonderful book :).

The "Moody Family" series (total of eight books), by Sarah Maxwell. These books are such a great book on family unity and ministry :)! This fictional homeschool family is a great example of a family following the Lord in many different settings, as they witness to neighbors and family, work together, and experience normal life. Everybody loves these from Emmi to us older girls :)!

There are so many books out there that young children can read, but not learn from, but these are some of the books that our parents have carefully picked to train, and not just entertain, us we are younger. There are many others that I could mention... of course there is "Little Women", and the "Little House on the Prairie" series that I have fond memories of reading often when I was little, and so many others... but these should be some fun, lesser-known ones to get you started off with :)!

My Top Ten Books for Young Ladies

My friend Katie tagged me on Facebook to share my top ten books that come to mind when I think of good books. While I was writing it out, I thought that I'd share it here, for those of you who may want to take a peek and aren't on facebook :). The Bible is, and will always be, the most important book in my life, especially the book of Romans, which I have special connections with after studying it with a friend (the one who tagged me, actually :)!), and the book of Ruth, which was the first study that I did with Mommy. I don't know why it took me so long to ask her to join us... I think that the conversations we had and the insights that we got to share back and forth, even when I didn't have time to talk to any of my friends who were studying it with us, will always be a very special memory that I will cherish :). But, after the bible, the ten that first came to mind while I was writing this list were...

"It's (Not That) Complicated", by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin. This was a wonderful book on keeping your heart pure for man that the Lord has for your husband, for being content if God's plan is not that you marry, and for preparing for life no matter where the Lord places you!

"Flower of the Family", by Elizabeth Prentiss. A fiction book, but so good! I greatly enjoyed this book about a young girl in a large family who, through the trials of this life, chooses to learn from them rather than despair. Think "Five Little Peppers" for older girls, how could it not be good ;)?

"The Hiding Place", or pretty much anything by Corrie ten Boom :)! Corrie is such an inspiration, she followed God through such unbearably hard situations, and yet still continued to hold on to her faith, to forgive others, and to share her Savior's love, even when it was all she had to share!

"Will Our Generation speak", by Grace Mally. This book was so convicting. There are so many people who have never heard the gospel, never known that God loves them. Can we sit by and watch as they continue in a life without God? Grace shares stories on how and why she witnesses, and gives practical tips on starting to share God's love yourself.

"Esther and Ruth", by Iain M. Duguid. I mentioned this book in my Thankful Thursday last week. You know I have a very high opinion of it ;)! I have never heard anyone write a commentary in quite the same way that Mr. Duguid does so on these books, but all of his thoughts are very well written and biblically based!

"Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors", by Voddie Baucham. this was another eye opening commentary on another often-told bible story! It tells how Joseph fits into the plan of salvation, and not simply how you can use him to teach children not to brag to their siblings ;).

"One Thing I Desire", by Sarah Bryant. I read this book about four months ago. It was *such* an encouragement! A book on why we should thirsty for the word of God, practical ideas on how to study it, and the blessings that can be seen when we fill our minds with God's plan and abide by it!

"Stepping Heavenward", another book by Elizabeth Prentiss :). I love her books, haha :). Written in journal-style, it follows the life of a woman through her life from her teenage years through her adulthood as she learns the ways of our God.

"No More Wasted Years", by Olivia Brodock. This was a really good book, and, being shorter and written in a easy-to-follow manner, I think it makes a great "beginners course" for those who may be curious at what fruitful stay-at-home daughter-ing is all about, or a wonderful refresher course for those who know what they believe, but feel the desire to have their resolve strengthened in times of second-guessing.

"Joyfully at Home", by Jasmine Baucham. This was a great book about many aspects of the christian young lady's role... in church, in family, at home, out of the home, while talking to young men or older ladies, relaxing or cleaning house :)!

There are sooooo many others that I could list, but maybe this list will spark your interest with at least one of the titles :). What are your favorite books?

Thankful Thursday, Week 68, 69 and 70... Weeks 64, 65, 66, and 67 To Be Made Up For Later, Haha :P...

Heeheehee. Life has been busy! Very, very blessed! But very, very busy ;). And actually writing out my thankfulness for the blessing through the week is usually the first thing to go when life gets busy, although I hate that pattern. But I am happy to have a chance to get back into writing out all that I have to be thankful for the past month (plus some...)! Things like...
~That we didn't have to move ourselves.
~Car trips full of laughter...
~...And Rubik's cubes (which Tori and I solved, haha!)
~...And reading "Will Our Generation Speak?" by Grace Mally. Mommy bought me the book for my "car treat", and it was wonderful! It had a lot of food for thought.
~That we have all of our stuff from storage.
~The swing set outside.
~A large laundry room!
~Our large double story deck.
~Overall, all the large amounts of space ;).
~The green backyard.
~The squirrels, birds, butterflies, and even a humming bird, that visit that yard :).
~Baskets and rubbermaids.
~Peter's "charming" smile. The one were he sees you looking at him and slowly grins with one side of his mouth before it spreads all over his face... It's adorable :)...
~"Traditional" pictures...

~The gift basket that Daddy's employees sent us.
~The warm welcome we have received from Daddy's friends here.
~The welcome of our neighbors, as well :).
~The cup we found to replace Emmi's special one, after I melted the straw in the dishwasher :(. I felt so bad, I am so glad we found another!!!
~That we are almost unpacked.
~The King's Blooming Rose magazine, and Miss Sarah's switching our address such late notice :). This last issue was a blessing!
~To be caught up in my bible reading, haha. I had fallen really behind in the one year reading plan while reading through Romans and moving as well, oops... But I'm caught up now :). Actually, I am ahead, because Bethi dated the plan wrong, and I didn't realize until I was a week ahead ;).
~The help Daddy gave me making an order for a "customer" as good as possible.
~Yarn :)... and the pattern book that my dear friend gave me a couple years ago that I use on average every couple of months (thank you so much, K! I have gotten so much use out if it!)
~Laughter.
~Friends who have blessed us with meals, before and after the move.
~Pens and pencils, paper, and all the other fun stuff that comes with writing letters to dear friends and family :).
~Family nights.
~"The Runner from Ravenshead". This movie was adorable, and went hand in hand with "Will Our Generation Speak?", that I had just finished reading when we watched it :).
~The girls room with all it's fun nook-and-cranny type architecture :). Plus all the storage space for books, toys, clothes, nicknacks... plus the special bedroom set that used to be Mommy's, that she is going to remodel to fit our room :).
~Our huge closet.
~The chest that Uncle Jerry made that we now own.
~The special quilt that Mommy's Grandma made her.
~Andrew's delight in finally sharing a room with Peter :).
~Home cooked meals! We missed these while moving ;).
~And the yummy grilled meals that Daddy has made us lately :).
~Baked oatmeal. Mommy made this several years ago, but none of us remembered what it tasted like. I made some a couple weeks ago, and it has become a favorite. The baked apple oatmeal is delicious, as well :)! Both recipes are from tammysrecipes.com :).
~Accomplished projects.
~Tori's new haircut.

 ~How quickly we can mow here ;). I miss our SC yard in many ways (the garden probably looks pathetically uncared for right now... I miss working in it.), but it is surprising how quickly you can mow here, haha!
~I am also thankful for the friends that mowed our large yard back in SC for us about a week ago, no small feat, especially since they also have a large family!
~To be back into the six month bible reading that Katie and I have been doing (minus a few months to do a study of Romans ;).) since December last year ;).
~To be able to read the same version of the bible that the Pilgrims brought to America with them :). I am working through that, the Geneva version, now :).
~The gorgeous tea party that Tori invited me to the first of this month :).

~Getting to bake with Tori.
~The whistle of a tea kettle :).
~"Old-fashioned" cookbooks.
~Craft ideas.
~Flowers.
~Beautiful tea sets that have been used during the making of several fun memories :).
~Towels.
~Our water filter
~The new air conditioner in our third story attic room!
~Beading supplies.
~"The Lost Medallion". This was another really good movie, although it might be a good idea to screen it before letting little ones watch it (which we didn't know at first, haha! All ended well :).)
~Daddy's suggestion (and help in the accomplishing) of making a double-marker tatted bookmark. He was as thrilled as I was when it went very well on the Hidden Treasures auction. Haha! I was shocked!
~Peter's love for cookies.... he was adorable yesterday (and slightly whiny, hahaha!). His little pout face as he tried to reach a spoon to eat it with, haha... it was hard to tell him no more...
~And Peter's little "mark it with a 'B'" motion he does when asking to play pat-a-cake :).
~To be posting a Thankful Thursday again :)...
~Our Ninja blender.
~The smell of a baby's fresh washed head, heehee :).
~Ministry opportunities. Daddy is working on setting up one that I am really excited about :)...
~All the tatting shuttle winding Bethi has been doing for me today :). Thanks Bethi!
~Tatting thread, which I am going to go use :)...

Gardening Fun

Look at our little garden...

I love it! I hate bugs, but I love gardening :)! Any way you do it... as a family project, with a little one for some one-on-one time, or alone while thinking or watching the birds playing across the yard (we've had some bold black and red birds lately), I love gardening :). I love that the bees are visiting it more as the cantaloupe flowers and that the butterflies are more plenteous at this time of year, as well :). I like mowing and other yard work, as well, but that can seem not-so-great after three hours of it (I'm not sure if gardening would be the same? I've never gardened for three hours straight ;).) ;). But weeding, watering, and harvesting I could do any day (and do :) ). I'm going to miss the garden when we move, I'm afraid it is going to be too late to put in a new one there and get anything this year...

It had been a week since I last went out, and I was worried at what I would find, it has been a while since we watered it :P. So it was a pleasant surprise when this is what I found...

Tiny cantaloupes finally forming! This is the largest at the size of a tennis ball :)... Little fuzz ball ;)! And peas, and cucumbers, and tomato flowers :)...

I rushed through weeding so that I could show everybody ;). I was thankful that the plants are so big now that they seem to be choking out the weeds instead of vice versa ;). I took in the peas first, I couldn't carry everything at once...

Bethi's peas vines have done amazing, in the past two weeks we've pulled off a handful or two a day to get that bowlful :).

Abbi was thrilled that her Sugar peas were finally plumping up, too :). (Peter liked them as well ;).)

Then I went back out to get the cucumbers... I told everybody to "stay right there!", and Mommy ran thinking I was bringing in "something slimy" ;). Look at all of those!...

 

Ten cucumbers, with at least twice as many tiny little cucumbers that should be ripe by next week! It was sooo much fun to lift up a leaf and find one, then wonder if there were more, pick up another leaf and find three at once, and continue finding them :)...

You can't shell peas inside. Sorry, it is just wrong. Maybe I'm over sentimental. Or just crazy. But I had to take Abbi out ;).

We finally got everybody outside, and everybody was almost as excited as I was ;). 

"Look at that baby cucumber!"

Oh, but he saw a bird ;)...

"Please help, Mommy? He's right there!"

Emmi loved the cantaloupe :).

And we don't have a picture of Tori with the garden :(. I'll have to get one of her with her basil tomorrow. And her tomatoes! I *love* the smell of those tomato plants!!! Each plant has it's own smell, basil and lettuce and tomatoes, and even peas... weeding is really fun with such diverse smells :).

And speaking of gardens, the book "The Garden Where I Grow", by Gary and Jan Bower, is a wonderful book with biblical rhymes about how lessons from the garden go with lessons from the family, accompanied with beautiful watercolor illustrations!

"And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden..."

                                                  ~Genesis 2:8