To Be Still...Together~read-alouds to savor with your family this season...

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I admit that December feels magical until about December 3rd. This year that is when I hit my first "wall"~ completely overwhelmed, somewhat discouraged, and exhausted. So much I want to do, so much to do, and so craving to just be, to sit, to be still...to savor.

I read enough to know that pulling everyone together for a family reading time can be challenging. There is a certain extra exhaustion in reading aloud that is different than reading on my own. In spite of this, with my whole-heart, I recommend picking one book to read together this Christmas season.

Put cider in the crock pot, heat cocoa on the stove or brew a pot of tea. Grab lap blankets, rest in the glow of twinkling lights and snack on Christmas cookies (we like Trader Joe's seasonal varieties!) or sliced oranges and apples (my son's winter treat of choice). Be still...together, for a few moments each day.

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas reads:

This year for an "official" Advent read, my husband is reading through Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent. In past years we've read through Jotham's Journey, Tabitha's Travels, and Bartholomew's Passage from this series. Dear friends surprised us with Ishtar this year and it has been wonderful. Also, as a bonus, Ishtar's Odyssey is a journey through food with Persian food suggested for each day and each week. Theme food is my favorite.
 

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Wonderful picture books abound for Christmas, but these two have topped my list for many years: Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.

Mortimer is a house-mouse looking for more comfy quarters, so he continually is kicking each Nativity statue out of the stable. This is an adorable and creative telling of the Christmas story--love the illustrations too!

Some day I may be able to read The Crippled Lamb without crying. Joshua, a sweet lamb who has trouble keeping pace with the other lambs, sees how his limitations give him a very special gift during a monumental moment in history. 

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For any age, really, but great for Elementary...not just for girls!

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John—Written in 1948, set in Switzerland, the author felt that her country needed a story to illustrate the power of forgiveness after the horrors of World War II. I recommend making “gingerbread bears” decorated with white icing to munch and savor while you read this soul-stirring book.

Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald~Two orphaned sisters, living in a less-than-wonderful boarding house are determined to not spend another Christmas in this cruel place. You'll love these two girls~we picked this book for our mother-daughter book club several years ago and my son (then 11) was quickly sucked into the story.

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Tween to teen family read-alouds:

A Redbird Christmas: A Novel by Fannie Flagg—Quirky, captivating, hilarious, and heart-warming, this book features Mr. Oswald T. Campbell who upon hearing that he has only months to live, heads from Chicago to a small town “...deep in the southernmost part of Alabama.” My son finished it in less than a day. I recommend it to everyone. And next year, I think we'll make it a family affair.

I saw my FIRST red bird this September in Manteo, North Carolina when my husband and I were celebrating our 15 year anniversary. It was magical.

A Wreath of Snow: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Liz Curtis Higgs—Liz Curtis Higgs does historical fiction so very well and this novella is no exception. A wounded, hurting family and a man desperately seeking forgiveness are thrown together on Christmas Eve, 1894 in Stirling, Scotland. Best enjoyed on a gray and snowy evening with a steaming pot of Scottish Breakfast Tea and a piece of Scottish shortbread (sneak a peak in the back of the book for a recipe).

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens~I know nearly everyone has seen the play or watched a version of the movie, but there is something about reading the original.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well..."
Be Still...together...happy reading!

300 days of beauty, day 32 [stacks]

Stacks. 

Stacks of papers make me quite unhappy [I generally try to ignore]. Stacks of dishes, same reaction. Stacks of dirty [and clean] laundry...daunting. All sorts of stacks are nothing more than "a black fly in [my] chardonnay."

[Yes, I did just do that. Now you too can have that song running through your head. Sorry not sorry.]

But I love stacks of books. Sometimes I stack books in my window sill so I can enjoy them each time I glance outside. Weird, maybe. But in my heart, God created a love for story so ardent, I can do nothing to stem the tide.

My current windowsill assortment:

100 books, the finale

D generally uses his picture ledges to display books. I love it. These are favorites and currently reading selections.

I challenged my 11-year-old to read 100 books this last summer. His deadline: September 21st. He did it! [I'm simply slow at marking his feat here on my blog.]

I'm very proud of him. At some points he was reading more than one book each day. And yes, he did leave his room. He was not a summer hermit.

His last book: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (a favorite too!)

Five Favorites:
The Sugarcreek Gang series by Paul Hutchens--all 36 books

Once Upon A Marigold by Jean Ferris 

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

The Wingfeather Saga (4 books) by Andrew Peterson

 

300 days of beauty, day 4

I'm a huge advocate for reading "old books," those books which have stood the test of time and live to see another printing press. Of course, Louisa May Alcott is hardly an unknown author, but for me, this was an unknown book. I didn't expect to be sucked in and stay up until three in the morning when I first read it. (I even pretended to have fallen asleep so my husband wouldn't tell me to go to bed...he just let me "sleep" in the comfy living room chair.) 

The classics are comforting to me, this book continues to be a sweet read for my soul. This time around, I had the pleasure of reading it by a toasty warm fireplace in the mountains, on a bitterly wind-whipped day. Beautifully sweet.

Christmas reads..."Tis the Season!

I'm a sucker for seasonal advertising/products of all sorts. My husband says that all such advertising was created especially for me (and personalities like mine). It usually starts with the acquisition of all things pumpkin and cider and now we're on to gingerbread, cinnamon, and cocoa.

My kids make fun of me because my most commonly used phrase for food and activities is “'Tis the Season!” We soak, savor, and roll in the season.

I also love Christmas movies, books and novellas. I've already overdosed my husband on Hallmark Channel Christmas movies. He tries unsuccessfully to avoid rolling his eyes and mocking said movies that he graciously agrees to watch with me. For example, to quote my sweet and tolerant husband, it goes something like this: “Wait, are they going to get together? No way. I didn't see that coming. Oh, but first she has to realize that the guy she is with is not so great, and that she wants something more than success. But she'll make a choice to go back to her old life, but reconsider quickly...” And it goes on. Sometimes I indulge him and we mock them together. He's always on guard when I start a sentence with, “Did I ever make you watch...?” Make being the key word.

Movies will be saved for another day, but here are books I enjoy each season:

Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn—I love all books by Robin Jones Gunn and I enjoy this duo each season. A young woman's search for her father, an English village at Christmas time, a story best enjoyed with scones and a pot of tea.

A Redbird Christmas: A Novel by Fannie Flagg—I can't recall who pointed me to this read several years ago, but I enjoyed it so much I bought it. Quirky, captivating, hilarious, and heart-warming, this book features Mr. Oswald T. Campbell who upon hearing that he had only months to live, heads from Chicago to a small town “...deep in the southernmost part of Alabama.” It's fabulous, that's all I can say.

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury—It all starts at a bookstore in Nashville--a couple ministering through books, a man losing hope, and a friendship torn apart through deception. I love this read because I believe there is magnificent beauty in an ordinary life lived for relationship. We can change the world, one interaction, one word, one moment at a time. It matters. I have also seen in my life how powerful a good book can be...for wisdom, empathy, strength, comfort, so many things.

A Wreath of Snow: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Liz Curtis Higgs—Liz Curtis Higgs does historical fiction so very well and this novella is no exception. A wounded, hurting family and a man desperately seeking forgiveness are thrown together on Christmas Eve, 1894 in Stirling, Scotland. Best enjoyed on a gray and snowy evening with a steaming pot of Scottish breakfast tea and a piece of Scottish shortbread (sneak a peak in the back of the book for a recipe).

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary D. Chapman—No disguise here, a couple headed for divorce is given the gift of seeing their past, present, and future.

The Christmas Bride by Grace Livingston Hill—I wasn't sure when I started this book. Being an old book (published in 1934) the style is different than what I'm used to. On the other hand, only the best books survive 80 years after being published. Set in Chicago in the 1920's, Gregory Sterling is a man of character and you can't help but like him. I was smiling and laughing and yes, even crying in spite of myself.

I have also enjoyed Christmas books from the “Love Finds You...” series including Love Finds You in the City at Christmas, Love Finds You in Frost, Minnesota, and Love Finds You at Home for Christmas. The titles are such that you might be tempted to hide a copy you are reading under a pillow, but I thought they were well-written, sweet Christmas reads. If it bothers you to be able to guess what might happen, then they might irritate you. I love watching the journey characters take, and with all that we see in the news every day, I can sure use a God-honoring story with a happy ending.

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John—If you want a FANTABULOUS read-aloud for your family this Christmas season, this is the one. Written in 1948, set in Switzerland, the author felt that her country needed a story to illustrate the power of forgiveness after the horrors of World War II. I recommend making “gingerbread bears” decorated with white icing to eat while you read this soul-stirring book.

Happy, happy reading!

In His hands...multicultural book pick

I love picture books. Not all of them, but the good ones. Words that weave pictures, illustrations that capture the imagination, I appreciate these books more now than I ever did as a child. Don't show me anything created by Disney, Barbie, Dora...anything made from TV or movies. It's almost like literary abuse to allow these in print. 

My mom gave He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson to our kids years ago and it remains a favorite. We sing it instead of reading it, and although singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" can seem cliche at first, it becomes comforting. It has been versed as much as "Jesus Loves Me" and "the Lord's Prayer," but although we can sing and recite sans thought, the truth and value of the words is not negated.

Kadir Nelson's illustrations are so very beautiful--he "envisioned a multiethnic family, representative of the earth's diversity." It's quite obvious why this book has a permanent place on our shelves.

September 11th...

This morning I was driving my kids to the first day of their homeschool enrichment program. We usually listen to one of the Christian stations and it always warms my heart when they comment on songs they love and ask me to turn it up so they can sing. Today, being September 11^th, the dialogue over media airwaves is dominated by remembrances of this day. The station DJ spoke of this day and then played a clip of a sermon that Billy Graham gave several days after the towers fell. It is well worth the time to listen to him speak God' truth, reminding us that He is the God of comfort, that He reigns over and above all evil we see in the world. On this day we saw evil. It changed the world as we knew it, one of those days in history where you can remember exactly where you were when you heard, and then saw the reality, almost not able to comprehend what was happening, our minds struggling to even fathom it.

D didn't remember at first what that date signified, so to all of my kids, I reminded them. I couldn't even finish explaining it without the tears coming. In part, the tears stemmed from the great tragedy of that day. But they also came from remnants and reminders of heroism and resilience and God's presence in the midst of great darkness. I will not forget that when the towers fell, left visible in the mass of steel and rubble, a cross stood. Some would call it random. I would not.

Last fall we were in New York City. We visited Ground Zero, we saw the cavernous fountains bordered by thousands of names, we viewed the new Freedom Tower than can only partially make up for the skyline void where two great towers once stood--the Freedom Tower's mere presence a reminder of what stood in its place. It was sobering. 

We also toured St. Paul's Chapel, the church which stood closest to the Twin Towers. Not one window was shattered on this church when the towers fell. Not one. It became a place of refuge and refueling for fire fighters, aid workers, and all who served.

It was not my favorite "outing" in New York, but I don't want to live in a fairy land (well, maybe I do...). We have to face the reality of the world in which we live. This includes unspeakable, heartbreaking evil. But, while facing this evil, we need to look vertically to a God who reigns. Great evil should force us to engage with who God is. The Great I AM. A God of justice, mercy, tenderness, comfort, peace, so many things.

I write these words to neither be simplistic nor insensitive to how incomprehensible life can be. I know. I truly know. I have not lived in an ivory tower nor am I surrounded by a community of friends and family immune to the blows life brings. We don't have to “get” Him, but trust that He wins. All will be made right.

On this day, remember. On this day, pray. Pray for those who mourn, pray for those who protect and serve us, pray for those who plot evil, that they may be transformed by Christ. Pray for peace to rest in God's sovereign hand whatever comes, knowing He is with us. And pray that we can persevere in faith in spite of all that is set against God in this world. He is active and moving. He does not sit passively. His Word is true.

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P.S. I have read many biographies and autobiographies about and by Muslim background believers. Several have been written by men who were raised in or joined terrorist organizations. I would highly recommend these reads. They are extremely relevant in the world today and above that, they have given me hope. No hurdle is too big for God. He has claimed these men as His own.

The Son of Hamas by Mosab HassanYousef—His father was a founding member and popular leader of Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine...his story.

Once An Arafat Man: The True Story of How A PLO Sniper Found A New Life by Tass Saada—He was a Palestinian refugee growing up in the Middle East who ran away to fight for Arafat, becoming one of his snipers. His story of Christ's transformation of his life.

And again, Billy Graham's sermon in the days following 9/11, worth your time.

the definition of a beautiful day (and some school pics too...)

I have been avoiding writing. Even when I most felt the need to put my swirling thoughts to paper, I couldn't seem to muster up the mental fortitude to do it. But I needed to today, just a bit. To fight my mental and physical fatigue and jot my thoughts.

Today, I'm tired. School has been going really well these last couple of weeks. I like the flow and rhythm that I have set so far. But today was one of those days in which I couldn't quite speak with the patience required and deserved to my children. I felt myself talking and lecturing in circles, trying to instruct, trying to explain, trying to understand, but feeling like I need a course in "Navigating Your Child's Emotions 101." 

Even though today is quite "blah," I wouldn't consider it the norm. We have sparkling days, glimmering with smiles, laughter, goofiness, discussions, tea and crumpets, experiments, sidewalk chalk artistry, new feats, devoured literature, perseverance and a love of learning. Oh, and lots of character development...not just the kids, for me too. Sparkling still has its challenges and struggles or its nothing but a glittery veneer with Styrofoam underneath.

we did not kill the butterfly, FYI...

How my "today" looks is not my favorite look. I prefer the days where I put lots of check marks by school subjects, the house gets picked up, the kids don't argue (much), and I have motivation to move steadily through my whole day, in a perfect homemaker sort of way. I never have days that look perfectly like this, but I have days that feel in line with this and I like them. But every day brings its own look, its own battles, its own beauty, its own mess. And, His mercies are new every morning..." Praise the Lord.

So, here are my snapshots, my reminders of the beauty found in each day:

On this day where my window view shows gray skies with light breezy gusts rustling the trees outside, I'm thankful for the cooler temperatures. Fall is coming and it's my favorite.

D has spent the whole day helping an elderly neighbor with his yard. He loves doing it. He didn't expect to miss this day doing school, but because we homeschool, he can do this. And in my opinion, his work today is just as valuable if not more valuable than a day with his textbooks.

I have two sweet girls who graciously forgave me for my harsh words to them. It is hard to fail in front of my kids. It is good to fail in front of my kids (and ask forgiveness) because failing is a part of life, sinning is what we do. They need to know that I'm human, I need Jesus too. They have to learn to walk in this world. Confessing their sin to God and people, sharing their burdens, will be a protection for their souls. I want them to resist the facade of perfectionism and the Gospel-denying platform of shame. If how I deal with my failings and struggles points them to engage with God in everything, I will be well-pleased.

seriously, Arctic mermaids...

We're enjoying our last week of the pool. In spite of the gray skies, Cece and Belle will make the daily trek. They are die-hard and I love their happy pool smiles. I never tire of seeing their goggle-clad faces underwater. They literally smile and always wave at me when we're all underwater together. I can't quite find the right word to describe Belle's facial expression. Her eyes are bright, joyful, vibrant, wide-eyed, enthusiastic. I love it. Every image, I try and capture in my mind's eye. I meant to buy an underwater camera this year but didn't.

We've been working on some Spanish as a family and Belle has taken quite a liking to it. Unfortunately, the only phrase she can remember right now is ¡siéntate! which means "sit down!" She hears this phrase quite a bit, so it has stuck. The other night my husband and I took an evening walk and the girls scootered. All through the neighborhood, Belle was continually exclaiming, ¡siéntate! ¡siéntate! ¡siéntate! Usually she screams, "This is AWWWESOOOME!" So, I think this was her substitute. Hilarious.

What else? A neighbor randomly offered to bring us dinner tonight. What a gift. The girls and D are working together to make forts in the girls' room, but they have taken a break to happily watch some new episodes of Wild Kratts first. I love how much time they have to spend together. We'll walk to a farmer's market this evening (weather permitting!) and hopefully get in a couple chapters of Tuesdays at the Castle. Simple, lovely.

I'm learning to receive and give grace for the ebb and flow of each day. I don't have to be perfect. I can't be. It doesn't have to be my definition of a beautiful day to be truly beautiful.

can I choose you?

Many evenings as we put our kids to bed, we're done. "Done" being a universal code parents use when they feel like they cannot do one more thing. One more question, whine, mess, request, anything will tip the scale to results that will be nothing resembling pretty. My husband and I don't like this about ourselves. We know we live in days which are very long, and years which are very short. My husband and I talk often of finding the balance between taking the "brain space" we need in the evenings without putting a wall up towards our kids. Boundaries are good for their life, but we can draw the lines too sharply at times. Balance. Illusive, yet worth striving to find as our parenting seasons change.

Several nights ago, I was tucking Belle into bed and she requested a story. Our dialogue went something like this:

Belle: "Please can you read me a story? Just me? Just one book? Please?" (She pleads quite well with her big chocolate brown eyes.)

Me: "Not tonight, time to sleep."

Belle: "Oh, please!?"

Me: "Okay, just one."

I grabbed Horace off of the girls' bookcase and read this very sweet story to my very sweet girl. I love this book. It tells the story of a leopard cub adopted by a tiger family. One day, he sets off to find a family that looks like he does. He finds a family playing in the park and spends the day with them, but realizes that just because they look like him, it does not make them his family. It's a beautiful story of adoption, displaying that families do not have to look the same to be designed perfectly.

I love my kids so very much. They call themselves chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. It is their normal. I can't imagine having a daughter who looks like me and I wouldn't want it because I wouldn't have my two beauties. I tell them often how very glad I am that God chose them especially for our family. I want them to rest in that truth. Knowing God sovereignly hand-picked them to be with us. Not just for their sake, but for ours. I don't know where we would be without them.

Belle was thoughtful as I read her Horace. In the middle she said, "I never wanted a new family." Sweet words for my heart.

When I finished and I was tucking her in (again), she looked at me and said, "Hey mom, can I choose you as my mom every single day?"

I would love that.

We bought this leopard for Belle when she was born. When she first learned to talk, she named it "Beppo" because that was as close as she could come to "leopard." Sweet memories.

i'm loving...these books

Books come in all flavors and I crave different flavors as I wade through the stream of moments that become my days, weeks, months, and years. Right now, I've needed some soul encouragement, and I've loved these three books.

I've mentioned Bittersweet before, but I'm still loving it. It's written in more of a vignette form, so I can sit down and read several sections when I have a few free minutes. I like how Shauna Niequist writes, but I also like what she writes. And as an aside, if you have struggled with infertility and miscarriages, I'd grab this book in a heartbeat (or for loved ones). It's a collaboration of so many stories and topics, but this theme has stood out to me. That particular struggle is not one I have faced, but I have still appreciated what she has written. I don't want to put this book in a box by mentioning only one topic, so I'll say this book would be for any woman who is dealing with this beautiful messy life...so everyone (in my opinion...whatever that is worth!). I've been stewing in some bittersweet brew, so I'll say again how much I've appreciated this book.

 

My sweet friend pointed me toward this read saying that it sounded like my kind of book. I read the title and description and then hopped on Amazon and ordered it (thank you Amazon Prime). This is kind of my mantra, finding beauty and joy where I live each day. Blooming where God has planted me, but resting in hope for what He has beyond today. I have an adventurous heart that has been stunted and disgruntled with discontent as of late. So, this book has been a gift to my hurting heart. I haven't connected with the practical parts of the book as much, but I would consider her tips and ideas good ones, just not new to me personally. However, when Sarah Mae speaks to the heart of our struggles and dreams and hopes, and connects those to a loving, engaged and present God, I'm listening. In the midst of Cheerios and laundry and squabbly messes, I can still find joy and beauty and I can rest in a God who sees, who knows, who cares, and who has not forgotten me.

Do you love Jane Austen? Then you will LOVE this. When I'm dealing with a lot of stress and battling anxiety, I can't read contemporary fiction. It makes me feel frenetic and crazy. I have to go back to the classics (or those handful of books which have been read and re-read countless times). Published in 1855, it is not a book about the American Civil War as I originally thought (before I knew the publishing date...I do know my history dates, at least that one!). It tells the story of a young woman who moves with her parents from Southern England to the industrial North. The BBC made a miniseries from this book that is positively lovely lovely lovely. I love old books because they have stood the test of time. The rubbish has ceased to be published and only the best literature has survived. I often wander what books will be read from our time 100 years from now. The writing is complex and intellectual, unlike most fiction found today, and the fact that I must concentrate on what I'm reading helps pull my scattered brain from all that flits around it, unanchored and disorderly. I'm savoring this read.

School is around the corner. Yay! And, sigh. Trusting God for the adventure He has for my family this year!

summer goals~100 books

 

So, my almost 12-year-old is continuing his march toward reading 100 books for this summer. The deadline is the real end of summer, September 21st-ish and he thinks he'll make it. His base goal was 75 books by the end of summer vacation, somewhere in the mid-August vicinity. 

I asked him to pick five favorites (a tall order as he loved many of these titles and did not find one that he loathed). 

Drumroll, please! (descriptions given courtesy of D..."idiomatic" may have been my word, but D dictated the rest...)

1. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain--classic, adventure, history...he devoured it.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling--magic, adventure, special powers, mystery, friendship...
3. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster--an adventure with lots of idiomatic fun (expressions, sayings, play on words, and idioms)
4. Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary--a story set in the early 1900's on a farm, Emily is creative, energetic and imaginative...
5. Eric Liddell by Janet and Geoff Benge--story of a missionary to China who was also one of  the greatest runners. He honored God with his whole life...