Lots o' Birthdays

Our birthday marathon began on the 20th with Adam turning 4 (WHAT!?!?!?!!), Natalia officially hitting 7 (MIND BOGGLING!!!) and is concluding today with me.  Statistically I'm now closer to 40 than 30.  I don't care much for statistics.

As many of you know we celebrate 1/2 birthdays in this house, for reasons of significance, economy, and, let's face it--sanity.  Not wanting the kids to feel slighted, we've adopted a tradition that works well for us.  Except for when someone hits a milestone birthday, we celebrate their REAL birthday with a family night at home and reserve the 1/2 birthday summertime picnic for the grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins...and their gifts.  It spreads things out nicely for everyone.

Each year I let the kids decide how they want their cake decorated and I make one of their favorite meals for dinner.  This year Adam wanted baked chicken wings, carrots and celery, applesauce, and "bear" cupcakes.  He had seen a picture on our computer from his 1st birthday when I had made these.  (Of course he was too little to remember having them the first time when a blizzard interrupted our party with the family.)  I made a few adjustments to my earlier design: malted milk balls for the nose, halved peanut butter cups for the ears, and left off the sprinkles.



And is it a surprise to anyone that Natalia wanted "horse" cupcakes?!?!?!  I think not.
I think they look alittle donkey-ish but she loved them and that's what counts!  :-)

A picture tutorial for making them if anyone's interested.

I used lollipop-making sticks (cut in half), chocolate icing piped out of a ziplock for mouth and mane, halved peanut butter cups for ears, and chocolate chips (trimmed the edges for the nostrils) for the eyes and nose.  Oh, and peanut butter icing on top of white cupcakes.  You can find the cake and icing recipes by clicking on the link for the bears toward the beginning of this post.  (I stirred together some peanut butter, milk, powdered sugar and vanilla until I got the consistency I wanted for icing--sorry, no specific recipe for that.)



What I Read In 2012--Part 3

Here are the remaining titles and my rating system one more time:
* Ehh. Didn't like it at all.
** Just okay.
*** Good. Borrow it from the library.
**** Really good. Well-written.
***** Excellent. One for your personal library.

1.  FREEDOM'S STAND by Jeanette Windle  **
I picked up this sequel to VEILED FREEDOM, just to see where the author took the story.  It was a revealing glimpse into the persecution Christians face in countries where their faith is not tolerated, as well as the prison system.  Once again the book follows the same 3 main characters with one semi-new addition, and it was generally entertaining.  The author left obvious room for a third book, but I'm not sure I'll pick it up.

2.  CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins  **
In my opinion, this is the better of the two books that conclude the Hunger Games trilogy, though by my two star rating you can see how much I enjoyed it.  As rebellion against the capitol has begun, Katniss and Peeta join Haymitch and the winners from the past 24 years in a special edition of the Hunger Games.  This book didn't introduce any new themes or develop those of the first book very much.  It pretty much followed the characters and the action.  Unless you absolutely loved the first book, you can skip the rest of the series in my opinion.

3.  MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins  *
The last book of the trilogy followed Katniss, Peeta and Gale along with survivors of the rebellion living underground in District 13.  A team goes to the Capitol to dethrone President Snow, and the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale is resolved in the end.  Lots of action, but again little of what fascinated me in the first book.

4.  THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks  *
It was a fluffy one I read in the middle of a row of very serious and heavy books.  Skip it.

5.  HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford ****
A tender story of how a Chinese teen living in San Francisco navigates life and his first love during the Japanese Internment following WWII.  Though-provoking and sweet, I really liked this one.

6.  PEARL IN THE SAND by Tessa Afshar  ***
An interesting look at the life of Rahab, and her life during the seige of Jericho and the years that follow.  Obviously there isn't a lot of information in scripture about her, but what there is, the author explores and puts in narrative form.  An enjoyable read.  If not for reading and thoroughly loving Lynn Austen's CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS series which was so rich with historical information and scriptural references, I probably would have enjoyed this one more and maybe rated it higher. 

7.  FULL DISCLOSURE by Dee Henderson  **
If you've read the O'Malley series, you know Henderson is capable of the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and faith.  This book, while able to stand alone, has a tie-in to the O'Malley series, but 1/3 of the way in I could see how it was going to end...and that just isn't what I expect from this author at all!  Such a let-down.

8.  THE VIOLETS OF MARCH by Sarah Jio  ***
So many characters I had to take notes, this story alternated between past and present, with an obvious tie between the two--the mystery of who was who a complete surprise in the end.  I thought I had it figured out just before the final chapter.  But I was wrong.  I'd classify this one as a romantic mystery because the mystery got top billing.  Again, a book that I picked up because I needed a break from the heavy topics.

9.  TWILIGHT by Kristen Heitzmann  ***
A piece of Christian fiction, this was pretty predictable, but still enjoyable.  Contained enough suspense to keep me reading along at a good clip.  I haven't read all of her books, but prefer INDIVISIBLE the most.

10. and 11.  THE HOPE OF REFUGE and THE BRIDGE OF PEACE by Cindy Woodsmall  **
Amish fiction is definately not a genre I give much attention, but I had really enjoyed her SISTERS OF THE QUILT trilogy a few years ago, so I thought I'd try these.  So many books in this genre are fluffy and predictable, only skimming the surface.  The first and second books in the ADA'S HOUSE series, I'm not going to continue with the third.  The first one was the better of the two in my opinion.

*And just recently I finished reading the entire LITTLE HOUSE series to Natalia.  It took us alittle over a year to get through the 9 books.  She loved them!!  We are currently reading HELEN KELLER and it is so sweet to see Natalia imagining and pretending to be in Helen's shoes just like I remember doing many moons ago.

*I just pulled ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and ANNE OF AVONLEA out of my boxes in the basement. 
Any titles you'd recommend as read alouds for 7-9 year old girls?

What I Read in 2012--Part 2: Non-fiction

Here is my rating system.

* Ehh. Didn't like it at all.
** Just okay.
*** Good. Borrow it from the library.
**** Really good. Well-written.
***** Excellent. One for your personal library.

1.  MADE TO CRAVE by Lysa TerKeurst  *****
A very timely and instrumental book for me.  I originally picked it up the year before, and read through it sporadically.  This year I sensed the need to be very intentional about having a reading partner (my mom) to discuss it with and using it as a devotional book of sorts within a defined time span.  The book's message is essentially this: God designed each of us to crave and desire, but we turn to all kinds of things (even good things) to fill those desires and cravings.  Usually our attempts to satiate are out of balance if not completely misguided, and we fail to recognize that only in God will we find the satisfaction our souls need. 
Don't think of this as a book only for those who struggle with unhealthy eating or weight issues.  Each of us struggles in one area or another to find balance, and this book speaks to that in a powerful way.  (And TerKeurst's is self-deprecating and hilarious at just the right moments.)

2.  PRODIGAL GOD by Timothy Keller  *****
So many sermons on the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 have concentrated on the flight and return of the younger brother.  This little book proposes that that approach in fact misses the real message of the story.  There are two brothers, each of whom represent a different way to be alienated from God, and a different way to seek acceptance into the kingdom of heaven.
My first introduction to Keller, it will certainly not be the last!  I've added THE REASON FOR GOD and THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE to my "To Read" list.

3.  A LONG WAY GONE by Ishmael Beah  ***
Published in 2007, this is an account of 12 year old Beah's attempt to flee the attacking rebels during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war; something that forever separated him from his immediate family.  Wandering the countryside with a handful of other boys, they inevitably were forced to join an army unit and brainwashed to believe only in big guns, bloodshed, and drugs.  Finally at the age of 16, Beah is rescued and removed from the rebel army by UNICEF, only to begin the incredibly difficult journey to healing.
 
4.  CLEANING HOUSE: A Mother's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma  *****
I took pages of notes while reading this book, and plan to pick up a copy of my own.  In my opinion, Wyma hit the nail on the head over and over again, chronicling the good, the bad and the ugly, with just the right amount of hard truth, humility, and humor.  She challenged me to seriously evaluate how much I do FOR my kids instead of EQUIP them to do, how often I choose what is most expedient over what could be a valuable learning experience, and how much I resemble a hovercraft...LOL!  Just trust me and read this one!  :-)

5.  THE DRESSMAKER OF KHAIR KHANA by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon  ***
The true story of Kamila, an Afghan teenager, who with her sisters and brother find a way to keep from starving during the Taliban-era in Kabul.  In the process of establishing a sewing business, despite the strict limitations placed on women during this time, she and her siblings not only display an entrepreneurial tenacity, but a dedication and concern for their community that is inspiring.

6.  HINTS ON CHILD TRAINING by H. Clay Trumbull  ****
Originally published in 1890, I have found this book to be not only incredibly current, but practical.  We have at least one child that is VERY strong-willed (she shall remain nameless), and I've often felt at a loss to know how to navigate those hard moments, discipline with grace, yet train in a way that resonates and gets to the heart.  So often it just feels like a power struggle.  While Trumbull's "language" is definitely from another century, I haven't had any trouble understanding it or making immediate application.  To give you an idea of what he covers, here are a few chapter titles: Will-Training Rather Than Will-Breaking, Denying A Child Wisely, Training A Child As A Questioner, Never Punish A Child In Anger, Scolding Is Never In Order, Dealing Tenderly With A Child's Fears, and Good-Night Words.


(A few of our Book Club titles in the previous post were Non-fiction as well.)

What I've Read in 2012--Part 1: Book Club

Well I certainly didn't read as many books this year as I have in others.

I joined a book club in January and our scheduled reading combined with leading the discussion numerous times meant not immediately diving into another book, as per my usual.

BUT, I must say that book club and the ladies in it have proven to be one of the highlights of my year.  I just love it!

Rather than one long overwhelming list, I've broken this down into 3 posts: Book Club Titles, Non-fiction, and then What's Left.
Here is my rating system.
*  Ehh.  Didn't like it at all.
**  Just okay.
***  Good.  Borrow it from the library.
****  Really good.  Well-written.
*****  Excellent.  One for your personal library.

1.  VEILED FREEDOM by Jeanette Windle  ***
I liked this one for the discussion it generated more than the storyline.  The story is set in 2009 in Afghanistan among humanitarian aide workers, security personnel, and native Afghans struggling to make sense of a country's war-torn past and the fallout.  A piece of Christian fiction, this one has a main character whose Westernized naivete is frustrating, and yet probably is more common than we'd like to think.  The author has spent considerable time in the region and her accuracy is notable, but until my second reading (for book club) when I jotted down the many military acronyms, the author lost me when she assumed I could keep up with them all.  An unfortunate distraction that took away from the story's redeeming qualities.  In the end this book DID teach me some more about Afghanistan, helped me understand a bit what could drive someone to commit shaheed (suicide) and affirmed how radical Jesus' love and salvation truly are.

2.  THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom  ***
First of all this is one of the most tragic books I've read, because there really isn't much redemption or hope until the very last page.  All that being said, it is a gripping piece of Colonial fiction, and another book that provides many points of discussion.  I really enjoyed the author's style and felt she made a bygone time period come alive without painting a glossy finish on everything the way Colonial life is typically portrayed.  (I don't mind sad stories, or shy away from that sort of thing if I can learn something valuable in the process.)

3.  THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins  ***
Fantasy and science fiction are not my genre, let me tell ya!  Add to that the "young adult" label and I've written it off.  BUT, I will say that I truly enjoyed aspects of this bestseller that's become a phenomenon.  Again, a great one for a discussion group.  You can read my full review here, just scroll down.

4.  THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell  *
Okay, maybe I'll give it 1.5 stars.  I did learn one or two things, but I can't say I could find much practical application or relevance in it to my world.  Wordy, full of statistics...maybe I had unrealistic expectations.  I heard great things about another title of his, OUTLIERS.  Maybe I'll give him another chance someday.

5.  THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebekah Skloot  ***
A decade-long project for the author, and a fascinating piece of work.  Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951.  A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive-- in the lab.  These cells, known as HeLa, went on to provide countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio.  Yet Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and poor health, ignorant of their wife and mother's incredible contribution, and ripe with misunderstanding, anger and suspicion.   I don't pretend to know much of anything about medicine, and this wasn't completely over my head. 

6.  THOSE WHO SAVE US by Jenna Blum  ***
A frank and deeply unsettling story of Anna, a German woman living in a village bordering a concentration camp, who becomes the mistress of a high-ranking SS officer during WWII in order to save herself and her young daughter Trudy, a child born out of wedlock by a Jewish doctor.  In my opinion, while the author did not shy away from detailing the physical abuse Anna suffers from the Ubersturmfuhrer, the manner and purpose in which she wrote was not titillating, but properly disturbing.  HOWEVER, this opinion will not be shared by all.  I think it all comes down to what your own life experiences have been, (whether anything conjures up memories), how sensitively you respond to issues like sexual abuse, and whether you shy away from dark subjects in general.  For me, it generated much thought--philosophical and spiritual contemplation--without violating my conscience.  Still, when mentioning this book I always fully disclose the above.

7.  JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte  *****
How I ever managed NOT to read this while calling myself a bookworm, I don't know.  This love story between poor, orphaned Jane, and the mysterious, haunted Rochester, was an across-the-board favorite with our book club. I too found it to be excellent, both in it's writing and thematic content.   *And I LOVE the film version that came out in 2011 with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender.

8.  A THOUSAND RESURRECTIONS by Maria Garriott ****
A true story, this is a no-holds-barred look at what inner city ministry looks like and the sacrifice and faith of the Garriott family.  Choosing to live in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods of Baltimore while raising 5 children, Maria chronicles the journey she and her husband Craig embark upon to love and be a light in their community.  *Faith Christian Fellowship is a thriving church of diverse ethnic, economic, and social backgrounds, located in the northern Baltimore neighborhood of Pen Lucy.

9.  COLD SASSY TREE by Olive Ann Burns  ***
Kind of a cross between THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, this coming-of-age story of a 14 year old boy named Will Tweedy is short on plot but heavy on vernacular.  In the end, I enjoyed the book more after discussing it's merits at book club.  Published in 1984, it's been around awhile.  While one I won't re-read, it was still enjoyable.
10.  THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by MaryAnn Shaffer and Annie Barrows  *****
One of my favorite books and one I've read 3 times now.  This book is nothing short of absolute delight, and yet here is what makes it distinctive.  It's entirely made up of letters.  (I had never read anything like that before and at first was nervous it'd be dull.  I couldn't have been more wrong.)  It's a WWII story that captures the horror and heartache of wartime, yet it is also lighthearted, witty, and so funny at times I laughed out loud.  No matter how many times I read it, I end up loving it even more.

11.  WASHED AND WAITING: REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN FAITHFULNESS AND HOMOSEXUALITY by Wesley Hill  *****
(This is slated for discussion at our next meeting, but I've already read it, twice.)
I will recommend this book wherever I go because I believe Wesley's story is one that desperately needs to be heard--by pastors, parents, siblings, friends, saved or unsaved, those who struggle with homosexual desires, and those that can't even fathom what that must be like. Intelligently written, with an unwavering commitment to Scripture, and yet heart-wrenchingly honest. It's a small book that you can read in a few hours and it will challenge you to go beyond the broad brushstrokes so many of us Christians have painted over this issue.  Add it to your reading list...better yet, buy your own copy because you'll want to share it!
(I found it after reading a post on Tim Challies's blog.  You can read his review here.)


*The only book I didn't read was WHY WE GET FAT by Gary Taubes.  We were deep in preparation mode for our trip to Poland, and out of the country on book club night.  That's what it takes to keep me from book club!!!  :-)  It's still sitting on my to-read pile, but Pete has picked it up a few times.

Glimpses of the Past

I love looking at old family photos.

The picturesque, the outtakes, the hilarious fashion and hair styles, but especially the sweetness of familial features and quirks passed down through the generations.

Recently I was scanning my mother-in-law's photos of Pete when he was a baby so we could have a permanent copy, as well as some of his family photos from when they still lived in Poland.

I thought I'd post of few of my favorites from 1973-1976 (around 8 months--4 years old).

 

 

And I've posted a picture before of my mother-in-law, Maria, to show how closely Natalia resembles her as a child.  Here it is again as well as a few more.

Circa 1949-50, age 4 or 5 (pictured with her mother and older brother).



Christmas Titles for the Kiddos--2012 Edition

Last year I posted a list of titles we have in our personal library to pull out during the month of December.  You can take a look at that posting here.

Since then I've picked up a few more.  Here they are in no particular order.

Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman.
      Another delightful "Bear" book, this one about Bear's struggle to stay awake to celebrate Christmas with his friends when he normally would be hibernating.  Santa makes a very quick appearance in this book, but we've talked about the tradition of Santa in our household, so I've no objections to his inclusion in the story.  The spirit of the book is friends blessing friends with thoughtfulness.  And I simply adore Chapman's style.


One Winter's Day by M. Christina Butler and illustrated by Tina Macnaughton
     Along the same vein as the previous title, this book showcases selflessness and a generous spirit as Little Hedgehog tries to find shelter on a blustery winter night and en route gives away his hat, mittens and scarf to friends in need, at cost to his personal comfort.  His kindness is rewarded in the end.  *This is a touch and feel book.


The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
      I normally enjoy greatly detailed illustrations and country scenes, but I purposefully chose this book for a change.  It's broad, plain illustrations and city scene capture the simple joy of discovering snow and the fun to be had playing in it.

   
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
      Another book by Keats, this one illustrating the lyrics to the song.  *Music score included at the end.  I liked that all of the people looked Middle Eastern/Asian, as that is rare, but I will point out that there are 5 wise men and they visit the manger scene.  I just remind the kids of what the scriptures say about the "kings" and when they visited Jesus.


The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long
      The only words in this stunning book are the lyrics to the song, but the illustrations are clearly the shining star.  With each page turn, a new verse is uncovered along with the previous verses themes hidden in the elaborate design.  A fun challenge to find everything!

   
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
      The familiar story of Jim and Della and the lengths they go to get a meaningful gift for the one they love.  In the end the gifts are rendered useless by the sacrifice they each make, but the intention is what matters.  A nice segway opportunity to talk about the sacrifice Jesus made to give us the greatest gift--salvation.  The only thing we truly need.

   
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston and illustrated by Barbara Cooney
      This book is set in 1918 Appalachia--a heartwarming story of familial love and dedication with illustrations that capture the charm of the region.

Have any new favorites this year? 

Feel free to share in the comment section.  :-)