Birthday Girl

Just as with Adam's birthday post last week, preparing this one for Natalia is an exercise in thankfulness.  It does not take long at all for a rush of emotion, (and tears) to come and my heart is washed afresh in gratitude.

Not only that I have children--that is miraculous--but that I have THESE children.  And in particular THIS child. 

Oh boy...gotta' grab a tissue.  :)

My earliest pictures of my little "sweetpea", as I quickly dubbed her, were not like the typical pictures parents take of their firstborn.  Mine included lots of wires, tubes, and gauze, yellow hospital gowns and poor lighting.  I didn't care.  I still don't.

Her scar will forever be a sweet reminder to me (and I hope to her as she grows) of God's kindness and mercy.  She is a gift, just as God's grace is a gift--one that is undeserved and cannot be earned, just received with open arms and a heart desiring faith.

Natalia, you are precious to me.  In every little thing that makes you YOU, I marvel at God's wisdom in giving you as my daughter, and me as your mama.  I oftentime feel so inadequate, but that too is by design.  ;)

January 2006, about 1 1/2 weeks old
(a few days after heart surgery)

April 2006, 4 months


December 2006, 1 year old

June 2007, 1 1/2 years


April 2008, 2 years (Cousin Morgan is 3 and Avery is 1)


December 2008, 1 week short of turning 3

August 2009, 3 1/2 years

May 2010, 4 1/2 years


March 2011, 5 years


July 2011, 5 1/2 years


August 2012, 6 1/2 years

August 2013, 7 1/2 years

December 2013, 8 years old

Natalia, I love you and am so proud of you. I hope this birthday is extra special!

Happy 8th Birthday!

Christmas Eve

I wanted to post some pictures from our Christmas Eve with Pete's mother.

She was gracious and allowed me to host her for a noon meal instead of us going to her house late in the day, as we have for the last 13 years.  Now that our kids are older we wanted to go to our church's evening Christmas service.  Switching things around made that possible.

Our traditional Polish (meatless) Christmas Eve feast:

Barszcz (red beet soup served hot) with mini mushroom pierogies
Garlic and Dill Tilapia
2 kinds of European style bread
Pickled Herring with Onions
Polish Vegetable Salad
Deviled Eggs and Dill Pickles
Nalesniki (Crepes stuffed with mushroom or dessert-style with jam and sour cream)
and Cheesecake served with strong coffee

It's a lot of work preparing for meals like this, but pulling out the special china and teacups, and enjoying these traditional dishes means alot to Pete and his family, and it's a part of his heritage I hope our kids appreciate and continue as first generationers.

Birthday Boy

I suspect that I'm not the only one who likes to peruse old family photos at this time of year.

As my baby is about to turn 5 tomorrow...YES 5!!!...I've been enjoying these shots of my favorite little guy. 

Happy birthday Adam! 

You are so special and you steal my heart with the sweet and funny things you say, your imagination and creativity, your boyish intensity and energy, and your fierce love.  I see so many of the qualities I love about Daddy in you, even though everyone says your looks resemble me.  I am thankful you still like to snuggle up on my lap.  I know those days are probably numbered. 

One of my most precious Christmas memories is bringing you home from the hospital on the 23rd.  There is nothing quite like holding a newborn in your arms when the world is dark, the household sleeping, and humming Silent Night.

Now you are becoming an independent Preschooler and outgrowing your clothes at an astonishing rate.  At times I want you to slow down, but mostly I am thrilled to see you mature and experience new things.

Love you buddy!

1 week old

Easter 2009, 4 months old

 

Sept. 2009, 8 months old (Natalia almost 4)

Sept. 2010, almost 2 years old

July 2011, 2 1/2 years old 

December 2011, 3 years old

June 2012, 3 1/2 years old (Cousin Eli is 3) 

October 2012, almost 4 (Natalia almost 7)

June 2013, 4 1/4 years (Eli, 4)

November 2013, almost 5!

He truly is a monkey! 

Can't imagine our zoo without you, Adam! 
♥ Mommy

 

 

 

 

Children's Christmas Books--2013

Shortly after Thanksgiving I pulled out our winter/holiday books with all of our other decorations.  This year I wanted to wrap the books in brown craft paper and label them with the date to be opened.

I noticed that last December some of the recent additions to our collection tended to go unnoticed while a few were requested over and over...and over.

Wanting to give each one their special debut, I opted for the wrapping idea.  And I must say, the kids have been so excited to take their turn unwrapping a book each morning.

I've added two new titles, each featuring a tractor and a horse--because that's how we roll in this household.  But I'm continually hunting down bargain copies throughout the year, so add your favorite title to the comments box!  I'm counting on you fellow bloggers/commenters for suggestions.  :)

1.  TRACTOR MAC SAVES CHRISTMAS by Billy Steers
A snow storm has dumped a lot of snow in a short time, threatening cancellation of the New England town's tree lighting. Farmer Bill saw the halo around the moon, put chains on Mac his tractor, and is prepared. He and Mac dislodge vehicles stuck in the snow as well as Shelby the farm's horse, who is pulling the tree, so the activities can go on without a hitch.

2.  AN OTIS CHRISTMAS by Loren Long
It's Christmas Eve on the farm and Otis the tractor is delighted with his shiny new horn.  All the animals are excited, especially for the farm horse's new foal which is about to be born.  But a big snowstorm complicates matters when the horse starts to have trouble.  Otis and his new horn come to the rescue!  If your kiddos love farm life this is sure to be a favorite!

And the rest of our collection...

THE TALE OF THREE TREES: A Traditional Folktale ~retold by Angela Elwell Hunt
This one never fails to choke me up! Three trees, each with dreams of what they'd become when they grew up, and how God's plan for each of them turned out to be very different and far better than they ever dreamed.  I read this when I host a Christmas brunch for the ladies in my small group from church.  (A great Easter book too!)

THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY ~Susan Wojciechowski
Our ex-library copy came with a CD narrated by James Earl Jones--which the kids just love. And I could stare at the beautiful watercolored illustrations for hours. They are breathtaking. It's a story of a hardened man rediscovering the meaning of Christmas.

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING ~Rick Osborne
A simple story about selfless giving with a sub-lesson on Saint Nicholas and the origin of hanging Christmas stockings.

THE CRIPPLED LAMB ~Max Lucado
The illustrations didn't grip me as some in the other books, but the message that God has a special place for each of us, no matter how different we are, is a treasure.

MR. WILLOWBY'S CHRISTMAS TREE ~Robert Barry
This one is just so much fun! Mr. Willowby's tree is too tall for his fancy parlor, so he asks his butler to chop off the top. That top becomes someone else's Christmas tree, but alas it is too tall for their space,...and on and on. Adam asks me to read this one over and over!

THE CITY THAT FORGOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS ~Mary Warren
This was my favorite Christmas book from our church library some 30 years ago! It seemed much larger back then. Doesn't everything seem smaller than you remember it as a kid though? It's the story of a carpenter named Matthew who happens upon a village that no longer celebrates Christmas, and how he brings the message of Christ's love through carving a life-sized nativity.

THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS ~Paul L. Maier
Phenomenal illustrations, true depictions of the ethnicity of Jesus and the Middle Eastern region, and lots of biblical "footnotes" included in the story as it's related from a mother to her son. I found the dialogue between the mother and son distracting and a bit awkward in parts, but the richness of the biblical account totally makes up for it.

KATY AND THE BIG SNOW ~Virginia Lee Burton
For the train/tractor fans in your household, you can't go wrong with this story of Katy coming to the rescue for the city of Geoppolis.
      *Our copy got ruined so I'm now on the lookout for a replacement.

HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS ~Carol Heyer
The first page contains the most amazing close-up of Humphrey's beautiful, long-lashed, and luminous eye. The second page elicits giggles everytime. Humphrey is the most awkward, goofy-looking camel you ever did see, and his thoughts are only for himself until he encounters the King of Kings. My only qualm with this book is that the three wise men visit the newborn Jesus in the stable, not later as the scriptures teach. A cute book none-the-less. Who can help but fall in love with the unlovely Humphrey?!

BEAR SNORES ON ~Karma Wilson
A wonderfully sychopated rhyme of a hibernating bear whose cave becomes a haven from the wintry weather for a gaggle of furry and feathered friends...that is until the bear wakes up! Another book with marvelous illustrations!

ONE WINTRY NIGHT ~Ruth Bell Graham
This Christmas book is really an abbreviated account of Creation through the Resurrection in eleven chapters.  The thirty-some beautifully detailed, full page illustrations by Richard Jesse Watson are a feast for the eyes. Only minor details of the text left the impression that the author, Billy Graham's wife, was loosely paraphrasing. This is the first year I've read it to my kids because of their combined attention span, and I purposefully "scheduled" a chapter to be read the 11 days prior to Christmas.  A wonderful tool to bring the BIG picture into focus this holiday season.

FROGGY GETS DRESSED ~Jonathan London
This one is just plain silly. Aside from us asking the kids why it was wrong of Froggy to ignore his mother's admonition to go back to bed (frogs hibernate during the winter) this book illustrates the maddening exercise of getting dressed for the cold weather only to forget something!

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.  This is a favorite for Natalia.

 

In The Land of Blue Burqas

I've read a handful of books on the subject of Islam, women, and the Middle East.  And I enjoyed each one for a particular reason.

In INFIDEL, a memoir by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the sheer danger of posing a threat to Islam was reinforced.  Jeanette Windle's Christian fiction, VEILED FREEDOM, brought to my attention the socio-economic windfall that results when a struggling nation is flooded by ex-patriates, security personnel and NGO's that demand certain ammenities--everyday Afghans suddenly can afford less and less and poverty and bribes increase.  Khaled Housseini's THE KITE RUNNER and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS transported me to the dusty streets of Kabul, and immersed me in a relational landscape unlike any I've ever experienced.

However, after reading all of these, my thoughts would automatically drift to ponder how faith in Christ would sound to an Afghan.  And how would one go about sharing gospel truth in such a place?  IN THE LAND OF BLUE BURQAS by Kate McCord answers these questions in such a simple yet profound way.   

The author writes under a pseudonym and changes non-essential details to protect herself and the identity of her Afghan friends.  A native of Pennsylvania, she lived in Afghanistan for over 5 years as an NGO worker, and her example was exemplary.  Her choice of living arrangements, the manner in which she conducted her organization and employed local Afghans, the respect she showed for their culture in her dress and conduct--all were remarkable.  Not only that, but she learned the Dari language (in 1 year) and was intentional about sharing the truth of Jesus in her everyday conversations, aware of the constant threat to her safety, but with cultural sensitivity and great discernment. 

I found it a very uplifting book.  One that achieved that fine balance of relaying hard truth, asking difficult questions, maintaining an attitude of respect, and showcasing precious glimmers of hope and faith.  The gospel of grace and love evident on every page.

Here are a few quotes from the conclusion chapter to whet your appetite.  (The earlier chapters chronicle conversations centered around a particular scriptural truth.)

"Many Afghans are hungry for change.  They've seen the outcomes of their faith and the practices that define them.  They've wondered how such a religious, God-obeying nation could decend into more than thirty years of war and self-destruction.  They long for something better.  The problem is that even Afghans don't know where to start.  Even Afghans struggle to find the way of peace for their suffering families, communities, and nation...
The way of hope is the way of Jesus.  His teachings show us the path.  His stories make sense of the senseless.  I've watched Afghans listen to the stories and words of Jesus and find wisdom, beauty, and truth in them.  I've watched some Afghans appropriate those teachings into their own lives and reframe their own stories with beautiful outcomes.  The barrier, of course, is that the way of Jesus is not the way of Afghanistan.  The teachings of Jesus challenge virtually every aspect of the culture, and many Afghans object vehemently to that kind of influence, regardless of its benefits."

"We read of the struggles of Afghan women and shudder.  We pray for their deliverance and give money for programs to help them.  There are laws designed to protect women in Afghanistan, but they're not enforced.  Afghans don't accept those laws, regardless of the government's insistence.  Until men and women view one another as precious children of the God they worship, there will be little improvement.  Until men learn to love their wives as Christ loves His church--to walk with them and talk with them, to sacrifice themselves for them--there cannot be health in that most fundamental human relationship.
As long as Afghans understand God as a judge who only loves the obedient, they will never genuinely love one another.  They'll never free one another to become the unique individuals God has created them to be.  They'll certainly never love the unrelated neighbor or the non-Muslim stranger.
As long as Afghans hero-worship a warrior king who defined submission and required it at the edge of a sword, there cannot be peace in their country.  As long as Afghans understand forgiveness as an option and retribution as a norm, the escalation of violence will continue."

"[The Afghans] helped me understand the teachings of Jesus more completely.  The culture of Afghanistan today is much more similar to the first-century Judea of Jesus' day than my own Western culture is.  The teachings and stories of the New Testament map almost exactly.  The mullahs of today are more like the ancient Scribes and Pharisees than our pastors or priests.  Sharia law is closer to the Law of Moses than the guiding principles Jesus taught us to understand and apply in the context of our ever-evolving culture.  The agrarian society of Afghanistan, with its farmers and shepherds, grasps the stories of lost sheep and scattered seed far better than out post-industrial world."

The only critique I will offer about this book is that at times it had a staccato feel, was repetitious, and would have benefitted from some editing.  All in all, it is a book not to be missed.  Its insights are brave and profound, and extremely relevant today. 

Book Club 2013: My Reviews

I haven't read much besides our book club selections this year, so I thought I'd just review those for now.  The others will get their review at the end of the year.

 

MY RATING SCALE:

* 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. 

 

MARCH: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani    (3 stars)

(Historical fiction, Italian immigrants)

I led the discussion on this one, and while it was an engaging story, it didn't naturally provoke a lot of questions for me.  So I found it hard to know what to ask the group.  Personally I found the heroine admirable, but sometimes hard to identify with because she was such a go-getter and rarely revealed her faults.   

 

APRIL: Peace Like A River by Leif Enger    (4 stars)

(American Midwest fiction, family searching for outlaw son)

I LOVED this book!  While the plot was somewhat interesting, the excellent writing and sheer wit made this book a thorough delight.  Enger captures the simple delights of family life, the imagination and innocence of childhood, and the powerful love story between parent and child. 

 

MAY: An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales by Oliver Sacks    (2 stars)

(Case Studies, Neurology, Psychology, ie: Temple Grandin)

I wanted to like this one more, but I struggled to finish it.  Thankfully, my favorite chapter was the last one--Temple Grandin--and I was already familiar with her story due to the fabulous biographical film made in recent years starring Claire Danes.  The case studies were interesting, but the chapters were too long and detailed for my tastes...and I am a fan of detail.  I found the surgeon with Tourette's and the young man with Asberger's and a photographic memory that could draw a whole cityscape the most fascinating of the remaining cases.

JUNE: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien    (5 stars)

(Classic, young adult, adventure fiction)

I do not read sci-fi or fantasy, and steer clear of most young adult fiction.  However, I completely enjoyed this book!  I doubt I'll read The Lord of the Rings...I haven't completely been converted to the genre, but because this one was written for a younger audience I found it's scary/weird factor to be tame enough.  I won't be introducing it to my kiddos until they are at least tweens, but it will definitely find a home in our personal library.

 

JULY: What Is The What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng by Dave Eggers         (3 stars)

(Lost Boys of Sudan)

This was a long one, and a sobering story at that.  Eggers chronicles the story of Valentino, just one of many Sudanese boys who were torn from family and village by the terrors of civil war.  Their struggle to survive the long walk to a place of refuge, facing hungry lions, rebel groups, and death all around, was simply overwhelming.  The book also described the challenges of acclimating to the United States for those that were able to get refugee status and gain sponsorship here.  This one provoked a lot of discussion among our group.  The main critiques were that certain parts could have been condensed, and the lack of emotion/introspection from the main character.  Personally, I felt the latter criticism was due to a survival mindset that continued even after he left Africa...too much pain and he probably dissociated. 

 

AUGUST: My Antonia by Willa Cather    (3.5 stars)

(Classic American literature, Nebraska pioneers)

Slow-moving plot, but a rich, coming-of-age story of a young boy and his childhood friend.  An interesting look into the Mid-western immigrant experience.  Cather's writing is vibrant and descriptive and should be handled like a rich meal...slowly, bite by bite.  I now want to read "O Pioneers".

 

SEPTEMBER: The Testament by John Grisham    (3 stars)

(Legal thriller, inheritance, Brazilian missionary)

I've read this book at least 3 times already and it is an enjoyable ride.  I appreciate that of the Grisham titles I've read, this one has an obvious faith element and is cleaner than most.  While there are a few seedy characters, they are portrayed in a bad light and the language is very minimal.  (So much so that I had trouble remembering if there was any.)  All in all, it is a read that makes you think about wealth and how it influences your attitudes and choices, as well as faith and how it changes everything.
 

OCTOBER: The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher F. Chabris and Daniel Simons    (4 stars)

(Cognitive Psychology, Memory, Perception)
I continue to think about the everyday illusions it turned upside down weeks and even months later.  Do you use a cell phone in the car?  Do you fancy that you are good at remembering details?  How confident are you and how much stock do we place in other's confidence?  There are 6 illusions the book addresses, and I must say that not only did it spur a great amount of conversation in our group, but it begged some serious questions.  If you aren't familiar with the basic premise of the book and want to try the experiment, check out this link.

NOVEMBER: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali    (4 stars)

(Memoir, Africa, Women, Islam)

This was another sobering memoir, much like WHAT IS THE WHAT, but more enjoyable for me personally.  Not only was the writing great, but Hirsi Ali chronicles her life in a very purposeful way.  At times I wondered why she included a certain section, but afterward I understood.  She paints a compelling portrait of what it means to be a woman within a Muslim culture, and how we in the West are vastly ignorant of those implications.  While it is just one woman's testimony, you can't help but ask what she would gain from making any false claims--she's already sought asylum more than once due to attempted death threats.  A very relevant book and one I'd highly recommend.

Still to come...

 

DECEMBER: The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon

(Young adult fiction, mystery, autism, humor)

JANUARY (2014): Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

(Christian living, parenting, organization, humor)

FEBRUARY: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

(Historical fiction, American Civil War, Gettysburg)