tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538736776458817232024-02-11T00:14:04.660-07:00Footprints in the ButterDebrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.comBlogger1693125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-76470817063288939162020-06-29T23:58:00.000-06:002020-06-30T09:40:10.364-06:00Cross Shadow: an I Read with Audra review<div>
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A few months ago, I reviewed <a href="https://www.debrabrinkman.com/2019/10/a-cross-to-kill-kregel-publishing-review.html" target="_blank"><i>A Cross to Kill</i></a> by Andrew Huff, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The next book in the Shepherd Suspense series is Cross Shadow, which I stayed up all night to read. Because it isn't like I have to go anywhere anymore. </div>
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Here is how the publisher describes the book:</div>
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<i>All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. </i></div>
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All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.
Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers
to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York
City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent
the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation's capital. </div>
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But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover
the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another
dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected. </div>
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With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence
connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive. </div>
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This middle book in the trilogy felt a lot faster paced. In the first book, there was a breather now and again, but that really didn't happen in Cross Shadow. That was a big part of the reason I couldn't put it down.</div>
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John and Christine's relationship takes a few twists and turns in this story. For much of the book, I wanted to shake them and tell them to just talk to each other. Of course, between suicide bombers and assassins, they are a little distracted. </div>
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The ending left me absolutely ready for the final installment in this trilogy. One more reason to be looking forward to 2021.</div>
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My recommendation? Get a copy of A Cross to Kill, and start there. </div>
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Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.andrewhuffbooks.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.andrewhuffbooks.com</a>. He can also be found on
Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the I Read with Audra blogger program. The review is my own opinion.</i></div>
Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-66276740220598431782020-06-28T20:20:00.004-06:002020-06-30T07:29:12.052-06:00Five minute Friday: Compromise<div>It is time for Five Minute Friday. On a Sunday. Because that is just how I roll.</div><div><br /></div><div>The idea is to take a word and write for five minutes without editing or preplanning or anything like that. Just a note: I will be editing, as my left shift key no longer works, and I don't plan to slow down to get the capital letters right. I will go back and add those in after my timer goes off. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This week, the word is Compromise. Wow.</div><div><br /></div><div>~~~~~~~<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Compromise seems like such an appropriate word for 2020. Not in the 'making concessions in our argument' sense of the word, but more in the sense of having to compromise our standards in various areas.</div><div><br /></div><div>So my kids aren't taking live classes for some of their 4H projects, for instance. We weren't able to have graduation ceremonies for either of my graduates this year. Trina didn't get to teach the little kids in American Heritage Girls in a meeting, but got to do a video and a zoom meeting instead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Compromise.</div><div><br /></div><div>It just seems more dramatic this year -- as it is more dramatic this year. But it also seems that life is a lot like that usually. Making compromises, doing just enough to get by in some areas that don't matter so much right now, so that we can invest time where it does matter.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is one reason that my younger two are at Bible Camp this summer. I want them to spend their time with something that does really matter, and we are willing to give up time and money to make that happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Choices aren't always fun, and this year has involved far more compromise than I would prefer. But life is like that.<br /></div>
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And here is that video --</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of others have something to say about "Compromise" a well, and you can find them at this week's <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2020/06/25/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-compromise/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday link-up</a>!
</div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-54373086573249322462020-06-19T19:33:00.000-06:002020-06-19T19:33:50.215-06:00Juneteenth - and Learning about other Holidays as well<div>This year, as a fun add-on to school, my teens worked through <a href="https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/p/musicforholidays?affcode=50562_zxhgcotr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Music Lessons for Holidays and Special Days</a>, by <a href="https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/?affcode=50562_zxhgcotr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Music in Our Homeschool</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXSLxU-4GO9jmVSK4evfaBH6vaeR_PoY03KDn8zwjKf_kW2AcXdZoEyc9bABoE9Dj-xOv5-iG9zbTbfgn6fr_XvsIUpj5lWgXa3eRWJ-sSy55ToL_N2sDOtWzh6l9vxqQc_6a1DWIaA/s376/Screen+Shot+2020-06-18+at+4.25.00+PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXSLxU-4GO9jmVSK4evfaBH6vaeR_PoY03KDn8zwjKf_kW2AcXdZoEyc9bABoE9Dj-xOv5-iG9zbTbfgn6fr_XvsIUpj5lWgXa3eRWJ-sSy55ToL_N2sDOtWzh6l9vxqQc_6a1DWIaA/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-18+at+4.25.00+PM.png" /></a></div><div>And by "worked through," I mean "we're nearly through."</div><div><br /></div><div>As evidenced by the 90% complete bar in the graphic on the right.</div><div><br /></div><div>The course is set up by the calendar, though, and we started in September with Labor Day and have worked all the way through the year. In May, we had three lessons left - Summer, Father's Day, and Independence Day.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, Gena Mayo, the author of this course, is always doing wonderful things like adding an extra lesson. This week, she added one for Juneteenth, and it is fabulous. And also available for FREE.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70lpXHVmmnBdAfg3Dlqm_xR5w7_7_lWfqbjVwlFDJbJ3nqnICgY-dUMxWpSU91EtcRYgiA9psuZUCgQqo4ifly72ymEXYS_YHCZG69LIxm8lXcEHjuZyx3sDbCdB512XLBlOx2Lr2xg/s847/Screen+Shot+2020-06-18+at+4.25.08+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70lpXHVmmnBdAfg3Dlqm_xR5w7_7_lWfqbjVwlFDJbJ3nqnICgY-dUMxWpSU91EtcRYgiA9psuZUCgQqo4ifly72ymEXYS_YHCZG69LIxm8lXcEHjuZyx3sDbCdB512XLBlOx2Lr2xg/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-18+at+4.25.08+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>So, as you can see, we have four lessons left. Or we did when I started this post. We have completed the Juneteenth lesson at this point.</div><div><br /></div><div>This course is intended for elementary and middle school ages, but I would highly encourage people to consider it for high school as well. Most of the worksheets are not exactly high school material, but the course itself is still good for older ages. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The course is all online, and once you own it you can access it forever. I love being able to go back to some of these things! We project my screen to the big screen in our living room, and work through it together, usually over lunch.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB9dZzMSyTX4qPH2e7PTBUN-QaGZXS4kCc4gyIIKBeBe8bT8-CCrdBhxm4n3BZM6PUADee9LXzZM1y_SeAbZtSnpTP-Hbm76Zloq_hHAE16JE2OwuFqxMqlW-j_bvLDFkK4ZgB9tzGg/s958/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.29.52+PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="958" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB9dZzMSyTX4qPH2e7PTBUN-QaGZXS4kCc4gyIIKBeBe8bT8-CCrdBhxm4n3BZM6PUADee9LXzZM1y_SeAbZtSnpTP-Hbm76Zloq_hHAE16JE2OwuFqxMqlW-j_bvLDFkK4ZgB9tzGg/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.29.52+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div><span id="goog_197677445"></span><span id="goog_197677446"></span>What my kids (8th, 10th, 12th grades this past year) love is that
each lesson gives a brief overview of the holiday (or special day) in
question, which is interesting and "not long and boring." You can see the first part of that in the clip here.</div><div><br /></div><div>They are either learning something about a day they didn't know about, or they are getting a brief review. Either way, it takes us only a few minutes to go through this part.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUQyGg2QRHNv9NhO5zxmJOPy-qD0rmSCQlKDLjvFDlTQGDhviqyDx-NiQr8DEKT_rjbgcL_cGKmVRSGxUn27YzEKKO_oNSudPYjYVQROVyLr6FAPZRKH1yCHVvNDDRrcGC6PGxbl5CA/s739/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.30.15+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUQyGg2QRHNv9NhO5zxmJOPy-qD0rmSCQlKDLjvFDlTQGDhviqyDx-NiQr8DEKT_rjbgcL_cGKmVRSGxUn27YzEKKO_oNSudPYjYVQROVyLr6FAPZRKH1yCHVvNDDRrcGC6PGxbl5CA/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.30.15+PM.png" width="320" /></a>Often, this is followed by some explanation of some of the musical traditions associated with the day. There are videos embedded in the materials, so you can just click and watch.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was the second video for "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in this lesson, and was the one my kids preferred.</div><div><br /></div><div>Often, like you see here, the lyrics are written out.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this lesson, there were three songs altogether, with five videos. The videos ranged from two to four and a half minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes there is some additional learning materials that follow the main lesson, such as additional music to look for.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH4qk-8H_AsbG9FQbx1qIzm_sxSEf3pKnJsfeuNEXviJq8MxN9QuYMGR1SxjnJANhvnm3IrxnPN8YCVfVZcB9NDkRtfu1MgEhbo5yNzqBPJJOZ9mU51yx0pFzyMf1F-sRU2bffN2hsQ/s825/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.30.39+PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="825" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH4qk-8H_AsbG9FQbx1qIzm_sxSEf3pKnJsfeuNEXviJq8MxN9QuYMGR1SxjnJANhvnm3IrxnPN8YCVfVZcB9NDkRtfu1MgEhbo5yNzqBPJJOZ9mU51yx0pFzyMf1F-sRU2bffN2hsQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.30.39+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Each lesson also includes some worksheet type of activity that is
in pdf format and can be printed out. Some, like the one pictured here,
can certainly work with a high school student.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the time, we skipped the worksheets though. I'm nearly certain I never printed one out.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If I were doing this course with elementary aged students, I know there were many that would have been used in my home!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TFBrcQOma7nkLcDlSJy_B3gPpEtYi1UG6D7Ns4UPEt1zjK86aLWnzPOjudBB_1VuyCVglF05EKLJnVGnsZaY-Wa_VfWK0XcPHxFe7Npfaor4nMVSdfMv9fGqmv1HG3fTemEY35f3fg/s821/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.31.04+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="821" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TFBrcQOma7nkLcDlSJy_B3gPpEtYi1UG6D7Ns4UPEt1zjK86aLWnzPOjudBB_1VuyCVglF05EKLJnVGnsZaY-Wa_VfWK0XcPHxFe7Npfaor4nMVSdfMv9fGqmv1HG3fTemEY35f3fg/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-19+at+5.31.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The final portion is a short little quiz.</div><div><br /></div><div>My kids actually enjoyed these, as the questions were generally fairly easy if they had paid attention. And we just read the questions aloud and came to a consensus. No pressure, no grading.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is what I truly loved about the course. It was FUN, light, and easy -- but my kids were exposed to a huge variety of music over the year, and they did learn quite a bit about some holidays and other special days as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>They would pretty much all agree that Star Wars Day was a favorite. How can you go wrong learning about John Williams, watching him conduct, and listening to the various themes? And they learned about leitmotifs in the process, and using music in movies.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my sons really liked the New Year's Day lesson, with a few different recordings of "Auld Lang Syne." Another commented on how user-friendly the course was.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the lessons where we learned about various instruments, like we did for St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, and Cinco de Mayo.</div><div><br /></div><div>The course is set up from January through December, but it is really easy to change that up. The first couple of lessons referred to some things, like "throughout this course we will..." but I didn't feel like we were missing anything by not starting there.<br /></div><br /><div>I highly recommend this <a href="https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/p/musicforholidays?affcode=50562_zxhgcotr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">course</a>, but at the very least -- even though Juneteenth is likely over by the time you read this -- go and check out the <a href="https://musicinourhomeschool.com/free-15-minute-music-lesson-for-juneteenth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Juneteenth Lesson</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be posting in July about what we have decided to use for our 2020-21 school year, but I can already tell you that it <i>will</i> include a high school course from <a href="https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/?affcode=50562_zxhgcotr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Music in Our Homeschool</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br />
<i><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this course myself and was not required to write a review</span><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. This post does contain affiliate links. I was not
required to write a positive review, and any affiliate relationship
does not impact my opinions. The opinions I have expressed are my
own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255</a></span><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></i>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-29173228963804585532020-06-17T07:30:00.004-06:002020-06-17T07:30:00.445-06:00Ishmael Covenant by Terry Brennan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm going to start by quoting the end of the "About the book" section I was given when asked if I was interested in reviewing <a href="https://www.kregel.com/fiction/ishmael-covenant/" target="_blank">Ishmael Covenant</a> by Terry Brennan. "Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant--and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy."<br />
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I have enjoyed reading authors like Rosenberg, so that sentence grabbed me. I was absolutely interested in reading this first book in the Empires of Armageddon series.<br />
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Here's the rest of what the publisher has to say:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
His marriage in tatters and his career ruined by lies, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is at the end of his rope. Banished to Israel as punishment by his agency, he's assigned to guard a US ambassador and an insignificant box. Little does he know that this new job will propel him straight into a crisis of global proportions.<br />
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Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter's life are threatened--and Mullaney must act fast.<br />
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Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It's up to Mullaney--still struggling with his own broken future--to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor--before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.</blockquote>
I read this book back right before all of the COVID stuff hit in the US, and I'm not exactly sure why I think that is important to tell you. Mostly, I think that reading it again (which I will be doing) in light of current events is going to feel different, particularly in re-reading the point of view of the black male main characters.<br />
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As the description above indicates, this book is action-packed. I found the first part of the book to be fairly confusing, as there were just so many characters and places to keep straight. Once I got everyone more-or-less sorted out, the book was fabulous. I
intended to read a couple more chapters at around that "sorted out" point, but I ended up finishing the book. At 2 a.m. Because I
couldn't put it down.<br />
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Part of the confusion of the initial portion of the book undoubtedly had to do with the fact that the characters felt like real people. They have personal struggles that relate to the plot, but they also have personal struggles that (so far) don't directly relate to the main conflict in the story. I appreciate that.<br />
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Let me throw in a bit from an author interview about the historical aspect of this book. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayipN1f6vomNy9U8aIBIRQGdwl8gm5MPiwcq67ieEu0Uli5jAvTqB_a1oE4Of7qBHBJ58Cc0myjjpRq48d4Kq7RqZCv-lohYXISBBZoSu8IAc8bm0_J-fC93h3lgaGABj2eT61qvk6A/s1600/Terry+Brennan+1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayipN1f6vomNy9U8aIBIRQGdwl8gm5MPiwcq67ieEu0Uli5jAvTqB_a1oE4Of7qBHBJ58Cc0myjjpRq48d4Kq7RqZCv-lohYXISBBZoSu8IAc8bm0_J-fC93h3lgaGABj2eT61qvk6A/s320/Terry+Brennan+1.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Q: How do aspects of actual history come together with a fictional modern-day story in your book?<br />
<br />
There are numerous threads of actual history woven throughout the plot, threads that become critical catalysts in the unfolding of Ishmael Covenant and the rest of the series.<br />
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The story of the Vilna Gaon—Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman (1720–1797)—that launches the narrative is accurate in all its historical elements. He was the foremost Talmudic scholar of his age and a renowned genius on both sacred and secular learning. The story of the Gaon’s prophecy about Russia and Crimea, revealed by his great-great-grandson in 2014, is true and led many to believe that the coming of the Jewish Messiah was near at hand. The Gaon did attempt three trips to Jerusalem from his native Lithuania; the last one, only a few years before his death, ended prematurely in Konigsberg, Prussia. All of that history is extensively integrated into the story arc that plays out over all three books. The story of the Gaon’s prophecy is a product of my own imagination.<br />
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The ancient biblical conflict between the nation of Israel and the people of Amalek—the descendants of Abraham and Ishmael—is a fundamental element in the conflict driving the series. Other historically accurate elements of the book include the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq in 2014, the worldwide confiscation of Iranian financial assets following the hostage crisis in 1979, NATO’s nuclear sharing project which still has sixty-one nuclear bombs in bunkers at the Incirlik Airbase, the geopolitical weapon that water has become in the Middle East, the history of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem, and the history of the Jews in Turkey. All were vital to the development of this fictional series. </blockquote>
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I have to say that the situation they are all in, with this end-times prophecy, seemed a bit far-fetched, even if much of it is grounded in historical fact. It is not, however, so far out there that it kept me from buying the political intrigue and covert operations drama.<br />
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Now I anxiously wait for the next book -- Persian Betrayal -- to come out. Because this ending just left me needing to know what happens next. Watch for my review in August!<br />
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I received a copy of this book from the I Read with Audra blogger program. The review is my own opinion.Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-56704024936737139002020-06-13T01:15:00.000-06:002020-06-13T01:15:00.730-06:00Five Minute Friday: How... did I let myself get talked into this?Crazy me. I mentioned to a friend that I really do want to start back to blogging. She's heard me say it before, and so she asked me point-blank: What is holding you back from blogging again?<br />
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It took me a while to answer. I realized I just don't know how to get back to it. What if I have nothing to say anymore? What if nobody cares? What if my kids go crazy about me talking about them?<br />
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She mentioned this Five Minute Friday thing, which I know a lot of people do. I never have. <br />
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She sent me over to the link. And today's prompt is the word "How"...<br />
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Hmmm.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nGiX7X1dqEPJcxQdo8-e76b3sUapY5_0YyxZVSVKhhYjJynYAykkuU5JOLBUV47MNO8Qr3ZvmWuzoA7TBfHWlSc77Vh3Vw-7i2A9-l4eUz0HoPCkr-Q88b2Lhl6gWIt_gGKuFQV-Dw/s1600/IMG_20190912_193913359%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nGiX7X1dqEPJcxQdo8-e76b3sUapY5_0YyxZVSVKhhYjJynYAykkuU5JOLBUV47MNO8Qr3ZvmWuzoA7TBfHWlSc77Vh3Vw-7i2A9-l4eUz0HoPCkr-Q88b2Lhl6gWIt_gGKuFQV-Dw/s320/IMG_20190912_193913359%257E2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the best I can do this late at night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Okay, so I guess my first how is that yes, doing this five minutes of writing each week is a great way to begin again.<br />
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It got me thinking about other How's too.<br />
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How did I reach a point where my baby is in high school?<br />
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How did my middle guy graduate from high school already? And how do I get a transcript done?<br />
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How do I start the process of redefining who I am as I move out of the homeschool mom years here?<br />
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I think maybe I really do need to be getting back to the blog, as I often don't know what I think until I write it down. And that might just be how I start -- being pushed into thinking about things, and forced to do some writing. I may just learn that I do have something to say.<br />
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Lots of others have something to say about "How" a well, and you can find them at this week's <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2020/06/11/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-how/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday link-up</a>!Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-20016114094544050842020-05-16T07:00:00.000-06:002020-05-18T08:42:50.727-06:00CSB Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03H5tyA096pnc21HJIs6otCJbsPDK6Dhz_hPFGd-J41nUXVVdLsQhuDOcgebJS2PwCI89dYccimpB0W-zBH8FXKwcjkym-oIXWSFs598A8aiQVx_0GCC3pAkWYOcdQvpunrvynaQxTQ/s1600/LifeEssentialsBible_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03H5tyA096pnc21HJIs6otCJbsPDK6Dhz_hPFGd-J41nUXVVdLsQhuDOcgebJS2PwCI89dYccimpB0W-zBH8FXKwcjkym-oIXWSFs598A8aiQVx_0GCC3pAkWYOcdQvpunrvynaQxTQ/s320/LifeEssentialsBible_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
What a fun concept! An interactive Study Bible as close as your phone. <a href="https://csblifeessentialsstudybible.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CSB Life Essentials Study Bible</a> is billed as a "Virtual Seminary in Your Bible." That absolutely intrigued me.<br />
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I was not all that familiar with the CSB version of the Bible, so once I received my copy, I spent a fair amount of time reading the introductory material. The goals for this translation were to provide an accurate translation in contemporary English. One thing I truly appreciated was the discussion of the traditional approaches to translation. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSLjZxqvfGe1xkyyswPjSOcpE-p2HkSwLPUd7ctlKvH5AE2bGoFr8KxUx1h76oaJXIzxNPiWCR1HN7ph0hIxCZOz1h52Ua6ALeZOOcqns32p7lrlgNCQ-lzH8jwy6xNYuNdc_mb8FbA/s1600/Life+Bible+pics+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="1600" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSLjZxqvfGe1xkyyswPjSOcpE-p2HkSwLPUd7ctlKvH5AE2bGoFr8KxUx1h76oaJXIzxNPiWCR1HN7ph0hIxCZOz1h52Ua6ALeZOOcqns32p7lrlgNCQ-lzH8jwy6xNYuNdc_mb8FbA/s320/Life+Bible+pics+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There is formal, or literal, equivalence, where the goal is to preserve the structure of the original language as much as possible, also known as word-for-word translation. This can be rather awkward. <br />
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There is also dynamic, or functional equivalence, where the idea is to translate the meaning of the text, also known as thought-for-thought translation. This is much more readable.<br />
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The CSB, like most translations, is a mix of the above opposite approaches. Using what they call Optimal Equivalence, they aim to do a word-for-word translation when the result makes sense, but to use thought-by-thought translation when a literal translation is confusing to modern readers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBX6h2y-E2HM-AtkQ3Iv1s0icFn7RF1qmNYNB96mrGrZey9HnYQkyoBhM3FyoN3qZW7niTf3wWF5_T-kJvCReMOuV3fBS9AbSJWVTGjbj7d65oWpUFgE8zLIqoUCPfu5By6EPtGpHfA/s1600/Life+Bible+pics+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBX6h2y-E2HM-AtkQ3Iv1s0icFn7RF1qmNYNB96mrGrZey9HnYQkyoBhM3FyoN3qZW7niTf3wWF5_T-kJvCReMOuV3fBS9AbSJWVTGjbj7d65oWpUFgE8zLIqoUCPfu5By6EPtGpHfA/s320/Life+Bible+pics+-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I found the CSB to be easy to read, and when comparing to other versions I use, I did find that I like it. But the uniqueness of this Study Bible is in the technology. <br />
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In this photo, you can see a QR code (the little boxy thing in the lower left of the grey box on the left page, or the one on the screen of my phone). Going in to take a photo of that code will result in a little link popping up on the screen. Follow that link to a free video, where Dr. Gene Getz expounds on one of the 1500 essential life principles in about ten minutes.<br />
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That's 250 hours of in-depth video teaching, as close as the camera on your phone (or tablet).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9r2IWc2Av0feeYXmx7GL4qo17_W1FGcejtJ9v7dEycnRM9YGRnJHdMnCWbQ2f10QskJ-zpybiFJOKOvU480HOeDQLngjmtQZrabkJCYlIMq-jDCN_vmjLw4k0CGsDL1DOqQ8cBmhHFQ/s1600/Life+Bible+pics+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9r2IWc2Av0feeYXmx7GL4qo17_W1FGcejtJ9v7dEycnRM9YGRnJHdMnCWbQ2f10QskJ-zpybiFJOKOvU480HOeDQLngjmtQZrabkJCYlIMq-jDCN_vmjLw4k0CGsDL1DOqQ8cBmhHFQ/s320/Life+Bible+pics+-+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The video shown here, from Psalm 68, is based on "The Day of the Lord" and the idea that we can rejoice when the wicked are defeated, but we are not to rejoice over eternal condemnation for those who reject Jesus.<br />
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The reflection and response section asks this: "Why is it sometimes difficult to pray for those who are blatantly opposed to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and who mercilessly persecute Christians?"<br />
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I find Dr. Getz to be easy to listen to, and the length of each principle video is great as I can usually find the ten or so minutes to watch a video. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHHpPy-LtStTxD2tJbF02A3R4xyCJVgjSg5TSSHx7KDONqGL4G3s2o7e9PhZpa1apQHFYVoisxOoznQvlf4I5ODc89BZoLEj4VojTgvgSrD3K9iq-G-EG_unmc4NiyF2sJFw3i2cxbg/s1600/Life+Bible+pics+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHHpPy-LtStTxD2tJbF02A3R4xyCJVgjSg5TSSHx7KDONqGL4G3s2o7e9PhZpa1apQHFYVoisxOoznQvlf4I5ODc89BZoLEj4VojTgvgSrD3K9iq-G-EG_unmc4NiyF2sJFw3i2cxbg/s320/Life+Bible+pics+-+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As you can see in the photo on the right, the video looks a bit like a sermon or a lecture. Bible text is added to the screen when Dr. Getz is quoting it, as is the reflection and response question.<br />
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In other words, the video is pretty straight-forward, not flashy.<br />
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Dr. Getz has been preaching and teaching for years, and it is evident when listening to the videos that he has experience. He was involved in a church plant in 1972 of Fellowship Bible Church. Watch this to learn more about him, and about this Bible.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YckR9Fq3r0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The video ends with suggestions for other related principles.<br />
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There is an app (that I really have not played with yet) that will keep track of which videos you have watched, so if you do start somewhere and just keep going on to something related somewhere else (like jumping from Psalms to Philippians), you can use the app to start a new trail with a principle you have not seen yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8dlGpMpt19wca_spSq-XMonj8jVvvYYwGXuwwngs7dkvxmDfgGDpKqevp7NfDfvVw4MwPZ2e5_LRSIL0bPlq7gsHQ-x3zlE7hcFS0QzyQLsNZXIs2TEsAcY4gDaQ3tdh4Gh5yxOS7g/s1600/LifeEssentialsBible_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8dlGpMpt19wca_spSq-XMonj8jVvvYYwGXuwwngs7dkvxmDfgGDpKqevp7NfDfvVw4MwPZ2e5_LRSIL0bPlq7gsHQ-x3zlE7hcFS0QzyQLsNZXIs2TEsAcY4gDaQ3tdh4Gh5yxOS7g/s320/LifeEssentialsBible_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really do love this Bible. Even if you are between churches, without a pastor, or homebound, you can bring an experienced teacher and pastor into your home easily.<br />
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Would you like to win a copy? I spent too much time with this Bible myself, so I am doing a flash giveaway. I'll be drawing a winner at midnight Mountain time, May 17. <br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="8873bf7e112" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8873bf7e112/" id="rcwidget_wjhjtzv3" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br />
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<i>Disclaimer: I received this Bible and one for a giveaway, in exchange for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.</i><br />
<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-2543987521198258792020-04-25T09:25:00.000-06:002020-05-17T09:34:36.884-06:00Experimenting with BaconLast year, I decided that all three of my 4-H kids were going to be doing the Food and Nutrition 101 project together. I wanted to work through the materials, as I figured it would be good for them. And I just wanted them all on the same page. Far easier for me.<br />
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It was wonderful. The only downside was that they were all working from the same set of recipes.<br />
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The basic requirements for the project are to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Make 2-3 recipes from each section of the project manual, so 10-15 recipes each.</li>
<li>Do a couple of experiments or activities from the manual (which they did together).</li>
<li>Do community service related to their project (baking cookies for a bake sale, baking cookies to give out in Thanksgiving baskets).</li>
<li>Give a demonstration relating to your project. </li>
<li>Make something to exhibit at County Fair. For 101, that had to be either cookies, bar cookies, or no-bake cookies. For 201, that is muffins, scones, or quick bread.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOz5NY4gwI8Jh6xR8cq6t-pBIU8UBIxwyUPsjJZ0Zg27zEV5MmrM0K70QuH9RPG75pORovGZujt50cdRLWqLhvoRaLLHcQpfTMR-_Vn2cmyceCuVGYx_sHD5TwfHHvcEdqkcX-CvteA/s1600/IMG_20200424_151328893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOz5NY4gwI8Jh6xR8cq6t-pBIU8UBIxwyUPsjJZ0Zg27zEV5MmrM0K70QuH9RPG75pORovGZujt50cdRLWqLhvoRaLLHcQpfTMR-_Vn2cmyceCuVGYx_sHD5TwfHHvcEdqkcX-CvteA/s320/IMG_20200424_151328893.jpg" width="240" /></a>One of the experiments for Food and Nutrition 201 is to make bacon three different ways and do a family taste test. I bought bacon, so we'd be sure to have enough of the SAME stuff, at one point when there was actually meat available in the grocery store.<br />
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The kids cut each piece into thirds, and then made one piece for each of us a) in the oven, b) on the stove, and c) in the microwave. Since our microwave died a couple days after all the COVID shutdowns, we had to wait to do this activity until we got a replacement.<br />
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The only way they have ever made bacon is by frying it on the stove. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trina putting bacon onto the stone to go into the oven</td></tr>
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I used to microwave bacon, but have never made it in the oven, except when wrapped around chicken, veggies, or a jalapeno.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard putting bacon on a tray to microwave it.</td></tr>
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I wish we had thought to get a photo once they were all cooked. The kids grabbed paper plates, labeled the edges with A, B and C, and placed the bacon on the plates for each family member.<br />
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It was interesting to see the results. Basically, we all were torn between the stove and oven, and pretty much all thought the microwave-cooked bacon was a distant 3rd place. What we liked about the bacon from the oven was that it was pretty flat instead of all curled up. But we preferred the taste of the bacon that they fried.<br />
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We finished the day off by having BLTs, and made that bacon in the oven so it would work in the sandwiches better.<br />
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Next taste test? Rice. We're supposed to compare cooked on the stove to cooked in the oven, but I'm going to add the rice cooker to the mix.<br />
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I just love 4-H!Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-44552809309175020702020-02-29T07:49:00.000-07:002020-05-17T08:04:58.501-06:004-H Cake Decorating Fun!We were excited to go to a cake decorating workshop for 4-H this week. Icing on the Cake in Colorado Springs was a wonderful host! Check out a couple of their gorgeous cakes!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByqNwOsLTuFg49MO2dJp59xZmhcQvCDXn6RFwYio84UkZy3LsIsqvloFozhb5Z9porTiK-IdAnKHwfohvL86MJG4r-lx_U-KE70ceX2pJO-oYGxrPOWjR6I3V9NDFeDS0pMCMqG_ZeQ/s1600/IMG_20200227_180818904.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByqNwOsLTuFg49MO2dJp59xZmhcQvCDXn6RFwYio84UkZy3LsIsqvloFozhb5Z9porTiK-IdAnKHwfohvL86MJG4r-lx_U-KE70ceX2pJO-oYGxrPOWjR6I3V9NDFeDS0pMCMqG_ZeQ/s320/IMG_20200227_180818904.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I love this one so very much. Yellow roses mean a lot to me.<br />
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That's what my dad always bought my mom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfpliNpr8B-IWpyzlxnl0n6DyXzc7Axq5mBTArCtJRoCSWJtPc2FEbnCOhtoXln1VYM8EPQWNMGiZ3KMERiWtSupztTV79ES7BHFqjetjmftflyGEgnBWzOFXb7FvB2TkNuABcV6BZw/s1600/IMG_20200227_180806390.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfpliNpr8B-IWpyzlxnl0n6DyXzc7Axq5mBTArCtJRoCSWJtPc2FEbnCOhtoXln1VYM8EPQWNMGiZ3KMERiWtSupztTV79ES7BHFqjetjmftflyGEgnBWzOFXb7FvB2TkNuABcV6BZw/s320/IMG_20200227_180806390.jpg" width="240" /></a> And of course, amethyst is my birthstone.<br />
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So this one is cool as well.<br />
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Anyway, the point of this is to show off my two 4-Hers decorating cakes. Yes, Richard went too, even though he is not in a cake decorating project. He and Trina are both doing food and nutrition, and food preservation. So working with food is still good for him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting some instruction from the owner on holding the bag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trina practicing, and not holding the bag "right"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard getting started on his cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She had to fill all the white space</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDsAAkxwM2xd-n0AgUv1WV77MMGgZZN30xJed92Xru8EbhGvj4Ht4-DXCMPCf5Z4aqNdJ6nKeLiNNEIvefJz8xS1z9pzanBqoCkf19dQ_cqHk2eP2vlyccuyHdRu-KjvTBTk_3onYwA/s1600/IMG_20200227_180546970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDsAAkxwM2xd-n0AgUv1WV77MMGgZZN30xJed92Xru8EbhGvj4Ht4-DXCMPCf5Z4aqNdJ6nKeLiNNEIvefJz8xS1z9pzanBqoCkf19dQ_cqHk2eP2vlyccuyHdRu-KjvTBTk_3onYwA/s320/IMG_20200227_180546970.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group shot of all the kids</td></tr>
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What a fun day!<br />
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<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-47348334244993503172020-01-21T08:10:00.000-07:002020-05-17T08:11:50.367-06:00My twins-for-a-nightThe kids have been going to Youth Group, which meets at the same time as AWANA happens for the younger kids. The theme this past weekend was Twin Night. <br />
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These two, who are 23 months apart, have always been asked if they are twins. Not so much lately, but it used to happen all the time. They decided all on their own to do a twin thing tonight. I was told I could take photos, but I couldn't post them until after the night was over.<br />
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Unbeknownst to me, they also put together a little song-and-dance routine. I heard it was a lot of fun.<br />
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<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-35963430434451425882019-12-10T11:46:00.000-07:002019-12-10T11:46:02.190-07:00A Cross to Kill: A Giveaway<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntCK3ZQ8N5rstwfQjorZyH6BM8iUT-jYRKUV90ZbzEvOx_Kc-WAFL-hF6UGg0guXIAoNuxJ8JMOAPFW0BljJB_thnrppHR0Nf7hoH6wFGtUzS2Cogat_OnOME98X6OiEyxpa266Q5ng/s1600/A+Cross+to+Kill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntCK3ZQ8N5rstwfQjorZyH6BM8iUT-jYRKUV90ZbzEvOx_Kc-WAFL-hF6UGg0guXIAoNuxJ8JMOAPFW0BljJB_thnrppHR0Nf7hoH6wFGtUzS2Cogat_OnOME98X6OiEyxpa266Q5ng/s320/A+Cross+to+Kill+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
A few weeks ago, I <a href="https://www.debrabrinkman.com/2019/10/a-cross-to-kill-kregel-publishing-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed a really fun book, A Cross to Kill</a>. <i>I Read with Audra</i> is doing a blog tour, and Audra told me I could post about the giveaway. It ends today, so hurry!<br />
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The review focused on the book. This post will focus on the author, Andrew Huff.<br />
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Andrew Huff spent 10 years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the Product Director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com).<br />
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He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014 & 2017) and also won the Best Screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA.<br />
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Huff holds a Bachelor of Science in Religion degree from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.</blockquote>
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One aspect I noticed in the book was how the characters in the church all ring very true. Andrew addressed this in a Q&A:<br />
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<b>Q: Writers usually write what they know. Is there any of you in John Cross?</b><br />
A: If there was, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you. Just kidding! The more exciting aspects of John’s story are nothing like mine, and I only wish I had half of his intuition and skill. It is true, however, that writers usually write what they know, and I’m no exception. The part of me in John Cross is less the man and more the day-to-day experience in local church ministry.<br />
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When I wrote <i>A Cross to Kill</i>, I was on staff with a Southern Baptist church in Central Virginia, though a much larger church than Rural Grove. So much of what John experiences with the church and its members is based on real experiences that I drew from during my time on a church staff as well as from growing up as a preacher’s kid in rural Tennessee churches. The congregants we get to know are not based on individuals as much as an amalgamation of wonderful people I had the opportunity to get to know through the years. </blockquote>
Another point I found interesting was part of Andrew's answer to the question about struggles the main character has that readers can relate to.<br />
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A: Another faith struggle that I know many readers can identify with is the difficulty of accepting God’s forgiveness for not only the sins we’ve committed in the past, but the sins we will commit in the future. John struggles to believe God could forgive him for what he did while in the employ of the CIA, and that affects his ability to pass forgiveness on to others. This is something I, myself, have also found difficult. It’s not hard to believe God might forgive a single mistake here and there, but after failing again and again and again, it’s easy to expect a limit to God’s forgiveness. That’s when we can become trapped in the erroneous belief that faith is not enough, and we must work to retain God’s favor.</blockquote>
I am really looking forward to reading more in this series! <br />
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</span>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-10906875131862576812019-11-18T23:30:00.000-07:002019-11-19T02:10:16.509-07:00Christian Heroes Then & Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bengebooks.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Heroes Then & Now Book Review Series" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBw0OhMDa8jbxVhgwAqx4TZRMxC6gNStALrorE8bYEPvv9U8mUbwPZjc2NS4JTedMkRvYkQyIKYtgiIn0VzSqAibrSFkQvWRk_W2AOi8_GgyazWqR0ANQeQWaIHzLlNmKrk5-XkpyoQ/s320/blog-button.png" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
Christian Heroes Then & Now series came to my attention nearly two decades ago when I attended a homeschool conference. YWAM Publishing had a phenomenal deal on the Gladys Aylward title, and though my kids were nowhere near old enough for these books, I wanted to see what this was all about.<br />
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I was hooked from that first book. It wasn't long before I was sharing the books with my children. George Müller was their first introduction to this amazing series, and that is still one of my very favorite titles. <br />
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I don't yet own everything, but I have a pretty good collection of both their paperbacks and audiobooks. Some of it is pictured below.<br />
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<a href="https://bengebooks.com/" target="_blank">Benge Books</a> has recently started a website of their own, and they now have a social media presence as well, such as their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heroesthenandnow/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. As part of this site launch, they are giving away three sets of five books, and reviews are posting all this month.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my Benge shelf</td></tr>
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I knew I wanted to write a review. The only hard part was choosing which book to use. We're studying Twentieth Century History this year, but that doesn't help a lot as there are still so many options. <a href="https://bengebooks.com/richard-wurmbrand/" target="_blank"><i>Richard Wurmbrand: Love Your Enemies</i></a> won. His life covers most of the 20th century, and his is a story we really are not familiar with.<br />
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I knew the basics. Richard Wurmbrand lived in Eastern Europe where he was a pastor. After World War II, his country came under Soviet influence. He spent years imprisoned for his faith, and he was tortured while a prisoner. Eventually, he was released and was able to come to the US. He spoke out in the Vietnam War era about the way Christians were being treated in communist countries. He founded Voice of the Martyrs, which expanded to address the persecuted church everywhere.<br />
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I knew there was more to the story, and I obviously was missing some details, like just which Eastern Bloc country he was from. Like all of the Benge Books, there is so much in the way of life lessons. Janet and Geoff Benge always write these biographies in a way that makes it natural to have fabulous "what would you do?" conversations. Richard and his wife, Sabina, had many opportunities to love their enemies, as the subtitle suggests. They see all people as people, not as Nazis, communists, or enemies. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqOu5FgGrp8Q7N13tdYz0dpGHy3vxyh4MaztqK3-DLEf5-ayYFz5grmD1ATsF3NsHMfYd4w0TXPzLarzwSd_O1arE5PmIy9m77BpHChzYJOFO2tWYVasU2riAm3nIYU6LPfr6ixOrbg/s1600/WurmbrandCH-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqOu5FgGrp8Q7N13tdYz0dpGHy3vxyh4MaztqK3-DLEf5-ayYFz5grmD1ATsF3NsHMfYd4w0TXPzLarzwSd_O1arE5PmIy9m77BpHChzYJOFO2tWYVasU2riAm3nIYU6LPfr6ixOrbg/s320/WurmbrandCH-Cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
My kids are now on the older side, so many consider the Christian Heroes Then & Now to be too juvenile for high school students. I disagree. The thing is, my kids are doing a full history program already, and while it is coming from a Christian perspective, there is so much going on in the world that the text can only spend a bit of time on missionaries like Eric Liddell. <br />
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The Heroes books allow us to supplement with well-researched and well-written biographies that are a great length. They don't take longer than maybe two weeks to read, or a couple trips to town when we listen to the audiobook. <br />
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The twentieth century can be a rather depressing time period to study. Armenian genocide, two world wars, the holocaust, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and on and on. A Benge biography helps to lighten the mood, even when it is covering topics like torture. There is enough detail that you know he is being hurt, but not so much that the book is depressing.<br />
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Like all Benge biographies I have read, the story jumps into some exciting, tense moment in the person's life. For Wurmbrand, he is being put into leg irons as the story opens, with no idea where he is being taken. He ends up in a train car, wondering if he is heading off to his death. You jump back to his childhood as a non-practicing Jew in Romania and you follow along as he grows up, becomes a Christian, continues life... and eventually ends up replaying that same scene that the book opened with. Then you find out what happens from there.<br />
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Janet and Geoff Benge do such a great job with cliff-hanger chapter endings that even when you are familiar with the overall story of the person, you can't wait to find out what happens next. My kids (now in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades) enjoy these biographies, and I appreciate that we have the opportunity to talk about the lives of so many real people, people who are true heroes.<br />
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This giveaway is available now through December 5.<br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="694684615" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/694684615/" id="rcwidget_my66rzgz" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-37994382093188212372019-10-25T23:00:00.000-06:002019-12-10T11:45:13.554-07:00A Cross to Kill {a Kregel Publishing review}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb1jtnBrAGr-phYEoKFazOVWaCSDuMcM2TSkwpVviSecQXUkqVIqxfigy2HbbI4eXKi7JIdQ3bdrHE5Ba4G_L7c-U792Kze3o3avoVS9LeAiuKQOaF7Do76wp3p7PJVM1ZHTtfPAz2Q/s1600/A+Cross+to+Kill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb1jtnBrAGr-phYEoKFazOVWaCSDuMcM2TSkwpVviSecQXUkqVIqxfigy2HbbI4eXKi7JIdQ3bdrHE5Ba4G_L7c-U792Kze3o3avoVS9LeAiuKQOaF7Do76wp3p7PJVM1ZHTtfPAz2Q/s320/A+Cross+to+Kill.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I've recently had the opportunity to take on some book reviews again. I get to kick this off with a hard to put down title by Andrew Huff. I truly enjoyed reading <i>A Cross to Kill: A Shepherd Suspense Novel</i>, and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.<br />
<br />
The publisher described the book this way:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span style="color: #444444;">A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God against terrorists—and his own deadly past </span></i></blockquote><blockquote>John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.<br />
<br />
But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf<i><span style="color: #444444;">—</span></i>an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to pay penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.<br />
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Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow<i><span style="color: #444444;">—</span></i>even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the cross fire? In the end, his death may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer. <br />
<br />
Andrew Huff's thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it's also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world</blockquote><br />
What did I think?<br />
<br />
I had a hard time putting it down. You start off right in the thick of things, inside the head of a reporter who is about to be executed by terrorists. The first sentence is, "Millions of people would witness the murder of Christine Lewis, and not one of them could do anything to stop it."<br />
<br />
This is a suspense novel, and only the first chapter, so I don't think it is too much of a spoiler to tell you that this execution does not go as planned. John Cross shows up in chapter one in an attempt to save her, but that rescue does not go as planned either.<br />
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That makes for a pretty good synopsis of this book: plans are made, and plans don't work out like anyone expected. Lather, rinse, repeat.<br />
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It isn't quite non-stop twists and turns. Cross returns to the small church he pastors, and there is a breather where you get to meet some delightful characters that remind me so much of church people I've known over the years, particularly at smaller churches.<br />
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I would not have guessed that this was the first novel for Andrew Huff. And I highly recommend it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="178" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/356727790" title="vimeo-player" width="427"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"><i>Disclaimer: I received this book through Kregel Blog Tours. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. </i></span>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-55336920631384159192019-08-19T22:47:00.000-06:002019-08-19T22:47:02.271-06:004-H, State Fair, and the awards that matter<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJVMJzK4gKC_yfGygUtEGjckrhX3mJan4PIT6VQn3-AF8ZWaZ-j2b3Vf7v3xMNmnonjNTmR5dOHChiY3_jaXma45AavA_aqGtjER59TzHdT4Pjehum8w7pylKEs16plkDviSAsDTQ0w/s1600/IMG_20190711_155521639.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJVMJzK4gKC_yfGygUtEGjckrhX3mJan4PIT6VQn3-AF8ZWaZ-j2b3Vf7v3xMNmnonjNTmR5dOHChiY3_jaXma45AavA_aqGtjER59TzHdT4Pjehum8w7pylKEs16plkDviSAsDTQ0w/s320/IMG_20190711_155521639.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A first trebuchet attempt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It has been a pretty crazy summer. The kids are involved in 4-H, and with my crazy life it isn't like I was doing a great job of making sure they were working on their projects.<br />
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Photos from some of the projects are scattered throughout this post, by the way. Just to keep my blathering a bit more interesting.<br />
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(This one is Richard's first attempt for Junk Drawer Robotics. It wouldn't thrown a projectile far enough, so he had to create a second model.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cpjrW7IDIarH64upDAAPMFDEMGagPjJueK_UYW6ILRwcplScGmWM5l1NeJvso3Uj18rM9-yU4nZB5KdXAAkIzTKOyxemuqo_MN8kN4XPVKQeLRF0HE_J7ojAIhEZhhzFnMLfHcAU1w/s1600/IMG_20190729_093059603.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cpjrW7IDIarH64upDAAPMFDEMGagPjJueK_UYW6ILRwcplScGmWM5l1NeJvso3Uj18rM9-yU4nZB5KdXAAkIzTKOyxemuqo_MN8kN4XPVKQeLRF0HE_J7ojAIhEZhhzFnMLfHcAU1w/s320/IMG_20190729_093059603.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing out some different teas for dyeing</td></tr>
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So when we hit the end of June, with county fair rapidly approaching, my solution was to have some of us work at a fireworks stand for a couple of weeks. That left even less time for firming up those county fair projects.<br />
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That was tough.<br />
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We had a lot of things to finalize and not nearly enough time to do it.<br />
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(Katrina had a lot of trial and error with her Upcycle My Style project. Everything she did to fix things caused more issues. So the final step ended up being to use coffee to dye the handkerchief tablecloth on her shirt. She tested some teas first.)<br />
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Out of sixteen projects that they entered, though, half earned champion ribbons (the dark purple ones) meaning that they'd go on to the State Fair.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0b3oa-ZyNnfuNd27wMpcUdG_qQvkmk6EzaybykUyC7fnk1rrcYW-YZMcvz1v6I4m28Wgh62z7ZXm-7rPRR6wtY2zhVmf5CkCboA1kmNIVwdxtZyZvUu52lOJ7FiRubkrJSP8Dn7ZHw/s1600/IMG_20190721_180624092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0b3oa-ZyNnfuNd27wMpcUdG_qQvkmk6EzaybykUyC7fnk1rrcYW-YZMcvz1v6I4m28Wgh62z7ZXm-7rPRR6wtY2zhVmf5CkCboA1kmNIVwdxtZyZvUu52lOJ7FiRubkrJSP8Dn7ZHw/s320/IMG_20190721_180624092.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not the awards that truly matter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Last week, Thomas and Richard served as teen clerks down at the
fair. Richard was working in cake decorating, and Thomas was working
with the sewing projects. Both of those are areas with a lot of
different categories, just to keep things interesting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO5DYnj7M2hbLfHBZlIjNZAH0WgF1X4_7VlVdsmp4NMAt03RsBSt9qflFCdBBQRxVxblKS0597jbU01hfa9cczkxZ2YPIMOhJLAoHJ0ccHyXEj2ODupjuztw355W4nePmUsQpNn8fug/s1600/IMG_20190717_122538133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO5DYnj7M2hbLfHBZlIjNZAH0WgF1X4_7VlVdsmp4NMAt03RsBSt9qflFCdBBQRxVxblKS0597jbU01hfa9cczkxZ2YPIMOhJLAoHJ0ccHyXEj2ODupjuztw355W4nePmUsQpNn8fug/s320/IMG_20190717_122538133.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drying project all the kids did</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So as of this past Friday, the state judging is all done, and everyone is just waiting for the official results to be posted. <br />
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I
went down (and brought William and Trina) on Saturday to volunteer, as
the next step in getting ready for the state fair is to get all those
exhibits displayed. That makes for a long day of checking and double
checking, of moving and arranging, and trying to be careful with these
items made by kids throughout the state. <br />
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(This photo is of Richard twisting the dried corn off the cob. All their other food preservation projects involved the dehydrator, but we tried corn in the oven. Richard was the only one to have his Food Preservation go on to state.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-2HH22wC2ajcFvMYdYp0P2YT5H34BMWe03-z22LakVd8KK97TX_tFjwpZHAFOqIh92UmO7nedWTt8UYoymcc-3-hgyQcCKMMcr6hETgmLq6AbmXbaWapo8r6I-r6MTHHVeSspz3gbg/s1600/IMG_20190812_162658915.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-2HH22wC2ajcFvMYdYp0P2YT5H34BMWe03-z22LakVd8KK97TX_tFjwpZHAFOqIh92UmO7nedWTt8UYoymcc-3-hgyQcCKMMcr6hETgmLq6AbmXbaWapo8r6I-r6MTHHVeSspz3gbg/s320/IMG_20190812_162658915.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D printing a computer project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My kids have had a good year with 4-H. We have brought home a lot of ribbons, and I am eating a wonderful cranberry bar while I type up this post. We have a bunch of produce that has been dehydrated. They have certainly learned a lot.<br />
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(This is the printing of an ornament that Thomas designed. This would be the fourth version of the ornament, and the one that did go to state.)<br />
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The absolute greatest awards happened on Saturday though.<br />
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Awards that I can't take a picture of.<br />
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Because they are not physical. They are the "treasured these things in her heart" types of awards.<br />
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I was so incredibly proud of these guys, as I had so many people come up to me on Saturday and tell me how much they appreciated the boys and the work they had done in the past few days. I was told that they were cheerful, hard workers, and diligent. I heard how they stepped in to help when they absolutely didn't have to. I heard lots of stories. I was asked (or told) to bring them back again next year. More than one of the adults asked if they were available to adopt.<br />
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One lady told me, "Mama, you must have done something right." I'm not so sure that is true. <br />
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I'm just blessed to be their mom.<br />
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The awards that I prize -- finding that at least sometimes, these kids have grown up to be good humans.<br />
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Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-37990356078556428962019-07-30T07:00:00.000-06:002019-07-30T21:49:53.221-06:00Chemistry {a Master Books review}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu7Pkddx8mq7Ldn1c_HVM13y5us4IGig6W2frhUAVPqmrPXfNDIGGHVOWNrCx0f1UwTDW3mbxGteFedf5-GZB1LBwnbJ27WlqZlaveVty6DOh9OOTyC0jEbobtSvBLZHUom8Zx54gxQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.42.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu7Pkddx8mq7Ldn1c_HVM13y5us4IGig6W2frhUAVPqmrPXfNDIGGHVOWNrCx0f1UwTDW3mbxGteFedf5-GZB1LBwnbJ27WlqZlaveVty6DOh9OOTyC0jEbobtSvBLZHUom8Zx54gxQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.42.11+PM.png" width="245" /></a></div>
I have used lots of materials from <a href="https://www.masterbooks.com/r/WDH7KMW2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Master Books</a>, and have always been very pleased with the quality of their books. In the past few years, they have been greatly expanding their course offerings and creating materials that look a lot more traditional. By that I mean that their high school science offerings included courses like Basic Pre-Med and Survey of Science History & Concepts.<br />
<br />
Now they have a textbook for <a href="https://www.masterbooks.com/chemistry-set" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chemistry</a>, written by Dr. Dennis Englin. There is also a parent guide to go with this, which schedules the course out into daily assignments and includes worksheets and tests. I have not seen that, except for the samples.<br />
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I did receive the pdf version of the text, and have been working through it myself. The book is gorgeous, with loads of color. Dr. Englin writes in a conversational tone that doesn’t intimidate. I love that.<br />
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The book contains 28 chapters, and each chapter includes a lab assignment. I think lab work is really important, but so much of it tends to be either expensive or silly. I get very frustrated with that.<br />
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In this course, the labs tend to me more practical, and they actually teach something. You start off with a lab that makes you think through the scientific method, then in chapter two you are working with the metric system and significant digits. This is hugely important.<br />
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Hugely.<br />
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When I taught physical science to middle school students a few years ago, the whole idea of significant digits was one they really struggled to grasp. This gets to be pretty important as you move into more advanced sciences. I was thrilled that Dr. Englin doesn't assume students (or their parents) do grasp this idea. He teaches it again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIShkU6x4Buk33NgAC5PN6_VraqBHSinBD-voxdGK2la67vdjooamCP3oJ9Gk_wZ2-FK_thlwIHyDq2Qdi-gM9fjxDvVIrN3F3c0SG5xfLZtAMUTE64-RJG3rO1t9D4lSsLNqDuJ72A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.34.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="795" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIShkU6x4Buk33NgAC5PN6_VraqBHSinBD-voxdGK2la67vdjooamCP3oJ9Gk_wZ2-FK_thlwIHyDq2Qdi-gM9fjxDvVIrN3F3c0SG5xfLZtAMUTE64-RJG3rO1t9D4lSsLNqDuJ72A/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.34.35+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I love the images used, with pictures of a dozen donuts when they introduce Avodgadro's number. The photo really draws you in -- what in the world do donuts have to do with chemistry?<br />
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Or this, from Chapter 6, with a whole lot of paint and paint brushes.<br />
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What is "molar" anyway, and what does it have to do with painting? I think the photos really do leave you wondering a bit, and that can only be a good thing. It got me to read enough to figure out why they chose this particularly colorful image.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ENiMRCdYMHxKn3PX0vvn-gF8VtrK8AQw9RK1YQHGbNSTo0uh9c2Jo-0ozRrGdknGCB0AF06EZrcVB_428fq88wWRRjOJxlUQtbRAWFHbn-Jw9G9eWGqrVbqYlDESSiugKIbcBxcUQA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.35.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="394" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ENiMRCdYMHxKn3PX0vvn-gF8VtrK8AQw9RK1YQHGbNSTo0uh9c2Jo-0ozRrGdknGCB0AF06EZrcVB_428fq88wWRRjOJxlUQtbRAWFHbn-Jw9G9eWGqrVbqYlDESSiugKIbcBxcUQA/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-07-29+at+11.35.09+PM.png" width="244" /></a></div>
This book also does something I really love, including little sidebar types of sections about scientists. That helps make science more real, I think, when you are learning something about the people behind the ideas.<br />
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The one pictured here is about Henry Louis Le Chatelier, and is introduced in Chapter 7. Balancing equations hasn't been the fun part of chemistry for any of my students, but learning a bit about the guy behind some of it definitely helps!<br />
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If you peruse the table of contents, this course really does cover all that I expect a high school chemistry class to cover. It is easy to read, bright, engaging...<br />
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Two thumbs up from this mama.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer</i>: I received th<span style="font-size: x-small;">is ebook</span> for free from <a href="https://www.masterbooks.com/r/WDH7KMW2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Master Books</a>. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary product<span style="font-size: x-small;">s</span> does not guarantee a favorable review.</span><br />
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<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-47223377095898905412019-07-22T22:41:00.002-06:002019-07-22T22:46:20.346-06:00Simply Music: a Homeschool Review Crew review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Js5qGDeOTIp6DEMUvCkUpolNlkK7CmfdesR0-FolEjWFY4oXHGGUJx8wbweDbWoPFfOi7GdltVoGSbgYb6GJYSLHOOybOU1xGjvf3NS8egXsl1kjVn1nm-p5gZQ7PSTBqr8VNx6c5Q/s1600/IMG_20190720_164904778.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Js5qGDeOTIp6DEMUvCkUpolNlkK7CmfdesR0-FolEjWFY4oXHGGUJx8wbweDbWoPFfOi7GdltVoGSbgYb6GJYSLHOOybOU1xGjvf3NS8egXsl1kjVn1nm-p5gZQ7PSTBqr8VNx6c5Q/s320/IMG_20190720_164904778.jpg" width="240" /></a>For the past few weeks, I've been trying to work with a FREE piano program from <a href="https://pianoonline.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simply Music</a>. Given that I don't have a working keyboard or piano in my home, that isn't always easy. I've been using the keyboard at church when I can, and am over halfway through the Music & Creativity - Foundation Course at this point.<br />
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This photo is of Trina working on one of the first lessons, as sometimes she comes along when I head over. Trina has only worked up to lesson 3 at this point, so she isn't very far into it.<br />
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I love that during lesson 3, she is learning her first song, and she has already spent time improvising as well.<br />
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The course consists of twenty total lessons - an introductory "Quickstart" lesson, plus 19 regular lessons.<br />
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In addition to the video lessons, there are downloadable components as well. There are a total of four items to download. The one I've used most is the soundtrack zip file, but there is also a reference book that includes words for the songs, and the diagrams used to help visualize the pieces by helping you to see shapes and patterns. The fourth item is a pdf book, Music and the Art of Long-Term Relationships.<br />
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What is not included is any sort of traditional music. This course does not teach you to read music in a traditional sense -- the idea is to gets hands-on, to learn by playing. As you go along, you are introduced to some music theory, but it is all very active and not at all.<br />
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Many of the videos include some instruction from Neil Moore. He sits at a piano and talks to the camera, as shown here from lesson 9.<br />
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I really liked this particular lesson, as he was discussing accompaniment, and that was one of the reasons I was particularly interested in taking this course. I played piano as a child and I was pretty good. But I never, ever was able to accompany a choir or even a soloist really at all.<br />
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It has always made me feel fairly inadequate, to be honest, and when I've been asked to do things at church, I get so hung up on all the chords in the hymnal, and the idea of transposing into a key we are capable of singing to, and I really don't even try.<br />
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Neil explains that the accompaniment is a bit like the canvas that a picture is painted on to. It isn't the song itself, it is a foundation that allows the soloist to shine through. He makes me think I can actually do this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcQ_09Nf1qLXD24Je9Ea8AdiY9zPvZWtluhMMiDOzPfFc8AFwRRe7SKvSsmWGQxbrGolqBKbPtakOdtjcsADGOGOpD_Ut1tlJFUh_f4okSR2lBp59PIs23MFs5r5bqwnHh2mWX_Cyjg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-22+at+8.10.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="776" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcQ_09Nf1qLXD24Je9Ea8AdiY9zPvZWtluhMMiDOzPfFc8AFwRRe7SKvSsmWGQxbrGolqBKbPtakOdtjcsADGOGOpD_Ut1tlJFUh_f4okSR2lBp59PIs23MFs5r5bqwnHh2mWX_Cyjg/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-07-22+at+8.10.53+AM.png" width="320" /></a><br />
Most lessons also include some time where Neil is playing the piano and demonstrating what you are to be playing. Here, in lesson 7, he is showing some techniques for using the sustain pedal, and I really liked how the camera shows us both what he is doing with his hands and what he is doing with his foot.<br />
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This screenshot also demonstrates a bit about how the lessons are set up. Each of the 19 lessons has at least one video segment, and once you have completed that section, you have to mark it as complete. In the shot above, I could not move on to Lesson 8.1 until I marked that I had watched this one.<br />
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Note that I don't actually have to watch a lesson to mark it complete. If I wanted to skip forward and try the lesson on Amazing Grace (Lesson 14), I could just go in and mark each video as complete until I get to the one I wish to watch. So it is possible to skip ahead, but it is not a quick process to do so.<br />
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To do the lessons, you need to have a screen on which to watch the lessons over the internet (they are not downloadable), and you need a piano or a keyboard with at least 49 keys. Having a device to play the soundtracks and having headphones is a plus, but not totally essential. <br />
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To do a lesson, I bring my laptop and my iPad with me to church. I have the lessons playing on my computer, and I can get the iPad to play the soundtracks. If there are extra people around at church, I can plug in headphones.<br />
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Because I have played piano for a lot of years, I don't find that I need to spend a lot of time with the instructional portions of the program. I can generally watch the lesson once and not have to really spend any time processing it.<br />
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Trina hasn't done much on a piano before, so she does spend some time getting comfortable with the right hand part before moving on to the left hand segment, for instance. So far, she hasn't needed a lot of time either though.<br />
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Neil does address how you are to work through the lessons. You are to 'control events' by verbalizing what you are going to do before you do it. Initially, you focus on 'what to play' rather than 'how to play,' so the expectation is that you are not going to sound smooth initially. And on the subject of how long it will take before you move on, his answer is, "as long as it takes."<br />
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I really do like that.<br />
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He addresses the parents in how to help your child through the lessons, and one thing he pushes is that you make sure your child is not moving too fast. Take small pieces and get comfortable before moving on to the next chunk.<br />
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I love that approach.<br />
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This screenshot is from the last lesson I did, as I realized I hadn't shown any shots of the camera angles when he is demonstrating what to play.<br />
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So what do I think? This program is free, so it is certainly something worth trying out. A student who really needs to know exactly what they are doing before they do it may be better off with a more traditional approach to learning piano, but I think this is a great way to go for a lot of people. For me, it is teaching me to *play* with the music in the improvisation sections, and it is changing how I look at accompaniment. I hope to actually follow through and play keyboard with our praise team.<br />
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For my daughter, she is able to sound good from the start and she isn't having to learn to read all the crazy squiggles on a page to do that.<br />
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My one caution for anyone else with previous keyboard experience is to persevere. The first lessons do get a bit hard to get through, particularly lesson 3. It is worth it to keep going, though.<br />
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You can read what others on the Crew had to say by clicking this image:<br />
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Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-16732730635149312122019-06-05T20:13:00.003-06:002019-06-05T20:13:32.615-06:00Use It Up! A challenge for JuneOkay, so I told you on the 1st that sometime this week, I'd pull all my 2018 cans off the shelf and start working on making those go away.<br />
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The idea was that I'd challenge myself to finish them off in June.<br />
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Piece. Of. Cake.<br />
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That is everything.<br />
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Just the fact that they are sitting on my freezer is probably going to be enough. I need to actually think a bit for the water chestnuts. The soups will just be eaten for lunch at some point. I'll probably add olives to a couple Mexican-inspired dishes this month.<br />
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And I was already thinking I would either grill a turkey, or at least cook up a turkey breast (to use that stupid can of turkey gravy from my last two posts!), so that will take care of one can of cranberries. If we have potato sausage, we can make the other can go away. A can of salmon could turn into a lot of different dishes.<br />
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I should have NO PROBLEM meeting this goal. Now if I can just finish off the last couple things from my May challenge...<br />
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And in the time it took me to finish writing this post, I managed to actually use some of this. The soup and the salmon are gone. I made salmon cakes for dinner. I used the soup from the May challenge too. Haven't gotten rid of anything else though.<br />
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Next week, I will post a photo of the chickens eating that can of squid. I can't feed it to them until after the weekend.<br />
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<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-58315219802918542412019-06-01T16:02:00.000-06:002019-06-01T16:41:40.033-06:00Use it Up! An updateI failed.<br />
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The goal I set about <a href="https://www.debrabrinkman.com/2019/05/use-it-up.html" target="_blank">two weeks ago</a> was to use up all the truly old cans in my pantry.<br />
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This is what it looked like after I completed my sorting of stuff.<br />
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That is quite a bit of food. And I made serious progress, because this is what it looks like on June 1:<br />
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I clearly am not all that excited about the two desserts.<br />
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I already said I'm not excited about the squid.<br />
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I think I'm going to:<br />
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<li>Have the French Onion Soup as lunch for me one of these days when the rest of the family eats Dale's chili. I even bought some provolone cheese to go on it.</li>
<li>Maybe suggest Dale use the chipotles into his chili?</li>
<li>Clam Chowder still sounds good. Or maybe some <a href="https://www.bumblebee.com/recipes/classic-linguini-with-clams/" target="_blank">linguini</a>?</li>
<li>Gravy? Umm. Just heat it up and offer it with mashed potatoes? </li>
<li>Suck it up and make the desserts. </li>
<li>I'm giving Dale until the end of the week to use that squid. It becomes chicken food after that.</li>
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Sometime this week, I'm pulling all the cans marked 2018 off my shelf and starting this challenge again. I might even post about that, mostly to force me into actually doing it. <br />
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Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-60140552642515117462019-05-14T12:59:00.003-06:002019-05-14T12:59:37.461-06:00Use it Up!It has been a very busy couple of months here. One project I took on was to pull every single can off of my pantry shelves, date it, and put it all back in an organized fashion. I also inventoried it all. That was a pretty time-consuming project, but it is nice to have it done.<br />
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When I say, "put it all back," though, I don't actually mean all of it.
I tossed four or five cans out as they looked scary. And everything
with a best-by date any earlier than 2018, I put on the freezer. <br />
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There were a few things, obviously. And I also grabbed a couple of dessert mixes with old dates and added it to my on-the-freezer stash.<br />
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Having spent a lot of time working in food pantries, I've been trained repeatedly in what is okay to use past dates and what isn't. Scary stuff is things like milk (two of the cans I tossed were sweetened condensed milk) and mayonnaise. Tomatoes and other high-acid food shouldn't be older than 12-18 months. But a lot of the other canned goods are supposed to be good for five years.<br />
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I don't like stuff to be five years past dates though. So I want to use it all up.<br />
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I've used most of the items in the above picture at this point. I'm mostly down to things that are a bit harder to use in cooking for a family of six. Like one little can of crabmeat. Seriously, how do I stretch that to feed us all?<br />
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(I'm planning to either do stuffed mushrooms, or stuffed something else.)<br />
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Or things I just don't use and am not entirely sure why I have, such as canned/jarred gravy. <br />
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Or strange stuff my husband bought, like a can of squid. (I know what I want to do with that! I want to feed it to either the cats or the chickens.)<br />
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Some of the items are really easy to use. This was breakfast this morning -- cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling.<br />
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I made a cake with a can of blueberry pie filling. <br />
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I cooked up the can of roast beef, the mushrooms, beef gravy, and probably something else and we had it over mashed potatoes. That was excellent, and it is probably what I'll do with the remaining beef gravy too.<br />
<br />
Stuff like pineapple, jalepeños, and soup just needed to be front and center and those got used up.<br />
<br />
It's starting to be harder to use what I have left though. My goal is to have used it all by the end of May. I probably could use some ideas.<br />
<br />
<br />
What I have left:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 can chicken, which will probably be chicken salad sandwiches for lunch soon.</li>
<li>1 can clams</li>
<li>1 can crab</li>
<li>1 can squid</li>
<li>1 can French onion soup</li>
<li>1 can chipotle peppers</li>
<li>1 can baked beans, which will probably be used over Memorial Day weekend</li>
<li>2 cans beef gravy</li>
<li>1 can turkey gravy</li>
<li>1 box of no bake cheesecake</li>
<li>1 box of pumpkin cheesecake</li>
</ul>
What would you make? <br />
<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-79318139247286229922019-03-31T08:25:00.000-06:002019-03-31T08:25:47.784-06:00A super mom vs SuperMom<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Facebook memories are so much fun sometimes. Today, I saw this one, which I did dutifully share on my wall:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy66llD0MFmP2DEAfh6XHfBtiqu_cryOdZAbAPX6sUuHJZphcW-NCbLypIwh404RVaTx7g4wUgb6JIlEoMTuzrlh1s_1U4zfIQqtayCMUMRNBPt6g37WlLVmChBySVs7ssiFvXDOBO2A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-31+at+7.42.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="510" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy66llD0MFmP2DEAfh6XHfBtiqu_cryOdZAbAPX6sUuHJZphcW-NCbLypIwh404RVaTx7g4wUgb6JIlEoMTuzrlh1s_1U4zfIQqtayCMUMRNBPt6g37WlLVmChBySVs7ssiFvXDOBO2A/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-31+at+7.42.04+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I could undoubtedly turn that into a whole post too.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">But earlier this week, there was a memory where I started reading the comments. I don't even remember what the post was about, but from the first line below, I'm pretty sure it was the new Sonlight catalog. Someone was commenting on how whatever it was made them feel totally inadequate. And this is someone I really respect and admire, someone doing a LOT with her kids. I wrote back:</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I
totally understand what you mean. The pictures, the little quotes and
testimonials, they all sound so perfect. And then the lack of book
descriptions leaves me feeling, I don't know, incomplete. So combined, I
feel inadequate too.<br /><br />But remember
when you look at those pictures that you are only seeing one brief
narrowly focused snapshot. If it is anything like most of the photos I
put on my blog, there is a mountain of clutter just outside the frame,
and undoubtedly there is a child throwing a tantrum that you can't hear
over the sound of my "forced to appear calm" voice describing the scene.<br /><br />You
are a super mom. But you can't be SuperMom. None of us in this thread
are either... and none of the people in the catalog is either. You
have your SuperMomMoments. I know you do. But this side of heaven, it
will never be more than a few scattered perfect moments... <br /><br />Don't
beat yourself up. Really. You are amazing and wonderful. And flawed.
Don't measure your reality against the projected external perfection of
anyone else...</span></span></span></blockquote>
Don't we all need reminders like that?<br />
<br />
"Don't measure your reality against the projected external perfection of anyone else..."<br />
<br />
<br />
Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-63148953916658486472019-02-20T23:00:00.000-07:002019-02-20T23:59:12.529-07:00The Restoration SeriesOne subject that has never come up on my blog before today: prisons.<br />
<br />
It is a subject that occasionally comes up in my life though. Not that I plan to go into a lot of detail on my blog, but there have been a couple of individuals in my life who I met after they got out of prison, while they were trying to get back into life on the outside.<br />
<br />
That isn't easy, usually for a whole lot of reasons. Lots of reasons that most of us don't think about. Prison Fellowship has put out a fascinating documentary, <a href="https://www.prisonfellowship.org/restorationseries?utm_source=flyby&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=MW_TRS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Restoration Series: Jonathan's Walk</a>. <br />
<br />
You can watch the first part below. It's not quite five minutes. Come on, you have five minutes.<br />
<br />
Watch it.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="272" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/314023501" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the ministries that my church supports is helping women to get integrated back into society after they have been released from prison. Listening to Marilyn, who runs this ministry, speak about these women -- and meeting some of them, too -- has been eye-opening for me as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
About the series:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For years, Jonathan has been in prison. As a result, he has missed milestone<br />
moments with his family. He wasn’t there for his daughter’s first day of school or a thousand little experiences with his wife and as a father, he is devastated to be separated from those he loves most.<br />
<br />
Jonathan has been looking forward to his release from prison for over a decade. So many life events have been missed and he is now ready to be with his wife and kids again. Of course, this transition isn't going to be easy. The odds are against him: with over half of prisoners returning to prison within two years, Jonathan is aware of the challenge set before him.<br />
<br />
Still, he is determined to take the skills he has learned into the world outside of incarceration and stay there, helping build the community that he is part of for years to come. <br />
<br />
Prison Fellowship presents The Restoration Series: Jonathan’s Walk, a 5-part documentary film series following one man as he re-enters his community after 15 years in prison. It demonstrates in imagery, powerful storytelling and social interaction what it means to be human and the shared need of all people to see communities restored. <br />
<br />
Though America is home to only 4% of the world's population, we house more than 20% of its prisoners. Recidivism–the tendency of a criminal to reoffend—is out of control. The Restoration Series tells the story of men and women who have experienced The Academy, a revolutionary in-prison program that is combatting incarceration and recidivism head on.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Go check it out. <a href="https://www.prisonfellowship.org/restorationseries?utm_source=flyby&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=MW_TRS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Restoration Series.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): </b>Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. </span><br />
<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-71827900994274191142018-12-10T19:19:00.001-07:002018-12-10T19:19:11.703-07:00Devotions from the Lake {a BookLook Blogger review}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dCenSvRnW82x4BdkG_jKZvndlaDLOHECjgv7vnDw6I8mqgp81Dtvz5zqckaCnEYwBoonLJKOnzTnObbnVX34SM1hqeFY0H0GK506N7PSsA7f7KyfcYfqFGlzKYDKIl90nIKfw0YmpA/s1600/Devotions+from+the+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="453" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dCenSvRnW82x4BdkG_jKZvndlaDLOHECjgv7vnDw6I8mqgp81Dtvz5zqckaCnEYwBoonLJKOnzTnObbnVX34SM1hqeFY0H0GK506N7PSsA7f7KyfcYfqFGlzKYDKIl90nIKfw0YmpA/s320/Devotions+from+the+Lake.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/devotions-from-the-lake?utm_campaign=april18&utm_source=blb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Devotions from the Lake</i></a> by Betsy Painter is a gorgeous book with one hundred devotions. Very peaceful devotions.<br />
<br />
One of the hardest things for me with where we live is that I have to be so intentional if I want to hang out by water. I don't just happen to run across lakes, ponds, or rivers in my normal life. Not like when I was growing up.<br />
<br />
Hanging out on a rock by a stream, reading a book -- that sums up my "perfect place" whenever I'm asked to describe such a thing. Or walking along a shore, particularly somewhere that looks like the cover of the book.<br />
<br />
I like bodies of water. So I really thought this was a great devotional for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBZpbgEny9yjcIv0Pnn62D8f0zmG9EZEGCjshPCkLqCIM4qegoJhsODDa13DvQ_Qqv1H2f8016Q8XSTp9zIQGOTjL73F3F_atrwFEVRro5L7T2P0-o8vRQzJnz3Dwr0-yERyiL5taAA/s1600/IMG_20181210_102343446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBZpbgEny9yjcIv0Pnn62D8f0zmG9EZEGCjshPCkLqCIM4qegoJhsODDa13DvQ_Qqv1H2f8016Q8XSTp9zIQGOTjL73F3F_atrwFEVRro5L7T2P0-o8vRQzJnz3Dwr0-yERyiL5taAA/s320/IMG_20181210_102343446.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Each devotion is a two-page spread, with one of those pages being a
beautiful photo. In between some of these devotions are two-page photos
that are pretty incredible. Many photos are scenery, but there are
also photos of things like relaxing in a couple of camp chairs or kids
running through sprinklers.<br />
<br />
The photos are awesome.<br />
<br />
The actual devotional part starts with a title and a Bible verse. The verse is included along with the reference. There are two to three paragraphs of text that relates to the photo and verse. Each devotion ends with a short one to two sentence prayer.<br />
<br />
As an example, the devotion titled “Where the Sky Meets the Ground” quotes Matthew 3:2. The photo is gorgeous, a green meadow stretching off, with a pretty blue sky containing fluffy, white clouds. The devotion talks about drawings, where there is a clear line separating earth and sky and how we often think this way about Bible stories too. Heaven and earth have a clear line between them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnU-pqrZjqVdTOav9FH3r7T7ysV1nYzoQKjSEOC9lUXO7IDmXbwlco-qG6Q1xHBhMpGSAOMrWTqZpfLYrLxZyJGycdfcH1JdOih6htwmoBLrsF-ZHGyNMwKGhi_Obt0aXESZG56C1sg/s1600/IMG_20181210_102351490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnU-pqrZjqVdTOav9FH3r7T7ysV1nYzoQKjSEOC9lUXO7IDmXbwlco-qG6Q1xHBhMpGSAOMrWTqZpfLYrLxZyJGycdfcH1JdOih6htwmoBLrsF-ZHGyNMwKGhi_Obt0aXESZG56C1sg/s320/IMG_20181210_102351490.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The devotional goes on to talk about a more three-dimensional way to look at this, with air (heaven) in between every blade of grass. The final paragraph states, “We can ask Jesus to give us a back-porch view of heaven. Where we draw lines separating heaven and earth, He erases them so that heaven pours out over the earth and into our lives.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18px;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the <a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BookLook Bloggers</a></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>book
review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255</a></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18px;">: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></i></span>
<br />
<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-937235770314859352018-12-05T05:00:00.000-07:002018-12-05T05:00:02.604-07:00Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women {a Crew review}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Beloved_meme_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Beloved_meme_5.jpg" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been wanting to do something with Trina as a devotional reading, or just something about growing into a godly woman that isn't too cute and trendy. <a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.zondervan.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zondervan</a> to the rescue! <a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women</a> is intended for girls ages 13-18, so Trina is just a bit "too young" for it, but this has been working great.<br />
<br />
My plan, which I had announced to the Crew, was to go through this five days a week <b>with</b> Trina. On the weekends, between church and pantry and everything else, I knew we would never be able to be consistent, and I didn't want to feel guilt for that. That means I didn't plan for that to happen at all.<br />
<br />
Good decision on my part.<br />
<br />
We failed at doing it every weekday too, even though the readings are super short. Our problem seems to be that we simply are not getting in the habit.<br />
<br />
All of that just proves how much we need it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ56v-eFkpLFHAPn9fEffWXCW8FeiBSJXIkgD5nH-ZdX7mMaM0Vvmy6BgH0cuvyCUReMS-CPZP-4X5IJWe9PEF_WFBa31lqdYtHKS_cEFk7Nj8MQCZVatWDG6srRI_1y49ML_-6Toe0g/s1600/47680879_2299644206734885_4863795290123010048_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ56v-eFkpLFHAPn9fEffWXCW8FeiBSJXIkgD5nH-ZdX7mMaM0Vvmy6BgH0cuvyCUReMS-CPZP-4X5IJWe9PEF_WFBa31lqdYtHKS_cEFk7Nj8MQCZVatWDG6srRI_1y49ML_-6Toe0g/s320/47680879_2299644206734885_4863795290123010048_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuggled up, reading, trying to ignore the photographer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The product name does a pretty good job of describing exactly what this product is. A daily devotional, for young women. Each day is a single page, starting with a Bible verse and ending with four lines that can be used to journal. In between there are two or three paragraphs that absolutely relate to growing into a woman of integrity.<br />
<br />
One thing I really love about this devotional is that it is not just random devotional thoughts. The beginning focuses on "ideal" womanhood, and then there are a few about Eve (days 7-14), and Noah's wife (days 15-18) and it continues on through Genesis. I love that you aren't just reading random thoughts here and there, but that it is more like a little story that continues from day to day.<br />
<br />
Sarah, for instance:<br />
<ul>
<li>Day 19: talks about the crazy promises of God, and how Sarah reflects huge amounts of faith, but also shows how not to respond to life events.</li>
<li>Day 20: talks about fear and leaning on your own strength instead of asking God for protection.</li>
<li>Day 21: talks about intertwined relationships, specifically Hagar and Sarai.</li>
<li>Day 22: talks about taking matters into our own hands.</li>
</ul>
I love that quite often, one day really does add on to what we read about the day before. <br />
<br />
Looking ahead, there are some amazing devotionals that really mean a lot to me as well, not just my daughter. Day 196 really hit me. There is a string of devotionals talking about Hannah (mother of Samuel) and offerings and suffering. And then... Day 196.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdCVc-F2Yfahs5GVc2D9xMGLz5kh1d0QC9f1BIkFLSmfnzHhADTq9RlHS5REwrBUwfgy_dWYBARmKVa5W99y6ZXpsx84dHRynnkC4HMFgvyiNzKk7GepEW1ddZ-7NpPJsf7sw1JwgXA/s1600/IMG_20181204_235019976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdCVc-F2Yfahs5GVc2D9xMGLz5kh1d0QC9f1BIkFLSmfnzHhADTq9RlHS5REwrBUwfgy_dWYBARmKVa5W99y6ZXpsx84dHRynnkC4HMFgvyiNzKk7GepEW1ddZ-7NpPJsf7sw1JwgXA/s320/IMG_20181204_235019976.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
This one switches gears and starts talking about Peninnah. Yeah, I didn't recognize that name either. She's the other wife, the one spoken of in 1 Samuel 1:6 "her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her."<br />
<br />
It's easy to be mad at Peninnah. Like the devotional says, "Not cool, Peninnah." But it immediately goes on to say,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But perhaps we should turn the magnifying glass onto ourselves before we judge Peninnah too harshly. The ugly truth is that blessings can make us smug. When the Lord has chosen to bless us with something - material wealth, talent, intelligence, beauty, opportunity - it's very easy to feel superior to those who don't have what we've been given.</blockquote>
Ouch.<br />
<br />
So while this is written to teens, some of these devotional entries absolutely hit me as well.<br />
<br />
Smug superiority. Lord help me not display that, and even more, help me not to feel it either.<br />
<br />
A few dozen folks on the Crew have been using <a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women</a> in their homes. Go, check out the other reviews!<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/beloved-365-devotions-for-young-women-zondervan-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women {Zondervan Review}" border="0" src="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg" /></a></center>
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<br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-34536480344325890462018-11-08T11:31:00.002-07:002018-11-08T11:31:23.477-07:00Dave Raymond's ModernityLast schoolyear, we were blessed with the opportunity to use Dave Raymond’s Modernity as part of William’s high school studies. William is my history-loving son, and he had determined that modern history, specifically the 20th Century, was where he really needed to spend his last year of high school.<br />
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<a href="https://affiliates.compassclassroom.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=141" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Compass Classroom</a> provided a wonderful way to do just that. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lk-kflP_Ru0gWHJVew6p8KHxvthg4cjNz3neyFxX-Pgb5EhzNaWOOQFK9sr2jCZTB5UgQJaYEEhWfeblU0Usq84wtlk9tmGcIs3Opuh-1tG98CKk5zW8w7LTOWKXo1kzpvCZnwBlNA/s1600/Course_Modernity-set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="700" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lk-kflP_Ru0gWHJVew6p8KHxvthg4cjNz3neyFxX-Pgb5EhzNaWOOQFK9sr2jCZTB5UgQJaYEEhWfeblU0Usq84wtlk9tmGcIs3Opuh-1tG98CKk5zW8w7LTOWKXo1kzpvCZnwBlNA/s320/Course_Modernity-set.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This course consists of daily video lectures, which you can stream, download, or purchase on DVD. We have lousy internet, so we were thrilled to be able to use the DVDs. There is also a Student Reader and a Teacher’s Guide, available as a pdf, epub, or mobi file. You do need all three parts to really use the course, although just watching the lectures could be a great way to supplement a more textbook-based course.<br />
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There are 27 lessons, with each split into five parts. Each day you have a lecture to watch, and there is reading in the reader. Those readings include a variety of source documents – speeches, diary entries, sermons, letters, and other documents. Some readings are really short, but some are pretty lengthy. For speeches, we tended to search online for a recording of the actual speech. Those were fun to watch together, especially as we got to Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech in the final lesson, where I could talk about my reactions to the events or to that speech at the time. We were able to do the same for songs, as some of the readings were of song lyrics (the theme song from M*A*S*H, for instance, “Suicide is Painless.”)<br />
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As long as I am leaping to the end of the course here, it is worth knowing that there is a fair amount of discussion about things like the sexual revolution, or the attitudes in the M*A*S*H theme song. Modern history isn’t exactly fun, and I would not necessarily recommend this course for younger than high school. In fact, my plan is to make it a senior year course for the rest of my kids, in spite of the fact that I love being able to combine as many of them as possible. I may change my mind, though, and have 12th and 10th graders do it together.<br />
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So back to how this course works. Daily, you have the lectures and readings, and some questions generally. Every week, there is an exam in the Teacher’s Guide, and the student is to complete an entry into his portfolio. The exams have questions like, “How are revolutions and reformations different?” or “Why is scientism attractive to mankind?” The portfolio is a bit like a scrapbook, where the student is to put images of some sort, along with titles or captions. This could be maps, artwork, copies of artwork, lyrics, quotes, etc. This is a great place to personalize the course.<br />
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I can see Thomas (now in 11th grade) using this as a place to talk about significant movies of the time period in the lesson, or about the time period, or photographic and film innovations from that time period. That might be a bit tougher for some of the earliest lessons, but it would be something he can go all out with as we get to about the 1890s and on.<br />
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I can see Richard creating a portfolio based on flight and aviation. Right now, I could see Trina doing a portfolio based on fashion trends, as she is really fascinated by clothing of the early parts of the 20th century.<br />
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In addition, there are four other projects that take place throughout the year. There is an imitation project, where the student is to imitate the work of a 17th or 18th century master – either art, music, poetry or invention. There is a speech, and a research/thesis paper. The final project is very open-ended, where the student is to invest a chunk of time into a big project of their choice. Again, I could see Thomas creating a documentary about the early stages of motion pictures. I could see Richard creating a replica of the Wright Brothers’ plane, I could see Trina creating a 20s ‘flapper’ outfit.<br />
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William focused on Winston Churchill for his project, and one thing he ended up doing was to create a list of Churchill quotations that we printed up on nice paper, with lots of “white” space (it was actually more "parchment space") that we had people sign as a guest book at his graduation ceremony.<br />
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The first few lessons are setting the stage. In fact, Lesson Two is called, “The Great Stage: Introduction to the West.” The course ends with “The Triumph of the West: The Fall of Communism and Post-Modernity.” Over half of the course (roughly Lesson 12 and on) takes place in the mid-1800s up through the late 20th Century.<br />
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William loved this course. The video lectures were fantastic. Dave Raymond draws you in and really talks to the viewer in a way that makes you think you are right there, listening in. He includes a lot of visuals in the lessons, so it isn’t just watching him lecture.<br />
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I absolutely plan to have all of my children work through this.<br />
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<i><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the download of this course from Compass Classroom</span><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. This post does contain affiliate links. I was not
required to write a positive review, and any affiliate relationship
does not impact my opinions. The opinions I have expressed are my
own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255</a></span><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></i>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-82758321712787044792018-09-18T06:00:00.000-06:002018-09-18T06:00:00.195-06:00All Saints: a Bethany House review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have no idea why I went for it when I had the opportunity to review All Saints, by Michael Spurlock and Jeanette Windle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew nothing of the story, didn’t realize it was being made into a movie except that something in the blurb said so, and the title doesn’t exactly scream out that this is going to be a story that will really move me.<br />
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The subtitle might have helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/all-saints/386620" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>All Saints: The Surprising True Story of How Refugees from Burma Brought Life to a Dying Church</i></a>.<br />
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Of course, the publisher's description is great too, and I had to have read it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>The True Story Behind the Powerful Film </b><b><i>ALL SAINTS</i></b><b><br />
</b>Newly ordained, Michael Spurlock's first assignment is to pastor All Saints, a struggling church with twenty-five devoted members and a mortgage well beyond its means. The best option may be to close the church rather than watch it wither any further. But when All Saints hesitantly risks welcoming a community of Karen refugees from Burma--former farmers scrambling for a fresh start in America--Michael feels they may be called to an improbable new mission.<br />
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Michael must choose between closing the church and selling the property--or listening to a still, small voice challenging the people of All Saints to risk it all and provide much-needed hope to their new community. Together, they risk everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.<br />
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Discover the true story that inspired the film while also diving deeper into the background of the Karen people, the church, and how a community of believers rally to reach out to those in need, yet receive far more than they dared imagine.<br />
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The <b>Reverend Michael Spurlock</b> served All Saints Episcopal Church in Smyrna, Tennessee, for three years. He is currently on the clergy staff at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. Michael, his wife, Aimee, and their two children live in New York City.<br />
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Award-winning author and investigative journalist <b>Jeanette Windle</b> has lived in six countries, authored nineteen books, and mentors writers on five continents. To learn more, visit her at www.jeanettewindle.com. </blockquote>
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But I don’t remember actually thinking about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just determined this was something I should read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It arrived and I set it aside, and completely forgot about it.<br />
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I ran across it a month ago, and felt guilt that I had not read and reviewed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So one afternoon, I opened the book and started to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so completely pulled into the story that I didn’t stop for much of anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might have made dinner, but not much else happened.<br />
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What a fabulous story!<br />
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Michael Spurlock is writing his own story here, or a piece of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a missionary story I’m reading with my kids for school right now, written by the missionary himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The description of the book in our curriculum guide says something about how while the missionary is describing events that happened in his life, and describing that part of it from his point of view, they don’t believe the missionary is the protagonist in the story. He is, in fact, a fairly minor character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They argue that God is the protagonist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting with anticipation and excitement to see the drama play out, to see His kingdom advance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see light brought in to the darkness. <br />
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I think that description completely applies here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reverend Spurlock is a character in this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An important character, surely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God himself is the protagonist. <br />
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Aren’t those the best kind of stories?<br />
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In a nutshell, this story follows the life of Michael, and the life of Ye Win on the other side of the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their stories intersect in a dying church in Smyrna, TN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All Saints Episcopal Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story also has light being brought into the darkness, or at least light coming into the dimness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church politics, a church split – a gorgeous church building that is a shell of a church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>War refugees from Burma are the ones bringing the light back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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This is a truly phenomenal story, and it is a very quick read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<i>Disclosure: Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.</i><br />
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</style>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416139988162419457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53873677645881723.post-54638905819696675712018-09-17T13:36:00.000-06:002018-09-17T15:17:43.089-06:00The Promise of Dawn: a Bethany House reviewI’ve read quite a few books by Lauraine Snelling before, primarily her stories that take place in the fictional town of Blessing, North Dakota, which is set somewhere just north of where my father’s family immigrated to from Sweden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her characters emigrated from Norway and formed a community there, and I enjoyed reading about them in the Song of Blessing series. You can read my review of <a href="http://www.debrabrinkman.com/2017/12/from-this-day-forward-bethany-house.html" target="_blank"><i>From This Day Forward</i></a>, the fourth book in that series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt1UclkPfXDp7E_-8bLWTzfcigO5EosOHKzI2HDNn4w7zCn5ys_EMkUZgHtfWLHJ-kiB_UtxvDdrgUHjH4Y_mEWYv7AaWfzT_wf4e800RIsll1B0VtmrwXOZU0PYr7LjmIXf9AM3PIA/s1600/Promise+of+Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt1UclkPfXDp7E_-8bLWTzfcigO5EosOHKzI2HDNn4w7zCn5ys_EMkUZgHtfWLHJ-kiB_UtxvDdrgUHjH4Y_mEWYv7AaWfzT_wf4e800RIsll1B0VtmrwXOZU0PYr7LjmIXf9AM3PIA/s320/Promise+of+Dawn.jpg" width="208" /></a><a href="http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-promise-of-dawn/382590" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Promise of Dawn</i></a>, the first in the Under Northern Skies series, follows another part of that family as they move to northern Minnesota and begin a new life in this new world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have the same personal ties to logging in that state, but my German and Polish families came to central Minnesota around this same time period.<br />
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Let me start with the publisher's description:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>In a Compelling New Saga, One Family Strives to Make Their Own Future</b><br />
Opportunities are scarce in Norway, so when Rune and Signe Carlson receive a letter from Rune's uncle, Einar Strand, offering to loan them money for passage to America, Rune accepts. Signe is reluctant to leave her home, especially as she is pregnant with her fourth child, but Einar promises to give them land of their own, something they could never afford in Norway.<br />
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But life in Minnesota is more difficult than Signe imagined. Uncle Einar and Aunt Gerd are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone to pay off their debt. Afraid they will never have the life they dreamed of, she begins to lose her trust in God. When the dangers of the North Woods strike close to home, will she find the strength she needs to lead her family into the promise of a new dawn?</blockquote>
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I enthusiastically started reading this story, and for whatever reason, I totally bogged down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely could not get enthused enough about the characters or the story to read more than a few chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then the book sat for months, taunting me, as I did promise to review it.<br />
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I picked it up again, read an additional chapter, and set it back down.<br />
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A few months went by, and I told myself I simply had to read this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, however, I started over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this time, I was completely sucked in starting in about the third chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not set the book down until I had read the very last word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately checked to see if the second book in the series was out, and was thrilled that it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read that cover to cover as soon as it arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two books into the series, and I can absolutely say that I love this series more than the books about Blessing.<br />
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I have no idea why there was such a roadblock the first time I tried to read this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to assume there was something going on in my life that just made it impossible for me to continue.<br />
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This book follows Signe, her husband Rune, and their three sons, the oldest of whom is fifteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Signe has recently discovered she is pregnant, and having lost a few children since the birth of her youngest son, that does make this journey to America that much more traumatic.<br />
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They arrive, unprepared for much of anything they will face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are far more difficult than they imagined, and while some of the conflicts of the story resolve by the end of the book, not all do.<br />
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Another thing is that this isn’t a romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there is a wedding in the story, it happens the very first chapter, before Rune and Signe leave Norway. <br />
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One of the things I really loved about the Blessing series was that you felt a bit like you were dropping in for a part of the lives of the folks of this town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you finished a book, there were things that hadn’t been all wrapped up, and you knew that there were more stories that could be told, and maybe the next book would answer some of those questions. <br />
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That feeling is even stronger in this series, and that is speaking for both this title and book 2, <a href="http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/a-breath-of-hope/382890" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Breath of Hope</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think what I truly love, though, is that the primary conflict – the one resolved by the final pages – isn’t romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a hint that Book 3 (coming in November) might be a bit more romance-driven, which would be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t the central story of the first two books though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that refreshing.<br />
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<i>Disclosure: Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.</i><style>
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