2013 Book Update

So I finished Agnes Grey  by Anne Bronte, which my brother and his reading group were reading together. I had actually put Shirley on my list to read but traded it out with Agnes Grey when I heard what they were reading. It is so much more fun to have someone to discuss books with than to read alone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it was rather a slower more simple story. It was about a governess and her experiences with two different families and then her own love story which was quite sweet. I loved learning about her life with the families and found that governesses don't differ much from nannies now days, they are expected to help mold children and make them behave but are given no authority and discipline to do it with. There were a few really good quotes...

• "And not I think I have said sufficient." Is how the book ends.
• " The best way to enjoy yourself is to do what is right and hate nobody. The end of religion is not to teach us how to die, but how to life; and the earlier you become wise and good the more of happiness you secure."
• "By this time there was a carriage ready, and the footman was waiting, with an open umbrella, to escort Miss Murray through the churchyard. I was about to follow; but Mr. Weston had an umbrella too, and offered me the benefit of its shelter, for it was raining heavily. 'No, thank you, I don't mind the rain,' I said. I always lacked common sense when taken by surprise."

My brother Jonathan gave me an intersting book called Endymion Spring which is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. It had a lot of history of Gutenburg and the printing press. I found it a good read. It also had a lot of illusions to Adam and Eve and the serpent and the knowledge of good and evil...




I also completed Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae, that book sure did minster to my soul, it was so encouraging and refreshing.

• "There is so much involved in caring for small children and keeping a home and it is so easy to get overwhelmed. Remember this season isn't going to last forever...Before each day determine to set your heart to meet your family's needs and not feel that your life is in so much chaos. God has not given us more to do than we can do, so sometimes we just need to realize limitations and determine the most essential things that really are required of a mom with young children." p. 208
• Remember to study your children. One of the biggest mistakes parents often make with older children is to treat them all the same. However they are each unique. We should strive to be a student of each of our children. p. 198
• Give in to your season of life. You will feel desperate sometimes, i know and it's scary some days. But the more you allow yourself to be fully and completely invested in the disciplining of your children, the less defeated you will feel. And don't forget to carve out some time for yourself. Everyone needs to have life giving activities or time away or they'll be burnt out. p. 171
• In the same way as we are responsible for the nurturing of our children's souls, so are we responsible for the nurturing and care of our own souls. What am I doing every day to ensure that I am walking forward with intentionality into filling my own soul with virtues of God's design for my life? p. 148

My brother Zach gave me a book last year I think called Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman and I have finally picked it up and read through it. The author had some great insights on truly following Christ and giving up all and becoming committed. He has a very fun writing style and some humorous footnotes. However, the last four chapters were so challenging and went along with some ways the Lord has been leading Joshua and I in just following Christ. Here are a few quotes I really found challenging:

• "In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul says: 'I die daily.' That's the hardest part of carrying your cross...it's so daily. Each morning by the grace of Jesus I am invited to take up a cross and die. That's the only way I will follow him that day."
• A letter from Adoniram Judson (missionary to Burma) to his prospective father-in-law before they were married: “I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world ? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”
• "When you accept the invitation of Jesus to follow Him, you are not just saying that He is a top priority in your life; you are making him the only priority in your life. He desperately wants you, but He won't share you...what is it that is competing for your allegiance?"

Joshua and I both read this book, Disciples are Made not Born, this year, it seems to be what God is teaching us right now about discipling others. It was a very challenging and convicting book. I highly recommend it. It is very practical.



We also finished listening to a family favorite of Fellowship of the Ring, we are now on The Two Towers, it sure makes the trips we take go by faster.

So my reading list so far:

1. Power of a Praying Wife
2. Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae
3. My Life, My heart, My all MacDonald
4. Middlemarch by Eliot
5. Dombey and Son by Dickens
6. Agnes Grey by Bronte
7. Buggies and Blizzards
8. Ultimate Proof by Jason Lisle
9. Not a Fan
10. Out of the Salt Shaker
11. Tortured for Christ
12. You can Teach your Child Successfully

Around the House

Gideon with his animals and  baby

Happy Jumping Chloe

So happy

True Pi Day Pie

I made a couple pies for Joshua's math club that focused on pi last week. So here is my favorite one...buttermilk with part of the number pi written on it. I also made a pink lemonade pie which was supposed to be a key lime pie but I didn't have lime juice so I used lemon juice then added pink food coloring to make Tirzah happy! I think I'll make it again, it was delicious!

Almost Crawling

Oh, my goodness, she is so cute I almost can't stand it! She is moving right along in development, now she is 7 months old! She has two bottom teeth coming in, she sits up great and can almost crawl, she scoots and rolls everywhere she wants to go right now!

Cute Cousins

When Judah came for a day we got some cute pictures!

I love you...we must be doing something right, everyone is oooohing.

Okay, enough of that.

Counter time!

Silly faces

What did you do for Pi Day?

Being married to a math teacher you better believe March 14th (3-14) is a bit of a holiday as it is Pi day! We decided to make a pizza pie this time. I will be making pies for him to take to math club tomorrow!

Day with the Trains

For Cousin Judah's Birthday we went to the Transportation Museum with Grandma and Grandpa one afternoon last week. It was quite a fun time had by all seeing big trains and little model trains and learning all about them!

Getting on a train

Boys and Trains

Four of the six grandchildren

Judah the birthday boy

Weekend in North Carolina

Our last couple days of Joshua's spring break were spent in North Carolina where we got to visit with family. We first attended a grand prix awana race which was super fun! Joshua gave a little gospel message and then we got to enjoy the races! Gideon was a judge for the designs of the cars, he loved that job! We then stayed with Joshua's cousin Michael and his wife Katelin. We had a fun time and were even able to go on a double date thanks to cousin Heather babysitting! Then we got to visit Benjamin and Jamie and cousins Judah and Ellie on the way home! It was lots of fun playing outside in the 70 degree weather!!! My how little ones grow so fast!

Cars ready to race

Gideon watching them take off!

Playing in the nursery

Chloe can now sit up!

In the tunnel

Uncle Joshua and little Ellie

Brother and their nieces

What do you keep in Your purse?

These are things that Tirzah keeps in one of her "purses", I just wanted to know if you had such helpful things in your purse...notice the coupons, the calculators that double as phones, little change purse, sticker book and of course sprinkles for your ice cream in case they don't have them at the restaurant...

Last Snow for the Year??

I love where we live...this past week on "spring break" we got a little snow fall of six to seven inches! But the roads were still clear and it melted within a couple days and yet we could still sled! It was beautiful...still I hope it is the last and spring is on the way!!!

The boys

Gideon Boy

Our house

Sledding

A Special Getaway

With a little bit of help from my wonderful sister-in-law getting us a great deal on a cute hotel and a ton of help from my wonderful sister who watched all three of our children. Joshua and I were able to steal away for a night on his spring break for a little getaway. We went to a place nearby and stayed in a cute boutique hotel that used to be a shoe factory and had a wonderful dinner nearby and stopped by a cute bookstore to walk around and browse. It was a sweet, relaxing time! Thanks to Amy and Beth!!!

Our door decorated with a shoe!

In love....

Joshua loved this...

Visits Up North

Last week was Joshua's spring break from school and we spent most of it visiting friends which was lots of fun! We went up North to Northern Virginia and spent some time with two dear families. Kirk and Kristen and their little man had us over one evening where the kids had lots of fun playing and we even got a fantastic game of Settler of Catan in...and then we stayed with Bobby and Bency and their little man and got in another game this time of Ticket to Ride. Joshua was the reigning champ in both cases. We enjoyed fellowshipping and catching up with both families and they were both so hospitable! Here are a few pictures.

Joshua and Liam

Kristen and Chloe

Gideon being silly

Zach and Chloe

Being silly again...

Zach and Chloe

Family Walk and Collecting Sticks

Last week we went on a family walk. Usually when we are out in our woods we like to pick up sticks that we can bring back for our store for the fire. Gideon amazes me how much he can collect and carry. Tirzah herself is a good helper!

Like Mother like Daughter

Gideon collecting

Chloe Bear and her Daddy

Stick collecting

Cutie Pie