Live, Learn, Love

$45 Wayfair Giveaway

2012-02-01T10:49:00.000-05:00

Continuing the kick-off to the new blog, today (and like all the giveaways until Tuesday, February 7th) a reader will get to choose up to $45 in products at the on-line retailer www.wayfair.com.

Comments here are closed so that you go over to This Simple Home to enter!

Good luck!

Wise Words for Moms Giveaway

2012-01-31T06:30:00.003-05:00

Some parents have the whole "train up a child in the way they should go" down to a tee. Some of us, despite our desires, feel that we are failing miserably at that. Though we may feel that we are failing, I think it is important to focus on what we do do, as well as what we are capable of doing...and then do it through the strength of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom found in the Bible.

God's Word is the authority for guiding and disciplining our children if we seek to honor God. If you are looking for a quick reference chart of Bible verses, Wise Words for Moms may be exactly what you are looking for. This is not a book, but a four page chart to assist parents in guiding their children's thoughts and behaviors back to God. Wise Words for Moms is made of sturdy cardstock in a calendar-style format.

Wise Words for Moms was created by Ginger Plowman. (She is the author of Don't Make Me Count to Three, one of my all-time favorite parenting books as you can see in the linked review.) The chart includes topics under Child's Behavior such as bragging, bad friendship, tattling, and revenge along with many others. Next questions are suggested to get to the root of the problem-found in the heart. This area is called Heart Probing. The Reproof area provides Bible verses to help the child to understand what behavior needs to stop or "Put Off." Of course, when we stop one behavior we need to begin another in its place, so Encouragement ("Put On") verses are provided. In these two areas, the appropriate verses are written out or summarized. (I do wish it was consistent with providing the verse.) The chart also includes additional verse references for the parents.

I like Wise Words for Moms because it is a quick resource for parents. (I do wish that it was not just for moms in the title...) I'm sure that many parents have created a similar chart or have even used other resources. (For Instruction in Righteousness comes to mind, linked to my review.) Its calendar-like format makes it easy to tuck in a bookshelf or hang on a wall with a quick hole punch.

Shepherd Press wants to give a reader their own copy of Wise Words for Moms! Not only that, but keep reading, because there will be a second winner at This Simple Home. So be sure to go over there for another chance to win!
GIVEAWAY!

I have one Wise Words for Moms to give to one reader of Live, Learn, Love. To enter, just leave a comment below saying why you are interested in it. Please leave an email address in the comment to be sure that I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries: Leave a separate comment for each entry.
~ If you are already a follower of Live, Learn, Love. (1 entry/comment)
And because I am trying to promote the new blog...
~ Go to and follow This Simple Home with Google Friends Connect (found in the sidebar). (1 entry/comment)
~ Go to and subscribe to This Simple Home by email or RSS feed (also found in the sidebar). (1 entry/comment)
~ Like This Simple Home on Facebook. (1 entry/comment)
~ Share about the Giveaway Week or this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter with a link back to This Simple Home. (Leave an entry each time you do it...with a maximum of five entries.)

Giveaway will run through Tuesday, February 7th and is limited to US residents. Random.org will choose the winner. The winner will be announced on this post and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I will choose another winner.

Thank you, Shepherd Press for providing us with the resource of Wise Words.

The Ultimate Life Organizer

2012-01-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

It's Giveaway Week at This Simple Home! Return to This Simple Home daily to see what the new giveaway is!

I am trying to gain more control over my home. Organizing and cleaning do not come naturally to me. I really appreciate the internet for help, but I am also a book girl.

The Ultimate Life Organizer, by Lisa Montanaro is a book with great ideas AND a workbook to help you implement those great ideas all in one. Isn't it pretty? More importantly, the content is helpful for those of us who want to get organized!

With over 150 pages and seven chapters, The Ultimate Life Organizer is a book that you can read straight through, or you can go straight to the chapter that you would like to focus on first such as Chapter 5: Organizing Your Paper, Bills, and Finances--Oh My!

The time management chapter was especially helpful to me. Here's a snippet.

"Managing time is really about managing yourself and making choices that are in alignment with your goals. Try to get a glimpse of what it would be like to live your life in a way that is more consistent with your goals, and honors you and the people in your life more fully. You make powerful choices on a daily basis. Every choice you make about how to spend your time is a conscious choice not to spend it doing something else."

Personally, I am taking my time working through this book and workbook and really enjoying it. I have skimmed the chapters that I have not read thoroughly, because I want to really think about my goals and work through each situation. The covered wire-O binding makes it easy to use as a workbook, too. I would suggest checking out some of the inside pages here to see if you might benefit from this organizer, too.

I definitely recommend this organizer! It's the perfect combination of ideas/resources and questions to help someone get organized. I do not see any ways it can be improved...except maybe to make a Part 2 for people who are ready to take their organizing efforts to the next level.
GIVEAWAY!
I have one copy of The Ultimate Life Organizer to give to one reader of This Simple Home. To enter, go over to This Simple Home to leave a comment. Extra entries are available! Comments here are closed so that you will go to This Simple Home.

Thank you Peter Pauper Press for providing the book for me and for the giveaway!

Giveaway Week

2012-01-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

As a little kick-off to the new blog and a thank you for reading This Simple Home, I have a few giveaways lined up for you this week at This Simple Home! Included are a great book to help you get organized, an item of the winner's choice from Wayfair.com, a great resource for biblical parenting, and more!

I will post each giveaway item here, but the actual giveaways are mostly there. I do have one giveaway here at Live, Learn, Love, too!

If any of the giveaways spark an interest, feel free to spread the word and get an extra entry into all of the giveaways!

Friday's Favorite Five #4

2012-01-27T07:28:00.000-05:00

This week I'm thankful for quiet, anticipation, girl time, blogging, and sharing the fun. You can read what I mean about each one over at This Simple Home!

Hand Print Towel

2012-01-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

We recently made hand print towels to give as gifts. You can read more at This Simple Home.

My Organized Closet

2012-01-25T06:46:00.000-05:00

Here is my completely unorganized closet.

Come see the new and improved organized closet at This Simple Home! (You'll see my new header, too!! Woo-hoo!)

An Announcement or Two...

2012-01-24T10:29:00.002-05:00

Though many of readers like the idea of naming the children after the authors, as do I, but it also sounds like readers like to keep things simple. I think we'll go with M, age 5, as Big Sis; E, age 3, as Brother, and our 3 month baby will Little Sis. They will be known by those names here and at a new site...

I am just thrilled to share with you that I have created a new blog...This Simple Home.

Why would I want to write for another blog? This Simple Home will be more focused than Live, Learn, Love. Here, I talk about anything and everything, don't you think? This Simple Home will focus on homemaking, parenting, and other important things in life like...books, food, faith, and children's activities...while keeping life simple.

I love to discuss home and family with my friends, both in person and through the blogging world. During my teen years I lived with my bachelor dad, so I did not learn to cook, clean, and organize the way that other young women did. It still shows today. I have learned a lot over the years, but I am mostly "self-taught." Because of this, I love to share what I have learned with others and blogging enables me to do this.

Would you come visit This Simple Home and maybe even consider following or subscribing?

I will still post here at LLL occasionally this winter, but now my focus will be over at This Simple Home. I hope you'll join me in this journey!

(I was really going to wait until the header was in place before officially launching This Simple Home...but I am too eager with anticipation to just keep it to myself.)

Fun Favorites

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Zany. Funny. A little bit naughty. My kids love it!

Yep, that describes Limelight Larry! Larry's a peacock...and as peacocks are known to be, he's full of pride! Larry thinks the book about him will be just amazing, of course, because it is about him. When his friends step on the pages, Larry is irritated and tries to send them all away. Eventually he finds himself on a whole page all by himself, but he finds that it's not much fun to show off by himself. Larry gets over himself and shares the almost-last-page with all of his friends happily.

I have to say that Leigh Hodgkinson's Limelight Larry didn't "wow" me at first, though I certainly liked it. However, both of my Big Kids LOVE it. My three year old son will repeatedly request this book throughout the day if he lays eyes upon it. I have to say, I love the creative fonts throughout the book (in size and style). Not only that, but the illustrations are a bit different than the typical picture book. Larry has a permanent place on our shelves!

Don't Worry, Douglas! was a whole family favorite from the first read! There is so much to love about Douglas and this book.

Douglas is surprised when his father gives him a new woolly hat. He can't wait to show his friends. While he is showing off, the unthinkable happens...his new woolly hat has turned into a long string of spaghetti! His friends try to advise him as to what he should do with his tangled ball of yarn, but no one has a good idea until Rabbit suggests that Douglas just tell his dad what happened. As it turns out, Dad did know how to help...and gave Douglas his own hat to grow into. (...Awe...)

So that is the story, but you need to know that David Melling (author/illustrator) made some fantastic pictures in Don't Worry, Douglas! The animals really seem to have some personality! As with many Tiger Tales books, this one also has fonts in special styles and sizes to give the book a bit of extra umph. Instead of lots of "he said/she saids" the animals cried, whooped, gasped, yelped and more. Just delightful, don't you think?

I definitely think Don't Worry, Douglas! is a book that is worth owning. It seems special every time we read it...and that says a lot!
I am glad that Tiger Tales added Limelight Larry and Don't Worry, Douglas! to our collection for review purposes! Thank you!

Did You Know...

2012-01-22T23:21:00.000-05:00

Be on the lookout for a great giveaway! The winner will be able to do a bit of shopping with Wayfair..."a zillion things home."

They have everything from decorative art to kids duvet covers! Check out Wayfair for some online shopping!

Friday's Favorite Five #3

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hmm...I like to take the time to write this post throughout the week; instead I'm just winging it Thursday night after the Big Kids are tucked into bed.

1. Time away. I had a really refreshing and relaxing time away last weekend with the baby and three friends. It was really special to not be distracted by other children and really focus on the baby.

2. Leftovers. I only make a few meals a week because we eat a lot of leftovers. I am so thankful that my husband doesn't mind in the least. Last night and tonight we had chicken pot pie. I added biscuits tonight to change things up a bit.

3. Friends' input on choosing blog names for my children. Below are some options in the order of M, E, and the baby.
~One, Two, and Three (downside...wouldn't they all want to be One?)
~M5, E3, E0 (Initial and age...not creative, but easy for everyone to identify each child.)
~Big Sis, Brother, Little Sis (Simple...)
~Maud, Lewis, and Harper (for some favorite authors...I'm sure you can name them, but Maud Hart ~Lovelace/ L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, and Harper Lee. (Louisa May Alcott could be another option.)
~Pippi (Longstocking), Gilbert (from Anne of Green Gables) or Atticus (from To Kill a Mockingbird), and Tacy (from Betsy-Tacy) or Emily (from Emily of Deep Valley)
Please share your opinion as a reader if you have any thoughts! I am leaning toward two sets especially (Big/Little/Brother and the authors) but you might sway me!

4. The anticipation of my new blog's debut. It is waiting on a few things (like personality through a header), but if you want to see it you can. It's called This Simple Home. (I will be sharing about my reasons for a new blog sometime in the future; for now, just know that I'm excited.)

5. Enjoying Anne of Green Gables with my Big Kids. We are only halfway through (it's three hours!), but the children and I are enjoying it!

I'm linking up over at Living to Tell the Story! Thanks, Susanne for hosting!

The Benefits of Preschool

2012-01-17T15:30:00.000-05:00

After sharing last week that I think preschool is optional, I realized that some reading may not understand our reasoning for sending our children to preschool...especially since I did not tell you the benefits of preschool.

As a former teacher with the internet available to me with all of you preschool and homeschool blogs out there, I think I could do just fine preparing my children for kindergarten academically. So can most moms who want to. Yes, I could keep M at home, but I don't.

Here are a few reasons for a family to choose preschool off the top of my head.

At preschool the child will benefit from being taught by someone other than the parent. Some children really respond well to other adults for instruction and discipline.

The child will grow socially. Some children are extremely shy, while others have a need to be around others. Preschool also addresses social skills such as taking turns and sharing without the sibling rivalry.

The child may have opportunities to learn something new and develop new interests. Ideally, the children in a preschool will have many opportunities for physical movement, music, and art in addition to regular academics. Often there are also opportunities for children to perform in a play or to sing songs to an audience.

The teacher is always "on." The teacher has no other duties (like laundry, dishes, or supper) while they are with your child. (Like any working parent, it waits until they are home.) The learning day is quite focused.

Preschool is an introduction, not mastery of academics. I think it is great for children's first school experience to be FUN. Academic pressures should not arise in preschool because it is an introduction, though parents and teachers should still encourage a child to do their best.

Now that I have written just a few thoughts, I can easily think of ways to meet each need at home, and you probably can, too, as long as a parent does not work. I admire my homeschooling friends...and often wonder how in the world they do it. But, like most things, it is a learning process for all involved.

We've completed lots of preschool activities (linked to posts) at home, despite preschool. (Here is a list of preschool activities.)

What do you do for school (now or in the future)? Homeschool, public school, or private school?
Why do you do what you do?

Name My Kids!

2012-01-16T06:00:00.014-05:00

My children desperately need blogging names. The Big Kids have been known here on the blog as M and E for two and one half years! Now that we have another E...well, it's just too complicated!

My desire is to use some sort of nickname for them on the blog for privacy's sake.

A bit about each child...

M is five years old. She has no fear and is very enthusiastic. M is a very physical child. She loves to be moving. Already she seems rather athletic. (We play baseball, football, and soccer a bit.) She loves pink and purple, sparkles, and hearts. (Oh, Princess is not an option for a nickname...just not my style.) She loves to craft and bake and play in the dirt and read. M loves to sing and is able to articulate herself well for her age. (Despite the apraxia!) Not only did she overcome the verbal apraxia, but as a baby and toddler she had SVT, a life-threatening heart condition left untreated. We've come a long way!

Our only son, E, is three years old. He loves all things with wheels! E loves trains, tractors, and all sorts of "diggers." He mimics everything his big sister does and adores our little baby. He is often cuddly, though he also asks for space. E definitely likes to be the helper. He loves to play in dirt and water, but is also content to be inside. E has had his own medical issues with a three hour seizure (and continues to be on meds, despite being seizure-free).

There is not much to say about our baby, E. She is now 12 weeks old. She coos and talks to us a lot now! I always thought she would be an early mover and a groover, but this is earlier than I would like! She is a strong little girl, and has already rolled over. (She spends much of her floor time rolled 3/4 of the way over now if we put her on her back.) She is a sweet little thing despite a REALLY difficult first two months. (Screaming in pain from ?? for hours, also has reflux, but doing much better now, though not exactly easy.) We still have rough days, but they are doable now, especially if she can stay in our arms. She definitely gets lonely easily.

I can't wait to read everyone's thoughts. Feel free to just write the names or take the time to tell why you think a certain name. Really, I hope someone has some great ideas...because I don't. Obviously. The best I have come up with is Big Sis, Brother, and Little Sis, but I would really love to embrace their personalities. (M was once described as a fireball...but I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for either...)

So, please, name my kids! Thanks!

Leave a comment or send an email to derekannette {at} gmail {dot} com!

Friday's Favorite Five #2

2012-01-13T06:00:00.033-05:00

1. Instant gratification and NCIS. This past summer we borrowed season 1 of NCIS on DVD from my mother-in-law. We have plowed through these wonderful shows and have just started season 8. There is a HUGE benefit coming to a book or television series late- instant gratification! You don't have to wait for the next show or book to be published or aired to know what happens next! (What book or TV/movie series do you love??)

2. Candlelights in the windows of our house. After Christmas my husband granted one of my long time wishes. We now have candles in each of our windows in the front of the house. They are battery operated and work on a timer! On clearance, they cost $4 each at the local hardware store. For the last twenty years or so I have admired homes with candles in the windows. They are so inviting! (And if the Underground Rail Road is near, they will know we are a safe house. Okay, that is just a bit of humor there...)

3. Friends who are positive. I would hope that all of my friends have a positive influence on me, but I am especially grateful for one friend who is very purposeful in staying positive. In a recent email (which was not all good news) she made sure to end on a positive note. She made me stop and think about how often I just type an email and don't really consider the impact of my rushed tone and words. Attitude is everything!

4. Anticipation of time with friends. Today I leave for an overnight girls get-away! I will be taking my baby with me, but still look forward to the time away in Lancaster, PA. As much as I would like to be off-duty this weekend, I know that I would not want to be left alone with all three children all weekend, so I can't ask that of my husband, especially since our baby is still rather fussy (though the screaming has stopped).

5. Most of all, my husband. Tomorrow is he turns 32.

(Um. That's right. I'm leaving my husband the weekend of his birthday! What an awful wife! I had committed to any weekend in January before I realized his birthday was on a Saturday...and the cabin was already booked. He is totally okay with it; he may be more okay with it than me...)

Derek is an incredible father and husband. I do not thank God for him nearly enough. But truly, I am blessed, even if I always feel "old" compared to him with the four years age difference.

Visit Living to Tell the Story for more Friday's Favorites!

Tablecloth Storage

2012-01-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

About once a year we have enough family visiting us that we need to bring out the folding tables. Folding tables require tablecloths.

This year when the family descended upon us for Christmas, I did not have time to iron our tablecloths. Oops. (Trust me, with my baby ironing a tablecloth for a casual, family dinner without wrinkles was not a priority.) However, I remembered a tip that I learned on some morning show years ago about tablecloth storage that I implemented before putting the tablecloths away.

Hang a tablecloth on a pants hanger to keep it wrinkle-free in storage.

Since my tablecloths came out of the dryer wrinkle-free, I did not iron them. Instead, I just promptly folded them and hung them with the pants hanger. I made sure to hang them along the hem and not the fold. Instead of using valuable room in my closet where the tablecloths could be smooshed and wrinkled, I hung them in our laundry closet. It works for me!

God's Message for Children

2012-01-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

We seem to go through children's Bibles fairly quickly around here. By reading a story a day (pretty much) we tend to read two or more children's storybook Bibles each year since they typically don't have too many stories in them. We recently finished Mighty Acts of God: Family Bible Story Book. (Linked to our review.) Some families with five year old children are purposeful in reading from an unabridged (as in adult-style) Bible. I think that will be our next step, but for now we typically read to our 3 and 5 year old kids at the same time, so we we find that storybook-style Bibles are still appropriate for us.

With the new year I'm excited to read God's Message for Children with our Big Kids. It has a story for every day of the year. Each day's reading and illustration fits on a page. I like that each day's story is not only dated, but also tells where the the book of the Bible and chapter(s) where the story is found. (Actually, I think the Bible reference should be standard in story book Bibles, but it is not.) An actual focus verse is also included and a summary/application at the end. Then the story is told in language that is easy to understand, but from what I've read, it does not seem overly "dumbed down".

With a whole year (February 29th included) of Bible reading, many of the stories are told in pretty good detail over several days. I do find that for a Bible I prefer the realistic illustrations in The Classic Bible Storybook, linked to review. One of the things I like most is that some stories that are often not well-known to children can be read in this Bible, including several entries for Revelation. Below are a few titles of some of the readings. (Only the first word is capitalized in the titles.)

Korah's rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16)
An ax floats on the water (2 Kings 2 & 6)
We shouldn't be afraid of the devil (Matthew 8)
Judas dies (Matthew 27)
Jesus sends us a special Helper (John 16)
Everyone before God (Revelation 20)

Overall, we like God's Message for Children as a Bible for our family. I think it will introduce new parts of the Bible for our children to learn about and discuss. It does cost a bit more than the average children's storybook Bible, but it will be used for a full year. The illustrations are cute, cartoon style. You can read some selections at Amazon to get a good feel for this Bible to see if it is a good fit for your family.

Thank you, Kregel Publishers for providing this Bible for review purposes.

What Should My Preschooler Know?

2012-01-10T06:00:00.013-05:00

Do you ever wonder what your child should know at his or her age? Whether you homeschool or send your child to school, there are certain expectations for children, but you might be surprised at how little a preschooler actually needs to know.

I have always said that preschool is optional. And that is true-for most* children. Many children's educational, social, spiritual, and emotional needs are met naturally through family and friend interaction. (FYI, we do send our oldest child to preschool and her brother will likely go next year.)

My oldest child has always loved to learn. Because she loved it, I taught her through daily life and purposeful play. When she was ready and excited, I took it to the next level with crafts and even worksheets. She ended up being an early reader. My son does not love crafts (unless dirt or paint is involved). He does not like me to guide his play in any sort of way. He certainly won't be ready for worksheets any time soon. And you know what? He knows plenty of "academic" type stuff as a three year old! He has learned much through our daily lives. It's easy to collect and count rocks and identify letters on a cereal box. And despite the fact that he does not hold scissors or writing tools properly...it is not a concern.

I really enjoyed the Peaceful Parent's perspective....really a four year old child just needs to know they are loved! Children need their parents more than anything else!

World Book (you remember those encyclopedias that no one uses now thanks to the internet) put together a list of "Typical Course of Study" for preschool through grade 12. I really enjoyed looking at the preschool course study. They don't suggest that a four year old know all the letters and the sound correlations. BUT they do want a child to have his own books and to be read to frequently and to be read to daily.

I really think a list like this is near-perfect for parents. (Teachers need to meet national and state standards in education, so that is a bit different. Also keep in mind that speech and motor development are not really addressed here.) It helps us to know that we're doing the right things at home. At the same time it can show us areas of weakness. For example, I want to encourage my daughter a bit more to take the lead when crossing the street when the opportunity arises to see what SHE does even though we talk about it. By taking a quick look at the list parents can see if there is anything obviously missing in their own children.

Jumping barefoot in the rain puddles is what they'll remember...and so will I. I think embracing the moment and showing love is exactly what I need to do for my children-in between read alouds!

* In MY opinion, if a parent cares about what their child knows before kindergarten, they are likely doing enough. After talking to a friend who is a kindergarten teacher, it sounds like ESL children, whose families do not speak English in the home, would benefit from preschool before kindergarten. There are plenty of other situations when children benefit from preschool for more than the "social" reason.

Cleaning Up and Changing Habits

2012-01-09T06:00:00.022-05:00

I'm actually trying to get my home cleaned in the sense of better organization in some areas and better day to day cleaning in other areas. And sanity with our baby.

Some thoughts:

I hope to get our baby girl on a sleep schedule some time soon. My first two children did this naturally by two months or so. With this baby, the only thing I can count on is that she wants to eat every two hours or less.
After meals (and bedtime snack) I tend to get distracted (with bad habits of television and computer) and don't always clean up within an appropriate time. I think just doing this is attainable. There is nothing like clearing crumbs away from one meal as you are preparing to sit down for the next meal. My hope is to clean off the table and the counter after meals (for the most part). Yes, most people sweep after meals, but since I can't do this daily, I don't think it will happen after every meal. The table, now that is logical and doable.
I want to keep purging by getting rid of items we don't love or use regularly. Until recently I don't think I had donated any children's toys. However, I have decided that other than some special toys many can be donated. I am holding on to wooden, classic, and sets for the most part and a few unique items. But not every single thing. Because, really, every October we will be celebrating three birthdays and in December we have very generous relatives who like to give at Christmas. So no, we don't need to keep it all.
I will organize our coat closet soon! Hopefully I will spend little or no money to accomplish this.

Here is why:

But I won't forget that I have a demanding baby. But hopefully she won't be an excuse either.

Friday's Favorite Five

2012-01-06T06:00:00.023-05:00

I'm hoping to add some personal thoughts most weeks by jumping in with Friday's Fave Five hosted by Living to Tell the Story.

Some favorites this week...

1. Our church. I love all of it, but today will be my first time at Bible study since October (due to baby's arrival). Despite the distance, I really appreciate our church. (Someday I do hope that we will have a church closer to home so we can be more active and develop more relationships. We didn't always live 35-40 minutes from the church.)

2. Routine. I miss Derek's long vacation at home and having our five year old at home, too. But really, it is good to get back into routine even if I am on duty all night with the baby and there is no more sleeping in until 8 o'clock. But really, routine is good for all of us, right? It's also great when that baby broke "routine" the other night and slept till 6 AM, a full 1 1/2 hours past her daddy!

3. De-cluttered bedroom. While my husband was home for eleven days from work, I finally put several piles of clothes in their rightful places, including my maternity clothes in the basement!

4. Sharing from our abundance. I dropped several bags of adult clothes, toys, and miscellaneous household items to our local thrift store. A box of toys are waiting for my sister. It feels good to share from our abundance!

5. Reading the Bible SLOWLY. After reading through the Bible in one year, I am thankful to be taking it slowly. I will be reading and thinking on just one chapter a day! My Bible 360 blog is also helping to make this a bit interactive with some nice discussions. This is working well for now, but I know if I want to stay in one book or even one chapter or verse for an extended period of study, I will be flexible. Join us?

Have a great weekend!

What Makes a Good SLP?

2012-01-05T06:00:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure how many regular readers actually have speech concerns since I don't post about speech-related items too often now. However, I still wanted to share this as a reference for myself and others.

We've had three SLP's in our home through Early Intervention programs . Each experience was unique, and I know I have learned a lot. (We had two additional therapists after M turned 3, but I am focusing on the therapists I interacted with regularly since the after three experiences were outside of my home. One of those experiences was especially awful...)

The first speech therapist we had was temporary since we were moving out of state within a couple of months. I was never impressed with him, but didn't know if my concerns were valid. In his defense he was working with a young child, about 18 months. M, at the point, had one word MMM for more. She did not have the diagnosis of apraxia yet. But he still didn't do much with her. It seemed his goal was to interact with her by making her laugh and sign "more." She was already doing these things, and he didn't really encourage much else (by my memory). I remember asking him how long he had been an SLP, and was surprised that it was close to 20 years, because, really, he just didn't seem to be experienced.

From the very first telephone conversation with M's second therapist (after our move), I was impressed. She asked a lot of questions and seemed to look forward to meeting my little girl, so that left a positive impression. From the very first session in our home, she was in control, leading purposeful play while highly sensitive to M's reactions and desires. She was firm. Just because M didn't want to do a certain activity, didn't mean M didn't need to do it. Even a nonverbal child can be expected to make sounds. This effective therapist motivated M to complete the activity. She used familiar and new (or not often used) activities during each session. This helped M be comfortable, yet excited for what was to come. She asked questions about M's speech even though there was no or minimal progress for months and months. She remembered what I said and documented it in her daily notes. Based on the session and M's development, she would assign homework for us to complete with M. Much of the homework was something we could implement easily into daily routines, too. Despite the lack of speech for months, she still created purposeful homework for us. (And when we had a newborn she wasn't phased when we didn't do much!) When this therapist was stumped over M's lack of progress after months of therapy, she sought out more information. She didn't wait for the apraxia diagnosis to change how she worked with M. (Please note: the goals in M's plan did not need to change to reflect the changes in how she implemented therapy because she was still working toward those goals.)

M, age 2, and Ashley, our special SLP

All of the above actions by the speech therapist were important to me and M's success, but to me the way this therapist never stopped talking/singing the entire session was amazing. Her high energy was important to keep my daughter interested. (She kept ME interested, too!) Her energy, interest in M, and the homework she assigned helped me to better understand the speech problems we were dealing with. This woman was in our home twice a week for over a year. Her energy probably made the biggest impact on M, as a child, and on me, as the mom who was trying to learn from her.

She became like family-a true friend. Though I know that parents are really, typically, the only advocate for a child, this woman truly cared for M and her success. Though at age 3 she stopped working with M (not our choice), professionally, she has not stopped being part of our lives. This therapist will always get much credit for M's success, though M's speech didn't really blossom until after age 3. (And yes, I believe she and I both cried when we said good-bye at our last therapy session...but we're still in touch.)

One last thought...don't let experience determine whether or not an SLP will be effective. This highly effective speech therapist had only been working for a few years.

We had learned much from M's second therapist. It may have been hard to teach us new and effective ways to help our son's speech, especially since he was only a bit behind. My son's speech therapist may have been a good therapist, but I didn't feel that the sessions were effective. He was not engaged much of the time. She didn't talk or sing as much as I expected, but tried to play with him and tried to incorporate words, phrases, and sentences. I didn't learn a lot from the sessions (but I had already learned much from M's former therapist). The homework that was assigned was often things we were already doing to encourage his speech, though she did create some new tasks for us, too. Despite all of this, I'm still glad we had E in therapy. She helped us to remember that M's speech problems and E's were very different and needed to be treated differently.

Our days with Early Intervention (the birth to age three program) are over, but I had been thinking about SLPs, and how fortunate we were to have our special SLP.

I've written before about some of the techniques we learned to encourage and increase speech and vocabulary and about M's remarkable speech history. Feel free to ask questions by leaving a comment or emailing me at derekannette [at] gmail [dot] com.

Anne of Green Gables 1934 Movie

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Quite by accident...well, sort of...we recorded the 1934 movie version of Anne of Green Gables. (The DVR was set to record all Anne of Green Gables apparently...I am NOT complaining!) One evening I had control of the remote control and chose it for our viewing pleasure. What I was not expecting was for my five year old to be interested in the black and white movie. However, hearing that it was Anne, she was interested with zero prompting from me! (I made the mistake of recording the animated Anne series, but I do not recommend it. It does not follow the book. She was also familiar due to a picture book we have that I will also write about for the LMM challenge.)

With the 1934 movie only one and a half hours in length, I knew much would be omitted, and it was. However, it was an enjoyable movie that displays the general essence of the Anne I know and love-for the most part. I want to say that for the length of the movie, omissions are fully forgiven even if some classic Anne was left out of the movie.

Within a couple minutes of the movie's beginning, my husband (who I thought was too busy in the kitchen to be watching) asked, "Does she ever stop talking?" You see, Anne and Matthew were on their way home from the train station. And she did not stop talking! I appreciated that much of the dialogue throughout the movie was taken directly from the book.

While it was enjoyable, we do have The BOOK and the Megan Follows movie version to compare. And really, I think Megan Follows is an incredible Anne. Perfect. The newer movie follows the book without glaring differences.

In the 1934 movie Anne of Green Gables...

Anne didn't mention kindred spirits-that I noticed. (Granted subtitles were needed for some of it due to The Little Cryer.) At one point, I think the term "special friend" was used. Bah!
Anne also named Green Gables upon arrival. Ick. Cheesey.
Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Lynde were combined into Rachel Barry. Really, I didn't see the point.
Anne doesn't have noticeable freckles. (But most wouldn't care.)
Diana is a cute blonde. Forgivable.
Matthew gets very ill, but the movie ends when he is still sick, without us knowing if he would pass or not. (I even prepared my daughter for his death!)

My biggest beef with the 1934 movie Anne is that Gilbert and Anne dated for three years. IN SECRET. I thought this was just awful. The movie's other big flaw is how time passed. It was all in a hair change for Anne, from braids to short hair that left this viewer (and her husband) questioning if time had passed of if it was just a haircut. The producers didn't really do much else to show that time had passed though suddenly we understand that Gilbert called Anne "Carrots" a year before and in one of the next shots, it says they had been together for three years.

The actors of the movie were fine. I didn't think Dawn O'Day (later changed her name to Anne Shirley) was fabulous, but then again I'm comparing to Megan Follows. I really enjoyed the 1934 Marilla, played by Helen Westley. I can't even say why, but this plump, plain woman seemed to be a good fit for Marilla.

Despite my many criticisms, I enjoyed the 1934 movie version of Anne of Green Gables. I would even recommend it, but only if you can watch the Megan Follows version soon after! Has anyone watched this?? Any thoughts? Am I being too harsh or too gentle?

I watched this as part of the 2012 L.M. Montgomery Reading (ahem) Challenge hosted by Reading to Know.

I need to give this review a bit of a disclaimer. I watched this movie only one time, and while watching I was occasionally distracted by a baby and my other family members. When I started it, I thought I would only be watching the first half-hour or so, but I was able to watch it in its entirety. I hope all of my comments are accurate.

Nap Time Play Date

2012-01-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

Upon entering this scene, I said, "This doesn't look like nap time."

My five year old responded, "It's a rest time-play date!"

They were loving Little Golden Books that were kept in a lovely, old suitcase at Grandma and Grandpa's. M was reading to her brother. What's a mom to do?

Can someone please explain to me how it is that my kids get along so perfectly during-but only during-nap times??

Reading in 2012

2012-01-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

So if you spend much time at this blog, you know I really enjoy reading. In 2011 much of my reading was the Bible, and from the birth of my baby on my Bible reading was done during nighttime feedings. When choosing books for review (provided by a publisher at no cost to me) I chose books I thought I would really enjoy, and for the most part I did. This year I will likely review for publishers even less as my time is more limited these days with three children. (But don't hold your breath...) At the same time I have bunches of books on my shelves (or in a stack) that I would like to read.

Throughout the year, I will be participating in the Reading to Know Book Club. You can read about the book I picked for November here. I have already begun the January selection...it's good, but not a quick read!

Also in January, I will participate in the Lucy Maud Montgomery reading challenge also hosted by Reading to Know. I will share this picture book with my daughter. I was delighted to find it used! We also recorded a black and white version of Anne that I intend to watch along with the Megan Follows version that I now own on dvd.

In February I will participate in the Laura Ingalls Wilder reading challenge hosted by Stray Thoughts. I will read a children's picture-book-style biography with my daughter. We listened to all of the Little House books, several more than once and my five year old loves them.

It's possible that in July I will read for the Narnia reading challenge, but July tends to be rather intense for me. We'll see.

In October I will thoroughly enjoy the Maud Hart Lovelace reading challenge hosted by A Library is a Hospital for the Mind. I got the Betsy-Tacy Treasury for Christmas, you know! (Below I'm showing it to my daughter.) I'd like to read more of her non-Betsy-Tacy works, too.

You can laugh at the pajamas...but respect the book!

Does anyone know of a Louisa May Alcott reading challenge? I got her biography for Christmas and want to read more of her works, too.
I will be taking my Bible reading slowly this year and look to learn and grow (unlike last year when I read the whole Bible). I can't wait to read Unbroken. It seems to be everyone's favorite book of the year for those who read it last year. Based on Carrie's review, I also want to read Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books Another popular book, it seems, was Entwined. So those books and some from my shelves and just a handful of well-selected reviews.

Great Books Read in 2011

2011-12-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

Last year I began Net's Book Nook just as a place for me to document the books that I read and listen to throughout the year. You can go there for a more complete book list. I read over 30 books, including the ENTIRE BIBLE.

Many of the books I read were very good, but here are the great books that I highly recommend. Each link is to my thoughts on the book.

Words: A Novel by Ginny Yttrup

Words was an incredible read. A ten year old girl no longer speaks because of horrific abuse, but she collects words. A woman meets the girl and both are changed...

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

Emily of Deep Valley is definitely one of my all-time favorite books. Just go read it. It's so good.

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

Pearl in the Sand was incredible. It is a fictionalized story of Rahab. I thought Tessa Afshar's writing was seasoned, though it was her first book. I really loved it, and it made me think a bit more about biblical fiction-something that can be done well (like this) or not so well...

God's Priorities for Today's Woman by Lisa Hughes

God's Priorities for Today's Woman is a must-read for Christian women, but be prepared to be convicted!

Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace

Well, I am a Maud Hart Lovelace fan, right? Betsy's Wedding was the perfect ending to the Betsy-Tacy series.

Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

Don't Make Me Count to Three gave me great ideas in this crazy thing called parenting to help focus on heart attitude/behavior. I will be re-reading this one!

Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland by Roseanna White

Colonial Maryland. A book I couldn't put down. A well-written, not-your-standard-romance!

The Bible (NIV, 1984)

That's right. I read the whole Bible (with a few days to spare) in 2011! You can read about my experience here.

I listened to some INCREDIBLE audio books this year, too. Some were so good that I feel compelled to read them for myself though I already know the story! (Click the link to see the titles. If you haven't read them yet...go find them!)

Knowing my favorites (including audio favorites), do you have any reading suggestions for this coming year?? Please share!

I Read the Bible!

2011-12-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I am really surprised and pleased that I made it through the Bible. IN. ONE. YEAR! I have never read all of God's Word from cover to cover, though I had read most of it over the years. By reading it all within one year, I was able to see more of the "big picture" much easier than when reading it just a chapter or so a day. On the downside, I did not really study the Bible this year...instead I read it like without really taking the time ask thoughtful questions or even looking into other verses to compare (because I chose not to based on time) as much as I would have liked. However, I know it has been beneficial. I pray that I will continue to use what I have learned to glorify God and that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in me to bear fruit as evidence of my commitment to the Lord.

You may be wondering how I managed to keep up once my (really-fussy-often-screaming-doesn't-want-to-leave-my-arms-and-rarely-naps) baby was born in October. Well, my husband has an iPod from work. Prior to the baby's birth I had barely used it (once, I believe). However, during the many, lengthy night feedings/cryings I could read the Bible with it (along with emails and my blog reader)! I could do all of this one handed, so it worked out very well and it kept my place even if I dropped it. I could never have held a Bible with all the bouncing and patting needed. (Using biblegateway.com on the laptop works, too.)Of course, my mind was not capable of comprehending everything that I read during those nights, and I often read the same verses multiple times, but I did it! I read the entire Bible! And in one year, no less! (Okay, let's be honest here. MUCH of that nighttime reading I spoke of was not comprehended though my eyes read the words...)

I really liked Walk Thru the Bible's reading plan (free online) because almost every Saturday and Sunday was a combined reading assignment. This allowed a buffer day to catch up each week. It was usually needed. Walk Thru the Bible also offers a monthly magazine that offers great insight to the daily readings. However, it wasn't long before my husband and I focused only on the Bible itself...it was just too much to read that, too, though really, it should not have been.

I'm thankful that I took this challenge and highly recommend reading through the Bible in a year or less at least once! I'm not sure how I will read the Bible in 2012, but I look forward to taking it slowly while continuing to read it daily. I'm considering reading through the New Testament. Anyone can read the Bible, but it is what we do with the wisdom and knowledge within that holy book that matters.

Lord, let my readings of this year and every year bear fruit for your glory. May my excitement in studying and reading your Word be greater than any other written word. Help me to grow closer to you through the study of your Word. Amen.

Image and photo permission from These Grace Filled Days,
a blog of beautiful photography and godly wisdom.

Books I Wish I Read in 2011

2011-12-28T21:38:00.003-05:00

In addition to the books I read, I listen to a lot of books on CD. It makes the time in the kitchen washing dishes and preparing meals so much more pleasant! I have tried to keep track of the books I listen to, but haven't done a very good job. I created Net's Book Nook for the purpose of documenting the books I read and listen to, but I often forget!

I highly recommend each of these books! I listened to each of them this year and wish I had taken the time to read them instead. (I listened to them on CD instead. I hope to read them one day for myself though.)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford

Sarah's Key, by Tatiana De Rosnay

Two of these books have been made into movies, but I haven't seen them yet. All but The Help are set (at least partially) around World War II. The Help takes place in Alabama in the 1960's. Can you tell I love learning about history through fiction?

Honorable Mentions go to Anne of Green Gables and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, two books I own and love. Savvy by Ingrid Law and Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Both were great! All four of these are considered books for young readers...yet another theme of my reading.

My apologies for not including descriptions. Links are to Amazon for you to read more there since I never actually reviewed them. Please forgive me, but time is limited, but I really wanted to share! If you want to see the reviews for my top favorite books read (not audio) go here.

What books are your favorites? I'd love to hear and add to my must read list! Please leave a comment (and link to a blog post if appropriate) and share!

Organizing Christmas Ornaments

2011-12-27T18:24:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for a way to organize Christmas ornaments, I have heard that using an egg carton is a great way to do it. I plan to do that this year with some of ours when we take down our tree.

Do you have something that works well for your family for organizing ornaments? I'd love to hear about it! Last year we organized the kids' ornaments in separate boxes and it worked great!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T09:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! For the most part, this blog will be quiet until 2012, except some reading plans for the new year. God bless!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Finally...A Keeper Biscuit Recipe!

2011-12-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

As a bread lover, I just can't get enough of it. But sometimes I just need something quick. Biscuits work to fill that need in my belly at those times when I don't have the time or energy to make a loaf of homemade bread.

But I'm always so disappointed in biscuits. Flat, somewhat tasteless, despite new baking powder.

Until now.

Do you see that lovely split in some of the biscuits? That had never happened before in the many recipes I've tried.

I made these biscuits twice. The first time I was thrilled. The second time I was even more thrilled-since I had made a double batch that time in hopes of putting some in the freezer. Only a handful made it to the freezer, but it's enough for a dinner for the four of us.

This recipe actually uses Bisquick, but please, allow me to assure you that they are nothing like the Bisquick recipe's product. Because I've tried it. Oh, if you have no buttermilk, that isn't an issue, either. To make your own buttermilk, just add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk.

My Keeper Biscuit Recipe

(AKA Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Biscuits from Food.com)

2 1/4 cups Bisquick

2/3 cup buttermilk (OR 2/3 c milk + 2 tsp vinegar. Let sit 5 minutes)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon butter, melted

melted butter for brushing

flour

Preheat oven to 450. Mix Bisquick, buttermilk, and sugar together by hand. Add the melted butter and stir until a soft dough forms.

Turn dough onto a well-floured surface. If dough is sticky (likely) add additional flour. Knead 20 times.

Roll or pat 1/2 inch thick (or thicker). Cut. Place close together on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush tops with melted butter.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove when nicely browned. Brush tops again with butter.

A tip for you...when you are craving a bacon-egg-and cheese-biscuit on the way home from learning that you actually are not in labor and your lost sleep and painful contractions were all for nothing...make a batch of these biscuits and cut them out with your biggest biscuit cutter (or even cut squares!), and then make your own sandwich. Your belly will thank you!

Giveaway!

2011-12-15T21:45:00.003-05:00

I shared about a great book earlier today...and now I have a copy to give to one reader! Even if you are not a romance fan (as I am typically not), do consider entering to win Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland (linked to my review, including a summary).

Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is a great book, especially if you enjoy historical fiction. It offers insight into colonial life in Annapolis when it was our country's capitol, and how snow nearly destroyed our independence as a country. The reader meets some of our founding fathers, though they are not main characters and Tories, too. All of this fabulous history is interwoven through a not-your-standard-romance by Roseanna White. I definitely recommend it.

GIVEAWAY is now closed. Comment 36, Barbara Shelton is the winner and has been emailed!

Summerside Press is offering one Live, Learn, Love reader this great book! Leave a comment below (making sure I have a way to contact you through blog profile or email) to enter to win. Just tell me what interests you about this particular book (see my review if you want more details than the little snippet above).

~~EXTRA ENTRIES~~

~~Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.~~

~~~ Follow/subscribe to Live, Learn, Love, see sidebar (1 entry)~~

~~~ Follow Roseanna White's blog (1 entry)~~

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~~~ Share about this giveaway (1 entry)~~

~~Giveaway ends Wednesday, December 21st. Winner will be announced on this post and emailed.~~

Colonial Maryland...

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Historical fiction has been bringing the past to life for me. I have been learning so much and loving it! Well-written historical fiction share incredible insight into the language, dress, culture, and specifics about the setting.

Before author Roseanna White's second book was even published, I wanted to read it. By reading her blog, I had a taste of her writing, research, and most of all, her passion. In fact, I chose that (her second) book, Jewel of Persia for the on-line book club next year!

I happened to have won a copy of Roseanna's latest book from Colonial Quills upon its release date earlier this month. I was thrilled to finally read one of her published books.

The funny thing is that it is a romance.

Typically, I don't mind romantic elements within a book, but tend to avoid romance novels. Something that I noticed for myself is that sometimes I take away unrealistic expectations from some romance novels (and this includes Christian historical romance), so I tend to shy away from them. Based on knowing Roseanna from her blog (and just recently from Facebook, too) I knew that Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland would be a solid work of art...a book full of historical facts hidden within...a highly developed, well-written book.

I was not disappointed! I absolutely loved Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland.

Lark finds her betrothal, Emerson, of two years (shocking for the day) in a compromising situation. Needing to get away, she flees to Annapolis, Maryland to stay with the family of her brother's friend-complete strangers-with intentions for staying for months. Lark quickly becomes best of friends with the family, especially their daughter Sena. Sena's circle of friends open Lark's eyes to all that she has taken for granted and been sheltered from in the past. She begins to look deeper within to examine herself.

"Never in her life had Lark felt so utterly selfish. She didn't even know with whom her father dealt in business, much less whether all his transactions were fair. She only had an academic knowledge of the less fortunate in Williamsburg, recognized only the poor who sold her goods.

Now everywhere she turned, she was faced with realities she had either ignored or been unaware of. Slave auctions and outcasts, ostracized Tories and social rebels.

And where did she fit in all this? Where did her problems with Emerson rank on this scale of desperation?"

Emerson learns of Lark's location and goes to her and remains in Annapolis since she will not return to Williamsburg. He attempts to win her heart by remaining in Annapolis and spending time with her...finally getting to know Lark.

Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is a great book. It offers insight into colonial life in Annapolis when it was our country's capitol and how snow nearly destroyed our independence as a country. (Read Roseanna's thoughts here.) The reader meets some of our founding fathers, though they are not main characters and Tories, too. All of this fabulous history is interwoven through a not-your-standard-romance. I definitely recommend it!

Roseanna is offering the Great Annapolis Giveaway with all sorts of colonial goodies. Round one ends today. There will be another chance to win in February, so be sure to check it out! While you are there be sure to get a taste of colonial times and Roseanna's writing by exploring a bit!

Sparkly Fun

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

A snowy setting, cute mice, and sparkles make these new Christmas titles just plain sweet!

Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls are large, padded board books that bring the familiar lyrics to life. Illustrated by Veronica Vasylenko, the mice in the books tell the story of the songs. The mouse family decorates their home in preparation for Christmas and enjoy a fun, though crowded sleigh ride. Each book has added sparkles to the illustration which is a bonus for the reader...and little fingers who love to touch shiny things.

Both of these books have been enjoyed in our home as part of our reading at least one Christmas book a day this month. If you want to teach a young child either song, this may be the way to do it!

I'd love to see more Christmas hymns and songs in books! We have The Little Drummer Boy board book and love it. Homeschooling Just Next Door shared about some other Christmas carols found in books that might interest you!

Thank you, Tiger Tales, for sending us review copies!

Raising Real Men

2011-12-13T06:00:00.008-05:00

I hope he always loves and adores his sister...and one day will be her protector!

Though I only have two daughters and only one son, I want to be purposeful in understanding the way his mind works and the differences between boys and girls. I was never a boy, so I need help with this-obviously! Of course, my husband can help, but I recently read the book Raising Real Men to help a bit, too.

Authors Hal and Melanie Young are the parents to six boys and two girls, so they do know a bit about raising boys. Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys focuses on bringing up sons to be godly men despite the culture around us and even some of our own limitations and expectations. The Youngs do not focus on just one age; instead they talk about boys as toddlers to young men. Raising Real Men is an easy to read book, and the Youngs write in a comfortable style.

The book discusses what God's word says about many things that we, as parents, really do have questions about. It helps prepare us for what is to come-for those of us who still have young boys-and still gives us plenty to think about in the present, as well.

Some topics discussed are responsibility, leadership, competition, money, manners, chores, sexual temptation, and college. I liked the variety in topics and thought the Youngs found ways to share from their personal experience and the Bible in a personal way. I found that MUCH of what they were saying would benefit our sons would absolutely benefit our daughters, too, to be a child, teen, or adult who intentionally serves and honors God.

Early in the book, manly virtues are discussed. I was told before I married my husband that some of his characteristics that I respect and admire the most would likely be the ones to drive me crazy one day. (Umm...yes, that is often true.) In the same way, some of the characteristics in boys that might drive us crazy like competitiveness, aggression, and a need for adventure grow into admirable virtues in men of persistence and courage. The pursuit of adventure is not to be risky or foolish though. Like any one of us, we can use our lives (and skills) in vain, or we can use our lives to further God's good and make Him known.

Like with any parenting book, the reader isn't likely to agree with all that is written. I understand and know that children, and especially boys are often hyperactive. (In my experience my oldest daughter has always been a thrill-seeker and has the need to get outside to get her energy out. But that is beside the point.) As a former elementary school teacher, I understand that our typical school system is not ideal for most boys. However, I was rather appalled at a statement within the chapter "Your Own School for Boys."

"We're convinced if our sons were in school [not homeschooled],they'd be on so many pills they'd rattle when they walked."

Yes, ADHD may be over-diagnosed and over-medicated (verses trying environmental helps first), but that does not mean it does not exist. The statement above seems to blame schools and teachers for the children's diagnoses. From my own experience it is parents who seek treatment, though at times at the suggestion of a teacher. It is up to the parent to find a treatment plan with which they are comfortable. If a parent doesn't want an official diagnosis or any treatment it is up to them! However, a teacher has the responsibility (in the interest of the student) to point out a child's outward behavior that may (or may not) be related to near-sightedness. It's still up to the parent to seek out medical advice either way!

I really appreciated the chapter about children "bearing arms." You know...playing with guns. (It made me think of Dobson's book Bringing Up Girls that made me begin telling my daughter she is beautiful, while focusing on the heart. Linked to my review.) At Halloween this year we never even asked our son who just turned 3 what he wanted his costume to be. We figured we would use our available props/costumes to be a firefighter, football player, or baseball player. It never dawned on us he would have an opinion, but he really wanted to be a knight. As it turns out, he will get the Armor of God costume for Christmas, so next year he can be a knight. I'm not sure he was thinking of protecting his family, but maybe! This year he was content to be a baseball player. Phew. If our son desires to be in a profession where he needs to carry a gun, I don't want him to feel like he would be dishonoring his parents because we said all guns are bad. (I also want to mention that they did note that not all Christian denominations agree with bearing arms.)

Hal and Melanie Young homeschool their children. I am pretty sure that at least a quarter or a third of the book is related to homeschooling in one way or another. By drawing on others' experience (since it is not in their own) could really make this book friendlier to a broader audience.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I have Bringing Up Boys. I suspect it is a research and life based book without the homeschool slant. However, I think Raising Real Men was still beneficial read. If you are a homeschool family with a son, I would definitely recommend it.

As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of Raising Real Men in exchange for a frank and unbiased review. You might be interested in their parenting helps or their free homeschool catalog that is for anyone!

Preschool Christmas Fun

2011-12-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last week we were all sick which was not fun. That means we don't have our tree up yet. Maybe it will happen soon though.

We have been enjoying The Story of Christmas advent book calendar along with our little manger. The kids absolutely love opening and reading a book a day, though I must confess sometimes the book waits until the following day to be read!

With illness and just being tired, we haven't been remembering to each day's Scripture to go with the Jesse Tree. Pathetic, I know!

Despite what we have NOT done, I thought I would share that we had some fun with Christmas printables.

Below is E matching shadows to their pictures for Nativity people and items.

Below M is hiding behind one of the Nativity counting pages.

We were thankful that Baby E allowed us to do this! The above activities were free from a Pre-K Nativity Pack. I really liked it because there were some items (like the shadow match) that both children could use (older child cut them). Other items E, age 3 was able to have fun with, while others were for M, age 5.

Next up is the Little Angel Interactive Book, a freebie printable from Musings of Me. Michelle offers lots of free printables and some huge units for a small fee...a great resource!

Am I Forgiving?

2011-12-11T22:02:00.002-05:00

Sometimes a simple children's book has a message that is so clear that the reader can't help but to understand the message. Less often, in my case, I am willing to listen to the message as an adult. All too often we expect the many moral messages in children's literature to only apply to children.

When I saw the title of Am I Forgiving? I was excited for our family to check it out. A gift to us a few years ago was the title Am I Praying? also by Jeannie St. John Taylor which we like.

Erik's friends treats him poorly...but through it all he checks his emotions and thinks through his disappointment and loneliness. I love how he works through each difficult situation and continues to forgive.

I say, "That's okay, guys, I'm not mad." And I'm really not. That proves I already forgave them, doesn't it? It's not hard to forgive them, because they weren't mean on purpose."

Erik is even able to forgive his best friend who purposely treated him meanly on purpose. AND it seems natural in the book...not forced at all...because Erik shares his thoughts and feelings with the reader.

What a great book to help each of us, young and old, to check our own behaviors and attitude and to forgive! It's so easy to be bitter and hold a grudge!

Thank you, Kregel Publishers, for sending me this copy for review purposes.

Christmas Resource

2011-12-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for Christmas traditions, activities, crafts, or recipes head over to Christmas Fun at Our Worldwide Classroom. I plan to link up, too!

My New Calendar with Giveaway

2011-12-08T00:00:00.002-05:00

I'm a calendar girl. On our refrigerator is a printable calendar for a quick glance of our month. (I know, most keep them hung on the wall, but this one is strategically placed so I don't miss anything.) When my daughter began speech therapy years ago, I found that I needed to keep track of it. I'm one of those people who forgets about activities outside the norm since they rarely happen. I keep another calendar in my purse so I always have it with me. For this calendar, I love the freebie-type from local businesses. (A tip: If your freebie calendar only has a cardstock cover, "laminate" it with packaging tape for durability!) My requirement is that it show one month at a time so I can see the big picture.

I have my new calendar for 2012! It's an 18 month calendar, and I wish I had gotten it months ago! It is my first "planner" since I was a student. I never felt the need for one before, but when given the opportunity from Peter Pauper Press, I knew this was the right time to test out the need for a planner again.

The Mom's Weekly Planners are incredible! I've been using mine for well over a month and love it. I chose the bold red color. I can't lose it! Even if it is on my cluttered kitchen island, I can still find it. It offers lots of features that I didn't know I would love and use and others that I knew were just my style. Here are a few great features....

The size. At 7x9 inches, it is just the right size to be able to add some details to the monthly calendar. It may not fit in my purse, but it's still pretty enough to carry around!

Details. The elastic bookmark keeps my place, but it's still easy to find any month with the lovely tabs. This bound calendar can lay fully flat on a desk or work space because it has a concealed spiral binding. Not only that, but it even has a sleeve for business cards! (I never had a real home for those...until now.)

Tear-off lists. I often keep running lists of gifts to give or items to purchase. I even keep a list of things to pack for when we go away (most often to see our families). Those are kept on the computer since they change on occasion. I love these lists for things like when a friend or family member borrows a book or movie!

The calendars. Each of the 18 monthly calendars have a two page spread...nice and big! Each week has its own calendar, too, with space for morning, afternoon, and evening activities for Mom and four other family members! I think for busy families with lots of sports, clubs, meetings, and other activities this is brilliant! Even if you are not that family, however it's still useful for things like homework assignments, meal planning, and blog posts.

All this to say...I really like my Mom's Weekly Planner! Would you like one, too? Peter Pauper Press is blessing one reader with a calendar this year!
Giveaway is now closed. The winner is #12, Shonda! Congratulations!
One reader will be chosen as a winner of the 2012 Mom's Weekly Planner! Giveaway is limited to the US and our neighbors in Canada. To enter please leave a comment telling me your favorite feature of the planner or your favorite PPP product. Be sure I have a way to contact you! Giveaway will run through Tuesday, December 13th.
Extra Entries~Leave an extra comment for each entry.
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Thank you, Peter Pauper Press for providing my calendar for this review!

Leveled Early Readers

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Now that we have a child-reader in the house, I am amazed at the variety of leveled readers available. Leveled readers are certainly not created equally. Each publisher seems to have their own way of saying what is a good book for an early reader-and not always effectively. Hameray books are especially written for children who are reading at or below grade level.

Hameray is a publisher who combines high interest stories with detailed levels of books for any educator to use. The Joy Cowley Collection and the Mrs. Wishy Washy books that has been around for many years are especially well-known. (Linked to review.) I also shared about some of their biographies, too, a while back. (Linked to my review.)

I was super excited to get a surprise package from Hameray a few months ago when M (then age 4) was really blossoming with her reading. Right away she was drawn to the Kaleidoscopic Collection. I love that this collection includes fiction and non-fiction. The books have large pictures-sometimes illustrations and sometimes photographs. I love the variety, and my kids seem to, too. M zoomed through the first couple of books, and she loved it! (I think she also enjoyed the length...most are very short at 8 pages, helping a reader to have immediate success without the stress.) I remember her looking up at me and informing me that she could read. (She had been reading for a while, but didn't feel like a reader yet because it wasn't always easy.)

By far, the most popular book, and appropriately so, with both of my children is Ben, the Big Brother. Ben loves to help his mom care for his sister. But it's not long before he figures out that he is too little to change a diaper! So cute! Though short, this book helped my children know that they can help with some things, but not with others...while letting my 4 year old be successful at reading.

From the new Joy Cowley Collection, our favorite is probably Oscar Did It! It reminds me of The Little Red Hen in it's repetitive nature. Instead of the children in the story not helping, they blame their brother, Oscar, on all sorts of things. In the end though Oscar really does do something, and it's rather amusing for the readers.

Hameray is definitely worth checking out, especially if you have a reluctant reader in your home or are looking for specialized leveled readers. Here I have highlighted the early readers, but they have chapter books, too. We (BOTH kids) love Fish, Not Fish with its gorgeous photographs and short chapters.

Book Club!

2011-12-06T06:00:00.004-05:00

I have never had the privilege of being in a book club. However, I greatly appreciate others' recommendations and especially like to hear what others think about a book I read-whether I enjoyed it or not.

A while back I was invited by Carrie at Reading to Know to choose a book for the Reading to Know Book Club! This is a new venture for Reading to Know, but the twelve books chosen for the year of 2012 look fabulous. Nonfiction and fiction. Books I hadn't heard of, but have fabulous reviews and sound great. Others I have always wanted to read or read long ago. So exciting!

I had the toughest time choosing a book. I didn't want to pick a book that everyone has read (including me), even if I love it. (Little Women, To Kill a Mockingbird -linked to thoughts, The Help, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to name a few.) I also didn't want a book that would be too heavy (though deep is okay) of a read...and I was hoping it would be accessible easily in libraries. I finally decided on a book that I have wanted to read since before it was published. It has fabulous reviews. It's based on my favorite book of the Bible. The author is new to me, but I have been reading and enjoying her blog for over a year now. I love how she puts so much thought and work into the research for her historical fiction!

In the month of November, the book club will be reading Jewel of Persia, written by Roseanna White. I was thrilled to pick it out, even if it's not easily available through libraries...and hope people are intrigued enough to find/buy a copy. My own library does not have it, but I have recently requested it. I suspect I will buy a copy for myself, as well, though I rarely buy fiction (unless it is children's). (You know requesting your book store or library to get a book is a great way for you to support an author, right??)

Check out this line-up!
January - Beyond Opinion, by Ravi Zacharias. Selected by Sky.

February - Running Away to Home, by Jennifer Wilson. Selected by *Carrie* at With All That I've Been Given.

March - The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. Selected by Shonya at Learning How Much I Don't Know.

April - Any title by P.G. Wodehouse of your choosing (selected by Tim at Diary of an Autodidact) Just choose one. Especially if you've never read Wodehouse before. (Carrie is happy to make suggestions if you need some.)

May - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain. Selected by Amy at Hope is in the Word.

June - A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton Porter. Selected by Stephanie at Simple Things.

July - Any book in the Chronicles of Narnia series (as part of the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge hosted annually at Reading to Know) (Again, just choose one. And make the most of it!)

August - The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente. Selected by Bluerose at Bluerose's Heart.

September - Professionalizing Motherhood, by Jill Savage. Selected by Stephanie at Stephanie's Mommy Brain.

October - Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Selected by Barbara H. at Stray Thoughts.

November - Jewel of Persia, by Roseanna White. Selected by Annette at Live, Learn, Love.

December - A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Selected by Carrie

Want to join the book fun? The more the merrier! Check out the book club Q and A. I appreciate that we don't need to commit to reading all of the books, though I hope to be able to do so. Hope you'll read along with us!

Picture Collages

2011-12-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

One fall Saturday morning when my husband was busy with the children's sports program at our church, I decided to take the kids to the local county park (9 months pregnant). My purpose was for photos, but they thought we were just on a nature adventure. We were checking out the oak, maple, and pine trees...and their cones and acorns (well, not on the maples). Along the way I was taking photographs, hoping to capture a few good ones. Of my 76 photographs, a few came out well. I'm thankful for digital technology!

Same photos are used below, but use a different layout.

I made collages of a few of the pictures using Picasa- a free photo editing program. (It does not store the pictures for you, but uses what is already on your computer.)

Typically, I prefer the picture pile (bottom collage) over the mosaic grid (top). This time, I may like the grid better.

I have used the collage in the past to create a bit of a fun "summary" of our year to include in Christmas cards. Oh, and it's cheap, too. Just the cost of a print!

Just thought I'd share in case you were interested in making your own.

Just curious...which style do you prefer? Picture pile or grid? Does it depend upon photo content?

Purpllinker Review

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Purpllinker is a neat little toy that allows for open-ended play, but also comes with instructions with the packaging to make letters and numbers. To make letters and shapes with my son (just turned 3), I model how to make the shape first. Then he can "undo" the Purpllinker and remake the letter or shape. Above, if you look carefully, you can see his favorite letter, W.

My kids do enjoy the Purpllinker, but mostly for open-ended play. My daughter, age 5, is really good at this and turns it into a cane, hook, airplane, and more. My son likes to make a crane.

I like the portability of the Purpllinker and the imaginative fun it can produce. The joints are stiff enough to hold a shape which is really important. The only drawback is not in the product itself, but in the fact that it doesn't hold MYchildren's attention as long as some other toys do. However, when they play with it, it does get their minds and fingers moving! I think they would enjoy it even more if it came with directions to make animals, vehicles, and other familiar objects.

If you are looking for quality educational toys, you should check out Timberdoodle on Facebook or sign up for their free homeschool catalog. (We may not homeschool, but like many parents, we teach our children plenty at home.) When our Timberdoodle catalog came in the mail my husband and I were commenting about the toys and games because they seem engaging and educational.

Thank you, Timberdoodle for sending us this free product for our honest review.

Read Alouds

2011-12-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I shared what we've been reading together. Tomorrow begins A Book a Day for Christmas! Woo-hoo!

In early July I went to a lovely used book sale. I spent about 1 1/2 hours in the children's section, and didn't even finish. I filled two grocery bags with books...for just $10. Oh, it was lovely! I took out a few books to share with the kids and set some chapter books on our bookshelf. Then I misplaced the rest of the loot in plain sight in our basement. Thankfully I have since found the books, and have been sharing them with the children. These titles are all from the sale.

Little Bear is a great book...and series. We've borrowed it from the library before, but now I'm thankful to have it for our own collection. We also have two other books in this series. Little Bear books are the perfect level for my daughter who is just starting to read. She not only enjoys looking at the pictures to see what the story is about, but also enjoys reading the story. I was just thrilled the other morning when I overheard her clearly reading aloud on the couch while I was clearing the breakfast dishes. Of course, when I asked her if she was reading, she said no...and told me we needed more Little Bear books.

Do you recognize the name Don Freeman? I snatched Dandelion excitedly when I saw his name. He is the creator of the Corduroy series which we really enjoy. Dandelion is a lion who is invited to a party. He gets a fancy hair-do and new clothes before the party. When he knocks on the door, Jennifer Giraffe doesn't recognize him and closes the door on him. It ends up raining, and his hair returns to normal as do his clothes since he removes his jacket. He goes to the party again and is welcomed...and reminded it's best to be himself.

I instantly recognized Morris the Moose Goes to School from my childhood. I recall very few books, but was excited to pick up this title as an easy reader for M. It's a silly book about a moose who goes to school to learn more.

Diggers and Dumptrucks is of course one of E's new favorites. (The funny thing is we have a different book by the same title that is also well-loved.) This book gives just enough information about different types of construction vehichles to engage a variety of ages. I also like that there are photos and drawings in the book.

I'm linking up to Read Aloud Thursday today at Hope Is the Word! Thanks to Amy for hosting!

Christmas Craft Ideas

2011-11-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

Over the past two years we have made a handful of Christmas crafts together. I hope to do more this year, too.

Salt dough keepsake ornament

paper or felt Christmas tree

homemade paper ornament

Gingerbread Children
(Yes, the 2010 gingerbread kids are still hanging!)

What Christmas crafts do you think we should do this year??

Pantry Organization

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

When we built our home three years ago, we tweaked the original floor plans for a few things, including two things that I knew I wanted: laundry on the second floor and a pantry. (Oh, I really wanted a mud room. REALLY. And I still do. However, the price tag was one that was not logical to me. Some things can't be a priority...even if highly desired and practical.)

My pantry is tiny, but I am thankful for it. Up until recently, it was also a wreck, though I cleaned it out about once a month. A couple weeks before the baby was due, I realized that a baby sitter would never find anything in that pantry because my dear husband always has to ask where something is or have me find it.

The solution...labels. (Maybe not what you think.) I did not go out and purchase lovely plastic bins to keep all my dry goods looking neat and organized, though that would be nice.
Instead, I just figured out exactly what should be on each shelf, and created labels to make sure that I knew where things should go, and hoped that my husband would use them, too. Here's how.

I emptied all of the pantry shelves. Maybe I should say that first I cleaned off my island and table so that I could empty the pantry.
Then I made a pile of items that were duplicates or so rarely used that they could be stored in the basement. I also decided that the few baking items that were in the pantry should be moved to my baking cupbard. Only sensible, huh?
I also checked the expiration date on some items that I knew I had not used in ages. It was a good idea since something was a couple years past expiration. Please take note that they expired after our move. I did not relocate expired foods.
As I put items on the shelves, I grouped them together by what made sense to me, I used masking tape and Sharpies to make temporary labels.
I used the temporary labels for a couple of days in case I wanted to make adjustments.

Then I made my labels and attached them to the wire shelving.

The picture below may not look like an "after" picture, but it is. Trust me. It is organized!

Simple, right?
(Well, except that shameful pile of snacks!)

Wondering if it's been successful? How about this? On just day two or three, he asked where an item should go. (It was a packet...not so obvious.) I love it, and it has continued to work for over a month now!

It may not look all neat and tidy, but it is organized.

Did you notice that there was no "before" picture? Well, I didn't touch the floor of the pantry. It looks awful, because it is. Proof?

Let's see. Cereal. Empty egg carton (to take to the farm to purchase more). Brown plastic lids for kid painting. Bread maker. Two tubes-one for parchment paper and the other is a mat for kid crafts. Random reusable bags. Plastic shopping bag. Cut cereal box for kid crafts. And other unknown items. Shameful.

Did you like the look of the labels?

They came from Just Something I Made, and she has other colors, too!

I printed them on tan cardstock for a neutral look in my kitchen, but they could be used for countless things. Love them. And I didn't even laminate them!

I finally figured out that keeping some of our frequently used workbooks and coloring books lying horizontally on the bottom shelf was taking up precious space, but I didn't want them to be moved to the bookcase. In the pantry, M and E know they can pull out a book and their crayon/marker box. My solution was a magazine holder. (This was also about the same time that I decided to recycle ALL of my old magazines.)

Now, can someone please help me figure out how to keep baby bottles organized? They just can't be tidy!

Providing Meals for a Others

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

With the recent arrival of Baby E, we have been extremely blessed to have been given several premade meals!

One of my friends brought a premade (but not precooked) meal to us in early October when I was still pregnant. When I went to make it, I was impressed with how she wrote the baking instructions for us. Instead of including a little piece of paper, she wrote directly on the plastic wrap! I thought it was brilliant!

The basic meal was in a 9x13 Pyrex dish. The dish was wrapped with plastic wrap where the directions were written. On top of the plastic wrap she had placed peppers and croutons in baggies (separately). Then the entire dish and baggies were wrapped with aluminum foil. All nice and neat, you know?

(With a baby who needs to be held all day long, making meals seems a near impossible task right now. May I say how incredibly thankful I am for these meals!? The bonus is that one meal usually lasts us for two or three dinners! So thankful! I look forward to passing on the blessing of meals for those in need. We've been helped with all three births of our children and two of their long hospitalizations...and truly grateful and remember it when I know of others in need. May I also say that I was very thankful after the kids' hospitalizations for the meals. I had actually said "no thank you" at first...because I was healthy and didn't want to put others out when I was capable. But I had also been in the hospital with each child...and much had been neglected, including ourselves, and the meals really helped us, as a family, to return to the new norm.)

Writing directly on the plastic wrap or tin foil would also work on your own freezer meals!

What works for you when preparing a meal for a friend? Have you been on the receiving end?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T18:52:00.001-05:00

Add caption

I have much to be grateful for, including the unhappy baby on my lap as I type with one hand. Our family had a quiet Thanksgiving, including a simple turkey dinner, complete with my first truly successful apple pie. My husband took the Big Kids to see The Muppets. It was their first theater experience! We love the Muppets. (It is rated PG, but after reading Plugged In's review, I was pretty sure it was appropriate. Derek says it was.)

In addition to my family and friends and Savior...I am very thankful for this blog (as a writing outlet) and the bloggers I learn from and enjoy. I especially appreciate those of you who have encouraged me by leaving comments or emailing. It is wonderful to get to know readers. I love my blogging friends!!

I hope your Thanksgiving was full of thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Gift Ideas

2011-11-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it takes talking to friends and reading friends' blogs to come up with good Christmas gift ideas. I thought I'd share a few ideas of items we are purchasing this year (and a few items that we already love).

Need a gift for a...

Reading enthusiast~Light Wedge
Last year I didn't get the Light Wedge for Christmas...so I bought it for myself. (By purchasing a color other than black, I bought it for about $15.) Later I also purchased the case because it does scratch very easily. I LOVE this book light!

Little boy who has plenty of trucks and cars and loves diggers~Excavator
We recently ordered this excavator for our three year old son. We fully anticipate him loving it. He recently was given a Hot Wheels jump track that he loves, too.

Little girl who loves to create and wants to do more independently~ Stamp Set
We picked up a Melissa and Doug set filled with butterflies and flowers a while back. Our five year old loves to make little projects, but my time is limited these days with what I can do with her. She'll love the little box and having all the little stamps (and finally her own pad) in one place.

Star Wars enthusiast~books
Actually, I bought two books for my husband...one for the content and the other because he can share the pop-up book with the kids until they are old enough to watch the movies. I picked The Jedi Path based on this review. Then a friend...a librarian friend told me about the pop-up books! She had ten copies in her library because the kids loved them so much! After looking around Amazon a bit and watching the video in the link, I chose Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy. I think he'll really enjoy it. (One book will be for Christmas and the other for his birthday.)

Person who is always cold~ electric blanket
Last year I bought us a king sized electric blanket for $35! (It was a black Friday deal, from Boscov's and made by Sunbeam.) It has dual controls which lets my husband who is always warm and me (never warm) be much more comfortable! I wish we had it YEARS ago! I love it!

Maud Hart Lovelace fan~ more books!
The Betsy-Tacy Treasury was just released. It has the first four books in it...just waiting to be read! In addition to that, Discover Deep Valley: A Guide to Maud Hart Lovelace's Mankato was just released last month! It's available through Minnesota Heritage Publishing.

If you end up clicking through an Amazon link here at LLL, a tiny percent does come back to me at no additional cost to you if you purchase ANY item.

One Day at a Time...

2011-11-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

Our little baby is a month old now. We are doing okay.

Baby E sleeps little outside of our arms. That means I sit on my bum most of the day holding her. I have been watching an incredible amount of television. (And typically I don't turn on the TV at all during the daytime for myself.) Baby E has painful gas and reflux that makes her scream, especially during the evenings. When she's not in pain, she still tends to be fussy, even in our arms.

We have tried four formulas. (Yes, our daughter is bottle-fed.) Regular. Soy. Gentlease. And now a really expensive formula for colic. She is also taking Zantac. At the time of this writing we haven't been using the colic formula long enough to know if it will make a difference or not. If not, we might discuss seeing a GI doctor for her.

We're thankful that she has at least one 2 hour stretch each night now. For a long time I was sleeping for 20-45 minutes at a time...when I could actually sleep.

Big brother E and big sister M adore her. M did ask a while back if we could have a yard sale. When we inquired why, she wanted to sell Baby E. When I said that wasn't possible she suggested selling her brother instead.

But really, they adore our baby. So do I.

And yes, we have much to be grateful for, despite the lack of sleep and headaches. Just think, by this age, both of our older children had been hospitalized! (M for her heart problem and E because he was dehydrated.)

At some point, I'd love to create blogging names for my kids, especially since two of them are E.

Counting Down to Christmas Part 3: Advent Book Calendar

2011-11-17T06:00:00.006-05:00

This is our third (and final, I think) part of Counting Down to Christmas! Be sure to check out our homemade Jesse Tree and how we enjoy Christmas books throughout the month!

We LOVE the tiny little books that comes with The Story of Christmas Book Set &Advent Calendar. The books tell the story of how the birth of Jesus using scripture. Each of the twenty-four board books is just four pages long (with small print) and attached is a silver loop, making these books easy to hang! The Story of Christmas Advent Calender is perfect for families with younger or older children who want a daily reminder of what Christmas is all about. Each book is numbered, too, so they are easy to keep track of the books. Some families may choose to hang a book daily on a tree, but we use them in a different way.

I use The Story of Christmas Advent Calendar with a homemade mini-craft stick manger. I place a piece of brown yarn and the appropriate day's book in a small, decorative box with a lid. The children check the box throughout the day to see if the "hay" and book are there. The "hay" is preparing the manger for Jesus. As you might suspect, Jesus arrives Christmas morning. You could use a Little People (or even just a drawing) Jesus, but I made a special little felt "doll" to represent Jesus, swaddled in his manger.

Jesus was made with two gray felt ovals and a medium brown oval. I stitched eyes, nose, and a mouth onto the brown oval and then stitched it to a gray oval. To make it appear that Jesus was swaddled, I also stitched some simple lines, as you can see (I hope) in the photo above. I used cotton balls to stuff this little Jesus doll, if I remember correctly. Below you can see another view of the manger.

My five year old recently brought up the ways that we celebrate Christmas! They certainly left an impression on her last year and she is eager for the little ways (not just the gifts!) we celebrate throughout the month.

How do you celebrate Christmas during the month of December?

Counting Down to Christmas Part 2: A Book a Day

2011-11-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last year I realized we had a lot of Christmas books. In order to really appreciate our own books, I decided to really highlight our own books for the month of December.

I gathered up all of our Christmas and winter books and put them inside of a regular box. Counting them, I was shocked to learn we already had nearly twenty Christmas books! By the end of the month with a couple of new/used purchases and review books, we had more than 25 Christmas and winter books! (This year, I think we can focus on just Christmas books since we've added even more to our Christmas collection!)

Each day I would take one book from the big box of books and place it in a decorative box. It would "magically" appear in our living room every day. My children took turns each day opening the box. I would try to have my son, then 2, open simpler books, and my older daughter open books that were lengthier. The children LOVED this activity and looked forward to it daily!

Sharing a Christmas book a day is simple. Just gather your books and provide a way for your child to read a book each day. I used the decorative box with a lid for the children to open, but you could wrap each book, too! For our family, we also kept all of the already-opened books in one basket, pictured above. These books were accessible throughout the month for our regular read-aloud times. Almost every time a Christmas book would be chosen for read alouds instead of one of our "regular" books! Many of our books had many re-reads!

If you are interested in reading a Christmas book each day in December but have a limited collection of your own, you might run out to your thrift stores now or go to your local library. It's about this time of year that libraries gather Christmas titles in one place! Some libraries (or at least mine) actually shelf all the Christmas picture books together all year. (So much for the Dewey Decimal system!) However, it is always worth it to have quality Christmas books, too. Last year I selected our favorite Christmas books and highlighted them. You can click for yourself to read the selections that we love, but you will notice variety. Though I love using books to share about my faith with my children, some of my favorite Christmas books are not focused on Jesus. We use our homemade Jesse Tree and our incredible advent calendar books to keep our eyes on Jesus' birth.

Thank you once again goes to Amy and Carrie for such a great idea!

What is your favorite Christmas book? Any great chapter books out there?

Be sure to check out part 1 of our countdown to Christmas! Our Jesse Tree!

Counting Down to Christmas Part 1: Jesse Tree

2011-11-14T06:00:00.005-05:00

This will be our third year celebrating Christmas daily in December. I know it's still early, but you may need to prepare a bit if you are inspired to do any of these activities to count down to Christmas. Today I'm sharing just one part of our daily celebrations with you. More will be shared soon!

The Jesse Tree is something I hadn't heard of until a few years ago. A Jesse Tree is a way to connect the story of the Israelites in the Old Testament with the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."

You can purchase Jesse Tree kit, but I think these ornaments from Nicole at Tired, Need Sleep are wonderful to make a homemade Jesse Tree! Nicole's ornaments are large, and worthy of a place on a real tree. I choose to do something different. I made a portable, cardboard Jesse Tree. I also want to point out that I did make a few changes to the ornaments-pictures and Bible references. I did that to match the Jesus Storybook Bible. (Nicole also made some adjustments to her ornaments this year to make better use of the Jesse Tree for her family.)

You can read more about my homemade Jesse Tree and see the printable from Tired, Need Sleep for yourself. Let me know if you create one!

I'll be sharing more about how we count down to Christmas soon!

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

My first experience with fruit flies was in college. I had a crazy (wonderfully good crazy) professor who taught a great class called Science for Elementary Education (or something like that). We basically created a habitat for fruit flies and then invited them to come live in our 2-liter bottles.

My next experience was not so contained. When we returned from our honeymoon, our apartment had fruit flies. The source? A shoulder bag I had used for school...and the RIPE banana inside of it.

A couple weeks ago we had fruit flies. I actually started using my garbage disposal on a daily basis because of those pesky flies.

Right about that time, a friend mentioned that she had success using vinegar to remove fruit flies. Thank you, Stephanie!! I decided to try it, too. I put one drop of dish detergent in a little bowl of vinegar.

The nasty pests would visit the bowl, but they didn't drown. So I put plastic wrap on it and poked holes in it. This was even less effective. But I knew Stephanie and others had had success with vinegar, so I took off the plastic wrap.

The next morning I took this picture. (The vinegar seemed to turn cloudy.)

The little dears finally drowned! I had victory...at least over some of them. It took a while, but they are gone!

The New NIV (2011)

2011-11-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about the new NIV Bible? The last update was in 1984. The Bible I most typically read from is the NIV, 1984 version. Zondervan has released a different NIV version this year. One that is causing much controversy.

The problem is that it is gender-neutral. I am no Bible scholar, but I do understand that the original languages (including NIV's 1984 version) were not gender-neutral. God inspired men to write in a male and female specific way. Not neutral.

The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood responded to the NIV 2011 translation. You might be interested in reading it here. An article was written saying why it's bad for women, too. Not quite the same research, but you might be interested. Read that here.

So...if I am purchasing a new Bible, it will NOT be the new NIV 2011 version. How can I know? Check the copyright page. If it says the NIV translation is from 1984-great. If it says 2011, it will remain on the shelf.

Sorry, Zondervan. I think this is a poor choice and will not support it. I will buy a different version once the 1984 version is not available, if needed.

What about you? Do you support the gender-neutral translation or not? Any other thoughts?

Please Note: Comments below are closed. I feel that comments left by Tylergc are not just a person's personal opinions, but instead, prepared as a professional defense for this 2011 NIV version. This person cannot be contacted. I will leave the comments up, but the discussion is over. Live, Learn, Love is not a forum for this.

Homemade Statue of Liberty Costume

2011-11-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

Since my daughter was three years old and we read The Statue of Liberty she has loved the Statue of Liberty. Earlier this year we visited family in NYC, and saw her for ourselves, too.

It was fun and easy to make the Statue of Liberty costume for Halloween this year. To make one for yourself, you will need just a few items.

2-4 yards of green fabric (2 was perfect for my 5 year old) or bed sheet
cardboard or book
flashlight
crown (purchased or homemade)
colored paper~ 1 yellow or orange, 1 red, 3 green
tape
marker
scissors

Directions:
1. Cover book (or cardboard cut to preferred size) with the two pieces of green paper, front and back. Tape in place. Write JULY IV MDCCLXXVI on it. (It means July 4 1776.)

2. Cover the main cylinder of the flashlight with green paper. Cut hole for the thumb switch. Tape in place.

3. Cut triangles about 3 inches long from the red and yellow paper for flames. You will need about ten flames. Curl with scissors, if desired, the way you curl ribbon for gifts. Tape to the top of the flashlight to complete your torch.

4. Tie the fabric toga-style to child. Hold one corner on right shoulder. Wrap fabric around body, going under left arm, around the back, under right arm, and tied in the back at the shoulder.

5. Place crown on head, tablet in left arm, and the torch in the raised right arm.

You might be interested in our liberty and patriotic activities for young children.

Betsy's Wedding, by Maud Hart Lovelace

2011-11-01T10:35:00.000-04:00

Honestly, I had decided I wasn't going to review Betsy and the Great World or Betsy's Wedding though I enjoyed both a great deal. The big problem is that I finished them a few weeks ago...

(Please note that these are the final books in a lovely series that I highly recommend for young readers and adults who enjoy learning of another time period.)

But I still wanted to document that I really enjoyed these books, so I will write some brief thoughts.

In Besty and the Great World, Betsy is 21 and her parents have decided to send her on a tour of Europe. It seems that this adventure will be a great way to improve her writing and see the world-all the while trying to forget about her old sweetheart Joe. The year was 1914, and it's obvious that Betsy is ignorant to the hostility in Europe and even the thought of war despite what her new European friends think- until the worst happens and war begins. With the war's arrival, Betsy must seek her own departure to America.

Betsy's Wedding begins with Betsy's return to America...and Joe Willard. Obviously, they marry. It's really the only way this Betsy-Tacy series can end, you know!

I personally loved reading about Betsy trying to learn to cook and clean and be a wife. Even when her friends would make fudge at her home, she never really helped...so she was truly starting from scratch! Thankfully, her old friend Tib has some helpful hints for her. My favorite was to have a "company dinner" meal that you can make for company. I don't really do this...just kind of figure out what I want to serve based on the guests. (I'm thinking that the Bacon Ranch Chicken might be it since it can be made in the crock pot...and no gravy needed!)

Despite how hard it was for Betsy, I loved her perseverance...even when offered a job writing.

"...You might enjoy working in a publicity office."
Betsy was very pleased by her answer came promptly. "Oh, Mrs. Hawthorne, I know I'd love it! Joe has told me how delightful your office is. But Mrs. Hawethorne, I already have a job."
"You have?" She sounded surprised.
"Yes. An it's important, and very hard. It's learning how to keep house."
Mrs. Hawthorne swept her arms around Betsy with laughter. "That's the girl!" she said.

She also had to learn to let Joe lead the way...this was not easy, especially when it came to a long-term visitor. I loved reading how she changed her attitude from grudgingly agreeing because it is what she should do to accepting and loving the idea.

That's all for now...but keep in mind the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge over at Library Hospital! It's worth checking out...and do check out Betsy-Tacy and all of MHL's books!

Choosing Baby Names

2011-11-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

My husband and I had our first experience of choosing a name when we had been married for two years. After three days, we chose the name LUCY for our cat. Seriously. Three days to name a cat.

With that in mind, it should not surprise you that it takes us a LONG time to name a baby. It certainly doesn't help that we don't learn the sex of our child in advance. That means we need a first and middle name for both a boy and a girl.

I seriously believe choosing names is a form of torture for my poor husband. It can't be too trendy/popular. And it certainly can't be off-the-wall-weird. We both lean toward traditional names (in my opinion), but I also like old-fashioned names. (My name is ANNETTE!) Derek does not care for the "old" names.

In 2006, for our first pregnancy we borrowed a baby name book. However, we found the US Social Security website to be extremely helpful (especially since we didn't want too popular of names). It ranks baby names according to popularity. (And unlike other sites, it is official!) You can look at the top 1,000 (or just 20) names or search by year or by name.

In 1976, the year I was born, Annette made the top 200. However, by 2008, it wasn't even in the top 1,000.

So just how unpopular are our kids names? Well, M ranked in the 300's in the year she was born (for her particular spelling which is not the most popular). E was in the top 50 in 2008, but it has gained in popularity.

At the time of this writing, we have one boy name and two girl names chosen. The boy name is in the top 50 (more popular than ideal), but both girl names are less popular in 200's. We have not chosen any middle names yet. Oh my, they are really tough this time, but I am hoping there may be a family name chosen.

I'm very thankful that I didn't come into my marriage having a baby name already chosen as some women do. My husband may not like to discuss baby names, but he definitely has an opinion! It seems that with baby names there is not much compromise. We determine our lists separately, and then narrow it down from there, crossing off names that are just not an option. Often (for girl names) there are a few names that are on both lists or we realize we like after seeing it on the other's.

This post was written in advance...to be scheduled hopefully after baby's arrival. Maybe by then we will have determined a name. With both M and E, they were a full week late...and we needed all 41 weeks of pregnancy to come to a conclusion on their names.

Card Giveaway

2011-10-30T14:58:00.000-04:00

We are in total survival mode now. Our new baby is dealing with reflux and gas. Her nights can be filled with lots of crying (screaming) and pain. But we're getting by. Until today we also had the help of my lovely mother-in-law. Derek had (mostly) worked last week while we had help, and now he'll take vacation this week. I am trying to take it easy to make sure I heal properly.

Anyway, I wanted to remind you of the Shutterfly giveaway with three winners!

ABC's and 123's

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Tiger Tales recently sent me a box of books. Immediately, I saw two books that I knew BOTH of my children AND I would love. I was right!

A Is for Apple and 123 Count with Me are fabulous! Both sturdy board books are interactive with "tracks" to trace the letters and numbers and flaps to lift. (Arrows help to know the direction to go and the numbers help the child to know which order to go.) Both books are geared for ages 2-5, and I think that is a great age for these books.

In A is for Apple, each capital and lower case letter is shown, and the capital letter has a low-lying, different colored "track." Each letter features a simple sentence, complete with illustrations such as, "Gg is for goat and gate." Under the flap, is the second illustration and the end of the sentence. My son (age 3) likes to trace the letters and say "Up, down, up, down." Sometimes he says the letter, and sometimes he doesn't. But he always names the pictures. My daughter (age 5) traces the letters and reads the book aloud. The other morning she saw A is for Apple and exclaimed, "That's my favorite!" This is definitely a book I would consider giving as a gift and is a family favorite.

123 Count with Me uses the same techniques as A Is for Apple for the tracing of the letters with tracks and arrows. Each page features a number, 1-20. For the number eight, there are 7 trains showing and another hiding under the flap. Also visible on the page, it says "8 eight trains." Under the flap, it says "Number eight is late." I like the variety of objects featured in this book (socks, ducks, crayons, strawberries), but do wish that each page's illustrations were a bit more varied. (For example, all 12 socks are purple and green striped.) This is still a great tool for children to use to enjoy forming the numbers though!

Tiger Tales is known for their quality books, and these did not disappoint. I love that they are alphabet and number books that are still engaging for for the young (age 2) and old (age 5). Often similar books don't engage an older child that recognizes letters and numbers well.

Thank you, Tiger Tales, for providing us with these books for review purposes.

Keeping It Simple

2011-10-24T06:00:00.011-04:00

We tend to have low-key birthdays around here. As of now, the children haven't truly had a birthday party where they invite friends, though last year when we were visiting family in October (the month of both M and E's birthdays...and likely this baby's, too) so we had a big family party at a local park.

This year was especially low-key since no grandparents were with us to celebrate M's fifth birthday. It was the four of us. Being two days from my due date (kind of like when E was due on M's birthday...but that year we had company for her birthday) I needed to keep things simple.

For decorations, we made a balloon banner.

I simply took a threaded needle through the tips of the balloons.

(Not our first balloon banner, but I love the simplicity of this one! Inspired from here.)

Above M's seat at the kitchen table, we also hung some balloons. In the past, we've always tied helium balloons to the birthday child's seat...but I love how this looks.

M was able to choose her own birthday dinner. Funny, I don't think she has a clue that some people eat McDonald's when they are not traveling. Had she, though, we would have done it. Notice that it is meatless. Chocolate milk is our birthday drink of choice around here. Posting the menu in the kitchen was a big hit.

I made her cake. It wasn't pretty (mine never are), but she loved it. It had a heart with a "5" in the center.

Our gifts were also simple, but she loved them.

I can't believe she is five years old! E will have his own turn for a celebration very soon! It will be much the same as M's, though we'll likely have at least some family around if the baby has been born.

My husband and I were very grateful that we were able to be home (and not at the hospital having baby #3) to celebrate the big occasion!

Baby's Arrival

2011-10-22T15:02:00.000-04:00

It's a GIRL!

Esther arrived this morning!

Baby Update

2011-10-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

Not surprising, our baby is quite content within the protection of the womb. You have likely read here before that both of our other children were a full week late. Truly, I am hoping that is not the case this time, especially since my body has many signs of being ready that I never had during my first two pregnancies. In case induction is needed, we have it scheduled for late next week.

I do hope to share news soon though!

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you my blogging plans for Live, Learn, Love with a newborn in the house. Really, I have no idea what to expect since every baby and recovery is different. However, I do have a couple posts per week scheduled for the next few weeks. Blogging, though I love it, is a hobby, not a priority. I may want to blog more...or I may not be capable of doing anything but surviving.

Would you do me a favor and let me know of any big news you share on your blog over the next few weeks? I don't know that I'll get to read them like I enjoy doing...and commenting and emailing will certainly be limited!

(Photos from the local county park early this month. I took the children there hoping for some good photos. They thought it was a fun Nature Adventure with Mom taking lots of pictures as they collected a couple of nature items while Dad was helping at church with the youth football program.)

Christmas Card Giveaway x3 (Shutterfly)

2011-10-20T10:22:00.003-04:00

I do enjoy Christmas cards. I know some people just sign their names, but I really enjoy reading about what is new in the lives of our friends and family. Some send newsletters; others write a brief message. I prefer at least a bit of something handwritten besides our names to keep it personal and caring, especially for those I don't see often (and that is who gets cards from us). For me, the process of choosing, creating, and writing each card is important.

Our family didn't begin sending out a Christmas photo (just a regular card before that) until our daughter was born. Though we had plenty of news to share that year, since she had a long hospitalization a couple weeks after her birth, it was probably the only year that I stuck the card in the envelope, and then stamped and addressed it. No signature or message. I wasn't in total survival mode, but a personal Christmas greeting was just not a priority that year. On the other hand, that photo Christmas card was extremely cute, and showed that our baby girl was happy and looked healthy, and it continues to be one of our all time favorites.

When M was about a year old, we sent out our Christmas card with a photo of M inside. Simple and basic. But the following year, we added E to the family and just moved into our new home. I created the 4x6 photo collage to the right using Picasa's collage creator to add to a standard Christmas card. (I shared about making these affordable Christmas collages. The cost is just for the print!)

Last year was our first year using Shutterfly for the purpose of creating a folded photo Christmas card, shown to the left, though the image is blurry. (I was able to do this as a promotion for them through this blog; I was willing to do it because I had used Shutterfly plenty of other times-happily.) I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! We had a great family photo for the front of the card, which helped. Inside I was able to add more photos, as well as a summary about each of us. I was amazed at how personal I could make it. Since the card I chose did not include a Bible verse or reference to Jesus, I was able to do that, too. We had never created a card so beautiful, and others noticed and told us.

I'm excited that Shutterfly has offered us the opportunity for more Christmas cards through them again this year. ~~Shutterfly is also offering THREE Live, Love, Learn readers a chance to win a promotional code for 25 free cards!~~

~~GIVEAWAY!~~
To win 25 free cards, visit Shutterfly. Leave a comment below, and tell me what item from the Christmas cards or Christmas photo cards you like (no commitment though). Please include your email address in the comment, please!

~~Extra Entries (Leave a separate comment for each appropriate entry.)~~
~~Follow or subscribe to Live, Learn, Love.~~
~~Be a fan of Live, Learn, Love on Facebook (see sidebar).~~
~~Share about this giveaway (Facebook, blog....)~~

Winner will be chosen with random.org. Giveaway will run through October 31st, and winners will be emailed and announced on this post. (If I'm busy in the hospital, I will contact the winners ASAP, though it may be a couple days.)

Winners have been chosen through random.org and emailed. Congratulations Alana, Jess, and Ellie!!
Also, are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

Waiting

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

For those of you who are popping in regularly to see if we have any news of a baby, just keep returning. I do have some posts scheduled, but I do intend to share our baby news when able after arrival.

We're basically ready. We have names somewhat narrowed down, but nothing is final. We're looking forward to celebrating the birthday of M next week and E the following week...and possibly a birth in between. You can bet that I bought a cake mix for M's birthday...and hoping my MIL will be around for E's birthday to make his. They are both excited for the baby and just as excited to celebrate their birthdays with cake. Their birthday gifts are not wrapped, but they are ready.

The only sure thing (I hope it's sure) is that the baby will arrive in October. My doctor likes to schedule inducements about a week after due date, so that keeps us in October.

Get Wisdom!

2011-10-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

Get Wisdom!: 23 Lessons for Children about Living for Jesus is written by Ruth Younts for children from kindergarten to fourth grade. It is a really good resource for children and their parents (or teachers in a Christian school) to teach basic principles of biblical wisdom and godly character.

Each lesson is just two pages long for children and focuses on a different bit of wisdom that we would want our children to do. It begins with listening and obeying, but includes character traits like humility and courage, as well. A simple (but meaningful) definition is given along with a Bible verse and colored illustration on one page. The other page gives a couple examples of the character trait and leaves plenty of space for the child to write additional examples, workbook-style. It ends with a prayer and a personal application. BUT that's not all! In the back of the book, there are parent/teacher pages! Each lesson has an opening activity, discussion suggestions, and role play game suggestions. In addition to the Bible verse included in the child's pages, another verse (not just reference) is included, too. Sounds easy, huh?

Now, I have to admit that I only completed the first lesson with my daughter (nearly five). I quickly decided that I wanted to hold off another year before using this book with her to reap the full benefits of Get Wisdom. (Keep in mind though she is nearly five, she is still in preschool.) However, I think it is a very good resource for parents. Want to see more? You can see the introduction and two complete lessons here. Go! Look for yourself! Then buy it!

I really appreciate Shepherd Press sending me a copy of Get Wisdom! I'm not the only one who likes this book...at Bible study last week a woman gave a copy to a mom who greatly appreciated it. (And just an FYI, Shepherd Press are publishers of great books like Shepherding a Child's Heart and "Don't Make Me Count to Three!"-linked to my review- are parenting books filled with great wisdom.)

Encouraging Independence in Young Children

2011-10-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

I admit it. I have probably not helped my children be as independent (in some areas) as I could. Though my children, especially our nearly 5 year old, are outgoing and love interacting with adults (including non-family), around our home I probably step in too often.

My biggest regret in stepping in too often is when my children are not getting along. It has only been recently that I have encouraged them to talk to one another FIRST, before coming to me. Before, I would just interrupt their fighting to encourage kind words, sharing, or whatever was needed. (Do you know the Matthew 18 principle? It can apply to children, too!) Now I am trying to be purposeful in teaching them to talk to one another first. THEN, if they don't resolve it, they can talk to me.

Below is my new favorite view, including M and E.

While I stay inside, the children can now play outside on their own. We live in a development, so there is not much traffic. However, this spring was the first time that M would stay where we asked her to (near the swing set in the back yard). All spring and summer, M could be outside for a while on her own. However, E could not be outside on his own when given boundaries. He would always run to the front of the house or garage. Finally, in the past couple of weeks, he stays put. Seriously. He was outside for at least a half hour...in that same squatting position that you see him above. (So much so that he didn't come inside to use the toilet when he needed to...)

I am excited for my children's new independence that they can have together. I know others who have children this age who are allowed to walk or ride bikes to a neighbor's home. (The fact that our neighborhood has no sidewalks does not impact this decision. Even with them, I would say no.) Personally, that is too much freedom for our children.

We may hover a bit, but I know my children are safe from the drivers who are driving too fast or have the sun in their eyes...or from the unknown. In the meantime, I'm excited that they can use our backyard for the freedom they are now ready for.

Betsy Was a Junior and Betsy and Joe

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

I've written about Maud Hart Lovelace before, including the Betsy-Tacy series. The series is based on MHL's life in Mankato, Minnesota and her growing up years. Oh, I highly recommend it! (If your library doesn't have the books, don't forget to request them; they are now re-released and quite affordable...two books/1 volume for about $10 on Amazon.) This summer when our family went to camp, I took along the single book that includes the third and fourth books of lovable Betsy's high school years, Betsy Was a Junior and Betsy and Joe. I couldn't put it down. I just love reading about the town of Deep Valley along with Betsy and her friends in the early 1900's. (Want to hear something really funny? My friend who also attended camp brought along a MHL book, but she brought along Betsy's Wedding! We had a bit of a laugh over this as we were relaxing and reading MHL outside our cabins at the same time.)

In Betsy Was a Junior, Betsy's sister goes away to college. When she comes home, she tells of the sororities who are rushing her. It's not long before Betsy gets the idea to begin a sorority of her friends. She thinks that sisterhood can't have any downfalls. As I was reading and loving the book, I was also very frustrated that Betsy didn't listen to her inner thoughts more. (And I'm definitely not a sorority girl, which didn't help my opinion, though I could understand Betsy's reasons for appreciating the sisterhood.) She really wanted to get to know a classmate better, but all of her time was spent with the sorority sisters. In the end, Betsy and the girls learn their lesson, but not the easy way!

I had fully intended to put the book down when Betsy Was a Junior was completed, but these books are so refreshing and fun, I just had to continue the story.

Betsy and Joe surprised me. As a MHL fan, I of course know (SPOILER if you don't know) that Betsy and Joe marry. I was expecting Betsy's senior year of high school in Betsy and Joe to be filled with their romance. Well, I was wrong! Betsy "dates" both Tony and Joe. I love that though Betsy was interested in boys, she was not interested in kissing. Oh what lessons we can learn from Betsy!

"She thought it was silly to be letting first this boy and

then that one kiss you, when it didn't mean a thing."

So though she spent a lot of time with Joe and Tony, it wasn't what many call dating today. It was refreshing...even if it was with two fellows. Seriously. (Though her dating two guys was frustrating...)

Oh, I would love to have The Betsy-Tacy Companion. Even used (on Amazon) it is $45! It would help me to know that really, "Betsy" didn't even meet "Joe" until well after high school in real life. So all of my frustrations didn't have to be due to these books being based on real life.

Now if you have never read Maud Hart Lovelace before, please do!! (As much as I enjoyed these, Emily of Deep Valley, linked to review, is still my favorite.) These books are fabulous. In a few days my daughter will turn 5 and she will get the very first book in the series, Betsy-Tacy. I can't wait to share it with her! And the books will grow up with her with more developed plot, character, and even language as the characters get older!

Now, I just need to figure out when my daughter will get to read the rest of the books...

I will be sharing these thoughts over at the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge at Library Hospital!!

Read more of my thoughts on Deep Valley , then go out and get yourself a copy!

Betsy-Tacy

Heaven to Betsy
Carney's House Party/Winona's Pony Cart

Emily of Deep Valley ~ My all time favorite!!

Fall Tree Craft

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

This idea has been showing up all over! I first saw it here, though. I love when an idea can be guided a bit for a young child, and yet it still allows their own creativity. We made our own autumn tree-despite the green leaves hanging on around here.

This was also an easy project to complete with two children (nearly 3 and nearly 5) at the same time. Sometimes I don't pick the best projects for two children.

First, I traced each of the children's hands with a brown crayon. Then the children colored their "tree trunk." I chose to use crayon for the less-messy factor for ~~my son's sake~~ my own sanity. However, if I were to do this again, I think markers or paint would be better. You could even paint the child's palm and arm and "print" it to make the tree.

After coloring was complete, the children were given one color at a time. We used the colors yellow, red, and green. My children no longer need to be encouraged to say words, but I still modeled for my son "Dot, dot, dot" with each fingerprint to the paper. He said dot with each fingerprint, too! This may be especially helpful for young children when they may want to use their fingers to smear the paint instead of making dots. However, it IS their project!

The paint palette (for less than $1 at Walmart) was perfect for this. I also gave each child a napkin to clean their fingers in between colors. My daughter quickly remembered that she could mix red and yellow to create orange. Her colors/dots were spaced enough that it didn't happen "naturally."

You can see below my daughter chose to add grass to her picture. My son's picture may be after a windstorm, but it's still HIS fall tree project!

Mounting these on colored construction paper prior to display adds a very nice touch and makes the children feel extra-proud.

Our big fall book that we've enjoyed from the library recently is Poppleton in the Fall. We just love Poppleton!

Next, I think we'll be making a fall wreath since M asked to replace our summer wreath craft (that I never posted about). We'll use our coffee filter technique, I think...they love that!

"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" Giveaway

2011-10-05T06:00:00.005-04:00

If you have been in Christian parenting circles, you have probably heard about Tedd Tripp's books Shepherding a Child's Heart and Instructing a Child's Heart. I highly recommend both books (and reviewed IaCH here.) because they really help a parent to understand the need for biblical discipline to be focused on the heart NOT the outward behavior.

Tedd Tripp's books were really good...they definitely made me think. BUT for this momma, neither book really gave me the examples I needed to really be able to implement heart-oriented discipline for my young children. In their defense, that was not the purpose of either book. Ginger Plowman answered that concern in "Don't Make Me Count to Three!": A Mom's Look at Heart-Oriented Discipline.

If you find that you count misbehavior and are put off by the title of this book, "Don't Make Me Count to Three!", let me encourage you to still read it. The idea is that the statement "Don't make me count to three!" and many other similar statements have the parent avoiding discipline, she doesn't say that that counting behavior is wrong. But threats...not effective.

Honestly, I thought this book was exactly what I needed! Ginger Plowman's book reads very quickly, yet filled with what I needed to read to better understand disciplining in better way that would honor God.

" It is my calling, my priority, my struggle, and my goal.

I will rise to the occasion and accept the task at hand.

I will love, nurture, and train my children the way that

God has called me to do." ~ page 21

Plowman really helped me, through examples and discussion, to better understand (oh, not perfectly!) how to get to the cause of the behavior. You know, the heart of the matter.

One thing that I have been able to somewhat easily implement (though, oh, I need some more work in this) is to have my children (especially my daughter who is nearly 5, though a bit harder with nearly 3 son) go back and do the correct thing...you know, show love, obey, use a different tone...I help them with the words if they don't know it. Then they do it. You know...like role play or practice so that the next time they might make a better choice.

Throughout the book examples of dialogue...and even mistakes parents can make...are shared in a way that parents can utilize.

Despite the controversy of spanking, I appreciated Plowman's distinction between childish behavior and foolish behavior. She explains that childish behavior becomes foolishness when a child understands the clear instructions that have been given, and yet still chooses to disobey. In her opinion, and I personally agree, direct disobedience and defiant attitudes need to be disciplined. And she would say that the "rod" (spanking) is the means of this discipline. She then gives many thought-out guidelines for biblical chastisement. Oh, this is hard! I've heard some of them before, but seeing them all together was very good for me.

My overall thoughts on "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" are very positive. I highly recommend it, and quite honestly, I think it is a book I need to revisit at least once a year for the next many years. Ginger Plowman suggests that we are not to control our children's behavior, but to understand their hearts. As we discipline them, their hearts can change...and eventually there will be outward changes in their behavior, too.

Tough stuff, huh? Well, parenting is not for wimps. (And I mean all of it, not just discipline...it truly is tough stuff...I began saying that after our first life-threatening situation with our children.)

~~GIVEAWAY (Be sure to check out all of our giveaways this week!! There are more!)~~

~~Shepherd Press provided "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" AND they want to provide one Live, Learn, Love reader (who resides in the US) with a copy, too!~~

~~To enter, just leave a comment below! Be sure that I have a way to contact you through email.~~
~~Giveaway will run through Tuesday, October 11th.~~

~~Extra Entries~ Leave a separate comment for each!~~

~~Follow LLL through Facebook or Google Friends Connect.~~
~~Share about this (or any of this week's) giveaways through Facebook, Twitter...~~
~~Visit Shepherd Press and tell me another book you'd love to have for yourself.~~

Winner is #12, Mozi Esme! Congratulations!

A Hard "Earned" Blessing

2011-10-04T14:49:00.000-04:00

At the beginning of this year I embarked on reading through the Bible in one year. Had I done it on my own, I don't think I would have stuck with it. However, my church and husband are doing it with me. The schedule we are using typically gives one reading assignment on weekends. That is very helpful because I tend to need that catch-up day!

I am so excited to say that I have learned much from reading through the entire Old Testament! Seeing God's hand in every bit of it and understanding the big picture is new to me. Granted, I was supposed to wrap up the OT reading before October began, but I was a few days behind. I completed the task today though.

Thank you, God, for giving us your living Word. May I continue to see your hand in every bit of life and not take your Holy Bible for granted. Amen.

Thank You Giveaway

2011-10-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

With the baby's arrival in the near future, I have been on the lookout for appropriate thank you cards. I have a "thing" for stationary and love variety of note cards and thank you cards at Peter Pauper Press.

This baby will be our third child, so gifts will not come by the landslide like they did for our first-born. However, there may be some. With a new baby, our church family provides a few meals. Not only that, but already four of my friends have come together to help me clean and organize (no easy task!!) to prepare for this blessing. We will also have babysitters to thank. There will be plenty of gratefulness, and I like to write a thank you card to show it.

I chose some fun thank you notes called Alphabet Soup provided for review. They've just arrived, and I love them!. They are gender-neutral AND can be used for any occasion, not just for children! (Both were my goals!) Yet, I think they are child and baby-friendly with the bold colors and letters. Perfect!

These note cards are so cute! The words thank you are bold and colorful...and all of the letters, both gray and colored, are glossy and embossed. Oh, and check out the matching envelope!

Does Alphabet Soup meet your taste, too? If so, you'll be happy to know that Peter Pauper Press would like to give one LLL reader their own set of Alphabet Soup thank you cards! The set comes with fourteen 3 1/2 x 5 cards and fifteen envelopes. If interested, and you live in the US or Canada, please leave a comment below. Make sure I have a way to email you if you win through your profile or just include it in the comment. Giveaway will run through Friday, October 7th.

~~Additional Entries~~
~~Follow Live, Learn, Love through GFC and/or Facebook. (See sidebar.)~~
~~Visit Peter Pauper Press and tell me your favorite item there.~~
~~Share about this giveaway (Facebook, tweet...)~~
~~Leave a separate comment for each...four extra entries available!~~
Congratulations, Zenaida! You won the cards and have been emailed.

Thank you, Peter Pauper Press for providing these note cards for review! I can't wait to use them!

Giveaway (4 Books) and Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge

2011-10-01T15:12:00.004-04:00

Read to the end for the giveaway info!

I'm excited to participate in the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge again this year! I just love her books. MHL is well-known (at least in some circles) for her fictionalized autobiographies called the Betsy-Tacy series. The books take place in the early 1900's and chronicle Betsy from age 5 through the first year of her marriage. DELIGHTFUL!

Check out my thoughts/reviews on the Maud Hart Lovelace books I have read so far.

Betsy-Tacy

Heaven to Betsy
Carney's House Party/Winona's Pony Cart

Emily of Deep Valley ~ My all time favorite of MHL!!

This month I will be posting about my thoughts on the books Betsy Was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Besty and the Great World, and the final book in the Betsy-Tacy series Betsy's Wedding. (I actually completed Betsy's Wedding earlier today. I just couldn't wait...these books are SO good!)

I intend to take Betsy and Tacy Go over the Big Hill to the hospital this month when the youngest family member arrives. I won't promise a post about it though...Who knows what I will have time to do after the baby's arrival. AND the baby could arrive tomorrow...but hopefully we won't be waiting until November for the arrival. In case you are new here, I'm due on the 20th. Both of my other children were a full week late though, and I'm hoping to not be induced (though the baby may be a bit big according to a recent ultrasound and measurements). I have hope though because this baby seems to have dropped.

Oh, and I happen to have a daughter celebrating her fifth birthday this month. Guess what she'll get!? She'll be getting Betsy-Tacy in her very own monogrammed tote bag that I already made! I can't wait to read it with her!

~~GIVEAWAY!!!~~
I happen to have extra NEW copies of Betsy Was a Junior/Betsy and Joe AND Betsy and the Great World/Betsy's Wedding. (Silly, I am not willing to give my copies away, though I'm always happy to loan MHL.) These are the new books that are two books in one (so four books total in two volumes), AND they have wonderful MHL biographical information, too.

To enter the giveaway, please be a follower of my blog with GFC. Then leave a comment telling me why you want these books. Trust me, you do want them!! I'd also love to hear if you have ever read MHL before and which books you did read. If you follow me on facebook, leave an extra comment for a bonus entry. I will contact the winner by email, so be sure I can contact you.

~~Giveaway will go through Wednesday, October 5 so that I can get these mailed out in time for you to participate in the MHL challenge-if you so desire.~~
Giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations, Amy! I will contact you for your mailing information! Enjoy!

Like Mother...

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

I called out, "M, come here."

She replied, "But I'm in the middle of a book!"

Maybe not the obedient answer one would like, but it still made this mom smile.

M's first reading nook below.

Bacon Ranch Chicken Recipe

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

I no longer know the original source for this recipe, but it's definitely a keeper for it's taste and ease.

Bacon Ranch Chicken

2 tablespoons of real bacon pieces (from jar or freshly cooked)

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

egg noodles, prepared

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Combine bacon, garlic, ranch mix, soup, and sour cream in bowl. Stir together. Place chicken in crock. Pour mixture over chicken. Cook 3-4 hours or until chicken is cooked through. (If you need to cook longer, use frozen breasts and be sure to cook on low.) Break into pieces (or shred) with forks. Serve over cooked noodles.

The last time I made this I made sure to cook extra for the freezer for next month when the baby arrives. I also need to remember this recipe as an easy to prepare meal when we have company since it can all be done in advance (except the noodles). I suspect you could even make it a complete meal by adding peas or other vegetable of choice, but we choose to have ours on the side. What do you think of serving this with rice instead of noodles?

Do you have any easy recipes for me to try? Something that I appreciate with this (and most of what I cook) is that I don't need to buy anything special for it except what I tend to have on hand. We now keep the ranch mix on hand in the pantry for this recipe.

Children's Bible Fun

2011-09-22T20:32:00.000-04:00

Are you ever in a store and just can't resist looking at the children's books? Yep. That's me. I often see things that I'd love for my own kids to have or would be a perfect gift for some little child. This time, the book store arrived at my doorstep, compliments of Kregel Publications; however, I likely would have been opening my wallet had I been in a store! Among the books sent were two Bible storybooks that I knew would be huge hits with my kids.

Moving Windows Bible Stories immediately grabbed the attention of both of my children. They love it, and so do I! The actual biblical content is minimal with only five stories (Noah, Goliath, Daniel and the lions, Jonah, and birth of Jesus) that are simply summarized in a few sentences. The joy for the adult and child reading this Bible comes from the interactive flaps and tabs to push, pull, and lift. The Moving Windows Bible Stories is a rather large book, and the three-dimensional pictures are easily loved. An added bonus for young children are the onomatopoeia in each story. Words like oink, whiz, and roar are found in each story that really draws in the younger child's interest.

Match and Learn: I Can Learn Bible Storiesis another Bible story book with five stories in it, including Creation, Noah, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions, and Jonah. Geared for children ages 3-6 (though 6 may be a tad old), this is Bible storybook that summarizes the stories in a long paragraph. The biblical content is rather simple for children who know the Bible well, but the real fun for the child comes after reading each story when they flip the cards (sturdily part of the book) to find the two cards that tell who the story was about. Younger children may use the picture and colored boarders as clues, but older children will likely recognize the names of the characters. My daughter loves to read the summaries on the flip cards. They are short and simple enough to encourage her to read it for herself. Below is quoted from the Jonah flip card. I appreciate that the flip cards tell a few more details that were not included in the storybook page or reword it.

"Jonah: Jonah disobeyed God. God put him in a big fish to think. After a while, he was ready to obey."

I highly recommend these creative storybook Bibles though they contain few stories. The magic comes from exploring these well-known stories in a new way, and that is well worth it! Thank you, Kregel for providing these Bible storybooks for review!

Simple Birthday Decorations

2011-09-19T18:27:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we celebrated the 60th birthday of Derek's mom. It was a low-key surprise party, with mostly family and just a few friends as guests. But it still celebrated Janice!

We hung sixty balloons through the dining room and living room. Many of the balloons were split between two balloon banners. (See inspiration photo/directions here.) Instead of using tape or glue dots, these balloons were tied to the ribbon with thread.

We also saw another neat idea of hanging balloons from the ceiling to make them look like they were floating in the air like helium balloons...without the helium. Each of the balloons below had a thread tied to them. However, the person hanging the balloons didn't know the idea behind the thread, and just hung them. I thought it still looked fun!

Depending on when the baby arrives (due within days of both M and E's birthdays), I would enjoy doing something like these simple decorations for them, too. We'll see what the reality is. I certainly don't have air in me to blow balloons though!

It was a fun party, and most importantly a good way to celebrate a great woman.

What Books Do You Dream Of?

2011-09-15T10:04:00.000-04:00

Kids in the Kitchen: Chex Party Mix

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

MMM...Chex Party Mix. The best is homemade! Have you made it before? If not, I would encourage you to do so. No party is needed. I cannot imagine it going stale, though if you are single with no children you may just want to try a half batch...but probably only the first time you make it if you are as naughty as I am.

For years I only made this in the oven. (I made my first batch in 2001.) This was my first time using the microwave. Wow. Salty goodness in just 5 minutes instead of an hour! It didn't lose any flavor or crunch in the microwave, so this will be my new way to make it! (And FYI, for years when I would make this I would buy generic Corn Chex and Rice Chex, but my stores never had generic Wheat Chex. Walmart carries a generic version of Wheat Chex, in case you wanted to know.)

Chex Party Mix Recipe

3 cups Rice Chex

3 cups Corn Chex

3 cups Wheat Chex

1 cup mixed nuts (I just use dry roasted peanuts.)

1 cup bite-sized pretzels (I prefer broken pretzel sticks.)

1 cup bite-sized bagel chips (I omit and increase pretzels and nuts.)

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt (In the past I didn't have this and just used garlic salt...worked fine.)

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

In large microwavable bowl mix cereal, nuts, pretzels and chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, heat butter until melted-about 40 seconds. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture and mix thoroughly.

Microwave mix on high for 5-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread and cool on paper towels. Store in air tight container. YUM!!

Kid tasks:

Breaking pretzels

Dumping and snacking

Mixing dry ingredients

Mom (and older child) tasks:

Measuring, if you have younger children,

Thoroughly mixing butter mixture into cereal mixture

Stirring heated mixture

Final results:

Chex Party Mix for a happy family!

Family News x2

2011-09-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

On Friday, I had my 34 week doctor appointment. The doctor was concerned that I was measuring big. At 34 weeks I was measuring 37, which is outside of the "normal" area.

This was a concern since it could mean a big baby or extra fluid...or maybe something else. I couldn't have an ultrasound that day, but scheduled it for Wednesday. Well, apparently the waiting was not worth it for me because today I decided it would be worth it to take TWO children with me for an ultrasound.

All is normal and well, thankfully. However, the baby is large. At 34 weeks, this baby is 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Apparently, average is 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The ultrasound technician gave both of the children their own picture of the baby, which they LOVED.

FYI, M was just 7 pounds, 5 ounces. E was 8 pounds, 5 ounces. I'm hoping to not have a nine pounder...I'm not particularly large...not even an inch over 5 foot...not that anyone hopes for that.

In different news, many of the people in northeastern PA were under water this past week. My parents (two houses) included. My dad only had several feet of water in his cellar, but my mom's entire first floor was fully flooded, and all is lost. It's hard, even from a distance.

With the stress of my mom, I'm glad to know that all is well with the baby. Please do keep us in your prayers.

Uncompromising with GIVEAWAY x2

2011-09-12T06:00:00.008-04:00

Today's the final day for the giveaway for God's Priorities for Today's Woman!

Uncompromising may be written by a young woman, for young women, but truly, as a married, 35 year old woman, I still learned from author Hannah Farver. I wish I had had a book like this when I first became a Christian as a teen...it is honest and convicting, yet friendly, too. (Can I say now that I love the cover...and that it is not filled with bright, bold colors...instead it has a simple grace to it...classic beauty...timeless...maybe because the message is also timeless?)

Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed by a Radical Love is a book about being a godly woman...one who has a Cause (in Christ) and lives for it whole-heartedly instead of living for causes (little c) that the world tends to want us to live for, such as our devotion to romance and beauty.

Hannah Farver may be conservative, but she is not preachy in her writing. She seems to have taken what most women learn much later in life and is living for God, without compromising, now.

I could see much of myself (in the mistakes, not the good stuff) of what Hannah shared about mistakes and causes in how I lived as a teen. Like mistaking attention (or crushes) for love. Like doing things to make ourselves feel holier...that's legalism.

I highly recommend this book! Any young woman (even appropriate for young teens) would benefit from this read. I can imagine a group of teens wanting to read it together as a study...growing together in Christ.

On a personal note, I had anticipated saying much more about Uncompromising, but the recent events (being a flood) happening to my family, though not us personally, has left me rather distracted. Just know this book is well-worth it! If you don't have a young woman in your family, consider offering it to your church's youth leader or church library.

Thank you, Moody Publishers for providing me with this book! I am thrilled to share with you that Moody Publishers is offering TWO copies for Live, Love, Learn readers! You must have a US address. Please leave a comment below (with email address so I can contact you unless you know it's in your profile).

For additional entries, be a follower of this blog, follow on Facebook, or share about the giveaway. Leave a separate comment for each additional entry. This contest is open to US residents only and will be open through September 19th.

Also, for your information, Moody Publishers is offering free eBooks to everyone who signs up on their Facebook page. They have a variety of titles, and hope to include Uncompromising possibly later this month.

The winners are Dorie and Amanda Sue! Congratulations! Giveaway is now closed.

Some Cuteness

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

This summer I have been restocking our board books in preparation for our little one's arrival in October. E ate books as a baby and even as a young toddler. We knew that it would eventually encourage a love of reading (linked to my thoughts on encouraging a toddler to enjoy books) and didn't mind.

I have a thing for owls...and have since my grandmother collected them since I was a little girl. Now you can find all sorts of fun and cute owls on anything. I happened to adore the cover of Whooo Loves You? What you can't tell from the image is that the owl is made from fabric and little ones will love touching it. Whooo Loves You? is a lift-the-flap book that features several animals with play on words. "The puppies snuggled in their home bark...We ruff you, we ruff you! It ends with the reader telling the child "I love you!" I think it's really a sweet book. I have to say, it isn't just for babies and toddlers. My nearly 5 year old wanted to claim this book for her own. She loved me reading it to her, too.

I've talked about Todd Parr a bit before. We have borrowed his books from the library and previously discussed The Grandma Book. (Linked to review.) The newest book looks and sounds a bit Halloween-ish, but I am happy to say that it is not! The I'm NOT SCARED Book gives scenarios where kids might be scared...and a solution to the problem, too. Ironically, my favorite is, "Sometimes I'm scared of dogs. I'm not scared when they give me kisses." It is ironic because I cannot stand dog "kisses." They gross me out...even when the kisses don't land on my face. As I shared this book with my daughter, I did have the concern that she would suddenly become afraid of new things at the power of suggestion. Thankfully, she did not. The illustrations are classic Todd Parr style with the bright, bold colors. The cover (at least my hardcover edition) has stars cut out for some added dimension. I am very pleased to say that this Todd Parr book has proper punctuation! I noticed right away since at least some of his other books omit punctuation, which drove me crazy.

I'd like to thank Little, Brown for sending these books to the family for review purposes.

Some Recent Sewing

2011-09-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

In the past month I've been "forced" to sew a bit.

Two sisters shared a birthday party. We made more little monogrammed bags for them.

To complete the gift for each friend, we gave a book, too.

The older sister, AJ, was given The Boxcar Children #2. The younger sister, A, was given a Mouse and Mole book. (Our town has a new children's book store. For now the selection was limited, but I was excited to shop there!)

I was rather freaked out as I was sewing because I didn't think I was going to be able to finish either project (the night before the party when my husband was out of town). With more research than I'd like to admit, I figured out that my "tension" needed adjustment. Had it not been late at night, I would have called my neighbor-friend for help!

After M's first day of preschool, she informed me that she was the only one without a pillow for rest time. (I know she falls asleep, at times, on floors without a pillow, so I didn't think it was needed. I was wrong.)

While she was gone to school the next day, I got busy sewing. I used a really cute orange fabric (that unfortunately doesn't coordinate with much of my other fabrics) with butterflies on it. I made her a simple, small pillow, perfect for rest time at school.

M was thrilled. She was hugging the pillow, jumping, and throwing it. This was the best, non-blurry image I can share! I made the basic pillow from white fabric, and then the pretty pillow case.

Having the tension fixed on the machine meant that the pillow was a tension-free project! The first in a long time! I love sewing straight lines...well, at least compared to more complicated things!

Next on my sewing list will be a couple of items for M's birthday (mid-October). Having given FOUR of the monogrammed bags this summer to her friends for gifts, she has asked for her own, and knows that she has to wait until her birthday. I have it started, but need to complete it. This is a MUST-DO before baby's arrival!

I also want to make M a jumper for her birthday. She saw the fabric...last winter. I put it off because I'm scared of such a complicated project, even if there are no buttons or zippers. We'll see how it goes.

Any guesses as to the book that will be in M's birthday bag? I'll give you a hint...I love the author and am very excited to introduce M to her. In the book the main character also celebrates her fifth birthday! Go here to see if you are right!

Owl Card for Owl Baby Shower

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Owl Valentine's Day card I made for my husband was featured with other great ideas for an owl baby shower. Check the shower ideas out!

God's Priorities for Today's Woman- GIVEAWAY

2011-09-06T06:00:00.068-04:00

As women, it can be difficult to understand just what God desires for us when the world teaches us drastically different things. (It can be equally hard to follow His lead, too!) Written by Lisa Hughes, God's Priorities for Today's Woman focuses on Tituse 2:3-5 to teach about God's calling for our lives in regard to characer, relationships, and home.

Women of all ages and stages of life can benefit from her teachings of growing in godly living. God's Priorities for Today's Woman utilizes much of the Bible to teach about godly living, not just the well-known verses of Titus. Also included is a study guide to help the reader dive deeper into God's priorities.

"The world would have us believe that God's ways cannot exist in today's culture, that they are unnecessary and outlandishly archaic. Yet God's priorities for women are neither outdated nor irrelevant. God's purposes for us were created out of His wisdom and love. They are perfect and just right for us no matter who we are or what circumstances we face."
~ Chapter 1, page 12

Personally, I loved this book, despite the way it exposed my sin. Lisa Hughes has a friendly and realistic way of writing and sharing...and yet quite convicting-too convicting at times. So much of my life is not about what it should be. Being a Christian is hard; seeking God and making His priorities mine is even harder.

"You need to fight against neglecting your husband while you see to the needs of the little ones in your home."

~ Chapter 8, page 120

Tough stuff for me, but the author doesn't just say do it, she really does share practical ways to help you to accomplish this.

"The goal of our discipline is to teach our children right from wrong, to instill in them a love for righteousness and a hatred for sin. But that can never be accomplished if we aren't parenting in the fruit of the Spirit."

~ Chapter 9, page 142

Then she goes on to say that we can't obey God and train our children if we are not under control...and that is sin. Oh my.

Though I just recently completed God's Priorities for Today's Woman, I am really thrilled to get to use it with my Bible study this fall. We'll be getting a bit deeper than I did with my first read. (I didn't complete the study guide, yet I still learned much.) Obviously, the quotes I share touched me for a reason.

I just pray that I will allow God to truly use it as a tool in my life to help me get my priorities aligned with God's.

Winner: Pyria, #18! Congratulations! I have emailed you and will pass along your contact information after you contact me!

Thank you, Harvest House for providing me with this book! I highly recommend it! I urge you to get your hands on this book, too. Harvest House is helping you do that by offering a copy to one Live, Learn, Love reader ! Please leave a comment below (with email address so I can contact you unless you know it's in your profile).

For additional entries, be a follower of this blog, follow on Facebook, or share about the giveaway. Leave a separate comment for each additional entry. This contest is open to US residents only and will be open through September 12th.

Summer Highlights

2011-09-05T06:00:00.004-04:00

Wow! Summer is over! It's hard to believe. Recently, here in southeastern PA we have had very lovely weather! It is such a blessing to turn off the air conditioning and let the mild temperatures and low humidity be enjoyed. Below are just a few pictures from our favorite memories from this summer.

Water and mud play in northeastern PA

We now have a van (in preparation for the baby).

The Empire State Building

Both children love the Statue of Liberty!

Late night stops at the ice cream shop at family camp. Yum.

The beach

And some days, it was just a blessing to stay home!

This summer I had a lot of fun buying children's books at thrift stores (and one bag sale). I'm guessing I bought about 200 used books. (I should explain that I bought about 100 for $10 at the bag sale! The others are typically 3/$1, though occasionally $1 or $2.) Some were board books. Most were picture books. Quite a few were chapter books of varying levels, including for the future. We haven't read them all! Many will be shared with others, but most are for our family. I really need to sort through the books that I put in storage!

Early in the summer, I had shared some ideas for summer plans. You can go here if you would like to see which of these we accomplished. We did pretty well, especially for not looking at it for reminders.

Welcome fall...though that means we really need to prepare for this baby!

A Lesson for Me: Tea Party

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

We had never had a real tea party. With real dishes.

(I have never even been to a tea party or been served tea formally...any pointers for me??)

My daughter was having a rough morning with a lack of self-control.

Typically, I would only do something as special as a tea party as a reward or as part of our day. Definitely not in the middle of a rough day! Thankfully God was working on me.

In the middle of a heat wave, we needed something different, but indoors. This was perfect!

AND it helped change ALL of our attitudes.

A simple snack of ♥-shaped bread, Fig Newtons, and chocolate chips, served with warm tea was a refreshing way to remember that God gives me so much more than I ever deserve, and my children deserve the same grace.

Though my son enjoyed the food, this tea party was really for M. It was a bit of a struggle for me. I prepared the tea party while M spent some time recovering from yet-another-incident in her room. Not ideal.

She enjoyed every little bit of it, including using proper manners. She arrived at the table with her own idea of a tea party. She spoke in a high voice. On her own she called me Mrs. W and Miss Annette, as she knows other children call me because she desired it to be a formal time!

It was just what we needed to to restart our day. What do yo do when you are at wit's end? (I don't create special moments like this daily...nor do I always extend the grace that my daughter may need. This was one day...quite a while ago. It was good for me to write about it and remember the good that came from me changing my MO.)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
~ Proverbs 15:1

Oh, I need to keep that nugget of God's wisdom close to my heart and lips!

Children's Books about Heaven

2011-09-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

My nearly five year old is curious-and cautious- about heaven. Though I think she likes the idea of heaven, she fears leaving what she knows. That is perfectly reasonable. Adults are often apprehensive of leaving this earth, even when they are certain of their home in heaven.

We have a couple of books that I like to share with my daughter to help her understanding of heaven. Of course, the Bible is the authority on this, but I do like using books as a tool to help me explain heaven.

God Gave Us Heaven is excellent at clearing up some misconceptions about heaven in a very child-friendly way. The reality is that we are not all old when we go and we won't be angels! Papa bear also explains to Little Cub how to get to heaven. This is an excellent book. (We have it as part of a three-book treasury God Gave Us So Much, linked to review...Awesome book.) This collection is written by Lisa Tawn Bergren.

Heaven Is a Wonderful Place written by Joanne Marxhausen is a colorful book with bold, crisp illustrations. (When I saw this and another book, called 3 in 1 about God in three persons, at our family camp's gift shop, I was thrilled to purchase them since I had not seen them at other bookstores, though I had heard of them.) God's love, heaven, hell, and how Jesus gives the gift of eternal life are all discussed. Great book (and I highly recommend 3 in 1, too). It is very appropriate for a family looking to discuss heaven in a biblical manner.

What about Heaven? is a book of questions a child might ask. It's cute, and has rhyming text. The main text does not help a child understand better about heaven-because it is a bunch of questions that a child might ask about heaven. However, the back of the book is full of answers and Bible references that clarify some of those questions.

On a personal note, I thought I would share what prompted my writing this post. I'm rather aware of the fact that we have friends and family that may or may not be in heaven one day. I don't assure M that every person who dies will be in heaven to greet us. I remember clearly when she asked me about one of my family members who passed away when I was young. She asked if he was in heaven. It was tough, but I had to be honest. I also let her know that we can't be sure of someone else's life, but we can know for ourselves. (I hope that makes sense. M hasn't accepted Jesus as her Savior, but we still have these discussions.) The Bible is the authority on this, and it makes it clear that "believing in God" isn't enough. (See James 2:19.) There is more to faith than acknowledging His existence. We need to trust in God and accept his gift of Jesus' sacrifice for us. It's only through Jesus' blood that we can be accepted by God because we are each sinners.

So do you have other books you reall

Pregnancy Update: 32 Weeks

2011-08-31T12:01:00.001-04:00

On the first day of preschool, M wanted to take pictures of me. They make me laugh. Really, do I look like this? I don't think so! It's not what the mirror reflects!

This pregnancy, like the others, have been healthy and uneventful. Recently I could no longer control my heartburn with my diet and Tums. BUT I was able to hold out for so long before taking something stronger! I'm so thankful! It is necessary for me to snack or my blood sugar drops. For the past week or two if I have waited too long I've gotten shaky. I'm to the point where I am quite uncomfortable and bending down is not easy. My slow movements are rather amusing at times, even to me.

This past weekend we (meaning my husband and his brother) moved some furniture (giant desk, queen bed, elliptical) out of the spare bedroom, but there is still much to do...and remove...for that room and the baby in general. We do have diapers for the little one, so we have something prepared! I also bought a couple of bottles (knowing that I don't like Avent for full-time bottle users having used them twice). No names have been discussed nor bedding or clothing washed. No arrangements have been made for M and E...and no family in the area. I guess we're hoping to be able to use all of our 50 days until baby's arrival!

First Day of Preschool 2011

2011-08-30T09:51:00.000-04:00

M has officially begun her final year of preschool. It was a very big decision for us, but we decided to send her three full days (8:30-3) instead of half days for various reasons.

M was eager and excited for the school year to begin. The countdown to school helped her to remember how many days until the big day. I will definitely do that again!

With this being her third year of preschool, she is an old pro at school. (Her first year of preschool was in a speech and language classroom. She began that the day after her third birthday to get the intensive speech therapy she needed to help overcome the apraxia!) She has always loved to learn. With so much one-on-one therapy (with therapists and me) and being a quick learner, she has soaked up so much information. Despite her fifth birthday arriving in a few weeks, we are quite content with her remaining in preschool instead of kindergarten.