The Ministry of Motherhood-by Sally Clarkson (a personal read)
It took me longer to read this book than it should have. It is an easy read and not terribly long. In fact, the author set it up for mothers with small amounts of time but I found myself struggling at times to pick it up and be challenged :-) but whenever I did pick it up I was actually blessed and encouraged. The whole book is great but I especially enjoyed the second half of the book myself. Her chapter on "Training children to Think" was SUPER!! Her example to her daughter about a bird and how it pertains to our thoughts was BRILLIANT. I have already shared it with the kids and referred to it at times. Something I can use myself too! Another chapter was on "A Model for Service". Let me quote some sections . . . "Now, the disciples realized, he was calling them on this mission of compassion, this service of mercy and love. This is what he had meant when he first called them to be fishers of men. Their mission was not to set up kingdoms of power on this earth BUT TO LIVE OUT THE REDEMPTIVE KINDNESS OF GOD IN SERVICE TO THE NEEDY AND THE DOWNTRODDEN (emphasis mine). This service of love is what would turn the world upside down." Another exerpt "Giving our children the gift of service is not really a matter of teaching them what to do. It's more a matter of helping them look at other people through Jesus' eyes and respond as he did. It really is that simple--though it's not often easy." She discusses how she handled the pain that came from the hurt of other Christians in their families life. People that misunderstood them as a family, etc. Very interesting and encouraging! Their family called them IRP (Irrational People) and taught the kids that people may try to "hurt you or even seek to tear you down but part of our responsibility to love them . . ."
Anyway, it was a good book with good challenges as a mother on how to impart a Christ centered thinking in my children's hearts. Loved the verse she put in one chapter:
Daniel 11: 32b
"but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (their going to "take action").
The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day-by Scott O'Dell
I was NOT familiar with this book when I picked it off our bookshelf. I believe it was a recommended reading by a children's history through literature program. I wish I could remember what grade level it was recommended for. It was a bit hard to follow at some points and had some words I was clueless too. Slowly Ross and then Annalina got disinterested but Gabriel and I were hooked at what would happen next. I was shocked to see that Scott O'Dell (non Christian) wrote this historical fiction book about the time of Tyndale and the smuggling of Bibles. I believe just about all the characters in the story are true except two. I was curious how a non-Christian would handle the story but I was pleasantly surprised at how he portrayed Tyndale's life with passion for God's Word and compassion for people. It was simply stated but beautiful. Of course, Tyndale is burned at the end but his life and work lived on through his translation of the Bible into the common man and through his investment into the lives of others. The book takes awhile to get going and catch your interest but it ended up being great. Definitely for upper elementary kids and higher.
How God Stopped the Pirates--by Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn
This devotional book I was skeptical about but we are 2 devotionals away from having it done and I have been super impressed! I want to buy more in the series (The Building on the Rock Series)! Each devotional takes a true story in history (challenging to Christian faith) and ends with pertinent questions and Scripture passages that are wonderfully picked and cause great discussions! I felt like it was hard picking a devotional that fit the age rage of my kids but everyone loves a good story and the Scripture is not an after thought but the clincher of it all! I did not feel like it was watered down storytelling at all. Also, it had stories of missionaries in countries I had never heard missionary stories from. Love this book.
Ross recently had his homeschooling play and they performed "The Piggy Opera" which is a musical/play of the story "The Three Little Pigs". It was absolutely adorable and hysterical to watch the kindergarteners perform this! We loved it!
