Memorial Day at the Cabin

We had a fantastic time at my parent's cabin for Memorial Day weekend! It is our offical start of the summer. My folks, my sister-in-law and their kiddos, and our family were there. Everyone enjoyed their particular ideas of a fun time. Here is my Dh's fun. He carved a bear out of a tree log!! I thought he did a great job for his first! Dessert and Cousin Nick are standing next to it. I can't find my pictures of Dh with his chainsaw by it. (Must be on Dot's camera.)

Dot enjoyed some reading time.

The crazy kids in the water!
This is Dessert.

Deer and Duke. This water is the temp of your refrigerated drinking water!! Brrr!!!

Cousin Lily and Darling had a great time in the sand.
Lily was in and out of the water, and even Darling had a blast splashing her own face and running along the edge. They must have rubber skin.

Look at Darling bounce!! :-) She and Cousin Kyle had such a blast together!! They played so well all weekend.

Now it's Kyle's turn to go up!

Heading out on the pontoon:

Thumbs up for fishing! (Only Papa caught a BIG one. A 2 inch sunny. They decided not to keep it. :-)

What a great Big Brother!!

Gotta do the nails! Aren't her tootsies sweet!

Even my Dear Husband got in the water!
He's crazy!!

Darling's view while she bounces.

Memorial Day we woke up to Grandma's Famous Crepes!!
What a way to wake up!

Lots of whip cream!

They disappear fast!

Happy, Happy!!

Not just crepes, but sausage and strawberries!

Gma K working her magic.

We also got carmel rolls that morning. Anyone drooling yet?

Cousin Lily doing her special roll.

Where was Dot? You might ask?
Under the blankets, fast asleep!

Cousin Lily decided to teach school to Cousin Kyle and Darling. She did a great job and even sent a note home to the parents!

This says: Emmy was really good today. She was really good today, because she just was today.
I thought she did a great job for a 6 year old!!

We had fun doing hair! Lots of curlers and updoos.

Here is another one of Dh's projects at the cabin. - He worked on taking the old paint off his motorcycle gas tank. He will be repainting it and his fenders to match.

Just before heading home, we ate breakfast out!
Everyone was excited.


Dot got impatient waiting for the food! No, Dot, No! Don't eat on that!

Nothing like a man-sized breakfast.

Dime had an omelet with hashbrowns and toast.

So sad his plate is empty. But realistically he couldn't have eaten another drop.

What great memories!!
Horray for Weekends at the Cabin!!!!!!!

Darling Quotes

The other day we were headed to the grocery store. As I put Darling in the car, she said,
"We are goin' to the gocery store.
Then I'm goina ride the horsey.
Then it is goina stop.
Then I'm goina say,
'I wanna ride it again!'"
Her first paragraph!! lol :-)

"Stealing Home" & "Saints in Limbo" Book Reviews

At first I wondered if I would like this novel. It was about baseball, and I'm not a big sports fan. I discovered the story line was so good, it did not matter. If you enjoyed baseball, that would be a plus, but you definitely did not need to, to enjoy this great story.

At work in her train station ticket booth, Ellie receives a telegram from her sportswriter brother, David. She is to meet a guest at the train station that day. The guest she greets will turn her orderly life upside down.

Chicago Cub's superstar, Duke Dennison, arrives in the height of fashion, flair, and attitude. He's not thrilled to be in this hick town, but it is necessary to save his career. His problem with alcohol has acerbated to the point that he has been court ordered to treatment and then a couple month recuperation period. Being offered a place to stay in a quiet temperant town will help his career, but challenge his coping skills.

Ellie and her sheriff father live a neat, well-ordered life in Picksville. Her work in the ticket office with her occasional waves to the feed store clerk, hearing challenged Ned, has kept her life unchanged for many years. Now the new guy in town will bring constant challenges to her and Ned's daily routine.

Duke discovers a hidden talent in a young, 12 year old Negro boy, Morris. Whose life will impact whose?

This book's title is well done, and the impact each of the main characters have on each other's lives is monumental. Will their well-kept secrets tear them apart, or bring them home?

Author Bio: Allison Pittman spent seventeen years as a high school English teacher, and then shunned the advice of “experts,” quit her day job and set out to write novels that bring glory to God. She relishes inspiring other writers and leading the theater arts group at her church. She and her husband and three sons live in Universal City, Texas.

To purchase your own copy of the book go to:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421364&ref=externallink_mlt_stealinghome_eaj_0408_01

"Saints in Limbo" left me in limbo far too long. It would have helped to understand the title, before I read it. I did find out near the end of the book, but at that point I was a little frustrated with wondering where this story was going. I'll give you a head's up.

Velma True's husband, Joe, passed on, and she has been struggling with lonliness and a fear of leaving her front porch. Only if she is holding a thread that she tied to the porch, does she feel safe to leave its boundaries. A stranger stops by unepectedly on her birthday, and after an encouraging visit leaves an unique gift. A rock with an ability to transport her into memories. At first Velma is entranced with visits with Joe, and memories of giving birth to their son, Rudy.

Rudy was such a blessing as a boy, but at some point he turned away from his parents and became affected by the world's hardness. Is there any hope for him? His job as a postal delivery man keeps him within sight of his Mama, but that vision is not impressed by the women he keeps.

Now a different stranger in odd forms is searching for the rock. Some difficult memories leave Velma wondering whether the rock is a blessing or a curse. Wierd happenings alert Rudy to danger to his mother and his long-time friend, the bar tender Rose. Rose has picked up a teenager, Annie. Why is she connected to the bad stranger? Will Rudy be able to keep his mother, Rose, and Annie safe? Will he rise to the challenge and discover what has been waiting for him? Will Velma discover what the rock is, where it is from, and why she has it? Will they all respond to the lessons they learn?

Author Bio: River Jordan is a critically acclaimed novelist and playwright whose unique mixture of southern and mystic writing has drawn comparisons to Sarah Addison Allen, Leif Enger, and Flannery O’Connor. Her previous works include The Messenger of Magnolia Street, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “a beautifully written, atmospheric tale.” She speaks around the country and makes her home in Nashville

To find out the good ending to this story, purchase this book at:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446701&ref=externallink_wbm_saintsinlimbo_eaj_0408_01

I had no idea...

This week we had Drum and Dime's vision tested. They were checked for sight problems and convergence problems. Their sight is fine, but their vision is not. Anotherwards, they see fine, but what their brain does with what they see and how they see, is not. The Dr. said that Drum sees for reading like someone was throwing a ball at him with a strobe light on, and he is trying to catch it. He relies heavily on memory. His left eye is turning off and on. It is called convergence problems. I've got alot more reading to do on the subject.

I don't even want to make them read until after we go through the vision therapy. They will go two times a week for about 2-3 months. I can't believe it. I had heard about vision therapy a couple years ago, but didn't know where to go. I worried it was just a false hope. My boys have been struggling with reading for so many years, and I've tried so many things. I knew they weren't dumb, but I thought maybe they just didn't want to, etc. Well, duh!, they wouldn't want to! That's alot of work to do something I call, Fun! Read?!

Dime had been saying for years that he reads about 10 min. and his eyes get so tired. I had both of their eyes checked a couple years ago, and they came back totally normal sight. The Dr. I took them to did not know how to check them for these types of problems.

This spring, while the girls were taking ballet, I talked with the other moms. I found out that one of them takes a couple of their kids to vision therapy. Really?! I found out the name and number of the Dr., and after wondering back and forth whether it was worth the cost; I finally made appointments. I was thinking to mostly rule it out as a possibility.

I feel so sorry for not pursuing this earlier in my boys' lives. I have been helping them over the years, so that they could continue to learn, while working on their reading. I read their textbooks, and did alot of schoolwork orally. This year I really pushed the most I have so far with making them read. It was really hard, but they kept at it. Now I feel proud of them, for how hard they worked at it.

I am so relieved to think that there is a physical problem that we can actually help them with so that they can really read and be better test takers. They have been struggling with tests. I had a adult who was helping Drum with a test comment that he told him the right answer and then marked the wrong answer on the test. We both wondered about that, but I just told my son to be very careful in marking his answers. I'm thinking maybe he is just losing his spot. Duh!! He is losing his spot. I would too, if I had a strobe light going on while I tried to find the right circle to fill in.

I found out that Drum's grandpa, Al, hated school and had trouble reading. He would cover one eye so that he could read better. A classic symptom for this type of problem. Al said his dad struggled as well. My husband is a very slow reader (I read 3-4 pages to his one), but loves to read. I always wondered if maybe the boys just had his reading style, but missed out on the "loves to read" part. I think dh loves to read for the information he gets while reading - same as his Dad, Al. It feeds their brains and their love of learning. So despite the pace at which they read, they don't give up and just keep at it. For both of them, I think age eventually helped. They were desperate enough to want to read for the information, and maybe their brains learned how to cope for them. Now I'm wondering if they should be tested. Sure would be interesting.

I am nervous that we will go through the therapy and nothing will change, and excited that there is hope. I'll let you know....

Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here (http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1) about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Night Watchman - A Book Review

I really enjoyed "Night Watchman" by Mark Mynheir. It was like reading a movie. It sets up the story, and then totally hooks you, until you can't do anything else until you finish it.
A great summer read!!
This story really gets you into the mind of Ray Quinn. His sidekick, Crevis, is a hoot! It is fun to see how their relationship grows as Ray's character grows and develops.
I loaned the book to my Dad, and he was as hooked as I was.
We are both hoping to read more stories by Mr. Mynheir.

"Ray Quinn is a tough, quick-witted homicide detective in love with his partner, Trisha Willis. She gives Ray something to live for—something to hope in. Until a barrage of bullets leaves Trisha murdered and Ray crippled.

Struggling with his new physical disability and severe depression, Quinn turns to whiskey, scorn, and a job as a night watchman to numb the pain. But when a pastor and dancer are found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, the pastor’s sister, Pam, approaches Quinn for help.

Reluctantly, Quinn takes the case and is plunged into the perilous Orlando. Soon he discovers that, not only was the pastor murdered, but the case may be linked to his and Trisha’s ambush. Torn between seeking revenge or responsibility, Quinn is thrust into the case of his life.

Author Mark Mynheir gives readers his most profound police thriller to date with The Night Watchman (first book in The Night Watchman Private Detective Agency Series). Readers of all ages will devour this gripping murder mystery that bristles with tension and intrigue. In a taut cop-style all his own, Mynheir delivers an inside look at the thoughts, feelings, fears, and challenges police officers experience while investigating violent crimes and the lost souls who commit them."

Author Bio:

A detective with the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Palm Bay Police Department, Mark Mynheir investigates violent crimes and writes riveting Christian fiction. A U.S. Marine with a passion for martial arts and firearms training, Mark has worked on narcotics units, SWAT teams, and myriad high-risk situations. His four novels offer a realistic glimpse into the gritty world of law enforcement and the rarely seen raw emotions behind the badge. Mark lives in Florida with his wife and three children.

You can purchase the book online at:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781590529355&ref=externallink_mlt_thenightwatchman_sec_0414_01

Or comment below by next Thursday for a chance to win your own copy!

I borrowed this from my daughter's site.
Just so true, had to share it.

It's Nice to be Home

Last night I got home from taking the boys to CAP. It didn't take long for Darling to want "Noo-nee" (her word for nursing). I settled in a rocking chair with her and a blanket. She looked up at me and said, "I'm glad you're home." and hugged me real tight. It was so sweet! What makes it extra special is that a person can't make a two year old say anything. Just ask my Dad. :-) He and Darling have a standing joke, that she says "no" to whatever he says. But if he tries to trick her up and ask her a question she would want to say "yes" to; she says, "Yes." She knows what she doing, which is sometimes evidenced by the smile she has after she says no. Little Rascal

Yesterday my Dad stopped over and pruned the rose bush, gave me some gladiola bulbs, brought some sunflower seeds and suet for the birds, spread 10-10-10 fertilizer over the flowers, bushes, and raspberries, and brought a bag of licorice to share!! I'm so spoiled! :-) Then he took 4 kids to help him out at his yard. They just love going to work for Papa. Darling and I had a quiet afternoon with the bunnies, and putzing around. She eventually went to visit Gma up the hill, while I did some paperwork, laundry, dishes, my jog, and a shower. It was so gorgeous yesterday, I just wanted to stay outside. I spent my evening in the car with the windows and door open at the airport, waiting for the boys. I was reading a book for my next book review. Good book!! Coming up next week.

"Hero" - A Book Review

"Hero, Becoming the Man She Desires" by Fred Stoeker and Jasen Stoeker is a great book!

Having four sons and a Hero husband, I was interested to see what they would say that I desired. I wasn't disappointed!

This book talked about God's standards for singles and married men, but I think it did more than that. It exposed the lies in some of the popular beliefs like "If you don't date a lot, you won't know what you want in a wife." It talked about being a "real man." Being a leader in his own life, and his relationships with women.

At the beginning of the book, Fred Stoeker, author of "Every Man's Battle," shares his story, and then his son, Jasen, shares his. I enjoy reading a book where the authors are not merely setting forth a wonderful idea, they have lived the idea and passed it on to their children.

I agree with the words on page 194, "I believe a good testimony is just as important as the teaching because of what it can do for your faith. Testimonies build your faith and guard your commitment." When we read how someone else did it, we are encouraged to do it ourselves.

Jasen shares, "My dad says what gave him the courage and the faith to step out in such radical obedience to God was the testimony in Job 31:1 where Job makes this startling revelation: "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." And the reason we know it worked for him can be found in the beginning of the book: "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Job didn't just make that covenant, he kept it! The most transforming part of that verse for my dad was that Job was just an ordinary man. He thought, "If he can do it, so can I." Job's testimony gave Dad courage and faith to believe God could do it again in his life."

The posted summary does a great job introducing this book:

You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.

But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.

What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Author Bios:

Fred Stoeker is a best-selling author of several books, including Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics, the president of Living True Ministries, and a popular conference speaker who challenges men to become sexually pure, to reconnect in true intimate relationship with their wives, and to train their sons to become godly men. A graduate of StanfordUniversity, Fred lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Brenda, and their children.

Mike Yorkey, a writer living in Encinitas, California, has collaborated with Fred Stoeker in all his books for the Every Man’s series.

Jasen Stoeker is a popular conference speaker who challenges young men to be heroic in their relationships with women and to be a Christian, rather than just seem like one. Jasen is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and now lives in Minneapolis, MN, with his wife Rose.

You can purchase the book online:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071098&ref=externallink_mlt_hero_kef_0403_01

There is also the book, "Every Man's Battle" by Fred Stoeker, and "Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle." Let's get our sons armed and ready, so they will be that Hero to their wives someday, and that they can leave every girl better off for having known them.

Post a comment by May 24th to have your own copy of "Hero" to read and pass on.

Happy Birthday Duke!!

Saturday, Duke celebrated his 10th birthday!
His cousins came over, and the crew of boys rode dirt bikes while the girls and Grandpa watched the little ones with the bunnies.

Chasing the bunny:

Later even Papa rode the dirt bike! The guys had a blast. I thought I had pictures of them on the dirt bikes, but they must all have been on Papa's camera.
Duke opening his presents:

New fishing lures, so he can fish with Dime!

Duke requested hamburgers on the grill with the trimmings. Nummy!
Afterwards we had dirt bike cake!! Very fitting considering his activities that day.

The crew:

Duke is an active boy! He loves techy things like cell phones, ipods, computers, etc. He is quick to help. He loves dirt bikes. He likes to listen to stories on tape. He can do front and back flips on the trampoline. He loves to be outside.
He is a great kid, and we are so glad God made a Duke!!

Awana Awards Night 2009

Wednesday night was Awana Awards at our church. We were pretty excited.
Darling was so cute! But very impatient and wiggly!! :-)
She got to sit next to her friend, Kassie, for a bit. Her highlight of the evening!
Dessert finished his first Sparks book. This is the crew of Sparkies:

He's waiting in line to get his ribbon:

We were all eager to see his patch:

Here he is with all his new stuff on.

The T&T crew: Duke is bottom row on left.

Deer is the middle row girl with the braids:

Duke finished his first T&T book and his gold and silver sections!!
Waiting to receive his ribbon and pins:

Deer finished her fourth T&T book and her gold and silver sections to earned her Timothy Award this year!
Here she is with her class:

Receiving her pins and trophy:

The two Timothy Awarders for the year!
Way to go, girls! :-)

Great Friends!

Fun Memories! A lot of verses memorized!!

An Addition to the Family - Bunnies!

Papa K got us two white rabbits. Darling has been in love! I'd post pictures but Dot put the pictures on the other computer, so I don't have any. Grrr. I'll get them soon. :-) When she wakes up, her first words usually are, "I want the bunny. I NEED the bunny." She feeds them dandelions, holds them, and trots them around in her little grocery cart. When we get home from anywhere, she again tells us, "I NEED the bunny!" So cute! They do have names, Perky and Pearl, but we were slow in naming them, so Darling mostly calls them bunny.

We just have a couple small things left to finish in school. Yeah!! It is hard to get those things done though. I think I'm going to have to push to finish it next week, or it'll drag over all summer. We put the boys on a reading schedule for the summer, amid tons of groans from all participants. They were hoping for freedom! Too bad, chores and reading will never leave you.

What's up with us? The older girls are at a birthday party. Dime has a friend over. We got to see the cousin's last night and maybe we'll see them today. Today is our area's clean up day. Also, today is Duke's birthday! He wants his friend over who lives in China. At least he realizes it's not possible. Maybe I'll let him call him tonight. We are still figuring out his cake. Hopefully it will go smoothly. :-) I'll post about it later.

Drum's Birthday

Happy Belated Birthday Drum!!
Three years ago:

Now:

It is hard to believe he is already 15 and just finished Driver's Ed!
Drum and friend M.:

He still loves cheesecake!


It will take him awhile to go through this thick book!!

Drum thoroughly enjoys CAP every Monday night. He enjoys learning all he can about airplanes. He has a great personality. He is quick to laugh, and has a bright smile. He has had surgery this year to plate his clavicle after it broke the fourth time. He had a broken humerus just before Christmas. He loves to ride the dirt bike and go-kart, and gets in on fixing and maintaining them. He is a great lawn mower, dog feeder, and pooper scooper. lol He is still an early riser. He and I are usually the only ones up for an hour. We both appreciate the quietness of the morning. He putzes and fixes a huge breakfast, while I go about my stuff. It's nice just to have someone up with you. :-) He loves to listen to music and sing. He is fun to be around.
We are so grateful God made a Jeffrey!!
We sure do love you!

Three Book Reviews for Mother's Day!

When starting "Mama's Got a Fake I.D." I realized I needed a pen to underline all the wonderful tidbits I was finding. This book hit me right where I'm at. For example, her husband once told her, "You love being a mom, but you hate being I.D.'d as one." I would have to agree with her that I prefer not to be "identified only as a mom." I have other hopes and dreams that are not a part of being a mom.

"If you're a woman who loves being a mom but longs to be known, valued, and seen as a complete person." This book is for you!!

Another quote I really loved is: "While I expected motherhood to change me in many ways, getting to know God better by being a mom surprised me." Wow, so true. I can see God as a parent, and when I realize the love I have for my children is a parallel to love God has for me, only His is deeper and perfect, I am awed by Him. When my children disobey or are not perfect, and I still love them so much; I get a glimpse of the kind of love He has for His imperfect children.

"The changes of motherhood don't make us less of who we are - but more. God refines us to make us more of who He wants us to be." "The changes of motherhood make us more unique, more ourselves, more capable, more self-sacrificing, more loving, more confident, more understanding of God, more discerning, and more of the women God made us to be."

So why do we sometimes feel like motherhood does not complete us? Why do we do something not relating to motherhood and think, "I feel so energized! It was so fun!! I feel so guilty?"
"Again and again moms rate loneliness and loss of self as two of their biggest issues."

In this book, Caryn's friend Carla is quoted saying, "It's interesting to me that one element of being a "good" mother is to nurture the God-given gifts in our children and see them as individuals for whom God has a unique purpose, while at the same time expecting women to fit into one specific mold of mothering. When we dismiss a woman's unhappiness with a role that she is not allowed to tailor to her own gifts, we essentially send the message that the person God created her to be, the life she senses God leading her toward, is somehow flawed. Talk about depressing."

Caryn answers, "Worrying about who we are and who God made us to be isn't selfish and doesn't mean we're sacrificing our children on the altar of the god of Self. To the contrary, wanting to be know and loved as our true selves, as the complete, gifted, purposed women God created us to be, is a God-honoring way to live." God knows us completely; He made us; and "Who doesn't want to hang out with Someone who knows about her and loves her still." "God views you as much more than any one role."

I like how one mother in the book is described - she "is a mother, a mathematician, a dancer, a doodler, and a pastor's wife." As you read that list, doesn't it make your mental image of her jump around. Mother - yep, got that image; mathematician - hmm, does that really go together?; dancer - must look athletic; a doodler - really?!, is that a real definition; and a pastor's wife - oh, let me think a minute to put my brain around all these definitions!

So who are you?! In chapter 8, Caryn sets forth a test to find out who you are.
Here are some of the questions she starts with:
1. What get you jazzed?
2. What recharges you?
3. What moves your heart?
4. What lights a fire in your soul?
5. What gets you out of bed in the morning? (besides the kids)
6. What makes you feel most like yourself?
7. What makes a day a great day?
8. What is most important to you?
9. What are you naturally good at?
1o. What talents do you have?
11. What can you do well that most people can't?
etc....
I was recently visiting with a friend, and discovered she used to ice-skate in competitions in high school. She was good! I never knew that about her. It changed the shape of who she is for me. It gave me a fuller picture of the person God has made her to be. It made me realize anew that she is not just "another mom." She has a title and description all her own - that is who she is. It is exciting!!

I have also seen a group of friends at our church whose relationships with each other are so close, and I think it is because they see each other as God sees them. They are not just mothers, they are sisters in Christ. They live, love, and laugh together.

Anyways, if you want to be blessed by a book, get a copy of "Mama's Got a Fake I.D." by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira. You can purchase one at:

Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074938&ref=externallink_wbm_mamasgotafakeid_sec_0330%20_01

Or comment below for a chance to win your own copy!

Author Bio:

The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.

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Well, to be honest, I didn't get a chance to read this book. I usually get the books in the mail, and read them right away. Then when the book review date comes up, I have to try and remember what I read. So this time, I put them away for closer to the date. Now I ran out of time!! So below is a copy of their review:

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

· how to talk to teens so they hear,

· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,

· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

Author Bio:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

To purchase the book online:

Dear Mom: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074914&ref=externallink_wbm_dearmom_sec_0330%20_01

Or comment below for a chance to win your own copy!

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"Enduring Justice" is another fun mystery from Amy Wallace. It is book three in the "Defenders of Hope Series." But each of these books can be read as a separate story. Reading all three deepens the characters.

In Enduring Justice, Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her thoughts.

Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. And when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. When the attack turns personal, is healing still possible?

This thought-provoking novel deals with healing from sexual abuse, the balance of justice and mercy, and maintaining mixed-race friendships in the midst of racial tension. Readers who enjoy investigative thrillers by Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble, and Catherine Coulter, and who watch crime dramas like Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and Without a Trace will love this book—and the entire series.

Author Bio:

Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a homeschool mom, and self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

This book can be purchased at:

Enduring Justice: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420145&ref=externallink_mlt_enduringjustice_sec_0330_01

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Almost to Summer!

As you can tell, we've been busy lately. Mornings are filled with CAT testing. I can't wait until we are done! Just a couple more kids to finish up their testing. Then we have a couple weeks of finishing up the last of school work. I think homeschooler moms appreciate summer way more than others. :-)

Drum has been taking his Driver's Ed course. He has one more week of three hours a day, and then we hope to get him right in for his test, so that we have the summer roads to practice driving on. Time sure flies!

Laundry and "What's there to eat?" are the two constants in my life right now. To keep up with all the other details, I work for the Scriptural approach, "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." It works for almost everything. I've only found a problem with that philosophy in the eating category. :-)

I'm actually up to 1 1/2 miles in jogging with no shin splints. Slow and steady wins the race! I'm so grateful to be able to jog. I'm trying to be patient with the fact that I can't just go out like when I was younger, and just run 3 miles. I have to s-l-o-w-l-y work up to it. I've noticed the extra around my middle doesn't drop off like when I was younger either. It has the slow idea as well. So slow I lose motivation!! Good Grief!!

I've picked up taking ballet lessons again. I was overjoyed to find I could keep up physically with the exercises. (My prep work at home paid off.) Keeping up mentally is another challenge. My teacher likes to keep things new - every week. This sure works on my brain!! Glissade, jete, plie, pas de cha, keep going?! Sometimes I am just moving across the floor trying to get kinda close to what I'm supposed to do. It's a good thing I'm determined despite age, ability, and weight; or I'd die of embarrassment every week. :-) I sure do love ballet!

Tonight We Dance!

Friday night was Deer's Ballet Recital!! She was so excited. She says it's the only recital she would love to do over and over again.
Deer and Allison greeting the guests:

Posing up front with the girls:

Deer and her class:

Being silly :-)

Deer and her sweet teacher, Elizabeth:

Dot was a wonderful helper for E. She thoroughly enjoyed helping with the girls!

The dads get in on the fun:

Future Dancer? :-)

Making friends: