Day 4 Gratitude Challenge 2011

Feeling a little on the grumpy side right now, so I thought it would be a good time to write my Gratitude Challenge post.  It is amazing how much your perspective changes when you make it a point to focus on all the things you have to be grateful for instead of the things that you wish were different.

Today I am especially thankful for good friends that always stand by you.  Friends you can be real and honest with and you can always trust to be honest with you.  Friends that know the real person you are and what goes on in your heart.  Friends that you can laugh, cry, and pray with.  Friends that you never have to say, "Please don't tell anyone" after sharing something with them because you know that they won't.  So, dear friends, today I am thankful for you!

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Book Review: His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

The Civil War - a defining time of great sacrifice, change, and betrayal which determined the fate of the Nation.
It isn’t until it comes into her very home that Amanda Belle must face impossible choices of love, loss, and loyalty.
It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Although Amanda never thought she would marry because of her promise she made to her dying mother, her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.
When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel marches off to war to fight for the Confederate States and Kent remains with the Union troops.
Her heart is torn between the two men she loves and the two sides of the conflict. When she turns to God for help, Amanda expects direction and support, but hears nothing. Is God listening to her anymore? Where is God in the atrocities of war—and whose side is He on?
Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. But she must trust God to bring her family through the chaos that threatens her home, her family, and the beloved state of Texas . . . with her heart, and her faith, intact.


I think this book did a good job showing the deeper side of what went on during the Civil War and it's aftermath.  The conflict not only tore our country apart, but also families, friendships, and neighbors.  Throughout the book we have the opportunity to see how this affected not only Amanda and Kent, but also their families, friends, and slaves. We get to see not just the outward affects of the war, but the lasting inward struggles it caused for all those involved.  It ultimately is a story not just about love, but about forgiveness.

Because it is a book that is set during the Civil War, it is going to have some violence (not my favorite thing to read about) but it is done in a way that conveys the time period without being exceedingly graphic.  There are vivid descriptions of prisoner camps, war injuries, and treatment of opposing sides prisoners (one scene in particular still stays with me.)  The book also left me an unanswered question about what decision Amanda's slave ultimately chose to make.

I received a complimentary e book copy of His Steadfast Love from Thomas Nelson  for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.

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Day 3 Gratitude Challenge 2011

Today is day 3 of the 2011 Gratitude Challenge.  Today I am thankful for my seven wonderful children.

I am so thankful to be a mommy!  For every time I first felt them move and got to see their sweet face for the first time.  For every time I have gotten to hold and nurse my babies.  I am thankful for every kiss, hug, and snuggle.  For every mud pie made with love and every chocolate covered face.  I am thankful for every time we get to snuggle over a book or bake cookies together.  For every skinned knee that I have kissed, wound I have bandaged, and mud  I have cleaned up off the kitchen floor.  I am thankful for each and every moment I have had as a mommy!

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TOS Review: Bower Books The Person I Marry

Jan and Gary Bower, parents of 12 children are also the writers and illustrators of wonderful picture books for childhood and beyond.  Their books are not just enjoyable to look at, but also carry important messages.  Some of their titles include, The Person I Marry, There's A Party In Heaven, A Jingle in My Pocket, What Do Heroes Wear? and others. From their website, " As exciting and fulfilling as it is to be an artist and a writer, other things rank higher on our list when it comes to who we are. We also feel extremely humbled and grateful to be Christians, best friends, parents of twelve, and grandparents of nine."  You can see all of the titles their family has to offer by visiting the Bower Books website.  We were asked to review an electronic version of The Person I Marry written by Gary Bower and Illustrated by Jan Bower.

The Person I Marry, Things I'll Think About Long Before Saying I Do,  is a hardcover 32 page beautifully illustrated book for $11.99.  This adorable heartwarming book talks about the important things to think about long before marriage like commitment, purity, and true love. It also talks about  the characteristics one should look for (and also show themselves) such as: respect, honesty, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, and patience that help make a strong marriage. Winner of the 2010 book of the Year Award from the Christian Small Publisher Association,  The Person I Marry makes a great book for children, teens, or a gift for a newly married couple!


The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

This book (and others on the Bower Books website) has the most beautiful illustrations I have ever seen!  If they are this beautiful on a computer screen, I can only imagine what they look like in person!  But, the beauty of the illustrations is not the only thing that made this book great.  The message it is conveying is such an important one, and one you cannot start to teach too early, that it's not the outside but the inside of a person that counts the most.  The book is written in rhyme which I think makes it all the sweeter and helps keep the attention of the younger children.  I read this book to all of my children (14,9,7,6,4,2,8 months.)  The boys quite honestly were not that interested in it, mostly because they are at an age where they don't think they will ever get married.  The girls really liked the book.  I really was most interested in it for my 14 year old daughter.  The world today has some interesting (not in a good way) views on marriage that I do not want my children to have.  I want her to have a strong knowledge of what marriage is and isn't and I think this book presented all of those things in a fun and beautiful way that makes it easier to talk to your teen about.  The Person I Marry is exactly what I hope we as parents model for our children and what I want for them in their marriages.

To see what other crew mates had to say click here.

I received  complimentary access to a digital version of The Person I Marry for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.

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Getting Baby Started on Solid Foods

Emelia's first time in her high chair

All of the children brought her some toys to play with

Emelia eating bananas

Emelia is now almost 8 months old!  I thought I would write a blog post on transitioning to solid foods.  Breastfed babies do not need anything nutritionally until they are over a year old.  Breast milk contains everything a baby needs (a great reason to breastfeed.)  I am never in a big hurry to start our babies on solid foods.  Besides the fact that they don't need it, it honestly is a lot more work for me.  I like to wait until the baby shows interest in food and has a couple of teeth.  Miss Emelia does not have any teeth, but she has a lot of interest in what is on our plates.  I do not use baby food at all.  I believe it is a huge waste of money and can make for a much pickier eater.  Instead, we start feeding our babies food right from the table that they can eat.  Emelia's first food was bananas after she would not stop reaching for her daddy's one day at lunch.  Since then she has applesauce, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and ice cream (she really likes ice cream!) and the occasional taste of frosting or chocolate.  I also will cook veggies until they are very soft, puree them in the blender, and feed them to the baby.  Canned peaches or pears also puree really well in the blender.  As we gradually add in foods (easier when the baby has teeth) Emelia will be dining on whatever it is that we are eating, but still nursing several times a day.    I find this much easier and less expensive!

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Day 2 of Gratitude Challenge 2011

Day 2 of the Gratitude Challenge hosted by Garden of Learning.Link up when you get a chance as we talk about all things great and small that we are thankful to God for.

Today I am thankful for my wonderful husband.  He is a great husband, great father, and wonderful provider.  He supports me in everything I do and is truly my best friend.  Our lives together have not always been easy, but I know that no matter what happens we will go through it together.  God truly blessed my broken road (ask my kids that song is my ringtone) that led me to my husband and our wonderful life together.

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Day 1 of 2011 Gratitude Challenge

Brenda from Garden of Learning is hosting a 30 day Gratitude Challenge.  So, for the next 30 days I will be posting daily one thing I am thankful for and linking up my post at Garden of Learning.  You still have time to join in.  Even if you can't post everyday, link up when you can.


Today I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Without Him and His sacrifice, all other things mean nothing.  "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me."

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