Sweet Friends

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead - Caldecott Medal 2011

Marriage, Dating or Courtship

"Courtship Contradictions" Femina Girls Blog

Mindy Sings

"It's not about your scars, it's all about your heart." - Mindy Gledhill

Education

The most extraordinary education begins with a mother who smiles. - Kari

Gil Gildner's Blog

Visit him here.

A Positive Message

"When training is done properly, it should always end on a positive note. A child who directly disobeys mom in the grocery store should not be yelled at or have to ride home with an angry mom. This sort of discipline does not show unconditional love and careful instruction. It sends the negative message, "I am not pleased with you" for the child to ponder. Our desire should be for the child to ponder what he could have done right rather than what he did wrong." - Ginger Plowman "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" A Mom's Look at Heart-Oriented Discipline

Knowing God

...so many in our day seem to have been distracted from what was, is, and always will be the true priority for every human being - that is, learning to know God in Christ. - Knowing God by J.I. Packer, 1973

"Knowing God serves as a wake-up call for those who are asleep to the majesty of God." - R.C. Sproul

"Plainly shows us ordinary folks what it means to know God." - Elisabeth Elliot

The Power of Kindness

"There are over six billion people in the world, but sometimes all you really need is one."

Donkey-donkey

Teaches kids to be content with who they are. First published in 1933.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 - 1945) was a major writer and thinker in Germany between the wars. His books of theology are still read and as influential among contemporary evangelical believers as the work of C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham. In 1939 he refused to take the loyalty oath to Adolf Hitler. Shortly after that he was invited to participate in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He was eventually caught, imprisoned, and executed. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Prison Poems

"When I was in prison, no writings encouraged me more than Bonhoeffer's" - Chuck Colson

Further reading - Dietrich Bonhoeffer A Biography - Eberhard Bethge

Ask Mr. Bear

Danny gets a special gift idea for his mother's birthday from Mr. Bear. Copyright 1932.

Mindy Gledhill

"Indie singer songwriter that will leave you floating like a scoop of vanilla cream in a strawberry soda."

mindygledhill.com

Twenty-Six Heroes

The Church History ABCs is a fun way for kids to learn about great figures in Christian history. Twenty-six heroes of the faith march through the alphabet, boldly telling their stories in language children can understand.

- Stephen J. Nichols

Little Years

I didn't write this book because mothering is easy for me, I wrote it because it isn't. I know this is a hard job, because I am right here in the middle of it. I know you need encouragement because I do too. This is not a tender reminiscence. At the time of writing this, I have three children in diapers, and I can recognize the sound of hundreds of toothpicks being dumped out in the hall. Excuse me for a moment, won't you...

- Rachel Jankovic (Nancy Wilson's daughter)

A Color of His Own

A chameleon goes in search of a color of his own, and finds a true friend by Leo Lionni.

Pop-Up!

A fun book to have on hand. Lots of flaps to lift and tabs to pull!

So Unfamiliar ~ Jami Minton

Biography taken from cdbaby.com

Jami Minton is a singer/songwriter originally from Birmingham, Alabama, now residing outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. She has been involved in or with music somehow or another her entire life. She appreciates all types of sounds and has a passion in general for music and writing. She plays acoustic guitar and sings, and her music is a bit folk rocky, acoustic, soulful indie mix with a dash of pop and adult alternative. Her writing reflects optimistic realism mixed with melancholy reflection peppered with self-deprication. Have a listen and decide for yourself.

So Unfamiliar ~ Jami Minton

To order: cdbaby.com
To download: iTunes.com or cdbaby.com

Snow Ice Cream

8 cups snow
1- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place snow in large bowl, pour in sweetened condensed milk, add vanilla and mix well to combine.

* Add red or blue food coloring to make it even more fun!

Winter's Charm

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) artist

Charlotte Bronte

The book club voted on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855). She was the oldest of the three Bronte sisters. We'll meet and discuss the book January 14th.

The Brontë sisters painted by Patrick Branwell Brontë, c. 1834. From left to right Anne, Emily and Charlotte.