A Wonderfully Pointless Post!

It's not a book review.

It's not for a meme or carnival.

I'm not posting photos. (Although I really, really need to...maybe later today!)

I have no deep, rambling thoughts to share.

There's no video or music.

No funny family story.

Not even a link.

This is just a marvelously, wonderfully, incredibly pointless, meaningless post just because I am celebrating the fact that it is Saturday morning and I have, for the first time in over a week (and probably even months, if I stopped and thought about it), no deadlines to meet!

Billy is at work, for what *might* be his last Saturday before the new weekend person takes over (YAY for the new weekend person. I am praying very hard for her. I want her to love her job and stay forever. :))

My children are all still asleep. I worked the Growing Kids Sale last night and Daddy let them stay up late. For once, I am glad...I'm loving the morning peace. :)

This has been one of the busiest four weeks of our year (Fall Growing Kids Sale Week, Spring Growing Kids Sale Week, and the weeks of the Children's and Adult Christmas musicals at church). This one probably gets top billing because it was also the first week of our homeschool co-op. And somehow I managed to end up with two book reviews due this week. Add in all the normal stuff (which always seems to be plenty on its own....:)), and the holiday, and we have had a crazy-busy week. (Crazy-busy for us...I know lots of people are that busy all the time...but we don't do crazy-busy well around here anymore. :))

BUT...next week is Billy's long-awaited week off. So, as of 3:30 this afternoon (or 4, or 5, or 6, depending on how many emergency patients he's dealing with at the time), we are officially ON VACATION.

We have no plans. Well, no official plans. We'll probably go to the nature center a time or two, and maybe to the park. I would like to go somewhere one day and take some fun, cool family pictures. We *might* paint a bit around the house if we feel like it, but at this point we are all so exhausted that is pretty iffy. Mostly, we are going to SLEEP. If we are up half the night for whatever reason, we can make up for it by sleeping until 7, or 8, or even 9. (Or maybe later!) We can take a nap if we need to. And otherwise, we are just going to enjoy family time.

Well...okay...so we do have a *few* things we have to do. Church Sunday, choirs Wednesday night, and co-op Thursday afternoon. And the ever-present laundry, dishes, and chores. But it's still a pretty empty week. And I'm thrilled.

But back to today.

It is a gloriously empty day.

There are dishes and laundry to catch up on from the busy-ness of the week, but those are such a constant around here they barely go on the to-do list anymore. We are going to go have lunch with Billy at the hospital...shh! That's a surprise for the kids. :) (I'm not sure what it says about my children that their two favorite places to eat in the world are the Sam's Club Cafe and the St. Edward's Cafeteria. Apparently I am not raising a family of gourmets. :))

Other than that, it probably is pretty urgent that we get in at least a quick grocery trip (a long one would be even better, but we'll see about that)...apparently we have been out of milk for a day or two and I've been too busy to notice. Ooops. I also have exactly one inch of rather flat Diet Sam's Choice Cola left...which I *also* didn't notice until this morning...further proof that this has really been a crazy-busy week! ;)

I have to *really* enjoy this week. It's the first time in a LONG time that we have had a real "break", and will probably be the last until at least this time next year. (And I am not even going to let myself THINK about the fact that it is entirely possible that something unexpected will happen and next week will end up being crazy, too.)

Hopefully I'll be back later today. In addition to reading with the kids, replying to emails and messages that I have neglected this week, mailing a card or two, and maybe even doing a bit of scrapbooking, I'm hoping to catch up on my blog a bit. I'd love to actually mark a few things off my "to post" list, and I've been trying for months to make a new blog header. We'll see how that goes. :)

Meanwhile, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I'm hearing "waking up" noises so I'm going to go say good morning to some small (and not-so-small) people.

Just Between You and Me ~ Jenny B. Jones

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Just Between You And Me
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)
by
Jenny B. Jones


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.

When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.

My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.

Okay, that’s not exactly true.

Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:

-watching E!
-updating my status on Facebook
-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and
-writing my name in the dust on my furniture

I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.




ABOUT THE BOOK

The only thing scarier than living on the edge is stepping off it.
Maggie Montgomery lives a life of adventure. Her job as a cinematographer takes her from one exotic locale to the next. When Maggie's not working, she loves to rappel off cliffs or go skydiving. Nothing frightens her.

Nothing, that is, except Ivy, Texas, where a family emergency pulls her back home to a town full of bad memories, painful secrets, and people Maggie left far behind . . . for a reason.

Forced to stay longer than she intended, Maggie finds her family a complete mess, including the niece her sister has abandoned. Ten-year-old Riley is struggling in school and out of control at home. The only person who can really handle the pint-sized troublemaker is Conner, the local vet and Ivy's most eligible bachelor. But Conner and Maggie keep butting heads--he's suspicious of her and, well, she doesn't rely on anyone but herself.

As Maggie humorously fumbles her way from one mishap to another, she realizes she's going to need to ask for help from the one person who scares her the most.

To save one little girl--and herself--can Maggie let go of her fears and just trust God?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Just Between You And Me, go HERE

Due to a blog tour scheduling change that happened to coincide with one of the busiest weeks of the year for us, I'm primarily using the CFBA blog tour material rather than writing a full review of my own. However, I have to say that I have enjoyed Just Between You and Me tremendously. This is the first Jenny B. Jones book I have read, but I definitely plan to hunt up her earlier books and read them as well.

This has been one of those weeks when a busy schedule, health issues, and brain fog have conspired to make it *really* difficult for me to "focus". Usually during those times, I have a very hard time reading fiction. If it's too deep, I can't keep up with it, and if it is too light, my mind wanders and I can't concentrate on the storyline. I had none of those problems with this book. I was completely immersed in the plot and the characters within the first couple of chapters. I kept wanting to steal a few minutes here and there to read "just a little more."

Jones has a talent for getting her message across...in this case, letting go of your deepest fears and trusting God completely...as she says, "with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy." She is entertaining and challenging all at the same time. (And maybe I just feel a kinship because she's a fellow Arkansan? :))

If you enjoy contemporary Christian fiction, this is one you won't want to miss.

Fearless ~ Max Lucado

"Imagine Your Life Without Fear." That is the subtitle of Max Lucado's newest book, Fearless, which released today. In a world of uncertainties, how can we possibly think of a life without fear, much less live one? Combining his exquisite word-crafting with solid Biblical truth, Max Lucado shares that we can do exactly that, through trust in the all-powerful God of the universe. He shares with us Christ's "call to courage", pointing out that the one statement Jesus made more than any other was, "Be not afraid."

Not long after I became a Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger, I was given the opportunity to review Fearless, and participate in today's blogging event. I had no idea at the time what an impact it would have on me, and how perfect the timing of this assignment would be. In the short time it took the book to arrive, grief, uncertainty, worry, and fear were invading my corner of the world from all sides.

And here was Max Lucado's new book about fear, lying literally on my doorstep.

Wow.

Lucado combines his master storytelling skills with solid Scriptural truth to create a call to faith and courage that has serious depth without seeming "deep". It is a book you can read when your mind is on overload and your soul is just plain weary, and "grab hold" of the truths it contains.

In it, Lucado addresses the "why?" of fear, the fear of disappointing God, the fear of overwhelming challenges, the fear of worst-case scenarios, and the fear of death, among others. His excellent discussions of worry, the fear of not being able to protect our children, and doubt that God is not really who He says He is were highlights of the book to me. And the final chapter, "The One Healthy Terror" closes the book with a call to see God as who He *is*, not who we want Him to be, and not only to *trust* Him, but to worship Him as well.

If you are in the midst of a storm right now...dealing with fear, worry, or doubt...or know someone who is, Fearless is a must-read, and a must-share.

Book Bits~September 7

Have I mentioned how much we love our library?? I'm actually planning a whole *library love* post soon. I don't want to steal any thunder from that post, but several recent updates to our library system have made it easier and more convenient than ever to find all kinds of wonderful reading (and watching and listening :)) material.

Here are a couple of our recent finds:

I used to hear seasoned homeschool moms say that one thing they loved about homeschooling was the chance to learn things they hadn't learned in school themselves. I never really thought I would say that myself...but I catch myself thinking it more and more often these days! I have never been a big poetry buff...I wrote a bit years ago, but wasn't ever terribly excited about reading what others wrote. In the past few years, though, I've grown to enjoy poetry more and more as I've shared some with my children.

The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry

has been a fun resource for doing that. Children's book author Bill Martin, Jr. (Brown Bear, Brown Bear) selected almost 200 of his favorite poems, which are accompanied by artwork from a number of award-winning children's book illustrators.

We have enjoyed the artwork as much as the poetry, and have had some fun discussions about art and creativity as we have poured through this book. After we finish our group time, the kids vie for who gets to take the book first to "draw with". This book has inspired some incredibly creative and fun art projects in my children. It's one we've added to our "to be purchased" list.

As an aside...did you know that Bill Martin, Jr., didn't learn to read until *college*?? He went on to earn a doctorate in education and write over 300 books. What an encouragement to struggling readers and their parents!

Geography is another subject that I was never particularly fond of when I was in school...perhaps because other than a bit of map-reading skills, I was never taught it. However, a love for missions has given me a new fascination for geography. Our homeschooling has become very mission-focused in the last year or so, and a good part of our morning group time is spent on a combined missions/geography study. (I'm hoping to post a bit more about that later this week as well. :))

I posted back in March about our baby steps back into "creative frugality" in order to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International. We've slipped up this summer in not being as frugal as we need/intend to be, and with the beginning of the new school year, we are trying to "get back on the wagon". We're also trying to focus more on nutrition, and will be doing some study in that area this year.

What the World Eats

, by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, has been a great eye-opener and discussion-generator for us in the past couple of weeks. It's an in-depth look at exactly what it's title implies. The authors travelled all over the world visiting families observing and photographing what they eat during the course of a week. The reader is given facts and statistics about each country represented, particularly those relating to eating habits, economics, and population. There is a full-page photo for each country showing the family profiled with a typical week's worth of food. The photos show very striking, graphic contrasts between the eating habits of various countries...not only in the amounts of food consumed and its cost, but also in the nutrition involved. There are, of course, countries in which malnutrition is a sobering and heartbreaking fact, due to food scarcity and economics; however, in some cases, the less developed countries are actually eating healthier than many Americans, due to the prevalence of junk foods and empty calories here.

There are sample photos from the book here. Hungry Planet, from which What the World Eats is adapted, can be viewed in Google Reader here.

If you are looking for more good children's reads, visit "A Path Made Straight" for Children's Book Mondays. She has wonderful taste in books, and I often find myself heading straight from her blog to our library website to reserve books she has suggested. While you're there, stop and browse her other posts...I've really been enjoying her blog lately.

ETA: Since I posted this, it has been brought to my attention that some editions of this book contain a photo that is very inappropriate for children. I have been through the copy we have from the library 4 times and have not found that particular photo included. (This is the 2008 red book.) PLEASE be cautious if you decide to read this with your children and preview carefully first! For more information, see this post.

Thankful Thursday~Godly Parents

49 years ago today my parents were married. Although I obviously wasn't there :), I have many memories of the day...stories I've heard a hundred times such as the wedding having to be moved to First Baptist because Immanuel burned just before their wedding, and how my dad set the date in September because his parents had said that whoever got married first got their piano...and his sister was getting married in December :).

I am thankful today for the gift of Godly parents. Parents who weren't perfect, but who sought to model a genuine walk with Christ in our home, and who demonstrated to me the meaning of unconditional love. Parents who sacrificed much for their children in every area. Parents from whom I "caught" a love for God's Word and His church...who taught faithfulness and dependability and servanthood by their words *and* their actions. Parents who were anything but risk-takers, but who in spite of many uncertainties stepped out in faith to homeschool their children in a time when those were very uncharted (and unpopular!) waters.

I know I've posted this link before, but today seems an appropriate day to post it again. Not only is it just a story I love, told in the way only Mr. James can tell a story...but it is such a good reminder to me about God's sovereignty and perfect timing. Today as I look at situations in our family, and in the lives of others we love that don't make sense, that seem so "wrong" or "unfair", I am reminded again that God is working for our good, always.

An Old Fashioned Love Story

To see what others are thankful for today, visit Laurie. Thanks to her for hosting Thankful Thursday this month!

In "Other" Words...Sovereignty

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs his heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:1-3

Nina at Mama's Little Treasures selected these verses for yesterday's quote (yes, yesterday's, I'm a day behind! Our new school schedule is wonderful, but it's going to take some time for me to get in the groove, and in the meantime, my computer time is what gets bumped when I'm playing catch up. :)). Many thanks to her for hosting...please visit her to see what others had to say this week about these verses.

These three verses are verses which have each meant a great deal to me at different times in my life. As I have been pondering them in preparation for this week's In "Other" Words post, however, I was struck by the fact that they all have a common theme of God's sovereignty.

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will." I love the way the ESV words this. I have been reminded of this often in the past few years as we have prayed about a specific situation and how to handle it. We have seen God work in His time and in His way, in ways completely contrary to what would be "typical" for the bureaucracies involved. I was so thankful for this reminder this particular week, as I had hit one of those points when the waiting was especially wearying and the "Is this *ever* going to be resolved?" doubts had rained down hard. It doesn't matter who is in charge, or what their opinions or beliefs are...God *is* in control, and His purposes can NOT be thwarted.

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs his heart." This year as I've been focused on authenticity, I've been reminded over and over again that it is so easy for us to get caught up in what "looks right" or "seems right" or "feels right", rather than having our *hearts* right. It is so easy for us to convince ourselves that we are "fine" or even "good", rather than saying with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) God knows our hearts; He alone is able to weigh them.

"To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." I remember years ago (jr. high? high school? *years* ago ;-)) listening to a Keith Green song that impacted me greatly: "To Obey is Better than Sacrifice". I'm reminded often of that lesson now, as I repeat it to my children. :) So often when my children are being disciplined, they will protest, "But I was doing _______" (fill in the blank with any one of a number of really good, even helpful, things). And my response is, "But it doesn't matter how good __________ is; you *weren't* doing what I *told* you to do. I want you to *obey* me...not come up with a dozen other good things to do instead." And yet...how often do I do exactly that with God? Ouch. He has taught me so much about His sovereignty, and yet I still think I know better and go own down my own path.

"To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice"

To obey is better than sacrifice,

I don't need your money, I want your life.

And I hear you say that I'm coming back soon,

But you act like I'll never return.

---

Well you speak of grace and my love so sweet,

How you thrive on milk, but reject my meat,

And I can't help weeping of how it will be,

If you keep on ignoring my words.

---

Well you pray to prosper and succeed,

But your flesh is something I just can't feed.

---

To obey is better than sacrifice.

I want more than Sunday and Wednesday nights,

Cause if you can't come to me every day,

Then don't bother coming at all.

Lah, lah,lah….

---

To obey is better than sacrifice.

I want hearts of fire, not your prayers of ice.

And I'm coming quickly, to give back to you,

According to what you have done,

According to what you have done,

According to what you have done.

~Keith Green

Picnic Fun at JHARVNC--Wordless Wednesday