We've made major advances in our math learning in recent months but there are still a few roadblocks that we are having, especially with Garrett. So for the last few weeks, the kids have been getting extra math help by using LearnBop for Families by LearnBop, an online math tutoring subscription that provides personalized math help for grades 3rd though 12th grade. We were given a 1 year subscription for both Ashleigh and Garrett to the LearnBop for Families Family Plan which includes up to 4 students (A single student subscription for the LearnBop for Families is also available).
What is LearnBop?
LearnBop is a highly adaptive math program that allows students to work at their own pace while providing detailed instruction on math concepts. This allows them to get not only caught up but build an understanding on concept that may have slipped past them in their main math curriculum and build their confidence. The program helps to identify learning gaps and then works to close those gaps in a step-by-step approach that adapts to your child's needs.
Students select a learning pathway that the program calls a "Roadmap" that is selected either by Grade (3rd through 8th) or math subject (such as Functions or Statistics). A separate selection of Roadmaps are also available for high school classes such as Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry. Each Roadmap is divided into math subjects (for the 3rd Grade level these included subjects such as Introduction to Multiplication and Division, Adding and Subtraction Strategies, and exploring Patterns).
Roadmap for 3rd Grade on the left with Subject lesson on the right
Each subject starts with a short "Warm-up" which allows for an assessment of what the student already knows on the subject. After the "Warm-up", students are given a list of instructional videos that introduce core concepts.
Sample of one of the Videos
Afterwards, the students then take their turn at solving the "Bops", which is the final assessment to see if the core concepts were learned. Bops are made up of questions that review the subject - if a student misses one of the questions, LearnBop redirects the questions to find out how many of the steps the student understands and where they are confused. Once the confusion is identified, the Bop continues to direct the student in the right direction to help them to understand that step so that they can move on. Then, the Bop is continued until a mastery of 90% is achieved.
Achievements and Progress are all tracked both on the Parent's as well as the Student's Dashboard. These show how many Bops the student attempted, how much time they have spent using the program, how many videos they have watched and how many achievements they have been awarded.
How We Used It:
We went into this review knowing it was for 3rd grade and up, which was a bit higher than my 2nd graders, who are currently transitioning to 3rd grade. However, there was plenty for the kids to work on and review.
Garrett has really struggled with the concept of Rounding numbers. I don't know if it's part of his Autism or just another one of his quirks, but for whatever reason, his mind just seems to have issues with doing rounding. Garrett sees the exactness of numbers and it's very hard for him to do estimates because it goes against that exactness that he expects.
Just our luck, there was an entire section in the Place Value subject that worked on Rounding to the nearest 10 and nearest 100. So we spent A LOT of time on this particular area and it really seemed to help him get a better grasp on the concept.
I absolutely love how there are small quotes to encourage students even when they make mistakes. This one was one of our favorites as we did go through this program very slowly.
We have just started to attempt the multiplication/division section. Ash and Garrett both have a bit of knowledge of their Times Tables thanks to a previous review so even though we haven't officially taught them in our math curriculum. And I'm really looking forward to using this program more as we start our 3rd grade year in October.
For more information about LearnBop, be sure to visit them on the following social media outlets:
Wow!! Somehow, it's been over a year since the last time I blogged about our Ipsy bag subscriptions. That's not to say that we haven't been receiving them (we have!!) only that I have been way too lazy or busy to blog about them. I guess now's a great time to fix that ;)
You might be wondering what Ipsy is. Well, it's a monthly makeup subscription service. Basically, for $10 each month (with free shipping) you get a small makeup bag with 5 or 6 products inside. Two of the products are usually a full size item while the rest are sample sizes. This is great for me as I hate spending 10 bucks on a tube of lipstick only to find that the color looks terrible on me so this allows me to try and sample new colors and products without making a real commitment.
Currently, both Alyssa and I receive our own Ipsy Glam bags however, Alyssa is currently in Texas visiting family so I am not going to blog about her products since I want her bag to be a surprise when she gets home.. (Sorry Lyss!!) But I had some really cool gems in my bag this month :)
This month, the theme for the bag was Rebel featuring very bright, bold cosmetics.
First, the makeup bag.
This is probably one of the cutest bags I have received in the year that I have been getting the Ipsy Glam Bags. Not sure why I like this one so much, whether is the bold colors or the cute graffiti look but either way, I think it's adorable. I do wish, however, that Ipsy would think about making the zippers on the top of the bags rather than on the side as it's harder to get makeup brushes in the bag as it is. However, I am willing to bet this baby is going to get a lot of use this month (and maybe longer).
So, what was that cute bag stuffed with??
Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Pout Potion in Famous
Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Pout Potion in Famous. Lipgloss should smell awesome (your lips are right under your nose after all). This one has the addictive scent of a piña colada enjoyed poolside with a full color shine perfect for day or night. Famous is a purply-pink shade with a bit of blue undertones. A bit too bright of a color for me but I will probably end up giving this one to Alyssa to play with. It's a cute color, just a bit too young and hip for a 40 year old momma.. lol
Rodial Stem Cell Cleansing Cream
It's a cleanser. It’s a mask. It’s a mega moisturizing powerhouse - infused with resilient stem cells from the Alpine Rose to strengthen your skin.
Dry spells? Meet the hydration triple threat: advanced stem cell technology, Rose Hip and Vitamin E.
Essential nutrients are on the menu. A potent blend of antioxidants, Coconut Oil, Rose Hip Oil, Rose Wax and Coco Butter gives skin a lifted look.
Wash away the everyday. Makes your outside as radiant as your inside.
This one I'm looking forward to trying as I enjoy sampling different face cleaners and with the dry heat here in the desert, anything that hydrates is a plus. I haven't tried it yet but it definitely smells pretty good .
Peter Lamas Youth Revival 5 Oil Hair Treatment Mask
Strength, body and shine. This blend of 5 exotic oils works mega magic in just 3 minutes. Faster than making a latte. Gives you even more bounce.
Includes five luxurious oils: Abyssinian, Baobab, Mongongo, Broccoli Seed, and Kukui Nut
A fortifying vitamin blend combined with Peptides ups the healthy factor
Leaves your hair feeling cashmere soft and looking frizz-free
Peter Lamas products are 100% vegan, paraben-free, sulfate-free and petrochemical-free.
I just recently started using oil hair masks after being extremely hesitant as I have somewhat oily hair. I'll try this one but I have a feeling it won't replace my Novex Argan Oil Deep Conditioning Mask.
ColourPop Cosmetics Creme Gel Eyeliner in Get Paid
Los Angeles always knows what’s trending first. And it makes sense that an LA based-and-bred brand like ColourPop is perfectly positioned to bring you the latest-and-greatest trends in shades, textures, and formulas just as they hit the street and your Instagram feed. And the best thing about them? They believe this level of fabulosity should be affordable. So all of their colors turn up the fun without breaking the bank. They also take pride in being 100% fur baby friendly and bunny approved. They only test their products on human beauty adventurers. We’ll volunteer for that job anytime.
Keeps it real smooth. Glides on with the lightest touch.
Blends easily for a smokey look
Get Paid is a metallic Rose Gold color which is a big difference to the old reliable black I like to use but I am looking forward to experimenting with this eyeliner and seeing how it looks with a nice metallic smoking eye on date night.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Lounge
The final product in my bag was Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Lounge. Enter Urban Decay—the original beauty rebel. They brought their play game, seriously coloring the waters with an insane range of bright, bold and totally unexpected shades. Think electric purples, stormy charcoals, neon teal. All inspired by the grit and glamour of the city.This multifaceted shadow switches up its look in different lighting. Duo the intrigue. Duo the fun.
Feels like velvet. Glides on softly. Looks like wow.
Lasts all day (and all night). Won’t get caught up in your creases.
I REALLY like Urban Decay's products and I love the look of this eyeshadow. I love metallics like bronze and copper in eye shadows, and Lounge is a decadent reddish-brown topped with teal-green shimmer and would probably pair nicely with a copper color. I just might have to try this one with the Get Paid Eyeliner :)
Ispy bags are always a lot of fun. You can get your own by visiting the Ipsy website and signing up :)
Kenny got his first official BarkBox today and I promised Ashleigh, who seems to think that she is the next Youtube sensation that she could do an unboxing video.. I figure I can call it part of a "communications" grade or something, right?? It was a lot of fun to make together but wow, I'm really going to have to up my video editing skills.
Either way, here's her big video debut.. I really should make a second video as the bloopers for this was even better than the video.. LOL (I did leave some of them in though) Enjoy!!!
Anyway, I know that some people enjoy seeing what is in these types of boxes without having to watch a 9 minute video just to see the stuff inside.
Camping Themed Paper
If your unfamiliar with Barkbox, it is a monthly subscription service for dogs. Each month they send to your door a themed box filled with 2 toys, 2 treats and a chew. Some months, like this month, you get an additional bonus item. Subscription prices very from either $29 for a 1 month subscription, $24/mth for a 3 month subscription, $21/mth for a 6 month subscription and finally $19/mth for a 12 month subscription. This months Barkbox theme was "THE GRRRREAT OUTDOORS" and featured items that related to camping out in the woods.. We really liked this theme since we do a lot of camping in the late summer/early fall and will be kicking off our camping season when we go to Yosemite Valley next month. When you first open the box, you'll find it wrapped in paper that matches the theme. First thing we pulled out of the box was the monthly card that comes with the box and talks about the box's theme.. I'm sure many people totally throw these to the side but i really enjoy all the doggy puns and off the wall humor. For example, this Weiner Roast cartoon is way too adorable and goes perfectly with the camping theme. Another section that has "Camping Tips for Dogs" states that if you see a bear, remember you don't have to run faster than the bear, you just have to run faster than your human. Which mine you, Kenny definitely can do.. lol The card also informed me that in this box we had a bonus item...
We were soooo excited to find the NexGard Zip & Skip travel bowl as the bonus item in our box. Since we are planning on doing a lot of camping, a portable dog bowl was on our shopping list and now I can mark that off. While a promotional item for NexGard Flea & Tick control chews, I'm pretty sure this is probably the very same item that is the Nomad Travel Bowls from Dublin Dogs. When unzipped each bowl can hold 1.1 liter or water or 1.4liters of food. The info says they are leak-proof and stain resistant. The fabric feels really durable and when the two bowls are collapsed, they zip together to make a very slim and lightweight carrying case. On the outside is a very nice, sturdy looking carbine so that the entire thing can be hung off a backpack for more even more convenience. As Nomad Travel Bowls cost roughly $25, I would say this was a really great item to get in our box.
Kenny Approves
The 2nd item in our box this month was the Giggle Buddy Bear toy because you can't go camping in the woods without there being bears, right?? At least this bear is cute and cuddling and fun to play with though, as I really don't want Kenny playing with the real bears we have encountered on our camping trips.. The Giggle Buddy Bear is 12 inches long and has stretchy elastic legs and a Giggle Stick inside it's belly so that it laughs when you shake it. And as Ashleigh points out in her video, it has the cutest face. Kenny honestly didn't show as much attention in this toy as we were expecting him to as he loves playing tug of war but I'm thinking that he doesn't like the sound maker (he's shown he doesn't like squeaker toys much either.).. Ashleigh however, has found a new friend. The tag on our Bear says he is made by r2p pets and is made of polyester fibers. Our bear requires spot cleaning only and is not safe for machine washing. He was made in China. Barkbox places the value on the Giggle Buddy Bear at $12.
The first set of treats in our box is a Barkbox exclusive and is branded by the "2 Traveling Dogs". If your unfamiliar with 2 Traveling Dogs, their names are Brickle and Digby, and are the stars of a blog about, you guessed it, two traveling dogs. The focus of the blog is about dog rescue as both dogs were at one point a shelter dog. And they obviously have ventured out into dog nutrition. We received a 5oz bag of Granola Bites Trail Treats. Ingredients in each cluster treat are oatmeal, coconut, peanut butter, flaxseed, blueberries, peanuts and eggs. They are considered wheat and gluten free. The clusters are fairly decent in size and Kenny seemed to like these treats well enough but I'm not sure they would be first on my list of purchases in the future. Barkbox places the value of these treats at $7.
Our 2nd toy in our box was the Campsite Flashlight squeaky toy. Another Bark & Co exclusive for this themed box, this plush toy (it is not a real flashlight) is 7 inches long and has a hard plastic body enclosed in a plush skin. It does squeak but it takes A LOT of pressure to get it to squeak, which for us wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing as Kenny doesn't seem to like squeaky toys at all. However, if he was a squeaky type of dog, this wouldn't do him much good as he just wouldn't have the jaw pressure to crush it enough to squeak. However, for a bigger dog like Rotty or a Pitbull, this might be absolutely perfect as the plastic seems as if it would stand up to heavy chewing pretty well. Barkbox places the value of this toy at $14. Our 2nd bag of treats seemed to be the paws down favorite for this
box. These are S'mores dog treats from House of Pups (a division of Mountain Country Foods) and made in the USA. These treats are made with graham flour, honey, pork, Carob chips, pomegranates, blueberries and vanilla and they smell wonderful. It took a while for me to convince Ashleigh that they were indeed DOG treats and not for human consumption, however, I will still be putting the treats in a safe place just in case. LOL Kenny absolutely loved these treats, to the point that he even stole the bag while we were making Ashleigh's unboxing video.
They don't look like much just looking at them and I found them to be a softer, crumbly style treat, almost like a pecan sandy cookie. They do smell A LOT like Chocolate and vanilla but rest assured there is no chocolate in them and instead that's the carob chips. Finally, in every Barkbox is a chew treat such as a pig ear, raw
hide, or bully strips. This box we got the Crunchy Duck Chew from Wonderfowl. Kenny really likes flavored rawhide chews so I expected him to be pretty excited about this one but he showed no interest in it. I think that might be partially because he's too excited over the S'mores treats.. I'm sure it will be devoured sooner than later though. This was a 7 inch duck flavored rawhide.
Not to be outdone, my husband's cat, Newton, came out to enjoy some treats too..
So that was this month's Barkbox. I honestly think it's a great deal. I currently pay $21/mth for the box as I originally signed up for a 6 month subscription but since I am pretty pleased with the contents, I will probably sign up for the full year. The awesome thing is that you do not have to pay for all 12 boxes up front and can continue to pay month to month regardless of your subscription. And if you use my referral code ( SKN17LAVPY ) you can get a free box with any subscription when you order a Barkbox for your own pooch.
Recently, the kids and I went to the Renaissance Festival and like any typical kids, they fell in love the ideas of Kings, Princesses, Castles and Knights on Horses. So when we were given the opportunity to read the book The Minstrel in the Tower by Gloria Skurzynski with the kids and then use and review The Minstrel in the Tower E-Guide by Progeny Press, I knew the kids would be pretty excited. Granted, the Medieval times were a bit before the Renaissance period, but I knew the kids would still be pretty excited about it. With E-Guide in hand, the kids and I traveled back to 1195 to France following the Crusades and to learn about Alice and Roger and their quest to find their Uncle. About Progeny Press
Progeny Press is a publishing company who offers E-guides for literature with a Christian perspective. Offering guides for reading levels from early elementary through high school, each of the Progeny Press guides are designed to help students to better understand the story they are reading as well as to recognize the themes presented by the author. The units contain study questions as well as recommended map work, research ideas, vocabulary lessons, and even Biblical verses that tie into the story.
How We Used It
We reviewed the 47 page downloadable E-guide version of the Minstrel in the Tower study unit by Rebecca Gilleland. The chapter book must be purchased separately from the study unit but are offered for sale on the Progeny Press website. This particular study unit is recommended for Lower Elementary grade levels between Kindergarten through 3rd grade. I used it with Ash and Garrett as we read through the book together.
The E-Guide is broken down with questions and activities to use with each chapter of the book. At the end of the E-Guide is various suggestions on projects and activities to do after completion of the book that tie in arts and crafts, cooking and oral reports .
Since Garrett balks at the idea of any amount of writing, I found the best way for us to use the E-Guide was to print out a master copy for myself that I could use to ask the comprehension questions and we could discuss the answers as a group. The individual activities such as the word find puzzles and I printed out for the both of them to work on their own. As this is a downloadable product, Progeny Press's license does allow for parents to reproduce pages for use in their own classroom and home so I was able to print out copies for both of them.
Garrett works on a vocabulary exercise
The questions are absolutely wonderful and made for a great way to gauge the kids comprehension of the story as well as a platform to help the kids dig deeper into various story elements and ideas presented. There were also some really great activities for helping build vocabulary. The last few pages of the E-Guide provide additional resources that coincide with the study as well as the answer key for the activities included.
As Progeny Press offers literature studies E-Guides from a Christian perspective, different elements of the story are also tied in with corresponding Biblical verses that help children understand not just the story but the scripture better. For example, at the beginning of the story, the mother asks the son to do something but that the son is unsure about. At this point in the study the children read and discussed Ephesians 6:2 and what it means for children to obey their mother and father. Later in another chapter, when discussing overcoming fear, we read and discussed Psalms 23:4, Isaiah 41:10 and Psalms 118:14 and talked about how God is always with us to provide strength and never abandons us. All verses are presented in the NIV format.
Not only did we enjoy the E-Guide but we also used a few of the suggestions for outside resources and read about Francis of Assisi whom the kids found very interesting. Progeny Press puts together some really wonderful E-Guides and they are a company that I know that I can trust for quality materials for our various literature units.
Find out more about Progeny Press and the various Literature E-Guides they offer by visiting their website or any of their social media sites.
The Minstrel in the Tower E-Guide is for Lower Elementary students, but Progeny Press also has guides for Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School levels so be sure to to read the other reviews to learn the differences between these levels.
For the first 7 years of Garrett's life, he was completely Nonverbal and it has only been through homeschooling and repetition that he's finally able to hold a conversation with us. However, at 9 years old his verbal skills are on par with a 3 year old (after all, he's only been speaking for 2 years). So when I was given the opportunity to review the Bone Conduction Headset from Forbrain - Sound For Life Ltd I knew it was something I desperately wanted to try with my son. We have now been using Forbrain with Garrett for the past 6 weeks and the difference it has made in his confidence, his enunciation and his reading skills have been amazing.
For this review, we were given one Forbrain Unit equipped with rechargeable internal battery, a hardshell zippered carry case with molded foam insert that protects the unit, 1 USB to Micro USB charging cable, 3 spare covers for the microphone, as well as the User Manual and Quick Start Guide. The Unit also comes with a 2 year Manufacturers Warranty.
About Forbrain
The Forbrain device uses Bone Conduction rather than air conduction to provide a new way for you to hear your own voice. Bone conduction is pretty much exactly what it sounds like - by causing vibrations to the bones in your head you are able to hear your voice the way others hear it. This amplified sound transmission is then sent directly to the inner ear as well as to the nervous system and brain.
The lightweight headset itself simply consists of a dynamic filter, two vibrating transducer membranes that sit over the wearer's temples and a microphone to speak into. Controls for the unit (on/off button as well as volume up/down) are located on the dynamic filter housing as well as a blue power indicator light. The internal battery charges quickly using a USB to Micro USB cord and takes about 2-3 hours for a full charge. Once charged, the unit is ready to use for up to 6 hours of use before needing another charge.
All together, the dynamic filter, dual transducers and the microphone create an auditory feedback loop that allows the wearer to hear themselves clearly. This technology helps with various aspects of speaking and memorization, attention span, short term memory and verbal performance. By wearing Forbrain for 20 minutes a day for 6 weeks, Forbrain can help improve all these areas and help build the users confidence with their verbal skills.
It should be noted that Forbrain should not be used with individuals who suffer from more than 80% hearing loss, uses Cochlear implants or those who suffer from Epilepsy or Parkinson's disease.
How We Used It and What We Thought
We LOVED Forbrain, but to really understand why we're so impressed with it, I should go back and explain how we got to where we are with Garrett.
Garrett was diagnosed nonverbal autism when he was 5 years old. He did not speak at all for his first 7 years of life. In those 7 years, we did early intervention speech therapy five days a week, we bought all the "speak and say" style toys we could find and exposed him to videos and tv shows designed to teach language arts. We were told to put his sippy cups of milk up on top of our entertainment center and not give them to him until he said "milk".. It didn't work. Instead I had an extremely frustrated little man who couldn't communicate to say he wanted milk and would instead throw himself against the floor in explosive fits of rage and who was locked in his own silent world.
The above video was taken when Garrett was 6 years old. He was upset because I had put on the wrong Blue Clues video but I had no clue which one he wanted and he couldn't tell me. Garrett's only communication with us (if he tried to communicate at all) were grunts and whines and ear piercing screams.
The whole reason I started homeschooling in the first place is that the public school system felt there wasn't much to be done as far as educating Garrett. They felt he would never communicate, he would never read, he would never be able to do math and he would never be able to participate in a classroom setting. Their suggestion was to ship him off to an outside district that had a "Skills for Life" program where he could at least learn to take care of himself. I knew that there was more to Garrett than just hoping he could eat with a knife and fork properly and so we kept him home.
Today, Garret is no longer considered Non Verbal. It was a long road but eventually he found his words. However, he is so far behind in both his reading and verbal skills because of the delay.
Prior to using Forbrain, Garrett had very little as far as pronunciation and enunciation skills. Part of this is because he would get frustrated when we tried to correct him and we were afraid that he would regress and stop talking to us. It was also in part that we were just so thrilled that he was talking at all that we didn't want to put any negativity on his speaking.
With the introduction of Forbrain to our learning, I started to change that. As Garrett would pronounce words incorrectly (example - pronouncing "the" as "duh" instead of as "th-uh" ), I would gently correct him and have him repeat the word properly and have him listen to himself as he did so.
Because Garrett suffers from Sensory Overload issues, we started him very slowly with wearing the unit. The first week of using it, I was lucky if I got him to wear it for 5 minutes total before he was ripping it off. For those early sessions, I would just get him to converse with me. As time went on, Garrett was able to wear the unit for longer periods of time.
I used Forbrain for various different lessons with Garrett. First was with his poetry memorization. I noticed that by wearing Forbrain while he recited his poetry, it made him slow down and actually think about the way he was saying things. In the following video, you can even see as he looks down to listen to the feedback he's receiving as he's hearing himself.
The biggest difference I noticed is how he enunciates his words while using the Forbrain unit. Words are becoming understandable and do not all run together to make one large word. In the video above, you'll notice in the first reciting of "Oooey Gooey", Garrett tends to run words together, most noticeably in the phrase "the train he did not see" - it comes out as "trainnotsee". In the second half, these words are properly broken up and pronounced correctly. Other noticeable differences are the pronunciation of the word "tracks" and "was" (in the first part he pronounces it like "wath"). His enunciation has improved greatly and we are finding that he not only in his school work but also in his everyday communications, we can understand him so much easier that we could a month ago.
However, one of the biggest improvements I have noticed has been in his reading. As mentioned, Garrett is behind in his reading skills compared to other 2nd Graders - it's kind of hard to read aloud when you don't speak. Much of the last two years have been playing "catch up" with other children his own age (he will be 10 in October). Using the Forbrain while having him read aloud has really helped with Garrett making a connection between how words flow and how various letters sound when placed together. The confidence with his reading that he has achieved in the past 6 weeks is amazing and he's like a completely new kid.
While the main focus of our review was working with Garrett, Ashleigh has also been using the Forbrain device while working on her Latin schoolwork to help with her memorization. She has quickly been able to master the pronunciation as well as memorize the meaning of the various words she has been working on and I expect that the Forbrain will be a useful tool throughout the lessons. I also expect my husband has plans on using it later as he starts working towards studying for his next Promotion Testing Cycle with the Air Force to see if it can help with his own memorization.
My family has been so blessed with the Forbrain unit and I am sure that at a later date, as Garrett has had even more time to use it with his reading and speaking, I will revisit this review and update on his progress.
I hate to say that I was unfamiliar with Sheila Walsh prior to reading this book but I fixed that problem really quick. This was my first experience with her writing and I was completely blown away. Sheila writes from a very personal place of her history in regards to her childhood, her whirlwind romance but unhealthy marriage, her resulting divorce and her life following while using the story of King David to illustrate how many of the choices we make are created from a longing to be closer to God .
Sheila covers topics such as longing to be chosen and longing to be protected and how our choices reflect those desires. Her writing style is very personal and easy to relate to and the story she weaves between the parallels of King David to our lives today draws you in.
This book resonated with me in so many ways. I spent much of my childhood longing to be accepted for who I am by friends and family, something I still struggle with today.
I highly recommend this book as well as the study guide and study that go along with it.
A Flight of Arrows (The Pathfinders #2)
byLori Benton
The second book to Lori Benton's Pathfinders Series, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I absolutely loved the first one. I am thrilled to report that the second book is just as good as the first. Continuing where the first book left off with WIlliam gone and a budding romance between Anna and Two Hawks (Williams twin brother).. Mistakes made in the first book still affect the lives of all involved many years later. This is a story of forgiveness and redemption as we learn about the feelings that William battles with as he struggles with who he really is and where he belongs.
Lori Benton continues to develop the wonderful characters from the first book as we revisit Good Voice, Stone Thrower, and Reginald and the internal conflicts they all face as well as external conflict as the Revolutionary War looms in the future and Colonists encroach on the Native American lands. The characters are honest and make mistakes but the author allows for plenty of growth and grace while tearing at the readers heart strings.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it but I would not read this book as a stand alone. Read book 1 (The Wood's Edge) before reading this one, you won't regret it. You'll really become invested in these characters and the story.
Semi Serious: An Unexpected Journey to a Deeper Faith
byCharlotte Stone
Semi Serious tells the story of a woman who decided she needed a chance from being a school teacher and became a truck driver instead. Following truck driving school and getting a job driving cross country on long hauls, she decided to keep a journal of stories and poetry. The result is a short but sweet book of encouraging and uplifting short stories, some funny and some serious as she tells about her life on the open road and how she devotes her life to the Lord.
Part journal, part scrapbook, part devotional - at times, the book can seem a bit disjointed but that's almost part of it's charm. It's honest and refreshing, encouraging and enlightening. It's a cute and easy read .
Second Chances: Finding Healing for Your Pain, Regaining Your Strength, Celebrating Your New Life
byPat Smith
You may not know the name Patricia Smith (formerly Patricia Southall) but you are probably familiar with the former Miss Virginia's (and first runner up in the 1994 Miss USA) husband, former Dallas Cowboys superstar and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. You are probably also familiar with her ex husband, comedian Martin Lawrence. However, Patricia Smith has plenty to offer on her own accord.
The theme behind this wonderful book is that everyone deserves a 2nd chance, or a 3rd or 4th or however many chances it takes. Sometimes a fresh start and a new perspective on life is what one needs in order to get their life back on track and to see the path God wants us to take for our lives. It discusses many different aspects of life, from marriages to spiritual issues.
While I am not necessarily the target audience for this book (it seems to be written more for women of color), there's plenty of gems of wisdom to be found by any reader. Fans of T.D. Jakes will enjoy the forward he and Serita Jakes wrote at the beginning of this book.
They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World
byCrist Krusen
It's only been in recent years that I find myself drawn to historical figures that I found boring back in school. This book not only was a fascinating look at well known people such as John Rockefeller, Abraham Lincoln, Fydor Dostoyevsky and Florence Nightingale but also many I had never heard of in my life such as Dag Hammarskjold, Frank Pais, and Chiune Sugihara.
This book focuses on the lives of 12 individuals who not only made a huge impact on the world during their lifetime but who also were Christians and devoted to their faith. Whether it was the start of the Red Cross organization, rescuing 6000 Jews by issuing travel Visas to Japan, or a Cuban revolutionary, the author provides a glimpse into their lives and into the faith that was their foundation.
This book really makes you realize that God can direct you move bigger mountains than you can ever imagine.
5 Minutes with Jesus
bySheila Walsh
While The Longing in Me was my first experience with Sheila Walsh's writing, it left me longing for even more. 5 Minutes with Jesus is a nice devotional that understands that the demands that life can be crazy but we can always find at least 5 uninterrupted minutes to spend with Jesus.
A great book to keep on your night stand, it's perfect to reach for first thing in the morning before your feet ever hit the ground. It's quick and easy and more of Sheila's refreshing perspectives on life and faith throughout the course of 50 short individual devotionals and accompanying bible verses for each day. The devotionals are engaging, encouraging and easy to relate to.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a quick all included devotional that doesn't require reaching for additional books or looking up additional scripture.
Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain
byMatt Bays
This book completely took me by surprise and affected me much more than I was expecting. It's no secret that my life has resulted in much pain and bitterness as well as lots of baggage. Much of that pain resulted in my turning my back on my faith of my childhood and only in recent years turning back to God. This is exactly what this book discusses, how we blame God for our pain and turn our back on our faith as a result.
Matt Bays has experienced the very same feelings that I did and asked the same questions that I asked so long ago - Where was God when I was hurt, WHY did he allow it to happen to me, Why did he not protect me when I was only a child. He experienced so many hardships, one after another that left him just as broken as I felt from my own abuse. I felt betrayed by God and it was so amazing to know that many of the feelings I felt were not unfounded or unusual. And like myself, he went though his own journey of dealing with that pain and betrayal only to come out on the other side with the understanding that God never betrayed us but was with us though it all. Even when we turn our back on him as a result, he is left waiting for us to return to him with open arms, willing to take that pain from us and to replace it with his love.
I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who has felt similar feelings in regards to their faith.
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