What's On Your Nightstand - August

 

Well, it has been another incredibly crazy month around the Starr house. Yes, I have found time to read and no, I haven't found time to blog about what I read. So this month I'm putting some short and sweet thoughts after each book that I read just in case your curious.  My reading plans for September include:

 

I'm sure I'll read more, but I'm leaving myself open for new possiblities, recommendations or as the reading spirit moves! From my July Nightstand I read:

• Love Finds You in Groom, Texas Janice Hanna - I have enjoyed other book by Janice Hanna/Thompson, but I found this one extremely boring. The only reason why I finished it was to help me go to sleep at night. This is the second book in the "Love Finds You" series that I have read and will probably be the last.
• Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo - A book by the author of War Horse. I found this young adult book very dark and depressing and would NOT recommend it for young adults.
• Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids, and the Bond of Reading by Laurence and Nancy Goldstone - A book about hosting book clubs for young children and showing them how to unlock books "hidden meaning." This book gave me a lot to think about, but I honestly think if a kid did this all the time it would totally suck the fun and delight out of reading.
• A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot - I read this book after reading quite a few blog reviews. This is written from a Catholic point of view (which I am not) and terminology, which I found very hard to trudge through to find much worthwhile that spoke to me.  

I am currently reading:

• Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy by Flora Thompson - This is quite a hefty tome (not literally), so I've been reading this in short snippets.

I also read these books which caught my eye at the library plus a few freebies that I had loaded on my Kindle:

• Chameleon (The Ravensmoore Chronicles) by Jillian Kent - I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed this book. It keeps you on your toes trying to guess who is the chameleon. The author has built this series around mental illness which bring a different twist to the story.
• Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan - Scotland and romance--need I say more!
• Miss Julia to the Rescue by Ann B. Ross - Miss Julia is at is again! This time she has to rescue Hazel Marie's husband, Mr. Pickens all the while she is trying to do a major remodel on her house. Always good for a laugh.
• Remembering You by Tricia Goyer - The journey of a World War II veteran, accompanied by his granddaughter. They follow the path through Europe he took during the War. I liked the story of the veterans and really disliked the granddaughter and her romance that is taking place on the journey. The book is worth checking out just to read the author's notes on how she was able to interview veteran's of the war and the remarkable story she tells of a how a medic saved a baby's life and how they were reunited years later.
• Rain Song by Alice Wisler - This a new to me author. This was a fun read that definitely kept me intrigued until the end. My only complaint is that the ending left me hanging and I had to conjure up my own perfect ending.
• Get Organized! Your 12 Month Home Clutter Killer Guide: Organizing The House, Decluttering And How To Clean Your Home To Perfection by Colette Leigh - Nothing phenomenal, but I seem to gain one tip from reading books like this.
• The Girl's Still Got It: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs - Who doesn't love the book of Ruth? This is a different way to do a study of the Bible which is filled with  plenty of humor, yet bringing home the truth of God's Word.

See what others are reading over at 5 Minutes for Books.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Ordained Irreverence by McMillian Moody

Today I'll be sharing two teasers from Ordained Irreverence. Since my dad is a minister and I married a minister this book has been had me laughing. Some background info for the first teaser: Elmo, an intern at a mega church, is attending the Friday night singles function.

The person responsible for bringing the drinks brought only Fresca. And he wonders why he's still single? (14% on Kindle)

Upon hearing the words "...move your membership," Harry Simpkins would spring to his feet, simultaneously whirling toward the choir in one fluid motion. He would signal them to stand, signal the organist to begin playing, then spin back around just in time for the first, second, and fourth verses of Just As I Am or I Surrender All. I always felt sorry for those poor third verses of hymns...all dressed up and no place to go. (43% on Kindle)

Twenty Years Ago Today...

I married my best friend.

 

I told my husband when it was my birthday that the only way I can accept getting older is that we have been married longer. Time flies when you're having fun!!!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It has been a couple of weeks since I participated but I've been having a wonderful time with my parents while they were visiting. I'm also in the midst of working on my kids' homeschool plans for this coming school year, but I'm taking a few minutes to sneak in a Teaser Tuesday. This week I'm sharing teasers from two books I am currently reading and enjoying.


Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy by Flora Thompson

A continual subject for speculation was as to how Dick and Sally managed to live so comfortably with no visible means of support beyond their garden and beehives and the few shillings their two soldier sons might be supposed to send them, and Sally in her black silk on Sundays and Dick never without a few ha'pence for garden seeds or to fill his tobacco pouch. 'Wish they'd tell me how 'tis done,' somebody would grumble. 'I could do wi' a leaf out o' their book.' p. 78

Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

We're going to have to talk about it sometime, Ava. That night--that fight--changed the course of our lives." p. 203

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Family Trip & School Planning

In my life this the past few weeks...
Okay, so I've been very neglectful with blogging. My parents came for a visit and I just couldn't find time to blog. But that is okay, since spending time with my parents is more important.

We decided to travel to down to see the Redwoods. We started in Crescent City and went all the way through The Avenue of the Giants.




The kids had fun climbing up through the trails and climbing on fallen trees.



We then headed up the Oregon Coast highway and stopped at places along the way. We spent the night in Newport and the next day we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (a little disappointing for the admission price) to finish up our study of Exploring Creation With Zoology 2. We then stopped at the two lighthouses there. At the Yaquina Head Lighthouse we went down to the water to see if we could find any tide pools. We were a little early, but the kids were able to get an idea of how they form.





What I've been working on...
So we haven't started school yet. We finally have been experiencing summer and it is too nice to spend time indoors. Oregon isn't really conducive for year round schooling. I have been busy trying to get plans written down for the year. I have Destini's and Chantry's school plans close to being complete. I just got Caleb's Year At-A-Glance form filled out for the most part. Now I have to start working on weekly plans. His will take the longest since he is in 11th grade.

So that is what we have been up to. Next week we will be honing in on getting ready for school.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Since my mom lives in Wisconsin I'm not able to send a lot of gifts, so I just stockpile and wait until she comes. This is a bag I made for her. She loves Mary Engelbreit fabric and I had this stashed away until I found a cute idea to use it for.


I am linkin up at iHomeschool Network & Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.