George Washington's Breakfast

What did George Washington eat for breakfast? That's what a little boy named George (who also shares the same birthday as George Washington) wants to know in George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz.

Well, I'm not going to give too much away in this wonderful living book teaching kids more about George Washington than they think they are learning, but we made it...

And no, they are not pancakes!

Read a Book With Me- Moss Gown

This book is an interesting recommendation for me. It is a southern tale having been told for many, many years and also changed a bit through time. What I love about this book is the love story. The youngest daughter of an aging plantation owner is asked, along with her two ungrateful sisters to prove their love for their father in order to help him decide who he would ultimately pass his wealth to when he died. The two sisters found flattering words to express their love (albeit shallow and without true love) while the youngest and wonderfully genuine daughter could only find these words to express her love, "I love you more than meat loves salt."

Horrified and angry at her expression of love, being misunderstood, was ordered to leave the plantation and never return. She is ultimately helped along by a "fairy godmother" and the meaning of her words to her father coming back to truly express how much she really did love her father and at the end, her father did finally understood her deep love for him.

What I didn't love about this story was the griss griss woman who helped young Candice. Although this story is southern Cinderella story, the griss griss woman appears strangely magical when compared to the jolly, plump fairy godmother in the traditional Cinderella story.

However, it is one of our favorite stories. My daughters and I have read and reread this story dozens of times. It has solidified our bedtime expressions of love to each other. I begin with "I love you more than meat loves salt." And one child will come up with something creative like, "I love you more than pigs love mud." And " I love you more than T rex's love to hunt!" Back and forth until we finally can't come up with more.

I hope you will read it one day.

Read a Book With Me - Elsie Dinsmore

Since my children were born, the undying tradition in our home is to read to them before bed. One hour before bedtime is devoted to reading. If we miss a night, it is like the world coming to an end to my sweet kids. We have read hundreds of books and it is my joy to share some of those with you. If you have never read Elsie Dinsmore to your daughter, I would highly recommend it simply for the godly character the young girl of the story exhibits. I have never seen it on any of Charlotte Mason's recommended reading, but I don't let that stop me from reading books to my children that would encourage godly character in them. Set before the Civil War, little Elsie longs to have the love of a father in her life as her mother died when she was young. Her father left her in the care of her grandparents and showed no love to her until one day, he re appeared, a stern and unloving shadow. Elsie displayed unwavering love for him and a steady love for the Lord through every trial of her young life. It is a book worth investing into your daughters.

Ignorance's very thought provoking reply...

Yesterday, as we were reading Pilgrim's progress, we read a conversation between Christian and Ignorance. It served as such a great conversation starter about sin and salvation for my children, I thought I'd post it here:

"IGNORANCE: What be good thoughts respecting ourselves?

CHRISTIAN: Such as agree with the word of God.

IGNORANCE: When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the word of God?

[164] CHRISTIAN: When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the word passes. To explain myself: the word of God saith of persons in a natural condition, "There is none righteous, there is none that doeth good." It saith also, that, "every imagination of the heart of man is only evil, and that continually." And again, "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Now, then, when we think thus of ourselves, having sense thereof, then are our thoughts good ones, because according to the word of God.

IGNORANCE: I will never believe that my heart is thus bad.

CHRISTIAN: Therefore thou never hadst one good thought concerning thyself in thy life. But let me go on. As the word passeth a judgment upon our hearts, so it passeth a judgment upon our ways; and when the thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judgment which the word giveth of both, then are both good, because agreeing thereto.

IGNORANCE: Make out your meaning.

CHRISTIAN: Why, the word of God saith, that man's ways are crooked ways, not good but perverse; it saith, they are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it. Now, when a man thus thinketh of his ways, I say, when he doth sensibly, and with heart-humiliation, thus think, then hath he good thoughts of his own ways, because his thoughts now agree with the judgment of the word of God.

IGNORANCE: What are good thoughts concerning God?

CHRISTIAN: Even, as I have said concerning ourselves, when our thoughts of God do agree with what the word saith of him; and that is, when we think of his being and attributes as the word hath taught, of which I cannot now discourse at large. But to speak of him with reference to us: then have we right thoughts of God when we think that he knows us better than we know ourselves, and can see sin in us when and where we can see none in ourselves; when we think he knows our inmost thoughts, and that our heart, with all its depths, is always open unto his eyes; also when we think that all our righteousness stinks in his nostrils, and that therefore he cannot abide to see us stand before him in any confidence, even in all our best performances.

IGNORANCE: Do you think that I am such a fool as to think that God can see [165] no further than I; or that I would come to God in the best of my performances?

CHRISTIAN: Why, how dost thou think in this matter?

IGNORANCE: Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ for justification.

CHRISTIAN: How! think thou must believe in Christ, when thou seest not thy need of him! Thou neither seest thy original nor actual infirmities; but hast such an opinion of thyself, and of what thou doest, as plainly renders thee to be one that did never see the necessity of Christ's personal righteousness to justify thee before God. How, then, dost thou say, I believe in Christ?"

Isn't this a great picture of our need for salvation? When we see the scripture say we are evil and sinful, then it makes the gospel real. We need a savior. Jesus did not come to die for the sinless, but for the sinners. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Read a Book With Me

This year may be too late to find this book, but an idea for next year is a lovely picture book called Mary's First Christmas. If you love tender books; books to draw your children's hearts toward the Savior as well as books that draw their hearts to yours, you will love this Christmas story. From the perspective of Mary telling her young son (Jesus) about how he was born, it is a sweet reminder of the day that changed the world from the perspective of a Mother. It is well written (always a big hit with me) and well worth the read.

A Little House Christmas- On Plum Creek

On the Banks of Plum Creek was a lean, but happy Christmas for Laura Ingalls. Having left their happy home on the prairie, Laura and Mary sacrificed their desire for Christmas gifts for a pair of strong work horses for Pa. But Christmas morning was a cheerful surprise when Laura and Mary awoke to six pieces of candy apiece in their stockings.

"... they (Laura and Mary) knelt down together and said, 'Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take' and please bless Pa and Me and Carrie and everybody and make me a good girl forever'n'ever. Amen." Quickly Laura added, in her own head, "And please make me only glad about the Christmas horses for ever'n'ever amen, again."

A Little House Christmas- On the Prairie

Yesterday, I said we were going to have a Little House Christmas- if we can.


You can read about the Little House in the Big Woods gifts Laura got HERE . I love how happy she was when she got her 3 gifts, but how about these gifts?

Little house on the Prairie Christmas:

"Laura and Mary never would have looked in their stockings again. The cups and the cakes and the candy were almost too much. They were too happy to speak. But Ma asked if they were sure the stockings were empty.
Then they put their arms down inside them, to make sure.
And in the very toe of each stocking was a shining bright, new penny!

They had never even thought of such a thing as having a penny. Think of having a whole penny for your very own. Think of having a cup and a cake and a stick of candy and a penny.
There had never been such a Christmas."

A Little House Christmas- in the Big Woods

Out of any book ever written for Children, Little House on the Prairie Books are my favorites. Just last week, I was reading the Christmas chapter of Little House on the Prairie to my middle daughter Audrey and as we were getting to the part where Laura and Mary opened their stockings and pulled out their gifts, Audrey cried, " Momma, I want a Christmas like that!" I laughed to myself because I couldn't imagine a child, even a child who only gets three modest gifts like mine, being content with a tin cup and a penny.

But then I thought, " That would be an interesting experiment."

So we are going to have a Little House Christmas this year, if I can find everything for it.

Little House in the Big Woods Christmas:

"In each stocking there was a pair of bright red mittens, and there was a long flat stick of red-and-white- striped peppermint candy, all beautifully notched along each side. They were all so happy they could hardly speak at first. They just looked with shining eyes at those lovely Christmas presents.

But Laura was happiest of all. Laura had a rag doll. She was a beautiful doll. She had a face of white cloth with black button eyes. A black pencil had made her eyebrows, and her cheeks and her mouth were red with the ink made from poke berries. Her hair was black yarn that had been knit and raveled, so that it was curly. She had little red flannel stockings and little black cloth gaiters for shoes, and her dress was pretty pink and blue calico.

She was so beautiful that Laura could not say a word. She just held her tight and forgot everything else. She did not know everyone was looking at her until aunt Eliza said:

'Did you ever see such big eyes!'"

Book Review!

I love great Children's literature. There are just some that are must- read classics such as Madeline, or the Story about Ping, or Make way for Duckings, but every so often along with our plethora of books we bring home from the library (50 each time; and never lost one- that is a miracle!) we find a gem.

Soap, Soap, Don't Forget the Soap! is a charming and very funny picture book set in Appalachian Coutry. Not only has my 4 year old son asked for it every night, my two older daughters cuddled up to listen to the halarious story about the most forgetful boy named Plug. Check it out next time you happen to go to the library!

Stepping heavenward- Book Review

Have you ever read a book that just made you want to hoard it away and not tell anyone about it? That's funny, huh?- especially when you are an avid reader like me and love to share a good book with other book lovers (who would actually like to have a book recommendation ).



I have certain books that are just so tender to me that I keep them on the protected "love" shelf of my heart because I could never bear to have a harsh word spoken about them or to have a critical tongue splatter their characters with ridiculous notions or even to have an ignorant and careless opinion spoken of them.



What kind of books hold such a tender place in my heart? Books such as Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie, Lord of the Rings, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Christy and the one I am now going to share - (with trepidation less a critical word is ever spoken of it !)



Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E Prentiss




I mentioned it in a previous post, and had such an itch to read it again and just fell in love with it all over again.
Allow me to quote from the book as Kate welcomes a new baby into her home:

"She (Martha- her sister- in -law)says I shall now have one more mouth more to fill and two feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading, music, and drawing.

Well! this is one side of the story, to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost; since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother's heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!"

Be Still, My soul

As part of our music studies, we are going to listen to a song called Finlandia Op. 26 by Jean Sibelius (listen HERE) in the next few weeks. But as I was reviewing it, somewhere in the middle of the very lively song, a quiet hymn- like melody began to play which made me stop and listen closer.

As I was humming the calm tune, I suddenly began singing words to it as if hidden in my memory.

It had to have words to it! So, I began the ever mind wracking struggle of trying to remember where else I have heard that tune- and I finally found it! It is a hymn!

The Second Chapter of Acts sings it beautifully in this rendition (listen here)- it is called Be Still, My Soul; and as I was listening, I looked up the words (listed below) which pierced my heart with the vivid reminder that God has been trying to remind me of for a few months now, but has escaped me because of my sinful heart of complaining.

"Oh, thank you Lord for your great mercy and for allowing struggles and little suffering troubles in my life because of your great Love- In your wonderful, merciful love for me and as you see fit. You have placed me where you have, allowing me to walk through such small troubles in comparison to so many others but those that I have and are facing are only for my good and your glory! I will not doubt your loving- kindness when life is difficult, but will life my eyes to heaven and trust your perfect hand! Thank you Lord for reminding me afresh what my heart has been struggling to remember."

Also, for a reading suggestion: Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is a beautiful book of one woman's life and her walk toward righteousness- never have I been moved toward a heart of absolute trust, but through this little novel written over 100 years ago.

BE Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul:

the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently

the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God

to order and provide;

In every change,

He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul:

thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways

leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul:

thy God doth undertake

To guide the future,

as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence

let nothing shake;

All now mysterious

shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul:

the waves and winds

still know His voice

Who ruled them

while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul:

when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened

in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know

His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe

thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul:

thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness

all He takes away.

Be still, my soul:

the hour is hastening on

When we shall be

forever with the Lord.

When disappointment,

grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot,

love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul:

when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed

we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul:

begin the song of praise

On earth, believing,

to thy Lord on high;

Acknowledge Him

in all thy works and ways,

So shall He view

thee with a well-pleased eye.

Be still, my soul:

the Sun of life divine

Through passing clouds

shall but more brightly shine

Book Review!

I love to read. There is nothing quite like picking up a book and taking in the first scent of pages new or old. Turn the page and a whole new world is at your fingertips; the tingling excitement halfway through a good book; the itch to finish it so I can tell all of my reading friends what they should read next; the satisfaction of kindred spirits when they read it and loved it as much as you did.

I am right in the middle of one such book: Cordelia Underwood by Van Reid. It is reminiscent of Charles Dickens with all of the animated characters you would find in a Dickens novel. It is an entertaining book with many twists and turns which are brought together in such a great storytelling way that just keeps your mind wondering what is going to happen next with every turn of the page. If you are a romantic, there is a little bit of it in there to keep you interested; an adventure reader- a bit in there as well; a mystery lover- you'll find that in it too. Overall- a great read!

Books

Recently my husband and I were taking a drive somewhere. My husband loves to talk to me of his dreams and future thoughts and I love to listen to them and nudge his inspiration; not this time though. He was telling me of his thought on the future of books and libraries. His idea was to see more and more books readable through Internet and less publication of actual books. This time, I stopped him and said, "Oh, how can you even think that? There is nothing on earth more comforting that holding a book in my hands. The older the better. The smell of books; the place they take you to; the comfort of reading about friends you will never meet except in books; best friends; places and times you can only go except in books; the emotions they invoke; just by holding it in your hands and smelling the cover; no, I hope books will never be replaced."

Well, he looked over at me and gave me his, "That is why I married you; I don't really get it, but I love you for it." look. Books for me are a passion, but most of all a learning time. I realize not everyone, okay.... most people don't love books as much as people like myself but can I encourage you to give it a try? Take 15 minutes a day, and read a good book this year. Read one a month and that would be 12 books this year. Join a book club, invest into your heart and mind by reading books, not just any books, but the right books.

Yes, there are such things as the right books and wrong books. In my opinion, the wrong spiritual books are fad books, books which are the biggest hype in Christianity are generally the wrong books. Avoid them (in my opinion) until a trusted Christian gives a positive review. Read books to stretch you and challenge you, and finally read books which just comfort your heart... Classics are the best for doing so. Tomorrow I will give a list of books I have read personally; perhaps you can choose one to read this year.